Grotesquerie - Waif

Extract from the Grotesquerie - A Catalogue of Afflicted Forms The creature commonly called the Waif is among the slighter manifestations of the Hunger, yet it has been the cause of many needless injuries among the unwary. The name is drawn from its appearance, for these creatures most often resemble young women, or youths of slight frame, whose bodies bear the marks of famine, privation, or some long wasting illness. The limbs are thin, the joints pronounced, and the flesh drawn tight upon the bone, giving the impression of a person who perished slowly rather than in violence. The posture is seldom upright. Most are bent forward or wholly collapsed, and many move in a manner scarcely human to behold. General Description In the greater number of observations, the Waif presents with the full body intact, though greatly diminished in strength of frame. The ribs are often visible, the shoulders narrow, and the head hangs low as though the neck cannot properly bear its weight. Garments, when still worn, hang loose and ill-fitting, as if the creature had grown thin within them before death. Unlike other Hunger, the Waif rarely advances standing. It moves instead upon hands and feet, the back arched and the limbs working in a quick, uneven fashion, so that at a distance it may be mistaken for some starving animal rather than the remains of a person. Disposition and Behaviour The Waif shows little inclination to charge openly. It keeps close to the ground and favours broken places, tall grass, ruins, and narrow passages, where its low posture conceals it from view. In many recorded encounters the creature was not seen until it was already at the feet, whereupon it seized, scratched, or bit with sudden violence. Though its strength is slight, the manner of its attack is often enough to discompose the inexperienced. The sensation of something clutching at the legs without warning has caused more than one man to stumble, and once the footing is lost, even a weak Hunger may do harm. The Waif seldom continues an attack with purpose, but its first rush is quick, and its nearness when first perceived is the chief danger it presents. Weaknesses and Vulnerabilities The creature possesses little strength and may be driven off with firm blows. The bones are slight and easily broken, and a strike that would only stagger a stronger Hunger will often cast a Waif aside. As with all known varieties, the surest means of ending its motion is the destruction of the head. A shot or heavy blow delivered to the skull is sufficient in nearly all observed cases. Body blows may subdue the creature, but should not be trusted to finish it. A Waif left untended will often rise again with surprising quickness. Field Note Those who travel in infected ground are advised to keep their eyes not only ahead, but also low. The Waif is not dangerous for its strength, but for the startlement it produces. Many who would stand firm against greater Hunger lose their composure when seized at the feet. He who keeps his footing and strikes without delay will dispatch the creature easily. He who recoils in panic may soon find himself on the ground beside it.