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{"data":{"description":"The Kivuuli, a mysterious and powerful interdimensional semi-humanoid creature. They are rumored to hold the key to the Realms Between. <a href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/MekHYpttNw\">Discord Community<\/a> for the Kivuuli and other species found in the Realms Between<\/p>\r\nCommon Variants: 0 Upgrade Tokens Uncommon Variants: 2 Upgrade Tokens Rare Variants: 6 Upgrade Tokens Mythic Variants: 10 Upgrade Tokens<\/p>\r\nUncommon Genes: 1 Upgrade Token Each Rare Genes: 5 Upgrade Tokens Mythic Genes: 10 Upgrade Tokens Common<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Normal\">Normal<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Dykuma\">Dykuma<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Malopuh%27rra\">Malopuh'rra<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Tundra\">Tundra<\/a> Uncommon <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Kaplan\">Kaplan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Lippizan\">Lippizan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Met%27saa\">Met'saa<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Zanzibar\">Zanzibar<\/a> Rare <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Maltese\">Maltese<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Ember\">Ember<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Oriental\">Oriental<\/a> Mythic<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Proto-Built\">Protean Met'saa\/Proto-built<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Polar\">Polar<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Fancy\">Fancy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Kivuuli%20Cross\">Crossbreeds<\/a> combine the upgrade cost of both, and will mainly be gotten through breeding Bases can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1y1Xp6pEzs05AWxgv0_PUzJy-ZM1YTMbR\">here<\/a><\/p>\r\nHowever, they are completely optional! You don't even have to do all the views, you can move things around, add to it. Or you can draw your own.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/51_71_v2WNimjzblhbLTI.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1158\" height=\"936\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Kivuuli are a tall and powerful carnivorous furred semi-humanoid inter-dimensional race. They are generally black or dark grey with blue, green, or purple eyes and usually have slightly darker markings in stripes, spots, or a combination of the two that only show under certain light. There are several subspecies with different colors and markings being common from the warm reds of the forest dwelling Met'saa to the whites of the Lippizan to the blue grays of the Maltese or the golden color of Desert Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nThey are elongated in build, with long limbs and are as comfortable on all fours as they are on two feet. They are incredibly wild, but generally won't attack unless attacked or threatened. Kivuuli are fully sapient and a social species. Despite their fearsome appearance, Kivuuli are a gentle and peaceful race with strong maternal instincts appearing in both males and females.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are very fast, especially when on all fours and live in groups known as Colonies.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/46_96_J8ebzKgaMxzPVmT.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1166\" height=\"940\" \/><\/p>","field2":"<h4>Between; Homeworld of the Kivuuli<\/h4>\r\n Imagine the air around you, full of bubbles. Now imagine that each of these bubbles is its own dimension. It's own universe. Has its own laws, and inner workings. Now, imagine all the space between the bubbles. A strange place, between the dimensions; ever shifting and changing. This is where the Kivuuli dwell and come from. The rules of physics do not apply; great islands of stone float through the darkness, covered in forests of strange bioluminescent fungus-like plants and other strange flora. Inhabited by strange creatures of all shapes and sizes, from tiny glowing dragonlike lizards to massive beasts that would put Earth's dinosaurs to shame. Literally anything can happen in Between, any sort of creature, any world, any dimension, any universe. The Kivuuli can reach many worlds and this is part of the reason for their great success as an apex predator.<\/p>\r\nHarsh, but oddly beautiful, Between is buzzing with strange power and magic and the magical rules and laws of hundreds of dimensions, worlds, and universes clashing together in beautiful chaos. The areas of Between are effected by the laws of the dimensions and worlds closest to them; making Between highly varied. Between is beautiful; but as beautiful as it is it is deadly, thus the Kivuuli have had to adapt in to fast, powerful pack hunting predators that have claws that can slash through granite and a terrible shrieking wail that can drive fear into the hearts of the bravest.<\/p>\r\nThey are fast, able to teleport, and able to face creatures several times their size. This strange place has many names. Darkrealm, Tartarus, Limbo; but many simply call this place the Between; for this is what it is. The realm between dimensions. A strange and mysterious place; beautiful to behold but deadly to those not from there. While most of Between is completely dark aside from glimmers of light here and there and bioluminsecent plants and animals, some isles are ruled by a great orb of energy mimicking a sun. Some have their own weather patterns and day night cycles. Cracks and passages between dimensions are always opening and closing, allowing Kivuuli the ability to enter and leave Between at will, though they must be careful as some rifts are temporary and could close and leave them stranded in a strange and unfamiliar world. Others, still, are horribly unstable and deadly and could rip an unsuspecting Kivuuli to shreds leaving nothing but splatters of blood and the memory of their horrible screams.<\/p>","field3":"<h4>Calls, Vocalizations and Language<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli voices have a strange, otherworldly quality to them. They sound almost distorted, with a clear staticy crackling undertone. This is likely because of their interdimensional nature.<\/p>\r\nTheir voices are often deep, with a growl or purr like sound mixed in. A Kivuuli speaking is much what a person might imagine a lion’s voice would sound like if it learned to speak. They tend to have emphasis on sharper sounds, like k, z, v, and such, and their r’s are often lengthened slightly in a slight growl or purr. They are fully capable of learning languages aside from their own and, in fact, Kivuuli learn incredibly fast. Despite their wild primitive ways, they are incredibly intelligent. They mainly keep to their wilder ways due to culture, and how volatile and ever-changing Between is. You can't exactly advance when the laws of reality around you are constantly changing!<\/p>\r\nOutside of speech, they have a whole range of natural vocalizations. When excited or friendly, they let out a sound similar to a chittering cat. Though much deeper and lower in tone. This sound is often used by playful kits, or adults trying to show they mean no harm. Kivuuli also purr. It’s a deep, heavy rumbling sound with a bit of static to it.<\/p>\r\nThey chitter, chirp, chuff, rumble, growl, purr, hiss, click, snarl, roar, howl, and many other sounds.<\/p>\r\nChirping is used to call and greet fellow members of their Colony. The chuff is similar to a chuffing tiger, and they use this to greet loved ones and family or close friends. The rumble and growl show varying levels of irritation and\/or anger, eventually leading to a wild snarling or finally, their terrible howl or roar.<\/p>\r\nPurring is an expression of pleasure and contentment.<\/p>\r\nWhen injured, they let out soft whimpers and whines.<\/p>\r\nWhen sad, they will either be very quiet, whimper softly, or let out a heartbreaking wail when mourning the death of a loved one.<\/p>\r\nTheir language incorporates all of these vocalizations. And they even integrate this when speaking other languages as well.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli also rely strongly on body language. The position of one’s ears, tone of voice, and posture can change the meaning of what they are trying to say. Looking at the position of the ears is a great way to tell what mood a Kivuuli is in. When neutral, the ears are out slightly to the sides and in a relaxed position. When alert or shocked, their ears perk up and swivel forward. Their ears often flick and swivel towards any sound, and many times they detect sounds other creatures will not.<\/p>\r\nWhen angry, their ears go back, and they lower their ears when sad, or trying to show submission. Higher ranking Kivuuli generally tend to hold their ears perked higher than lower ranking Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli can also make a strange tonal almost… droning sound. Somewhere between a thrum and a rumble, it can promote relaxation or healing. The sound is, indeed, very strange. And it is something that is rarely heard among Kivuuli so it is theorized that only a few of them are capable of, or know how to, produce this sound.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Culture, Customs and Heirarchy<\/h4>\r\n Not much is known of Kivuuli culture and customs, but it can be very complex even if it seems deceptively simple. Their customs are a mix between their wild and feral nature and their sapience. In some ways they can be considered very primitive, though not savage. In reality, Kivuuli believe strongly in living with the land. When living somewhere, they are very careful to preserve the balance of nature. They do not chase other predators out of their territory, and never over-hunt. They only take what they need, and use as much of their prey as they can. They use the pelts and fur in their nests, make things from their bones, horns, or hooves, and eat every part they are able to.<\/p>\r\nMost Kivuuli do not mate for life. As such, they do not have any ceremonies or weddings. Among Kivuuli, a Colony is a family. They do not have surnames, nor do they need them. Reproduction has nothing to do with feelings of love, but rather to make offspring. Kivuuli do sometimes mate for life, but this is fairly rare. Even those who are lifemates will sometimes mate with others and this is not considered cheating. It is completely normal, since it helps spread out the gene pool.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli hierarchy is very pack like. Their groups are referred to as Colonies, though some call them Clans. A Colony is lead by the Dominant Female, or Alpha Female. Males in higher positions are extremely rare. The highest ranking male or males are known as Betas.<\/p>\r\nThe Elders are the oldest and wisest members of the Colony. Just being old does not make you an Elder. Elders are story-tellers, legend-keepers; and even the Dominant Female often goes to them for advice or help. An Elder must always be respected. Kivuuli have a written language, and the Elders write their history into the caves their Colony dwells in. Their claws carve the stories and names of all Kivuuli in a Colony into the stone. The Halls of History, as a Kivuuli calls the dens and caves the Elders keep and dwell in, are considered sacred and must not be damaged in any way. Only the Elders are allowed to carve the stone within. Because of this, Kivuuli Colonies are VERY hesitant to leave their homes, even if threatened. They are incredibly sentimental of their history. When an Elder dies, their Heartstone is placed within the Hall with the Heartstones of all past Elders in a place of ultimate honor. The Dominant Female’s Heartstone are placed within the Halls as well.<\/p>\r\nThe highest ranking male is considered the Colony Dominant Male, or Beta Male. He usually leads with the female, but is completely subordinate towards her. He is dominant towards the males in the Colony, but not towards the females. The Beta Male is usually the first one a female in heat will choose, and most often is the chosen mate of the Alpha Female, simply because he is the strongest and most clever male in the Colony and has good genes.<\/p>\r\nThere are mid ranking males and females, who fight out their dominance among eachother, and Omegas.<\/p>\r\nOmegas are not treated badly, but they have no authority within the Colony and are almost never chosen as mates. Female Omegas are extremely rare, and generally only crippled, severely injured, or terminally ill females end up as an Omega. Omegas often act as nannies for the Colony, and often induce lactation to keep kits calm and fed while the stronger and higher ranking Kivuuli hunt and carry out other tasks. Kivuuli who play the part of nannies are treated very well, and given plenty of food so they can continue to produce milk for the kits they help care for.<\/p>\r\nLactating Kivuuli will often allow weak, sick, or elderly members of their colony to feed from them, for the strengthening and healing properties their milk has. While a human would consider this taboo, gross and strange, it is completely normal in Kivuuli society.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli take very good care of the less fortunate members of their Colonies. The crippled, the weak, the runty, the stunted, the injured, the elderly… all of them are well cared for. The entire Colony will pitch in together to insure the survival of even their weakest members. Weak Kivuuli may not reproduce, but they live comfortable and happy.<\/p>\r\nLower than Omegas, are the disgraced Kivuuli. They have done something terrible and lost their honor and are hated by the Colony and not treated well.<\/p>\r\nDisgraced Kivuuli are those who did something shameful. Not deserving of exile, they keep their name and aren’t chased away, but they are generally ostracized by their fellows and can’t fight their way up in rank even if strong and dominant. A Disgraced Kivuuli must provide for themselves and are not allowed access to the Colony’s food stores or hunts. They must prove themselves worthy to get out of this status and become Omegas, but they will never rise above omega status and will never be fully trusted again.<\/p>\r\nExiled Kivuuli are those who have committed the highest of crimes in their culture. Rape, murder, killing other sentient beings unprovoked, hurting innocent kits, and betrayal are among the crimes deemed worthy this fate worse than death. An Exile is called Itz’hil. This word means many things at once. “Exiled, Nameless, Shamed One, Marked One.”<\/p>\r\nThe Marking is sentenced by the Alpha Female and the Colony’s Elders. If the accused Kivuuli is not remorseful of their crimes, or their crimes are unforgivable, their teleportation ability is temporarily knocked out and they are chained to a pillar of stone that they can not escape from. Legs and arms clamped down so they can not move. The Alpha Female makes the first mark. She slashes into his chest a symbol, reciting the word “Itz’hil!” with each slash of her claws. The Elders are next, speaking something along the lines of “As you threw away your honor, I take away your name. You are Exile. You are Itz’hil. You are Nameless. You are Nothing.” followed by the family their actions hurt the most, then every other adult in the Colony. Children are not permitted to view or participate in these Ceremonies. The mark and word is repeated time and time and time again until the Kivuuli’s healing ability slows and the slashes form a scar, a mark that will forever mar their chest. This can take weeks of constant torture. Once the Marking Ceremony is complete, the exhausted exile is released from the chains, and viciously chased away by the Colony. Any Colony who sees these marks from that time on will not allow the exile into their territory. Exiles live a lonely and miserable life, and generally don’t last long since Kivuuli are such social creatures and depend strongly on eachother for survival and emotional wellbeing.<\/p>\r\nOlder, stronger Kivuuli can assert their dominance without a fight, simply with posture, ear position, and growling. Or, even, with confidence alone. Smaller males are generally more submissive than larger ones.<\/p>\r\nThe female is in charge; though she lets the males set up their pecking order however they want. If it gets to be too much, she’ll step in, assert her dominance, and put a stop to it. Battles for dominance never end in death. They fight until one backs down. Sometimes this doesn’t even get past the snarling, growling, circling eachother, and displaying their strength and ferocity.<\/p>\r\nSimply watching and listening to a Kivuuli within a Colony can give you a ton of clues on their status. The dominant leaders move with their heads high and ears alert and perked up. When addressing others, they stand tall and look down at them with their hands out to the sides. Submissive members take a lower submissive posture with their claws crossed in front of them and eyes turned to the side. Their ears are held slightly lowered. Direct eye contact is considered a threat, thus lower ranking Kivuuli must not look higher ranking Kivuuli directly in the eye without permission.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli have strange ceremonies when a member of their Colony dies. First, the dead Kivuuli is mourned. Mourning can last days, and is not done until the family of the dead Kivuuli says it is. Those closest will wail and howl their grief on and on, a haunting and heartbreaking sound. Almost a haunting and heartbreaking song. Especially at the death of an Elder or Alpha. The entire Colony howls and mourns. But the time for Mourning does not last forever. Once the deceased Kivuuli is mourned, they have a special celebration.<\/p>\r\nA feast is held, with dancing, singing, storytelling, and laughing. For such a sombre thing, there is great joy. The Colony remembers their deceased member fondly. They talk about their life, their effect on the Colony. The Heartstone is then placed in a special antechamber within the Halls of History. The Elders carve the shape of the Heartstone out into the stone, gently place the gem within, and carve the name of the deceased Kivuuli beneath with their claws to be remembered forever. All deceased Kivuuli in a Colony are remembered unless they are Disgraced when they die. If disgraced, the Heartstone is set aside and ignored… a strong enough crime has the Heartstone being thrown off into the blackness surrounding the strange floating isles the Kivuuli dwell on.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are very matriarchal. The female is entirely in charge; the dominant female is submissive to none. A Colony lead by a male is considered unnatural and weak.<\/p>\r\nThey tolerate mistakes in children more than in adults. Children are still learning, and can be taught. Adults know better.<\/p>\r\nThese colonies can harbor anything from a small handful of Kivuuli, to hundreds or in some rare cases, over a thousand of them. The Elder position is not limited to just one; if there is more than one elder, they are all looked up to and view eachother as equals.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli live as a community and share everything. Their homes, their food. The strong help provide for the weak, those not strong enough to hunt do other tasks within the Colony, such as helping care for kits. They respect eachother’s homes and belongings. Theft and stealing is frowned upon, but not enough for alphas to get involved. The one stolen from is in charge of getting their belongings back. This often results in a spat. If it gets severe enough, the Alpha or one of the Betas will step in.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are territorial. Not against others in their own Colony, but towards those from other Colonies. While not common, some alpha females and the highest ranking beta males will use urine marking to mark the edges of their territory.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are a mixture of supernatural and biological.<\/p>\r\nThey have very little concept of personal space. Kivuuli are very touchy with eachother. They spend a lot of time cuddling and generally being near eachother. They are VERY fond of touching. They often stay very close to those they care about. Communal grooming is very common and reinforces bonds within the colony, and among friends and family.<\/p>\r\nThey have no concept of doors. They have no shame in nudity. Kivuuli do not wear clothes. Some, though, may decorate themselves with gems and things they have found. Their homes are open, and they come and go as they please.<\/p>","field4":"<h4>Appearance and anatomy<\/h4>\r\nKivuuli are somewhat humanoid in appearance, but have some very clear differences. They are long and lean, with elongated torsos and limbs. The average Kivuuli stands around nine to nine and a half feet tall. They have pawlike digitgrade feet which have four toes, or four toes and a dewclaw. Being interdimensional creatures, they often appear with a strange dark aura around them with what seems like tiny sparks or glimmers of lights appearing and floating aimlessly around them and vanishing again. This aura and glowing particles usually matches the basic color of their eyes. It only shows when they are using, or have recently used their reality bending abilities.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli skin is incredibly tough and thick. It takes some strength and a sharp blade to pierce it. They have a coating of fur that is short, but dense and soft. Their natural body temperature is around 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and thus they are very warm to the touch. The fur is usually longest around the shoulders, down the back, and in small fringes around the ankles and wrists.<\/p>\r\nThe fur on a female's ruff is longer and thicker than that of a male, and the skin there is looser and thicker and tougher as well. This serves as a protective barrier against the male's fangs, since they tend to bite during mating. Even then, he does often draw blood though most females don't mind this. It actually feels good to them.<\/p>\r\nBeing interdimensional creatures, Kivuuli are extremely light. Even standing around nine or more feet tall, they rarely weigh over one hundred fifty pounds. This is due to them being made up of something like solidified energy. Light, but incredibly strong. This not fully physical nature also manifests in their spines, claws, and fangs. When angry, they actually extend out and get longer and sharper, and when calm shrink back to normal size and sharpness.<\/p>\r\nThey have scale like spines on their forearms pointing back off the elbow with membranes between them. Similar scale like spines go down their spine, also having membranes between them. These spines flare up when frightened, angry, or threatened. They are also used in dominance displays.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli blood is a dark nearly black purple and thicker than human blood.<\/p>\r\nMales are far more common than females. There are about five males for every one female hatched.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/42_60_zBfnYHQ2UN2fnQD.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1124\" height=\"1124\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/55_75_xKgtjx7uZ9M0h6G.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/75_95_tRBRP6yesqPxpjz.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1086\" height=\"1181\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/52_72_VLLxKqy7WwiQoD7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1091\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Diet and Feeding<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli are obligate carnivorous. Their diet consists almost entirely of meat, though they might eat other things if no meat is available. They will sometimes add other things to their diet, such as fruits and similar for vitamins, minerals and fiber. Kivuuli tend to love sweets, but they aren’t fond of sour things.<\/p>\r\n<h4> Abilities<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli have many special abilities they are capable of using.<\/p>\r\nTeleportation<\/strong> - Kivuuli are able to teleport, though their methods are strange and unique. They are able to bend the fabric of reality around them in minor ways, the most pronounced being the ability to literally tear a crack in reality and step through. The crack always heals itself right after the Kivuuli steps through. Not ALL Kivuuli can do this. It is something that must be taught. Kivuuli can see and sense the flow of energy around them. They can also completely silence their steps, even at a full run.<\/p>\r\n**Note that they teleport by jumping through the dimension - or, within the bubble. They can not break out of the bubble into greater between, but they do, in a sense, touch Between when teleporting.<\/p>\r\nParalyzing Stare<\/strong> - The Paralyzing Stare is an ability Kivuuli developed for hunting and self defense. They stare you right in the eyes, which has a hypnotizing effect, rendering their prey or enemy unable to move. As long as your eyes are locked with the Kivuuli’s, you can’t move. When eye contact is broken, you can move again. Most Kivuuli ONLY use this ability when absolutely necessary. Generally if they are attacked. They catch the person’s gaze, causes them to freeze up, and teleports away to safety as they recover.<\/p>\r\nIntimidating Howl<\/strong> - The Intimidating Howl is a horrible unearthly howl, laced with the Kivuuli’s reality bending power. It sounds somewhere between a feral howl, savage snarling, horrible shrieking, and radio static. It forces feelings of terror into the one hearing it, giving them the desire to run away. Most can not handle it, and either faint where they are or run in horror. This terrible howl seems to come from every direction at once, making the Kivuuli’s location hard to determine. Reality Bending<\/strong> - This ability is the underlying cause to many other abilities Kivuuli have. They are able to bend reality around them in minor ways, stifling the sound of their footsteps, stopping you from hearing their breath or smelling them or sensing their presence. They can also leap through cracks in reality to teleport and many other small, but useful applications.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Evolutionary Background<\/h4>\r\n Their society is very wild in many ways. They are sapient and intelligent, but far more ruled by wild instincts and feral tendencies than humans. This has not changed because it works for them.<\/p>\r\n Between is a dangerous place, and Kivuuli reproduce slowly. Smaller Colonies are much more likely to breed faster. They also breed faster is there is plenty of food around. During times of famine females will actually stop having heats entirely. This is natural; it allows a Colony to grow strong and maintain their numbers. More babies born means more Kivuuli likely to make it to adulthood. A lone Kivuuli female is several times more likely to become pregnant than a Kivuuli in a big Colony. When a lot of Kivuuli populate one area, or food is less plentiful, their fertility as a whole drops dramatically. The reason why is unknown, but a hormonal response is the most likely candidate. Kivuuli in smaller Colonies are also more likely to go into heat more often. Kivuuli can go into heat every one to three years. Smaller Colonies' viable members will go into heat once a year; bigger colonies often every three years and sometimes even five.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli leave Between to hunt for food not available in their homeworld, gather resources, and explore. They usually go in small parties.  There may be a small number of Kivuuli with the ability to not age or die of age, but there are plenty of other things killing them and keeping their population balanced.<\/p>\r\nAll of this together has honed their intelligence to a fine point, but also nurtured their wild side giving them human intelligence coupled with bestial behaviors and instincts. Their ancestors are, in fact, extinct. Natural selection made sure of that. Kinda like we don’t see neanderthals or proto-humans running about. Some of their earliest ancestors were sleek, quadrupedal spiked predators that used teleportation to hunt or escape danger. They were fast, strong, and fierce, forming packs that were highly territorial.<\/p>","field5":"<h4>Lifespan<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli have very long natural lives; generally living up to 1000 years. As they start to grow older and approach the end of their lifespan, their Heartstones get less and less effective. This leaves them unable to feed as efficiently or teleport since their bodies stop being able to handle the discordant energies in the rifts they create. Their healing ability starts to slow down as well; and eventually goes away completely. Eventually, their body can no longer repair the damage done by age, and they grow weak and tired. Their fur will begin to gray around the eyes and mouth, and tips of ears as well as on their hands and feet. Once they reach a certain age, they are no longer capable of producing milk, even if they spend a lot of time around kits.<\/p>\r\nWhen they sense their time is near, they surround themselves by friends and family. They say their goodbyes, before slipping away peacefully. Most often in their sleep. Some Kivuuli, though, can live on way beyond this time. It seems to be a strange mutation. A Heartstone that can actually slowly repair itself; thus negating the effects of aging present in most of the species. Those who have this mutation will need to sleep more and rest more once they reach a certain age, and their fertility drops. While less fertile, they are still able to have children. They just don't do so as often and females are harder to get pregnant. They will not show any visible signs of aging; they will not grey or dull in color.<\/p>\r\nThey are not affected by aging, at all, and they will live on, healthy, until they are killed by something other than age. This tends to be genetic; so those of their line have a chance of getting this ability. The oldest Kivuuli to have ever lived is an Elder named Kaitu, a member of the rare and isolated ‘Maltese’ or ‘Blue’ subspecies. Severe damage to the Heartstone can overrun this ability, causing an ancient Kivuuli to age and die very quickly after being hurt, within a year.<\/p>\r\nBelow is an elder Kivuuli, showing the greying. He is also scarred up.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/79_100_JsBUVWncegFgtLX.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"845\" height=\"1125\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Mating and Reproduction<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli males and females look quite similar. Genitals are internal, though gender can be told through differences in their bodies, demeanor, and voice. If one sees a male and female Kivuuli standing side by side, first glance won’t reveal many differences. But if you look closely you can tell. Kivuuli do have the occasional hermaphrodite, this is a rare mutation. Sexual Dimorphism Male: Kivuuli genitals are internal. Males are slimmer and smaller than females, and generally hold themselves lower as well. They are naturally submissive since even a very strong male wouldn't stand a chance against the physically bigger and stronger female. Males do not have much curve to them, if any at all and have narrow waists and hips. They have semi defined pecs, and the fur on their lower belly and inner thighs is not any longer than the fur on the rest of their bodies. They have teats on the lower belly, usually small and not very visible. They tend to have thicker and longer chest fur as well as slightly longer\/fluffier fur around their neck. This can sometimes amplify their cheek fluff, too.<\/p>\r\nMale Kivuuli have lower, rougher and deeper voices than females. The growling undertone is more pronounced.<\/p>\r\nFemale: Females are taller and noticeably stronger than males. Her body is thicker, and moderately curvy with wider hips leading down to long and slim, but strong legs. While a layer of fat beneath her skin makes her look softer, beneath that softness is a lot of brute strength and ferocity.<\/p>\r\nThe fur down the back of a female’s neck, shoulders, and back is thicker and longer than a male's, and she also has thicker longer fur on her belly and inner thigh, which thickens further when carrying, or nursing young.<\/p>\r\nThe female Kivuuli's voice is softer and higher in pitch than a male's. Her growl is smoother, but deeper and fiercer. Her purr is a low and smooth. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Heat and Mating<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli attract mates through scent and displays of strength and prowess.<\/p>\r\nFemale Kivuuli go into heat regularly, but when observed in our dimension it happens roughly once every 1-3 years. A female raising a kit can not enter this state as long as she is nursing the kit. This is the only time she can become pregnant. It lasts for roughly two weeks or until she finds a suitable mate.<\/p>\r\nThere are three stages to the heat.<\/p>\r\nStage 1- Her scent begins to shift. This is not actual heat yet; she is not fertile. But her body is preparing itself for heat. She starts to become more interested in males, but also more hormonal and dangerous. She also becomes territorial towards other females, not letting them near her den. This stage lasts a few days.<\/p>\r\nStage 2- Her scent grows stronger, and her body is almost ready to mate. This is the attracting a mate stage. The testing the males and letting them fight for her stage. She becomes actively interested in males and will actually pay attention to their squabbles. She can become aggressive towards other females. This stage of heat lasts about a week. At this stage, her pheromones rouse the males into excited anticipation; causing them to follow her an attempt to impress her.<\/p>\r\nStage 3 - This is the most intense part of her heat. This is when she is fully ready to mate and most likely to ovulate. Her heat scent becomes quite potent and easy to detect even from far away. She becomes extremely restless, unable to stay in one place for long. Many females will pace on and on, grumbling and becoming downright cranky. Younger females react more strongly to this stage; while older females can usually ignore it. Heat is very uncomfortable at this stage, but it's just a matter of waiting of the female isn't interested in having a kit.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli females, like cats, are stimulated ovulators.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Pregnancy and Eggs<\/h4>\r\nA Kivuuli female will know within a few days if she is pregnant or not.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are an egg-bearing race. They carry the egg for four to five months, growing large quickly. The male is expected to hunt for her and bring her food, since her appetite will increase as she packs the egg with nutrients it will need once it exits her body. The baby will also develop considerably during this time. By the time the egg is laid, the brain of the fetus is almost completely formed; the rest of the body finishes forming after the egg is laid. As the egg forms, the female’s fur grows thicker and denser, to make better lining for her nest. The fur around her belly and inner thighs thickens too; and she will not shed her guardhairs.<\/p>\r\nTheir pelvis separates in two places, and is held together by springy, elastic tendons. Each separation contains a small bone bridge that breaks in the process of laying the first egg. This produces a small, sharp crack\/pop, and is quite painful. The bone bridge never grows back and any eggs after the first are easier. Once the egg has passed through, the tendons will spring back, and the Kivuuli’s natural healing ability will repair any damage within an hour or two of laying while the exhausted mother sleeps. Males do not have the tendons or bone bridges.<\/p>\r\nWhile inside them, the egg shell is thick and leathery. It forms soon after conception and plays the part of the placenta until it comes time to lay. During the last few days before laying it becomes the egg shell, which and is soft and pliable. After laying, the shell takes roughly a half hour to harden. It becomes tough, hard and slightly textured. It is very thick and tough, hard to break from the outside. It is, however, very vulnerable until it’s fully hardened. The reason it develops so long inside the mother is so the brain can form properly; the mother gives it a kick start, and the hatchling finishes development within the egg.<\/p>\r\nThey look huge when they are carrying, but most of that is actually fluids that protect and cushion the egg as well as providing lubrication for laying. Nutrients are stored within the forming shell, though the hatchling has a Proteanct link to the mother until a few days before laying.<\/p>\r\nDuring the pregnancy, the Kivuuli will have an intense nesting instinct. She will take anything she can find. Fur of other shedding Kivuuli, blankets, any soft thing, and build a nest. During the last week of carrying, she will shed, and line her nest with her fur. Once the egg is laid, it will be watched over and kept warm by her while its father hunts for her. It will hatch in another 4-5 months. This can vary by subspecies, or location, or individual Kivuuli. Eggs can vary in color, but are usually smooth and black with slightly lighter colored mottling. This can change depending on the individual Kivuuli or their environment.<\/p>\r\nA hatchling Kivuuli is known as a kit, because they are very kitten like in their behavior. Kits are known to imprint on the energy signature and voice of the one who spends the most time around the egg. As such, they know their mother the instant they come out. While hatching, a mother will crouch near the egg, face inches away from it and make soft chirring calls to encourage the kit to break free of the egg. Upon hatching, they will follow the scent of the mother’s teats. The scent and feel of the kit suckling will trigger a surge of hormones, and she will begin lactation. This surge of hormones will reduce the Kivuuli to soft, relaxed purring. Any Kivuuli can be triggered to lactate in this manner, be it male or female. Once lactation begins, the Kivuuli’s appetite will increase. They often feed their milk to older or sick individuals within the Colony to help them survive and stay strong.<\/p>\r\nIn the pregnant Kivuuli, the teats poke out of the fur, as the fur sheds from directly around them.<\/p>\r\nThe consistency is thick, almost like a probiotic yogurt shake, and the taste is surprisingly mild and a little sweet. It is highly nutritious, high in protein and energy; and everything else a kit needs to grow.  It is not at all uncommon for Kivuuli in a Colony to nurse eachother's young. Sometimes older members will play the part of nanny for younger, less experienced Kivuuli. Some Kivuuli will choose to never stop lactating for the purpose of playing nanny to the kits within the Colony.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are extremely protective of their kits. If you hurt a kit, the whole Colony will attack. Even one lone Kivuuli is far more ferocious and dangerous than any mother bear; you don’t want to know what would happen if you pissed off a whole colony of them.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are highly lactose intolerant. It causes a lot of digestive upset. As such, Kivuuli milk has no lactose in it.<\/p>\r\nIt is not unusual for members of a Colony to nurse eachother’s young. In fact, this is a very common practice, though some Kits will not nurse on any but their mother. This depends on the individual. It is most common for the omegas to act as nannies for the Colony, helping to care for the kits while stronger individuals hunt and bring in food. Because of this Omegas, and especially nannies, while not given any authority, are not treated badly. Kivuuli tend to produce more milk than is needed. If it gets uncomfortable, they tend to empty their teats themselves. This keeps their supply strong, is relaxing and calming, tastes good to them, and is considered completely normal. While a human would find such activity odd, it is completely natural for a Kivuuli. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Kits and children <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/56_76_oIgVWPjEOdYq3uF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"804\" height=\"534\" \/><\/h4>\r\n <\/p>\r\nKits are teeny when they hatch, a little smaller than the average human baby. They hatch with their eyes closed, but able to hear and smell just fine. Their ears are droopy and their bodies are pudgy and bellies round from the yolk of the egg still inside, being slowly absorbed to give them strength while their mother’s milk comes in and they learn to nurse properly. Kits open their eyes when they are between three and seven days old.<\/p>\r\nThey are generally fairly quiet and don’t cry often, though do tend to make small chitters, squeaks, and mewling noises. They hate being alone.<\/p>\r\nBabies have a very strong instinct to not relieve themselves within the nest. When they feel the need to go, they will let their parent know with insistent screeching until taken somewhere. Like a newborn kitten or puppy, they will not eliminate on their own. There is a pressure point just at the base of the neck that can be triggered through a certain way of holding onto the scruff that triggers them to go reflexively; they will only go when held in that certain way until they learn to move about on all fours. Once able to move about on all fours they will always leave the nest to eliminate.  Young Kivuuli are fully mobile by the time they are three months old, and run about everywhere on all fours.<\/p>\r\nThe babies depend completely on their parents and the others in their colony for survival. They are unable to teleport. In fact, this takes a lot of time to get right and generally has to be taught though can be done autonomously if the Kivuuli feels that its life is in danger. Kits are weaned between 2-3 years old, depending on the kit in question. Some wean themselves earlier, some later. A mother will never force wean her kit, because if they are still nursing it means they likely still need to. Kits are able to move about by the time they are three months old. As kits get older and start to move around, they love to practice their hunting instincts and will often hunt, and eat, small animals once their teeth grow in. They generally start getting teeth when they are about a year old. They like to show their kills off to their parents, or others in the Colony.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli grow bigger and stronger as they age. At roughly 15, they reach sexual maturity. They are not considered adults yet, more like a 15-16 year old human. Sexually mature, but not mentally mature. Around 18 to 23, they stop growing and achieve their full height. It is around this time they learn to effect reality around them both in silencing their steps and in creating and jumping through little dimensional cracks to teleport. They usually stay with their parents until full maturity, and after that remain with their Colony of birth.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli children are incredibly awkward and clumsy until they grow into their long limbs. They spend more time on all fours than on two feet, though around ten years old they start getting up on two feet more often. Even into adulthod, they spend time both on all fours, and on two feet equally depending on the situation. Kits hurt themselves frequently, but this only kick-starts their natural healing ability. Kits are known for getting themselves into trouble, constantly. They are mischievous, playful, energetic, and insatiably curious. The entire colony works to keep the children safe and alive. Just like kittens.<\/p>\r\nFemale kits are a bit more energetic and feisty than males.<\/p>\r\nYoung males love to playfight and spar among themselves. These playfights grow more intense once they near adolescence, roughly around 10-12 years old or so. Arouns 12 years old, a Kivuuli will begin to go th rough puberty. Sometimes, these playfights get a bit too intense, leaving one or both young males bloody. They step away to heal, which is usually finished within minutes. Once healed, they go at it again. Adolescent males are constantly tussling, wrestling, and play-fighting, which only grows more frequent and intense the closer to adulthood they get. While these bouts of snapping, screaming, growling, and snarling looks terrifying and deadly, they look far, far, FAR worse than they actually are. They never seriously hurt eachother and other Kivuuli in the Colony know very well the difference between play and real fighting, since real fighting is far louder and more vicious. As males get older, they mellow out considerably, and only face off against other males in contests of strength in the presence of a receptive female. They do this to try to impress her. They usually don’t mellow out fully until around 30 or so; around 20-30 they are fully mature, but have bouts of wild, child-like energetic kittenlike playfulness.<\/p>\r\nAs a female reaches adolescence, she becomes fiercer and more commanding. If she joins a playfight, the males usually back down and submit almost instantly. Playfights between two females are far more vicious and noisy and dangerous-looking than playfights between males. They are practicing to take dominance someday; males just fight for fun or to pass on their genes. She starts to show interest in the male’s battles, and starts to show more interest in those that win these fights. Most of the time, she will avoid a mate when she has her first heat cycle, as pregnancy would be hard on her body at that age. The first heat cycle generally happens around 15 years of age. She usually won’t choose a mate until she is at her full size since a younger body is less able to successfully carry an egg. Most males will not attempt to impress a young female unless they themselves are young.<\/p>\r\nShe will usually chase off any male that comes near while going through her first heat. The first heat cycle is usually short, and not too intense. She is not fertile for this cycle, it is simply her body announcing that it is mature. Her heats will gradually get longer until they settle at the normal length at around 18-20 years old. If a female is not ready to have a kit of her own, she will hide away and ignore or chase off any males that try to gain her attention. Most females prefer not to have a kit until they have gained more experience. Young mothers are far more likely to be aggressive and attack anything they see as a threat than older mothers who are more experienced in raising, guiding, and protecting a child.<\/p>","field6":"The dewclaw is a fairly common variation found among Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nAnother common variation is the heel spur.  Some Kivuuli have both heelspurs and dewclaws.<\/p>\r\nSome Kivuuli are unable to retract their claws. This is very rare; but when it does show up it is not much of a hindrance. They are generally chosen as hunters, though they have to be careful since their claws are very sharp when fully extended. They often make claw caps for themselves to avoid hurting themselves or others.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli also sometimes have manes, ranging from a strip of fur down the spine to a full lionlike mane found in some Maltese.<\/p>\r\nA rare mutation can cause them to lack spines.<\/p>\r\nThe Bully mutation causes Kivuuli to be bigger and more muscular than their fellows. They lose a lot of speed and agility, but gain a lot of brute strength.<\/p>\r\nIt is extremely for Kivuuli to have no markings, though it is far more common to have markings around the shoulders and hips. They should have at least a darkening around the shoulders backs and hips, with some subtle striping or spotting around the shoulders and hips.<\/p>\r\nLong Fur - The Kivuuli's for grows longer and thicker than usual<\/p>\r\nIntersex - (They are often either more masculine or more feminine, though nonbinary individuals are not uncommon. Nonbinary kivuuli generally appear between the size of the male and the size of the female, and aren't interested in dominance or engaging in the fights and spats their gendered counterparts do)<\/p>\r\nRex Coat (Curly, this shows in varying degrees, fairly common, but usually subtle)<\/p>\r\nFeathering (Light, Medium, Heavy or Fringed)<\/p>\r\nLeucism (Can appear either patchy, white, near white, or unusually pale. This occurs either partial, or full. Leucistic Kivuuli are very rare!)<\/p>\r\nMelenistic (Menelistic Kivuuli are almost impossible to tell apart from regular Kivuuli unless from one of the subspecies)<\/p>\r\nFurless (Rare, but not unheard of. Tends to show up in warmer areas.)<\/p>\r\nLengthened Ear Tufts (Rare) Albinism\/Partial Albinism (EXTREMELY rare! Most Albino Kivuuli are either blind, or almost blind, though healthy ones can appear among the ranks of Common Kivuuli.)<\/p>\r\nLengthened Cheek Fluffs (Uncommon, common among Maltese)<\/p>","field7":"<h4>Tips for Designing your Kivuuli<\/h4>\r\n The pads will always match the iris in color, though always darker and less saturated, unless the Kivuuli is a Lippizan.<\/p>\r\nLippizan have black pads and membranes and skin, whereas normal Kivuuli, and Kivuuli of other breeds have flesh color somewhat matching their eyes.<\/p>\r\nA good top is to select the iris color, darken it slightly and desaturate it for the pupil and lighten it for the sclera. If the Kivuuli has heterochromia, the fleshy bits can match either eye. Maltese have a black sclera, a trait not seen in any other variants.<\/p>\r\nAnother tip is try not to make your Kivuuli too saturated. They must look natural.<\/p>\r\nFor color reference on Dykuma and Malopuh'rra, look at lions, caracals, fennecs, and similar creatures. The most common look is Caracal-like with some spotting, dappling and striping. Urban Puh'rra are slightly smaller and darker in color.<\/p>\r\nFor regular Kivuuli, they can have slight hints of color, though never too saturated or obvious since other color is added by a gene. They can be dark grey to near stark black. Markings are usually slightly darker, but can be slightly lighter in some occasions.<\/p>\r\nTundra Kivuuli come in soft creams and browns, but never stark white. Think like the summer coat of an arctic fox for coloration. They can appear nearly white during the winter. You are free to add both winter and summer coats to their reference!<\/p>\r\nMany Kivuuli are lighter on the bellies and darker on the backs, shoulders, and hips and dorsal stripes are common.<\/p>\r\nThe spines are usually black, though can be lighter, and always match the claws in color. The inside of the mouth is generally lighter than the membrane\/pad color. The membranes between the spines match their flesh.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"The Kivuuli, a mysterious and powerful interdimensional semi-humanoid creature. They are rumored to hold the key to the Realms Between. <a href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/MekHYpttNw\">Discord Community<\/a> for the Kivuuli and other species found in the Realms Between<\/p>\r\nCommon Variants: 0 Upgrade Tokens Uncommon Variants: 2 Upgrade Tokens Rare Variants: 6 Upgrade Tokens Mythic Variants: 10 Upgrade Tokens<\/p>\r\nUncommon Genes: 1 Upgrade Token Each Rare Genes: 5 Upgrade Tokens Mythic Genes: 10 Upgrade Tokens Common<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Normal\">Normal<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Dykuma\">Dykuma<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Malopuh%27rra\">Malopuh'rra<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Tundra\">Tundra<\/a> Uncommon <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Kaplan\">Kaplan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Lippizan\">Lippizan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Met%27saa\">Met'saa<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Zanzibar\">Zanzibar<\/a> Rare <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Maltese\">Maltese<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Ember\">Ember<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Oriental\">Oriental<\/a> Mythic<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Proto-Built\">Protean Met'saa\/Proto-built<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Polar\">Polar<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Fancy\">Fancy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Kivuuli%20Cross\">Crossbreeds<\/a> combine the upgrade cost of both, and will mainly be gotten through breeding Bases can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1y1Xp6pEzs05AWxgv0_PUzJy-ZM1YTMbR\">here<\/a><\/p>\r\nHowever, they are completely optional! You don't even have to do all the views, you can move things around, add to it. Or you can draw your own.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/51_71_v2WNimjzblhbLTI.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1158\" height=\"936\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Kivuuli are a tall and powerful carnivorous furred semi-humanoid inter-dimensional race. They are generally black or dark grey with blue, green, or purple eyes and usually have slightly darker markings in stripes, spots, or a combination of the two that only show under certain light. There are several subspecies with different colors and markings being common from the warm reds of the forest dwelling Met'saa to the whites of the Lippizan to the blue grays of the Maltese or the golden color of Desert Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nThey are elongated in build, with long limbs and are as comfortable on all fours as they are on two feet. They are incredibly wild, but generally won't attack unless attacked or threatened. Kivuuli are fully sapient and a social species. Despite their fearsome appearance, Kivuuli are a gentle and peaceful race with strong maternal instincts appearing in both males and females.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are very fast, especially when on all fours and live in groups known as Colonies.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/46_96_J8ebzKgaMxzPVmT.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1166\" height=\"940\" \/><\/p>","field2":"<h4>Between; Homeworld of the Kivuuli<\/h4>\r\n Imagine the air around you, full of bubbles. Now imagine that each of these bubbles is its own dimension. It's own universe. Has its own laws, and inner workings. Now, imagine all the space between the bubbles. A strange place, between the dimensions; ever shifting and changing. This is where the Kivuuli dwell and come from. The rules of physics do not apply; great islands of stone float through the darkness, covered in forests of strange bioluminescent fungus-like plants and other strange flora. Inhabited by strange creatures of all shapes and sizes, from tiny glowing dragonlike lizards to massive beasts that would put Earth's dinosaurs to shame. Literally anything can happen in Between, any sort of creature, any world, any dimension, any universe. The Kivuuli can reach many worlds and this is part of the reason for their great success as an apex predator.<\/p>\r\nHarsh, but oddly beautiful, Between is buzzing with strange power and magic and the magical rules and laws of hundreds of dimensions, worlds, and universes clashing together in beautiful chaos. The areas of Between are effected by the laws of the dimensions and worlds closest to them; making Between highly varied. Between is beautiful; but as beautiful as it is it is deadly, thus the Kivuuli have had to adapt in to fast, powerful pack hunting predators that have claws that can slash through granite and a terrible shrieking wail that can drive fear into the hearts of the bravest.<\/p>\r\nThey are fast, able to teleport, and able to face creatures several times their size. This strange place has many names. Darkrealm, Tartarus, Limbo; but many simply call this place the Between; for this is what it is. The realm between dimensions. A strange and mysterious place; beautiful to behold but deadly to those not from there. While most of Between is completely dark aside from glimmers of light here and there and bioluminsecent plants and animals, some isles are ruled by a great orb of energy mimicking a sun. Some have their own weather patterns and day night cycles. Cracks and passages between dimensions are always opening and closing, allowing Kivuuli the ability to enter and leave Between at will, though they must be careful as some rifts are temporary and could close and leave them stranded in a strange and unfamiliar world. Others, still, are horribly unstable and deadly and could rip an unsuspecting Kivuuli to shreds leaving nothing but splatters of blood and the memory of their horrible screams.<\/p>","field3":"<h4>Calls, Vocalizations and Language<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli voices have a strange, otherworldly quality to them. They sound almost distorted, with a clear staticy crackling undertone. This is likely because of their interdimensional nature.<\/p>\r\nTheir voices are often deep, with a growl or purr like sound mixed in. A Kivuuli speaking is much what a person might imagine a lion’s voice would sound like if it learned to speak. They tend to have emphasis on sharper sounds, like k, z, v, and such, and their r’s are often lengthened slightly in a slight growl or purr. They are fully capable of learning languages aside from their own and, in fact, Kivuuli learn incredibly fast. Despite their wild primitive ways, they are incredibly intelligent. They mainly keep to their wilder ways due to culture, and how volatile and ever-changing Between is. You can't exactly advance when the laws of reality around you are constantly changing!<\/p>\r\nOutside of speech, they have a whole range of natural vocalizations. When excited or friendly, they let out a sound similar to a chittering cat. Though much deeper and lower in tone. This sound is often used by playful kits, or adults trying to show they mean no harm. Kivuuli also purr. It’s a deep, heavy rumbling sound with a bit of static to it.<\/p>\r\nThey chitter, chirp, chuff, rumble, growl, purr, hiss, click, snarl, roar, howl, and many other sounds.<\/p>\r\nChirping is used to call and greet fellow members of their Colony. The chuff is similar to a chuffing tiger, and they use this to greet loved ones and family or close friends. The rumble and growl show varying levels of irritation and\/or anger, eventually leading to a wild snarling or finally, their terrible howl or roar.<\/p>\r\nPurring is an expression of pleasure and contentment.<\/p>\r\nWhen injured, they let out soft whimpers and whines.<\/p>\r\nWhen sad, they will either be very quiet, whimper softly, or let out a heartbreaking wail when mourning the death of a loved one.<\/p>\r\nTheir language incorporates all of these vocalizations. And they even integrate this when speaking other languages as well.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli also rely strongly on body language. The position of one’s ears, tone of voice, and posture can change the meaning of what they are trying to say. Looking at the position of the ears is a great way to tell what mood a Kivuuli is in. When neutral, the ears are out slightly to the sides and in a relaxed position. When alert or shocked, their ears perk up and swivel forward. Their ears often flick and swivel towards any sound, and many times they detect sounds other creatures will not.<\/p>\r\nWhen angry, their ears go back, and they lower their ears when sad, or trying to show submission. Higher ranking Kivuuli generally tend to hold their ears perked higher than lower ranking Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli can also make a strange tonal almost… droning sound. Somewhere between a thrum and a rumble, it can promote relaxation or healing. The sound is, indeed, very strange. And it is something that is rarely heard among Kivuuli so it is theorized that only a few of them are capable of, or know how to, produce this sound.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Culture, Customs and Heirarchy<\/h4>\r\n Not much is known of Kivuuli culture and customs, but it can be very complex even if it seems deceptively simple. Their customs are a mix between their wild and feral nature and their sapience. In some ways they can be considered very primitive, though not savage. In reality, Kivuuli believe strongly in living with the land. When living somewhere, they are very careful to preserve the balance of nature. They do not chase other predators out of their territory, and never over-hunt. They only take what they need, and use as much of their prey as they can. They use the pelts and fur in their nests, make things from their bones, horns, or hooves, and eat every part they are able to.<\/p>\r\nMost Kivuuli do not mate for life. As such, they do not have any ceremonies or weddings. Among Kivuuli, a Colony is a family. They do not have surnames, nor do they need them. Reproduction has nothing to do with feelings of love, but rather to make offspring. Kivuuli do sometimes mate for life, but this is fairly rare. Even those who are lifemates will sometimes mate with others and this is not considered cheating. It is completely normal, since it helps spread out the gene pool.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli hierarchy is very pack like. Their groups are referred to as Colonies, though some call them Clans. A Colony is lead by the Dominant Female, or Alpha Female. Males in higher positions are extremely rare. The highest ranking male or males are known as Betas.<\/p>\r\nThe Elders are the oldest and wisest members of the Colony. Just being old does not make you an Elder. Elders are story-tellers, legend-keepers; and even the Dominant Female often goes to them for advice or help. An Elder must always be respected. Kivuuli have a written language, and the Elders write their history into the caves their Colony dwells in. Their claws carve the stories and names of all Kivuuli in a Colony into the stone. The Halls of History, as a Kivuuli calls the dens and caves the Elders keep and dwell in, are considered sacred and must not be damaged in any way. Only the Elders are allowed to carve the stone within. Because of this, Kivuuli Colonies are VERY hesitant to leave their homes, even if threatened. They are incredibly sentimental of their history. When an Elder dies, their Heartstone is placed within the Hall with the Heartstones of all past Elders in a place of ultimate honor. The Dominant Female’s Heartstone are placed within the Halls as well.<\/p>\r\nThe highest ranking male is considered the Colony Dominant Male, or Beta Male. He usually leads with the female, but is completely subordinate towards her. He is dominant towards the males in the Colony, but not towards the females. The Beta Male is usually the first one a female in heat will choose, and most often is the chosen mate of the Alpha Female, simply because he is the strongest and most clever male in the Colony and has good genes.<\/p>\r\nThere are mid ranking males and females, who fight out their dominance among eachother, and Omegas.<\/p>\r\nOmegas are not treated badly, but they have no authority within the Colony and are almost never chosen as mates. Female Omegas are extremely rare, and generally only crippled, severely injured, or terminally ill females end up as an Omega. Omegas often act as nannies for the Colony, and often induce lactation to keep kits calm and fed while the stronger and higher ranking Kivuuli hunt and carry out other tasks. Kivuuli who play the part of nannies are treated very well, and given plenty of food so they can continue to produce milk for the kits they help care for.<\/p>\r\nLactating Kivuuli will often allow weak, sick, or elderly members of their colony to feed from them, for the strengthening and healing properties their milk has. While a human would consider this taboo, gross and strange, it is completely normal in Kivuuli society.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli take very good care of the less fortunate members of their Colonies. The crippled, the weak, the runty, the stunted, the injured, the elderly… all of them are well cared for. The entire Colony will pitch in together to insure the survival of even their weakest members. Weak Kivuuli may not reproduce, but they live comfortable and happy.<\/p>\r\nLower than Omegas, are the disgraced Kivuuli. They have done something terrible and lost their honor and are hated by the Colony and not treated well.<\/p>\r\nDisgraced Kivuuli are those who did something shameful. Not deserving of exile, they keep their name and aren’t chased away, but they are generally ostracized by their fellows and can’t fight their way up in rank even if strong and dominant. A Disgraced Kivuuli must provide for themselves and are not allowed access to the Colony’s food stores or hunts. They must prove themselves worthy to get out of this status and become Omegas, but they will never rise above omega status and will never be fully trusted again.<\/p>\r\nExiled Kivuuli are those who have committed the highest of crimes in their culture. Rape, murder, killing other sentient beings unprovoked, hurting innocent kits, and betrayal are among the crimes deemed worthy this fate worse than death. An Exile is called Itz’hil. This word means many things at once. “Exiled, Nameless, Shamed One, Marked One.”<\/p>\r\nThe Marking is sentenced by the Alpha Female and the Colony’s Elders. If the accused Kivuuli is not remorseful of their crimes, or their crimes are unforgivable, their teleportation ability is temporarily knocked out and they are chained to a pillar of stone that they can not escape from. Legs and arms clamped down so they can not move. The Alpha Female makes the first mark. She slashes into his chest a symbol, reciting the word “Itz’hil!” with each slash of her claws. The Elders are next, speaking something along the lines of “As you threw away your honor, I take away your name. You are Exile. You are Itz’hil. You are Nameless. You are Nothing.” followed by the family their actions hurt the most, then every other adult in the Colony. Children are not permitted to view or participate in these Ceremonies. The mark and word is repeated time and time and time again until the Kivuuli’s healing ability slows and the slashes form a scar, a mark that will forever mar their chest. This can take weeks of constant torture. Once the Marking Ceremony is complete, the exhausted exile is released from the chains, and viciously chased away by the Colony. Any Colony who sees these marks from that time on will not allow the exile into their territory. Exiles live a lonely and miserable life, and generally don’t last long since Kivuuli are such social creatures and depend strongly on eachother for survival and emotional wellbeing.<\/p>\r\nOlder, stronger Kivuuli can assert their dominance without a fight, simply with posture, ear position, and growling. Or, even, with confidence alone. Smaller males are generally more submissive than larger ones.<\/p>\r\nThe female is in charge; though she lets the males set up their pecking order however they want. If it gets to be too much, she’ll step in, assert her dominance, and put a stop to it. Battles for dominance never end in death. They fight until one backs down. Sometimes this doesn’t even get past the snarling, growling, circling eachother, and displaying their strength and ferocity.<\/p>\r\nSimply watching and listening to a Kivuuli within a Colony can give you a ton of clues on their status. The dominant leaders move with their heads high and ears alert and perked up. When addressing others, they stand tall and look down at them with their hands out to the sides. Submissive members take a lower submissive posture with their claws crossed in front of them and eyes turned to the side. Their ears are held slightly lowered. Direct eye contact is considered a threat, thus lower ranking Kivuuli must not look higher ranking Kivuuli directly in the eye without permission.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli have strange ceremonies when a member of their Colony dies. First, the dead Kivuuli is mourned. Mourning can last days, and is not done until the family of the dead Kivuuli says it is. Those closest will wail and howl their grief on and on, a haunting and heartbreaking sound. Almost a haunting and heartbreaking song. Especially at the death of an Elder or Alpha. The entire Colony howls and mourns. But the time for Mourning does not last forever. Once the deceased Kivuuli is mourned, they have a special celebration.<\/p>\r\nA feast is held, with dancing, singing, storytelling, and laughing. For such a sombre thing, there is great joy. The Colony remembers their deceased member fondly. They talk about their life, their effect on the Colony. The Heartstone is then placed in a special antechamber within the Halls of History. The Elders carve the shape of the Heartstone out into the stone, gently place the gem within, and carve the name of the deceased Kivuuli beneath with their claws to be remembered forever. All deceased Kivuuli in a Colony are remembered unless they are Disgraced when they die. If disgraced, the Heartstone is set aside and ignored… a strong enough crime has the Heartstone being thrown off into the blackness surrounding the strange floating isles the Kivuuli dwell on.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are very matriarchal. The female is entirely in charge; the dominant female is submissive to none. A Colony lead by a male is considered unnatural and weak.<\/p>\r\nThey tolerate mistakes in children more than in adults. Children are still learning, and can be taught. Adults know better.<\/p>\r\nThese colonies can harbor anything from a small handful of Kivuuli, to hundreds or in some rare cases, over a thousand of them. The Elder position is not limited to just one; if there is more than one elder, they are all looked up to and view eachother as equals.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli live as a community and share everything. Their homes, their food. The strong help provide for the weak, those not strong enough to hunt do other tasks within the Colony, such as helping care for kits. They respect eachother’s homes and belongings. Theft and stealing is frowned upon, but not enough for alphas to get involved. The one stolen from is in charge of getting their belongings back. This often results in a spat. If it gets severe enough, the Alpha or one of the Betas will step in.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are territorial. Not against others in their own Colony, but towards those from other Colonies. While not common, some alpha females and the highest ranking beta males will use urine marking to mark the edges of their territory.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are a mixture of supernatural and biological.<\/p>\r\nThey have very little concept of personal space. Kivuuli are very touchy with eachother. They spend a lot of time cuddling and generally being near eachother. They are VERY fond of touching. They often stay very close to those they care about. Communal grooming is very common and reinforces bonds within the colony, and among friends and family.<\/p>\r\nThey have no concept of doors. They have no shame in nudity. Kivuuli do not wear clothes. Some, though, may decorate themselves with gems and things they have found. Their homes are open, and they come and go as they please.<\/p>","field4":"<h4>Appearance and anatomy<\/h4>\r\nKivuuli are somewhat humanoid in appearance, but have some very clear differences. They are long and lean, with elongated torsos and limbs. The average Kivuuli stands around nine to nine and a half feet tall. They have pawlike digitgrade feet which have four toes, or four toes and a dewclaw. Being interdimensional creatures, they often appear with a strange dark aura around them with what seems like tiny sparks or glimmers of lights appearing and floating aimlessly around them and vanishing again. This aura and glowing particles usually matches the basic color of their eyes. It only shows when they are using, or have recently used their reality bending abilities.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli skin is incredibly tough and thick. It takes some strength and a sharp blade to pierce it. They have a coating of fur that is short, but dense and soft. Their natural body temperature is around 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and thus they are very warm to the touch. The fur is usually longest around the shoulders, down the back, and in small fringes around the ankles and wrists.<\/p>\r\nThe fur on a female's ruff is longer and thicker than that of a male, and the skin there is looser and thicker and tougher as well. This serves as a protective barrier against the male's fangs, since they tend to bite during mating. Even then, he does often draw blood though most females don't mind this. It actually feels good to them.<\/p>\r\nBeing interdimensional creatures, Kivuuli are extremely light. Even standing around nine or more feet tall, they rarely weigh over one hundred fifty pounds. This is due to them being made up of something like solidified energy. Light, but incredibly strong. This not fully physical nature also manifests in their spines, claws, and fangs. When angry, they actually extend out and get longer and sharper, and when calm shrink back to normal size and sharpness.<\/p>\r\nThey have scale like spines on their forearms pointing back off the elbow with membranes between them. Similar scale like spines go down their spine, also having membranes between them. These spines flare up when frightened, angry, or threatened. They are also used in dominance displays.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli blood is a dark nearly black purple and thicker than human blood.<\/p>\r\nMales are far more common than females. There are about five males for every one female hatched.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/42_60_zBfnYHQ2UN2fnQD.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1124\" height=\"1124\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/55_75_xKgtjx7uZ9M0h6G.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/75_95_tRBRP6yesqPxpjz.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1086\" height=\"1181\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/52_72_VLLxKqy7WwiQoD7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1091\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Diet and Feeding<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli are obligate carnivorous. Their diet consists almost entirely of meat, though they might eat other things if no meat is available. They will sometimes add other things to their diet, such as fruits and similar for vitamins, minerals and fiber. Kivuuli tend to love sweets, but they aren’t fond of sour things.<\/p>\r\n<h4> Abilities<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli have many special abilities they are capable of using.<\/p>\r\nTeleportation<\/strong> - Kivuuli are able to teleport, though their methods are strange and unique. They are able to bend the fabric of reality around them in minor ways, the most pronounced being the ability to literally tear a crack in reality and step through. The crack always heals itself right after the Kivuuli steps through. Not ALL Kivuuli can do this. It is something that must be taught. Kivuuli can see and sense the flow of energy around them. They can also completely silence their steps, even at a full run.<\/p>\r\n**Note that they teleport by jumping through the dimension - or, within the bubble. They can not break out of the bubble into greater between, but they do, in a sense, touch Between when teleporting.<\/p>\r\nParalyzing Stare<\/strong> - The Paralyzing Stare is an ability Kivuuli developed for hunting and self defense. They stare you right in the eyes, which has a hypnotizing effect, rendering their prey or enemy unable to move. As long as your eyes are locked with the Kivuuli’s, you can’t move. When eye contact is broken, you can move again. Most Kivuuli ONLY use this ability when absolutely necessary. Generally if they are attacked. They catch the person’s gaze, causes them to freeze up, and teleports away to safety as they recover.<\/p>\r\nIntimidating Howl<\/strong> - The Intimidating Howl is a horrible unearthly howl, laced with the Kivuuli’s reality bending power. It sounds somewhere between a feral howl, savage snarling, horrible shrieking, and radio static. It forces feelings of terror into the one hearing it, giving them the desire to run away. Most can not handle it, and either faint where they are or run in horror. This terrible howl seems to come from every direction at once, making the Kivuuli’s location hard to determine. Reality Bending<\/strong> - This ability is the underlying cause to many other abilities Kivuuli have. They are able to bend reality around them in minor ways, stifling the sound of their footsteps, stopping you from hearing their breath or smelling them or sensing their presence. They can also leap through cracks in reality to teleport and many other small, but useful applications.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Evolutionary Background<\/h4>\r\n Their society is very wild in many ways. They are sapient and intelligent, but far more ruled by wild instincts and feral tendencies than humans. This has not changed because it works for them.<\/p>\r\n Between is a dangerous place, and Kivuuli reproduce slowly. Smaller Colonies are much more likely to breed faster. They also breed faster is there is plenty of food around. During times of famine females will actually stop having heats entirely. This is natural; it allows a Colony to grow strong and maintain their numbers. More babies born means more Kivuuli likely to make it to adulthood. A lone Kivuuli female is several times more likely to become pregnant than a Kivuuli in a big Colony. When a lot of Kivuuli populate one area, or food is less plentiful, their fertility as a whole drops dramatically. The reason why is unknown, but a hormonal response is the most likely candidate. Kivuuli in smaller Colonies are also more likely to go into heat more often. Kivuuli can go into heat every one to three years. Smaller Colonies' viable members will go into heat once a year; bigger colonies often every three years and sometimes even five.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli leave Between to hunt for food not available in their homeworld, gather resources, and explore. They usually go in small parties.  There may be a small number of Kivuuli with the ability to not age or die of age, but there are plenty of other things killing them and keeping their population balanced.<\/p>\r\nAll of this together has honed their intelligence to a fine point, but also nurtured their wild side giving them human intelligence coupled with bestial behaviors and instincts. Their ancestors are, in fact, extinct. Natural selection made sure of that. Kinda like we don’t see neanderthals or proto-humans running about. Some of their earliest ancestors were sleek, quadrupedal spiked predators that used teleportation to hunt or escape danger. They were fast, strong, and fierce, forming packs that were highly territorial.<\/p>","field5":"<h4>Lifespan<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli have very long natural lives; generally living up to 1000 years. As they start to grow older and approach the end of their lifespan, their Heartstones get less and less effective. This leaves them unable to feed as efficiently or teleport since their bodies stop being able to handle the discordant energies in the rifts they create. Their healing ability starts to slow down as well; and eventually goes away completely. Eventually, their body can no longer repair the damage done by age, and they grow weak and tired. Their fur will begin to gray around the eyes and mouth, and tips of ears as well as on their hands and feet. Once they reach a certain age, they are no longer capable of producing milk, even if they spend a lot of time around kits.<\/p>\r\nWhen they sense their time is near, they surround themselves by friends and family. They say their goodbyes, before slipping away peacefully. Most often in their sleep. Some Kivuuli, though, can live on way beyond this time. It seems to be a strange mutation. A Heartstone that can actually slowly repair itself; thus negating the effects of aging present in most of the species. Those who have this mutation will need to sleep more and rest more once they reach a certain age, and their fertility drops. While less fertile, they are still able to have children. They just don't do so as often and females are harder to get pregnant. They will not show any visible signs of aging; they will not grey or dull in color.<\/p>\r\nThey are not affected by aging, at all, and they will live on, healthy, until they are killed by something other than age. This tends to be genetic; so those of their line have a chance of getting this ability. The oldest Kivuuli to have ever lived is an Elder named Kaitu, a member of the rare and isolated ‘Maltese’ or ‘Blue’ subspecies. Severe damage to the Heartstone can overrun this ability, causing an ancient Kivuuli to age and die very quickly after being hurt, within a year.<\/p>\r\nBelow is an elder Kivuuli, showing the greying. He is also scarred up.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/79_100_JsBUVWncegFgtLX.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"845\" height=\"1125\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Mating and Reproduction<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli males and females look quite similar. Genitals are internal, though gender can be told through differences in their bodies, demeanor, and voice. If one sees a male and female Kivuuli standing side by side, first glance won’t reveal many differences. But if you look closely you can tell. Kivuuli do have the occasional hermaphrodite, this is a rare mutation. Sexual Dimorphism Male: Kivuuli genitals are internal. Males are slimmer and smaller than females, and generally hold themselves lower as well. They are naturally submissive since even a very strong male wouldn't stand a chance against the physically bigger and stronger female. Males do not have much curve to them, if any at all and have narrow waists and hips. They have semi defined pecs, and the fur on their lower belly and inner thighs is not any longer than the fur on the rest of their bodies. They have teats on the lower belly, usually small and not very visible. They tend to have thicker and longer chest fur as well as slightly longer\/fluffier fur around their neck. This can sometimes amplify their cheek fluff, too.<\/p>\r\nMale Kivuuli have lower, rougher and deeper voices than females. The growling undertone is more pronounced.<\/p>\r\nFemale: Females are taller and noticeably stronger than males. Her body is thicker, and moderately curvy with wider hips leading down to long and slim, but strong legs. While a layer of fat beneath her skin makes her look softer, beneath that softness is a lot of brute strength and ferocity.<\/p>\r\nThe fur down the back of a female’s neck, shoulders, and back is thicker and longer than a male's, and she also has thicker longer fur on her belly and inner thigh, which thickens further when carrying, or nursing young.<\/p>\r\nThe female Kivuuli's voice is softer and higher in pitch than a male's. Her growl is smoother, but deeper and fiercer. Her purr is a low and smooth. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Heat and Mating<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli attract mates through scent and displays of strength and prowess.<\/p>\r\nFemale Kivuuli go into heat regularly, but when observed in our dimension it happens roughly once every 1-3 years. A female raising a kit can not enter this state as long as she is nursing the kit. This is the only time she can become pregnant. It lasts for roughly two weeks or until she finds a suitable mate.<\/p>\r\nThere are three stages to the heat.<\/p>\r\nStage 1- Her scent begins to shift. This is not actual heat yet; she is not fertile. But her body is preparing itself for heat. She starts to become more interested in males, but also more hormonal and dangerous. She also becomes territorial towards other females, not letting them near her den. This stage lasts a few days.<\/p>\r\nStage 2- Her scent grows stronger, and her body is almost ready to mate. This is the attracting a mate stage. The testing the males and letting them fight for her stage. She becomes actively interested in males and will actually pay attention to their squabbles. She can become aggressive towards other females. This stage of heat lasts about a week. At this stage, her pheromones rouse the males into excited anticipation; causing them to follow her an attempt to impress her.<\/p>\r\nStage 3 - This is the most intense part of her heat. This is when she is fully ready to mate and most likely to ovulate. Her heat scent becomes quite potent and easy to detect even from far away. She becomes extremely restless, unable to stay in one place for long. Many females will pace on and on, grumbling and becoming downright cranky. Younger females react more strongly to this stage; while older females can usually ignore it. Heat is very uncomfortable at this stage, but it's just a matter of waiting of the female isn't interested in having a kit.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli females, like cats, are stimulated ovulators.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Pregnancy and Eggs<\/h4>\r\nA Kivuuli female will know within a few days if she is pregnant or not.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are an egg-bearing race. They carry the egg for four to five months, growing large quickly. The male is expected to hunt for her and bring her food, since her appetite will increase as she packs the egg with nutrients it will need once it exits her body. The baby will also develop considerably during this time. By the time the egg is laid, the brain of the fetus is almost completely formed; the rest of the body finishes forming after the egg is laid. As the egg forms, the female’s fur grows thicker and denser, to make better lining for her nest. The fur around her belly and inner thighs thickens too; and she will not shed her guardhairs.<\/p>\r\nTheir pelvis separates in two places, and is held together by springy, elastic tendons. Each separation contains a small bone bridge that breaks in the process of laying the first egg. This produces a small, sharp crack\/pop, and is quite painful. The bone bridge never grows back and any eggs after the first are easier. Once the egg has passed through, the tendons will spring back, and the Kivuuli’s natural healing ability will repair any damage within an hour or two of laying while the exhausted mother sleeps. Males do not have the tendons or bone bridges.<\/p>\r\nWhile inside them, the egg shell is thick and leathery. It forms soon after conception and plays the part of the placenta until it comes time to lay. During the last few days before laying it becomes the egg shell, which and is soft and pliable. After laying, the shell takes roughly a half hour to harden. It becomes tough, hard and slightly textured. It is very thick and tough, hard to break from the outside. It is, however, very vulnerable until it’s fully hardened. The reason it develops so long inside the mother is so the brain can form properly; the mother gives it a kick start, and the hatchling finishes development within the egg.<\/p>\r\nThey look huge when they are carrying, but most of that is actually fluids that protect and cushion the egg as well as providing lubrication for laying. Nutrients are stored within the forming shell, though the hatchling has a Proteanct link to the mother until a few days before laying.<\/p>\r\nDuring the pregnancy, the Kivuuli will have an intense nesting instinct. She will take anything she can find. Fur of other shedding Kivuuli, blankets, any soft thing, and build a nest. During the last week of carrying, she will shed, and line her nest with her fur. Once the egg is laid, it will be watched over and kept warm by her while its father hunts for her. It will hatch in another 4-5 months. This can vary by subspecies, or location, or individual Kivuuli. Eggs can vary in color, but are usually smooth and black with slightly lighter colored mottling. This can change depending on the individual Kivuuli or their environment.<\/p>\r\nA hatchling Kivuuli is known as a kit, because they are very kitten like in their behavior. Kits are known to imprint on the energy signature and voice of the one who spends the most time around the egg. As such, they know their mother the instant they come out. While hatching, a mother will crouch near the egg, face inches away from it and make soft chirring calls to encourage the kit to break free of the egg. Upon hatching, they will follow the scent of the mother’s teats. The scent and feel of the kit suckling will trigger a surge of hormones, and she will begin lactation. This surge of hormones will reduce the Kivuuli to soft, relaxed purring. Any Kivuuli can be triggered to lactate in this manner, be it male or female. Once lactation begins, the Kivuuli’s appetite will increase. They often feed their milk to older or sick individuals within the Colony to help them survive and stay strong.<\/p>\r\nIn the pregnant Kivuuli, the teats poke out of the fur, as the fur sheds from directly around them.<\/p>\r\nThe consistency is thick, almost like a probiotic yogurt shake, and the taste is surprisingly mild and a little sweet. It is highly nutritious, high in protein and energy; and everything else a kit needs to grow.  It is not at all uncommon for Kivuuli in a Colony to nurse eachother's young. Sometimes older members will play the part of nanny for younger, less experienced Kivuuli. Some Kivuuli will choose to never stop lactating for the purpose of playing nanny to the kits within the Colony.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are extremely protective of their kits. If you hurt a kit, the whole Colony will attack. Even one lone Kivuuli is far more ferocious and dangerous than any mother bear; you don’t want to know what would happen if you pissed off a whole colony of them.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are highly lactose intolerant. It causes a lot of digestive upset. As such, Kivuuli milk has no lactose in it.<\/p>\r\nIt is not unusual for members of a Colony to nurse eachother’s young. In fact, this is a very common practice, though some Kits will not nurse on any but their mother. This depends on the individual. It is most common for the omegas to act as nannies for the Colony, helping to care for the kits while stronger individuals hunt and bring in food. Because of this Omegas, and especially nannies, while not given any authority, are not treated badly. Kivuuli tend to produce more milk than is needed. If it gets uncomfortable, they tend to empty their teats themselves. This keeps their supply strong, is relaxing and calming, tastes good to them, and is considered completely normal. While a human would find such activity odd, it is completely natural for a Kivuuli. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Kits and children <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/56_76_oIgVWPjEOdYq3uF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"804\" height=\"534\" \/><\/h4>\r\n <\/p>\r\nKits are teeny when they hatch, a little smaller than the average human baby. They hatch with their eyes closed, but able to hear and smell just fine. Their ears are droopy and their bodies are pudgy and bellies round from the yolk of the egg still inside, being slowly absorbed to give them strength while their mother’s milk comes in and they learn to nurse properly. Kits open their eyes when they are between three and seven days old.<\/p>\r\nThey are generally fairly quiet and don’t cry often, though do tend to make small chitters, squeaks, and mewling noises. They hate being alone.<\/p>\r\nBabies have a very strong instinct to not relieve themselves within the nest. When they feel the need to go, they will let their parent know with insistent screeching until taken somewhere. Like a newborn kitten or puppy, they will not eliminate on their own. There is a pressure point just at the base of the neck that can be triggered through a certain way of holding onto the scruff that triggers them to go reflexively; they will only go when held in that certain way until they learn to move about on all fours. Once able to move about on all fours they will always leave the nest to eliminate.  Young Kivuuli are fully mobile by the time they are three months old, and run about everywhere on all fours.<\/p>\r\nThe babies depend completely on their parents and the others in their colony for survival. They are unable to teleport. In fact, this takes a lot of time to get right and generally has to be taught though can be done autonomously if the Kivuuli feels that its life is in danger. Kits are weaned between 2-3 years old, depending on the kit in question. Some wean themselves earlier, some later. A mother will never force wean her kit, because if they are still nursing it means they likely still need to. Kits are able to move about by the time they are three months old. As kits get older and start to move around, they love to practice their hunting instincts and will often hunt, and eat, small animals once their teeth grow in. They generally start getting teeth when they are about a year old. They like to show their kills off to their parents, or others in the Colony.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli grow bigger and stronger as they age. At roughly 15, they reach sexual maturity. They are not considered adults yet, more like a 15-16 year old human. Sexually mature, but not mentally mature. Around 18 to 23, they stop growing and achieve their full height. It is around this time they learn to effect reality around them both in silencing their steps and in creating and jumping through little dimensional cracks to teleport. They usually stay with their parents until full maturity, and after that remain with their Colony of birth.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli children are incredibly awkward and clumsy until they grow into their long limbs. They spend more time on all fours than on two feet, though around ten years old they start getting up on two feet more often. Even into adulthod, they spend time both on all fours, and on two feet equally depending on the situation. Kits hurt themselves frequently, but this only kick-starts their natural healing ability. Kits are known for getting themselves into trouble, constantly. They are mischievous, playful, energetic, and insatiably curious. The entire colony works to keep the children safe and alive. Just like kittens.<\/p>\r\nFemale kits are a bit more energetic and feisty than males.<\/p>\r\nYoung males love to playfight and spar among themselves. These playfights grow more intense once they near adolescence, roughly around 10-12 years old or so. Arouns 12 years old, a Kivuuli will begin to go th rough puberty. Sometimes, these playfights get a bit too intense, leaving one or both young males bloody. They step away to heal, which is usually finished within minutes. Once healed, they go at it again. Adolescent males are constantly tussling, wrestling, and play-fighting, which only grows more frequent and intense the closer to adulthood they get. While these bouts of snapping, screaming, growling, and snarling looks terrifying and deadly, they look far, far, FAR worse than they actually are. They never seriously hurt eachother and other Kivuuli in the Colony know very well the difference between play and real fighting, since real fighting is far louder and more vicious. As males get older, they mellow out considerably, and only face off against other males in contests of strength in the presence of a receptive female. They do this to try to impress her. They usually don’t mellow out fully until around 30 or so; around 20-30 they are fully mature, but have bouts of wild, child-like energetic kittenlike playfulness.<\/p>\r\nAs a female reaches adolescence, she becomes fiercer and more commanding. If she joins a playfight, the males usually back down and submit almost instantly. Playfights between two females are far more vicious and noisy and dangerous-looking than playfights between males. They are practicing to take dominance someday; males just fight for fun or to pass on their genes. She starts to show interest in the male’s battles, and starts to show more interest in those that win these fights. Most of the time, she will avoid a mate when she has her first heat cycle, as pregnancy would be hard on her body at that age. The first heat cycle generally happens around 15 years of age. She usually won’t choose a mate until she is at her full size since a younger body is less able to successfully carry an egg. Most males will not attempt to impress a young female unless they themselves are young.<\/p>\r\nShe will usually chase off any male that comes near while going through her first heat. The first heat cycle is usually short, and not too intense. She is not fertile for this cycle, it is simply her body announcing that it is mature. Her heats will gradually get longer until they settle at the normal length at around 18-20 years old. If a female is not ready to have a kit of her own, she will hide away and ignore or chase off any males that try to gain her attention. Most females prefer not to have a kit until they have gained more experience. Young mothers are far more likely to be aggressive and attack anything they see as a threat than older mothers who are more experienced in raising, guiding, and protecting a child.<\/p>","field6":"The dewclaw is a fairly common variation found among Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nAnother common variation is the heel spur.  Some Kivuuli have both heelspurs and dewclaws.<\/p>\r\nSome Kivuuli are unable to retract their claws. This is very rare; but when it does show up it is not much of a hindrance. They are generally chosen as hunters, though they have to be careful since their claws are very sharp when fully extended. They often make claw caps for themselves to avoid hurting themselves or others.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli also sometimes have manes, ranging from a strip of fur down the spine to a full lionlike mane found in some Maltese.<\/p>\r\nA rare mutation can cause them to lack spines.<\/p>\r\nThe Bully mutation causes Kivuuli to be bigger and more muscular than their fellows. They lose a lot of speed and agility, but gain a lot of brute strength.<\/p>\r\nIt is extremely for Kivuuli to have no markings, though it is far more common to have markings around the shoulders and hips. They should have at least a darkening around the shoulders backs and hips, with some subtle striping or spotting around the shoulders and hips.<\/p>\r\nLong Fur - The Kivuuli's for grows longer and thicker than usual<\/p>\r\nIntersex - (They are often either more masculine or more feminine, though nonbinary individuals are not uncommon. Nonbinary kivuuli generally appear between the size of the male and the size of the female, and aren't interested in dominance or engaging in the fights and spats their gendered counterparts do)<\/p>\r\nRex Coat (Curly, this shows in varying degrees, fairly common, but usually subtle)<\/p>\r\nFeathering (Light, Medium, Heavy or Fringed)<\/p>\r\nLeucism (Can appear either patchy, white, near white, or unusually pale. This occurs either partial, or full. Leucistic Kivuuli are very rare!)<\/p>\r\nMelenistic (Menelistic Kivuuli are almost impossible to tell apart from regular Kivuuli unless from one of the subspecies)<\/p>\r\nFurless (Rare, but not unheard of. Tends to show up in warmer areas.)<\/p>\r\nLengthened Ear Tufts (Rare) Albinism\/Partial Albinism (EXTREMELY rare! Most Albino Kivuuli are either blind, or almost blind, though healthy ones can appear among the ranks of Common Kivuuli.)<\/p>\r\nLengthened Cheek Fluffs (Uncommon, common among Maltese)<\/p>","field7":"<h4>Tips for Designing your Kivuuli<\/h4>\r\n The pads will always match the iris in color, though always darker and less saturated, unless the Kivuuli is a Lippizan.<\/p>\r\nLippizan have black pads and membranes and skin, whereas normal Kivuuli, and Kivuuli of other breeds have flesh color somewhat matching their eyes.<\/p>\r\nA good top is to select the iris color, darken it slightly and desaturate it for the pupil and lighten it for the sclera. If the Kivuuli has heterochromia, the fleshy bits can match either eye. Maltese have a black sclera, a trait not seen in any other variants.<\/p>\r\nAnother tip is try not to make your Kivuuli too saturated. They must look natural.<\/p>\r\nFor color reference on Dykuma and Malopuh'rra, look at lions, caracals, fennecs, and similar creatures. The most common look is Caracal-like with some spotting, dappling and striping. Urban Puh'rra are slightly smaller and darker in color.<\/p>\r\nFor regular Kivuuli, they can have slight hints of color, though never too saturated or obvious since other color is added by a gene. They can be dark grey to near stark black. Markings are usually slightly darker, but can be slightly lighter in some occasions.<\/p>\r\nTundra Kivuuli come in soft creams and browns, but never stark white. Think like the summer coat of an arctic fox for coloration. They can appear nearly white during the winter. You are free to add both winter and summer coats to their reference!<\/p>\r\nMany Kivuuli are lighter on the bellies and darker on the backs, shoulders, and hips and dorsal stripes are common.<\/p>\r\nThe spines are usually black, though can be lighter, and always match the claws in color. The inside of the mouth is generally lighter than the membrane\/pad color. The membranes between the spines match their flesh.<\/p>"}},"title":"Kivuuli","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Li'uhn

#161 2 July 2023, 20:25:06 UTC

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{"data":{"description":"The Li'uhn are a peaceful, winged semi-humanoid race that lives in deserts, and thrive in hot and barren landscapes. They are omnivorous, but get a good amount of energy from heat and sunlight. You can see images in the gallery, here! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/4\/gallery\">Li'uhn image gallery<\/a><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/5.Li'uhn_Design_Notes\">Li'uhn design notes<\/a> (This also has the Upgrade Token cost based on rarity)<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/\">Want a Li'uhn? Go here to my site! There's a free MYO event going currently!<\/a><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/10.Li'uhn_Traits\">Trait and Design Guide<\/a><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/MekHYpttNw\">Discord Community<\/a> for the Li'uhn and other species found in the Realms Between<\/p>","field1":"Li'uhn are winged desert dwelling semi-humanoids, though their wings have a very unique structure to them. They are highly efficient and incredibly good at surviving in the desert. Li'uhn, on average, are around the height of a human, with five and a half feet tall being the most common height for the common type. Some are taller (The Silverwings, Stoneclaws and Shadowcloaks) while some are smaller (Woolies, Nightkin and Flutterwings)<\/p>\r\nThey have a pouch, similar to a marsupial, though they aren't actually marsupials. They are simply similar throughthe convergent evolution of their creators, who created them in their own image, just smaller. The pouch is useful for keeping their young with them, though many li'uhn simply store objects inside their pouch when they don't have a baby. The inside of the pouch is lined with a natural waxy coating on the fur which kills any bacteria and fungi. Li'uhn do not sweat, so the inside remains dry.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are friendly and social, though can be skittish. They don't stay startled for long, and tend to calm down quickly and come to investigate. They have very few natural predators, since most animals in their world are small, the largest being about the size of a coyote. These animals are the only ones that aer a threat to Li'uhn because they pack hunt, but Li'uhn are able to fly out or reach.<\/p>\r\nMost larger animals went extinct a long time ago. They are naturally magical creatures with a special energy core in their chest near their heart. This stores up magical energy, and gains energy from heat and sunlight. This is then channeled through the wings and the tail to allow the Li'uhn to fly despite their relitavely small wings compared to their body size. The way this works is their natural energy stirs up the air beneath their wings, allowing them to glide and soar and control their flight even without the usual flight feathers birds have.<\/p>\r\nDespite being magical by nature, very few Li'uhn actually know how to work with magic. It is volatile and hard to control when it isn't directed by their natural abilities. This magic also serves to change their gender expression, and they are able to harness to change it further. While they are all hermaphroditic, their body changes based on their preferred gender expression. Feminine li'uhn tend to have softer features, wider hips, and softer chests. Their voices soften and take on a higher pitch. They lack breasts, however, because their teats are contained in the pouch. They are under developed and can't be seen or felt through the fur unless they have a baby in their pouch. Masculine Li'uhn tend to get more angular features, and slightly more masculine faces, and narrower hips. Gender and gender expression is just a part of life for them, and it is natural to them to acknowledge the gender expression of the other. Especially since they can adjust how they look naturally. They can actually completely hide the organs of the gender they don't identify as. They are still present, but kept within the body. This can change fluidly, especially if a Li'uhn's gender identity changes throughout their lives. The various Li'uhn types get along quite well with eachother, they don't judge eachother based on their variance or gender expression.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are not at all territorial, and they do not have dominance battles among them. Generally, older Li'uhn with more experience take leadership with the rest following them and trusting them with their safety. Being a leader is a matter of responsibility, not a matter of power. Their mentality is very different from humans in this respect.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/18_51_m98WjQoIIsvI4P8.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1048\" height=\"637\" \/><\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> They feed partially on the energy provided by the sun, but eat insects, small animals, and any edible plant material they can find. Cacti and other desert plants are common for them to eat. Li'uhn are highly efficient and make the most out of any water they drink. They can go a couple weeks without drinking if they have to because their body holds onto every drop and barely loses any. Li'uhn can eat things that are undigestible to other creatures their size, able to even break down the internal structure of plants with the unique mix of enzymes and gut flora in their digestive systems.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nFind lists of their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/10.Li'uhn_Traits\">possible traits<\/a> and more information! The link also has a list of the subtypes. The rarities will be listed as well, and it'll be mentioned if the trait can only be gotten on certain types through inheritance.<\/p>","field2":"Created by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/8.Il'hune\">Il’hune<\/a>, through a misuse of powerful divine magic. They were created as working class\/slave types, and used for various missions through the long and bloody war that eventually wiped the Il’hune out. The Li'uhn thrive in the ruins of the once great civilization of tall and elegant giants. They fly through the desert sands and craggy ruins, and make their homes in the remains of their buildings. Li'uhn haven't been able to advance technologically due to the il'hune having exhausted most of the world's natural resources. They do make and wear clothing commonly, influenced by how the il'hune used to dress.<\/p>\r\nMany are fascinated with the history of their world, and there are many stone tablets and murals left over from the time the il'hune still existed. There's some ancient libraries preserved through the Il'hune's magic as well.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune were very technologically advanced. There are ruins of old war machines found in various places, though they aren't functional anymore. Some Li'uhn will simply make their homes inside these tanks and broken down vehicles.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn weren't left with much after their creators died out, but they thrive just fine all the same.<\/p>\r\nThere are Six Il'hune left, under a curse of immortality. They are meant to stop the li'uhn from following their path of destruction and war, as well as protect the remains of the god they killed to use its power to create the li'uhn. They are imprisoned by a powerful barrier in a great central Oasis that holds an ancient temple within, surrounded by the ruins of a once vast and beautiful city seen as sacred ground until the war converged on it as one of the last areas with natural resources.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are drawn to this place as their origin is there. It is seen as a major milestone to take the journey to the Oasis and meet the Il'hune. Of course, different li'uhn have different beliefs and thoughts on things. The Six il'hune with some history about them, their personality, and their relationship with the others <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-029\">Ancestor Kaaru<\/a> Snarky, doesn't give a single shit anymore. Jaded and tired. Can be rather mischevous and enjoys messing with the other il'hune.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-030\">Ancestor Tahti<\/a> A strange case, the youngest of the il'hune, created in an attempt to bring the species back by one of the Six, who died when he appeared. He's the gentlest and kindest of the Six, though shy and cautious.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-031\">Ancestor Rama<\/a> Comes off as incredibly angry and bitter, but deep down he's just tired and depressed. Frequently fights with Kaaru, but otherwise just does his own thing.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-032\">Ancestor Vahanu<\/a> The leader of the Six, they all answer to her.  She's uptight and likes to stick to tradition.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-033\">Ancestor Haolani<\/a> Intelligent and observent. Generally keeps to herself, doesn't have any major beef with any of the others.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-034\">Ancestor Dayalu<\/a> The peacekeeper of the bunch.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nThe li'uhn see the Six as gods, referred to as the Six, or the Ancestors; and often travel to the Oasis to see the Il'hune. For some, this is seen as a coming of age, for others it's a journey they make periodically.  And still for others, they come out of curiousity. The place is sacred, and the Ancestors are careful and gentle around the li'uhn. Part of their purpose is to guide the creatures their kind created and left a destroyed world to, and stop them from following the same path of greed they did. They generally appear tall and mysterious, though Kaaru will directly interact with visitors and is quite friendly and personable with them, and Tahti loves listening to stories about the outside world. The Oasis is a safe place. Even with the Six Ancestors not getting along too well, they are always careful that nobody gets injured if their frustration with eachother becomes physical.<\/p>","field3":"<div id=\"collapse-behavior\" class=\"collapse show\">\r\nLi'uhn are gentle and social creatures, very peaceful and curious. They are known to be skittish, and will usually initially flee from something new, but always come back to investigate once the initial startle wears off. Li'uhn are very playful with eachother and not at all territorial. They can often be seen gliding and flying together, frolicking in the desert sands of their home, or curled up around eachother to keep warm during the cold desert nights. They get a lot of energy from companionship and being close to eachother. Li'uhn are capable of being alone, though they prefer the company of others. Li'uhn do have small retractable claws on their hands and feet, but these are not used for combat, and aren’t overly sharp. They use them to climb and cling, and to avoid slipping when landing. Their small fanged canines are also never used for combat, and are simply there because they are omnivorous.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn rarely fight. If faced with confrontation, they much prefer to run or fly away and retreat.<\/p>\r\nTheir wings are used for display and flight. They tend to spread and display their wings to eachother in dances both to impress possible friends, or attract possible mates.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn mate for life. Once they find somebody they love, they will stay together for life. Losing one's mate causes emotional pain that'll last for years, if not the rest of their life.<\/p>\r\nThey are very family oriented, and even if families don't live together, they recognize eachother and regularly meet up and socialize. They also form long friendships and are very loyal to those they care about. Li'ihn are intelligent and sapient creatures, capable of learning language very quickly.  Li'uhn are known to have a beautiful, musical chiming chirping call which they use to communicate their location over long distances. This can also be used as a distress call if a li'uhn is in danger or injured.  It is clear and carries, and often has a little pulse of their energy behind it. They often ‘sing’ back and forth in joyful chirps and chitters and chimes. They will often chirp and and ‘sing’ to themselves, even when alone, or greet the rising sun with song. They have a deep fondness for music and melody.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\nLi'uhn tend to get along quite well with eachother. Leadership is determined by age and experience, not strength and dominance. Those who are older, more responsible and more experienced will lead the younger and guide them to various safe areas they know of. Older Li'uhn also know where all the oases are as well as good places to get food, and shelter, and safe places to stay and settle.<\/p>\r\nOases tend to have large settlements built up in the ruins of the Il'hune cities, where li'uhn will stop, stay for a time, trade wares, socialize, then move on in their travels. Elders are usually settled in these towns, and Li'uhn with young children as well.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are naturally very peaceful with eachother, and by extent would be with other sapient races if they encountered them. They work together to survive in their harsh desert environment.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nClothing<\/strong>: Li'uhn love clothes in various shades of red and gold. They often have lots of flowing fabric covering their bodies, with a cloak to cover their back as they must strap the upper parts above and below their wings. Some choose to have a small opening around their pouch at all times, allowing them to place items in their pouch and carry them around. It’s usually held closed with a couple buttons, though it’s left open if they have a baby at the age where they can enter and leave the pouch at will. Li'uhn love flowing silky clothing. Most of the silk in their clothes comes from a plant found all around various Oases throughout the world. It is cultivated and tended to by the elders that settle in these places. More information on Elders can be seen in the \"Growing Up\" section, as this goes over how Li'uhn age. Li'uhn also love jewelry and pretty things, and will decorate their bodies with things they find interesting in their travels. They'll eagerly tell stories about where an item came from or how they found it if asked.<\/p>","field4":"Average Height<\/strong>: Around five feet to five and a half feet tall, Li'uhn are small and slender, but agile and elegant.<\/p>\r\nAverage Weight<\/strong>: 120-150 pounds<\/p>\r\nTheir bones are light and semi flexible, and surprisingly tough for their light weight. Li'uhn, though, are a bit more fragile than other creatures their size. They are not fighters.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/4_4_DhCZJV1p6H7VeNq.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1060\" height=\"1272\" \/> Wing Structure Detail <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/36_47_KLVS5q9Kl1kgCYT.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1062\" height=\"849\" \/> <\/p>\r\nLi'uhn wings are very small compared to their body size. The structure can be compared to a mix of bird and bat, though this structure is completely unique to their species. Their feathers are not used for flight so much as display and steering, along with their tail and turning their body as well as using their natural magic. The wings are actually used for heat management, able to spread out. They can use their natural magical energy to cause the air cooled by the shade to flow beneath and carry excess heat away from the wings.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are somewhat cold-blooded. They produce a little body heat, but rely more on the warmth of the sand and desert to keep warm. They can, however, increase this production if needed by shivering their wings and puffing up their fur to hold in the heat they produce during cold nights. This makes them extra resistant to the desert heat, as they don't overheat nearly as easily as fully warm-blooded mammans, but they are also weaker to the cold. Like reptiles, Li'uhn will slow down significantly when cold, and if cold enough they'll even enter a state of hibernation.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn have frills instead of ears. They attach at the top of the head and often wrap around the jaw and connect to cheek fluff.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn don't pee. They don't even have bladders. Their body extracts almost all water from their stool before it's passed, making it dry which actually reduces any smell. They don't sweat. Because of this, they are pretty much odorless even when out in the desert heat all day.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are very resistant to plant and animal toxins, poisons and venoms. They can take a bite from even the deadliest venomous snake and be completely fine. They can eat poisonous plants without a problem, and often get their water by eating cacti, including ones that are very poisonous to ward off herbivores. They are even resistant to toxins found in rotting meat, though they'll only eat that in desparation if there's nothing else and they are starving.<\/p>\r\nThe thick pads on their hands and feet are incredibly tough and heat resistant, though Li'uhn usually wear shoes for an extra layer of protection. A Li'uhn can grab a cactus and break it down open to get at the inside with their bare hands. The cactus prickes can't penetrate the pads on their hands. This is why the hand and feet have a single thick pad all along the bottom, as this protects the entire hand and doesn't allow spines to slip between pads. Their skin is thick and tough. The pad on the feet also forms a sort of webbing, allowing the feet to spread and support more of the Li'uhn's weight on loose sand.<\/p>\r\nThey have an incredibly advanced immune system. Very little can make a li'uhn sick. They tend to get over it quickly when sick as well.<\/p>\r\nBecause of how efficient their body is with water, li'uhn can potentially go weeks without drinking.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn have the ability to store water. They have a special organ that forms a pouch inside their abdomen that stores water inside their body, including any they get from whatever they eat. This is connected to their esophagus, but stays closed unless they regurgitate the water to share with others. This is generally done to share water among groups, and is seen as completely normal. While it's regurgitated, this has no connection to their stomach whatsoever and is just water.  There's no heaving or anything involved, simply opening the mouth, contraction of inner muscles around this internal water pouch, and the water flowing from the mouth into whatever they have to put it in. It looks odd and gross to an outside perspective, but it's completely safe. The water tastes and smells exactly like any other water, though is generally warm from their body heat. This allows them to share resources with other li'uhn safely. It has the potential to save a life if the one the water is shared with has completely depleted their water and become dehydrated. The organ produces a natural substance that prevents fungi from growing and kills bacteria, keeping the stored water safe. This same substance is secreted in their saliva, keeping their mouths incredibly clean. This means their breath stays fresh and clean, and their teeth generally stay quite healthy. They can also lick wounds to prevent infection. Seaborn have a second organ that extracts salt from seawater. The concentrated salt solution left is regurgitated after drinking, with fresh water staying inside their internal water pouch until needed. They will often share this water with other li'uhn that come near the ocean and have no access to other fresh water. Their face is muzzled, though this muzzle and snout is small. It makes them appear almost humanoid from the front. This also shows how their frill functions. Li'uhn have a second, transparent eyelid that is generally kept closed and does not hamper their vision. This protects their eyes from sand and prevents it from drying out. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/19_21_cKjThqB9yPL9nNA.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"575\" height=\"673\" \/><\/p>\r\nLi'uhn ears are actually located on the side of their head and are simply openings, like reptilian earsand covered by their fur. They are connected to their frill, which resembles ears and is used for emoting and sensing the world around them. The frills are packed with energy sensing organs, are how they sense each other’s presence, as well as absorb any magical energy they are around to help feed them. They also seem to take in a majority of the sunlight, and as such are almost always uncovered. They are able to use their frill to find fellow Li'uhn. They are very important for expressing emotion and mood as well. They are very mobile, able to lower, perk up, go out to the sides, pin back and down, and can move independantly of eachother. The frill has no opening and is not cup shaped like actual ears, and is sometimes referred to as false ears; The frills are often covered in longer fur than the body itself. Their paws are small and dainty, with three toes. Their claws only come out when climbing or gripping, but are otherwise kept retracted. They have a single thick pad on the bottom and webbing that allows their weight to spread out a bit more evenly. Li'uhn are very weak to the cold, and while they can curl up under their wings and tails, it drains their energy and eventually saps their strength until they freeze to death. They avoid the cold when they can. They can get through desert winters by sunning themselves during the day and curling up somewhere warm at night, but if it gets too cold they will move on to warmer climates. They are nomadic by nature, and usually wander from place to place as they see fit. They are most commonly seen in pairs or small groups, but they can just as well travel alone. Frill and Mouth Detail <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/37_48_y2cYVJekqhujDHG.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1074\" height=\"931\" \/><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"collapse-behavior\" class=\"collapse show\">\r\n<h5> Abilities and Adaptations<\/h5>\r\nLi'uhn use magic to boost their flight, able to use their natural energy to swirl the air beneath their wings to provide lift. They gain this energy from sunlight and heat. This is limited, however, so after flying, they often land, regain their energy, then take off again. They are also known to boost themselves up high, then glide, then boost themselves back up again.<\/p>\r\nThe only li'uhn type to be able to fly entirely by their own power is the Flutterwing, who have huge wongs compared to their tiny body size.<\/p>\r\nSilverwings and Shadowcloaks are capable of flight with a lot less boosting needed, while Stoneclaws can not fly at all.<\/p>\r\nStoneclaws are very strong, and able to defend themselves and climb incredibly well. They can use their magic to boost their speed, allowing them to gallop incredibly fast on all fours and boost their leaps so they can leap higher and further than they would otherwise.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn have a call that lets out a pulse of energy. This can be picked up by surrounding Li'uhn by sensing the energy with special organs in their frill. Larger frills are actually more functional in picking up and gathering energy.<\/p>\r\nWhile Li'uhn have natural magical energy within them, it's not something they can easily direct and channel. It is volatile and unpredictable, thus Li'uhn magic workers are pretty rare. Those who do work with magic usually use outside magic sources, as using their own inner source runs the risk of exhausting them and causing harm. Some can use these external sources to further boost their flight.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n <\/p>","field5":"Li'uhn are all naturally intersex, though their appearance will follow what gender they identify as, as it effects their hormones. There isn’t much dimorphism, but the face and body structure does vary slightly. They never grow breasts, as their teats are located inside their pouch. Li'uhn go into season during the spring, and are pregnant through summer and early autumn. They give birth to a tiny baby, entirely hairless with no down or feathers, which is then placed in the pouch. It will remain inside the pouch, nursing and growing. As it gets bigger, it begins to leave the pouch, though is able to nurse even when not spending all of its time in the pouch. The baby spends the winter in the pouch, starts to peek its head out in the spring, and is able to come out during summer. They are too big to go into the pouch by the time they are two years old. Li'uhn have one baby at a time, and they won’t breed again until the baby is fully out of the pouch for at least a year. Only one baby can fit in the pouch. In the extremely rare occasion that twins are born, the other parent will foster the second twin in their pouch. The presence of the baby will induce lactation, allowing the parent to keep the baby healthy.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn often mate for life. They will impress potential partners with song. Li'uhn sing beautifully, and happily seranade eachother during their season, The beauty of their wings is another thing that attract potential Li'uhn, as well as their prowess in the air. Their aerial displays and beautiful song is a sight to behold.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn do not have menstraul cycles like humans. They go into season during early spring, and are fertile for three weeks to a month. They ovulate during this time. The egg cell is simply re-absorbed if the li'uhn does not become pregnant.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are pregnant for about 6 months. Their genitalea are partially external, with mammalian testes and a sheath, though their actual phallus remain tucked away inside unless in direct use. (There will be a link to a NSFW ref and info here once I have a way to age restrict some content, which is in progress, so this is all you get for now xD)<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn often settle near an oasis until their babies are older, rarely travelling too far since babies can't store as much water as adults and producing milk takes up more water than they usually use, meaning they deplete their natural supplies more quickly.<\/p>\r\nBabies are just as efficient as adults with processing water. Li'uhn milk is extremely rich and nutrient dense. It has a balance of fats and protiens, as well as vitamins and minerals and water, everything a baby needs to grow and thrive until they are weaned. Li'uhn babies are born small and hairless\/featherless. They are tucked into the pouch and grow there until they are able to peek out. They can go into the pouch up to two years old, and are weaned by their third year. They grow at roughly the same rate as humans.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn babies make tiny squeaks and peeps. They are curious and playful, though stick close to their parent. They'll wander further as they get older, but will stay where they can sense their parent's call.<\/p>\r\nTheir pouch does not develop until they go through puberty. It'll start to come in around 12-13 years old, though won't actually open up. A good way to tell how mature a li'uhn is is to look at the pouch. It won't be fully developed until adulthood, at which point it opens up. They are considered fully mature once their pouch is fully developed. Both masculine and feminine li'uhn have pouches and teats inside them. They are capable of having lactation induced by the presence of a baby in their pouch, as the scent and feel of the baby will cause the hormonal response. As such, an orphaned baby can be raised by any li'uhn that finds them.<\/p>\r\nWhen they reach elder status, they tend to slow down and calm down, and will often settle in one place and travel far less. This means that many oases have a large group of elders there who can pass on advice and stories to youngsters. These settlements are seen as major cultural strongpoints, and Li'uhn travel between them to meet different elders and carry stories to different parts of the desert.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn's fur and wings will dull as they age, and very old Li'uhn will slowly go grey. They grey similarly to dogs, mostly around the face, hands and feet <\/p>\r\n<h5>Lifespan<\/strong><\/h5>\r\nLi'uhn are magical creatures and can live up to 300 years if they have a good source of energy<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn mature fully in about 18 years, similar to a human, though they will often stay with and travel with their parents as part of the family group.<\/p>","field6":"See the link below for a detailed look at their subtypes, traits, colors, and other variations.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/10.Li'uhn_Traits\">Li'uhn variants, traits and rarities<\/a><\/p>","field7":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/5.Li'uhn_Design_Notes\">Design Notes and Guides<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\nMore information will be added to the guides above, as well as their trait lists.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"The Li'uhn are a peaceful, winged semi-humanoid race that lives in deserts, and thrive in hot and barren landscapes. They are omnivorous, but get a good amount of energy from heat and sunlight. You can see images in the gallery, here! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/4\/gallery\">Li'uhn image gallery<\/a><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/5.Li'uhn_Design_Notes\">Li'uhn design notes<\/a> (This also has the Upgrade Token cost based on rarity)<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/\">Want a Li'uhn? Go here to my site! There's a free MYO event going currently!<\/a><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/10.Li'uhn_Traits\">Trait and Design Guide<\/a><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/MekHYpttNw\">Discord Community<\/a> for the Li'uhn and other species found in the Realms Between<\/p>","field1":"Li'uhn are winged desert dwelling semi-humanoids, though their wings have a very unique structure to them. They are highly efficient and incredibly good at surviving in the desert. Li'uhn, on average, are around the height of a human, with five and a half feet tall being the most common height for the common type. Some are taller (The Silverwings, Stoneclaws and Shadowcloaks) while some are smaller (Woolies, Nightkin and Flutterwings)<\/p>\r\nThey have a pouch, similar to a marsupial, though they aren't actually marsupials. They are simply similar throughthe convergent evolution of their creators, who created them in their own image, just smaller. The pouch is useful for keeping their young with them, though many li'uhn simply store objects inside their pouch when they don't have a baby. The inside of the pouch is lined with a natural waxy coating on the fur which kills any bacteria and fungi. Li'uhn do not sweat, so the inside remains dry.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are friendly and social, though can be skittish. They don't stay startled for long, and tend to calm down quickly and come to investigate. They have very few natural predators, since most animals in their world are small, the largest being about the size of a coyote. These animals are the only ones that aer a threat to Li'uhn because they pack hunt, but Li'uhn are able to fly out or reach.<\/p>\r\nMost larger animals went extinct a long time ago. They are naturally magical creatures with a special energy core in their chest near their heart. This stores up magical energy, and gains energy from heat and sunlight. This is then channeled through the wings and the tail to allow the Li'uhn to fly despite their relitavely small wings compared to their body size. The way this works is their natural energy stirs up the air beneath their wings, allowing them to glide and soar and control their flight even without the usual flight feathers birds have.<\/p>\r\nDespite being magical by nature, very few Li'uhn actually know how to work with magic. It is volatile and hard to control when it isn't directed by their natural abilities. This magic also serves to change their gender expression, and they are able to harness to change it further. While they are all hermaphroditic, their body changes based on their preferred gender expression. Feminine li'uhn tend to have softer features, wider hips, and softer chests. Their voices soften and take on a higher pitch. They lack breasts, however, because their teats are contained in the pouch. They are under developed and can't be seen or felt through the fur unless they have a baby in their pouch. Masculine Li'uhn tend to get more angular features, and slightly more masculine faces, and narrower hips. Gender and gender expression is just a part of life for them, and it is natural to them to acknowledge the gender expression of the other. Especially since they can adjust how they look naturally. They can actually completely hide the organs of the gender they don't identify as. They are still present, but kept within the body. This can change fluidly, especially if a Li'uhn's gender identity changes throughout their lives. The various Li'uhn types get along quite well with eachother, they don't judge eachother based on their variance or gender expression.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are not at all territorial, and they do not have dominance battles among them. Generally, older Li'uhn with more experience take leadership with the rest following them and trusting them with their safety. Being a leader is a matter of responsibility, not a matter of power. Their mentality is very different from humans in this respect.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/18_51_m98WjQoIIsvI4P8.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1048\" height=\"637\" \/><\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> They feed partially on the energy provided by the sun, but eat insects, small animals, and any edible plant material they can find. Cacti and other desert plants are common for them to eat. Li'uhn are highly efficient and make the most out of any water they drink. They can go a couple weeks without drinking if they have to because their body holds onto every drop and barely loses any. Li'uhn can eat things that are undigestible to other creatures their size, able to even break down the internal structure of plants with the unique mix of enzymes and gut flora in their digestive systems.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nFind lists of their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/10.Li'uhn_Traits\">possible traits<\/a> and more information! The link also has a list of the subtypes. The rarities will be listed as well, and it'll be mentioned if the trait can only be gotten on certain types through inheritance.<\/p>","field2":"Created by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/8.Il'hune\">Il’hune<\/a>, through a misuse of powerful divine magic. They were created as working class\/slave types, and used for various missions through the long and bloody war that eventually wiped the Il’hune out. The Li'uhn thrive in the ruins of the once great civilization of tall and elegant giants. They fly through the desert sands and craggy ruins, and make their homes in the remains of their buildings. Li'uhn haven't been able to advance technologically due to the il'hune having exhausted most of the world's natural resources. They do make and wear clothing commonly, influenced by how the il'hune used to dress.<\/p>\r\nMany are fascinated with the history of their world, and there are many stone tablets and murals left over from the time the il'hune still existed. There's some ancient libraries preserved through the Il'hune's magic as well.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune were very technologically advanced. There are ruins of old war machines found in various places, though they aren't functional anymore. Some Li'uhn will simply make their homes inside these tanks and broken down vehicles.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn weren't left with much after their creators died out, but they thrive just fine all the same.<\/p>\r\nThere are Six Il'hune left, under a curse of immortality. They are meant to stop the li'uhn from following their path of destruction and war, as well as protect the remains of the god they killed to use its power to create the li'uhn. They are imprisoned by a powerful barrier in a great central Oasis that holds an ancient temple within, surrounded by the ruins of a once vast and beautiful city seen as sacred ground until the war converged on it as one of the last areas with natural resources.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are drawn to this place as their origin is there. It is seen as a major milestone to take the journey to the Oasis and meet the Il'hune. Of course, different li'uhn have different beliefs and thoughts on things. The Six il'hune with some history about them, their personality, and their relationship with the others <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-029\">Ancestor Kaaru<\/a> Snarky, doesn't give a single shit anymore. Jaded and tired. Can be rather mischevous and enjoys messing with the other il'hune.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-030\">Ancestor Tahti<\/a> A strange case, the youngest of the il'hune, created in an attempt to bring the species back by one of the Six, who died when he appeared. He's the gentlest and kindest of the Six, though shy and cautious.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-031\">Ancestor Rama<\/a> Comes off as incredibly angry and bitter, but deep down he's just tired and depressed. Frequently fights with Kaaru, but otherwise just does his own thing.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-032\">Ancestor Vahanu<\/a> The leader of the Six, they all answer to her.  She's uptight and likes to stick to tradition.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-033\">Ancestor Haolani<\/a> Intelligent and observent. Generally keeps to herself, doesn't have any major beef with any of the others.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-034\">Ancestor Dayalu<\/a> The peacekeeper of the bunch.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nThe li'uhn see the Six as gods, referred to as the Six, or the Ancestors; and often travel to the Oasis to see the Il'hune. For some, this is seen as a coming of age, for others it's a journey they make periodically.  And still for others, they come out of curiousity. The place is sacred, and the Ancestors are careful and gentle around the li'uhn. Part of their purpose is to guide the creatures their kind created and left a destroyed world to, and stop them from following the same path of greed they did. They generally appear tall and mysterious, though Kaaru will directly interact with visitors and is quite friendly and personable with them, and Tahti loves listening to stories about the outside world. The Oasis is a safe place. Even with the Six Ancestors not getting along too well, they are always careful that nobody gets injured if their frustration with eachother becomes physical.<\/p>","field3":"<div id=\"collapse-behavior\" class=\"collapse show\">\r\nLi'uhn are gentle and social creatures, very peaceful and curious. They are known to be skittish, and will usually initially flee from something new, but always come back to investigate once the initial startle wears off. Li'uhn are very playful with eachother and not at all territorial. They can often be seen gliding and flying together, frolicking in the desert sands of their home, or curled up around eachother to keep warm during the cold desert nights. They get a lot of energy from companionship and being close to eachother. Li'uhn are capable of being alone, though they prefer the company of others. Li'uhn do have small retractable claws on their hands and feet, but these are not used for combat, and aren’t overly sharp. They use them to climb and cling, and to avoid slipping when landing. Their small fanged canines are also never used for combat, and are simply there because they are omnivorous.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn rarely fight. If faced with confrontation, they much prefer to run or fly away and retreat.<\/p>\r\nTheir wings are used for display and flight. They tend to spread and display their wings to eachother in dances both to impress possible friends, or attract possible mates.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn mate for life. Once they find somebody they love, they will stay together for life. Losing one's mate causes emotional pain that'll last for years, if not the rest of their life.<\/p>\r\nThey are very family oriented, and even if families don't live together, they recognize eachother and regularly meet up and socialize. They also form long friendships and are very loyal to those they care about. Li'ihn are intelligent and sapient creatures, capable of learning language very quickly.  Li'uhn are known to have a beautiful, musical chiming chirping call which they use to communicate their location over long distances. This can also be used as a distress call if a li'uhn is in danger or injured.  It is clear and carries, and often has a little pulse of their energy behind it. They often ‘sing’ back and forth in joyful chirps and chitters and chimes. They will often chirp and and ‘sing’ to themselves, even when alone, or greet the rising sun with song. They have a deep fondness for music and melody.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\nLi'uhn tend to get along quite well with eachother. Leadership is determined by age and experience, not strength and dominance. Those who are older, more responsible and more experienced will lead the younger and guide them to various safe areas they know of. Older Li'uhn also know where all the oases are as well as good places to get food, and shelter, and safe places to stay and settle.<\/p>\r\nOases tend to have large settlements built up in the ruins of the Il'hune cities, where li'uhn will stop, stay for a time, trade wares, socialize, then move on in their travels. Elders are usually settled in these towns, and Li'uhn with young children as well.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are naturally very peaceful with eachother, and by extent would be with other sapient races if they encountered them. They work together to survive in their harsh desert environment.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nClothing<\/strong>: Li'uhn love clothes in various shades of red and gold. They often have lots of flowing fabric covering their bodies, with a cloak to cover their back as they must strap the upper parts above and below their wings. Some choose to have a small opening around their pouch at all times, allowing them to place items in their pouch and carry them around. It’s usually held closed with a couple buttons, though it’s left open if they have a baby at the age where they can enter and leave the pouch at will. Li'uhn love flowing silky clothing. Most of the silk in their clothes comes from a plant found all around various Oases throughout the world. It is cultivated and tended to by the elders that settle in these places. More information on Elders can be seen in the \"Growing Up\" section, as this goes over how Li'uhn age. Li'uhn also love jewelry and pretty things, and will decorate their bodies with things they find interesting in their travels. They'll eagerly tell stories about where an item came from or how they found it if asked.<\/p>","field4":"Average Height<\/strong>: Around five feet to five and a half feet tall, Li'uhn are small and slender, but agile and elegant.<\/p>\r\nAverage Weight<\/strong>: 120-150 pounds<\/p>\r\nTheir bones are light and semi flexible, and surprisingly tough for their light weight. Li'uhn, though, are a bit more fragile than other creatures their size. They are not fighters.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/4_4_DhCZJV1p6H7VeNq.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1060\" height=\"1272\" \/> Wing Structure Detail <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/36_47_KLVS5q9Kl1kgCYT.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1062\" height=\"849\" \/> <\/p>\r\nLi'uhn wings are very small compared to their body size. The structure can be compared to a mix of bird and bat, though this structure is completely unique to their species. Their feathers are not used for flight so much as display and steering, along with their tail and turning their body as well as using their natural magic. The wings are actually used for heat management, able to spread out. They can use their natural magical energy to cause the air cooled by the shade to flow beneath and carry excess heat away from the wings.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are somewhat cold-blooded. They produce a little body heat, but rely more on the warmth of the sand and desert to keep warm. They can, however, increase this production if needed by shivering their wings and puffing up their fur to hold in the heat they produce during cold nights. This makes them extra resistant to the desert heat, as they don't overheat nearly as easily as fully warm-blooded mammans, but they are also weaker to the cold. Like reptiles, Li'uhn will slow down significantly when cold, and if cold enough they'll even enter a state of hibernation.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn have frills instead of ears. They attach at the top of the head and often wrap around the jaw and connect to cheek fluff.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn don't pee. They don't even have bladders. Their body extracts almost all water from their stool before it's passed, making it dry which actually reduces any smell. They don't sweat. Because of this, they are pretty much odorless even when out in the desert heat all day.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are very resistant to plant and animal toxins, poisons and venoms. They can take a bite from even the deadliest venomous snake and be completely fine. They can eat poisonous plants without a problem, and often get their water by eating cacti, including ones that are very poisonous to ward off herbivores. They are even resistant to toxins found in rotting meat, though they'll only eat that in desparation if there's nothing else and they are starving.<\/p>\r\nThe thick pads on their hands and feet are incredibly tough and heat resistant, though Li'uhn usually wear shoes for an extra layer of protection. A Li'uhn can grab a cactus and break it down open to get at the inside with their bare hands. The cactus prickes can't penetrate the pads on their hands. This is why the hand and feet have a single thick pad all along the bottom, as this protects the entire hand and doesn't allow spines to slip between pads. Their skin is thick and tough. The pad on the feet also forms a sort of webbing, allowing the feet to spread and support more of the Li'uhn's weight on loose sand.<\/p>\r\nThey have an incredibly advanced immune system. Very little can make a li'uhn sick. They tend to get over it quickly when sick as well.<\/p>\r\nBecause of how efficient their body is with water, li'uhn can potentially go weeks without drinking.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn have the ability to store water. They have a special organ that forms a pouch inside their abdomen that stores water inside their body, including any they get from whatever they eat. This is connected to their esophagus, but stays closed unless they regurgitate the water to share with others. This is generally done to share water among groups, and is seen as completely normal. While it's regurgitated, this has no connection to their stomach whatsoever and is just water.  There's no heaving or anything involved, simply opening the mouth, contraction of inner muscles around this internal water pouch, and the water flowing from the mouth into whatever they have to put it in. It looks odd and gross to an outside perspective, but it's completely safe. The water tastes and smells exactly like any other water, though is generally warm from their body heat. This allows them to share resources with other li'uhn safely. It has the potential to save a life if the one the water is shared with has completely depleted their water and become dehydrated. The organ produces a natural substance that prevents fungi from growing and kills bacteria, keeping the stored water safe. This same substance is secreted in their saliva, keeping their mouths incredibly clean. This means their breath stays fresh and clean, and their teeth generally stay quite healthy. They can also lick wounds to prevent infection. Seaborn have a second organ that extracts salt from seawater. The concentrated salt solution left is regurgitated after drinking, with fresh water staying inside their internal water pouch until needed. They will often share this water with other li'uhn that come near the ocean and have no access to other fresh water. Their face is muzzled, though this muzzle and snout is small. It makes them appear almost humanoid from the front. This also shows how their frill functions. Li'uhn have a second, transparent eyelid that is generally kept closed and does not hamper their vision. This protects their eyes from sand and prevents it from drying out. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/19_21_cKjThqB9yPL9nNA.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"575\" height=\"673\" \/><\/p>\r\nLi'uhn ears are actually located on the side of their head and are simply openings, like reptilian earsand covered by their fur. They are connected to their frill, which resembles ears and is used for emoting and sensing the world around them. The frills are packed with energy sensing organs, are how they sense each other’s presence, as well as absorb any magical energy they are around to help feed them. They also seem to take in a majority of the sunlight, and as such are almost always uncovered. They are able to use their frill to find fellow Li'uhn. They are very important for expressing emotion and mood as well. They are very mobile, able to lower, perk up, go out to the sides, pin back and down, and can move independantly of eachother. The frill has no opening and is not cup shaped like actual ears, and is sometimes referred to as false ears; The frills are often covered in longer fur than the body itself. Their paws are small and dainty, with three toes. Their claws only come out when climbing or gripping, but are otherwise kept retracted. They have a single thick pad on the bottom and webbing that allows their weight to spread out a bit more evenly. Li'uhn are very weak to the cold, and while they can curl up under their wings and tails, it drains their energy and eventually saps their strength until they freeze to death. They avoid the cold when they can. They can get through desert winters by sunning themselves during the day and curling up somewhere warm at night, but if it gets too cold they will move on to warmer climates. They are nomadic by nature, and usually wander from place to place as they see fit. They are most commonly seen in pairs or small groups, but they can just as well travel alone. Frill and Mouth Detail <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/37_48_y2cYVJekqhujDHG.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1074\" height=\"931\" \/><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"collapse-behavior\" class=\"collapse show\">\r\n<h5> Abilities and Adaptations<\/h5>\r\nLi'uhn use magic to boost their flight, able to use their natural energy to swirl the air beneath their wings to provide lift. They gain this energy from sunlight and heat. This is limited, however, so after flying, they often land, regain their energy, then take off again. They are also known to boost themselves up high, then glide, then boost themselves back up again.<\/p>\r\nThe only li'uhn type to be able to fly entirely by their own power is the Flutterwing, who have huge wongs compared to their tiny body size.<\/p>\r\nSilverwings and Shadowcloaks are capable of flight with a lot less boosting needed, while Stoneclaws can not fly at all.<\/p>\r\nStoneclaws are very strong, and able to defend themselves and climb incredibly well. They can use their magic to boost their speed, allowing them to gallop incredibly fast on all fours and boost their leaps so they can leap higher and further than they would otherwise.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn have a call that lets out a pulse of energy. This can be picked up by surrounding Li'uhn by sensing the energy with special organs in their frill. Larger frills are actually more functional in picking up and gathering energy.<\/p>\r\nWhile Li'uhn have natural magical energy within them, it's not something they can easily direct and channel. It is volatile and unpredictable, thus Li'uhn magic workers are pretty rare. Those who do work with magic usually use outside magic sources, as using their own inner source runs the risk of exhausting them and causing harm. Some can use these external sources to further boost their flight.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n <\/p>","field5":"Li'uhn are all naturally intersex, though their appearance will follow what gender they identify as, as it effects their hormones. There isn’t much dimorphism, but the face and body structure does vary slightly. They never grow breasts, as their teats are located inside their pouch. Li'uhn go into season during the spring, and are pregnant through summer and early autumn. They give birth to a tiny baby, entirely hairless with no down or feathers, which is then placed in the pouch. It will remain inside the pouch, nursing and growing. As it gets bigger, it begins to leave the pouch, though is able to nurse even when not spending all of its time in the pouch. The baby spends the winter in the pouch, starts to peek its head out in the spring, and is able to come out during summer. They are too big to go into the pouch by the time they are two years old. Li'uhn have one baby at a time, and they won’t breed again until the baby is fully out of the pouch for at least a year. Only one baby can fit in the pouch. In the extremely rare occasion that twins are born, the other parent will foster the second twin in their pouch. The presence of the baby will induce lactation, allowing the parent to keep the baby healthy.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn often mate for life. They will impress potential partners with song. Li'uhn sing beautifully, and happily seranade eachother during their season, The beauty of their wings is another thing that attract potential Li'uhn, as well as their prowess in the air. Their aerial displays and beautiful song is a sight to behold.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn do not have menstraul cycles like humans. They go into season during early spring, and are fertile for three weeks to a month. They ovulate during this time. The egg cell is simply re-absorbed if the li'uhn does not become pregnant.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are pregnant for about 6 months. Their genitalea are partially external, with mammalian testes and a sheath, though their actual phallus remain tucked away inside unless in direct use. (There will be a link to a NSFW ref and info here once I have a way to age restrict some content, which is in progress, so this is all you get for now xD)<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn often settle near an oasis until their babies are older, rarely travelling too far since babies can't store as much water as adults and producing milk takes up more water than they usually use, meaning they deplete their natural supplies more quickly.<\/p>\r\nBabies are just as efficient as adults with processing water. Li'uhn milk is extremely rich and nutrient dense. It has a balance of fats and protiens, as well as vitamins and minerals and water, everything a baby needs to grow and thrive until they are weaned. Li'uhn babies are born small and hairless\/featherless. They are tucked into the pouch and grow there until they are able to peek out. They can go into the pouch up to two years old, and are weaned by their third year. They grow at roughly the same rate as humans.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn babies make tiny squeaks and peeps. They are curious and playful, though stick close to their parent. They'll wander further as they get older, but will stay where they can sense their parent's call.<\/p>\r\nTheir pouch does not develop until they go through puberty. It'll start to come in around 12-13 years old, though won't actually open up. A good way to tell how mature a li'uhn is is to look at the pouch. It won't be fully developed until adulthood, at which point it opens up. They are considered fully mature once their pouch is fully developed. Both masculine and feminine li'uhn have pouches and teats inside them. They are capable of having lactation induced by the presence of a baby in their pouch, as the scent and feel of the baby will cause the hormonal response. As such, an orphaned baby can be raised by any li'uhn that finds them.<\/p>\r\nWhen they reach elder status, they tend to slow down and calm down, and will often settle in one place and travel far less. This means that many oases have a large group of elders there who can pass on advice and stories to youngsters. These settlements are seen as major cultural strongpoints, and Li'uhn travel between them to meet different elders and carry stories to different parts of the desert.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn's fur and wings will dull as they age, and very old Li'uhn will slowly go grey. They grey similarly to dogs, mostly around the face, hands and feet <\/p>\r\n<h5>Lifespan<\/strong><\/h5>\r\nLi'uhn are magical creatures and can live up to 300 years if they have a good source of energy<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn mature fully in about 18 years, similar to a human, though they will often stay with and travel with their parents as part of the family group.<\/p>","field6":"See the link below for a detailed look at their subtypes, traits, colors, and other variations.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/10.Li'uhn_Traits\">Li'uhn variants, traits and rarities<\/a><\/p>","field7":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/5.Li'uhn_Design_Notes\">Design Notes and Guides<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\nMore information will be added to the guides above, as well as their trait lists.<\/p>"}},"title":"Li'uhn","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip","stub"],"page_tag":null}

Li'uhn

#160 2 July 2023, 20:24:50 UTC

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{"data":{"description":"The Li'uhn are a peaceful, winged semi-humanoid race that lives in deserts, and thrive in hot and barren landscapes. They are omnivorous, but get a good amount of energy from heat and sunlight. You can see images in the gallery, here! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/4\/gallery\">Li'uhn image gallery<\/a><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/5.Li'uhn_Design_Notes\">Li'uhn design notes<\/a> (This also has the Upgrade Token cost based on rarity)<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/\">Want a Li'uhn? Go here to my site! There's a free MYO event going currently!<\/a><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/10.Li'uhn_Traits\">Trait and Design Guide<\/a><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/MekHYpttNw\">Discord Community<\/a> for the Li'uhn and other species found in the Realms Between<\/p>\r\n<span style=\"color: #dbdee1; font-family: Consolas, 'Andale Mono WT', 'Andale Mono', 'Lucida Console', 'Lucida Sans Typewriter', 'DejaVu Sans Mono', 'Bitstream Vera Sans Mono', 'Liberation Mono', 'Nimbus Mono L', Monaco, 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #313338; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;\"> <\/span><\/p>","field1":"Li'uhn are winged desert dwelling semi-humanoids, though their wings have a very unique structure to them. They are highly efficient and incredibly good at surviving in the desert. Li'uhn, on average, are around the height of a human, with five and a half feet tall being the most common height for the common type. Some are taller (The Silverwings, Stoneclaws and Shadowcloaks) while some are smaller (Woolies, Nightkin and Flutterwings)<\/p>\r\nThey have a pouch, similar to a marsupial, though they aren't actually marsupials. They are simply similar throughthe convergent evolution of their creators, who created them in their own image, just smaller. The pouch is useful for keeping their young with them, though many li'uhn simply store objects inside their pouch when they don't have a baby. The inside of the pouch is lined with a natural waxy coating on the fur which kills any bacteria and fungi. Li'uhn do not sweat, so the inside remains dry.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are friendly and social, though can be skittish. They don't stay startled for long, and tend to calm down quickly and come to investigate. They have very few natural predators, since most animals in their world are small, the largest being about the size of a coyote. These animals are the only ones that aer a threat to Li'uhn because they pack hunt, but Li'uhn are able to fly out or reach.<\/p>\r\nMost larger animals went extinct a long time ago. They are naturally magical creatures with a special energy core in their chest near their heart. This stores up magical energy, and gains energy from heat and sunlight. This is then channeled through the wings and the tail to allow the Li'uhn to fly despite their relitavely small wings compared to their body size. The way this works is their natural energy stirs up the air beneath their wings, allowing them to glide and soar and control their flight even without the usual flight feathers birds have.<\/p>\r\nDespite being magical by nature, very few Li'uhn actually know how to work with magic. It is volatile and hard to control when it isn't directed by their natural abilities. This magic also serves to change their gender expression, and they are able to harness to change it further. While they are all hermaphroditic, their body changes based on their preferred gender expression. Feminine li'uhn tend to have softer features, wider hips, and softer chests. Their voices soften and take on a higher pitch. They lack breasts, however, because their teats are contained in the pouch. They are under developed and can't be seen or felt through the fur unless they have a baby in their pouch. Masculine Li'uhn tend to get more angular features, and slightly more masculine faces, and narrower hips. Gender and gender expression is just a part of life for them, and it is natural to them to acknowledge the gender expression of the other. Especially since they can adjust how they look naturally. They can actually completely hide the organs of the gender they don't identify as. They are still present, but kept within the body. This can change fluidly, especially if a Li'uhn's gender identity changes throughout their lives. The various Li'uhn types get along quite well with eachother, they don't judge eachother based on their variance or gender expression.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are not at all territorial, and they do not have dominance battles among them. Generally, older Li'uhn with more experience take leadership with the rest following them and trusting them with their safety. Being a leader is a matter of responsibility, not a matter of power. Their mentality is very different from humans in this respect.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/18_51_m98WjQoIIsvI4P8.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1048\" height=\"637\" \/><\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> They feed partially on the energy provided by the sun, but eat insects, small animals, and any edible plant material they can find. Cacti and other desert plants are common for them to eat. Li'uhn are highly efficient and make the most out of any water they drink. They can go a couple weeks without drinking if they have to because their body holds onto every drop and barely loses any. Li'uhn can eat things that are undigestible to other creatures their size, able to even break down the internal structure of plants with the unique mix of enzymes and gut flora in their digestive systems.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nFind lists of their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/10.Li'uhn_Traits\">possible traits<\/a> and more information! The link also has a list of the subtypes. The rarities will be listed as well, and it'll be mentioned if the trait can only be gotten on certain types through inheritance.<\/p>","field2":"Created by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/8.Il'hune\">Il’hune<\/a>, through a misuse of powerful divine magic. They were created as working class\/slave types, and used for various missions through the long and bloody war that eventually wiped the Il’hune out. The Li'uhn thrive in the ruins of the once great civilization of tall and elegant giants. They fly through the desert sands and craggy ruins, and make their homes in the remains of their buildings. Li'uhn haven't been able to advance technologically due to the il'hune having exhausted most of the world's natural resources. They do make and wear clothing commonly, influenced by how the il'hune used to dress.<\/p>\r\nMany are fascinated with the history of their world, and there are many stone tablets and murals left over from the time the il'hune still existed. There's some ancient libraries preserved through the Il'hune's magic as well.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune were very technologically advanced. There are ruins of old war machines found in various places, though they aren't functional anymore. Some Li'uhn will simply make their homes inside these tanks and broken down vehicles.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn weren't left with much after their creators died out, but they thrive just fine all the same.<\/p>\r\nThere are Six Il'hune left, under a curse of immortality. They are meant to stop the li'uhn from following their path of destruction and war, as well as protect the remains of the god they killed to use its power to create the li'uhn. They are imprisoned by a powerful barrier in a great central Oasis that holds an ancient temple within, surrounded by the ruins of a once vast and beautiful city seen as sacred ground until the war converged on it as one of the last areas with natural resources.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are drawn to this place as their origin is there. It is seen as a major milestone to take the journey to the Oasis and meet the Il'hune. Of course, different li'uhn have different beliefs and thoughts on things. The Six il'hune with some history about them, their personality, and their relationship with the others <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-029\">Ancestor Kaaru<\/a> Snarky, doesn't give a single shit anymore. Jaded and tired. Can be rather mischevous and enjoys messing with the other il'hune.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-030\">Ancestor Tahti<\/a> A strange case, the youngest of the il'hune, created in an attempt to bring the species back by one of the Six, who died when he appeared. He's the gentlest and kindest of the Six, though shy and cautious.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-031\">Ancestor Rama<\/a> Comes off as incredibly angry and bitter, but deep down he's just tired and depressed. Frequently fights with Kaaru, but otherwise just does his own thing.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-032\">Ancestor Vahanu<\/a> The leader of the Six, they all answer to her.  She's uptight and likes to stick to tradition.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-033\">Ancestor Haolani<\/a> Intelligent and observent. Generally keeps to herself, doesn't have any major beef with any of the others.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-034\">Ancestor Dayalu<\/a> The peacekeeper of the bunch.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nThe li'uhn see the Six as gods, referred to as the Six, or the Ancestors; and often travel to the Oasis to see the Il'hune. For some, this is seen as a coming of age, for others it's a journey they make periodically.  And still for others, they come out of curiousity. The place is sacred, and the Ancestors are careful and gentle around the li'uhn. Part of their purpose is to guide the creatures their kind created and left a destroyed world to, and stop them from following the same path of greed they did. They generally appear tall and mysterious, though Kaaru will directly interact with visitors and is quite friendly and personable with them, and Tahti loves listening to stories about the outside world. The Oasis is a safe place. Even with the Six Ancestors not getting along too well, they are always careful that nobody gets injured if their frustration with eachother becomes physical.<\/p>","field3":"<div id=\"collapse-behavior\" class=\"collapse show\">\r\nLi'uhn are gentle and social creatures, very peaceful and curious. They are known to be skittish, and will usually initially flee from something new, but always come back to investigate once the initial startle wears off. Li'uhn are very playful with eachother and not at all territorial. They can often be seen gliding and flying together, frolicking in the desert sands of their home, or curled up around eachother to keep warm during the cold desert nights. They get a lot of energy from companionship and being close to eachother. Li'uhn are capable of being alone, though they prefer the company of others. Li'uhn do have small retractable claws on their hands and feet, but these are not used for combat, and aren’t overly sharp. They use them to climb and cling, and to avoid slipping when landing. Their small fanged canines are also never used for combat, and are simply there because they are omnivorous.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn rarely fight. If faced with confrontation, they much prefer to run or fly away and retreat.<\/p>\r\nTheir wings are used for display and flight. They tend to spread and display their wings to eachother in dances both to impress possible friends, or attract possible mates.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn mate for life. Once they find somebody they love, they will stay together for life. Losing one's mate causes emotional pain that'll last for years, if not the rest of their life.<\/p>\r\nThey are very family oriented, and even if families don't live together, they recognize eachother and regularly meet up and socialize. They also form long friendships and are very loyal to those they care about. Li'ihn are intelligent and sapient creatures, capable of learning language very quickly.  Li'uhn are known to have a beautiful, musical chiming chirping call which they use to communicate their location over long distances. This can also be used as a distress call if a li'uhn is in danger or injured.  It is clear and carries, and often has a little pulse of their energy behind it. They often ‘sing’ back and forth in joyful chirps and chitters and chimes. They will often chirp and and ‘sing’ to themselves, even when alone, or greet the rising sun with song. They have a deep fondness for music and melody.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\nLi'uhn tend to get along quite well with eachother. Leadership is determined by age and experience, not strength and dominance. Those who are older, more responsible and more experienced will lead the younger and guide them to various safe areas they know of. Older Li'uhn also know where all the oases are as well as good places to get food, and shelter, and safe places to stay and settle.<\/p>\r\nOases tend to have large settlements built up in the ruins of the Il'hune cities, where li'uhn will stop, stay for a time, trade wares, socialize, then move on in their travels. Elders are usually settled in these towns, and Li'uhn with young children as well.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are naturally very peaceful with eachother, and by extent would be with other sapient races if they encountered them. They work together to survive in their harsh desert environment.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nClothing<\/strong>: Li'uhn love clothes in various shades of red and gold. They often have lots of flowing fabric covering their bodies, with a cloak to cover their back as they must strap the upper parts above and below their wings. Some choose to have a small opening around their pouch at all times, allowing them to place items in their pouch and carry them around. It’s usually held closed with a couple buttons, though it’s left open if they have a baby at the age where they can enter and leave the pouch at will. Li'uhn love flowing silky clothing. Most of the silk in their clothes comes from a plant found all around various Oases throughout the world. It is cultivated and tended to by the elders that settle in these places. More information on Elders can be seen in the \"Growing Up\" section, as this goes over how Li'uhn age. Li'uhn also love jewelry and pretty things, and will decorate their bodies with things they find interesting in their travels. They'll eagerly tell stories about where an item came from or how they found it if asked.<\/p>","field4":"Average Height<\/strong>: Around five feet to five and a half feet tall, Li'uhn are small and slender, but agile and elegant.<\/p>\r\nAverage Weight<\/strong>: 120-150 pounds<\/p>\r\nTheir bones are light and semi flexible, and surprisingly tough for their light weight. Li'uhn, though, are a bit more fragile than other creatures their size. They are not fighters.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/4_4_DhCZJV1p6H7VeNq.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1060\" height=\"1272\" \/> Wing Structure Detail <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/36_47_KLVS5q9Kl1kgCYT.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1062\" height=\"849\" \/> <\/p>\r\nLi'uhn wings are very small compared to their body size. The structure can be compared to a mix of bird and bat, though this structure is completely unique to their species. Their feathers are not used for flight so much as display and steering, along with their tail and turning their body as well as using their natural magic. The wings are actually used for heat management, able to spread out. They can use their natural magical energy to cause the air cooled by the shade to flow beneath and carry excess heat away from the wings.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are somewhat cold-blooded. They produce a little body heat, but rely more on the warmth of the sand and desert to keep warm. They can, however, increase this production if needed by shivering their wings and puffing up their fur to hold in the heat they produce during cold nights. This makes them extra resistant to the desert heat, as they don't overheat nearly as easily as fully warm-blooded mammans, but they are also weaker to the cold. Like reptiles, Li'uhn will slow down significantly when cold, and if cold enough they'll even enter a state of hibernation.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn have frills instead of ears. They attach at the top of the head and often wrap around the jaw and connect to cheek fluff.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn don't pee. They don't even have bladders. Their body extracts almost all water from their stool before it's passed, making it dry which actually reduces any smell. They don't sweat. Because of this, they are pretty much odorless even when out in the desert heat all day.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are very resistant to plant and animal toxins, poisons and venoms. They can take a bite from even the deadliest venomous snake and be completely fine. They can eat poisonous plants without a problem, and often get their water by eating cacti, including ones that are very poisonous to ward off herbivores. They are even resistant to toxins found in rotting meat, though they'll only eat that in desparation if there's nothing else and they are starving.<\/p>\r\nThe thick pads on their hands and feet are incredibly tough and heat resistant, though Li'uhn usually wear shoes for an extra layer of protection. A Li'uhn can grab a cactus and break it down open to get at the inside with their bare hands. The cactus prickes can't penetrate the pads on their hands. This is why the hand and feet have a single thick pad all along the bottom, as this protects the entire hand and doesn't allow spines to slip between pads. Their skin is thick and tough. The pad on the feet also forms a sort of webbing, allowing the feet to spread and support more of the Li'uhn's weight on loose sand.<\/p>\r\nThey have an incredibly advanced immune system. Very little can make a li'uhn sick. They tend to get over it quickly when sick as well.<\/p>\r\nBecause of how efficient their body is with water, li'uhn can potentially go weeks without drinking.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn have the ability to store water. They have a special organ that forms a pouch inside their abdomen that stores water inside their body, including any they get from whatever they eat. This is connected to their esophagus, but stays closed unless they regurgitate the water to share with others. This is generally done to share water among groups, and is seen as completely normal. While it's regurgitated, this has no connection to their stomach whatsoever and is just water.  There's no heaving or anything involved, simply opening the mouth, contraction of inner muscles around this internal water pouch, and the water flowing from the mouth into whatever they have to put it in. It looks odd and gross to an outside perspective, but it's completely safe. The water tastes and smells exactly like any other water, though is generally warm from their body heat. This allows them to share resources with other li'uhn safely. It has the potential to save a life if the one the water is shared with has completely depleted their water and become dehydrated. The organ produces a natural substance that prevents fungi from growing and kills bacteria, keeping the stored water safe. This same substance is secreted in their saliva, keeping their mouths incredibly clean. This means their breath stays fresh and clean, and their teeth generally stay quite healthy. They can also lick wounds to prevent infection. Seaborn have a second organ that extracts salt from seawater. The concentrated salt solution left is regurgitated after drinking, with fresh water staying inside their internal water pouch until needed. They will often share this water with other li'uhn that come near the ocean and have no access to other fresh water. Their face is muzzled, though this muzzle and snout is small. It makes them appear almost humanoid from the front. This also shows how their frill functions. Li'uhn have a second, transparent eyelid that is generally kept closed and does not hamper their vision. This protects their eyes from sand and prevents it from drying out. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/19_21_cKjThqB9yPL9nNA.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"575\" height=\"673\" \/><\/p>\r\nLi'uhn ears are actually located on the side of their head and are simply openings, like reptilian earsand covered by their fur. They are connected to their frill, which resembles ears and is used for emoting and sensing the world around them. The frills are packed with energy sensing organs, are how they sense each other’s presence, as well as absorb any magical energy they are around to help feed them. They also seem to take in a majority of the sunlight, and as such are almost always uncovered. They are able to use their frill to find fellow Li'uhn. They are very important for expressing emotion and mood as well. They are very mobile, able to lower, perk up, go out to the sides, pin back and down, and can move independantly of eachother. The frill has no opening and is not cup shaped like actual ears, and is sometimes referred to as false ears; The frills are often covered in longer fur than the body itself. Their paws are small and dainty, with three toes. Their claws only come out when climbing or gripping, but are otherwise kept retracted. They have a single thick pad on the bottom and webbing that allows their weight to spread out a bit more evenly. Li'uhn are very weak to the cold, and while they can curl up under their wings and tails, it drains their energy and eventually saps their strength until they freeze to death. They avoid the cold when they can. They can get through desert winters by sunning themselves during the day and curling up somewhere warm at night, but if it gets too cold they will move on to warmer climates. They are nomadic by nature, and usually wander from place to place as they see fit. They are most commonly seen in pairs or small groups, but they can just as well travel alone. Frill and Mouth Detail <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/37_48_y2cYVJekqhujDHG.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1074\" height=\"931\" \/><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"collapse-behavior\" class=\"collapse show\">\r\n<h5> Abilities and Adaptations<\/h5>\r\nLi'uhn use magic to boost their flight, able to use their natural energy to swirl the air beneath their wings to provide lift. They gain this energy from sunlight and heat. This is limited, however, so after flying, they often land, regain their energy, then take off again. They are also known to boost themselves up high, then glide, then boost themselves back up again.<\/p>\r\nThe only li'uhn type to be able to fly entirely by their own power is the Flutterwing, who have huge wongs compared to their tiny body size.<\/p>\r\nSilverwings and Shadowcloaks are capable of flight with a lot less boosting needed, while Stoneclaws can not fly at all.<\/p>\r\nStoneclaws are very strong, and able to defend themselves and climb incredibly well. They can use their magic to boost their speed, allowing them to gallop incredibly fast on all fours and boost their leaps so they can leap higher and further than they would otherwise.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn have a call that lets out a pulse of energy. This can be picked up by surrounding Li'uhn by sensing the energy with special organs in their frill. Larger frills are actually more functional in picking up and gathering energy.<\/p>\r\nWhile Li'uhn have natural magical energy within them, it's not something they can easily direct and channel. It is volatile and unpredictable, thus Li'uhn magic workers are pretty rare. Those who do work with magic usually use outside magic sources, as using their own inner source runs the risk of exhausting them and causing harm. Some can use these external sources to further boost their flight.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n <\/p>","field5":"Li'uhn are all naturally intersex, though their appearance will follow what gender they identify as, as it effects their hormones. There isn’t much dimorphism, but the face and body structure does vary slightly. They never grow breasts, as their teats are located inside their pouch. Li'uhn go into season during the spring, and are pregnant through summer and early autumn. They give birth to a tiny baby, entirely hairless with no down or feathers, which is then placed in the pouch. It will remain inside the pouch, nursing and growing. As it gets bigger, it begins to leave the pouch, though is able to nurse even when not spending all of its time in the pouch. The baby spends the winter in the pouch, starts to peek its head out in the spring, and is able to come out during summer. They are too big to go into the pouch by the time they are two years old. Li'uhn have one baby at a time, and they won’t breed again until the baby is fully out of the pouch for at least a year. Only one baby can fit in the pouch. In the extremely rare occasion that twins are born, the other parent will foster the second twin in their pouch. The presence of the baby will induce lactation, allowing the parent to keep the baby healthy.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn often mate for life. They will impress potential partners with song. Li'uhn sing beautifully, and happily seranade eachother during their season, The beauty of their wings is another thing that attract potential Li'uhn, as well as their prowess in the air. Their aerial displays and beautiful song is a sight to behold.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn do not have menstraul cycles like humans. They go into season during early spring, and are fertile for three weeks to a month. They ovulate during this time. The egg cell is simply re-absorbed if the li'uhn does not become pregnant.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are pregnant for about 6 months. Their genitalea are partially external, with mammalian testes and a sheath, though their actual phallus remain tucked away inside unless in direct use. (There will be a link to a NSFW ref and info here once I have a way to age restrict some content, which is in progress, so this is all you get for now xD)<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn often settle near an oasis until their babies are older, rarely travelling too far since babies can't store as much water as adults and producing milk takes up more water than they usually use, meaning they deplete their natural supplies more quickly.<\/p>\r\nBabies are just as efficient as adults with processing water. Li'uhn milk is extremely rich and nutrient dense. It has a balance of fats and protiens, as well as vitamins and minerals and water, everything a baby needs to grow and thrive until they are weaned. Li'uhn babies are born small and hairless\/featherless. They are tucked into the pouch and grow there until they are able to peek out. They can go into the pouch up to two years old, and are weaned by their third year. They grow at roughly the same rate as humans.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn babies make tiny squeaks and peeps. They are curious and playful, though stick close to their parent. They'll wander further as they get older, but will stay where they can sense their parent's call.<\/p>\r\nTheir pouch does not develop until they go through puberty. It'll start to come in around 12-13 years old, though won't actually open up. A good way to tell how mature a li'uhn is is to look at the pouch. It won't be fully developed until adulthood, at which point it opens up. They are considered fully mature once their pouch is fully developed. Both masculine and feminine li'uhn have pouches and teats inside them. They are capable of having lactation induced by the presence of a baby in their pouch, as the scent and feel of the baby will cause the hormonal response. As such, an orphaned baby can be raised by any li'uhn that finds them.<\/p>\r\nWhen they reach elder status, they tend to slow down and calm down, and will often settle in one place and travel far less. This means that many oases have a large group of elders there who can pass on advice and stories to youngsters. These settlements are seen as major cultural strongpoints, and Li'uhn travel between them to meet different elders and carry stories to different parts of the desert.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn's fur and wings will dull as they age, and very old Li'uhn will slowly go grey. They grey similarly to dogs, mostly around the face, hands and feet <\/p>\r\n<h5>Lifespan<\/strong><\/h5>\r\nLi'uhn are magical creatures and can live up to 300 years if they have a good source of energy<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn mature fully in about 18 years, similar to a human, though they will often stay with and travel with their parents as part of the family group.<\/p>","field6":"See the link below for a detailed look at their subtypes, traits, colors, and other variations.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/10.Li'uhn_Traits\">Li'uhn variants, traits and rarities<\/a><\/p>","field7":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/5.Li'uhn_Design_Notes\">Design Notes and Guides<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\nMore information will be added to the guides above, as well as their trait lists.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"The Li'uhn are a peaceful, winged semi-humanoid race that lives in deserts, and thrive in hot and barren landscapes. They are omnivorous, but get a good amount of energy from heat and sunlight. You can see images in the gallery, here! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/4\/gallery\">Li'uhn image gallery<\/a><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/5.Li'uhn_Design_Notes\">Li'uhn design notes<\/a> (This also has the Upgrade Token cost based on rarity)<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/\">Want a Li'uhn? Go here to my site! There's a free MYO event going currently!<\/a><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/10.Li'uhn_Traits\">Trait and Design Guide<\/a><\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/MekHYpttNw\">Discord Community<\/a> for the Li'uhn and other species found in the Realms Between<\/p>\r\n<span style=\"color: #dbdee1; font-family: Consolas, 'Andale Mono WT', 'Andale Mono', 'Lucida Console', 'Lucida Sans Typewriter', 'DejaVu Sans Mono', 'Bitstream Vera Sans Mono', 'Liberation Mono', 'Nimbus Mono L', Monaco, 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #313338; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;\"> <\/span><\/p>","field1":"Li'uhn are winged desert dwelling semi-humanoids, though their wings have a very unique structure to them. They are highly efficient and incredibly good at surviving in the desert. Li'uhn, on average, are around the height of a human, with five and a half feet tall being the most common height for the common type. Some are taller (The Silverwings, Stoneclaws and Shadowcloaks) while some are smaller (Woolies, Nightkin and Flutterwings)<\/p>\r\nThey have a pouch, similar to a marsupial, though they aren't actually marsupials. They are simply similar throughthe convergent evolution of their creators, who created them in their own image, just smaller. The pouch is useful for keeping their young with them, though many li'uhn simply store objects inside their pouch when they don't have a baby. The inside of the pouch is lined with a natural waxy coating on the fur which kills any bacteria and fungi. Li'uhn do not sweat, so the inside remains dry.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are friendly and social, though can be skittish. They don't stay startled for long, and tend to calm down quickly and come to investigate. They have very few natural predators, since most animals in their world are small, the largest being about the size of a coyote. These animals are the only ones that aer a threat to Li'uhn because they pack hunt, but Li'uhn are able to fly out or reach.<\/p>\r\nMost larger animals went extinct a long time ago. They are naturally magical creatures with a special energy core in their chest near their heart. This stores up magical energy, and gains energy from heat and sunlight. This is then channeled through the wings and the tail to allow the Li'uhn to fly despite their relitavely small wings compared to their body size. The way this works is their natural energy stirs up the air beneath their wings, allowing them to glide and soar and control their flight even without the usual flight feathers birds have.<\/p>\r\nDespite being magical by nature, very few Li'uhn actually know how to work with magic. It is volatile and hard to control when it isn't directed by their natural abilities. This magic also serves to change their gender expression, and they are able to harness to change it further. While they are all hermaphroditic, their body changes based on their preferred gender expression. Feminine li'uhn tend to have softer features, wider hips, and softer chests. Their voices soften and take on a higher pitch. They lack breasts, however, because their teats are contained in the pouch. They are under developed and can't be seen or felt through the fur unless they have a baby in their pouch. Masculine Li'uhn tend to get more angular features, and slightly more masculine faces, and narrower hips. Gender and gender expression is just a part of life for them, and it is natural to them to acknowledge the gender expression of the other. Especially since they can adjust how they look naturally. They can actually completely hide the organs of the gender they don't identify as. They are still present, but kept within the body. This can change fluidly, especially if a Li'uhn's gender identity changes throughout their lives. The various Li'uhn types get along quite well with eachother, they don't judge eachother based on their variance or gender expression.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are not at all territorial, and they do not have dominance battles among them. Generally, older Li'uhn with more experience take leadership with the rest following them and trusting them with their safety. Being a leader is a matter of responsibility, not a matter of power. Their mentality is very different from humans in this respect.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/18_51_m98WjQoIIsvI4P8.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1048\" height=\"637\" \/><\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> They feed partially on the energy provided by the sun, but eat insects, small animals, and any edible plant material they can find. Cacti and other desert plants are common for them to eat. Li'uhn are highly efficient and make the most out of any water they drink. They can go a couple weeks without drinking if they have to because their body holds onto every drop and barely loses any. Li'uhn can eat things that are undigestible to other creatures their size, able to even break down the internal structure of plants with the unique mix of enzymes and gut flora in their digestive systems.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nFind lists of their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/10.Li'uhn_Traits\">possible traits<\/a> and more information! The link also has a list of the subtypes. The rarities will be listed as well, and it'll be mentioned if the trait can only be gotten on certain types through inheritance.<\/p>","field2":"Created by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/8.Il'hune\">Il’hune<\/a>, through a misuse of powerful divine magic. They were created as working class\/slave types, and used for various missions through the long and bloody war that eventually wiped the Il’hune out. The Li'uhn thrive in the ruins of the once great civilization of tall and elegant giants. They fly through the desert sands and craggy ruins, and make their homes in the remains of their buildings. Li'uhn haven't been able to advance technologically due to the il'hune having exhausted most of the world's natural resources. They do make and wear clothing commonly, influenced by how the il'hune used to dress.<\/p>\r\nMany are fascinated with the history of their world, and there are many stone tablets and murals left over from the time the il'hune still existed. There's some ancient libraries preserved through the Il'hune's magic as well.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune were very technologically advanced. There are ruins of old war machines found in various places, though they aren't functional anymore. Some Li'uhn will simply make their homes inside these tanks and broken down vehicles.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn weren't left with much after their creators died out, but they thrive just fine all the same.<\/p>\r\nThere are Six Il'hune left, under a curse of immortality. They are meant to stop the li'uhn from following their path of destruction and war, as well as protect the remains of the god they killed to use its power to create the li'uhn. They are imprisoned by a powerful barrier in a great central Oasis that holds an ancient temple within, surrounded by the ruins of a once vast and beautiful city seen as sacred ground until the war converged on it as one of the last areas with natural resources.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are drawn to this place as their origin is there. It is seen as a major milestone to take the journey to the Oasis and meet the Il'hune. Of course, different li'uhn have different beliefs and thoughts on things. The Six il'hune with some history about them, their personality, and their relationship with the others <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-029\">Ancestor Kaaru<\/a> Snarky, doesn't give a single shit anymore. Jaded and tired. Can be rather mischevous and enjoys messing with the other il'hune.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-030\">Ancestor Tahti<\/a> A strange case, the youngest of the il'hune, created in an attempt to bring the species back by one of the Six, who died when he appeared. He's the gentlest and kindest of the Six, though shy and cautious.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-031\">Ancestor Rama<\/a> Comes off as incredibly angry and bitter, but deep down he's just tired and depressed. Frequently fights with Kaaru, but otherwise just does his own thing.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-032\">Ancestor Vahanu<\/a> The leader of the Six, they all answer to her.  She's uptight and likes to stick to tradition.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-033\">Ancestor Haolani<\/a> Intelligent and observent. Generally keeps to herself, doesn't have any major beef with any of the others.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-034\">Ancestor Dayalu<\/a> The peacekeeper of the bunch.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nThe li'uhn see the Six as gods, referred to as the Six, or the Ancestors; and often travel to the Oasis to see the Il'hune. For some, this is seen as a coming of age, for others it's a journey they make periodically.  And still for others, they come out of curiousity. The place is sacred, and the Ancestors are careful and gentle around the li'uhn. Part of their purpose is to guide the creatures their kind created and left a destroyed world to, and stop them from following the same path of greed they did. They generally appear tall and mysterious, though Kaaru will directly interact with visitors and is quite friendly and personable with them, and Tahti loves listening to stories about the outside world. The Oasis is a safe place. Even with the Six Ancestors not getting along too well, they are always careful that nobody gets injured if their frustration with eachother becomes physical.<\/p>","field3":"<div id=\"collapse-behavior\" class=\"collapse show\">\r\nLi'uhn are gentle and social creatures, very peaceful and curious. They are known to be skittish, and will usually initially flee from something new, but always come back to investigate once the initial startle wears off. Li'uhn are very playful with eachother and not at all territorial. They can often be seen gliding and flying together, frolicking in the desert sands of their home, or curled up around eachother to keep warm during the cold desert nights. They get a lot of energy from companionship and being close to eachother. Li'uhn are capable of being alone, though they prefer the company of others. Li'uhn do have small retractable claws on their hands and feet, but these are not used for combat, and aren’t overly sharp. They use them to climb and cling, and to avoid slipping when landing. Their small fanged canines are also never used for combat, and are simply there because they are omnivorous.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn rarely fight. If faced with confrontation, they much prefer to run or fly away and retreat.<\/p>\r\nTheir wings are used for display and flight. They tend to spread and display their wings to eachother in dances both to impress possible friends, or attract possible mates.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn mate for life. Once they find somebody they love, they will stay together for life. Losing one's mate causes emotional pain that'll last for years, if not the rest of their life.<\/p>\r\nThey are very family oriented, and even if families don't live together, they recognize eachother and regularly meet up and socialize. They also form long friendships and are very loyal to those they care about. Li'ihn are intelligent and sapient creatures, capable of learning language very quickly.  Li'uhn are known to have a beautiful, musical chiming chirping call which they use to communicate their location over long distances. This can also be used as a distress call if a li'uhn is in danger or injured.  It is clear and carries, and often has a little pulse of their energy behind it. They often ‘sing’ back and forth in joyful chirps and chitters and chimes. They will often chirp and and ‘sing’ to themselves, even when alone, or greet the rising sun with song. They have a deep fondness for music and melody.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\nLi'uhn tend to get along quite well with eachother. Leadership is determined by age and experience, not strength and dominance. Those who are older, more responsible and more experienced will lead the younger and guide them to various safe areas they know of. Older Li'uhn also know where all the oases are as well as good places to get food, and shelter, and safe places to stay and settle.<\/p>\r\nOases tend to have large settlements built up in the ruins of the Il'hune cities, where li'uhn will stop, stay for a time, trade wares, socialize, then move on in their travels. Elders are usually settled in these towns, and Li'uhn with young children as well.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are naturally very peaceful with eachother, and by extent would be with other sapient races if they encountered them. They work together to survive in their harsh desert environment.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nClothing<\/strong>: Li'uhn love clothes in various shades of red and gold. They often have lots of flowing fabric covering their bodies, with a cloak to cover their back as they must strap the upper parts above and below their wings. Some choose to have a small opening around their pouch at all times, allowing them to place items in their pouch and carry them around. It’s usually held closed with a couple buttons, though it’s left open if they have a baby at the age where they can enter and leave the pouch at will. Li'uhn love flowing silky clothing. Most of the silk in their clothes comes from a plant found all around various Oases throughout the world. It is cultivated and tended to by the elders that settle in these places. More information on Elders can be seen in the \"Growing Up\" section, as this goes over how Li'uhn age. Li'uhn also love jewelry and pretty things, and will decorate their bodies with things they find interesting in their travels. They'll eagerly tell stories about where an item came from or how they found it if asked.<\/p>","field4":"Average Height<\/strong>: Around five feet to five and a half feet tall, Li'uhn are small and slender, but agile and elegant.<\/p>\r\nAverage Weight<\/strong>: 120-150 pounds<\/p>\r\nTheir bones are light and semi flexible, and surprisingly tough for their light weight. Li'uhn, though, are a bit more fragile than other creatures their size. They are not fighters.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/4_4_DhCZJV1p6H7VeNq.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1060\" height=\"1272\" \/> Wing Structure Detail <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/36_47_KLVS5q9Kl1kgCYT.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1062\" height=\"849\" \/> <\/p>\r\nLi'uhn wings are very small compared to their body size. The structure can be compared to a mix of bird and bat, though this structure is completely unique to their species. Their feathers are not used for flight so much as display and steering, along with their tail and turning their body as well as using their natural magic. The wings are actually used for heat management, able to spread out. They can use their natural magical energy to cause the air cooled by the shade to flow beneath and carry excess heat away from the wings.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are somewhat cold-blooded. They produce a little body heat, but rely more on the warmth of the sand and desert to keep warm. They can, however, increase this production if needed by shivering their wings and puffing up their fur to hold in the heat they produce during cold nights. This makes them extra resistant to the desert heat, as they don't overheat nearly as easily as fully warm-blooded mammans, but they are also weaker to the cold. Like reptiles, Li'uhn will slow down significantly when cold, and if cold enough they'll even enter a state of hibernation.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn have frills instead of ears. They attach at the top of the head and often wrap around the jaw and connect to cheek fluff.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn don't pee. They don't even have bladders. Their body extracts almost all water from their stool before it's passed, making it dry which actually reduces any smell. They don't sweat. Because of this, they are pretty much odorless even when out in the desert heat all day.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are very resistant to plant and animal toxins, poisons and venoms. They can take a bite from even the deadliest venomous snake and be completely fine. They can eat poisonous plants without a problem, and often get their water by eating cacti, including ones that are very poisonous to ward off herbivores. They are even resistant to toxins found in rotting meat, though they'll only eat that in desparation if there's nothing else and they are starving.<\/p>\r\nThe thick pads on their hands and feet are incredibly tough and heat resistant, though Li'uhn usually wear shoes for an extra layer of protection. A Li'uhn can grab a cactus and break it down open to get at the inside with their bare hands. The cactus prickes can't penetrate the pads on their hands. This is why the hand and feet have a single thick pad all along the bottom, as this protects the entire hand and doesn't allow spines to slip between pads. Their skin is thick and tough. The pad on the feet also forms a sort of webbing, allowing the feet to spread and support more of the Li'uhn's weight on loose sand.<\/p>\r\nThey have an incredibly advanced immune system. Very little can make a li'uhn sick. They tend to get over it quickly when sick as well.<\/p>\r\nBecause of how efficient their body is with water, li'uhn can potentially go weeks without drinking.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn have the ability to store water. They have a special organ that forms a pouch inside their abdomen that stores water inside their body, including any they get from whatever they eat. This is connected to their esophagus, but stays closed unless they regurgitate the water to share with others. This is generally done to share water among groups, and is seen as completely normal. While it's regurgitated, this has no connection to their stomach whatsoever and is just water.  There's no heaving or anything involved, simply opening the mouth, contraction of inner muscles around this internal water pouch, and the water flowing from the mouth into whatever they have to put it in. It looks odd and gross to an outside perspective, but it's completely safe. The water tastes and smells exactly like any other water, though is generally warm from their body heat. This allows them to share resources with other li'uhn safely. It has the potential to save a life if the one the water is shared with has completely depleted their water and become dehydrated. The organ produces a natural substance that prevents fungi from growing and kills bacteria, keeping the stored water safe. This same substance is secreted in their saliva, keeping their mouths incredibly clean. This means their breath stays fresh and clean, and their teeth generally stay quite healthy. They can also lick wounds to prevent infection. Seaborn have a second organ that extracts salt from seawater. The concentrated salt solution left is regurgitated after drinking, with fresh water staying inside their internal water pouch until needed. They will often share this water with other li'uhn that come near the ocean and have no access to other fresh water. Their face is muzzled, though this muzzle and snout is small. It makes them appear almost humanoid from the front. This also shows how their frill functions. Li'uhn have a second, transparent eyelid that is generally kept closed and does not hamper their vision. This protects their eyes from sand and prevents it from drying out. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/19_21_cKjThqB9yPL9nNA.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"575\" height=\"673\" \/><\/p>\r\nLi'uhn ears are actually located on the side of their head and are simply openings, like reptilian earsand covered by their fur. They are connected to their frill, which resembles ears and is used for emoting and sensing the world around them. The frills are packed with energy sensing organs, are how they sense each other’s presence, as well as absorb any magical energy they are around to help feed them. They also seem to take in a majority of the sunlight, and as such are almost always uncovered. They are able to use their frill to find fellow Li'uhn. They are very important for expressing emotion and mood as well. They are very mobile, able to lower, perk up, go out to the sides, pin back and down, and can move independantly of eachother. The frill has no opening and is not cup shaped like actual ears, and is sometimes referred to as false ears; The frills are often covered in longer fur than the body itself. Their paws are small and dainty, with three toes. Their claws only come out when climbing or gripping, but are otherwise kept retracted. They have a single thick pad on the bottom and webbing that allows their weight to spread out a bit more evenly. Li'uhn are very weak to the cold, and while they can curl up under their wings and tails, it drains their energy and eventually saps their strength until they freeze to death. They avoid the cold when they can. They can get through desert winters by sunning themselves during the day and curling up somewhere warm at night, but if it gets too cold they will move on to warmer climates. They are nomadic by nature, and usually wander from place to place as they see fit. They are most commonly seen in pairs or small groups, but they can just as well travel alone. Frill and Mouth Detail <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/37_48_y2cYVJekqhujDHG.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1074\" height=\"931\" \/><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"collapse-behavior\" class=\"collapse show\">\r\n<h5> Abilities and Adaptations<\/h5>\r\nLi'uhn use magic to boost their flight, able to use their natural energy to swirl the air beneath their wings to provide lift. They gain this energy from sunlight and heat. This is limited, however, so after flying, they often land, regain their energy, then take off again. They are also known to boost themselves up high, then glide, then boost themselves back up again.<\/p>\r\nThe only li'uhn type to be able to fly entirely by their own power is the Flutterwing, who have huge wongs compared to their tiny body size.<\/p>\r\nSilverwings and Shadowcloaks are capable of flight with a lot less boosting needed, while Stoneclaws can not fly at all.<\/p>\r\nStoneclaws are very strong, and able to defend themselves and climb incredibly well. They can use their magic to boost their speed, allowing them to gallop incredibly fast on all fours and boost their leaps so they can leap higher and further than they would otherwise.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn have a call that lets out a pulse of energy. This can be picked up by surrounding Li'uhn by sensing the energy with special organs in their frill. Larger frills are actually more functional in picking up and gathering energy.<\/p>\r\nWhile Li'uhn have natural magical energy within them, it's not something they can easily direct and channel. It is volatile and unpredictable, thus Li'uhn magic workers are pretty rare. Those who do work with magic usually use outside magic sources, as using their own inner source runs the risk of exhausting them and causing harm. Some can use these external sources to further boost their flight.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n <\/p>","field5":"Li'uhn are all naturally intersex, though their appearance will follow what gender they identify as, as it effects their hormones. There isn’t much dimorphism, but the face and body structure does vary slightly. They never grow breasts, as their teats are located inside their pouch. Li'uhn go into season during the spring, and are pregnant through summer and early autumn. They give birth to a tiny baby, entirely hairless with no down or feathers, which is then placed in the pouch. It will remain inside the pouch, nursing and growing. As it gets bigger, it begins to leave the pouch, though is able to nurse even when not spending all of its time in the pouch. The baby spends the winter in the pouch, starts to peek its head out in the spring, and is able to come out during summer. They are too big to go into the pouch by the time they are two years old. Li'uhn have one baby at a time, and they won’t breed again until the baby is fully out of the pouch for at least a year. Only one baby can fit in the pouch. In the extremely rare occasion that twins are born, the other parent will foster the second twin in their pouch. The presence of the baby will induce lactation, allowing the parent to keep the baby healthy.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn often mate for life. They will impress potential partners with song. Li'uhn sing beautifully, and happily seranade eachother during their season, The beauty of their wings is another thing that attract potential Li'uhn, as well as their prowess in the air. Their aerial displays and beautiful song is a sight to behold.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn do not have menstraul cycles like humans. They go into season during early spring, and are fertile for three weeks to a month. They ovulate during this time. The egg cell is simply re-absorbed if the li'uhn does not become pregnant.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn are pregnant for about 6 months. Their genitalea are partially external, with mammalian testes and a sheath, though their actual phallus remain tucked away inside unless in direct use. (There will be a link to a NSFW ref and info here once I have a way to age restrict some content, which is in progress, so this is all you get for now xD)<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn often settle near an oasis until their babies are older, rarely travelling too far since babies can't store as much water as adults and producing milk takes up more water than they usually use, meaning they deplete their natural supplies more quickly.<\/p>\r\nBabies are just as efficient as adults with processing water. Li'uhn milk is extremely rich and nutrient dense. It has a balance of fats and protiens, as well as vitamins and minerals and water, everything a baby needs to grow and thrive until they are weaned. Li'uhn babies are born small and hairless\/featherless. They are tucked into the pouch and grow there until they are able to peek out. They can go into the pouch up to two years old, and are weaned by their third year. They grow at roughly the same rate as humans.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn babies make tiny squeaks and peeps. They are curious and playful, though stick close to their parent. They'll wander further as they get older, but will stay where they can sense their parent's call.<\/p>\r\nTheir pouch does not develop until they go through puberty. It'll start to come in around 12-13 years old, though won't actually open up. A good way to tell how mature a li'uhn is is to look at the pouch. It won't be fully developed until adulthood, at which point it opens up. They are considered fully mature once their pouch is fully developed. Both masculine and feminine li'uhn have pouches and teats inside them. They are capable of having lactation induced by the presence of a baby in their pouch, as the scent and feel of the baby will cause the hormonal response. As such, an orphaned baby can be raised by any li'uhn that finds them.<\/p>\r\nWhen they reach elder status, they tend to slow down and calm down, and will often settle in one place and travel far less. This means that many oases have a large group of elders there who can pass on advice and stories to youngsters. These settlements are seen as major cultural strongpoints, and Li'uhn travel between them to meet different elders and carry stories to different parts of the desert.<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn's fur and wings will dull as they age, and very old Li'uhn will slowly go grey. They grey similarly to dogs, mostly around the face, hands and feet <\/p>\r\n<h5>Lifespan<\/strong><\/h5>\r\nLi'uhn are magical creatures and can live up to 300 years if they have a good source of energy<\/p>\r\nLi'uhn mature fully in about 18 years, similar to a human, though they will often stay with and travel with their parents as part of the family group.<\/p>","field6":"See the link below for a detailed look at their subtypes, traits, colors, and other variations.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/10.Li'uhn_Traits\">Li'uhn variants, traits and rarities<\/a><\/p>","field7":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/pages\/5.Li'uhn_Design_Notes\">Design Notes and Guides<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\nMore information will be added to the guides above, as well as their trait lists.<\/p>"}},"title":"Li'uhn","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip","stub"],"page_tag":null}

Markings

#159 2 July 2023, 19:53:16 UTC

Page Updated

Length: 11293 (-22) - Show Raw Data

{"data":{"description":"<h4>Markings<\/h4>\r\nWhile any Li'uhn can have striping, spotting, tabby effects, siamese gradient, and lighter underbellies and darker backs, brindling and other simple markings, some genes give them extra special markings!<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h5>Uncommon<\/h5>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Leopard\">Leopard<\/a> Creates rosettes and spots on the wings and tail of the Li'uhn. Can also create subtle rosettes on their body as well.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Mica\">Mica<\/a> Creates a subtle pale, shimmery effect on the wings. The trimming can also take on this shimmering property. Should be a lighter shade of the color beneath it. Can not effect the body.Inherited from Stoneclaws that have it.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Strata\">Strata<\/a> Creates banded markings on the limbs, in shades of the main body. Trimming can appear in the bands without needing Extended Markings. Resembles the banding found in canyons and geologic strata. Can be up to 4 shades. Free for Stoneclaws, can be inherited on other types by breeding with Stoneclaws<\/p>\r\n<h5> <\/h5>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Bubble\">Bubble<\/a> Creates bubble like markings on the Li'uhn's tail and wings. Can appear on any Seaborn without needing any upgrades. Can be inherited from Seaborn that have it.<\/p>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Zephyr\">Zephyr<\/a> Soft swirls across the wings, with soft specks here and there like dust caught in eddies of air <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Tuxedo\">Tuxedo<\/a> The belly can turn white, or a large white patch around the throat and belly with white socks on the hands and feet and a white blaze on the face, like a tuxedo cat.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Hawk\">Hawk<\/a> Creates banding like what is found on the wings of a hawk all along the feathers, darker than the color beneath. Comes free with the Earth color morph.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Tricolor\">Tricolor<\/a> Allows up to three natural colors to appear on the body and frill of a Li'uhn. This only effects the body. For example, a black and tan look with the body black and the belly brown with a patch of sandy tan on the chest, or three colors like a tricolor collie. Despite being named Tricolor, it doesn't require three different colors, but should have at least two. These colors should be natural\/earthy, such as brown, grey, earthy orange, earthy red, mahogany, terracotta, and similar. This marking can be effected by Extended Markings, making the markings on the Li'uhn match the base color of the wings.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h5> Rare<\/h5>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Extended%20Markings\">Extended Markings<\/a> Extends the color of the trimming onto markings on the Li'uhn's body <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Face%20Markings\">Face Markings<\/a> Inherited from Stoneclaws. Extended markings that can appear on the face, matching with the trimming. Can appear on the frill as well.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Star\">Star<\/a> Gets the Star or crescent moon mark from the Nightkin onto another Li'uhn type. Matches the trimming in coloration. Can be inherited from Nightkin. <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Eyespots\">Eyespots<\/a> Creates eyespots like the eyespots found on moths and butterflies. Can also create peacock like eyespots on the feathers.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Ripple\">Ripple<\/a> Creates ripple like markings lighter than the color beneath it. Free on Seaborn, can be inherited from seaborn on other types.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Tabby\">Marble<\/a> A rare marking that creates swirling striping patterns similar to a bengal cat or a marble tabby, which can be two toned, on the wings and\/or body of the Li'uhn. Should follow the usual marking\/color rules on whatever part of the Li'uhn it is on. The Trimming can follow the edges of this marking.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Dove\">Dove<\/a> Creates an iridescent shimmer that can have up to three complementary colors around the neck, on the mane, and along the wings, like the flash of color pigeons have. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h5>Mythic<\/h5>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Glyphs\">Glyphs<\/a> The gold of a Li'uhn's trimming can take on glyph shapes along the tail. This can be in various shapes together. It can also take a Runic inspiration.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Atlantian\">Atlantian<\/a> Creates unique patterns on the wings and tail. Generally swirls and squared swirls. (Examples coming soon)<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h5>Exclusive <\/h5>\r\nNone Yet<\/p>\r\n <\/p>","parsed":{"description":"<h4>Markings<\/h4>\r\nWhile any Li'uhn can have striping, spotting, tabby effects, siamese gradient, and lighter underbellies and darker backs, brindling and other simple markings, some genes give them extra special markings!<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h5>Uncommon<\/h5>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Leopard\">Leopard<\/a> Creates rosettes and spots on the wings and tail of the Li'uhn. Can also create subtle rosettes on their body as well.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Mica\">Mica<\/a> Creates a subtle pale, shimmery effect on the wings. The trimming can also take on this shimmering property. Should be a lighter shade of the color beneath it. Can not effect the body.Inherited from Stoneclaws that have it.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Strata\">Strata<\/a> Creates banded markings on the limbs, in shades of the main body. Trimming can appear in the bands without needing Extended Markings. Resembles the banding found in canyons and geologic strata. Can be up to 4 shades. Free for Stoneclaws, can be inherited on other types by breeding with Stoneclaws<\/p>\r\n<h5> <\/h5>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Bubble\">Bubble<\/a> Creates bubble like markings on the Li'uhn's tail and wings. Can appear on any Seaborn without needing any upgrades. Can be inherited from Seaborn that have it.<\/p>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Zephyr\">Zephyr<\/a> Soft swirls across the wings, with soft specks here and there like dust caught in eddies of air <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Tuxedo\">Tuxedo<\/a> The belly can turn white, or a large white patch around the throat and belly with white socks on the hands and feet and a white blaze on the face, like a tuxedo cat.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Hawk\">Hawk<\/a> Creates banding like what is found on the wings of a hawk all along the feathers, darker than the color beneath. Comes free with the Earth color morph.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Tricolor\">Tricolor<\/a> Allows up to three natural colors to appear on the body and frill of a Li'uhn. This only effects the body. For example, a black and tan look with the body black and the belly brown with a patch of sandy tan on the chest, or three colors like a tricolor collie. Despite being named Tricolor, it doesn't require three different colors, but should have at least two. These colors should be natural\/earthy, such as brown, grey, earthy orange, earthy red, mahogany, terracotta, and similar. This marking can be effected by Extended Markings, making the markings on the Li'uhn match the base color of the wings.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h5> Rare<\/h5>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Extended%20Markings\">Extended Markings<\/a> Extends the color of the trimming onto markings on the Li'uhn's body <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Face%20Markings\">Face Markings<\/a> Inherited from Stoneclaws. Extended markings that can appear on the face, matching with the trimming. Can appear on the frill as well.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Star\">Star<\/a> Gets the Star or crescent moon mark from the Nightkin onto another Li'uhn type. Matches the trimming in coloration. Can be inherited from Nightkin. <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Eyespots\">Eyespots<\/a> Creates eyespots like the eyespots found on moths and butterflies. Can also create peacock like eyespots on the feathers.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Ripple\">Ripple<\/a> Creates ripple like markings lighter than the color beneath it. Free on Seaborn, can be inherited from seaborn on other types.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Tabby\">Marble<\/a> A rare marking that creates swirling striping patterns similar to a bengal cat or a marble tabby, which can be two toned, on the wings and\/or body of the Li'uhn. Should follow the usual marking\/color rules on whatever part of the Li'uhn it is on. The Trimming can follow the edges of this marking.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Dove\">Dove<\/a> Creates an iridescent shimmer that can have up to three complementary colors around the neck, on the mane, and along the wings, like the flash of color pigeons have. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h5>Mythic<\/h5>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Glyphs\">Glyphs<\/a> The gold of a Li'uhn's trimming can take on glyph shapes along the tail. This can be in various shapes together. It can also take a Runic inspiration.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/traits?name=Atlantian\">Atlantian<\/a> Creates unique patterns on the wings and tail. Generally swirls and squared swirls. (Examples coming soon)<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h5>Exclusive <\/h5>\r\nNone Yet<\/p>\r\n <\/p>"}},"title":"Markings","is_visible":"1","summary":"Various markings a Li'uhn can have","utility_tag":null,"page_tag":null}

Il'hune

#158 2 July 2023, 19:51:34 UTC

Page Updated

Length: 27759 - Show Raw Data

{"data":{"description":"An extinct species of tall, elegant winged giants, the creator of the li'uhn species. There are six of them left sealed in an oasis under a curse of immortality. There will only ever be six of them, and they are unable to leave the oasis temple they have been tasked to protect after their war destroyed their world and civilization and they are completely incapable of reproducing as part of the curse. Each of the Six Ancestors had a major part in the war that destroyed their world and caused their species to go extinct. Their imprisonment is a punishment, to make them attone for their wrongdoings, and protect the remains of the being they killed to use for their own purposes. They take this very seriously, and do their best to guide the li'uhn down a better path.  Each of the Six has deep regrets over what they did in the past. Especially with none of their own kind left anywhere else in the world. One of them tried to break the spell, in a way, and create a new il'hune, but she died in the process. The resulting il'hune that replaced her, Tahti, was outcasted. Kaaru took him under his wing and is kind to the young Il'hune. Tahti is an adult, but he's so much younger than the rest that they all just think of him as a kid. Despite being almost 200 years old.<\/p>\r\n The li'uhn are held back from the level of advancement the il'hune had due to the il'hune having used up the world's resources for their own purposes, though the li'uhn don't seem to mind too much. They're nomadic creatures, constantly on the move. The Six are <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-029\/profile\">Kaaru<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-030\/profile\">Tahti<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-031\/profile\">Rama<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-032\/profile\">Vahanu<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-033\/profile\">Haolani<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-034\/profile\">Dayalu<\/a>. Click on their names to take you to their profiles on Realms-Between. This will give you more information about each of the Six, their dynamics with eachother, and their part in the war that destroyed their planet.<\/p>","field1":"Il'hune were tall and powerful beings, natural workers of magic. They were incredibly advanced, and had exhausted their world's resources and gone to war over the last of what the world had to offer. During the height of this, they created life, creatures to do their work for them, the Li'uhn.<\/p>\r\nThey were true giants, standing around 15 feet tall. They were omnivores, though require more meat than vegitation.  They had sharp teeth and sharp retractible claws. They look very similar to Li'uhn, just bigger. They created the smaller beings in their own image.<\/p>\r\nThey were generally proud and fierce, and could be highly territorial and warlike when resources ran thin. They tried to play god, using a god they killed to create life in their own image, and possible livestock and plants for them to use. The last hundred years their species existed was marked with suffering and pain, with no way to raise food, their technology failing around them, and them dying out until there were none left. Only six remain, under a curse of immortality and sealed away in the central Oasis that was once seen as a holy spot to them.<\/p>\r\nEven with their advancement, il'hune were very ceremonial and traditional and generally held close to their kind's religous beliefs. They preferred clothing in cream, white and gold, and those with deep golden fur were seen as more attractive. Their blue eyes were striking against ther golden faces. They often wore ceremonial robes when on holy ground, or in the Oasis that was seen as a center of peace before it became the very last place with natural resources and the center of the final, bitter and terrible fighting that resulted in the extinction of the race.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/23_55_kfvguea0E21R34A.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1034\" height=\"585\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/24_56_BycDDtIZQPN8N6f.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1034\" height=\"585\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/22_54_PEqBubXQGVvQhdf.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1033\" height=\"584\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>","field2":"Il'hune ruled their world for thousands and thousands of world. They could be seen in every corner, even in great cities under the ocean with water held back by great glass domes and magic. Their cities were huge and expansive with beautiful architecture. Built tough, many of their cities are still standing even thousands of years later, even if reclaimed by nature and ruined in places. Some of their remains can be found, mummified and dried out, deep under the sand where they fell and were buried, though those that were not buried have long since faded to dust in the years. All that remains is stone tablets, their buildings, murals, and various other signs that can be seen throughout the world as well as old and broken down war machines and the remains of factories and other various buildings.<\/p>\r\nTheir history was rich and expansive, many important figures, battles, advancements... Nations and diplomacy, millions, perhaps even billions, of them living and thriving in their world. But none of that remains. The last great event of note is the war that brought about their end thousands of years ago, the one that resulted in the end of their time on their world and for the li'uhn to inherit the war-torn world and take over.<\/p>\r\nThey saw themselves as above all other life... including the sapient beings they made in their own image. Li'uhn were lower class, working class. Aside from a few il'hune here and there, they were seen as animals, even if they were capable of speech. They were too small to fight back, as the il'hune had done this on purpose. They were too busy fighting among themselves to want to have to fight another race of their own creation. Li'uhn took the place of workers, spies, fighters, miners, field workers, pets. Several varients were made, with some variants made later on to serve certain purposes.<\/p>\r\nEach of the Six sealed in the Oasis, the very last of their kind that will ever exist, was integral to the war and the destriction of their world. Being sealed is a punishment, put in place by the gods they once worshipped. The barrier is powered by these gods, who lie dormant deep beneath the Oasis, beyond the barrier where the Six can not get to them.<\/p>\r\nThe Six take their punishment very seriously, even if they are tired of living on and on for thousands of years. They now see the li'uhn as living beings every bit as much as them. With many generations passing since the original li'uhn, even stories of the il'hune's warring have faded to mythology and folklore.<\/p>","field3":"Il'hune were incredibly territorial and fierce. Warlike and proud, but very traditional and religous. They took great pride in ceremony and beauty, loving white and gold more than any other color combination. Some examples of Il'hune clothing: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/40_58_e6ZmTvyCahu33P5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1049\" height=\"439\" \/><\/p>\r\nThey were loyal to their family, gods, and nations. They fought fiercely to protect what they saw as theirs. Il'hune do best when in small groups, about the size of a lion pride, with one dominant Il'hune, often masculine, and around 8 to 10 other Il'hune and their young.  Young Il'hune would generally leave the family group they were born to once they came of age, and either start their own family group, take over another, or join them if they weren't particularly dominant. Il'hune were, in general, fairly restless, wandering throughout the day and returning to their home at night. This nature made the large cities they inhabited stressful, which often caused tension and fighting and the nations working on expanding their borders to make room for their citizens and make room for more resources.<\/p>\r\nAs their resources ran out and the il'hune struggled to survive, the stronger Il'hune would live on while the weaker ones died. They became jaded to the deaths eventually, simply trying to survive.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune were social, but they did the best in smaller groups.<\/p>\r\nTheir voices were low and powerful and resonant, comparable in a sense to a large bell, the energy pulse they produced strong, able to be picked up from far away. Like the li'uhn they created, Il'hune were very fond of song and dance and music. Song and dance was a huge part of their culture, often accompanied by aerial displays with their wings and natural magic helping them rise up further into the air.<\/p>\r\nEach Il'hune's ceremonial robes were the same, but their mask was made for them directly upon coming of age, unique to their face shape and personality. The Six with examples of the Ceremonial mask <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/41_59_JRHoPGADpbfNavQ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1070\" height=\"448\" \/><\/p>\r\nFamily members were not territorial towards eachother, so many families would often have their own territories in the wider territories owned by the family group in general. This, in fact, was what caused Il'hune to gather into nations in the first place, family groups growing, turning into villages, then into towns, then cities... then entire nations. Il'hune were very community and family driven, and would fight fiercely to protect and keep their loved ones alive.<\/p>","field4":"Il'hune were carnivore-leaning omnivores. Like humans, the sorts of plants they could eat and what they could get out of these plants was limited. They needed more animal protien and supplemented with plants for vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Their sharp teeth could grip and bite and slice through meat with ease, their claws long and curved and capable of gripping and clinging.<\/p>\r\nThey stood an average of 15 feet tall, though were surprisingly light and slender for their great size. They couldn't fly under the might of their own wings, so used the natural energy their kind had in their core to power their wings. This would stir up the air beneath them and allow them to fly.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune traits and features were similar to the traits and features found on various li'uhn, though their coloration and bodytypes were a lot less varied.<\/p>\r\nThere are only six that remain, but they have a variety of the traits Il'hune were able to have. They are the last and only examples of their species.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune were generally quite slender, due to their wings and being generally active, flying about from place to place. Being slender and light made it easier for them to take off using their natural magic, stay airborn for longer, and get further faster. Overweight il'hune were quite rare, especially towards the end of their race when they were wasting away from famine and starvation. Some examples if Il'hune traits and coloration: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/39_57_zldEOHqr0kqDTlj.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1047\" height=\"438\" \/><\/p>","field5":"Il'hune lived, naturally, around 300 years. The same amount of time the Li'uhn live on average nowadays.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune are pouched mammalians like the li'uhn they created. They are not marsupials, but rather evolved the pouch convergently. Their ancestors were nomadic, flying from oasis to oasis, much like Li'uhn do today, and they would carry their young in their pouches with them.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune went into season mid to late Spring, and would remain pregant for roughly two years. The newborn would be tiny, hairless and featherless with closed eyes. It would be placed in the pouch where it'd spend the first 8 months nursing and growing, at which point it'd start to poke its head out of the pouch, and even begin to come out and try to learn how to fly. At this age, they'd be covered in thick, fluffy down, with their feathers just starting to come in. They'd outgrow the pouch and be weaned by their third year.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune reached maturity at roughly the same rate as humans, with their pouches not developing until puberty was complete.<\/p>\r\nElder Il'hune were seen as culturally significant. They were storytellers, keepers of tradition, guides to the younger generations. The golden markings would fade out as they aged, and they'd grey and whiten around the snout, chest, and limbs, eventually dulling and losing most of their colors as they reached the end of their life.<\/p>\r\nYoung Il'hune stuck close to their parents, though as they reached teenagehood, they became restless and would wander out further, until adulthood had them often wandering off to start their own lives.<\/p>","field6":"Il'hune were mostly golden colored, ranging into brown with darker limbs and faces. They had different Frill types, different feather types, different mane types, and similar. Not many records remain, however, of the various mutations and variations they had.<\/p>","field7":"The Il'hune died out thousands of years ago, very little records of them remain. There are scrolls, murals, and libraries preserved by ancient magic that can still be found to this day, though this is only snippets of what they once were, enough to make the Li'uhn that stumble across them curious.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"An extinct species of tall, elegant winged giants, the creator of the li'uhn species. There are six of them left sealed in an oasis under a curse of immortality. There will only ever be six of them, and they are unable to leave the oasis temple they have been tasked to protect after their war destroyed their world and civilization and they are completely incapable of reproducing as part of the curse. Each of the Six Ancestors had a major part in the war that destroyed their world and caused their species to go extinct. Their imprisonment is a punishment, to make them attone for their wrongdoings, and protect the remains of the being they killed to use for their own purposes. They take this very seriously, and do their best to guide the li'uhn down a better path.  Each of the Six has deep regrets over what they did in the past. Especially with none of their own kind left anywhere else in the world. One of them tried to break the spell, in a way, and create a new il'hune, but she died in the process. The resulting il'hune that replaced her, Tahti, was outcasted. Kaaru took him under his wing and is kind to the young Il'hune. Tahti is an adult, but he's so much younger than the rest that they all just think of him as a kid. Despite being almost 200 years old.<\/p>\r\n The li'uhn are held back from the level of advancement the il'hune had due to the il'hune having used up the world's resources for their own purposes, though the li'uhn don't seem to mind too much. They're nomadic creatures, constantly on the move. The Six are <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-029\/profile\">Kaaru<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-030\/profile\">Tahti<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-031\/profile\">Rama<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-032\/profile\">Vahanu<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-033\/profile\">Haolani<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-034\/profile\">Dayalu<\/a>. Click on their names to take you to their profiles on Realms-Between. This will give you more information about each of the Six, their dynamics with eachother, and their part in the war that destroyed their planet.<\/p>","field1":"Il'hune were tall and powerful beings, natural workers of magic. They were incredibly advanced, and had exhausted their world's resources and gone to war over the last of what the world had to offer. During the height of this, they created life, creatures to do their work for them, the Li'uhn.<\/p>\r\nThey were true giants, standing around 15 feet tall. They were omnivores, though require more meat than vegitation.  They had sharp teeth and sharp retractible claws. They look very similar to Li'uhn, just bigger. They created the smaller beings in their own image.<\/p>\r\nThey were generally proud and fierce, and could be highly territorial and warlike when resources ran thin. They tried to play god, using a god they killed to create life in their own image, and possible livestock and plants for them to use. The last hundred years their species existed was marked with suffering and pain, with no way to raise food, their technology failing around them, and them dying out until there were none left. Only six remain, under a curse of immortality and sealed away in the central Oasis that was once seen as a holy spot to them.<\/p>\r\nEven with their advancement, il'hune were very ceremonial and traditional and generally held close to their kind's religous beliefs. They preferred clothing in cream, white and gold, and those with deep golden fur were seen as more attractive. Their blue eyes were striking against ther golden faces. They often wore ceremonial robes when on holy ground, or in the Oasis that was seen as a center of peace before it became the very last place with natural resources and the center of the final, bitter and terrible fighting that resulted in the extinction of the race.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/23_55_kfvguea0E21R34A.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1034\" height=\"585\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/24_56_BycDDtIZQPN8N6f.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1034\" height=\"585\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/22_54_PEqBubXQGVvQhdf.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1033\" height=\"584\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>","field2":"Il'hune ruled their world for thousands and thousands of world. They could be seen in every corner, even in great cities under the ocean with water held back by great glass domes and magic. Their cities were huge and expansive with beautiful architecture. Built tough, many of their cities are still standing even thousands of years later, even if reclaimed by nature and ruined in places. Some of their remains can be found, mummified and dried out, deep under the sand where they fell and were buried, though those that were not buried have long since faded to dust in the years. All that remains is stone tablets, their buildings, murals, and various other signs that can be seen throughout the world as well as old and broken down war machines and the remains of factories and other various buildings.<\/p>\r\nTheir history was rich and expansive, many important figures, battles, advancements... Nations and diplomacy, millions, perhaps even billions, of them living and thriving in their world. But none of that remains. The last great event of note is the war that brought about their end thousands of years ago, the one that resulted in the end of their time on their world and for the li'uhn to inherit the war-torn world and take over.<\/p>\r\nThey saw themselves as above all other life... including the sapient beings they made in their own image. Li'uhn were lower class, working class. Aside from a few il'hune here and there, they were seen as animals, even if they were capable of speech. They were too small to fight back, as the il'hune had done this on purpose. They were too busy fighting among themselves to want to have to fight another race of their own creation. Li'uhn took the place of workers, spies, fighters, miners, field workers, pets. Several varients were made, with some variants made later on to serve certain purposes.<\/p>\r\nEach of the Six sealed in the Oasis, the very last of their kind that will ever exist, was integral to the war and the destriction of their world. Being sealed is a punishment, put in place by the gods they once worshipped. The barrier is powered by these gods, who lie dormant deep beneath the Oasis, beyond the barrier where the Six can not get to them.<\/p>\r\nThe Six take their punishment very seriously, even if they are tired of living on and on for thousands of years. They now see the li'uhn as living beings every bit as much as them. With many generations passing since the original li'uhn, even stories of the il'hune's warring have faded to mythology and folklore.<\/p>","field3":"Il'hune were incredibly territorial and fierce. Warlike and proud, but very traditional and religous. They took great pride in ceremony and beauty, loving white and gold more than any other color combination. Some examples of Il'hune clothing: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/40_58_e6ZmTvyCahu33P5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1049\" height=\"439\" \/><\/p>\r\nThey were loyal to their family, gods, and nations. They fought fiercely to protect what they saw as theirs. Il'hune do best when in small groups, about the size of a lion pride, with one dominant Il'hune, often masculine, and around 8 to 10 other Il'hune and their young.  Young Il'hune would generally leave the family group they were born to once they came of age, and either start their own family group, take over another, or join them if they weren't particularly dominant. Il'hune were, in general, fairly restless, wandering throughout the day and returning to their home at night. This nature made the large cities they inhabited stressful, which often caused tension and fighting and the nations working on expanding their borders to make room for their citizens and make room for more resources.<\/p>\r\nAs their resources ran out and the il'hune struggled to survive, the stronger Il'hune would live on while the weaker ones died. They became jaded to the deaths eventually, simply trying to survive.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune were social, but they did the best in smaller groups.<\/p>\r\nTheir voices were low and powerful and resonant, comparable in a sense to a large bell, the energy pulse they produced strong, able to be picked up from far away. Like the li'uhn they created, Il'hune were very fond of song and dance and music. Song and dance was a huge part of their culture, often accompanied by aerial displays with their wings and natural magic helping them rise up further into the air.<\/p>\r\nEach Il'hune's ceremonial robes were the same, but their mask was made for them directly upon coming of age, unique to their face shape and personality. The Six with examples of the Ceremonial mask <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/41_59_JRHoPGADpbfNavQ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1070\" height=\"448\" \/><\/p>\r\nFamily members were not territorial towards eachother, so many families would often have their own territories in the wider territories owned by the family group in general. This, in fact, was what caused Il'hune to gather into nations in the first place, family groups growing, turning into villages, then into towns, then cities... then entire nations. Il'hune were very community and family driven, and would fight fiercely to protect and keep their loved ones alive.<\/p>","field4":"Il'hune were carnivore-leaning omnivores. Like humans, the sorts of plants they could eat and what they could get out of these plants was limited. They needed more animal protien and supplemented with plants for vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Their sharp teeth could grip and bite and slice through meat with ease, their claws long and curved and capable of gripping and clinging.<\/p>\r\nThey stood an average of 15 feet tall, though were surprisingly light and slender for their great size. They couldn't fly under the might of their own wings, so used the natural energy their kind had in their core to power their wings. This would stir up the air beneath them and allow them to fly.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune traits and features were similar to the traits and features found on various li'uhn, though their coloration and bodytypes were a lot less varied.<\/p>\r\nThere are only six that remain, but they have a variety of the traits Il'hune were able to have. They are the last and only examples of their species.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune were generally quite slender, due to their wings and being generally active, flying about from place to place. Being slender and light made it easier for them to take off using their natural magic, stay airborn for longer, and get further faster. Overweight il'hune were quite rare, especially towards the end of their race when they were wasting away from famine and starvation. Some examples if Il'hune traits and coloration: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/39_57_zldEOHqr0kqDTlj.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1047\" height=\"438\" \/><\/p>","field5":"Il'hune lived, naturally, around 300 years. The same amount of time the Li'uhn live on average nowadays.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune are pouched mammalians like the li'uhn they created. They are not marsupials, but rather evolved the pouch convergently. Their ancestors were nomadic, flying from oasis to oasis, much like Li'uhn do today, and they would carry their young in their pouches with them.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune went into season mid to late Spring, and would remain pregant for roughly two years. The newborn would be tiny, hairless and featherless with closed eyes. It would be placed in the pouch where it'd spend the first 8 months nursing and growing, at which point it'd start to poke its head out of the pouch, and even begin to come out and try to learn how to fly. At this age, they'd be covered in thick, fluffy down, with their feathers just starting to come in. They'd outgrow the pouch and be weaned by their third year.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune reached maturity at roughly the same rate as humans, with their pouches not developing until puberty was complete.<\/p>\r\nElder Il'hune were seen as culturally significant. They were storytellers, keepers of tradition, guides to the younger generations. The golden markings would fade out as they aged, and they'd grey and whiten around the snout, chest, and limbs, eventually dulling and losing most of their colors as they reached the end of their life.<\/p>\r\nYoung Il'hune stuck close to their parents, though as they reached teenagehood, they became restless and would wander out further, until adulthood had them often wandering off to start their own lives.<\/p>","field6":"Il'hune were mostly golden colored, ranging into brown with darker limbs and faces. They had different Frill types, different feather types, different mane types, and similar. Not many records remain, however, of the various mutations and variations they had.<\/p>","field7":"The Il'hune died out thousands of years ago, very little records of them remain. There are scrolls, murals, and libraries preserved by ancient magic that can still be found to this day, though this is only snippets of what they once were, enough to make the Li'uhn that stumble across them curious.<\/p>"}},"title":"Il'hune","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Il'hune

#157 2 July 2023, 19:48:19 UTC

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{"data":{"description":"An extinct species of tall, elegant winged giants, the creator of the li'uhn species. There are six of them left sealed in an oasis under a curse of immortality. There will only ever be six of them, and they are unable to leave the oasis temple they have been tasked to protect after their war destroyed their world and civilization and they are completely incapable of reproducing as part of the curse. Each of the Six Ancestors had a major part in the war that destroyed their world and caused their species to go extinct. Their imprisonment is a punishment, to make them attone for their wrongdoings, and protect the remains of the being they killed to use for their own purposes. They take this very seriously, and do their best to guide the li'uhn down a better path.  Each of the Six has deep regrets over what they did in the past. Especially with none of their own kind left anywhere else in the world. One of them tried to break the spell, in a way, and create a new il'hune, but she died in the process. The resulting il'hune that replaced her, Tahti, was outcasted. Kaaru took him under his wing and is kind to the young Il'hune. Tahti is an adult, but he's so much younger than the rest that they all just think of him as a kid. Despite being almost 200 years old.<\/p>\r\n The li'uhn are held back from the level of advancement the il'hune had due to the il'hune having used up the world's resources for their own purposes, though the li'uhn don't seem to mind too much. They're nomadic creatures, constantly on the move. The Six are <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-029\/profile\">Kaaru<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-030\/profile\">Tahti<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-031\/profile\">Rama<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-032\/profile\">Vahanu<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-033\/profile\">Haolani<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-034\/profile\">Dayalu<\/a>. Click on their names to take you to their profiles on Realms-Between. This will give you more information about each of the Six, their dynamics with eachother, and their part in the war that destroyed their planet.<\/p>","field1":"Il'hune were tall and powerful beings, natural workers of magic. They were incredibly advanced, and had exhausted their world's resources and gone to war over the last of what the world had to offer. During the height of this, they created life, creatures to do their work for them, the Li'uhn.<\/p>\r\nThey were true giants, standing around 15 feet tall. They were omnivores, though require more meat than vegitation.  They had sharp teeth and sharp retractible claws. They look very similar to Li'uhn, just bigger. They created the smaller beings in their own image.<\/p>\r\nThey were generally proud and fierce, and could be highly territorial and warlike when resources ran thin. They tried to play god, using a god they killed to create life in their own image, and possible livestock and plants for them to use. The last hundred years their species existed was marked with suffering and pain, with no way to raise food, their technology failing around them, and them dying out until there were none left. Only six remain, under a curse of immortality and sealed away in the central Oasis that was once seen as a holy spot to them.<\/p>\r\nEven with their advancement, il'hune were very ceremonial and traditional and generally held close to their kind's religous beliefs. They preferred clothing in cream, white and gold, and those with deep golden fur were seen as more attractive. Their blue eyes were striking against ther golden faces. They often wore ceremonial robes when on holy ground, or in the Oasis that was seen as a center of peace before it became the very last place with natural resources and the center of the final, bitter and terrible fighting that resulted in the extinction of the race.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/23_55_kfvguea0E21R34A.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1034\" height=\"585\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/24_56_BycDDtIZQPN8N6f.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1034\" height=\"585\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/22_54_PEqBubXQGVvQhdf.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1033\" height=\"584\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>","field2":"Il'hune ruled their world for thousands and thousands of world. They could be seen in every corner, even in great cities under the ocean with water held back by great glass domes and magic. Their cities were huge and expansive with beautiful architecture. Built tough, many of their cities are still standing even thousands of years later, even if reclaimed by nature and ruined in places. Some of their remains can be found, mummified and dried out, deep under the sand where they fell and were buried, though those that were not buried have long since faded to dust in the years. All that remains is stone tablets, their buildings, murals, and various other signs that can be seen throughout the world as well as old and broken down war machines and the remains of factories and other various buildings.<\/p>\r\nTheir history was rich and expansive, many important figures, battles, advancements... Nations and diplomacy, millions, perhaps even billions, of them living and thriving in their world. But none of that remains. The last great event of note is the war that brought about their end thousands of years ago, the one that resulted in the end of their time on their world and for the li'uhn to inherit the war-torn world and take over.<\/p>\r\nThey saw themselves as above all other life... including the sapient beings they made in their own image. Li'uhn were lower class, working class. Aside from a few il'hune here and there, they were seen as animals, even if they were capable of speech. They were too small to fight back, as the il'hune had done this on purpose. They were too busy fighting among themselves to want to have to fight another race of their own creation. Li'uhn took the place of workers, spies, fighters, miners, field workers, pets. Several varients were made, with some variants made later on to serve certain purposes.<\/p>\r\nEach of the Six sealed in the Oasis, the very last of their kind that will ever exist, was integral to the war and the destriction of their world. Being sealed is a punishment, put in place by the gods they once worshipped. The barrier is powered by these gods, who lie dormant deep beneath the Oasis, beyond the barrier where the Six can not get to them.<\/p>\r\nThe Six take their punishment very seriously, even if they are tired of living on and on for thousands of years. They now see the li'uhn as living beings every bit as much as them. With many generations passing since the original li'uhn, even stories of the il'hune's warring have faded to mythology and folklore.<\/p>","field3":"Il'hune were incredibly territorial and fierce. Warlike and proud, but very traditional and religous. They took great pride in ceremony and beauty, loving white and gold more than any other color combination. Some examples of Il'hune clothing: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/40_58_e6ZmTvyCahu33P5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1049\" height=\"439\" \/><\/p>\r\nThey were loyal to their family, gods, and nations. They fought fiercely to protect what they saw as theirs. Il'hune do best when in small groups, about the size of a lion pride, with one dominant Il'hune, often masculine, and around 8 to 10 other Il'hune and their young.  Young Il'hune would generally leave the family group they were born to once they came of age, and either start their own family group, take over another, or join them if they weren't particularly dominant. Il'hune were, in general, fairly restless, wandering throughout the day and returning to their home at night. This nature made the large cities they inhabited stressful, which often caused tension and fighting and the nations working on expanding their borders to make room for their citizens and make room for more resources.<\/p>\r\nAs their resources ran out and the il'hune struggled to survive, the stronger Il'hune would live on while the weaker ones died. They became jaded to the deaths eventually, simply trying to survive.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune were social, but they did the best in smaller groups.<\/p>\r\nTheir voices were low and powerful and resonant, comparable in a sense to a large bell, the energy pulse they produced strong, able to be picked up from far away. Like the li'uhn they created, Il'hune were very fond of song and dance and music. Song and dance was a huge part of their culture, often accompanied by aerial displays with their wings and natural magic helping them rise up further into the air.<\/p>\r\nEach Il'hune's ceremonial robes were the same, but their mask was made for them directly upon coming of age, unique to their face shape and personality. The Six with examples of the Ceremonial mask <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/41_59_JRHoPGADpbfNavQ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1070\" height=\"448\" \/><\/p>\r\nFamily members were not territorial towards eachother, so many families would often have their own territories in the wider territories owned by the family group in general. This, in fact, was what caused Il'hune to gather into nations in the first place, family groups growing, turning into villages, then into towns, then cities... then entire nations. Il'hune were very community and family driven, and would fight fiercely to protect and keep their loved ones alive.<\/p>","field4":"Il'hune were carnivore-leaning omnivores. Like humans, the sorts of plants they could eat and what they could get out of these plants was limited. They needed more animal protien and supplemented with plants for vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Their sharp teeth could grip and bite and slice through meat with ease, their claws long and curved and capable of gripping and clinging.<\/p>\r\nThey stood an average of 15 feet tall, though were surprisingly light and slender for their great size. They couldn't fly under the might of their own wings, so used the natural energy their kind had in their core to power their wings. This would stir up the air beneath them and allow them to fly.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune traits and features were similar to the traits and features found on various li'uhn, though their coloration and bodytypes were a lot less varied.<\/p>\r\nThere are only six that remain, but they have a variety of the traits Il'hune were able to have. They are the last and only examples of their species.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune were generally quite slender, due to their wings and being generally active, flying about from place to place. Being slender and light made it easier for them to take off using their natural magic, stay airborn for longer, and get further faster. Overweight il'hune were quite rare, especially towards the end of their race when they were wasting away from famine and starvation. Some examples if Il'hune traits and coloration: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/39_57_zldEOHqr0kqDTlj.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1047\" height=\"438\" \/><\/p>","field5":"Il'hune lived, naturally, around 300 years. The same amount of time the Li'uhn live on average nowadays.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune are pouched mammalians like the li'uhn they created. They are not marsupials, but rather evolved the pouch convergently. Their ancestors were nomadic, flying from oasis to oasis, much like Li'uhn do today, and they would carry their young in their pouches with them.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune went into season mid to late Spring, and would remain pregant for roughly two years. The newborn would be tiny, hairless and featherless with closed eyes. It would be placed in the pouch where it'd spend the first 8 months nursing and growing, at which point it'd start to poke its head out of the pouch, and even begin to come out and try to learn how to fly. At this age, they'd be covered in thick, fluffy down, with their feathers just starting to come in. They'd outgrow the pouch and be weaned by their third year.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune reached maturity at roughly the same rate as humans, with their pouches not developing until puberty was complete.<\/p>\r\nElder Il'hune were seen as culturally significant. They were storytellers, keepers of tradition, guides to the younger generations. The golden markings would fade out as they aged, and they'd grey and whiten around the snout, chest, and limbs, eventually dulling and losing most of their colors as they reached the end of their life.<\/p>\r\nYoung Il'hune stuck close to their parents, though as they reached teenagehood, they became restless and would wander out further, until adulthood had them often wandering off to start their own lives.<\/p>","field6":"Il'hune were mostly golden colored, ranging into brown with darker limbs and faces. They had different Frill types, different feather types, different mane types, and similar. Not many records remain, however, of the various mutations and variations they had.<\/p>","field7":"The Il'hune died out thousands of years ago, very little records of them remain. There are scrolls, murals, and libraries preserved by ancient magic that can still be found to this day, though this is only snippets of what they once were, enough to make the Li'uhn that stumble across them curious.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"An extinct species of tall, elegant winged giants, the creator of the li'uhn species. There are six of them left sealed in an oasis under a curse of immortality. There will only ever be six of them, and they are unable to leave the oasis temple they have been tasked to protect after their war destroyed their world and civilization and they are completely incapable of reproducing as part of the curse. Each of the Six Ancestors had a major part in the war that destroyed their world and caused their species to go extinct. Their imprisonment is a punishment, to make them attone for their wrongdoings, and protect the remains of the being they killed to use for their own purposes. They take this very seriously, and do their best to guide the li'uhn down a better path.  Each of the Six has deep regrets over what they did in the past. Especially with none of their own kind left anywhere else in the world. One of them tried to break the spell, in a way, and create a new il'hune, but she died in the process. The resulting il'hune that replaced her, Tahti, was outcasted. Kaaru took him under his wing and is kind to the young Il'hune. Tahti is an adult, but he's so much younger than the rest that they all just think of him as a kid. Despite being almost 200 years old.<\/p>\r\n The li'uhn are held back from the level of advancement the il'hune had due to the il'hune having used up the world's resources for their own purposes, though the li'uhn don't seem to mind too much. They're nomadic creatures, constantly on the move. The Six are <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-029\/profile\">Kaaru<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-030\/profile\">Tahti<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-031\/profile\">Rama<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-032\/profile\">Vahanu<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-033\/profile\">Haolani<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/character\/C-034\/profile\">Dayalu<\/a>. Click on their names to take you to their profiles on Realms-Between. This will give you more information about each of the Six, their dynamics with eachother, and their part in the war that destroyed their planet.<\/p>","field1":"Il'hune were tall and powerful beings, natural workers of magic. They were incredibly advanced, and had exhausted their world's resources and gone to war over the last of what the world had to offer. During the height of this, they created life, creatures to do their work for them, the Li'uhn.<\/p>\r\nThey were true giants, standing around 15 feet tall. They were omnivores, though require more meat than vegitation.  They had sharp teeth and sharp retractible claws. They look very similar to Li'uhn, just bigger. They created the smaller beings in their own image.<\/p>\r\nThey were generally proud and fierce, and could be highly territorial and warlike when resources ran thin. They tried to play god, using a god they killed to create life in their own image, and possible livestock and plants for them to use. The last hundred years their species existed was marked with suffering and pain, with no way to raise food, their technology failing around them, and them dying out until there were none left. Only six remain, under a curse of immortality and sealed away in the central Oasis that was once seen as a holy spot to them.<\/p>\r\nEven with their advancement, il'hune were very ceremonial and traditional and generally held close to their kind's religous beliefs. They preferred clothing in cream, white and gold, and those with deep golden fur were seen as more attractive. Their blue eyes were striking against ther golden faces. They often wore ceremonial robes when on holy ground, or in the Oasis that was seen as a center of peace before it became the very last place with natural resources and the center of the final, bitter and terrible fighting that resulted in the extinction of the race.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/23_55_kfvguea0E21R34A.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1034\" height=\"585\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/24_56_BycDDtIZQPN8N6f.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1034\" height=\"585\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/22_54_PEqBubXQGVvQhdf.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1033\" height=\"584\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>","field2":"Il'hune ruled their world for thousands and thousands of world. They could be seen in every corner, even in great cities under the ocean with water held back by great glass domes and magic. Their cities were huge and expansive with beautiful architecture. Built tough, many of their cities are still standing even thousands of years later, even if reclaimed by nature and ruined in places. Some of their remains can be found, mummified and dried out, deep under the sand where they fell and were buried, though those that were not buried have long since faded to dust in the years. All that remains is stone tablets, their buildings, murals, and various other signs that can be seen throughout the world as well as old and broken down war machines and the remains of factories and other various buildings.<\/p>\r\nTheir history was rich and expansive, many important figures, battles, advancements... Nations and diplomacy, millions, perhaps even billions, of them living and thriving in their world. But none of that remains. The last great event of note is the war that brought about their end thousands of years ago, the one that resulted in the end of their time on their world and for the li'uhn to inherit the war-torn world and take over.<\/p>\r\nThey saw themselves as above all other life... including the sapient beings they made in their own image. Li'uhn were lower class, working class. Aside from a few il'hune here and there, they were seen as animals, even if they were capable of speech. They were too small to fight back, as the il'hune had done this on purpose. They were too busy fighting among themselves to want to have to fight another race of their own creation. Li'uhn took the place of workers, spies, fighters, miners, field workers, pets. Several varients were made, with some variants made later on to serve certain purposes.<\/p>\r\nEach of the Six sealed in the Oasis, the very last of their kind that will ever exist, was integral to the war and the destriction of their world. Being sealed is a punishment, put in place by the gods they once worshipped. The barrier is powered by these gods, who lie dormant deep beneath the Oasis, beyond the barrier where the Six can not get to them.<\/p>\r\nThe Six take their punishment very seriously, even if they are tired of living on and on for thousands of years. They now see the li'uhn as living beings every bit as much as them. With many generations passing since the original li'uhn, even stories of the il'hune's warring have faded to mythology and folklore.<\/p>","field3":"Il'hune were incredibly territorial and fierce. Warlike and proud, but very traditional and religous. They took great pride in ceremony and beauty, loving white and gold more than any other color combination. Some examples of Il'hune clothing: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/40_58_e6ZmTvyCahu33P5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1049\" height=\"439\" \/><\/p>\r\nThey were loyal to their family, gods, and nations. They fought fiercely to protect what they saw as theirs. Il'hune do best when in small groups, about the size of a lion pride, with one dominant Il'hune, often masculine, and around 8 to 10 other Il'hune and their young.  Young Il'hune would generally leave the family group they were born to once they came of age, and either start their own family group, take over another, or join them if they weren't particularly dominant. Il'hune were, in general, fairly restless, wandering throughout the day and returning to their home at night. This nature made the large cities they inhabited stressful, which often caused tension and fighting and the nations working on expanding their borders to make room for their citizens and make room for more resources.<\/p>\r\nAs their resources ran out and the il'hune struggled to survive, the stronger Il'hune would live on while the weaker ones died. They became jaded to the deaths eventually, simply trying to survive.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune were social, but they did the best in smaller groups.<\/p>\r\nTheir voices were low and powerful and resonant, comparable in a sense to a large bell, the energy pulse they produced strong, able to be picked up from far away. Like the li'uhn they created, Il'hune were very fond of song and dance and music. Song and dance was a huge part of their culture, often accompanied by aerial displays with their wings and natural magic helping them rise up further into the air.<\/p>\r\nEach Il'hune's ceremonial robes were the same, but their mask was made for them directly upon coming of age, unique to their face shape and personality. The Six with examples of the Ceremonial mask <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/41_59_JRHoPGADpbfNavQ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1070\" height=\"448\" \/><\/p>\r\nFamily members were not territorial towards eachother, so many families would often have their own territories in the wider territories owned by the family group in general. This, in fact, was what caused Il'hune to gather into nations in the first place, family groups growing, turning into villages, then into towns, then cities... then entire nations. Il'hune were very community and family driven, and would fight fiercely to protect and keep their loved ones alive.<\/p>","field4":"Il'hune were carnivore-leaning omnivores. Like humans, the sorts of plants they could eat and what they could get out of these plants was limited. They needed more animal protien and supplemented with plants for vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Their sharp teeth could grip and bite and slice through meat with ease, their claws long and curved and capable of gripping and clinging.<\/p>\r\nThey stood an average of 15 feet tall, though were surprisingly light and slender for their great size. They couldn't fly under the might of their own wings, so used the natural energy their kind had in their core to power their wings. This would stir up the air beneath them and allow them to fly.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune traits and features were similar to the traits and features found on various li'uhn, though their coloration and bodytypes were a lot less varied.<\/p>\r\nThere are only six that remain, but they have a variety of the traits Il'hune were able to have. They are the last and only examples of their species.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune were generally quite slender, due to their wings and being generally active, flying about from place to place. Being slender and light made it easier for them to take off using their natural magic, stay airborn for longer, and get further faster. Overweight il'hune were quite rare, especially towards the end of their race when they were wasting away from famine and starvation. Some examples if Il'hune traits and coloration: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/39_57_zldEOHqr0kqDTlj.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1047\" height=\"438\" \/><\/p>","field5":"Il'hune lived, naturally, around 300 years. The same amount of time the Li'uhn live on average nowadays.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune are pouched mammalians like the li'uhn they created. They are not marsupials, but rather evolved the pouch convergently. Their ancestors were nomadic, flying from oasis to oasis, much like Li'uhn do today, and they would carry their young in their pouches with them.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune went into season mid to late Spring, and would remain pregant for roughly two years. The newborn would be tiny, hairless and featherless with closed eyes. It would be placed in the pouch where it'd spend the first 8 months nursing and growing, at which point it'd start to poke its head out of the pouch, and even begin to come out and try to learn how to fly. At this age, they'd be covered in thick, fluffy down, with their feathers just starting to come in. They'd outgrow the pouch and be weaned by their third year.<\/p>\r\nIl'hune reached maturity at roughly the same rate as humans, with their pouches not developing until puberty was complete.<\/p>\r\nElder Il'hune were seen as culturally significant. They were storytellers, keepers of tradition, guides to the younger generations. The golden markings would fade out as they aged, and they'd grey and whiten around the snout, chest, and limbs, eventually dulling and losing most of their colors as they reached the end of their life.<\/p>\r\nYoung Il'hune stuck close to their parents, though as they reached teenagehood, they became restless and would wander out further, until adulthood had them often wandering off to start their own lives.<\/p>","field6":"Il'hune were mostly golden colored, ranging into brown with darker limbs and faces. They had different Frill types, different feather types, different mane types, and similar. Not many records remain, however, of the various mutations and variations they had.<\/p>","field7":"The Il'hune died out thousands of years ago, very little records of them remain. There are scrolls, murals, and libraries preserved by ancient magic that can still be found to this day, though this is only snippets of what they once were, enough to make the Li'uhn that stumble across them curious.<\/p>"}},"title":"Il'hune","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Dhaebru

#156 2 July 2023, 08:55:56 UTC

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{"data":{"description":"A mysterious, though surprisingly peaceful, dark entity. Not hostile unless threatened, surprisingly social, surprisingly gentle and curious.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/davidjamesnielsen\/the-dhaebru-theme-chronicles-of-azrimar-feb-21\/s-RplYQ?in=davidjamesnielsen\/sets\/chronicles-of-azrimar\/\/s-ZwFqi\">Their Theme Music<\/a><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/89_110_p6wMHTDd8OIGStN.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1051\" height=\"847\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they have anncient tales and stories about how they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a strange being known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/94_115_hPbnfbHWmtHdz5c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"781\" height=\"660\" \/> Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/96_117_HIUNRhb0Vc25KfZ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/95_116_TpZGn2Yj5JFrkTF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"633\" \/><\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nVarious reactions from a group of Dhaebru stumbling across a human.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/90_111_940gopRY27Pq6eW.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"732\" height=\"582\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nThere is one major exception in the peaceful nature of the Dhaebru, and this is with those who try to push past the safer sorts of magic into ancient, eldritch and forbidden arts. The Forbidden Arts are forbidden for a reason, and the influence effects a mage's very mind. When this dangerous influence builds up or starts to build up, Dhaebru become hostile. This has caused a lot of tension, and has given the Dhaebru a dark reputation. Humans, in general, fear these mysterious creatures. The Order of the Eclipse and various practitioners of Forbidden Magic have frequently been attacked by Dhaebru sects, with even the Warden getting involved in some cases.<\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/91_112_OUXOd21Py8O3BYs.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"939\" height=\"480\" \/> \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":"Dhaebru are not physical creatures. No mutations or variations other than the design of their individual robes, and the difference between common Dhaebru and Wardens, have been observed.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods could be seen as a variation, but this seems to simply be a certain bloodline.<\/p>","field7":"Other<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru, despite their dark nature, love to lay in the sunlight when they are robed. The warmth is comorting and feels really good to them. It can feel uncomfortable on their bare 'skin', but when they are shielded by their robes, the robes absorb the warmth of the sun and make the Dhaebru feel really good. They love warmth! They'll even fall asleep sometimes, lulled by the smells, sounds, and feelings of being out on a nice day. Dhaebru are comforted by soft, ambient light. Their armor protects their Core. The Core is what forms their being and houses their soul.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"A mysterious, though surprisingly peaceful, dark entity. Not hostile unless threatened, surprisingly social, surprisingly gentle and curious.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/davidjamesnielsen\/the-dhaebru-theme-chronicles-of-azrimar-feb-21\/s-RplYQ?in=davidjamesnielsen\/sets\/chronicles-of-azrimar\/\/s-ZwFqi\">Their Theme Music<\/a><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/89_110_p6wMHTDd8OIGStN.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1051\" height=\"847\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they have anncient tales and stories about how they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a strange being known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/94_115_hPbnfbHWmtHdz5c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"781\" height=\"660\" \/> Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/96_117_HIUNRhb0Vc25KfZ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/95_116_TpZGn2Yj5JFrkTF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"633\" \/><\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nVarious reactions from a group of Dhaebru stumbling across a human.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/90_111_940gopRY27Pq6eW.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"732\" height=\"582\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nThere is one major exception in the peaceful nature of the Dhaebru, and this is with those who try to push past the safer sorts of magic into ancient, eldritch and forbidden arts. The Forbidden Arts are forbidden for a reason, and the influence effects a mage's very mind. When this dangerous influence builds up or starts to build up, Dhaebru become hostile. This has caused a lot of tension, and has given the Dhaebru a dark reputation. Humans, in general, fear these mysterious creatures. The Order of the Eclipse and various practitioners of Forbidden Magic have frequently been attacked by Dhaebru sects, with even the Warden getting involved in some cases.<\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/91_112_OUXOd21Py8O3BYs.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"939\" height=\"480\" \/> \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":"Dhaebru are not physical creatures. No mutations or variations other than the design of their individual robes, and the difference between common Dhaebru and Wardens, have been observed.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods could be seen as a variation, but this seems to simply be a certain bloodline.<\/p>","field7":"Other<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru, despite their dark nature, love to lay in the sunlight when they are robed. The warmth is comorting and feels really good to them. It can feel uncomfortable on their bare 'skin', but when they are shielded by their robes, the robes absorb the warmth of the sun and make the Dhaebru feel really good. They love warmth! They'll even fall asleep sometimes, lulled by the smells, sounds, and feelings of being out on a nice day. Dhaebru are comforted by soft, ambient light. Their armor protects their Core. The Core is what forms their being and houses their soul.<\/p>"}},"title":"Dhaebru","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Dhaebru

#155 2 July 2023, 08:52:10 UTC

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{"data":{"description":"A mysterious, though surprisingly peaceful, dark entity. Not hostile unless threatened, surprisingly social, surprisingly gentle and curious.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/davidjamesnielsen\/the-dhaebru-theme-chronicles-of-azrimar-feb-21\/s-RplYQ?in=davidjamesnielsen\/sets\/chronicles-of-azrimar\/\/s-ZwFqi\">Their Theme Music<\/a><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/89_110_p6wMHTDd8OIGStN.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1051\" height=\"847\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/94_115_hPbnfbHWmtHdz5c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"781\" height=\"660\" \/> Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/96_117_HIUNRhb0Vc25KfZ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/95_116_TpZGn2Yj5JFrkTF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"633\" \/><\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nVarious reactions from a group of Dhaebru stumbling across a human.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/90_111_940gopRY27Pq6eW.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"732\" height=\"582\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nThere is one major exception in the peaceful nature of the Dhaebru, and this is with those who try to push past the safer sorts of magic into ancient, eldritch and forbidden arts. The Forbidden Arts are forbidden for a reason, and the influence effects a mage's very mind. When this dangerous influence builds up or starts to build up, Dhaebru become hostile. This has caused a lot of tension, and has given the Dhaebru a dark reputation. Humans, in general, fear these mysterious creatures. The Order of the Eclipse and various practitioners of Forbidden Magic have frequently been attacked by Dhaebru sects, with even the Warden getting involved in some cases.<\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/91_112_OUXOd21Py8O3BYs.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"939\" height=\"480\" \/> \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":"Dhaebru are not physical creatures. No mutations or variations other than the design of their individual robes, and the difference between common Dhaebru and Wardens, have been observed.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods could be seen as a variation, but this seems to simply be a certain bloodline.<\/p>","field7":"Other<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru, despite their dark nature, love to lay in the sunlight when they are robed. The warmth is comorting and feels really good to them. It can feel uncomfortable on their bare 'skin', but when they are shielded by their robes, the robes absorb the warmth of the sun and make the Dhaebru feel really good. They love warmth! They'll even fall asleep sometimes, lulled by the smells, sounds, and feelings of being out on a nice day. Dhaebru are comforted by soft, ambient light. Their armor protects their Core. The Core is what forms their being and houses their soul.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"A mysterious, though surprisingly peaceful, dark entity. Not hostile unless threatened, surprisingly social, surprisingly gentle and curious.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/davidjamesnielsen\/the-dhaebru-theme-chronicles-of-azrimar-feb-21\/s-RplYQ?in=davidjamesnielsen\/sets\/chronicles-of-azrimar\/\/s-ZwFqi\">Their Theme Music<\/a><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/89_110_p6wMHTDd8OIGStN.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1051\" height=\"847\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/94_115_hPbnfbHWmtHdz5c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"781\" height=\"660\" \/> Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/96_117_HIUNRhb0Vc25KfZ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/95_116_TpZGn2Yj5JFrkTF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"633\" \/><\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nVarious reactions from a group of Dhaebru stumbling across a human.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/90_111_940gopRY27Pq6eW.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"732\" height=\"582\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nThere is one major exception in the peaceful nature of the Dhaebru, and this is with those who try to push past the safer sorts of magic into ancient, eldritch and forbidden arts. The Forbidden Arts are forbidden for a reason, and the influence effects a mage's very mind. When this dangerous influence builds up or starts to build up, Dhaebru become hostile. This has caused a lot of tension, and has given the Dhaebru a dark reputation. Humans, in general, fear these mysterious creatures. The Order of the Eclipse and various practitioners of Forbidden Magic have frequently been attacked by Dhaebru sects, with even the Warden getting involved in some cases.<\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/91_112_OUXOd21Py8O3BYs.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"939\" height=\"480\" \/> \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":"Dhaebru are not physical creatures. No mutations or variations other than the design of their individual robes, and the difference between common Dhaebru and Wardens, have been observed.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods could be seen as a variation, but this seems to simply be a certain bloodline.<\/p>","field7":"Other<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru, despite their dark nature, love to lay in the sunlight when they are robed. The warmth is comorting and feels really good to them. It can feel uncomfortable on their bare 'skin', but when they are shielded by their robes, the robes absorb the warmth of the sun and make the Dhaebru feel really good. They love warmth! They'll even fall asleep sometimes, lulled by the smells, sounds, and feelings of being out on a nice day. Dhaebru are comforted by soft, ambient light. Their armor protects their Core. The Core is what forms their being and houses their soul.<\/p>"}},"title":"Dhaebru","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Dhaebru

#154 1 July 2023, 22:12:59 UTC

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{"data":{"description":"A mysterious, though surprisingly peaceful, dark entity. Not hostile unless threatened, surprisingly social, surprisingly gentle and curious.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/davidjamesnielsen\/the-dhaebru-theme-chronicles-of-azrimar-feb-21\/s-RplYQ?in=davidjamesnielsen\/sets\/chronicles-of-azrimar\/\/s-ZwFqi\">Their Theme Music<\/a><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/89_110_p6wMHTDd8OIGStN.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1051\" height=\"847\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/94_115_hPbnfbHWmtHdz5c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"781\" height=\"660\" \/> Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/96_117_HIUNRhb0Vc25KfZ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/95_116_TpZGn2Yj5JFrkTF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"633\" \/><\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nVarious reactions from a group of Dhaebru stumbling across a human.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/90_111_940gopRY27Pq6eW.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"732\" height=\"582\" \/><\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/91_112_OUXOd21Py8O3BYs.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"939\" height=\"480\" \/> \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":"Dhaebru are not physical creatures. No mutations or variations other than the design of their individual robes, and the difference between common Dhaebru and Wardens, have been observed.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods could be seen as a variation, but this seems to simply be a certain bloodline.<\/p>","field7":"Other<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru, despite their dark nature, love to lay in the sunlight when they are robed. The warmth is comorting and feels really good to them. It can feel uncomfortable on their bare 'skin', but when they are shielded by their robes, the robes absorb the warmth of the sun and make the Dhaebru feel really good. They love warmth! They'll even fall asleep sometimes, lulled by the smells, sounds, and feelings of being out on a nice day. Dhaebru are comforted by soft, ambient light. Their armor protects their Core. The Core is what forms their being and houses their soul.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"A mysterious, though surprisingly peaceful, dark entity. Not hostile unless threatened, surprisingly social, surprisingly gentle and curious.<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/davidjamesnielsen\/the-dhaebru-theme-chronicles-of-azrimar-feb-21\/s-RplYQ?in=davidjamesnielsen\/sets\/chronicles-of-azrimar\/\/s-ZwFqi\">Their Theme Music<\/a><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/89_110_p6wMHTDd8OIGStN.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1051\" height=\"847\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/94_115_hPbnfbHWmtHdz5c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"781\" height=\"660\" \/> Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/96_117_HIUNRhb0Vc25KfZ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/95_116_TpZGn2Yj5JFrkTF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"633\" \/><\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nVarious reactions from a group of Dhaebru stumbling across a human.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/90_111_940gopRY27Pq6eW.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"732\" height=\"582\" \/><\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/91_112_OUXOd21Py8O3BYs.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"939\" height=\"480\" \/> \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":"Dhaebru are not physical creatures. No mutations or variations other than the design of their individual robes, and the difference between common Dhaebru and Wardens, have been observed.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods could be seen as a variation, but this seems to simply be a certain bloodline.<\/p>","field7":"Other<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru, despite their dark nature, love to lay in the sunlight when they are robed. The warmth is comorting and feels really good to them. It can feel uncomfortable on their bare 'skin', but when they are shielded by their robes, the robes absorb the warmth of the sun and make the Dhaebru feel really good. They love warmth! They'll even fall asleep sometimes, lulled by the smells, sounds, and feelings of being out on a nice day. Dhaebru are comforted by soft, ambient light. Their armor protects their Core. The Core is what forms their being and houses their soul.<\/p>"}},"title":"Dhaebru","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Dhaebru

#153 1 July 2023, 17:30:09 UTC

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{"data":{"description":"A mysterious, though surprisingly peaceful, dark entity. Not hostile unless threatened, surprisingly social, surprisingly gentle and curious.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/89_110_p6wMHTDd8OIGStN.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1051\" height=\"847\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/94_115_hPbnfbHWmtHdz5c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"781\" height=\"660\" \/> Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/96_117_HIUNRhb0Vc25KfZ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/95_116_TpZGn2Yj5JFrkTF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"633\" \/><\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nVarious reactions from a group of Dhaebru stumbling across a human.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/90_111_940gopRY27Pq6eW.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"732\" height=\"582\" \/><\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/91_112_OUXOd21Py8O3BYs.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"939\" height=\"480\" \/> \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":"Dhaebru are not physical creatures. No mutations or variations other than the design of their individual robes, and the difference between common Dhaebru and Wardens, have been observed.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods could be seen as a variation, but this seems to simply be a certain bloodline.<\/p>","field7":"Other<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru, despite their dark nature, love to lay in the sunlight when they are robed. The warmth is comorting and feels really good to them. It can feel uncomfortable on their bare 'skin', but when they are shielded by their robes, the robes absorb the warmth of the sun and make the Dhaebru feel really good. They love warmth! They'll even fall asleep sometimes, lulled by the smells, sounds, and feelings of being out on a nice day. Dhaebru are comforted by soft, ambient light. Their armor protects their Core. The Core is what forms their being and houses their soul.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"A mysterious, though surprisingly peaceful, dark entity. Not hostile unless threatened, surprisingly social, surprisingly gentle and curious.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/89_110_p6wMHTDd8OIGStN.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1051\" height=\"847\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/94_115_hPbnfbHWmtHdz5c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"781\" height=\"660\" \/> Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/96_117_HIUNRhb0Vc25KfZ.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/95_116_TpZGn2Yj5JFrkTF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"633\" \/><\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nVarious reactions from a group of Dhaebru stumbling across a human.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/90_111_940gopRY27Pq6eW.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"732\" height=\"582\" \/><\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/91_112_OUXOd21Py8O3BYs.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"939\" height=\"480\" \/> \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":"Dhaebru are not physical creatures. No mutations or variations other than the design of their individual robes, and the difference between common Dhaebru and Wardens, have been observed.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods could be seen as a variation, but this seems to simply be a certain bloodline.<\/p>","field7":"Other<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru, despite their dark nature, love to lay in the sunlight when they are robed. The warmth is comorting and feels really good to them. It can feel uncomfortable on their bare 'skin', but when they are shielded by their robes, the robes absorb the warmth of the sun and make the Dhaebru feel really good. They love warmth! They'll even fall asleep sometimes, lulled by the smells, sounds, and feelings of being out on a nice day. Dhaebru are comforted by soft, ambient light. Their armor protects their Core. The Core is what forms their being and houses their soul.<\/p>"}},"title":"Dhaebru","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Dhaebru

#152 1 July 2023, 17:24:17 UTC

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{"data":{"description":"A mysterious, though surprisingly peaceful, dark entity. Not hostile unless threatened, surprisingly social, surprisingly gentle and curious.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/89_110_p6wMHTDd8OIGStN.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1051\" height=\"847\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/95_116_TpZGn2Yj5JFrkTF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"633\" \/><\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nVarious reactions from a group of Dhaebru stumbling across a human.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/90_111_940gopRY27Pq6eW.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"732\" height=\"582\" \/><\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/91_112_OUXOd21Py8O3BYs.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"939\" height=\"480\" \/> \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":"Dhaebru are not physical creatures. No mutations or variations other than the design of their individual robes, and the difference between common Dhaebru and Wardens, have been observed.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods could be seen as a variation, but this seems to simply be a certain bloodline.<\/p>","field7":"Other<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru, despite their dark nature, love to lay in the sunlight when they are robed. The warmth is comorting and feels really good to them. It can feel uncomfortable on their bare 'skin', but when they are shielded by their robes, the robes absorb the warmth of the sun and make the Dhaebru feel really good. They love warmth! They'll even fall asleep sometimes, lulled by the smells, sounds, and feelings of being out on a nice day. Dhaebru are comforted by soft, ambient light. Their armor protects their Core. The Core is what forms their being and houses their soul.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"A mysterious, though surprisingly peaceful, dark entity. Not hostile unless threatened, surprisingly social, surprisingly gentle and curious.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/89_110_p6wMHTDd8OIGStN.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1051\" height=\"847\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/95_116_TpZGn2Yj5JFrkTF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"633\" \/><\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\nVarious reactions from a group of Dhaebru stumbling across a human.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/90_111_940gopRY27Pq6eW.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"732\" height=\"582\" \/><\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/91_112_OUXOd21Py8O3BYs.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"939\" height=\"480\" \/> \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":"Dhaebru are not physical creatures. No mutations or variations other than the design of their individual robes, and the difference between common Dhaebru and Wardens, have been observed.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods could be seen as a variation, but this seems to simply be a certain bloodline.<\/p>","field7":"Other<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru, despite their dark nature, love to lay in the sunlight when they are robed. The warmth is comorting and feels really good to them. It can feel uncomfortable on their bare 'skin', but when they are shielded by their robes, the robes absorb the warmth of the sun and make the Dhaebru feel really good. They love warmth! They'll even fall asleep sometimes, lulled by the smells, sounds, and feelings of being out on a nice day. Dhaebru are comforted by soft, ambient light. Their armor protects their Core. The Core is what forms their being and houses their soul.<\/p>"}},"title":"Dhaebru","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Dhaebru

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{"data":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity Image of fighting Wardens go here<\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity.<\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\">Image with baby Dhaebru goes here \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":"Dhaebru are not physical creatures. No mutations or variations other than the design of their individual robes, and the difference between common Dhaebru and Wardens, have been observed.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods could be seen as a variation, but this seems to simply be a certain bloodline.<\/p>","field7":"Other<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru, despite their dark nature, love to lay in the sunlight when they are robed. The warmth is comorting and feels really good to them. It can feel uncomfortable on their bare 'skin', but when they are shielded by their robes, the robes absorb the warmth of the sun and make the Dhaebru feel really good. They love warmth! They'll even fall asleep sometimes, lulled by the smells, sounds, and feelings of being out on a nice day. Dhaebru are comforted by soft, ambient light. Their armor protects their Core. The Core is what forms their being and houses their soul.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity Image of fighting Wardens go here<\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity.<\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\">Image with baby Dhaebru goes here \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":"Dhaebru are not physical creatures. No mutations or variations other than the design of their individual robes, and the difference between common Dhaebru and Wardens, have been observed.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods could be seen as a variation, but this seems to simply be a certain bloodline.<\/p>","field7":"Other<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru, despite their dark nature, love to lay in the sunlight when they are robed. The warmth is comorting and feels really good to them. It can feel uncomfortable on their bare 'skin', but when they are shielded by their robes, the robes absorb the warmth of the sun and make the Dhaebru feel really good. They love warmth! They'll even fall asleep sometimes, lulled by the smells, sounds, and feelings of being out on a nice day. Dhaebru are comforted by soft, ambient light. Their armor protects their Core. The Core is what forms their being and houses their soul.<\/p>"}},"title":"Dhaebru","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Dhaebru

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{"data":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity Image of fighting Wardens go here<\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity. <\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\">Image with baby Dhaebru goes here \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete. <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":null,"field7":null,"parsed":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity Image of fighting Wardens go here<\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":"<div id=\"main\">\r\n<div id=\"wsite-content\" class=\"wsite-elements wsite-not-footer\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-wrap\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section wsite-body-section wsite-background-9\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-content\">\r\n<div class=\"container\">\r\n<div class=\"wsite-section-elements\">\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Simply speaking, Dhaebru have no true sexual dimorphism as they are all simply both and neither. Personality and energy may be masculine or feminine, and they may identify as one gender or the other but all of them are both and capable of siring or bearing Shadelings. What they identify as can appear in their features, such as eye shape and very subtly body shape, though it shows in their energy signature and voice the most, and to some extent personality. While Dhaebru will sometimes tend more towards masculine or feminine, they are all nonbinary in some manner. Even the most masculine Dhaebru has a feminine side, and vice versa. All Dhaebru are capable of siring and bearing young, no matter their individual gender expression. The main difference between a \"male\" and a \"female\" is the voice, energy signature, and the pronoun they use. \"Male\" Dhaebru are usually deeper voiced and sound more masculine, with less of an angle to the eyes. They usually have broader shoulders and narrower hops. Those with male characteristics are known to be slightly more territorial. \"Female\" Dhaebru usually have slightly slimmer bodies when observed, with very subtle curvature sometimes.  Their eyes are usually a bit more slanted. Their voices sound softer and more feminine. Their hips are generally wider with narrower shoulders. Unlike many physical beings, Dhaebru are not constrained to one gender or the other, and their expressed gender is very accurate to who they are as their body adjusts naturally to fit their gender expression. It is incredibly common for a Dhaebru to not identify as male or female, though some may simply use a pronoun out of convenience. They don't really care, or see the pronoun used as a big deal, as that's a part of physical beings and their language. Dhaebru do not have gendered pronouns in their natural tongue, and will generally follow whatever physical beings do in their area. Many Dhaebru are so balanced that it's impossible to tell if they are \"male\" or \"female\" Gender as a whole is not an issue to Dhaebru, as they just go by whatever they feel like. Dhaebru are not monogamous. They do not understand the connection between sex and love that humans have. To them, love is not something to be kept to a single individual, but something to be shared with their entire Sect. They are very polyamorous. Dhaebru do not mate for life. There is the occasional Dhaebru who is only attracted to the one they have an emotional emotion with, but they often share this with more than one. They do not have any concept of marriage. When a Dhaebru loves somebody, they cuddle with them, protect them, and want to be around them a lot. Sex is just something they sometimes do for fun. They do not have any concept of “cheating” and the idea of loving and being with only one creature for their entire lives is confusing and makes no sense. They feel that love of any sort should be shared freely with anybody they care about. This is something to keep in mind if entering a relationship with a Dhaebru. While a Dhaebru will not stick to one partner, they will always love every partner they have. They may not have the same views on relationships as humans, but they are incredibly loyal and loving. Reproduction<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru reproduce through energy. They periodically go through a reproductive cycle. While both sides are usually active, it can lean more towards one side or the other, taking the form of a ‘heat’ (When the female side is active, and they are ready to receive energy and carry) or ‘rut’ (When the male side is active and they are ready to give energy and sire). They can either reproduce asexually or sexually depending on the individual’s preferences.  Sexually is more common, simply because doing so asexually requires removing their robe and sometimes even their amulet and opening up their core, allowing energy to pass from one to the other. This requires utmost trust, and the Dhaebru is extremely vulnerable during this time. They don't have to open up their core or make themselves vulnerable to do it the physical way. More masculine Dhaebru are more likely to go into rut, and more feminine ones are more likely to go into heat, but they both have both, and often have both at the same time. When a Warden goes into their reproductive cycle, their energy tends to affect every other Dhaebru around them more than a regular Dhaebru's cycle does due to their increased power and size. One can tell a Dhaebru is in season if they know normal Dhaebru behavior. When in season, their energy is stronger. One may find themselves getting a little restless around them, especially those who are sensitive to energy. Aside from that, they seem a bit more energetic. They become restless and pace a lot. 'Heat' has their maternal instincts growing stronger, while rut can make a Dhaebru slightly more competitive and aggressive, but never anything extreme. They become restless and a bit moody and pace a lot. It lasts about two weeks, then fades away. A rut can be ended by releasing a certain energy - they don't have to do so with another Dhaebru. Heat can be ended by either carrying, or taking in a quick burst of energy. If a Dhaebru does NOT want to carry, they can block the energy from fully hitting their core, so it won't join and create a Shadeling. Dhaebru Wardens are the most strongly affected by going into this cycle, and have the urge to seek out other Wardens. Their season, though, also makes them very aggressive and territorial, making the Wardens unusually tense. They can’t decide whether to fight, or mate! This stalemate can be rather noisy and scary to see, with a lot of growling and pacing around and circling eachother, but it’s never dangerous and either ends with the Wardens fighting … or the alternative. It is not uncommon for them to charge and start to fight, but end with a more peaceful resolution. Their sects are usually used to this and just look on and sigh while trying to ignore the roaring, growling and snarling and the complete indecision while their respective Wardens figure it out. Gestation and Birthing<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru carry for about 15 months. Symptoms of a pregnant Dhaebru do not show outwardly unless something forces them to carry physically, such as Injury, illness, or something wrong with their core. A pregnant Dhaebru’s energy has a different feel to it, easily detectable to other Dhaebru. They will sleep a lot, begin to crave various aspects that they need for the development of their Shadeling, and can even experience something similar to morning sickness, though this is uncommon. The reason being is that it causes energy spikes. Sometimes these can just have the Dhaebru laying around grumbling in tempermental misery, but it can result in throwing up the excess energy if it overwhelms their ability to release it. Morning sickness is most common when carrying a Warden Shadeling, for Wardens and common Dhaebru alike, though it’s worse for a common Dhaebru carrying a Warden.  These symptoms come in waves, alternating between starving for energy and clinging to energy sources coupled with being very tired, or having energy in excess, causing them to become restless and possibly even start throwing up the extra if the sheer amount of it overwhelms them. As such, pregnant Dhaebru usually just rest somewhere for the most part and just ride it out. They usually give birth by allowing the Shadeling to separate from their core. This process is painful and leaves the Dhaebru exhausted, but they recover just fine with some rest and help from the rest of their sect. They will remove their robe for this process, though their amulet remains on them. In VERY rare occasions, the energy is unable to separate properly and they end up having to take on the physical characteristics of a female and give birth that way. Generally, if the pregnancy is high risk, the Dhaebru's body can determine this early on. This causes them to take on a physical form. Pregnancy, labor and delivery will then mimic the gestation of a physical creature. This is incredibly rare, but does happen on occasion. A Dhaebru has three stages of labor. Stage 1 - The Dhaebru becomes restless, a little pacing, no pain. It is easy to miss because the Dhaebru just sorta seems uncomfortable, though they may begin to pace. This stage can last anything from 12 hours to several days. While not active labor, their body is building up energy to help compensate for what is lost during the split, as well as preparing to split as well. Being nearby, one can feel their energy slowly building. It can make your hair stand on end near the end of this stage. Stage 2 - As the core finishes it's preparation for the split, waves of discomfort and mild to moderate pain quickly follow. While not bad yet, the Dhaebru becomes increasingly restless. They can't sit still. This stage is characterized by pacing around in circles. The pressing feeling of their building energy is so pronounced even one not sensitive will feel it on the air. While they don't need to breathe, a Dhaebru may pant simply because it helps them feel better. This stage can last up to three hours. As the final stage nears, the discomfort and pain quickly grows worse as their energy begins to surge. Stage 3 - The actual splitting of the core happens. The Dhaebru's energy begins to surge painfully. Many Dhaebru will growl and yell their pain. They'll snarl and snap at any who come too close, but don't attack. While it looks scary, the Dhaebru is very unlikely to lash out, and just wants to curl up somewhere dark and safe and get it over with. This stage can last up to an hour, but usually lasts around fifteen minutes to a half hour. If it takes longer than an hour, then the Dhaebru is either having a difficult birth, or something went wrong. At this point, a piece of their core will split off and float in front of them while their own core pulses with intense power as energy flows from them to the tiny newly formed core in front of them, and the Shadeling materializes. It is then given an amulet and robed. This takes a lot of energy, and the exhausted mother will usually sleep. Shadowkin: The Rare Hybrid<\/span><\/strong> Dhaebru ARE capable of impregnating physical beings, but this is extremely rare. The Dhaebru must be in season, and more towards the 'rut' side. The mother has to have some sort of magic either within them or effecting them, so a creature with natural magical energy is more likely to be able to successfully carry a hybrid. The resulting pregnancy is a magical conception, the body taking after the shape of the physical parent and the energy\/dark appearance of the Dhaebru parent. While Dhaebru are quite capable it, it's not too often that they do engage in relations with physical beings. When they do, the chances of conception are extremely low, less than 1% chance with a common Dhaebru, and around 5% for Wardens. The resulting hybrid is known as a Shadowkin. Wardens will sometimes produce Warden Shadowkin, or Shadowkin with the characteristics of Warden, but Common Dhaebru Shadowkin are more likely. Common Dhaebru will always produce normal Shadowkin. Shadelings<\/span><\/strong> A baby Dhaebru is known as a Shadeling. They are much smaller, pudgier versions of the adults with babyish porportions. They are given their robes at birth. The robes are bound to their form by a special magical “Collar” with a gem, the gem being fused with their very core. Warden Shadelings are larger with red eyes, with the robe color of a Warden without any armor. Normal Shadelings have simple dark robes and are smaller. Shadelings are usually given energy by their entire sect, though if one is found orphaned or abandoned, one can feed them dark mana. They will thrive on it, but will need to “eat” regularly. Shadelings hate being alone. They imprint on the energy of their mother, and spend the most time with the one that birthed them. When separated, they will become extremely upset. When in danger, they will let out a terrible shrieking wail. The sound is enough to make one’s ears ring. When separated from their mother, they will let out pulses of energy that can make a person tingle. This pulse can be felt from far away, allowing their mother to find them again. They will continue to do this for weeks, though without somebody to care for them, they’ll starve and fade away within a few days. Growing Up<\/span><\/strong> Once a Shadeling learns to move about, they are insatiably curious and have a habit of following adult Dhaebru out into Midworld. Warden Shadelings will puff up and protect their friends, or even their mother, whether there is danger or not! They will sometimes chir, chitter and chirp, or make tiny rumbly growls when nervous or playing. They start off crawling about, but once they gain toddlerhood they learn how to stand and walk on two feet. They gain their armor once they come of age, or, when they have their first reproductive cycle. The first cycle is never fertile, and is just a shift in their energy showing they’ve matured. Common Dhaebru reach adulthood in roughly 13-14 years, at which point they are mentally and physically equivilent to an 18 year old human. This can be effected by their access to energy, so can be slower if they aren't well fed.  Wardens mature fully in roughly 16-18 years. This lenghtened time is because Wardens are far more powerful and need more energy to reach maturity. <\/div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"wsite-image wsite-image-border-none \" style=\"padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-align: center;\">Image with baby Dhaebru goes here \r\n<div style=\"display: block; font-size: 90%;\"> <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Infant\/Newborn - The amulet is bound to their core and they are robed. They are tiny and sleep a lot. Warden newborns are slightly larger than newborn common Dhaebru. It is easy to tell as soon as a Dhaebru is born if they are a normal Dhaebru, or a Warden. Normal Dhaebru always have pale eyes and are less powerful while Wardens are larger with intense power and bright red eyes. Baby - Getting bigger. Still very small, they spend a lot of time asleep. They are very clingy, and will cry and cry if left alone. They are known to let off little pulses of energy if separated from their mother, which is their way of calling.  Toddler - Now able to move around on their own, Dhaebru toddlers are insanely curious. They are full of energy and get into everything they can. They still spend a fair amount of time sleeping, but when awake they are little balls of energy. Wardens begin to display signs of being territorial and possessive, and may growl and even bite if you try to take something away they have deemed as belonging to them. Child - Not unlike a human child, curious, playful, imaginative, love to explore, and can get into all sorts of trouble. Warden children will fiercely protect other children, no matter the species. If the sect is around humans and are peaceful with them, their children will play together. A Warden child will fiercely protect other children, no matter their species. They may even growl at a human child's parent if the child doesn't want to stop playing and cries when playtime is over! Adolescence - Their energy begins to go through a shift as it matures, this process taking a few years to complete. <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\"> <\/div>\r\n<div class=\"paragraph\">Maturity - They go into their first reproductive cycle as their energy goes through a final shift. At this point, they are given their armor, which denotes them as adults. They are finished growing, mature both mentally and physically, by the time they have this first cycle.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","field6":null,"field7":null}},"title":"Dhaebru","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Dhaebru

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{"data":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity Image of fighting Wardens go here<\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":null,"field6":null,"field7":null,"parsed":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity Image of fighting Wardens go here<\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru Anatomy and Features <\/strong>Dhaebru have two 'stomachs' - One takes in energy and converts it to the type of energy the Dhaebru can use. Their second 'stomach' is an energy reservoir, where all usable energy is stored. It can be compared to the social stomach of various eusocial insects. They can share energy with eachother through their cores. Common Dhaebru use it to bring energy back to their Warden. The Warden stores a great amount of energy, and if the Sect is unable to get to Midworld, the Warden can sustain a sect of around 20 Dhaebru for up to a week. \u200bThey usually consists of their core, and their shadowy body which is fluid and vulnerable, unless robed. The robe protects the Dhaebru from the world, and in the case of Wardens protects the world from the negative effects creature with connections to the Eldritch Realm can pose. This is especially true for Deepbloods.  Dhaebru have the ability to manifest tendrils of shadow that can manipulate objects, and are often used when their hands are full. They can either be solid and able to handle things or immaterial, resembling eddies and always moving tendrils of smoke flowing from beneath their robes. They are much darker and surround the Dhaebru’s body when unrobed, and resemble smooth black tentacles. They appear beneath the robe when the Dhaebru is robed.  When robed, their body somewhat mimics the body of a physical creature. It allows them to enjoy the senses of a physical creature, eat, or even breathe if they want to. Some will even take on the habits of physical creatures even if they don’t need to, such as yawning, stretching, or sighing. Dhaebru need to sleep, robed or unrobed. When they do, they lay down, close their eyes, and go entirely still. They do not breathe, or snore, or make any sound and can be mistaken for dead by one not familiar with them. A dead Dhaebru fades away leaving nothing but their robe, armor, and collar like thing with the gem on it. If the Dhaebru is still there, they aren't dead. They are simply asleep.  When robed, an injured Dhaebru will bleed. It’s pure black in color, and will fade away after a while as it goes back to energy. A healthy Dhaebru can heal with a bit of rest if they retreat before they get severe injuries. When killed, their core can be caught and stabilized before it winks out. Warden cores last longer. Common Dhaebru cores generally appear like small dark orbs with a purple shimmer, softly pulsing like a heart. Warden cores are almost prismatic and pearlescent, with a shimmering glow. They also pulsate like a heartbeat. They are sometimes called a Cosmic Fragment. They have all six of the primordial aspects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Order and Entropy. As such, a Warden can pull any aspect from their core by taking those sources and carefully weaving them together. This is part of the reason Wardens are so much more powerful, as they can do a lot more with this core within them. The Core of a Warden is highly sought after, and those with ill intentions are known to invade the Outer Realm for the purpose of killing one for their core. While it's fairly uncommon for them to do it, Dhaebru are fully capable of eating when robed. When Dhaebru do decide to eat, it’s just for fun and a different experience. They do so to explore the flavors and sensations that food can provide. Aside from being pleasurable, it has no real benefit, though they can sometimes get a little energy from it. When they eat, their insides will break the food down into its component aspects, which is further broken down into the primal aspects. The solid parts of this food simply passes out the other end, just as it would with a physical being. Their body will adjust to accomodate this when it happens. All of the senses a physical creature has work for a robed Dhaebru. They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. When robed, this closely mimics how human senses work. When unrobed, they do not taste or smell, and their other senses work differently. The robe makes them more “human” in a sense. It does not imprison a Dhaebru; in fact, many feel that despite the small inconveniences it causes, it frees them to do and experience more. They like their robes and would become defensive and angry should one try to take them away.  Dhaebru robes are energy based much like them and are connected to the Dhaebru in such a way that they are directly influenced by the Dhaebru that wears them. A sick or weak Dhaebru has duller, more tattered robes, though all Dhaebru robes are naturally tattered. The reason is often attributed to their dark and chaotic nature, though it could just be an aesthetic choice that just became a normal part of the enchantment. Either way, Dhaebru have worn robes for as long as the race can remember and it is considered highly taboo not to wear robes, even deep in the Outer Realms when nowhere near Midworld. They are very sensitive about nudity, and even if they trust you deeply you will never, ever see one without their robes on. This is such a big part of them, they'll often become distressed, frightened or worried if they see a physical being undressing. Without their robes they are completely spectral, but also extremely vulnerable. Their robes serve to constrain their form down to a more basic shape, allowing them to better interact with the world around them but it also protects them.  Unrobed, light causes damage that can quickly lead to death. They have to expend a lot more energy to interact with anything or touch anything if they do not at least have the “Collar” on. The “Collar” shown in their unrobed appearance gives some measure of protection, but is not nearly as effective as the full robes. The “Collar” is what identifies the Dhaebru and allows them to manifest their Robe and Armor. It is often embued with a tracking spell. This allows Dhaebru to find each other within a sect, or call out to their Warden when in danger. The Robe’s constraining abilities makes them semi physical in a sense, allowing them to stand in light and survive, as well as protecting their core. The cons are that it keeps them in this semisolid form, and allows them to become vulnerable to physical weapons. They are also able to eat solid food, if they want, and able to enjoy things that physical beings are able to enjoy. Once bound to the Dhaebru, the robe becomes a part of them. The armor is separate, and given to them upon coming of age, becoming integrated with their robes and amulet. This can be removed, but is also bound to their core. The armor depends on the individual sect, but is usually dark purple, with bits of red for Wardens, and golden trimming for both. Dhaebru’s sect and adds additional protection from physical damage. The style of the robe and armor can vary depending on the individual sect of Dhaebru. The Sect’s symbol appears on the chestplate. Dhaebru do use the bathroom... sort of. The energy they take in, their inner workings cleanses and purifies, and the energy they do not use is passed in a liquid form, though it dissipates after a bit and returns to the ambient energy around them. Amusingly enough, this expelled energy is very useful for a lot of Spellweavers, and is commonly called \"Dhaebru's Essence\" when in reality... it's basically just their version of pee. Dhaebru Illnesses<\/strong> While incredibly rare, there are things that can disrupt their energy. This causes a Dhaebru to become very sick. When a Dhaebru becomes ill, they sleep a lot, are lethargic and a bit cranky, often sore and in pain, and their energy can feel discordant and wrong.  They often have quivers and tremors, and like to curl up somewhere dark to be alone in their misery. They can be quite vocal about complaining about this, if one bothers them. Any illness one may be afflicted with usually clears up on its own as long as the Dhaebru gets plenty of rest and spends a lot of time around something to harmonize their energy, but in severe cases, such as damage to their core, it can grow severe enough to kill the Dhaebru. A very sick Dhaebru can experience violent energy spikes. While Dhaebru are usually cool to the touch, when they get really sick, the energy conflicting can cause them to actually put off heat, similar to a bad fever.  While pregnancy can cause a Dhaebru to throw up, how illness can cause it much worse. Normally, vomiting is caused by carrying, taking in the wrong sort of energy, or eating more physical food than their insides can handle. Minor illness can cause this as well. In this case, just the first \"stomach\" empties, a mix of half-converted energies, often with a bit of dark mana as well. When minor, vomiting comes with very little warning, and they usually just heave once and that's it. When seriously ill, however, their energy reservoir can end up with the wrong sort of energy due to conflicts. This causes them to heave repeatedly and bring up their internal energy stores. They bring up significantly more in this case, and it happens repeatedly.  Like a human with a severe stomach bug or food poisoning, it leaves a Dhaebru weak and exhausted from loss of energy, and can even lead to their death if severe enough. Dhaebru do not give off clear signs when they are going to vomit, like physical beings do. It's really hard to tell if one is going to, but the main sign to watch out for is a strange 'pressure' as their energy gets all out of sorts. This can feel like a heavy feeling of impending dread, a dark energy. They may also become restless and begin to pace, though they will usually usually curl up and lay down somewhere dark and cool. When they show these signs, it is best to keep something that can absorb and stabilize the energy nearby, as the discordance can be dangerous if not stabilized and taken care of. While it will usually fade away on its own, too much can stick around and cause problems. Even so, the dark energy dissipating can cause an unpleasant pressure for a time. Because it's simply energy, there is no smell. Abilities<\/strong> They can move through shadows, somewhat like teleporting. They are able to do this robed, as their robes are magically bound to them. They are rarely seen unrobed as they are highly vulnerable outside of their own world.  They can let out a horrible shriek that can make one become paralyzed in terror. Amped up, this can cause temporary deafness and blindness. They cast a spectral fog, which they can hide in, allowing them to escape danger. Powerful magical projectiles, balls of darkness that damage, daze, and confuse their attacker. It can also cause temporary blindness. When comfortable or happy, or comforting loved ones, especially shadelings, Dhaebru purr. It sounds like a soft, dark rumble and is oddly relaxing despite their frightening appearance. The sound of their purring lets out the more peaceful side of their power, and can lull a person to sleep. Even a frightened human child can be calmed and lulled into sleep by a Dhaebru's purr.<\/p>","field5":null,"field6":null,"field7":null}},"title":"Dhaebru","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Dhaebru

#148 1 July 2023, 16:24:09 UTC

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{"data":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity Image of fighting Wardens go here<\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>","field5":null,"field6":null,"field7":null,"parsed":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Species Name<\/strong>  Dhaebru Sometimes known as or mistaken as:<\/strong> Shadow Wraith, Void Spirit, Shade, sometimes mistaken for Demons or Shadow People. They don't have connections to either and aren't truly wraiths, spirits or shades. They are a class of their own.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity Image of fighting Wardens go here<\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>\r\nRelationship with Other Races<\/span><\/strong> Cautious, usually peaceful. Dhaebru tend to keep their distance. They aren't overly fond of humans most of the time, as some humans have found that their cores are useful and hunt them. Others attack Dhaebru on sight out of fear, which has resulted in a lot of tension. Some Dhaebru, even, will attack and kill a human if they discover their gateway, as it leads directly to their home. They feel that the human is a threat in these cases. They react similarly to any race that they have tension with. Longer lived races, such as Fey, are more reserved so confrontations aren't as common, but some young Fey do go after Dhaebru since they are considered creatures of darkness. Darkness is considered bad and evil to many races. This has made many consider the calm and docile shadow creatures as a threat. Wilder races without the concept of “Darkness is Evil” thing in their heads get along great with Dhaebru. One example is the wild, social and friendly Kivuuli. Their temperament is somewhat similar, which results in Kivuuli and Dhaebru getting on quite well. Both races are highly social. When gateways to the Shadow Realm are found in Kivuuli territories, the Dhaebru and Kivuuli are usually amiable towards eachother. Kivuuli often consider the local sect as a part of their colony, and will viciously attack people who hurt the Dhaebru. The Dhaebru will return the favor if their Kivuuli allies are attacked. The alpha female and the Warden are usually close allies. Some Kivuuli Colonies have been seen with Shadowkin kits, which says that Dhaebru do occasionally crossbreed with them. Red eyed Warden Shadowkin are more common among Kivuuli than any other race, which seems to point to the possibility that mating between the alpha female Kivuuli and the Dhaebru Wardens is fairly common. Kivuuli are also able to pass through the gateways safely and easily. <\/p>","field4":"Species Type<\/strong>: Spectral, Energy-Based though they can take a semi-Physical form<\/p>\r\nAverage Height<\/strong> Common Dhaebru: 6’5 Warden: 10-12 feet Average Weight<\/strong> Spectral, they weigh no more than their robes and armor. Wardens weigh more, as their larger forms also have larger robes and armor. <\/p>\r\n Diet<\/strong> Dhaebru feed on ambient magical energy with a high preference for darker energies, or its liquid form of dark mana. Mana, or Magical Energy, generates naturally in any physical world that has magic, but not in the Outer Realm, their home. As such, Dhaebru come to Midworld to feed, and are often found in areas with a lot of magic. Dhaebru tend to bring energy back for their Warden. They don't learn how to feed on their own until they are roughly three to five years old, and until then a parent feeds them energy. If no Dhaebru is available to give them energy, a shadeling can be fed Dark Mana and do just fine.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>","field5":null,"field6":null,"field7":null}},"title":"Dhaebru","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Dhaebru

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{"data":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Dhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity Image of fighting Wardens go here<\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>","field4":null,"field5":null,"field6":null,"field7":null,"parsed":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Dhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":"The temperament of a Dhaebru Warden differs with Deepblood Wardens, also known as Deepbloods. Deepbloods are noted for being slightly larger than regular Wardens, sometimes standing up to thirteen feet tall, and are noticeably more aggressive and unstable. While not evil, they have to keep a closer handle on their emotions as they have a berserk state that is brought on by extreme anger or fear. They are usually bulkier in appearance as well.<\/p>\r\nDeepbloods are extremely rare, and the unique bloodline is only passed on from Warden to Warden. There aren’t many left, and they trace their lineage back as far as Dhaebru records go. Deepbloods are not evil or hostile by nature, but they are more aggressive and territorial and can be more dangerous if provoked. Deepbloods have Voidborn blood in them, though it's been diluted greatly over time. Deepbloods are larger and more powerful, and do have some slightly different and amplified abilities originating from being descended from true Eldritch beings. \u200b<\/p>\r\nNormal Wardens are territorial and protective, fierce fighters if provoked but generally placid and observant otherwise. If you encounter one and show you are not a threat, they are surprisingly friendly. Wardens aren't easily frightened. They are very watchful and protective, and can be possessive.<\/p>\r\nRegular Dhaebru are surprisingly skittish and generally will only attack if cornered or heavily provoked. They're curious and social, and if you show you aren't a threat they are very likely to approach you to try to learn more about you.<\/p>\r\nTheir native language consists deep and ancient version of Eldritch speech. This strange language is far too much for most mortal minds to handle. One could compare it, somewhat, to Black Speech from Lord of the Rings to a point, but not inherently evil. As such, most Sects will learn the most commonly spoken language of the surrounding inhabitants to avoid confrontation.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have very dark and unsettling voices. They have a ghostly echo and seem to come from all around at once. They are deep and dark, having a soft growl behind their tones. Entirely unsettling to anybody not used to it. While they are capable of snarling, hissing and growling, Common Dhaebru rarely do this while Wardens are known to do this when defending their Sect or confronting other Wardens.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are highly social creatures. They do not like to be alone, and get quiet and upset without companionship. A sect usually has one Warden who is the Sect's Kral, or Leader, several Guardians, Dhaebru who protect the sect and are higher ranked, but still ranked lower than the Warden, and 30-50 common Dhaebru. Some larger sects have a lower ranking Warden or Sub-Warden who is subordinate to the main Kral, but still high ranking. This is fairly rare, as sub wardens are usually siblings or children of the head Warden. They are very territorial so most Wardens part ways to found their own sect, though older Wardens will sometimes take in and teach younger ones. Wardens usually go to start sects of their own when they come of age, but some will remain as a lower ranking Warden in their parent's sect.<\/p>\r\nGuardians can be told apart from regular Guardians by the symbol on their chestplate. While common Dhaebru have a lighter purple symbol on their chestplate, Guardians have it in gold. Wardens tend to have lighter colored robes with hints of red, and brighter chestplates with golden symbols. Aside from the color of the chestplate symbol color differing from common Dhaebru, Guardians look exactly the same.<\/p>\r\nSects usually consist of 30-50 Dhaebru and one Warden, but never number more than a couple hundred. Sects consisting of more than a hundred members are very rare.<\/p>\r\nThe symbol on the chest plate usually identifies what Sect a Dhaebru belongs to.<\/p>\r\nWhile many people fear Dhaebru, their main purpose is to protect and balance and thus are not hostile unless attacked.  Dhaebru are surprisingly nurturing and gentle beings, and prefer to avoid conflict. They are very curious and fond of gathering information. Sect Wardens often have libraries and journals, and common Dhaebru are known to bring anything of interest back home. Temperament can vary between Wardens and common Dhaebru. Dhaebru are highly social, and truly hate being alone. Wardens<\/strong>: They rarely leave the Shadow Realm unless one of their Sect calls out for help. They are vicious when threatened and will attack savagely to protect their Sect. They have fiercely protective instincts, and these come out around anybody the individual cares about. This can sometimes translate to guarding belongings or areas, and can even shift to being aggressively territorial. Because of this, there is usually only one Warden occupying one area, and any others are usually related, such as siblings or offspring. Wardens are usually calm and collected, but can become very temperamental given the right circumstances. They are known to grumble and growl when annoyed or irritated.<\/p>\r\nShown below are two Dhaebru Wardens in a territorial dispute! Illustration by Jagal on FurAffinity Image of fighting Wardens go here<\/p>\r\nCommon Dhaebru<\/strong>: They frequently leave the Shadow Realm to explore or keep an eye on things. Dhaebru are not fond of confrontation, and much prefer to run away from trouble, or call out to their Warden for help. Dhaebru are generally curious, but a bit flighty and very cautious. When threatened, they flee. If cornered, they attack in self defense. If the threat is big, they for help, and attack in groups. If you stay still and let a Dhaebru approach you, you can generally interact with one once they realize that you aren't a threat. When they feel safe and calm, Dhaebru are friendly and will likely shower you with questions, and if you let them, they can get very touchy feely.  \u200bAppearance: It varies very little. The style of the armor and robes does vary by individual and sect a bit, and the main difference is between the larger Warden type Dhaebru, and the smaller common type Dhaebru. Dhaebru vary the most in their personality and energy signature. They are hard to tell apart, but if you get to know one well their individuality comes out strongly in how they behave, speak, and their individual quirks and habits. The shape of a Dhaebru's eyes vary, as well as their mouth and even face shape to a point. These features are inherited. Deepbloods tend to have sharper features and fierce, narrow eyes that glow more intensely than regular Wardens. <\/p>\r\nEmotion and expression<\/span><\/strong> They have emotions very much like humans, though they do show some things differently. They also react slightly differently to some emotions as well. While they do have expressions, most of their emotion is shown in a combination of their body language and the movement of their shadowy aura and the shadows around them. When frightened or nervous, their shadows coil up beneath their robes, and extreme panic can cause the shadows around them to quiver, for example. When angry, their shadows flow out and darken, growing more voluminous and when happy, they waver and flow softly. Looking at their face can give some clues to how they are feeling, but watching their shadows and how they move is the biggest indicator. While it can take some time to get to know a Dhaebru, once you know one their emotions read like an open book.<\/p>","field4":null,"field5":null,"field6":null,"field7":null}},"title":"Dhaebru","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Dhaebru

#146 1 July 2023, 16:14:03 UTC

Page Updated

Length: 20453 (+11808) - Show Raw Data

{"data":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Dhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":null,"field4":null,"field5":null,"field6":null,"field7":null,"parsed":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Dhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":"The Outer Realm, the Dhaebru Homeworld<\/span><\/p>\r\n Dhaebru reside in an alternate dimension of sorts known as the Outer Realm. This strange and hostile realm serves as a barrier and buffer between the Eldritch Realm and Midworld, though this knowledge has long since been lost. Nobody knows where it came from anymore, not even the Dhaebru. Many feel they may have come from somewhere else, but such knowledge is lost to time. It's common for Wardens to try to figure this out, but not much headway has been made, as if something about their past was buried or lost a long time ago. Some feel it was on purpose, as Dhaebru have always liked to keep their history written down, down to the name of each member born to the sect, and the date of their death should they die. Strange growths of a black crystals that appear clustered with some floating under their unique eldritch power show entry and exit points and portals to the Outer Realm.  This is where the Dhaebru come and go from. It's extremely dangerous to physical beings to cross through, but Dhaebru can take people in there with them and protect them from the negative effects within.  The Outer Realm is generally comprised generally caves and corridors that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Almost like the ruins of an ancient infinite fortress. Lighting comes from various crystals, fungi, and some creatures that wander the corridors.  One can often tell where a Sect lives as that area is usually closed off with rooms carved in the strange anceitn dark stone the Shadow Realm is made of, often closed off so the Dhaebru can stay safe from the various creatures that wander their Realm. <\/p>\r\nOrigins of the Dhaebru and Deepbloods<\/span> While Dhaebru do not know their own origin anymore, they were created alongside mysterious beings known as Aethyr by a pair of strange beings known as the Balance. The Balance was said to be a combination of Voidborn and Etherborn, a creature embodying both Light and Darkness. Wild and untamed, but also sensitive and sapient, the strange entity felt that the physical realms and all they contained was a precious gem that needed to be protected and preserved, and observed that the fragile Midworld and all its varied and beautiful life could be damaged by the Aether and the Eldritch Void. They themselves could not directly interfere, as their powerful energy could do great damage no matter their intentions, so they found another solution. They set out to protect it, by creating two realms, as buffers and barriers between Midworld and the dangerous realms layered around it. They then populated these buffers with beings that would serve as guardians and protectors and keep the balance and protect Midworld. Image of The Balance Goes Here Below is a basic example of dimensional layering and how it works. The lines are uneven. Some worlds are in the middle, not touching either. Some are close to the Eldritch Void, and gateways to the Dhaebru's Shadowrealm appear, allowing Dhaebru to enter the world and wander about. Some are closer to the Aethyr, allowing gateways to the Aethyr's homeworld to appear, and allowing Aethyr to wander the land. Some are close to both, having both Aethyr and Dhaebru present. Image of basic Dimensional Layering Goes Here<\/p>\r\nThe Outer Realm is a bit like a buffer between midworld and the dangerous and unstable Eldritch Void. Dhaebru were meant to seek out any intrusions of creatures or volatile energies from the Eldritch Void, and call their Warden over to destroy them, while they seal up the rift. Dhaebru actually need to enter Midworld to feed on the magical energy present there; causing them to need to wander about regularly, and making them have need of their gateways wherever they appear. Their draw to the disruption of the fabric of reality is the reason they often show up when dangerous magic is afoot, as their instincts draw them to it and they want to put a stop to it if it starts causing damage. Aethyr did the same within the Aether, and the two beings together kept Midworld in balance. This did not last, however, as contention soon started between the two races. The Aethyr felt that they were better than the Dhaebru, and tried to treat them as slaves. The Dhaebru and the Aethyr fought, then eventually parted ways. The Aethyr retreated into their realm, while Dhaebru remained within the Outer Realm and wander Midworld from time to time. All of this went down a very long time ago, near the beginning of the Universe itself.<\/p>\r\nAs for Deepbloods, a voidic entity interbred with a Dhaebru Warden several generations down the line, and a three hybrids were born of their union, known as the Deepbloods. When that Warden found their peaceful and natural end, the creature kept watch over the race, until another Warden caught their interest several generations later. This Warden, however, was a descendant of one of those original Deepbloods, and was power hungry. They wanted as pure an offspring as they could get because they felt that this bloodline was the origin of the Dhaebru race and wanted purity. When the child did not come out as they wanted, they killed the Void creature and abused the child, who eventually became the most evil being the Universe has ever known. This cruel being destroyed and stole the creatures power, and killed any Deepbloods they felt weren't pure enough, and all Deepblood are thought to be descended from this single cruel and vicious individual. As such, they have a very negative stigma, even among Dhaebru, who fear those who are of that bloodline, even if Deepbloods are very powerful protectors and are known to be extremely loyal, even moreso than a regular Warden.<\/p>","field3":null,"field4":null,"field5":null,"field6":null,"field7":null}},"title":"Dhaebru","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Dhaebru

#145 1 July 2023, 16:03:40 UTC

Page Updated

Length: 8645 (+8210) - Show Raw Data

{"data":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Dhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":null,"field3":null,"field4":null,"field5":null,"field6":null,"field7":null,"parsed":{"description":"Voidic shadow entities with two variants<\/p>","field1":"Dhaebru are a sapient and highly social eldritch creatures of shadow, spectral in nature. They are always seen robed in dark, tattered robes and usually have armor on as well, of varying designs depending on the individuals and their origin. The robes and armor are connected to a special amulet they wear on a  collar-like necklace that settles around their neck. This amulet has a direct connection to the Dhaebru's core, and can not be removed. Dhaebru are highly social beings, and hate being alone. If deprived of the company of another Dhaebru, they will gravitate towards any living thing, sapient or not, and cling to any company they can. They get extremely depressed and upset when they are alone for too long.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru have two types. The smaller variety are the commonfolk of the species, simply called Dhaebru. They are roughly human sized, and the most commonly seen type. They regularly leave the Outer Realms, wandering various worlds seemingly at random. They are most often seen in the lands surrounding the portal to their world, usually marked by an obelisk of strange dark crystals. Dhaebru can be be spotted regularly wandering worlds that have a strong magical presence, but are not hostile unless threatened. They are most likely to slip away back into the Outer Realms, where they are safe. They have pale eyes gleaming out from beneath their hoods, and often throw off a spectral fog when startled, giving them cover to escape harm. Dhaebru are curious, but shy. If they can not get to safety, they will attack and they make short work of most physical beings.<\/p>\r\nThe larger variety is known as a Warden. Wardens are tall and powerful Dhaebru, known for their impressive stature, some individual reaching up to 12 feet or 3.6 meters tall. Wardens are protectors and leaders by nature. They are highly territorial, so it's rare to find more than one Warden within a sect unless one of them is a juvenile, or they are closely related, such as siblings or parent and child. Wardens rarely leave the Outer Realm. They are usually pretty calm, and can be downright lazy, but if you threaten their sect, they can kill even a heavily armored physical beings with little to no effort. Fortunately, most Wardens prefer to frighten off a potential threat, but if the threat returns, they don't take chances. Wardens are surprisingly maternal and have a tendency to be very possessive. If their sect is not threatened, a Warden is usually peaceful and will simply observe, but when attacked their true power shows. If a Warden wants to kill you, it's going to kill you, no questions about it.<\/p>\r\nDhaebru are not to be mistaken with wraiths, demons, shadow people or ghosts. While they are wraith like, they are not true wraiths and they are not from the Infernus like demons. They are eldritch beings from a realm beyond the edge of reality. They have a large amount of strange Eldritch influence to them, but this is stabilized down by their robes and is the reason they wear them. The robes protect the Dhaebru from the world around then, but also protect the world from their otherworldly aura.<\/p>\r\nThey are mysterious creatures, and not many have had real contact with them. Regular Dhaebru are shy and skittish by nature, and most physical beings are terrified of them due to their dark appearance and power. They are also known to show up when dark magic is afoot. While they are attracted by the dark magic due to instincts to investigate and prevent harm, many associate them with it, and blame them for it. They have a dark and frightening reputation, meaning very few people truly know much about them.<\/p>\r\nThey are known to clash with a group of dangerous individuals known as the Order of the Eclipse. The Order are a mysterious and dangerous cult that once existed to protect humankind but twisted into something dangerous with an obcession for dark power. They actively hunt Dhaebru for their cores, which are used in their dark rituals. Most Dhaebru will attack and kill a member of the Order on sight, or turn tail and run.<\/p>","field2":null,"field3":null,"field4":null,"field5":null,"field6":null,"field7":null}},"title":"Dhaebru","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Kivuuli

#144 1 July 2023, 11:20:46 UTC

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{"data":{"description":"The Kivuuli, a mysterious and powerful interdimensional semi-humanoid creature. They are rumored to hold the key to the Realms Between.<\/p>\r\nCommon Variants: 0 Upgrade Tokens Uncommon Variants: 2 Upgrade Tokens Rare Variants: 6 Upgrade Tokens Mythic Variants: 10 Upgrade Tokens<\/p>\r\nUncommon Genes: 1 Upgrade Token Each Rare Genes: 5 Upgrade Tokens Mythic Genes: 10 Upgrade Tokens Common<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Normal\">Normal<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Dykuma\">Dykuma<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Malopuh%27rra\">Malopuh'rra<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Tundra\">Tundra<\/a> Uncommon <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Kaplan\">Kaplan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Lippizan\">Lippizan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Met%27saa\">Met'saa<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Zanzibar\">Zanzibar<\/a> Rare <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Maltese\">Maltese<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Ember\">Ember<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Oriental\">Oriental<\/a> Mythic<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Proto-Built\">Protean Met'saa\/Proto-built<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Polar\">Polar<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Fancy\">Fancy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Kivuuli%20Cross\">Crossbreeds<\/a> combine the upgrade cost of both, and will mainly be gotten through breeding Bases can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1y1Xp6pEzs05AWxgv0_PUzJy-ZM1YTMbR\">here<\/a><\/p>\r\nHowever, they are completely optional! You don't even have to do all the views, you can move things around, add to it. Or you can draw your own.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/51_71_v2WNimjzblhbLTI.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1158\" height=\"936\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Kivuuli are a tall and powerful carnivorous furred semi-humanoid inter-dimensional race. They are generally black or dark grey with blue, green, or purple eyes and usually have slightly darker markings in stripes, spots, or a combination of the two that only show under certain light. There are several subspecies with different colors and markings being common from the warm reds of the forest dwelling Met'saa to the whites of the Lippizan to the blue grays of the Maltese or the golden color of Desert Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nThey are elongated in build, with long limbs and are as comfortable on all fours as they are on two feet. They are incredibly wild, but generally won't attack unless attacked or threatened. Kivuuli are fully sapient and a social species. Despite their fearsome appearance, Kivuuli are a gentle and peaceful race with strong maternal instincts appearing in both males and females.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are very fast, especially when on all fours and live in groups known as Colonies.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/46_96_J8ebzKgaMxzPVmT.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1166\" height=\"940\" \/><\/p>","field2":"<h4>Between; Homeworld of the Kivuuli<\/h4>\r\n Imagine the air around you, full of bubbles. Now imagine that each of these bubbles is its own dimension. It's own universe. Has its own laws, and inner workings. Now, imagine all the space between the bubbles. A strange place, between the dimensions; ever shifting and changing. This is where the Kivuuli dwell and come from. The rules of physics do not apply; great islands of stone float through the darkness, covered in forests of strange bioluminescent fungus-like plants and other strange flora. Inhabited by strange creatures of all shapes and sizes, from tiny glowing dragonlike lizards to massive beasts that would put Earth's dinosaurs to shame. Literally anything can happen in Between, any sort of creature, any world, any dimension, any universe. The Kivuuli can reach many worlds and this is part of the reason for their great success as an apex predator.<\/p>\r\nHarsh, but oddly beautiful, Between is buzzing with strange power and magic and the magical rules and laws of hundreds of dimensions, worlds, and universes clashing together in beautiful chaos. The areas of Between are effected by the laws of the dimensions and worlds closest to them; making Between highly varied. Between is beautiful; but as beautiful as it is it is deadly, thus the Kivuuli have had to adapt in to fast, powerful pack hunting predators that have claws that can slash through granite and a terrible shrieking wail that can drive fear into the hearts of the bravest.<\/p>\r\nThey are fast, able to teleport, and able to face creatures several times their size. This strange place has many names. Darkrealm, Tartarus, Limbo; but many simply call this place the Between; for this is what it is. The realm between dimensions. A strange and mysterious place; beautiful to behold but deadly to those not from there. While most of Between is completely dark aside from glimmers of light here and there and bioluminsecent plants and animals, some isles are ruled by a great orb of energy mimicking a sun. Some have their own weather patterns and day night cycles. Cracks and passages between dimensions are always opening and closing, allowing Kivuuli the ability to enter and leave Between at will, though they must be careful as some rifts are temporary and could close and leave them stranded in a strange and unfamiliar world. Others, still, are horribly unstable and deadly and could rip an unsuspecting Kivuuli to shreds leaving nothing but splatters of blood and the memory of their horrible screams.<\/p>","field3":"<h4>Calls, Vocalizations and Language<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli voices have a strange, otherworldly quality to them. They sound almost distorted, with a clear staticy crackling undertone. This is likely because of their interdimensional nature.<\/p>\r\nTheir voices are often deep, with a growl or purr like sound mixed in. A Kivuuli speaking is much what a person might imagine a lion’s voice would sound like if it learned to speak. They tend to have emphasis on sharper sounds, like k, z, v, and such, and their r’s are often lengthened slightly in a slight growl or purr. They are fully capable of learning languages aside from their own and, in fact, Kivuuli learn incredibly fast. Despite their wild primitive ways, they are incredibly intelligent. They mainly keep to their wilder ways due to culture, and how volatile and ever-changing Between is. You can't exactly advance when the laws of reality around you are constantly changing!<\/p>\r\nOutside of speech, they have a whole range of natural vocalizations. When excited or friendly, they let out a sound similar to a chittering cat. Though much deeper and lower in tone. This sound is often used by playful kits, or adults trying to show they mean no harm. Kivuuli also purr. It’s a deep, heavy rumbling sound with a bit of static to it.<\/p>\r\nThey chitter, chirp, chuff, rumble, growl, purr, hiss, click, snarl, roar, howl, and many other sounds.<\/p>\r\nChirping is used to call and greet fellow members of their Colony. The chuff is similar to a chuffing tiger, and they use this to greet loved ones and family or close friends. The rumble and growl show varying levels of irritation and\/or anger, eventually leading to a wild snarling or finally, their terrible howl or roar.<\/p>\r\nPurring is an expression of pleasure and contentment.<\/p>\r\nWhen injured, they let out soft whimpers and whines.<\/p>\r\nWhen sad, they will either be very quiet, whimper softly, or let out a heartbreaking wail when mourning the death of a loved one.<\/p>\r\nTheir language incorporates all of these vocalizations. And they even integrate this when speaking other languages as well.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli also rely strongly on body language. The position of one’s ears, tone of voice, and posture can change the meaning of what they are trying to say. Looking at the position of the ears is a great way to tell what mood a Kivuuli is in. When neutral, the ears are out slightly to the sides and in a relaxed position. When alert or shocked, their ears perk up and swivel forward. Their ears often flick and swivel towards any sound, and many times they detect sounds other creatures will not.<\/p>\r\nWhen angry, their ears go back, and they lower their ears when sad, or trying to show submission. Higher ranking Kivuuli generally tend to hold their ears perked higher than lower ranking Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli can also make a strange tonal almost… droning sound. Somewhere between a thrum and a rumble, it can promote relaxation or healing. The sound is, indeed, very strange. And it is something that is rarely heard among Kivuuli so it is theorized that only a few of them are capable of, or know how to, produce this sound.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Culture, Customs and Heirarchy<\/h4>\r\n Not much is known of Kivuuli culture and customs, but it can be very complex even if it seems deceptively simple. Their customs are a mix between their wild and feral nature and their sapience. In some ways they can be considered very primitive, though not savage. In reality, Kivuuli believe strongly in living with the land. When living somewhere, they are very careful to preserve the balance of nature. They do not chase other predators out of their territory, and never over-hunt. They only take what they need, and use as much of their prey as they can. They use the pelts and fur in their nests, make things from their bones, horns, or hooves, and eat every part they are able to.<\/p>\r\nMost Kivuuli do not mate for life. As such, they do not have any ceremonies or weddings. Among Kivuuli, a Colony is a family. They do not have surnames, nor do they need them. Reproduction has nothing to do with feelings of love, but rather to make offspring. Kivuuli do sometimes mate for life, but this is fairly rare. Even those who are lifemates will sometimes mate with others and this is not considered cheating. It is completely normal, since it helps spread out the gene pool.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli hierarchy is very pack like. Their groups are referred to as Colonies, though some call them Clans. A Colony is lead by the Dominant Female, or Alpha Female. Males in higher positions are extremely rare. The highest ranking male or males are known as Betas.<\/p>\r\nThe Elders are the oldest and wisest members of the Colony. Just being old does not make you an Elder. Elders are story-tellers, legend-keepers; and even the Dominant Female often goes to them for advice or help. An Elder must always be respected. Kivuuli have a written language, and the Elders write their history into the caves their Colony dwells in. Their claws carve the stories and names of all Kivuuli in a Colony into the stone. The Halls of History, as a Kivuuli calls the dens and caves the Elders keep and dwell in, are considered sacred and must not be damaged in any way. Only the Elders are allowed to carve the stone within. Because of this, Kivuuli Colonies are VERY hesitant to leave their homes, even if threatened. They are incredibly sentimental of their history. When an Elder dies, their Heartstone is placed within the Hall with the Heartstones of all past Elders in a place of ultimate honor. The Dominant Female’s Heartstone are placed within the Halls as well.<\/p>\r\nThe highest ranking male is considered the Colony Dominant Male, or Beta Male. He usually leads with the female, but is completely subordinate towards her. He is dominant towards the males in the Colony, but not towards the females. The Beta Male is usually the first one a female in heat will choose, and most often is the chosen mate of the Alpha Female, simply because he is the strongest and most clever male in the Colony and has good genes.<\/p>\r\nThere are mid ranking males and females, who fight out their dominance among eachother, and Omegas.<\/p>\r\nOmegas are not treated badly, but they have no authority within the Colony and are almost never chosen as mates. Female Omegas are extremely rare, and generally only crippled, severely injured, or terminally ill females end up as an Omega. Omegas often act as nannies for the Colony, and often induce lactation to keep kits calm and fed while the stronger and higher ranking Kivuuli hunt and carry out other tasks. Kivuuli who play the part of nannies are treated very well, and given plenty of food so they can continue to produce milk for the kits they help care for.<\/p>\r\nLactating Kivuuli will often allow weak, sick, or elderly members of their colony to feed from them, for the strengthening and healing properties their milk has. While a human would consider this taboo, gross and strange, it is completely normal in Kivuuli society.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli take very good care of the less fortunate members of their Colonies. The crippled, the weak, the runty, the stunted, the injured, the elderly… all of them are well cared for. The entire Colony will pitch in together to insure the survival of even their weakest members. Weak Kivuuli may not reproduce, but they live comfortable and happy.<\/p>\r\nLower than Omegas, are the disgraced Kivuuli. They have done something terrible and lost their honor and are hated by the Colony and not treated well.<\/p>\r\nDisgraced Kivuuli are those who did something shameful. Not deserving of exile, they keep their name and aren’t chased away, but they are generally ostracized by their fellows and can’t fight their way up in rank even if strong and dominant. A Disgraced Kivuuli must provide for themselves and are not allowed access to the Colony’s food stores or hunts. They must prove themselves worthy to get out of this status and become Omegas, but they will never rise above omega status and will never be fully trusted again.<\/p>\r\nExiled Kivuuli are those who have committed the highest of crimes in their culture. Rape, murder, killing other sentient beings unprovoked, hurting innocent kits, and betrayal are among the crimes deemed worthy this fate worse than death. An Exile is called Itz’hil. This word means many things at once. “Exiled, Nameless, Shamed One, Marked One.”<\/p>\r\nThe Marking is sentenced by the Alpha Female and the Colony’s Elders. If the accused Kivuuli is not remorseful of their crimes, or their crimes are unforgivable, their teleportation ability is temporarily knocked out and they are chained to a pillar of stone that they can not escape from. Legs and arms clamped down so they can not move. The Alpha Female makes the first mark. She slashes into his chest a symbol, reciting the word “Itz’hil!” with each slash of her claws. The Elders are next, speaking something along the lines of “As you threw away your honor, I take away your name. You are Exile. You are Itz’hil. You are Nameless. You are Nothing.” followed by the family their actions hurt the most, then every other adult in the Colony. Children are not permitted to view or participate in these Ceremonies. The mark and word is repeated time and time and time again until the Kivuuli’s healing ability slows and the slashes form a scar, a mark that will forever mar their chest. This can take weeks of constant torture. Once the Marking Ceremony is complete, the exhausted exile is released from the chains, and viciously chased away by the Colony. Any Colony who sees these marks from that time on will not allow the exile into their territory. Exiles live a lonely and miserable life, and generally don’t last long since Kivuuli are such social creatures and depend strongly on eachother for survival and emotional wellbeing.<\/p>\r\nOlder, stronger Kivuuli can assert their dominance without a fight, simply with posture, ear position, and growling. Or, even, with confidence alone. Smaller males are generally more submissive than larger ones.<\/p>\r\nThe female is in charge; though she lets the males set up their pecking order however they want. If it gets to be too much, she’ll step in, assert her dominance, and put a stop to it. Battles for dominance never end in death. They fight until one backs down. Sometimes this doesn’t even get past the snarling, growling, circling eachother, and displaying their strength and ferocity.<\/p>\r\nSimply watching and listening to a Kivuuli within a Colony can give you a ton of clues on their status. The dominant leaders move with their heads high and ears alert and perked up. When addressing others, they stand tall and look down at them with their hands out to the sides. Submissive members take a lower submissive posture with their claws crossed in front of them and eyes turned to the side. Their ears are held slightly lowered. Direct eye contact is considered a threat, thus lower ranking Kivuuli must not look higher ranking Kivuuli directly in the eye without permission.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli have strange ceremonies when a member of their Colony dies. First, the dead Kivuuli is mourned. Mourning can last days, and is not done until the family of the dead Kivuuli says it is. Those closest will wail and howl their grief on and on, a haunting and heartbreaking sound. Almost a haunting and heartbreaking song. Especially at the death of an Elder or Alpha. The entire Colony howls and mourns. But the time for Mourning does not last forever. Once the deceased Kivuuli is mourned, they have a special celebration.<\/p>\r\nA feast is held, with dancing, singing, storytelling, and laughing. For such a sombre thing, there is great joy. The Colony remembers their deceased member fondly. They talk about their life, their effect on the Colony. The Heartstone is then placed in a special antechamber within the Halls of History. The Elders carve the shape of the Heartstone out into the stone, gently place the gem within, and carve the name of the deceased Kivuuli beneath with their claws to be remembered forever. All deceased Kivuuli in a Colony are remembered unless they are Disgraced when they die. If disgraced, the Heartstone is set aside and ignored… a strong enough crime has the Heartstone being thrown off into the blackness surrounding the strange floating isles the Kivuuli dwell on.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are very matriarchal. The female is entirely in charge; the dominant female is submissive to none. A Colony lead by a male is considered unnatural and weak.<\/p>\r\nThey tolerate mistakes in children more than in adults. Children are still learning, and can be taught. Adults know better.<\/p>\r\nThese colonies can harbor anything from a small handful of Kivuuli, to hundreds or in some rare cases, over a thousand of them. The Elder position is not limited to just one; if there is more than one elder, they are all looked up to and view eachother as equals.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli live as a community and share everything. Their homes, their food. The strong help provide for the weak, those not strong enough to hunt do other tasks within the Colony, such as helping care for kits. They respect eachother’s homes and belongings. Theft and stealing is frowned upon, but not enough for alphas to get involved. The one stolen from is in charge of getting their belongings back. This often results in a spat. If it gets severe enough, the Alpha or one of the Betas will step in.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are territorial. Not against others in their own Colony, but towards those from other Colonies. While not common, some alpha females and the highest ranking beta males will use urine marking to mark the edges of their territory.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are a mixture of supernatural and biological. <\/p>\r\nThey have very little concept of personal space. Kivuuli are very touchy with eachother. They spend a lot of time cuddling and generally being near eachother. They are VERY fond of touching. They often stay very close to those they care about. Communal grooming is very common and reinforces bonds within the colony, and among friends and family.<\/p>\r\nThey have no concept of doors. They have no shame in nudity. Kivuuli do not wear clothes. Some, though, may decorate themselves with gems and things they have found. Their homes are open, and they come and go as they please.<\/p>","field4":"<h4>Appearance and anatomy<\/h4>\r\nKivuuli are somewhat humanoid in appearance, but have some very clear differences. They are long and lean, with elongated torsos and limbs. The average Kivuuli stands around nine to nine and a half feet tall. They have pawlike digitgrade feet which have four toes, or four toes and a dewclaw. Being interdimensional creatures, they often appear with a strange dark aura around them with what seems like tiny sparks or glimmers of lights appearing and floating aimlessly around them and vanishing again. This aura and glowing particles usually matches the basic color of their eyes. It only shows when they are using, or have recently used their reality bending abilities.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli skin is incredibly tough and thick. It takes some strength and a sharp blade to pierce it. They have a coating of fur that is short, but dense and soft. Their natural body temperature is around 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and thus they are very warm to the touch. The fur is usually longest around the shoulders, down the back, and in small fringes around the ankles and wrists.<\/p>\r\nThe fur on a female's ruff is longer and thicker than that of a male, and the skin there is looser and thicker and tougher as well. This serves as a protective barrier against the male's fangs, since they tend to bite during mating. Even then, he does often draw blood though most females don't mind this. It actually feels good to them.<\/p>\r\nBeing interdimensional creatures, Kivuuli are extremely light. Even standing around nine or more feet tall, they rarely weigh over one hundred fifty pounds. This is due to them being made up of something like solidified energy. Light, but incredibly strong. This not fully physical nature also manifests in their spines, claws, and fangs. When angry, they actually extend out and get longer and sharper, and when calm shrink back to normal size and sharpness.<\/p>\r\nThey have scale like spines on their forearms pointing back off the elbow with membranes between them. Similar scale like spines go down their spine, also having membranes between them. These spines flare up when frightened, angry, or threatened. They are also used in dominance displays.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli blood is a dark nearly black purple and thicker than human blood.<\/p>\r\nMales are far more common than females. There are about five males for every one female hatched.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/42_60_zBfnYHQ2UN2fnQD.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1124\" height=\"1124\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/55_75_xKgtjx7uZ9M0h6G.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/75_95_tRBRP6yesqPxpjz.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1086\" height=\"1181\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/52_72_VLLxKqy7WwiQoD7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1091\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Diet and Feeding<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli are obligate carnivorous. Their diet consists almost entirely of meat, though they might eat other things if no meat is available. They will sometimes add other things to their diet, such as fruits and similar for vitamins, minerals and fiber. Kivuuli tend to love sweets, but they aren’t fond of sour things.<\/p>\r\n<h4> Abilities<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli have many special abilities they are capable of using.<\/p>\r\nTeleportation<\/strong> - Kivuuli are able to teleport, though their methods are strange and unique. They are able to bend the fabric of reality around them in minor ways, the most pronounced being the ability to literally tear a crack in reality and step through. The crack always heals itself right after the Kivuuli steps through. Not ALL Kivuuli can do this. It is something that must be taught. Kivuuli can see and sense the flow of energy around them. They can also completely silence their steps, even at a full run.<\/p>\r\n**Note that they teleport by jumping through the dimension - or, within the bubble. They can not break out of the bubble into greater between, but they do, in a sense, touch Between when teleporting.<\/p>\r\nParalyzing Stare<\/strong> - The Paralyzing Stare is an ability Kivuuli developed for hunting and self defense. They stare you right in the eyes, which has a hypnotizing effect, rendering their prey or enemy unable to move. As long as your eyes are locked with the Kivuuli’s, you can’t move. When eye contact is broken, you can move again. Most Kivuuli ONLY use this ability when absolutely necessary. Generally if they are attacked. They catch the person’s gaze, causes them to freeze up, and teleports away to safety as they recover.<\/p>\r\nIntimidating Howl<\/strong> - The Intimidating Howl is a horrible unearthly howl, laced with the Kivuuli’s reality bending power. It sounds somewhere between a feral howl, savage snarling, horrible shrieking, and radio static. It forces feelings of terror into the one hearing it, giving them the desire to run away. Most can not handle it, and either faint where they are or run in horror. This terrible howl seems to come from every direction at once, making the Kivuuli’s location hard to determine. Reality Bending<\/strong> - This ability is the underlying cause to many other abilities Kivuuli have. They are able to bend reality around them in minor ways, stifling the sound of their footsteps, stopping you from hearing their breath or smelling them or sensing their presence. They can also leap through cracks in reality to teleport and many other small, but useful applications.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Evolutionary Background<\/h4>\r\n Their society is very wild in many ways. They are sapient and intelligent, but far more ruled by wild instincts and feral tendencies than humans. This has not changed because it works for them.<\/p>\r\n Between is a dangerous place, and Kivuuli reproduce slowly. Smaller Colonies are much more likely to breed faster. They also breed faster is there is plenty of food around. During times of famine females will actually stop having heats entirely. This is natural; it allows a Colony to grow strong and maintain their numbers. More babies born means more Kivuuli likely to make it to adulthood. A lone Kivuuli female is several times more likely to become pregnant than a Kivuuli in a big Colony. When a lot of Kivuuli populate one area, or food is less plentiful, their fertility as a whole drops dramatically. The reason why is unknown, but a hormonal response is the most likely candidate. Kivuuli in smaller Colonies are also more likely to go into heat more often. Kivuuli can go into heat every one to three years. Smaller Colonies' viable members will go into heat once a year; bigger colonies often every three years and sometimes even five.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli leave Between to hunt for food not available in their homeworld, gather resources, and explore. They usually go in small parties.  There may be a small number of Kivuuli with the ability to not age or die of age, but there are plenty of other things killing them and keeping their population balanced.<\/p>\r\nAll of this together has honed their intelligence to a fine point, but also nurtured their wild side giving them human intelligence coupled with bestial behaviors and instincts. Their ancestors are, in fact, extinct. Natural selection made sure of that. Kinda like we don’t see neanderthals or proto-humans running about. Some of their earliest ancestors were sleek, quadrupedal spiked predators that used teleportation to hunt or escape danger. They were fast, strong, and fierce, forming packs that were highly territorial.<\/p>","field5":"<h4>Lifespan<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli have very long natural lives; generally living up to 1000 years. As they start to grow older and approach the end of their lifespan, their Heartstones get less and less effective. This leaves them unable to feed as efficiently or teleport since their bodies stop being able to handle the discordant energies in the rifts they create. Their healing ability starts to slow down as well; and eventually goes away completely. Eventually, their body can no longer repair the damage done by age, and they grow weak and tired. Their fur will begin to gray around the eyes and mouth, and tips of ears as well as on their hands and feet. Once they reach a certain age, they are no longer capable of producing milk, even if they spend a lot of time around kits.<\/p>\r\nWhen they sense their time is near, they surround themselves by friends and family. They say their goodbyes, before slipping away peacefully. Most often in their sleep. Some Kivuuli, though, can live on way beyond this time. It seems to be a strange mutation. A Heartstone that can actually slowly repair itself; thus negating the effects of aging present in most of the species. Those who have this mutation will need to sleep more and rest more once they reach a certain age, and their fertility drops. While less fertile, they are still able to have children. They just don't do so as often and females are harder to get pregnant. They will not show any visible signs of aging; they will not grey or dull in color.<\/p>\r\nThey are not affected by aging, at all, and they will live on, healthy, until they are killed by something other than age. This tends to be genetic; so those of their line have a chance of getting this ability. The oldest Kivuuli to have ever lived is an Elder named Kaitu, a member of the rare and isolated ‘Maltese’ or ‘Blue’ subspecies. Severe damage to the Heartstone can overrun this ability, causing an ancient Kivuuli to age and die very quickly after being hurt, within a year.<\/p>\r\nBelow is an elder Kivuuli, showing the greying. He is also scarred up.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/79_100_JsBUVWncegFgtLX.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"845\" height=\"1125\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Mating and Reproduction<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli males and females look quite similar. Genitals are internal, though gender can be told through differences in their bodies, demeanor, and voice. If one sees a male and female Kivuuli standing side by side, first glance won’t reveal many differences. But if you look closely you can tell. Kivuuli do have the occasional hermaphrodite, this is a rare mutation. Sexual Dimorphism Male: Kivuuli genitals are internal. Males are slimmer and smaller than females, and generally hold themselves lower as well. They are naturally submissive since even a very strong male wouldn't stand a chance against the physically bigger and stronger female. Males do not have much curve to them, if any at all and have narrow waists and hips. They have semi defined pecs, and the fur on their lower belly and inner thighs is not any longer than the fur on the rest of their bodies. They have teats on the lower belly, usually small and not very visible. They tend to have thicker and longer chest fur as well as slightly longer\/fluffier fur around their neck. This can sometimes amplify their cheek fluff, too.<\/p>\r\nMale Kivuuli have lower, rougher and deeper voices than females. The growling undertone is more pronounced.<\/p>\r\nFemale: Females are taller and noticeably stronger than males. Her body is thicker, and moderately curvy with wider hips leading down to long and slim, but strong legs. While a layer of fat beneath her skin makes her look softer, beneath that softness is a lot of brute strength and ferocity.<\/p>\r\nThe fur down the back of a female’s neck, shoulders, and back is thicker and longer than a male's, and she also has thicker longer fur on her belly and inner thigh, which thickens further when carrying, or nursing young.<\/p>\r\nThe female Kivuuli's voice is softer and higher in pitch than a male's. Her growl is smoother, but deeper and fiercer. Her purr is a low and smooth. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Heat and Mating<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli attract mates through scent and displays of strength and prowess.<\/p>\r\nFemale Kivuuli go into heat regularly, but when observed in our dimension it happens roughly once every 1-3 years. A female raising a kit can not enter this state as long as she is nursing the kit. This is the only time she can become pregnant. It lasts for roughly two weeks or until she finds a suitable mate.<\/p>\r\nThere are three stages to the heat.<\/p>\r\nStage 1- Her scent begins to shift. This is not actual heat yet; she is not fertile. But her body is preparing itself for heat. She starts to become more interested in males, but also more hormonal and dangerous. She also becomes territorial towards other females, not letting them near her den. This stage lasts a few days.<\/p>\r\nStage 2- Her scent grows stronger, and her body is almost ready to mate. This is the attracting a mate stage. The testing the males and letting them fight for her stage. She becomes actively interested in males and will actually pay attention to their squabbles. She can become aggressive towards other females. This stage of heat lasts about a week. At this stage, her pheromones rouse the males into excited anticipation; causing them to follow her an attempt to impress her. <\/p>\r\nStage 3 - This is the most intense part of her heat. This is when she is fully ready to mate and most likely to ovulate. Her heat scent becomes quite potent and easy to detect even from far away. She becomes extremely restless, unable to stay in one place for long. Many females will pace on and on, grumbling and becoming downright cranky. Younger females react more strongly to this stage; while older females can usually ignore it. Heat is very uncomfortable at this stage, but it's just a matter of waiting of the female isn't interested in having a kit.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli females, like cats, are stimulated ovulators.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Pregnancy and Eggs<\/h4>\r\nA Kivuuli female will know within a few days if she is pregnant or not.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are an egg-bearing race. They carry the egg for four to five months, growing large quickly. The male is expected to hunt for her and bring her food, since her appetite will increase as she packs the egg with nutrients it will need once it exits her body. The baby will also develop considerably during this time. By the time the egg is laid, the brain of the fetus is almost completely formed; the rest of the body finishes forming after the egg is laid. As the egg forms, the female’s fur grows thicker and denser, to make better lining for her nest. The fur around her belly and inner thighs thickens too; and she will not shed her guardhairs.<\/p>\r\nTheir pelvis separates in two places, and is held together by springy, elastic tendons. Each separation contains a small bone bridge that breaks in the process of laying the first egg. This produces a small, sharp crack\/pop, and is quite painful. The bone bridge never grows back and any eggs after the first are easier. Once the egg has passed through, the tendons will spring back, and the Kivuuli’s natural healing ability will repair any damage within an hour or two of laying while the exhausted mother sleeps. Males do not have the tendons or bone bridges.<\/p>\r\nWhile inside them, the egg shell is thick and leathery. It forms soon after conception and plays the part of the placenta until it comes time to lay. During the last few days before laying it becomes the egg shell, which and is soft and pliable. After laying, the shell takes roughly a half hour to harden. It becomes tough, hard and slightly textured. It is very thick and tough, hard to break from the outside. It is, however, very vulnerable until it’s fully hardened. The reason it develops so long inside the mother is so the brain can form properly; the mother gives it a kick start, and the hatchling finishes development within the egg.<\/p>\r\nThey look huge when they are carrying, but most of that is actually fluids that protect and cushion the egg as well as providing lubrication for laying. Nutrients are stored within the forming shell, though the hatchling has a Proteanct link to the mother until a few days before laying.<\/p>\r\nDuring the pregnancy, the Kivuuli will have an intense nesting instinct. She will take anything she can find. Fur of other shedding Kivuuli, blankets, any soft thing, and build a nest. During the last week of carrying, she will shed, and line her nest with her fur. Once the egg is laid, it will be watched over and kept warm by her while its father hunts for her. It will hatch in another 4-5 months. This can vary by subspecies, or location, or individual Kivuuli. Eggs can vary in color, but are usually smooth and black with slightly lighter colored mottling. This can change depending on the individual Kivuuli or their environment.<\/p>\r\nA hatchling Kivuuli is known as a kit, because they are very kitten like in their behavior. Kits are known to imprint on the energy signature and voice of the one who spends the most time around the egg. As such, they know their mother the instant they come out. While hatching, a mother will crouch near the egg, face inches away from it and make soft chirring calls to encourage the kit to break free of the egg. Upon hatching, they will follow the scent of the mother’s teats. The scent and feel of the kit suckling will trigger a surge of hormones, and she will begin lactation. This surge of hormones will reduce the Kivuuli to soft, relaxed purring. Any Kivuuli can be triggered to lactate in this manner, be it male or female. Once lactation begins, the Kivuuli’s appetite will increase. They often feed their milk to older or sick individuals within the Colony to help them survive and stay strong.<\/p>\r\nIn the pregnant Kivuuli, the teats poke out of the fur, as the fur sheds from directly around them.<\/p>\r\nThe consistency is thick, almost like a probiotic yogurt shake, and the taste is surprisingly mild and a little sweet. It is highly nutritious, high in protein and energy; and everything else a kit needs to grow.  It is not at all uncommon for Kivuuli in a Colony to nurse eachother's young. Sometimes older members will play the part of nanny for younger, less experienced Kivuuli. Some Kivuuli will choose to never stop lactating for the purpose of playing nanny to the kits within the Colony.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are extremely protective of their kits. If you hurt a kit, the whole Colony will attack. Even one lone Kivuuli is far more ferocious and dangerous than any mother bear; you don’t want to know what would happen if you pissed off a whole colony of them.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are highly lactose intolerant. It causes a lot of digestive upset. As such, Kivuuli milk has no lactose in it.<\/p>\r\nIt is not unusual for members of a Colony to nurse eachother’s young. In fact, this is a very common practice, though some Kits will not nurse on any but their mother. This depends on the individual. It is most common for the omegas to act as nannies for the Colony, helping to care for the kits while stronger individuals hunt and bring in food. Because of this Omegas, and especially nannies, while not given any authority, are not treated badly. Kivuuli tend to produce more milk than is needed. If it gets uncomfortable, they tend to empty their teats themselves. This keeps their supply strong, is relaxing and calming, tastes good to them, and is considered completely normal. While a human would find such activity odd, it is completely natural for a Kivuuli. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Kits and children <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/56_76_oIgVWPjEOdYq3uF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"804\" height=\"534\" \/><\/h4>\r\n <\/p>\r\nKits are teeny when they hatch, a little smaller than the average human baby. They hatch with their eyes closed, but able to hear and smell just fine. Their ears are droopy and their bodies are pudgy and bellies round from the yolk of the egg still inside, being slowly absorbed to give them strength while their mother’s milk comes in and they learn to nurse properly. Kits open their eyes when they are between three and seven days old.<\/p>\r\nThey are generally fairly quiet and don’t cry often, though do tend to make small chitters, squeaks, and mewling noises. They hate being alone.<\/p>\r\nBabies have a very strong instinct to not relieve themselves within the nest. When they feel the need to go, they will let their parent know with insistent screeching until taken somewhere. Like a newborn kitten or puppy, they will not eliminate on their own. There is a pressure point just at the base of the neck that can be triggered through a certain way of holding onto the scruff that triggers them to go reflexively; they will only go when held in that certain way until they learn to move about on all fours. Once able to move about on all fours they will always leave the nest to eliminate.  Young Kivuuli are fully mobile by the time they are three months old, and run about everywhere on all fours.<\/p>\r\nThe babies depend completely on their parents and the others in their colony for survival. They are unable to teleport. In fact, this takes a lot of time to get right and generally has to be taught though can be done autonomously if the Kivuuli feels that its life is in danger. Kits are weaned between 2-3 years old, depending on the kit in question. Some wean themselves earlier, some later. A mother will never force wean her kit, because if they are still nursing it means they likely still need to. Kits are able to move about by the time they are three months old. As kits get older and start to move around, they love to practice their hunting instincts and will often hunt, and eat, small animals once their teeth grow in. They generally start getting teeth when they are about a year old. They like to show their kills off to their parents, or others in the Colony. <\/p>\r\nKivuuli grow bigger and stronger as they age. At roughly 15, they reach sexual maturity. They are not considered adults yet, more like a 15-16 year old human. Sexually mature, but not mentally mature. Around 18 to 23, they stop growing and achieve their full height. It is around this time they learn to effect reality around them both in silencing their steps and in creating and jumping through little dimensional cracks to teleport. They usually stay with their parents until full maturity, and after that remain with their Colony of birth.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli children are incredibly awkward and clumsy until they grow into their long limbs. They spend more time on all fours than on two feet, though around ten years old they start getting up on two feet more often. Even into adulthod, they spend time both on all fours, and on two feet equally depending on the situation. Kits hurt themselves frequently, but this only kick-starts their natural healing ability. Kits are known for getting themselves into trouble, constantly. They are mischievous, playful, energetic, and insatiably curious. The entire colony works to keep the children safe and alive. Just like kittens.<\/p>\r\nFemale kits are a bit more energetic and feisty than males.<\/p>\r\nYoung males love to playfight and spar among themselves. These playfights grow more intense once they near adolescence, roughly around 10-12 years old or so. Arouns 12 years old, a Kivuuli will begin to go th rough puberty. Sometimes, these playfights get a bit too intense, leaving one or both young males bloody. They step away to heal, which is usually finished within minutes. Once healed, they go at it again. Adolescent males are constantly tussling, wrestling, and play-fighting, which only grows more frequent and intense the closer to adulthood they get. While these bouts of snapping, screaming, growling, and snarling looks terrifying and deadly, they look far, far, FAR worse than they actually are. They never seriously hurt eachother and other Kivuuli in the Colony know very well the difference between play and real fighting, since real fighting is far louder and more vicious. As males get older, they mellow out considerably, and only face off against other males in contests of strength in the presence of a receptive female. They do this to try to impress her. They usually don’t mellow out fully until around 30 or so; around 20-30 they are fully mature, but have bouts of wild, child-like energetic kittenlike playfulness.<\/p>\r\nAs a female reaches adolescence, she becomes fiercer and more commanding. If she joins a playfight, the males usually back down and submit almost instantly. Playfights between two females are far more vicious and noisy and dangerous-looking than playfights between males. They are practicing to take dominance someday; males just fight for fun or to pass on their genes. She starts to show interest in the male’s battles, and starts to show more interest in those that win these fights. Most of the time, she will avoid a mate when she has her first heat cycle, as pregnancy would be hard on her body at that age. The first heat cycle generally happens around 15 years of age. She usually won’t choose a mate until she is at her full size since a younger body is less able to successfully carry an egg. Most males will not attempt to impress a young female unless they themselves are young. <\/p>\r\nShe will usually chase off any male that comes near while going through her first heat. The first heat cycle is usually short, and not too intense. She is not fertile for this cycle, it is simply her body announcing that it is mature. Her heats will gradually get longer until they settle at the normal length at around 18-20 years old. If a female is not ready to have a kit of her own, she will hide away and ignore or chase off any males that try to gain her attention. Most females prefer not to have a kit until they have gained more experience. Young mothers are far more likely to be aggressive and attack anything they see as a threat than older mothers who are more experienced in raising, guiding, and protecting a child.<\/p>","field6":"The dewclaw is a fairly common variation found among Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nAnother common variation is the heel spur.  Some Kivuuli have both heelspurs and dewclaws.<\/p>\r\nSome Kivuuli are unable to retract their claws. This is very rare; but when it does show up it is not much of a hindrance. They are generally chosen as hunters, though they have to be careful since their claws are very sharp when fully extended. They often make claw caps for themselves to avoid hurting themselves or others.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli also sometimes have manes, ranging from a strip of fur down the spine to a full lionlike mane found in some Maltese.<\/p>\r\nA rare mutation can cause them to lack spines.<\/p>\r\nThe Bully mutation causes Kivuuli to be bigger and more muscular than their fellows. They lose a lot of speed and agility, but gain a lot of brute strength.<\/p>\r\nIt is extremely for Kivuuli to have no markings, though it is far more common to have markings around the shoulders and hips. They should have at least a darkening around the shoulders backs and hips, with some subtle striping or spotting around the shoulders and hips.<\/p>\r\nLong Fur - The Kivuuli's for grows longer and thicker than usual<\/p>\r\nIntersex - (They are often either more masculine or more feminine, though nonbinary individuals are not uncommon. Nonbinary kivuuli generally appear between the size of the male and the size of the female, and aren't interested in dominance or engaging in the fights and spats their gendered counterparts do)<\/p>\r\nRex Coat (Curly, this shows in varying degrees, fairly common, but usually subtle)<\/p>\r\nFeathering (Light, Medium, Heavy or Fringed)<\/p>\r\nLeucism (Can appear either patchy, white, near white, or unusually pale. This occurs either partial, or full. Leucistic Kivuuli are very rare!)<\/p>\r\nMelenistic (Menelistic Kivuuli are almost impossible to tell apart from regular Kivuuli unless from one of the subspecies)<\/p>\r\nFurless (Rare, but not unheard of. Tends to show up in warmer areas.)<\/p>\r\nLengthened Ear Tufts (Rare) Albinism\/Partial Albinism (EXTREMELY rare! Most Albino Kivuuli are either blind, or almost blind, though healthy ones can appear among the ranks of Common Kivuuli.)<\/p>\r\nLengthened Cheek Fluffs (Uncommon, common among Maltese)<\/p>","field7":"<h4>Tips for Designing your Kivuuli<\/h4>\r\n The pads will always match the iris in color, though always darker and less saturated, unless the Kivuuli is a Lippizan.<\/p>\r\nLippizan have black pads and membranes and skin, whereas normal Kivuuli, and Kivuuli of other breeds have flesh color somewhat matching their eyes.<\/p>\r\nA good top is to select the iris color, darken it slightly and desaturate it for the pupil and lighten it for the sclera. If the Kivuuli has heterochromia, the fleshy bits can match either eye. Maltese have a black sclera, a trait not seen in any other variants.<\/p>\r\nAnother tip is try not to make your Kivuuli too saturated. They must look natural.<\/p>\r\nFor color reference on Dykuma and Malopuh'rra, look at lions, caracals, fennecs, and similar creatures. The most common look is Caracal-like with some spotting, dappling and striping. Urban Puh'rra are slightly smaller and darker in color.<\/p>\r\nFor regular Kivuuli, they can have slight hints of color, though never too saturated or obvious since other color is added by a gene. They can be dark grey to near stark black. Markings are usually slightly darker, but can be slightly lighter in some occasions.<\/p>\r\nTundra Kivuuli come in soft creams and browns, but never stark white. Think like the summer coat of an arctic fox for coloration. They can appear nearly white during the winter. You are free to add both winter and summer coats to their reference!<\/p>\r\nMany Kivuuli are lighter on the bellies and darker on the backs, shoulders, and hips and dorsal stripes are common.<\/p>\r\nThe spines are usually black, though can be lighter, and always match the claws in color. The inside of the mouth is generally lighter than the membrane\/pad color. The membranes between the spines match their flesh.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"The Kivuuli, a mysterious and powerful interdimensional semi-humanoid creature. They are rumored to hold the key to the Realms Between.<\/p>\r\nCommon Variants: 0 Upgrade Tokens Uncommon Variants: 2 Upgrade Tokens Rare Variants: 6 Upgrade Tokens Mythic Variants: 10 Upgrade Tokens<\/p>\r\nUncommon Genes: 1 Upgrade Token Each Rare Genes: 5 Upgrade Tokens Mythic Genes: 10 Upgrade Tokens Common<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Normal\">Normal<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Dykuma\">Dykuma<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Malopuh%27rra\">Malopuh'rra<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Tundra\">Tundra<\/a> Uncommon <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Kaplan\">Kaplan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Lippizan\">Lippizan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Met%27saa\">Met'saa<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Zanzibar\">Zanzibar<\/a> Rare <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Maltese\">Maltese<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Ember\">Ember<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Oriental\">Oriental<\/a> Mythic<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Proto-Built\">Protean Met'saa\/Proto-built<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Polar\">Polar<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Fancy\">Fancy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Kivuuli%20Cross\">Crossbreeds<\/a> combine the upgrade cost of both, and will mainly be gotten through breeding Bases can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1y1Xp6pEzs05AWxgv0_PUzJy-ZM1YTMbR\">here<\/a><\/p>\r\nHowever, they are completely optional! You don't even have to do all the views, you can move things around, add to it. Or you can draw your own.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/51_71_v2WNimjzblhbLTI.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1158\" height=\"936\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Kivuuli are a tall and powerful carnivorous furred semi-humanoid inter-dimensional race. They are generally black or dark grey with blue, green, or purple eyes and usually have slightly darker markings in stripes, spots, or a combination of the two that only show under certain light. There are several subspecies with different colors and markings being common from the warm reds of the forest dwelling Met'saa to the whites of the Lippizan to the blue grays of the Maltese or the golden color of Desert Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nThey are elongated in build, with long limbs and are as comfortable on all fours as they are on two feet. They are incredibly wild, but generally won't attack unless attacked or threatened. Kivuuli are fully sapient and a social species. Despite their fearsome appearance, Kivuuli are a gentle and peaceful race with strong maternal instincts appearing in both males and females.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are very fast, especially when on all fours and live in groups known as Colonies.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/46_96_J8ebzKgaMxzPVmT.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1166\" height=\"940\" \/><\/p>","field2":"<h4>Between; Homeworld of the Kivuuli<\/h4>\r\n Imagine the air around you, full of bubbles. Now imagine that each of these bubbles is its own dimension. It's own universe. Has its own laws, and inner workings. Now, imagine all the space between the bubbles. A strange place, between the dimensions; ever shifting and changing. This is where the Kivuuli dwell and come from. The rules of physics do not apply; great islands of stone float through the darkness, covered in forests of strange bioluminescent fungus-like plants and other strange flora. Inhabited by strange creatures of all shapes and sizes, from tiny glowing dragonlike lizards to massive beasts that would put Earth's dinosaurs to shame. Literally anything can happen in Between, any sort of creature, any world, any dimension, any universe. The Kivuuli can reach many worlds and this is part of the reason for their great success as an apex predator.<\/p>\r\nHarsh, but oddly beautiful, Between is buzzing with strange power and magic and the magical rules and laws of hundreds of dimensions, worlds, and universes clashing together in beautiful chaos. The areas of Between are effected by the laws of the dimensions and worlds closest to them; making Between highly varied. Between is beautiful; but as beautiful as it is it is deadly, thus the Kivuuli have had to adapt in to fast, powerful pack hunting predators that have claws that can slash through granite and a terrible shrieking wail that can drive fear into the hearts of the bravest.<\/p>\r\nThey are fast, able to teleport, and able to face creatures several times their size. This strange place has many names. Darkrealm, Tartarus, Limbo; but many simply call this place the Between; for this is what it is. The realm between dimensions. A strange and mysterious place; beautiful to behold but deadly to those not from there. While most of Between is completely dark aside from glimmers of light here and there and bioluminsecent plants and animals, some isles are ruled by a great orb of energy mimicking a sun. Some have their own weather patterns and day night cycles. Cracks and passages between dimensions are always opening and closing, allowing Kivuuli the ability to enter and leave Between at will, though they must be careful as some rifts are temporary and could close and leave them stranded in a strange and unfamiliar world. Others, still, are horribly unstable and deadly and could rip an unsuspecting Kivuuli to shreds leaving nothing but splatters of blood and the memory of their horrible screams.<\/p>","field3":"<h4>Calls, Vocalizations and Language<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli voices have a strange, otherworldly quality to them. They sound almost distorted, with a clear staticy crackling undertone. This is likely because of their interdimensional nature.<\/p>\r\nTheir voices are often deep, with a growl or purr like sound mixed in. A Kivuuli speaking is much what a person might imagine a lion’s voice would sound like if it learned to speak. They tend to have emphasis on sharper sounds, like k, z, v, and such, and their r’s are often lengthened slightly in a slight growl or purr. They are fully capable of learning languages aside from their own and, in fact, Kivuuli learn incredibly fast. Despite their wild primitive ways, they are incredibly intelligent. They mainly keep to their wilder ways due to culture, and how volatile and ever-changing Between is. You can't exactly advance when the laws of reality around you are constantly changing!<\/p>\r\nOutside of speech, they have a whole range of natural vocalizations. When excited or friendly, they let out a sound similar to a chittering cat. Though much deeper and lower in tone. This sound is often used by playful kits, or adults trying to show they mean no harm. Kivuuli also purr. It’s a deep, heavy rumbling sound with a bit of static to it.<\/p>\r\nThey chitter, chirp, chuff, rumble, growl, purr, hiss, click, snarl, roar, howl, and many other sounds.<\/p>\r\nChirping is used to call and greet fellow members of their Colony. The chuff is similar to a chuffing tiger, and they use this to greet loved ones and family or close friends. The rumble and growl show varying levels of irritation and\/or anger, eventually leading to a wild snarling or finally, their terrible howl or roar.<\/p>\r\nPurring is an expression of pleasure and contentment.<\/p>\r\nWhen injured, they let out soft whimpers and whines.<\/p>\r\nWhen sad, they will either be very quiet, whimper softly, or let out a heartbreaking wail when mourning the death of a loved one.<\/p>\r\nTheir language incorporates all of these vocalizations. And they even integrate this when speaking other languages as well.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli also rely strongly on body language. The position of one’s ears, tone of voice, and posture can change the meaning of what they are trying to say. Looking at the position of the ears is a great way to tell what mood a Kivuuli is in. When neutral, the ears are out slightly to the sides and in a relaxed position. When alert or shocked, their ears perk up and swivel forward. Their ears often flick and swivel towards any sound, and many times they detect sounds other creatures will not.<\/p>\r\nWhen angry, their ears go back, and they lower their ears when sad, or trying to show submission. Higher ranking Kivuuli generally tend to hold their ears perked higher than lower ranking Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli can also make a strange tonal almost… droning sound. Somewhere between a thrum and a rumble, it can promote relaxation or healing. The sound is, indeed, very strange. And it is something that is rarely heard among Kivuuli so it is theorized that only a few of them are capable of, or know how to, produce this sound.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Culture, Customs and Heirarchy<\/h4>\r\n Not much is known of Kivuuli culture and customs, but it can be very complex even if it seems deceptively simple. Their customs are a mix between their wild and feral nature and their sapience. In some ways they can be considered very primitive, though not savage. In reality, Kivuuli believe strongly in living with the land. When living somewhere, they are very careful to preserve the balance of nature. They do not chase other predators out of their territory, and never over-hunt. They only take what they need, and use as much of their prey as they can. They use the pelts and fur in their nests, make things from their bones, horns, or hooves, and eat every part they are able to.<\/p>\r\nMost Kivuuli do not mate for life. As such, they do not have any ceremonies or weddings. Among Kivuuli, a Colony is a family. They do not have surnames, nor do they need them. Reproduction has nothing to do with feelings of love, but rather to make offspring. Kivuuli do sometimes mate for life, but this is fairly rare. Even those who are lifemates will sometimes mate with others and this is not considered cheating. It is completely normal, since it helps spread out the gene pool.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli hierarchy is very pack like. Their groups are referred to as Colonies, though some call them Clans. A Colony is lead by the Dominant Female, or Alpha Female. Males in higher positions are extremely rare. The highest ranking male or males are known as Betas.<\/p>\r\nThe Elders are the oldest and wisest members of the Colony. Just being old does not make you an Elder. Elders are story-tellers, legend-keepers; and even the Dominant Female often goes to them for advice or help. An Elder must always be respected. Kivuuli have a written language, and the Elders write their history into the caves their Colony dwells in. Their claws carve the stories and names of all Kivuuli in a Colony into the stone. The Halls of History, as a Kivuuli calls the dens and caves the Elders keep and dwell in, are considered sacred and must not be damaged in any way. Only the Elders are allowed to carve the stone within. Because of this, Kivuuli Colonies are VERY hesitant to leave their homes, even if threatened. They are incredibly sentimental of their history. When an Elder dies, their Heartstone is placed within the Hall with the Heartstones of all past Elders in a place of ultimate honor. The Dominant Female’s Heartstone are placed within the Halls as well.<\/p>\r\nThe highest ranking male is considered the Colony Dominant Male, or Beta Male. He usually leads with the female, but is completely subordinate towards her. He is dominant towards the males in the Colony, but not towards the females. The Beta Male is usually the first one a female in heat will choose, and most often is the chosen mate of the Alpha Female, simply because he is the strongest and most clever male in the Colony and has good genes.<\/p>\r\nThere are mid ranking males and females, who fight out their dominance among eachother, and Omegas.<\/p>\r\nOmegas are not treated badly, but they have no authority within the Colony and are almost never chosen as mates. Female Omegas are extremely rare, and generally only crippled, severely injured, or terminally ill females end up as an Omega. Omegas often act as nannies for the Colony, and often induce lactation to keep kits calm and fed while the stronger and higher ranking Kivuuli hunt and carry out other tasks. Kivuuli who play the part of nannies are treated very well, and given plenty of food so they can continue to produce milk for the kits they help care for.<\/p>\r\nLactating Kivuuli will often allow weak, sick, or elderly members of their colony to feed from them, for the strengthening and healing properties their milk has. While a human would consider this taboo, gross and strange, it is completely normal in Kivuuli society.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli take very good care of the less fortunate members of their Colonies. The crippled, the weak, the runty, the stunted, the injured, the elderly… all of them are well cared for. The entire Colony will pitch in together to insure the survival of even their weakest members. Weak Kivuuli may not reproduce, but they live comfortable and happy.<\/p>\r\nLower than Omegas, are the disgraced Kivuuli. They have done something terrible and lost their honor and are hated by the Colony and not treated well.<\/p>\r\nDisgraced Kivuuli are those who did something shameful. Not deserving of exile, they keep their name and aren’t chased away, but they are generally ostracized by their fellows and can’t fight their way up in rank even if strong and dominant. A Disgraced Kivuuli must provide for themselves and are not allowed access to the Colony’s food stores or hunts. They must prove themselves worthy to get out of this status and become Omegas, but they will never rise above omega status and will never be fully trusted again.<\/p>\r\nExiled Kivuuli are those who have committed the highest of crimes in their culture. Rape, murder, killing other sentient beings unprovoked, hurting innocent kits, and betrayal are among the crimes deemed worthy this fate worse than death. An Exile is called Itz’hil. This word means many things at once. “Exiled, Nameless, Shamed One, Marked One.”<\/p>\r\nThe Marking is sentenced by the Alpha Female and the Colony’s Elders. If the accused Kivuuli is not remorseful of their crimes, or their crimes are unforgivable, their teleportation ability is temporarily knocked out and they are chained to a pillar of stone that they can not escape from. Legs and arms clamped down so they can not move. The Alpha Female makes the first mark. She slashes into his chest a symbol, reciting the word “Itz’hil!” with each slash of her claws. The Elders are next, speaking something along the lines of “As you threw away your honor, I take away your name. You are Exile. You are Itz’hil. You are Nameless. You are Nothing.” followed by the family their actions hurt the most, then every other adult in the Colony. Children are not permitted to view or participate in these Ceremonies. The mark and word is repeated time and time and time again until the Kivuuli’s healing ability slows and the slashes form a scar, a mark that will forever mar their chest. This can take weeks of constant torture. Once the Marking Ceremony is complete, the exhausted exile is released from the chains, and viciously chased away by the Colony. Any Colony who sees these marks from that time on will not allow the exile into their territory. Exiles live a lonely and miserable life, and generally don’t last long since Kivuuli are such social creatures and depend strongly on eachother for survival and emotional wellbeing.<\/p>\r\nOlder, stronger Kivuuli can assert their dominance without a fight, simply with posture, ear position, and growling. Or, even, with confidence alone. Smaller males are generally more submissive than larger ones.<\/p>\r\nThe female is in charge; though she lets the males set up their pecking order however they want. If it gets to be too much, she’ll step in, assert her dominance, and put a stop to it. Battles for dominance never end in death. They fight until one backs down. Sometimes this doesn’t even get past the snarling, growling, circling eachother, and displaying their strength and ferocity.<\/p>\r\nSimply watching and listening to a Kivuuli within a Colony can give you a ton of clues on their status. The dominant leaders move with their heads high and ears alert and perked up. When addressing others, they stand tall and look down at them with their hands out to the sides. Submissive members take a lower submissive posture with their claws crossed in front of them and eyes turned to the side. Their ears are held slightly lowered. Direct eye contact is considered a threat, thus lower ranking Kivuuli must not look higher ranking Kivuuli directly in the eye without permission.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli have strange ceremonies when a member of their Colony dies. First, the dead Kivuuli is mourned. Mourning can last days, and is not done until the family of the dead Kivuuli says it is. Those closest will wail and howl their grief on and on, a haunting and heartbreaking sound. Almost a haunting and heartbreaking song. Especially at the death of an Elder or Alpha. The entire Colony howls and mourns. But the time for Mourning does not last forever. Once the deceased Kivuuli is mourned, they have a special celebration.<\/p>\r\nA feast is held, with dancing, singing, storytelling, and laughing. For such a sombre thing, there is great joy. The Colony remembers their deceased member fondly. They talk about their life, their effect on the Colony. The Heartstone is then placed in a special antechamber within the Halls of History. The Elders carve the shape of the Heartstone out into the stone, gently place the gem within, and carve the name of the deceased Kivuuli beneath with their claws to be remembered forever. All deceased Kivuuli in a Colony are remembered unless they are Disgraced when they die. If disgraced, the Heartstone is set aside and ignored… a strong enough crime has the Heartstone being thrown off into the blackness surrounding the strange floating isles the Kivuuli dwell on.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are very matriarchal. The female is entirely in charge; the dominant female is submissive to none. A Colony lead by a male is considered unnatural and weak.<\/p>\r\nThey tolerate mistakes in children more than in adults. Children are still learning, and can be taught. Adults know better.<\/p>\r\nThese colonies can harbor anything from a small handful of Kivuuli, to hundreds or in some rare cases, over a thousand of them. The Elder position is not limited to just one; if there is more than one elder, they are all looked up to and view eachother as equals.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli live as a community and share everything. Their homes, their food. The strong help provide for the weak, those not strong enough to hunt do other tasks within the Colony, such as helping care for kits. They respect eachother’s homes and belongings. Theft and stealing is frowned upon, but not enough for alphas to get involved. The one stolen from is in charge of getting their belongings back. This often results in a spat. If it gets severe enough, the Alpha or one of the Betas will step in.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are territorial. Not against others in their own Colony, but towards those from other Colonies. While not common, some alpha females and the highest ranking beta males will use urine marking to mark the edges of their territory.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are a mixture of supernatural and biological. <\/p>\r\nThey have very little concept of personal space. Kivuuli are very touchy with eachother. They spend a lot of time cuddling and generally being near eachother. They are VERY fond of touching. They often stay very close to those they care about. Communal grooming is very common and reinforces bonds within the colony, and among friends and family.<\/p>\r\nThey have no concept of doors. They have no shame in nudity. Kivuuli do not wear clothes. Some, though, may decorate themselves with gems and things they have found. Their homes are open, and they come and go as they please.<\/p>","field4":"<h4>Appearance and anatomy<\/h4>\r\nKivuuli are somewhat humanoid in appearance, but have some very clear differences. They are long and lean, with elongated torsos and limbs. The average Kivuuli stands around nine to nine and a half feet tall. They have pawlike digitgrade feet which have four toes, or four toes and a dewclaw. Being interdimensional creatures, they often appear with a strange dark aura around them with what seems like tiny sparks or glimmers of lights appearing and floating aimlessly around them and vanishing again. This aura and glowing particles usually matches the basic color of their eyes. It only shows when they are using, or have recently used their reality bending abilities.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli skin is incredibly tough and thick. It takes some strength and a sharp blade to pierce it. They have a coating of fur that is short, but dense and soft. Their natural body temperature is around 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and thus they are very warm to the touch. The fur is usually longest around the shoulders, down the back, and in small fringes around the ankles and wrists.<\/p>\r\nThe fur on a female's ruff is longer and thicker than that of a male, and the skin there is looser and thicker and tougher as well. This serves as a protective barrier against the male's fangs, since they tend to bite during mating. Even then, he does often draw blood though most females don't mind this. It actually feels good to them.<\/p>\r\nBeing interdimensional creatures, Kivuuli are extremely light. Even standing around nine or more feet tall, they rarely weigh over one hundred fifty pounds. This is due to them being made up of something like solidified energy. Light, but incredibly strong. This not fully physical nature also manifests in their spines, claws, and fangs. When angry, they actually extend out and get longer and sharper, and when calm shrink back to normal size and sharpness.<\/p>\r\nThey have scale like spines on their forearms pointing back off the elbow with membranes between them. Similar scale like spines go down their spine, also having membranes between them. These spines flare up when frightened, angry, or threatened. They are also used in dominance displays.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli blood is a dark nearly black purple and thicker than human blood.<\/p>\r\nMales are far more common than females. There are about five males for every one female hatched.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/42_60_zBfnYHQ2UN2fnQD.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1124\" height=\"1124\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/55_75_xKgtjx7uZ9M0h6G.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/75_95_tRBRP6yesqPxpjz.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1086\" height=\"1181\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/52_72_VLLxKqy7WwiQoD7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1091\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Diet and Feeding<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli are obligate carnivorous. Their diet consists almost entirely of meat, though they might eat other things if no meat is available. They will sometimes add other things to their diet, such as fruits and similar for vitamins, minerals and fiber. Kivuuli tend to love sweets, but they aren’t fond of sour things.<\/p>\r\n<h4> Abilities<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli have many special abilities they are capable of using.<\/p>\r\nTeleportation<\/strong> - Kivuuli are able to teleport, though their methods are strange and unique. They are able to bend the fabric of reality around them in minor ways, the most pronounced being the ability to literally tear a crack in reality and step through. The crack always heals itself right after the Kivuuli steps through. Not ALL Kivuuli can do this. It is something that must be taught. Kivuuli can see and sense the flow of energy around them. They can also completely silence their steps, even at a full run.<\/p>\r\n**Note that they teleport by jumping through the dimension - or, within the bubble. They can not break out of the bubble into greater between, but they do, in a sense, touch Between when teleporting.<\/p>\r\nParalyzing Stare<\/strong> - The Paralyzing Stare is an ability Kivuuli developed for hunting and self defense. They stare you right in the eyes, which has a hypnotizing effect, rendering their prey or enemy unable to move. As long as your eyes are locked with the Kivuuli’s, you can’t move. When eye contact is broken, you can move again. Most Kivuuli ONLY use this ability when absolutely necessary. Generally if they are attacked. They catch the person’s gaze, causes them to freeze up, and teleports away to safety as they recover.<\/p>\r\nIntimidating Howl<\/strong> - The Intimidating Howl is a horrible unearthly howl, laced with the Kivuuli’s reality bending power. It sounds somewhere between a feral howl, savage snarling, horrible shrieking, and radio static. It forces feelings of terror into the one hearing it, giving them the desire to run away. Most can not handle it, and either faint where they are or run in horror. This terrible howl seems to come from every direction at once, making the Kivuuli’s location hard to determine. Reality Bending<\/strong> - This ability is the underlying cause to many other abilities Kivuuli have. They are able to bend reality around them in minor ways, stifling the sound of their footsteps, stopping you from hearing their breath or smelling them or sensing their presence. They can also leap through cracks in reality to teleport and many other small, but useful applications.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Evolutionary Background<\/h4>\r\n Their society is very wild in many ways. They are sapient and intelligent, but far more ruled by wild instincts and feral tendencies than humans. This has not changed because it works for them.<\/p>\r\n Between is a dangerous place, and Kivuuli reproduce slowly. Smaller Colonies are much more likely to breed faster. They also breed faster is there is plenty of food around. During times of famine females will actually stop having heats entirely. This is natural; it allows a Colony to grow strong and maintain their numbers. More babies born means more Kivuuli likely to make it to adulthood. A lone Kivuuli female is several times more likely to become pregnant than a Kivuuli in a big Colony. When a lot of Kivuuli populate one area, or food is less plentiful, their fertility as a whole drops dramatically. The reason why is unknown, but a hormonal response is the most likely candidate. Kivuuli in smaller Colonies are also more likely to go into heat more often. Kivuuli can go into heat every one to three years. Smaller Colonies' viable members will go into heat once a year; bigger colonies often every three years and sometimes even five.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli leave Between to hunt for food not available in their homeworld, gather resources, and explore. They usually go in small parties.  There may be a small number of Kivuuli with the ability to not age or die of age, but there are plenty of other things killing them and keeping their population balanced.<\/p>\r\nAll of this together has honed their intelligence to a fine point, but also nurtured their wild side giving them human intelligence coupled with bestial behaviors and instincts. Their ancestors are, in fact, extinct. Natural selection made sure of that. Kinda like we don’t see neanderthals or proto-humans running about. Some of their earliest ancestors were sleek, quadrupedal spiked predators that used teleportation to hunt or escape danger. They were fast, strong, and fierce, forming packs that were highly territorial.<\/p>","field5":"<h4>Lifespan<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli have very long natural lives; generally living up to 1000 years. As they start to grow older and approach the end of their lifespan, their Heartstones get less and less effective. This leaves them unable to feed as efficiently or teleport since their bodies stop being able to handle the discordant energies in the rifts they create. Their healing ability starts to slow down as well; and eventually goes away completely. Eventually, their body can no longer repair the damage done by age, and they grow weak and tired. Their fur will begin to gray around the eyes and mouth, and tips of ears as well as on their hands and feet. Once they reach a certain age, they are no longer capable of producing milk, even if they spend a lot of time around kits.<\/p>\r\nWhen they sense their time is near, they surround themselves by friends and family. They say their goodbyes, before slipping away peacefully. Most often in their sleep. Some Kivuuli, though, can live on way beyond this time. It seems to be a strange mutation. A Heartstone that can actually slowly repair itself; thus negating the effects of aging present in most of the species. Those who have this mutation will need to sleep more and rest more once they reach a certain age, and their fertility drops. While less fertile, they are still able to have children. They just don't do so as often and females are harder to get pregnant. They will not show any visible signs of aging; they will not grey or dull in color.<\/p>\r\nThey are not affected by aging, at all, and they will live on, healthy, until they are killed by something other than age. This tends to be genetic; so those of their line have a chance of getting this ability. The oldest Kivuuli to have ever lived is an Elder named Kaitu, a member of the rare and isolated ‘Maltese’ or ‘Blue’ subspecies. Severe damage to the Heartstone can overrun this ability, causing an ancient Kivuuli to age and die very quickly after being hurt, within a year.<\/p>\r\nBelow is an elder Kivuuli, showing the greying. He is also scarred up.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/79_100_JsBUVWncegFgtLX.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"845\" height=\"1125\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Mating and Reproduction<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli males and females look quite similar. Genitals are internal, though gender can be told through differences in their bodies, demeanor, and voice. If one sees a male and female Kivuuli standing side by side, first glance won’t reveal many differences. But if you look closely you can tell. Kivuuli do have the occasional hermaphrodite, this is a rare mutation. Sexual Dimorphism Male: Kivuuli genitals are internal. Males are slimmer and smaller than females, and generally hold themselves lower as well. They are naturally submissive since even a very strong male wouldn't stand a chance against the physically bigger and stronger female. Males do not have much curve to them, if any at all and have narrow waists and hips. They have semi defined pecs, and the fur on their lower belly and inner thighs is not any longer than the fur on the rest of their bodies. They have teats on the lower belly, usually small and not very visible. They tend to have thicker and longer chest fur as well as slightly longer\/fluffier fur around their neck. This can sometimes amplify their cheek fluff, too.<\/p>\r\nMale Kivuuli have lower, rougher and deeper voices than females. The growling undertone is more pronounced.<\/p>\r\nFemale: Females are taller and noticeably stronger than males. Her body is thicker, and moderately curvy with wider hips leading down to long and slim, but strong legs. While a layer of fat beneath her skin makes her look softer, beneath that softness is a lot of brute strength and ferocity.<\/p>\r\nThe fur down the back of a female’s neck, shoulders, and back is thicker and longer than a male's, and she also has thicker longer fur on her belly and inner thigh, which thickens further when carrying, or nursing young.<\/p>\r\nThe female Kivuuli's voice is softer and higher in pitch than a male's. Her growl is smoother, but deeper and fiercer. Her purr is a low and smooth. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Heat and Mating<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli attract mates through scent and displays of strength and prowess.<\/p>\r\nFemale Kivuuli go into heat regularly, but when observed in our dimension it happens roughly once every 1-3 years. A female raising a kit can not enter this state as long as she is nursing the kit. This is the only time she can become pregnant. It lasts for roughly two weeks or until she finds a suitable mate.<\/p>\r\nThere are three stages to the heat.<\/p>\r\nStage 1- Her scent begins to shift. This is not actual heat yet; she is not fertile. But her body is preparing itself for heat. She starts to become more interested in males, but also more hormonal and dangerous. She also becomes territorial towards other females, not letting them near her den. This stage lasts a few days.<\/p>\r\nStage 2- Her scent grows stronger, and her body is almost ready to mate. This is the attracting a mate stage. The testing the males and letting them fight for her stage. She becomes actively interested in males and will actually pay attention to their squabbles. She can become aggressive towards other females. This stage of heat lasts about a week. At this stage, her pheromones rouse the males into excited anticipation; causing them to follow her an attempt to impress her. <\/p>\r\nStage 3 - This is the most intense part of her heat. This is when she is fully ready to mate and most likely to ovulate. Her heat scent becomes quite potent and easy to detect even from far away. She becomes extremely restless, unable to stay in one place for long. Many females will pace on and on, grumbling and becoming downright cranky. Younger females react more strongly to this stage; while older females can usually ignore it. Heat is very uncomfortable at this stage, but it's just a matter of waiting of the female isn't interested in having a kit.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli females, like cats, are stimulated ovulators.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Pregnancy and Eggs<\/h4>\r\nA Kivuuli female will know within a few days if she is pregnant or not.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are an egg-bearing race. They carry the egg for four to five months, growing large quickly. The male is expected to hunt for her and bring her food, since her appetite will increase as she packs the egg with nutrients it will need once it exits her body. The baby will also develop considerably during this time. By the time the egg is laid, the brain of the fetus is almost completely formed; the rest of the body finishes forming after the egg is laid. As the egg forms, the female’s fur grows thicker and denser, to make better lining for her nest. The fur around her belly and inner thighs thickens too; and she will not shed her guardhairs.<\/p>\r\nTheir pelvis separates in two places, and is held together by springy, elastic tendons. Each separation contains a small bone bridge that breaks in the process of laying the first egg. This produces a small, sharp crack\/pop, and is quite painful. The bone bridge never grows back and any eggs after the first are easier. Once the egg has passed through, the tendons will spring back, and the Kivuuli’s natural healing ability will repair any damage within an hour or two of laying while the exhausted mother sleeps. Males do not have the tendons or bone bridges.<\/p>\r\nWhile inside them, the egg shell is thick and leathery. It forms soon after conception and plays the part of the placenta until it comes time to lay. During the last few days before laying it becomes the egg shell, which and is soft and pliable. After laying, the shell takes roughly a half hour to harden. It becomes tough, hard and slightly textured. It is very thick and tough, hard to break from the outside. It is, however, very vulnerable until it’s fully hardened. The reason it develops so long inside the mother is so the brain can form properly; the mother gives it a kick start, and the hatchling finishes development within the egg.<\/p>\r\nThey look huge when they are carrying, but most of that is actually fluids that protect and cushion the egg as well as providing lubrication for laying. Nutrients are stored within the forming shell, though the hatchling has a Proteanct link to the mother until a few days before laying.<\/p>\r\nDuring the pregnancy, the Kivuuli will have an intense nesting instinct. She will take anything she can find. Fur of other shedding Kivuuli, blankets, any soft thing, and build a nest. During the last week of carrying, she will shed, and line her nest with her fur. Once the egg is laid, it will be watched over and kept warm by her while its father hunts for her. It will hatch in another 4-5 months. This can vary by subspecies, or location, or individual Kivuuli. Eggs can vary in color, but are usually smooth and black with slightly lighter colored mottling. This can change depending on the individual Kivuuli or their environment.<\/p>\r\nA hatchling Kivuuli is known as a kit, because they are very kitten like in their behavior. Kits are known to imprint on the energy signature and voice of the one who spends the most time around the egg. As such, they know their mother the instant they come out. While hatching, a mother will crouch near the egg, face inches away from it and make soft chirring calls to encourage the kit to break free of the egg. Upon hatching, they will follow the scent of the mother’s teats. The scent and feel of the kit suckling will trigger a surge of hormones, and she will begin lactation. This surge of hormones will reduce the Kivuuli to soft, relaxed purring. Any Kivuuli can be triggered to lactate in this manner, be it male or female. Once lactation begins, the Kivuuli’s appetite will increase. They often feed their milk to older or sick individuals within the Colony to help them survive and stay strong.<\/p>\r\nIn the pregnant Kivuuli, the teats poke out of the fur, as the fur sheds from directly around them.<\/p>\r\nThe consistency is thick, almost like a probiotic yogurt shake, and the taste is surprisingly mild and a little sweet. It is highly nutritious, high in protein and energy; and everything else a kit needs to grow.  It is not at all uncommon for Kivuuli in a Colony to nurse eachother's young. Sometimes older members will play the part of nanny for younger, less experienced Kivuuli. Some Kivuuli will choose to never stop lactating for the purpose of playing nanny to the kits within the Colony.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are extremely protective of their kits. If you hurt a kit, the whole Colony will attack. Even one lone Kivuuli is far more ferocious and dangerous than any mother bear; you don’t want to know what would happen if you pissed off a whole colony of them.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are highly lactose intolerant. It causes a lot of digestive upset. As such, Kivuuli milk has no lactose in it.<\/p>\r\nIt is not unusual for members of a Colony to nurse eachother’s young. In fact, this is a very common practice, though some Kits will not nurse on any but their mother. This depends on the individual. It is most common for the omegas to act as nannies for the Colony, helping to care for the kits while stronger individuals hunt and bring in food. Because of this Omegas, and especially nannies, while not given any authority, are not treated badly. Kivuuli tend to produce more milk than is needed. If it gets uncomfortable, they tend to empty their teats themselves. This keeps their supply strong, is relaxing and calming, tastes good to them, and is considered completely normal. While a human would find such activity odd, it is completely natural for a Kivuuli. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Kits and children <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/56_76_oIgVWPjEOdYq3uF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"804\" height=\"534\" \/><\/h4>\r\n <\/p>\r\nKits are teeny when they hatch, a little smaller than the average human baby. They hatch with their eyes closed, but able to hear and smell just fine. Their ears are droopy and their bodies are pudgy and bellies round from the yolk of the egg still inside, being slowly absorbed to give them strength while their mother’s milk comes in and they learn to nurse properly. Kits open their eyes when they are between three and seven days old.<\/p>\r\nThey are generally fairly quiet and don’t cry often, though do tend to make small chitters, squeaks, and mewling noises. They hate being alone.<\/p>\r\nBabies have a very strong instinct to not relieve themselves within the nest. When they feel the need to go, they will let their parent know with insistent screeching until taken somewhere. Like a newborn kitten or puppy, they will not eliminate on their own. There is a pressure point just at the base of the neck that can be triggered through a certain way of holding onto the scruff that triggers them to go reflexively; they will only go when held in that certain way until they learn to move about on all fours. Once able to move about on all fours they will always leave the nest to eliminate.  Young Kivuuli are fully mobile by the time they are three months old, and run about everywhere on all fours.<\/p>\r\nThe babies depend completely on their parents and the others in their colony for survival. They are unable to teleport. In fact, this takes a lot of time to get right and generally has to be taught though can be done autonomously if the Kivuuli feels that its life is in danger. Kits are weaned between 2-3 years old, depending on the kit in question. Some wean themselves earlier, some later. A mother will never force wean her kit, because if they are still nursing it means they likely still need to. Kits are able to move about by the time they are three months old. As kits get older and start to move around, they love to practice their hunting instincts and will often hunt, and eat, small animals once their teeth grow in. They generally start getting teeth when they are about a year old. They like to show their kills off to their parents, or others in the Colony. <\/p>\r\nKivuuli grow bigger and stronger as they age. At roughly 15, they reach sexual maturity. They are not considered adults yet, more like a 15-16 year old human. Sexually mature, but not mentally mature. Around 18 to 23, they stop growing and achieve their full height. It is around this time they learn to effect reality around them both in silencing their steps and in creating and jumping through little dimensional cracks to teleport. They usually stay with their parents until full maturity, and after that remain with their Colony of birth.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli children are incredibly awkward and clumsy until they grow into their long limbs. They spend more time on all fours than on two feet, though around ten years old they start getting up on two feet more often. Even into adulthod, they spend time both on all fours, and on two feet equally depending on the situation. Kits hurt themselves frequently, but this only kick-starts their natural healing ability. Kits are known for getting themselves into trouble, constantly. They are mischievous, playful, energetic, and insatiably curious. The entire colony works to keep the children safe and alive. Just like kittens.<\/p>\r\nFemale kits are a bit more energetic and feisty than males.<\/p>\r\nYoung males love to playfight and spar among themselves. These playfights grow more intense once they near adolescence, roughly around 10-12 years old or so. Arouns 12 years old, a Kivuuli will begin to go th rough puberty. Sometimes, these playfights get a bit too intense, leaving one or both young males bloody. They step away to heal, which is usually finished within minutes. Once healed, they go at it again. Adolescent males are constantly tussling, wrestling, and play-fighting, which only grows more frequent and intense the closer to adulthood they get. While these bouts of snapping, screaming, growling, and snarling looks terrifying and deadly, they look far, far, FAR worse than they actually are. They never seriously hurt eachother and other Kivuuli in the Colony know very well the difference between play and real fighting, since real fighting is far louder and more vicious. As males get older, they mellow out considerably, and only face off against other males in contests of strength in the presence of a receptive female. They do this to try to impress her. They usually don’t mellow out fully until around 30 or so; around 20-30 they are fully mature, but have bouts of wild, child-like energetic kittenlike playfulness.<\/p>\r\nAs a female reaches adolescence, she becomes fiercer and more commanding. If she joins a playfight, the males usually back down and submit almost instantly. Playfights between two females are far more vicious and noisy and dangerous-looking than playfights between males. They are practicing to take dominance someday; males just fight for fun or to pass on their genes. She starts to show interest in the male’s battles, and starts to show more interest in those that win these fights. Most of the time, she will avoid a mate when she has her first heat cycle, as pregnancy would be hard on her body at that age. The first heat cycle generally happens around 15 years of age. She usually won’t choose a mate until she is at her full size since a younger body is less able to successfully carry an egg. Most males will not attempt to impress a young female unless they themselves are young. <\/p>\r\nShe will usually chase off any male that comes near while going through her first heat. The first heat cycle is usually short, and not too intense. She is not fertile for this cycle, it is simply her body announcing that it is mature. Her heats will gradually get longer until they settle at the normal length at around 18-20 years old. If a female is not ready to have a kit of her own, she will hide away and ignore or chase off any males that try to gain her attention. Most females prefer not to have a kit until they have gained more experience. Young mothers are far more likely to be aggressive and attack anything they see as a threat than older mothers who are more experienced in raising, guiding, and protecting a child.<\/p>","field6":"The dewclaw is a fairly common variation found among Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nAnother common variation is the heel spur.  Some Kivuuli have both heelspurs and dewclaws.<\/p>\r\nSome Kivuuli are unable to retract their claws. This is very rare; but when it does show up it is not much of a hindrance. They are generally chosen as hunters, though they have to be careful since their claws are very sharp when fully extended. They often make claw caps for themselves to avoid hurting themselves or others.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli also sometimes have manes, ranging from a strip of fur down the spine to a full lionlike mane found in some Maltese.<\/p>\r\nA rare mutation can cause them to lack spines.<\/p>\r\nThe Bully mutation causes Kivuuli to be bigger and more muscular than their fellows. They lose a lot of speed and agility, but gain a lot of brute strength.<\/p>\r\nIt is extremely for Kivuuli to have no markings, though it is far more common to have markings around the shoulders and hips. They should have at least a darkening around the shoulders backs and hips, with some subtle striping or spotting around the shoulders and hips.<\/p>\r\nLong Fur - The Kivuuli's for grows longer and thicker than usual<\/p>\r\nIntersex - (They are often either more masculine or more feminine, though nonbinary individuals are not uncommon. Nonbinary kivuuli generally appear between the size of the male and the size of the female, and aren't interested in dominance or engaging in the fights and spats their gendered counterparts do)<\/p>\r\nRex Coat (Curly, this shows in varying degrees, fairly common, but usually subtle)<\/p>\r\nFeathering (Light, Medium, Heavy or Fringed)<\/p>\r\nLeucism (Can appear either patchy, white, near white, or unusually pale. This occurs either partial, or full. Leucistic Kivuuli are very rare!)<\/p>\r\nMelenistic (Menelistic Kivuuli are almost impossible to tell apart from regular Kivuuli unless from one of the subspecies)<\/p>\r\nFurless (Rare, but not unheard of. Tends to show up in warmer areas.)<\/p>\r\nLengthened Ear Tufts (Rare) Albinism\/Partial Albinism (EXTREMELY rare! Most Albino Kivuuli are either blind, or almost blind, though healthy ones can appear among the ranks of Common Kivuuli.)<\/p>\r\nLengthened Cheek Fluffs (Uncommon, common among Maltese)<\/p>","field7":"<h4>Tips for Designing your Kivuuli<\/h4>\r\n The pads will always match the iris in color, though always darker and less saturated, unless the Kivuuli is a Lippizan.<\/p>\r\nLippizan have black pads and membranes and skin, whereas normal Kivuuli, and Kivuuli of other breeds have flesh color somewhat matching their eyes.<\/p>\r\nA good top is to select the iris color, darken it slightly and desaturate it for the pupil and lighten it for the sclera. If the Kivuuli has heterochromia, the fleshy bits can match either eye. Maltese have a black sclera, a trait not seen in any other variants.<\/p>\r\nAnother tip is try not to make your Kivuuli too saturated. They must look natural.<\/p>\r\nFor color reference on Dykuma and Malopuh'rra, look at lions, caracals, fennecs, and similar creatures. The most common look is Caracal-like with some spotting, dappling and striping. Urban Puh'rra are slightly smaller and darker in color.<\/p>\r\nFor regular Kivuuli, they can have slight hints of color, though never too saturated or obvious since other color is added by a gene. They can be dark grey to near stark black. Markings are usually slightly darker, but can be slightly lighter in some occasions.<\/p>\r\nTundra Kivuuli come in soft creams and browns, but never stark white. Think like the summer coat of an arctic fox for coloration. They can appear nearly white during the winter. You are free to add both winter and summer coats to their reference!<\/p>\r\nMany Kivuuli are lighter on the bellies and darker on the backs, shoulders, and hips and dorsal stripes are common.<\/p>\r\nThe spines are usually black, though can be lighter, and always match the claws in color. The inside of the mouth is generally lighter than the membrane\/pad color. The membranes between the spines match their flesh.<\/p>"}},"title":"Kivuuli","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

Kivuuli

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{"data":{"description":"The Kivuuli, a mysterious and powerful interdimensional semi-humanoid creature. They are rumored to hold the key to the Realms Between.<\/p>\r\nCommon Variants: 0 Upgrade Tokens Uncommon Variants: 2 Upgrade Tokens Rare Variants: 6 Upgrade Tokens Mythic Variants: 10 Upgrade Tokens<\/p>\r\nUncommon Genes: 1 Upgrade Token Each Rare Genes: 5 Upgrade Tokens Mythic Genes: 10 Upgrade Tokens Common<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Normal\">Normal<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Dykuma\">Dykuma<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Malopuh%27rra\">Malopuh'rra<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Tundra\">Tundra<\/a> Uncommon <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Kaplan\">Kaplan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Lippizan\">Lippizan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Met%27saa\">Met'saa<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Zanzibar\">Zanzibar<\/a> Rare <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Maltese\">Maltese<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Ember\">Ember<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Oriental\">Oriental<\/a> Mythic<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Proto-Built\">Protean Met'saa\/Proto-built<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Polar\">Polar<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Fancy\">Fancy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Kivuuli%20Cross\">Crossbreeds<\/a> combine the upgrade cost of both, and will mainly be gotten through breeding Bases can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1y1Xp6pEzs05AWxgv0_PUzJy-ZM1YTMbR\">here<\/a><\/p>\r\nHowever, they are completely optional! You don't even have to do all the views, you can move things around, add to it. Or you can draw your own.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/51_71_v2WNimjzblhbLTI.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1158\" height=\"936\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Kivuuli are a tall and powerful carnivorous furred semi-humanoid inter-dimensional race. They are generally black or dark grey with blue, green, or purple eyes and usually have slightly darker markings in stripes, spots, or a combination of the two that only show under certain light. There are several subspecies with different colors and markings being common from the warm reds of the forest dwelling Met'saa to the whites of the Lippizan to the blue grays of the Maltese or the golden color of Desert Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nThey are elongated in build, with long limbs and are as comfortable on all fours as they are on two feet. They are incredibly wild, but generally won't attack unless attacked or threatened. Kivuuli are fully sapient and a social species. Despite their fearsome appearance, Kivuuli are a gentle and peaceful race with strong maternal instincts appearing in both males and females.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are very fast, especially when on all fours and live in groups known as Colonies.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/46_96_J8ebzKgaMxzPVmT.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1166\" height=\"940\" \/><\/p>","field2":"<h4>Between; Homeworld of the Kivuuli<\/h4>\r\n Imagine the air around you, full of bubbles. Now imagine that each of these bubbles is its own dimension. It's own universe. Has its own laws, and inner workings. Now, imagine all the space between the bubbles. A strange place, between the dimensions; ever shifting and changing. This is where the Kivuuli dwell and come from. The rules of physics do not apply; great islands of stone float through the darkness, covered in forests of strange bioluminescent fungus-like plants and other strange flora. Inhabited by strange creatures of all shapes and sizes, from tiny glowing dragonlike lizards to massive beasts that would put Earth's dinosaurs to shame. Literally anything can happen in Between, any sort of creature, any world, any dimension, any universe. The Kivuuli can reach many worlds and this is part of the reason for their great success as an apex predator.<\/p>\r\nHarsh, but oddly beautiful, Between is buzzing with strange power and magic and the magical rules and laws of hundreds of dimensions, worlds, and universes clashing together in beautiful chaos. The areas of Between are effected by the laws of the dimensions and worlds closest to them; making Between highly varied. Between is beautiful; but as beautiful as it is it is deadly, thus the Kivuuli have had to adapt in to fast, powerful pack hunting predators that have claws that can slash through granite and a terrible shrieking wail that can drive fear into the hearts of the bravest.<\/p>\r\nThey are fast, able to teleport, and able to face creatures several times their size. This strange place has many names. Darkrealm, Tartarus, Limbo; but many simply call this place the Between; for this is what it is. The realm between dimensions. A strange and mysterious place; beautiful to behold but deadly to those not from there. While most of Between is completely dark aside from glimmers of light here and there and bioluminsecent plants and animals, some isles are ruled by a great orb of energy mimicking a sun. Some have their own weather patterns and day night cycles. Cracks and passages between dimensions are always opening and closing, allowing Kivuuli the ability to enter and leave Between at will, though they must be careful as some rifts are temporary and could close and leave them stranded in a strange and unfamiliar world. Others, still, are horribly unstable and deadly and could rip an unsuspecting Kivuuli to shreds leaving nothing but splatters of blood and the memory of their horrible screams.<\/p>","field3":"<h4>Calls, Vocalizations and Language<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli voices have a strange, otherworldly quality to them. They sound almost distorted, with a clear staticy crackling undertone. This is likely because of their interdimensional nature.<\/p>\r\nTheir voices are often deep, with a growl or purr like sound mixed in. A Kivuuli speaking is much what a person might imagine a lion’s voice would sound like if it learned to speak. They tend to have emphasis on sharper sounds, like k, z, v, and such, and their r’s are often lengthened slightly in a slight growl or purr. They are fully capable of learning languages aside from their own and, in fact, Kivuuli learn incredibly fast. Despite their wild primitive ways, they are incredibly intelligent.<\/p>\r\nOutside of speech, they have a whole range of natural vocalizations. When excited or friendly, they let out a sound similar to a chittering cat. Though much deeper and lower in tone. This sound is often used by playful kits, or adults trying to show they mean no harm. Kivuuli also purr. It’s a deep, heavy rumbling sound with a bit of static to it.<\/p>\r\nThey chitter, chirp, chuff, rumble, growl, purr, hiss, click, snarl, roar, howl, and many other sounds.<\/p>\r\nChirping is used to call and greet fellow members of their Colony. The chuff is similar to a chuffing tiger, and they use this to greet loved ones and family or close friends. The rumble and growl show varying levels of irritation and\/or anger, eventually leading to a wild snarling or finally, their terrible howl or roar.<\/p>\r\nPurring is an expression of pleasure and contentment.<\/p>\r\nWhen injured, they let out soft whimpers and whines.<\/p>\r\nWhen sad, they will either be very quiet, whimper softly, or let out a heartbreaking wail when mourning the death of a loved one.<\/p>\r\nTheir language incorporates all of these vocalizations. And they even integrate this when speaking other languages as well.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli also rely strongly on body language. The position of one’s ears, tone of voice, and posture can change the meaning of what they are trying to say. Looking at the position of the ears is a great way to tell what mood a Kivuuli is in. When neutral, the ears are out slightly to the sides and in a relaxed position. When alert or shocked, their ears perk up and swivel forward. Their ears often flick and swivel towards any sound, and many times they detect sounds other creatures will not.<\/p>\r\nWhen angry, their ears go back, and they lower their ears when sad, or trying to show submission. Higher ranking Kivuuli generally tend to hold their ears perked higher than lower ranking Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli can also make a strange tonal almost… droning sound. Somewhere between a thrum and a rumble, it can promote relaxation or healing. The sound is, indeed, very strange. And it is something that is rarely heard among Kivuuli so it is theorized that only a few of them are capable of, or know how to, produce this sound.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Culture, Customs and Heirarchy<\/h4>\r\n Not much is known of Kivuuli culture and customs, but it can be very complex even if it seems deceptively simple. Their customs are a mix between their wild and feral nature and their sapience. In some ways they can be considered very primitive, though not savage. In reality, Kivuuli believe strongly in living with the land. When living somewhere, they are very careful to preserve the balance of nature. They do not chase other predators out of their territory, and never over-hunt. They only take what they need, and use as much of their prey as they can. They use the pelts and fur in their nests, make things from their bones, horns, or hooves, and eat every part they are able to.<\/p>\r\nMost Kivuuli do not mate for life. As such, they do not have any ceremonies or weddings. Among Kivuuli, a Colony is a family. They do not have surnames, nor do they need them. Reproduction has nothing to do with feelings of love, but rather to make offspring. Kivuuli do sometimes mate for life, but this is fairly rare. Even those who are lifemates will sometimes mate with others and this is not considered cheating. It is completely normal, since it helps spread out the gene pool.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli hierarchy is very pack like. Their groups are referred to as Colonies, though some call them Clans. A Colony is lead by the Dominant Female, or Alpha Female. Males in higher positions are extremely rare. The highest ranking male or males are known as Betas.<\/p>\r\nThe Elders are the oldest and wisest members of the Colony. Just being old does not make you an Elder. Elders are story-tellers, legend-keepers; and even the Dominant Female often goes to them for advice or help. An Elder must always be respected. Kivuuli have a written language, and the Elders write their history into the caves their Colony dwells in. Their claws carve the stories and names of all Kivuuli in a Colony into the stone. The Halls of History, as a Kivuuli calls the dens and caves the Elders keep and dwell in, are considered sacred and must not be damaged in any way. Only the Elders are allowed to carve the stone within. Because of this, Kivuuli Colonies are VERY hesitant to leave their homes, even if threatened. They are incredibly sentimental of their history. When an Elder dies, their Heartstone is placed within the Hall with the Heartstones of all past Elders in a place of ultimate honor. The Dominant Female’s Heartstone are placed within the Halls as well.<\/p>\r\nThe highest ranking male is considered the Colony Dominant Male, or Beta Male. He usually leads with the female, but is completely subordinate towards her. He is dominant towards the males in the Colony, but not towards the females. The Beta Male is usually the first one a female in heat will choose, and most often is the chosen mate of the Alpha Female, simply because he is the strongest and most clever male in the Colony and has good genes.<\/p>\r\nThere are mid ranking males and females, who fight out their dominance among eachother, and Omegas.<\/p>\r\nOmegas are not treated badly, but they have no authority within the Colony and are almost never chosen as mates. Female Omegas are extremely rare, and generally only crippled, or terminally ill females end up as an Omega. Omegas often act as nannies for the Colony, and often induce lactation to keep kits calm and fed while the stronger and higher ranking Kivuuli hunt and carry out other tasks. Kivuuli who play the part of nannies are treated very well, and given plenty of food so they can continue to produce milk for the kits they help care for.<\/p>\r\nLactating Kivuuli will often allow weak, sick, or elderly members of their colony to feed from them, for the strengthening and healing properties their milk has. While a human would consider this taboo, gross and strange, it is completely normal in Kivuuli society.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli take very good care of the less fortunate members of their Colonies. The crippled, the weak, the runty, the stunted, the injured, the elderly… all of them are well cared for. The entire Colony will pitch in together to insure the survival of even their weakest members. Weak Kivuuli may not reproduce, but they live comfortable and happy.<\/p>\r\nLower than Omegas, are the disgraced Kivuuli. They have done something terrible and lost their honor and are hated by the Colony and not treated well.<\/p>\r\nDisgraced Kivuuli are those who did something shameful. Not deserving of exile, they keep their name and aren’t chased away, but they are generally ostracized by their fellows and can’t fight their way up in rank even if strong and dominant. A Disgraced Kivuuli must provide for themselves and are not allowed access to the Colony’s food stores or hunts. They must prove themselves worthy to get out of this status and become Omegas, but they will never rise above omega status and will never be fully trusted again.<\/p>\r\nExiled Kivuuli are those who have committed the highest of crimes in their culture. Rape, murder, killing other sentient beings unprovoked, hurting innocent kits, and betrayal are among the crimes deemed worthy this fate worse than death. An Exile is called Itz’hil. This word means many things at once. “Exiled, Nameless, Shamed One, Marked One.”<\/p>\r\nThe Marking is sentenced by the Alpha Female and the Colony’s Elders. If the accused Kivuuli is not remorseful of their crimes, or their crimes are unforgivable, their teleportation ability is temporarily knocked out and they are chained to a pillar of stone that they can not escape from. Legs and arms clamped down so they can not move. The Alpha Female makes the first mark. She slashes into his chest a symbol, reciting the word “Itz’hil!” with each slash of her claws. The Elders are next, speaking something along the lines of “As you threw away your honor, I take away your name. You are Exile. You are Itz’hil. You are Nameless. You are Nothing.” followed by the family their actions hurt the most, then every other adult in the Colony. Children are not permitted to view or participate in these Ceremonies. The mark and word is repeated time and time and time again until the Kivuuli’s healing ability slows and the slashes form a scar, a mark that will forever mar their chest. This can take weeks of constant torture. Once the Marking Ceremony is complete, the exhausted exile is released from the chains, and viciously chased away by the Colony. Any Colony who sees these marks from that time on will not allow the exile into their territory. Exiles live a lonely and miserable life, and generally don’t last long since Kivuuli are such social creatures and depend strongly on eachother for survival and emotional wellbeing.<\/p>\r\nOlder, stronger Kivuuli can assert their dominance without a fight, simply with posture, ear position, and growling. Or, even, with confidence alone. Smaller males are generally more submissive than larger ones.<\/p>\r\nThe female is in charge; though she lets the males set up their pecking order however they want. If it gets to be too much, she’ll step in, assert her dominance, and put a stop to it. Battles for dominance never end in death. They fight until one backs down. Sometimes this doesn’t even get past the snarling, growling, circling eachother, and displaying their strength and ferocity.<\/p>\r\nSimply watching and listening to a Kivuuli within a Colony can give you a ton of clues on their status. The dominant leaders move with their heads high and ears alert and perked up. When addressing others, they stand tall and look down at them with their hands out to the sides. Submissive members take a lower submissive posture with their claws crossed in front of them and eyes turned to the side. Their ears are held slightly lowered. Direct eye contact is considered a threat, thus lower ranking Kivuuli must not look higher ranking Kivuuli directly in the eye without permission.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli have strange ceremonies when a member of their Colony dies. First, the dead Kivuuli is mourned. Mourning can last days, and is not done until the family of the dead Kivuuli says it is. Those closest will wail and howl their grief on and on, a haunting and heartbreaking sound. Almost a haunting and heartbreaking song. Especially at the death of an Elder or Alpha. The entire Colony howls and mourns. But the time for Mourning does not last forever. Once the deceased Kivuuli is mourned, they have a special celebration.<\/p>\r\nA feast is held, with dancing, singing, storytelling, and laughing. For such a sombre thing, there is great joy. The Colony remembers their deceased member fondly. They talk about their life, their effect on the Colony. The Heartstone is then placed in a special antechamber within the Halls of History. The Elders carve the shape of the Heartstone out into the stone, gently place the gem within, and carve the name of the deceased Kivuuli beneath with their claws to be remembered forever. All deceased Kivuuli in a Colony are remembered unless they are Disgraced when they die. If disgraced, the Heartstone is set aside and ignored… a strong enough crime has the Heartstone being thrown off into the blackness surrounding the strange floating isles the Kivuuli dwell on.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are very matriarchal. The female is entirely in charge; the dominant female is submissive to none. A Colony lead by a male is considered unnatural and weak.<\/p>\r\nThey tolerate mistakes in children more than in adults. Children are still learning, and can be taught. Adults know better.<\/p>\r\nThese colonies can harbor anything from a small handful of Kivuuli, to hundreds or in some rare cases, over a thousand of them. The Elder position is not limited to just one; if there is more than one elder, they are all looked up to and view eachother as equals.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli live as a community and share everything. Their homes, their food. The strong help provide for the weak, those not strong enough to hunt do other tasks within the Colony, such as helping care for kits. They respect eachother’s homes and belongings. Theft and stealing is frowned upon, but not enough for alphas to get involved. The one stolen from is in charge of getting their belongings back. This often results in a spat. If it gets severe enough, the Alpha or one of the Betas will step in.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are territorial. Not against others in their own Colony, but towards those from other Colonies. While not common, some alpha females and the highest ranking beta males will use urine marking to mark the edges of their territory.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are a mixture of supernatural and biological. They are a sentient creature that lives in groups called Colonies. Dominance and leadership is dependent on the strength and cleverness of the individual. Females are bigger and stronger than males, as well as more aggressive and naturally more dominant. Male leaders are not only extremely rare, but are practically unheard of.<\/p>\r\nThey have very little concept of personal space. Kivuuli are very touchy with eachother. They spend a lot of time cuddling and generally being near eachother. They are VERY fond of touching. They often stay very close to those they care about. Communal grooming is very common and reinforces bonds within the colony, and among friends and family.<\/p>\r\nThey have no concept of doors. They have no shame in nudity. Kivuuli do not wear clothes. Some, though, may decorate themselves with gems and things they have found. Their homes are open, and they come and go as they please. They don’t steal from eachother. A Kivuuli who does steal is often attacked by their fellows, and driven away if the action continues.<\/p>","field4":"<h4>Appearance and anatomy<\/h4>\r\nKivuuli are somewhat humanoid in appearance, but have some very clear differences. They are long and lean, with elongated torsos and limbs. The average Kivuuli stands around nine to nine and a half feet tall. They have pawlike digitgrade feet which have four toes, or four toes and a dewclaw. Being interdimensional creatures, they often appear with a strange dark aura around them with what seems like tiny sparks or glimmers of lights appearing and floating aimlessly around them and vanishing again. This aura and particles usually matches the basic color of their eyes. It only shows when they are using, or have recently used their reality bending abilities.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli skin is incredibly tough and thick. It takes some strength and a sharp blade to pierce it. They have a coating of fur that is short, but dense and soft. Their natural body temperature is around 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and thus they are very warm to the touch. The fur is usually longest around the shoulders, down the back, and in small fringes around the ankles and wrists.<\/p>\r\nThe fur on a female's ruff is longer and thicker than that of a male, and the skin there is looser and thicker and tougher as well. This serves as a protective barrier against the male's fangs, since they tend to bite during mating. Even then, he does often draw blood though most females don't mind this. It actually feels good to them.<\/p>\r\nBeing interdimensional creatures, Kivuuli are extremely light. Even standing around nine or more feet tall, they rarely weigh over one hundred fifty pounds. This is due to them being made up of something like solidified energy. Light, but incredibly strong. This not fully physical nature also manifests in their spines, claws, and fangs. When angry, they actually extend out and get longer and sharper, and when calm shrink back to normal size and sharpness.<\/p>\r\nThey have scale like spines on their forearms pointing back off the elbow with membranes between them. Similar scale like spines go down their spine, also having membranes between them. These spines flare up when frightened, angry, or threatened. They are also used in dominance displays.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli blood is a dark nearly black purple and thicker than human blood.<\/p>\r\nMales are far more common than females. There are about five males for every one female hatched.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/42_60_zBfnYHQ2UN2fnQD.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1124\" height=\"1124\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/55_75_xKgtjx7uZ9M0h6G.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/75_95_tRBRP6yesqPxpjz.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1086\" height=\"1181\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/52_72_VLLxKqy7WwiQoD7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1091\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Diet and Feeding<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli are carnivorous. Their diet consists almost entirely of meat, though they might eat other things if no meat is available. They will sometimes add other things to their diet, such as fruits. Kivuuli tend to love sweets, but they aren’t fond of sour things.<\/p>\r\n<h4> Abilities<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli have many special abilities they are capable of using.<\/p>\r\n\u200b<\/p>\r\nTeleportation - Kivuuli are able to teleport, though their methods are strange and unique. They are able to bend the fabric of reality around them in minor ways, the most pronounced being the ability to literally tear a crack in reality and step through. The crack always heals itself right after the Kivuuli steps through. Not ALL Kivuuli can do this. It is something that must be taught. Kivuuli can see and sense the flow of energy around them. They can also completely silence their steps, even at a full run.<\/p>\r\n**Note that they teleport by jumping through the dimension - or, within the bubble. They can not break out of the bubble into greater between, but they do, in a sense, touch Between when teleporting.<\/p>\r\nParalyzing Stare - The Paralyzing Stare is an ability Kivuuli developed for hunting and self defense. They stare you right in the eyes, which has a hypnotizing effect, rendering their prey or enemy unable to move. As long as your eyes are locked with the Kivuuli’s, you can’t move. When eye contact is broken, you can move again. Most Kivuuli ONLY use this ability when absolutely necessary. Generally if they are attacked. They catch the person’s gaze, causes them to freeze up, and teleports away to safety as they recover.<\/p>\r\nIntimidating Howl - The Intimidating Howl is a horrible unearthly howl, laced with the Kivuuli’s reality bending power. It sounds somewhere between a feral howl, savage snarling, horrible shrieking, and radio static. It forces feelings of terror into the one hearing it, giving them the desire to run away. Most can not handle it, and either faint where they are or run in horror. This terrible howl seems to come from every direction at once, making the Kivuuli’s location hard to determine.<\/p>\r\n Reality Bending - This ability is the underlying cause to many other abilities Kivuuli have. They are able to bend reality around them in minor ways, stifling the sound of their footsteps, stopping you from hearing their breath or smelling them or sensing their presence. They can also leap through cracks in reality to teleport and many other small, but useful applications.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Evolutionary Background<\/h4>\r\n Their society is very wild in many ways. They are sentient and intelligent, but far more ruled by wild instincts and feral tendencies than humans. This has not changed because it works for them. They are matriarchal, with females naturally leading and males being far calmer and more docile.<\/p>\r\n Between is a dangerous place, and Kivuuli reproduce slowly. Smaller Colonies are much more likely to breed faster. They also breed faster is there is plenty of food around. During times of famine females will actually stop having heats entirely. This is natural; it allows a Colony to grow strong and maintain their numbers. More babies born means more Kivuuli likely to make it to adulthood. A lone Kivuuli female is several times more likely to become pregnant than a Kivuuli in a big Colony. When a lot of Kivuuli populate one area, or food is less plentiful, their fertility as a whole drops dramatically. The reason why is unknown, but a hormonal response is the most likely candidate. Kivuuli in smaller Colonies are also more likely to go into heat more often. Kivuuli can go into heat every one to three years. Smaller Colonies' viable members will go into heat once a year; bigger colonies often every three years and sometimes even five.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli leave Between to hunt for food not available in their homeworld, gather resources, and explore. They usually go in small parties. Only the strong and clever make it back alive, for other worlds are packed with even more dangers to test a Kivuuli’s ability to survive. There may be a small number of Kivuuli with the ability to not age or die of age, but there are plenty of other things killing them and keeping their population balanced.<\/p>\r\nAll of this together has honed their intelligence to a fine point, but also nurtured their wild side giving them human intelligence coupled with bestial behaviors and instincts. Their ancestors are, in fact, extinct. Natural selection made sure of that. Kinda like we don’t see neanderthals or proto-humans running about. Some of their earliest ancestors were sleek, quadrupedal spiked predators that used teleportation to hunt or escape danger. They were fast, strong, and fierce, forming packs that were highly territorial.<\/p>","field5":"<h4>Lifespan<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli have very long natural lives; generally living up to 1000 years. As they start to grow older and approach the end of their lifespan, their Heartstones get less and less effective. This leaves them unable to feed as efficiently or teleport since their bodies stop being able to handle the discordant energies in the rifts they create. Their healing ability starts to slow down as well; and eventually goes away completely. Eventually, their body can no longer repair the damage done by age, and they grow weak and tired. Their fur will begin to gray around the eyes and mouth, and tips of ears as well as on their hands and feet. Once they reach a certain age, they are no longer capable of producing milk, even if they spend a lot of time around kits.<\/p>\r\nWhen they sense their time is near, they surround themselves by friends and family. They say their goodbyes, before slipping away peacefully. Most often in their sleep.<\/p>\r\n Some Kivuuli, though, can live on way beyond this time. It seems to be a strange mutation. A Heartstone that can actually slowly repair itself; thus negating the effects of aging present in most of the species. Those who have this mutation will need to sleep more and rest more once they reach a certain age, and their fertility drops. While less fertile, they are still able to have children. They just don't do so as often and females are harder to get pregnant. They will not show any visible signs of aging; they will not grey or dull in color.<\/p>\r\nThey are not affected by aging, at all, and they will live on, healthy, until they are killed by something other than age. This tends to be genetic; so those of their line have a chance of getting this ability. The oldest Kivuuli to have ever lived is an Elder named Kaitu, a member of the rare and isolated ‘Maltese’ or ‘Blue’ subspecies. Severe damage to the Heartstone can overrun this ability, causing an ancient Kivuuli to age and die very quickly after being hurt, within a year.<\/p>\r\nBelow is an elder Kivuuli, showing the greying. He is also scarred up.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/79_100_JsBUVWncegFgtLX.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"845\" height=\"1125\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Mating and Reproduction<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli males and females look quite similar. Genitals are internal, though gender can be told through differences in their bodies, demeanor, and voice. If one sees a male and female Kivuuli standing side by side, first glance won’t reveal many differences. But if you look closely you can tell. Kivuuli do have the occasional hermaphrodite, this is a rare mutation. Sexual Dimorphism Male: Kivuuli genitals are internal and only emerge in a state of arousal. The male has a slit like sheath more towards the front of his crotch. Males are slimmer and smaller than females, and generally hold themselves lower as well. They are naturally submissive since even a very strong male wouldn't stand a chance against the physically bigger and stronger female. Males do not have much curve to them, if any at all and have narrow waists and hips. They have semi defined pecs, and the fur on their lower belly and inner thighs is not any longer than the fur on the rest of their bodies. They have teats on the lower belly, usually small and not very visible. They tend to have thicker and longer chest fur as well as slightly longer\/fluffier fur around their neck. This can sometimes amplify their cheek fluff, too.<\/p>\r\nMale Kivuuli have lower, rougher and deeper voices than females. The growling undertone is more pronounced.<\/p>\r\nFemale: The female has a slit on the bottom of her crotch, barely visable of at all from the front. The slit is subtle and less visable than the male's sheath like slit. A female has visible teats, though they are only really noticeable when she is carrying an egg, or nursing a hatchling.<\/p>\r\nFemales are taller and noticeably stronger than males. Her body is thicker, and moderately curvy with wider hips leading down to long and slim, but strong legs. While a layer of fat beneath her skin makes her look softer, beneath that softness is a lot of brute strength and ferocity.<\/p>\r\nThe fur down the back of a female’s neck, shoulders, and back is thicker and longer than a male's, and she also has thicker longer fur on her belly and inner thigh, which thickens further when carrying, or nursing young.<\/p>\r\nThe female Kivuuli's voice is softer and higher in pitch than a male's. Her growl is smoother, but deeper and fiercer. Her purr is a low and smooth. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Heat and Mating<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli attract mates through scent.<\/p>\r\nFemale Kivuuli go into heat regularly, but when observed in our dimension it happens roughly once every 1-3 years. A female raising a kit can not enter this state as long as she is nursing the kit. This is the only time she can become pregnant. It lasts for roughly two weeks or until she finds a suitable mate.<\/p>\r\nThere are three stages to the heat.<\/p>\r\nStage 1- Her scent begins to shift. This is not actual heat yet; she is not fertile. But her body is preparing itself for heat. She starts to become more interested in males, but also more hormonal and dangerous. She also becomes territorial towards other females, not letting them near her den. This stage lasts a few days.<\/p>\r\nStage 2- Her scent grows stronger, and her body is almost ready to mate. This is the attracting a mate stage. The testing the males and letting them fight for her stage. She becomes actively interested in males, and is easily excited. She can become aggressive. This stage of heat lasts about a week. At this stage, her strong heat-scent rouses the males into excitement; causing them to follow her an attempt to impress her. Mating in this stage of heat will not end it, but it will shorten the time that she’s in it. Once a mate is chosen, they will mate repeatedly until her heat is over. It usually ends within 24 hours of her first mating.<\/p>\r\nStage 3 - This is the most intense part of her heat. This is when she is fully ready to mate and most likely to ovulate. Her heat scent becomes so strong the males can practically taste it on the air. She becomes extremely restless, unable to stay in one place for long. Many females will pace on and on, and even whine and call their discomfort and need. Younger females react more strongly to this stage; while older females can usually ignore it with the occasional whine and shift of discomfort. The ache inside them grows so intense that even those who don’t want a child might mate just to get it over with.<\/p>\r\nThe males will scuffle and fight among themselves, and the strongest, healthiest males will compete to gain her attention. Once the female has chosen, the other males will give up and find another release. Often in the form of a female who is not in heat; since she can not become pregnant she does not care about the health or strength of the male.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli females, like cats, are stimulated ovulators.<\/p>\r\nA Kivuuli female will know within a few days if she is pregnant or not.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are an egg-bearing race. They carry the egg for four to five months, growing large quickly. The male is expected to hunt for her and bring her food, since her appetite will increase as she packs the egg with nutrients it will need once it exits her body. The baby will also develop considerably during this time. By the time the egg is laid, the brain of the fetus is almost completely formed; the rest of the body finishes forming after the egg is laid. As the egg forms, the female’s fur grows thicker and denser, to make better lining for her nest. The fur around her belly and inner thighs thickens too; and she will not shed her guardhairs.<\/p>\r\nTheir pelvis separates in two places, and is held together by springy, elastic tendons. Each separation contains a small bone bridge that breaks in the process of laying the first egg. This produces a small, sharp crack\/pop, and is quite painful. The bone bridge never grows back and any eggs after the first are easier. Once the egg has passed through, the tendons will spring back, and the Kivuuli’s natural healing ability will repair any damage within an hour or two of laying while the exhausted mother sleeps. Males do not have the tendons or bone bridges.<\/p>\r\nWhile inside them, the egg shell is thick and leathery. It forms soon after conception and plays the part of the placenta until it comes time to lay. During the last few days before laying it becomes the egg shell, which and is soft and pliable. After laying, the shell takes roughly a half hour to harden. It becomes tough, hard and slightly textured. It is very thick and tough, hard to break from the outside. It is, however, very vulnerable until it’s fully hardened. The reason it develops so long inside the mother is so the brain can form properly; the mother gives it a kick start, and the hatchling finishes development within the egg.<\/p>\r\nThey look huge when they are carrying, but most of that is actually fluids that protect and cushion the egg as well as providing lubrication for laying. Nutrients are stored within the forming shell, though the hatchling has a Proteanct link to the mother until a few days before laying.<\/p>\r\nDuring the pregnancy, the Kivuuli will have an intense nesting instinct. She will take anything she can find. Fur of other shedding Kivuuli, blankets, any soft thing, and build a nest. During the last week of carrying, she will shed, and line her nest with her fur. Once the egg is laid, it will be watched over and kept warm by her while its father hunts for her. It will hatch in another 4-5 months. This can vary by subspecies, or location, or individual Kivuuli. Eggs can vary in color, but are usually smooth and black with slightly lighter colored mottling. This can change depending on the individual Kivuuli or their environment.<\/p>\r\nA hatchling Kivuuli is known as a kit, because they are very kitten like in their behavior. Kits are known to imprint on the energy signature and voice of the one who spends the most time around the egg. As such, they know their mother the instant they come out. While hatching, a mother will crouch near the egg, face inches away from it and make soft chirring calls to encourage the kit to break free of the egg. Upon hatching, they will follow the scent of the mother’s teats. The scent and feel of the kit suckling will trigger a surge of hormones, and she will begin lactation. This surge of hormones will reduce the Kivuuli to soft, relaxed purring. Any Kivuuli can be triggered to lactate in this manner, be it male or female. Once lactation begins, the Kivuuli’s appetite will increase. They often feed their milk to older or sick individuals within the Colony to help them survive and stay strong.<\/p>\r\nIn the pregnant Kivuuli, the teats poke out of the fur, as the fur sheds from directly around them.<\/p>\r\nWhen nursing, the flesh swells a bit to push the nipples out of the fur, thus allowing the hatchling to nurse without getting a mouthful of its mother’s fur.<\/p>\r\nThe consistency is thick, almost like a probiotic yogurt shake, and the taste is surprisingly mild and a little sweet. It is highly nutritious, high in protein and energy; and everything else a kit needs to grow.  It is not at all uncommon for Kivuuli in a Colony to nurse eachother's young. Sometimes older members will play the part of nanny for younger, less experienced Kivuuli. Some Kivuuli will choose to never stop lactating for the purpose of playing nanny to the kits within the Colony.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are extremely protective of their kits. If you hurt a kit, the whole Colony will attack. Even one lone Kivuuli is far more ferocious and dangerous than any mother bear; you don’t want to know what would happen if you pissed off a whole colony of them.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are highly lactose intolerant. It causes a lot of digestive upset. As such, Kivuuli milk has no lactose in it.<\/p>\r\nIt is not unusual for members of a Colony to nurse eachother’s young. In fact, this is a very common practice, though some Kits will not nurse on any but their mother. This depends on the individual. It is most common for the omegas to act as nannies for the Colony, helping to care for the kits while stronger individuals hunt and bring in food. Because of this Omegas, and especially nannies, while not given any authority, are not treated badly. Kivuuli tend to produce more milk than is needed. If it gets uncomfortable, they tend to empty their teats themselves. This keeps their supply strong, is relaxing and calming, tastes good to them, and is considered completely normal. While a human would find such activity odd, it is completely natural for a Kivuuli. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Kits <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/56_76_oIgVWPjEOdYq3uF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"804\" height=\"534\" \/><\/h4>\r\n <\/p>\r\nKits are teeny when they hatch, a little smaller than the average human baby. They hatch with their eyes closed, but able to hear and smell just fine. Their ears are droopy and their bodies are pudgy and bellies round from the yolk of the egg still inside, being slowly absorbed to give them strength while their mother’s milk comes in and they learn to nurse properly. Kits open their eyes when they are between three and seven days old.<\/p>\r\nThey are generally fairly quiet and don’t cry often, though do tend to make small chitters, squeaks, and mewling noises. They hate being alone.<\/p>\r\nBabies have a very strong instinct to not relieve themselves within the nest. When they feel the need to go, they will let their parent know with insistent screeching until taken somewhere. Like a newborn kitten or puppy, they will not eliminate on their own. There is a pressure point just at the base of the neck that can be triggered through a certain way of holding onto the scruff that triggers them to go reflexively; they will only go when held in that certain way until they learn to move about on all fours. Once able to move about on all fours they will always leave the nest to eliminate. It's an instinct to keep the nest site clean and smelling good, since Kivuuli noses are extremely sensitive. Young Kivuuli are fully mobile by the time they are three months old, and run about everywhere on all fours.<\/p>\r\nThe babies depend completely on their parents and the others in their colony for survival. They are unable to teleport. In fact, this takes a lot of time to get right and generally has to be taught though can be done autonomously if the Kivuuli feels that its life is in danger. Kits are weaned between 3-5 years old, depending on the kit in question. Some wean themselves earlier, some later. A mother will never force wean her kit, because if they are still nursing it means they likely still need to. Kits are able to move about by the time they are three months old. As kits get older and start to move around, they love to practice their hunting instincts and will often hunt, and eat, small animals once their teeth grow in. They generally start getting teeth when they are about a year old. They like to show their kills off to their parents, or others in the Colony. As they get to be about 5 years old, they are weaned and eating solid food with ease. They are also able to eat raw meat by then.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli grow bigger and stronger as they age. At roughly 15, they reach sexual maturity. They are considered adults, even if not at full size yet at this age. Around 18 to 23, they stop growing and achieve their full height. It is around this time they learn to effect reality around them both in silencing their steps and in creating and jumping through little dimensional cracks to teleport. They usually stay with their parents until full maturity, and after that remain with their Colony of birth.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli children are incredibly awkward and clumsy until they grow into their long limbs. They spend more time on all fours than on two feet, though around ten years old they start getting up on two feet more often. Even into adulthod, they spend time both on all fours, and on two feet equally depending on the situation. Kits hurt themselves frequently, but this only kick-starts their natural healing ability.<\/p>\r\n Kits are known for getting themselves into trouble, constantly. They are mischievous, playful, energetic, and insatiably curious. The entire colony works to keep the children safe and alive. Just like kittens.<\/p>\r\nFemale kits are a bit more energetic and feisty than males.<\/p>\r\nYoung males love to playfight and spar among themselves. These playfights grow more intense once they near adolescence, roughly around 10-12 years old or so. Sometimes, these playfights get a bit too intense, leaving one or both young males bloody. They step away to heal, which is usually finished within minutes. Once healed, they go at it again. Adolescent males are constantly tussling, wrestling, and play-fighting, which only grows worse the closer to adulthood they get. While these bouts of snapping, screaming, growling, and snarling looks terrifying and deadly, they look far, far, FAR worse than they actually are. They never seriously hurt eachother and other Kivuuli in the Colony know very well the difference between play and real fighting, since real fighting is far louder and more vicious. As males get older, they mellow out considerably, and only face off against other males in contests of strength in the presence of a receptive female. They do this to try to impress her. They usually don’t mellow out fully until around 30 or so; around 20-30 they are fully mature, but have bouts of wild, child-like energetic kittenlike playfulness.<\/p>\r\nAs a female reaches adolescence, she becomes fiercer and more commanding. If she joins a playfight, the males usually back down and submit almost instantly. Playfights between two females are far more vicious and noisy and dangerous-looking than playfights between males. They are practicing to take dominance someday; males just fight for fun or to pass on their genes. She starts to show interest in the male’s battles, and starts to show more interest in those that win these fights. Most of the time, she will avoid a mate when she has her first heat cycle, since her body isn’t fully grown at this point and not likely able to sustain an offspring for long. The first heat cycle generally happens around 15 years of age. She is considered an adult at this age, but she usually won’t choose a mate until she is at her full size since a younger body is less able to successfully carry an egg. Most males will not attempt to impress a young female unless they themselves are young. Even if she is sexually mature and considered an adult, she is not full size and not interested in mating. Most of the time, even if she DOES find a mate, it will not take since her body is not ready to sustain pregnancy.<\/p>\r\nShe will usually chase off any male that comes near while going through her first heat. The first heat cycle is usually short, and not too intense. She is not fertile for this cycle, it is simply her body announcing that it is mature. Her heats will gradually get longer until they settle at the normal length when she’s achieved her full size. If a female is not ready to have a kit of her own, she will hide away and ignore or chase off any males that try to gain her attention. Most females prefer not to have a kit until they have gained more experience. Young mothers are far more likely to be aggressive and attack anything they see as a threat than older mothers who are more experienced in raising, guiding, and protecting a child.<\/p>","field6":"Mutations and Variations The dewclaw is a fairly common variation found among Kivuuli. Both parents must either have, or carry, the dewclaw gene for it to show in an offspring.<\/p>\r\nAnother common variation is the heel spur. This is also recessive. Both parents must be carriers of the gene for it to pass on. Some Kivuuli have both heelspurs and dewclaws.<\/p>\r\nSome Kivuuli are unable to retract their claws. This is very rare; but when it does show up it is not much of a hindrance. They are generally chosen as hunters, though they have to be careful since their claws are very sharp when fully extended. They often make claw caps for themselves to avoid hurting themselves or others.<\/p>\r\nSome Kivuuli have a strip of longer fur that goes all the way down their spine.<\/p>\r\nA rare mutation can cause them to lack spines.<\/p>\r\nThe Bully mutation causes Kivuuli to be bigger and more muscular than their fellows. They lose a lot of speed and agility, but gain a lot of brute strength.<\/p>\r\nIt is not uncommon for Kivuuli to have no markings, though it is far more common to have markings around the shoulders and hips.<\/p>\r\nLong Fur<\/p>\r\nHermaphrodite - (Either masculine or feminine hermaphrodite)<\/p>\r\nRex Coat (Curly, this shows in varying degrees, fairly common, but usually subtle)<\/p>\r\nFeathering (Light, Medium, or Heavy, light is common, medium and heavy is uncommon)<\/p>\r\nLeucism (Can appear either patchy, white, near white, or unusually pale. This occurs either partial, or full. Leucistic Kivuuli are extremely rare!)<\/p>\r\nMelenistic (Menelistic Kivuuli are almost impossible to tell apart from regular Kivuuli unless from a subspecies)<\/p>\r\nFurless (Rare, but not unheard of. Tends to show up in warmer areas.)<\/p>\r\nLengthened Ear Tufts (Rare) Albinism\/Partial Albinism (EXTREMELY rare! Most Albino Kivuuli are either blind, or almost blind.)<\/p>\r\nLengthened Cheek Fluffs (Uncommon, common among Maltese)<\/p>","field7":"<h4>Tips for Designing your Kivuuli<\/h4>\r\n The pads will always match the iris in color, though always darker and less saturated, unless the Kivuuli is a Lippizan.<\/p>\r\nLippizan have black pads and membranes and skin, whereas normal Kivuuli, and Kivuuli of other breeds have flesh color somewhat matching their eyes.<\/p>\r\nI always select the iris color, darken it slightly and desaturate it. If the Kivuuli has heterochromia, the fleshy bits can match either eye.<\/p>\r\nAnother tip is try not to make your Kivuuli too saturated. They must look natural.<\/p>\r\nFor color reference on Desert Kivuuli, look at lions, caracals, fennecs, and similar creatures. The most common look is Caracal like with some spotting, dappling and striping.<\/p>\r\nFor regular Kivuuli, they can have slight hints of color, though never too saturated or obvious since other color is added by a gene that isn’t open. They can be dark grey to near stark black. Markings are usually slightly darker, but can be slightly lighter in some occasions.<\/p>\r\nTundra Kivuuli come in soft creams and browns, but never stark white. Think like the summer coat of an arctic fox for coloration.<\/p>\r\nMany Kivuuli are lighter on the bellies and darker on the backs, shoulders, and hips and dorsal stripes are common.<\/p>\r\nThe spines are usually black, though can be lighter, and always match the claws in color. The inside of the mouth is generally lighter than the membrane\/pad color.<\/p>","parsed":{"description":"The Kivuuli, a mysterious and powerful interdimensional semi-humanoid creature. They are rumored to hold the key to the Realms Between.<\/p>\r\nCommon Variants: 0 Upgrade Tokens Uncommon Variants: 2 Upgrade Tokens Rare Variants: 6 Upgrade Tokens Mythic Variants: 10 Upgrade Tokens<\/p>\r\nUncommon Genes: 1 Upgrade Token Each Rare Genes: 5 Upgrade Tokens Mythic Genes: 10 Upgrade Tokens Common<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Normal\">Normal<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Dykuma\">Dykuma<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Malopuh%27rra\">Malopuh'rra<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Tundra\">Tundra<\/a> Uncommon <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Kaplan\">Kaplan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Lippizan\">Lippizan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Met%27saa\">Met'saa<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Zanzibar\">Zanzibar<\/a> Rare <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Maltese\">Maltese<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Ember\">Ember<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Oriental\">Oriental<\/a> Mythic<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Proto-Built\">Protean Met'saa\/Proto-built<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Polar\">Polar<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Fancy\">Fancy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/realms-between.com\/world\/subtypes?name=Kivuuli%20Cross\">Crossbreeds<\/a> combine the upgrade cost of both, and will mainly be gotten through breeding Bases can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1y1Xp6pEzs05AWxgv0_PUzJy-ZM1YTMbR\">here<\/a><\/p>\r\nHowever, they are completely optional! You don't even have to do all the views, you can move things around, add to it. Or you can draw your own.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/51_71_v2WNimjzblhbLTI.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1158\" height=\"936\" \/><\/p>","field1":"Kivuuli are a tall and powerful carnivorous furred semi-humanoid inter-dimensional race. They are generally black or dark grey with blue, green, or purple eyes and usually have slightly darker markings in stripes, spots, or a combination of the two that only show under certain light. There are several subspecies with different colors and markings being common from the warm reds of the forest dwelling Met'saa to the whites of the Lippizan to the blue grays of the Maltese or the golden color of Desert Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nThey are elongated in build, with long limbs and are as comfortable on all fours as they are on two feet. They are incredibly wild, but generally won't attack unless attacked or threatened. Kivuuli are fully sapient and a social species. Despite their fearsome appearance, Kivuuli are a gentle and peaceful race with strong maternal instincts appearing in both males and females.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are very fast, especially when on all fours and live in groups known as Colonies.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/46_96_J8ebzKgaMxzPVmT.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1166\" height=\"940\" \/><\/p>","field2":"<h4>Between; Homeworld of the Kivuuli<\/h4>\r\n Imagine the air around you, full of bubbles. Now imagine that each of these bubbles is its own dimension. It's own universe. Has its own laws, and inner workings. Now, imagine all the space between the bubbles. A strange place, between the dimensions; ever shifting and changing. This is where the Kivuuli dwell and come from. The rules of physics do not apply; great islands of stone float through the darkness, covered in forests of strange bioluminescent fungus-like plants and other strange flora. Inhabited by strange creatures of all shapes and sizes, from tiny glowing dragonlike lizards to massive beasts that would put Earth's dinosaurs to shame. Literally anything can happen in Between, any sort of creature, any world, any dimension, any universe. The Kivuuli can reach many worlds and this is part of the reason for their great success as an apex predator.<\/p>\r\nHarsh, but oddly beautiful, Between is buzzing with strange power and magic and the magical rules and laws of hundreds of dimensions, worlds, and universes clashing together in beautiful chaos. The areas of Between are effected by the laws of the dimensions and worlds closest to them; making Between highly varied. Between is beautiful; but as beautiful as it is it is deadly, thus the Kivuuli have had to adapt in to fast, powerful pack hunting predators that have claws that can slash through granite and a terrible shrieking wail that can drive fear into the hearts of the bravest.<\/p>\r\nThey are fast, able to teleport, and able to face creatures several times their size. This strange place has many names. Darkrealm, Tartarus, Limbo; but many simply call this place the Between; for this is what it is. The realm between dimensions. A strange and mysterious place; beautiful to behold but deadly to those not from there. While most of Between is completely dark aside from glimmers of light here and there and bioluminsecent plants and animals, some isles are ruled by a great orb of energy mimicking a sun. Some have their own weather patterns and day night cycles. Cracks and passages between dimensions are always opening and closing, allowing Kivuuli the ability to enter and leave Between at will, though they must be careful as some rifts are temporary and could close and leave them stranded in a strange and unfamiliar world. Others, still, are horribly unstable and deadly and could rip an unsuspecting Kivuuli to shreds leaving nothing but splatters of blood and the memory of their horrible screams.<\/p>","field3":"<h4>Calls, Vocalizations and Language<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli voices have a strange, otherworldly quality to them. They sound almost distorted, with a clear staticy crackling undertone. This is likely because of their interdimensional nature.<\/p>\r\nTheir voices are often deep, with a growl or purr like sound mixed in. A Kivuuli speaking is much what a person might imagine a lion’s voice would sound like if it learned to speak. They tend to have emphasis on sharper sounds, like k, z, v, and such, and their r’s are often lengthened slightly in a slight growl or purr. They are fully capable of learning languages aside from their own and, in fact, Kivuuli learn incredibly fast. Despite their wild primitive ways, they are incredibly intelligent.<\/p>\r\nOutside of speech, they have a whole range of natural vocalizations. When excited or friendly, they let out a sound similar to a chittering cat. Though much deeper and lower in tone. This sound is often used by playful kits, or adults trying to show they mean no harm. Kivuuli also purr. It’s a deep, heavy rumbling sound with a bit of static to it.<\/p>\r\nThey chitter, chirp, chuff, rumble, growl, purr, hiss, click, snarl, roar, howl, and many other sounds.<\/p>\r\nChirping is used to call and greet fellow members of their Colony. The chuff is similar to a chuffing tiger, and they use this to greet loved ones and family or close friends. The rumble and growl show varying levels of irritation and\/or anger, eventually leading to a wild snarling or finally, their terrible howl or roar.<\/p>\r\nPurring is an expression of pleasure and contentment.<\/p>\r\nWhen injured, they let out soft whimpers and whines.<\/p>\r\nWhen sad, they will either be very quiet, whimper softly, or let out a heartbreaking wail when mourning the death of a loved one.<\/p>\r\nTheir language incorporates all of these vocalizations. And they even integrate this when speaking other languages as well.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli also rely strongly on body language. The position of one’s ears, tone of voice, and posture can change the meaning of what they are trying to say. Looking at the position of the ears is a great way to tell what mood a Kivuuli is in. When neutral, the ears are out slightly to the sides and in a relaxed position. When alert or shocked, their ears perk up and swivel forward. Their ears often flick and swivel towards any sound, and many times they detect sounds other creatures will not.<\/p>\r\nWhen angry, their ears go back, and they lower their ears when sad, or trying to show submission. Higher ranking Kivuuli generally tend to hold their ears perked higher than lower ranking Kivuuli.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli can also make a strange tonal almost… droning sound. Somewhere between a thrum and a rumble, it can promote relaxation or healing. The sound is, indeed, very strange. And it is something that is rarely heard among Kivuuli so it is theorized that only a few of them are capable of, or know how to, produce this sound.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Culture, Customs and Heirarchy<\/h4>\r\n Not much is known of Kivuuli culture and customs, but it can be very complex even if it seems deceptively simple. Their customs are a mix between their wild and feral nature and their sapience. In some ways they can be considered very primitive, though not savage. In reality, Kivuuli believe strongly in living with the land. When living somewhere, they are very careful to preserve the balance of nature. They do not chase other predators out of their territory, and never over-hunt. They only take what they need, and use as much of their prey as they can. They use the pelts and fur in their nests, make things from their bones, horns, or hooves, and eat every part they are able to.<\/p>\r\nMost Kivuuli do not mate for life. As such, they do not have any ceremonies or weddings. Among Kivuuli, a Colony is a family. They do not have surnames, nor do they need them. Reproduction has nothing to do with feelings of love, but rather to make offspring. Kivuuli do sometimes mate for life, but this is fairly rare. Even those who are lifemates will sometimes mate with others and this is not considered cheating. It is completely normal, since it helps spread out the gene pool.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli hierarchy is very pack like. Their groups are referred to as Colonies, though some call them Clans. A Colony is lead by the Dominant Female, or Alpha Female. Males in higher positions are extremely rare. The highest ranking male or males are known as Betas.<\/p>\r\nThe Elders are the oldest and wisest members of the Colony. Just being old does not make you an Elder. Elders are story-tellers, legend-keepers; and even the Dominant Female often goes to them for advice or help. An Elder must always be respected. Kivuuli have a written language, and the Elders write their history into the caves their Colony dwells in. Their claws carve the stories and names of all Kivuuli in a Colony into the stone. The Halls of History, as a Kivuuli calls the dens and caves the Elders keep and dwell in, are considered sacred and must not be damaged in any way. Only the Elders are allowed to carve the stone within. Because of this, Kivuuli Colonies are VERY hesitant to leave their homes, even if threatened. They are incredibly sentimental of their history. When an Elder dies, their Heartstone is placed within the Hall with the Heartstones of all past Elders in a place of ultimate honor. The Dominant Female’s Heartstone are placed within the Halls as well.<\/p>\r\nThe highest ranking male is considered the Colony Dominant Male, or Beta Male. He usually leads with the female, but is completely subordinate towards her. He is dominant towards the males in the Colony, but not towards the females. The Beta Male is usually the first one a female in heat will choose, and most often is the chosen mate of the Alpha Female, simply because he is the strongest and most clever male in the Colony and has good genes.<\/p>\r\nThere are mid ranking males and females, who fight out their dominance among eachother, and Omegas.<\/p>\r\nOmegas are not treated badly, but they have no authority within the Colony and are almost never chosen as mates. Female Omegas are extremely rare, and generally only crippled, or terminally ill females end up as an Omega. Omegas often act as nannies for the Colony, and often induce lactation to keep kits calm and fed while the stronger and higher ranking Kivuuli hunt and carry out other tasks. Kivuuli who play the part of nannies are treated very well, and given plenty of food so they can continue to produce milk for the kits they help care for.<\/p>\r\nLactating Kivuuli will often allow weak, sick, or elderly members of their colony to feed from them, for the strengthening and healing properties their milk has. While a human would consider this taboo, gross and strange, it is completely normal in Kivuuli society.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli take very good care of the less fortunate members of their Colonies. The crippled, the weak, the runty, the stunted, the injured, the elderly… all of them are well cared for. The entire Colony will pitch in together to insure the survival of even their weakest members. Weak Kivuuli may not reproduce, but they live comfortable and happy.<\/p>\r\nLower than Omegas, are the disgraced Kivuuli. They have done something terrible and lost their honor and are hated by the Colony and not treated well.<\/p>\r\nDisgraced Kivuuli are those who did something shameful. Not deserving of exile, they keep their name and aren’t chased away, but they are generally ostracized by their fellows and can’t fight their way up in rank even if strong and dominant. A Disgraced Kivuuli must provide for themselves and are not allowed access to the Colony’s food stores or hunts. They must prove themselves worthy to get out of this status and become Omegas, but they will never rise above omega status and will never be fully trusted again.<\/p>\r\nExiled Kivuuli are those who have committed the highest of crimes in their culture. Rape, murder, killing other sentient beings unprovoked, hurting innocent kits, and betrayal are among the crimes deemed worthy this fate worse than death. An Exile is called Itz’hil. This word means many things at once. “Exiled, Nameless, Shamed One, Marked One.”<\/p>\r\nThe Marking is sentenced by the Alpha Female and the Colony’s Elders. If the accused Kivuuli is not remorseful of their crimes, or their crimes are unforgivable, their teleportation ability is temporarily knocked out and they are chained to a pillar of stone that they can not escape from. Legs and arms clamped down so they can not move. The Alpha Female makes the first mark. She slashes into his chest a symbol, reciting the word “Itz’hil!” with each slash of her claws. The Elders are next, speaking something along the lines of “As you threw away your honor, I take away your name. You are Exile. You are Itz’hil. You are Nameless. You are Nothing.” followed by the family their actions hurt the most, then every other adult in the Colony. Children are not permitted to view or participate in these Ceremonies. The mark and word is repeated time and time and time again until the Kivuuli’s healing ability slows and the slashes form a scar, a mark that will forever mar their chest. This can take weeks of constant torture. Once the Marking Ceremony is complete, the exhausted exile is released from the chains, and viciously chased away by the Colony. Any Colony who sees these marks from that time on will not allow the exile into their territory. Exiles live a lonely and miserable life, and generally don’t last long since Kivuuli are such social creatures and depend strongly on eachother for survival and emotional wellbeing.<\/p>\r\nOlder, stronger Kivuuli can assert their dominance without a fight, simply with posture, ear position, and growling. Or, even, with confidence alone. Smaller males are generally more submissive than larger ones.<\/p>\r\nThe female is in charge; though she lets the males set up their pecking order however they want. If it gets to be too much, she’ll step in, assert her dominance, and put a stop to it. Battles for dominance never end in death. They fight until one backs down. Sometimes this doesn’t even get past the snarling, growling, circling eachother, and displaying their strength and ferocity.<\/p>\r\nSimply watching and listening to a Kivuuli within a Colony can give you a ton of clues on their status. The dominant leaders move with their heads high and ears alert and perked up. When addressing others, they stand tall and look down at them with their hands out to the sides. Submissive members take a lower submissive posture with their claws crossed in front of them and eyes turned to the side. Their ears are held slightly lowered. Direct eye contact is considered a threat, thus lower ranking Kivuuli must not look higher ranking Kivuuli directly in the eye without permission.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli have strange ceremonies when a member of their Colony dies. First, the dead Kivuuli is mourned. Mourning can last days, and is not done until the family of the dead Kivuuli says it is. Those closest will wail and howl their grief on and on, a haunting and heartbreaking sound. Almost a haunting and heartbreaking song. Especially at the death of an Elder or Alpha. The entire Colony howls and mourns. But the time for Mourning does not last forever. Once the deceased Kivuuli is mourned, they have a special celebration.<\/p>\r\nA feast is held, with dancing, singing, storytelling, and laughing. For such a sombre thing, there is great joy. The Colony remembers their deceased member fondly. They talk about their life, their effect on the Colony. The Heartstone is then placed in a special antechamber within the Halls of History. The Elders carve the shape of the Heartstone out into the stone, gently place the gem within, and carve the name of the deceased Kivuuli beneath with their claws to be remembered forever. All deceased Kivuuli in a Colony are remembered unless they are Disgraced when they die. If disgraced, the Heartstone is set aside and ignored… a strong enough crime has the Heartstone being thrown off into the blackness surrounding the strange floating isles the Kivuuli dwell on.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are very matriarchal. The female is entirely in charge; the dominant female is submissive to none. A Colony lead by a male is considered unnatural and weak.<\/p>\r\nThey tolerate mistakes in children more than in adults. Children are still learning, and can be taught. Adults know better.<\/p>\r\nThese colonies can harbor anything from a small handful of Kivuuli, to hundreds or in some rare cases, over a thousand of them. The Elder position is not limited to just one; if there is more than one elder, they are all looked up to and view eachother as equals.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli live as a community and share everything. Their homes, their food. The strong help provide for the weak, those not strong enough to hunt do other tasks within the Colony, such as helping care for kits. They respect eachother’s homes and belongings. Theft and stealing is frowned upon, but not enough for alphas to get involved. The one stolen from is in charge of getting their belongings back. This often results in a spat. If it gets severe enough, the Alpha or one of the Betas will step in.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are territorial. Not against others in their own Colony, but towards those from other Colonies. While not common, some alpha females and the highest ranking beta males will use urine marking to mark the edges of their territory.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are a mixture of supernatural and biological. They are a sentient creature that lives in groups called Colonies. Dominance and leadership is dependent on the strength and cleverness of the individual. Females are bigger and stronger than males, as well as more aggressive and naturally more dominant. Male leaders are not only extremely rare, but are practically unheard of.<\/p>\r\nThey have very little concept of personal space. Kivuuli are very touchy with eachother. They spend a lot of time cuddling and generally being near eachother. They are VERY fond of touching. They often stay very close to those they care about. Communal grooming is very common and reinforces bonds within the colony, and among friends and family.<\/p>\r\nThey have no concept of doors. They have no shame in nudity. Kivuuli do not wear clothes. Some, though, may decorate themselves with gems and things they have found. Their homes are open, and they come and go as they please. They don’t steal from eachother. A Kivuuli who does steal is often attacked by their fellows, and driven away if the action continues.<\/p>","field4":"<h4>Appearance and anatomy<\/h4>\r\nKivuuli are somewhat humanoid in appearance, but have some very clear differences. They are long and lean, with elongated torsos and limbs. The average Kivuuli stands around nine to nine and a half feet tall. They have pawlike digitgrade feet which have four toes, or four toes and a dewclaw. Being interdimensional creatures, they often appear with a strange dark aura around them with what seems like tiny sparks or glimmers of lights appearing and floating aimlessly around them and vanishing again. This aura and particles usually matches the basic color of their eyes. It only shows when they are using, or have recently used their reality bending abilities.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli skin is incredibly tough and thick. It takes some strength and a sharp blade to pierce it. They have a coating of fur that is short, but dense and soft. Their natural body temperature is around 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and thus they are very warm to the touch. The fur is usually longest around the shoulders, down the back, and in small fringes around the ankles and wrists.<\/p>\r\nThe fur on a female's ruff is longer and thicker than that of a male, and the skin there is looser and thicker and tougher as well. This serves as a protective barrier against the male's fangs, since they tend to bite during mating. Even then, he does often draw blood though most females don't mind this. It actually feels good to them.<\/p>\r\nBeing interdimensional creatures, Kivuuli are extremely light. Even standing around nine or more feet tall, they rarely weigh over one hundred fifty pounds. This is due to them being made up of something like solidified energy. Light, but incredibly strong. This not fully physical nature also manifests in their spines, claws, and fangs. When angry, they actually extend out and get longer and sharper, and when calm shrink back to normal size and sharpness.<\/p>\r\nThey have scale like spines on their forearms pointing back off the elbow with membranes between them. Similar scale like spines go down their spine, also having membranes between them. These spines flare up when frightened, angry, or threatened. They are also used in dominance displays.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli blood is a dark nearly black purple and thicker than human blood.<\/p>\r\nMales are far more common than females. There are about five males for every one female hatched.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/42_60_zBfnYHQ2UN2fnQD.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1124\" height=\"1124\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/55_75_xKgtjx7uZ9M0h6G.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/75_95_tRBRP6yesqPxpjz.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1086\" height=\"1181\" \/><\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/52_72_VLLxKqy7WwiQoD7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1091\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Diet and Feeding<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli are carnivorous. Their diet consists almost entirely of meat, though they might eat other things if no meat is available. They will sometimes add other things to their diet, such as fruits. Kivuuli tend to love sweets, but they aren’t fond of sour things.<\/p>\r\n<h4> Abilities<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli have many special abilities they are capable of using.<\/p>\r\n\u200b<\/p>\r\nTeleportation - Kivuuli are able to teleport, though their methods are strange and unique. They are able to bend the fabric of reality around them in minor ways, the most pronounced being the ability to literally tear a crack in reality and step through. The crack always heals itself right after the Kivuuli steps through. Not ALL Kivuuli can do this. It is something that must be taught. Kivuuli can see and sense the flow of energy around them. They can also completely silence their steps, even at a full run.<\/p>\r\n**Note that they teleport by jumping through the dimension - or, within the bubble. They can not break out of the bubble into greater between, but they do, in a sense, touch Between when teleporting.<\/p>\r\nParalyzing Stare - The Paralyzing Stare is an ability Kivuuli developed for hunting and self defense. They stare you right in the eyes, which has a hypnotizing effect, rendering their prey or enemy unable to move. As long as your eyes are locked with the Kivuuli’s, you can’t move. When eye contact is broken, you can move again. Most Kivuuli ONLY use this ability when absolutely necessary. Generally if they are attacked. They catch the person’s gaze, causes them to freeze up, and teleports away to safety as they recover.<\/p>\r\nIntimidating Howl - The Intimidating Howl is a horrible unearthly howl, laced with the Kivuuli’s reality bending power. It sounds somewhere between a feral howl, savage snarling, horrible shrieking, and radio static. It forces feelings of terror into the one hearing it, giving them the desire to run away. Most can not handle it, and either faint where they are or run in horror. This terrible howl seems to come from every direction at once, making the Kivuuli’s location hard to determine.<\/p>\r\n Reality Bending - This ability is the underlying cause to many other abilities Kivuuli have. They are able to bend reality around them in minor ways, stifling the sound of their footsteps, stopping you from hearing their breath or smelling them or sensing their presence. They can also leap through cracks in reality to teleport and many other small, but useful applications.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Evolutionary Background<\/h4>\r\n Their society is very wild in many ways. They are sentient and intelligent, but far more ruled by wild instincts and feral tendencies than humans. This has not changed because it works for them. They are matriarchal, with females naturally leading and males being far calmer and more docile.<\/p>\r\n Between is a dangerous place, and Kivuuli reproduce slowly. Smaller Colonies are much more likely to breed faster. They also breed faster is there is plenty of food around. During times of famine females will actually stop having heats entirely. This is natural; it allows a Colony to grow strong and maintain their numbers. More babies born means more Kivuuli likely to make it to adulthood. A lone Kivuuli female is several times more likely to become pregnant than a Kivuuli in a big Colony. When a lot of Kivuuli populate one area, or food is less plentiful, their fertility as a whole drops dramatically. The reason why is unknown, but a hormonal response is the most likely candidate. Kivuuli in smaller Colonies are also more likely to go into heat more often. Kivuuli can go into heat every one to three years. Smaller Colonies' viable members will go into heat once a year; bigger colonies often every three years and sometimes even five.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli leave Between to hunt for food not available in their homeworld, gather resources, and explore. They usually go in small parties. Only the strong and clever make it back alive, for other worlds are packed with even more dangers to test a Kivuuli’s ability to survive. There may be a small number of Kivuuli with the ability to not age or die of age, but there are plenty of other things killing them and keeping their population balanced.<\/p>\r\nAll of this together has honed their intelligence to a fine point, but also nurtured their wild side giving them human intelligence coupled with bestial behaviors and instincts. Their ancestors are, in fact, extinct. Natural selection made sure of that. Kinda like we don’t see neanderthals or proto-humans running about. Some of their earliest ancestors were sleek, quadrupedal spiked predators that used teleportation to hunt or escape danger. They were fast, strong, and fierce, forming packs that were highly territorial.<\/p>","field5":"<h4>Lifespan<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli have very long natural lives; generally living up to 1000 years. As they start to grow older and approach the end of their lifespan, their Heartstones get less and less effective. This leaves them unable to feed as efficiently or teleport since their bodies stop being able to handle the discordant energies in the rifts they create. Their healing ability starts to slow down as well; and eventually goes away completely. Eventually, their body can no longer repair the damage done by age, and they grow weak and tired. Their fur will begin to gray around the eyes and mouth, and tips of ears as well as on their hands and feet. Once they reach a certain age, they are no longer capable of producing milk, even if they spend a lot of time around kits.<\/p>\r\nWhen they sense their time is near, they surround themselves by friends and family. They say their goodbyes, before slipping away peacefully. Most often in their sleep.<\/p>\r\n Some Kivuuli, though, can live on way beyond this time. It seems to be a strange mutation. A Heartstone that can actually slowly repair itself; thus negating the effects of aging present in most of the species. Those who have this mutation will need to sleep more and rest more once they reach a certain age, and their fertility drops. While less fertile, they are still able to have children. They just don't do so as often and females are harder to get pregnant. They will not show any visible signs of aging; they will not grey or dull in color.<\/p>\r\nThey are not affected by aging, at all, and they will live on, healthy, until they are killed by something other than age. This tends to be genetic; so those of their line have a chance of getting this ability. The oldest Kivuuli to have ever lived is an Elder named Kaitu, a member of the rare and isolated ‘Maltese’ or ‘Blue’ subspecies. Severe damage to the Heartstone can overrun this ability, causing an ancient Kivuuli to age and die very quickly after being hurt, within a year.<\/p>\r\nBelow is an elder Kivuuli, showing the greying. He is also scarred up.<\/p>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/79_100_JsBUVWncegFgtLX.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"845\" height=\"1125\" \/><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Mating and Reproduction<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli males and females look quite similar. Genitals are internal, though gender can be told through differences in their bodies, demeanor, and voice. If one sees a male and female Kivuuli standing side by side, first glance won’t reveal many differences. But if you look closely you can tell. Kivuuli do have the occasional hermaphrodite, this is a rare mutation. Sexual Dimorphism Male: Kivuuli genitals are internal and only emerge in a state of arousal. The male has a slit like sheath more towards the front of his crotch. Males are slimmer and smaller than females, and generally hold themselves lower as well. They are naturally submissive since even a very strong male wouldn't stand a chance against the physically bigger and stronger female. Males do not have much curve to them, if any at all and have narrow waists and hips. They have semi defined pecs, and the fur on their lower belly and inner thighs is not any longer than the fur on the rest of their bodies. They have teats on the lower belly, usually small and not very visible. They tend to have thicker and longer chest fur as well as slightly longer\/fluffier fur around their neck. This can sometimes amplify their cheek fluff, too.<\/p>\r\nMale Kivuuli have lower, rougher and deeper voices than females. The growling undertone is more pronounced.<\/p>\r\nFemale: The female has a slit on the bottom of her crotch, barely visable of at all from the front. The slit is subtle and less visable than the male's sheath like slit. A female has visible teats, though they are only really noticeable when she is carrying an egg, or nursing a hatchling.<\/p>\r\nFemales are taller and noticeably stronger than males. Her body is thicker, and moderately curvy with wider hips leading down to long and slim, but strong legs. While a layer of fat beneath her skin makes her look softer, beneath that softness is a lot of brute strength and ferocity.<\/p>\r\nThe fur down the back of a female’s neck, shoulders, and back is thicker and longer than a male's, and she also has thicker longer fur on her belly and inner thigh, which thickens further when carrying, or nursing young.<\/p>\r\nThe female Kivuuli's voice is softer and higher in pitch than a male's. Her growl is smoother, but deeper and fiercer. Her purr is a low and smooth. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Heat and Mating<\/h4>\r\n Kivuuli attract mates through scent.<\/p>\r\nFemale Kivuuli go into heat regularly, but when observed in our dimension it happens roughly once every 1-3 years. A female raising a kit can not enter this state as long as she is nursing the kit. This is the only time she can become pregnant. It lasts for roughly two weeks or until she finds a suitable mate.<\/p>\r\nThere are three stages to the heat.<\/p>\r\nStage 1- Her scent begins to shift. This is not actual heat yet; she is not fertile. But her body is preparing itself for heat. She starts to become more interested in males, but also more hormonal and dangerous. She also becomes territorial towards other females, not letting them near her den. This stage lasts a few days.<\/p>\r\nStage 2- Her scent grows stronger, and her body is almost ready to mate. This is the attracting a mate stage. The testing the males and letting them fight for her stage. She becomes actively interested in males, and is easily excited. She can become aggressive. This stage of heat lasts about a week. At this stage, her strong heat-scent rouses the males into excitement; causing them to follow her an attempt to impress her. Mating in this stage of heat will not end it, but it will shorten the time that she’s in it. Once a mate is chosen, they will mate repeatedly until her heat is over. It usually ends within 24 hours of her first mating.<\/p>\r\nStage 3 - This is the most intense part of her heat. This is when she is fully ready to mate and most likely to ovulate. Her heat scent becomes so strong the males can practically taste it on the air. She becomes extremely restless, unable to stay in one place for long. Many females will pace on and on, and even whine and call their discomfort and need. Younger females react more strongly to this stage; while older females can usually ignore it with the occasional whine and shift of discomfort. The ache inside them grows so intense that even those who don’t want a child might mate just to get it over with.<\/p>\r\nThe males will scuffle and fight among themselves, and the strongest, healthiest males will compete to gain her attention. Once the female has chosen, the other males will give up and find another release. Often in the form of a female who is not in heat; since she can not become pregnant she does not care about the health or strength of the male.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli females, like cats, are stimulated ovulators.<\/p>\r\nA Kivuuli female will know within a few days if she is pregnant or not.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are an egg-bearing race. They carry the egg for four to five months, growing large quickly. The male is expected to hunt for her and bring her food, since her appetite will increase as she packs the egg with nutrients it will need once it exits her body. The baby will also develop considerably during this time. By the time the egg is laid, the brain of the fetus is almost completely formed; the rest of the body finishes forming after the egg is laid. As the egg forms, the female’s fur grows thicker and denser, to make better lining for her nest. The fur around her belly and inner thighs thickens too; and she will not shed her guardhairs.<\/p>\r\nTheir pelvis separates in two places, and is held together by springy, elastic tendons. Each separation contains a small bone bridge that breaks in the process of laying the first egg. This produces a small, sharp crack\/pop, and is quite painful. The bone bridge never grows back and any eggs after the first are easier. Once the egg has passed through, the tendons will spring back, and the Kivuuli’s natural healing ability will repair any damage within an hour or two of laying while the exhausted mother sleeps. Males do not have the tendons or bone bridges.<\/p>\r\nWhile inside them, the egg shell is thick and leathery. It forms soon after conception and plays the part of the placenta until it comes time to lay. During the last few days before laying it becomes the egg shell, which and is soft and pliable. After laying, the shell takes roughly a half hour to harden. It becomes tough, hard and slightly textured. It is very thick and tough, hard to break from the outside. It is, however, very vulnerable until it’s fully hardened. The reason it develops so long inside the mother is so the brain can form properly; the mother gives it a kick start, and the hatchling finishes development within the egg.<\/p>\r\nThey look huge when they are carrying, but most of that is actually fluids that protect and cushion the egg as well as providing lubrication for laying. Nutrients are stored within the forming shell, though the hatchling has a Proteanct link to the mother until a few days before laying.<\/p>\r\nDuring the pregnancy, the Kivuuli will have an intense nesting instinct. She will take anything she can find. Fur of other shedding Kivuuli, blankets, any soft thing, and build a nest. During the last week of carrying, she will shed, and line her nest with her fur. Once the egg is laid, it will be watched over and kept warm by her while its father hunts for her. It will hatch in another 4-5 months. This can vary by subspecies, or location, or individual Kivuuli. Eggs can vary in color, but are usually smooth and black with slightly lighter colored mottling. This can change depending on the individual Kivuuli or their environment.<\/p>\r\nA hatchling Kivuuli is known as a kit, because they are very kitten like in their behavior. Kits are known to imprint on the energy signature and voice of the one who spends the most time around the egg. As such, they know their mother the instant they come out. While hatching, a mother will crouch near the egg, face inches away from it and make soft chirring calls to encourage the kit to break free of the egg. Upon hatching, they will follow the scent of the mother’s teats. The scent and feel of the kit suckling will trigger a surge of hormones, and she will begin lactation. This surge of hormones will reduce the Kivuuli to soft, relaxed purring. Any Kivuuli can be triggered to lactate in this manner, be it male or female. Once lactation begins, the Kivuuli’s appetite will increase. They often feed their milk to older or sick individuals within the Colony to help them survive and stay strong.<\/p>\r\nIn the pregnant Kivuuli, the teats poke out of the fur, as the fur sheds from directly around them.<\/p>\r\nWhen nursing, the flesh swells a bit to push the nipples out of the fur, thus allowing the hatchling to nurse without getting a mouthful of its mother’s fur.<\/p>\r\nThe consistency is thick, almost like a probiotic yogurt shake, and the taste is surprisingly mild and a little sweet. It is highly nutritious, high in protein and energy; and everything else a kit needs to grow.  It is not at all uncommon for Kivuuli in a Colony to nurse eachother's young. Sometimes older members will play the part of nanny for younger, less experienced Kivuuli. Some Kivuuli will choose to never stop lactating for the purpose of playing nanny to the kits within the Colony.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are extremely protective of their kits. If you hurt a kit, the whole Colony will attack. Even one lone Kivuuli is far more ferocious and dangerous than any mother bear; you don’t want to know what would happen if you pissed off a whole colony of them.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli are highly lactose intolerant. It causes a lot of digestive upset. As such, Kivuuli milk has no lactose in it.<\/p>\r\nIt is not unusual for members of a Colony to nurse eachother’s young. In fact, this is a very common practice, though some Kits will not nurse on any but their mother. This depends on the individual. It is most common for the omegas to act as nannies for the Colony, helping to care for the kits while stronger individuals hunt and bring in food. Because of this Omegas, and especially nannies, while not given any authority, are not treated badly. Kivuuli tend to produce more milk than is needed. If it gets uncomfortable, they tend to empty their teats themselves. This keeps their supply strong, is relaxing and calming, tastes good to them, and is considered completely normal. While a human would find such activity odd, it is completely natural for a Kivuuli. <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n<h4>Kits <img src=\"https:\/\/www.cryptid-creations.com\/images\/pages\/0\/56_76_oIgVWPjEOdYq3uF.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"804\" height=\"534\" \/><\/h4>\r\n <\/p>\r\nKits are teeny when they hatch, a little smaller than the average human baby. They hatch with their eyes closed, but able to hear and smell just fine. Their ears are droopy and their bodies are pudgy and bellies round from the yolk of the egg still inside, being slowly absorbed to give them strength while their mother’s milk comes in and they learn to nurse properly. Kits open their eyes when they are between three and seven days old.<\/p>\r\nThey are generally fairly quiet and don’t cry often, though do tend to make small chitters, squeaks, and mewling noises. They hate being alone.<\/p>\r\nBabies have a very strong instinct to not relieve themselves within the nest. When they feel the need to go, they will let their parent know with insistent screeching until taken somewhere. Like a newborn kitten or puppy, they will not eliminate on their own. There is a pressure point just at the base of the neck that can be triggered through a certain way of holding onto the scruff that triggers them to go reflexively; they will only go when held in that certain way until they learn to move about on all fours. Once able to move about on all fours they will always leave the nest to eliminate. It's an instinct to keep the nest site clean and smelling good, since Kivuuli noses are extremely sensitive. Young Kivuuli are fully mobile by the time they are three months old, and run about everywhere on all fours.<\/p>\r\nThe babies depend completely on their parents and the others in their colony for survival. They are unable to teleport. In fact, this takes a lot of time to get right and generally has to be taught though can be done autonomously if the Kivuuli feels that its life is in danger. Kits are weaned between 3-5 years old, depending on the kit in question. Some wean themselves earlier, some later. A mother will never force wean her kit, because if they are still nursing it means they likely still need to. Kits are able to move about by the time they are three months old. As kits get older and start to move around, they love to practice their hunting instincts and will often hunt, and eat, small animals once their teeth grow in. They generally start getting teeth when they are about a year old. They like to show their kills off to their parents, or others in the Colony. As they get to be about 5 years old, they are weaned and eating solid food with ease. They are also able to eat raw meat by then.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli grow bigger and stronger as they age. At roughly 15, they reach sexual maturity. They are considered adults, even if not at full size yet at this age. Around 18 to 23, they stop growing and achieve their full height. It is around this time they learn to effect reality around them both in silencing their steps and in creating and jumping through little dimensional cracks to teleport. They usually stay with their parents until full maturity, and after that remain with their Colony of birth.<\/p>\r\nKivuuli children are incredibly awkward and clumsy until they grow into their long limbs. They spend more time on all fours than on two feet, though around ten years old they start getting up on two feet more often. Even into adulthod, they spend time both on all fours, and on two feet equally depending on the situation. Kits hurt themselves frequently, but this only kick-starts their natural healing ability.<\/p>\r\n Kits are known for getting themselves into trouble, constantly. They are mischievous, playful, energetic, and insatiably curious. The entire colony works to keep the children safe and alive. Just like kittens.<\/p>\r\nFemale kits are a bit more energetic and feisty than males.<\/p>\r\nYoung males love to playfight and spar among themselves. These playfights grow more intense once they near adolescence, roughly around 10-12 years old or so. Sometimes, these playfights get a bit too intense, leaving one or both young males bloody. They step away to heal, which is usually finished within minutes. Once healed, they go at it again. Adolescent males are constantly tussling, wrestling, and play-fighting, which only grows worse the closer to adulthood they get. While these bouts of snapping, screaming, growling, and snarling looks terrifying and deadly, they look far, far, FAR worse than they actually are. They never seriously hurt eachother and other Kivuuli in the Colony know very well the difference between play and real fighting, since real fighting is far louder and more vicious. As males get older, they mellow out considerably, and only face off against other males in contests of strength in the presence of a receptive female. They do this to try to impress her. They usually don’t mellow out fully until around 30 or so; around 20-30 they are fully mature, but have bouts of wild, child-like energetic kittenlike playfulness.<\/p>\r\nAs a female reaches adolescence, she becomes fiercer and more commanding. If she joins a playfight, the males usually back down and submit almost instantly. Playfights between two females are far more vicious and noisy and dangerous-looking than playfights between males. They are practicing to take dominance someday; males just fight for fun or to pass on their genes. She starts to show interest in the male’s battles, and starts to show more interest in those that win these fights. Most of the time, she will avoid a mate when she has her first heat cycle, since her body isn’t fully grown at this point and not likely able to sustain an offspring for long. The first heat cycle generally happens around 15 years of age. She is considered an adult at this age, but she usually won’t choose a mate until she is at her full size since a younger body is less able to successfully carry an egg. Most males will not attempt to impress a young female unless they themselves are young. Even if she is sexually mature and considered an adult, she is not full size and not interested in mating. Most of the time, even if she DOES find a mate, it will not take since her body is not ready to sustain pregnancy.<\/p>\r\nShe will usually chase off any male that comes near while going through her first heat. The first heat cycle is usually short, and not too intense. She is not fertile for this cycle, it is simply her body announcing that it is mature. Her heats will gradually get longer until they settle at the normal length when she’s achieved her full size. If a female is not ready to have a kit of her own, she will hide away and ignore or chase off any males that try to gain her attention. Most females prefer not to have a kit until they have gained more experience. Young mothers are far more likely to be aggressive and attack anything they see as a threat than older mothers who are more experienced in raising, guiding, and protecting a child.<\/p>","field6":"Mutations and Variations The dewclaw is a fairly common variation found among Kivuuli. Both parents must either have, or carry, the dewclaw gene for it to show in an offspring.<\/p>\r\nAnother common variation is the heel spur. This is also recessive. Both parents must be carriers of the gene for it to pass on. Some Kivuuli have both heelspurs and dewclaws.<\/p>\r\nSome Kivuuli are unable to retract their claws. This is very rare; but when it does show up it is not much of a hindrance. They are generally chosen as hunters, though they have to be careful since their claws are very sharp when fully extended. They often make claw caps for themselves to avoid hurting themselves or others.<\/p>\r\nSome Kivuuli have a strip of longer fur that goes all the way down their spine.<\/p>\r\nA rare mutation can cause them to lack spines.<\/p>\r\nThe Bully mutation causes Kivuuli to be bigger and more muscular than their fellows. They lose a lot of speed and agility, but gain a lot of brute strength.<\/p>\r\nIt is not uncommon for Kivuuli to have no markings, though it is far more common to have markings around the shoulders and hips.<\/p>\r\nLong Fur<\/p>\r\nHermaphrodite - (Either masculine or feminine hermaphrodite)<\/p>\r\nRex Coat (Curly, this shows in varying degrees, fairly common, but usually subtle)<\/p>\r\nFeathering (Light, Medium, or Heavy, light is common, medium and heavy is uncommon)<\/p>\r\nLeucism (Can appear either patchy, white, near white, or unusually pale. This occurs either partial, or full. Leucistic Kivuuli are extremely rare!)<\/p>\r\nMelenistic (Menelistic Kivuuli are almost impossible to tell apart from regular Kivuuli unless from a subspecies)<\/p>\r\nFurless (Rare, but not unheard of. Tends to show up in warmer areas.)<\/p>\r\nLengthened Ear Tufts (Rare) Albinism\/Partial Albinism (EXTREMELY rare! Most Albino Kivuuli are either blind, or almost blind.)<\/p>\r\nLengthened Cheek Fluffs (Uncommon, common among Maltese)<\/p>","field7":"<h4>Tips for Designing your Kivuuli<\/h4>\r\n The pads will always match the iris in color, though always darker and less saturated, unless the Kivuuli is a Lippizan.<\/p>\r\nLippizan have black pads and membranes and skin, whereas normal Kivuuli, and Kivuuli of other breeds have flesh color somewhat matching their eyes.<\/p>\r\nI always select the iris color, darken it slightly and desaturate it. If the Kivuuli has heterochromia, the fleshy bits can match either eye.<\/p>\r\nAnother tip is try not to make your Kivuuli too saturated. They must look natural.<\/p>\r\nFor color reference on Desert Kivuuli, look at lions, caracals, fennecs, and similar creatures. The most common look is Caracal like with some spotting, dappling and striping.<\/p>\r\nFor regular Kivuuli, they can have slight hints of color, though never too saturated or obvious since other color is added by a gene that isn’t open. They can be dark grey to near stark black. Markings are usually slightly darker, but can be slightly lighter in some occasions.<\/p>\r\nTundra Kivuuli come in soft creams and browns, but never stark white. Think like the summer coat of an arctic fox for coloration.<\/p>\r\nMany Kivuuli are lighter on the bellies and darker on the backs, shoulders, and hips and dorsal stripes are common.<\/p>\r\nThe spines are usually black, though can be lighter, and always match the claws in color. The inside of the mouth is generally lighter than the membrane\/pad color.<\/p>"}},"title":"Kivuuli","is_visible":"1","summary":null,"utility_tag":["wip"],"page_tag":null}

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