Reticents, catalogued as Entity 33, are an anomalous tripodal species with a singular central body above their many legs. Reticents commonly scale to ~8 feet in height, though they may grow up to 11 feet in height in levels that are unroofed. While having a generally tripodal body plan, the legs are in varying count and length which move precisely to keep the main body stable. The central mass of a Reticent entangles a large security camera structure reaching above the entity's legs. Although this structure possesses the regular mechanical characteristics of security cameras, it is abnormally large in comparison. The camera's lens is mostly biological in contrast with a slit "pupil" that may dilate while focusing on a target. Reticents are excessively abundant in the Backrooms as a whole, with an estimated 9% of all lifeforms in its approximate size range belonging to the Entity 33 classification.
Extending from the sides of Reticents' cameras are fanned-out feathery appendages interwoven with streams of copper and zinc wires. These appendages, serving as sound receptors, can be present in counts between three and seventeen on the "head" of an individual Reticent. Reticents may also flare their feathery appendages as a threat display if necessary despite their already-daunting size.
The most characteristic attribute in the behavior of Reticents is their aggression towards all forms of speech. What elicits Reticents to become aggravated is not merely verbal communication, however; other sound-based forms of communicating such as Morse code are also identified as speech by Reticents. While normally passive, with the exception of being harmed, Reticents become instantaneously hostile towards any being that verbally communicates while in their vicinity. Multiple theories have risen as to how "speech" is recognized by the entity, including the two most prominent speculations described below:
Once aggravated via speech, Reticents will lock their sight onto the aggressor and watch for any further speech. This behavior is known as transpecting, in which the Reticent in question will follow the target for prolonged periods (typically about 2-3 days at least) and wait until the aggressor verbally communicates again. Once it does so, the Reticent will begin to chase their target at common speeds of 20 km/h within roofed levels, which can extend to 28 km/h within unroofed levels. Reticents have approximate intelligence to crows and octopi; they will take cover when excessively threatened, can use tools when possible, and can infer from past experiences to solve problems. To kill its target, Reticents will trample it with the pointed ends of their limbs, which can effectively cause complete death within 10 seconds of persistent trampling.
When in a non-aggravated state, Reticents are otherwise passive and will allow one to approach them if they do not inherently appear as a threat. Being somewhat social, occasionally seen forming "packs" up to 4 members in size, Reticents may often be seen posing in odd, robotic patterns (speculated to be their means of communication). Reticents are, however, extremely aggressive towards Smilers, Dullers, Solarnoids, and Aranea Membri regardless of whether they are provoked; for this reason, Reticents are oftentimes spared outside smaller colonies as they can assist in weeding out the greater threats mentioned.
Reticents share a significant semblance in general anatomy with biological life, with exception for the mechanical structure serving as their head. The legs of Reticents are supported both by an internal bone and a thin cartilage serving as a rigid frame. These features, in combination with the muscle specialization in the frontal legs, contribute to making their movements efficient in trampling and gutting targets. Although their limbs are comparatively thin, the internal bone is strengthened by microscopic "fibers" of lead incorporated in the marrow. The lead fibers are aligned in such a way that blunt impact force is distributed along the bone and reduces chances of the bone breaking. Within the security camera head is an anatomical portion that serves as a scraping tongue; it is thought that Reticents use this to consume metals found in their respective levels, which is then incorporated into their bodies.
Reticents' legs, excluding what serves as their bones, are entirely edible to humans. Many distinct cultures across the Backrooms have incorporated Reticent leg meat in some form into their cuisine, primarily due to their abundance in the Backrooms. The meat has a strong and savory flavor with a slightly sour aftertaste that can be masked with certain Backshroom-based seasonings. Meat closer to the torso of a Reticent generally has a hint of electric-burnt flavor and is regularly incorporated into fertilizer.
Reticents, in part due to their abundance in the Backrooms, have been a prominent presence in the history of various groups and settlements. One of the most common impacts of their presence near humans is a method to signal others to not speak. In many Anglo-based settlements/nations (notably the M.E.G. and R.E.U.), this manifests as a "shushing" hand signal where one places their index finger against their lips. However, this hand signal has gradually become more universal. In colonies with improved technological accessibility, such as those of populated nations in easily accessible levels, there is a "lighting code" in which lights in the locale are turned a muted purple to signal Reticent presence.
Author: Lemon
Somewhat inspired by Lethal Company entities (namely coilhead and eyeless dog)