These are the offspring of the first Shadowhunter, who summoned the Angel Raziel from Lake Lyn to ask one favor. That favor was to ask for assistance in clearing the demonic threat on earth. In answer the Angel Raziel bestowed Shadowhunter with the three mortal instruments; The Immortal Cup, the Immortal Sword, and The Immortal Mirror. The Angel placed his blood in the cup and bid Shadowhunter drink. In doing so, he became a Nephilim. Using the cup he created more Shadowhunters out of mundanes who knew of demons infiltrating the world and were skilled enough in mind, body, and spirit, to take on the task.
The Nephilim have the blood of the Angel in them and thus are able to endure iratze. The Iratze are runes that each have a specific purpose and, for the most part, are only temporary. Nephilim are also very agile making them talented fighters. They are taught from the day they are born on how to be Shadowhunters. They are not permitted to be an intricate part of their Institute until they become 20, however, when they are considered to be an adult.
Their weapons of choice are seraph blades. Crystal slivers about the length of a dagger that when given the name of an angel can grow to the length of a sword, shining with a holy light. They are just as strong as any other sword and can last a whole battle. But usually at the end they are completely spent and will need to be discarded or renamed. However their arsenal is not limited to this. Others may favor bow and arrow, whips, and a great deal more. Not all Shadowhunters are fighters, however. There are great deals that are more studious or politically minded. These tend to be librarians, members of the clave or even tutors to those still learning.
Shadowhunters are known for dying young. This however does not prevent them from seeking and having families of their own. Death is simply a part of their lives and they do not mourn it the way others do. The colors of morning are predominately white with touches of red. Their dead are burned and the remains placed in the City of Bones where the Silent Brothers reside.
There are locations called Institutes throughout the world where Shadowhunters both live and teach the young. In these locations they maintain relations with Downworlders and keep an eye out for demonic activity. However it should be noted that these locations are more like watch towers. They are in strategic locations from the Nephilim homeland, Idris, which is actually somewhere in the middle of Europe. Idris is an especially guarded location that no mundane could simply happen upon. And it’s capital city, Alicante, currently does not permit any Downworlder entry. The only time they have ever been permitted within city limits is when the Accords are being signed.
Children of the Night (Vampires) -
Remember the good ole stories from back in the day? Nosferatu and Dracula? Yeah, we're going back to those days. Back when the dead were dead, they didn't sparkle, they all had the same powers and gifts, and no one was considered "special".
Vampires have fangs, which are retractable making them blend in with those around them with ease. They are pale, but then, so are most gothics, so again, they blend. Where they stick out is more in the fact that they are predominantly cold to the touch (Okay, maybe they fit in with loan sharks and lawyers.) The only thing that is very special to vampirism here is that it tends to make you more physically appealing. But only a touch. You do not become Fabio (Sorry, Fabio). And the only sparkling a vampire is allowed to do includes body glitter.
That being said, age does not equate power. Because lets face it, just because you lived a long time doesn't mean that you used that time wisely. And leaders are chosen for their leading ability, strength, or just plain ruthlessness.
It's pretty cut and dry. The sun burns you up, holy items hurt, can't enter hallowed ground, can't speak holy names, you drink blood (fresh is all that matters, human and animal taste about the same), and there is a form of euphoria with the kiss. So now that the basics are here, let's take a quick moment to discuss the MAJOR difference from other vampires out there.
Any human that gets a taste of vampire blood undergoes a type of compulsion. The unexplained urge and need to return to the vampire they drank from. This urge can be overcome but it gets more and more difficult as time goes by. Extreme duress or high emotional states increase the desire. The only way to beat it entirely is to drink holy water to burn it out of your system (and you will puke and be feverish at least a full 24 hours while you undergo the process). Otherwise, that human will come back eventually to fawn over and even beg to become a vampire. Some end up being human pets for a time. Others end up being brought over.
Which leads us to creation. Toss all romantic notions of Lestat and Louie out the door. The soon to be fledgling is drained of all blood until they are dead. They then have an hour or so before they must be tossed in a grave, buried, and made to climb out. If they are not put in the grave within that time frame they get weaker and weaker by the minute, making the climb out a thousand times more difficult. When the fledgling does make it out they are not complete animals but they have one thing on their mind. Blood. So a suitable sacrifice of blood is brought.
All vampires have the same abilities. Heightened senses, supernatural speed, supernatural strength (though not as strong as werewolves), and the ability to change into a rat or a bat. It really is that simple.
Mundane (Humans) -
Hello. Your name is Normal. You have a life. The world is. No such thing as monsters. Things do not go bump in the night. The scariest thing you have ever seen is SAW (though some of you guys will admit Twilight was pretty fucking scary). You just don't believe in the tooth fairy. And Santa Claus died coming down your chimney when you were 12. Ironically the same year your Grandpa died. Go figure. Life sucks. You're used to it. You own the T-Shirt.
Of course, there are a few of you who are unique because either you just have that wild of an imagination that you make yourself believe the crazy shit (or you've done enough acid). Of course, you probably have seen the inside of the padded room too. In other words, you have the "Sight". You see shit the way it really is. And no one will ever believe that the Giant Purple People Eater leaves in the apartment below you.
You are RARE. Meaning, at this time, there are only 3 mundanes with the sight allowed in play. Why? Because it just doesn't happen. And those who have the sight tend to be connected as servants or assistants to Nephilim families. Even more rare of those who gain the sight because they are told and made aware of the strange shit that is going on in their world. And the reason that is rare is because it is technically against the rules. The Accords are there not only for Downworlder protection, but mankind's as well. So hooray for plain Jane and Joe Blow. We salute you.
You are the werewolf of old. Silver is your bane and the moon your guide.
Werewolves can be born or bitten. The virus is spread through birth or the bite. One in four can escape the 'Change' brought on via a bite, the other three will become a werewolf.
Through out the month, you can go through the 'Change' at will. Going through the change is not a pleasant experience. Bones break, tendons rip. Your muscles will be torn and reformed as you change. You have the ability though to go through a full change or a partial, such as ears from round to pointed or nails to claws.
However, the night of the full moon, you will change. The younger you are, the less control you have over this and the faster it will happen at moon rise. Younger wolves also have less control over the ability to change and can change with an increase of stress or loss of emotions.
Silver fries your skin. This is everything from jewelry to silver dust, all of it will burn you. While you are stronger then vampires, you are not faster. Anyone can be turned by the virus that is passed through a bite, even a Nephilim. While, you have a natural blood feud with vampires that is passed through the blood, but it can be fought by a persons nature, though there is a natural aversion to them.
The Fae (Seelie Court, in the books)-
You are among the most ancient of Downworlder races. Lucky you, you are the offspring of angels and demons. This often makes you incredibly beautiful, and equally as dangerous. Though some faeries are insanely beautiful, some (like goblins and trolls) are considerably less attractive. The faeries cannot tell a lie, however, you are very creative with the truth. You are run by a Queen. Should someone eat or drink any of the fair folk food, they are trapped in your court until she allows them to leave.
Your glamours are infinite and intricate. You also have a strong aversion to iron, which is why your court and living spaces tend to be underwater, in parks and fields and other similar areas.
You don't care for humans, and you tend not to enjoy the company of the Nephilim, either.
Warlocks (Lilith's Children) -
Warlocks are Downworlders who are spell-casters. They can change shape (Those born from a shape shifting demon) and are immortal They are the offspring of Humans and Demons and often called Lilith's Children. Many Warlocks tend to have unnatural body parts such as bat wings, goat feet, lizard tails, scaled hands or cat eyes. Warlocks can not get pregnant. [More to come latter]
