The Shrivener is a feral, predatory beast that roams the twilight borders of the Shroud, its fur matted with grime and clinging remnants of corrupted blood. Its gaunt body is a patchwork of flesh and fur, with a hunched back and limbs that end in long, razor-sharp claws. Despite its disheveled appearance, the Shrivener is a swift and agile hunter, moving with an unsettling grace and relentless ferocity.
The creature's face is elongated, resembling a twisted fusion of a canine with an avian beast, with a skull-like snout and deep, hollow eye sockets. Though it appears blind, the Shrivener navigates through a heightened sense of smell and sound, allowing it to track prey in the thickest forests and dense fields. Its jagged teeth protrude from a maw that never seems to fully close, always drooling a viscous liquid that poisons the ground where it walks.
Shriveners prefer areas of overgrown forests, fields or abandoned villages where human presence is sparse but still detectable. They are most often seen at dusk or during overcast days when the light is dim, allowing them to blend in with their environment. While they avoid large settlements, preferring the cover of the wild, Shriveners are notorious for prowling near roads and isolated farmsteads, ambushing travelers or anyone foolish enough to wander too close to a nest.
These creatures are known to make dens in hollowed-out trees, ruined structures, or shallow caves, marking their territory with the bodies of their kills, which they leave to rot and draw in other scavengers that they will eventually hunt as well.
The Shrivener is a patient and cunning predator, known for stalking its prey for hours, sometimes even days, before striking. It uses its heightened senses to track movement and smells, often circling its quarry while staying out of sight. Once it determines the best moment to strike, the Shrivener charges with terrifying speed, using its powerful hind legs to leap great distances and pin down its prey.
Unlike other Shroudspawn, the Shrivener does not attack immediately. Instead, it toys with its victims, using its claws to inflict shallow wounds and wearing them down over time. This is both a hunting tactic and a form of sadistic play, as the creature seems to relish in the fear and pain of its prey before going in for the final kill.
Shriveners have been observed hunting in small packs, or in pairs during the harshest seasons, particularly when food is scarce. A pack of Shrivener can display a disturbing level of coordination, flanking their prey and driving them into traps.
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