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tumblingxelian · 10 months ago

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Outcast Society Headcanons - Wednesday (Netflix)

I have no clue how much longer this hyperfixation is gonna have its claws embedded in my brain matter. So I decided to get my mixture of analytical headcanons (IE based on canon) and more out there headcanon (Based on what I think/want) out in one big post!

Supernatural Magic - Analysis It is clear based on visions, seances and the resurrection of Crackstone that magic is entirely-doable within the Nevermore universe. What's more, as opposed to being strictly tied to specific types of Outcasts it seems anyone can use these powers with right tools and materials.

This makes their magic incredibly ritualistic, with key times of year, location, supplies and even stuff like blood or historical connection playing a large part in magic's use. Along with more simplistic but still incredibly useful items like Crystal Balls, living plants and more falling into a 'easily replicated' mold, relatively speaking.

I imagine that "Monster Hunters" would explain away their use of magic either as fire to fight fire, disguise its nature or claim it came from their god rather than 'unnatural' sources. Though this would exclusively be in periods where magic was considered suspect to use such as the Pilgrim times.

Though I do think it likely remained only in use among relatively small groups or secretive factions to maintain its power, similar to how the recipe for Greek Fire was lost because those who held it did not want it stolen. Modern use is likely relatively tightly regulated and access to magical knowledge horded.

Supernatural Locations - Headcanon

Certain locations are inherently magical all year round and all the time. The Addams's family Manor is built on one, the Balkan countryside Esther wanted to send Enid too would be another and there would be numerous other examples around the world.

These locations, be they forest, lake, mountain or desert will all be in possession of some degree of if not intelligence then will and supernatural powers. The Addam's family's land predates their arrival and is attuned to death and specters. Thus, the Addams who came to be its caretakers are themselves influenced and so are a form of not quite undead Outcast. The Balkan countryside could, if its forests were damaged, drive its attackers into beastial rages and have them set up one another and so on.

These locations tend to need caretakers because while they can counteract direct physical threats. More subtle or nebulous one's are much harder to deal with. And intern these caretakers are tolerated by most local governments because even if they could destroy the region the cost would usually be extensive. Such as, bombing a sacred grove leading to a mass forest first that could not be out out.

Supernatural Families- Analysis Based on the existence of the Thorpe family, references to other legacies, talk of the Morning Song Cult and the preferential treatment given to the Addams family. I think it is entirely reasonable to assume that there is some degree of class hierarchy among the Outcasts. One that can, but does not necessarily, crossover into the human world.

Put simply, not all Outcasts have major businesses or are represented by famous seers, or live in fancy manors. What's more, not all and in fact most Outcasts cannot expect their children to, for example, escape putting piranhas in the school pool and seriously injuring people and to get away with a slap on the wrist. Given what we've seen and heard regarding Outcast treatment, it would likely be prison or potentially shot dead by trigger happy police.

This of course does not entirely insulate them from potential threats or hate crimes as the show demonstrates. But wealth, or the connections born of being well respected families with many friends can create a large buffer zone between what other Outcasts face.

I will add however, that while the Addams are both well off and well connected they are not the equivalent of Outcast royalty. They are essentially old money rich, they don't need day jobs, but they do need to make appearances at events, network and dole out favors as necessary. They can protect themselves or their children from some degree of criminal charges, but it can only go so far. And while some students seemed aware of them, most did not seem to regard the Addams as more notable than any other.

Supernatural Alternate History - Analysis/Headcanon Based on the show itself we know elements of history have gone slightly ajar. What with actual magic existing and the like, but also that humans still ended up as the 'dominant species' so to speak. This seems to have come about in part thanks to humanities larger numbers and thus their ability to organize large scale persecution campaigns.

Obviously history going the same at all requires something of a "Unicorn" world building wise, but that's hardly a story telling crime.

Now, if I were to come up with an explanation as to how this happened given some of what we have seen magic and Outcasts be able to do I would say it came down to several factors.

First things first I would say it was not necessarily always this way. Athens likely did have several Snake/Gorgon monarchs before some human figure used a mirrored shield on them and took over. There likely was a Count Dracula in some form or another who may well have made similar attempts to the novel and met a similar end and so on.

Second among them would be that whatever their origins, Outcast unity and even unity among singular species of Outcasts was relatively rare. It can often be the case that if a group falls into a comfortable niche it can be all too easy to rest on one's laurels and then be snuck up on.

Werewolves for instance would have an easy time hunting and controlling an extensive territory and may well have found it more trouble than it was worth to adopt things like farming or herding. But that also means most families and wider packs would be relatively small in number and so when humans began to outnumber them extensively and cull areas of food it became harder to survive. Even if they did drive the humans off and more would always come back.

Similar stories among other outcast species likely echo in history.

Thirdly, Outcasts would be no more immune to holding onto power possessively than anyone else. A vampire for instance may not want to share its extended lifespan with any but those it is fond of, even if more vampires might mean greater safety in the long run. Thus they may have seen each other as threats, or otherwise not sought large-scale unity and generally could well have neglected focusing on humans for each other. A house divided cannot stand and if none of them were even in said house it becomes very easy to burn down.

Fourthly, as noted regular humans can also use magic which can easily become a great equalizer. Though many of such humans may have themselves become inhuman themselves in time, others might not have, or faded before they could and would pose a threat regardless.

Fifthly, I don't think Outcasts necessarily have to have 'lost' everywhere. I have some elaborate headcanons regarding a surviving but radically different Kanem–Bornu nation built around Lake Chad in Africa. IE, with colonialism in full swing, many Outcasts fled death by going inland and united with local nations and eventually formed a coalition strong enough to resist the imperial powers even at their peak, making the resulting nation one of the few with a major Outcast population. Though like Ethiopia, Japan and Thailand they likely had to compromise a lot in terms of policy. There are likely others as well, though I have less specific ideas regarding those.

Sixthly is very much a me thing but I would love to explore Outcast biology, IE, they are different species if closely related to humans, and how that influences culture and behavior, thus:

Supernatural Species - Headcanon Each Supernatural species is capable of communicating with humans and can to one degree or another pass as human at least part of the time. Though the effort and plausibility varies wildly and how effectively they could intermingle genetically is likely down to 'type', Gorgons would likely struggle to conceive a child with a human more than a werewolf would.

Notes: Unique Supernatural Species List:

Shapeshifters: These are not a society unto themselves, so much as a random mutation/blessing that sometimes appears in random Outcast or more rarely human children. More closely related to Lycens than anything else and they need to maintain concentration on their shifted form at all times or revert to their 'true form' which can be but is not necessarily the one they were assigned at birth.

Hydes: These beings are complicated as they are not considered Outcasts by some. This is because they were not 'born' or 'turned' as others might be but engineered. Specifically by covens and Monster Hunters by taking an infant, an animal and a Lycan. Torturing and eventually, once they were 'broken', killing the latter two during a transformation and latching some of their essence onto the infant. Ensuring a separate creature would grow on their being like a tumor until awoken into a powerful and malevolent but obedient creature.

Well, obedient for a few years before they gained the maturity to think for themselves and usually kill their masters, if not killed before by their masters, foes or their hosts if the walls dividing their identities did not fall fast enough. They became a curse that could appear in people at seemingly random. Much of this is only known to Lycans who keep a tight lid on it.

Psychics/Witches: This category covers those like Eugene, the Addams and more. They often began their ancestor as normally humans but not only learned 'some' magic but became so engrossed with it that it began to alter their fundamental nature. Usually aligning them with a 'type' of magic, such as the Addams penchant for death and spirits, or Eugene's Bees and so on.

Some of these would be absorbed into pre-existing communities such as the Lycan or vampiric depending on their magic, but others would not and go on to form their own clans or covens. What's more the occasional 'mutation' can appear among humans, though they are usually limited to whatever innate ability they were granted without training and growing closer to the 'source' of their magic.

Most Supernatural species outside these groups can be broken down into two major categories, the born and the transformed.

The born - Sirens and Gorgons:

The only means by which there can be more of them is through procreation or magical ritual designed to emulate the process. Which is a problem given both species none human sides are not social creatures.

That is to say where a human may lose their mind and die from stress or self destruction in isolation, a Gorgon could happily spend years alone and be largely unaffected. Hence the most famous being Medusa who resided on an island alone.

Sirens operate in a rather similar manner, usually only acting collectively to hunt more easily rather than for companionship. It is also reflected in Sirens rarely bearing last names as even familial ties tend to be rather loose at best.

Gorgons and Sirens do not dislike company they simply do not need it to survive except against external enemies and thus did not form families, clans or large-scale organizations until they needed to. But by that time they were already falling well behind and there were a great many learning curves to overcome and little time to do it in.

These factors made them somewhat easier prey than more organized Outcast factions that usually had stronger support networks.

Notes:

There are also deep Sea Sirens and Fresh Water Sirens. Most seen in Nevermore are of the latter variety, as they are usually marginally more comfortable on land, while Sea Siren primarily live in the ocean.

Gorgons also generally have snakes on their head, but can also have snake like torsos, or legs, or some combination there-of. Though less "Human" gorgon tended to be more aggressively targeted by Hunters.

The transformed- Lycan & Vampires:

The name is something of a misnomer as both vampires and werewolves 'can' procreate, but they can also turn humans without a strong supernatural affiliation into their own kind.

(Those with strong affiliations such as the Addams are nearly impossible to turn, though they can at times loose some of their natural attunement for an adoptive one.)

This process of transformation is not swift and needs to be carefully managed; otherwise it can fail, or worse cause physical and psychological instability, harm and even death.

It is however, something inherent to both species, which tends to lead vampires and Lycans to feel a bit closer to each other than their born counterparts and visa versa.

Beyond this, both species are incredibly social minded, even if it is not obvious on the surface. This is because they are essentially two very social species in one body. Thus, there is twice the need for companionship, further buoyed by their predator instincts necessitating a strong sense of community to keep the species alive.

Lycan: These can be werewolves, were-hyena (bultungin) and others can, once they have transformed, begin mastering it in day to day life. This means a werewolf is always a werewolf, the full moon simply eases the process and being able to retain one's human form or exhibit perfect control when transformed are signs of maturity and strength in Lycan society. Some may struggle to transform their entire bodies outside of a full moon, but hands becoming paws, maws becoming massive and full of fangs are nearly always possible.

Much like with Vampires, Lycan ca both reproduce and transform others, though because of their tight family bonds they usually trend towards the former. This is far from universal and the family and especially wider pack structure can be quite open to newly transformed members. What's more, Lycan will usually form small family units, but be apart of larger packs, these can be blood related but do not need to be, their pack bond however tends to only be shared with direct family members, blood relatives, adopted or transformed, one's mate and in the case of the transformed, the one who turned them and the turned.

Lycan turning is akin to popular media, with strategic bites, usually on full moons, but rituals can also pass on the change or otherwise aid and enhance it.

The Lycan pack bond is reflective of their intense needs for communities as they can quite literally die when bereft of them. The connection is subtle but ever present, creating a sense that the Lycan has family, has others and separation from this by it being severed can be violently traumatic.

If shocking enough the resulting heart attack may kill them. If not a surprise they may die slowly due to heartbreak syndrome with their body slowly shutting down. Lycan parents can also be driven to permanently feral states the loss of newborns, a fact often taken advantage of by monsters hunters.

It is possible to avoid dying from the loss of the bond, but it usually requires a mate, turning others to recreate it. Or a tightly knit friend group tnhat live together and can always spare one or two people to perpetually be in the Lycans company, thus helping simulate the pack bonds inherent awareness its fellow family is alive and present.

These are not surefire ways however.

Vampires: form into clans of shared blood, there is a subtle bond between all members. Not to the point of mind reading or loss of identity, but it does tend to let moods bleed over somewhat and further still, let them know when kindred have been killed.

Yoko: We are not a hive mind, we are a hive vibe.

Vampires with even a small family can often becomes dangerously unhinged and lose their sense of selves such as Count Dracula's wife and children and to a lesser extent the count himself. This is why Vampire's form clans or "Colonies"; because isolation breeds madness.

Most vampires even in the modern day practice 'adoption'. This is in part because it allows the clan to assess many potential candidates and pick someone who will actually acclimate well to being a vampire rather that rely on unpredictability. But there are exceptions.

To become a vampire one first becomes a thrall, tied to the network and feeding off the elder vampires blood and gaining power. The process to change however takes time and usually stalls out until the thrall has reached their age of maturity before they are fully converting and the powers become their own.

Conclusion:

These aforementioned traits, be they prone to isolationism or such intense bonds that they can become crippling could often be taken advantage of by "Monster Hunters". At least before the Supernatural community began organizing itself to better protect itself from death and exploitation.

Outcast Magic - Headcanon As noted above, those born with Supernatural powers will have a natural affiliation. This does not strictly preclude other magics, but will often make learning them much harder unless one's inherent nature shifts.

Sirens most obviously hold influence over mind magics and sound. These powers are inherently immense. Though they can be overcome by some creatures innately. Such as Lycan due to their minds changing during shifts, with proper magical defenses, or ear plugs in the case of mind control.

Gorgons have a natural power towards stone and petrification, it is extremely powerful, but also rather hard to utilize safely, control, or use in other ways. Though with time and effort it can be done and there are many spells and rituals a gorgon can use that take from their natural affinity.

Vampires magic is tied both to blood but also the draining of essence in of itself. A vampire may use blood to power spells, or they can 'drink' the energy from magical defenses. It is often hard for them to externalize magic aggressively, especially without blood as a catalyst, but they can weaken their foes very effectively. Hence often being called parasites by the more hateful.

Lycan magic is reflective of the body in meat and bone, muscle and flesh, as well as an ability to tap into and draw on lunar energies for spells and protections that would often require rituals and regents. It is primal but powerful and tends to be reflected in their ability to heal and their voracious appetites to fuel it.

Faceless: I know very little of them, though given they seem to feed n fear, it is likely they would often make enemies and they likely did not easily form families, let alone communities.

Supernatural Origins & Species- Headcanon the Supernatural community does not know of their specific origins, be it gods, or demons or mere mutations and magic. Or even if they came first or humans did. Though everyone has a theory and faith of their own.

Supernatural Community - Analysis/Headcanon It is clear from Nevermore, the Nightshade society, Principle Weems efforts to diplomatically represent Outcasts and connections between powerful families (& if one wants to touch on older series, arranged marriages) That the Supernatural Community is organized and at least relatively united in mutual defense against humans, even as they live amongst them.

This state of affairs likely emerged in small cases in history with pacts, deals and alliances. Before becoming more necessary during the era of colonialism with many nations invaded grappling with disease, climate change, invaders, political instability and more. While in other regions, organized crusades to drive out Outcasts became ever more intense and dangerous.

In the past a werewolf pack might be struck for trespassing on the lands of an Italian city state. Or the Achaemenid Empire might coopt Sirens into their courtly intrigue by bribery or force. If an anti Supernatural ideology emerged it would often be localized and could be escaped or fought. But with events like the Crusades this became more and more dangerous and that danger was eventually exported around the world.

(Some other regions and powers, such as the Mongols or Song Dynasty may have already engaged in such efforts on their own before this.)

In the case of the "New World" many Outcasts fled to these regions, hoping to recoup and reorganize in what was said to be uninhabited land.

Naturally, encountering colonies, indigenous nations and local Outcasts disrupted such plans. Leading to an increasingly violent and chaotic era for all involved that benefited but a few.

The West Coast Pack Alliance: (A Success Story)

Not all was grim however, the 'San Fran Pack' not known as such at the time, not only aligned with their cousin Lycan, but with indigenous nations in mutual defense pacts that nearly pushed the colonizers out of the Colorado region entirely.

However the invaders scorched earth policies and willingness to potentially risk their own destruction for victory, along with other such hold outs such as the Siren and their allies in the Great Lakes region, led to a set of grudging treaties.

These varied rather wildly and there have been efforts to change, improve, undermine, work around, worsen or destroy them over the centuries but most still hold to some degree.

Usually the signees would be granted some degree of land over which they held dominion, but would be expected to pay some degree of tax and exist in 'peace' with the newly formed colonies.

Reception and attitudes on whether signing these rather than trying to fight and win have long been debated.

In the 'Colorado' region, the mountains were signed away to the indigenous nations and their Outcast allies, with mixed results, but one's that survive to this day.

The Sinclairs and several other families reside on the San Bruno Mountain in various small homesteads or compounds that would be considered somewhere between working and middle class. Meanwhile Montara Mountain and others hold larger collectives.

The West Coast Packs Alliance raise wolves and turn them into Dire Wolves to gift to their allies, sell as elite guards, to allied vampire clans who get the next best deals, then outcasts and finally charging humans out the nose. This is not their only means of making money but it is a major one.

Their mountain homes are surrounded by large, spiked silver gates and walls, as well as armed guards, creating a clear dividing line between those deemed inhuman, their human allies and everyone else.

Residents of the mountains also cannot vote in local elections, and if they wish to must cut themselves off entirely and become citizens of the USA rather than its "territories".

The relationship with police and locals can be rather tense, and werewolves are taught never to show their teeth or nails in public lest they be deemed a threat and attacked, arrested or shot. They also still have strong ties to surviving and in some cases thriving Lycan clans in areas like the Balkans, as well as are part of a wider Lycan Lunar Society that have yearly conventions in different countries.

The Lycan Legion is a self defense organization made up of many Lycan community members. Its influence on their society is seen in the prevalence of what are essentially boot camps for young Lycan. Even those who struggled to transform such as Enid Sinclair still learned some degree of martial arts in these places in their youth. (Check the Wiki, its on her skill list XD)

Facets like these larger scale organizations and meet ups are also true for vampires and Covens (The Coven Convention) but less so for Gorgons and Sirens, but these have become more common in recent centuries due to political necessity. Though these are usually more meet ups between small collectives of powerful or well connected members of the respective species and their allies.

Similarly, there are many Outcast Collective events, often with intense secrecy and security details in case of Monsters Hunters.

There can also at times be rivalries between these factions, though it rarely amounts to more than political scheming or duels. It can sometimes evolve into some variation of a Turf war, or none linear war, but this is incredibly rare and much loathed by the wider community.

Monster Hunters: As discussed before, Monster Hunters are those who hate the Supernatural for one reason or another.

Some, especially the more modern groups will outlaw the use of supernatural elements at all they deem unnatural. Thus using silver bullets and blades but not spells or charms. Most though use a mixture of magic, machine and even martial arts.

As the motives of these groups can often vary wildly, from religious extremists, to rank bigotry, or personal trauma (Real or otherwise) there is not 'as' much communication as one might expect. Especially if there are ideological disagreements regarding magic or methods.

Most governments have deals with their Outcast communities that if Hunters attack then on their own land the matter will be ignored, provided it does not become public. Self defense outside their lands however, will usually see the Monster Hunter framed in the right and the Outcast arrested or put down, assuming they survived long enough for trial.

Despite this, at times Monster Hunters will even work with Outcasts if their targets align, though this is rare, especially in the modern day. Such alliances however usually end with one side all dead, or both sides all dead.

Laurel Gates attack on Nevermore is considered by many Monster Hunters to have been brave, bold and tragic for its failure.

The main reason such an attack had not happened before is because, many in the Supernatural community do have the connections and resources and skills to potentially target and violently uproot many Monster Hunter organizations if they were willing to risk the ire of their governments.

What's more there are often spies seeking such groups and security to be called in upon their arrival at locations like Nevermore. This is another reason why Laurel Gates had to work through an Outcast and in such secrecy. To avoid swarms of Outcast inspectors and even well paid human agents from being called in and destroying her plans.

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