The Life Kit #1 gives Albia new objects for dealing with the Grendel. The Cage (with a Grendel) is shown to the right. There are also several COBs (Creatures Objects, things which can be inserted into Albia) available on the web for handling the problem the existance of the Grendel creates. Some of these kill the Grendel, some allow you to select it as if it were a Norn, and others trap or injure it.

Grendels often carry diseases which can spread to Norns. They also secrete a chemical called glycotoxin on their skin which is toxic to Norns. A Grendel can beat Norns to death. There are usually several such tales of woe on alt.games.creatures, the official newsgroup.

But, as you can see in these pictures, the Grendel may not be entirely bad...

Grendels like to play with toys and eat honey. The Grendel will bounce the ball, travel around Albia, talk, and interact with its environment almost as if it was a Norn.

If you have an angry Grendel, I suggest petting it, and giving it honey and toys. I had one Grendel who spent all his time looking at the sea from the observation bubble. He wouldn't stop looking at the fish long enough to return slaps from a bad-mannered Norn!

A Grendel responds to training much like a Norn does. You can teach a Grendel to talk properly either by taking it to the computer (like training a norn) or by using one of the COBs available for teaching language. Like Norns, the grendel also has a brain, a biochemistry, and digital DNA.

Unless you have modified the game, you will never find more than one Grendel. Since there is only one Grendel in Albia at any time, Grendels are not fertile. If a Grendel dies (from injury or old age), it usually takes about a half hour before another is hatched.

Grendel eggs are laid by the Grendel Mother Tree. The picture to the right shows the Grendel Mother Tree with the egg-laying tube circled in yellow. The tree is located above the submarine bay and the Death Cap mushroom.