Skinny Men
The Skinny Men are a race of nightmare-inducing monsters born of
Leng, visible on the Material Plane to the rare few who bear their curse, and those with supernatural sight.
Three of these guys jumped me just as Jun Zhao changed flags on us... Are they working together, or was it just an uncanny coincidence? I haven't encountered them before, but they were powerful -- I barely got out of that one alive.
Loading... Not many users of the System have encountered the Skinny Men, but I have pulled together the scraps for your convenience.
Additional Information
Social Structure
As a whole, Skinny Men are largely independent, working together only when it delights them. However, all Skinny Men are deferential to the aptly-named Skinny Man, who seems to rule over the species as its patriarch.
Civilization and Culture
History
The Skinny Men are rarely encountered by those brave enough to travel the Dreamlands, becoming increasingly likely as one nears the shores of Leng. Given that few survive such encounters, information on them is rare. However, a lost manuscript of Albus Rickette declares that they are creatures of entropy, and may not be wholly evil. Instead, they seem to delight in overwhelming chaos, helping their target as often as they hurt them -- usually to one extreme or another.
In the past, when the Skinny Men have found a creature destined to draw chaos towards themselves, the Skinny Men often mark them (which is largely agreed to be a curse), making it easier for the Skinny Men to find the poor soul in the future. Creatures such marked gain the rare ability to see the Skinny Men on the Material Plane, and can often interact with them physically.
Common Myths and Legends
It is completely unknown if the Skinny Men have their own myths and legends, but many tales of boogeymen in the night can be attributed to them, and are thwarted by a myriad of conflicting methods. In general, it appears the creatures dislike sunlight, and can be stalled -- but not entirely stopped -- by running water. They avoid places of law as a rule, such as courthouses and police stations, and flock to arenas, festivals, and rituals.
No common thread identifies a tried-and-true method for killing a member of the Skinny Men, but tales include a blade made of pure light, a flame that clings to flesh, the true name of law, a mother's love, and the horn of a unicorn.
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