Iannic-ann-ôd

Iannic-ann-ôd, formed from the bodies of drowning victims, are typically humanoid in appearance, largely resembling the forms they held in life. While their overall morphology remains consistent, Iannic-ann-ôd often show signs of their drownings. They are frequently extremely pale, as if bleached in the sun, and covered in grey and blue bruising. Scarring is common on their bodies, and barnacles sometimes cling to their bodies. Iannic-ann-ôd commonly have sunken features and glassy white eyes without iris or pupil   Their hair is often long, matted and scraggly, with female Iannic-ann-ôd possessing long hair that drifts on the waves and entangles oars. Even when on shore, the Iannic-ann-ôd are always soaking wet.

Iannic-ann-ôd do not directly reproduced, nor can they be created artificially. Rather, they are formed from a collection of natural and magical conditions. They are the corpses of the "lost drowned", deceased sailors who drowned with their bodies never recovered. The anonymity of being "lost at sea" seems to be a crucial part of this process, as those intentionally drowned or dumped into a waterbody after death never return as Iannic-ann-ôd, although they may rise as another Sluagh, such as Draugr or Revenants. If the body of the deceased is recovered and given a proper burial, the manifestation of the Iannic-ann-ôd ceases.   While a body being "lost at sea" is required for the creation of an Iannic-ann-ôd, it is not the only dispositive factor. The corpse must be infused with the Hud, drawing energy from the leylines flowing along oceanic channels, seeping into the body and reanimating it after death as the Unquiet Dead. Unlike some Sluagh, a being killed by an Iannic-ann-ôd does not have any increased chance of rising as one themselves, although it may allow the other criteria to be met more easily. The Iannic-ann-ôd do not take any actions that show intent to increase their numbers.

The Iannic-ann-ôd, being undead, do not grow, but they continue to decay, although the speed of this is greatly slowed by the magical energies infusing them. As time progresses, the corpses show signs typical to that of a body decaying in similar circumstances and environments, with notable bloating, sagging of the skin and discoloration. Animals and accidents will accelerate this damage, but in the right conditions, a Iannic-ann-ôd can theoretically continue its existence without limit, although this is almost unheard of in practice, as the creatures take no steps for self-preservation.   Interestingly, aside from this minor deterioration, the Iannic-ann-ôd are difficult to kill. When a hunt begins, a dismembered Iannic-ann-ôd will seemingly regain dismembered limbs as it jumps between locations, making defense against the creatures difficult.

Iannic-ann-ôd are found in salt-water environments, appearing along coastlines, channels and marshes. Fully amphibious, they typically wander out the the Gwantenn (Shallows) onto the shoreline without discernible goals. They commonly reside near the areas that they died, but can be pulled away by external forces, like currents. The Iannic-ann-ôd slowly gravitate towards their hometowns, but never seem to quite reach them.   Iannic-ann-ôd are typically dormant during the daylight, rising from their watery graves to roam the shallows and shores at night, under stormclouds or heavily overcast skies. While they do not react to sunlight, they will slowly retreat from it.

Iannic-ann-ôd do not need to eat or drink and no reliable reports exist suggesting otherwise. Their existence is preserved by the magical properties of the water in their bodies.

The Iannic-ann-ôd are known to cling to the sides of boats fishing at night.  

The Cry of the Iannic-ann-ôd

  Iannic-ann-ôd are typically passive, wandering aimlessly without reacting to each other or other creatures, expelling a cry of "Iou! Iou!" They are typically not hostile or even active, showing no indication of awareness or intelligence. Should the cry be returned, however, this changes.   The first time the cry is returned, they close half the distance between themselves and the respondent, seemingly instantaneously, vanishing from one location and appearing at another. The next response, they will close half the remaining distance. On the third and final cry, they will snap the speaker's neck. With the speaker dead at their feet, they return to their wanderings without further interaction. Once the third cry is given, they will not stop until the speaker is dead, slipping restraints and passing through solid stone in their drive to kill the speaker. The creature is not restricted to the coastline and can travel far inland and even into the air to enact its ere-hud.

Iannic-ann-ôd typically make no expressions beyond their neutral staring baseline, their mouths hanging open in a blank, slack-jawed manner. Often, the soft parts of the bodies, such as eyes and tongues, will be eaten by birds and fish. Prone to bloating, their skin often seems to hang loose off of their bones.

Iannic-ann-ôd can be found along any body of saltwater, but are especially prevalent in dangerous stretches of water with high rates of shipwrecks and drowings, such as the Armorican Peninsula, where sailors and coastal inhabitants are frequently lost to treacherous seas. The Iannic-ann-ôd sometimes wander inland during periods of storms and flooding, but commonly stick to coastal regions and marshes.   The Iannic-ann-ôd gather annually on Kalan-Goañv in the Bae an Anaon of the Crozon Peninsula. While Tasmant emerge from the waters on foot or in small boats, beginning a ghostly procession to a lonely chapel on the storm-tossed rocks. The Iannic-ann-ôd, denied entry onto the Bag Noz, bob in the water in the tens of thousands, arms outstretched and letting out their horrid cries.

Despite possessing the external sensory organs they had in life, Iannic-ann-ôd do not respond to visual, olfactory or tactile stimuli, relying exclusively on auditory cues. Their distinctive cries of "iou" functions as a rudimentary form of echolocation, using it to hunt and navigate their surroundings. The exact range and function of their hearing capabilities remains unclear, but they are known to react to sound over both great distances and with complex sophistication, responding to sounds as minute as drops of water, breathing and even heartbeats.

Also called krierien-noz (Night Screamers)

Only oaken wood can block their path, and they will point on oaken doors until daylight, but will not cross a threshold with a sealed oaken door. They will not step on the deck of a oaken ship, or puncture through an oaken hull, although they will kill a speaker who approaches the edge.

Among the living, the calls of the Iannic-ann-ôd are feared and resented, but the dead themselves are greatly pitied. Most cultural depictions show them as dangerous, but not actively hostile, with some even claiming their cries warn of dangers at sea, such as approaching storms or sea monsters.

The Iannic-ann-ôd arise from those lost at sea and have the most interaction with mortals. An (often-fatal) dare among coastal inhabitants is to respond to a wailing wind on the assumption it is a Iannic-ann-ôd, a show of bravery and bravado. Should the third cry be responded to, very little will save the respondent or any who try to block the creature's path.   The Merfolk of Alvez take a number of different approaches to the Iannic-ann-ôd.  

The Iannic-ann-ôd infest the lower wards of Ys-Beneath-the-Waves, and the Marie-Morgane will destroy the creatures they come across, putting them to rest in a funerary ritual.

The Morgazh of the Bevenou rarely interact with the Iannic-ann-ôd, which typically manifest in the shallows. Those which are encountered are killed on site.

The Finfolk will devour the creatures, or taking advantage of an attack to launch their own.

The Selkie flee from their presence.