Heartless

A species comprised of raw dark energy and malice. Animalistic and destructive by nature, the heartless are innumerable and destructive in number. they take many forms, some stronger and scarier than others.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A form effectively of shadow itself, barely a solid entity. known for flatting into the ground to avoid attacks and get the drop on predators. Its two eyes glow a warm yellow. its claws, sharp, yet technically not solid. some subspieces may have natural armour, and tend to adapt very quickly to thier environment-even as far as to gain elemental powers. they usually tend to have no muscular or skeletal structure however, as is naturally common of elementals.

Biological Traits

Heartless tend to be vulnerable to light and holy magic (1.5X dmg), yet resistant to necrotic and other dark magics (1/2 dmg). They cannot be charmed, and most cannot even be reasoned with. they have no emotions, no heartstrings to tug. their biology can vary wildly, from the goblin-like Shadow , to the gargantuan Darkside.
Purebloods are made entirely from hearts stolen by the heartless, and possess no 'armour'. Whereas Emblems tend to possess colourful natural armour-and are created via an as yet unknown means.

Genetics and Reproduction

Heartless do not reproduce normally. instead, they make more of their kind by killing other species, and (hopefully) turning their hearts into more of their kind

Growth Rate & Stages

Heartless are not known to grow once they have assumed form. however, some variants do merge together in a symbiotic relationship in order to forge a newer, stronger entity.

Ecology and Habitats

Their natural habitat is the mysterious realm of darkness, a mirror dimension where darkness is eternal, no sun or brightness exists. as such, nature is limited to gnarled vines, mushrooms, and the like. however, heartless can adapt to any environment, even the harsh coldness of space.
Heartless do tend to destroy thier environment however, attempting to corrupt it into a space more comfortable to their kind.

Dietary Needs and Habits

These creatures do not appear to eat, though it is theorised that they consume any heart (soul) tat does not become a heartless. they also do not sleep, and appear to be immune to magical sleep.

Biological Cycle

It is yet unknown if heartless are affected in the slightest by the mere passage of time, for nobody has observed one for more than a few months, or at least one still alive to share their knowledge on the subject.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Heartless for the most part do not socialise, barring the more humanoid varients-which are so few that no such social construct has ever been witnessed.

Domestication

It is nearly impossible to 'domesticate' a heartless. however, some species can be made into mystical familiars, with the use of some rare items (usually dropped by said species upon its defeat). imbuing this will create a summon charm of sorts-though the resulting summon is much weaker in terms of combat power.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Heartless frequently drop dark elemental essence when they are killed, the type and power of which depending on the subspecies. these tend to be used in alchemy. besides this there are few other uses for them.

Facial characteristics

Almost all heartless have pitch black skin and piercing yellow eyes. some may have mouths, but most do not have noses or ears.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

varies between subspecies, but are found in greater numbers in the realm of darkness, and areas with a number of 'evil' beings.

Average Intelligence

most heartless are dim witted and animallistic. some apply a pack like instinct; such as the that can use group tactics to flank and outmanoeuvre their foes. however, the most terrifying in this regard are the 'humanoid' variety-those that maintained sapience after becoming heartless.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Has poorer eyesight in bright light/daylight (60ft) (disadvantage to save vs blindness from light magic/sources) sees dim light and darkness with zero difficulty, and is immune to the effect of magical darkness.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

most heartless do not possess any symbiotic traits, however, some species will merge into greater forms, or even possess inanimate objects to utilise their functions.

immune to charmed, fear, and +2 vs persuasion and intimidation saves. Cannot be detected by detect life and detect magic. resists necrotic and darkness magic, but weak to radiant. Can see in dim/low light without penalty, but has disadvantage on perception checks in daylight/bright light +1 to constitution and +2 dexterity, -1 Charisma.
Once per long rest, can use 'darksight', to see in complete/magic darkness.

Genetic Descendants

• Abysslime
• Air soldier
• Bandit (heartless)
• Beige Dubstep
• Bit sniper
• Blue Rhapsody
• Bouncywild
• Bulky vendor
• Cactuoscura
• Candy apple
• Creeper plant
• Crimson Jazz
• Darkside
• Fat bandit
• Flappy rider
• Flower rider
• Gift shadow
• Green Requiem
• Heartless armour
• Large Body
• Lion dancer
• Mega-shadow
• Neoshadow
• Poison Apple
• Possessor
• Pot Centipede
• Pot spider
• Powerwild
• Razorjaw
• Red mushroom
• Red nocturne
• Rodeo rider
• Shadow Mephit
• Shadow Witch
• Soldier (heartless)
• Stealth sneak
• Trickmaster
• Yellow Opera

Scientific Name

Heartless

Origin/Ancestry

Primordial elemental

Lifespan

unknown

Conservation Status

Current predicted specimens count: Innumerable. potentially even infinite.

Average Height

varies between subspecies

Average Weight

varies between subspecies

Average Length

varies between subspecies

Average Physique

This again varies heavily by subspecies.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The skin of of a heartless is pure, abyssal black. Emblem heartless of course posses the emblem of a crossed out heart somewhere on their artificial armour bodies. this is more obvious when seen on the more powerful varieties.