Itzal

Itzal
Subspecies	Swift Itzal Brute Itzal
Physical Characteristics
Average Height	1.6 - 2.4 m
Average Lifespan	100
Regions
Commonly Found In	Thradill United Oprax Tribes Urushee

The Itzal were at one point a feared race of monstrous hunters, able to mimic the races of their victims in both sound and image. They These Itzal are referred to as Swift Itzal and Brute Itzal.

Appearance

Itzal are tall creatures with very long, almost overextended limbs, and razor sharp claws positioned where fingernails would typically be. Their build can vary wildly between different subspecies of Itzal, usually adapting to their native environments and local populations, either being slim and slender or possessing larger muscle mass. Their fur is jet black, often times far darker than artificial creations of the colour, and they possess long hair that extends past their shoulders. They have elongated skulls and are capable of both walking upright and with all four of their appendages. Itzal usually take great efforts to hide their faces for reasons that are not entirely clear, wearing masks or even skulls - It's theorized that, due to the reliance of both subspecies on deception and stealth to target their prey, they have a natural disposition to feeling exposed if not covered.

Subspecies

Swift

Swift Itzal are generally slightly taller of the two predominant subspecies, possessing more elongated limbs and lengthier claws. Their proportions typically do not change much about their physical, instead benefiting their speed and ability to pursue victims before The Collapse struck. Swift Itzal were more adept at mimicry, being able to replicate the sounds and voices of other creature within seconds, while additionally possessing the ability to magically disguise themselves, taking on the forms of those they copy almost perfectly. Reports from survivors would typically detail paranoia of the changes in behaviour of one of their close comrades one evening, usually waived off as illness, only for the impersonating Itzal to begin violently dismembering others in their sleep - Sometimes accompanied by a small hunting party of their kin for particularly fortified encampments.

Brute

Brute Itzal still possessed the ability to mimic sounds, but were not able to pass themselves off as other creatures. Instead, they are significantly bulkier, able to consistently lift weight equal to 3x their own mass. While they still possess claws, they are shorter in order to better leverage their strength. This variation is largely linked to their habitat of North Urushee, where the dense forests and canopies would provide an easier time for them to deceive other creatures, yet competition from other predator species would have lead to frequent confrontations, such as the Grleth.

Post-Collapse

With their lack of strength, Swift Itzal were heavily dependent upon their connection to the flow of Magic to disguise and deceive other creatures that they would consume for sustenance. This meant that, when The Collapse occurred, the Swift Itzal were unable to effectively stalk their prey any longer, with their hunting tactics favoured far more towards subterfuge and deception than direct confrontations. The individual I was able to interview was able to retell memories passed on by their ancestors. They state that, following The Collapse, the overwhelming majority of Swift Itzal ceased to exist. Due to their reliance on altering their forms, to the point where most would live and sleep in an assumed disguise to avoid potential suspicion, they are likely to have suffered the same fate as other magic wielding individuals at the time of the event.

With no deception to utilize anymore, and not even enough numbers to allow them to safely launch attacks on wild animals for sustenance, the overall numbers of the species were brought dangerously close to extinction. It is possibly speculated that it may be inevitable, as their populations were small even before the apocalyptic event, leaving them with few suitable mates to ensure the continuation of their lineage. The few remaining Swift Itzal would resort to theft and increasingly desperate attacks on vulnerable settlements in order to get by.

Brute Itzal, meanwhile, fared better for a time. Since they possessed far greater physical attributes than their counterparts, they could quickly adapt to the new world, and even benefitted from it for a time as the scrambled and disorganised bands of survivors would prove easy targets for hunting parties. This would eventually lead to an organised retaliation in 912, however, as a band of Urusheen mercenaries began to travel through the nation and lead extermination parties of Brute Itzal with highly effective weaponry, culling the numbers of the species significantly. The extent of these operations were to the point that the Brute Itzal were believed to be outright extinct for several decades.

Integration into Societies

It is unknown when exactly members of the Swift Itzal subspecies decided to approach settlements in peace, though the obvious reason is that as societies began to show their capability to rebuild from the events many decades later, their current ways of living would prove to be unsustainable. Unsurprisingly, most populations were immensely distrustful of the creatures, even though it was exceptionally rare to see the bare form of a Swift Itzal. Treated with somewhat justified suspicion as to their true harmlessness, and aware of the continued possibility of preying upon others, almost all Itzal were rejected outside of remote, spiritual communities, or those that had already begun to accept members of other races. Notably, the individual I have interviewed appeared to have filed their claws down almost to the very base of the fingertips. When I inquired about this, they explained that it was a condition presented to them by a small trader town that had requested it for the sake of its residents' peace of mind.

As for Brute Itzal, the circumstances are much more unclear. I have been unable to acquire an interview with a member of the subspecies, and with their heavily reduced numbers sightings of them within settlements are rare. The only one I have been made aware resides in Aramer Watch to the south east of North Urushee, where they perform labour intensive menial work for the small town. My attempts to organise a meeting with them were largely shunned by the townsfolk, asking that I respect their privacy.