ghoul
These emaciated, undead parodies of humanoids are eternally hungry for the rotted flesh of dead humanoids, even though there is no indication that they require nourishment to fuel their unnatural existence. Ghouls can frequently found in packs near cemeteries or battlefields, feeding on the carrion they find there, but if their preferred food is scarce, they may turn to the living to sate their hunger. In such cases, anyone who survives a bite from a ghoul must seek treatment within a few days or else succumb to Ghoul Fever, reanimating as another ghoul.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Ghouls are roughly humanoid in shape, though they tend to look emaciated, with their skin stretched tight over their skeleton. Their nails are long, broken, and filthy, and their teeth are jagged and stained. Unlike zombies, ghouls do not typically look decayed, but their skin may be leathery and discolored.
Genetics and Reproduction
As undead, ghouls do not reproduce by conventional means, but their bite carries ghoul fever, which can change the afflicted into another ghoul.
Ecology and Habitats
Ghouls can be found virtually anywhere on Lyranthium, though most varieties are found on land or underground. They prefer regions near battlefields or cemeteries, where they may scavenge for the carrion they eternally crave, but at times these feeding habits will bring them in close contact with inhabited areas, particularly in times of scarcity or pestilence.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Ghouls possess an eternal, bottomless hunger for the flesh of dead humanoids that cannot be sated, no matter how much they eat. This drives them to relentlessly seek out and consume the flesh of intelligent creatures without much in the way of strategy beyond overwhelming numbers and inability to get tired.
Behaviour
Ghouls typically possess only the basest of animal cunning, but their tendency to roam in packs can make them extremely dangerous. Even a lone ghoul can bring its ravenous kin down upon potential prey if it makes enough noise, and some varieties of ghouls have been known to let out a loud scream or groan in the presence of a food supply.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Ghouls have a keen sense of smell, allowing them to find carrion from miles away or track down living prey over even longer distances. They can see in perfect darkness, making them excellent nocturnal hunters, though sunlight does not bother their eyes.
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