Umbral Husk

The Umbral Husk is a twisted, soulless creature born from the reanimation of a once-living being using Umbral water—an ancient, cursed liquid drawn from the darkest depths of the shadow realm. This dark ritual, shrouded in secrecy, is believed to be carried out by individuals with ties to the mysterious and feared Order of the Blankhand, a group known for its brutal and unnatural practices. The Order holds no moral compass when selecting its subjects; it raises the dead indiscriminately, be it common folk, warriors, or even children. The bodies they use are often marked by an eerie stillness, their souls seemingly lost to the void.   Those raised by the Umbral water are mere shells of their former selves, with no memory or consciousness, driven only by the will of the Order. However, some husks retain fragmented echoes of their past lives, especially if they were powerful in life—mages, healers, or warriors of note. In rare cases, these abilities can reemerge in twisted, corrupted forms, making these husks not just mindless servants but lethal instruments in the hands of their creators.   Their existence is considered a blight upon the natural order, a violation of the sacred rites of death. In many cultures, it is sacrosanct to disturb the rest of the dead, as their journey to the afterlife is seen as a fundamental right. To manipulate the dead, especially in such a twisted manner, is an affront to both life and death itself. The Umbral Husks are feared for the unnatural curse they carry, leaving devastation wherever they go.   These creatures are not merely abominations—they actively spread the corruption of Umbral water wherever they walk, tainting the land and killing those who cross their path. Those who fall to a Husk's touch or blade often face an even darker fate: their bodies may be used in the same vile rituals, perpetuating the cycle of death and rebirth into the ranks of the soulless. Legends say that entire villages have been wiped out and reanimated, becoming armies of the dead under the Order’s command, bringing with them the creeping darkness of the Umbral water.   Few have found ways to counteract this horror. Traditional means of cleansing the dead, like burning or consecration, offer some protection, but the fear of falling victim to the Husk's curse keeps many at a distance.