Mawgrin
| Species Name | Mawgrin |
|---|---|
| Type | Urban predator |
| Faction | N/A |
| Habitat | Underground tunnels, sewer systems, urban ruins |
| Size | ~2 meters (when upright) |
| Appearance | Canine-limbed, razor-furred, with a massive mouth and stretched human face worn as a mask |
| Intelligence | Pack-level strategic intelligence; capable of mimicry |
| First Appearance | SLAY (unreleased) |
Contents
Overview
The Mawgrin is a terrifying urban predator that hunts in packs and wears the skinned faces of its victims like grotesque masks. These supernatural hound-like creatures are known for their eerie ability to mimic the voices and facial expressions of the people they've killed.
Description
Mawgrins resemble malformed, feral dogs with oversized jaws, black sinewy fur, and long limbs suited for both quadrupedal and bipedal locomotion. Their most disturbing trait is the flayed human face stretched over their head. This “mask” is not just decorative — it is magically animated, capable of speaking, smiling, and sometimes crying, allowing the Mawgrin to mimic the victim in unsettling ways.
Behavior
Mawgrins are pack hunters, often moving in groups of three to five. They use one member to lure or distract prey while others close in from surrounding angles. Their hunting patterns are ambush-based, relying on stealth and psychological manipulation.
Mawgrins take pleasure in tormenting prey, often whispering to them using the dead’s voice or wearing the faces of their loved ones. Some reports suggest they keep multiple skins and rotate them for different purposes — mimicry, intimidation, or luring in secondary targets.
Signature Kill Trait
A Mawgrin’s preferred kill method is to isolate a victim, kill them quickly, then peel the facial skin from the skull. The mask is preserved through unknown magical means — possibly meshwork — and stretched over the Mawgrin’s own head, where it remains animate for several days. Vocal cords and facial muscle echoes are somehow retained, allowing speech and expression.
Known Limitations
- Mawgrins are sensitive to bright artificial light, especially flickering fluorescents.
- Electrical or desiccation-based meshwork disrupts their face-masks.
- They are fiercely territorial — packs may turn on other supernatural entities that trespass.
Cultural Presence
Mawgrins are considered urban legends in most cities. Known by names like “Grinners,” “Mawdogs,” and “Gutter Angels,” their existence is usually dismissed — until it’s too late. Certain Enlightened groups have documented them in restricted grimoires or used them as test subjects for anti-shapeshifter weapons.
