Abyssal Shells

Brief Overview

The Abyssal Shells are one of the more dangerous creatures of the The Abyss. Their limbs are able to stretch and retract, allowing them to grasp at their prey from afar. These creatures are said to appear when other creatures begin to feel fear, but due to the rarity of any creature surviving a tryst in the Abyss, there isn't enough evidence to support these claims.

General Overview

These creatures use the eye above their heads to detect the aura signatures of living creatures, allowing them to hunt in the eternal darkness that Absolum has provided them. They're classified as undead creatures, meaning they do not hunt because they need to. They hunt for sport. Many have speculated that they are collecting bodies and souls for Absolum himself, but this would only make sense if these creatures cooperated in coordinated efforts. In reality, when two Abyssal Shells meet, they fight until only one remains...

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Shells have the physique of an average human or mortal with the exception of their limbs. Their limbs have some sort of strange break between the main joints and the appendages that revealed exposed bones. You'd think that this would limit their movement, but in reality there are strange, shadowy tendrils that extend from inside the limbs in that break between them, that soften and stretch the bones, allowing their arms and legs to stretch. No, not like a good morning stretch. What I'm talking about is a good 30-40 feet of extension, making the chances of outrunning these nasty Shells damn near impossible without the assistance of magic.
They possess two sets of horns atop their head, and an eerie crown that looks like a human jaw stretched out around a single eyeball. The eyeball is held in place by tendon-like strands that appear to be moist. In most cases, the Abyssal Shells are covered in rot and decay, making the only notable method of noticing their approach a smell capable of twisting and turning even the strongest of stomachs.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

All known abilities of the Abyssal Shells are documented as follows:

The eyeball above their head can see the aura signature of living creatures, though it is undetermined whether or not it can see the undead.
Each of its limbs are capable of stretching anywhere between 30-40 feet. They look almost as if they grow teeth over time, but the true material of these strange, enamel-like protrusions, but it appears as if they act as protection for the tendrils hiding within.
Their insides are completely hollow, with the exception of hundreds of shadowy tendrils that creeps out of it through any openings they can find. These tendrils are oddly moist and are fitted with thin, serrated needles that tear into the flesh of any creature they can get ahold of.
The Abyssal Shells are capable of Shadowmancy, and Shadow Striding, an ability known to be available to only those who worship Absolum himself. They are capable of leaping into any shadow or patch of darkness nearby and exiting through the next shadow of choice. This makes them truly dangerous opponents as not only is the Abyss is full of darkness, but the Shells are absolutely smart enough to flank.

Civilization and Culture

History

Origins

After 3 months in the Abyss studying these creatures I've come to the conclusion that these "Shells" got their name due to what they actually are. Abyssal Shells are the remnant of mortal creatures who got trapped in the Abyss for too long. The process works as follows: We'll use humans as the base example. The human enters the Abyss and is immediately disoriented by the magical darkness surrounding them. After awhile the madness begins to ease into their minds, causing them to do things they normally wouldn't.
The more negative energy and emotions that the human projects, the quicker the Shells will come. Once the shell arrive they begin to torment the human with brutal violence and psychological warfare. They break down both the body and mind of the human so they can take what they want with little resistance. The final act of the Abyssal Shells is to tear the soul out of the human by latching onto them with their tendrils and tearing it out from inside them.
The human is then left to its own devices. Soulless and alone in the Abyss, Absolum takes advantage of them by funneling inside them through their mouth. The body then undergoes a horrific transformation. If Absolum remains within them their body will break down and decay from the inside out. If Absolum chooses to leave the body it will continue mutating on its own until it looks like just another Abyssal Shell. This means that these monsters were once people. People like you and I...

Those Condemned

Those who have completed the transformation into an Abyssal Shell cannot be turned back to their original form and will likely spend the rest of their days roaming the Abyss, forever seeking that which was stolen from them...

This has been another entry for the Edenpol archives, written and signed by Aarabi █████. I hope this intel aids the survival of future Edenpol officers transvering the Abyss, while limiting civilian casualties when possible.

by TailorOfFates