The Craylet are not born, they *emerge*. From the heart of the Sunken Glades, a place perpetually shrouded in twilight and saturated with the resonant hum of forgotten energies, they arise. It’s said the Glades were once a nexus of immense magical power, a place where reality itself was thinner. When the Great Cataclysm – a sundering of continents and a cascade of aberrant energies – shattered this nexus, the Craylet were the first to whisper back, fragments of lost consciousness and lingering echoes of the Glades’ vibrant past.
“We are the memory of what was, the sorrow of what is lost, the potential for what might yet be. Do not seek to understand us; simply *listen*.” – The Silent Weaver
The process of emergence is linked to the lunar cycle. The peak of the Blood Moon – a crimson manifestation of raw magic – triggers the most significant number of Craylet arrivals. Their appearance is often accompanied by a subtle shift in the Glades’ ambient energy, a palpable thickening of the air.
Craylet are fundamentally composed of solidified resonance. This grants them an unusual resistance to conventional weaponry, though they are vulnerable to disruptions in resonant energy. Their 'bodies' are vaguely humanoid, but fluid and constantly shifting, like smoke caught in a breeze. They lack discernible faces, instead possessing a swirling vortex of color where features would normally be. This vortex is their primary sensory organ.
Their perception extends far beyond the visible spectrum. They ‘see’ through vibrations, ‘hear’ through harmonic distortions, and ‘taste’ through fluctuations in energy density. They are acutely attuned to emotional currents, often drawn to individuals experiencing strong feelings – particularly grief, longing, and profound curiosity. Some theorize they feed on these emotions, though this is debated.
Craylet possess a limited capacity for telepathic communication, but it’s rarely direct. They project impressions, feelings, and fragmented memories – a torrent of sensory information that can be overwhelming to those unprepared.
Their size varies, typically ranging from 1.5 to 2 meters in height. Younger Craylet are smaller and more volatile, while older ones are denser and more stable.
While individual Craylet rarely interact directly, they coalesce into loose collectives known as the Silent Weavers. These groups, numbering anywhere from a handful to a dozen, are bound by a shared resonance, a collective memory of the Glades. The Weavers don’t have a formal hierarchy; decisions are reached through a process of harmonic convergence – a complex interplay of thought and emotion that results in a unified resonance.
The Weavers primarily serve as custodians of the Glades, maintaining the balance of its energies and guarding against incursions from outside forces. They are intensely protective of the Glades, and anyone attempting to disrupt its tranquility will face their full, unsettling attention.
Rumor has it the Weavers possess the ability to manipulate the environment within the Glades, subtly altering the terrain and summoning ephemeral constructs of light and shadow. This power is rarely displayed, and only when the Glades are under extreme threat.
The Silent Weavers seem to be aware of the passage of time, although their understanding is radically different from our own. They perceive time as a series of interwoven resonances, a tapestry of past, present, and potential futures.
Eira – A Weaver of Lost Echoes
A particularly ancient Weaver, Eira is said to have witnessed the Cataclysm itself. Her resonance is profoundly melancholic, filled with the echoes of countless lost souls. She is often encountered near the Whispering Falls, a place of intense emotional energy.