Voidling

== STATISTICS ==
Rare, its hard to see one in a lifetime.
=== COMMON PHENOTYPES ===
Hair Pigment: Black or Dark Gray
Skin Pigments: Black or Dark Gray
Lifespan: Eternity, so long as their core and heart are healthy. So are they.
Height: 5’10-6’3 ft
Weight: 169-191 lbs
Eye Colors: Pure White, or Very Pale Variants of Other Colors
 “Formed without meaning, yet basked in the light of conviction”
== Description of the race ==
=== Anatomy, Appearance, and Behavior: ===
Voidlings/Void Entities are humanoid and do not correlate to any known animals. Though, they can be mistaken for Ebonites or even Enderman in rare cases. As their skin is dark or black in color while having pale eyes. However, this is where these ties tend to stop. They are mostly human in shape, their limbs proportionate to their bodies in ways similar to them. But they dawn a pair of horns/antlers and a long whip-like tail adorned with something akin to fluff at the tip as well as a set of half digitigrade legs with long pointed ears. Many appear mouthless when they aren't speaking or eating as well. However, that is dependent and not a staple.
While they look semi-similar to humans they are still greatly different internally, as voidlings were born from the void and are not born as other races typically are. They don’t sport a full set of organs, and rather just form something akin to hearts the longer they are around. When they are first born they are small and the void they took to form themselves is condensed so they don't need to spread the energy around. As they grow through the void expands and therefore needs to keep energy flowing. Along with their pseudo hearts, they also grow a core in their stomach area. The core takes the energy that is taken from food that a voiding would eat and stores it until the outer shell is damaged. Then takes this energy and spurs the void that remains healthy to multiply and repair what was hurt and lost. Depending on how common the voiding gets injured or how much energy is left in the core, the healing process can take a while to short minutes. This is all a voidling has for what can be called organs though, as their thoughts and memories are stored within the void that forms them rather than any central brain.
It is rare for them to even exist, so they do want a sense of belonging no matter what stirred them there rarely is any other like them around. So it's not uncommon to see a newly born voidling alone if one is seen at all. Though that is not to say they stay alone for the rest of their lives. At a later age when they are stronger, they tend to wander until they find someone they have a connection to which then becomes their family. Who share all their deeply woven traditions. For the most part, voidlings are peaceful in nature and never go out of the way to harm someone. But when someone comes to them with foul intent they see it in full right to get aggressive. As a whole, they are pillars and don't stray from themselves and have a hard time accepting when others come to challenge them.
=== Voidling Technicalities: ===
Voidlings are made from a strong emotion that separates them from the void in the first place. As the void itself is a harsh all-consuming place. If a voidling didn't separate from the void then their thoughts would be lost in the technical hivemind that is the liquid substance. So they form shells from the void to protect their thoughts and newly made emotions. Due to being made out of the substance that would technically consume them, it takes longer for the still hivemind-connected void to break through a void entity's shell. Giving them time to find a hole in the bedrock to escape from. It's not known how long a voidling can stay in there, but if the new humanoid doesn't find an escape they are doomed to be rejoined.
Many who touch the void find themselves stuck with black marks on their skin that can slowly grow. This is Void sickness and it works by breaking past someone's skin and slowly eating away at everything healthy in the body. This process would be typically faster done in the void. But due to the separation, this can take months to a couple of years to finally kill off those who have had the misfortune of getting it. voidlings are not affected as they are the void themself though they cannot cure it either.
A void entity will live its whole life feeling the emotion that birthed them. Even if it's in small thrums. Though spurring that feeling back up is never an issue either as they are also more sensitive to it. They find it important to find a bond to share these feelings with so they don't overtake them. Though bonds are important for many other reasons a voidling isn't meant to be alone. They are tall and can be a threat to anyone who harms them. But without a bond, they are also lost. As the void was always a connected thing, with them being severed from that connection they feel more empty than they should. They strive for that closeness and without it, a voidling isn't healthy, at least mentally. This can lead to abnormal behavior and more of a closed-off demeanor if not pure aggression.
=== Biology: ===
As for a look into their biology, things that are not explained such as their eyes, mouths, and how they feel. Their eyes are not like most, they are similar to domes and made of a slightly softer version of their shell. Behind those eyes is a natural filter of sorts for void which allows them to cry not deadly tears and see. When the darkness is purified from the void it leaves light and the ability to not consume all light but rather take a bit and then reflect it. Though in all ways except color and danger the light in their eyes is still void and can communicate what they see/take into the void inside the Voidling. Allowing them sight! This process is similar to their ears, though they are just thinner and more prone to vibration sound being vibrations just allow them to hear. The void in that area is no different it's just more sparse and easier to move. The void is very important to their body and how they work.
Mouths are usually hidden in most if not all voidlings. They want to make a bond with people and showing something sharp and dangerous isn't a way to do this. They don't even speak with it most of the time and much rather use their weak telepathy to speak. As the void before becoming a being spoke in such a way that it passed through its hivemind. The Void Entities kept this trait even though it does take a second to adjust to people to be able to speak clearly. Unfortunately, though, there is no way to get around eating and things of the like. Where they then have to open their mouth which they do by having the shell separate into an opening. This shell extends to the “throat” any further is pure void. Voidlings do have tongues but it's made out of the void and they are not used to speaking but rather breaking down the food they eat right in their mouth so it safely goes to the core. When done eating the shell breaks down and seals the mouth away once more.
Their shells do now have nerves but it does understand pressure via if the shell is moved and the void behind it is also moved. So they do have issues feeling softer things like fabric and grass. But people touching them, and getting hit is still understood and the wear and tear on the shell are communicated to the void. Allowing them the feeling of pain. Though the same communication of the shell being interacted with is shared with pleasure and other feelings.
Speaking of shells, their hair and the tuft on their tail is technically a shell too. They do not have follicles and rather in those specific parts, the shell keeps growing and growing albeit slowly. But it comes in thinly shredded strands. Allowing it to be bent and broken more easily. This does take energy from their core to keep it growing, similar to how their mouth breaking and healing in specific parts also takes energy. A low-fueled core means their “hair” stops growing and that they cant open or seal their mouths.
=== Social structure: ===
Many will never know one of their own and so they don't have a solid social structure. Most times a Void Entity adapts to the structure set in place to the one they grow to call their family. On the rare occasion, if they find another voidling, typically the one with the most energy in their core is the one to lead the other as they can take more risks and come back from it. For others who aren't the ones they bond with, they treat them as normal like a human would. There is no standard for them to try and seek partners or friends.
=== Traditions: ===
While there aren't elders or other voidings to often pass down the knowledge of traditions. The void is a joined place and for a time any void entity was a part of it. So they derive the knowledge of their tradition from the void they took for themself. Some of the traditions they have are listed as such.
* The Remembrance: All voidlings have a memory of where they first pulled themselves through the bedrock. Once they start growing their core at age 16 they need to return to that spot. Where they then stay a week in that very cave they crawled from and offer gifts of gold, diamond, and netherite as thanks for letting them part ways. After the week they place a lantern at the edge of the hole and say final goodbyes.
* Ritual of Bonds: Every void entity has a connection to someone in their life, and while some may be temporary. To those who feel eternally close, a voidling can create a smaller energy core than what they have themselves and give it to the other person. Both the Void Entity and the receiver of this gift have to be there to perform the ritual. In the said arrangement, the entity will take a precious gem and press it tightly in both palms and stay like that for 3 hours. While the receiver stays around and protects the voidling from harm as the ritual is done outside during the night. This shows signs of trust and care from both parties and therefore the void justified the action. By the time all is done, the receiver will have a core in the symbol of whatever they are tied.
* Dance of Growth: When a young one starts growing their pseudo heart at age 3 they mark the day down. This acts as their birthday instead of the proper moment they crawled from the bedrock. They rarely go out of their way to celebrate this themselves, but it's a grown custom for them to do this for others they may have a relationship with. Though on the chance they do make a deal out of it it's for every decade they have been alive. Where they dance and celebrate the growth they have made in those 10 years. This is time they spend alone, as the time with their thoughts and memories is what matters during this dance.
=== Beauty Ideals: ===
They are not picky when it comes to what they dress in but rather how they use the features given to them. Due to them not having any natural skin or hair tones aside from black they are careful in the other things they present.
It's very common for voidlings to appear mouthless when it's not in use, as they believe that it helps them look more friendly. Since they don't imagine fangs to appear all too peaceful and kindly.
It's customary for a voidling to get two snips in their ear at the very base so they fan out and keep the ear healthy. Though they don't do this at once. Rather they get one snip at a time, one for the growth of a heart, and the other for the formation of their core. As these are their signs of maturity and want to show their life even if they don't physically age much past their height and horns/antlers.
As they aren't picky and usually don't push their standards on others. They do judge people on their eyes. The whiter, brighter, and shinier someone's eyes are. The more likely they are to want that person's attention.
=== Origins and History: ===
Voidlings are born from the void as their name suggests, they do not have parents or anything to tie them to a proper family as many others do so instead they are known to make their own. The reasons they come to exist and pull themselves from the bedrock seem mixed or even unknown. Some entities share their stories of want and conviction that brought them to this world. Others don't, but no matter what, they are born with strong emotions similar to but not like the gods of Interra Gloria. It's the emotions that bring them to form wills, bodies, and thoughts apart from the void they pull from. Otherwise, if they were to feel and without a form of their own. The void would come to reject them as unfamiliar and consume them.
Though some have a hard time believing this and claim that they were hidden cave creatures. Like shadows that were passed during mining trips. Others say that they are demons that crawled through the nether and into the plains. No matter what others claim though, a Void Entity can always remember what emotion brought them to be.
Some voidlings are not fortunate enough to get out of the void even after the struggle of separation though. As many were left wandering and hoping to find open bedrock to escape only to find none and get consumed and rejoined with the void. So while them being formed is a rare case, the escape out makes it even harder for them to come to the public eye. This is why they leave a lantern at The Remembrance tradition, it's so any new voidling can more easily spot a way out.
=== Religion: ===
Like their social structure, they tend to follow whoever they bonded themselves to beliefs. Although on their own, many choose to pray to the Surrogate of Fate. As they believe that praying to them will one day allow them to dream. As Void Entities as of now do not have the ability. Though they also believe that they played a part in the chance of being an alve that they had in the first place.
So many build outdoor temples and offer of gifts of gold, diamond, and netherite every so often. Typically before or after a tough occasion or when they wish to dream. Some don't believe this to properly do anything. But others do, either way, The Surrogate of Fate is important to any voidling looking to cherish what has happened and what to do next.
=== Subspecies to your race: ===
Currently, there are none, as they aren't related to shadows or curses. Though some think the void illness granted if survived an encounter with the void itself is an offspring of a voidling. Which it is not.
=== Architecture: ===
They as of now do not have any architecture to call their own. Though many voidlings are known to craft buildings and shops filled with magical items. Many vary in style, but some people claim them to be similar to buildings of the End or the Strongholds rumored to be deep underground.
== Extra: ==
-Voidlings are not made with the ability to speak English, instead, they speak in blurbs, trills, and chirps which is a specific language to the void. Oddly enough this language can be read and written and looks similar to enchantment.
-While voiding are not humans, they age like them until age 30, when they then stop.
-A voidling does not need a core to live, if it is damaged or removed they simply will never heal from an injury, grow "hair", or be able to open or close their mouth again. Though many prefer to never risk losing their core despite the ability to live without. They do however need their pseudo heart to keep their energy active and therefore keeping them sentient. A voidling without a pseudo heart after age 5 is doomed to die within a few days time. 
-Voidling's have something sort of similar to a mix of a carapace and cartilage to keep the liquid void inside themselves safe. They simply call this a shell and it is more protective then typical skin. 
-Illness isn't common in voidlings, but if something mixes with the liquid void that's foreign to it then their inner core has to filter and fix the impurities. The void destroys and that hurts... So when the core has to filter and fix the liquid inside the shell then that tends to be very painful for a voidling. Leaving them bedridden for days. So its important for things to head to their core directly to avoid this.
 Race Created By: Draginex/Aris