. species .

[Dirge]

At the moment, humans and vampires share something of a wary truce, though this only applies to the majority of the two as wholes- individual feelings are deeply varied and can lead to trouble between the species.

. h u m a n s .

Humans are the most common race, though slowly, slowly, they are becoming closer and closer to being balanced on the population scale with vampires- though only as a whole. The two types and many races of vampires separate their numbers down to fractions of their whole.

• Most humans do not realize the difference between a born and bitten vampire.
• Some born with gifts of magic. Most gifts are of a single nature- elemental, energy-based, strictly spell-based, et cetera. (See the bottom of the page for more on types of magic.) Most gifts are either not very strong or simply unable to be used to their full extent- magic itself is such a new discovery that many of its secrets are still unknown, which allows for little teaching room but a great deal of room for discovery and invention.
• Users are the most likely humans to either become vampire hunters or become open allies to the vampires, though either occupation is rare.
• Humans are sometimes abducted by well-meaning (or simply uncaring) vampires to become their "companion" or "pet". This was once incredibly rare, but has become more and more popular among the more aristocratic vampires of the fortresses. People living in large towns are the most likely to be taken, while villagers are the least (both for aesthetic and health reasons- townspeople tend to be cleaner and more vulnerable, while villagers tend to be fewer and farther between and more ferocious in their self-defense).
• Humans are a strong, hardy, mortal race. Slower and less powerful than vampires, but greater in number, and utilize teamwork very well. They are constantly coming up with new (and sometimes unwittingly rediscovered) technologies, and are an innately curious species. In many ways a fairly docile, gentle race, though they are easily brought to arms when protecting their fellow humans. Their greatest strengths are their inquisitive minds and their excellent sense of teamwork.

. b i t t e n . v a m p i r e s .


Contrary to popular human belief, bitten vampires are not made by borns- they are, in fact, an entirely separate species, and are technically humans altered by a transmittable genetic mutation. Magic has been suspected by vampiric scholars to be the root cause of this mutation, but few studies have been done on it, and this is currently only a theory.

One of the rarest races, bitten vampires make up fewer than a third the population of vampires as a whole, though since the end of the wars, their numbers have been on the rise, and they have been more cunning about passing themselves off as born vampires, so their actual numbers are difficult to determine.

• Every known bitten vampire has the ability to create more of their own kind by trading blood with a human.
• They are considered the most volatile of the vampires, though whether this is a stereotypical bias created by born vampires is difficult to tell nowadays. They are, however, usually more inclined to feed off humans than their born counterparts, though those disguising themselves as borns will often train themselves to make do with livestock or wild beasts.
• Older bitten vampires (usually categorized above the age of four or five hundred) or especially mature younger ones have sometimes "adopted" human companions (also considered "pets" by some) to remind themselves of what they once were, or simply for the company. It also allows for an easier food source, and now that some born vampires have taken up the habit as well, the bittens are able to bring their humans into the fortresses without fear of being discovered. Humans are currently not legally allowed in the fortresses by the law of the Courts, but this rarely stops vampires from bringing them in, and the law is rarely enforced if their humans are kept relatively hidden. 'Pets' are usually treated very well, if with some condescension, and are often well-guarded with an unusual protectiveness from other vampires. The wealthier a vampire is, the more likely he or she is to have a human. A rare few will even form powerful emotional bonds with their humans.
• Bitten vampires are the most divided of the races, as well- some despise humans, others hate born vampires with a passion, and still others consider their own kind to be unnatural wretches. Frequently, however, bittens get over their grudges within the first hundred years or so of 'undeath', and come to find their places within the mostly-neutral vampire territory, quickly learning to make themselves inconspicuous to survive.
• A human magic-user turned into a bitten will often lose some or all of their power in the shift, but magic-wielding bittens are not entirely unheard of.
• Humans turned into bittens will sometimes manage to get themselves "adopted" by wealthy born families- these tend to be the most well-off bittens, and the least likely to be discovered for what they are (though often the member of the born family most greatly involved in their acceptance will know the truth).
• Bitten vampires are like the majority of born vampires in that- though it's annoying- sunlight is not lethal to them. They are more apt to burn quickly in it, and it's painful to their sensitive eyes, but generally it's little more than an annoying incentive to become nocturnal.
• Religious symbols have no effect on vampires, but some woods, flowers, and thorns can be made into powerful drugs, poisons, weapons, and nets to be used against them. Most races are very sensitive to the following: hawthorn, holly, juniper branches or berries (berries are often made into a powerful poisonous wine, though it can be diluted down to a mere sleeping-drug), rowan wood (often used in accents on doors and windows, to keep the vampires at bay), rose thorns and flowers (rose flowers make a powerful sleeping drug, but are rarely lethal), and aconite. Bitten vampires will often have some of the above sensitivities, along with severe sensitivity to ash and willow wood, needles, and leaves- these trees are both considered to have a powerful life-energy, and are also sometimes used to accent the various entrances of houses or made into amulets and charms for protection, along with rowan wood.) All vampires are deathly allergic to pure silver. Most are also sensitive to iron, and can be seriously wounded by iron weapons more easily than other weapons.
• A bitten's strength, speed, and agility is relative to what the person's was as a human, simply increased exponentially- there is little deviation in this. Their physical size, form, and traits are also rarely changed more than slightly, if at all, from their appearance when bitten. However, sometimes recognizable traits will form in a bitten vampire strain that will be passed down genetically from bitten to bitten- these generally have to do with vampiric weaponry: eyes, ears, teeth, et cetera.
• The bitten vampires' greatest strengths are their own existence; they are a bridge between the human and vampire world, and join many of the strengths of both.

. b o r n . v a m p i r e s .

Contrary to popular human belief, born vampires cannot create bitten vampires- the two are entirely separate species (see info on bittens for more information on this.)

Born vampires are what one might consider the "elite" species (they certainly consider themselves to be). They are rarer than humans, but still probably outnumber bitten vampires (see info on bittens for more on this).

• There are innumerable races of born vampire, though a few are more predominant than others, either in number or in the ability to make themselves known. Skills, abilities, strengths, and appearances vary greatly from race to race.
• Most races have important and wealthy families at their heads, chosen centuries upon centuries ago to help lead their kind and give them voice. The chosen leaders of the most numerous, most wise, most gentle, and most outspoken races are allowed to live in the enigmatic vampire Courts, and help create the presiding laws over all vampires. There are only a few true Courtiers in the Courts, and- along with their servants, guards, and advisors- they tend to live a fairly sheltered life in the depths of the wilderness, where the Courts are hidden. Court vampires do not own human companions or human 'pets'.
• Over time, the Courts- once the heart of vampire existence- have become more and more divided from the vampire towns (called fortresses) where their subjects live, and since for the most part the Courtiers do not enter the fortresses (nor indeed leave the Courts at all, usually), they continue to grow apart. Though mostly the Courts do not despise humans, they have little affection for them, either, and are somewhat horrified by the news of their born brethren taking on human pets and companions- even lovers, though it's somewhat rare for this to happen, or at least very rare to hear about it (most vampires dislike the idea of publicizing a mortal lover, for obvious reasons). The fortress vampires, however, are slowly coming to see the Courts as old-fashioned in many of their ways, and more and more the lines between born and bitten blur.
• Born vampires generally enjoy the taste of human blood, but find it little more satisfying than the blood of wild game or livestock, and so are much less inclined to risk slaughtering humans for food. This does vary by race, however- a few races despise human blood, much preferring that of other animals, and several other races find the taste of human to be simply delectable.
• All borns are able to drink any liquids, and though alcohol tends to affect them a little less than most humans, it does have an affect. Some races are able to eat solids, though rarely can they stomach anything but raw meat.
• Most races of born vampire are sensitive to sunlight- they burn more easily than most humans, and it hurts their eyes- but not to the point of a life-threatening allergy. They avoid it because their night eyesight is the keenest and sunlight is simply annoying. A few rare races can walk in the day as easily as a tanned village-human, and some even prefer the daylight.
• Religious symbols have no effect on vampires, but some woods, flowers, and thorns can be made into powerful drugs, poisons, weapons, and nets to be used against them. Most races are very sensitive to the following: hawthorn, holly, juniper branches or berries (berries are often made into a powerful poisonous wine, though it can be diluted down to a mere sleeping-drug), rowan wood (often used in accents on doors and windows, to keep the vampires at bay), rose thorns and flowers (rose flowers make a powerful sleeping drug, but are rarely lethal), and aconite. All vampires are deathly allergic to pure silver. Most are also sensitive to iron, and can be seriously wounded by iron weapons more easily than other weapons.
• The born vampire's greatest strengths are its keen senses, great speed and strength, and long memories- one of the wisest species, if sometimes somewhat overly confident in their knowledge of the world.

[Syleen]

.| B O R N | R A C E S |.


. B E L E N U S .

Fiery and wild of temper, the Belenus are a somewhat feral race. They tend to be of medium height and a slightly stockier and more powerful build than most of their longer, more willowy brethren. Hair colour can be anything from white-blonde to dark garnet red, and- rarely- black. Eyes can be from pale yellow to orange to black and anything in between. Their skin tends to be on the warm side, usually with a golden hue to it, and they are less bothered by sunlight than most. They often excel in fighting and hunting, and many have great skill with either a bow or a blade. They have long, pointed ears that sweep up and back and reach to about the end of the skull, and are less dainty in facial and physical structure than most vampires.

Their flesh emits heat, less like a human body and more like a glowing warmth radiating from just beneath the skin.


. A D R H I O L L E .

The elves of the vampire world, Adrhiolle are tall, narrow, and graceful, with delicately-pointed ears and narrow faces. They generally have dark hair ranging from rich mahogany to deep blue-black. Their eyes tend to be pale jewel colours, though the most normal colours are ranges of purple and green. Their skin is cool in tone, but unlike many other vampires, they have a beautiful flush beneath the translucent surface, though rather than make them look more human, this merely seems to cement their painting-like, ethereal air. They are quite aristocratic as a race, and generally less physically inclined, tending not to be as fast, agile, or strong as many of the other races.

Their skin is pleasantly cool and firm to the touch, like marble.


. N E P H T I E L .

The Nephtiel have cool-toned skin, usually with dark hair, and have large, shiny, dark irises and sclera with bright pupils and sharply-pointed ears. Their features are longer and sharper than most, but quite refined and elegant. They tend to be narrower in build and can be a variety of heights. Known for their speed and flexibility. They usually have a greater dislike of sunlight than most.

Their skin is cold and marble-firm.


. K U B R O L .

The Kubrol are possibly the most human in appearance of the born vampires. Their skin is usually warmer in tone, and their hair and eyes can be any human colour. Their features and builds, too, are varied but usually within common human parameters. While not as fast nor agile as many of the other races, they tend to be deceptively strong. They can tolerate sunlight fairly well, though it's still stronger for them than it is for an average human. They are sometimes looked down upon by other born races for looking or feeling too 'mortal'. Bittens usually try to pass themselves off as Kubrol when pretending to be borns.

Their skin is pleasantly warm and soft for a vampire.


. P L A C E H O L D E R .

Cool- or warm-toned skin. Hair and eye colours and variations. Typical features/builds. Strong points. Sunlight?

Skin feel.

[Dirge]

. M A G I C .


Magic comes in several forms and types, and is used most commonly by a few gifted humans, though sometimes bitten vampires are able to use it as well (only if able to as humans, however). Very very rarely, a born vampire will be able be born with a gift, but only if their race already has a predisposition for magic. Gifts are difficult things- they are never easy to use, no matter how long someone has been training themselves, but they do become more specific or useful the more they're practiced. Gifts are also, however, never spontaneous- it takes great concentration to use them, so no one will be 'accidentally' destroying buildings or slaughtering armies with their out-of-control magic. (All magic-using characters must have their magic type and form included in their profile to be approved by me before being accepted.)

The two basic types are kinesthetic and telekinetic/telepathic.

• Kinesthetic magic involves some sort of physical manifestation of energy- balls of glowing energy, the creation of fire or water on command, et cetera. This is a difficult gift, but a powerful one.
• Telekinetic/telepathics are able to move objects without any visible or palpable help (but cannot CREATE objects, like kinesthetic Users), and are sometimes able- if they train themselves diligently- to send messages (thoughts, images, sounds, feelings) to other people telepathically. Telekinetic/telepathics are NOT able to control other peoples thoughts, and are at best able to send a subtle suggestion to another person's mind- though the person will know they're being suggested to. They are also not able to read other people's minds- the closest they can come is empathy, which can only be achieved through direct physical contact and with great concentration, and can only feel very strong or sudden emotions- no accidental brushes of someone's sleeve will tell a telekinetic/telepathic what the other person's mood is.

As for the various forms of magic, the most common are elemental, runic, energy-based, and spell-based.

• Elemental magic means the person has some control over the elements, usually with a particular affinity for one- kinesthetic Users will be able to create and control water, fire, earth, air, metal, wood, and stone. (They won't be able to create massive tidal waves or the like, and while they could feasibly make a sword or statue with their gifts, it would be an exhausting and long-winded project- more trouble than it would be worth in the end.) Many elemental kinesthetics have made themselves quite wealthy using their gifts to invent newer, stronger metals and teaching others how to make them using naturally occurring ore. Telepathic/telekinetic elemental users cannot create the elements, but can control them to a more powerful/precise degree than kinesthetics can. (Ergo, if you're really dead-set on your character making his or her sword magically, it'll take them a few years less if they're telepathic/telekinetic. Party on.)
• Runic magic is a purely kinesthetic art, and involves writing or carving symbols or runes into patterns (usually spell circles) to use magic. Runic Users are excellent at making good, strong amulets, charms, and wards, and often are hired to carve and enchant doorways and windows to keep wickedness (in the form of vampires or sin or animals, what have you) away, and sometimes to decorate weapons and shields for protection. Runic Users often do quite well for themselves, and very well-disciplined ones can make themselves very wealthy and famous. These Users are the most popular ones along with energy Users, and often live in the towns, where their gifts are in the greatest demand.
• Energy-based magic is something of a physical light-show for kinesthetic users. They can create balls of energy in their hands to throw at an enemy as a weapon, either temporarily blinding them or physically making them stumble back or miss a step. If trained diligently, this skill can also make shields strong enough to deflect a vampire of regular strength's blow, though this is a tiring feat and can't be counted on to last for more than a couple hits. More often, energy-based kinesthetic Users use their gifts for entertainment, telling stories and illustrating them with the moving, glowing forms of their story characters (shrunken down a great deal, of course). Because these "energy puppets" require little actual concentration of mass, they are fairly simple to do and not as tiring as using energy-based gifts in battle. Telepathic/telekinetics are unable to create this energy, but they can attract and deflect it in a way kinesthetics cannot. Their expertise lies in using their gifts to bend light and shadow- they can darken a room or fill it with light, weave fabrics imbued with a brilliant, soft glow of sunlight from their windows, or make cloaks woven with threads of dark, moonless night to hide their bearers. This gift is particularly difficult to train, but when used properly can make the User very wealthy These Users naturally conduct electricity especially well.
• Spell-based magic is much like runic magic, but rather than be controlled by a physical symbol or sign, it's used by invoking spoken commands. Little is known about this art, and people with this gift rarely notice they have it. It is near impossible to train without knowledge of the proper words. [This gift is unavailable for use until further notice- characters can still be born (and joined) with it, but they will be unable to use it, and will likely not know they have it.]

Any given person can only have one gift, though many times two or more Users will collaborate to invent new and marvelous things- a runic and energy User, for instance, invented the first flameless candle- a burst of sunlight trapped to a candlestick or lamp by a well-scripted set of runes. Most homes now use these instead of candles, though the paranoid or old-fashioned home will sometimes use candles for the beeswax, hoping to repel vampires with it. Nearly every home has a front and back door or door frame with twines of vampire-repelling wood and runes woven and carved into them, though it's often considered superfluous to do the same with upper-floor window frames (the (flawed) logic here being that vampires are unable to climb that high). Young suitors buy amulets or charmed rings for their courting, and children watch energy puppet shows with avidity. The combinations of their gifts into new and amazing inventions is endless and ongoing. It is therefore not rare to have two or more Users open up a shop together, for the great benefit of all involved.