Wendigo

## Description:

Wendigo, known by many different names across North America, are a strain of magically mutated/possessed humanoids with incredible powers and an unending hunger for human flesh. The Wendigo exist in small numbers across North America, particularly in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States and across all of Canada; Wendigo are also known to stalk the cold regions of the Continent of Pilbo. Wendigo favor cold environments far from large centers of civilization. The appearance of Wendigo is held in contention between sightings, although some aspects remain the same. All Wendigo are far taller than normal humans, often standing at upwards of ten (10) feet tall and appearing unhealthily gaunt and skinny to an uncomfortable degree, usually weighing in at only two hundred (200) to two hundred and fifty (250) pounds.

Wendigo skin is deathly pale, often grey, jaundiced and beige, or white, and is pulled tight over their bones. Wendigo eyes glow red, and are often the first thing a victim sees before being assaulted. Wendigo tend not to have hair, although their appearances between sightings indicate that some do retain some; should a Wendigo have hair, the color would be determined by the color the person had in life. More uncommon traits associated with Wendigo, like an elongated deer skull and antlers for a head, or deer hooves instead of feet, is believed to form from those Wendigo who obtain their new form through a magical bargain or deal with a supernatural entity like The Stranger, the god of Wendigo and The Unbeheld. The most important aspect of a Wendigo's appearance, however, is their ability to shapeshift; all Wendigo can assume the appearance of themselves prior to mutation without issue or limit. While disguised, their human forms are physical and can be harmed, but should an enemy deal enough damage to a disguised Wendigo to kill its disguised form, its true appearance is revealed and with this horrifying guise comes the beast's supernatural strength, speed, and intelligence.

As Wendigo are horrid mutations and twisted versions of the humanoid form, all races consider them to be unnatural and abhorrent, antithetical to the state of the natural order; Wood Elves, Moon Elves, Native Americans, and Druids despise and actively hunt these beasts in an attempt to keep their numbers low, although efforts to eradicate their race entirely have never succeeded.

Wendigo possess unholy intellects, driven by their greed for human flesh; like Hannibal Lector, Wendigo use their infernal genius to choose, stalk, hunt, and kill their prey in a manner that both entertains and temporarily satiates their hunger. Wendigo intelligence is also honed over centuries, making almost all of them unprecedented predators and masterful hunters; their knowledge of their preferred hunting grounds is encyclopedic, and their skills in tracking, manipulation, stealth, trapping, and killing are equally as formidable. What Wendigo have in raw intellect, however, they lack in wisdom; Wendigo are created by a mortal's willing consumption of human flesh, an unwise and heinous decision that can be spurned on by desperation. Wendigo are creatures of greed first and foremost, their insatiable craving for human flesh a manifestation of their greed as opposed to their gluttony; this blind hunger makes Wendigo impatient, irritable, and vengeful despite their infinite lifespans. Wendigo tend not to use technology, as their preferenes for isolation prevent access to such amenities, but often know how to do so as a means of blending in amongst mortals; Wendigo are also known to use Magic, usually Shadow Magic, Ice Magic, and Necromancy alongside the innate powers granted by their new forms.

Wendigo are classified as a type of Undead. As such, they cannot reproduce naturally and are infertile from the moment of their first transformation. Wendigo reproduction is impossible in a mundane sense, although the process of creating a new Wendigo is far easier than some may realize. Wendigo are created when a mortal, usually a human, willingly and repeatedly consumes the flesh of another member of their species (usually a human); over time, the person will develop psychosis (termed Wendigo Psychosis) and will begin craving human flesh. The person's sanity continues to slip until their minds, addled by an addiction to cannibalism, are opened to The Unbeheld; if the person declines the offer presented to them by The Stranger or a representative of his - an incredibly rare occurrence - the person dies of brain degeneration almost instantly, but if the person accepts, the most common outcome, then the person is transformed into a Wendigo and cannot be cured without powerful Magic or divine intervention. The amount of human flesh required to induce the first transformation and the time that the process takes varies depending on the user's sanity and mental endurance. Wendigo retain all of the memories, knowledge, and personality of their mortal selves (*Note: Interviews with those who have unknowingly lived near/with Wendigo for extended periods of time have detailed sudden changes in personality at times that correspond to the Wendigo's first transformation; the Wendigo goes from incoherent, frantic, and obviously insane to coherent, sane, and calm after their first transformation. This leads JPCU researchers to believe that the Wendigo's first transformation does not undo the insanity of their mortal lives, but instead grants the Wendigo with the knowledge, power, and awareness to cease their outward symptoms of insanity so as to reduce suspicion; Wendigo are truly pervasive, manipulative, and dangerously intelligent and cunning monsters that should never be underestimated*).

Wendigo are, as Undead, immortal. Wendigo have no natural lifespan once their initial transformation is complete, and even their human disguises no longer age. What more, Wendigo also possess powerful abilities of Self-Resurrection, brought about by their curse; unless a Wendigo is killed and the exact ritual carried out with the Wendigo's corpse, the Wendigo will return to life in as short a timespan as one (1) hour or as long a period as twenty-four (24) hours (*Note: All JPCU Personnel expected to operate in areas of high Wendigo activity are expected to know the Wendigo-killing ritual by heart, and a Silver lockbox is to be kept in all JPCU vehicles and buildings operating in areas of high Wendigo activity*).

### Personality:

The goal of all individual Wendigo is to satiate their craving for human flesh in whatever way this can be achieved. Wendigo select their hunting grounds before or shortly after their first transformation, and seek to hunt any and all humanoids that enter their territory and remain there for a sufficient period of time; very few Wendigo are nomadic, although in areas of particularly scarce population like Northern Canada, Wendigo are known to travel around and hunt the nomadic Inuit tribes. Wendigo have this singular goal and place it above all else; secondary to their main goal is the veneration and worship of their deity, The Stranger (*Note: JPCU researchers conducting interviews with captured Wendigo at Facility #84A, located in [REDACTED], North Dakota, have noted that some Wendigo will even forego eating to conduct sacrifices to their god or his avatar on Earth*).

Wendigo are mutants of paradox; they are known for being meticulous in their greed, taking great care to conduct their hunts in secret, infiltrating local centers of population and covering up their own crimes, but are just as likely to rampage through a small camp with wanton abandon, slaughtering and consuming people as they please until no one if left alive. Wendigo are patient creatures who will stalk prey for weeks before striking, but will also rush head-first at trespassers if their hunger consumes their thoughts and clouds their judgements; a Wendigo is most intelligent and self-aware right after a hunt, another feature of their curse. If a Wendigo is in their human disguise, they can be expected to be patient and polite, often very generous and friendly; a Wendigo in disguise is a Wendigo unwilling to break their cover to attack, as many Wendigo spend centuries mastering their hunting grounds and prefer not to waste that effort just to slay one disrespectful tourist. A Wendigo in its true form is truly animalistic, and will react violently to the mere whiff of mortal blood; Wendigo who are seen in their true form have almost no intention of negotiating, although they do retain a degree of sentience and all of their intelligence regardless of which form they assume. Wendigo are also creatures of great ego, as expected of monsters created from such immense and unchecked greed; Wendigo often have their human forms act as locals of high standing, either politicians or wealthy elites who can spend centuries working themselves into a position of absolute authority, covering up their lack of aging with excuses, fake deaths, and disappearances. If a Wendigo's human form is in danger of being revealed as a Wendigo, the beast will do everything in its considerable power - both personally and in terms of their influence and wealth - to secure their safety; likewise, a Wendigo will defend its hunting grounds with unwavering bravery and ferocity. Harming a Wendigo's ego is sure to place a target on one's back, even if the Wendigo must wait decades to exact their bloody revenge.

Wendigo rarely take prisoners or slaves, being creatures of isolation, but are known to tolerate or encourage the development of cults by mortals in their hunting grounds; entire villages may secretly operate in a local Wendigo's interests, kidnapping and sacrificing tourists or select locals in order to ward off the local Wendigo's fury. Even in these cases, however, the Wendigo considers itself superior to but separate from the civilization of mortals; some exceptions exist, as Dr. Nathaniel Bostonbrook has observed and recorded in his memoirs, with groups of Wendigo living in groups within isolated, rural towns deep in mountain ranges or cut off from the wider world alongside the mortals that venerate or fear them.

Wendigo are indulgent creatures, never satisfied with what they have or what they have already obtained. This drives them beyond the concept of mere hedonism, as their Undead bodies do not want for conventional pleasures; to them, the consumption of human flesh is a pleasure supernatural in its intoxicating feeling and supreme in its euphoria, albeit an incredibly fleeting feeling. Wendigo culture, what little exists of such a thing, values art very little. Wendigo are known to create macabre effigies out of the bones or bloody scraps of slain victims, or carve statues of The Stranger in their hideouts, or inscribe stories or pictures with their large claws into the walls, floors, and ceilings of their homes; these artistic works are often incoherent and insane, usually enough to drive a mortal man mad just by sight alone. As Wendigo do retain the knowledge and personalities of their human forms prior to transformation, some will continue to pursue the same or similar creative hobbies that they did in life, like playing an instrument or more conventional art; their human disguises often continue their work as well.

Wendigo are incredibly isolationist individuals who, by nature of both their curse and their nature prior to transformation, separate themselves from society. This hermit tendency often translates into a deep suspicion and outright hatred of other people, regardless of race. Wendigo have a special hatred for religious individuals, Wood Elves and Moon Elves, and humans (whom they consume most often); Wendigo have a tolerance for Beastmen, Fomordrin, and Drow.

### Abilities:

Wendigo possess strength and speed far beyond that of normal people, able to tear a man limb from limb with their bare hands. Additionally, sharpened and jagged teeth accompanying long razor-sharp claws make Wendigo formidable melee combatants. Older Wendigo are also Self-Resurrecting and can "walk on air" by generating temporary floating platforms of ice under their feet; additionally, Wendigo are known for their ability to leap buildings in a single leap and dodge bullets with their amazing reflexes. All Wendigo can mimic the voices of people they have heard perfectly, and can change their form to disguise themselves as their human selves prior to transformation.

A Wendigo becomes stronger the more it feeds, leading to such benefits as an increase in size (and therefore endurance, strength, and vitality) without a loss of speed. Some Wendigo are known to absorb some of the abilities or knowledge of victims, absorbing some memories or skills they previously did not have, although this ability seems rare among their kind.

Wendigo, being creatures of the cold, are naturally immune to cold/ice damage, and as Undead are immune to necrotic damage and all mundane illnesses, poisons, and intoxicants. Wendigo do not need to drink or breathe to survive, although many still choose to do so; their human disguises abide by the same principle despite being physically human. Only a Wendigo can break the bones of a Wendigo, as a Wendigo's energy is stored in their bones, which are corrupted and magical (*Note: The magical/alchemical applications of Wendigo Bones are being researched as of the time of writing*).

Wendigo are nocturnal creatures, although neither sunlight nor moonlight hurts them; Wendigo are weak to fire and Silver as all other Undead, and cannot step onto hallowed ground. Divine Magic is notably effective against Wendigo.

Wendigo who have gone too long without obtaining food, often called The Starving Ones by other Wendigo, lose their amazing intellects and devolve into pure animals, rampaging through the countryside and killing and consuming every living creature they can find, although only humanoid flesh will actually sate their unstoppable and all-consuming hunger. If a Wendigo goes more than one (1) year without consuming a full human's worth of humanoid flesh, the Wendigo will waste away and be reduced to a pile of rotting flesh and corrupted bones; the Wendigo is still technically alive even in this state, however, and can be rejuvenated if humanoid flesh or a sufficient quantity of humanoid blood is placed/poured into the leftover carcass. Starving Ones can sit dormant for centuries in this state before permanently dying.

#### Killing Ritual:

To permanently kill a Wendigo and ensure that it cannot return to Unlife, one must first temporarily kill the monster. Once the Wendigo is "dead," one must stake its ice-covered heart with a Silver stake or knife, rip out the staked heart, lock it in a Silver lockbox, and bury it in a blessed cemetery attached to a Church (Note: Any hallowed ground is sufficient for all but the strongest of Wendigo); the Wendigo corpse is then to be cut into four (4) pieces using a Silver axe, salted, and burned to ash before being scattered on each of the four (4) winds.

## Culture:

The existence of a unified Wendigo culture was, for many years, unproven and the rumors unsubstantiated until relatively recently. Corroborating evidence of a unified Wendigo culture and system of religious belief was detected at sites across North America; many Wendigo will destroy all evidence of their activities if their hideouts are discovered or their human identities risked, which often prevents the reliable discovery of consistent information. What little has been confirmed, however, is monumental in its implications. As was stated previously, all Wendigo are created through cannibalistic corruption of a person's mind, soul, and finally their body via The Unbeheld; this corruption was thought to exist in transformation only, and that such connection between Wendigo and The Unbeheld did not continue after initial transformation, although recent discoveries have attested to the opposite.

Wendigo culture, although sparse and difficult to ascertain, seems to be constructed in a manner that venerates The Stranger above all else, treating the entity as a deity. Wendigo culture has no goal except venerating The Stranger and surviving indefinitely, a relatively simple set of objectives for such complex and intelligent creatures (*Note: JPCU researchers fear that the apparent simplicity of Wendigo culture is the result of a semi-successfully misinformation campaign conducted by Wendigo as a collective; further research and data is required*).

Due to the innate compulsion for Wendigo to exist in solitude, no official hierarchy seems to exist between them, although multiple specializations or types seem to exist among their kind. Additionally, in rare situations where cults or groups of Wendigo have cohabitated in a small area, leadership is determined through age (and therefore power), as well as one's perceived favors from The Stranger, often manifesting as a talent for Magic or additional mutations (including the more uncommon physical features associated with Wendigo, like a deer skull and antlers for a head). Wendigo have no formal government or ideology that they appear to be best suited for, being strictly antisocial creatures when able.

Wendigo do not have a language of their own, and communicate using the language that they knew in life and any additional languages or pieces of language that they have acquired over time or from their victims.

### Hierarchy:

As stated previously, the only observed hierarchy that has existed within Wendigo "packs" has been the rule of the oldest and strongest. Despite this, multiple "types" or specializations of Wendigo have been noted and are listed below along with a short description in order of power:

1. Darkbender: Term used to describe the shamanistic role of Wendigo who specialize in Shadow Magic and are capable of opening portals to The Unbeheld and even summon creatures from that Realm of darkness and shadow.
2. Tree-Eaters: Term used to describe an incredibly rare variant of Wendigo found most commonly in mountainous or tundra/cold woodland regions, created when a powerful Druid or Archdruid ritualistically consumes an excessive amount of plant matter and becomes cursed by their Domain (*Note: Mutated plant matter, most commonly found in the Abandoned Abyss, is likeliest to induce this transformation*); these Wendigo possess plant-based Necromancy, wood/plant bodies that lack in blood or bone, an inability to disguise their horrific true forms, the ability to transform into alternate, horrific animals instead of the standard Druidic creatures, powerful geomancy, and a strong connection to the Fomorians in The Unbeheld and the more destructive aspects of nature and weather. These Wendigo are also driven insane by their ordeal.
3. Fleshlearner: Term used to describe the specialist type of Wendigo who are specially trained to absorb as many Abilities and memories from consumed victims as possible; these Wendigo are often the most dangerous, as losing a member of one's party to such a creature almost certainly means the monster now knows everything about the party's plans and the group's members. Fleshlearners are also known to be able to take on the human(oid) disguise of anyone they kill and eat in addition to being able to mimic the person's voice and absorb their memories, making Fleshlearners incredibly dangerous to hunt, track, find, and kill.
4. Coldhearted: All Wendigo have hearts covered in a thick layer of hardened ice; the Coldhearted Wendigo are a specialization who practice Ice Magic and are frequently Apathetic, having lost their capacity for emotions with their first transformation.
5. Maulers: Term used to describe the larger, more muscular variant of Wendigo who never learned Magic in their mortal life and were instead experts in hand-to-hand combat; these specialists are beefier, far more animalistic, and are limited in the number of times they can disguise themselves per day.
6. Meat-Keeper: Term used to describe a Wendigo Necromancer who often keeps the half-eaten and desecrated corpses of their victims as reanimated "pets" for future use; some Meat-Keepers become dangerously powerful over time, as their power scales with age, and they can develop powerful abilities (e.g. disguising Undead as living creatures, cursing others to become Wendigo, the ability to scry through bones of victims, and/or the ability to see through the empty eye sockets of slain victims).
7. Stalkers: Term used to describe Wendigo who specialize in hunting tactics; these Wendigo possess an aura of insanity which will slowly eat away at a person's mental faculties, instilling memory loss or outright Wendigo Psychosis until the target becomes a cultist or is helpless to stop their pursuer from consuming them. Quieter, stealthier, and more predatory in their mannerisms, these Wendigo are commonly found on the edge of civilization or in known hunting grounds.

## Religion:

The Wendigo religion is officially monotheistic, although various prophets and powerful members are revered as a kind of "saint." The Wendigo faith, being relatively unorganized, is focused inwards, on personal veneration and survival. Divine interaction occurs during feedings, killings, and rituals, and is available to all members. The Wendigo believe that The Unbeheld is their Afterlife; those Wendigo who are "bad" and turn against their comrades are supposedly sent to a Hellish afterlife of torment and fire. The supernatural is known and both feared and respected; Wendigo treat shadow magic, Necromancy, etc. with a great deal of respect. The Wendigo faith focuses primarily on individual worship and meditation due to their isolationist instincts, but exceptions are known to occasionally occur in instances of mortal Wendigo-worshipping cults, communities of Wendigo, etc. Holidays celebrate the winter solstice and equinox, the new year, prophets, full moons, important historical events, etc. and are known to be quite numerous, although many are rarely celebrated.

Wendigo God & Worshipped Prophets:

1. The Stranger: The god of shadows, darkness, and The Unbeheld responsible for creating Wendigo; associated with eternal life, mutations/transformations, darkness/shadow, Necromancy, cold/ice, etc.
2. Ithaqua: The First Wendigo revered as a saint; associated with the cold/ice, sacrifice, cannibalism, and closeness to The Stranger.
3. Fomorians: The negative and destructive aspects of nature in Gaelic mythology, originally banished from Ireland by the Humans that eventually settled there; banished to The Unbeheld, the Fomorians are worshipped by Druidic Wendigo (Tree-Eaters, etc.) as gods associated with cold/ice, destruction, plague, death, famine, mutation, etc.
4. [REDACTED]