KittyInTheHat
A DOLLMAKER WITH MY HAIR??? YAAAAAASSSS
The night streets of Forgemire, a large city somehow forgotten among the trees of the Neverfree forest, are rampart with dangers. No single person should ever venture out of their reinforced homes past sunset, for they are sure to never be seen again. That is… not as they once were.
They might be spotted between the gaps in heavy curtains standing on a roof or walking down the center of the street with others of their kind months after their disappearance. But no one is insane enough to step out into the chill and invite their once-supposed dead friend or relative inside for coffee, cake and a long chat. That would mean the death of everyone in the house.
One would think that the citizens of Forgemire would do everything in their power to escape the creatures that roamed their city by running into the forest during the brightest hours of the day. But lessons learned through blood are not likely to require reteaching. So they stayed, quaking in fear, as their lives passed, waiting for a natural death of old age, or, more unlikely, a death that came for too soon.
Their children grew and faced the same dangers they had and fell to the same end.
The mortals and the Creatures of Night, the Rulers of Shadows, the Lurking Eyes, the vampires, have a deal.
The humans will send out the young, fit and lovely of their kind into the night to join the Beautiful Undead once every twenty-five years. The humans that come to the vampires must be between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five and the most attractive in the city. It is a terrible price, but in return the rest of the humans are allowed to survive in relative safety with everything they need to live left in a great pile in the middle of the square once per week.
The safety is relative indeed, for every few days a house will be broken into and the bodies of the inhabitants will be found in the morning, chalk-white with eyes wide and unseeing. The terrible part is that the expressions on the faces of the victims, when they should have been grotesque with terror and pain, were blissful and serene. Dreamy smiles graced the lips of the bodies and chased the humans that had been daring enough to step inside running back to their homes to weep and wonder why they just didn’t sacrifice themselves…
If only to be free of the curse of the Bloody Bloodless.
They might be spotted between the gaps in heavy curtains standing on a roof or walking down the center of the street with others of their kind months after their disappearance. But no one is insane enough to step out into the chill and invite their once-supposed dead friend or relative inside for coffee, cake and a long chat. That would mean the death of everyone in the house.
One would think that the citizens of Forgemire would do everything in their power to escape the creatures that roamed their city by running into the forest during the brightest hours of the day. But lessons learned through blood are not likely to require reteaching. So they stayed, quaking in fear, as their lives passed, waiting for a natural death of old age, or, more unlikely, a death that came for too soon.
Their children grew and faced the same dangers they had and fell to the same end.
The mortals and the Creatures of Night, the Rulers of Shadows, the Lurking Eyes, the vampires, have a deal.
The humans will send out the young, fit and lovely of their kind into the night to join the Beautiful Undead once every twenty-five years. The humans that come to the vampires must be between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five and the most attractive in the city. It is a terrible price, but in return the rest of the humans are allowed to survive in relative safety with everything they need to live left in a great pile in the middle of the square once per week.
The safety is relative indeed, for every few days a house will be broken into and the bodies of the inhabitants will be found in the morning, chalk-white with eyes wide and unseeing. The terrible part is that the expressions on the faces of the victims, when they should have been grotesque with terror and pain, were blissful and serene. Dreamy smiles graced the lips of the bodies and chased the humans that had been daring enough to step inside running back to their homes to weep and wonder why they just didn’t sacrifice themselves…
If only to be free of the curse of the Bloody Bloodless.
THE VAMPIRES
The Silver Clan:
Bearing the white hair and silver eyes that mark the elite of the vampires, it naturally follows that the vampire monarch is usually from the Silver Clan. Despite being the elite, which you would think were just a select few, the Silver Clan is the largest--far surpassing the other three in numbers. They are generally the most refined and capable of ruling peaceably the other three clans. They despise being told that they are like human nobility, and if you do tell one of them that, you probably won’t live for very much longer. All naturally born vampires, no matter the clan of their parents, have the marks of the Silver Clan and are automatically placed into that clan to be raised by a privileged couple. Usually, the vampires that have silver eyes, but not white hair, are the slaves of the high-ranking of the SIlver Clan, but not always. There have been rare instances where a Lesser Silver rose up and earned a place in the clan, perhaps even becoming the ruler in the end, but it is so rare that it is mostly considered a fluke. They are the most powerful in both body and mind. (This will be explained later.)
The Garnet Clan:
The second most likely vampire clan to have members with white hair, the Garnet Clan, while smaller than the Obsidian Clan, are more powerful and easily stay above the other two lesser clans. They are known to be the “peacekeepers” in vampire society, following the instruction of the monarch and his or her cabinet in dealing with unruly vampires.
The Obsidian Clan:
The most dangerous to other vampires, the Obsidian Clan is the clan that is most openly rebellious against the throne. Their special (to be explained later) power can work on vampires as well. Not nearly as well as it can against humans, but members of the other clans have to be careful when around vampires from the Obsidian Clan. The Garnet Clan soldiers have to keep a firm hand on the clan to make sure they don’t ban together to take over and rule the vampire clans instead of the Silver Clan.
The Yellow Clan:
The Yellow Clan is easily the most looked-down-upon clan. Obviously they do not have a grand name like the other clans. This was done purposefully to let the Yellow Clan know that they were clearly inferior to the others. The vampires within the Yellow Clan are the hardest to control, for although they are the smallest clan, they work individually and devour freely from mortals outside of the Neverfree Forest, which is the beginning of the territory of the other clans. The other clans do not enter the rest of the mortal world except to feed regularly and obtain supplies for the citizens of Forgemire. When the Yellow Clan feed, they are furious and violent, tearing apart their victims as they drink from them and lapping up the blood that streams away from the maimed body when they have sucked every drop they could from the veins. They are less picky about what blood they drink, as well. They will drink from smaller animals than what the other clans do when they are forced to take from animals if the desire comes upon them.
Bearing the white hair and silver eyes that mark the elite of the vampires, it naturally follows that the vampire monarch is usually from the Silver Clan. Despite being the elite, which you would think were just a select few, the Silver Clan is the largest--far surpassing the other three in numbers. They are generally the most refined and capable of ruling peaceably the other three clans. They despise being told that they are like human nobility, and if you do tell one of them that, you probably won’t live for very much longer. All naturally born vampires, no matter the clan of their parents, have the marks of the Silver Clan and are automatically placed into that clan to be raised by a privileged couple. Usually, the vampires that have silver eyes, but not white hair, are the slaves of the high-ranking of the SIlver Clan, but not always. There have been rare instances where a Lesser Silver rose up and earned a place in the clan, perhaps even becoming the ruler in the end, but it is so rare that it is mostly considered a fluke. They are the most powerful in both body and mind. (This will be explained later.)
The Garnet Clan:
The second most likely vampire clan to have members with white hair, the Garnet Clan, while smaller than the Obsidian Clan, are more powerful and easily stay above the other two lesser clans. They are known to be the “peacekeepers” in vampire society, following the instruction of the monarch and his or her cabinet in dealing with unruly vampires.
The Obsidian Clan:
The most dangerous to other vampires, the Obsidian Clan is the clan that is most openly rebellious against the throne. Their special (to be explained later) power can work on vampires as well. Not nearly as well as it can against humans, but members of the other clans have to be careful when around vampires from the Obsidian Clan. The Garnet Clan soldiers have to keep a firm hand on the clan to make sure they don’t ban together to take over and rule the vampire clans instead of the Silver Clan.
The Yellow Clan:
The Yellow Clan is easily the most looked-down-upon clan. Obviously they do not have a grand name like the other clans. This was done purposefully to let the Yellow Clan know that they were clearly inferior to the others. The vampires within the Yellow Clan are the hardest to control, for although they are the smallest clan, they work individually and devour freely from mortals outside of the Neverfree Forest, which is the beginning of the territory of the other clans. The other clans do not enter the rest of the mortal world except to feed regularly and obtain supplies for the citizens of Forgemire. When the Yellow Clan feed, they are furious and violent, tearing apart their victims as they drink from them and lapping up the blood that streams away from the maimed body when they have sucked every drop they could from the veins. They are less picky about what blood they drink, as well. They will drink from smaller animals than what the other clans do when they are forced to take from animals if the desire comes upon them.
General Appearances:
Contrary to general belief, vampires do not always have ghostly skin. Their skin tone can be as varied as humans, because, of course, most of them were humans. The naturally born SIlver Clan members all have pale skin, but since not all of them are naturally born, there is variation.
When a mortal is Turning, there is very little assurances as to what clan the new vampire will be in. The clan of the vampire that Turned them affects things, but not by much unless you are a Silver Clan member. The eyes and hair of Turning humans fluctuate wildly before the transformation is complete. The most common variation that the new vampire will settle on is that of the Silver Clan, not only because it is simply to easiest for the new vampire to focus on, but also because the strength of the Silver Clan vampires is so great that they can have a noted affect on what the vampire will turn out to look like.
The older the vampire becomes, the more their skin starts to take on a gold or silver tone and shine. Not glow, but shine. After about two-thousand years it starts, and by seven the vampire will look like a moving statue, its skin still as pliable as flesh, but shiny and metallic.
The Silver Clan:
As stated above, the Silver Clan vampires have white hair and silver eyes. The Lesser Silvers are those that have the eyes, but not the hair, that is required to be a full member. The Silver Clan vampires will commonly dress in fine clothes that are to their elegant pleasure.
The Garnet Clan:
Mostly as copy-cats to the Silver Clan, the Garnet clan members will also dress in finary. They mostly wear military uniforms made of the finest material and ornately embellished. They occasionally will have silver hair, but always red eyes.
The Obsidian Clan:
The black eyes of the Obsidian Clan do not glow like the other three clans’, but when they are looking at a mortal the mortal will feel such freezing cold that it will paralyze them long enough for the Obsidian Clan member to attack. They wear black clothes with no variance.
The Yellow Clan:
Easily the most unvampiric in appearance, Yellow Clan members are more likely to have brown hair instead of the most common black. Facial hair, while not ungrowable by the other clans, is encouraged by the Yellow Clan males. They wear clothes like any human, although, granted, they mostly lean toward the dark. They often have skin tones unfamiliar to other vampires--another thing that makes them look more human. Fair--not pasty--and tans are quite common. Their canine teeth (oh, do all vampires hate that term) are not as sharp as other clans’, and while they still do the job, because of it they can be mistaken for humans even more easily. This is to their liking, because it means they will have a larger feeding ground. Sometimes they are mistaken to be werewolves, and then welcomed into houses for supper and a soft bed, which always means the death of each person in that house.
Contrary to general belief, vampires do not always have ghostly skin. Their skin tone can be as varied as humans, because, of course, most of them were humans. The naturally born SIlver Clan members all have pale skin, but since not all of them are naturally born, there is variation.
When a mortal is Turning, there is very little assurances as to what clan the new vampire will be in. The clan of the vampire that Turned them affects things, but not by much unless you are a Silver Clan member. The eyes and hair of Turning humans fluctuate wildly before the transformation is complete. The most common variation that the new vampire will settle on is that of the Silver Clan, not only because it is simply to easiest for the new vampire to focus on, but also because the strength of the Silver Clan vampires is so great that they can have a noted affect on what the vampire will turn out to look like.
The older the vampire becomes, the more their skin starts to take on a gold or silver tone and shine. Not glow, but shine. After about two-thousand years it starts, and by seven the vampire will look like a moving statue, its skin still as pliable as flesh, but shiny and metallic.
The Silver Clan:
As stated above, the Silver Clan vampires have white hair and silver eyes. The Lesser Silvers are those that have the eyes, but not the hair, that is required to be a full member. The Silver Clan vampires will commonly dress in fine clothes that are to their elegant pleasure.
The Garnet Clan:
Mostly as copy-cats to the Silver Clan, the Garnet clan members will also dress in finary. They mostly wear military uniforms made of the finest material and ornately embellished. They occasionally will have silver hair, but always red eyes.
The Obsidian Clan:
The black eyes of the Obsidian Clan do not glow like the other three clans’, but when they are looking at a mortal the mortal will feel such freezing cold that it will paralyze them long enough for the Obsidian Clan member to attack. They wear black clothes with no variance.
The Yellow Clan:
Easily the most unvampiric in appearance, Yellow Clan members are more likely to have brown hair instead of the most common black. Facial hair, while not ungrowable by the other clans, is encouraged by the Yellow Clan males. They wear clothes like any human, although, granted, they mostly lean toward the dark. They often have skin tones unfamiliar to other vampires--another thing that makes them look more human. Fair--not pasty--and tans are quite common. Their canine teeth (oh, do all vampires hate that term) are not as sharp as other clans’, and while they still do the job, because of it they can be mistaken for humans even more easily. This is to their liking, because it means they will have a larger feeding ground. Sometimes they are mistaken to be werewolves, and then welcomed into houses for supper and a soft bed, which always means the death of each person in that house.
Powers Across the Board:
Powers of the Silver Clan:
Weaknesses of the Silver Clan:
Powers of the Garnet Clan:
Weaknesses of the Garnet Clan:
Powers of the Obsidian Clan:
Weaknesses of the Obsidian Clan:
Powers of the Yellow Clan:
Weaknesses of the Yellow Clan:
- The Ability to Transform into a Bat at Will
- Enhanced Strength, Speed and Agility
- Night Vision
Powers of the Silver Clan:
- Glamour - a vampire of the Silver Clan can lay a veil of appearance over themselves that is not their own. It can be seen through in the right natural conditions, or if the vampire is particularly emotional. This appearance can be of anything living, but not of any actual person that is currently alive (this includes other vampires).
- Hypnotism - it is not limitless, but if a vampire keeps unbreaking eye contact with a mortal they have control over them. This is not often used because vampires need to blink as well. They can stare for longer than a human could, but they still need to blink once in a while.
- Mind Words - the ability to speak in the minds of the vampires they have personally Turned.
- Lunacy - the skill and power needed to do this is immense, and not even all of the Silver Clan can do it, but they all have the capacity. The ability to create a hellstorm of noise in any creature’s head, but particularly in mortal ones. It can drive a human to insanity if it is applied to them for long enough, but it is mainly used in short bursts as a torture device. The hellstorm is made of all the horrible noises that exist, projected into the mind at a volume that rivals a volcanic eruption. It does not kill but can be so painful that the victim may try to kill themselves.
- Affect - clearly the strangest and most mysterious power of the Silver Clan, those vampires have noticeable effects on what clan a Turning vampire will end up in. The vampire has to be present for the Turning, meaning that they couldn’t be in their mansion using this power on someone in the city.
Weaknesses of the Silver Clan:
- They are the most affected by sunlight. Even through clothing or in a shallow shadow. It severely burns them and steals their energy. That’s why, even amongst the shadowy tree-cover of the Neverfree forest, the Silver Clan vampires never leave their dwellings in the daylight hours.
- The Silver Clan, being the most vain of the four clans, find the lack of appearances in mirrors greatly distressful, because they wish they could see themselves. Having mirrors in your house is a good way to avoid the kill mark of a Silver Clan vampire. Those vampires will still get their blood, because the Garnet Clan vampires will bring victims to the Silver Clan vampires to feast on, but it’s a good way to try to prevent those vampires from entering your home. If the mirror(s) are smashed or covered, though, it doesn’t work so well.
Powers of the Garnet Clan:
- Hypnotism - it is not limitless, but if a vampire keeps unbreaking eye contact with a mortal they have control over them. This is not often used because vampires need to blink as well. They can stare for longer than a human could, but they still need to blink once in a while.
- Mind Words - the ability to speak in the minds of the vampires they have personally Turned.
- A particular strength and agility that isn’t matched by any other clan.
Weaknesses of the Garnet Clan:
- While they are less affected by sunlight, it still does burn them and weaken them. Wearing covering clothing protects against this and they can move around some in the cover of the Neverfree’s trees.
- Being the clan second-in-command and the honored protectors of the SIlver Clan, they are very proud. Insulting the honor of a Garnet Clan vampire is a VERY bad idea, and once it is done, that vampire will drop anything they were doing and will chase whomever insulted them until they are dead.
Powers of the Obsidian Clan:
- Being able to move in the daylight anywhere as long as they are mostly covered is a huge advantage to the Obsidian Clan vampires.
- Freeze - when they are looking at a mortal the mortal will feel such freezing cold that it will paralyze them long enough for the Obsidian Clan member to attack. And once that is done, there is no escape and the vampire can have their pleasure with the human and leave it for dead when they are done. This power even affects other vampires sometimes. Newly Turned vampires are the weakest and most susceptible to this power, although Yellow Clan and Garnet Clan will rarely be affected by it. The members of the Yellow Clan are the weakest to this ability.
Weaknesses of the Obsidian Clan:
- They are second to the lowest Clan and with that curse comes a lack of special powers that the upper two clans have.
- The Garnet Clan members focus their defensive attention on the Obsidian Clan, and that makes it hard for the black-eyed vamps to build up enough force to attack the SIlver Clan for real and take them down.
- They are given the last choices for feasting on the caught humans and thus get the worst of the batch. To combat this they fall to the disgrace of drinking from large animals, both prey and predator.
Powers of the Yellow Clan:
- Able to walk free from the fear of the sun they enjoy wandering the streets of the cities outside the Neverfree forest. They aren’t completely immune to the sun’s rays, however. They burn faster than humans do, but that is only a minor concern.
- Being mistaken for werewolves is probably their strongest strength. The werewolves in the world, at least in the rough area of the cities near to the Neverfree forests, are the protectors of the humans. They protect from other humans and sometimes vampires, guarding the cities and acting as the unofficial police force. The werewolves have never been known to attack the people they protect, and are thus welcomed into the hearts and houses of the citizens in their cities. When the Yellow Clan members get mistaken for werewolves and invited into humans’ homes it’s pretty much meal time.
Weaknesses of the Yellow Clan:
- They are the weakest Clan and if a vampire from another clan, especially Garnet, catches one of them they have no chance of escape.
- Drinking unpure blood (aka from animals) drives them to be wilder than they already are, though none of them will admit to that. They just want blood and they will take it from whatever source they want.
- After they drink too much a vampire will get droopy and tired and want to just curl up and sleep. This isn’t a problem for the other clans, who never overdrink, but the Yellow Clan vampires need to get away from the scene of their crime as fast as they can, and sometimes don’t manage it.
- They actually have trouble turning into bats at times, though no one knows why. The Yellow Clan don’t use that guise very much, but when they do it is likely it will not work, and even if it does work they will probably switch back in the middle of flight.