Overview
The Gloomdrifter is a spectral, jellyfish-like entity that haunts the darkest depths of the ocean where it drifts silently through the murky waters. Its translucent body and faint, eerie glow that mimics the light ripples in the wayer make it a nearly invisible predator. The Gloomdrifter is not a typical predator. It does not consume flesh, but the life force of living beings. Legends suggest these creatures are born from the souls of a shipful of sailors lost at sea, transformed into malevolent spirits by the ocean's dark powers.
Appearance
Its gelatinous form bears a resemblance to a massive jellyfish, though its size and spectral nature set it apart from that set of marine creature. Its size does lead some to theorise it may be more closely related to giant squid, or indeed a kraken. Its ripple like glow effect shimmers with a faint blue light. This glow supposedly begins to pulse rhythmically when it has found a target to attack, providing the only clue to its presence. This is typically too late for said victims. Its long, trailing tendrils, which apparently can be up to a hundred feet in length radiate with dark energy. Though, the sheer scale is likely to be exaggerated, it should not be underestimated either.
Abilities and Behaviour
The Gloomdrifter glides under its unsuspecting quarries, which for other marine life means getting caught up in their trailing tendrils as it passes through. When attacking ships, the Gloomdrifter will do the same, only to then lash the ship with its tendrils, trying to connect with the crew aboard to drain their life force. Derelict ships have been found in areas suspected of harbouring a Gloomdrifter, their crews dead with no signs of violence or struggle. On rare occasions, there are survivors who recount talies of their brushes with the Gloomdrifter. These individuals describe an overwhelming sense of dread as the faint blue glow emerged, followed by a feeling of suffocation and fatigue as the life force was slowly drawn from them.
Legends
The origins are steeped in the folklore of the sailors of the world, though the Gloomdrifter is only reported to be active in the waters around the continents of Suriima, Drassau and Thrabad. It is said a Gloomdrifter is born when a whole crew is lost at sea and perished, their bodies never recovered. These souls, it is said, are twisted by an unknown force, transforming into vengeful spirits that now wander the deep in search of life force to sustain their existence. This hunt for vitality is believed to be a subconscious desire to reclaim the life that was stolen from them by the ocean, doomed to be stuck in a futile attempt to regain what was lost for eternity.
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