Subtypes

### Name: **Umbrals**

**Appearance:**

- **Size & Shape:** Umbrals are medium-sized creatures, typically about 10 feet in height when standing upright, but their form is highly flexible and can range from smaller, compact shapes to more elongated, slender figures. Their natural form is vaguely humanoid but without distinct features—more like a living shadow with a fluid, constantly shifting outline.

- **Color:** They are composed of a dense, inky blackness that seems to absorb light. Their bodies are semi-transparent at the edges, blending seamlessly into the darkness around them. The only solid part of their form is the large, multifaceted gem embedded in their upper back, glowing with a faint, ethereal light that shifts between deep purples and blues.

- **Eyes:** Umbrals have no traditional facial features, but they possess a pair of glowing, slit-like eyes that can appear anywhere on their body, often changing position depending on the form they take. These eyes emit a soft, eerie glow, usually white or silver, and can pierce through darkness.

**Abilities:**

- **Shapeshifting:** Umbrals are master shapeshifters, able to transform into a wide variety of forms, from amorphous blobs to more defined, humanoid or bestial shapes. Their transformations are fluid and can happen in an instant, allowing them to adapt to different situations or environments.

- **Gem of Power:** The gem on their back is the core of their being, containing a fragment of an ancient, pre-Phobis soul. This gem is the source of their shapeshifting abilities and magical power. It is almost indestructible, and as long as it remains intact, the Umbral can regenerate from injuries, though the process is slow and taxing.

- **Shadow Manipulation:** Umbrals can manipulate shadows and darkness, using them as an extension of their own bodies. They can create shadowy tendrils to grapple with enemies, form weapons or tools from darkness, and even cloak themselves in a veil of shadows to become nearly invisible.

**History:**

- **Ancient Origins:** The Umbrals are ancient beings, created from the souls of long-forgotten entities before the dawn of Phobis. These souls were bound to the gems they now carry, imbuing them with the ability to manipulate darkness and shift their forms. The Umbrals were once more numerous, acting as guardians of the realm’s balance.

- **Near Extinction:** With the rise of Phobis and the changing nature of the realm, the Umbrals’ numbers dwindled. Now, only a few remain, hidden in the darkest corners of Phobispecter, their purpose and origin mostly forgotten by other inhabitants.

**Behavior:**

- **Elusive and Secretive:** Umbrals are highly reclusive, preferring to remain unseen and undisturbed. They move silently through the shadows, rarely interacting with other creatures unless provoked or threatened. When they do engage, it is often through subtle manipulation or sudden, overwhelming displays of power.

- **Keepers of Secrets:** Umbrals are drawn to places of ancient power or knowledge, often guarding forgotten ruins, lost relics, or the remnants of their own civilization. They have a deep connection to the past and see themselves as the last custodians of a lost world.