Shadowfiends

Details

• Physical vs. Incorporeal

  Shadowfiends manifest typically in a form that is barely corporeal; most mortals question whether they might be imagining something there in the darkness, or if the creature is actually tangible at all. Shadows surround their form, and their voices seem hollow or whispering unless otherwise altered. They are able to slip in and out of shadows and utilize their powers to their fullest extend.
  
  Any Shadowfiend is 'grounded', or in other words, forced to manifest physically when they are offered terrestrial touch. A Fiend is considered only vaguely tangible until physical contact is made, and then they become wholly physical. Shadows fade into hair and hooves fade into feet; horns station themselves permanently. Their body temperature is typically cooler than that of a normal human by anywhere between 10 and 20 degrees.
  
  The longer the contact is made, the longer the physicality persists once touch is no longer; if one holds the hand of a fiend for only a minute, then for up to two minutes afterwards they would appear physical.
  
  It is important to note that not every fiend will appear physical to everyone who might look upon them if they are not the ones to make contact. For some, they appear physical for only the person who seeks their touch- in which case, any others would see them remain shadowy and aloof in visage. For others, the touch of one is enough to reveal their form to the eyes of many.

• Phisiology

  ☽SHADOWS☾ x x x Shadows on a fiend are like flesh and blood to a human; they are essential to their life, and they are what the entire species is known for. Shadows are found in place of hair, and making up the forms that appear to be horns and tails. Their hands are often clouded in shadows, as are their hooves. The shadows of their hands begin at their fingertips, and might extend as lowly as their wrists, or as extensively as just past their elbows; rarely do they meet their upper arms. The shadows shrouding their legs might only dip up as high as their ankles, or they may extend as high up as their knees; rarely do they reach their mid-thighs. Shadows are unusual, like a thick, inky black fog that hovers in place around their form, wisping about not unlike a candle flame. They may be still, floating in air as though suspended while the Fiend is unmoving, or they may whip about as if in a breeze. It is often thought that the movement of the shadows is indicative of the mood or emotional state of the Fiend in question, though nothing definitive has been revealed.

  ☽COLOURING☾ x x x The colours a Fiend may manifest in upon the terrestrial plain are varied, with little meaning given to the individual's particular tone. Hue can range all manner of spectrum, the most frequent being shades of grey, black, or cool tones (blues, purples, greens). Occasionally, one may spawn of a brighter exterior, such as a crimson or golden orange. It is rare that the colour will be as bright as it is brilliant, keeping to a darker mixture in the latter half of contrast. When a Fiend is well-fed and satiated, their forms often reflect the low light of their environment, whether it be the moon, lamplight, or fire light. (In a modern setting, bright electric bulbs such as LEDs and florescents can cause harm, and will cause a Fiend weakness even when fed.)

  ☽HORNS☾ x x x The horns of a Shadowfiend are typically similar to those found on land-dwelling creatures throughout the world, and are subject to change depending on a Fiend's particular abilities in Shifting. When incorporeal, they often shift about at least a little, both in shape and size. When physically manifested, they are solid obsidian, holding a reflective sheen and are station to remain the same during their manifestation.

  ☽TEETH☾ x x x Teeth and bone, much like their horns when in physical manifestation, are a solid black obsidian. Teeth are subject to chip periodically, and it is not uncommon for bits of tooth to be left in gashes made from bites. If a tooth is lost, much like a shark they are able to grow it back within a day or so. Like the mouth of a human, they have flatter, more molar-like teeth towards the backs of their mouths, and sharper, pointier teeth towards the front center of their mouths, with the upper set being slightly larger than the lower set.

  ☽HAIR☾ x x x In their normal, incorporeal form, their hair is a mass of inky shadows, intangible. It may hang low behind their back, nearly motionless and pretending at raven hair, or it may be short and emulate curls that flicker about like a darkened halo around the fiend's head. The style will often shift, at a base level, ever so slightly, though a Fiend's prowess in their Shifting might cause the appearance of their hair to change at a much swifter pace. When in physical form, their hair will remain in the style it emulated when physicality began.

  ☽EYES☾ x x x Eyes are typically hollow voids with little substance to them, smokey shadow occasionally trickling from them. Although they lack much form, they tend to be rather expressive, wrinkles around them as well as eyebrows calling for much emotion. When physicality is taken, they appear as black orbs, no distinction between sclera, iris and pupil. They have flawless vision in even total darkness, but are subject to weak vision in well-lit areas; if they are chanced to see the outside world during the day, they are nearly blind in anything but the thickest of fog and cloud-cover.

  ☽HOOVES☾ x x x Shadowfiends do not steady themselves on feet in their incorporeal form, but moreso cloven hooves hidden in darkness and shadow. When no eyes fall upon the Shadowfiend, their footsteps might be silent, or they may echo far more than they should down halls or paths. In physicality, their hooves become actual human feet, quiet and still while viewed, yet still making the clatter of hooves if heads are turned away and their footsteps go unviewed.

  ☽MARKINGS☾ x x x By standard, extremities such as legs and arms end in darkness that could be described as 'gloves' or 'socks', fading usually below the knees and elbows and becoming a solid black by their fingers or hooves/toes. Rarely, one might see these colorations reversed, the main body holding a rather dark pallet while their extremities end a bit more vibrancy. Typically, Shadowfiends hold very few markings or tattoos, though every so often one may manifest with swirling tattoos of darkness upon their flesh. These will either speckle their skin with flecks, or swarm together like galaxies, and will keep constant motion whilst incorporeal. Upon making contact for physicality, their tattoos will pause and become semi-permanent until their form releases is corporeality.

• Banding

  ☽PURPOSE☾ x x x A band is necessary in order for a Shadowfiend to stay connected to the terrestrial plane; they are what binds the elements of shadow and darkness together in the mortal world. The band of light absorbs small amounts of light in spaces, such as lamplight and moonlight, keeping the Fiend from harm. The band is impossible to break via physical means, it cannot loosen, and it is what the Fiend clings to in the case that they lose too much energy, either via exposure to light or by some other means. If the Shadowfiend loses too much energy, they are forced into a primal shadow state for an unforseen amount of time (hours, days, weeks- it depends on the severity of the situation.) The band will turn into a hollow ball, allowing the Fiend to rest inside of it and harbor it safety until they gather enough energy to remanifest. Once the Fiend is loosened upon mortal soil, the band prevents them from returning to the Shadow Realm until they are banished via some sort of strong, magical means, the likes of which are few and far between.

  ☽COLOURS☾ x x x The bands glow bright, neon colours, and it is what keeps the light drawn away from the Fiend itself; it catches the light and utilizes it to keep the Shadowfiend grounded on the terrestrial plane. These colours do not change, and the meanings of these colours do not necessarily represent the fiend, themselves- but moreso the depths from which they originate within the Nether (their homeworld.) Each colour represents a different level of decent into their world. The fiends that came from the shallowest parts of the Nether hold luminous red, orange, and yellow bands. Those coming from the deeper parts hold bands of green, cyan, and indigo. Those who have come from the furthest depths of their homeworld have violet, and very rarely so, even ultraviolet bands. One can find more information on their Home Plane in the 'lore' section (when it is written! Bare with me!)

• Mentality

  ☽PERSONALITY☾ x x x The personality of the fiends are rather open for interpretation, and can vary greatly depending on what part of their home plane they come from, how long they've been on the Earthen plane, and how much they try to understand the mechanics of mortality and physical living. Some are rather curious and easily-taught, where as others are rather stubborn. You can choose to play your fiend with extreme naivety, or a general distaste towards mortals. Some are rather playful, and think only of amusing themselves - and others are dedicated to the cause to which they were summoned to. (Cro enjoys being helpful in any way that she can, though her slight naivety sometimes causes her helpfulness to backfire.) Have fun and find the flow that feels the best fit for how you want to play your fiend.

  ☽QUIRKS☾ x x x

• Naming Conventions

  ☽TRUE NAMES☾ x x x True names are those given at the creation of the Shadowfiend, and are sometimes unknown to them. Some forget their names, as they are not spoken often in their nether-realm, where others know it by heart. On the Earthen plane, knowing a fiend's true name could grant them immense power and total control over the fiend... if they could pronounce it. A fiend's true name is nearly unpronounceable to the mortal tongue, and the proper syllables do not exist in most languages to form the syllables. Nevertheless, some creatures to have such skill (demons, for one). Often, when a fiend attempts to pronounce their True Name, some act of nature will prevent them from doing so- a slamming door, a crack of thunder, or even the general feeling that they really just shouldn't...

  ☽EARTHEN NAMES☾ x x x Every fiend will have an Earthen name by which they call themselves. Some have given the names to themselves based on certain traits they may possess- their colouring, markings, demeanor, etc. Some have been given names by those who initially summoned them. Naming conventions are vast and varied and seem to have no set pattern, though they rarely, if ever, seem to have a surname or family name. Have fun with it!

• Feeding

  ☽MORTAL EMOTIONS☾ x x x Shadowfiends do not need to eat food, nor do they need to drink water. Instead, they have a bit of an altered way to gain nourishment. Fiends tend to take on a mortal emotion or state of being that gives them energy and gusto; these emotional states could be anything from anger to sadness to fear. Some feed on pleasure, much like an incubus/succubus, and some on pure misery. Whatever the delicacy, shadowfiends tend to be drawn to places that ooze with these feelings.

  ☽LIGHT☾ x x x Although sunlight or direct light of a strong enough variety is enough to weaken a Fiend back to their primordial state, however temporary, dim lighting or artificial lights such as gas lamps are a bit of a treat to Shadowfiends. Indeed, one may bask in the moonlight or the star light, being such an inconsequential amount, and although it offers little in terms of genuine nourishment, it's quite good for the mental state of a Fiend. These light sources are often the cause of natural shadows; the moon at night, lamplight in a long hall, or a large bonfire sending shadows across yards upon yards of beach. As such, they are a delight for a Shadowfiend.

• Summoning