Abyss Stalker

Abyss Stalkers are a native species of The Realm of Dusk, carnivorous predators by nature, and are not found in any other realm. They are humanoid in form, with striking features that distinguish them from any other species. They appear as dark-skinned human/demon hybrids and are always female. Their eyes glow a fierce red, providing them with supernatural vision in the darkest conditions. Protruding from their heads are sharp, curved horns, which along with their elongated, razor-sharp claws, add to their menacing demeanor. These enigmatic and fearsome beings are the embodiment of the realm's dark essence, creatures both feared and revered by those who know of their existence.

Social Structure and Behavior

Abyss Stalkers are predominantly solitary creatures, roaming the vast wilderness of The Realm of Dusk alone. However, they occasionally form bonds with one or two others, creating what is known in their tongue as "Nocturne Bonds." These small, intimate groups are based on deep romantic and hunting partnerships, where members live and hunt together, sharing a profound connection that can last for decades. The Stalker lives for up to 60 natural years, but due to their lifestyle, they tend to die in combat against humans or another predator before then. Stalkers are one of the rare species that can reproduce female-to-female through the exchange of fluids, as each individual carries inside her both the genetic ability to impregnate another and to be impregnated by another. Abyss Stalkers typically have an offspring of 3-6 every circle, the young reaching adulthood in merely 5 years. Their society lacks a structured hierarchy; instead, it revolves around individual prowess and hunting skill. Despite their high intelligence and ability to speak in human language, they are savage and sadistic by nature. The most dominant female climbs the social ladder by the brutality of her actions and marks her territory with her scent; these are her hunting grounds. When another Stalker defiles the borders of one's hunting grounds, conflict almost always ensues, which often ends in injury but rarely in death (local scholars speculate a sense of tribalism and common origins often keeps a Stalker from finishing off another).

Hunting Practices and Prey

Abyss Stalkers are nocturnal predators, emerging from their hidden lairs at night to hunt. Their favorite prey is human males, whom they stalk with a blend of supernatural stealth and cunning. These creatures are not just hunters but also sadistic in their methods; they are known to carve their prey with their claws before consuming them raw, reveling in the fear and pain of their victims. Their hunting technique is a terrifying spectacle of precision and brutality. An Abyss Stalker will often toy with her prey, attempting to seduce by using her victim's human language to disorient and terrify before closing in for the kill. The final moments are swift yet gruesome, as they use their claws to make intricate cuts, a practice that has both ritualistic and culinary significance to them.

Cultural Significance

Due to the danger they pose, it would be natural to think they would be hunted and actively targeted by civilization. However, under Katrina's law, the Abyss Stalker is a protected species. One may slaughter a Stalker in self-defense, but never actively hunt for them; such an offence is punishable by death. Abyss Stalkers are considered to be the original, native species of The Realm of Dusk and Katrina's first creations. The myth goes that in the early days of the dimension's life, Katrina sought to create an image of humanity to populate her realm of shadows, like all the other Dominas, copied from Elysia's depiction of humanity. But every creator likes to put a part of themselves in their creation; Katrina's first attempt at humanity was twisted, savage, lustful and carnal; much like herself. Recognizing that such a creature could never build and advance true civilization, she instead left her creation as a female-only species to roam the wilds she created for them, free and wild as they were supposed to be. These were the ancestors of the modern Abyss Stalkers; forged intelligent enough to build empires, but choosing not to because of their wild nature and personality. The second attempt at humanity was much closer to Elysia's, though more aggressive and vengeful than them, and it was this species that ended up spreading throughout the land and settling the first city - Nightfall Keep.

Interaction with the Realm

Though typically avoiding the cities and larger settlements of The Realm of Dusk, the presence of Abyss Stalkers is always felt. They are both a threat and a natural check against the expansion of urban areas into the wilds, keeping the balance between civilization and the untamed dark nature of the realm. Occasionally, Katrina might seek to harness their ferocity for her own purposes, employing them in war as a vanguard shock battalion or assassins for high value enemy targets, though such alliances are rare and fraught with peril.

Maple Hills College trading card of an Abyss Stalker.