Biology
The Cangzhuí, or Palemen as they are called, are a type of aberration found all over central
Qinhei that vaguely resemble albino humanoids. A large outbreak of them is often considered a sign of divine punishment within the region, to indicate that a ruler has acted poorly and lost their right to rule.
Their body shape is similar to that of a human, except it is slightly more lithe as if they are underfed and they are fully white with no hair. Their faces also do not have a mouth or eyes, instead their sockets are covered by a thin layer of flesh and where their mouth would be is a similar piece of jagged flesh that they can rip open and stretch a nearly impossible amount to bite or swallow things.
Light dependent
Much like the willowgrass in the region, the Cangzhuí absorb the UV rays from the sun and perform a process somewhat similar to photosynthesis to feed themselves. This also explains why they are active during the day, and sluggish and dormant during the night. Since current scientific knowledge is not advanced enough to have figured out how this process works, many myths say that the Cangzhuí used to be people but they were cursed by the twin moons of Levantis, and they are thus weakened under their influence.
Intelligence and Social Behavior
The Cangzhuí are primal hunters who use their natural color to their advantage by hiding within the tall willowgrass that camouflages them, only striking out when people come close. For that matter, they do attack people despite not needing to feed on them. They do so because their claws carry the infectious virus that plagues them. Based on reports this virus seems to initially weaken people similar to as if they were poisoned, but when the disease settles it starts to affect their bodies. If the carrier dies while the disease still affects them, their body undergoes rapid changes to their physiology, eventually bringing them into a new life as a Cangzhuí. Once it has occurred, this change is irreversible. This method of propagation explains why the Cangzhuí are such aggressive and territorial creatures despite having never been seen to feed on others.
Statistics
Occasionally the Cangzhuí manage to drag down something larger like an Oni or an Ogre, which turns into a larger and more powerful Cangzhuí.
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