Nightstalkers

"Why can't we just call them zombies? That's basically what they are."
"Well, zombies are supposedly people risen from the dead, and we just barely got here."

Zombies, walkers, whatever you want to call them, Nightstalkers are a species of vaguely humanoid creatures that inhabit The Hollow Lands and emerge at night (hence the name). These monsters travel in hordes and packs as they roam the countryside, attacking any intelligent life they can find, until the sunrise scares them back into their hiding places.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Nightstalkers, especially from a distance, appear to follow a similar body plan to humans, in that they have two legs, deformed arms, a thin body, and a head, but that is where the superficial similarities end. Their body is covered in a thin layer of pale skin, usually light grey or blue, that barely conceals their bones and muscles. Their bony jaws, which are unhinged like a snake's, are lined with sharp teeth shaped for ripping and tearing. Most unsettlingly, these creatures emit an aura of strange energy that mentally weakens and discourages those around them. Soldiers fighting them become unnaturally tired and depressed, even when well rested on an otherwise good day.

Biological Traits

Their average lifespan is difficult to measure, since they have a tendency to suicidally throw themselves at intelligent targets and get themselves slaughtered by the hundreds. Even excluding this variable alone causes their average to jump to about 40 years.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Nightstalkers feed directly off a newly discovered type of energy that is emitted during the short period after a living creature dies. It is unclear what this substance is, but the amount released seems directly connected to the intelligence of the prey. They can even capture it from the destruction of certain artificial intelligences.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

While studies on the subject are still incomplete, current results indicate they live throughout The Hollow Lands.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Creepily, the Nightstalkers are almost blind even though they possess six glowing blue eyes. However that does not make them any less dangerous. They can sense heat signatures with their eyes and seem to be able to "smell" an as-of-yet unidentified source of energy emitted by most life of a certain intelligence. Some even call it magic. Regardless, they also have a strong sense of hearing due to their nocturnal nature. The creatures are extremely sensitive to high quantities of light (aka sunlight), which drives them to only emerge during the night or on very cloudy days.

Scientific Name

Hostelas Noctun

Lifespan

2 years

Conservation Status

If they went extinct, that'd be a good thing

Average Height

4.5 ft

Average Weight

62 pounds

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

They are usually light grey to light blue, and are covered in small speckles that look like freckles.