Mujina

A mujina looks human, of either sex, except that it has no face: no eyes, mouth, nose or ears, only skin smooth as an egg. It can wear any face as an illusion. It speaks Common and its own language of hollow moans and howls that grate on human ears.

With 18/00 Strength a mujina swings any two-handed melee weapon one-handed, except lances and polearms, and fights with a weapon in each hand without penalty. At will it can show its true blankness: viewers of 5 Hit Dice or levels or fewer flee at top speed for 1d3 rounds, while stronger ones may resist with a save vs. wands. A successful dispel magic, resisted as an 8th-level caster, strips the disguise with the same terrifying effect.

Its disguises make surprise likely, and against detect evil or detect magic it gets a save vs. spell to go unnoticed. Psionics, however, sense a mujina's mind easily, so the race hunts psionicists, gathers mind-shielding items, and gets rid of revealing magic such as gems of true seeing and ESP medallions.

Some priests call mujinas a punishment from angry gods. Physically and emotionally identical to others of their gender, they hate any people with individuality, humans above all, the most varied of races, and they favor big cities where they blend in. Many pose as hirelings or henchmen, serving loyally for a long time before murdering their companions. Others merely rob sleepers and are gone before anyone notices, and some just enjoy frightening lone travelers. They have no society, travel together for a week at most, and occasionally sign on as a mercenary squad.

They are sexless and do not breed. Many sages think an angry goddess makes new ones by cursing followers who never try to stand out, leaving them faceless.

Some scholars link mujinas to doppelgangers for their similar methods and outlook. They serve no ecological role, unless one accepts the dubious claim that they exist to thin out humanity.