Ghouls
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Overview
The Morghuul, similarly to soul shadow-bearing spectrals, are something of a “second-second chance”; they are the shell left behind either after death or the transcendence of the soul that once inhabited the body. For example - if a process transpires where a Necromancer or Mystic become a Wraith or Wight, or that when a knight becomes a Dreadknight, that the body is left behind through said process, and is therein preserved, the player has two chances to continue their character—they already take one by cheating death through these godless mediums, but when that accursed life perishes and the true soul ascends to the Soul Stream, the body is left behind. Through Necromancy, the body can be raised as Morghuul - soulless, nameless beings whom walk as corpses; phantoms of their past lives. That which enables their flawed mindfulness, the soul shadows, are not truly souls, so they are incapable of the feats actual souls may achieve, such as casting or practicing magic. Therefore, Morghuul must resort to alchemy to satiate their magical curiosities, and for those whom practiced heavier martial arts, they must resort to lighter armaments.
Behavior
Morghuul feed upon lifeforce; it is what satiates their decayed forms and stabilizes their soul shadows, keeping their minds intact. Failure to feed upon lifeforce will send Morghuul into a bout of madness and physical degradation until they satiate their cravings. Primarily, this is by devouring living beings; by gnawing on fresh flesh to passively absorb the remaining lifeforce within these carcasses. Alternatively, a Morghuul may lower themselves to that of a Necromancers’ servant if they so dearly pine for the relief of lifeforce.
Morghuul, as beings without souls, do not depend on the Monks to return to life—instead, they full well know the nature of their undeath, and are not subject the fears that it may bring for them—for when they are cut down, they come back to life a time later, with no discernable reason as to how their revival transpired. This is considered a double-edged sword; both a curse and a blessing. Their revival does not permit the retaining of memory alluding to their deaths, however, and Morghuul are therefore forced to forget what felled them.
Morghuul are remnants, but they are simply that - remnants. They may seek the pursuits of their past lives, but they are forever a hollow shell; their flame of life has eroded to cinders. Thus, Morghuul may suffer lapses in thought, an emptiness in personality, and an ever-worsening mental condition as per their life-hungering affliction.
Abilities
- Morghuul are soulless undead, but they may roam indefinitely, in theory, if their yearning for lifeforce is consistently succumbed to; allowing Morghuul to simply exist forever.
- Morghuul, as beings without souls, do not depend on the Monks to return to life—instead, they full well know the nature of their undeath, and are not subject the fears that it may bring for them—for when they are cut down, they come back to life a time later, with no discernable reason as to how their revival transpired. This is considered a double-edged sword; both a curse and a blessing. Their revival does not permit the retaining of memory alluding to their deaths, however, and Morghuul are therefore forced to forget what felled them.
- The usual traumas of mortals are not for the Morghuul to share, for when they are arisen by whatever means, they are arisen quite literally as corpses; thus, they hold a greater tolerance to pain, and do not succumb to some wounds like normal mortal beings. This is not to be taken for granted, however—a Morghuul may survive the severing of his arms, but not decapitation or the splitting of his body in two; and he may suffer intense heat or cold, but he cannot survive being charred by flame or drowning in water.
- Morghuul have a greater threshold of endurance, but moreso in the manner where they do not perceive exhaustion like mortal folk do. Morghuul are frailer beings, but combat will tire them little, as well as other acts of physical expenditure.
Weaknesses
- Morghuul are lethargic, dejective beings, and while they may be a threat in combat, the decayed status of their unliving forms prevents them from arming themselves heavily. They are forced to become the rogue, the swordsman, the alchemist; for the roles of the knight, the heavy warrior and the strongman are unable to be tolerated by the frail form of the Morghuul. At most, they may adorn chainmail-oriented armaments, and wield a heavy longsword; but they cannot heft greatswords or massive axes, they cannot wear plate armor, and they cannot achieve greater feats of mortal strength. In truth, Morghuul are equal to other mortal folk, but in different mannerisms that make them better, but make them lesser. As a result of their weakness, Morghuul may only wear chainmail armor and wield iron weapons.
- Gold acts as a lesser bane against the Morghuul; while it isn’t able to destroy them outright, the wounds that gold weaponry inflicts brings them a great deal of pain - much unlike that of usual weaponry, which is dulled by their undeath. Gold makes dispatching Morghuul an easier feat.
- Holy magic acts as the primary bane of the Morghuul; and in it’s presence (Paladinism, Clercism, and Ascended, in specific), the Morghuul’s likeliness of defeat becomes high. Therefore, it is logical to these beings of false life to flee, lest they be decimated by the wrath of gods.
Redlines
- As soulless beings, Morghuul cannot cast magic.
Mechanics
Ghouls receive the Necrolyte Nexus race.
