All realms come to touch the prime material plane in some way or another. These other realms can sometimes be perfect mirrors of the material plane, others are realms of powerful elemental or cosmic forces. More often than not, these realms also have denizens of their own. Gravespawn are from one such realm, a dead land with little life and light. A place of oppressive shadow, producing mutated humanoid creatures.
Children of Shadow
Most Gravespawn are willowy by their nature, but can tend to possess the shoulders of muscular humans with a touch of elven grace and slender frame as their anatomy continues down towards the hips. There is always something that seems to be subtly wrong about their appearance. Standing between 6 1/2 to 7 feet in height on average and an average weight of 175 lbs, their bodies never seem to be properly proportioned. At times the abdomen seems a touch too long, other times the arms and legs, or the neck. Never do these humanoids appear quite 'normal.'
Though Gravespawn look it, they are not undead. Simply touched by the energies of that domain so deeply that it has altered their forms significantly. With skin holding a death-like pallor, lending to flesh ranging from porcelain to a near metallic gray with their veins appearing black beneath. The skin turns to black along the extremities as well, seeming to toughen and claw forward in regards to toes and fingers. Growing surprisingly thin, though abundant, hair atop their scalps tends to fall to a great variety of color, but of dark shades.
Gravespawn also have developed natural weapons in the form of clawed fingers and long, sharp teeth within their mouths. It is rare that these weapons see any manner of use. Their ears appear vaguely elven in their shaping, long and pointed near the tips. Despite their macabre appearances, their faces retain a surprising level of expressiveness that can make them appear even more alien than the rest of their physiology, only further enhanced by the brilliant coloration of their glowing eyes.
Between Life and Death
Gravespawn usually live within the realm of the dead as the only living creatures capable of withstanding the harsh environment and hungering denizens. Due to their home's nature, they possess qualities that would suggest they live in some form of undeath; such as a remarkably slow heartbeat, shallow breaths that barely shift the chest, cold flesh, and dark blood. The energy of their home plane numbs their flesh and heightens the other senses, as well as enabling them to consume the rotting flesh of the dead with no issue.
Most Gravespawn that never leave home are cursed to a life of dulled emotion and simple survival. Those that do leave, however, are granted a heightened sense of touch and quickly become enamored with life. A rush of new sensations and sights will eventually overcome even the most dour demeanor as they lose touch with the realm of their origin. Gravespawn that leave their parent realm often dress themselves in the finest clothing they can afford. Favoring fine silks and soft cottons over coarse linen. Quick to adapt to what ever culture they find themselves in, they immerse as swiftly as possible, possessing patience and enough drive to wait out the process of gaining trust.
Otherwise, while in their home realm, Gravespawn operate on a semi-tribal society with strict rules made for the survival of their people, giving them a tendency towards Lawful inclinations, however the new freedom granted by other realms often encourages these individuals to abandon their lawful ways to experience true freedom without oppression or consequence in their mind... such individuals tend to be difficult to work with.
