Ghoul

Occasionally, sounds can be heard emanating from the darkness; the sound of flesh being violently stripped from bone, the splashing of fresh blood on cold stone, the sharp cracking and snapping of bone, the ceaseless scratching of blood-soaked claws, and even the unholy, bloodthirsty shrieks of a ravenous monster. These sounds are usually the only warning one gets before encountering the giant, pale-skinned, undead abomination known as a Ghoul... an encounter which is usually their last.

It is almost impossible to comprehend that this monstrosity was at one point a human being. It is said by some that a Ghoul is created by the lingering hunger of a person who savored the taste of human flesh. Others believe that anyone who participates in acts of extreme wickedness and debauchery become Ghouls upon death or succumbing to so-called "Ghoul Fever" after being bitten by a Ghoul. There are even some who believe that the Ancestor's unholy and unnatural experiments in necromancy had something to do with it. Whatever the cause may be that turns humans into these slavering nightmares, one fact is, however, certain; these creatures are cunning, vicious and relentless in their insatiable quest to consume human flesh.

Ghouls haunt places where the stench of death hangs heavy and piles of the carrion it craves can be found. From the decrepit and decaying halls of the Ruins, to the sludge and filth encrusted tunnels of the Warrens, the twisted and pestilent paths of the Weald, and the dark, dank, salt-soaked crags of the Cove. Also, with rediscovery of the Courtyard, we found out that several Ghouls have succeeded in forcing their way into vampiric hive of unbridled hedonism and indulgent with brute force as the festering aroma of freshly slipped human blood and decaying flesh is too irresistible for them. It is unknown if these undead giants have become infected by the Crimson Curse or their unholy origins gifted them some kind of nature or unnatural immunity to it.

Behavior
Flesh-eating undead who can be found in Veteran or Champion-level dungeons, Ghouls are often accompanied by Gargoyles, Maggots or Cultists. They have fairly high protection and hitpoints, and can cause bleed and stun along with respectable health and stress damage - not a foe to be underestimated. In particular, watch out for their "Howl" ability, which causes stress to the entire formation, drops the light level, and has a chance of inflicting The Worries on anyone they hit.

Ghouls' resistances are relatively low - try to stun them on the first round while you eliminate their allies, then focus fire on the Ghoul to kill it as quickly as possible. Unlike other unholy opponents, they're also vulnerable to bleed, and stacking it on them will help end the fight that much faster.

Abilities
Veteran =

Champion =

Trivia
When the game was originally released the Ghoul's Rend caused Bleed, while Slavering Ghoul and Insatiable Ghoul's caused Blight.