Piraca

*Physically, they look like a mix between a bat, a vulture and a fish, with wrinkly, rubbery pale blue skin. The Piraca lacks any sort of visible natural weapons, such as talons or teeth, and even their beaks are not sharp, but appearances can be deceiving, since they do possess a lethal hidden weapon. From their leech-like tongue, Piraca's can shoot a tremendously powerful acid, capable of melting any creature into a puddle of goo, which then the Piraca can drink. Since they lack teeth, this defensive method is also how they feed. They can also store this goo inside of an internal pouch for later use, which is either their personal consumption or regurgitating it inside of their colony's Pond.*

*Also, the skin of all Piraca is outright immune to any acid, and it's commonly used to make acid-resistant clothings.*

*...*

*Piraca are highly social creatures and usually live in big colonies of hundreds of individuals. At the core of every colony is a huge pool of goo, called Piraca Pond, which is the center of all the Piraca life. The Pond is not only a food reserve, but it's also how the Piraca reproduces, as they spontaneously spawn from the goo. Finally, it's been rumored that the Pond is also the focus of all Piraca magic, though no man alive has ever lived to confirm this.*

*…*

*Piraca are divided into two subspecies: Thralls and Nobles. Piraca Thralls are smaller and weaker, about half the size of an average adult human, and they have somewhat limited intelligence and personality. On their own, they are timid and cowardly, only being aggressive in big numbers, but they become much more determined when ordered around by a Noble, since they seem to have a natural need to obey a Noble's every order. A Thrall's only natural weapon is their acidic spit, but they're known for also using simple items, such as clubs or spears. Finally, the Thralls are incapable of flight, but they can somehow use their flappy skins to glide over short distances.*

*...*

*Piraca Nobles are a much more rare breed of Piraca and they are always the leaders of Piraca colonies. They are much larger than Thralls, usually reaching two meters of height, and they have much more wrinkly skin, which they can control at will and even turn into wings capable of flight and that they drape around their bodies like robes when not in use. Nobles are also extremely intelligent with a natural penchant for intrigue, and in bigger colonies they spend a lot of time plotting against each other, deciding their leaders based on their scheming ability. They also like to give themselves complicated, overly long names and pretentious title while behaving in overly formal ways, though their bestial, aggressive nature often shines through this civilized facade. Indeed, while they do like to pretend to be civilized, all Piraca are still very animalistic and violent, and ultimately their discussions inevitably end up in physical altercations. Finally, the Nobles are also the only ones of their species capable of using their racial magic, which mostly consist in the manipulation of acid and life force. This magic is mostly performed through rituals that involve a Piraca Pond as both focus and fuel for the spells, and the casting actually consumes the goo. As a consequence, the bigger the Pond is, the greater is the magic capability of a Piraca colony.*

*…*

*Though no one can guarantee for their truthfulness, there are also rumors about a very rare subspecies called Piraca Emperor. According to these rumors, a Piraca Emperor is very similar to a Noble, only bigger and possessing a crimson skin instead of a pale blue one, and it possesses exceptional powers that put it way ahead of the rest of its kin. In addition to that, the usually squabbling and traitorous Nobles instinctively obey an Emperor with the same zeal with which the Thralls serve them. However, there are no official records of the existence of such a creature.*

*Excerpt from “A Wayfarer's Guide to the Unknown Volume III, Creatures and Monsters” by Septim Logan, published by* Auric Golden Press

## Notable Piraca

**Turemalac** The Crimson King

* The red-skinned Piraca was naturally chosen as a ruler for his race from birth — this may have something to do with the Piraca’s religion, as they can be very superstitious.