Carnite

An umbrella term used to describe any horrific mutant that was spawned from the flesh of the Festerplains. Carnites are born a mess of tangled, twisted flesh and bone, likely failed attempts by the Festerplains to create an heir to the Cyclops.
Technically speaking the creatures found within the Bloodcoast Sea are also classified as carnites due to the very erratic mutations that can be found there. However, those versions of carnites are created by mutations in preexisting organisms induced by exposure to Cyclopean amniotic fluid. Known as "maris-carnites", these beings are much more consistent in terms of their mutations. For example, a species of fish exposed to the Bloodcoast sea might gain mutations A,B and C. This means that no matter what, if the individual in question is of the same fish species, they will receive a mutations A, B and C, perhaps with some minor variation.
The terrorite is an example of a maris-carnite that has propagated with a stable form of mutated genetic material. It was originally a novel species mutated from sea anemone but has since reproduced in a consistent fashion that one would consider it to be its own unique species.

Basic Information

Anatomy

As carnites are mutant aberrations, there isn't a consistent physiological appearance found among them. Some may have a large amount of limbs while others slither like a snake across the ground. Some have no eyes while others have too many.

Biological Traits

A carnite's biological characteristics are very hard to define as their greatest gimmick is their incredible variation. No two carnites are the same, some of them dying before they can even travel far from the Festerplains- this leaves the exact nature of what makes these monsters tick a giant mystery. Carnites are driven by a chaotic mixture of emotions and primal urges, sometimes hunting out of hunger or sport. Its mood can change on a dime, and its objectives are in constant flux. Often described as a storm incarnate, a carnite's presence is never taken lightly.
Carnites can also form as a result from late-stage mutation of a manikin, humans infected by various means with cells from the Festerplains. However, the line between a manikin and a carnite is often blurred, as the process of mutation can take months to years before the human characteristics of the creature are no longer discernible.

Genetics and Reproduction

Being what is quite literally a mistake, carnites are infertile and unable to properly produce progeny. However, there have been some exceptions where a carnite sustains specific injuries that have allowed it to split into two increasingly unique organisms. This is a rare case and replication of such an event involves many variables.

Carnites can also form as a result from late-stage mutation of a manikin, humans infected by various means with cells from the Festerplains. However, the line between a manikin and a carnite is often blurred, as the process of mutation can take months to years before the human characteristics of the creature are no longer discernible.

Growth Rate & Stages

These shambling fragments of the festerplains will grow at different speeds depending on the size or shape dictated by the random slurry of genetic material cobbled together to birth such a thing. Certain carnites can be small, and hence take only hours to days to form. Other carnites can be massive, 2-story high monstrosities that takes months to years to finish gestating.

Ecology and Habitats

Carnites are the only part of the Festerplains that do not work together. While ventrem balloons and carrion retrievers are symbiotic and both work to provide the Festerplains with more biomass, carnites are tumour-like creatures cast out from the Festerplains for being failures. Carrion retrievers are not combative creatures, but will swarm and irritate a carnite to attempt to get it to flee. Other parts of the Festerplains will react violently to a carnite's presence, spewing it with acids to try and digest it or kill it with bone spike pits and other traps.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Different carnites are born with different internal organs, sometimes with none at all. As such, every individual carnite's capacity to eat and diet are highly variable.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

As carnites are comprised of flesh nearly identical to the Festerplains', they are often hunted by (and sometimes even captured) by very specific people who are interested in trying to exploit the highly mutagenic cells within. For example, a cult may be interested in trying to utilize carnite flesh as a bioweapon.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

If born in the Festerplains, carnites may roam the Dawn Wastelands or even traverse South to the Legerian mainland.
Carnites are not exceedingly common on the mainland, but they have surfaced often enough in history that many people are familiar with the concept. Not every carnite eaves a path of destruction in its wake, meaning that a carnite could arrive and "appear" in a Phovezilan forest without any trace of its journey there. It's estimated that on average, 10 carnites can be found in the mainland's wilds at once.

Average Intelligence

Highly variable depending on size and structure of brain generated.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Due to the sporadic growths of limbs, feelers, eyes and other organs, different carnites have different capacities to register stimuli.

Lifespan

???

Average Height

???

Average Weight

???

Average Length

???

Average Physique

Highly variable depending on muscle mass and body size generated.

Geographic Distribution

• Festerplains