Ghouls
Overview
Names: Ghouls rarely retain personal names; they are identified by their hunting grounds, their physical peculiarities, or titles given by their undead masters (e.g., “The Crypt-Feeder,” “The Swift”).
General Lore: Ghouls are feral, ravenous undead driven by an unquenchable hunger for the flesh of the dead and, sometimes, the living. They are generally created through exposure to powerful necromantic forces, contagion, or, in some dark traditions, through the act of sustained cannibalism that taints the soul. Upon transformation, their intelligence and memories fade, replaced by a consuming, primal drive to feed.
Ghouls are feared for their paralyzing touch, which allows them to incapacitate victims before consuming their flesh at leisure. They typically lair in places where corpses are plentiful—graveyards, battlefields, deep crypts, or abandoned ruins beneath cities—only venturing out in the darkest hours to hunt.
Physical Description:
Ghouls possess a horrific, emaciated appearance. Their skin is often taut and gray or greenish, peeling away from gaunt, visible bone structure. Their eyes glow with a chilling red or yellow malevolence, and their mouths are unnaturally wide, filled with needle-sharp teeth used to tear flesh and crack bones. Many ghouls possess an elongated, prehensile tongue that aids in stripping meat from their prey.
They reek intensely of rot, spoiled meat, and the grave—an acrid odor that often betrays their presence. They move with an unnatural, twitching quickness, their bodies contorted with hunger. Their attire consists of tattered rags, the decayed remnants of the clothing they died in, or scavenged scraps, as they possess no interest in ornamentation or modesty.
Society:
Ghoul society is primitive, violent, and solely organized around the cycle of hunting and feeding. They dwell in packs (sometimes called “Ghoul Bands”) in secluded, darkened areas. The pack is usually dominated by the strongest or most aggressive member
They are intensely territorial, aggressively defending their feeding grounds and lairs from rivals, both living and undead. They lack complex communication, relying on guttural noises and shared hunger signals. While they possess enough cunning to set simple ambushes, they do not formulate long-term strategies, acting only on immediate, selfish desires.
Relations:
Ghouls view virtually all living creatures as potential meals. They are predators whose only interaction with the living world is through malice and consumption.
Mortals (Humans, Halflings, Gnomes): Are merely sources of fresh flesh and sustenance. They hold no regard for any mortal race.
Vampires and Liches: Ghouls often serve as scavengers, guards, or low-level shock troops for highly intelligent undead masters. They are easily controlled by powerful necromancers or vampires who provide them with protection, safety from sunlight, and consistent access to corpses.
Other Undead: They generally coexist with other mindless undead (Zombies, Skeletons) since they do not compete for flesh. They fear powerful outsiders, demons, and celestial beings, though they are often too far gone to truly flee.
Alignment and Religion:
Ghouls are universally Evil, typically falling into Neutral Evil or Chaotic Evil. Their existence is defined by a singular, primal drive for consumption, stripped of morality, empathy, or advanced intellect. They operate purely on instinct and malice.
Ghouls rarely practice structured religion. Any form of worship is often the result of powerful external influence, such as a necromancer forcing them to serve a dark deity. In some settings, their creation is specifically tied to demonic entities or the evil god of ghoulkind, who rewards their cannibalistic acts with unholy vitality and a terrifying existence.
Adventurers:
Ghouls are not adventurers; they are classic monstrous threats encountered by adventurers. Their primary role in the world is that of the lurking enemy—a sign that a tomb is desecrated or an ancient city has fallen to darkness. They are found guarding vital artifacts or treasure, or simply lying in wait for their next hapless victim.