Darklings

Fearsome creature that stalk the Trenfold Caverns, Darklings are shadowy constructs that swallow lonely travelers in deserted passages, never to be seen again.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Darklings resemble a person's shadow at first glance, until the eyes and mouth open, revealing catlike yellow eyes and a mouth full of fangs. The average Darkling stands around five and a half feet tall, and weighs 180 pounds. Darklings are capable of minor shape shifting to resemble other people, but cannot change their natural coloring. The hands and feet of Darklings are clawed, and contain acid pouches that can poison wounds inflicted by the Darkling's claws.

Biological Traits

Darklings generally do not deviate from their mean lifespan majorly, though their height and weight can change based on their shape shifting power, which allows them to mimic any being they see that is approximately human size and shape perfectly, save for color, which remains pitch black.

Genetics and Reproduction

Darklings reproduce by Osmosis. When a Darkling has reached approximately ten years of age, they will split into two identical Darklings over a period of twenty-four hours, during which time they are vulnerable. Newly formed Darklings are fully capable of surviving on their own.

Growth Rate & Stages

Darklings are formed fully capable of surviving on their own, and remain that way until they either die or split into new Darklings.

Ecology and Habitats

Darklings live in underground caves with minimal light, where they prey on the fish and other blind species that inhabit deep underground, including oozes, which they cannot be harmed by. When intellegent species, typically Dwarves or Midnight Elves, encounter Darklings, the Darklings will attack only if they outnumber the intruders, and then favor hit-and-run, striking from the shadows before looping back for a kill.
Darklings are physically harmed by Bright light, or lights that imitate the sun. exposure to sunlight or other bright light physically harms Darklings, and a Darkling can dissolve if it remains in sunlight for around eighteen seconds.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Darklings subsist mostly on Meat and Fungus. THe substance of various oozes is also fully capable of sustaining Darklings.

Biological Cycle

Darklings live approximately ten years, at the end of which they split into two new Darklings, though some variants have learned how to survive by splitting off lesser "darkling spawns." These spawn are less dangerous than Darklings, as they do not have the human-level cunning of fully fledged Darklings. the danger of the spawn, however, lies in the Darkling Lord, as ones who create Spawn are called. Darkling Lords are much more dangerous than ordinary Darklings, capable of forming complex traps and coordinating assaults by telepathically controlling Darkling Spawn.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Darklings tend to form small groups of up to ten individuals, led by the oldest and strongest Darklings.

Facial characteristics

Darklings appear as humanoid shadows, until they open their eyes, which are yellow with black slitted pupils, similar to a cat's. Darklings also have mouths full of bone-white teeth, all at least two inches long. other than that, the face of a Darkling is featureless.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Nimestra(Trenfold Caverns)

Average Intelligence

While not capable of speech, Darklings can mimic voices and possess a surprising amount of cunning, beyond that of most intelligent races.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Darklings can detect vibrations in the ground extremely well, to the point of knowing exactly how a person within 40 feet is standing. Darklings are also able to see in the dark far better than any other organism.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Darklings have no known symbiotes or parasites, though some Darklings establish understandings with Oozes on an individual basis where the Darkling will provide food in exchange for a portion of the Ooze's substance. This is a very rare occurance, however, as Darklings will more often eat the entirety of any Ooze they encounter.

Scientific Name

Waspur Philax

Lifespan

10 years

Conservation Status

Darklings are actively hunted by the Midnight Kingdom for their hunting of Midnight Elves and other travelers in the Trenfold Caverns.

Average Height

1.6 meters

Average Weight

65 kg.

Average Physique

Darklings are capable of lifting more, running longer, and striking faster than the average man. It normally takes a team of four soldiers to dispatch a single Darkling without major casualties.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Darklings have a black body marked only by its lack of distinguishing features, save for three-inch long claws that drip with poison and are capable of shredding leather with ease.