Grotesquerie - Bloat

Extract from the Grotesquerie - A Catalogue of Afflicted Forms The creature commonly called the Bloat is counted among the more perilous manifestations of the Hunger, not for cunning, but for the ruin it brings when disturbed. The name arises from its swollen appearance, for the body is greatly distended, the flesh stretched to an unnatural breadth, and the whole form so burdened that the creature seems scarcely able to bear its own weight. In most recorded cases the Bloat appears to have been a woman heavy with child at the time the Bacterium took her. It is believed that death came before the labour was completed, and that some corruption within the body continued thereafter, filling the flesh with foul vapours and putrefaction until the form became grossly enlarged. The limbs remain, but the trunk is so swollen that the creature no longer carries itself upright, being dragged forward by the weight of the distended belly. The sight of such a thing has unsettled even seasoned Living, for it resembles less a person than some great bladder of blackened flesh set upon human legs. General Description The Bloat presents with the body enormously swollen about the abdomen and chest, the skin drawn tight and discoloured, often darkened as if bruised from within. The limbs are comparatively slight, and appear ill-suited to bear the burden they carry. The weight of the distended body pulls the creature forward, so that the back is bent and the head hangs low before it. In many observations the head is not seen at first glance, being carried far forward and downward, sometimes little higher than the creature’s own middle. This gives the false impression that the Bloat has no head at all, when in truth it is merely concealed by the posture forced upon it. When standing still, the creature sways as though its balance is uncertain. When roused, however, it may move with alarming speed for so heavy a form. Disposition and Behaviour Unlike the slower varieties of the Hunger, the Bloat is prone to sudden agitation. When it becomes aware of the Living it will often lurch forward at speed, the whole body quivering and swelling as if the corruption within were stirred to violence. In this state the creature is liable to rupture. Many accounts agree that the Bloat may burst apart in a violent discharge of bone, blood, and foul vapour, scattering fragments with such force as to wound those standing near. The vapours released in this manner linger for a time and are known to sicken those who breathe them, producing burning of the lungs, weakness of the limbs, and a corruption of the blood not unlike the lesser effects of the Bacterium itself. For this reason, the Bloat is to be regarded with greater caution than its sluggish form would suggest. A careless approach has maimed many who believed the creature too slow to threaten them. Weaknesses and Vulnerabilities Though formidable in appearance, the Bloat remains subject to the same rule as all known forms of the Hunger. Destruction of the head will end its motion in nearly every observed case. The difficulty lies in the posture of the creature, for the head is carried low and forward, often near the level of the belly, and is easily missed by those who aim in haste. Shots delivered too high will strike only the swollen flesh, which may stagger the creature but seldom stops it before it has time to burst. A well-placed thrust delivered swiftly to the head may dispatch the Bloat without rupture, though such attempts require steadiness and nerve, and failure leaves little time to withdraw. The use of firearms is often the surest method, yet the report of a shot is known to carry far in infected regions, drawing both the Hunger and the Living alike toward the sound. For this reason, the Bloat is best dealt with only when necessary, and with careful judgement as to the ground and the circumstances. Field Note Those who encounter the Bloat are advised to keep their distance and their composure. The creature’s strength lies not in its limbs, but in the corruption it carries within itself. Strike cleanly if you must strike. Fire only when the ground permits it. Above all, do not remain near when the body begins to swell. Many who survived the Hunger have been undone by the Bloat, not through fear, but through misjudging the moment to act.