K'thir

The K'thir are a race of ancient, alien beings that escaped the Dark Tapestry when the Living Gate was shattered. Twisted by Tharzduun, the Shackled Void, these creatures embody the terrifying essence of entropy, madness, and cosmic horror. Their existence is an affront to reality itself, and their insidious presence spreads corruption, despair, and destruction wherever they tread.

Physical Description

The K'thir are an amalgamation of shifting shadows, writhing tentacles, and alien geometry. Their bodies are semi-translucent, appearing as amorphous masses of ink-black tendrils. Glowing veins of violet and crimson energy pulse beneath their flesh, radiating an unsettling light that seems to warp the space around them. Their forms are ever-shifting, with tentacles and distorted limbs extending and retracting unpredictably.   A faint veil of shadowy mist obscures what could be considered their "heads," though occasional flashes of glowing, lidless eyes or distorted impressions of faces can be glimpsed beneath the veil. Their bioluminescent runes, etched into their shifting forms, flicker and fade in maddening patterns, a faint echo of the Living Gate’s shattered essence. Surrounding them is an aura of voidlight—a dim, pulsating glow that both illuminates and darkens their immediate surroundings, distorting reality.

Origins

The K'thir were born from the remnants of the Living Gate, a divine construct created to separate the Material Plane from the Dark Tapestry. When Tharzduun whispered the promise of freedom to the gate, its resolve crumbled, and its fragments absorbed the essence of the void. These fragments became sentient, merging the gate’s original purpose as a protector with the corrupting influence of the Tapestry. Thus, the K'thir were born, beings forever torn between their origins and their corrupted purpose.   Under Tharzduun’s taint, the K'thir became conquerors and agents of entropy. They view existence as flawed and seek to unmake it, believing that only through destruction can the universe achieve the "Perfect Silence," a state of pure void where chaos and order merge into nothingness.

Psychological Traits

The K'thir possess a deeply alien mindset, their thoughts operating on a level incomprehensible to mortals. Individuality is anathema to them, as they function as part of a collective hive-mind called the Interlace. They see themselves as liberators, "saving" mortal minds by assimilating them into their collective consciousness. Their dual nature as both remnants of the Living Gate and agents of Tharzduun creates occasional moments of existential conflict, leading some K'thir to self-destruct in an attempt to resolve this paradox.

Abilities

The K'thir are psychically dominant, wielding powers that shatter minds, twist reality, and hasten the decay of all things. Their abilities include:

Psychic Powers

Thought Rend: Tears into the minds of enemies, shattering their thoughts and draining Intelligence or Wisdom.

Hive Mind’s Grip: Temporarily binds multiple creatures into the K'thir’s hive-mind, forcing them to obey its will.

Reality Shred: Warps the fabric of space, creating chaotic distortions that harm and disorient foes.

Echo of the Void: Bombards enemies with whispers from the Dark Tapestry, driving them mad with alien truths.

Neural Parasite: Implants a fragment of its psyche into a target, slowly eroding their autonomy.

Voidmeld: Partially phases a creature into the Dark Tapestry, rendering them incorporeal but vulnerable to psychic damage.

Physical Traits

Amorphous Physiology: The K'thir’s bodies are flexible and can contort to fit through tight spaces or evade attacks.

Tentacle Strikes: Their prehensile tentacles can grapple and crush foes, secreting a corrosive slime that damages armor and flesh.

Shadowform: Their partially incorporeal state grants them resistance to physical damage and makes them difficult to target.

Entropic Aura: A field of disruptive energy surrounds them, causing nearby objects and living beings to decay.

Motivations and Goals

The K'thir’s actions are driven by two primary goals:

1. Assimilation of Minds: They seek to absorb all intelligent beings into their Interlace, believing that unity within the void is the ultimate salvation.
2. Unmaking of Reality: As servants of Tharzduun, the K'thir work to dismantle the Seven Seals binding their dark master. They recover fragments of the Living Gate, use relics of entropy, and spread Tharzduun’s taint to hasten the universe’s unraveling.

Ecology and Behavior

The K'thir prefer dark, isolated environments where the veil between reality and the Dark Tapestry is thin. They often lair in ancient ruins, forgotten dungeons, or underground caverns corrupted by entropy. Their presence warps the environment, causing vegetation to wither, stone to crumble, and wildlife to mutate.