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This fan-fiction article, Ker, was written by Witcher190. Please do not edit this fiction without the writer's permission. |
A ker (plural: keres) is a type of insectoid/ necrophage/hybrid monster that usually roams desolate landscapes, distinct from other necrophages such as ghouls, alghouls, and royal ghouls. Despite its vaguely feminine appearance and six-limbed, hexapodal movement, the ker is unrelated to these other monsters. Keres are fierce competitors for food, often encountering other necrophages in their relentless search for sustenance. Although they share some physical similarities with hags, particularly in their facial structure and torso, they are not biologically related to them. Instead, they are another competitor within the necrophage niche. Their humanoid appearance is often attributed to convergent evolution, where similar environmental pressures have shaped them into a form that, while familiar, is distinctly their own. For many, they are at the top of the necrophage hierarchy.
Appearance[]
Keres are grotesque big monsters with a visage that blends humanoid and insectoid traits. Due to these characteristics, some have classified them as hybrids. Their facial structure and upper torso resemble those of hags. However, they diverge in key ways: their mouths are more arachnid-like, equipped sharp, chitinous teeth designed for rending flesh. Their tongues are shorter and more muscular, optimized for consuming flesh quickly and efficiently.
The humanoid appearance of the keres, particularly in their facial structure and torso, is believed to have evolved as a form of deceptive mimicry, specifically designed to confuse and outmaneuver hags when food is scarce. Hags, known for their territorial nature and ruthless competition for food, are often among the most dangerous necrophages a ker might encounter. By adopting a vaguely humanoid shape that echoes the appearance of hags, keres can approach these creatures without immediately triggering a hostile response. This resemblance allows them to get close enough to either steal food or launch a surprise attack, catching the hag off guard.
This evolutionary strategy likely developed as a survival mechanism in regions where both hags and keres compete for limited resources. In such harsh environments, direct confrontations between these powerful monsters can be costly, leading to injuries or even death. The ker's mimicry reduces the likelihood of a direct fight, as it exploits the hag's instinctual reluctance to attack what it perceives as one of its own kind. Furthermore, in situations where food is extremely scarce, this deceptive appearance allows keres to blend into groups of hags, feeding alongside them until the opportunity arises to take over the feeding site or eliminate the competition.
The skin of a ker is a deep, inky black—a coloration that serves as both camouflage in the dark and an adaptation to their nocturnal habits. This "skin" is actually a chitinous exoskeleton that convincingly mimics human skin. They are, unlike hags, partially bald, with patches of coarse, wiry hair scattered across their heads. The most striking feature of a ker is its six limbs, each ending in large, hand-like appendages with elongated, bony fingers tipped with claws. These limbs grant the ker extraordinary versatility in movement: they can stand upright on their hind limbs to attack, use their middle limbs for balance or grasping, and their forelimbs to aid in swift, agile movement through trees or across rough terrain. When all six limbs are engaged, keres can run at alarming speeds, making them formidable predators.
Behavior[]
Keres are opportunistic scavengers, often appearing in areas struck by extreme famine, plague, or in the aftermath of battles. Their presence is typically a harbinger of doom, as they are drawn to the scent of death and decay. Like other necrophages, keres are most active at night, using the cover of darkness to move undetected and to avoid conflicts with other predators. They exhibit a cunning intelligence, often stalking their prey or rivals with a level of patience uncommon in most monsters.
Keres are solitary by nature, preferring to hunt and scavenge alone. However, they have been observed working in loose groups when food is particularly scarce, though such cooperation is rare and typically ends in conflict once the immediate threat of starvation has passed. Their competitive nature extends to other necrophages; they will not hesitate to attack and devour ghouls, alghouls, or even hags if they encounter them at a feeding site.
Biology[]
Despite their vaguely feminine humanoid appearance, keres lack many of the traits typically associated with mammals. This has led some scholars and witchers to speculate that keres may represent a unique evolutionary niche, possibly bridging the gap between insectoids and mammals. Their anatomy is a curious blend of features from both groups, contributing to their classification as hybrids by some experts.
Unlike mammals, keres do not have a circulatory system dominated by warm blood. Instead, their blood is cold and thick, flowing sluggishly through a simple circulatory system. This trait contributes to their resilience in cold and desolate environments, where warm-blooded creatures might struggle to survive.
Keres as mentioned before possess an arachnid-like mouth structure, with mandibles and chitinous teeth adapted for tearing into tough flesh and bones. Their tongues are muscular and short, lacking the flexibility seen in many mammalian predators, but well-suited for quickly consuming large quantities of meat. Their digestive system is extremely efficient, allowing them to extract every possible nutrient from even the most decayed or desiccated remains.
Keres are nocturnal creatures, with sensory adaptations that enable them to hunt and scavenge effectively in the dark. Though they lack fully developed eyes, with their "eyes" being a white membrane, they possess a highly developed sense of smell, even superior to that of witchers, which allows them to detect the scent of decay from great distances, often leading them to the remains of battlefields or sites of plague. In addition to their acute sense of smell, keres also have an exceptional sense of touch. They have sensory hairs on their limbs and head that are incredibly sensitive, allowing them to detect vibrations in the air and on the ground, aiding them in locating prey or sensing potential threats in their environment.
Their cognitive abilities, while not on par with sentient beings, are advanced compared to other necrophages with the exception of hags. Keres display a level of cunning and strategic thinking that is unusual for their kind, often planning their attacks or stalking prey with patience. This intelligence, combined with their formidable physical capabilities, makes them particularly dangerous.
Keres are also capable of rudimentary communication through a series of clicks with their teeth, hisses, and body language. While not a complex language, these sounds allow them to signal danger, claim territory, or coordinate during rare instances of group hunting.
The reproductive habits of keres are not well-documented due to the difficulty in studying these monsters. However, it is believed that is slow and that keres reproduce by laying eggs, which is another trait linking them to insectoids. Females likely lay their eggs in dark, secluded areas, such as caves or abandoned ruins, where the young, known as "kerlings," can hatch in relative safety. This slow reproduction could explain while they are less seen in comparison to hags and the various types of ghouls.
Kerlings are significantly smaller and more vulnerable than their adult counterparts. They are born with softer exoskeletons and underdeveloped claws, relying on stealth and hiding to avoid predators. As they mature, their exoskeleton hardens, and they develop the full range of abilities seen in adult keres. This maturation process is believed to take several years, during which time kerlings are at great risk from both other predators and adult keres, who may exhibit cannibalistic tendencies.
The lifespan of a ker is unknown, but some reports suggest they can live for several decades, possibly even longer if they avoid fatal encounters with other creatures or witchers. Their slow reproduction rate and lengthy maturation process may contribute to their relative scarcity compared to other necrophages.
Keres possess several unique biological traits that set them apart from other necrophages. One such trait is their ability to enter a state of torpor during times of extreme scarcity. In this state, a ker’s metabolism slows dramatically, allowing it to survive for extended periods without food. This adaptation is particularly useful in the harsh environments where they are often found, where food can be scarce for long stretches.
Another notable trait is their regenerative capability. While not as advanced as the regeneration seen in some monsters, keres can heal from wounds that would be fatal to many other creatures. Their chitinous exoskeleton can slowly regrow over time, and they can recover from injuries such as broken limbs or severe lacerations, provided they are not killed outright.
Finally, keres possess a form of venom, delivered through their bite, that accelerates the decomposition of flesh. This venom allows them to soften their prey’s flesh for easier consumption and can be used defensively to deter attackers by inflicting painful, festering wounds.
Diet[]
Keres are primarily necrophages, subsisting on a diet of carrion and decayed flesh. Their strong teeth and digestive system allow them to consume even the most decomposed remains, a crucial adaptation in their often barren and desolate habitats. Keres are not picky eaters; they will consume the corpses of humans, animals, and even other monsters.
When they encounter a feeding ground where rival necrophages have already gathered, keres do not shy away from conflict. They will aggressively attack and consume ghouls, alghouls, hags, and other necrophages to claim the food source for themselves. This aggressive behavior ensures that they maintain their place at the top of the necrophage hierarchy, though it also makes them a target for those same rivals.
Keres are also known to exhibit cannibalistic tendencies, particularly during times of extreme scarcity. In such situations, stronger keres may prey on weaker or injured members of their own kind to survive.
Habitats[]
Keres are most commonly found in regions that have been devastated by war, plague, or natural disasters—areas where death and decay are abundant. Battlefields, where the dead are left to rot, are prime hunting grounds for keres. Here, they can often be found scavenging the remains of fallen soldiers, taking advantage of the carnage left in the wake of conflict. Similarly, areas struck by plague, where mass graves and unattended corpses are common, provide ample sustenance for these necrophages.
Forests are another environment where keres are frequently encountered. In dense, shadowy woodlands, keres use their dark, inky skin as camouflage, blending into the darkness to ambush prey. The thick vegetation and numerous hiding places make forests ideal for stalking both living creatures and rival necrophages.
Swamps and marshlands also serve as suitable habitats for keres. In these murky, waterlogged environments, the ker’s versatile six-limbed movement allows them to navigate difficult terrain with ease. The abundance of decaying plant matter and animal carcasses in swamps provides a steady food supply, while the fog and low visibility offer perfect cover for these nocturnal predators.
Caves and subterranean environments are favored by keres for their seclusion and darkness. These monsters are known to retreat to caves during daylight hours or when they are not actively hunting. Caves offer a safe place to rest, lay eggs, and protect kerlings as they mature. The deep, labyrinthine tunnels of these caves provide an ideal environment for young keres to grow without the constant threat of predators. In some cases, entire cave systems have been found littered with the remains of keres' prey, indicating that these monsters may establish lairs where they drag and store their kills.
In colder climates, such as those of Kovir or the Far North, keres have adapted to survive in frozen tundras and icy wastelands. Their cold, thick blood allows them to endure low temperatures, while their ability to enter a state of torpor helps them survive periods of extreme scarcity. In these frozen environments, keres are often drawn to the remains of creatures that have succumbed to the harsh conditions, including the bodies of humans, animals, and other monsters.
Slaying[]
Slaying a ker is a complicated task, requiring both knowledge and preparation, as these monsters are among the deadliest necrophages a witcher can encounter. Although they share some weaknesses with other necrophages, their unique biology and cunning intelligence necessitate a tailored approach to combat.
Before engaging a ker, a witcher must be thoroughly prepared. This includes applying necrophage oil to their silver sword, as it significantly increases the damage dealt to the monster. Additionally, consuming potions such as Black Blood, which makes a witcher's blood toxic to necrophages, or Golden Oriole, which grants full immunity to poison and venom, can provide a crucial edge in battle.
Given the ker's preference for nocturnal activity, a witcher should also consider consuming a Cat potion, which enhances night vision, or Tawny Owl, which increases stamina regeneration, ensuring they can maintain a high level of combat effectiveness in the dark.
When engaging a ker, witchers rely heavily on their Signs, as these provide vital advantages in combat:
- Igni: This Sign is useful for burning away the ker's flesh, particularly effective against its chitinous exoskeleton. A well-timed blast of Igni can weaken the creature, making it easier to land decisive blows.
- Quen: Given the ker's speed and aggression, Quen is essential for protection. This Sign creates a shield that absorbs damage, allowing the witcher to endure the creature's powerful strikes and maintain their focus in battle.
- Aceta: This specialized Sign is particularly effective against keres. By producing a stream of acid, it can break down the ker’s exoskeleton, making it vulnerable to subsequent attacks. Aceta is especially useful for dealing with keres that have entered a state of torpor, as the acid can penetrate their thick skin and force them out of their dormant state.
- Hatri: The telempathic Sign Hatri is a crucial tool in combating the ker's predatory instincts. By reflecting the ker’s own hate, bloodlust, and hunger back at it, this Sign can momentarily disrupt the creature’s focus, causing confusion or even fear. This brief lapse in its ferocity provides a witcher with a critical opening to strike.
- Heliotrope: For witchers facing a particularly aggressive ker, the Heliotrope Sign is invaluable. By creating a protective buffer against physical attacks and combat magic, Heliotrope allows the witcher to withstand the ker’s onslaught and counterattack effectively. It is particularly useful when a witcher finds themselves backed into a corner or overwhelmed by the creature’s relentless assault.
- Vintyr: As the antithesis of Igni, Vintyr is an effective countermeasure against the ker's formidable speed and strength. This Sign rapidly cools or even freezes anything it touches, including the ker itself. When combined with the Northern Wind bomb, which freezes enemies in place, Vintyr can immobilize a ker, allowing the witcher to deliver powerful, shattering blows. Blows landed on a frozen ker are particularly devastating, often leading to a swift end to the battle.
Once a ker has been sufficiently weakened through a combination of Signs and swordplay, the final execution should be swift and decisive. Targeting the creature's head or severing its limbs can incapacitate it quickly, preventing it from regenerating or retaliating. Witchers must remain vigilant even after dealing what appears to be a fatal blow, as keres possess a high degree of resilience and may attempt to lash out in a final act of desperation.
Image Credits[]
- Ker by Stas Sujov
Trivia[]
- They are inspired by their mythological counterpart of Ancient Greek Mythology.