Species Information

DarkWood introduces five different species to choose from. Each species has its own advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses.
Each player may choose only one species to represent; second characters (or non-playable characters) are not allowed without permission from the Administration team.

DW species:

• Human
  
• Vampire
  
• Lycan
  
• Elf
  
• Sidhe

Human

Humans have a highly developed brain, capable of abstract reasoning, language, introspection, and problem solving. This mental capability leads for their desire to understand and influence their environment, seeking to explain and manipulate natural phenomena through science, philosophy, mythology and religion. This natural curiosity has led to the development of advanced tools and skills, which are passed down culturally; humans are the only animal species known to build fires, cook their food, clothe themselves, and use numerous other technologies.

In the societies of DarkWood, humans are neutral. This species collaborates with like-minded individuals, regardless and unaware of different species, believing that humans are the only species to rule upon DarkWood. Humans typically have many different personalities and follow different idealogies. Some humans may be conservative, fanatical, or extremists; others may be liberal and laid back. This species, usually, does not accept those who practice or exist to work against established order and law. Humans are rulers through political, military, and judicial means. If an individual is against any aspect of human order, there is bound to be conflicts between these groups.

Strengths: Reasoning, Analytical, Logical, Intelligence,
Weaknesses: Decapitation, Organ failure, Drowning, Fire, etc.

Witchcraft

Through the focus of religion, witchcraft came to be born to oppose Christianity. Witchcraft in essence can be roughly defined as the power of a person in witch a force or matter is used to harm or influence nature through occult means. Indeed, the fact that belief in witchcraft and magic has largely been rejected has led for it to become a secretive practice by nature.

Although the attitude of the Christianity with respect to some magical practices, such as the astrology or the alchemy, was at certain moments ambiguous, the sentence of the witchcraft was explicit and unequivocal from the beginnings of the Christian religion. In the High Average Age several laws condemned the witchcraft, cradles as much in the example of the Roman right like in the will eradicating all those practices related to the paganism. Nevertheless, the ecclesiastical attitude does not seem to have been too belligerent during first half of the Average Age, as they testify documents like Canon Episcopal.

The situation changed when the Church began to persecute the heresies tasted and valdense. Both granted a great importance to the demon, and for these Christian communities this one was customized in the Papal Roman Church, due to its great abuses. The cátaros especially talked about to her like “prostituta”. In order to fight these heresies the pontifical Inquisición in century XIII was created. In the following century they begin to appear in the processes by witchcraft the accusations of pact with the Devil, the first determining element in the modern concept of witchcraft.

Warlocks are said to be the male equivalent of witches.

Strengths: Elemental Manipulation (with the exception of water)
Weaknesses: Wicca amulet (needs protection since it harnesses the spirit, soul, powers, etc. of individual), Drowning

Vampire

Feeding
This act is a bond between the vampire and bitten; an intimacy and exchange of pleasure and pain has lead to the frequent practice of feeding despite actual thirst needs of the species. Pain exists for the bitten with the penetration of fangs before pleasure occurs. Most, if not all, state that this act is better than sex.

This may occur through the feeding of human blood or opposite sex of the species. (Ex: A female must feed from a male.) Species blood, stronger than human, allows for a vampire to feed less frequently due to the purity of the bloodline. Royal blood may quench the thirst of a vampire for up to a year, while less pure vampire blood will allow a six month quenched thirst period. Vampires living on human blood must frequently (monthly) feed to keep up their strength. Animals have also been used to sustain vampire feeding; the blood barely quenches the thirst for more than a few weeks.

Transition
Humans may transition to become a vampire if the process is completed before the vampire withdraws.
The vampire drains his prey of blood. However, upon complete exsanguination, the vampire returns a bit of her own immortal blood to the drained human. Only a tiny bit - a drop or two - is necessary to turn the human into an undead. This process can even be performed on a dead human, provided the body is still warm.

Transitioning humans to the vampire species is heavily encouraged in times of war (to field armies) and to mate. Humans and vampires are not restricted to relations; however, the hierarchy of vampire species frown upon socialization with humans, believing that vampires are a superior race meant to mate with their own.

Post-transition, there is a period of 2 days of vulnerability. The senses of the new vampire are extremely sensitive making it commonplace to keep the new vampire within a secluded place to await the end of the period of vulnerability. New vampires typically do not survive unless guided (and defended) by an experienced vampire.

Powers
In some rare cares, vampires may exhibit signs of mind-reading, precognition, or telekinesis. Usually, these high-level powers are found in the oldest generations, especially in the royal bloodline, of the vampire hierarchy. Not commonly found in any new generation of vampires unless the bloodline is pure.

Strengths: Super-human strength, keen sense of awareness and smell, quick movement, dematerialize when focused. Heal quickly, especially when the saliva from our tongue is used on a wound to close it faster.
Weaknesses: Sunlight (prolonged exposure may kill), Fire, Decapitation, Stake through the Heart (wound, but do not kill), Religious blessed artifacts (wound, but do not kill)

Elf

The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine or semi-divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind. All Elves have certain natural abilities that they are born with. 1st is Magic not all Elves are mages but all are born with the potential to be and can cast Recall almost from birth. This is an ability that they can keep or lose over time depending on what path they choose in life.

• 1st Recall is a major step in an Elf's Life much like walking is a big thing for Mortals.

• 2nd All Elves can see in the dark well either by position or spell they can always see at night.

• 3rd Telepathy all Elves share a Telepathic bond with their fellows they use this power to communicate long distance messages or to send out a call for help or to speak with a friend far away.

Elves have other Skills that though not born with they are the best at due to generations of training. 1st is Smithing Elves are almost born Smiths, and the Axe is their weapon. A true Elf prefers an Axe but is equally at home with a good sword. Elves are first among the archer races and are well known for their true aim and uncanny sight. Before the Blighting, Elves of the Old Country were the greatest among Bowers.

The Elven Dream Weavers are the Shaman of the Elves along with magic use these Elves are born with natural Taming or Bardic abilities It is said that such Elves are revered and held in high regard for there unique abilities. They are also Healers, Trackers and Fishers. Tamers also have the special right to tame anything that they wish in the kingdom as long as they know that they must always release that which they have no use for, so that others may benefit.

Marriage, and parenthood
Elves marry freely and for love early in life. Monogamy is practiced and adultery is unthinkable; they marry only once.

Death
Elves are naturally immortal, and remain unwearied with age. In addition to their immortality, Elves can recover from wounds which would normally kill a mortal Man. However, Elves can be slain, or die of grief and weariness. Spirits of dead Elves go to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor. After a certain period of time and rest that serves as "cleansing", their spirits are clothed in bodies identical to their old ones. However, they almost never go back to Middle-earth and remain in Valinor instead.

Sidhe

The Sidhe, better known as fae, faery or fairy, are magical beings. Many believe sidhe are either pure good or pure evil, which is not true. Sidhe normally consider themselves neutral. Remembering that neutrality is a shade of gray to them, they will do what they feel is in their best interest rather than anyone else's. Making a sidhe mad is never a good idea, they do not take kindly to it, and exact revenge on whomever hurt or upset them in the most creative ways they can. They hold grudges for much longer than anyone expects, and will continue on their quest for vengeance long after the original slight has been forgotten.

Quite often the sidhe will appear innocent and good. They hide their true nature well. They adore trickery, pranks and deceit, and use it well to get what they want. If any of the sidhe swear an oath, they are bound by it and cannot break it. Be careful how you word an oath however, if there is a way to twist it, the sidhe can and will to make it something they like better. It goes back to their love of trickery and deceit. The sidhe do not tell outright lies ever, but they will bend the truth until it looks like something else, omit parts of the truth to change the meaning, use fancy or pretty words to cover the truth, or just avoid it whenever they can.

Sidhe hoard magic, they are out for their own self interest, and no others. Most sidhe are beautiful, ethereal creatures, but some are hideous or monstrous, or have some sort of deformities. Sidhe can be tall and imposing, others so tiny that they are almost invisible. Each different type looks upon other types as less desirable and less important than themselves.

Many are jealous of the beauty of the sidhe, and wish to be with them, hoping that the charm and grace that all possess will make them more beautiful by contact. It is said that once you have been with any of the sidhe, you will always be drawn back to them. They can be condescending, overbearing and cruel, or sweet, loving and kind, depending on their mood and what they think will work best in the circumstance.

Sidhe possess differing levels of magical ability, depending on the purity of the bloodline. All have an innate ability to use glamor and heal. By the same token, the healing ability they possess can be used as a weapon to hurt just as easily.

The biggest weakness of any sidhe is cold iron, although steel can also give them trouble. The more iron or steel they are around, the weaker they become. Any weapon forged of iron can kill the sidhe, as cold iron is poisonous to their system. Rowan or herb charms can be used as a form of protection against their magic.

Lycan

Lycans are an aggressive species. They rely on animalistic instincts and their animalistic urges can sometimes be hard to control. These urges include hunger, the need to run and hunt, and a strong sexual appetite. The stronger of the Lycan can shift from human to wolfman to full wolf form at will. Those who are newer wolves, or aren't as powerful may not be able to transition between all forms. While in wolf form, they crave the taste of fresh meat, and will eat anything they can hunt and kill. They are good at climbing, using their claws for traction on surfaces that cannot normally be scaled, and have a tendency to land on their feet when falling from great heights, lessening the impact.

They run in packs and are stronger together than alone, drawing on the strength of others in their pack for protection and acceptance. They are organized when they fight together, almost as if they can anticipate what others in their pack will do. If wounded in wolf form, they will bear a scar from the wound. If wounded in human form, the scar will be healed once they change.

Humans may transition to become a lycan if a lycan bites a human while in wolf form. Not all humans who are bitten are transformed, it depends on the amount of lycan virus transmitted through the bite. More often than not, a bite from a lycan is deadly, they are biting to kill, not to change anyone. The few that are bitten to be changed have about a fifty percent death rate. The virus is aggressive when it attacks a human's physiology, and overtakes it quickly. Some human bodies cannot assimilate the change and die before being transformed into a lycan, others turn into wolves and never make it back to human form.

For those humans who do survive the bite, their first change occurs during the full moon. As a new Lycan, they have very little control and a stronger lycan must be there to guide the wolf, or they will retain little of their humanity.

Lycans possess enhanced reflexes, strength, endurance and speed. When in Lycan form, they are extremely agile, have a heightened sense of smell, and like wolves are excellent trackers. They excel at physical combat, using strength to their advantage, and can be quite viscous.

They are vunerable to wolfsbane, and can be killed by all manner of silver weapons, including silver bullets.

Clarification of Magic..

Witches/Warlock is used to let everyone know there is magic in the human society. Witchcraft is the practice of magic or sorcery. There are some individuals who do not wish to be labeled as a witch or warlock; some have requested to be known as:

• Druids
  
• Priests
  
• Sorcerer
  
• Wizard, etc.

These labels are just that.. labels. If you wish to practice magic, our forum shall label you as a witch/warlock. Remember, a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet!

Clarification of magic - updated by LAW.

Human and Elf species information is currently being reviewed by admin upon member request. The information provided in this thread is a basic guideline. What the admins choose to include/not include in species information is at our discretion. You may hate or love it, but it will not change our guideline. Admins review several sources to provide a flexible basic guideline.

No species are allowed immortal characters; if you have RP'ed an immortal character - change it up before the admins choose your weakness.
Each species shall have a weakness and a strength. Please be aware that all species are currently fantasy or paranormal related; at this time, we will not be adding other species.