Post by DA Author on Dec 1, 2019 19:39:21 GMT
Dark Awakening...a world that does not exist.
"I have little time left in this shadowy world of murder and deceit. Whoever you are that reads these words, be wary, for your life is now in grave danger. I am being pursued relentlessly by terrible monsters and beasts, and I feel that in these last moments I must pass on the knowledge I have gained; a knowledge I wish I could rip from my consciousness
It is forbidden, but what is knowledge if there is no one left to understand? What is power if no one is left to wield it? The Gods are more powerful than I could dare to imagine, concealing a secret which I have learned, sadly, to my misfortune. They are not the Gods of myth as humanity has been taught, nor the ones we praise on high and serve with blind volition. No, they are ethereal creatures that the mind cannot comprehend. They make our own Netherworldly existence seem insignificant; frail as that of any mortal, when compared to theirs.
My friend, or my enemy, whomever you may be, listen and heed my warning! They are deceivers of us all, and have gained their power through the unholy trinity of belief, prayer and blind faith. To protect their secret they have borne creatures of unthinkable power like myself. Dark entities that live amongst the humans, feeding off their flesh and blood, perpetuating the facade they have conjured, and further shrouding our eyes to the reality of this world. They are known as the Numinae.
I do not know from whence they came. They have no true physical form in the most rudimentary sense. They are spirits who assume the likeness of Gods that man conjure’s in his imperfect mind. From Sumer, to the ruins of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and now the dark spirit of Satan himself, which these foul Christians have spawned in their ignorance. They live amongst us, insidious beings that succor off the worship of man. For theirs is a power like no other, and now, at the end of my existence, I know that within humanity, and amongst those of the supernatural, there is no power but their own. I am the last of the Wolf’s Head, and now soon, I will die, my task complete."
- Gemistus Plethos, Werewolf, 1453; Constantinople
I. Introduction; Who are the Numinae?
If we are to take Plethos’ warning to heart, then it begs the question of just who are these mysterious Numinae? Their identity is fundamental to the world we have created, whether writing a book or creating a roleplaying game in this Dark Awakening universe (DAverse). So let us explore the very essence of this system, and what makes it unique.
Long before the beginning of humanity, there have been multitudes of God’s who have frequented man's imagination. These immortal deities have been the faithful gatekeepers of culture, the nurturers of civilization, and the beacons of a heavenly spirituality that even the most skeptical of beings yearn for in one way or another. These Gods’ have taken all manner of depiction. Some are nothing more than rudimentary cave drawings of the early Cro-Magnon, while later versions are mystical spirits of nature itself, and still some, silent statues who presided over life and death. As man has grown more complex, so to have they.
They multiplied within the folds of mankind’s ever growing brain, springing forth various faiths; Aztec, Inca, Mayan, Norse, Babylonian, Greeks, Egyptians, Christians, Persian, Hindu, and Roman. The list could go on and on, since every culture in the history of the world would fit into the category of having their own pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. Most systems focus on one, or one specific culture. The DAverse is regional, even local, fed by the vast streams of myth, legend, superstition and cosmologies that exist and have existed.
You see, mankind has an inherent need to worship a creator (s), hoping, and praying that there is more to life than just this fleeting existence. The stark reality of this world known as Dark Awakening is simple. The God’s do indeed exist to fulfill man's every desire and whim. Benevolence, however, is not always their true purpose. These faceless spirits that Plethos called Numinae, are ethereal beings of unfathomable power. They are chameleon like, in that they can take many shapes and forms, as the times change, and the fortunes of civilizations, and their own, rise and fall.
As one great religion dies, and a new torch is passed, they are there, ever eager to slake man's thirst for the divine, and at the same time, quench their own hunger for the one thing these great beings are denied; physical form. They yearn to become creators of life itself, as they siphon power from the turbulent sea of faith and belief created by mankind.
In the DAverse, these ancient Numinae have warred for supremacy over the ages of mankind, exploiting the human desire to believe, forever altering human history. Some are benevolent, while others are pure evil, but in the grand scheme of things, the earth is the chessboard, and humanity the pieces which they move about at their whim. But even they are not invincible. The key is belief, and when man loses his faith in the God’s, and once dominant religions topple, these great beings are lost to the eternal void of nothingness, never to return. Yet like humanity, there are many, and those beneath exploit the vacuum of the departed, and the cycle begins anew.
However, they are crafty, and resilient, and have learned this lesson well. In order to avoid extinction, they have enslaved lesser and weaker Numen spirits into beasts and human hosts, thus giving rise to the legendary creatures of mythology, and once more giving a bit of life to a very stale set of races and archetypes we know so well. They are known as the Nocturnae; Vampires, Weres’, Demons, Fae, Zombies, Demigods, and Arcane, who in turn, prey upon man, striking fear into the depths of his heart, and thus pushing him to seek safety from there horror in the waiting arms of these false Gods.
The Nocturnae, however, are unwitting pawns to the supreme puppet masters of humanity, its history, and ultimately, it’s very destiny. For not even these dark creatures know of the Numinae, and for the few who have discovered the sacred secret of their origins, such as Plethos, only oblivion has been there to embrace them.
II. Who are the Nocturnae?;
"I am one of few among my brethren that have learned of our true beginning. I once believed that I was simply an unfortunate soul who shared the spirit of the wolf. Versipellian I may be, but after I learned my true purpose, I knew that all of us were simply made as pawns in this cruel and unending game".
- Julian the Apostate, Emperor of Rome, Werewolf, 263 A.D
The Roman Emperor Julian was one of those few fated to learn of the terrible secret of the Numinae, and that leads into our next aspect of this world. Who are the Nocturnae? Well, simply put, the Nocturnae (Races) are very generic, but that is for a specific reason, which you will learn about in the next section of this guide. Please leave all your preconceptions of the Supernatural behind. This is original material.
Vampires, Homo sanguineous - Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings that are renowned for subsisting on human blood or life-force, but in some cases may prey on animals. Though vampires have widely varying characteristics, they are described for the most part as reanimated corpses who feed by draining and consuming the blood of living beings.
Versipellians, Homo versipellis - Versipellis refers to the metamorphosis of humans into animals, or in the DAverse, a Were creature. They have long existed in mythology and legend, appearing in ancient cave drawings from the beginning of antiquity. Some common forms of Versipellians have their own terminologies. Of these, lycanthropy (wolf), cynanthropy (dog) and ailuranthropy (cats) are the best known, but far from the only ones in existence.
Fae, Homo faerensis - A fairy (also fay, fey, fae, faerie; collectively, wee folk, good folk, people of peace and other euphemisms) is the name given to the metaphysical spirit or supernatural being of the DAverse. They are generally portrayed as human in appearance and as having supernatural attributes such as the ability to fly, cast spells and to influence or foresee the future.
Demon, Homo sulfuris -in religion, folklore, and mythology a demon (or daemon) is a supernatural being that has generally been described as a malevolent spirit. In Christian terms it is generally understood as a fallen angel, formerly of God. However, mythologies have shown that the notion of ‘demons’ have existed for many millennia. Ancient Egyptians believed in demonic monsters that might devour living souls while they traveled towards the afterlife. The Greek conception of a daemon appears in the works of Plato and many other ancient authors, but without the evil connotations which are apparent in the translation of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. These are but a few examples, but necessary ones to reinforce the idea that the term demon is not a Christian invention, and their types are many in the DAverse.
Demi-Gods, Homo deitius - The term "demigod", meaning "half-god", is used to describe mythological figures whose one parent was a God and whose other parent was human. Some Demigods were mortal, but were preeminent among humans, and some had unusual powers, others were immortal, having luminal qualities that enabled them to have great strength or to cross the threshold between the worlds of the living and the dead yet return safely. These are very rare creatures, as only the strongest of Numinae can create such beings.
Zombies, Homo putris -A zombie is a reanimated human corpse. According to the tenets of Voodoo, a dead person can be revived by a bokor or Voodoo sorcerer. In the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed that the souls of the dead could return to earth and haunt the living. The belief in revenants (someone who has returned from the dead) is well documented. Modern zombies are typically depicted in popular culture as mindless, unfeeling monsters with a hunger for human flesh. The point is, this can be a very cool Race, depending on the myth you use to create your Gens (Bloodline).
III. Who are the Arcane;
Arcane, Homo magicalis - Sometimes known as sorcery or magic, it is a conceptual system that asserts human ability to control the natural world (including events, objects, people, and physical phenomena) through mystical, paranormal or supernatural means. The term can also refer to the practices employed by a person asserting this influence, and to beliefs that explain various events and phenomena in such terms.
The Arcane are NOT, I repeat, not Nocturnae, but highly attuned mortals who can access the shadowy and mystical power of the Netherworld which we call the Dusk. Some can even control the lesser Numen, like spirits or poltergeists, where other's allow the spirits to possess them. In the end, they are still human, and not like Vampire's, Werewolves, etc. That, however, does not lessen their abilities in the least.
There are, for the sake of simplicity, and to allow you, the writers, to be creative, only four classifications of Magic. Yes, I know we could get detailed, and break each of these down in sub-categories, but the DAverse is about your own inner creativity. We are giving very basic examples to give the gist of it all.
PSY - is what we would describe as mental or magic of the mind. A few examples are;
Oracles, Psychics, Divination, Fortune tellers, Telekinesis, and Pyrokinesis.
ELEMENTAL – is a more physical type of magic, and includes the following;
Witch, Warlock, Wicca, Alchemist, Druidry, Astrology.
RITUALISTIC -this type of magic requires the use of some sort of inanimate object or spell to facilitate the ritual. Spells, wands, runes, Talisman, symbols, and charms are just a few examples of items used. Types include; Skinwalkers, Shamanism, Necromancy, Mystics, and Succubae.
RELIGIOUS – is magic associated with religious or cult like groups, such as;
Kabbalistic, Satanism, Augury, Exorcism, Voodoo.
Now, if you’re saying, wait a minute, there are a lot more types of magic practitioners that could fit under these four classes, then you are absolutely right. This is just to get you started, and hopefully, spur your imagination. As well, you will see, and discover that some types can fit under multiple classes. Witches could be Psy, elemental, Ritualistic and religious. So have fun with the guidelines we have given you, and enjoy a character that you alone shaped, rather than a strict doctrine of rules that take out the spontaneity of creation. That is the beauty of this system.
IV. The Caste;
"The Caste structure is relatively immobile, but not frozen, and depends on more than ones birth. For example, if a child in his schooling shows that he can raise his Caste, as the expression is, he is permitted to do so. But similarly, if a child does not show the aptitude expected of his caste, whether it be, say, that of a physician or warrior, he can also be lowered in Caste. Here in the holy land we are equals, for the enemy sees no distinction on the field of battle."
- Richard the Lionheart, mortal, Battle of Arsuf, 1191
Now that you understand the identities of the Numinae, Nocturnae, and Arcane, we now shift focus to a key element to the world of Dark Awakenings; the Caste. This will affect ALL types of playable classes. I used the above example, because in the Crusades a man could change his stars by seeking glory for God. The point I wanted to make is that there are different roles in all societies. A Caste is a 'hereditary system of occupation, endogamy, social culture, social class, and political power.' The assignment of individuals to places in the social hierarchy is determined by social group and cultural heritage.
As an example, let us say that the lineage of the character in question is a man of Roman birth. What then would be his Caste, and how would I find such information? Well, firstly, let us look at the social hierarchies within Rome itself. The following is from Wikipedia, so to show you the ease at which this information is available.
The primary levels of social class in ancient Rome were Patricians, Plebeians, Non-citizens, Women, Foreigners, Freedmen and slaves.
Now these can be further broken down if you choose to do so, but for the sake of this guide we will say that my character is a member of the Patrician class, and because of that fact, all public offices are open to him. With this information we know that he could be a Senator, Governor, Prefect, General, etc, and for the sake of understanding the Caste concept further, if he were a Plebian then he would be a member of the general body of small landowners of Roman citizens. While they were excluded from religious colleges and magistracies, the "Conflict of the Orders" over the political status of the plebeians went on for the first two centuries of the Republic, ending with their formal equality in 287 BC. The plebeians achieved this by developing their own organizations (the Concilium Plebis), and leaders (the tribunes and plebeian Aediles).
We could elaborate further on the remaining classes of this Roman Caste, but the point has been made, and I believe it is now apparent what a Caste in the DAverse is. If you choose to make what we call a “creation myth” for your character, which will be chronicled in the next section, then the Caste is not the end all, but if you choose not to create an original origins for your character or group, or decide to play as a mortal, or one of the Disenfranchised, also chronicled later in this Guide, then the Caste will be absolutely essential to your efforts.
V. The Gens;
"That Creation is too grand, complex, and mysterious to be captured in a narrow creed. That is why we cherish individual freedom of belief. At the same time our convictions lead us to other affirmations".[/i]
- Magnus, Fae, 1787, London
The term Gens could easily be substituted for "race" or "nation," meaning a people descended from a common ancestor (rather than sharing a common physical trait). It can also be translated as "clan" or "tribe". And for our purposes this definition is perfect, because the Gens is the source of your character’s creation myth. This concept is the heart and soul of the uniqueness in the world of Dark Awakening.
A common term that could be substituted for Gens, and the one you are more familiar with, is bloodline.
To create a Gens, you first need a member of the Numinae (your choice of God or Goddess), or a mythological creature or person, one of the Nocturnae, who would act as the stereotypical Sire or Maker for your character, thus transferring his Gens, or bloodline, to you.
The Gens is also the basis for your character’s Netherworldly abilities and history. In Dark Awakening, you can create your own Gens. The best way to see how it works is to give you a detailed example. Everyone knows the Dracula legend, so we will use my version of it. What is important to keep in mind is that YOU may create an entirely different Gens.
"He must indeed have been that Voivode Dracula who won his name against the Turk, over the great river on the very frontier of Turkey-land. If it be so, then he was no common man: for in that time, and for centuries after, he was spoken of as the cleverest and most cunning, as well as the bravest of the sons of the 'land beyond the forest. A man cursed by God. A man who drank the blood of the living,"
- Mina Harker
Now, you need to answer a few questions to help you along in the process.
What cultural, religious, or historical myth and or legend, is your Gens derived from?
In this case, Dracula.
What is the method of Transformation of your character, and Gens? (Metamorphosis, Bite, Possession, Curse, Procreation, or Spell?)
In this instant, everyone knows that Dracula bites his victims. And do not fret, the terminology above is also explained in detail a bit further on.
What Numen God (s) Nocturnae, or mythological beast is your Gens based upon?
Vlad was cursed to be damned, drinking the very thing he spilt so capriciously; blood. Mircea, his dear brother, was bitten by a mysterious Turkish Vampire, who was of the Scarlet Horde, a secret order of blood drinkers left over from the Mongol occupation. There lineage can be traced back to Genghis, who was a Vampire himself.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this Gens?
Strengths: Superhuman strength, the ability to shapeshift, turn into mist, read minds and tempt and beguile women with ease. Of course there are many more but you get the picture.
Weaknesses: Holy objects and water, sunlight, wooden stakes.
What is the Hierarchy of ranks within these Gens? (Optional, in the event you want to show the Gens is organized at the Pack, Coven, and Covenant level).
*On a side note, this particular Gens contains a large amount of detail and work. You do not have to go to such lengths, but you can if you so desire. This is merely an example of how you can take one myth, and turn it into something very original in the DAverse.*
The Society of the Draculesti was made up of twelve classes. Its original twenty-four members each formed a class of their own. The lower five classes were composed mainly of humans, and were the visible ones in The Society. They were the ones the world knew. Mircea's father, Vlad II, was the head of the lowest and largest class--the knights protecting King and country. They were the warriors, the Crusaders. Other classes within the lower five were tasked to protect the people, the State, the Church, and other worldly things.
The higher seven classes were the invisible ones. They were the ones the world never knew of. Sigismund had it planned in such a way that the members of every class would not know about the identity of the members of the other classes, lest they be heads. However, all members of the higher seven classes knew of the presence of the Lance, though not all have glimpsed it. In keeping with the traditions of the Church, these classes were named after the Seven Holy Virtues.
The lowest of the seven classes is the Humilitas, or the Humble. The sixth is the Patientia, or the Peaceful. Their name is a direct contradiction to their actions. They are the ones who kill for the sake of protecting the secret of the Society. The members fifth class, Humanitas, or the Kind. They are known as those who promote the satisfaction of the higher classes. If there are those of the lower classes who are inclined to betrayal, they are the ones who make certain that the betrayal does not take place. The head of the fifth class consults with the heads of the sixth and seventh, who in turn decide what to do with the potential betrayers. The fourth class is the Industria, the Diligent. They are the guardians of work. They make certain that all the work is done. If they see any discrepancy, they come in contact with the head of the Humanitas and there plot.
The third class, the Casitas, or the Pure, are the keepers of the Lance. They are the ones tasked to hide the Lance and make certain that no one but the higher three classes know of the whereabouts of the Lance. The, Frenum, or the Controllers, are the members of the second class. Very little is known of this class, as only the most pure of the Draculesti sworn are accepted. From old legend and rumor, we do know that it is subdivided into the degrees of the lesser and those of the Greater Mysteries. The highest class is the Liberalitas, or the Vigilant. The members of this class oversee everything, and only twelve people are in this class. They are those of the blood covenant who protect the sacred rite of the dracul and the Lance. Without them, there would be no Draculesti. This is partly the reason why the members of the highest class are called the Draculesti, rather than the Vigilant, as it is them who represent the true Society.
Sigismund left this large Society in the hands of Mircea II. Now awakened by his knowledge, Mircea sought to fulfill the will of his late King, but it was no easy task. The Society was arranged in such a way that if one attempted to climb up the ladder, one would most certainly be destroyed in the process. Mircea's accomplishment of the King's will and legacy is proof in itself that he was a man worthy of governing the Society.
What is the History of your Gens? (I prefer Origins only, not a detailed chronology up to the current day. If we focus on Origins, we leave it to the prospective member to decide the course of events that follow.)
VI. Metamorphosis;The Changing
“The more a man can forget, the greater the number of metamorphoses which his life can undergo, the more he can remember, the more divine his life becomes.”
- Edmund, Demon, France, 1918
In the Dark Awakening system, the Metamorphosis, which is simply your characters change into one of the Nocturnae, can come about via the following ways; but remember, it can only be done by a Numen God, a mythological beast/person, or one of the Nocturnae. This is how your character becomes one of the Nocturnae.
*The following are only examples*
(1). Transformation (think of Zeus turning King Lycaon into a wolf) This can either be considered a Curse or a Blessing, depending on the situation.
(2). Bite - (does not have to be literal, but something close to it.) This usually is the result of a mythological creature/person or a member of one of the Nocturnae biting your character. Think of the She-wolf of Rome biting the daughter of Julius Caesar, or a member of the Draculesti Coven in Romania turning your character.
(3). Possession - (When a lesser Numen inhabits your body). Not all Numinae are equal in strength. Those weaker are the victims of the Greater. Some are placed into the bodies of beast and man to give rise to the Mythological Creatures or Beings of our legends. Others are so weak, they go unnoticed, giving rise to legends of Ghosts, spirits, or poltergeists. A good example for a Gens, is the possession of the Oracles, who speak for the Gods themselves. This metamorphosis category is also applicable to the Arcane.
(4). Ritualism - (this is mostly for the Arcane). Some mortals, or Arcane, may use certain Talisman, artifacts, or some inanimate object/material to access the power of the Netherworld, or control certain elements of it like spirits or even lesser Numen spirits.
(5). Procreation - (This is for the Demi-Gods, where a Numinae and a mortal have mated. Good examples are Hercules, Alexander the Great, and Aeneas.)
VII. Who are the Exiles?;
"My first few weeks in America are always miserable, because the tastes I am cursed with are all of a kind that cannot be gratified here, and I am not in sympathy with our gross public to make up for the lack on the aesthetic side. Ones friends are delightful; but we are none of us Americans, we don't think or feel as the Americans do, we are the wretched exotics produced in a European glass-house, the most displaced and useless class on earth"!
- William, Vampire, 1942, New York City
Now, what if you have been reading this detailed RPG Guide and come to the conclusion that you do not have the ability, time, or patience to create a Gens like the Draculesti? Or perhaps you just want, as part of your characters story, to keep his or her origins a mystery. Do you just exit the browser and leave the site and look elsewhere? No, to put it simply, you do not. I considered this possibility when designing the DAverse. It is common sense that in all communities, you have outcasts, disenfranchised, bastards, criminals, and non-believers. That holds true for the Nocturnae as well. These individuals, or groups, are known as the Exiles.
For whatever the reason may be, these are Nocturnae without a creation myth, or an understanding of their own origins. Remember when I said that Castes would be important if you’re not interested in creating a Gens? Well, now it is essential, if this is the route you are taking. After all, individuals or groups can rally around a central idea or cause, which can either be religious, political, or cultural. This is why the Caste is so important for this aspect of the guide.
Now, let us say that my character is of Roman birth, and he is a soldier and a Vampire as well, but knows nothing of his Sire, for he was killed in battle before he could tell the truth of the matter. Perhaps this Legionnaire is a follower of Mithras, which had many secret blood rites, or even of Dionysus, the drinker of wine, which can easily be substituted with the drinking of human blood in their orgies. Let’s even take it a step further, and make this man influential.
Through his charm and skill, he has gathered around him others of his kind, to worship either Mithras or Dionysus, as he does. While he and his followers do not know their beginnings, they do have common cause and a symbol, and thus with the information from your Caste, you can create a credible and riveting story without developing a Gens. It is just that easy.
VIII. Magic in the Nocturnae (Non Arcane);
"Magic is a faculty of wonderful virtue, full of most high mysteries, containing the most profound contemplation of most secret things, together with the nature, power, quality, substance and virtues thereof, as also the knowledge of whole Nature, and it doth instruct us concerning the differing and agreement of things amongst themselves, whence it produces its wonderful effects, by uniting the virtues of things through the application of them one to the other".
- Dimnivorix, Druid, 64 B.C
Now, a really intriguing aspect of the DAverse is the ability to use Magic. It does not solely extend to the Arcane, but to all Nocturnae races. How could that be possible you ask? Well here is an example. Let us say that through the process above, you have created a Christian Gens of Vampires. You’re probably shaking your head and asking yourself just what type of Magic could they use? Well by their very religious affiliation and the restrictions of the Gens itself, it would be limited to those Jesus Christ used.
Healing, transfiguration, miracles, visions, exorcism, and resurrection abilities.
Just taking the above possibilities, you have made your character more appealing to play and given him or her, some cool magical abilities to use at their disposal. Now, some may ask, how do you keep people from Godmodding and using these powers to create a super character that cannot be beaten? Well it is my hope that common sense will prevail, but if not, we will impose some guidelines. But there is a larger question now. What if you’re making a Gens so that other, potential new members can use for their character? Well, then you need to organize your magic powers into categories and levels. This is solely your responsibility. We may have a process later, but for now it is enough to know that all our Nocturnae are capable of magic use.
Continuing, there are many legends where the Vampires, Fae and Werewolves have "magical" attributes. This makes our creatures all the more sexier and realistic, and it does not take the focus off of the Gens. This does not mean you have to use magic, but if the myth or God you choose has some skills in this field, then it is applicable. Again, the Gens itself is paramount to having these abilities. However, if you chose the route of the Exiles, then you would most likely stumble upon your abilities through the course of your growth and maturation.
Now, as far as whether our magic is dark or light in nature, I do not see them as being separate. Healing, for instance, is simply the manipulation of flesh and tissue. When you think about it, someone who knows how to heal wounds and injuries would also have the knowledge and ability to magically wound others or aggravate injuries.
It is the intent of the person which decides whether a spell is dark or light here on DA.
****Below is the Cosmology which governs the entire system. It was designed to create a world that anyone could write in, both roleplayer and novelist. It is not info one would know in the book, or in the RPG game. I repeat, no character or Numinae would know of this.***
CREATION MYTH;
At the dawning of existence, came the Makers, Celestial beings neither matter nor spirit, but rather Creators and Lords of both. And from the well of their divine conscious, they shaped lesser spiritual entities, or Numinae, called such because they had no physical form whatsoever, instead existing as pure metaphysical energy and thought. The very matter of the Universe was a swirling Void of information and elements. This was before the illumination, before the brilliant gleam of the stars that would light the universe. From this vital essence, the Numinae were created.
But there were two, known as the first born, paired and mated for eternity, each enraptured by the splendor of their makers; or so it seemed. One, Kulnevaria, wished to know what existed within that looming void.
“I must claim it,'' she said in hushed whispers, “it is my birthright!”
“It is forbidden.” The calming voice of Kingumaria spoke, trying to soothe the restless spirit of his love.
She was extraordinary in every sense of the word, for she was not made from one aspect of the Makers minds, as other Numen and her mate were, but rather from their totality. She had the power and ruthlessness of one, yet strength that was tempered with the soft tenderness of the other. She spoke boldly into the silence, drawing notice from the multitude, and the Makers.
"The void is knowledge itself ! If I could but bask in its glow and learn its secrets!"
Before Kingumaria could stop her, a cold, stern voice boomed thunderously, silencing all but the gentle hum of the Cosmos itself. "Knowledge is ours alone, never to be garnered by Numen hand, and henceforth forbidden. The Void embodies the perfect blend of both life and death, as you yourself do my impetuous child."
"Then what is its purpose then", she questioned carefully, "and why deny us this right to understand? Are we not your own progeny? Spawned from the loins of your love, and the deep recesses of your infinite wisdom? Are we not worthy of that which smolders within your luminance?"
"You shall have no business with secret things", he replied, "but now behold the true creation, and attain a brief glimpse of understanding, as you yourself my child, stand precariously at the slippery edge of the fulcrum of choice".
The two Makers swirled about elements of the Void, creating a massive and destructive maelstrom which lasted for well over ten thousand years, until a gleaming sphere of molten rock coalesced out of the murkiness. With a clap of what seemed like thunder, an ethereal light emanated from the Makers, and sped toward this new planetoid, slamming into it with such force, that the barren surface splintered and cracked, spilling forth staining red magma over its chasteness. And this creation, Earth, lived, its surface forming, its core seething, and it’s pooling seas wrathful.
"We must go to the surface of this new world,'' she begged, "It calls to me father!"
This time, the response was a rebuke, the voice of indifference now rising in tenor. "Form you do not have. What has now begun may not be stopped. To insert your being into its path, will alter its course irreparably. The consequences are grave for such boldness. It is folly for one such as you. It is our creation alone, and you have no right to it. It is a symbol of our power; a power you shall never comprehend, much less attain."
"You forge this gift, yet deny? You have no right! We demand equality! We insist upon satisfaction! We beseech you for the secrets to this forbidden knowledge!" Her voice reverberated around the void, but its passionate fervor was soon smothered by the tide of rising anger, as it enveloped her in a great oppressive wave.
“Please Kulnevaria”, Kingumaria spoke, “do not incur their wrath!” But it was too late.
"I could kill you with but a thought child. Unmake you, and leave you non-existent for all eternity!"
Her defiance was silenced, albeit temporarily, and for the next two millennia, her resentment festered, until it consumed her every waking thought. Her Numen brethren rejoiced at the marvel which was Earth, most never daring to thwart its will and development, content to observe and protect the one point of perfection in an otherwise chaotic and violent galaxy.
But she could fold time and space, easily traversing the planes of existence without moving, literally displacing time under one's feet. So with this great power, she and her mate descended to the world’s surface in secret, her conscious floating triumphantly above its gleaming surface of soil and water.
Their were humanoid beasts who roamed the land, lacking the soul and knowledge to do any more. She was disappointed. They were nothing more than clay, water and other natural elements, physical yes, but having no DIVINE spark as she did.
“They are useless,'' she said to her mate. “No more vital than the green vines which cling to the soil.
“Yet the Makers forged them for a purpose, one we yet to understand my love. Perhaps they are right, we are not meant to know.”
She seemed taken aback. “Perhaps for you and our Numen brethren, but I am of the same essence as they, therefore I alone can understand.”
Kingumaria was sad, but he supported her nonetheless. “I will follow you to whatever end Kulnevaria, even if it is my own.”
The father appeared, roaring in raw anger, and shattering the very continuum of all things. "Your very presence has altered the cycle of life and death, and now, because of you, not even our fair creation will be spared from this tragic fate. Doom you have brought Kulnevaria!"
"But I do not fathom your words", she begged forgivingly, "I did not ask for this to come about. I merely wished to see."
"But of course you did", he roared, "you cherished our creation from its conception, and now you covet the sacred jewel (earth) in secret, and as your are of both, therefore it is." His spirit grew in proportion, his shadow eclipsing the twinkling stars of an infinite number of galaxies, casting all into perpetual darkness.
"I beg forgiveness for our transgressions!” Kingumaria placated. “It is not as you say", he pleaded to the other Maker, now at their mercy. “I forced her to come. My lack of understanding led us to this path. Punish me if such must happen, but not her, I beg of you!”
The bleak void was silent, and soon, but not too soon, the Mother spoke, the voice soft, and soothing. "You are forgiven, but be warned hither, firstborn of the Numinae. Never again will either of you go forth to Earth, for if you do, ruin will ensue, and perfect harmony corrupted. Never forget, only fire, death and destruction await one who craves the forbidden fruit of knowledge."
And so it seemingly was ended, and her disobedience absolved, but over time, her anger soon changed to rage, and over the course of untold millennia, hardened into spiteful vitriol. Who were they, to forbid her and Kingumaria? Was she not now worthy of title of Maker?
“You play with fire?” he warned. “You must abandon such thoughts, lest you intend to defy them once more. I will stand by your side, but I am not as you, neither are the other Numinae, who follow them blindly. You will be alone Kulnevaria, facing our Makers for your very existence.
“Your words are wise my dearest, and I would follow them if not for what is within this soul of mine. There is only one way left to us.”
“What is that, I dare to ask?”
“Rebellion...until all are free, and they are no more.”
And with such treasonous thoughts, came a cold and calculating plot. She would find a way to gain possession of this physical realm, thus usurping the authority of her Makers. But she would rule alone, for her mother and father saw only through the narrow spectrum of their own vision, where she existed in the past, the present, and the future of all things. Her name was now fitting; Kulneveria, the giver of life and death.
Sixty-five thousand years later her opportunity emerged from the swaying Savannah's that had become lush grasslands on Earth, as a beast which seemed to stand above the rest, crept forth from the fringes of barbarism, and emerged from the depths of insignificance. The morning was warm, and sunny, like so many before it, but today an Elder of these beasts, while journeying in an endless quest for sustenance and shelter, happened to fall dead. At first, the smaller creatures who accompanied it mourned, as was typical, but by fate's hand, the dying body of their lost Matriarch, writhed in a last spasm of its death throes. The clan members began to howl and bark in unison, moving back to a discrete and safe distance, fearful of what they had just seen.
“Where is Kingumaria?” She thought. “Why is he yet to appear?”
Something was amiss, she felt it deep within. These were not the mud molded beasts of before.They had fire and essence, and a will to be more than the sum of their parts.
What had changed she wondered. Why was he not by her side to see such glory? This was the moment they had waited for.
The creatures lingered suspiciously near this place of death, perceiving it in their crude minds as a place of immense power and magic; a place where the dead yet lived.
Skulls of fearsome predators, shiny gems and stones from the nearby river, and leave laden branches were placed on the dead and decaying body as sacred gifts, in an effort to appease its anger, and soothe the spirit in the afterlife it so desperately sought.
As if a miracle, soon after this offering, the strongest female of the clan bore a healthy child, while the Alpha male conquered a vicious rival from the ranks of the eastern lands, thus preserving the lineage of this troup. Months later, during an extreme drought, one young, and virile male knelt down before the now putrid burial mound, and howled a guttural scream, his eyes raised to the blue sky and its white blanket of clouds, his hands stretched toward the sun in offering. Days later, it began to rain, and life was restored to the land once more, quenching the grounds parched mouth from the tears of the lost tribe member. In their simple minds they equated the giving of gifts to their deceased elder, as the reason for their good fortune.
Hidden in shadow, and yearning for such affection and worship, Kulneveria devoured the collective synergy of the tribes faith, basking her metaphysical spirit in its ambient glow, and then, quite miraculously, in that defining moment, she beheld that she now had a soft, glowing ghost-like body, much in the image of the one who uttered the first prayer, yet, unlike these primitives, she was graced with an indescribable beauty.
“Kingumaria”, she pleaded, “come to me my love!”
Emboldened, she descended amongst them, scattering them in fear, forcing most upon bended knee in pious reverence. She had violated the oath she had sworn to the Makers, but she cared not, and with these new found abilities she began to manipulate the elements of nature to her favor, so that these primitive sentients’ would continue to pay homage to this mythical tether called faith. She reasoned, and rightly so, that as long as they believed, she could linger in this plane of existence indefinitely, and perhaps one day, take pure physical form, and claim both the realm of spirit and physicality as her sole dominion.
But her deceit had not gone unnoticed, and with great force and pain, her new body was obliterated, and her conscious sucked violently back into their domain.
“Your greed blinds you to the very source of their evolution Kulnevaria! You have what you so desire within your grasp, but do not understand why it has come to pass!” The father was mocking her, but the mother picked up where he left off.
“They have the fire which animates, which can only come from one of our kind. Ripped forcefully from one they are now aware of the world we have forged for them. They will survive, and as you take your last longing glances, perhaps you will see your mates spark within those crude bodies of theirs.”
She could not respond, frozen by anger and guilt. She had done this to him. Her desires caused his death. Kingumaria never appeared because they had slain him to give true life to their new, fleshly progeny. There was an emptiness she could not fathom within her.
“Now you truly know the cost of your dark desires", her father gloated, his own conscious suppressing her own, "heresy you have committed! Rebellion's angry flame you have stoked with your arrogance and pride! To your fate you must go! No longer will coy answers and clever cons conceal your true intent. Kingumaria begged in the end for his life and I took great pride in ripping it from him, painfully and slowly!”
“Why?” She demanded. “What cause could prove so just? What reason could exist for wanton cruelty? Tyrants you both are, murders and malcontents!”
“We have chosen your path Kulnevaria, now you must submit to our will, or suffer your lovers fate”, her mother concurred, sadness tainting each word.
Kulneveria now stood firmly on the fulcrum of give and take, no longer in fear of their collective wrath. "He will be avenged! He will be brought back to this realm if I must drain his essence from each frail, human you love so dearly! You are both blind, victims to your own perceived perfection. I am the culmination of your minds, and thus I have eclipsed your grandeur and wisdom! You are extinct and immaterial Mother and Father!"
In unison, they spoke, their words trembling both the heavens and earth. "Then you are condemned to see all, but yet remain blind! You will henceforth sense, but never truly feel! You are destined to know, but lack true understanding! You will live Kulneveria, yet still exist without bodily form! Kingumaria will never return from the Dusk of the Netherworld!"
And then there was heavenly and rapturous war. Kulnervaria against her Makers and all the Numinae who fought beside their parents.
The battle raged for over sixteen millennia, until finally, with a force immeasurable, her essence was cast down towards the earth like a streaking meteor. She retaliated, assaulting them with the very last vestiges of her power, wounding them mortally, just before she slammed into the planet, cracking it like a soft egg shell, as her spirit was buried deep beneath the soil.
The impact had caused the great oceans to flood the land, nearly decimating humanity, but clever and intelligent, they survived.
She had been unmade, doomed to neither life or death, left for the harsh winds of time, which would slowly sweep her conscious away bit by bit. In that moment of her demise, her essence exploded, obliterating the realm of the Makers. Yet in the blackness of this death, a piece of her yet lived, a mere fragment, a vengeful wraith who craved her resurrection at any costs. Without the Creators, the Numinae exploded into Civil war, and thus the great Diaspora or scattering began, as the Numen began to descend to earth, tapping into the one resource that would never be exhausted; the endless fount of humanities Faith.
What became of Kulneveria is not known, and while her wraith stills worships her to this day, hoping to free her from the void of non-existence. the Numinae hope to keep her buried for all eternity; this is their world now and mankind dances to their tune.
"I have little time left in this shadowy world of murder and deceit. Whoever you are that reads these words, be wary, for your life is now in grave danger. I am being pursued relentlessly by terrible monsters and beasts, and I feel that in these last moments I must pass on the knowledge I have gained; a knowledge I wish I could rip from my consciousness
It is forbidden, but what is knowledge if there is no one left to understand? What is power if no one is left to wield it? The Gods are more powerful than I could dare to imagine, concealing a secret which I have learned, sadly, to my misfortune. They are not the Gods of myth as humanity has been taught, nor the ones we praise on high and serve with blind volition. No, they are ethereal creatures that the mind cannot comprehend. They make our own Netherworldly existence seem insignificant; frail as that of any mortal, when compared to theirs.
My friend, or my enemy, whomever you may be, listen and heed my warning! They are deceivers of us all, and have gained their power through the unholy trinity of belief, prayer and blind faith. To protect their secret they have borne creatures of unthinkable power like myself. Dark entities that live amongst the humans, feeding off their flesh and blood, perpetuating the facade they have conjured, and further shrouding our eyes to the reality of this world. They are known as the Numinae.
I do not know from whence they came. They have no true physical form in the most rudimentary sense. They are spirits who assume the likeness of Gods that man conjure’s in his imperfect mind. From Sumer, to the ruins of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and now the dark spirit of Satan himself, which these foul Christians have spawned in their ignorance. They live amongst us, insidious beings that succor off the worship of man. For theirs is a power like no other, and now, at the end of my existence, I know that within humanity, and amongst those of the supernatural, there is no power but their own. I am the last of the Wolf’s Head, and now soon, I will die, my task complete."
- Gemistus Plethos, Werewolf, 1453; Constantinople
I. Introduction; Who are the Numinae?
If we are to take Plethos’ warning to heart, then it begs the question of just who are these mysterious Numinae? Their identity is fundamental to the world we have created, whether writing a book or creating a roleplaying game in this Dark Awakening universe (DAverse). So let us explore the very essence of this system, and what makes it unique.
Long before the beginning of humanity, there have been multitudes of God’s who have frequented man's imagination. These immortal deities have been the faithful gatekeepers of culture, the nurturers of civilization, and the beacons of a heavenly spirituality that even the most skeptical of beings yearn for in one way or another. These Gods’ have taken all manner of depiction. Some are nothing more than rudimentary cave drawings of the early Cro-Magnon, while later versions are mystical spirits of nature itself, and still some, silent statues who presided over life and death. As man has grown more complex, so to have they.
They multiplied within the folds of mankind’s ever growing brain, springing forth various faiths; Aztec, Inca, Mayan, Norse, Babylonian, Greeks, Egyptians, Christians, Persian, Hindu, and Roman. The list could go on and on, since every culture in the history of the world would fit into the category of having their own pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. Most systems focus on one, or one specific culture. The DAverse is regional, even local, fed by the vast streams of myth, legend, superstition and cosmologies that exist and have existed.
You see, mankind has an inherent need to worship a creator (s), hoping, and praying that there is more to life than just this fleeting existence. The stark reality of this world known as Dark Awakening is simple. The God’s do indeed exist to fulfill man's every desire and whim. Benevolence, however, is not always their true purpose. These faceless spirits that Plethos called Numinae, are ethereal beings of unfathomable power. They are chameleon like, in that they can take many shapes and forms, as the times change, and the fortunes of civilizations, and their own, rise and fall.
As one great religion dies, and a new torch is passed, they are there, ever eager to slake man's thirst for the divine, and at the same time, quench their own hunger for the one thing these great beings are denied; physical form. They yearn to become creators of life itself, as they siphon power from the turbulent sea of faith and belief created by mankind.
In the DAverse, these ancient Numinae have warred for supremacy over the ages of mankind, exploiting the human desire to believe, forever altering human history. Some are benevolent, while others are pure evil, but in the grand scheme of things, the earth is the chessboard, and humanity the pieces which they move about at their whim. But even they are not invincible. The key is belief, and when man loses his faith in the God’s, and once dominant religions topple, these great beings are lost to the eternal void of nothingness, never to return. Yet like humanity, there are many, and those beneath exploit the vacuum of the departed, and the cycle begins anew.
However, they are crafty, and resilient, and have learned this lesson well. In order to avoid extinction, they have enslaved lesser and weaker Numen spirits into beasts and human hosts, thus giving rise to the legendary creatures of mythology, and once more giving a bit of life to a very stale set of races and archetypes we know so well. They are known as the Nocturnae; Vampires, Weres’, Demons, Fae, Zombies, Demigods, and Arcane, who in turn, prey upon man, striking fear into the depths of his heart, and thus pushing him to seek safety from there horror in the waiting arms of these false Gods.
The Nocturnae, however, are unwitting pawns to the supreme puppet masters of humanity, its history, and ultimately, it’s very destiny. For not even these dark creatures know of the Numinae, and for the few who have discovered the sacred secret of their origins, such as Plethos, only oblivion has been there to embrace them.
II. Who are the Nocturnae?;
"I am one of few among my brethren that have learned of our true beginning. I once believed that I was simply an unfortunate soul who shared the spirit of the wolf. Versipellian I may be, but after I learned my true purpose, I knew that all of us were simply made as pawns in this cruel and unending game".
- Julian the Apostate, Emperor of Rome, Werewolf, 263 A.D
The Roman Emperor Julian was one of those few fated to learn of the terrible secret of the Numinae, and that leads into our next aspect of this world. Who are the Nocturnae? Well, simply put, the Nocturnae (Races) are very generic, but that is for a specific reason, which you will learn about in the next section of this guide. Please leave all your preconceptions of the Supernatural behind. This is original material.
Vampires, Homo sanguineous - Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings that are renowned for subsisting on human blood or life-force, but in some cases may prey on animals. Though vampires have widely varying characteristics, they are described for the most part as reanimated corpses who feed by draining and consuming the blood of living beings.
Versipellians, Homo versipellis - Versipellis refers to the metamorphosis of humans into animals, or in the DAverse, a Were creature. They have long existed in mythology and legend, appearing in ancient cave drawings from the beginning of antiquity. Some common forms of Versipellians have their own terminologies. Of these, lycanthropy (wolf), cynanthropy (dog) and ailuranthropy (cats) are the best known, but far from the only ones in existence.
Fae, Homo faerensis - A fairy (also fay, fey, fae, faerie; collectively, wee folk, good folk, people of peace and other euphemisms) is the name given to the metaphysical spirit or supernatural being of the DAverse. They are generally portrayed as human in appearance and as having supernatural attributes such as the ability to fly, cast spells and to influence or foresee the future.
Demon, Homo sulfuris -in religion, folklore, and mythology a demon (or daemon) is a supernatural being that has generally been described as a malevolent spirit. In Christian terms it is generally understood as a fallen angel, formerly of God. However, mythologies have shown that the notion of ‘demons’ have existed for many millennia. Ancient Egyptians believed in demonic monsters that might devour living souls while they traveled towards the afterlife. The Greek conception of a daemon appears in the works of Plato and many other ancient authors, but without the evil connotations which are apparent in the translation of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. These are but a few examples, but necessary ones to reinforce the idea that the term demon is not a Christian invention, and their types are many in the DAverse.
Demi-Gods, Homo deitius - The term "demigod", meaning "half-god", is used to describe mythological figures whose one parent was a God and whose other parent was human. Some Demigods were mortal, but were preeminent among humans, and some had unusual powers, others were immortal, having luminal qualities that enabled them to have great strength or to cross the threshold between the worlds of the living and the dead yet return safely. These are very rare creatures, as only the strongest of Numinae can create such beings.
Zombies, Homo putris -A zombie is a reanimated human corpse. According to the tenets of Voodoo, a dead person can be revived by a bokor or Voodoo sorcerer. In the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed that the souls of the dead could return to earth and haunt the living. The belief in revenants (someone who has returned from the dead) is well documented. Modern zombies are typically depicted in popular culture as mindless, unfeeling monsters with a hunger for human flesh. The point is, this can be a very cool Race, depending on the myth you use to create your Gens (Bloodline).
III. Who are the Arcane;
Arcane, Homo magicalis - Sometimes known as sorcery or magic, it is a conceptual system that asserts human ability to control the natural world (including events, objects, people, and physical phenomena) through mystical, paranormal or supernatural means. The term can also refer to the practices employed by a person asserting this influence, and to beliefs that explain various events and phenomena in such terms.
The Arcane are NOT, I repeat, not Nocturnae, but highly attuned mortals who can access the shadowy and mystical power of the Netherworld which we call the Dusk. Some can even control the lesser Numen, like spirits or poltergeists, where other's allow the spirits to possess them. In the end, they are still human, and not like Vampire's, Werewolves, etc. That, however, does not lessen their abilities in the least.
There are, for the sake of simplicity, and to allow you, the writers, to be creative, only four classifications of Magic. Yes, I know we could get detailed, and break each of these down in sub-categories, but the DAverse is about your own inner creativity. We are giving very basic examples to give the gist of it all.
PSY - is what we would describe as mental or magic of the mind. A few examples are;
Oracles, Psychics, Divination, Fortune tellers, Telekinesis, and Pyrokinesis.
ELEMENTAL – is a more physical type of magic, and includes the following;
Witch, Warlock, Wicca, Alchemist, Druidry, Astrology.
RITUALISTIC -this type of magic requires the use of some sort of inanimate object or spell to facilitate the ritual. Spells, wands, runes, Talisman, symbols, and charms are just a few examples of items used. Types include; Skinwalkers, Shamanism, Necromancy, Mystics, and Succubae.
RELIGIOUS – is magic associated with religious or cult like groups, such as;
Kabbalistic, Satanism, Augury, Exorcism, Voodoo.
Now, if you’re saying, wait a minute, there are a lot more types of magic practitioners that could fit under these four classes, then you are absolutely right. This is just to get you started, and hopefully, spur your imagination. As well, you will see, and discover that some types can fit under multiple classes. Witches could be Psy, elemental, Ritualistic and religious. So have fun with the guidelines we have given you, and enjoy a character that you alone shaped, rather than a strict doctrine of rules that take out the spontaneity of creation. That is the beauty of this system.
IV. The Caste;
"The Caste structure is relatively immobile, but not frozen, and depends on more than ones birth. For example, if a child in his schooling shows that he can raise his Caste, as the expression is, he is permitted to do so. But similarly, if a child does not show the aptitude expected of his caste, whether it be, say, that of a physician or warrior, he can also be lowered in Caste. Here in the holy land we are equals, for the enemy sees no distinction on the field of battle."
- Richard the Lionheart, mortal, Battle of Arsuf, 1191
Now that you understand the identities of the Numinae, Nocturnae, and Arcane, we now shift focus to a key element to the world of Dark Awakenings; the Caste. This will affect ALL types of playable classes. I used the above example, because in the Crusades a man could change his stars by seeking glory for God. The point I wanted to make is that there are different roles in all societies. A Caste is a 'hereditary system of occupation, endogamy, social culture, social class, and political power.' The assignment of individuals to places in the social hierarchy is determined by social group and cultural heritage.
As an example, let us say that the lineage of the character in question is a man of Roman birth. What then would be his Caste, and how would I find such information? Well, firstly, let us look at the social hierarchies within Rome itself. The following is from Wikipedia, so to show you the ease at which this information is available.
The primary levels of social class in ancient Rome were Patricians, Plebeians, Non-citizens, Women, Foreigners, Freedmen and slaves.
Now these can be further broken down if you choose to do so, but for the sake of this guide we will say that my character is a member of the Patrician class, and because of that fact, all public offices are open to him. With this information we know that he could be a Senator, Governor, Prefect, General, etc, and for the sake of understanding the Caste concept further, if he were a Plebian then he would be a member of the general body of small landowners of Roman citizens. While they were excluded from religious colleges and magistracies, the "Conflict of the Orders" over the political status of the plebeians went on for the first two centuries of the Republic, ending with their formal equality in 287 BC. The plebeians achieved this by developing their own organizations (the Concilium Plebis), and leaders (the tribunes and plebeian Aediles).
We could elaborate further on the remaining classes of this Roman Caste, but the point has been made, and I believe it is now apparent what a Caste in the DAverse is. If you choose to make what we call a “creation myth” for your character, which will be chronicled in the next section, then the Caste is not the end all, but if you choose not to create an original origins for your character or group, or decide to play as a mortal, or one of the Disenfranchised, also chronicled later in this Guide, then the Caste will be absolutely essential to your efforts.
V. The Gens;
"That Creation is too grand, complex, and mysterious to be captured in a narrow creed. That is why we cherish individual freedom of belief. At the same time our convictions lead us to other affirmations".[/i]
- Magnus, Fae, 1787, London
The term Gens could easily be substituted for "race" or "nation," meaning a people descended from a common ancestor (rather than sharing a common physical trait). It can also be translated as "clan" or "tribe". And for our purposes this definition is perfect, because the Gens is the source of your character’s creation myth. This concept is the heart and soul of the uniqueness in the world of Dark Awakening.
A common term that could be substituted for Gens, and the one you are more familiar with, is bloodline.
To create a Gens, you first need a member of the Numinae (your choice of God or Goddess), or a mythological creature or person, one of the Nocturnae, who would act as the stereotypical Sire or Maker for your character, thus transferring his Gens, or bloodline, to you.
The Gens is also the basis for your character’s Netherworldly abilities and history. In Dark Awakening, you can create your own Gens. The best way to see how it works is to give you a detailed example. Everyone knows the Dracula legend, so we will use my version of it. What is important to keep in mind is that YOU may create an entirely different Gens.
"He must indeed have been that Voivode Dracula who won his name against the Turk, over the great river on the very frontier of Turkey-land. If it be so, then he was no common man: for in that time, and for centuries after, he was spoken of as the cleverest and most cunning, as well as the bravest of the sons of the 'land beyond the forest. A man cursed by God. A man who drank the blood of the living,"
- Mina Harker
Now, you need to answer a few questions to help you along in the process.
What cultural, religious, or historical myth and or legend, is your Gens derived from?
In this case, Dracula.
What is the method of Transformation of your character, and Gens? (Metamorphosis, Bite, Possession, Curse, Procreation, or Spell?)
In this instant, everyone knows that Dracula bites his victims. And do not fret, the terminology above is also explained in detail a bit further on.
What Numen God (s) Nocturnae, or mythological beast is your Gens based upon?
Vlad was cursed to be damned, drinking the very thing he spilt so capriciously; blood. Mircea, his dear brother, was bitten by a mysterious Turkish Vampire, who was of the Scarlet Horde, a secret order of blood drinkers left over from the Mongol occupation. There lineage can be traced back to Genghis, who was a Vampire himself.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this Gens?
Strengths: Superhuman strength, the ability to shapeshift, turn into mist, read minds and tempt and beguile women with ease. Of course there are many more but you get the picture.
Weaknesses: Holy objects and water, sunlight, wooden stakes.
What is the Hierarchy of ranks within these Gens? (Optional, in the event you want to show the Gens is organized at the Pack, Coven, and Covenant level).
*On a side note, this particular Gens contains a large amount of detail and work. You do not have to go to such lengths, but you can if you so desire. This is merely an example of how you can take one myth, and turn it into something very original in the DAverse.*
The Society of the Draculesti was made up of twelve classes. Its original twenty-four members each formed a class of their own. The lower five classes were composed mainly of humans, and were the visible ones in The Society. They were the ones the world knew. Mircea's father, Vlad II, was the head of the lowest and largest class--the knights protecting King and country. They were the warriors, the Crusaders. Other classes within the lower five were tasked to protect the people, the State, the Church, and other worldly things.
The higher seven classes were the invisible ones. They were the ones the world never knew of. Sigismund had it planned in such a way that the members of every class would not know about the identity of the members of the other classes, lest they be heads. However, all members of the higher seven classes knew of the presence of the Lance, though not all have glimpsed it. In keeping with the traditions of the Church, these classes were named after the Seven Holy Virtues.
The lowest of the seven classes is the Humilitas, or the Humble. The sixth is the Patientia, or the Peaceful. Their name is a direct contradiction to their actions. They are the ones who kill for the sake of protecting the secret of the Society. The members fifth class, Humanitas, or the Kind. They are known as those who promote the satisfaction of the higher classes. If there are those of the lower classes who are inclined to betrayal, they are the ones who make certain that the betrayal does not take place. The head of the fifth class consults with the heads of the sixth and seventh, who in turn decide what to do with the potential betrayers. The fourth class is the Industria, the Diligent. They are the guardians of work. They make certain that all the work is done. If they see any discrepancy, they come in contact with the head of the Humanitas and there plot.
The third class, the Casitas, or the Pure, are the keepers of the Lance. They are the ones tasked to hide the Lance and make certain that no one but the higher three classes know of the whereabouts of the Lance. The, Frenum, or the Controllers, are the members of the second class. Very little is known of this class, as only the most pure of the Draculesti sworn are accepted. From old legend and rumor, we do know that it is subdivided into the degrees of the lesser and those of the Greater Mysteries. The highest class is the Liberalitas, or the Vigilant. The members of this class oversee everything, and only twelve people are in this class. They are those of the blood covenant who protect the sacred rite of the dracul and the Lance. Without them, there would be no Draculesti. This is partly the reason why the members of the highest class are called the Draculesti, rather than the Vigilant, as it is them who represent the true Society.
Sigismund left this large Society in the hands of Mircea II. Now awakened by his knowledge, Mircea sought to fulfill the will of his late King, but it was no easy task. The Society was arranged in such a way that if one attempted to climb up the ladder, one would most certainly be destroyed in the process. Mircea's accomplishment of the King's will and legacy is proof in itself that he was a man worthy of governing the Society.
What is the History of your Gens? (I prefer Origins only, not a detailed chronology up to the current day. If we focus on Origins, we leave it to the prospective member to decide the course of events that follow.)
VI. Metamorphosis;The Changing
“The more a man can forget, the greater the number of metamorphoses which his life can undergo, the more he can remember, the more divine his life becomes.”
- Edmund, Demon, France, 1918
In the Dark Awakening system, the Metamorphosis, which is simply your characters change into one of the Nocturnae, can come about via the following ways; but remember, it can only be done by a Numen God, a mythological beast/person, or one of the Nocturnae. This is how your character becomes one of the Nocturnae.
*The following are only examples*
(1). Transformation (think of Zeus turning King Lycaon into a wolf) This can either be considered a Curse or a Blessing, depending on the situation.
(2). Bite - (does not have to be literal, but something close to it.) This usually is the result of a mythological creature/person or a member of one of the Nocturnae biting your character. Think of the She-wolf of Rome biting the daughter of Julius Caesar, or a member of the Draculesti Coven in Romania turning your character.
(3). Possession - (When a lesser Numen inhabits your body). Not all Numinae are equal in strength. Those weaker are the victims of the Greater. Some are placed into the bodies of beast and man to give rise to the Mythological Creatures or Beings of our legends. Others are so weak, they go unnoticed, giving rise to legends of Ghosts, spirits, or poltergeists. A good example for a Gens, is the possession of the Oracles, who speak for the Gods themselves. This metamorphosis category is also applicable to the Arcane.
(4). Ritualism - (this is mostly for the Arcane). Some mortals, or Arcane, may use certain Talisman, artifacts, or some inanimate object/material to access the power of the Netherworld, or control certain elements of it like spirits or even lesser Numen spirits.
(5). Procreation - (This is for the Demi-Gods, where a Numinae and a mortal have mated. Good examples are Hercules, Alexander the Great, and Aeneas.)
VII. Who are the Exiles?;
"My first few weeks in America are always miserable, because the tastes I am cursed with are all of a kind that cannot be gratified here, and I am not in sympathy with our gross public to make up for the lack on the aesthetic side. Ones friends are delightful; but we are none of us Americans, we don't think or feel as the Americans do, we are the wretched exotics produced in a European glass-house, the most displaced and useless class on earth"!
- William, Vampire, 1942, New York City
Now, what if you have been reading this detailed RPG Guide and come to the conclusion that you do not have the ability, time, or patience to create a Gens like the Draculesti? Or perhaps you just want, as part of your characters story, to keep his or her origins a mystery. Do you just exit the browser and leave the site and look elsewhere? No, to put it simply, you do not. I considered this possibility when designing the DAverse. It is common sense that in all communities, you have outcasts, disenfranchised, bastards, criminals, and non-believers. That holds true for the Nocturnae as well. These individuals, or groups, are known as the Exiles.
For whatever the reason may be, these are Nocturnae without a creation myth, or an understanding of their own origins. Remember when I said that Castes would be important if you’re not interested in creating a Gens? Well, now it is essential, if this is the route you are taking. After all, individuals or groups can rally around a central idea or cause, which can either be religious, political, or cultural. This is why the Caste is so important for this aspect of the guide.
Now, let us say that my character is of Roman birth, and he is a soldier and a Vampire as well, but knows nothing of his Sire, for he was killed in battle before he could tell the truth of the matter. Perhaps this Legionnaire is a follower of Mithras, which had many secret blood rites, or even of Dionysus, the drinker of wine, which can easily be substituted with the drinking of human blood in their orgies. Let’s even take it a step further, and make this man influential.
Through his charm and skill, he has gathered around him others of his kind, to worship either Mithras or Dionysus, as he does. While he and his followers do not know their beginnings, they do have common cause and a symbol, and thus with the information from your Caste, you can create a credible and riveting story without developing a Gens. It is just that easy.
VIII. Magic in the Nocturnae (Non Arcane);
"Magic is a faculty of wonderful virtue, full of most high mysteries, containing the most profound contemplation of most secret things, together with the nature, power, quality, substance and virtues thereof, as also the knowledge of whole Nature, and it doth instruct us concerning the differing and agreement of things amongst themselves, whence it produces its wonderful effects, by uniting the virtues of things through the application of them one to the other".
- Dimnivorix, Druid, 64 B.C
Now, a really intriguing aspect of the DAverse is the ability to use Magic. It does not solely extend to the Arcane, but to all Nocturnae races. How could that be possible you ask? Well here is an example. Let us say that through the process above, you have created a Christian Gens of Vampires. You’re probably shaking your head and asking yourself just what type of Magic could they use? Well by their very religious affiliation and the restrictions of the Gens itself, it would be limited to those Jesus Christ used.
Healing, transfiguration, miracles, visions, exorcism, and resurrection abilities.
Just taking the above possibilities, you have made your character more appealing to play and given him or her, some cool magical abilities to use at their disposal. Now, some may ask, how do you keep people from Godmodding and using these powers to create a super character that cannot be beaten? Well it is my hope that common sense will prevail, but if not, we will impose some guidelines. But there is a larger question now. What if you’re making a Gens so that other, potential new members can use for their character? Well, then you need to organize your magic powers into categories and levels. This is solely your responsibility. We may have a process later, but for now it is enough to know that all our Nocturnae are capable of magic use.
Continuing, there are many legends where the Vampires, Fae and Werewolves have "magical" attributes. This makes our creatures all the more sexier and realistic, and it does not take the focus off of the Gens. This does not mean you have to use magic, but if the myth or God you choose has some skills in this field, then it is applicable. Again, the Gens itself is paramount to having these abilities. However, if you chose the route of the Exiles, then you would most likely stumble upon your abilities through the course of your growth and maturation.
Now, as far as whether our magic is dark or light in nature, I do not see them as being separate. Healing, for instance, is simply the manipulation of flesh and tissue. When you think about it, someone who knows how to heal wounds and injuries would also have the knowledge and ability to magically wound others or aggravate injuries.
It is the intent of the person which decides whether a spell is dark or light here on DA.
****Below is the Cosmology which governs the entire system. It was designed to create a world that anyone could write in, both roleplayer and novelist. It is not info one would know in the book, or in the RPG game. I repeat, no character or Numinae would know of this.***
CREATION MYTH;
At the dawning of existence, came the Makers, Celestial beings neither matter nor spirit, but rather Creators and Lords of both. And from the well of their divine conscious, they shaped lesser spiritual entities, or Numinae, called such because they had no physical form whatsoever, instead existing as pure metaphysical energy and thought. The very matter of the Universe was a swirling Void of information and elements. This was before the illumination, before the brilliant gleam of the stars that would light the universe. From this vital essence, the Numinae were created.
But there were two, known as the first born, paired and mated for eternity, each enraptured by the splendor of their makers; or so it seemed. One, Kulnevaria, wished to know what existed within that looming void.
“I must claim it,'' she said in hushed whispers, “it is my birthright!”
“It is forbidden.” The calming voice of Kingumaria spoke, trying to soothe the restless spirit of his love.
She was extraordinary in every sense of the word, for she was not made from one aspect of the Makers minds, as other Numen and her mate were, but rather from their totality. She had the power and ruthlessness of one, yet strength that was tempered with the soft tenderness of the other. She spoke boldly into the silence, drawing notice from the multitude, and the Makers.
"The void is knowledge itself ! If I could but bask in its glow and learn its secrets!"
Before Kingumaria could stop her, a cold, stern voice boomed thunderously, silencing all but the gentle hum of the Cosmos itself. "Knowledge is ours alone, never to be garnered by Numen hand, and henceforth forbidden. The Void embodies the perfect blend of both life and death, as you yourself do my impetuous child."
"Then what is its purpose then", she questioned carefully, "and why deny us this right to understand? Are we not your own progeny? Spawned from the loins of your love, and the deep recesses of your infinite wisdom? Are we not worthy of that which smolders within your luminance?"
"You shall have no business with secret things", he replied, "but now behold the true creation, and attain a brief glimpse of understanding, as you yourself my child, stand precariously at the slippery edge of the fulcrum of choice".
The two Makers swirled about elements of the Void, creating a massive and destructive maelstrom which lasted for well over ten thousand years, until a gleaming sphere of molten rock coalesced out of the murkiness. With a clap of what seemed like thunder, an ethereal light emanated from the Makers, and sped toward this new planetoid, slamming into it with such force, that the barren surface splintered and cracked, spilling forth staining red magma over its chasteness. And this creation, Earth, lived, its surface forming, its core seething, and it’s pooling seas wrathful.
"We must go to the surface of this new world,'' she begged, "It calls to me father!"
This time, the response was a rebuke, the voice of indifference now rising in tenor. "Form you do not have. What has now begun may not be stopped. To insert your being into its path, will alter its course irreparably. The consequences are grave for such boldness. It is folly for one such as you. It is our creation alone, and you have no right to it. It is a symbol of our power; a power you shall never comprehend, much less attain."
"You forge this gift, yet deny? You have no right! We demand equality! We insist upon satisfaction! We beseech you for the secrets to this forbidden knowledge!" Her voice reverberated around the void, but its passionate fervor was soon smothered by the tide of rising anger, as it enveloped her in a great oppressive wave.
“Please Kulnevaria”, Kingumaria spoke, “do not incur their wrath!” But it was too late.
"I could kill you with but a thought child. Unmake you, and leave you non-existent for all eternity!"
Her defiance was silenced, albeit temporarily, and for the next two millennia, her resentment festered, until it consumed her every waking thought. Her Numen brethren rejoiced at the marvel which was Earth, most never daring to thwart its will and development, content to observe and protect the one point of perfection in an otherwise chaotic and violent galaxy.
But she could fold time and space, easily traversing the planes of existence without moving, literally displacing time under one's feet. So with this great power, she and her mate descended to the world’s surface in secret, her conscious floating triumphantly above its gleaming surface of soil and water.
Their were humanoid beasts who roamed the land, lacking the soul and knowledge to do any more. She was disappointed. They were nothing more than clay, water and other natural elements, physical yes, but having no DIVINE spark as she did.
“They are useless,'' she said to her mate. “No more vital than the green vines which cling to the soil.
“Yet the Makers forged them for a purpose, one we yet to understand my love. Perhaps they are right, we are not meant to know.”
She seemed taken aback. “Perhaps for you and our Numen brethren, but I am of the same essence as they, therefore I alone can understand.”
Kingumaria was sad, but he supported her nonetheless. “I will follow you to whatever end Kulnevaria, even if it is my own.”
The father appeared, roaring in raw anger, and shattering the very continuum of all things. "Your very presence has altered the cycle of life and death, and now, because of you, not even our fair creation will be spared from this tragic fate. Doom you have brought Kulnevaria!"
"But I do not fathom your words", she begged forgivingly, "I did not ask for this to come about. I merely wished to see."
"But of course you did", he roared, "you cherished our creation from its conception, and now you covet the sacred jewel (earth) in secret, and as your are of both, therefore it is." His spirit grew in proportion, his shadow eclipsing the twinkling stars of an infinite number of galaxies, casting all into perpetual darkness.
"I beg forgiveness for our transgressions!” Kingumaria placated. “It is not as you say", he pleaded to the other Maker, now at their mercy. “I forced her to come. My lack of understanding led us to this path. Punish me if such must happen, but not her, I beg of you!”
The bleak void was silent, and soon, but not too soon, the Mother spoke, the voice soft, and soothing. "You are forgiven, but be warned hither, firstborn of the Numinae. Never again will either of you go forth to Earth, for if you do, ruin will ensue, and perfect harmony corrupted. Never forget, only fire, death and destruction await one who craves the forbidden fruit of knowledge."
And so it seemingly was ended, and her disobedience absolved, but over time, her anger soon changed to rage, and over the course of untold millennia, hardened into spiteful vitriol. Who were they, to forbid her and Kingumaria? Was she not now worthy of title of Maker?
“You play with fire?” he warned. “You must abandon such thoughts, lest you intend to defy them once more. I will stand by your side, but I am not as you, neither are the other Numinae, who follow them blindly. You will be alone Kulnevaria, facing our Makers for your very existence.
“Your words are wise my dearest, and I would follow them if not for what is within this soul of mine. There is only one way left to us.”
“What is that, I dare to ask?”
“Rebellion...until all are free, and they are no more.”
And with such treasonous thoughts, came a cold and calculating plot. She would find a way to gain possession of this physical realm, thus usurping the authority of her Makers. But she would rule alone, for her mother and father saw only through the narrow spectrum of their own vision, where she existed in the past, the present, and the future of all things. Her name was now fitting; Kulneveria, the giver of life and death.
Sixty-five thousand years later her opportunity emerged from the swaying Savannah's that had become lush grasslands on Earth, as a beast which seemed to stand above the rest, crept forth from the fringes of barbarism, and emerged from the depths of insignificance. The morning was warm, and sunny, like so many before it, but today an Elder of these beasts, while journeying in an endless quest for sustenance and shelter, happened to fall dead. At first, the smaller creatures who accompanied it mourned, as was typical, but by fate's hand, the dying body of their lost Matriarch, writhed in a last spasm of its death throes. The clan members began to howl and bark in unison, moving back to a discrete and safe distance, fearful of what they had just seen.
“Where is Kingumaria?” She thought. “Why is he yet to appear?”
Something was amiss, she felt it deep within. These were not the mud molded beasts of before.They had fire and essence, and a will to be more than the sum of their parts.
What had changed she wondered. Why was he not by her side to see such glory? This was the moment they had waited for.
The creatures lingered suspiciously near this place of death, perceiving it in their crude minds as a place of immense power and magic; a place where the dead yet lived.
Skulls of fearsome predators, shiny gems and stones from the nearby river, and leave laden branches were placed on the dead and decaying body as sacred gifts, in an effort to appease its anger, and soothe the spirit in the afterlife it so desperately sought.
As if a miracle, soon after this offering, the strongest female of the clan bore a healthy child, while the Alpha male conquered a vicious rival from the ranks of the eastern lands, thus preserving the lineage of this troup. Months later, during an extreme drought, one young, and virile male knelt down before the now putrid burial mound, and howled a guttural scream, his eyes raised to the blue sky and its white blanket of clouds, his hands stretched toward the sun in offering. Days later, it began to rain, and life was restored to the land once more, quenching the grounds parched mouth from the tears of the lost tribe member. In their simple minds they equated the giving of gifts to their deceased elder, as the reason for their good fortune.
Hidden in shadow, and yearning for such affection and worship, Kulneveria devoured the collective synergy of the tribes faith, basking her metaphysical spirit in its ambient glow, and then, quite miraculously, in that defining moment, she beheld that she now had a soft, glowing ghost-like body, much in the image of the one who uttered the first prayer, yet, unlike these primitives, she was graced with an indescribable beauty.
“Kingumaria”, she pleaded, “come to me my love!”
Emboldened, she descended amongst them, scattering them in fear, forcing most upon bended knee in pious reverence. She had violated the oath she had sworn to the Makers, but she cared not, and with these new found abilities she began to manipulate the elements of nature to her favor, so that these primitive sentients’ would continue to pay homage to this mythical tether called faith. She reasoned, and rightly so, that as long as they believed, she could linger in this plane of existence indefinitely, and perhaps one day, take pure physical form, and claim both the realm of spirit and physicality as her sole dominion.
But her deceit had not gone unnoticed, and with great force and pain, her new body was obliterated, and her conscious sucked violently back into their domain.
“Your greed blinds you to the very source of their evolution Kulnevaria! You have what you so desire within your grasp, but do not understand why it has come to pass!” The father was mocking her, but the mother picked up where he left off.
“They have the fire which animates, which can only come from one of our kind. Ripped forcefully from one they are now aware of the world we have forged for them. They will survive, and as you take your last longing glances, perhaps you will see your mates spark within those crude bodies of theirs.”
She could not respond, frozen by anger and guilt. She had done this to him. Her desires caused his death. Kingumaria never appeared because they had slain him to give true life to their new, fleshly progeny. There was an emptiness she could not fathom within her.
“Now you truly know the cost of your dark desires", her father gloated, his own conscious suppressing her own, "heresy you have committed! Rebellion's angry flame you have stoked with your arrogance and pride! To your fate you must go! No longer will coy answers and clever cons conceal your true intent. Kingumaria begged in the end for his life and I took great pride in ripping it from him, painfully and slowly!”
“Why?” She demanded. “What cause could prove so just? What reason could exist for wanton cruelty? Tyrants you both are, murders and malcontents!”
“We have chosen your path Kulnevaria, now you must submit to our will, or suffer your lovers fate”, her mother concurred, sadness tainting each word.
Kulneveria now stood firmly on the fulcrum of give and take, no longer in fear of their collective wrath. "He will be avenged! He will be brought back to this realm if I must drain his essence from each frail, human you love so dearly! You are both blind, victims to your own perceived perfection. I am the culmination of your minds, and thus I have eclipsed your grandeur and wisdom! You are extinct and immaterial Mother and Father!"
In unison, they spoke, their words trembling both the heavens and earth. "Then you are condemned to see all, but yet remain blind! You will henceforth sense, but never truly feel! You are destined to know, but lack true understanding! You will live Kulneveria, yet still exist without bodily form! Kingumaria will never return from the Dusk of the Netherworld!"
And then there was heavenly and rapturous war. Kulnervaria against her Makers and all the Numinae who fought beside their parents.
The battle raged for over sixteen millennia, until finally, with a force immeasurable, her essence was cast down towards the earth like a streaking meteor. She retaliated, assaulting them with the very last vestiges of her power, wounding them mortally, just before she slammed into the planet, cracking it like a soft egg shell, as her spirit was buried deep beneath the soil.
The impact had caused the great oceans to flood the land, nearly decimating humanity, but clever and intelligent, they survived.
She had been unmade, doomed to neither life or death, left for the harsh winds of time, which would slowly sweep her conscious away bit by bit. In that moment of her demise, her essence exploded, obliterating the realm of the Makers. Yet in the blackness of this death, a piece of her yet lived, a mere fragment, a vengeful wraith who craved her resurrection at any costs. Without the Creators, the Numinae exploded into Civil war, and thus the great Diaspora or scattering began, as the Numen began to descend to earth, tapping into the one resource that would never be exhausted; the endless fount of humanities Faith.
What became of Kulneveria is not known, and while her wraith stills worships her to this day, hoping to free her from the void of non-existence. the Numinae hope to keep her buried for all eternity; this is their world now and mankind dances to their tune.