Ar'caix

When the Meridians feared that the Pyrosi would dismantle them entirely they sought to create weapons to impede them. They tried many methods to create a safeguard. Ultimately, all but the Arcus failed. The residue of their actions still remains and haunts those they left behind. The Ar’caix is one of them. A mistake best left forgotten. It is a disgusting amalgamation of decaying flesh and old magic. A monster of the most fetid and feral. Their unnatural formation and artificial design limits their ability to replenish their numbers, believed to be a single generation some thousand years old. The question is; *where do they keep coming from?*

#### Physiology and Anatomy

A chimera of insect, canid, and inorganic vitoric components. The Ar’caix has no true ancestry or relation to other organisms. The majority of its body is analogous to a large wolf albeit almost totally hairless. Only small patches of fur collect at the base of their feet. An Ar’caix’s skin is otherwise leathery and matted, pulled taut against the bones. Ar’caix aren’t particularly fast though they can match the speed of a man, throwing their limbs wildly with lack of coordination. However, Ar’caix don’t seem to tire, or even sleep. When they’re not active they may lie in a mangled mess of their own limbs only to snap back into place to give chase. When it comes to persistence, nothing is more determined than an Ar’caix.

In terms of armament the Ar’caix is suited for butchering. Their front legs are insectoid and dipped with two serrated talons, cutting through flesh with relative ease. Ar’caix have a scorpion-like tail, and while it lacks any venom it can be swung like a skewer in such a way to puncture chainmail. Ar’caix don’t seem to be able to close their jaws. It hangs off the hinge allowing the tongue to droop freely. The open maw constantly salivates a mixture of orange-black goo of a foul scent. This odor is so disgusting that most predators won’t dare eat an Ar’caix’s body.

Though Ar’caix can ingest material through their open maws they do not need to eat. Necrotic vitor emanates from behind their ribs, causing them to glow alongside the eyes. This residual vitor allows the Ar’caix to persist without sustenance. The sensation of pain and degradation also seem to be muted as the Ar’caix lacks a brain entirely, driven -or even controlled by- the vitor which emanates from their centermass. So while their skin peels off they do not seem to mind. ***As Ar’caix are of necrotic origin they’re to be treated under the same rules that normal Undead are except for the weak points listed differing (RTK/RTC).***

#### Psychology

Ar’caix are irrationally aggressive toward certain organisms, particularly sapient races. They will attempt to injure, impede, or kill whenever the opportunity presents itself. Unlike Undead, they may flee or avoid attacking large groups if they do not believe they can reliably subdue their foe. They may ‘coordinate’ in groups of up to four to hunt their selected prey. Ar’caix are hardly organized though, attacking in a mob and with little regard for each other's well being or whereabouts. Their openly hostile nature toward sapient races becomes muted when faced with a *Necromancer or Thulanite summoner. (**With NPC approval, once tamed they will follow PTK/PTC- they cannot be transferred to other players**)* Either of these two types of mages may even tame an Ar’caix, though they are difficult to command beyond ordering when to kill or not.