Kepawu

A moonlit silhouette appeared at the end of the dark corridor. It seemed human but there was something unsettling in the way it moved. My suspicions were confirmed when it looked in my direction. Two teal glowing eyes pierced the darkness. Whomever was after me had send an inflicted to deal with me. A kepawu to be precise. My hope to make it out alive shattered. After a last look in the darkness where I was hidden it produced an intricate pattern of clicks. For a few moments all was silent around us. Until an equally unintelligible answer came from the other side of the building. Ama's breath. Someone wanted to be absolutely certain I would not get out of here alive.

— Author unknown

Kepawu, also known as clickers, are inflicted creatures who from a far can be mistaken for human. From up close there is nothing human about them though. They are mostly known for their exceptional tracking abilities. Once a kepawu is on your trail it is almost impossible to lose it.

Basic Information

Anatomy

One of the reasons a kepawu may be mistaken for a human when seen from far away is that they walk upright the same way humans do. Fully grown they are taller though with elongated arms and legs. They have a bark-like skin which gives them a decent protection against injury and is surprisingly resilient against fire. Their fingernails are long and sharp and are used to protect themselves or to kill a prey. Like all inflicted their eyes have a teal glow. According to those who survived a close encounter with a kepawu their eyes look human from up close. Yet their faces have barely any resemblance to that of a human. 

Dietary Needs and Habits

Despite popular believe kepawu live on a plant-based diet. Their claw-like hands allow them to dig up various roots. They also eat all kinds of fruit and nuts. And they are fond of the leaves of certain trees. It is not unheard of for kepawu to collect the food offerings left outdoors after festivities or traditions like The Ninth Guest.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

A kepawu's hearing is many times stronger than that of a human. While their sight appears to be pretty similar. Despite their preference for darkness and nighttime they do not see much better in the dark than humans do. But they do have a keen sense of smell which allows them to track their prey easily. Some obcurists believe the kepawu's sensory capabilities can not explain how they can keep track of a prey when it is too far away to make any use of exceptional hearing or smell. They claim there must be some sort of extra-sensory ability they have that we don't know of.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• The Inflicted

Origin/Ancestry

Inflicted

Lifespan

40 years

Average Height

1,85 - 2,05m

Average Weight

95 - 115 kg

Be Nice

Kepawu will rarely attack an animal or human unless it is out of self-defense. So if you happen to see a kepawu close-by it is not always a reason for concern. However, they do not take kindly to being treated badly, and they will certainly never forget. It is not uncommon for families in Ghynzua's more remote areas to have one or more kepawu for whom they leave food out. It is said that if you treat a kepawu as if they were your family they will protect you from harm.

Trackers

According to rumors some criminal organisations in Ghynzua train kepawu to track and kill for them.