Fantasy In Shambles - Rules & Lore

[StrixDesmodus]

• If you don't understand what somebody else means, ask for clarification. There is no shame in it, and if anybody gives you flak about it then it is not your fault.
• Hostility on our side of the fourth wall is needless. If you cannot discuss matters in a decent fashion then you are reprehensible.
• Insensitive language belongs to insensitive characters. Ableist, racist, ageist, sexist, or otherwise essentialist language is prohibited from third person narrations. If you use it by accident, or if it's something that doesn't have connotations that are too bad, it can be excused, since many people don't know any better ways to phrase things. I won't hold it against you as long as I know it's an honest mistake.
• Differences in style or creative ability are welcome here. Write script style, novel style, or anything outside and in between; Be as loquacious or laconic as you please.
• You may not control another person's character, or make big changes to them without the consent of the roleplayer that made them.
• You may make as many characters as you want.
• You may contribute your ideas for plots, lore, and other stuff, but please run it by me first.
• Please stay with this roleplay as long as you can, and do not permanently leave while your character is interacting with somebody else's.
• Wait at least four minutes after the last in-character post to make your own in-character post.
• If you have any other questions, feel free to ask and I'll answer when I can, and update the rules if need be. No worries, I'll let everybody know when the rules are updated, and the amendments will appear both in this post and in an additional one.

 

[StrixDesmodus]

It started a year ago, with the humans. All over the world, about a third of them began to act strange, mumbling to themselves, not moving like they used to, and refusing to admit that they felt any different than they did before, even though they had trouble holding on to their thoughts and couldn't sleep worth a hill of beans.
After a day, perhaps from fear or perhaps from the influence of whatever had changed them, they would leave their homes and wander. Regardless of the efforts to return the people home, few of them were ever seen again by anybody who would recognize them.
After a week of the afflicted people wandering, the attacks began. Those people who shambled around, those people that underwent The Change, started to attack those who haven't undergone that same, mysterious change by clawing, kicking, biting- anything they could do without a weapon. Usually, they won the fight.
Soon, people could be seen of an odd description, with copious injuries from which black blood dripped, a sharp fang for every tooth in their head, yellow eyes, and blue-gray skin. Eventually, a perceivable pattern emerged- The people who had undergone the bizarre Change and who had managed to bite somebody, gained this odd appearance, and whoever they bit began to Change themselves, in the same steps as those before them.
For a while, the Paranormal Communities managed to keep undercover through all of this, living in fear that if ever they were discovered they would bear the blame and working hard to find a spell or power that would bring an end to what by a time was obviously a zombie outbreak. Nothing worked.
Now, after a year of society as anyone knows it collapsing, less and less paranormal folks bothered to keep up the masquerade. In some areas, the local Paranormal Councils still exist though, and are still attempting to salvage their laws and authority.
One area, metro Greenstone Harbor in Michigan, the Paranormal Council is losing power. The Paranormal is well known by the locals, though to prevent war with other paranormal councils, they do not communicate this fact to people outside of William County.
With horseback as the most reliable transportation, and the primary sources of energy dwindling, it has become slightly harder to avoid the Shamblers.


Available Species

• Vampire
  Pointed, long canine teeth are not necessarily signs that one is a vampire, but all vampires do have this in common. As well, they require daily consumption of the blood of a living creature to keep themselves from rotting as though fully dead; This begins at around the age of eight or ten. Once fully grown, they age much more slowly than they would if they were humans. They are able to climb any surface, and regenerate from most situations of death. After a vampire dies for the first time, they become immune to The Change Also, vampires have up to three extra powers, the most common of which is turning humans into vampires.
  
  
• Werebeast
  A werebeast usually looks human, with one or maybe two features of the animal they resemble in their beast form, which generally looks like a human sized or slightly larger, bipedal carnivore. Their beast form may be taken at will, or involuntarily during full moons and eclipses. In their beast form, they are immune to The Change. They get up to three other powers, usually casting glamors is one of them.
  
  
• Shapeshifter
  Shapeshifters are able to change their form in any way, retaining their usual voice. A particularly skilled shapeshifter is also able to change another's form, and that being's voice will also stay the same. They get no powers other than those.
  
  
• Split-Shifter
  A split-shifter, half shapeshifter and half human, has two bodies simultaneously- One that is completely human, and one of an animal which often may change and is known as a Daemon; Daemons have personalities of their own, and are able to speak just as their human form can. Early in life the Daemon's form will change more often, in accordance with emotions, but later in life will be more consistent. If the two bodies become too far separated from each other, or one is killed, severe mental trauma will occur. Through their Daemon, a split-shifter can communicate with animals.
  Note: Credit for the features of split-shifters goes to Anonymous and Philip Pullman; All I did was come up with a name for them.
  
  
• Troll
  A troll possesses three physical features in common with other trolls: Horns, unusual ears, and long tails that have tufts at the end. They also have supernatural strength. Extra powers, which a troll may have up to three of, are most commonly controlling plants, fungi, and minerals.
  
  
• Elf
  Elves all have pointed ears, and a hole in their back like a hollow in a tree. All of them are able to cast glamors. Their other powers, up to three, usually include luck manipulation, healing, and elemental control.
  
  
• Avianite
  Avianites differ from humans and other Paranormals in that they have feathers all over their torsos, and feathered wings sprouting from their backs, large enough to fly with. They can possess up to three powers, usually dealing with water and air.
  
  
• Faun
  Fauns are human in shape, but with the lower legs, tail, ears, and horns of a goat, antelope, deer, or similar creature. They have up to five powers, and the most common powers for a faun are healing, controlling plants, and casting glamors.
  
  
• Merfolk
  The merfolk have two forms: One of human color and shape, the other with a fish-like tail where their legs would be and skin and hair often a different color; The second form occurs only upon contact with water. Merfolk are also able to communicate with the creatures that inhabit their native waters, and it is often reported that freshwater merfolk have skin irritation from saltwater and vice versa. Their singing usually brings on an altered state of mind to those who hear it, which at the very least provides relaxation but often a trance, and sometimes is complete mind control. The extra powers of merfolk usually concern water in one state or another, and they can have up to two.
  Note: Credit for the the features of these mermaids mostly goes to AquaMarie
  
  
• Sorcerer
  Sorcerers appear human, but are able to learn to cast up to twenty spells. The spells vary by the individual, and unlike powers, are always very specific in nature and are chosen by the sorcerer.

Stages of The Change

1. Confused phase, days 2 to 3
   Individual begins to lose the ability to think clearly- They will have much trouble holding onto thoughts well enough to form full ideas. Also, motor functions will be mildly to moderately impaired. They may mumble single words or short phrases, but nothing immediately coherent will come of their vocalizations. If they previously had magical powers, those powers will be lost.
2. Shambling phase, days 3 to 4, or 4 to 5
   Individual begins to wander, at first slowly and clumsily, but will gradually gain agility and a more brisk pace of movement. They vastly prefer outdoors to indoors, though a sufficiently large indoor space will do will do for them.
3. Aggressive phase, week 2 with indefinite interval
   Individual will attack Unchanged people with unusual accuracy in avoiding animals and other Changed individuals. They do not use weapons, even when immediately available. By now, they may transmit The Change by bite. At this point, they begin to develop a most unusual tendency: They are unable to move as long as they hear a song they have never heard before.
4. Gaunt phase, 1 hour after biting somebody
   Individual retains traits of the previous phase, but also gains a bizarre change in appearance- Blueish-gray skin, yellow eyes, black blood, shark-like teeth, and rapid healing capabilities. Now, the only way to kill them is beheading.