Dolgothros
From Codex Vocrotha
Physical Description
While the natural form of a Dolgothros is mostly humanoid, it is easily as disgusting and vile to the others Sentients, in appearance and smell, as any day-old corpse. Spindly bones are partially visible through a pasty, translucent skin, which sports veins and other odd protrusions over its surface. Faces are shifting, mucus-covered masses with likely orifices for eating, breathing, and seeing, though these have an unsettling tendency to drift in configuration from time to time.
The Dolgothros rarely have occasion to worry about other creatures' reaction to their form, however, since the entire race can shapeshift. Few if any outside of Dolgothran society ever see the natural form, in fact, except when one is slain or wounded greviously. The hint of an unpleasant smell remains when the Dolgothros shifts, a smell not entirely unlike rotting fruit, but this smell can be masked in many ways.
Sociopolitical Outlook
The Dolgothros have no single racially-oriented society, as such. There are no Dolgothran towns, villages, guilds -- the reason not because they are hunted and slain on sight by most races, as is generally supposed, but because to do so is not in their nature. They are an insinuative race, almost like a sentient virus, placing their agents cleverly into all societies, by guile and the use of Changelings, Dolgothros raised as the children of other races. Changelings are trained quickly and efficiently by a Waker, a Dolgothros agent sent to reveal the Changeling's true heritage, forestall any difficulties, eliminate any Changelings who refuse their heritage, and otherwise give proper education. By the direction of the Conspiracy, the unseen rulers of the Dolgothros, the Changelings are the ones who carry out most missions for their kind, often never knowing or understanding the lasting effects of their actions. Betrayal of the Conspiracy is unheard of, though there is generally some flexibility in completing orders, so long as the primary objectives are completed.
What little recorded Dolgothran philosophy there is centers almost entirely on the evolutionary supremacy of the race, and the unchallenged wisdom of the Consipracy. For the Dolgothros, discussion of genetics, DNA strands and recombinant RNA are as integral a part of their philosophy as any views on religion or creation. Truly understanding how the art of shapeshifting, the science of genetics, and the mystery of magic fit into the world with the Gods is the great challenge of an enlightened Dolgothros. Too, they bear the conviction that their Shapeshifting is the sign of their supremacy, and that any race that is limited in this aspect deserves to be enslaved for the greater good of other, more enlightened folk. Other creatures with Shifting abilities will be regarded as unawakened equals, needing only information to make them worthy of the paradise the Conspiracy promises.
Allies & Enemies
While the Drakkhozhn are imposing with their scales and fangs, and the Ur intimidating with their great size and strength, no other race has been so universally feared and hated on the face of Vocroth as the Dolgothros. The Dolgothros have no true allies, though the Daloric Warlord has treated them well as individual agents. It is unknown how far the partnership between the Daloric Empire and the Conspiracy goes, but it is well known that the two entities rarely find each other at odds.
Hatred for the Dolgothros is nearly universal, and all but the Drakkhozhn will slay them on sight. Stories of the Dolgothros taking children and replacing them with changlings, or taking over small villages or even entire governments, have become even more magnified and frightening over time. Even though they may work for the Warlord, his troops will still destroy them, should they be found out. In truth, even the Drakkhozhn have some difficulty with the Dolgothros, since it was one of them who slew the Drakkhozhn Empress, Da'Saahn, ages ago. They may still do business with the shapeshifters, but trust will not be given under any circumstances.
The Zephriel have a special hatred for the doppelgangers. The Zephriel believe that, thousands of years ago, the Conspiracy ordered the secret kidnapping of Vasriel in order to test a genetic selection and breeding project. Dolgothran history is curiously evasive on this event, but it insinuates that the project was successful and produced the race of Gochin. The Zephriel, ever curious, managed to discover one too many elements of this story, and though they cannot positively link the Gochin to the Dolgothros, they suspect much of what occurred. No Zephriel will suffer a Dolgothros to live, and so the Conspiracy has a standing order to exterminate all Zephriel, should an opportunity to do so arise.
