Saeroth
The Chosen
- Objective: To canonize a corrupted subrace of mankind.
- Category: Human Sub Race
- Image Credit: Dre Monkkol Image 1 | Dre Monkkol Image 2 | Banners made by Nefadar
- Development Thread: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Name: Dre Monkkol
- Aliases: Formal: Dre Monkkol | Common: Men of Darkness, The Forsaken | Derogatory: Mongrels, Orcs, Man-beasts
- Longevity: ~40 years
- Population: Uncommon
- Origin: Rumoured to have been created at the height of the Dominion of Man's power, in the shattered regions of what once was the Great City.
- Diet: Omnivore
- Habitat: Scattered in remote pockets of the world, in pockets of varying size.
- Description: Twisted and re-formed by malevolent forces of antiquity, the Dre Monkkol are a profane manifestation that occurs when Mankind fall sway to the dark entities that call the unknown planes of existence their home. Visually, they appear almost identical to regular humans depending on their level of corruption. At best, their skin is pallid with faint indications of being 'not quite right'; slight mutations of the skin that make them appear as slightly other-than-human, yet passibly so. At worst, their skin and overall form is twisted to the point of appearing as little more than a husk; an animalistic shell of what humanity normally is. While their existence has been lost to the ages up until recently, those who encounter the Dre Monkkol would find them to be brutal and savage combatants who are fully committed to the malevolent ends of their masters.
- Average Height: 1.52 to 1.83 meters
- Average Weight: 80-100 KG
- Eye Colour: Diverse, akin to the natural colours of normal humans, yet with an otherworldly taint.
- Hair Colour: Varied, normal hues.
- Skin Tone: Typically a 'fairer' version of whatever skin tone they had as a normal human (if black, a more 'faded' pigment of black. If white, a paler, almost pallid white.)
- Distinctive Traits: While there is a general cohesion in how they act and appear, minor superficial variations occur in the above listed attributes depending on the particular dark patron they serve. Additionally, the Dre Monkkol can be further divided into two sub-categories or variations that are universal regardless of their dark patron; both of whom act and are capable of vastly different things:
- The Base Dre Monkkol, otherwise known colloquially as 'the Mongrels', behave very much akin to feral beasts or animals. The Mongrels look far more corrupted to an almost unrecognizable extent compared to regular humans. While this would make a baseline Dre Monkkol easy to spot where it doesn't belong, it does little to affect its capability or brutality in combat. The vast majority of the Dre Monkkol fall into this category.
- The Elevated Dre Monkkol, otherwise known colloquially as 'The Forsaken', act and operate at a level near-equivalent to regular humans. They maintain their sentient-level intelligence, and are considered to be exceedingly cunning and capable compared to their base-level brethren. While corrupted via their pact with unknowable evil entities, those who are of 'The Forsaken' have generally undertaken their dark pact willingly, whereas the base variant of the Dre Monkkol are generally considered to have been subjected to this pact unwillingly - be they kidnapped farmers or peasantry from bygone eras.
- General Lifestyle: The base level Dre Monkkol carry themselves as little more than animals - only kept in line by the malign will of their masters and the elevated variants of their brethren, with a primal bloodlust and carnage that can devastate the unprotected and unwary. The elevated of their number possess a cunning malevolence centered around self-preservation, or the furtherance of their dark patron. Without a central will to serve, most Dre Monkkol lie dormant in the dark recesses of the world. Those who awake, roam as savage marauder bands - leaderless, and with little plan other than survival.
- Cultural Values: The Dre Monkkol are very clan-like and primal in nature. Pain and strength reign supreme, with the strongest of the Elevated within their band serving as their leader.
- Magic Sensitivity: Unusual, very rare.
- Magical Abilities: N/A
- Sons of Darkness (All): Given their ancient pact with the malevolent forces of the unknown planes, the Dre Monkkol possess a seeming absence of fear; even under insurmountable odds. When led by someone of strong will and presence via one of numerous dark entities within the void, their effectiveness, cohesion, and battlefield resilience is boosted exponentially - making them ideal soldiers.
- Primal (Base): Over the millennia, the Dre Monkkol have earned a legendary reputation for being a blight upon society; a primal force of darkness that acts upon an inbred instinct akin to the beasts of the wild. They attack with a feral ferocity, and when coupled with their enhanced strength and endurance - they are among the most intimidating and formidable foes to encounter.
- Forsaken Sons (Elevated): The elevated members of the Dre Monkkol possess an intimate knowledge of the world of man - not simply of the societies they are derived from, but of the nature of man as a race. Combined with their craftiness and the enhanced physical attributes of their baseline 'Mongrel' brethren, the Forsaken are natural field commanders for the Men of Darkness; Dubious in place of honor, crafty in place of empathy, and ruthless in place of merciful.
- Sons of Darkness: While the dark powers that corrupt these sons and daughters of men provide notable benefits, these 'gifts' also bring severe drawbacks. While the Dre Monkkol do not experience fear or fear inducing effects, they are made to be led by someone of strong will and fortitude. Should the person or entity leading them falter, they are prone to scattering and reducing in both efficacy and cohesion. In such a state, even when being led by Elevated members of their ilk - they devolve to little more than scavengers and marauder bands as opposed to a unified army.
- Corrupted: At best, the Forsaken members of the Dre Monkkol appear 'out of the ordinary' in terms of the normal world of men - a certain aspect of them that appears slightly off by comparison. At worst, the baser variants of the Mongrels are grotesque and animalistic in both their manner and appearance, making them obvious outcasts to any but those of their kind.
- Malign Patron: A common flaw within the Dre Monkkol is they all are subjected to the service of some dark patron, meaning that their souls do not belong to themselves - but are indelibly tied to a malign will that in many cases is unknown (though almost certainly malevolent) in its purpose and nature.
"I have long studied the Age of the Dominion, and the events that led to and followed its collapse. It was said that when the Dominion of Man reigned ascendant over the known world, mankind showcased the darkness that lay dormant within their hearts as they enslaved, oppressed, and conquered as much of the known world they could reach. But when the gods intervened and smote the Great City in their judgement, mankind scattered to the far corners of the world as we know it; forming the communities that eventually gave birth to the nations of Ostrein, Merelais, Masrypt, et al. But In the early years following this great collapse of society, there were still those who sought to realize unfulfilled ambitions within their hearts. Some of these ones turned to the dark and unknowable powers of the void, placing their faith in patrons who promised them dark powers in exchange for their worship."
"It was through the foul magic of such pacts that secrets were revealed, and rituals were performed in a desperate bid to reclaim ascendancy. The Dre Monkkol were born and bred for that purpose, and were responsible for unspeakable terrors as the world plunged into an era of darkness in the ruins of the Dominion. I have even found ancient, disputed texts that hint to the inclusion of Aether Dust in their creation, which would beg the question - why would anyone want to touch the contemptible substance? But I digress... anyway, rather than uniting the world in another collective age of oppression and strife, the ambitions and scheming of these original Men of Darkness caused them all to descend into obscurity - and for vast swathes of these Dre Monkkol to either die on forgotten battlefields in nameless wars, or to mysteriously vanish from the known world... until now at least, for I suspect I know what happened to them."
"I have joined an expedition in the far east. We departed from Kyvaa, one and all braving the harsh cold and the harsher people and animals bent on nearly killing us all on more than one occasion. I happened upon a traveler back in my home of Pomegratia who spoke of fell energies shrouding the windswept tundras and gloomy vales in darkness. At first, I thought he was on the verge of madness, but I find that now I cannot ignore the words he used to describe the region. He spoke of... whispers in the night. Of the inescapable feeling of being watched..."
"...Of twisted wolves and bears whose eyes glowed with a malevolent light. He even spoke of... human forms deep within the scattered forests, seemingly standing in a state of inactivity. He claimed he barely escaped with his life, and made way with all haste to the safety of the realms of man. We all thought he was crazy, including myself - yet now, I'm not so sure... unless I too am descending into madness."
"After careful study, I am convinced that this might be a hidden pocket of the old Dre Monkkol. It could be nothing, and this whole expedition could be a waste of good gold - something the College may well chasten my hide for. But I must know. I hear a... a voice, in the recesses of my mind, spurring me onward. I... I must go into the woods. I must know what has been lost to time."
"I must find them." ~The blood-stained chronicle of professor 'Reinhardt Steyn'
