Zaykenspawn
Zaykenspawn are the horrible creatures created by the monstrous man creature Zayken as experiments in his quest to Perfection. They are usually created by taking a base creature and remolding and mutating it through an unindentified process similar to Zayken's own personal evolution. In recent years, creatures have also appeared with a more arcane bent.
Herein describes some of the Zaykenspawn that have appeared to date. New ones will be described as they are witnessed.
"Zombies"
Some of Zayken's earliest experiments resulted in these creatures. Although not undead, these poor souls were men and women mutated by Zayken. They exhibited reduced intelligence, emaciated bodies and distorted features, as infection ravaged their body. They also had a slow, staggering walk, resulting from their fat and bloated lower legs, which appeared as if all the fat in their bodies had drained into their calves and feet. Although not very dangerous on their own, these tortured creatures often moved in groups and had the capacity to become Maggots, and eventually, Shriekers, Stalkers or Brutes.
A variation of these were the 'struggler' type. These zombie Zaykenspawn grew membrenous 'strait jackets' around their head and upper body as they began to pupate into Maggots. Although typically docile, if they sensed a potential meal they would begin to fight furiously against their cocoons as they stalked their prey.
Maggots
Maggots were part of Zayken's initial wave of Zaykenspawn, and were a secondary 'evolution' of the zombie types. After consuming enough food, the zombies would go into their 'struggler' phase and eventually cocoon themselves entirely. Their lower bodies, especially, became thickly entombed, as their bloated legs grew together to form a large "tail" like protrusion. Maggots were rarely encountered, as they could not defend themselves very well, hindered in the same way as strugglers until eventually becoming completely cocooned and vulnerable. Eventually Maggots would 'hatch' into Brutes, Stalkers or Shriekers.
Brutes
The Brutes made up the core of Zayken's first wave of monsters. Barely resembling their human stock at all any more, Brutes had thick, leathery, rust coloured skin, beady black eyes, and jaws that protruded far forward like the snout of a canine, making their gums and thick teeth very pronounced. With double jointed hind legs and powerful, clawed forearms, Brutes were fast and vicious, capable of tearing flesh with ease. As well, their spines seemed to extend into long, thin, jagged tails. These were occasionally used to bludgeon prey but existed primarily to augment the agility of the Brutes when they were giving chase. Brutes were also heavily built, able to withstand a fair deal of punishment before falling.
Stalkers
Occasionally Maggots would develop into Stalkers. Strange creatures with nearly featureless faces and rubbery black, slippery skin, Stalkers were quiet, extraordinary humanoid creatures that could climb walls with the ease of an insect and move with the agility and grace of an acrobat. They served primarily as spies for Zayken, but occasionally as assassins, or under his direct guidance, would sometimes join mass combat to flank foes from confusing angles, distracting enemies from the rush of Brutes and Shriekers. Stalkers have the unusual ability to bend their limbs in any direction, giving their wallcrawling a most disturbing appearance.
Shriekers
Shriekers were perhaps the most terrible thing to hatch from a Maggot - although not as directly dangerous as a Hunter, their departure from the stock they were born from displayed the extent that Zayken was eventually able to manipulate a base creature. As well, Shriekers had the ability to fly, allowing them to harass enemies from any direction. Shriekers had an appearance similar to a humanoid torso, however they lacked a head and neck, shoulders overdeveloped and nearly grown together. The arms of the base creature would split apart during metamorphosis, becoming membrenous wings, while the hind legs largely atrophied, becoming almost birdlike, if not for the rusty, leathery skin, complete with small talons, usually for gripping onto high perches. Most horrifically, between the chest and stomach of the former creature, a gaping maw formed, from which the Shriekers would scream incessantly while in combat, confusing and frightening their prey as they buffered them with swarming tactics, biting and clawing. Shriekers often accompanied Brutes, harrying foes from the air with hit and runs as the vicious Brutes pressured foes in melee.
Spiders
The Lady in the Room
Mason
Sawyer/Phantasm
Shyntei/Myuu
Since his original attack upon Myrken, death, and rebirth, Zayken has begun to create new, more advanced Zaykenspawn. Few of these have been closely examined to date. Some are described here.
Torment
Another category of Zaykenspawn are the spawn of Shyntei. Although not created personally by the efforts of Zayken, they can be considered 'second generation' Zaykenspawn.
Wraiths
Judges
Butchers
Stranglers
Imps/Children
Matrons
