#the lack of control over the power siphoning + the story the other witches know is an interesting combination

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

jen doesnt react at all to rio saying "because her own mother tried to have her executed" which would suggest it's part of the legend of agatha harkness, right? it's common knowledge and collectively as witches it seems decided this is not a defense worth anything

which fair enough i guess, explanation not excuse, 'serial killer' is not an inaccurate description, but that does mean that people have considered it. and must have thought about why her mother tried to have her executed

i feel like this might be another thing where the known story has the chronology reversed; she didnt trade the darkhold for her son, she lost her son first. her mother didnt try to kill her because she had already done a murder spree, the dead coven was the consequence, not the crime

or maybe! maybe. maybe it's that a coven is like, the most precious thing for a witch. the ones without live kind of miserable pitiful lives, unable to be a good example of what a witch can be. cant fly. cant be good witches bc theyre just scraping by. so maybe if a coven is considered the most treasured thing to have, the consensus among witches is that you would and should always die for it. that if her mother tried to have her executed there was probably a good reason, but even if there wasnt she should have died rather than killing her coven

bc that was also the crime that agatha was being accused of wasnt it? for a human witch trial it would have been "youre a witch", but for this witch trial it was "you have betrayed your coven"

[wingsofkpop]

Hiraeth - I.IV: Danced of the Damned

pairing(s):  Hybrid!Im Jaebeom x Reader, Witch!Mark Tuan x Reader, Werewolf!Jackson Wang x Reader, Vampire!Park Jinyoung x Reader, Supernatural!Got7 x Reader

genre:  Supernatual!AU, Dark Magic!AU, heavy Angst, slight Fluff, eventual Smut

warning(s): Mature language, mentions of death, hints of traumatic experiences, blood, etc. 

word count: 5k

synopsis:  How far are you willing to go to find out the truth about Moon Dye Bay?…

chapter directory

You don’t know exactly what you were expecting to find in the archives of the Town Hall. Maybe a couple old files holding the ancestral information of Moon Dye or a couple ancient photographs where the faces are too blurred and rotted to recognize. Even the finding of a mere rusted pocket watch would have crossed your mind—not a thick registry stuffed full of unthinkable truths. 

In your defense, you just happened to stumble upon the records in the dank, dusty basement where the town’s archives stay. It was hidden in a secret compartment behind chalky boxes of cold cases that were forgotten a long, long time ago—how else were you to satiate your curiosity? Inside the mess of cobwebs and dust, there sat the information that would both make and break your sanity. 

And maybe if Jaebeom hadn’t approached you in that alleyway and confirmed your suspicions… your mind would have been able to come up with some sort of rationalization. 

“Look, I wanted to tell you so many times…” You can’t bring yourself to meet Mark’s gaze, finding more interest in swirling the contents of your untouched tea. Through the corner of your eye, however, you can see your companion feverishly shaking his head, ��But knowing about me would put you in danger, (Y/N)... I couldn’t do that to you.” 

“That wasn’t your choice to make, Mark.” 

“I know that, but—fucking hell.” Mark buries his face in his palms, still rocking back and forth, “It shouldn’t be like this… God, I never wanted this—” 

“And you think I did?” You hiss, uncaring about the pure venom in your tone. “How the fuck am I supposed to process all of this? That vampires and werewolves and witches and probably goddamn pixies exist? That my best friend has magical powers and talks to the dead?” 

“I don’t—” Mark timidly shrugs, “talk to the dead…” 

“Well, at least there’s that much.” A heavy sigh passes from your lips, expelling barely any tension from your aching chest. You toy with the handle of your teacup before finally gathering the willpower to meet Mark’s eyes. His irises are wild and filled with all kinds of emotion, you immediately notice. Probably a mere reflection of your own. 

As much as you want to stay angry at your best friend—you physically can’t. No matter how many times your head and your heart go back and forth. Mark lied to you. Mark has been lying to you all this time. But something inside of you won’t let your eyes see past the genuine remorse and hurt written along his face. 

He’s still your best friend. 

Mark sighs, “What do you want me to do, (Y/N)?...” 

“I want you to tell me the truth—the whole truth.”

“I can’t do that,—” 

“I at least deserve that much, don’t you think?” Mark withers beneath your murmur, dragging a hand down his face with a frustrated breath. After another moment of silence that seems to stretch on for hours, Mark grabs a nearby bottle of bourbon, pours himself a glass and finally nods. 

“If I tell you everything, there’s no going back… Are you sure you’re okay with that?” 

“Not really, but I don’t have that choice anymore.” You hum. “I need to know.” 

Mark nods again. “Where do you want me to start?” 

“At the very beginning.” 

The way Mark throws back the alcohol sparks uneasiness in your gut, but not as much as the gloomy darkness that overtakes his gruff tone. 

“The main story begins with the first ever vampires that came into existence, known as the Prime Two…” Mark moves to pour himself another drink, but changes his mind and ends up drinking straight from the bottle. You wonder whether you should ask for a sip as well. 

“But you know them already… as Im Jaebeom and Park Jinyoung.” 

  ☽ ☽ ☽ ☽ ☽ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ 

Youngjae releases a content breath as he steps into the warmth of the bookstore, effectively escaping the post-rain chill of the outside. He shakes the remaining coolness from his hands before heading toward the front counter, where Bambam is stationed flipping through a high-end fashion magazine. Youngjae fights the urge to roll his eyes. 

“Bam?” 

Bambam looks up at Youngjae’s voice. “Hey, man. What’s going on?” 

“I need your help.” Youngjae surveys the area of the store, checking down aisles and around corners for any signs of life. The racing of his heart somewhat slows at the lack of other customers, allowing him to turn back to the cashier and continue, “The coven is in danger. Nayeon-noona is dead.” 

“I heard about that. I’m so sorry, hyung.” Bambam nods his head, “What can I do?”

“Are you able to see an account of everyone who steps foot in this town? Visitors included?” 

“Yeah, I know some guys who can get whatever information you need. You feel like taking a trip up to the police station?” 

Youngjae hums in response, waiting patiently for Bambam to lock up the register. He watches the younger throw on his coat before meeting him behind the counter. With Bambam in tow, Youngjae leaves the comfort of the shop. After Bambam locks the door, the two continue through the cold in the direction of the police station. Youngjae again checks his surroundings, feeling more than just the chill of the air. 

“Did you… find what killed her?” 

“What?” 

Bambam repeats again a little louder. “Nayeon. Do you know what killed her?” 

“A hunter and another witch.” Youngjae explains, “We have records of them murdering countless covens before coming to Moon Dye.” 

“I may not know everything about this supernatural stuff, but don’t hunters hunt vampires...?”

“We’re not sure why either of them are specifically targeting witches.” Youngjae shudders, pulling his coat tighter around his shoulders. “I just hope we can find them before…” 

“Hey.” Bambam halts Youngjae’s pace with a hand on his arm. “We’re gonna find these douchebags and make sure they don’t hurt anyone else.” 

Youngjae weakly smiles. “Thanks, Bam.” 

“C’mon. I’m freezing my ass off.” Youngjae follows Bambam’s wishes and continues down the street, feeling less and less paranoid knowing the younger is by his side. Instead, Youngjae’s mind thinks back to your sudden entrance only mere minutes ago.

Youngjae wanted to stay at the mausoleum and help Mark deescalate the situation, but the older insisted that he continue the search. He can’t help but remember the betrayal across your features—the way you looked at him and Mark as if they were aliens. 

“Why did you give (Y/N) Mayor Bhuwakul’s old diary?” The question escapes Youngjae’s lips before he can stop himself. His inquiry visibly takes Bambam off guard, manifesting in the form of confusion along his features, before shifting to realization. 

“Because she deserves to know.” 

“But what about Mark-hyung? You know what this will do to him, right? To him and (Y/N)?” 

Bambam shakes his head. “I know Mark cares about (Y/N), and (Y/N) cares about Mark.” He peers at Youngjae through the corner of his eye and shrugs, “That’s not gonna change just because she knows the truth, hyung. I doubt that will ever change.” 

Youngjae doesn’t respond, keeping his eyes trained on the moving pavements at his feet. He knows Bambam is right, and knows both Mark and (Y/N), but something in his gut doesn’t feel right—like a sense that something is coming. 

Something bad… Something really, really bad. 

  ☽ ☽ ☽ ☽ ☽ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ 

“So you’re telling me that not only are there vampires almost a thousand years old running around without a care in the world, but you’re also the leader of the town witch coven who protects Moon Dye from supernatural threats?” Mark nods at your recount, holding back a smile at the cute furrow in your eyebrows. “You realize how absolutely unreal that sounds? Right?” 

“You said you wanted the truth.” 

“I’m only slightly regretting that decision now.” You sigh, smoothing a hand over your scalp. Mark notices a stray hair fall across your forehead at your movement. He’s not sure whether it’s the light buzz radiating throughout his veins or the way your eyes seem to glitter in the sunlight, but his mind has to warn his hands to remain glued to the table. Still, Mark can’t help but feel disappointed as you brush the strand away. 

You shrug your shoulders, “How… How do you do it?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Like…” Mark carefully watches your expression, noticing the slight tremor in your tone as you trail on. “How do you… do magic…?” 

“Well, there’s a bunch of ways.” He explains, “Spells. Potions. Channeling objects. Control of the elements. Some witches can even see events from the past, present or future.” 

“So you don’t wave around wands and ride on broomsticks?” 

The first genuine laugh leaves Mark’s lips for the first time tonight. “No. Though Youngjae did try to enchant his car to fly one time.” 

“Where does it come from? The magic?” 

“It’s dependent on the witch, and the type of craft they practice.” 

Not desiring to scare you off, Mark chooses to show a more modest example. He focuses his attention onto your cup, still full of now cold tea, and murmurs a quick incantation beneath his breath. Your entire body flinches as the glass lifts at least six inches off the table, enough to hover at the level of your eyes. After a couple seconds, Mark lowers the cup back into its original place. When he meets your gaze, he expects to see fear embedded beneath your irises, but it’s the opposite: 

You seem fascinated. 

“I usually practice Traditional Magic, so I use the Earth and other natural elements to amplify my magic.” Mark says, “Most witches are born with their own powers, but that’s not always the case. 

“Youngjae—take him as an example—is a Siphoner. In order to generate magic, he has to absorb it from other things, be it objects or people.” 

“So he… siphons magic?” 

Mark smiles. “Exactly. You’re catching on pretty quick.” 

“I wouldn’t go that far.” You shake your head, curiously peering down at the stationary teacup before returning your attention back to Mark. “When I read through that book in the archives, I saw something about Lycanthropes… Does that mean what I think it means?” 

“Werewolves.” He states matter of factly.

“They exist too then?” 

“You remember Kim Yugyeom? Bambam’s best friend?” 

You nod. 

Mark nods too. “He’s the second in command of Moon Dye’s pack. I don’t think you’ve met the new Alpha, Bang Chan.” 

“I’ve heard the name from some of my kids.” Mark can practically feel the exhaustion from your sigh. He debates the idea of reaching across the table to take your hand in his—the loneliness of your fingers spurring him on even more. Before Mark can make up his mind, you’re already withdrawing your limbs and hiding them in the comforts of your lap. 

“I just—I’m just having a hard time processing all of this.” 

Mark shakes his head, “It’s a lot to take in, (Y/N).”

“I know, but—” You pause to lift your head, furrowing your eyebrows in his direction with the beginnings of a scowl overtaking your lips. “I’m still pissed that you kept this whole other world a secret from me. I mean, for fucksakes, Mark, you’re my best friend.” 

“I’m—I was protecting you. Knowing this stuff exists doesn’t come without consequence, (Y/N).” 

“Stop saying that, oh my god—” Mark waits as you bury your face in your palms, deeply breathing through the divots of your laced fingers. After maybe a minute of silence, you raise your head and murmur, “What is it about me knowing that puts me in danger? I was nearly killed by that vampire without knowing shit.” 

A wince overtakes Mark’s features. “It’s complicated…” 

“I’m so sick of everyone using that excuse.” You hiss, “You don’t keep something like this from me, especially the fact that you’re—” 

“Do you know how Nayeon died?” Mark can see how his sudden question takes you off guard by the widening of your eyes and pursing of your lips. You take a few moments to collect yourself, right your expression, before answering: 

“She was… killed by an animal.” 

Mark shakes his head again. “No. Nayeon was murdered by a supernatural vampire hunter and another witch.” 

You blink. “B-But… was she a—?” 

“She was a witch—an innocent witch that never provoked, nor hurt anyone.” Mark leans forward until the edge of the table presses harshly against his ribs. The uncomfort does little to garner his attention—too focused on speaking to you with his desperate eyes. “This world—my world is dark, (Y/N). The creatures in my world are even darker, including me.” 

He pretends not to catch the brief wave of unease that washes over your face. 

“Right now, there are two fucking crazies in town out to kill me and my people.” Mark gulps at the stone long formed at the back of his throat. “If I lose anyone else, I—” Unable to finish his sentence, Mark shifts his focus. “I just need you to understand, (Y/N). Please.” 

“Mark—” Tremors shoot through his veins as your fingers latch around his wrist—the warmth of your touch sobering the last remnants of his mind. He has to hold back tears at the pure sympathy that resonates from your bright irises. “I understand, okay?” 

He nods, not trusting the quality of his voice. 

You softly squeeze his arm. “No more secrets though… Promise me.” 

“(Y/N)—” 

“Promise me.”   

Mark knows he shouldn’t, but the way you’re looking at him—so calm, yet so determined—the way you always look at him… He can’t do anything but give in. 

“I promise.” He murmurs, placing a hand over your own with a weak smile. “No more secrets.” 

You nod approvingly, offering up a smile of your own. Your lips part again, as if to ask another question, when a knock sounds from the door. Mark almost verbally protests when you pull away, but holds back his annoyance to answer the unexpected visitor with a silent sigh. However, he can’t hold back his scowl at the sight of Jinyoung on his doorstep. 

“Mark. It’s good to see you.” 

“What the hell are you doing here?” 

“I apologize for my sudden visit, but I needed to talk to you about—” Jinyoung’s voice trails off, which Mark quickly realizes is because of your known presence. He watches, with narrowed eyes, as you and Jinyoung exchange an array of glances before he turns back to Mark. 

He shakes his head. “I didn’t realize you had company. I’ll come back—” 

“She knows.” An uneasy feeling erupts in Mark’s gut at the weak expression that crosses over Jinyoung’s face. He doesn’t like how Jinyoung looks at you again, nor the blank stare you offer the vampire in response. 

Jinyoung nods. “I see…” 

“What did you—?” Mark’s phone rings before he can finish his question, temporarily relieving him from the atmosphere of awkwardness and irritation. He steps aside to allow Jinyoung the space to enter while pulling his phone from his pocket. His eyes remain fixated on the interaction between both you and Jinyoung as he answers the call, lifting the device up to his ear. 

“Please tell me you and Bam found something.” 

“It’s not much, but we at least found a lead.” Mark breathes a sigh of relief at Youngjae’s answer. As to include both you and Jinyoung into the conversation, he turns Youngjae on speaker phone, avoiding the curious glint in your gaze.  

“There’s no record in the police database of any suspicious visitors entering town within the last few months, so we’re sure they probably got into Moon Dye undetected, or at least not on city file.” 

“How does that help us?” 

“You need to let me finish, hyung.” Mark can practically hear Youngjae roll his eyes over the line. “We may not have records, but some of Bam’s friends were able to look into the cameras stationed around the border of the road that leads into town. They caught footage of a bus dropping off two young women, who were then picked up by a 2018 BMW M6. We tried to track the license plate number, but the registration is private.” 

Jinyoung murmurs with a nod, “So someone who lives here in town brought them in. It’s possible we may be dealing with more than just a hunter and a witch.” 

“I don’t think so.” Youngjae disagrees, “The tracking spell would have picked up on every accomplice involved in Nayeon-noona’s murder.” 

Mark feels sick at the slight grimace that pulls across your features. He knows you're playing strong by the way you quickly mask your discomfort. 

“Anyway, we were only able to track the vehicle as far as Poison Square. But we do have the faces of the two young women that got off of the bus.” 

“That’s something then.” Mark sighs, sharing a wary glance with Jinyoung. “What do they look like?” 

“Both are probably somewhere in their early- to mid-twenties, have dyed blonde hair and are relatively around the same height.” 

Jinyoung shakes his head. “That could be anyone. Can you be more specific?” 

“The one woman has three distinguishing beauty marks: One on the bridge of her nose, another above her upper lips, and a third near the corner of her mouth.” 

“Shouldn’t the hunter have something on them? Like a mark?” 

“We wouldn’t be able to see the hunter’s mark.” Jinyoung shuts down Mark’s inquiry with a frown, “It’s only visible to other hun—” 

“This mark… Is it a tattoo, by any chance?...” Mark nearly flinches at your sudden question—Jinyoung almost doing the same. The latter resurrects from the surprise before releasing a hesitant answer: 

“Well, I’ve never seen it myself, but… yes.” 

“Oh my fucking god…” The pure shock that overtakes your face sends warning bells chiming through Mark’s mind. He sets the phone on the table before dropping to his knees in front of your sitting form, immediately noticing the trembling of your hands. Worst case scenarios play through his thoughts like creepy puppet shows, but he pushes them away to focus on you. 

“What is it?” 

When you meet his gaze, your eyes are wild with a blend of shock  and fright. Mark feels even sicker than before, and not because of the alcohol. 

You gulp. Not once. But twice. 

“I… I know who Nayeon’s killers are.” 

  ☽ ☽ ☽ ☽ ☽ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾

“Please, just let me go…” Jihyo sobs, hot tears beginning to spill down her burning cheeks. The rope around her wrists chafes uncomfortably at her skin, eating away at what little dignity remains in her heart. “I really don’t understand what you want from me…” 

Momo releases a huff—the sight and sound mirroring a dragon blowing smoke through his nostrils. Jihyo watches through terrified eyes as Momo paces across the living room floor, feverishly shaking her head and mumbling incoherencies underneath her breath. The fear continues to grow when Momo stomps to where Jihyo is frozen stiff on the sofa. 

“How many fucking times do I have to repeat myself?” Momo growls, shoving her tattooed arm in Jihyo’s face. “You see this mark, then you’re a hunter. It’s not rocket science.” 

Jihyo weakly shakes her head. “You’re sick, Momo… Th-This whole thing about vampires and witches and hunters doesn’t exist…” 

It’s a lie—Jihyo knows in her heart that a part of her, a very stupid part of her, believes every little detail that has left Momo’s lips. Some of it makes too much sense not to be true: The sudden animal attacks. The mysterious disappearances. The unexplained instances she’s had ever since she moved to Moon Dye Bay. 

“I told you that—”  

Momo’s voice cuts out at the sound of a slamming door. For a moment, hope swirls through Jihyo’s gut, thinking that either Sana or (Y/N) must have come to her rescue, but the burst vanishes at the sight of Mina stepping into view—Jihyo’s fear instead skyrockets. 

Momo said she’s a witch. 

“What is going on here?” Mina demands, her tone stern and expression cold. Momo only smiles in response. 

“Sister!” She skips over to the newcomer, delicately taking Mina’s hands into her own. The act actually surprises Jihyo, not expecting the supposed, rather sadistic hunter to be capable of such affection. “Jihyo can see my mark! She’s a hunter just like me, sister!” 

Mina immediately tears her hands away, glaring at her sister with such bewilderment and venom. “Are you out of your damn mind!?” 

“Wh-What do you mean?” 

“Jihyo cannot be involved in any of this!” Goosebumps rise over Jihyo’s skin at the hidden darkness beneath Mina’s words. Her eyes glance toward the hallway, wondering the success rate of being able to reach the front door without alerting either sister. “Do you not remember what happened last time you tried to train another hunter?” 

“Things will be different this time. I am stronger now—we are stronger.” “You don’t know that for sure.” 

“Think of how easy it will be to take out the rest of Tuan’s coven with another hunter on our side, sister.” Momo persists, striking more panic through Jihyo’s already stocked body. Against her better judgement, Jihyo tries to escape her rope bindings… and unsurprisingly, fails. 

Mina shakes her head furiously. “Tuan and his witches have sided with one of The Prime brothers. We can’t risk killing another member without putting our own lives in danger—”

“All the more reason to take on another hunter.” Jihyo shrinks in on herself as Momo grabs Mina’s hand and leads her to her prisoner on the couch. “Please, sister. Think about what those witches did to us—about mother and father.” 

Silence, save for the hum of rushing blood in Jihyo’s ears, hangs in the air, thick like a pool of humid fog. Like Momo, Jihyo carefully watches Mina’s expression, searching for any features that may determine the underlyings of her fate. 

“So many lives we’ve already taken for mother and father.” Mina pulls her hand free from Momo’s and shakes her head. The rope seems to dig harder into her wrists—as does the terror in her chest when Mina murmurs her next words: 

“When will it ever be enough for you, sister?…” Jihyo’s gaze remains transfixed on Mina as she makes her way back through the kitchen, pausing to offer the bound woman an apologetic glance. “I’m so sorry you were brought into this… but I’m even more sorry that you’ll have to die because of it…” 

Whatever remaining hope inside Jihyo snaps as Mina throws her one last pitiful smile before rushing out the apartment—leaving Jihyo to the mercy of her deranged sister. 

  ☽ ☽ ☽ ☽ ☽ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾ ☾

Jinyoung closely watches how your fingers seem to cling to Mark’s hands as you think over your words, almost as if his mere touch is enough to keep your mind grounded. And though he’d never admit it aloud… Jinyoung feels envy that Mark is the one who’s comforting you. 

“Mina and Momo are friends of Sana from when they were in high school.” You explain, peering between both Mark and Jinyoung’s curious expressions. Though Jinyoung notices how your gaze seems to avoid his seeking eyes. “I don’t know anything about them beside the fact they’re foster sisters, and they had a pretty shitty time in the system.” 

“Then how are you so sure it’s them?” Youngjae inquires, still over the phone. “And how did you know about the hunter’s mark?” 

You pause, and based on your expression, Jinyoung would guess you’re almost reluctant to answer his questions. He moves to soothe your uneasiness, but Mark beats him to it: 

“We have to know, (Y/N)... It’s important.” 

Jinyoung’s jealousy expands at the intimate glance you and Mark share. 

After another moment of quiet and a heavy sigh, you finally speak, “The other day, I heard Jihyo comment on a tattoo that Momo had—but there was no tattoo. Neither Sana nor I saw one, so I just thought Jihyo was imagining things until…” 

“Until now.” Jinyoung finishes. He inhales an unsteady gust of air, carding his fingers through his styled hair, and shakes his head with a solemn expression, “(Y/N)... For Jihyo to be able to see Momo’s hunter mark would mean she’s a—”

“We have to warn the others.” Mark interrupts Jinyoung, suddenly rising to his feet. “Youngjae, give a call to Lia, Jisung and Minho and tell them to get their asses over here as soon as possible.” 

“Already done, hyung. I couldn’t reach Minho, but I left several voicemails and dozens of texts.” 

“I’ll start on that linking spell we talked about. This ends tonight.” Mark lifts his phone from the tabletop, readying his thumb to tap the end call button. “Get here safe, okay?” 

Youngjae hums. “Fifteen minutes. Maybe ten.” 

“See you soon, Youngjae.” No sooner had Mark ended the call does your voice sound: 

“What the hell is that supposed to mean? ‘This ends tonight’?” 

Mark shakes his head. “(Y/N)—” 

“No. I want to know what that means.” You abruptly rise, sending your chair sliding across the wood floor with a shriek. Jinyoung waits for Mark to come up with an answer, secretly enjoying the obvious discomfort amongst his features, before answering himself after maybe a minute of radio silence: 

Jinyoung places a hand on your shoulder. “It means we do what we have to do to keep everyone safe. Including you and the town.” 

“But you won’t… kill them? Right? I mean, there’s-there’s other ways that don’t have to end with anyone dead, right…?”

“I don’t know.” Jinyoung murmurs honestly, “If they’re willing to talk, then maybe. But if it comes down to it—” 

“Please, don’t…” His heart practically breaks at the shakiness of your tone. “Just—do anything you have to, but don’t kill them…” 

Mark raises an eyebrow with a scowl, “They’ve killed dozens of innocent people, (Y/N). If anything, they deserve to die.” 

“Maybe…” You shake your head. “But killing them would make you no better than them.” 

Jinyoung feels as if you just punched him in the gut with your words. He has to let go of your shoulder to reach back and support his weight against the table, suddenly dizzy and light-headed.

“We’ll…” Mark sighs, “We’ll try our best, okay?” 

You nod before wiping your palms against the side of your jeans. 

As you and Mark engage in another round of small talk, Jinyoung tries to settle the nauseous feeling in his gut and focus on anything other than the fragrant waft of your scent. He knows he would never hurt you—his self control is too grand to allow anything like that—but the lack of human blood is beginning to affect him again. For the worse. 

Usually Jinyoung is able to hold his own with only a couple droplets of animal blood every few days or so. However, his strength and other abilities have long depleted since he began this strict diet, and while he may not be anywhere near desiccation—Jinyoung is certainly hungry. And weak. Very, very weak. 

He just hopes he will be able to withstand the upcoming battle. 

“But I want to help!” 

“And the answer is no fucking way. Absolutely not.” Jinyoung returns to reality just in time to see Mark shake his head indignantly toward your seething figure. Since then, he notices the two of you have moved to a nearby lectern, where Mark is currently flipping through a large grimoire.

“I can help, I mean—Mina and Momo know me and I swear I can—” 

“It’s not fucking happening.” Mark growls, slamming the book shut and leering down at you with a sneer. Jinyoung catches how your face doesn’t falter in the slightest at his angered expression. 

With a single finger, you poke Mark’s chest. “I’m not just going to sit back and watch while you and your damn wizard gang go and play hocus pocus with a pair of killers.” 

“It’s too dangerous—!” 

“Do I look like I fucking care!? Didn’t think so!” 

Jinyoung steps in, making sure to keep his tone calm so as to not infuriate you anymore. “Mark is right, (Y/N). I’m sorry—but you’d only be a liability for us to keep track of.” 

Your expression hardens. “A liability—? Are you serious?” 

Mark doesn’t spare a second glance in your direction and instead turns to Jinyoung. He points toward the countertop behind the vampire, “Can you grab the bowl that’s there? The one from yesterday’s ritual?” 

“So that’s it then?” Jinyoung  grabs the silver bowl filled with dried blood and the charm bracelet as you continue to rant, and hands it to Mark. The witch immediately dips two fingers into the crimson liquid, closes his eyes and begins to murmur a hushed incantation. 

You shove at his shoulder. “Mark? Are you kidding me?” 

“(Y/N), please—” Jinyoung steers you away from the witch, forcing himself to keep strong underneath your icy stare. “It’s for your own good…” 

With a clenched jaw and sparkling eyes, you shake your head. For a moment, Jinyoung hopes you’ll simply turn on your heel and leave the tense atmosphere of the mausoleum, but as always—you surprise him. 

“You know, I let your and Mark’s lying about everything slide because I wanted to move past it—for a fresh start.” You lean closer until Jinyoung can practically taste your minty breath on the tip of his tongue. “But you two are still treating me like some sort of princess that needs to be protected.

“And you know what, Jinyoung?” Your hiss strikes something deep inside Jinyoung’s soul—something even he can’t place. “I’m no princess. And I don’t need to be protected. You’ll do best to get that shit through your head.” 

Neither Jinyoung nor Mark try to stop you as you stomp out the door. 

Jinyoung bites his lip before turning to Mark. “Are we… doing the right thing?” 

“I don’t know.” Mark replies, and for once, Jinyoung can relate to the lost tinge in his tone. 

“I really don’t fucking know.” 

[cruelintentionsrp]

as the weekend winds down, we hope you’re having a great sunday so far ! it’s so, so exciting to see everyone’s amazing dev posts in the tag - we can’t wait to see your characters in action. and now, without further ado, here’s pt. 2 of our species reveal, with demons, cambions, and sirens !

demons. 

overview the physical representation of sin, insidious creatures of darkness. they are known by many names and in many forms, but perhaps the most well known is the abrahamic name: demons. a name that inspires feelings of fear and disgust, a name that invokes images of the most vile creatures one could imagine, a name they have taken for themselves out of mere convenience. although many mythologies express the belief of a hierarchy or all powerful greater leader, the truth is that they have no such thing. darkness incarnate cannot and will not be governed or controlled, and neither will they. the underworld most demons were created in the vast emptiness of the underworld. this realm is not made up of fire and brimstone like most legends suggest and is instead an opposite mirror to our reality - imagine if we lived under a veil of darkness, imagine no color. this is where the corrupt souls of those affected by violence or trauma come to reside; this is where you’re sent if you sell your soul to a demon, where exposure to the underworld’s atmosphere is what creates demons as we know them. it is very rare that a soul existing within the underworld stays a human soul for very long. the underworld is a realm completely engulfed in thunderstorms and void. because of the unpleasant atmosphere most of its residents are literally dying to escape, but only the strong can pull through the riptide that the winds of the underworld create between other realms. physiology they’re souls that have been marked by darkness, torn apart by the winds of the underworld and made completely undistinguishable from the humans they once were. this does not mean that they no longer carry any humanity – but for most, emotions such as love, loyalty and sympathy are disfigured and their morals skewed. when not in their corporeal form demons appear as a black cloud of smoke, making it incredibly easy for them to travel or inhabit a human body. they cannot take up residence in a human body for long without complications – even binding spells are only temporary. demonic possession is as it has always been portrayed – grotesque, dangerous and normally deadly. in fact, demons don’t need a human body to inhabit or even to walk on earth, as they’re both corporeal and incorporeal their solid form is the appearance they held at any age before their death.  however, thanks to magic they’re able to make minor changes to their form. what is most notable about demons, are their pitch black eyes which appear when provoked or sensing danger. abilities a demon’s power is limitless due to infernal magic. they pull all of their energy from the underworld, making them able to do nearly anything as long as it is derived from dark magic. possession, in reality, is mostly smoke and mirrors. it is rare for demons enter the vessel of a human as it is dangerous for both souls involved. most demons cast a sort of maddening illusion over humans – entering their brain through telepathy and causing them to hallucinate. those with weakened inhibitions are easy for demons to target and will them into sin. with enough power a demon can make just about any mortal or weaker non mortal their victim. wishes are granted by demons, but this most often ends with indentured servitude toward the demon. no one is sure what makes a demon able to cut into the fabric of fate it is but their most terrifying quality. forget the curses and the dark magic, a demon can make just about anything happen just so long as they have a soul to use.

weaknesses exorcisms are not to only rid a human of whatever demonic presence has control over them. with the right exorcism it can send a demon straight back to the underworld. of course, they’re always capable of crawling back out and exacting revenge so this may not be your best line of defense. holy water will deter a demon and burn their skin upon contact but will not kill or maim them. other ways to banish a demon or protect against them are enchanted sigils and spells that can only be completed by experienced witches and fairies. they’re the same species who are able to completely destroy a demon and tear them from eternal life. when a demon is completely extinguished the place of their death is also destroyed leaving behind a dark energy that invites death and chaos.

cambions.

overview cambions can only be conceived through a male demon and a female human.  some say that the cambions are beautiful – but there’s one thing we know – they're most certainly sinful. their lineage alone is a mixture of great power, known to strike fear in the hearts of many other creatures. due to their human appearance and mortal status, cambions have been able to glide through life without the need to “blend in”. a hidden secret resides in the history of the cambion race, having constructed nefarious societies and tyrannical governments from the julian claudian dynasty to, as rumors have it – even a few u.s presidents. most who know what they are absolutely hate to hide who or what they are and in the end, it’s just easier to hide in plain sight. physiology a cambion’s birth in the first hour is a still birth, and afterwards the creature begins to draw energy from the mother; this part is necessary in order for the creature to obtain vitality. If not abandoned entirely, cambions completely exhaust their mother’s lifeforce no more than a few years after their birth. because of this, cambions are often lost in adoption or foster systems without any knowledge of what they are. due to their lack of knowledge, instead of siphoning energy for survival, they often end up sick and dying before the age of 6. If they do survive, it is during their early teenage years that a cambion begins to experience their demonic nature in the form of depression, mood swings, and often a strong attraction to violence. cambion children often act out, especially for those who still lack the knowledge of what they are. once they’ve reached maturity, there is no hiding their above average temperature (normally about 101), or their eyes that darken to a blood red when in the presence of celestial magic, when in danger, or when provoked. abilities energy is extremely important to a cambion, it’s what keeps them alive, it’s what feeds them. so they have to pull energies from humans around them; which can result in death. they must learn to control their siphoning, or else they’re out of luck as far as human lovers and friends go. they can siphon magic, but only the infernal kind, and the same goes for what they can perform. a cambion particularly excels at fire magic, which is more dangerous when using infernal incantations or energies. they’re stronger and more powerful than a humans as well as slightly empathic, with an ability to sense certain emotions, such as apprehension, rage and sadness by touching a human. combined with their demonic urges, these abilities make cambions very dangerous creatures. weaknesses cambions are easily captured and weakened, especially when placed into a vulnerable state by making them emotional. by inciting powerful emotions, you can force a cambion to expend their energy completely until trapping them is entirely painless. they get their fill of energies around them, so the less you give them the less powerful they are. energies from different creatures can affect a cambion in various ways.  for instance, celestial magic can completely stop a cambion from using their abilities. killing a cambion also isn’t hard as they can die from a lack of vitality or starve; showing signs that they’re sick or becoming weak before eventually withering away. a cambion also isn’t impervious to death. just like their human half, they can die by serious wounds and diseases. essentially, a cambion is not immortal. after death upon death, a cambion instantly becomes a demon. they no longer have to siphon energy to live, but they’re also no stronger than other demons. thankfully, they’re spared a visit to the underworld, as their souls have already been torn apart enough by the demonic energy of their birth.

sirens.

overview the danger of a true siren cannot be captured by just a story, nor a rumor - they are in every sense of the word, predators. it is said they were once nymphs cursed by demeter, a story that can neither be confirmed or denied. sirens have been hunted since the middle ages, most notably in the 1700’s, a time when sailors and pirates perished at the hands of a siren's song. not only is their song deadly, they’re beautiful and alluring in every sense of the word, making it easy to get caught in a siren’s grasp. a siren’s love is all consuming, and most often a siren has no choice but to entertain their predatory nature and kill their partner. as you can imagine, relationships are extremely difficult for sirens, so many are left to resort to feeding only off of those they can sing into loving them for a night.

physiology rivaling the allure of fairies, sirens are arguably the most beautiful of all supernatural creatures. their natural beauty makes each siren incredibly attractive, but direct eye contact ensures that their prey stands no chance in getting away. their teeth are razor sharp, easily tearing through flesh and muscle with just one bite, yet their teeth are indistinguishable from human ones.  a siren also has a notably colder body temperature than humans, along with strength that matches that of a vampire. it doesn’t quite matter if a siren is born or turned; they all obtain their powers the same - by taking their first bite of human flesh. by doing so, their immortality takes hold, and their abilities are amplified. a siren must then continue to eat flesh for as long as they live; those who consume more flesh are stronger, but in turn, lack emotional empathy.

abilities to control their hunger is a power in itself. they're often plagued by an intense desire to consume human flesh that cannot be satisfied by animals alone. through their touch, they are able to imbue a human with oxytocin, making the victim so enamored  with a siren, they’ll do or say anything for them.  a siren’s song, is also the most dangerous weapon. most of their voices are naturally beautiful – your favorite popstar, for example. might be a siren -  but if the particular tone of a siren's song actually heard by human ears, it’ll render the listener completely paralyzed, which often leads to death. a siren, when strong enough can also control weather in their area - when their emotions are heightened, they can induce rainfall or thunderstorms,

becoming a siren many sirens are born, but creating a siren is also possible. this occurs when a siren bites a human, poisoning them with enough venom to render them unconscious. once nearly incapacitated, the same siren must then eat their heart, and submerge them fully in either fresh water or the sea. upon the next rising of the moon, a new siren will emerge from the water - this new siren must take their first bite of human flesh within that very same day, or they risk death.

[parab0mb]

I live!

So... yeah, after about 3 and a half months of complete silence, I’m back. I know taking forever to upload anything new is a pretty common occurrence for me, but the whole summer is admittedly long even by my standards. Despite recently graduating I think a combination of career-hunting and depression siphoned any motivation I had to accomplish anything these past few months. I’m still busy with work and looking for a career but I’m at least feeling slightly more motivated now, at least enough to attempt to get back into a drawing mood, even if it’s nothing substantial.

Anyway, since I’ve had my OC Lilian on the brain for a while now, I figured I should draw her alongside the rest of the core cast for her story. Originally I was considering making a reference sheet for all of them (and I still might someday) but the aforementioned bout of depression combined with my usual laziness kept that from going anywhere, so instead I decided to draw them all together, so that I can have their designs all down on paper (this is also a personal ref for me to help remember their heights). Can’t say all the names/designs are set in stone but it’s a start.

Now then, wall-of-text character description time!:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Lilian Liao - An eleven-year old tomboy who seems to attract paranormal activity like a magnet, Lilian was hoping that moving to a new town would bring a sense of normalcy to her life. However, she quickly learns from her new neighbors (who happen to be a family of witches) that she is a medium who is fated to attract all manner of weirdness to herself no matter where she goes. On the other hand, while she may not be able to "turn off" her powers, she can learn to pacify and resolve the issues of the various supernatural entities she regularly encounters.

Impatient, ill-tempered, and a bit of a bully at times, Lilian's bad attitude tends to clash with her powers and she often makes a bad situation worse for herself because of it. Fortunately, with the help of the witch family next door, a wannabe conspiracy theorist, and a possessed talisman, Lilian may yet learn to control her powers (and temper) and find peace in her hectic life.

      ~ Ling's Talisman - Given to Lilian by her new witch neighbor Medea, the Talisman is an artifact of unknown origins capable of siphoning and amplifying magical power. However, upon receiving it Lilian quickly discovers the Talisman houses one other secret: a lingering fragment of its previous owner's soul. This previous owner, known only as Ling, was a medium just like Lilian but seems to have forgotten much about himself after lying dormant inside the Talisman for hundreds of years.

Ling is (understandably) bitter about his current, body-less state of being, and is apparently just as stubborn and hotheaded as Lilian, meaning the two are constantly butting heads with one another. Still, believing that Lilian's powers may be the key to exorcising himself from the talisman, Ling reluctantly agrees to teach her better control of her powers for their mutual benefit.

       ~ Devin Liao - Lilian's older brother; presents himself as a rebellious and edgy punk but isn't quite as deep as he thinks he is. Him and Lilian don't get along very well, and regularly belittle and argue with each other. While Devin is one of the few normal humans in Lilian's life who actually acknowledges all the paranormal activity that surrounds her, he does little to actually help her deal with it and will even complain if it begins to inconvenience him (even though she has little control over such things).

Still, in spite of their frequent bickering Devin does genuinely care about Lilian and will help her without a second thought should she find herself in legitimate trouble. And even without any supernatural powers of his own he proves himself to be surprisingly adept with confronting the paranormal (when forced to do so).

      ~ Hui Liao - Lilian’s and Devin’s father, Hui does his best to strike a balance between his demanding engineering career and being a reliable single parent, to which he is mostly successful. Hui has an almost unwavering levelheadedness and rarely ever grows impatient with his children's antics and bickering (while still knowing when to put his foot down and keep the two from tearing each other apart). He also does his best to support his kid’s interests, even if he doesn’t always understand them or unintentionally embarrasses them.

Unfortunately, Hui’s demanding career leaves him little time to physically be with his family, and despite his efforts to support Lilian and Devin he clearly does struggle to relate to their interests or help resolve their personal issues.  Lilian in particular is distressed by her inability to prove the existence of the paranormal to her dad; while he would never scold her for claims of ghosts and monsters being real, as a man of science and reason Hui struggles to accept her seemingly baseless claims and chalks it all up to her simply having a vivid imagination.

      ~ Wally Peskon - A wannabe paranormal investigator and the closest thing Lilian has to a non-magic friend, 11-year old Wally quickly gravitated towards Lilian due to their like-minded fixation on proving they aren't crazy to the rest of the world. And at first Lilian was actually elated to meet a regular human who's observant of the paranormal, but her mood quickly changed when she realized he's a hack who gets caught on bogus conspiracy theories and completely overlooks real supernatural activity happening right in front of him. Not to mention he's frantic, clumsy, and a busybody, making just as much of a headache as the supernatural beings that are always bothering her.

Fortunately, Lilian and her unwanted paranormal company helps Wally improve his perception of what is and isn't real (somewhat), and he slowly begins to get better at recognizing and even helping Lilian resolve supernatural phenomena. He also has a habit of buying or cobbling together seemingly useless pieces of anti-paranormal equipment that sometimes end up saving the day. Sometimes.

     ~ Wednesday "Wendy" Cauldrison - Lilian's new neighbor and the 8-year old daughter of Medea Cauldrison, Wendy is a hyperactive and spontaneous witch-in-training who’s obsessed with all things cute and glimmering. Heavily sheltered from non-magic culture by her mother, Wendy quickly takes a liking to her new neighbor Lilian, who offers her a chance to hang out with normal humans and partake in non-magic activities. Unfortunately, while Wendy usually means well, her overambitious nature combined with the haphazard use of her magic often exacerbates Lilian's paranormal problems, and as such Lilian (at least initially) isn't exactly eager to let Wendy tag along with her.

Like her mother, Wendy's magical expertise mainly involves brewing up potions, powders, and other concoctions to cast spells. However, her lack of experience means a lot of her brews don't come out quite right and have unpredictable effects, while the few brews she actually does have a grasp on are only good at making things prettier or making them explode violently, with no in-between.

     ~ Medea Cauldrison - The mother of Wendy Cauldrison, Medea is a coven-less but highly experienced witch living in plain sight within Lilian’s new neighborhood (although she hardly has to try to keep it a secret). Despite appearances, she's over 600 years old and has traveled a good portion of the multiverse. And yet, in spite of her vast experience with all things magic, she knows surprisingly little about the culture and technology of humans, as she has a bit of a superiority complex towards them and tries to avoid interacting with them when possible (even going so far as to forbid Wendy from experiencing most of the human world for herself).

While Medea may not hold humanity in high regard, it can’t be denied that she’s still fairly knowledgeable of all things magic, and she’s highly understanding of Lilian's plight and (usually) willing to help her out. Combined with the fact that she's competent enough in her magic to ward off many of the more threatening paranormal creatures out there, she's certainly one of the more reliable personalities in Lilian's new neighborhood. Medea’s magical expertise revolves around nature and potions; she can not only conjure and manipulate plants but with the right ingredients can brew up all manner of potions and powders to suit any situation.

[infobeanie]

CROW CILLERS S04E04: THE ELAYNE/VINCE PROJECT

The first time I saw The Blair Witch Project was the last time I got high, almost two decades ago. I don’t enjoy getting high. It’s something I’ve returned to periodically throughout my life, always in the hopes that it’ll be different this time, that I’ll be different this time, that I’ve matured to the point where I’ll be able to handle it like a normal human being and recognize that the chemicals flowing through me are trying to get me to relax, not to permanently erode my consciousness into a formless hull. Nevertheless, every toke I’ve ever taken has turned into a vicious battle with my ego as it attempted to defend me from the psychosis it sensed was encroaching on my brain. To play helpless spectator to that would leave me depressed for months afterwards. 

So it was a great relief when the lights went down in the theater and I was able to dissociate completely from myself and from all the friends I didn’t really know or trust who were sitting around me, and focus entirely on the movie. My brain seized upon it voraciously, like a dog on a bone, because it was a good movie. It made perfect sense to me. It was a movie about nothingness. It wasn’t the idea of ghosts or witches that made it scary; it was the lack of a lens presented with which to view it. Its creators accomplished what every horror film before it failed to accomplish: they removed every hint of a directorial hand in the footage, leaving only an object with no recognizable actors or sinister synth strings to distinguish itself from its surroundings. It was a literal death of the author. 

It was barely a movie at all, which is what made it so scary. Humans need a lens, any sort of lens, to view the world around them. To be shown the insufficient nature of these lens - to have God, Satan, the national anthem, the Wizard of Oz, the collected mythos of the centuries fail to explain what is happening to us, for it all to fall short in comparison to the raw experience currently being lived - that is the ultimate horror. You don’t need witchcraft to make three people in the wildnerness tear themselves apart. You don’t need anything at all. These are the impressions that the film left on me as I, or something inside me, attempted to hold onto my sanity.

Four episodes in, Season 4 has produced its first masterpiece in “The Elayne/Vince Project”, an episode which sees its characters clinging onto whatever lens they can as they come face to face with the inexplicable debris of their own consciousness. The episode itself feels like a confrontation of sorts - just like the new Twin Peaks pulls ideas from throughout Lynch’s canon in service of a new story with a new emotional direction, TEVP recontextualizes imagery from different Cate Wurtz comics over a span of years, honing them into their tightest, most impactful form yet. Its basic setup is borrowed from The Body is a System, Cate’s only print comic to date, and many details from that work reappear here, most noticeably the mysterious forest-piano. But we also see a glimmer of COSM again, in the half-mad omniscient puppet who is established in this episode as the major paranormal force to be dealt with this season. Holeface’s early appearances were some of the scariest stuff Cate has ever written, and while Beloved is a bit too goofy-looking to be a real source of terror, her toxic charisma, and the curious nature of her existence, strike the same ambiguity pleasure points that Holeface did. 

More disturbing than Beloved is the appearance of the imposter puppets, those evil spambot clones which send the minds of our faves reeling. Gaige, bless his soul, applies a rather unforgiving lens to his own life, filtering out so much bullshit that he’s at a complete loss to explain his visions of Harlyn. Ghosts and magic are way too fucking beyond for him, despite his own seemingly impossible powers. Reality extends strictly to the things he knows from experience to be true, which is why he doubts the veracity of Embry and Ambrosia’s shared psy-mind (the first to do so since Harlyn!), and why he’s so quick to believe the puppet-Joslyn when she betrays him. Clearly, whatever unfolds from here will be a struggle for him to accept into his worldview.

But the biggest struggle here belongs to Elayne, who, when the time came, clung on to the only thing she had, even as it turned out to be a remnant of that which hunted her. Elayne, who hates the forest that reminds her of her butterfly mind, strewn as it is with alien artifacts. Elayne, who sees the flip side of the question that pervades this series - “are we safe?” - in Vince’s casual contemplation. Where does this stuff come from - ynce iche, the horse figurines, the mall, anything? Who is in control? If it’s someone else - someone like Lord Vein or Lord Marrow - what makes them different from anybody else? And if no one is in control - or it’s something we have no hope of understanding - then how can we ever be safe? Where is the thing that hunts you - is it inside or outside? 

For Elayne, the mask serves double duty - it keeps the rest of the world out, and keeps the threat of her inner ghosts contained. Her monologue in the dead of night (to Vince? to us? to no one?) is one of the richest psychological portraits we’ve seen in Crow Cillers, delivered in the sincere language of someone struggling with ideas bigger than they know how to articulate. In a world of fully-formed faces, she is a mask. She latches onto details, becomes unpleasant in her insistence on details, because details are all she has - there is no whole she can integrate these details into. She lacks a lens to understand. 

There is no unmasking sequence, of course, no reveal of the ugly duck as the secret beauty, no rearranging of their characteristics into a heteronormative ideal. Crow Cillers respects its characters too much for that. Instead, what gets rearranged is that mental debris, those contextless images that have haunted Elayne for so long, into a shape that, for a moment, seems to almost make sense. That piano, as we know, had been floating around for years before Elayne and Vince found it, and it was still there after they left. But they made it theirs, and no one else’s, when Vince played the first song that popped into his his head and it happened to click with Elayne. In that moment, she stopped being a pair of frightened eyes staring out from a mask, and became one of her own images, just for one day.

Humans are humans. For better or for worse, The Blair Witch Project was eventually given a lens to view it through, in the form of sequels, video games, and merchandise. Its actors were found alive and well, promoting their own wares. The general public recognized its merits as a horror movie, and set to work siphoning the horror out of it. But it has found perhaps its most heartfelt lens in this episode of Crow Cillers, which reforms its images not in the service of secondhand horror, but in a transformed narrative of hope and human connection. Horror, I think, comes at the expense of all other emotions - one by one, love, happiness, sadness, and anger fall at the hands of fear, as the movie works its magic. But the shots of forest and wildnerness that are spread throughout The Elayne/Vince Project seem full of emotion rather than stripped of it; they seem to cry out with imbued meaning from their silent stillness.  I don’t understand what they mean, but I understand how it makes me feel, and that’s enough.

[uhxrp]

cougars

I. OVERVIEW

shifters gifted with the form of a cougar are known as cougar shifters, werecougars, or, more commonly, just cougars. they have the ability to turn into cougars of slightly abnormal size, and with it many other abilities to go alongside this form.

cougars are regarded as more solitary and secretive, often keeping to smaller packs than that of other animal forms. they lack the predilection to form large units, but the bond between those who do choose to form a pride is unrivaled. that being said, they are known to be fiercely protective of one another regardless due to a bond of form, and can be incredibly fierce in nature due to the power that comes with their transformative abilites.

II. GOVERNANCE

shifters typically govern themselves the same way their animals forms would. cougars have a hierarchy consisting of different positions within each pride, much like their cougar counterparts. this includes leaders called monarchs, messengers known as whispers, guardians known as hunters, and many others. please see here for a full list of positions within prides.

III. ALLIANCES

shifters have a connection to those who also know what it's like to walk in another form, to have feet in two worlds.

therians shifters and therians are branches of similar species and as such when it comes to their hatred against vampires, they can ally with one another. however, this is only under dire circumstances as normally the two species hate one another.

familiars familiars and shifters both have animal forms, something that breeds a sense of understanding between the two.

merfolk merfolk and shifters both can communicate with their respective animals and have two separate forms, something that breeds a sense of understanding between the two.

IV. FOES

shifters have natural foes in any who stand against them, as they are typically fiercely protective and have enhanced survival instincts naturally.

therians as the cursed version of shifters, therians are seen as lesser than. as such, therians rightfully take offense to this and the two species have been at odds since therians were created.

vampires for as long as anyone knows, vampires and shifters have been at war. one being around the other has always made them both uncomfortable, as if their very being is at war with the other.

V. PHYSIOLOGY

BEGINNER

- SHIFTER PHYSIOLOGY shifter physiology gives them enhanced features, such as strength, durability, speed, agility, etc, as well as allows them to transform into their shifter form, a dire beast version of their animal spirit. this also allows a shifter to convert another being into a shifter. shifters can turn to and from their animal form at will, but they must transform under periods of extreme mental or physical stress, such as illness or exhaustion. additionally, they have a sense of direction much like a compass, always able to navigate themselves in the wild.

- REGENERATIVE HEALING this ability allows a shifter to heal in half the time it might take a human. minor wounds such as cuts, bruises and light burns heal faster than normal, and shifters are easily able to recover from minor to moderate blood loss. critical wounds such as lost limbs, damaged nerves, and internal organs cannot be regenerated, as wounds would simply close up faster. lost organs would remain lost, and cells that are fatally damaged, such as by burning, cannot be regenerated, resulting in permanent scarring.

- MIND LINK RECEPTION this is the power to link minds with other living being, sharing thoughts, memories, emotions or feelings. this is a pride or shifter family connection. at this level, the shifter is receptive to the mind link within their pack if allowed, but they cannot create that link on their own until a higher level.

NOVICE

- FELINE PHYSIOLOGY this power creates a link between the cougar shifter and felines, such as cougars, tigers, lions, jaguars, and house cats. a cougar can calm, handle, and even call these animals to them, an ability that can be frightening when first encountered. this power does not, however, allow the user to communicate with animals.

- ENHANCED JUMP this power allows the shifter to jump incredible distances and land safely, covering frighteningly tall heights and long distances.

- ENHANCED CLIMB the power to climb effortlessly over and on steep and narrow surfaces or plains.

- ENHANCED ROAR shifters with this ability are able to shout loud enough to blow away or break objects with their ferocious voice, if at an expert level and using this ability. this is most commonly used to alert someone of the user's location. for cougar shifters, the roar comes in the form of a growl.

COMPETENT

- PREDATOR INSTINCT the user possesses predatory instincts, allowing them to become masters of hunting and tracking. one with this ability can discern numerous factors of a situation that make them a master of pursuit and capture, just like their animal spirit.

- STEALTH TACTICS the user possesses incredibly extensive knowledge and skill in many types and ways of stealth tactics, enabling them to easily slip in and out of areas undetected. their abilities in all manners of stealth are so refined they appear as mere illusions to those who have been lucky to spot the user. the users of this ability can move throughout even the most guarded of areas and act in true discretion.

PROFICIENT

- CLAW RETRACTION the user can project and retract razor-sharp claws from their fingertips for various mostly offensive purposes. they can also use these claws to infect others and turn them into shifters, something specifically powerful while in their animal form.

- MIND LINK CREATION this is the power to link minds with other living being, sharing thoughts, memories, emotions or feelings. this is a pride or shifter family connection. at this level, the shifter is can create a link on their own with any and all members of their pack that are receptive, including one on one conversations.

EXPERT

- PARTIAL TRANSFORMATION the user can partially transform their body, either by transforming certain parts of their body independently of the rest of it or into a "half-state" between two forms. in the case of shifters, this is largely due to increased control over the transformation as well as experience managing it.

- CONTROLLED TRANSFORMATION at this level a shifter can control their transformation, regardless of emotions. they can keep from transforming when of high emotions now and manage to stay in their human form at all times if needed.

VI. WEAKNESSES

shifters are harder to kill than humans, but not as hard as the vampires. each have their own weaknesses and advantages, but all are supernatural and gifted in the power to transform, something that can make them dangerous opponents against any who do not suspect their true species.

the reality of silver's effect on shifters and therians has been lost to the pages of history, but for generations, packs have passed down similar stories. it goes that judas, the follower of jesus of nazareth, was turned into a shifter in retribution to the lord's suffering. as penitence for betraying the son of man, judas' bloodline was cursed with a dire weakness to silver, the very element for which he betrayed jesus, and those very same bloodlines are what make up the earth's modern population of both shifters and therians.

it is known that silver is a lethal conductor of the magic that turns one away from their human form, but the siphoning of said magic is extremely painful, so much so that it has been known to bring the even the strongest of either species to a crashing halt, regardless of age or ability. while brief exposure is painful enough to momentarily cripple an opponent, if silver were to enter their bloodstream, they would experience the sensation of being set ablaze. as their body temperature rose, the heat would boil their internal organs, until eventually, they would die an agonizing death.

(note: we would like to note that we do allow the use of creative weaknesses in play, such as a witch and human coming up with their own decision on how their abilities counteract one another, but we urge you to remember that we are trusting you to keep this balanced and fair. as such, the weaknesses we list will be minimal but are by and far not a full list of possible weaknesses. should we notice a character who seems too powerful, you will be asked to bump that character back down or be denied continued play here on unholy for the sake of creative freedom for all members. this includes the knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the species that your character would have here on unholy.)