Legend tells of the Edimmu, a malevolent entity that thrives in the presence of death, feasting upon the souls of the departed. These rare and solitary creatures wander the material plane, ceaselessly searching for their next meal. The frequency of their need to consume depends on their level of activity. It is widely believed that the Edimmu represents the tormented spirit of a human who was denied proper funeral rites, an ancient belief dating back to the Sumerian society. The connection between the Edimmu and ghosts is clear, for the creature's physical form resembles that of a humanoid corpse, with a chilling complexion and texture akin to the touch of death. However, the true nature of the Edimmu is ethereal, lacking tangible substance. It materializes in the physical realm at its own discretion, driven by its insatiable hunger.
Behavior
The Edimmu is a cunning, cautious, and twisted being. Not only does it possess an insatiable thirst and hunger for death, but it also harbors a deep-seated loathing for the living and the very essence of life. These nomadic creatures are solitary by nature, seldom lingering in one place for more than a few days, if even that. Drawn to the scent and taste of death permeating the air, they are lured by sickness, decay, and despair. Their appetite for sustenance is as inherent as the need for a junkie to satisfy their craving.
Fortunately for the living, the Edimmu despise each other nearly as much as they despise the living. Should two of these creatures cross paths, they engage in violent clashes over the potent and concentrated Aether, stolen sustenance from their ill-fated encounters. Yet, they take great care to avoid such confrontations and only resort to battle when directly confronted face-to-face.
When threatened, an Edimmu often flees, unless its insatiable hunger and loathing for life override its survival instinct, driving it to fight ferociously against any who dare challenge it. The ferocity of its response is typically proportional to the creature's level of hunger.
Special Abilities
While knowledge about the Edimmu's abilities remains fragmented due to their elusiveness and scarcity, the following traits are widely attributed to these creatures. It is worth noting that they might possess additional or different capabilities, but it is believed that these form the basic repertoire of an Edimmu.
- Life Drain
- The Edimmu possesses the ability to absorb the Aether emanating from living beings. Though this method provides sustenance, it is not without difficulty, as the soul of the victim remains tethered to the material plane. The Edimmu primarily employs this ability as a tactical measure, both defensively and offensively. The affected individual experiences physical weakness and, over time, suffers the consequences of accelerated aging, as their body rapidly deteriorates without actually growing older.
- Emotional Darkness
- As the Edimmu dwells in an area, the emotional energy surrounding it becomes tainted with its dark nature, instilling feelings of depression, despair, helplessness, and an overwhelming belief that death is the only escape. Prolonged exposure to this malevolent influence can drive even the most stable individuals into madness. While one might expect the Edimmu to utilize this to induce death, the outcomes vary. The reactions of those descending into insanity are unpredictable, but often fatal in some manner.
- Inspire Fear
- The Edimmu itself exudes an unnatural aura, accompanied by a terrifying countenance. By focusing the tainted Aether within, it can project this malevolence onto others. Merely laying eyes upon an Edimmu triggers an instinctual fear response in living beings. Creatures governed by instinct, such as animals, are rendered virtually defenseless, succumbing to an overwhelming urge to flee. Even sentient beings struggle to overcome this primal terror when the Edimmu focuses its attention on them.
Encountering the Edimmu
The physical form of the Edimmu boasts tremendous strength, dexterity, and reflexes. When it manifests, the creature attacks with savage, animalistic ferocity, employing its elongated razor-sharp claws to strike its victims. Its powerful jaws, filled with razor-sharp teeth, are not hesitant to deliver lethal bites, tearing into the skulls of its prey and expelling fragments of brain and bone as it feasts upon their very souls.
Utilizing its abilities drains the Edimmu's energy reserves. While it consumes energy merely by existing, the more abilities it employs or the longer it remains materialized, the faster its reserves diminish. The creature is perpetually ravenous, but when forced into a confrontation, it quickly becomes depleted. Though cunning, the Edimmu is fueled by an unbridled rage and hatred, driving it to unleash its full arsenal against those who obstruct it. The creature's ferocity intensifies in direct proportion to its hunger.
Origins
Edimmu come into existence when an immense accumulation of malice and hatred converges at a singular point, culminating in a violent act of intense betrayal resulting in the deaths of those responsible. The souls of the deceased consume one another until they bear no resemblance to their original selves. This new entity transcends the realm of mere ghosts, gaining the ability to feed off the death that surrounds it. The shared betrayal melds with its essence, forming a singular and insidious purpose: to feed relentlessly upon the living.
Immortality
The Edimmu is impervious to death. No confirmed accounts exist of an Edimmu being truly slain. However, when vanquished to the point of complete depletion of its energy reserves and lacking a readily available source of sustenance, the creature reverts to its natural state. In this ethereal form, it becomes invisible and intangible. It is believed that the Edimmu is never truly destroyed but rather banished, left to wander until it can amass enough death to manifest once more.
Edimmu and Vampires
Despite both feeding upon the living, an Edimmu is distinct from a vampire. It does not discriminate when it comes to its prey and will readily consume a vampire like any other creature. In fact, vampires harbor a mixture of fear and hatred toward the Edimmu, as there have been accounts of the Edimmu devouring a person's soul just before they rise as a vampire. Ancient texts of dubious authenticity hint at the notion that vampires may have emerged from a fusion of Edimmu essence with that of humans or even elves.