Races

[TEARSOFNIGHTFALL]

The Races--[/font][/size]

There are six playable races on this board, Leeches, Beasts, Sirens, Hollow, Claws, and Viruses. Every race has unique talents, skills, and needs, and they all have a different method of stealing energy from others. Each of the former five also have a choice between ten ability attributes.

Read the next post for common characteristics shared between all races and some basics of this setting, as well as the different ability builds. Info on the races themselves is in the post below that info.

[TEARSOFNIGHTFALL]

Common Characteristics--[/font][/size]

Here are some basic facts about life in the virtual dimension that has become home to the human race:

[/size]
Ability Attributes--[/font][/size]

Each individual Leech, Beast, Siren, Hollow, and Claw has their own set and style of abilities aside from just those of their race - their ability attribute. There are ten different attributes: fire, aqua, gale, earth, lightning, blank, optic, sonic, null, and mimic. The former five are elemental, and while no flames, water, or other such elements truly exist in the virtual landscape, these abilities affect what the races perceive to be these elements and they will have very realistic effects on their bodies and the environment. Optic and Sonic affect the senses, instead, while Blank, Mimic, and Null are all unique, special attributes.

[/b]: Individuals with this attribute tend to have very high physical strength, and also have the ability to create and manipulate 'fire'.

♦ Aqua: Individuals with this attribute tend to be very intelligent, and also have the ability to create and manipulate 'water' (in all of its three states - liquid, gas, and solid).

♦ Gale: Individuals with this attribute tend to be very agile and nimble, and also have the ability to create and manipulate 'wind'.

♦ Earth: Individuals with this attribute tend to have very high physical endurance, and also have the ability to create and manipulate 'nature'.

♦ Lightning: Individuals with this attribute tend to be very cunning and charismatic, and also have the ability to create and manipulate 'lightning'.

♦ Blank: This attribute grants control over all the elements - fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning. Individuals with this attribute may have skills that use or combine any of the elements. However, their skills are always weaker than those of a pure-blood (if someone with a Blank alignment uses a fire based skill, it will always be weaker than an equivalent skill used by someone with an actual Fire alignment), and their abilities are often somewhat unstable. Like their skills, individuals with this alignment tend to also be frail or unstable either mentally or physically.

♦ Optic: Individuals with this attribute have the ability to affect things that go along with the sense of sight. They can manipulate, create, and control both light and darkness, and can use it like a physical force. They can also sometimes create illusions with light or shadow.

♦ Sonic: Individuals with this attribute have the ability to affect things that go along with the sense of sound. They can manipulate, create, and control sound waves and noise, and are able to use it to both stun and harm others. They can also sometimes create sound or voice illusions.

♦ Null: Individuals with this unusual attribute have the ability to cancel out the skills of others, rendering them completely useless. The amount and effectiveness with which they are able to cancel out their opponent's attacks varies depending on the skill and talent of the user. Individuals with this attribute are extremely rare. It's worthless offensively, but it is a very useful defensive ability. They are also very useful as part of a team or group, and can occasionally null some of a Virus' distortion, as well, making them highly sought after by the VDF - they are often 'persuaded' to join against their will.

♦ Mimic: Individuals with this attribute have no attacks of their own, but can copy and perform higher powered versions of the skills of their opponents (with the exceptions of foes with the 'Null' alignment, or skills that are specific to an opponent's physical form, as Mimics can't change shape). They can only focus on one subject at a time when it comes to copying, but once they are set on someone, they are able to mimic and use stronger versions of their skills and abilities as if they were their own as long as they can physically see the subject. It's also a relatively rare attribute.[/ul][/blockquote][/size]

[TEARSOFNIGHTFALL]

Race Info--[/font][/size]

Leeches The most common race, Leeches resemble traditional descriptions of fairies, with a set of four thin, translucent wings of varying colors. However, they have sharp fangs, and absorb and steal energy from victims through bites. In this way, they are much more similar to traditional vampires, or parasites, which is how they got their name. They can choose the amount that they take when they steal it, and they can take just as much as they need, or if they are more malicious, they can rob the victim of a greater amount of energy to keep themselves stocked up. They can fly extremely fast, and are usually quite agile, though they generally lack physical strength. They loose energy at an average rate.

Appearance: Fairy-like Rarity: Common Gain Method: Absorption through biting Energy Loss: Average Strength: Very Low Endurance: Low Agility: High Special Skills: Flight Status: Open

Beasts A race with animal-like features. How human they are in appearance varies, from only having a few features like ears, tails, or wings, to being quite anthropomorphic. Unlike viruses, though, they also maintain some human semblance or shape in their appearance. Any special skills they might have vary with the animal they are based on. This animal can be anything, including creatures that are extinct or that formally existed only in fantasy, and they can fully transform into these animals for a short while with the use of energy. However, they get their name not only for their features, but also for they way they steal energy. While having too much energy stolen with any method will eventually be fatal for the victim, beasts are the only race that must kill directly in order to survive. They have to destroy a victim's chip, and then all energy that the victim had remaining will flow into them. This is the only way for them to regain energy - they can't absorb it from living beings. Because of this, they are a highly feared and disliked race. They loose energy fairly quickly, too.

Appearance: Animal-like Rarity: Medium Gain Method: Destroying victim's chips Energy Loss: Fast Strength: Very High Endurance: High Agility: Average Special Skills: Depends on animal base Status: Open

Sirens A race that literally thrives through the affection of others. They need to be loved, and this is how they steal energy - they are able to absorb it through feelings of love towards them, and also through kissing or other physical expressions of love. Needless to say, they hardly build lasting relationships, but they must win over the hearts of many in order to survive. They are actually a very lonely and desperate race. They may have a few slight mutations, but unlike the other races, they look almost completely human, albeit usually quite attractive. Like the sirens of folklore that are their namesake, they are capable of singing songs that will leave almost anyone charmed, even against the victim's better judgment. They loose energy at a fairly slow rate, fortunately.

Appearance: Human-like and Attractive Rarity: Medium Gain Method: Love Energy Loss: Slow Strength: Low Endurance: Average Agility: Average Special Skills: Siren's Song Status: Open

Hollow An uncommon race that resembles androids or machines in some way, the Hollow get their name from their lack of capacity to feel regular human emotion. They absorb energy by stealing the emotions of others, something they can do only when the victim's emotions are especially high or intense. They also must be making physical contact with the victim. They are a very empty race, and neither feel happiness nor pain aside from the emotions that they steal along with their energy. Any special abilities they might have depend on to what degree they are machine based and on what parts of their body seem mechanical. They loose energy at an average rate.

Appearance: Android-like Rarity: Rare Gain Method: Emotions Energy Loss: Average Strength: Average Endurance: High Agility: Low Special Skills: Depends on machine base Status: Open

Claws An unusual race that has a long, wire-like tail with two through seven sharp prongs on the end. The exact number of the prongs depends on the individual, and those with more are usually viewed as higher in status. True to their name, they also have sharp, double prong claw-like ears, small, blade-like wings, and sharpened fingernails and fangs. In most other ways, they are human both in appearance and in ability. They have free movement of their long tails, and absorb energy by latching onto a foe with the prongs on the end of it. They can simply absorb energy this way, or they can gain all of it by ripping out their opponent's chip with the tail's claws. In this way, they can steal energy in ways that are similar to the methods of both Leeches and Beasts, making them versatile. However, they can only gain it through their tail, and they loose energy at the fastest rate of all the races.

Appearance: Claw-like tail, ears, wings, and nails Rarity: Rare Gain Method: Through tail prongs Energy Loss: Very Fast Strength: Average Endurance: Low Agility: Average Special Skills: N/A Status: Open

Viruses An unnatural race with unknown origins. Unlike the other races, they have almost no human semblance remaining, usually resembling animals or monsters and with only a limited ability to speak. Some say that their ability for cognitive thinking is limited as well, but in reality it may be their control that is limited. Viruses have a natural desire for destruction, and while they have no ability attribute, they have the ability to distort their environment and the bodies of the other races either through will or even simply through their presence. In order to gain energy, Viruses must convert individuals of the other races into Viruses themselves through a special sort of conscious distortion in an unending cycle that is leading to their rapid spread. However, Viruses can't be fed on for energy by other races, as attempting to do so will only cause distortion to the individual. The only way to destroy them is by breaking their chip. Viruses have almost no control over what they do, and why they exist and who's controlling them is a mystery. Becoming a Virus is often seen as a fate worse than death. They unfortunately loose energy at a fast rate.

Appearance: Animal or Monster-like Rarity: Medium Gain Method: Conversion of other races Energy Loss: Fast Strength: Average Endurance: Average Agility: Average Special Skills: Distortion Status: Open