Character Lore and Fundamentals
General Information
- Mortal vs Immortal vs Invincible
- Mortal - Can be hurt, ages properly, can die of natural causes.
- Immortal - Can be hurt, does not age properly, cannot die of natural causes. Is still susceptible to death.
- Invincible - Cannot die by normal means, unless faced with equal or greater power, or their own power is drained.
- There are multiple levels of immortality. For some supernaturals (an immortal living on Earth), food is still a necessity. For other supernaturals (a deceased being in the underworld) food turns into extra energy.
- Designs
These are notes and guidelines for how my personal characters are designed. There are exceptions of course, so I can keep the world open to new ideas.
- Most anthros are plantigrade, meaning they walk with flat feet, with their heels touching the ground. Ungulates may have hooves in place of toes.
- Feathers may be so small and thin on bird based anthros that it looks like they have fur instead.
- Anthros with fur have toe and heel pads, but lack pads on the palms of their hands. Instead, the palms simply exhibit furless skin.
- Dolphins and fish-like species tend to take on a more humanoid appearance.
- Most anthros with wings cannot fly. Their bodies are too heavy, and wings in modern society are too small. They're great for fanning themselves though.
- Clones
- Early clones were made by taking the DNA of the original, and growing an embryo with it. They were birthed normally or in tubes and raised from childhood. Over time, they were able to condition clones to be the same age as the original, and implant chips into their heads to give them fake memories.
- These chips are also implanted in young clones who have a curated childhood. Once the memories are established, the data is then harvested and sold, and able to be tweaked and edited like computer data. This is to ensure a clone has basic worldly functions, stories to tell, and are able to integrate into society easily. In certain cases, the chip can be used as a control device.
- Magic
- Magic is frowned upon when it is used in cooking, growing, and handling food. Some people approve of it, others are highly against it. Magic in food is not easily regulated, and reports of side effects are widely varied and difficult to pinpoint and treat.
- Magic users are frowned upon by the majority, but slowly being accepted as a minority. Magic as entertainment, for bettering their personal lives, and being used on themselves, that's tolerable. When magic starts being pushed on others through food, charms, healing, that's where most mortals draw the line.
- Magic users usually keep their abilities to themselves so they aren't exploited by menial labor, or discriminated against.
- Ancient War
- 30 B.C. our time is around the time a major war broke out in the world, between gods and mortals, Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. It only ceased after a massive rainstorm flooded the rivers, destroying crops and washing away homes. Despite the fight ending, the war caused a huge divide between factions for centuries. Now, some are still weary about old tales and rumors, and some still hold an animosity for their ancestors, but the supernatural and mortal are starting to interact once again.
- Aliens
- There are aliens, but little is known about them. They blend well into society, and use their time on Earth to study it's resources and inhabitants. Their technology is more advanced than the modern world's, however they limit themselves to very little access of this technology when on Earth as to not let it be discovered. They are able to extract the energy of an object more easily than supernatural beings, and some theorize that these aliens may be another breed of gods and deities.
Species
- Osrela
- A mix of a handful of animals, including dogs, rabbits, and various other rodents. They have a wide variety of features, some with incredibly long, upright ears, others with short floppy ears. Their tails typically come in two varieties, one that is thin with a tuft of fur on the end, or fluffy, both of which are usually the length of the legs. Their muzzles protrude, giving them a distinction from rabbit-based species, but their noses remain rabbit or squirrel-like.
- Lareos
- Related to the Osrela and often confused for them, this species is mostly rabbit based, typically seen with rabbit-like ears and noses. The ears can be upright or floppy and vary in sizes, but they are mostly acknowledged for their long, fluffy tails, and short muzzle.
- Chikal
- Also known as kirin, these are generally mythical beings that resemble deer dragon hybrids. They are characterized by their long, slender tails that have tips draped in silky hair, and their antelope-like ears located on each side of their head, almost in line with their eyes. Most are seen with sets of horns or antlers. They usually wield some supernatural ability, or come from a line of demigods.
- Skunkbat
- A species that mostly resembles a bat, but with large, fluffy tails. Despite the name, they have no relation to skunks.
- Humans still exist as a species in this world, but they are outweighed by the number of animal-based species.
- Hybrid offspring are more common now than they were over a century ago. This is attributed to genes passing on and evolving to be more similar over generations, causing more compatability between two separate species. Some species still remain incompatable. Some may only be attracted to others of their own species or culture, or they may stick to a 'pure' belief. Species discrimination was abundant years ago, but is slowly fading thanks to these hybrids.
- It is still common to see what could be classified as an anthro sheep, or anthro tiger, despite any parental differences. These occur because of dominant and recessive genes. A mouse and a dog could make a mouse, a dog, or a hybrid offspring.
Angels and the Overworld
- Angels are allowed to walk among mortals freely, though they do so with caution. It's not uncommon however.
- Normal angelic society in the Overworld is fearful, highly judgmental, will easily exile someone for not following orders.
- Angels have 'soul hearts', which can be depleated by losing all hope, or being injured by an equal or greater power.
- Halos are kind of like ID to get into angel-only places.
- Halos can be stretched and manipulated to a variety of shapes, and are often worn as jewelry for an angel to blend in among mortals.
- Angels can levitate. Their wings can shrink and enlarge, or disappear entirely to better fit angel bodies whether they're flying or not. These wings may not be able to hold much weight without the ability to levitate, but they do help with steering, taking off, and propeling them through the air. They're almost comparable to fish fins rather than wings.
- The Overworld houses an Elysium; a paradise for angels to relax in. Here, visitors are treated like royalty, with hot springs, fine wine, and servants made up of other angels.
- There are other sections of the Overworld with different beliefs, much like the Underworld. However, the corrupt section tends to be the main focus, and the angels here look down on every other being; gods included.
- Cupids
- Cupids are angels assigned to pair beings together, to mend relationships, opposite of the succubi and incubi who tear them apart. However each side needs the other. Cupids cannot mend a terrible relationship, and succubi and incubi need to know which relationships to break and typically fail at pairing others. They are each others' failsafe. It is rumored that cupids carry a curse where they cannot stay in a relationship. Something always happens to tear the relationship apart, or make it not happen at all. This is only supersition, though widely believed.
- Cupids have an agency on Earth, where they get assigned people to pair together, sometimes for the wrong reasons. The cupids get paid for this, so they can have their own housing on Earth, but they aren't allowed in the Overworld, since they are considered lesser beings.
- Cupids can see the auras of people, making it easier to matchmake a pair and read a client. Half cupids lack this ability.
- Young cupids are encouraged to take classes to better understand and hone their abilities, especially if they intend on pursuing matchmaking or potion mixing.
- Both cupids and incubi/succubi can have children with someone when they unconditionally love each other. It's as if a form of enlightenment overrides their naturally sterile state.
Demons and the Underworld
- The underworld has various rulers overseeing all the different society's domains.
- Demons are allowed to walk among mortals with permission, usually only if they have a job to do.
- Society in the 'workforce' is laid back, entertaining, functions like a well-oiled machine.
- It's an urban themed Underworld, with buildings, paths, well-lit areas and the like, though the majority of locations and the 'sky' are dim.
- Each religion has their own area, like countries. What religion you believed in when you were alive, is how you'll exist in the afterlife.
- Demons have 'black hearts', which can be lost by being injured by an equal or greater power.
- Souls can be reborn anew here, if they pass certain trials and prove their worth.
- There is a section dedicated to mortals passing away into their imagination. They get to imagine they're with their loved ones, their pets, their own personal paradise, much like a computer simulation. Imaginations will vary depending on creativity, their view on the afterlife (dark and depressing, happy and peaceful), or they can create their own personal eternal hell.
- Demons can be born as a new being, mortals who passed away and formed into demons, or mortals who were morphed by various means into demons.
- Mortals who die can sometimes be assigned new jobs in the afterlife, if they aren't sent to live in their eternal imagination.
- Incubi and Succubi
- Incubi and succubi are demons assigned to split apart relationships that aren't working, opposite of the cupids who bring them together. However each side needs the other. Cupids cannot mend a terrible relationship, and succubi and incubi need to know which relationships to break apart, and typically fail at pairing others. They are each others' failsafe. Incubi and Succubi suffer from certain urges that make them bored of the same partner, and desire to move to another or multiple, making monogamous relationships a hurdle. Their urge curse can be broken by true love.
- Both cupids and incubi/succubi can have children with someone when they unconditionally love each other. It's as if a form of enlightenment overrides their naturally sterile state.
Other Locations
- Urban and Suburban Living
- Cities are very walkable, with reliable public transport including busses, trains, trams, and more. Zoning laws allow for mixed use neighborhoods, so a store owner can live in an apartment above their workplace if they wanted. Personal vehicles are common, but not necessary. This all allows for easier social interactions, and healthier lifestyles.
- Suburban areas have closely located, single family homes, featuring a small front garden, and a larger, fenced off garden in the back.
- Floating Islands
- Disguises themselves as clouds. Seen as places of paradise frequented by angels and otherworldly beings. Water, plant life and so on are taken care of by mythical attendants. These islands are able to float through strange, archaic magic.
- Rarely seen by mortals. Passed off as a mirage.
- Is a preservation of nature instead of a preservation of society.
Beliefs and Religion
- Animism
- There is a belief among mortals that all beings are made from energy. This has been proven true by the supernatural, gods, and deities. A beings energy is basically their soul, and it is believed that all places, objects, and creatures; inanimate or not, have an energy.
- This means that souls can be transferred, and merged with other beings and objects. Souls can be bound to a location. Extracting this energy is something only gods and deities are able to do, though science among mortals is experimenting with ways to do the same.
- This also means a being, for example a demon, can be 'born' but be fully developed, with basic knowledge of the world, despite having no childhood.
- Beings can have traits of an object or essence they've been merged with, such as the healing abilites of a crystal, or a personified virus. Mortal scientific creations are commonly known as homunculi.
- Multiple Gods
- There are multiple gods and deities across the many different beliefs and religions. Regardless if a mortal believes in only one god, or numerous ones, this doesn't change the fact that many of them exist. Some clash with each other, while others can easily mingle together.
- It is widely believed that mortals were created in the image of these many gods, giving us a variety of different bipedal creatures, while their animalistic counterparts still exist.
- Discrimination
- Discrimination is still prevailent in this world. Different classes, races, species, religions, and political beliefs may all clash at some point.
- There are species stereotypes. An individual that is scared of regular dogs, may also be scared of anthro dogs. Someone may assume an anthro rabbit is always promiscuous, or that an anthro fox is a cunning liar.
- As stated above, magic users are discriminated against, and anything that takes magic to work is looked down on by many. This is partially because of tales and rumors from the ancient war of gods and mortals, but also because of the unpredictability and non-regulation of it.
Furgonomics
- Bathrooms are loosely based on asian wetrooms. There's an area for the shower and bathtub, multiple drains in the floor for water, all in a separate space from the toilet and sink. Some smaller homes and apartments may combine all this into one section to save space. There's an optional installation of a compact full-body dryer for long-haired species, that mounts to the wall or corner of the shower. Dry shampoo is also common, and comes in various colors to better blend into fur.
- Hairdressers and tailors are bountiful.
- Robot vacuums are a household necessity for most species with fur, to take care of shedding. Otherwise, anti-shed products are available, and are either as popular as shampoo, or mixed into shampoo or other hair care products.
- Clothing can have flaps tailored to fit wings and tails, similar to men's underwear. Zippers, buttons, snaps, and openings are options too, but flaps are most common and less intrusive.
- Glasses come in many shapes and sizes, since there are many different shapes and placements of ears. Most glasses hug the side of the head with a strap in the back that can be snapped closed. Others resemble human glasses with side arms that hook over, or under the ear. The nose bridge is customizable and can be widened to fit large or narrow muzzles. Of course, there's always the option for contacts.
- With a population of creatures covered in fur, overheating is a major concern, and more efforts have been made to combat climate change.
- Anthropomorphic beings have a higher level of cognitive ability, compared to their animalistic counterparts. They ask questions, and are curious to know more about the world at a young age. Anthros and animals cannot normally communicate with each other despite being similar species. A domestic pet may understand commands, but cannot hold a conversation. Pets, wild animals, zoos, and aquariums still exist in this world thanks to these differences.
- Body modifications, such as docking ears, removing horns, and other changes among anthros are common. A part may get in the way of their everyday life and be removed, or they may choose an addition for vanity purposes.
- Tattoos are another body modification, though tattoos with fur work differently than ones on skin. In order to see the tattoo through the fur, the area is first shaved, then tattooed with a specialized ink that not only sits under the skin, but is also absorbed by the hair follicles. This changes the color of the regrowing fur, and can be customized to many different designs and colors. The longer the fur, the more detail is lost. Positioning, the direction the fur naturally falls, and fur length is important to the process, otherwise a tattoo may look fine on the skin but be misplaced when the fur grows back. Most opt for new markings to stand out, or to cover up misshapen natural markings.
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