Evor (OC)
In the fantastical kingdom of Dineria, humans live in fear of the beasts living amongst them in the dark woods, where wild magic and abominations of all sorts run unchecked. Enter the brave knights of the kingdom, whose job is to drive back the beasts and defend the villagers who are unprotected by the castle walls.
Unfortunately, one of those very monsters has infiltrated the Royal Guard.
There are whispers of beasts, their native name unpronounceable to human tongues, called Inhabiters. Born formless, oozing things, they earn their name from their need to inhabit a fixed “shell” after birth—or die. Evor was spawned shortly after one of the creatures made an attempt on the castle itself, and the little ooze quickly found itself a body in the form of the suits of armor standing guard around the hall.
Inhabiters are blessed with minor shapeshifting magic. They can change some properties of their “shell” to better suit their needs. When Evor entered his, the rubbery, gooey substance that made up his form fused to the inside of the armor, so that they became one in the same. The helmet’s visor has stretched out to become a set of ironclad jaws, a set of literal steel teeth that form the creature’s mouth. They move when he speaks—and thanks to possessing no real “joints,” they can unhinge as far as he likes. Two glowing, yellow eyes stare out of a slit above those jaws, eerie but curious.
If not for these qualities (and the fact that he has no armor over his stomach, revealing a sizable, jet-black paunch), Evor could pass for a heavily armored human. Despite all his honor, however, he could never hope to pass for one.
Inhabiters’ only food source is living meat, and if exposed to its presence for too long, they will stop at nothing to eat it and add to their body mass. Why do you think every new “shell” comes sporting a terrifying new set of jaws?
Herein lies the problem. Evor, inspired by the great tapestries on the wall of the castle and the other suited men around him, wishes to become a knight as great as any human. His monstrous status almost cost him his life, but his quick thinking saved the king from assassination and earned him a place in the Royal Guard—to the outcry of everyone. But, because he was appointed by the king, Evor enjoys a protected status. However, the reminders that he is inhuman plague him every day, and remembering his everlasting hunger keeps him from the company of any potential friends or lovers.
One day, Evor will have to make a choice—honor or hunger. Feeding on the creatures in the woods won’t sustain him forever... but can he even justify eating the enemies of the kingdom? Bullies? Criminals? What does he owe them, anyway?
Evor must lead his life of self-made isolation and continue protecting the kingdom to pursue his dream... or succumb and enjoy gluttony beyond his wildest dreams.
