Post by THE POWERS THAT BE on Dec 7, 2012 1:25:06 GMT -5
RACES
a regular freakshow
For our purposes, "races" are loosely applied to different types of magical beings.
We allow most species based on legend or folklore. We also allow creativity; if you've seen it on Charmed or Supernatural, it will probably fly here.
Our only concern is that we avoid overpowered characters. For example, the Judeo-Christian God does not fall under any race, because He is not playable.
If your character does not clearly fit into one of the races listed below, squint a little and try to make them fit.
Post by THE POWERS THAT BE on Dec 7, 2012 2:15:40 GMT -5
DEITIES
american gods
As immigrants traveled to America's shores, they brought their beliefs: their myths and legends. They brought their gods.
Without worship, without temples, without sacrifices, these old gods are no longer as mighty as they once were. Still, they have power, and they may yet use it.
Gods cannot die, but they live out normal, mortal lives. When their body dies, their soul is reincarnated with all of its memories intact.
Their powers vary. A god of wisdom may have clairvoyance or telepathy for powers. On the other hand, a god of war is likely to have superhuman strength and speed.
The old gods are factionalized by pantheon. The pantheons used to fight each other for worshippers. Some gods have forgiven their old enemies; others have not.
Post by THE POWERS THAT BE on Dec 7, 2012 2:24:14 GMT -5
WATCHERS
angels and the fallen
Their legend claims that they were put here on earth by God to watch over and guide humanity. Sleepers call them angels, but we know them better as watchers.
They aren't actually sure God is real. At least they know Satan is the real deal, although for all they know, his hate towards God is but the ravings of a madman.
Watchers, fallen or otherwise, tend to live amongst humans, doing as humans do. They are immortal and do not age. If their body is killed (mind you, they DO feel pain), they will reform alive and well in a spot of their choosing after a few days.
The dutiful watchers have held by their task; they are proper angels, humanity's most stalwart guardians. The fallen have abandoned their task; they do whatever they damned well want.
Angels and fallen angels don't usually get along. At all.
Post by THE POWERS THAT BE on Dec 7, 2012 2:52:10 GMT -5
VAMPIRES
the living dead
Vampirism varies depending on the specific bloodline. These facts hold true for all bloodlines: transfusion of blood may turn a bite victim. If they fear death, they will become a vampire. If not, then they die. Well-fed vampires appear radiantly alive; starved vampires look like fresh corpses.
Holy symbols do not repel them unless wielded by a true believer. Garlic does nothing. Crossing running water is deeply painful. They may not enter a house without invitation. They are nocturnal, and sunlight blinds and burns them. They may be killed by fire, a stake through the heart, or decapitation. Otherwise, they live forever, never aging from the day they died.
New York has two significant vampire covens. The first is the Ordo Dracul, regal and traditional, a coven that historically only accepts European bloodlines but has recently opened its arms to all bloodlines. The second is simply called V. They are young, typically headstrong and very thirsty, and their coven is well adapted to modernity.
Post by THE POWERS THAT BE on Dec 7, 2012 2:57:07 GMT -5
WEREWOLVES
lycanthropes and loup-garou
Werewolves are strongest in a pack, magically increasing in power as their numbers grow, although pack power tends to peak and then plateau around twenty-five members. New York City features various packs as well as plenty of lone omegas. In human form, even an omega has remarkable strength and speed.
A werewolf's bite may turn a human. If their will is strong, they will become a werewolf. If not, the bite will heal into an unfading scar. Upon the full moon, werewolves transform from their human form into a wolf form. With practice, a werewolf can assume a half-wolf, half-human form at will, benefiting from the strengths of both.
Their bloodlust during/around the full moon and in wolf form is controllable with experience. Silver burns a werewolf. A wound from a silver bullet will immediately fester and prove fatal unless quickly removed. Otherwise, werewolves live normal mortal lives. Their children will also be werewolves.
Other were-creatures are rare, with werecats being the most common. They are effectively the same as above, except with a different animal in place of the wolf.
Post by THE POWERS THAT BE on Dec 7, 2012 3:15:20 GMT -5
FAERIES
the people of dreams
Faeries are creatures that originated in the dreaming. Generally lithesome and beautiful, they are the same size as humans, although often with ethereal features. A changeling is a faerie exchanged for a human infant at birth for whatever reason.
Faeries are higher up on the food chain than humans. They eat dreams, turning them into nightmares. Failing a supply of dreams, they may feed on positive emotions, draining them until they're negative emotions.
Faeries are capable of traveling freely to and from the dreaming. They may have any variety of powers. A faerie cannot lie or break a promise. They do not age or require physical sustenance, but if they do not feed, they simply fade away into nothingness. They do not age. If killed in reality, they wake up in the Dreaming. They may be killed permanently in the Dreaming.
The faeries hold court in the dreaming. The Seelie Court are kindly towards humans, just as humans are to livestock. The Unseelie Court prefer to hunt human dreams with a certain clarity of purpose. Both are vengeful.
Post by THE POWERS THAT BE on Dec 7, 2012 3:24:55 GMT -5
GHOSTS
the restless dead
Ghosts are the spirits of the dead that are still tied to the living world. At their most basic form, they are simple-minded and incorporeal, typically angry and vindictive although sometimes they act as guardians.
More complex ghosts also exist. A dead soul with strong emotions will create a powerful ghost. However, it takes a dead soul with a strong will to create a smart ghost. Dumb ghosts, even powerful ones, may not even know they're dead. Smarter ghosts are capable of moving freely, irregardless of where they died, and are able to continue learning and maturing even after death.
Powerful ghosts may possess bodies or even objects, giving them physical form.
Weaker ghosts are capable of interacting with reality in minor ways. Stronger ghosts may interact with reality as they wish, appearing and disappearing at will. Strong ghosts whose emotions and dying wishes are not satiated will eventually become demons.
Post by THE POWERS THAT BE on Dec 7, 2012 3:46:53 GMT -5
DEMONS
harbringers of chaos
Shhhh, it's a secret! Demons are born from intelligent and powerful ghosts that have overstayed their welcome. Humankind was never meant to walk the Earth forever, and after too long, the mind grows arrogant and the heart stops feeling. A human soul decays into that of a demon.
Demons are a varied bunch, and they do not work with each other as a general rule. Some are cruel, others are whimsically kind. They may crave power, but mostly they crave chaos. They are old, and they are bored.
Demons have corporeal form and any variety of powers. Demons may or may not have a bestial form, but even if they do, they have a human guise as well. They can be bound and exorcised like a ghost, but they cannot be killed by any conventional means.
A demon's soul cannot be satiated. They are effectively doomed to walk the earth discontent until the end of time. In theory, a satiated demon is free to die.
Post by THE POWERS THAT BE on Dec 7, 2012 4:00:02 GMT -5
SORCERERS
magic in the blood
Sorcerers are elementalists by any other name. Their powers are innate, they're simply born with them, and they're uniquely tied to nature. Their powers, as it were, comes from the source.
A pyromancer can control fire, and perhaps create fire and have immunity to fire. A druid may be able to commune with animals and control plants. A sorcerer's powers (and names) are highly varied, but they are not random. There is no sorcerer that can both control fire and talk to animals. Some relation is required; a weather witch may be able to control both water and lightning, for example.
Besides for their powers, a sorcerer is human in every way. Because their powers are inherited, their upbringing likely had them exposed to magic and other wakers from an early age. They may have knowledge of ritual magic. They will live and die as any human does.
Post by THE POWERS THAT BE on Dec 7, 2012 4:11:29 GMT -5
MAGI
scholars of the great arcane
Often called a witch or a wizard, a mage chooses to study magic. They begin as any sleeper does, or perhaps they're born to a lineage of wakers. Either way, they study arcana: spells and rituals that make almost anything possible.
A crafted charm may protect a house. An enchanted mirror may spy on others. A portal may be opened to another realm. A cursed apple may gift eternal sleep. A flick of a wand may blast doors open. Spells and rituals require time to prepare, but their potential in the hands of a talented and studied mage is nigh limitless.
Spells and rituals require magical components and incantations. It is commonly accepted theory that the specific components and incantations don't actually matter as long as they make sense and "feel right" to the mage in question.
The common thread is that their power is obtained through study and practice. Rituals can be shared amongst mages, which makes spellbooks invaluable.
Post by THE POWERS THAT BE on Dec 7, 2012 4:20:01 GMT -5
MEDIUMS
those who walk the realms
Mediums are waking humans that specialize in dealing with the other occult. They may seek to combat it, to control it, or to simply destroy it. Some are born mediums, those that see into multiple realms, but others learn the skill.
Their powers run the gamut and may be combined with a sorcerer's or a magi's. Common powers include clairvoyance, astral projection, and empathy. An untrained natural-born medium may be capable of nothing more.
However, mediums are known for being to summon deities, watchers, faeries, and ghosts. Strong, experienced mediums may also be able to bind them for a time, negotiate or control them, or banish them. The stronger the spirit, the more likely the medium will be summarily murdered for their efforts.
Post by THE POWERS THAT BE on Dec 7, 2012 4:23:54 GMT -5
SLEEPERS
they will die before they wake
Sleepers are ordinary humans, as opposed to wakers, who are humans that are aware of the magical world.
Sleepers are prey to a whole host of magical creatures, not to mention themselves. They are the protectorates of angels, well-meaning faeries, and some waking humans.
Sleepers may be sorcerers who are not yet aware of their powers. The older a sorcerer gets, the more unlikely this becomes.
HIDDEN in plain sight is a modern-day supernatural noir game set in New York City and sprawling the rest of America. Magic is real, and so are angels, ghosts, gods, vampires, and witches. It doesn't matter if you believe in them, because they're coming for you either way.
( TOSKA ) - Head admin, your go-to for anything HIDDEN related
( MURK ) - Ad mod, resident cutie pie. Keep it in your pants or Toska will cut you.
( VERTIGO ) - takes no math classes.
( TSUNDERE ) - Not actually staff, but has residual staff powers from v4. Feel free to pester with questions.
SPOTLIGHT
HIDDEN's spotlights give kudos to anything awesome. It can be a character, a member, a thread, or even a cool plot!
( SPOTLIGHT ) - Lorem ipsum character stuff goes here.
( SPOTLIGHT ) - Lorem ipsum character stuff goes here.
( SPOTLIGHT ) - Lorem ipsum character stuff goes here.
CREDITS
( ORIGINAL SITE BY KATYA ) - Original site, templates, skin, ideas, and system all by Katya. Other ideas belong to their original owners