It is not certain and has yet to be ascertained if they were created through nanotechnology or if they are some sort of viral creation, but one thing is agreed upon – they are undead and necromantic magic was involved.

Upon first sight, these beings appear to be desiccated corpses, typically wrapped in the tattered remains of exploratory uniforms, space suits, and more often than not, hospital garb.  The bodies are dusty, with the skin peeled back from the teeth due to moisture loss. Only a few wisps of hair remain on the skulls, and the eyes, if they are open, are a milky white.

The creatures move with a ponderous slowness, and do not appear to pose much of a threat as long as one can outdistance the creatures. And of course appearances can and are deceiving.

It has been rumored in the wastes when a community suffers from a serious drop in population, or larger communities are plagued by what appears to be vampires or a serial killer, it is in fact these creatures.

In modern times this typically is not much of an issue due to technology which can often root out the monsters, but in isolated colonies, stations, and so on, they often do not have access to the tools needed to combat these undead monsters.

Because it is so slow, the monster will attempt to possess a victim. Most of the time the creature will use this ability to force the victim to approach, kneel before the creature and expose its chest and neck. The creature will then attack, tearing at the neck to suck on the blood. After it has consumed all the blood the creature will then rip through the chest and remove the heart, consuming it. This will have the effect of restoring any damage it has sustained, and can even revert it to a living appearance.

During this period they appear to be alive, and are faster than most humans encountered in the wastelands. They do not speak, and they are always dressed in the same manner as when first encountered, and they do their best to remain in the shadows and unseen. It is not known if they are capable of speech, as no one has ever had the chance to speak with the creatures. It is known these creatures are intelligent and possess a deadly cunning. Some believe the creature reproduces by introducing the virus or nanites into a corpse, but no one has been able to prove or disapprove this theory. Most believe it they are created through necromantic magic, or are in some way cursed by an evil god, or are created through just the right environmental factors.

For the most part, these creatures have a ‘lair’ of sorts. They always make their homes in ruins or ancient crypts or graveyards, wrecked space craft, old long-abandoned facilities and so forth. These lairs are often littered with all manner of treasure, often taken from the corpses of those they have killed, or simply looted from elsewhere. They are kept in large containers and are neatly stacked and stored in the lairs.

If the creature is defeated or forced to leave its lair, once it has established a new home, it will start the process all over again.

Starfinder Creature Index