Blemmyae

Blemmyae
Nicknames: • Headless Folk • Chestface Classification: Humanoid Rarity: Rare Habitat: Central forests and mountains of Eldland Scale: Medium Average Height: 170 - 190 cm Average Weight: 65 - 95 kg

The Blemmyae are a strange class of humanoids that do not possess a head, but rather have their facial features, such as their eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, located on their torsos. Being strong, tribalistic hunters and gatherers, those individuals are perfectly adapted for living in the forests and mountains of Eldland, sometimes scaring an unfortunate person who crosses their habitat or gathering grounds.

Physical Appearance

Typically standing between one hundred and seventy and one hundred and ninety centimeters tall and weighing sixty five to ninety five kilograms, the Blemmyae possess a brutish physique. The bodies of Blemmyae are broad-shouldered and muscular, built for survival in unforgiving environments, such as the forests and mountains of Eldland. However, what makes the Blemmyae truly otherworldly is their most defining feature: the complete absence of a head. Instead, the chest and shoulders seemingly connect within a mostly straight line, creating a wider, nearly barrel-like body shape.

Terrifyingly, the facial features of the Blemmyae still exist, being located around their chest and stomach area. Instead of nipples and areolas, those spots are filled with a set of deep-set eyes, which are more animalistic in nature than those of a normal human. Unsettlingly low on the body, replacing the normal belly button a human might have, and being disturbingly expressive, rests a large mouth, spanning from one side of the stomach to the other. Upon being open, one could easily spot the rows of jagged, sharp teeth, which often contain small remnants and bits of the Blemmyae's last meal, which seemingly hang in between each tooth. Between the mouth and the set of eyes rests a flattened nose, which constantly twitches as it sniffs the air, trying to scout out its surrounding smells. Lastly, the ears of the Blemmyae are usually located at the side of their chests, similar to how they would be positioned on the side of a head.

Besides the horrifying appearance of their chest-based face, the rest of the Blemmyae's body is far from normal. The Blemmyae's arms are long and powerful, hanging low and ending in thick, callused hands that are tipped with short, claw-like nails. The fingers are stubby but strong, ideal for gripping clubs, crude spears, or the very prey the Blemmyae are hunting within the forests and mountains of Eldland. Underneath their arms, the female Blemmyae have a set of nipples and areolas hidden within their armpits, which they use to nurse the younglings. The legs of the Blemmyae are equally sturdy, with thighs like tree trunks and wide, flat feet adapted for traction on soft earth or rocky terrain. Despite its seemingly clumsy proportions, a Blemmyae can move with startling speed and grace when provoked or hunting.

Lastly, it is to note that the skin of those creatures is thicker than the skin of most humanoids, rather resembling hide or leather than actual skin. At the same time, a majority of their skin is covered by coarse, nearly fur-like, body hair, which acts as an insulator during the colder months.

Mental Characteristics

The mind and behavioural traits of the Blemmyae are less based on the structured logic that many scholars possess, but rather instinctual, shaped by survival and tradition. At the core of Blemmyae behavior lies an ancient and complex spirituality. They believe that the chest is the true seat of the soul, that voice, vision, and breath should emanate from the heart, not the head. Their myths say that they were shaped from stone and mud, and that their faces sank into their torsos so they might speak with their hearts and see through the soul.

Besides such myths, Blemmyae are emotionally intense, though slow to reveal it. They are reserved by nature, their stoic exterior masking passions that run deep. Joy, rage, sorrow, these are not trifles to be scattered in daily life, but sacred states of being. These creatures live their emotions fully, but with a gravity that makes them all the more terrifying or awe-inspiring when displayed.

Lifespan and Development

The life cycle of the Blemmyae is similar to that of most humanoids, as they are born and live with a mother, who has carried them for a gestational period of around one year. The newborns resemble small versions of adult Blemmyae, already bearing the chest-face that defines their kind. Their early months are marked by vulnerability, as the positioning of their facial features and nipples makes feeding and nurturing slightly more complex than for humans.

Young Blemmyae begin to walk within the first two to three years of their lives, most often stumbling through the woods instead of properly walking. However, after reaching the age of five, the Blemmyae are more proficient in their strut, being capable of walking and running without any issues, already helping their parents with their daily tasks of gathering and hunting. Said actions are also meant to prepare the younglings for their fifteenth birthday, at which the Blemmyae undergo a rite of passage that often involves hunting, endurance trials, or proving their ability to survive independently.

After their rite of passage, the Blemmyae are seen as grown adults and will continue their daily activities to support their clan. They usually continue to do so until they reach the age of sixty to seventy years, at which they often become the acting chief of their individual group. Most often, however, the Blemmyae passed before reaching such an age, most commonly due to illness or hunting incidents. If a Blemmyae has reached this age, however, they usually continue to live until their nineties.

Territory and Grouping

Socially, the Blemmyae organize themselves into clans or hunting groups. Clans commonly build smaller villages within the deeper and darker parts of the forests and the foggy parts of the mountains, while the hunting groups have adapted a more nomadic lifestyle, always moving from one location to the next. Each of those clans or groups is ruled by a chief or elder, usually the strongest, the oldest, or the wisest among the Blemmyae. Loyalty to the tribe or group is absolute, and betrayal is among the gravest of sins, punished by exile, maiming, or death. This is based on the Blemmyae's way of living, which heavily depends on hunting and gathering enough food to not starve. As such, every individual of the group needs to know their exact position and what they have to do to keep the group alive and well.

Due to similar reasons, the Blemmyae are rarely trusting of any outsiders, and even if they trust someone outside of their group, they are known to show and harbor deep suspicion. A Blemmyae will watch a stranger from the shadows for days, measuring their movements, testing their intentions with subtle signs. Peaceful contact is rare but not impossible; a show of respect, strength, or shared enemy may earn a wary truce. However, trespassing on the group's territory without any show of respect is often met with blood.

Abilities

The Blemmyae are mostly capable of the same actions and abilities as a normal human would be; however, due to their lifestyle, those creatures are more adept in certain aspects, such as hunting and gathering. They have also been shown to have advanced physical strength, which is also shown by their powerful build, relying on their robust torsos and muscular limbs. Due to their daily hunts, they have also developed greater stamina and endurance than most humans, allowing them to sprint for extended periods without experiencing major exhaustion.

Besides their physical capabilities, those strange beings are also experts in the fields of natural camouflage, often being able to hide in plain sight while staying undetected. To do so the Blemmyae use their surroundings to conceal themselves and often move silently from one point to another to stay hidden.

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