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Loss of appendages is an unfortunate reality for many professions; masons and carpenters lose digits, soldiers, hands, arms and legs.
While cauterization and magic can be used to close the wound to avoid bleeding out, this leaves the unfortunate permanence of absence.
Ootoo, a parasitic species found in Caesem, provide a method of replacing the missing appendage in a semi-permanent way.
Doing so, however, requires rigourously following the steps below to avoid spreading the parasite and/or killing the patient.
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To prepare an Ootoo for application, perform the following steps:
Considering the time required for Ootoo to prepare and insert their eggs, they should be prepared and discarded regularily in case of need.
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Now that the Ootoo is prepared for application, proceed to replace the missing appendage:
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Incinerate the surrogate host to ensure eggs cannot hatch and propogate; while their gestation period is approximately a week, the potential fallout of an infestation demands immediate and thorough eradication.
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An Ootoo appendage will live between a year and two.
As long as the procedure is repeated before the death of the parasite, it can generally be replaced with a new one with little difficulty.
A near-dead Ootoo can be identified by lack of skin texture and loss of motor capacity.
Before removal, numb the area where the Ootoo attaches to the patient, as their nerves are fully connected at this point.
The fixation point can be identified by a faint line and dimpling of the skin.
A straight cut across the area will remove the Ootoo, which can be discarded however is seen fit.
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While the thought of losing a limb or potentially dying is certainly the main concern of the patient, they may question the safety of using an Ootoo before application.
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions:
Q: Does putting it on hurt?
A: No, the procedure is entirely painless. Ootoo first use suction to attach to their host, only forming tissue and nerve bonds over the following hours and days.
Q: Will it lay eggs inside me?
A: If the preparation phase is completed thoroughly, all eggs will be deposited inside the surrogate host. Further, Ootoo only carry a single clutch of eggs for their lifespan.
Q: Will my limb work like before?
A: Mostly; major muscle function will return within a matter of hours, however finer actions, such as writing, may not be possible.
Q: Will I feel through my new limb?
A: Yes; after a few hours the patient will begin to regain sensation in the new appendage.
Q: Will it suck all my blood?
A: No; an Ootoo will draw approximately as much blood as the original appendage.
Q: Will it last forever?
A: No; Ootoo are not designed to live decades at a time, and will thus die naturally within a couple years.
Q: Help, it's pulsing!
A: Those contractions are used to push eggs into the host; since all the eggs were removed using the surrogate host, the contractions don't achieve anything. Contractions may occur every few days for a few minutes at a time, for the life of the Ootoo.
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The following table gives average segment mass percentages for humans.
| Segment | Average (Human) |
|----------|--------------------|
| Total Arm | 5 |
| Upper Arm | 3 |
| Forearm | 1.5 |
| Hand | 0.5 |
| Total Leg | 18 |
| Thigh | 11 |
| Calf | 5.5 |
| Foot | 1.5 |
While technically any blood-carying creature can be used as a surrogate host, some have been found to allow for faster egg laying.
They are presented in no particular order.
This list is a work in progress and requires further experimentation.
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2 June 2021.
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