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Description
The Ghilani tend to live in wet, plant-rich places, mainly swamps, fens and bogs. Due to their slick, moist skin, they seek out habitat that is constantly damp or has plenty of available water sources. They like territory that has a ton of vegetation and mud, which they use to construct their homes and hunt prey. Their houses are more like burrows, with each individual creating an underground living space out of mud, root and vine. Most living structures are partially buried, giving their villages the look of a town that was drowned by a mudslide. Other structures that are used for food prep, storage, rearing, worship and livestock are built above ground to make more space. Due to their love of dampness and mud, very few of their structures have water-proof roofs. The only places that aim to keep out water are structures used to store food, and places where livestock and other species may dwell or mingle.

If you were to look at a Ghilani, I am sure you could instantly guess who they are related to. Indeed, the Ghilani are leeches and they share many traits with them. Their skin is segmented, and is covered in a damp membrane that secretes mucus. They possess no bones in their body, which makes them incredibly flexible. They can expand and contract in ridiculous ways, making them second only to Slimes when it comes to squeezing into tight spaces. This incredibly bending and stretching can be seen with their arms and "legs." The arms of a Ghilani are broad and flat, ending in four suction-cup like fingers. Though they do not possess an actual thumb, their boneless nature makes such a thing obsolete. These arms can swell and stretch in many ways, but they often remain flat to help with wrapping and binding prey. Being hugged by a Ghilani is quite like being wrapped up in a thick wet sheet! Their "legs" are more like tentacles that split from their lower end. While they possess two of these tendrils, they are capable of sticking them together into one serpentine limb. This is meant to help them traverse a variety of environments, as the two tentacles can help with climbing and holding on, while the singular limb helps with speed. To add to their appendage arsenal is their long, trunk-like mouth, which can serve as an extra limb in a pinch. Packed with sensors, it also serves to track prey and communicate. When Ghilani wish to truly speak to one another on a personal level, they may touch trunks or wrap them around one another. To go with their sensitive snouts are six eyes that line their heads. These organs are meant to greatly expand their field of vision, especially when contorting into strange poses. On their bellies are a hollow "mantle" which is used to suction themselves onto a surface, or carry bundles of goods. Looking at their sides, you can spot breathing holes that aid their skin in respiratory functions. It is through these that they also speak, able to use air and muscle to simulate a voice that we auditory-centered creatures can understand. For coloration, they can vary wildly, but a majority of them are made of browns, greens and other dark colors, which help them blend in with their surroundings. With all that together, you have an extremely flexible creature that can climb any surface, traverse any obstacle and nab any prey with their many powerful limbs.

Due to their relations with leeches, you probably already guessed what they feed on. Blood makes up a good chunk of their diet, which is consumed with the aid of their long, flexible mouths. If you have ever seen a Ghilani, their trunk-like mouth is probably the first thing you noticed. At rest, the long appendage is coiled up under their head so that it doesn't get in the way. When it comes time to hunt, feed or communicate, it will unfurl to its full length. Though quite long, their mouth is only on the tip of this trunk, splitting it into a three-lobed orifice. On the inside of these fleshy petals are tiny razor sharp teeth, arranged much like a saw you would see at a sawmill. Though hardly visible, they can easily slice through skin and rinds, which allows them to reach the tasty fluids within. In fact, they are so small and sharp that their cuts are painless, which helps them feed without alerting or waking prey. In the middle of these toothy petals is their actual mouth, which is no bigger than the shaft of a quill. This little mouth will clamp onto the wound and slurp up the blood that leaks out. To help gain the most from its meal, their mouths secrete a saliva that prevents blood from clotting, so that their food does not stop until they do. With their mouth poised on the tip of this prehensile trunk, they can feed in a variety of different ways. In some cases, they may use this appendage to sneak up on sleeping beasts and nab a quick meal while they slumber. It can also snake its way through burrows and tunnels to nab hiding prey, and even coil around squirming targets to keep them from escaping. Be they high or low, the Ghilani can use their amazing mouths to reach any morsel. While one may think that this means no animal is safe, the Ghilani actually have a wider diet than you would believe.

When it comes to their diet, one of their biggest staples is blood. This fluid is consumed from both the living and dead, though they prefer to eat it as fresh as possible. To acquire this food source, there are two different options: hunting or harvesting. The "hunting" option means going out in the wilderness and tracking down live prey. Groups of three to four will depart and use their acute senses to pick up scent trails and pheromones. Slithering silently through mud and water, they stalk their targets and decide which course of action to take. For larger creatures, they may choose to wait until it is distracted or sleeping and use their trunks to sneak in a quick drink. This option only satiates those who are actively hunting, which doesn't help the folk back home. If prey is manageable, they may choose to either kill it or capture it. Beasts that are too dangerous or risky to capture alive will be killed, and their carcasses will be taken back to the village for draining. Those they can manage will be taken alive, as they prefer to keep the blood as fresh as possible. Since they are hemophages, many people imagine that they use sharp blades and razor weapons to slice, cut and gut. Surely a bloodsucker would want to get as much precious fluid outside the body as possible, right? Wrong, actually.

The truth is that the Ghilani want to keep as much blood as they can inside the target, as the stuff that leaks out will be wasted. So instead they seek to dispatch prey as quickly and cleanly as possible, to prevent any wasted blood. With that in mind, their weaponry revolves around keeping prey in one piece. A good chunk of their weaponry will be blunt, which they can use to knock prey out or stun them. Pulverized critters will not leak as much blood as chopped up ones! The other type of weaponry they use is designed to snare and tangle targets, which helps to either catch them or slow them enough for a kill. Ropes, nets and vines will be used to snare prey and pin them down, which gives the hunters time to either feed or tie them up for transport. One favorite weapon of theirs is called the Snare Staff, which is pretty much a stick with a loop of vine or rope at the end. The loop size can vary, and some are even adjustable, while the staffs are designed so that they can be wielded with one or two hands. The purpose of this tool is to catch the head, neck or limbs of prey within its loop, which is then twisted to form a tight noose. With multiple hunters, they can eventually snare every thrashing limb and pin prey down. While this sounds painfully simple, Ghilani use this tool with deadly efficiency. Since they want to prevent bleeding injuries, they will kill prey through other methods. If they can get a loop around the neck, they shall tighten it until they strangle the target. For larger prey, they may snare its limbs and force it towards a body of water. There they will use their tools and nets to force its head underwater where it will drown. Horrible as it sounds, it does save a lot of blood! And I must say that the hunters are well trained with the Snare Staff! I tried to wield it myself, but the floppy loop was just too hard to control and predict while I was swinging it around. The same could not be said for my trainer, you used their staff to yank me off my roots mid-step! They disarmed me in seconds and the next thing I know I was bundled up like a present! Definitely not my proudest moment!

The other option they have for gathering blood is harvesting it, which is done with livestock that they keep in their villages. They keep them much like how one would keep pigs or nectar cows, but instead of meat or nectar, they harvest blood from them. In some cases, a Ghilani may feed directly on the animal with their mouth, just grabbing a quick bite to fill their tummies. At other times, they may cut the animal and drain some blood into a bowl or pouch, which will either be eaten later or mixed into something else. For both of these, the Ghilani will only take a small amount, never enough to truly harm the animal. They wish to keep their livestock alive and healthy for as long as possible, so that they may gain more food over time. At first this may seem barbaric and cruel, but they take good of their livestock and make sure that they stay happy and healthy. Taking too much or mistreating them will often result in sickness or infection, which means bad blood. The livestock they keep will vary, but they are often large bodied animals that are herbivores or omnivores. Prey that is captured during hunts will be kept in a similar fashion, but they often do not live as long. This is usually because they are not adapted to a domesticated life or they cannot be efficiently cared for. Regardless, they shall keep them as long as they can, and when they notice that the animal is declining in health they will put it down. When old livestock or captured prey are slaughtered, all their fluids will be drained out and the bodies will be carved up to gather meat, bone, shell and hide. Though this is how they obtain blood, it is not the only way they gather food, as Ghilani feed on other fluids as well.

With such a small mouth, the Ghilani are incapable of chewing and eating solid food. Rather, they fill their diet with a variety of liquids and juices. The bones of prey that are not being used for tools will often be boiled to make broth. Outside of blood and bone, Ghilani also feed on certain fruits and vegetables, which they pulverize into a juice. Worms and insects are consumed as well, and they too are mashed into a paste. In short, the mortar and pestle are a common tool in a Ghilani household. A wide variety of foodstuffs can be mashed down into a liquid, which they either slurp from a bowl, or store it in a "drinking skin." These drinking skins are much like water skins, but they hold much more than water. They are crafted from harvested organs and hide, and the Ghilani pour their liquid concoctions inside for later consumption. If they ever travel, they shall carry several of these canteens with them, as that is the only way they can store their food. While blood does make up a good chunk of their diet, Ghilani do enjoy the taste of other things. Certain juices and mixtures are favored purely for flavor, as they pose no nutritional benefit. There are certain concoctions that they cannot even digest properly, but they shall drink it and spit it out so that they can get the taste in their mouths. Such drinks are consumed with a spittoon close at hand, but the muddy floor will be used if one isn't available. In their villages, they have trained brewers who mix up soups, juices and even potions out of gathered ingredients. It is a role that creates a food and drink for the town, but it also doubles as a healer with their wonderful potions and concoctions.

Another chunk of their diet comes from an unlikely source, and one that is a more recent addition to their menu. To properly talk about this, we should mention what Ghilani do with the meat of their harvested prey and livestock. As you can imagine, their mouths are incapable of chewing and tearing flesh, which makes meat rather useless for them. After it is harvested, they pound it, knead it and wring it the best they can to extract every drop of blood and juice. What is left is inedible for them, so they find different uses for them. If they keep omnivores as livestock, the meat shall be given to them as food. Some can be used as bait for traps and snares, luring in juicier prey. A good chunk is actually dried and cured into jerky, which they trade with other species. It may sound odd to trade jerky for other goods, but the Ghilani produce so much of it, that other settlements cannot resist getting a piece. Any who are hungry for meat will never be disappointed when they visit a Ghilani trader, and they are a good way to quickly stock up for a long trip or coming winter. Just be wary that it might be a little tough and chewy, as they are good at getting every drop of moisture out of it. Though the Ghilani still get a good amount of use from their dried meats, they still wondered if there was a way to make it edible for them. Well, that is where "Souper Juice" came in (quite the name, eh?)! The creation of this beloved juice supposedly started down south, in Ghilani villages built within tropical rainforests. It is said that these Ghilani one day stumbled upon a pale village that hung from the trees, inhabited by those of false faces and many limbs. Curious, they slithered their way in and searched for anything useful or edible. It was there they made an amazing discovery. Hanging from the branches were pale, sticky pods, which the Ghilani quickly cut open. Inside was a sight to behold! Entire carcasses being turned into soup! Flesh and organs melting away into a delicious drinkable slurry! The Ghilani couldn't believe their eyes when they saw it, and they quickly rushed home to spread the news. Later, a whole raiding party went to the village, where they found it to be very populated and very unwelcoming. It was here they met the Gralatars face to face, and things were quite tense. The Ghilani asked the spiderfolk how they achieved such an amazing feat, as surely it had to be some special magic. What was revealed instead was that the Gralatars used special digestive fluids to break down flesh into a soup that they slurped up. The revelation blew the Ghilani away and they immediately sought a way to harness such a thing for themselves. This is when the first incarnations of "Souper Juice" appeared. It started with them trading with the Gralatars in order to gain access to small portions of digestive fluid and the occasional webbed up corpse. With time and experimentation, the Ghilani soon created a recipe for a special mixture that they could make themselves.

Now when these leechfolk hunt prey, they be sure to collect the animal's stomach acid and bile. They also keep an eye out for prey that secrete similar digestive fluids, like Ogre Spiders and Sarcorasil, so that they can harvest it and add it to their mixture. Following their secret recipe, they mix these fluids and other ingredients to create something known as "Souper Juice." With large quantities of this juice, they will stuff prey into water-tight pots and containers, add the Souper Juice and then seal it up. Over time, the fluid will melt the carcass into a drinkable soup that the Ghilani can then enjoy! This invention was quite the revolution for the Ghilani, as they now created a new source of food for them. It is said that Souper Juice is responsible for population booms within their villages, as they now had another way to feed their masses. Even with this juice on hand, they still cannot consume all the meat that they harvest. The juice takes a lot of ingredients to make and a good amount is needed to fully liquidize a body. So a good portion of meat is still used and sold, but they can at least now enjoy in the spoils! And with such a rich slurry, any small bit of it is enough to nourish them for a long time! One special thing to note is that with this grand creation one should never use the word "super" around a Ghilani. The reason is that the word "super" sounds exactly like "souper," and the Ghilani will always assume you mean the latter. Since Souper Juice is such an important and amazing thing, they will always assume you mean "souper," which leads to many confusing arguments. I am not saying anything bad will come from using the word, just expect to get stuck in a ridiculous situation where you desperately try to explain what you mean to a confused leech.

Like many leeches, Ghilani are hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. It is a situation similar to dryads, where any member of the species can fertilize or carry offspring. The difference, though, is that while a majority of dryads identify as female, most Ghilani don't identify as any gender at all. Very rarely will you see one who goes by "he" or "she," with most of them sticking with "they" or "them." For reproduction, any member of the community may breed and carry eggs, but is often a selected group who will actually take part in such an act. Every year, the leaders of the village will select individuals from a lottery, and they will be the ones who make up the year's breeding group. All will mingle with one another, intertwining their bodies during the act. When it comes time to lay, each Ghilani will lay dozens of yellow, squishy eggs. These small eggs are wrapped into a clutch with mucus and carried within the flexible mantle of the birther. For weeks, they shall be cared for, making sure they are kept moist and safe. Once they swell to a large size, the eggs will be deposited into a protected pool within the village. All the breeders will add their eggs to this body of water, and the whole village will watch over them. In time, the eggs will hatch and the larvae will be released into the water. It should be noted that not all eggs will hatch, as a good portion will fail to properly develop. These failed offspring, though, will serve as a source of food for the larvae, who shall latch on and feed. When these are depleted, the adults will fill organs to bursting with blood and place them in the pool as a replacement. As the larvae grow, the villagers will introduce actual prey to the water, showing the young how to properly eat. Despite hundreds of eggs being laid and dozens of young being birthed, only a fraction will actual survive to fully exit the rearing pool. So much so that young Ghilani will not receive their names until they emerge from the waters. This surviving group is then taken in by the elders and they begin their schooling.

The process of birthing and raising young is something that is undertaken by the whole village. Very few Ghilani actually know who their parents are, and many do not find such a fact important. The parents also are not attached to their young, as the whole village acts as guardian and teacher. The term "family" is something that they apply to their whole town, or to whatever groups they live with. Ghilani also don't really observe the idea of "siblings," as they come from an unknown variety of parents. The only real connecting thread between such individuals is what year they were born. Even then, they do not use numbers to denote such a thing. Rather, such groups are referred to as "clutches," and if you were to be born from the same "clutch" as another member, than the two of you are "clutchmates." To differentiate between clutches, each one is given a title by the overseeing elders. These names often reflect what happened during that breeding season, or any important events that occurred during the year. For example, one year could have the "Clutch of the Singing Waters" due to the massive boom in frog populations during the spring. Another could be called the "Clutch of the Pale Reeds" if the local pond vegetation contracts a terrible fungal infection. Such titles vary wildly between villages, and there are indeed instances of overlap or duplication. The Ghilani answer to this is "so?" as they don't really view such a thing as important. Survival and well being of their town and young have higher priority over such frivolous things. This is apparent when it comes to naming a clutch and the elders find that the breeding year has been extremely uneventful. The best example I can think of is the "Clutch of the Inquisitive Tree." While I remember the weeks I spent in that Ghilani village quite fondly, I really didn't expect such a result. Apparently my visit and stay was the most eventful thing that happened that year. I am quite honored, but does that make me their honorary mother? I am not sure what to say to that, but I don't think I can take care of that many larvae! I already have my hands full with one sapling, and don't know if I can manage with any more!

Anyways, I am sure my description of their child rearing practices may have given people the wrong impression of them (that and how most people freak out over the whole blood-drinking thing). While that may make them seem uncaring and callous, Ghilani are actually quite nice and are always happy to lend a hand. Since they see their town as a single family, they each take it upon themselves to perform their duty and insure that they do their part. No one is left out and no one is forgotten, as each member of their community is just as important as everyone else. They find their roles within the village and take those jobs to heart. Be it a hunter, farmer, elder or brewer, each Ghilani plays a vital part in their community. This mentality of working together and supporting one another is what makes them surprisingly friendly to outsiders. While some may assume hemophages to be violent and bloodthirsty, they greet each traveler and stranger with warmth. When I inquired about this, they explained that each visitor that arrives is capable of bringing something to the community, no matter how big or small. Be it food, knowledge or morale, every stranger can potentially be a blessing and could even become a part of the town itself. With that in mind, it would be foolish and harmful to the community to turn away others or meet one with anger. I find that mentality quite lovely, though a part of me suspects there may be an extra bit of reasoning behind it. The reputation of the Ghilani is not a good one for many blood-filled species, and paranoia has led to many unfortunate incidents. I kind of think that the Ghilani may be taking a more warm and open approach to those who somehow find their towns in hopes of quashing these fears. I certainly respect that and I hope more people learn that these fine fellows are not the monsters they think they are. The time I spent with them was quite wonderful, and they were happy to take me in and teach me their ways. I got to join in on some of their hunts, help brewers prepare special potions and soups, watch the rearing of their young and so much more! I even got to try out their soups and juices, which was quite interesting, though not exactly my taste. At one point I tried to live off the Ghilani diet to see what it would be like, but I had to call it quits after four days. The amount of blood was a little much, and some of their soups were much too strong for me. That, and an all-liquid diet does some weird things to your digestive system.

To the outside world, the Ghilani are a race that is often met with suspicion and paranoia. Their hemophage ways have led to people instantly labeling them as "vampires" and "parasites" (do take mind that calling a Ghilani a "parasite" is highly offensive. Not only does it label them as something lower, but it also implies that they rely on others to survive and don't pull their fair share). Certain settlements will not let them enter, and others set strict rules upon them if they do visit. In these cases, the Ghilani are banned from certain sections of town, they are not allowed near livestock and they cannot stay after dark. I have even heard of people sending the Convent of the Holy Blood after traveling bands of Ghilani! How horrible! They aren't vampires, you imbeciles! Thankfully, not all races are terrified of them. Due to their preference in habitat, Ghilani often run into Marsh Dryads and the two coexist quite happily! There are even a number of towns that are a mix of the two communities, fusing their villages together so that they can aid one another. The Ghilani are also in good standing with the Gralatars, which may be a result of their trade negotiations from long ago. Though the two don't often live together, they respect each other's territory and are always happy to trade or hold celebrations. And lastly are the Slimes, who really don't know what the whole "blood-drinking" fuss is about. To be fair, the Slimes don't have a beef with anyone, so I guess that isn't saying a whole lot. Still, it is nice to see people who don't give into tall tales and panic. If people were to give them a chance, you would see what good they can do! I mean, when it comes to potion brewing, the Ghilani are second to none! They know how to mix up some amazing things, and that applies to plain old brewing as well! They make some drinks that would blow your bark off! The only thing that I drank that was stronger was some Metnalan Seared Mondmilch during my Underworld visit! I blacked out after half a mug and when I woke up I saw every color backwards and I couldn't taste for two days! Stories aside, Ghilani are also great healers as well. It appears that their sensitive snouts and acute senses allows them to pick up on thing many may miss, and their salves are some of the best around! Their mouths are perfect for medicinal bleeding, and those treated in such a way rarely ever get infections. Not only can they suck bad blood out, but they have learned a technique of putting stuff back in! Apparently the Ghilani have a way to get medicine and salves through the skin and closer to the source of the problem. They take whatever potion they want to administer and draw a small portion into their mouths. They will then latch onto the target location, cut open the skin and slowly feed the fluid into the open wound. It may seem unsettling to many, but there are those who swear by it. I can certainly believe it! The Ghilani are quite crafty and they can come up with some amazing things! For example, when I was staying at the village, some of my friends introduced me to an infused mud bath! They took thick muddy waters and mixed in a variety of potions. The mixture caused it to heat and bubble, and it also introduced an invigorating sensation as you soaked it all in! I never felt so youthful after a bath like that! It was incredible!

And yes, I am aware that it was just a pool of mud with stuff poured in it, but you had to be there! You're just jealous!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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LEECH PEOPLE! YEAH! Ever since I saw people draw up leechfolk, I have wanted to join in on the fun. The trick, though, was coming up with a design that was unique enough. So I did my research and decided to forgo the fangs and teeth and go for something a little different! I love their goofy faces and I am so happy with their colors! Hope you guys like them!

And this how you start the year! An essay of backstory about a monster species that took me hours to write! THIS WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT HERE, PEOPLE! HOPE YOU LIKE READING!

Description
The Ghilani tend to live in wet, plant-rich places, mainly swamps, fens and bogs. Due to their slick, moist skin, they seek out habitat that is constantly damp or has plenty of available water sources. They like territory that has a ton of vegetation and mud, which they use to construct their homes and hunt prey. Their houses are more like burrows, with each individual creating an underground living space out of mud, root and vine. Most living structures are partially buried, giving their villages the look of a town that was drowned by a mudslide. Other structures that are used for food prep, storage, rearing, worship and livestock are built above ground to make more space. Due to their love of dampness and mud, very few of their structures have water-proof roofs. The only places that aim to keep out water are structures used to store food, and places where livestock and other species may dwell or mingle.

If you were to look at a Ghilani, I am sure you could instantly guess who they are related to. Indeed, the Ghilani are leeches and they share many traits with them. Their skin is segmented, and is covered in a damp membrane that secretes mucus. They possess no bones in their body, which makes them incredibly flexible. They can expand and contract in ridiculous ways, making them second only to Slimes when it comes to squeezing into tight spaces. This incredibly bending and stretching can be seen with their arms and "legs." The arms of a Ghilani are broad and flat, ending in four suction-cup like fingers. Though they do not possess an actual thumb, their boneless nature makes such a thing obsolete. These arms can swell and stretch in many ways, but they often remain flat to help with wrapping and binding prey. Being hugged by a Ghilani is quite like being wrapped up in a thick wet sheet! Their "legs" are more like tentacles that split from their lower end. While they possess two of these tendrils, they are capable of sticking them together into one serpentine limb. This is meant to help them traverse a variety of environments, as the two tentacles can help with climbing and holding on, while the singular limb helps with speed. To add to their appendage arsenal is their long, trunk-like mouth, which can serve as an extra limb in a pinch. Packed with sensors, it also serves to track prey and communicate. When Ghilani wish to truly speak to one another on a personal level, they may touch trunks or wrap them around one another. To go with their sensitive snouts are six eyes that line their heads. These organs are meant to greatly expand their field of vision, especially when contorting into strange poses. On their bellies are a hollow "mantle" which is used to suction themselves onto a surface, or carry bundles of goods. Looking at their sides, you can spot breathing holes that aid their skin in respiratory functions. It is through these that they also speak, able to use air and muscle to simulate a voice that we auditory-centered creatures can understand. For coloration, they can vary wildly, but a majority of them are made of browns, greens and other dark colors, which help them blend in with their surroundings. With all that together, you have an extremely flexible creature that can climb any surface, traverse any obstacle and nab any prey with their many powerful limbs.

Due to their relations with leeches, you probably already guessed what they feed on. Blood makes up a good chunk of their diet, which is consumed with the aid of their long, flexible mouths. If you have ever seen a Ghilani, their trunk-like mouth is probably the first thing you noticed. At rest, the long appendage is coiled up under their head so that it doesn't get in the way. When it comes time to hunt, feed or communicate, it will unfurl to its full length. Though quite long, their mouth is only on the tip of this trunk, splitting it into a three-lobed orifice. On the inside of these fleshy petals are tiny razor sharp teeth, arranged much like a saw you would see at a sawmill. Though hardly visible, they can easily slice through skin and rinds, which allows them to reach the tasty fluids within. In fact, they are so small and sharp that their cuts are painless, which helps them feed without alerting or waking prey. In the middle of these toothy petals is their actual mouth, which is no bigger than the shaft of a quill. This little mouth will clamp onto the wound and slurp up the blood that leaks out. To help gain the most from its meal, their mouths secrete a saliva that prevents blood from clotting, so that their food does not stop until they do. With their mouth poised on the tip of this prehensile trunk, they can feed in a variety of different ways. In some cases, they may use this appendage to sneak up on sleeping beasts and nab a quick meal while they slumber. It can also snake its way through burrows and tunnels to nab hiding prey, and even coil around squirming targets to keep them from escaping. Be they high or low, the Ghilani can use their amazing mouths to reach any morsel. While one may think that this means no animal is safe, the Ghilani actually have a wider diet than you would believe.

When it comes to their diet, one of their biggest staples is blood. This fluid is consumed from both the living and dead, though they prefer to eat it as fresh as possible. To acquire this food source, there are two different options: hunting or harvesting. The "hunting" option means going out in the wilderness and tracking down live prey. Groups of three to four will depart and use their acute senses to pick up scent trails and pheromones. Slithering silently through mud and water, they stalk their targets and decide which course of action to take. For larger creatures, they may choose to wait until it is distracted or sleeping and use their trunks to sneak in a quick drink. This option only satiates those who are actively hunting, which doesn't help the folk back home. If prey is manageable, they may choose to either kill it or capture it. Beasts that are too dangerous or risky to capture alive will be killed, and their carcasses will be taken back to the village for draining. Those they can manage will be taken alive, as they prefer to keep the blood as fresh as possible. Since they are hemophages, many people imagine that they use sharp blades and razor weapons to slice, cut and gut. Surely a bloodsucker would want to get as much precious fluid outside the body as possible, right? Wrong, actually.

The truth is that the Ghilani want to keep as much blood as they can inside the target, as the stuff that leaks out will be wasted. So instead they seek to dispatch prey as quickly and cleanly as possible, to prevent any wasted blood. With that in mind, their weaponry revolves around keeping prey in one piece. A good chunk of their weaponry will be blunt, which they can use to knock prey out or stun them. Pulverized critters will not leak as much blood as chopped up ones! The other type of weaponry they use is designed to snare and tangle targets, which helps to either catch them or slow them enough for a kill. Ropes, nets and vines will be used to snare prey and pin them down, which gives the hunters time to either feed or tie them up for transport. One favorite weapon of theirs is called the Snare Staff, which is pretty much a stick with a loop of vine or rope at the end. The loop size can vary, and some are even adjustable, while the staffs are designed so that they can be wielded with one or two hands. The purpose of this tool is to catch the head, neck or limbs of prey within its loop, which is then twisted to form a tight noose. With multiple hunters, they can eventually snare every thrashing limb and pin prey down. While this sounds painfully simple, Ghilani use this tool with deadly efficiency. Since they want to prevent bleeding injuries, they will kill prey through other methods. If they can get a loop around the neck, they shall tighten it until they strangle the target. For larger prey, they may snare its limbs and force it towards a body of water. There they will use their tools and nets to force its head underwater where it will drown. Horrible as it sounds, it does save a lot of blood! And I must say that the hunters are well trained with the Snare Staff! I tried to wield it myself, but the floppy loop was just too hard to control and predict while I was swinging it around. The same could not be said for my trainer, you used their staff to yank me off my roots mid-step! They disarmed me in seconds and the next thing I know I was bundled up like a present! Definitely not my proudest moment!

The other option they have for gathering blood is harvesting it, which is done with livestock that they keep in their villages. They keep them much like how one would keep pigs or nectar cows, but instead of meat or nectar, they harvest blood from them. In some cases, a Ghilani may feed directly on the animal with their mouth, just grabbing a quick bite to fill their tummies. At other times, they may cut the animal and drain some blood into a bowl or pouch, which will either be eaten later or mixed into something else. For both of these, the Ghilani will only take a small amount, never enough to truly harm the animal. They wish to keep their livestock alive and healthy for as long as possible, so that they may gain more food over time. At first this may seem barbaric and cruel, but they take good of their livestock and make sure that they stay happy and healthy. Taking too much or mistreating them will often result in sickness or infection, which means bad blood. The livestock they keep will vary, but they are often large bodied animals that are herbivores or omnivores. Prey that is captured during hunts will be kept in a similar fashion, but they often do not live as long. This is usually because they are not adapted to a domesticated life or they cannot be efficiently cared for. Regardless, they shall keep them as long as they can, and when they notice that the animal is declining in health they will put it down. When old livestock or captured prey are slaughtered, all their fluids will be drained out and the bodies will be carved up to gather meat, bone, shell and hide. Though this is how they obtain blood, it is not the only way they gather food, as Ghilani feed on other fluids as well.

With such a small mouth, the Ghilani are incapable of chewing and eating solid food. Rather, they fill their diet with a variety of liquids and juices. The bones of prey that are not being used for tools will often be boiled to make broth. Outside of blood and bone, Ghilani also feed on certain fruits and vegetables, which they pulverize into a juice. Worms and insects are consumed as well, and they too are mashed into a paste. In short, the mortar and pestle are a common tool in a Ghilani household. A wide variety of foodstuffs can be mashed down into a liquid, which they either slurp from a bowl, or store it in a "drinking skin." These drinking skins are much like water skins, but they hold much more than water. They are crafted from harvested organs and hide, and the Ghilani pour their liquid concoctions inside for later consumption. If they ever travel, they shall carry several of these canteens with them, as that is the only way they can store their food. While blood does make up a good chunk of their diet, Ghilani do enjoy the taste of other things. Certain juices and mixtures are favored purely for flavor, as they pose no nutritional benefit. There are certain concoctions that they cannot even digest properly, but they shall drink it and spit it out so that they can get the taste in their mouths. Such drinks are consumed with a spittoon close at hand, but the muddy floor will be used if one isn't available. In their villages, they have trained brewers who mix up soups, juices and even potions out of gathered ingredients. It is a role that creates a food and drink for the town, but it also doubles as a healer with their wonderful potions and concoctions.

Another chunk of their diet comes from an unlikely source, and one that is a more recent addition to their menu. To properly talk about this, we should mention what Ghilani do with the meat of their harvested prey and livestock. As you can imagine, their mouths are incapable of chewing and tearing flesh, which makes meat rather useless for them. After it is harvested, they pound it, knead it and wring it the best they can to extract every drop of blood and juice. What is left is inedible for them, so they find different uses for them. If they keep omnivores as livestock, the meat shall be given to them as food. Some can be used as bait for traps and snares, luring in juicier prey. A good chunk is actually dried and cured into jerky, which they trade with other species. It may sound odd to trade jerky for other goods, but the Ghilani produce so much of it, that other settlements cannot resist getting a piece. Any who are hungry for meat will never be disappointed when they visit a Ghilani trader, and they are a good way to quickly stock up for a long trip or coming winter. Just be wary that it might be a little tough and chewy, as they are good at getting every drop of moisture out of it. Though the Ghilani still get a good amount of use from their dried meats, they still wondered if there was a way to make it edible for them. Well, that is where "Souper Juice" came in (quite the name, eh?)! The creation of this beloved juice supposedly started down south, in Ghilani villages built within tropical rainforests. It is said that these Ghilani one day stumbled upon a pale village that hung from the trees, inhabited by those of false faces and many limbs. Curious, they slithered their way in and searched for anything useful or edible. It was there they made an amazing discovery. Hanging from the branches were pale, sticky pods, which the Ghilani quickly cut open. Inside was a sight to behold! Entire carcasses being turned into soup! Flesh and organs melting away into a delicious drinkable slurry! The Ghilani couldn't believe their eyes when they saw it, and they quickly rushed home to spread the news. Later, a whole raiding party went to the village, where they found it to be very populated and very unwelcoming. It was here they met the Gralatars face to face, and things were quite tense. The Ghilani asked the spiderfolk how they achieved such an amazing feat, as surely it had to be some special magic. What was revealed instead was that the Gralatars used special digestive fluids to break down flesh into a soup that they slurped up. The revelation blew the Ghilani away and they immediately sought a way to harness such a thing for themselves. This is when the first incarnations of "Souper Juice" appeared. It started with them trading with the Gralatars in order to gain access to small portions of digestive fluid and the occasional webbed up corpse. With time and experimentation, the Ghilani soon created a recipe for a special mixture that they could make themselves.

Now when these leechfolk hunt prey, they be sure to collect the animal's stomach acid and bile. They also keep an eye out for prey that secrete similar digestive fluids, like Ogre Spiders and Sarcorasil, so that they can harvest it and add it to their mixture. Following their secret recipe, they mix these fluids and other ingredients to create something known as "Souper Juice." With large quantities of this juice, they will stuff prey into water-tight pots and containers, add the Souper Juice and then seal it up. Over time, the fluid will melt the carcass into a drinkable soup that the Ghilani can then enjoy! This invention was quite the revolution for the Ghilani, as they now created a new source of food for them. It is said that Souper Juice is responsible for population booms within their villages, as they now had another way to feed their masses. Even with this juice on hand, they still cannot consume all the meat that they harvest. The juice takes a lot of ingredients to make and a good amount is needed to fully liquidize a body. So a good portion of meat is still used and sold, but they can at least now enjoy in the spoils! And with such a rich slurry, any small bit of it is enough to nourish them for a long time! One special thing to note is that with this grand creation one should never use the word "super" around a Ghilani. The reason is that the word "super" sounds exactly like "souper," and the Ghilani will always assume you mean the latter. Since Souper Juice is such an important and amazing thing, they will always assume you mean "souper," which leads to many confusing arguments. I am not saying anything bad will come from using the word, just expect to get stuck in a ridiculous situation where you desperately try to explain what you mean to a confused leech.

Like many leeches, Ghilani are hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. It is a situation similar to dryads, where any member of the species can fertilize or carry offspring. The difference, though, is that while a majority of dryads identify as female, most Ghilani don't identify as any gender at all. Very rarely will you see one who goes by "he" or "she," with most of them sticking with "they" or "them." For reproduction, any member of the community may breed and carry eggs, but is often a selected group who will actually take part in such an act. Every year, the leaders of the village will select individuals from a lottery, and they will be the ones who make up the year's breeding group. All will mingle with one another, intertwining their bodies during the act. When it comes time to lay, each Ghilani will lay dozens of yellow, squishy eggs. These small eggs are wrapped into a clutch with mucus and carried within the flexible mantle of the birther. For weeks, they shall be cared for, making sure they are kept moist and safe. Once they swell to a large size, the eggs will be deposited into a protected pool within the village. All the breeders will add their eggs to this body of water, and the whole village will watch over them. In time, the eggs will hatch and the larvae will be released into the water. It should be noted that not all eggs will hatch, as a good portion will fail to properly develop. These failed offspring, though, will serve as a source of food for the larvae, who shall latch on and feed. When these are depleted, the adults will fill organs to bursting with blood and place them in the pool as a replacement. As the larvae grow, the villagers will introduce actual prey to the water, showing the young how to properly eat. Despite hundreds of eggs being laid and dozens of young being birthed, only a fraction will actual survive to fully exit the rearing pool. So much so that young Ghilani will not receive their names until they emerge from the waters. This surviving group is then taken in by the elders and they begin their schooling.

The process of birthing and raising young is something that is undertaken by the whole village. Very few Ghilani actually know who their parents are, and many do not find such a fact important. The parents also are not attached to their young, as the whole village acts as guardian and teacher. The term "family" is something that they apply to their whole town, or to whatever groups they live with. Ghilani also don't really observe the idea of "siblings," as they come from an unknown variety of parents. The only real connecting thread between such individuals is what year they were born. Even then, they do not use numbers to denote such a thing. Rather, such groups are referred to as "clutches," and if you were to be born from the same "clutch" as another member, than the two of you are "clutchmates." To differentiate between clutches, each one is given a title by the overseeing elders. These names often reflect what happened during that breeding season, or any important events that occurred during the year. For example, one year could have the "Clutch of the Singing Waters" due to the massive boom in frog populations during the spring. Another could be called the "Clutch of the Pale Reeds" if the local pond vegetation contracts a terrible fungal infection. Such titles vary wildly between villages, and there are indeed instances of overlap or duplication. The Ghilani answer to this is "so?" as they don't really view such a thing as important. Survival and well being of their town and young have higher priority over such frivolous things. This is apparent when it comes to naming a clutch and the elders find that the breeding year has been extremely uneventful. The best example I can think of is the "Clutch of the Inquisitive Tree." While I remember the weeks I spent in that Ghilani village quite fondly, I really didn't expect such a result. Apparently my visit and stay was the most eventful thing that happened that year. I am quite honored, but does that make me their honorary mother? I am not sure what to say to that, but I don't think I can take care of that many larvae! I already have my hands full with one sapling, and don't know if I can manage with any more!

Anyways, I am sure my description of their child rearing practices may have given people the wrong impression of them (that and how most people freak out over the whole blood-drinking thing). While that may make them seem uncaring and callous, Ghilani are actually quite nice and are always happy to lend a hand. Since they see their town as a single family, they each take it upon themselves to perform their duty and insure that they do their part. No one is left out and no one is forgotten, as each member of their community is just as important as everyone else. They find their roles within the village and take those jobs to heart. Be it a hunter, farmer, elder or brewer, each Ghilani plays a vital part in their community. This mentality of working together and supporting one another is what makes them surprisingly friendly to outsiders. While some may assume hemophages to be violent and bloodthirsty, they greet each traveler and stranger with warmth. When I inquired about this, they explained that each visitor that arrives is capable of bringing something to the community, no matter how big or small. Be it food, knowledge or morale, every stranger can potentially be a blessing and could even become a part of the town itself. With that in mind, it would be foolish and harmful to the community to turn away others or meet one with anger. I find that mentality quite lovely, though a part of me suspects there may be an extra bit of reasoning behind it. The reputation of the Ghilani is not a good one for many blood-filled species, and paranoia has led to many unfortunate incidents. I kind of think that the Ghilani may be taking a more warm and open approach to those who somehow find their towns in hopes of quashing these fears. I certainly respect that and I hope more people learn that these fine fellows are not the monsters they think they are. The time I spent with them was quite wonderful, and they were happy to take me in and teach me their ways. I got to join in on some of their hunts, help brewers prepare special potions and soups, watch the rearing of their young and so much more! I even got to try out their soups and juices, which was quite interesting, though not exactly my taste. At one point I tried to live off the Ghilani diet to see what it would be like, but I had to call it quits after four days. The amount of blood was a little much, and some of their soups were much too strong for me. That, and an all-liquid diet does some weird things to your digestive system.

To the outside world, the Ghilani are a race that is often met with suspicion and paranoia. Their hemophage ways have led to people instantly labeling them as "vampires" and "parasites" (do take mind that calling a Ghilani a "parasite" is highly offensive. Not only does it label them as something lower, but it also implies that they rely on others to survive and don't pull their fair share). Certain settlements will not let them enter, and others set strict rules upon them if they do visit. In these cases, the Ghilani are banned from certain sections of town, they are not allowed near livestock and they cannot stay after dark. I have even heard of people sending the Convent of the Holy Blood after traveling bands of Ghilani! How horrible! They aren't vampires, you imbeciles! Thankfully, not all races are terrified of them. Due to their preference in habitat, Ghilani often run into Marsh Dryads and the two coexist quite happily! There are even a number of towns that are a mix of the two communities, fusing their villages together so that they can aid one another. The Ghilani are also in good standing with the Gralatars, which may be a result of their trade negotiations from long ago. Though the two don't often live together, they respect each other's territory and are always happy to trade or hold celebrations. And lastly are the Slimes, who really don't know what the whole "blood-drinking" fuss is about. To be fair, the Slimes don't have a beef with anyone, so I guess that isn't saying a whole lot. Still, it is nice to see people who don't give into tall tales and panic. If people were to give them a chance, you would see what good they can do! I mean, when it comes to potion brewing, the Ghilani are second to none! They know how to mix up some amazing things, and that applies to plain old brewing as well! They make some drinks that would blow your bark off! The only thing that I drank that was stronger was some Metnalan Seared Mondmilch during my Underworld visit! I blacked out after half a mug and when I woke up I saw every color backwards and I couldn't taste for two days! Stories aside, Ghilani are also great healers as well. It appears that their sensitive snouts and acute senses allows them to pick up on thing many may miss, and their salves are some of the best around! Their mouths are perfect for medicinal bleeding, and those treated in such a way rarely ever get infections. Not only can they suck bad blood out, but they have learned a technique of putting stuff back in! Apparently the Ghilani have a way to get medicine and salves through the skin and closer to the source of the problem. They take whatever potion they want to administer and draw a small portion into their mouths. They will then latch onto the target location, cut open the skin and slowly feed the fluid into the open wound. It may seem unsettling to many, but there are those who swear by it. I can certainly believe it! The Ghilani are quite crafty and they can come up with some amazing things! For example, when I was staying at the village, some of my friends introduced me to an infused mud bath! They took thick muddy waters and mixed in a variety of potions. The mixture caused it to heat and bubble, and it also introduced an invigorating sensation as you soaked it all in! I never felt so youthful after a bath like that! It was incredible!

And yes, I am aware that it was just a pool of mud with stuff poured in it, but you had to be there! You're just jealous!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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LEECH PEOPLE! YEAH! Ever since I saw people draw up leechfolk, I have wanted to join in on the fun. The trick, though, was coming up with a design that was unique enough. So I did my research and decided to forgo the fangs and teeth and go for something a little different! I love their goofy faces and I am so happy with their colors! Hope you guys like them!

And this how you start the year! An essay of backstory about a monster species that took me hours to write! THIS WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT HERE, PEOPLE! HOPE YOU LIKE READING!