Mortuus

The Mortuus are a race of sentient undead that are part of the Draconian Principalities. They serve under Princess Manta, the self-proclaimed peacekeeper of mortals. Unlike other races, the Mortuus are not born or created from scratch; instead they are the remnants of mortals who petition Manta to give them eternal life at the expense of their flesh and minds, a simultaneous blessing and curse.

Appearance & Biology
Because the Mortuus can be "born" from any of the other races (with the exception of Skaln and Lovek due to their biology), they can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Though some find it distasteful, some Mortuus may use parts of an animal's body to modify their own either for practical purposes of merely for aesthetic. Additionally, many choose to use paint to differentiate themselves from others. This sense of individuality is vital to the mental well-being of the Mortuus.

Being only the skeletons of their former bodies, the Mortuus are free from the constraints of mortality: eating, breathing, and sleeping (on a physical level). However, this does not make them entirely immortal either, as they can be killed by physical damage. This is in addition to the fact that they suffer from a degenerative mental state, leading many to only be "alive" in a cognitive sense for 10-20 years at most. To maintain their sanity, Mortuus must enter a hibernation state similar to that of Skaln on a frequent basis, and must partake in mental stimulation in various forms.

Culture & Religion
As part of their required mental stimulation, many Mortuus partake in pilgrimages across the world to experience other cultures. This is in part due to their own culture being considered by many to be depressing due to the nature of most of the folk who choose to surrender themselves to undeath.