Lifeforms · Constructed · Underground
Steelfeasters
Dwarven Undead with a hunger that won't be satiated by simply your blood, brains, or flesh.
What is a Steelfeaster?
The Steelfeaster is a thankfully rare type of mindless undead abomination that cares not about blood, brain or flesh. It east metal. It is a horrible stunted humanoid with a large mouth full of broad, flat, brown teeth surrounded by a growth of matted reddish-orange hair. It has two beady eyes set deep within their sockets and overshadowed by a protruding forehead covered in the same hair as found around the mouth. They have two strong arms, and hands with five fingers; the fingers each ending is long nail-like protrusions. Its stunted midsection, and hunched back and shoulders are covered in a thick black carapace said to be as hard as their food of choice: Steel. The legs are short and stocky pillars of sagging flesh that carry them with an unnerving gait and frightening speed.
How do I fight a Steelfeaster?
You should try to avoid a fight with one of these, but if you are carrying a metal weapon or wearing anything metal, especially armor, that could prove difficult. They have an almost supernatural sense for all things metal and will attempt to devour it on sight. If you know there will be Steelfeasters in your enemy's hoard, then you should seek an alternative to metal for your arsenal of weapons. A Steelfeaster is filled with a corrosive liquid that breaks down metal and is able to provide a semblance of sustenance to the creature as well as a feeling of euphoria, or so it is hypothesized. They obtain a burst of energy and their wounds seems to regenerate after they consume any type of metal or are hit with a metal weapon, which will be ruined by the digestive juice that flows throughout their body.
Dare I ask? How is a Steelfeaster created?
The history of the Steelfeasters is not a long one. It started with a Dwarven Magician, who took to the Path of the Necromaster. His name was Dumadrane Grauddanholt. He was banished from his mountain home, and forbidden to return, even before he studied the vile art of Necromancy.
In his grand scheme, revenge was a must, but he needed power first. His research into the nature of undead led him to create a necrotic poison that infects Dwarves and other beings with an innate bond with the power of metal. His poison worked perfectly. Infecting an underground ravine with his toxic was their downfall, and their mountain home became his once more. He has made it his stronghold has been maintaining the clan as if the rulers were still alive, luring in other dwarves to transform and humanoids to perform experiments on.
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- Augmented Undead Grey linked by Pieh
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Why are they just mindless eating machines? Are their souls still in the dwarven afterlife? Did creating them shred their minds?Other then that, a great submission and very orginal.
Ok.... first and foremost... the Rust Monster revised. I love it. A tad bit more information about them and why they are transformed completely would be nice. Such as, when infected with this necro toxin of sorts, do the dwarves immediately become an undead stealfeaster? Or is it a gradual thing where they are unaware of the change until it is to late?
Would they slowly succumb to the dreaded desire to feast on metals? Or do they die near instantly? Just food for thought.
To address a few questions:
@Cheka - The toxin turns them into undead. Through magical corruption of living tissue, I would think. Their mind is damaged in the process but still works enough to move the body and such. Their souls would be subject to the same rules as any other undead in your setting.
@Mourn - The toxin acts quickly after entering their body. Over the course of a week they start to desire metal objects, finding it hard to resist the temptation to hold them and growing into obsession with licking metal eventually ending with full-blown pica, specifically concerning metal objects. By the time they succumb to the desire to eat metal, the transformation is complete and they can think of nothing else. They would be unaware of it happening.
And as a note, I am happy to announce this is my 100th Submission on Strolen's Citadel!
An awesome replacement for the rust monster. I'd add Rustcaller_Toxin as a related sub. One of these critters who used this poison would be really nasty.
Let me echo the others in conrgatulating you on a great new take on a rust monster. Undead to boot. And Dwarven!
Yes! The Dwarves and the Necromancers can come together!
Overall a nice idea and as an idea I like it, I found your description to be complete and interesting. I do want to ask about tone and perspective. Who was writing this, who was the intended audience because the text seems to be pretty meta with regard to prespective.