Shuddeni
Appearance
Shuddeni are subterranean, sapient humanoids who have a distinctive lack of eyes. They instead perceive the world with a passive, pseudo-psionic blindsight, allowing them to discern shapes and distances with ease. Their skin grey in tone and is noticeably wrinkled; they often apply scented oils to these folds as a cultural norm. Their life-span is average relative to humanity, and their most notable physical change during maturity is the depth and prominence of their skin creases. While they can (and do) survive on the surface, shuddeni bodies are sensitive to sunlight, and become more easily fatigued when exposed to it.
Personality
Power, control, and command are the most significant factors to a shuddeni. Their natural intelligence and charisma allow them to often move quickly through academic or philosophical circles; when combined with their affinity for cruelty, shuddeni make for obvious, if usually sociopathic, leaders. When in a position of authority, they often believe that the inherent supremacy of their decisions or outlook make them superior-- and in turn, those who follow them often find themselves belittled, marginalized, or otherwise degraded. A shuddeni may often act cooperatively, or encourage cooperation in others, but ultimately, anything which threatens his personal power or autonomy is anathema to him.
A shuddeni typically delights in violence, either his own, or those of his underlings. His magical, and at times, physical, talents are almost always turned to this end; yet, even if he personally abstains from open war, his rhetoric will willingly compensate. Evil is a certainty in the life of any shuddeni, as to him, it is the only true constant. He believes its seed either should exist, or does exist, in all sapient life. This makes him despise all who encourage goodness, purity, peace, or compassion, as these concepts are, to him, merely veils which shroud a mortal's true and inalienable nature.
