Grays
The term "Grays" is used as if referring to a race of creatures, but in reality all Grays are individuals of any race that have succumbed to the curse of The Dim. Creatures affected by this curse grow only stark white or jet black hair, have skin in any shade of gray, and possess inky black eyes. This coloration, and the eyes in particular, make for a very startling and even haunting appearance. However, the body is not actually physically compromised in any way. Indeed, anyone who can manage a closer inspection would discover a very healthy form save for the coloration.
However, the psychological effects of The Dim are considerably more tragic. The effects on each Gray do differ slightly based on the creature's mental strength, but by far the most significant determining factor is the creature's race. And unfortunately, most sentient races suffer greatly under the effects of The Dim. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, Halflings, Dragonborn, and even Tieflings (among many others) are driven almost completely insane. Except in the rarest of cases, Grays of these races become exceedingly violent and have their intellect reduced to near-animalistic levels. These Grays possess a great terror of the sun (in those protected places where it can actually be seen) but are also subject to an even greater drive: drawing other creatures into The Dim. In the early years after The Perfect Dusk, most assumed that Grays captured healthy individuals either out of mindless violence or potentially for food. But later expeditions revealed that, almost without exception, victims that could be kidnapped and controlled were left restrained in The Dim to become Grays themselves. This behavior was intentionally woven into the curse by Anaia-Itzal himself. Of course, uncursed individuals will try desperately defend themselves from such a fate, at which point a Gray will return violence for violence instantly and viciously.
Interestingly, races with a strong preexisting proclivity towards literal darkness are only minimally affected - typically only exhibiting mild paranoia and subtly-increased aggression in comparison to unaffected members of their race. Drow and Duergar, in particular, function well in spite of the curse. And indeed, their societies have expanded greatly ever since The Perfect Dusk as other cultures crumbled.
Finally, a Gray's proximity to The Painrith has effects on it as well. Those especially close to the site accrue slightly increased strength and stamina. Conversely, those who are more distant experience mild but ever-present headaches or dizziness. Those positioned somewhere in between may experience neither effect. Those Grays who have lost most of their mental capacities are often not capable of making the connection between these effects and their nearness to The Painrith. But Drow and Duergar are very well aware, and their societies have constantly toed the line between drawing nearer to this site and avoiding uncomfortable proximity to The Brauron Line.
However, the psychological effects of The Dim are considerably more tragic. The effects on each Gray do differ slightly based on the creature's mental strength, but by far the most significant determining factor is the creature's race. And unfortunately, most sentient races suffer greatly under the effects of The Dim. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, Halflings, Dragonborn, and even Tieflings (among many others) are driven almost completely insane. Except in the rarest of cases, Grays of these races become exceedingly violent and have their intellect reduced to near-animalistic levels. These Grays possess a great terror of the sun (in those protected places where it can actually be seen) but are also subject to an even greater drive: drawing other creatures into The Dim. In the early years after The Perfect Dusk, most assumed that Grays captured healthy individuals either out of mindless violence or potentially for food. But later expeditions revealed that, almost without exception, victims that could be kidnapped and controlled were left restrained in The Dim to become Grays themselves. This behavior was intentionally woven into the curse by Anaia-Itzal himself. Of course, uncursed individuals will try desperately defend themselves from such a fate, at which point a Gray will return violence for violence instantly and viciously.
Interestingly, races with a strong preexisting proclivity towards literal darkness are only minimally affected - typically only exhibiting mild paranoia and subtly-increased aggression in comparison to unaffected members of their race. Drow and Duergar, in particular, function well in spite of the curse. And indeed, their societies have expanded greatly ever since The Perfect Dusk as other cultures crumbled.
Finally, a Gray's proximity to The Painrith has effects on it as well. Those especially close to the site accrue slightly increased strength and stamina. Conversely, those who are more distant experience mild but ever-present headaches or dizziness. Those positioned somewhere in between may experience neither effect. Those Grays who have lost most of their mental capacities are often not capable of making the connection between these effects and their nearness to The Painrith. But Drow and Duergar are very well aware, and their societies have constantly toed the line between drawing nearer to this site and avoiding uncomfortable proximity to The Brauron Line.
Type
Supernatural
Origin
Divine
Rarity
Common
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