Misshapen

In many ways, the force of nature, manifested as an energy called Earth Impel, can be a terrifying thing. The creatures birthed from the jaws of the earth are not always good and some even are predispositioned to malice. Such things are often twisted and unnatural-looking, the result of strange magics or tampered rituals. Aptly, they are called Misshapen and are feared (and sometimes revered) by many cultures.

Strange Births

The commonality of the origin of all Misshapen is the role of Earth Impel. Some call it a magic, others merely a force of nature. Regardless, it is the flour and water of these creatures and provide the circumstances of their birth. The other element is deprivation or corruption which can by physical in nature (a lack of nutrients, a poisonious cocktail) or entirely psychological (an overwhelming sense of guilt, a faith misplaced).
Most Misshapen are the result of a normal earthen creature or Hekkauthra twisted by an external influence. The Meebugn is an Undyne corrupted by polluted waters, for example. A nymph deprived of its favorite flowers for too long degrades into an unruly Kimmiri. This category of creatures is called Lamtilde, the Cantran word meaning "degraded" which is often applied to coins and gems that have lost their sheen.
The other case are creatures corrupted by Earth Impel itself. This area is more speculative as the effects of Earth Impel on living things is unpredictable and varied. Hekautabe like Werewolves and Homonculi are living things that have been corrupted by Earth Impel but are clearly not Misshapen. But Shamblers (those wayward humans from the dawn of time) share many similarities with other Misshapen and are generally regarded as such. This category of creatures is called Uwilde, a Cantran word meaning "out of balance."

Traits of the Misshapen

It rose up from the pot like a snake of night, its body sinuous and smooth. From there it bloomed into a nightmarish shape thrice its size. A face formed: red eyes and rotund snout, animal ears and and a twitching, black nose: a mockery of our dear Helen's Angels!

-- A Priest's account of a Guilt Angel

Though appearances vary widely among the Misshapen, the corrupted circumstances of their birth manifest in several shared features. Many lack concrete forms as if the shape of their bodies had been lost in the process of their birth. They take the form of undulating wraiths and fluid shapes with colorless or black bodies. Death and decay may also accompany the Misshapen and they are often heralded rotting stench, leprotic skin, and skeletal features. The most notorious example of this is the Medlyge (med-lij), an amalgamation of animal corpses whose wilting stench extends for miles. For this reason, the idea of the undead (which is entirely ficticious) is typically synonymous with the Misshapen.
Whether by accident or malicious will, almost all Misshapen are harmful to natural living things. Many are simply attracted to natural things and will attempt to embrace or ingest them as if hunting them as prey. Others have more specific targets such as Guilt Angels who actively haunt their creators and attempt to erode the faith in their god. A very rare few coexist with the natural world such as the Piofaura spirit which hunts and eats small animals and uses their bones in blessing spells.

Stories of the "Unholy"

Throughout historical records and especially religious texts, various Misshapen crop up and are near-universally regarded as evil. In the Natural Bibles, there are references to the "enemies of Her Natural Order" and the Tarnipury faith speaks of "beings who fear the light [of Anthemir]."
This does not mean the Misshapen and holy powers are in direct opposition. Indeed, the relation of Prayer and Earthen magics according to Mangagn can be mutualistic at times. Though typically the Misshapen show an aversion to clerical arts that channel positive natural energy and have historically been combated by clerics and paladins of Helenaphe, Aunon, Lour, and Mensonodia.
Worship of the Misshapen is not uncommon, however, and is a practice solidified in the faiths of Anotinysm and Maut as well as many smaller cults. They are heralded as symbols of their gods' might and portents of dire events. In Mautism especially they are seen as a manifestation of Maut themselves.

Genetic Descendants

• Guilt Angel
• Kimmiri
• Meebugn

Creatures or Kin?

Most Misshapen show little intelligence or reasoning, behaving no different from animals and bestial Gauthra. But there are subspecies like Guilt Angels and the Piofaura which demonstrate thought and language, even plotting, complex reasoning, and social interactions.
The universal language of the Misshapen (for those that can speak) is a corrupted form of Hekktang called Nyeertang or Nyeerspeech. Curiously, beings like Bell Specters, which have animal-like intelligence, show an affinity for the Nyeertang and seem to "read" it by passing their hands over the characters. This aligns with Hekktang which too is understood by means other than sight and sound.