Approved Species The Inmla

[Soliath Devin Talith]

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: To sub an incredibly uber duber super deadly species for Thral
• ​Image Credit: Wizards of the Coast
• Canon: Nah bru.
• Links: Def Not, Homes.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Name: Inmla, The Shade's
• Designation: Semi-Sentient
• Homeworld: Unknown, Thral
• Language: N/A
• Average Lifespan: 500-700 years
• Estimated Population: Rare
• Description:

The Inmla are an oddity even among the races of Thral. As a species they are utterly unique in both appearance, shape, and general attitude. Though many describe them as an odd sort of liquid, they are most often seen as 'shadows' within the forests and high mountains of Thral itself.

They are in essence a 'liquid' species, capable of fully changing, morphing, and shifting their shape as they see fit. They have no bones, muscles, ligaments, or anything that would stop them from changing form. They are not true shapeshifters in that they cannot copy the appearance of a person or other species, but they can change their actual shape. Most often they take the appearance of a humanoid 'shadow', slowly lumbering or walking.

In actuality the Inmla have no real shape at all, instead they simply morph into whatever suits them the most at the moment.

Due to their ability to shift and change their body it is often theorized that they hail from a species of shapeshifters, perhaps being an off-shoot of the famed Shi'ido. This is entirely conjecture however and the truth is no one knows the true origins of the species nor exactly where their unique abilities came from.

Nevertheless the Inmla are a terrifying species even on Thral, and many beasts will simply run away at the sight of them. They are flexible, deadly, and incredibly intelligent. The Inmla pose a threat to even the grandest hunters of Thral.

PHYSICAL INFORMATION

• Breathes: Type I
• Average height of adults: N/A
• Average length of adults: N/A
• Skin color: Black
• Hair color: N/A
• Distinctions:

The Inmla, or Shade's are they are called by most, are distinct by their appearance of simply being a moving and shifting black mass. Most of the time these creatures appear to be a mass of black liquid, simply in a constant stage of motion and shifting.

This can however change quite quickly, with the Inmla capable of taking on a variety of different appearances. The one most often viewed by researchers was that of a shadowy humanoid, a deranged silhouette that reminded most of the Moross Crusaders of ancient tales of demons. It is unknown whether the Inmla takes on these different forms for any particular reasons, but it is indeed a terror to behold.

Aside from this the Inmla is capable of changing and moving in ways similar to that of water. Most often it simply becomes whatever it needs to be at the time. A simple example would be an Inmla on the hunt. It chases a creature through the forest, in order to do this quickly it grows four legs and moves on those, the creature then hides in a small burrow so in order to chase the creature into the burrow the Inmla loses its leg and instead simple squishes its way through the burrows opening.

This is what makes the Inmla so unique, it changes into whatever form is best for its current hunt. Of course this ability is limited by the laws of physics and the Inmla can only change shape to what its body mass allows(IE it cant suddenly become a mountain because there simply isn't enough of it in the first place to be a mountain)

It is this shapeshifting ability that sets the Inmla apart as a hunter.

• Races: N/A
• Strengths:

[+]Force Dead: The Inmla are a force dead species. Though it is unknown exactly why the species exist outside of the force, it is theorized that this is a natural adaption of the race in order to better facilitate in the hunting of prey. Various species found on Thral utilize the force to better hunt and survive, the Inmla is one of the few true Apex predators on the planet and thus being force dead is a key component to consuming everything from the Erebii to foolish force users who might wander Thral. The Inmla cannot be sensed, controlled, or directly touched by effects of the force. This adaption is similar in effect to that of Ysalimir, though the Inmla creates no 'field' around itself, and is instead localized to the creatures body alone.
[+]No Form: As stated before, the Inmla have no true 'form'. Most often they decide to shift into whatever most suits them in hunting. Generally this is the shape of an odd and misshapen Humanoid, though adapts depending on the prey that the Inmla is going after. The ability to shift and change is invaluable to an Inmla and allows it to prey upon even the strongest of creatures on Thral. Most often the Inmla uses this shape shifting to kill it's prey, either constricting the creature directly or blocking the victims airway with its own body. This also makes killing an Inmla rather difficult since there are no limbs to cut off, no organs to remove, and no obvious vital areas to strike. The creature is also capable of reforming after its limbs are severed, reattaching itself to lost body parts with no apparent significant effect.
[+]Poisonous: The Inmla is extremely poisonous to consume. The 'meat' of the Inmla, if it can be called that, is extremely deadly to the point where it can cause paralysis and death within mere minutes of consumption. How is this relevant? A key way for the Inmla to slay its prey is for the creature to quite literally force feed a piece of itself to it's victims and simply wait for them to die.

• Weaknesses:

[-]Light: The Inmla as a general rule do not like light. Though it is not enough to kill them, they will often run away and simply leave whenever there is light directly pointed at them. This means that the Inmla are most often nocturnal, rarely moving around during the day unless it is within the shade provided by the dense jungle or the reaching mountains. This fear of light can be overcome if the Inmla is hungry enough, though generally even a flashlight can dissuade one of the creatures to seek other prey.
[-]Water: An Inmla cannot survive in water. Though they can stand to be introduced to it for a few minutes at a time, any more than that and they begin to quite literally melt. Once submerged an Inmla quickly begins to lose all density, quite literally melting into the surrounding liquid after about fifteen minutes of contact. If splashed with water, the Inmla loses many of its shifting effects, becoming far slower and less pliable. It is because of this that many creatures that flee from the Shade's often seek bodies of water. Similarly the Inmla do not like rain or snow. Both falling from the sky effect it and slow it down, during torrential rain they will often hide and place themselves under rocks or beneath the ground. If an Inmla dies within a body of water it's poison spreads through said water, though diluting and dissipating depending on the current.
[-]Amphistaff Venom: Though unknown to the galaxy, the Inmla are extremely susceptible to the poison of an amphistaff. Even the slightest contact with the venom from this creature will immediately begin an Inmla's death throes. The Shade's liquify if introduced to enough of this venom, serving a similar effect as water has on the creature but in a more instantaneous manner.
[-]Immense Hunger: Inmla creatures with extremely high metabolisms. Perhaps because of their ever changing shape the Shade's need to feed three to four times a night on creatures that are equal to their size. Due to this they have evolved to be extremely effective hunters and find prey quite easily, even on Thral. If they do not eat this amount, the Inmla very quickly begin to waste away into nothingness, eventually liquefying into simple black puddles.

CULTURE

• Diet: Carnivorous
• Communication:

N/A

• Technology level:

N/A

• Religion/Beliefs:

N/A

• General behavior:

The Inmla are predators. Their sole existence and drive is to survive by eating. Not a single one of the Shade's has ever been observed doing anything except hunting, or waiting to hunt. Unlike many other species on Thral the Inmla seem to have no sense of cohesion, that is to say they are completely isolated. From what has been observed the Inmla have no mates, no pack, and no consideration of others of their kind.

It seems that the drive of an Inmla stems simply from it's need to constantly gorge itself on meat. Though this might label them as simple carnivores, the Shade's are anything but. It is in fact theorized that the Inmla are one of the more intelligent species on Thral. They are capable of analyzing and understanding their prey, predicting actions as well as movements. The information they gathered is stored and used for later hunts, turning them into more efficient killers as they age.

This is also how the Inmla learn to shapeshift into proper forms. A younger Shade may not have the experience needed to hunt down an Erebii, but an older Inmla will know well that the best way to hunt one of the Erebii is to shift into a form like one of the creatures in order to fool it's senses. This ability to learn has witnesses to believe the Inmla hold a certain amount of intelligence.

Due to it's fear of light, the Inmla quite literally become puddles during the day. They are reduced to a lethargic and lazy state. It is not uncommon to spot these odd black masses simply sitting within patches of Thrals' undergrowth.

The Inmla reproduce asexually. Once one of the creatures reaches a certain age it simply bisects itself, leaving behind a new 'young' Inmla. This effect only occurs every two hundred years or so, though why is not known.

The Shade's are an incredibly dangerous species, even for Thral. Other Apex predators of the Death World have a habit of avoiding the Inmla, and it is not uncommon that even the most powerful giants of Thral are seen running away from a simple slithering black mass.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The Inmla, or Shade's, have never truly been studied as a species.

Due to their intense abilities as hunters, as well as their rather slippery forms, it has proven incredibly difficult to actually get a proper analysis of this creature. The only real information that has been gathered on the Inmla comes from a Moross Crusade expedition that was initially launched upon the finding of planet Thral.

This expedition consisted not of researchers or scientists, but instead a pack of Crusaders and Initiates.

The Crusaders landed on the planet of Thral sometime in the early morning and quickly assessed the planet as something to be feared and even avoided. Nevertheless the fearless soldiers set up a camp, utilizing shield generators, automated sentries, and a guard in order to keep themselves safe. These methods proved effective in warding off creatures during the day and the early parts of the night.

As the sun fell and the moon rose however things began to change.

Though other predators were still caught by either the shield or sentries, a strange sort of figure began to move around the perimeter of the camp. At first Crusaders believed it was an odd sort of beast, moving on four legs and exploring the area. As the night progressed however the figure began to walk on two legs, and as they looked closer they saw what appeared to be a human.

The figure wandered closer and closer, each time the Crusaders catching only a glimpse.

Eventually the figure came close enough, and as one of the Crusaders wandered over to initiate contact, it struck.

Within an instant the silhouette of a man transformed into a whirling mass of black, snatching the Crusader and wrapping itself around him. It forced a piece of itself between his screaming lips, a chunk of the creature breaking off as he bit down. A heartbeat later and the monster retreated, slithering like a snake into the abyss of the night. A crisis averted the Crusaders pulled back, dragging their assaulted friend towards the fire.

Only a few heartbeats passed before the man began to froth at the mouth and his heart body began to seize, death following only minutes after.

Three more times the creature struck that night, and three more times the Crusaders were caught unaware. They attempted everything, their blasters, lightsabers, and even the force. Yet each time the creature came, and each time it claimed one of their lives.

Eventually the expedition gave in, and before morning came they boarded their ship.

 

[Netherworld]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Incredibly uber duber super under review.

 

[Netherworld]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Breathes: Type IV

• Thral is a fully habitable planet, so Atmo I – how do the Inmla survive there? (Or anywhere else outside of space, for that matter?)

Average height of adults: N/A Average length of adults: N/A

• Could you give me an estimate of the extremes in each dimension?

[-]Water: An Inmla cannot survive in water. Though they can stand to be introduced to it for a few minutes at a time, any more than that and they begin to quite literally melt. Once submerged an Inmla quickly begins to lose all density, quite literally melting into the surrounding liquid after about fifteen minutes of contact. If splashed with water, the Inmla loses many of its shifting effects, becoming far slower and less pliable. It is because of this that many creatures that flee from the Shade's often seek bodies of water.

• How do rain and snow affect the Inmla?
• If they melt in, say, a river or a lake, does their poison infect that body of water, or is it rendered ineffective when the Inmla dies/melts?

Finally, in the history section – there's implications that the Inmla can bypass shields and fool automatic sensors. I'd like you to clarify this point.

Furthermore, this:

They attempted everything, their blasters, lightsabers

• If the creatures are 'liquid' and have no bones or other solid exo/endoskeleton, a lightsaber would very easily cut them into pieces. How do the Inmla deal with that?

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Thral is a fully habitable planet, so Atmo I – how do the Inmla survive there? (Or anywhere else outside of space, for that matter?)

This was a typo, its fixed.

How do rain and snow affect the Inmla?

They do not like it. As stated in order for them to die they have to be "submerged" in water, so rain will not kill it but slow it down severely. During most rainstorms Inmla will hide under rocks, tree branches, or straight up burrow into the ground. Snow is only an issue in the mountains of Thral, and for the Inmla it becomes a sort of barrier. They will go through it if they must but again they really really don't like it and thus will usually avoid it.

If they melt in, say, a river or a lake, does their poison infect that body of water, or is it rendered ineffective when the Inmla dies/melts?

I hadn't thought of this but I would guess yes. The poison is a natural effect and thus would remain even after it liquefies and dies. Obviously it would be diluted within the body of water and would likely eventually be washed away, but I would say the poison effect lingers for some time depending on the current.

Finally, in the history section – there's implications that the Inmla can bypass shields and fool automatic sensors. I'd like you to clarify this point.

This was never meant to imply they could somehow bypass these effects, more than the creature was able to draw out the Crusaders time and time again by fooling them into thinking it was something human/humanlike via it's shapeshifting. An Inmla cannot bypass ray shields like some Star Wars creatures, though in theory it could morph itself into something that could bypass an auto-turret(Like a very thin stream of itself to go beneath the turrets notice). Otherwise these defenses would work against an Inmla.

If the creatures are 'liquid' and have no bones or other solid exo/endoskeleton, a lightsaber would very easily cut them into pieces. How do the Inmla deal with that?

As you stated and is stated in the sub, the creature is essentially a liquid. Yes cutting and shooting it would be 'effective' but only in so much as cutting or shooting a body of water is effective. These attacks don't really bother the Inmla and if it quickly regains contact with the severed portion of its body it simply reforms itself and starts anew. If it is cut and contact is broken for more than a few moments? Then the smaller severed piece liquefies and dies.

 

[Netherworld]

Alrighto. Pending approval.

 

[Quietus]

They don't mate. They are completely isolated from others.

So how do they come to be? This subject is not mentioned at all in your submission. They have to be produced somehow.

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Mahet"]

They likely reproduce through a form of Mitosis. At a certain point an older Inmla sort of just splits off and a younger one is formed and left behind(as you said they are an isolated species)

As a species they are incredibly rare and capable of staying alive for hundreds of years. As such I would say this happens very very infrequently, maybe every 200 or so years. This is why the population is so low.

 

[Quietus]

Have that information added into the sub.

I would assume they also have a weakness to fire, not only for the light it provides but also as some form of damage to their matter?

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Mahet"]

For the light, not for the heat. They are simply photosensitive, not averse to warmth/heat. Hence why a flashlight works. Throwing or stabbing it with a torch would likely just end up with the torch going out and the Inmla very upset with the current situation.

Also edited in.

 

[Quietus]

Very good. Approved.