Deafin

The depths aren't a location anyone in their right mind want to dive into. There's a reason for that, and no, it isn't the cannibalistic Merfolk. It's not even the damn Atlantean's that think the whole sea if their's and no one elses. No, it's because there are far worse things in those depths, and one of them, is the Deafin.

— Francesca Drake, Captain of the "Rex"

Basic Information

Anatomy

Deafin, also known as "Death-Caps" by many sailors, are a unique form of corrupted jellyfish. They have no known limit to their size, but are most commonly found around the size of a grown human male. Aside from the fact they are completely transparent, even their organs, they don't actually appear that different from their non-corrupted cousins. This is changed however due to the fact they absorb and slowly break down the bodies of their prey.
This causes the bones of various creatures to fill their bodies. But the most disturbing is the fact that the skulls of most creatures being hollow and holding pockets of gas within them after digestion, float. As such the skulls of most prey float upward to the "head" of the Deafin, causing the source of their nicknames as "Death-Caps" to become apparent.

Biological Traits

Their bodies are incredibly dense, designed to survive the pressures of the sea while being soft and moldable enough to absorb impacts effortlessly. This durability is often compared to dense rubber. Yet this does not only extend to their outer membrane but instead their entire body's. Every organ within them holds similar durability and is made up of incredibly flexible, yet durable muscles capable of constricting their prey.
To make matters worse, Deafin are capable of excreting a transparent slime that holds similarities to both acid and adhesive. Sticking to their prey and restricting their physical movements while slowly melting through their bodies, causing injury, pain, and hampering mobility. Deafin are capable of releasing this slime in strings from two tendrils found near their body's center, and will often use it similarly to ropes. Reeling in their prey using the dense, burning strands of adhesive.
Due to storing the corpses of their prey within their bodies, absorbing them through their membranes through continued contact, the Deafin are full of these bones. Adding even further durability to their bodies while also allowing them to fill certain tendrils with these bones, and use them as weighted weapons full of spiked, broken bones instead of simple heavy tentacles of muscle.
Despite their refined ability to detect movements and force in the water, showcasing an incredible sense of "touch", Deafin completely lack any form of pain receptors. They have no ability to feel pain, and as such often completely ignore any damage that their bodies may have sustained. Continuing to try and break down their prey ruthlessly even as they bleed out and die themselves.
Like all corrupted creatures in return for their monstrous size, strength, and abilities, they are incredibly weak to natural light. Sunlight causing them to suffer severe burns that, since they cannot feel pain, generally end them well before they can reach the upper-levels of the sea unless it's in the dead of night.

Growth Rate & Stages

Deafin have fairly simply reproduction and growth stages. All Deafin are completely Asexual and will produce hundreds of eggs that are released once a year into the depths of the seas. These eggs will sink into the darkest reaches of the sea, generally beneath a current swarm. A week later, the eggs that survive will hatch and begin floating upward. Generally re-joining their parental swarm, but should the swarm have been moved they will instead form a new, smaller swarm of infant Deafin. They will then grow as they acquire prey to feed or die out as one would expect.

Ecology and Habitats

Generally found within the dark tunnels of The Labyrinth as well as within the depths of the sea. Due to their inability to survive within sunlight, they are unable to exit the bathypelagic zone of the sea and survive unless the sun has set. Their bodies have evolved for this, and though incredibly buoyant seem to have a set density that causes them to, generally, remain within this level of depth in the sea. They will also be found within underground tunnels and bodies of water within the Labyrinth.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Deafin are technically omnivorous. They will try to absorb and digest anything that isn't another Deafin into their bodies, this includes rocks, coral, and other materials but this is rare due to how unusual it is for them to brush against such things. Usually, this will instead breakdown plant matter, and primarily, other creatures.
The method of this form of "feeding" is what horrifies most, however. Deafin do not kill the creatures that they eat, and instead will contort their tentacles around their prey and begin to coat them in their slime. They will then begin to break down their own membranes, and begin fusing their own flesh with the flesh of their prey in a painless, yet horrifying sensation. This process is slow, and can take up to a week for a full humanoid-sized creature to be absorbed into the Deafin's body.
Non-water breathers within the depths always have methods to breathe underwater. However, the unsaid law to always bring a single potion to nullify this effect is known due to the Deafin. As most will often rather nullify their water breathing and drown, then wait for the Deafin to slowly absorb them.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Deafin travel in great swarms, usually moving only with the currents of their homes. Due to lacking proper functional brains, Deafin hold no real social hierarchy but do seem to be able to tell prey from family as they won't eat one another, even if they may be dead or dying. On the other hand, anything else is fair game, and the Deafin will ruthlessly rip their prey apart within the swarm.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

If the parts can be acquired and shielded from natural light, there is a large market for various aspects of the Deafin. Including its slime, which sells at a high price for its alchemical uses to make adhesives and acids, even potions to render one resistant to such things. The muscles and membranes of the Deafin are also used in alchemy to create various creations to provide temporary cloaking effects, or water breathing.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Deafin are completely blind and deaf. However, they hold the ability to detect heat from the bodies of their prey. They also have incredibly sensitive tendrils that act as sensory organs to detect movements within the water in which they live, as most Daefin swarms tend to remain immobile this makes pinpointing prey incredibly easy.

Lifespan

Limitless

Average Weight

300 lbs

Average Length

7'

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Being completely transparent, the only notable trait physically is the fact that generally, Deafin hold the bones of their prey floating through their bodies.