Atémor

Overview
Actively hunted, hated, and hailed as enemies the Atémor (at-a-more) have never the less become a part of Artésque's ever expanding population. The Atémor are a race of typically quadrupedal, sleek black furred/skinned transmorphic, canine-like beings. Despite their nature, these creatures are truly best described as Skin-walkers or Werewolves.

The Process:
The first Atémor brood were not born, they were created as a race of subservient creatures of magic loyal to both their Master Clamor Vón Dorñ Morybe-Serbellá The third, The Mother Queen Imago, and later The Keeper, Silence. As defined in books one and four, the process in which one becomes an Atémor varies, the diseases feeds on both the thoughts and emotions of the host (Márjx). First signs of the sickness are fatigue, black lesions, change of eye color, outburst of anger, and vivid dreams/night terrors. The first Atémor were exposed to the magical disease via an Amulet of Peace, a false gesture of goodwill started by the Únoff crown. The sickness took several days to develop  and fully take effect, thus allow hundreds of these shape-shifting beings to be created before it took notice. Once transformed, the Atémor can maintain the host's form for as long as needed, able to quickly change between its host and itself whenever needed or direct. Though their capabilities of speech are limited in their host's form they can complete basic task. During combat or when threatened the Atémor will revert to its true form, allowing its sharp, clawed hands and powerful mouth to rip apart its victims. While in its host form or within another form, the Atémor is more docile.

The second (current) Atémor brood are Atémor created via the blood or other bodily fluids. Of course, it is hinted at that the means of changing someone into an Atémor via this process has no guarantee. It also seems to be implied that the leader of the Atémor may have control over this process. Much like the first brood, the second has all the same traits as the first, though the second brood seems to retain more faculties within their host form than the others.

The Atémor Under Each Rule:
Under the Master, the Atémor were placed strategically within each of the tribes, taking on the lives of those they occupied. Under the Master's control, the Atémor grew in numbers and were able to remaining hidden for at least a year. Of course, once the Master's own mind was corrupted the Atémor and all those under his control seems to loose control.

Under the Mother, the Atémor were able to regain their minds and were able to safely flee or maintain their hidden identities. Under the Mother the Atémor overtook the Márjx Gréftor, supposedly the last remaining area within the Oválll. The Mother retreated to this area for safety though also to gain knowledge of lost magic to empower the Atémor.

Under the Keeper, the Atémor have been able to hide and grow in numbers, despite the new tactics employed by The Three in seeking them out. Though, it is implied that the Atémor no longer share the same interests as the Mother and the Master, in fact, under the Keeper it seems that the Atémor are actively seeking a safe haven. Of course, the Atémor operate an "end justifies the means" principle, putting themselves above all other.

Life Span:
The Atémor disease varies in length, months, years, or in very rare cases, days. However, once the disease has released its host the host has total control over their body once more. Unfortunately, the afflicted individuals are left with no memories of their former lives nor the disease that overtook them. As the Keeper states in book nine, those who have served their time as an Atémor are released into the nearest settlement and looked after until they are able to care for themselves.

Hive Mind:
Introduced in book four, the Atémor seem to communicate via pheromones and via a hive mind like entity. This hive mind, while all masters of the Atémor are able to control it, seems mostly tied to the Mother, allowing the Mother the ability to influence newer converts in an attmpt to continue her goal. While the hive mind can influence, it is typically a source of madness, the thoughts of all those afflicted by the sickness are implied to rattle around within each Atémor's head. As such, it is up to the current master to ensure these thoughts are kept at bay to ensure their abilities to hide and strike more cohesively.