Whoverly Stelton III

Nickname: "Woofy"
Age: 55
Occupation: "Fiery Wheel of Death" Ride Operator
Pet peeve: Kids who cry
Favorite phrase: "Last ride of the night!"
If he has to say it one more time...: "No rocking the cars!"

The ferris wheel is a sight to behold on dark summer nights. When the great wheel spins with its torches blazing, a giant ring of fire seems to float above the flaxen hills, and screams from delighted (and terrified) children can be heard a mile away. Woofy's father, "Junior" Stelton, operated the "Fiery Wheel of Death" before Woofy took over the job 40 years ago. A quiet man, Junior lived for those wild evenings and felt great satisfaction as he spun the wheel for the crowds. Woofy, however, never possessed the pride his father did, and all the carnies thought they knew why.

When Woofy was fifteen, his father was knifed to death by a crippled acrobat, "High Flying" Henry Abel, who believed Junior sabotaged his act. However, few blamed the acrobat for the vengeful deed. After all, Woofy's father had confessed as the saboteur. But only Woofy and his friends knew the truth - that it was Woofy who had cut one of the trapeze ropes on a dare, just to "see what would happen".

He hasn't been sober since the night of his father's funeral pyre. Thorn Root Mead, bought from midland drifters, is known to work wonders as both painkiller and scourge. But Woofy can never quite extinguish the guilt that has turned and burned in his mind for forty years...his own "Fiery Wheel of Death."

The Fiery Wheel of Death

Every carnival has a ferris wheel. But how many of them spin while lit on fire?! That's right! Come one, come all to Mitchell & Ball's Renowned Carnival of Wonders. Follow Main Street's scarlet flags to the heart of the fair at the top of Fortune Hill. Be hoisted to the heavens on a chariot of flames by the legendary "Fiery Wheel of Death"! As the wheel turns and enormous torches spew tongues of fire, you and your sweetheart will be entranced as you gaze out over miles of shadowy grasslands...that is, if you can conquer your terror!

Unis ('yoo-nis)

noun (pl.-es | eez)

Zoology: A mollusk with a single pointed spiral shell into which the whole body can be withdrawn. Three rubbery, anterior antenna provide light and surface sensory data to guide the creature's path. Its most distinguishing feature is a fibrous light node on the pointed terminal of its shell which glows with continual bright light. Allumen use Unes by inserting two or three in lanterns where they work like living light bulbs. Fed flatroot hairs, Unes can live up to five years.

Burrsak (bur-sak)

noun (pl.-s |saks|)

Zoology: Any of the various long-furred, carnivorous animals of the Falkenae family, having long ears and tails; indigenous to the grasslands of the southeastern Terra, with a divided upper lip and sharp teeth. Burrsaks are usually smaller than Fourdes, but have the same luminous forehead protrusion, which is used to aid their poor eye sight, especially during hunting.

Auliph (aw-liff)

noun (pl.-s)

The Sirens of the Sky

These flying beasts are the subject of much speculation and myth among the Allumen (Light People). Perhaps so little is known because Auliphs spend the majority of their time soaring near the Firma, the stony ceiling of the world that rises to heights of two miles above the Terra. Auliphs drink and eat mid-air, lapping at the free-falling columns of water pouring from fissures in the Firma's craggy surface. Their long, crimson tongues channel water, protein-rich with microorganisms and tiny insects, into their mouths. Excess water filters out through gill-like slits that stretch down the under-side of the Auliph's necks.

Auliphs vary in size. Wingspans range from eight feet to twenty-five feet wide. There have been reported sightings of Auliphs with wingspans of over forty feet, although live specimens that large have never been captured. Their leathery grayish-blue skin shimmers with an iridescent flicker that cycles from their heads to the tips of their tails. On the rare occasion of flying down to the Terra, they land on nimble, taloned toes that attach to their multi-jointed, sinewy legs. Papery, featherless wings and strong tapered tails are their most utilized appendages. Night hours are spent drifting in wide circles high above the land. During the day, Auliphs hide away within the Firma's dense root layer, slumbering inside their nest-sacks and invisible from the Terra below.

Thin lips, high cheek bones, and a sculpted jaw give the Auliph a wise and aged appearance. Staring an Auliph in the face, a position few have ever experienced due to the Auliphs' severe code of privacy, one might expect them to whisper of ancient truths and prophetic fulfillments. Their mouths resemble that of an Allumen, as an ape bears likeness to a human. Their ears are small, oily holes. Their noses, wide and flat. However, Auliphs have no eyes. When their maws open, a radiant light emanates. As bright as fire-light, glowing deep in their throats, penetrating their nostrils, and illuminating their saliva, they use the bursting, golden beam to taste the air and discern their surroundings.

Each night, the caws from the Auliph broods create an anguished choir, performing a melancholy opus that pulses out of the dark sky. Their cries float down from the Firma high above, like the voices of distraught angels recounting an ancient catastrophe. Fading into the dissonance of nocturnal sounds, few Allumen notice the Auliph's sorrow-filled symphonies. Only those who listen closely hear the note of warning in their tireless laments.

The Melt Worm

Find a hill. Hunt through the tufts of golden grass until you find a medium-sized rock. Good. Now, turn it over. I know, I know. Gross! A whole world of writhing muck just awoke from a long sleep. There in the middle...see that greenish wriggling creature trying to burrow downward? Grab it in the middle with your index finger and thumb. Excellent. Now, whatever you do, BE CAREFUL. They're not called melt worms for nothing.

Note the worm's glossy scales and tissue thin, yet extremely tough, skin. Glimmering veins pulse below its surface. Oh...you noticed! The melt worm has no face. It's entire head is a fleshy knob. All of its survival needs are satisfied through the sensory capabilities of the worm's bulbous head.

Let's observe more closely. Gently squeeze the worm's body. See how its head now has a soft orange glow. While squeezing, tap the head with a finger tip. ONLY TAP. Hot as a coal pulled from a fire pit! Glowing with such heat, the melt worm tests its surroundings. It can sense the distance and motion of nearby objects. It identifies a potential food source by testing how it reacts to the heat. If it moves toward the heat, it's most likely a good candidate for dinner. What's that? How does it eat? Great question.

To understand how the melt worm obtains nutrients, we'll have to squeeze a bit harder. Do so now. As you can see, the melt worm's head is far brighter, almost white, with a sheen to it. If you touched the gleaming bulb at this point, it would burn your skin and we'd be going to see Aunt Nelly in the infirmary. At this intensity level, the melt worm can kill insects instantly. The sheen you observed on the worm's head is an enzyme the worm secretes to liquify the dead bug. Once dissolved, food can be absorbed through the melt worm's skin.

Let's complete one more experiment on our friend the melt worm. For what we're about to do, use extreme caution. At the count of three, pinch its body hard enough to feel your fingers touch. Don't worry, the worm's tubular physique is quite resilient. It shouldn't burst open. Here we go. 1...2......3....Go! Good job, but do not look directly at the head for at least 5 seconds.

Though unharmed, the momentary distress was enough to trigger the worm's defense mechanism. This means radiating the most scorching, brilliant light possible from its protuberant head. At this magnitude, this most unusual worm can even melt some stone. With such power, the melt worm need never fear being caught between a rock and a hard place.

That concludes our fundamental examination of the melt worm. You'll want to return him to his home under the rock. The melt worm is an interesting creature to observe, but, as you can imagine, makes a poor choice for a pet.