InsaneJournal

Humans: The Talamasca
The Talamasca is a secret human organization dedicated to documenting the supernatural. They have a rigid hierarchy, rules, and procedures - it's the only way they have survived as long as they have. The Talamasca has been around for hundreds of years, and their vaults are overflowing with the possessions of werewolves and vampires alike. Members of the Talamasca are incredibly guarded and usually wealthy - the Talamasca also demands complete obedience, loyalty, and devotion from their members. Motto: We watch. And we are always there.

••• The current Superior General of the Talamasca is (open).

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Humans: The Regulars
Well, there's not a whole lot to say here. These are the people preyed on by vampires and some werewolves. Some of them believe in mythical creatures, some do not. Some are mothers, mechanics, school teachers, wealthy politicians, the girl next door. They're average. Either way, they're stuck in the middle of a war they don't even know is happening. Humans are more likely to be casualties than recruits.

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Lycans: Rebel Werewolves
Werewolves are pack- and family-oriented. They treat each other equally and with the highest respect. They can count on one another. A werewolf pack can be better described as the perfect family with white-picket fence, excepting the fact that they get a little furry a few times a month.

Strengths
• Extremely fast, strong, and resistant to damage. Their strength depends somewhat on their actual size and supernatural power.
• Recover from almost any wound other than that caused by silver weapons. Injuries caused by silver are often fatal, or at the very least scar.
• Have extremely acute senses even in human form. Claim to be able to "smell" emotions or lies and even hear a person's heart beat.
• Can command animals of their species. In the case of werewolves, they can command wolves.
• Pack mentality allows them to think as one, hunt as one, and kill as one.
• Capable of "mind speech," or speaking through their thoughts.

Weaknesses
• Allergic to silver and feel physical pain even from skin contact.
• Killed by removal of the head or heart.
• Have a mortal lifespan.
• Are more susceptible to changing several days before and after the full moon. Required to change on the night of the full moon.

Pack Structure
• Alphas within a pack often have other, rare abilities. It is uncommon for an alpha to have more than one of these abilities, and they are often very weak after using them. Sometimes an alpha doesn't have any of these abilities at all.
••• RARE: To heal their pack members through the transference of energy.
••• COMMON: Resist transforming.
••• RARE: Partially shape shift, sometimes shifting bones to make themselves look more attractive.
••• COMMON: Force others to shape shift or prevent them from doing so.
• The Ulfric and Lupa lead the pack. The Ulfric is the pack's leader, usually a male due to physical strength, and he has the final say in any matter. What he says goes. The Lupa is the Ulfric's chosen mate. She sometimes runs the show behind closed doors - much like a Queen would in an absolute monarchy. Those that go against the Ulfric and Lupa's orders are often killed or abandoned.
• The Freki and Geri are the Ulfric's second in command.
• Fenrir is the Ulfric's challenger, usually an alpha male in the pack who is unhappy with the way the current Ulfric is running the show. In order for the Fenrir to become the new Ulfric, he must first defeat Freki and Geri in a fight. These fights are not to the death. However, when the Fenrir fights the Ulfric, one must die. Whoever lives is the Ulfric.
• The Bolverk is the enforcer of the Ulfric. Often a male, the Bolverk does the dirty deeds of the Ulfric. Most of the time this is an ornamental position, used as tales of the bogeyman to keep the other wolves in line. The Bolverk is not necessarily a werewolf, just a powerful, frightening being.
• Erato and Eros are the caregivers of the pack. They help new werewolves control their changes, and often accompany them on their first hunt.

••• The current Ulfric and Lupa of the New Orleans pack are (open).

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Vampires: Death Dealers
Vampires are vicious, cold, and calculating. They prey openly and happily on humans, werewolves, and animals alike. Newer vampires usually retain some of their human emotions and convictions, but as they age this "mortal frailty" tends to fade. The Old Ones are scary as all get out, enough to make the toughest werewolf wet himself.

Strengths
• Very strong - even the newly dead can lift cars - and have heightened senses.
• Faster than most humans, slower than a werewolf. They can use mind tricks to conceal their movement, however, which is just as if not more dangerous as natural agility.
• Able to appear human after years of practice.
• May remain completely still, expressionless, and silent as they age.
• Can live for thousands of years.
• Are not affected by crucifixes, holy water, or garlic. May have an aversion to garlic due to their sense of smell. May recoil from a crucifix if it is made of silver.
• May read minds and form a hypnotic or emotional connection with their voice.
• Minor psychokinesis.
• Capable of "mind speech," or speaking through their thoughts.

Weaknesses
• May not enter a person's home without invitation.
• Killed by fire, decapitation, or a stake through the heart. The only way to ensure a vampire is truly dead, though, is to tear its body to shreds and then burn the remnants.
• Allergic to silver. Wounds caused by silver bullets to the head or heart are usually fatal.

Kiss Structure
• A pack of vampires is called a kiss. There is only one leader. Unlike in werewolf society, the leader of the kiss is all powerful, all knowing, and fulfills every role necessary. The leader punishes, rewards, makes and breaks the rules. He or she does whatever they want to do, whenever they want to do. Often rules with an iron fist.
• The leader of a large kiss is usually a Master Vampire. There is one Master Vampire in New Orleans, and he/she is the Master of the City. Any vampires who are not a part of the New Orleans kiss must pay tribute to the Master of the City or risk death.
• The Master of the City has some powers that other vampires do not.
••• COMMON: May or may not have an animal to call. A vampire's animal to call can be any animal, but the vampire does not get to choose. It's more or less a "whatever the cards deal" sort of thing. If the Master Vampire's animal to call just so happens to be wolves, he may be able to control some of the weaker werewolves in the New Orleans pack. However, if the Ulfric is powerful enough, he will be able to block this call.
••• RARE: May be able to wake, move, and use his powers during daylight - as long as he is concealed by shadow.
••• RARE: The ability to have a human servant. This servant is an extension of the Master Vampire himself, and does not age. The human servant also has increased strength, stamina, and heightened senses. The downfall? Most Master Vampires die if their human servant dies, and vice versa. In lieu of a human servant, some Master Vampires choose to have an animal servant - a chosen lycan of their animal to call. The same rules apply. If a vampire chooses to have both, they form a triumvirate - in a triumvirate the abilities and powers of all three are shared, but the risk increases trifold.
••• COMMON: May call shadows to shield themselves or others.
• Members of the kiss are obedient and rarely, if ever, question the Master's authority.

••• The current Master of the City of New Orleans is (open).

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