"Afflicted" is the typical nomenclature given to the collective community of individuals who have been changed by a condition such as therianthropy or vampirism. It is equally applied to most undead, cursed, infected, or otherwise 'afflicted' individuals (local or otherwise). While they are allowed inside the city and the kingdom provides them with something of a safe haven, populations on both sides of the isthmus are opposed to their presence.
In the east they must live in hiding. In Thornmouth they are free to live as long as they manage their behavior in a civilized way, though there is a fear among the public that any control an afflicted person has is only temporary. The fae lands are uninterested in accepting afflicted people (even the 'moonborn' that some consider a type of fae) and therefore most of them end up in Thornmouth or living outside of society in villages, clans or tribes. While there are places in the west that would have them, getting past fae territory is no easy feat.
There are local 'affirmative action' programs that include the afflicted and there are even specialized establishments such as Sunset Sanctum dedicated to helping those struggling.
In the east they must live in hiding. In Thornmouth they are free to live as long as they manage their behavior in a civilized way, though there is a fear among the public that any control an afflicted person has is only temporary. The fae lands are uninterested in accepting afflicted people (even the 'moonborn' that some consider a type of fae) and therefore most of them end up in Thornmouth or living outside of society in villages, clans or tribes. While there are places in the west that would have them, getting past fae territory is no easy feat.
There are local 'affirmative action' programs that include the afflicted and there are even specialized establishments such as Sunset Sanctum dedicated to helping those struggling.
(ANEXIAN) THERIANTHROPES
Children Of The Moon
A lunar affected being may have a rather difficult time in Anexus. There are an average of seven full moon nights in a month, a 'Super Aetheros' moon making up two to three of those nights. This much shifting scattered throughout a month has had many influences on the local therianthrope that live on the planet. They are arguably superior shapeshifters compared to those who are used to the effects of only one moon and a third of time forcefully spent in beastly form.
The therianthropes of Anexus do not form packs: regardless of the form they take, they are solitary by nature (if less so than vampire kind). But as sentient beings seeing gradual change and growing numbers over time under the great moon, they have been forming families and linking them into tribes to attempt becoming recognized as a true culture and race. There is one notable ‘shifter village’ that has made great progress in recent years.
They are weakened and vulnerable during the double new moon nights known as 'blinks' and are especially so in the wake of lunar eclipse. A local therianthrope also needs to worry about weaponry made from 'moon glass', which are extremely effective against them. A wound from this material will not heal properly without special care.
Any sentient humanoid race can be afflicted by the Anexian strains of therianthropy, with the original disease having changed and diversified over time. The ‘native’ strain of therianthropy affects all sentient mortal races, but those with strong magic are sometimes more resistant (some races fully so).
Those born or created under the full moon of Aetheros are distinct.
Moonserker
Any lunar being affected by the Aetheros super moon. They become difficult to see and hear in the night, their irises turn purple, they become stronger and far more aggressive, and control of themselves becomes a challenge (even for shifters who have mastered their other forms). They showcase bad moods and exaggerations approaching a super moon - like rapid hair growth or uncontrollable magic - while suffering from low energy and fatigue post moon. This tends to affect all lunar beings regardless of their origins.
Racial Details
Moonborn
A werecreature who was changed by bite during a super moon (by either a regular or moonborn were). These beings are rare because of the unlikelihood an average person would survive an attack from a berserking werecreature. Their fur shimmers with occasional pulses of pink or purple energy resembling Aetheros' scar, their irises are always bright purple, and their shifts are always tinged with a mindless rage difficult to learn control over. They gain more mass in transformations than normal werebeings and sound ghostly when uttering a sound of any kind.
In general a moonborn is going to have a much harder time hiding in society, but especially so when approaching the night of a super moon - the tips of their hair typically begin to take on that distinctive glow, even during the day.
They also have an exaggerated response to toxins such as wolfsbane, which less tolerant locals plant in their gardens to ward off those under the moon.
There are some who consider the moonborn to be a type of fae.
Social Overview
They are often skilled hunters and mercenaries.
Notes:
In a given month there is an average of seven full moon nights, what would be the same thirty day cycle as seen on Earth interspersed with full moons from the second moon Custodi, which completes its orbit twice in that time.
A ‘Super Aetheros’ moon takes up two to three of these nights, when Custodi is in new moon phase and Aetheros is full. This is called a ‘wink’ and these nights are known to gather werebeings together, celebrating under the full power of the magical moon as its warden rests. These super full moons are known to have a dramatic influence on werekind and rather intense for newcomers to the planet, even the most experienced of shifters (see below).
Aetheros itself does not ever ‘wink’ in return when Custodi is full.
Instead there are monthly ‘blinks’ when both moons are in a new moon phase simultaneously, usually lasting two nights (but on the rare occasion just one). These dark nights are when weres are rendered near powerless, but other creatures of the night run rampant - both reasons hunters use these nights to track active or weakened prey.
Children Of The Moon
A lunar affected being may have a rather difficult time in Anexus. There are an average of seven full moon nights in a month, a 'Super Aetheros' moon making up two to three of those nights. This much shifting scattered throughout a month has had many influences on the local therianthrope that live on the planet. They are arguably superior shapeshifters compared to those who are used to the effects of only one moon and a third of time forcefully spent in beastly form.
The therianthropes of Anexus do not form packs: regardless of the form they take, they are solitary by nature (if less so than vampire kind). But as sentient beings seeing gradual change and growing numbers over time under the great moon, they have been forming families and linking them into tribes to attempt becoming recognized as a true culture and race. There is one notable ‘shifter village’ that has made great progress in recent years.
They are weakened and vulnerable during the double new moon nights known as 'blinks' and are especially so in the wake of lunar eclipse. A local therianthrope also needs to worry about weaponry made from 'moon glass', which are extremely effective against them. A wound from this material will not heal properly without special care.
Any sentient humanoid race can be afflicted by the Anexian strains of therianthropy, with the original disease having changed and diversified over time. The ‘native’ strain of therianthropy affects all sentient mortal races, but those with strong magic are sometimes more resistant (some races fully so).
Those born or created under the full moon of Aetheros are distinct.
Moonserker
Any lunar being affected by the Aetheros super moon. They become difficult to see and hear in the night, their irises turn purple, they become stronger and far more aggressive, and control of themselves becomes a challenge (even for shifters who have mastered their other forms). They showcase bad moods and exaggerations approaching a super moon - like rapid hair growth or uncontrollable magic - while suffering from low energy and fatigue post moon. This tends to affect all lunar beings regardless of their origins.
Racial Details
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Classification: afflicted humanoid Subraces: werewolves (most common), werecats, wereodiles, many more Homeworld: - |
Lifespan: ??? Magic: no; not counting shifting prowess or preexisting skills Diet: depends on shift type, large majority are carnivorous Size: - Height Range: - Weight Range: - Skin Tones: - Eye Tones: - Hair Tones: - Distinctions: condition affects any sentient humanoid, physical details of shift dependent on base form, local 'moonborn' with bioluminescent qualities |
Moonborn
A werecreature who was changed by bite during a super moon (by either a regular or moonborn were). These beings are rare because of the unlikelihood an average person would survive an attack from a berserking werecreature. Their fur shimmers with occasional pulses of pink or purple energy resembling Aetheros' scar, their irises are always bright purple, and their shifts are always tinged with a mindless rage difficult to learn control over. They gain more mass in transformations than normal werebeings and sound ghostly when uttering a sound of any kind.
In general a moonborn is going to have a much harder time hiding in society, but especially so when approaching the night of a super moon - the tips of their hair typically begin to take on that distinctive glow, even during the day.
They also have an exaggerated response to toxins such as wolfsbane, which less tolerant locals plant in their gardens to ward off those under the moon.
There are some who consider the moonborn to be a type of fae.
Social Overview
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Population: small Living Style: solitary, communal Nations: - Languages: - Subcultures: ??? Village, Kingdom of Thornmouth Notable Members: Player Characters: Harpur Eberhardt, Jacomo, Cienna Known For: Produce: |
They are often skilled hunters and mercenaries.
Notes:
Moons and Magic Page wrote:
Phases
In a given month there is an average of seven full moon nights, what would be the same thirty day cycle as seen on Earth interspersed with full moons from the second moon Custodi, which completes its orbit twice in that time.
A ‘Super Aetheros’ moon takes up two to three of these nights, when Custodi is in new moon phase and Aetheros is full. This is called a ‘wink’ and these nights are known to gather werebeings together, celebrating under the full power of the magical moon as its warden rests. These super full moons are known to have a dramatic influence on werekind and rather intense for newcomers to the planet, even the most experienced of shifters (see below).
Aetheros itself does not ever ‘wink’ in return when Custodi is full.
Instead there are monthly ‘blinks’ when both moons are in a new moon phase simultaneously, usually lasting two nights (but on the rare occasion just one). These dark nights are when weres are rendered near powerless, but other creatures of the night run rampant - both reasons hunters use these nights to track active or weakened prey.
(ANEXIAN) VAMPIRES
Children Of The Night
While the undead are far from a beloved people, in Thornmouth they are allowed to 'live' and thrive freely as long as they learn to handle their condition appropriately. They have been on Anexus for many hundreds of years, the nature of the strain from which they originated changed and diverged over time*. An Anexian vampire grows slowly in power with age, with no great importance or prestige placed upon young sires: for here the strains of vampirism do not dilute, but change and strengthen with each new generation. It is not at all unheard of for a 'fledgling' to kill a young and inexperienced sire who was not prepared to handle them.
*this will begin to happen with any vampiric strain introduced to Anexus - not to any existing foreign vampires, but to anyone they sire underneath the watchful eye of Aetheros, which some describe as claiming supernatural conditions for its own
Racial Details
While it saps therianthrope of their power, during the double new moon nights known as 'blinks' vampires tend to find their own abilities increased greatly. A vampire may find taking on specialized forms much easier than normal, among other such boons. There is also a rare breed among those of long passed down local strain, especially gifted individuals known by some as 'blinkers'. They are able to use powerful shadow magic, leaping long distances between patches of darkness during blink nights.
A local strain of vampire will always, to some degree, be an energy vampire - dependent on blood, but capable of stealing the magical resources of the lunar dependent during blink nights. There are some who most certainly prey on therianthrope at this time for exactly that reason, putting the two races at unfortunate natural odds.
Social Overview
There is no known true vampiric culture on Anexus, as most vampires tend to be solitary creatures by nature (on top of fledglings having a low survival rate, often going mad or falling victim to circumstances through lack of mentorship - they may display powers their sires cannot help them with). They have formed notable clans or families throughout history, but rarely do these groups extend their numbers beyond a manageable few. In the case of many vampires, they often tend to want to remain among their original kind where possible, considering themselves still primarily of that race despite their condition.
Notes:
Children Of The Night
While the undead are far from a beloved people, in Thornmouth they are allowed to 'live' and thrive freely as long as they learn to handle their condition appropriately. They have been on Anexus for many hundreds of years, the nature of the strain from which they originated changed and diverged over time*. An Anexian vampire grows slowly in power with age, with no great importance or prestige placed upon young sires: for here the strains of vampirism do not dilute, but change and strengthen with each new generation. It is not at all unheard of for a 'fledgling' to kill a young and inexperienced sire who was not prepared to handle them.
*this will begin to happen with any vampiric strain introduced to Anexus - not to any existing foreign vampires, but to anyone they sire underneath the watchful eye of Aetheros, which some describe as claiming supernatural conditions for its own
Racial Details
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Classification: afflicted sentient Subraces: blinkers Homeworld: - |
Lifespan: immortal Magic: yes; varies Diet: sanguivorous, require blood Size: - Height Range: - Weight Range: Skin Tones: - Eye Tones: - Hair Tones: - Distinctions: condition can affect any sentient humanoid, fatally burned by exposure to sunlight |
While it saps therianthrope of their power, during the double new moon nights known as 'blinks' vampires tend to find their own abilities increased greatly. A vampire may find taking on specialized forms much easier than normal, among other such boons. There is also a rare breed among those of long passed down local strain, especially gifted individuals known by some as 'blinkers'. They are able to use powerful shadow magic, leaping long distances between patches of darkness during blink nights.
A local strain of vampire will always, to some degree, be an energy vampire - dependent on blood, but capable of stealing the magical resources of the lunar dependent during blink nights. There are some who most certainly prey on therianthrope at this time for exactly that reason, putting the two races at unfortunate natural odds.
Social Overview
|
Population: rare Living Style: solitary Nations: - Languages: - Subcultures: - Notable Members: Player Characters: Tommaso Known For: Produce: - |
There is no known true vampiric culture on Anexus, as most vampires tend to be solitary creatures by nature (on top of fledglings having a low survival rate, often going mad or falling victim to circumstances through lack of mentorship - they may display powers their sires cannot help them with). They have formed notable clans or families throughout history, but rarely do these groups extend their numbers beyond a manageable few. In the case of many vampires, they often tend to want to remain among their original kind where possible, considering themselves still primarily of that race despite their condition.
Notes:
council 
