The Penitents
Always present, always lurking somewhere, hidden - the Penitents serve as the grunts of the Yarn Fabrics, doing their dirty work and the bidding of their masters, whether they be the Yarn-Spinner, the Yarn Givers, or the Embodiments. How they are created is a mystery, but reports have been showing an alarming correlation between an Embodiment and a Penitent. The current theory is that Penitents are Embodiments who come to their senses during their corruption and attempt to turn it back or revert the damage they've done. In this situation, the Sisters and the Wolves will attempt to intervene. However, to date, there only have been one or two successful cases where the changed Embodiment have been successfully saved from the fate of being a Penitent, where the rest will follow the same path as the others - being turned into the shadow monsters that lurk and haunt the night.
Tembu-ka: the Lifeblood of "Penitents"
There are several different "types" of Penitents, all derived from a single substance or "form". Among the Sisters and the Wolves, the substance is called "tembu-ka". Stringy and goo-like in nature, this substance has been known to corrupt and induce madness in those who are unfortunate enough to come into contact with this material, with several stages of corruption. Embodiments have also been known to release large amounts of this substance when they begin their gradual transformation into "Penitents".
Forms of Penitents
Composed of Tembu-ka, the Penitents are able to manipulate it and worm into an unguarded person's mind. Due to the nature of the substance, they can assume almost any form, but have one limitation of being able to be manoeuvred only at night. They can roam in the day, but must stay to shadows lest they are dried out by the sunlight.