SoulEaters

The SoulEaters are among the most unsettling inhabitants of The Veil, roaming its floor in relentless pursuit of sustenance. These grotesque creatures are scavengers, consuming the remnants of souls left behind by other beings. Though not inherently malicious, their insatiable hunger and unsettling appearance make them one of the most feared entities within The Veil. Their purpose is vital to the realm's balance, transforming fragmented souls into the mist that perpetually shrouds this ethereal plane. The SoulEasters are as old as The Veil itself, born from the primordial chaos that defines the realm. Unlike beings such as the Dread Knights or The Unseen, SoulEasters are not tied to morality or emotion. They exist solely as a function of The Veil's ecosystem, ensuring that nothing within the realm goes to waste. Their creation is a mystery, though some legends suggest they were formed from the first fragments of souls that entered The Veil. Over time, these fragments coalesced into sentient beings, driven by the singular purpose of consumption. Others believe that SoulEaters are the result of The Veil's natural energy manifesting in physical form, much like the mist itself. Mortals who encounter SoulEaters rarely survive the experience. Though these creatures are not inherently aggressive, their insatiable hunger makes them a danger to anything with a spiritual presence. Mortals who wander too long in The Veil are often mistaken for fragmented souls, their life force drawing the attenion of nearby SoulEaters. Those who manage to escape an encounter with a SoulEater describe the experience as nightmarish. The Creatures' ability to move silently and their grotesque, insect-like forms leave an indelible mark on the minds of those who see them. Some mortals report feeling as though a part of their soul was taken, even if they managed to escape physically unharmed. The SoulEaters emobdy the concept of consumption and renewal. They are a stark reminder that nothing in The Veil is wasted, and that even in death, there is a purpose. Their relentless hunger mirrors the mortal fear of being forgotten or consumed by time, while their role in systaining The Veil's mist speaks to the cyclical nature of existence. In the Terrestrial Realm, tales of the SoulEaters are rare but terrifying. They are often described as spirits of gluttony, consuming everything in their path. Some cultures believe that SoulEaters can enter the mortal world during moment of extreme spiritual imbalance, preying on the souls of the dying or those left unburied. These stories often serve as cautionary tales, warning mortals to honour their dead and protect their souls from falling into The Veil.

Basic Information

Anatomy

SoulEaters are grotesque insectoid creatures with shifting, amorphous forms. Their bodies are covered in jagged, chitinous plates that seem to glisten with an oily sheen, blending seamlessly with the mist of The Veil. Long, spindly limbs extend from their bodies, each ending in razor-sharp talons used for grasping and tearing at the remnants of souls. Their most striking feature is their mouths: circular maws filled with rows of needle-like teeth that rotate endlessly, cpaable of grinding even the most resilient soul fragments into energy. Their "faces" lack eyes, as they navigate The Veil using an acute sense of energy detection, drawn to even the faintest traces of lingering soul matter. When idle, SoulEaters fold into themselves, resembling nothing more than jagged, blackened stones scattered across the ground. However, once a fragment of a soul is detected, they unfold with alarming speed, revealing their true, horrifying forms.

Ecology and Habitats

The SoulEaters are intricately connected to other inhabitants of The Veil. They rely on The Wraithkin and shattered Vestiges as their primary source of sustenance, often following these beings in search of fragments to consume. While they avoid direct confrontation with more powerful entities like the Dread Knights or The Unseen, they are not above scavenging the remains of those who fall in battle. The mist created by the SoulEaters sustains other Creatures of The Veil, such as the Vesperlights, which draw energy from its ambient presence. In this way, the SoulEaters serve as a crucial link in The Veil's ecosystem, ensuring that nothing goes to waste.

Dietary Needs and Habits

SoulEaters are relentless scavengers, driven by an unending hunger for the fragmented remnants of souls. They roam The Veil's floor in packs or alone, their movements swift and silent. Though they are not aggressive toward other beings, they are territorial when feeding, often clashing with one another over larger fragments of soul matter. Their hunger is instinctual, not malicious, and they do not dinstinguish between sources of their sustenance. Whether the fragments come from The Wraithkin, shattered Vestiges, or a soul that has wandered too long in The Veil, the SoulEater consumes it without hesitation. Once consumed, the fragments are metabolised into the mist that blankets The Veil, perpetuating the realm's eerie and oppressive atmosphere.

Behaviour

The SoulEaters are a paradoxical presence in The Veil: horrifying in appearance and behaviour, yet essential to the realm's balance. They are neither good nor evil, existing solely to fulfill their purpose. To encounter a SoulEater is to face the relentless, impartial hunger of The Veil itself, a reminder that even in the most chaotic realms, there is structure and design.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The SoulEaters play a vital role in maintaining The Veil's ecosystem. By consuming fragmented souls, they prevent The Veil from becoming overrun with spiritual detritus. Their ability to metabolise these fragments into mist ensures that the balance of the realm is preserved, with the mist acting as both a barrier and a source of energy for other beings within The Veil. Without the SoulEaters, The Veil would likely collapse under the weight of unprocessed soul fragments, disrupting the delicate equilibrium that allows it to function. In this way, the SoulEaters are both essential and inevitable, a reminder that even in teh most chaotic realms, there is order and purpose.