Ghoul Information

## **What are ghouls?**

Ghouls are a carnivorous and cannibalistic humanoid species that are only able to feed on the flesh of humans and other ghouls. They are as close to humans as possible: they normally display the same attributes; the same physical appearance, and the same intelligence as humans, with the main exception being their inner biology, mentality, and diet.

### **Diet**

A ghoul can only feed on humans and other ghouls. They are unable to digest any other type of food due to a particular enzyme their bodies produce. The structure of their tongues is also different from humans', making other foods taste disgusting and uncomfortable. If ghouls attempt to eat normal food, they will be struck by a powerful urge to vomit.

When forced or forcing themselves, if they do not force themselves to throw the food up and manage to digest it, their physical condition will deteriorate.  While ghouls cannot eat normal food, they are, however, able to drink coffee (and eat the beans) as well as regular drinking water.

Ghoul meat tastes disgusting to ghouls, but in contrast to other non-human nutrition, they are able to digest it. Continued cannibalization may trigger a mutation in Rc cells, resulting in turning them into kakujas. If a ghoul engages in cannibalism, it absorbs the Rc cells of the cannibalized ghoul, thus increasing the concentration of Rc cells within the ghoul consuming them. If repeated often enough, there is a slight chance that this will trigger a mutation in the Rc cells of the ghoul and lead to the formation of a new armor-like kagune.  Individuals with such a kagune are called kakujas, whereas this special kagune itself is referred to as a kakuja kagune. Using a kakuja kagune increases a ghoul's power substantially.

### Kakuja Path

A Kakuja is a kind of ghoul with a transformed kagune that clads the ghoul's body. Though it is rare, it can occur through repeated cannibalism. When a ward has a higher ghoul to human ratio, cannibalism is more common due to turf wars and limited food supply. It is said that through cannibalism, a ghoul absorbs Rc cells, and this increases the concentration of Rc cells within a ghoul's body. If the concentration becomes high enough, it may trigger a mutation and lead to the formation of a new kagune. Sometimes, the transformation is incomplete, and such individuals are called half-kakuja.

### Kagune

The kagune's appearance and the place of emergence on the body depend on the Rc type of the ghoul. There are four different Rc types: ukaku, koukaku, rinkaku, and bikaku. As a guideline, each type can characteristically subdue another type, although it may be different for two specific opponents. Each Rc type has a set of strengths and weaknesses, each one unique to its type. These are exploited by the CCG in the creation of the quinque and Q bullets.

###### Ukaku

An ukaku kagune (羽赫, ukaku, "feather-red") is spread out like feathers and is released from the shoulder area, it specializes in high speed attacks, most of the users seeming to have highly enhanced speed. The kagune is lightweight and can be used to deliver high-speed attacks against an adversary, the primary method of attack is crystallizing their kagune to deliver a high speed torrent of spike-like projectiles, however whilst crystallized they are much stiffer and cannot be used for short range combat. While the kagune is suited both for short-distance and long-distance attacks, short-range is considered their weakness. They may use their kagune as a shield and several are capable of shaping them into sharp blades reminiscent of a koukaku to aid in close quarters. Many ukaku-types are able to increase the flexibility of their kagune for short-range combat, though this makes it ill-suited for their distinctive long-range attacks.

Altogether ukaku-type ghouls have a high chance of ending a battle quickly as releasing Rc cells depletes stamina. Thus, ukaku-type users lack endurance and are at a disadvantage if the battle drags on for a long time. Ukaku-type users can use their speed and mobility to shoot down bikaku-type users from afar. However, a koukaku-type user can suppress an ukaku-type user by successfully guarding against the ukaku-type user's attacks, leaving them vulnerable to counterattacks and exhausting the ukaku-type user in the long run.

###### Koukaku

A koukaku kagune (甲赫, kōkaku, "shell-red") is released below the shoulder blade. Due to its high density of Rc cells, it is heavy and extremely robust, giving it the greatest sturdiness and making them very well suited for defense. Normally, they are generally shaped into armors or shields, but on the offense, they can be shaped like melee weapons such as drills, hammers, blades, and swords.  Due to its high weight, a koukaku's speed is inferior to all other Rc types and the kagune is difficult to wield. However don’t let what they lack in running speed fool you. They’re still pretty fast with thrusts and the usage of their kagune making them formidable in combat.

A koukaku can fend off an ukaku onslaught using its guarding capabilities. However, a rinkaku kagune can deliver severe strikes against the slow koukaku, breaking their kagune and breaching their defenses.

###### Rinkaku

A rinkaku kagune (鱗赫, rinkaku, "scale-red") has an appearance similar to scaled tentacles and is released at the back around the waist. A rinkaku wielder has powerful regenerative abilities. Its peculiar appearance and structure yields superior striking power and excels in brute strength. However, due to the weak bindings between the RC cells which lend it the signature fluidity, rinkakus tend to be brittle and easily sliced off or destroyed.

###### Bikaku

A bikaku kagune (尾赫, bikaku, "tail-red") typically has a tail-like appearance and is released around the tail-bone/coccyx. Users can typically only create one to four tails, and this particular kagune is an all-rounded weapon with sufficient defense, offense, and everything else you could possibly want. The ideal weapon for anyone with its versatile characteristics, bikakus have no notable weaknesses or strengths as a whole, leaving it perfect for you to mold into your desires.

1. ↑ Ghoul information
2. ↑ Kakuja Information
3. ↑ Kagune Information