Fetchling

(Homo umbrarum)

The fetchlings were created during the tumultuous occurrence known as the Psionic Holocaust of 2,450. This catastrophic event began in the nation of Amareidonia, where political tensions reached a boiling point during a confrontation between the ruling government and rebel separatist guerrillas. The situation escalated dramatically when a young guerrilla soldier named Stanislav Romanenko unexpectedly manifested apocalyptic-level psionic powers. His abilities, however, were far beyond his control, unleashing a wave of chaotic energy that fundamentally altered reality around him. In an instant, Stanislav’s powers led to the indiscriminate deaths of hundreds, plunging the region into a nightmare.

In a desperate attempt to halt the destruction, the Amareidonian government made the ultimate sacrifice, deploying a devastating Steam-powered bomb on the town of Varezia, where the chaos had reached its peak. This drastic measure resulted in a cataclysmic explosion that obliterated the town and claimed the lives of countless innocents. In the midst of this destruction, it seemed Stanislav’s threat was finally neutralized. However, the cost was staggering: the complete annihilation of Varezia and the wholesale decimation of its population.

Miraculously, a handful of individuals survived the explosion, but they emerged irrevocably changed. Some scholars theorize that the psionic backlash from Stanislav’s death combined with the immense energy released by the Steam bomb, resulted in an unstable dimensional rupture that opened a rift into what is now known as The Shadow Plane. This extradimensional realm is steeped in mystery and darkness, and the strange radiations that emanated from it had profound effects on the surviving population.

As a result of this fusion of energies, the survivors began to exhibit unusual traits that defied the limitations of Human capabilities. The fetchlings, as they came to be known, discovered they could see in complete darkness, manipulating shadows to their will. They gained strange occult powers that allowed them to interact with the very fabric of surrounding darkness in ways previously thought impossible. Some among them honed their abilities to such an extent that they could traverse the boundaries between the Shadow Plane and the Material Plane.

The fetchlings became the subjects of fear, fascination, and intrigue. People spoke of shadowy figures slipping through the corners of their vision, only to vanish without a trace when approached, leading to various interpretations of their nature and intentions. While some sought acceptance and understanding, others were met with suspicion and prejudice, as many viewed them as harbingers of doom due to the catastrophic events that birthed them.