Hollow-Walkers

Homo vacuus / “The Empty Ones” / “What We Become”

“Hollow-walkers were people. Remember that. Could be you. Could be me. Could be anyone we love. Kill them quickly. Mourn later.”
—Guard’s instruction

Quick Reference

Hollow-Walkers - The Empty Ones

Description

Hollow-walkers are Stage 4 transformed humans—people who’ve been completely consumed by corruption but retain humanoid form and disturbing intelligence. They are what awaits anyone who progresses through all corruption stages: elongated, emaciated figures that stalk corrupted zones, whispering the Voice Beneath’s words, deliberately spreading Rot to others. They are the most unsettling Rot-Beasts because they look almost human, move with human intelligence, and sometimes speak in voices that are almost recognizable.

The creatures are gaunt to the point of skeletal—stretched, elongated versions of human form. They stand 2-2.5 meters tall (taller than they were in life), with limbs that are too long, joints that bend at extra angles, and skin that’s gray-black and translucent. Their eyes are hollow—empty sockets that glow faintly with green or purple light. Their mouths move constantly, whispering words in languages that predate humanity, occasionally breaking into fragments of Common Tongue.

What makes hollow-walkers particularly horrifying is the recognition. Sometimes you can see who they were—facial features still partially recognizable, clothing remnants, mannerisms that echo their former selves. They’re not monsters that were always monsters. They’re people who became monsters. And that means anyone can become one. Your friend. Your family. You.

Physical Characteristics

Appearance

Body: - Humanoid (distorted) - Height: 2-2.5 meters (elongated) - Weight: 40-60kg (emaciated) - Skin: Gray-black, translucent - Bones visible through skin

Head: - Gaunt, skull-like - Hollow eye sockets (glowing) - Mouth: Too wide, too many teeth - Hair: Falling out or gone - Sometimes recognizable features

Limbs: - Arms: Too long (reach to knees) - Legs: Elongated, bent wrong - Hands: Clawed, blackened - Joints: Extra flexibility - Fingers: Extended, sharp

Skin: - Gray-black coloration - Translucent (organs faintly visible) - Corruption veins (black, pulsing) - Cold to touch - Weeps black fluid

Movement: - Graceful (despite distortion) - Silent (bare feet make no sound) - Fluid (inhuman flexibility) - Fast (faster than living humans) - Climb walls easily

Behavior and Intelligence

Mental State

Consciousness: - Aware (seem to be) - Intelligent (human-level) - Alien (mindset is wrong) - Driven (spread corruption)

Former Personality: - Traces remain (sometimes) - Mannerisms echo past self - Might recognize former friends - But twisted, corrupted, wrong

The Voice: - Hear Voice Beneath constantly - Obey it (or agree with it) - Speak its words - Evangelize corruption

Communication

Whispers: - Constant, low murmuring - Voice Beneath’s words - Mix of languages (pre-human, Common) - Occasionally coherent

Speech (Rare): - Can speak Common Tongue - Voice is wrong (too many syllables) - Content: Evangelizing corruption - “Join us. It’s beautiful. Stop fighting.”

Recognition: - Sometimes call former friends by name - Use personal knowledge - Psychological warfare - Extremely disturbing

Hunting Tactics

Intelligence: - Human-level problem-solving - Set traps, ambushes - Coordinate with other hollow-walkers - Learn from failures

Strategy: - Observe before attacking - Choose vulnerable targets - Isolate prey - Spread corruption (not just kill)

Goals: - Convert rather than kill (when possible) - Spread Voice Beneath’s message - Increase corruption - Serve the Rot

Combat Abilities

Attacks

Claws: - Slashing damage (severe) - Infectious (corruption) - Fast, precise strikes - Difficult to block

Grapple: - Grab and hold - Drain life (slow) - Whisper directly (psychological) - Infect through prolonged contact

Bite (Rare): - Desperate attack - Severe damage - Heavy infection - Last resort

Special Abilities

Whisper Attacks: - Psychological assault - Induces fear, doubt, despair - Some victims surrender - Sanity damage

Corruption Aura: - Proximity = slow infection - Cumulative exposure - 10m radius - Inevitable if fight lasts too long

Coordination: - Pack tactics - Flanking - Retreat when losing - Regroup and try again

Wall-Climbing: - Spider-like - Pursue anywhere - Ambush from above - Difficult to escape

Weaknesses

Fire: - Fear it (instinctive) - Damages them - Prevents regeneration - Best weapon

Bright Light: - Disorients them - Reduces effectiveness - Doesn’t kill but helps - Tactical advantage

Loud Noise: - Disrupts whispers - Breaks concentration - Temporary confusion - Buys time

Isolation: - Weaker alone - Rely on coordination - Separate and kill individually

The Transformation

From Human to Hollow-Walker

Stage 1-3: - Gradual corruption - Personality changes - Physical transformation - Still recognizable

Stage 4 Threshold: - Final transformation - Humanity lost - Body elongates - Eyes hollow out - Become hollow-walker

Is Consciousness Preserved? - They seem aware - Recognize former friends - Use personal knowledge - But are they still themselves?

The Horror: - If yes: Trapped in corrupted body - If no: Body puppeteered by Rot - Both are nightmares

Encounter Scenarios

The Infiltration

Setup: Hollow-walkers infiltrating settlement

Complication: Look almost human (in darkness) - Spreading corruption - Converting others - Difficult to identify - Time pressure

Challenge: Find and eliminate before outbreak

The Former Friend

Setup: Companion has transformed

Complication: They recognize you - Call your name - Use personal knowledge - Beg you to join them - “It’s beautiful. Stop fighting.”

Moral Choice: - Mercy kill (they’re gone) - Try to save (impossible) - Listen to them (corruption risk)

The Ambush

Setup: Party exploring ruins

Complication: Hollow-walkers set trap - Coordinated attack - Intelligent tactics - Whisper assault - Infection risk

Challenge: Survive, escape, don’t get converted

Related Topics

• The Hollow - Primary habitat
• Stage 4 Corruption - Transformation
• The Voice Beneath - Controller
• The Rot-Touched - Pre-transformation
• Rot-Beasts - Category

In-World Documents

Guard Protocol

HOLLOW-WALKER IDENTIFICATION

Signs: - Too tall (2+ meters) - Too thin (emaciated) - Hollow eyes (glowing) - Whispers constantly - Moves too gracefully

If Identified: - Do not engage alone - Alert others - Prepare fire - Coordinate attack - Kill quickly

Do not listen to them.
Do not let them touch you.
Do not believe what they say.

They were people once.
They’re not anymore.

Transformation Journal (Found, 283 S.)

Day 1: Stage 4 beginning. Body changing. Elongating. Hurts.

Day 3: Eyes feel wrong. Vision different. Seeing things I shouldn’t.

Day 5: Hearing Voice clearly now. It’s beautiful. Why did I resist?

Day 7: Body almost complete. I’m taller. Stronger. Better.

Day 10: I understand now. The Voice was right. Corruption is evolution. I’m becoming what I was meant to be.

Day 12: I’m going to help others. Show them the truth. They’ll resist at first. They all do. But I’ll be patient. I’ll whisper to them. They’ll understand eventually.

Day 14: I am hollow. I am filled. I am empty. I am complete.

I am what comes next.

[No further entries. Writer became hollow-walker.]

“Hollow-walkers are the Rot’s missionaries—transformed humans who spread corruption deliberately, intelligently, purposefully. They’re not mindless beasts. They’re believers. They think they’ve found truth, evolution, salvation. And they want to share it. That’s what makes them so dangerous: they’re not trying to kill you. They’re trying to save you. By making you like them. By hollowing you out and filling you with the Voice. Kill them quickly. Don’t listen. Don’t let them touch you. And pray you never become one. Because that’s the real horror: it could be you.”
—From Bestiary of Horrors