The Suntouched
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The Suntouched have had many names over history's long reign, many of which have long been lost to modern tongues. The first of them, for the most part, were strays that either needed shelter, or who met bad ends along their travels, and then met Ven, who has always had a soft spot for mortal life. Their numbers grew in the hub city of Naucratis, where lots of travelers brought all sorts of desperate souls the Serpent King's way. But it wasn't until Egypt that the Suntouched truly blossomed, a blessing to the vampires of the area, who in life had once been worshipers of the sun, and were cursed never to look upon it again until Ven.
During the last of ancient Egypt's glory days, the vassals of the Undying Flame were in the hundreds, banding together to make trouble for the invading Persian forces, though they sadly never succeeded in ousting them entirely. When Rome came for what was left of Egypt, their numbers dwindled to just a scant handful when most were slaughtered resisting their forces. Ven forced most of his own fledges into hibernation after that, and dispersed the rest, an misguided act of love driven by grief and loss.
The majority of the Suntouched were vampires and vampire-kin, but there were humans among them as well, and other things, some unique to themselves. There were the Nightborn, those vampires cursed to the forever dark, who sought out the lifeblood of the sun in order to walk within its golden rays again, if only for a short while. Then there were the Sun Walkers-- the drakon-ka, few and alien, said to have been turned by the flame itself. There were the friends and family and lovers of them all, the outcasts and the lonely-- and so many more who found an unexpected home within the arms of this strange world.
And at the center of it all, was Ven.
Ven claims he didn't set out seeking worshipers, and this is likely true. While Ven is a proud and vain creature, he doesn't see himself above the rest. More likely the Suntouched simply started out as a simple exchange of needs which quickly grew to something beyond his control. Ven made no real attempts to stop it either, of course. He enjoys the attention, requires connection to access his power, and craves community.
Ven did care for his people, enough that when the majority of them were slaughtered at the hands of the roman invaders, he forced the survivors into hibernation, in hopes that they might wake to better days, and fell into such grief that he himself slept from the last fall of Egypt to the more modern age of 1870.
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Phoenicia - Tyre
(Click to Expand)Around 610 BCE, give or take.
This is where Ven first came to Earth and took physical form. It can't really be said what he looked like before that, or if normal people were even capable of perceiving him. He got attached to the locals and often would hitch rides on trading and fishing boats to explore the surrounding areas and learn more about humanity. After several tangles with pirates, Ven began protecting the ships he was on, and gained a bit of a reputation as a good luck charm.
Weakened by the pact with Qyinn, Ven was taken in by a fishing family while he recovered, whose daughter Ardea became a formidable pirate who enjoyed harassing invading forces. When Ardea was eventually mortally injured, Ven, who had grown close to her, turned her, creating the first Drakon-ka.
By the time Ven followed Ardea out of the area onto Naucratis, he still only had Ardea that he had personally turned, but he had gathered a small number of outside vampires (Nightborn) under his wings, and a handful of humans too. His following was not yet something that could be considered a 'cult', but they had begun to look to Ven for protection and in the case of the vampires, blessings against the sun via his blood.
It is rumored that Ven had several children while he lived in Tyre, but there's no proof of this, and if he did, he doesn't like to talk about it, and they didn't seem to follow him on to Naucratis or Egypt.
Naucratis & Persia
(Click to Expand)Around 546 BCE.
Following the path of his first fledge to Naucratis, Ven found himself once more enjoying the benefits of living within a port city. It's here that his influence began to truly grow, and between his forays into Persia and the travelers pouring every day through Naucratis itself, he met many souls in need of home and protection.
It's also here that Ven began to truly catch on that having mortals who bound themselves to him through service or blood granted him a whisper of his old power back somehow.
In a mutually beneficial arrangement, he would offer vampires his blood so that they could walk in the sun again, and other travelers his protection and services. In return, Ven could use his connection to them to travel quickly, or to see and hear through their eyes and ears.
When the first furtive temple rose up in his name in the secret depths of the city, Ven offered no protest. In part because, though mostly benign, he has always been a vain creature, but also because the arrangement truly suited both parties. And for all that Ven swans about, he truly does look after and care for those under his wings. He is strongly drawn to community, and withdraws without it.
The first temple still remains to this day within the ruins of Naucratis, buried deep beneath the Earth.
Egypt
(Click to Expand)404 to 343 BCE
When Ardea drifted away from him after the death of her mother, Ven found himself wandering and growing restless in turn.
He came to Egypt during the last few dynasties where native Egyptian powers ruled over their own kingdom. They had just succeeded in throwing off a long foreign rule by Persian occupiers, and the enthusiastic return to the old religion and the boom of new temples and sites of worship allowed Ven and his followers to slip in relatively undetected by the mortal world. In the underbelly of Egypt, they found many vampires desperate to return to the holy rays of their sun. Partaking in Ven's blood regularly allowed them to do this, and they once more swelled the ranks of the Suntouched in their gratitude.
After many peaceful years, war found its way once more to Egypt, and a return to Persian control and the accompanying religious suppression of the Egyptian peoples found many rebels, human and otherwise, joining Ven's ranks as well. They made trouble for the occupiers up until a bigger fish came along, and Rome devoured what was left of Egypt, puppeting its corpse until the Byzantine Empire took over.
Many of Ven's followers would not live to see that day. Weakened by the loss of the previous bearer of the Dragon before Krepta, Ven could not lend his followers the same power that he once did. Their numbers dwindled from a veritable hidden empire to a scant few handfuls. While many mortal Egyptians saw Alexander the Great as a liberator of Egypt from Persia, a good number of the Suntouched were old enough to remember a different time, before any foreign rule at all, and did not share those sentiments. They opted to fight, but they fought mostly alone, and it was a bloodbath.
Ven forced most of the survivors into a long sleep after that, hoping they would emerge in better days, before he himself slipped into grief filled hibernation for many, many years.
Modern Times
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Ven woke to the modern era in about 1870, likely moved from his original tomb to some rich aristocrat's personal collection of curiosities. There is little mention of him in the modern world, and he mostly kept to himself, brooding in his place of power, away from humanity, only occasionally venturing out to sate his boredom, or his appetite.
Ven's own awakening drew a few of his people out of hibernation, though none have yet approached him. It is unknown if he is aware of them or not.
When the new bearer of the Dragon came into her power, and Ven became aware of her, it sent a ripple of power through the cosmic network, and more and more of the Suntouched awake every day.
Ven has not turned anyone new since the last fall of Egypt, though some Nightborn continue to worship him in modern times in underground circles-- some of which have warped his original story to suit their own needs and lust for power. It is unapparent if Ven is aware at all of these circles either. Some of his previous priests may be looking after the more benign sects.
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Characters listed as 'available to borrow' are up for grabs temporarily to roleplay partners to play as characters for our roleplays if they'd like. I may consider adopting them out to people who really show love to the character and who stick around, but otherwise you'll have to give them back when we're done.
Characters labeled as, 'adoptable' I'm cool with you picking up as your own to play outside of our roleplays after a quick check in with me and a link back on their character sheet if you make one. Outside of that, they're yours to do with what you like.
These characters are available for people who would like to play around with them, but you are absolutely welcome to make your own vampire within the Suntouched as long as you talk it over with me first.
Kismet El-Seifi
He/Him - Drakon-ka - Egypt
(Available to Borrow)
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Backstory
Mood board can be found here if interested!
Kismet is one of Ven's oldest acolytes, and was once very close to Ven. He long ago left behind his birth name, and has had many names since, but his current name roughly means, "Fate of the Sun". In the few times when Ven was injured enough that he was forced to hibernate, it was Kismet who watched over his resting places, sometimes for years on end. Ven trusted a great deal of personal knowledge to Kismet as well, and they most certainly had an on and off again romantic relationship over the millennia.
Kismet was frequently referred to as, 'The Serpent's Shrike'. Take that as you will.
Like many of Ven's surviving acolytes, Kismet is from Egypt, though a much older one than we know today.
Kismet is one of the Drakon-ka. He was once a temple priest, but was cast out and left for dead when he stumbled across something that he wasn't meant to see. Ven came across him, or what was left of him, and offered him a chance to live and seek justice for his own murder as one of his creatures.
Kismet took the offer, and Ven turned him, making him, at the time, one of only a handful of others. There were many mortal and vampiric followers that Ven claimed as his people in those times, but he was often very reluctant to turn others himself outside of dire circumstances. Becoming one of the Suntouched changed a person irrevocably, both in body and soul, far more than a turning by any typical vampire.
But as far as Kismet is concerned, the man he once was died in the desert that night anyway. He took on a new name, and swore his life to the creature who gave him a second chance at his, rarely leaving Ven's side after that.
When Rome brought war to Egypt, and Ven lost many of his followers to its hunger, Kismet was one of the vampires he forced into hibernation for their own safety before falling into a many centuries long sleep himself. Unbeknownst to Ven, when he woke in 1870, so did Kismet, though they were many miles apart when it happened.
Fearing Ven might try and place him back into sleep to protect him, Kismet opted to follow Ven at a distance instead of approaching, watching and guarding his old friend from the shadows in secret, sometimes even from himself.
When the last Walker came into her power, and revealed herself as a bearer of the Dragon, the piece of himself that Ven long thought lost to the void called to him, and for the first time in a very long time, Kismet saw hope rise within his friend. Kismet still has yet to approach either Ven or Krepta, but continues to operate from the shadows to reunite Ven with that lost piece of himself.
What this means for the last Walker herself, remains to be seen.
Appearance
Kismet is bronze skinned and dark eyed, with dark hair that falls in tight waves just above his shoulders. Though it was somewhat looked down upon in his own time, he has also picked up a full beard over time, though that may well be a deliberate thumb at some of the aspects of society he was forced to endure during his younger years. He keeps it relatively neat and close to his face.
Personality
Kismet is serious, no-nonsense, and quietly intense, though he isn't without his dry sort of humor. He is crafty and determined in how he pursues his goals, and he isn't above manipulation or sabotage to get there, though he does prefer to try more above the table methods first if he thinks they'll have a chance. Like Ven, and many of the other Drakon-ka, Kismet isn't quite on the same moral wavelength as much of humanity. He isn't evil, but what he considers good and just may skew from the norm.
Parvaneh Sham'e
They/Them - Drakon-ka - Persia
(Available to Borrow)
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*A Note on this character's name, and a request to anyone who speaks the language, lol: I picked this name because, to my understanding, it equates to the butterfly and the candle, which felt appropriate for this character. I don't speak the language though, and my attempts at deep research were not helpful, so please, if it's extremely wonky grammatically or doesn't mean what I think it does, do tell me. <3
Backstory
In the tradition of many of the Drakon-ka, Parvaneh was not the original name of this acolyte. Many choose new names when they wake, as they feel markedly different from the people they were before they were turned. But Parvaneh had more reason than most to take on a new identity for themselves...
Azad and Setare were what they were once called, one among the Nightborn, and the other mortal, both souls in Ven's care among the Suntouched. They were very much in love and spent nearly every waking hour together. Unfortunately, when one of Ven's temples was raided by marauders calling themselves monster hunters, the pair and Ven himself were captured. Azad was staked out to meet the rising sun, with Ven and Setare forced to watch.
Ven managed to free himself, and Setare, but by the time they overcame their captors, the sun was almost upon them, far too close to help Azad seek shelter. Death was inevitable. Ven had the choice to end Azad's life quickly and kindly-- let him burn up in a terrible death beneath the unforgiving sun, or to attempt something that he had never done before, something that he wasn't entirely sure wouldn't drive the pair mad.
Ven couldn't turn Azad, as he was already one of the Nightborn, and thus he couldn't give him immunity from the sun, and his injuries were already too grievous for Ven’s blood to cure, but he could turn Setare, and in doing so, make her mind and body strong enough to accept Azad's energies when he pulled Azad's soul from his current body to place it within Setare's.
Both parties agreed to the offer, accepting that if they couldn't be together in life and this failed, then at least they would remain with each other in death.
As the last of Setare's mortal life drained from her veins, and the lover's minds intertwined now and forever more, they watched Azad's body turn to ash in the breeze, and closed their eyes on their old lives to awaken as something new.
Appearance
Parvaneh is somewhat androgynous looking. They have long, dark hair that falls in soft waves to about their mid-back, dark olive skin, and expressive brown eyes. They usually remain clean shaven, but have been known to grow some light scruff from time to time. They tend to dress nicely, but very rarely observe any gender norms unless forced to, which depending on where they traveled, could be more of a problem or less, both in the ancient world and the modern era.
They are not particularly drawn to jewelry or expensive things, but do have a considerable collection of both that they were buried with, given to them by Ven at an alarmingly frequent rate after they were turned in an attempt to assuage his guilt, though neither party blamed him for what happened.
Personality
Parvaneh is often seen talking quietly with themselves, and they do so whether it's socially acceptable or not. They can communicate with one another inside their own head, but they claim it feels nice to physically hear the other's voice. Azad and Setare are not exactly separate within Parvaneh's head. In many ways, they have merged as one being, but they are different spirits enough still that talking like this helps them sort their thoughts.
Aside from this little tick, Parvaneh is an overall fairly agreeable person. They are a gentle soul with a smidge of a trickster's streak, and while they are the very model of confidence, they don't usually come across as arrogant. They tend to keep their own council on things if they think their words will be wasted, and tend to enjoy more solitary or one on one company than crowds.
Ardea Pharos
She/Her - Drakon-ka - Phoenicia
(Available to Borrow)
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Backstory
Ardea was the first person that Ven ever turned. Their relationship was complicated before that, and remains complicated to this day.
Ardea was the daughter of the fishing family in Tyre, Phoenicia, that took Ven in when he was recovering from his pact with Qyinn. The pact left Ven weakened for months, and during that time, Ardea used to keep him company and tell him stories. The two grew close, but for the most part, it always remained platonic, as Ardea always found Ven too alien to find attractive.
She was a fierce and spirited soul who cared deeply about her community, and when Nebuchadnezzar II of the Neo-Babylonians began to grow hungry for expansion and turned their sights on Tyre, her home city, Ardea decided to use her formidable sailing skills to become a thorn in the side of his army.
While her crew had a few locals, most of them were made up from slaves freed from the Neo-Babylonians' ships, which gave them extra incentive to to join in the fight. The bounty for Ardea's head grew, and then ballooned significantly when she took out a fairly esteemed official visiting one of the invading army's ships.
Eventually, Ardea's considerable luck ran out. Ven found her near death, ambushed by men looking to collect on her bounty. Though he couldn't bear to lose her, he offered her the choice-- die, or allow him to attempt to save her by giving her a spark of his essence. She opted to live, and Ven, not knowing if the act would heal her or end in disaster, fed her his blood, and replaced her dying life force with his own.
It worked, but she awoke not just healed, but drastically changed. There was something more alien about her now, less human, and more like him. It was Ardea that returned to him, but also not, and it was a long time before Ven turned anyone else again because of this.
Still the only human that he was really close to, Ven followed Ardea onto Naucratis when the war in her homeland got to be too much. They stayed together for many years before Ardea went her own way, though she resurfaced later, finding him again in Egypt. She was with him when the Drakon-ka fell, but managed to escape Ven when he tried to force all of his acolytes into hibernation in a misguided, grief born attempt to protect them. She resents him trying to take that choice from her, and has somewhat kept her distance since, but Ven and she are bound by more than just their pasts, and she feels that tug between them at all times, as all of the Drakon-ka do.
Appearance
Ardea is somewhat on the shorter side, with fierce brown eyes and curly, auburn hair that she tends to wear short. She has a straight nose, almond shaped eyes, and a stern expression that she wears on her face almost everywhere she goes. She has light olive colored skin and is missing her right index finger. Sometimes she wears a prosthetic for it, but just as often she leaves it off.
Personality
Ardea has a commanding, fearsome presence. She's a competent fighter and an impressive tactician, and ambush is her favorite method of attack. She carries herself in a fairly no-nonsense manner in much of her day to day business, but she blossoms during a fight, genuinely seeming to enjoy the challenge. It's not quite bloodlust, but there's a certain sort of grin the woman wears only ever when in the middle of a fight that certainly makes most people think twice before facing her in combat. Her banter game is next to none.
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General
These are the general, overall guidelines for creating any member of the Suntouched. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or need help understanding anything! I'm always happy to expand, and asking questions, even ones about topics that you're just curious about, helps me to continue to better flesh out this lore.
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❂ You are more than welcome to create one of the Suntouched! Just touch base with me first so I can make sure your creation is lore accurate. I also ask that you link back to this page if you create a character page/sheet for them, and not claim them as your own. I worked hard on these spooky babies. ♡
❂ Ven's acolytes can and do exist in modern times, both the Nightborn and the Drakon-ka. However, any of the Suntouched that personally know Ven tend to be from very specific places (chat with me for more info), or would have been turned pre-modern times. Out of grief, and fear of a repeat tragedy, Ven has turned very few people since the last fall of Egypt. If your character is from his past, they may be from anywhere in the world, but I do ask that they be a respectful representation of the place they came from. Please do a little research before approaching for plots. (and if you see anything wrong in my info, please speak up! i've done my homework, but there's always more to learn.)
❂ Only those closest to Ven would likely know what he really is (an eldritch being rather than a god or true vampire), or the purpose of the Dragon, beyond its bearers (there have been several) being important to him somehow. The truth is likely far too strange a pill to swallow for most individuals.
The Nightborn
The Nightborn were vampires or other blood drinkers not turned by Ven who fell in with his people for various reasons. Some truly did see him as a god who could restore to them a long lost sun. Others were drawn to the power and protection of such a large group of vampires and their like, who instead of needing to hunt for their food and live as scrabbling fugitives within society, enjoyed their prey coming willingly to them within lavish, hidden temples.
All in all, for a vampire, that wasn't a bad life.
Like the rest, there were of course rules and tenets to follow upon becoming one of the Suntouched, but most could live with what was asked of them in return for shelter and easy access to willing prey.
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✔ Are seen as social equals by Drakon-ka, but are often not as powerful as them. However, many Nightborn who believe Ven to actually be a god tend to put Drakon-ka up on a pedestal or otherwise resent their power and further closeness to Ven.
✔ Can be from modern times. Some Nightborn still follow the practices and rituals of the cult, even though they've never met Ven. Information about the Suntouched and their practices isn't common, but it's not impossible to find, and many fragments and splinter cults exist out in the world.
✔ Can be from anywhere, depending on the era they originated in. Most of Ven's original people will have come from the locations listed on this page, or the surrounding areas, however. There aren't many left, and a good deal of those who are were forced into hibernation. Their reawakening will be fairly recent.
✔ Are often more 'human' in their personalities and desires, but not always.
✔ Most drink blood, as they are the typical vampiry vampires, but it depends on the lineage. Every vamp is different, and the world is vast.
◉ May have varying abilities depending on those who turned them.
◉ Vary in social status and origin. There was often more vying for social status among the Nightborn than there were among the Drakon-ka. The Change often stripped Drakon-ka of their need to feed that part of their egos-- it was simply a given that they were what they were. Infighting and power struggles among the Nightborn were not unheard of, by contrast.
✘ Were not turned by Ven.
✘ Most cannot walk in the sun without partaking of some of Ven's blood first. The effects are temporary, and there are usually side effects the longer one does this.
The Drakon-ka
Drakon Ka loosely translates to spirit serpent or dragon. In more recent times, they have also been known as The Children of Vehn or the Serpents of the Sun. In the old days they were thought to be living ghosts brought back by Vehn, the foreign god of blood and flame. The stories are not terribly far from the truth. You can read more a more in depth guide about them here if you'd like.
Many of these beings continue to sleep deep in still tombs beneath the desert sands, but some others woke when Ven did, or sometime shortly after. Others still were not caught up at all in the conflict that resulted in the Great Sleep, when Ven forced his children into hibernation out of grief and fear of further loss, and have been left to their own devices for thousands of years.
Some of them have progeny of their own now, though only the original Drakon-Ka can turn new vampires. Others tend to flocks of mortals and Nightborn who still keep the old ways, though these groups are often only spoken of in rumors and whispers. Far more are the modern day Vehn cults who use the ancient mythology that surrounds the tesseract for their own gains or entertainment. He tends to be very popular in goth and neo-pagan circles.
In the old days the Drakon-ka were just as often seen as demons as they were helpful creatures. They were a people associated with snakes and serpents, blood and passion, and they were both mysterious and alien, perhaps even more so than other vampires one might have had the chances of running into. As a result, the Drakon-Ka were touched by everything considered just a little bit forbidden and taboo, even to the other vampires under Ven's care.
Many of the Drakon-ka found themselves as Ven's trusted advisors, or priests within his temples, among other leadership positions. Though Ven didn't tend to see his progeny any differently than the mortals or the Nightborn in worth, the Drakon-ka's direct connection to him did prove useful, and many wound up gravitating to positions of power all the same.
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✔ Were turned by Ven.
✔ Can walk freely in the sun, despite their vampiric traits, hence the name. Many seem to feel stronger after spending time within the sun, in fact. Their strength is highest in warm, sunny climates, and wanes in extreme cold or rain. Fire does not harm them.
✔ Mainly feed on other sapient being's energies. This can be done ambiently, but touch is easier. Must take in blood every other week to maintain their connection to Ven.
✔ Like Ven himself, the Drakon-ka have many more 'traditional' vampiric traits too, though the strength and means of some of those abilities differ from individual to individual. They possessed enhanced strength, speed, and endurance; had the ability to mesmerize with eyes or voice; and when they did opt to drink blood rather than draw directly from energy channels, the venom contained within glands behind their fangs could place their 'donors' into a euphoric, trance-like state. They did not need to breathe, drink, or eat regular food, though many enjoyed doing so anyhow, and their need for sleep was little.
If the Drakon-ka had specific abilities of their own before they were turned, they often find them 'waking up' and becoming more potent. Those abilities are also often passed down in a lesser form to any of that Drakon-ka's progeny.
◉ People who knew those who became Drakon-ka before their change report significant personality shifts. They're still the baseline of who they were, but they become less like their human selves and more like Ven, more 'alien'. Things like ego become a game. Their self importance is a given. They aren't necessarily arrogant, but they feel little need to humble themselves either. Morals also shift. Personal boundaries and social rules often become optional, and more predatory traits come closer to the surface.
◉ They will feel a pull to Ven, no matter where they are. It's not irresistible, but it is ever present. This extends similarly to any 'part' of him, including the Dragon, though in these cases it is a lesser tug only present when physically in the same vicinity.
◉ Ven gains strength in their presence, among other abilities.
◉ Drakon-ka can create new vampires, and will pass along their abilities to them, but these new vampires will find their abilities far less potent than those who turned them, and they cannot turn others themselves. Only the head of a Drakon-ka bloodline is capable of making new vampires.
✘ Most of the Drakon-ka are from before the time when Rome conquered Egypt. Ven has turned few people since.
✘ With very few exceptions, Drakon-ka will not be from before the years around 610 BCE. Ven was not yet present on Earth before that. Some more long lived or already ageless individuals may buck this trend.
✘ Not all of the Drakon-ka have to have started as human, but most were, as this is the species that Ven had contact with most.
✘ Like Ven, the Drakon-ka often have difficulty entering the holy places of religious figures without invitation. This isn't because they are evil or have no soul, but because they very distinctly 'belong' to another 'god. It's more of a territory thing than a morality thing. The severity of this effect typically depends on that individual's relationship with that particular deity or spirit, as well as Ven's relationship. Ven got along with the vast majority of the ancient Egyptian gods, for example.
✘ The Drakon-ka are powerful creatures, but their bodies no longer function as mortal bodies do. Wounds of any sort only heal upon having recently taken in blood or energy from another living being, and though they can feed from ordinary animals, sapient creatures are more potent and fulfilling of their needs. Their enhanced endurance ensures that they will not die nearly as quickly from mortal wounds, but they still must locate a meal before they can recover and repair their bodies. The blood of Ven himself is the most coveted, and is capable of restoring nearly any illness or injury in mere moments.
Other Members of the Suntouched
Those found within Ven's temples were far from just other vampires. Many people sheltered beneath the serpent's wings, or otherwise found themselves bound to the Suntouched's service through debts owed. Mortal relatives, close friends, and loved ones often found refuge with the Suntouched in uncertain times, as the temples were almost always well stocked with food and supplies, and being hidden, were very defensible. Others were creatures who could find sanctuary nowhere else, creatures who may have been seen as monsters or freaks elsewhere, who found unexpected acceptance and companionship in a world far stranger than even themselves.
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✔ Many were the friends or family members of either the Nightborn or the Drakon-ka. Some others were rebels that joined with the Suntouched when Persia sacked Egypt for the second time.
✔ Some of those mortals present in the old temples were there to pay off a debt. An individual in the know could request a favor from the Suntouched by leaving a handful of pomegranate seeds on their doorstep before dusk. If the request was accepted, a member of one of the Suntouched, usually a priest, would blindfold that individual and whisk them away to a nearby temple.
The price for their boon was almost always blood, more or less required depending on the magnitude of what was asked, and they could not leave again until that price was paid, though they were not treated badly otherwise. When their debts were paid, they were blindfolded and returned home again-- though there were plenty who opted to stay for good. Aside from being asked to partake in the temple chores, it wasn't a bad life, really.
◉ Most were human, but not all. Ven had a notable member of the Minotaur species in his menagerie at one point in time.
✘ There are very few modern followers of Ven's that are mortal. If they are, they likely have no idea the extent of the truth to their practices, and likely it is seen as an obscure form of modern paganism, or they are the direct friends and family members of a Nightborn or Drakon-Ka. The true Suntouched and the mortal fashion followers don't tend to mingle much in modern times, though Ven's more ancient names can be found in the occasional passage of text here and there even now, and he tends to be popular among certain groups of goths and neo-pagans.
Questions & Answers
Have a question? Ask it! I don't bite. 🩸
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❂ Can Drakon-ka feed on other vampires, or only the living?
The Drakon-ka can feed from other vampires, but generally its far less nourishing and nowhere near as satisfying as feeding from a mortal, or even just an animal. Generally a Drakon-ka would do so only in an emergency, to prove a point/defend themselves, or as a form of social bonding.
Drakon-ka must be careful when they do this, however, as there is often little energy within most other vampires to begin with, and taking too much can cause harm even to the undead. They generally cannot feed on other Drakon-ka unless they are consciously being allowed to or their wills are much stronger than theirs.
❂ Can Drakon-ka have children the old fashioned way, or are they sterile?
Drakon-ka aren't sterile, but most choose not to have children this way. Still births aren't unusual, and sometimes children come out... strange. But this isn't a given, and sometimes children born are perfectly healthy and 'normal'. Passing down abilities, vampiric or otherwise, is never a given. Children had with other Drakon-ka seem to have a better survival rate.
Lore Tidbits
Little bits and pieces that don't quite belong anywhere else or are just fun.
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❂ According to many sources, much of Egypt had a fairly vegetarian leaning diet, and despite living near the Nile, did not eat a whole lot of fish. A thick, nutritious sort of beer and various types of breads were most common for meals, as were things like scallions, dates, and lentils. Honey, meat, and wine were often reserved for the higher class or feast days.
Ven's temples ate better than most, thanks in part to Ven's own knowledge on how to tend to land and livestock, and many had their own personal apiaries for honey. Ven was, and still is, particularly weak for plum wine.
❂ Ancient Egyptians believed that red hibiscus tea inspired lustful acts in women, so they forbade them to drink it. Naturally, Ven had it growing all over his temples as he found this incredibly humorous. In hindsight, it likely didn't help the reputation the Suntouched had with some of the more pious locals, not that many seemed to mind it.
❂ It was common for Ven's people to wear small symbols identifying them with the Suntouched, such as jewelry made to resemble pomegranates or pomegranate seeds, hibiscus and poppy flowers, and various stylized serpents, sun, and fire motifs.
❂ Suntouched temples in Egypt were often made of various types of stone or mud brick, as lumber was hard to come by. They were most often built from limestone, sandstone, or granite, and were lit with oil lamps, though Ven did enjoy collecting candles and interesting braziers to ferret away in his places of power. They were often extensive, well walled structures, part of which extended underground, and they almost always included space for a garden, pottery bee hives, and some livestock. Goats and various waterfowl were popular choices.
❂ Simple linens were often favored in ancient Egypt, or wearing nothing at all. It was hot. Ven, ever the clothes horse, often imported or brought back with him interesting fabrics and clothing from elsewhere however, and they often found their way down to other members of his court, or reworked into curtains, cushions, and other finery. Ven has always had a great love for creature comforts.
He is the kind of person you will find petting the fabric section in the craft store.
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Temples
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By necessity, Ven's temples were well hidden. Even in places where he was well liked by the general populace, it was always just simpler to keep his people safe this way, and to keep curious visitors out of trouble. Many of the Serpent King's temples could be found in Egypt, and some still are intact, lost beneath the sands even today. They could be found across Persia as well, and dotted throughout other places, though Ven very rarely set down roots in cold climates--- that simply isn't his domain, and Ven is weaker in places where cold and snow reign.
The architecture of the temples differed depending on where they were located, usually mimicking local styles with a few personal touches here and there, but at least a portion of each temple was always underground, and they could always be identified by the symbolism of the horned serpent and the golden poppy. Many were hidden within local necropolises, while others co-opted existing temples in secret in exchange for protection, and trade of honey and other supplies.
Though it was not unknown for Ven's people to occasionally hunt among the mortals in the cities the temples were located in, they tried to limit their activities to trouble makers and invaders. Instead, it became far more common for locals in the know to leave a few pomegranate seeds on their doorstep at dusk. One of Ven's people would come for that individual once the sun had set, and lead them blindfolded to the temple.
In exchange for services-- as the Suntouched were a diverse group, and were comprised of everything from healers to soldiers-- that individual would offer themselves in sacrifice-- the amount of blood or energy equaling the boon that they asked of Ven or the Suntouched.
Needless to say, some individuals found themselves becoming semi-permanent residents of the temples they bargained with.
Today there is only one of the old temples still active and accessible, guarded by the Drakon-ka Kismet. It lies hidden beneath the ruins of Naucratis in Egypt. As Ven's first temple, it holds extra power, which is perhaps in part why it has remained in such good condition, despite time and the elements.
It should also be noted that Ven's temples often shared space with the native gods of the lands they inhabited. Both parties were often very much aware of each other. Ven, not being a true god in the sense that he was not native to Earth at all, did not typically look to challenge or seek conflict with these beings. While he could certainly defend himself, should the worse happen, it would likely come at a great cost to himself and his people. He had an amicable relationship with many of the deities of Egypt though, and he regrets not being able to defend their people better.
Tenets
Ven's people were not allowed to hunt mortals with the intent to kill, though they could defend themselves or their families with lethal force if it was required. Many still did hunt for the thrill of it, as hunting itself was not forbidden, merely murder or unnecessary damage to one's quarry. Most preferred to take from those who bargained with the temples instead, finding it much safer than risking the wrath of nearby powers, and occasionally staged hunts were organized among them.
Revealing the locations of Suntouched temples to unworthy or untrustworthy individuals was not allowed, and if a visitor brought back to one of the temples wound up causing it or its inhabitants harm in some way, punishment would be visited upon the acolyte who had first brought them there as well. Most who bargained with the Suntouched were led from their homes blindfolded to the temples, and returned back home in the same way afterwards.
Some of those individuals found themselves taking an extended stay if their debt was more than could be paid in one day, and they were required just as all others within the temples to help with temple upkeep and chores, but treating them as anything other than 'guests' would have been met with sharp rebukes. They were in service, but they were not slaves.
The tenets of the Suntouched were written within the Scrolls of the Serpent king. You can read some more in detail here.