[center][h1][b][color=000000]⊰[/color][/b][u][b]ℒ[/b] icentia[/u][b][color=000000]⊱[/color][/b][/h1][/center]

[hider=Licentia – A History]Diversity, an ideal that has defined the licentia for much of their existence as a species, it is still not one that has always existed, as the annals hidden deep in Edravhen's Archives tells of a very different origin. It tells of two races of licentia whose names have been forgotten, or erased. Now known only as the precursors by those few scholars and historians among their kind, these two species were different from their descendants, they were united. While the licentia of today and even thousands of years hence, are a group of disparate beings, forming factions that often war amongst one another, with no real stability or unification to be found throughout their species as a whole their ancestors were different. The Precursors were two species, each different from the other, but whom nonetheless acted almost as a single governing body, warring and creating conflict only for the purpose of their development, rather than out of any real joy in the act.

However, there came a time where they felt the world wearing on them and knew it was time for them to pass on the torch, or at least to try and make something...better. So began the great task, given to them by the Will, the mysterious and powerful guiding force that, even to this day, acts as the force which moves the licentia forwards—unbeknownst to them. By the power of the Will, the Precursors designed and then birthed their first true offspring, who were known as the TRISTARI. These children were magically adept, and their creators taught them the ways that they follow to this day, they taught them to adhere to and spread the Will where they could; the taught them to gather knowledge and catalogue it, and most importantly, they taught them to utilize their natural talents. So was born the magical masters among the licentia. The TRISTARI rose in prominence, bringing wealth, happiness, and great progress to their kind's civilization...but as time passed something came to the attention of the Precursors. Their bodies had begun to shrivel and weaken, and each child they birthed was weaker than the last.

Out of fear and in their wisdom and newly elevated state, the Precursors bore a new species, and named them the Nightwalkers. In them they instilled the powers of their body, and the ideology of chaos, driving them to spread the Will through it and to make certain that licentia of the future never lost sight of their physical vessels.

The species succeeded and in their success they brought great health and evolution to their kind, driving the licentia further upwards. The sciences of the physical world began to reveal themselves to their kind, and merged with the magical knowledge of the TRISTARI it allowed them, for the first time, to erect cities and nations that spanned entire levels of Torqueo. Yet, it was not to last as the nations became divided, with the ideologies of the two child species clashing, it brought their kind into a war that seemed never to end.

At first nothing seemed amiss as the Precursors watched their children with smiles, pleased that the conflict bred stronger licentia, that was...until they noticed that less of their kind were born, or survived to adulthood as the wars raged on. A noticeable strain was being put on their species and the Precursors took it upon themselves to fix it. Spurred on by this knowledge and a vision from one of their elders, telling of a threat that would wipe them out in earnest, the Precursor races looked to one another and this time, instead of each of their kind birthing a species, they merged and turned themselves from two races...into one and from this species were born the Ahldreian.

They were unlike their siblings, bearing not the intent to spread the Will, to ensure development, or to incite the gathering of knowledge and the advancement of culture. Instead, the Ahldreian harnessed the Will and the power of their tremendous minds, calling upon the very fabric of their world they emerged from the shadows, appearing exactly when and where they were needed.

In a single century, which was no time at all for their kind, the wars that had lasted for thousands of years, came to a swift and decisive end. There were no winners and no losers, there were only licentia, and they had been united under the banner of the Ahldreian and their sibling species. While the three sibling races did not like one another, it was their purpose—imparted to them by their creators—to ensure the survival and continued development of their kind, and so they did their duty.

Again licentian civilization entered a golden age, this time one far more pronounced than the last two. Cities and countries were founded, trade abounded, and while wars were fought, they were brief and decisive, driving their evolution ever forwards and stimulating their minds. This lasted for three thousand years before tragedy struck, a tragedy which the licentia of today have all but forgotten.

Millions of their kind were devoured and while the licentia tried to stop it, they could do nothing against the being that had once been kin. The ascended TRISTARI wrecked havoc among their people, devouring thousands of its own kind, the Nightwalkers, and most of all the Ahldreian before it turned its attention to other realms. Licentian society was left in shambles and a distrust had been driven into their species as a whole. A distrust of one another.

They split into smaller countries and factions, fighting over land, resources, and even simply due to differences in ideology. The three guardian species that the now largely extinct Precursors had birthed watched in abject horror, their numbers too few to do anything, as the unity their kind had once had...dissolved. Hit most hard were the Ahldreian, the very species that would best be able to avert the disaster.

Instead, unable to affect change as they typically would, the Ahldreian secluded themselves, hiding and spreading out so that what had crippled their population before could not happen again. They bid their siblings stay in contact, but withdraw from leadership and while they did not like it, they acquiesced. For millenia this has continued, though as time went on the TRISTARI, now known as the Hystal, as well as the Nightwalkers, began reintegrating themselves into Licentia society. This has continued till the present, with the Ahldreian remaining largely in seclusion, only gracing their peers in times of great crisis while they fill their ranks once more. So brings us to the current state of affairs, where Nightwalkers have not ruled a true empire for thousands of years, the TRISTARI have hidden their true name and acted only subtly, and the Ahldreian have all but obscured their true nature from the rest of their kind. It is a dire state that their kind are in indeed, and yet...few licentia know it. Change must come soon, for if it does not...surely their kind are doomed.

After all, what threatened them once still lives...and it cannot sleep forever.[/hider]
[hider=Sub-species][center][h2][b][u][i][color=#2E2C2C]_[/color][color=#2B2A2D]_[/color][color=#29292E]_[/color][color=#27272F]_[/color][color=#252631]_[/color][color=#222432]_[/color][color=#202333]_[/color][color=#1E2135]_[/color][color=#1C2036]_[/color][color=#191E37]_[/color][color=#171D39]_[/color][color=#151B3A]_[/color][color=#131A3B]_[/color][color=#11193D]N[/color][color=#0F1637]i[/color][color=#0E1432]g[/color][color=#0C122D]h[/color][color=#0B1028]t[/color][color=#090E23]w[/color][color=#080C1E]a[/color][color=#070A19]l[/color][color=#050814]k[/color][color=#04060F]e[/color][color=#02040A]r[/color][color=#010205]s[/color][color=#000000]_[/color][color=#030303]_[/color][color=#070606]_[/color][color=#0A0A0A]_[/color][color=#0E0D0D]_[/color][color=#111010]_[/color][color=#151414]_[/color][color=#181717]_[/color][color=#1C1B1B]_[/color][color=#1F1E1E]_[/color][color=#232121]_[/color][color=#262525]_[/color][color=#2A2828]_[/color][/i][/u][/b][/h2][hr][img]http://img13.deviantart.net/a167/i/2010/216/2/e/dramargu_by_chriscold.jpg[/img][sub]Art by [url=http://chriscold.deviantart.com][color=white]ChrisCold[/color][/url][/sub][hr][hider= ][hider=Physiology]One of the elder sub-species of Licentia, Nightwalkers are often beings of manipulation and deceit, tending to be tricksters of a sort. Their kind idealizing cunning and intellect, Nightwalkers are well known for their ability to enchant others with their charm, or wrap them around their metaphorical finger with their tact and wit. So focused on manipulation, cunning, and awareness are they, that these Licentia have developed a physiology to match their nature.

Notable first and foremost is their appearance, which when not shifted to their will, is that of a viscous black vis, similar in appearance to thick smoke or dark shadows; this form often broken by glowing eyes of varied coloration—though with no pupils. This amorphous form is one they have distinct control over, allowing them to shift it into a variety of shapes, alter its texture, smell, and even taste. In this it is revealed that they are adept shapeshifters, capable of taking on almost any form provided they have the necessary vis to fuel the transformation. Unlike many Licentia shapeshifters, though more similar to licentia of the growth stage in this, Nightwalkers can actually do more than take on the mere appearance of something. In fact, so adept in their transformative abilities are they that they can create entire biological systems including organs and otherwise viscera to make their forms as realistic as possible. However, while a Nightwalker can suppress its true Licentian nature and even take in the vis of other beings to mimic them, they can never entirely hide their true nature.

Notable too are the soul cores that dwell within a Nightwalker's form, as these are its only true vital points. These cores, typically numbering anywhere between three and nine, can be moved around the Nightwalker's body, and often take on the same color as the rest of them, disguising themselves with the rest of their current form so as to not be made easy targets. Nonetheless, these cores always remain solid no matter the nightwalker's form. Additionally, nightwalkers, even when in a more ethereal state, are known to be damaged by magics centering around purification and/or light. As to more physical means of damaging their ilk, there comes to mind vis-infused platinum, which can harm the beings as a normal weapon harms a human—doing damage that cannot be immediately repaired even if the Licentia takes on a new form. Beyond this, there are various sorts of magic that deal in putting vis into stasis or dispersing it. These magics, when used against a nightwalker, are quite effective, forcing them either to maintain whatever form they had taken until the restrictions are removed, or forcing them into their truest shape.[/hider]
[hider=Abilities]Aside from their inherent talent for shapeshifting, nightwalkers possess several other rather notable skills, the most universal of those being their [i]shadow magic[/i]. While there are mages of note who manipulate shadows, nightwalkers are surely the most prolific. Due to their bodies being composed in part of the very [i]essence[/i] of shadows, these licentia have developed the ability to both [i]possess[/i] and manipulate shadows, which has allowed them a variety of abilities. First it allows any nightwalker to make shadows a physical construct, allowing them to take hold of any nearby darkness and use it as an extension of their body or outright make it a part of them. This reveals their ability to not only attain more physical mass, but also to connect themselves through said shadows. The latter of these abilities allows them to perform what has been coined [i]'Shadow Walking'[/i] which is a traversal ability that allows nightwalkers to step [i]into[/i] one shadow and emerge from another, the process originating from their their nature, their connection to shadows, and of course their [i]senses[/i].

This brings us to what a nightwalker's senses really are, which while it can vary somewhat as one develops, always include a shadow sense, a vis sense, as well as the five normal senses. While a nightwalker can focus on the five senses and/or their vis sense to increase the strength of them, their shadow sense is [i]inherent[/i] and essentially allows them to detect things better in darkness or to detect darkness and shadows themselves. Over the centuries this has given nightwalkers a reputation and has led the other races to adopt a particular methodology for dealing with their kind. This methodology is more often than not summed up quite well by a world renowned hunter of old.

[quote=Prof. Hale Aldbright(1782-1864)][b]“If dusk has fallen, and a nightwalker comes callin', there's naught left to do, but pray.”[/b][/quote][/hider]
[hider=Culture & History]As one might think, nightwalkers are a mysterious lot shrouded in darkness and obscurity and so where they truly originated in their home plane of Torqueo is largely forgotten. However, from what human historians have gathered over the ages, and what little licentian scholars have revealed, nightwalkers developed tens of thousands of years ago, at first dwelling in the shadows, hiding themselves due to the rarity of their kind back then. Yet, in the ensuing years they rose from the darkness, bringing it with them, and swallowed whole portions of Torqueo in dark shrouds. From that time onwards, nightwalkers have taken sanctuary or emerged from these pockets of pure darkness, but they are not a united people, instead scheming against one another more often than not. As to humanity's relation to the species, well they have preyed upon mankind since time memorial, with legends of them including insidious nightmare creatures and beings dragging children off in the night, whisking them away to who knows where.

As to their culture, it tends to vary a great deal, but the majority of nightwalkers learn quickly that intelligence and wit is the only way for them to survive amongst their own, and later in the world at large. As such, their kind values these things greatly and are understandably proud of themselves for having attained such cunning. Still, while their kind are respected among licentia, the individuals are often not, as they have the nasty tendency of making far more enemies than friends with their manipulative and, sometimes cruel, ways.

They are seen as saboteurs, and architects of grand schemes. They are tacticians, if not warriors, scholars, if not explorers, but most of all...they are tricksters and this every race knows. To deal with a nightwalker, is to tempt fate.

Yet there are those records that tell a different story, a story dating back almost to the very conception of licentia as a species. These records, hidden away in secretive locations and buried deep within Edravhen's Archives paint nightwalkers not as devious beings bent upon controlling others and driving wedges in society, but tell of a species that were created to serve a distinct purpose. The stories speak of nightwalkers with reverence, not hatred; with respect, and maybe just a hint of fear, for nightwalkers were brought into this world by the Precursors. In essence, nightwalkers were brought into the world to prevent the withering of their species' bodies, with their purpose to incite conflict, be it of a physical or cerebral sort to drive their kind forever forwards. Yet, over the vast millenia that they have existed, many of their kind have forgotten the truth of their purpose, yet, so ingrained in their culture and instincts is it that they uphold it even to this day--though perhaps not to the letter.

After all, nightwalkers are an adaptive sort, refusing to be held down by any expectation or limitation placed upon them.[/hider][/hider][/center]

[center][h2][b][u][i][color=#2E2C2C]_[/color][color=#332931]_[/color][color=#382736]_[/color][color=#3D253B]_[/color][color=#422241]_[/color][color=#482046]_[/color][color=#4D1E4B]_[/color][color=#521B51]_[/color][color=#571956]_[/color][color=#5C175B]_[/color][color=#621461]_[/color][color=#671266]_[/color][color=#6C106B]_[/color][color=#710D71]T[/color][color=#760B76]h[/color][color=#7C097B]e[/color][color=#810681]_[/color][color=#860486]A[/color][color=#8B028B]h[/color][color=#910090]l[/color][color=#8B028B]d[/color][color=#860486]r[/color][color=#810681]e[/color][color=#7C097B]i[/color][color=#760B76]a[/color][color=#710D71]n[/color][color=#6C106B]_[/color][color=#671266]_[/color][color=#621461]_[/color][color=#5C175B]_[/color][color=#571956]_[/color][color=#521B51]_[/color][color=#4D1E4B]_[/color][color=#482046]_[/color][color=#422241]_[/color][color=#3D253B]_[/color][color=#382736]_[/color][color=#332931]_[/color][color=#2E2C2C]_[/color][/i][/u][/b][/h2][hr][img]http://orig14.deviantart.net/fc27/f/2015/087/c/a/zachriel___angel_of_memory_by_petemohrbacher-d8nfpga.jpg[/img]
[sub]Art by [url=http://petemohrbacher.deviantart.com][color=white]petemohrbacher[/color][/url][/sub][hr][hider= ][hider=Physiology]The most cerebral of the three sibling races of licentia, the Ahldreian possess both an intensely powerful mind as well as an intrinsic connection to the Will, a force that existence cannot go without. It is this connection that gives the Ahldreian their understanding of the world, any knowledge they should need, and of course...clairvoyance. While both the Nightwalkers and TRISTARI possess each their own powerful intuition, the Ahldreian, while youngest among the three, are capable of actually observing the flow of fate and ascertaining how to pull possibilities from the Rift and into reality. Of course, this enigmatic race possess other boons, such as their adaptable bodies, which they can tune, along with their vis, so as to channel energy in differing ways. While not so strong as their siblings in these ways, the Ahldreian are nonetheless formidable adversaries, often standing anywhere between six and ten feet, though their imposing height is not matched with much bulk.

Slender and frail looking, Ahldreian are nonetheless much more dangerous than they appear, as they possess a fine tuned understanding of the world around them which surpasses that of most. Joining their unique mind and clairvoyance are their astounding senses, which are less physical in nature than most as instead of eyes, ears, mouths, and noses, every Ahldreian merely possess a series of highly sensitive organ-like constructs within their bodies. These crystalline formations are connected directly to their soul core, which, rather fittingly, resides in their head. Essentially, these 'organs' function by way of detecting the interactions between vis of all sorts and their environment on a fundamental level. This makes them capable of all five normal senses, but ramped up hundreds of times in sensitivity and accuracy, without any avenue for normal overexposure, making it impossible to 'blind' or 'deafen' them in the traditional sense. However, this powerful sense comes at a cost and that cost is a weakness to the manipulation of vast amounts of vis within their direct vicinity causing an overpowering nausea-like sickness. Beyond this, Ahldreian are not particularly durable and as with their siblings, they are uniquely weak to vis-infused platinum.[/hider]
[hider=Abilities]While Nightwalkers have their shadow magic and TRISTARI their magical mastery, the Ahldreian hold dominion over the powers of clairvoyance, illusion, and frequency-based magic. While clairvoyance and illusion are rather common, frequency-based magic is something that merits explanation. This discipline was developed to allow the Ahldreian to practice magic despite the weaknesses associated with their unique senses. By using their connection and understanding of the Will, the Ahldreian can extend both their vis beyond physical space and over vast distances allowing them to perform magic without directly disturbing their surroundings. While some magics achieve this by merely stretching the caster's energy over vast distances, the Ahldreian do so by resonating their vis with that of another location, and then connected it to their will for a time. This makes them adept at casting spells with vast scope and range, while reducing their skill for spells requiring precision. Of course, an Ahldreian [i]can[/i] be precise, it simply takes more effort or a different methodology than a normal mage would require.

As to their talents for illusion magics, the Ahldreian can be said to be so skilled that none aside from their siblings and the most dedicated, or trusted, of scholars has any inkling of the ability. This is, in part, due to their tendency to use illusions on an incredibly minute level to suggest ideas or slightly alter the impression they give to others. It is this ability coupled with their mind and foresight that gives them the ability to unite their kind, and perhaps others as well. After all, how could we know, we're only human.

[quote=Dharvae'kari Morain(25 BC to Present)][b]“When the world is in ruins and hope seems lost, they will come, and with the world darkened from their absence, their presence will blind and confound. Though when their work is done and our senses adjusted, we will stand in a new world...uplifted yet none-the-wiser.”[/b][/quote][/hider]
[hider=Culture & History]Dating back to the advent of the licentian race, the Ahldreian have existed almost since the birth of their species. They possess a rich history and while they have always been fewer in numbers than their two sibling races, the Nightwalkers and TRISTARI, the Ahldreian have nonetheless taken up the position of leadership when it was needed most, with their kind having led licenti throughout the ages into periods of prosperity unseen in the current era. Nonetheless, information regarding their exact personal is something that would be highly valued, but has nonetheless been hiden by what remains of the Ahldreian race today.

Their culture on the other hand has, in part, been uncovered. First and foremost, the Ahldreian value the mind and the guiding powers of fate's numerous threads. They are beings who do not look back, but instead always plan for the future, taking in their present circumstances, and pushing themselves, and their kind, into a newer and brighter tomorrow. This is their chief purpose in the world, and it follows that they believe it a righteous and all important one. However, this sense of importance can make their kind rather overconfident, which is perhaps one of the reasons that they have shrouded themselves in myth and mystery.

Beyond this, the Ahldreian are known to be a reclusive people, keeping to themselves and protecting their own with an admirable ferocity. Similarly they do not often venture outside of those places wherein they lurk, but when they do, my do they stir up the waters.

Perhaps one day they will emerge from the shadows and reveal to the world the reason for their actions.

Perhaps.[/hider][/hider][/center]

[center][h2][b][i][u][color=#FFC233]_[/color][color=#FFB630]_[/color][color=#FFAA2D]_[/color][color=#FF9F2A]_[/color][color=#FF9328]_[/color][color=#FF8725]_[/color][color=#FF7C22]_[/color][color=#FF7020]_[/color][color=#FF651D]_[/color][color=#FF591A]_[/color][color=#FF4D18]_[/color][color=#FF4215]_[/color][color=#FF3612]_[/color][color=#FF2A10]K[/color][color=#FF1F0D]i[/color][color=#FF130A]t[/color][color=#FF0808]s[/color][color=#FF130A]u[/color][color=#FF1F0D]n[/color][color=#FF2A10]e[/color][color=#FF3612]_[/color][color=#FF4215]_[/color][color=#FF4D18]_[/color][color=#FF591A]_[/color][color=#FF651D]_[/color][color=#FF7020]_[/color][color=#FF7C22]_[/color][color=#FF8725]_[/color][color=#FF9328]_[/color][color=#FF9F2A]_[/color][color=#FFAA2D]_[/color][color=#FFB630]_[/color][color=#FFC233]_[/color][/u][/i][/b][/h2][/center]

[center][img]http://s60.radikal.ru/i167/1103/db/4514b7149e78.jpg[/img]
 
[sub]Art work belongs to the respective artist, not myself, and I’m only using for representation 

Written by: [@Fallenreaper][/sub][/center]

[hider=Physiology]

[u]Breeding[/u]

Kitsune breeding methods slightly differ depending on their genders. 
 
Males tend to seek out pregnant  females either by shape shifting into their lovers, husbands or desirable male the target finds sexually attractive. Females follow a similar route by shape shifting into a suitable form to become pregnant and seducing a male into bed where she drains him of a notable amount of vis, DNA, and produces a fetus within herself. 

While the infant, in either form, is developing the Kitsune splits off half their soul core and infuse it into the growing life. The core eventually infects and overcomes the fetus’ life over the next nine months, the newborn Kitsune finally formed and busting out from its mother into the world. With a human woman this process usually kills her since their system isn’t use to the shock, but a Kitsune mother will simply shudder and apply her shape shifting ability to recover from the damage. The latter will often move on with their lives, not staying to raise the helpless kit.     

 [u] Pact [/u]


Kitsune has developed the ability to cheat death in a unique way: though a pact created by another being and creating a shard. This tends to be either Licenti or human (usually a mage) as Prae tend to have racial tenancies against Licentia in general, but it is possible.    

When a Kitsune creates a pact, they choose a being to become a keeper of sorts for their shard and also to help supply vis into the ritual. Using the supplied Vis from the would be pact holder, they split about 1/4th of their Soul Core off. It condenses down into a shard like item and holds the genetic blueprint to reconstruct them later. The pact holder, in order to retain the current contract, must protect and keep it safe or risk breaking the link between them.  

[u]Growth/Development[/u]

[b]Birth to Childhood[/b] 

After being born, Kitsune’s development is very unusual compared to most Licentia. Instead of going to and forth from a growth to trial stage, they are set within an extended growth stage until about 2 decades of their lives. They seem to grow much like human with occasional brief burst of rapid changes that cover numerous years and vary between individual Kitsune before falling back to a steady rate. It’s very similar to humans’ growth ‘spurts’ in theory. Usually 2-3 changes are the normal while beyond 3 are exceptionally rare. Since they gain no magical strength or additions during the first 20 years of their lives, they remain solid and able to interact with the world. This also makes them more likely to be killed and consumed by other Licentia or humans (mistaking them for normal foxes- see paragraph below).  

When they bust from their mothers, the infant Kitsune’s shape is that of a fox with a single tail and one magic ability. This ability is to help them survive as they are most vulnerable during this time in their lives. Within the first two years, they develop like a normal fox would physically and their growing mentality would reach that of an eight year old. 

At hitting this milestone, they tend to gain their first growth ‘spurt’ causing them to take on the appearance of a humanoid fox around eight years old. They return to a steady growing rate with a few ‘spurts’ here or there depending on the Kitsune’s individual growth until they reach the adult stage at age 20.       

[b]Adulthood[/b]

After age of twenty, their growth and trial stages alters again. Instead of an extended growth period, there’s two trial stages and one prolonged growth period in the middle. Most humans believed, even to this day, that a Kitsune gains magic based on their tail number but this is incorrect thinking and knowledge. In their first trial stage (tail 1 to 3) they gain a new spell for each new tail they grow, not counting the one they originally started off with.  

When they hit the fourth tail, they enter a growth stage. It’s a lot like their extended growth stage in their youth where it last up to a few centuries but without the ‘spurts’. They remain solid, their bodies able to collect Vis from their environment and building it up over time to strengthen their magic.  

During this time, they gain no more magic spells, but they will still continue to grow tails. This is believed to be a biological way for them to keep track of time until their growth stage is complete. Another thing to notice is that due their bodies hoarding Vis, all their magic is slightly weaker than prior stages and while this makes them more cautious, this doesn’t make them helpless. If a Kitsune reaches the required Vis amounts before they reach the seventh tail, they will gain full potential in magical power but will not gain another ability until they reach the seventh tail. 

When they hit the seventh tail, another trial stage begins repeating the process with tails seven through nine. When hitting nineth tail, the Kitsune begins to edge into the Eximius stage and undergoes one final change to their physical form: enhanced physical traits. This means their speed, strength, durability and more reaches into notable levels making them formidable close combat fighters. 

They are also no longer in need of their ability to create a pact with another being, but can retain one if they desire. The main difference between this stage and the ones before it is the fact the Eximius can break it without the holder’s permission at any time and without ever harming the individual. Allowing them to recreate a new one or not.        

[u]Nature[/u] 

While each Kitsune is different in personality, their up bring being a primary fact in developing various traits, there’s always an under laying instinct to create a pact. It is how they survive and outwit death which means until it is fullfilled, they will feel that nagging for it in the back of their minds. Most who completely ignore this have been killed and unable to return to a shard, their fate sealed in death.      

[/hider] 
[hider=Abilities]

[u]Shard Pact[/u]

*See [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.Com/posts/4064311]Darius’[/url] Shard ability for more details.

[u]Tails[/u] 

List of abilities and when they show up. Each tail appears within a range of ten years of the century mark, either five years before or after, depending on the Kitsune's development curve. Right after the tail’s appearance -unless it’s four to six- another magical ability will be gained and usable for the Kitsune’s lifetime. 
[list]
   [*] Tail 0 : Camouflage  
   [*] Tail 1 : Elemental Manipulation (pact related, fire by default) 
   [*] Tail 2 : Shape shifting 
   [*] Tail 3 : Barrier 
   [*] [b]Tail 4-6 : Strengthen magic instead of gain new magic [/b]
   [*] Tail 7 : Levitation/Flight 
   [*] Tail 8 : Illusions 
   [*] Tail 9 : Eximius
[/list] 

[/hider]
[hider=Culture & History] 

Kitsune are often considered tools by most Licentia that actually know about their true nature. They have evolved into Licentia that have adapted to depend on other Licentia in the form of a pact. Any independent culture of their own was long ago wiped out due to their ability to pact creating numerous Kitsune with various backgrounds, personalities, etc.  

[u]Dwindling Existence[/u] 

In recent years, Kitsune have become more rare with the passing years. Their numbers now currently less than a hundred within Torqueo and still falling. The reason is unknown as most the surviving Kitsune are too young to realize this and any that have looked into it have simply vanished. Some believe it might be because their ability to cheat death is flawed or too old to continue the Kitsune’s existence into the future. It’s hard to tell which is true without additional information.  

[u]Nogitsune[/u]

While they look alike, it's commonly believed to be a variety of Kitsune or a completely different creature altogether. It is also called by numerous names: Void Fox, Dark Fox and much worse. So far, many Licentia believe them to be extinct and mere stories due to the lack of interaction with their kind for centuries. However there is a dark history to the reason of why…   

[/hider]

[center][h2][b][i][u][color=#CF3A15]_____________Succubi & Incubi_____________[/color][/u][/i][/b][/h2][/center]

[center][img]http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g419/Veradalycan/S-I%20smaller_zpscynmwk3x.png[/img]

[sub]Art work belongs to the respective artist, not myself, and I’m only using for representation 

Written by: [@Fallenreaper][/sub][/center]

[hider=Physiology]

For those that aren’t familiar with the words Succubus and Incubus (plural forms Succubi and Incubi respectively), these licentia were often portrayed as Lilin-demons in female or male form before they officially emerged into the light. They appeared in dreams, often in the form of an attractive human in order to seduce their victims, and gradually lead to sexual relationships. This isn’t fully true as Succubi and Incubi can absorb a sizable chunk of Vis from not just humans, but other Licentia and even Prae upon contact lasting much longer than a few moments. This is usually done in a gesture ranging from a handshake to a deep kiss. However, thanks to a few mischievous Licentia it is usually assumed by most humans that they require sexual activities to fed. Upon being asked this, it might draw a few baneful looks from the more conservative Succubi or Incubi that prefer some degrees of abstinence.  

Succubi and Incubi are considered the beginning stages of Sirens and Cambions, often created after either one of these have procreated. Though they aren’t technically suppose to, they are able to procreate new Succubi and Incubi when they delay their ascension into their higher forms. There are even rare cases of some Succubi and Incubi reaching the Eximius stage though once they reach such a level their ability to become Sirens or Cambions is impossible and has its own pros and cons.  

[u]Breeding[/u]

Should a Succubi and Incubi reach the stage where they can breed, they use similar methods with only a slight variation based on gender. Succubi possess a unwitting human woman casting an illusion spell, twisting her features into something attractive and considered alluring for the type of male she’s intending to attract. Casually she proceeds to lure then seduce the male into bed where she steals a heavy amount of Vis over time and becomes pregnant. Over her existence in the human host, who is completely aware, the Succubus gradually begins to imbue the fetus with small shards of their soul core.  Unlike Sirens or Cambions, they can only do this once in their lifetime.

After a month, the Succubus departs the host leaving the human to bear the offspring. Naturally this has created ‘demonic’ offspring in several myths and rarer still, hybrids of their kind. Unless the trait runs in the Licentia (much like humans), most births are single but there are exceptions.  

On the other side of the spectrum, an Incubus would physical shift into an appealing form where they impregnate a female of their choice, adding shards of their soul core and Vis to the mix. When the child takes hold and settled in after a month, they seem to simply vanish.

[b]Birth to Childhood[/b]

While going through their first official growth stage within the womb, these licentia store and consume vast amounts of Vis over a nine month period. Despite what the mother tries, she can’t abort, damage or get rid of the infected fetus without causing her own death. Based on the Succubus’ and Incubus’ choice of victim, this rarely happens. Whenever it has, the child’s own Vis has created ‘miracles’ through various methods: the rope snapped, someone was summoned, etc. This prevented its demise, most the time, and allowed it to develop into the world.  

Upon birth, Succubi and Incubi are coated in the Vis they collected from their mothers. This coat creates a very realistic illusion purely as a defensive mechanism to prevent the infant from being killed on sight. Over the course of the Licentia’s growth, this coat wouldn’t be required and fades gradually. To anyone trained to look past illusion magic or the mother herself, the illusion doesn’t work. Instead of a crying, healthy infant, there’s a very ‘young’ succubus or incubus infant with horns, fragile wings and a prehensile tail.

In these cases, the child was often killed out of fear ending the Succubus’ or Incubus’ lineage.

Should the child live past their mother’s attempt to discard or kill them, these licentia grow at a steady rate within the environment they are given to. Most tend to be taken in by relatives of the ‘manic’ mother or placed into the orphanage until puberty when the Vis layer completely fades to relieve their actual nature. In a few cases, the parent might seek out and snatch them away to be raised in Torqueo among their own kind.  

[b]Adulthood[/b]

On reaching puberty, they are considered adults and the collected Vis layer has completely vanished now. Succubi and Incubi are very different from each other, much like how humans vary themselves, creating no fixed appearance to represent them all ideally. However, they all do have a set collection of traits that make identifying their race easy. Most Incubi and Succubi have horn growths upon their heads (often budded from the head sides or forehead), two bat like wings sprouted from their backs, a prehensile tail extended from their tailbone and often an allure that causes them to become appealing to multiple races. Including other Licentia. Don’t mistake this for flat out perfection or being irresistible to any individual, but rather an unmistakable draw and finding something attractive about the Succubi or Incubi. *See Irresistible Charm in Abilities

The Succubi and Incubi have the ability to gain Vis though subtle and steady touch, draining Vis over time though interaction with the individuals involved in their lives. However, upon reaching adulthood the instinctive desire to become a Siren or Cambion has grown notably. So much in fact that they will seek out ways to gain additional Vis over the course of their life time and when they finally collected enough, they will enter another growth stage before becoming a Siren or Cambion.
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[hider=Abilities]

[u]Irresistible Charm[/u]

While Succubi and Incubi have admirable traits naturally, they also posses a passive magic called Irresistible Charm. It combines both Vis and use of pheromones in order to create an appeal to almost any creature, ranging from an enjoyable personality to outright sexual appeal and completely dependent on the influenced party. This magical ability, while unable to affect everyone the same way, does try to aid in making the Succubi/Incubi more likable in order to obtain more Vis for its growing collection into a Siren. 

However, this doesn’t prevent back lash should the Licenti become reckless or stupid. It isn’t mind control after all, but a method to create likability or attraction depending on the target.   

[u]Flight[/u]

A few things to note about Succubi and Incubi wings. Most are leathery and dragon like in appearance, giving them ability to control their movements in the middle of flight similar to how a bat might. Their range of flight, maneuverability, and more depends on the wing span and design over all. Larger wings tend to cover larger distances without continually flapping to rise higher while the smaller wings focus more on maneuverability and make navigating tight spaces easier. 

 [u]Vis Drain[/u]

All Succubi and Incubi are able to gain Vis from humans, Licentia and even Prae if given the chance. They primarily do it through either touch or sexual activities, their unique biology making them nearly compatible with any sub race. However, they tend to prefer humans more because most are easily manipulated and have greater odds of not possibly being able to fight back. 

It’s little surprise that the most Vis comes from more intimidate acts of lust which might explain their association and physical appeal. With touch, it varies mainly on how long the Succubi or Incubi can retain the contact with the target. However this comes with a notable and unwritten risk: Succubi and Incubi are known to become greedy and there are cases a few are known to drain more than their fair share. This is often driven by the primal need to evolve into the next stage. 

Most well aged Succubi and Incubi know to avoid this… unless there’s little way to get caught or suffer back lash. They know killing the individual will result in only a fixed amount of Vis gain, instead of a steady source, and the word would spread lowering their chances to gain additional Vis from agreeable Licentia that might not kill them on sight. 

 [u]Above Human Speed and Reaction Time[/u]

Succubi and Incubi aren’t known for being highly durable or offensive in a fight, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have other means to protect themselves. High speed and reaction time are a Succubi’s and Incubi’s forte as only a few Licentia are able to match and surpass it. This is because an attack is useless if it can’t hit and since the it won't take much to bring this sub race of Licentia crumbling to their knees, avoiding being damaged is rather important.  

[u]Dream Walking/Dream Manipulation [/u]

In most myths, Succubi and Incubi are known to be most dangerous in your dreams. They appear to be shapeshifters purely because they take on the appearance of what the dreamer most desires in another individual and shapes the dream into their favor. (see [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.Com/posts/4278986]Lily’s CS[/url])
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[hider=Culture & History] 

[u]Business like Practices[/u] 

Due to a Succubi/Incubi’s need for large amounts of Vis, they often take up a trade or skill that some Licentia or Humans would find valuable. This often causes them to create a bartering system in order to obtain the required Vis levels for evolution in a shorter time than merely ‘stealing’ it from others. Many end up living in Medius, where they are often born, joining brothels or some other sexualized profession that allows them to get up close and personal with their targets. Others are more conservative and will become information brokers or wealthy individuals through subtle blackmailing means. Wherever their lives lead, one thing is certain: they will always have that need to evolve into the next stage and that’s the primary motivation.   

[u]Shapeshifting[/u] 

Among humans, it’s commonly mistaken that Succubi and Incubi are able to shift and alter their shape like many other Licentia. This ability only achieved through dreams which is likely how this rumor and belief came into existence. [/hider] 

  
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[center][h2][b][u][i][color=#2E2C2C]_[/color][color=#332841]_[/color][color=#392456]_[/color][color=#3F206B]_[/color][color=#451C80]_[/color][color=#4B1895]_[/color][color=#5114AA]_[/color][color=#5710BF]_[/color][color=#5D0CD4]_[/color][color=#6308E9]_[/color][color=#640EF6]_[/color][color=#6017ED]_[/color][color=#5B20E4]D[/color][color=#572ADB]e[/color][color=#5333D2]s[/color][color=#4E3CC9]c[/color][color=#4A46C0]e[/color][color=#464FB7]n[/color][color=#4158AE]d[/color][color=#3D61A5]a[/color][color=#396B9C]n[/color][color=#347493]t[/color][color=#307D8A]s[/color][color=#2C8781]_[/color][color=#279078]_[/color][color=#23996F]_[/color][color=#248E68]_[/color][color=#258361]_[/color][color=#26785A]_[/color][color=#276D54]_[/color][color=#28624D]_[/color][color=#295746]_[/color][color=#2A4C40]_[/color][color=#2B4139]_[/color][color=#2C3632]_[/color][/i][/u][/b][/h2][hr][img]http://safebooru.org//images/1671/53b521660b1b040622f88dbd57725a93396ad90b.jpg[/img][/center][hr][hider= ][center]A race long since died out so many hundreds of thousands of years ago, precursor humans—as paleontologists put it—were an advanced species that only hold minor resemblance to humanity of the modern era. However, while much of the raw power and adaptability of the precursors have been lost, diluted over time through the process of natural selection, those few exist whose genes still contain a number of activated sequences from these ancient, and bizarrely advanced, ancestors of man. So it goes that you must be taught of their nature in case you one day may have the misfortune of facing against them.

Good hunting you lot, and be careful.[/center]
[hider=Physiology]With surprisingly similar physiology found among those with active precursor DNA than one might expect, descendants are almost indistinguishable from modern humans with a few notable cosmetic exceptions. The first among these are their eyes which always glow with the use of magic, with the second being their faintly pointed ears, and the third being their tendency to be attractive in one manner or another. Additionally all descendants have one unique trait which distinguishes them from modern humanity, a portion of their body is always somehow visibly magical. For some there eyes are constantly a flame, for others markings run along heir skin, glowing and pulsating with the flow of their vis, and others still may have limbs not wholly solid or connected to their form, with vis filling in the gaps. For every descendant this trait is different and from parent to child there is often little to no correlation, strangely enough.

With lineage in mind, it is notable that descendants are rare, but even should both parents be descendants, their child still only has a 30% chance of being one. This seems to be caused by a strange mixture of the parent's magical strength influencing the child, and most of the precursor genes having become naturally inactive or recessive over time. As a result, descendants are rare, making up only 0.0005% of the total human population, or in other terms, one person in every two-hundred-thousand is sure to be a descendant.

Perhaps last among the biological traits that differentiates descendants from modern humans is their longevity, as unlike modern humans, descendants can live anywhere between 850 to 1500 years. Of course, they also do not mature quite as fast, tending to reach sexual maturity at the age of 18, and to reach physical maturity at the age of 42. Beyond this point, descendants age slowly, though the rate at which they age varies somewhat depending on stress, magic use, the magical climate, and other environmental factors. Though, on average, a descendant dying of old age only lives around 700-900 years before expiring. It should be noted that descendants are more susceptible to magical, or vis-effecting illness than normal humans.[/hider]
[hider=Spiritual Make-up]While descendants are not that different in appearance from modern humans, the structure of their spiritual being is something else entirely, as unlike a modern human, descendants have an impressionable anima, an internal and external ostium, and of course an aura composed of vis. Essentially, a descendant's anima has a wall that can be made permeable to vis per an individual's will, which acts much like the ostium does for modern humans, but instead is called the velo. Outside of the velo,  are the vis pathways that run through the body in all living things, and at the outer edge of that is their ostium, which acts as a barrier, or gateway, to their external vis, allowing them to release and manipulate vis outside of their body.

While the velo does not seem terribly important at first, this is far from the truth as descendants require it to protect their anima from external influence. Their body being so open to vis in comparison to modern humans, in addition to their velo, allows them two notable traits. The former gives them uncanny precision in terms of their vis manipulation and makes magic far more intuitive for them as well as making all of their physical attributes—senses included—slightly amplified compared to a modern human's. Beyond this, the former trait allows them to imprint abilities they have mastered onto their anima directly, amplifying the strength of the ability, skill, or spell and expanding the scope of it as well.

A good example of this would be the traditional fireball spell. Essentially before imprinting it onto their anima by opening their velo, a descendant might be able to merely conjure a fireball of various size depending on the amount of vis utilized, but afterwards the spell becomes more efficient, requiring less energy and its trajectory can be guided. Furthermore, once an ability is imprinted onto their anima, their children will inherit it, even if there are more than one. Of course...only mastered abilities can be imprinted.[/hider][/hider]

[center][h1][b][color=000000]⊰[/color][/b][u][b]ℒ[/b] ocations[/u][b][color=000000]⊱[/color][/b][/h1]
TBA
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