KBR 1484 Share Posted April 22, 2020 How to Striga 4 dummies [Lore] Note: This information must be obtained through legitimate roleplay and metagaming this information is a bannable offense. The existence of Striga outside of myth and stories is known to very few. Mental State Helgraen’s curse is a vicious thing. The toll it takes is not limited to body nor soul, but becomes a poison of the mind all the same. The qualities of mind imparted unto a Strigae are however not the direct results of the curse itself or an innate effect born from that quality of being. Instead, it is derivative of the thirst for blood that all Strigae share, and therefore becomes a quality of the individual. How Strigae cope with their bloodlust differs greatly from individual to individual, however, the most common manifestation of it is a sociopathic quality of apathy that becomes ingrained as the immortal complex takes hold and Strigae come to embrace their newfound strengths. These Strigae will no longer see humans as anything more than fodder, and this in turn leads to a disregard for life as they indulge more and more into the hedonistic lifestyle of bloodletting and murder. Family and friends will no longer be so, and love will warp from something unconditional into a sense of belonging and superiority. Those Strigae who reject their condition (to the best extent that they may), on the other hand, retain a much more sober outlook upon the word and remain much as they were, apart from the fact that they lock themselves in a constant struggle against their addition. Certainly, there are those that walk the middle ground and even Strigae who indulge yet see no ill deed nor malintent in their actions. The making of a monster comes from the condition, and not the curse itself, ultimately. Feeding/Diet: GENERAL FEEDING Strigae are compelled to feed by the very curse that dictates their existence, an addiction near incomparable to that of any drug, something that only the strongest of minds can be trained to resist, especially due to the fact that neglecting these urges leads to the near withering of a Striga - a feeling of unending cold descending upon them as their physique gradually crumbles. For a Striga to be considered well-fed and function at full capacity they must have fed within the past IRL week, beyond this they will continue to ‘degenerate’ reaching half of their capacity if they have fed within the past IRL month, beyond that they would be unfed and any extra capacity becomes redundant, their form cold to the touch and their appearance becoming sunken, near malnourished. A Striga must also always be careful never to overindulge, for this is the way to true degeneration, eating more than two adult-meals (fully drained) per seed month (irl day) will lead to a Greater Striga’s degeneration to Upir, the first stage of Lesser Striga. the three stages of hunger (left to right) Strigae who have not fed on blood for an extended period of the time are cold to the touch and begin to suffer from a state of degeneration. While they do not become lesser striga, they become emaciated husks the longer they go with blood, eventually reaching a point where they will be incapable of feeding themselves without the assistance of another due to extreme physical lethargy and muscle degeneration. More than two adult meals per seed month (irl day) will lead to the degeneration of the Greater Striga to the first stage of lesserdom, an Upir. HUMORIC STIMULATION It is already well known that Strigae possesses a latent ability to sense the blood and blood quality of other individuals, but why is this the case? Strigae are required to drink of life-essence to maintain their abilities yes, but this is not also why they hunger and crave for it. Essense held in the blood of mortals is the fuel, but it is also in turn a major stimulant for the Striga as well. The numbness of life being temporarily sated in an instance of feeding. Striga experience a certain euphoria when consuming humorically balanced meals, and intensely the range of emotion tied to their victim’s own experiences. It is in this way then that a Striga can almost in a literal sense; suck the life out of an individual. All the valuable emotions and feelings that constitute their own identity: it is this that Strigae yearn for in a life of otherwise poor and miserable circumstance. Isaac’s pupils dilated as he drank up the very essence of the man ahead of him, experiencing the joy the man had felt as his son was born just days prior, the anger he had felt as he found out it was not his, the sorrow that had led the man to the dredges of the tankard of ale bought for him by a kind stranger who offered him a chance at a new beginning, the confusion he felt as his vision went dark and he woke up within the depths of a dungeon. In all of this did he revel. REDLINE: The victim’s emotions are the only thing that can be experienced by a Striga when they feed. Memories, events, or clues cannot be experienced by a Striga when they drink someone else's blood. TEMPERAMENTAL SENSORY Striga are also found to be more acutely aware of other’s physiology. When blood is near so too is the compulsion to transform and hunt, though this can be mitigated via one’s strength of mind. The compulsion is so great that some specimens of Strigae are even prone to losing control and going berserk. This is also the very reason why Striga can sense their own kind; blood calls to blood. But it is not the blood itself that Strigae are attuned to; rather they are drawn to the qualities held within the blood which offers them sustenance and euthporia in return, very similar to the experience mortals undergo when being subjected to their own blood. The quality of the blood is in fact offset by the elemental composition; essentially the chemical composition and balance of bodily fluids. There are components in this regard, identified as the four humors, four excesses which effect and work to imbalance the body identified as such since antiquity: black bile, yellow bile, sanguinity, and phlegm or mucus. It is believed then that an abundance in any of the four is unappealing to most Strigae; yet some do acquire specific tastes, as these four Humors translate to certain temperaments which are really how those of the species identify the subject of their next meal. Some Striga are in fact abundantly picky in their diet. For the wide majority of Striga however: what is preferred is a meaningful balance of these fluids in the body, as both an excess or a deficiency of any four provides to taint the experience of feeding. Thus it is for the purpose of determining blood purity that their senses are enhanced, and although all five senses are enhanced they are not absurdly so; more apt is that this predatory affinity manifests instead as a sixth sense entirely. REDLINE: It is not possible to use these sensory skills as an out to track people, to sniff people out of hiding, to listen in unreasonably unto another conversation from another room. Misuse in any of these ways, or in any other malicious manner will result in that player’s CA being revoked. Physical Capability Strigae, through the boon of blood, benefit from various physical attributes which grant them supernatural capability. These are most noticeable in their innate strength and speed, albeit limited to the physical constraints of the body itself. When underfed or starved outright then such factors do weigh down the individual to an extent where they weaken and tire with ease. Built for dexterity and precision movement, their high-twitch muscle fiber allows them to strike hard and fast. The body reflects the needs of a species built upon hunger and the secrecy thereof. That a fight must be avoided at all costs; and when confronted, victory must be decisive or flight swift. Strigae are, alongside this, capable of passive low-light vision and a natural resistance against the travails of gravity, allowing them to endure falls that would otherwise shatter the bones of a normal person. When Strigae are in a state of anxiety; be it on the hunt, enraged or otherwise engaged in combat or threatened, they are put into a state of flux and transform into something far more bestial; what could be considered to be the truest semblance of a Greater Striga's 'true' appearance. Their eyes become blackened in the sockets while their frame remains much the same in constitution, albeit gaunt and hollow, with blackened veins flaring across their skin and their nose flattening as their ears grow sharp, long and bat-like in appearance. However, the most noteworthy and important feature of this bestial form is the presence of elongated talons which serve as suitable weapons in the pursuit of prey and in their own self-defense. Leuwyn's teeth bared in a hiss as he was driven back against a wall by a mob armed with fire and steel. Put between a rock and a hard place, the Striga's cartilage began to shift with the sickening sound of cracking and popping. A haze of pitch darkness overcame his pupils, slowly consuming the whites of his eyes as his face visibly shifted with rage. His nose flattened against the bone and his ears took on a more animalistic appearance as his flesh became sunken and hollow, bereft of the kiss of warmth and his teeth also took on that same air of savagery and inhuman bearing. As the men closed in on him, his arms flared out from his sides with the same unsettling crackle of cartilage and sinew rearranging itself as nails shifted into blackened talons, keen edged and poised to attack. All physical attributes are capped at the capacity of an Uruk/Orc and limited by the amount of blood they have consumed most recently. A character that has fed within the week(IRL) will be at full capacity. A character that has fed within the past month(IRL) will have that capacity subtracted by half. A character that has NOT fed within the past month(IRL)will have that capacity become redundant. Striga are uniquely strong, yet that strength must abide by reasonable means: think any given mixed martial artist or peak athlete, not some unrealistic hulking monstrocity. Unsheathing one’s talons would take 1 emote, the same as unsheathing a sword. Hypermetabolism The aforementioned metabolism also gifts Strigae with inherent health; Immunity to poison and disease (but conversely unable to benefit from alchemical potions.) Theirs is an accumulated numbing to the variable stimuli that life offers over time. As a product of their enhanced metabolism, Strigae also have an inherent resistance to cold and are even able to wander through a tundra, or swim through frozen over waters in relative comfort when well fed. Their immunity to poison makes Strigae unable to benefit alchemic healing or elixirs for the changing of appearance. Their body would also reject the afflicted symbiote in this regard. This is also why Striga are unable to learn extraordinary magics, and why the potential for all else is burned out of them by the transfusion of the Unseen’s vile blood into the vein. Once turned, the body fights vigorously against foriegn influences and does not allow an inch of ground in this regard. This is also partly the reason why normal sustenance is simply inferior to the consummation of life energy. In order for the body to continue to operate efficiently it is critical that Strigae receive enough fuel to sustain their corporeal body and their abilities, as even if they are immune to tampering they cannot stave off the gnawing twisting rot that accompanies starvation. Whilst for the most part unhindered and unfeeling of cold, their bodymatter is not exempt from it; a Striga’s skin and muscles can still be frozen by alchemical, magical or even mundane means and the same pain and restriction would be experienced. Similarly intense heat is handled the same way. The body can be hampered like any other creature; yet despite feeling that pain Strigae are also equal to it, fortuitous to curb their physical reaction. REDLINE: Striga are unable to learn any kind of magic, nor are they able to be cured, or transformed into another CA equivalent creature. Everything they had before they turned would then be lost. Also while strong in constitution that does not at all mean that extreme cold or heat does not affect them, they have a tolerance, not an immunity. Regeneration Strigae are blessed with a regeneration that can only be considered superhuman, able to regenerate from the most grievous wounds themselves, even death with the help of another. It is important to note that wounds sustained from aurum weaponry take 2x longer to heal. In Combat Inside of combat, a Striga’s body can only regenerate so much while also focusing on defense, therefore cuts and other blemishes will only take three emotes to recover from. 1* Iestan stepped back, his arm bleeding heavily from a cut he had taken while fighting his opponent who now lay wheezing on the ground. Soon the wound began to clot. 2* As he wiped the blood from the rest of his arm his wound continued to heal, scabbing over momentarily as the wound stitched itself back together. 3* The scabbing crumbled away, revealing his pristine skin, unmarred by injury as he looked towards the other brigand, trembling as he looked forth at the monster. Out of Combat A Striga’s ability to regenerate outside of combat is much greater, with internal injuries such as a stab wound taking only 4 irl hours to regenerate from. Beyond this, major injuries such as severed limbs or grievous wounds would take 3 irl days to regenerate from, it is commonplace for a Striga to enter seclusion during these times as to not arouse suspicion. Death and Revival The death of the body is not the end for a Striga, though they do not find solace in the arms of the cloud temple monks as so many do. Upon the destruction of the brain, the Striga’s soul would be left to linger, eternally calling out for help - something that may eventually stumble upon those fortunate few. With the help of another Greater Striga, the dead may regenerate over the course of an IRL month where their entire body would be grown anew once more in the form of an vetalas. Regeneration Redlines All internal damage done to a Striga in combat cannot be undone while still in combat. If you're stabbed in the chest or someone pierces a lung, stabs out an eye (again) all of this cannot be feasibly regenerated when focusing on defence. To do so is powergaming and will again result in the immediate revocation of that individual’s CA. Middling wounds can clot and scab, but this must be achieved in combat via emote and to fully heal they must again be safely outside of combat. Minor injuries (ie. internal bodily injury) will take between 4 irl hours to regenerate from*. Major injuries (ie. severed limbs or grievous wounds) will take between 3 days to regenerate from*. Mortal injuries (ie. destruction of the brain, or complete bodily destruction) will take 1 month to regenerate from, and will also require the help of another striga to help regenerate. Any injury received from aurum will take twice as long to recover from as the same injury received by regular means. Real Death while preferably ending in the permanent death of the character can also result in degeneration or eternal limbo instead. Combat must also already be decided before the rp can commence, one cannot consume their opponent mid-combat. A Striga can still pk to valid rp death should they wish, the same as any normal character. Realdeath (PK) Though the aforementioned condition of Strigae prevents true death by the hands of mortals, there remains an unspoken vulnerability; an exploitation born of the nature of their curse. For this true death to occur, another Striga must break the bonds of their fraternal virtue through the profane act of cannibalism; a deed that is considered to brand the individual as anathema to all their kin. In the instance of this occurrence does the murderer take unto their own body the dormant spirit of their kin, devouring their flesh to incorporate it into themselves and effectively absorb the lesser partner of his profane union. This in turn renders the process of regeneration inert, effectively killing the Striga. Real Death while preferably ending in the permanent death of the character can also result in permanent degeneration or eternal limbo instead. Enthrallment Enthrallment derives from the innate, hypnotic properties found within the blood of Greater Strigae. Strigae blood can be used to sway thoughts towards the allure of a Striga’s will, and impart a dependency much alike in nature to that of an opiate addiction. The blood can be disguised in drinks, or wittingly consumed, however the effect is the same in loosened inhibitions and mild susceptibility to persuasion. It also has the effect of producing an infantile version of Strigae regenerative ability in the thrall, with blemishes, bruises and otherwise trivial wounds healing passively via this effect. Enthrallment is tiered with each incident increasing the time enthrallment keeps its hold over the individual by two hours per while also strengthening the effects. Upon the fifth incident, the bond is made permanent wherein they become completely beholden to the will of their regnant. If denied their regnant’s blood they will enter into a state similar to drug withdrawal and suffer such effects until they have been weaned off entirely. The final stage of enthrallment requires ooc consent. Enthrallment cannot be used to force a thrall into any sort of act that would entail the willful suicide of the character, or that would be considered lewd or unwholesome. Enthrallment cannot be used to force actions onto a character up until the fifth and final stage of enthrallment, which requires the OOC consent of the player involved. It is meant to instill suggestibility, not outright mind control. Thralls are not granted the abnormal strength or regenerative ability of Greater Strigae, instead inheriting a higher physical resilience that allows them to recover from minor wounds such as scrapes, bruising, etc. Enthrallment must be broken through abstaining from the blood of a thrall’s Regnant, whether willingly or unwillingly, for a period of two IRL weeks and cannot be cleansed by any magical means. Transformation The ritual to create a Striga is one of ancient barbaric origins, the potential Striga must be strapped down to a table surrounded by ancient runes written in a language long lost to elf and man alike. Here they must be bled near dry where then the Elder Striga must feed them their vile blood, chanting the accursed prayer that Helgraem originally used to call forth the Unseen. Give us a maid of unspoiled stock, That we may hew her limbs, And on a pile sacrifice her flesh, Before this earthly prison of her bones, A virgin’s blood, so that the Taker of Souls be appeased. This ritual is not foolproof, in fact there is a high chance that the aspirant rejects the blood of the Unseen and dies in a bloody mess on the table, if the aspirant rolls a 12 or higher however (in which they have 3 chances) they survive though at this point they must feed within 24 hours or they will degenerate into a lesser Striga. Redlines: This ritual must be explicitly taught, observing or living through it does not count. The ritual undertaker must roll 12 or higher on at least ⅓ of their chances. The new Striga must feed within 24 IRL hours or they will die or degenerate into an Upir The Elder in question must have an accepted TA. Roleplaying an Upir Upir are the culmination of a Greater Striga’s degenerative spiral. Having lost themselves to baser instincts, they become monstrous creatures worthy of the designation of lesser that is attached to them. Lacking in the tact or wit of a Greater Striga, they are driven solely by all-consuming hunger and are barely sentient, being able to piece together broken fragments of speech and feral noises that betray their fall from grace. Upir are unique in that they may, through the consumption of a Greater Striga, reconstitute themselves from their bestial state. It should be noted that Upir always appear in their bestial form. Upir require a seperate CA from a Greater Striga dictating that a player is aware of the differences between Greater and Lesser Strigae, however if they devolve further, the creature becomes unplayable outside of ST use. General Weaknesses Animals (specifically of the family Canidae) are able to detect the scent of a striga and are averse to one’s presence, often unfriendly and suspicious in the presence of a striga. Strigae are susceptible to aurum, and cannot immediately regenerate wounds inflicted by blades of gold, causing it to take twice as long as would normally be applicable. To a striga, any form of aurum or silver is very uncomfortable to the touch, and must be handled with gloves. When a stake formed of either material is driven through the heart of a striga it causes immediate bodily paralysis and inhibits the regenerative functions of the striga until removed. Strigae are completely unable to learn and utilize magical skills as a result of their affliction. Prior magical skills that were learnt prior to transformation become unusable. The scent of excessive blood such as that of a large battle or slaughterhouse will drive even the most controlled striga temporarily wild and rabid, forcing them into their more bestial form and causing them to lose control of their emotions. General Redlines Strigae are compelled to feed on blood, hungering for it like a powerful addiction. Though this ‘alcoholism’ can occasionally be overcome by the most controlled of strigae, it is always latent. Strigae who have not fed on blood for an extended period of the time are cold to the touch and begin to suffer from a state of degeneration. While they do not become lesser striga, they become emaciated husks the longer they go with blood, eventually reaching a point where they will be incapable of feeding themselves without the assistance of another due to extreme physical lethargy and muscle degeneration. Greater strigae who overindulge (More than four adult 'meals' per seed-month) on blood will begin the process of degeneration into an Upir and subsequent creatures. Animals (specifically of the family Canidae) are able to detect the scent of a striga and are averse to one’s presence, often unfriendly and suspicious in the presence of a striga. Strigae are susceptible to aurum, and cannot immediately regenerate wounds inflicted by blades of gold, causing it to take twice as long as would normally be applicable. To a striga, any form of aurum or silver is very uncomfortable to the touch, and must be handled with gloves. When a stake formed of either material is driven through the heart of a striga it causes immediate bodily paralysis and inhibits the regenerative functions of the striga until removed. Becoming a striga is irreversible. Strigae are infertile and can only reproduce by inflicting their curse (Or as they often see it, a blessing) upon others. Strigae are completely unable to learn and utilize magical skills as a result of their affliction. Prior magical skills that were learnt prior to transformation become unusable. Strigae cannot utilize the Cloud Temple monks to heal their bodies. The scent of excessive blood such as that of a large battle or slaughterhouse will drive even the most controlled striga temporarily wild and rabid, forcing them into their more bestial form and causing them to lose control of their emotions. Lesser Striga beyond Upir restricted to ST; degeneration occurs after the equivalent of four adult meals (two people drained in their entirety.) Upir are playable with a separate CA dictating that a player is aware of the differences between a greater and lesser Striga, should the lesser Striga devolve further they become unplayable. An Upir may ascend back to greaterdom by consuming a greater Striga, in doing so they would be rendered Anathema. Cultural distaste for individuals who have violated the Unseen “tenants” cannot be used as a basis to DC or PK and an individual, they are essentially only RP flavor/aesthetic and have no basis to force others into RP or enforce any type of DC or PK. Purpose Striga exist to challenge the significant value we place on the concept of immortality, and to answer the question of what would happen if a finite entity suddenly found itself invested with infinite vitality. It’s a question that can only really be purely expressed in roleplay, and that is ultimately the core pillar of the community. What would happen if an old man regained his strength? Or a young man remained eternally youthful? What would happen to that individual as a character? It’s the promise of story in the long term for players who value a level of realism that cannot be adequately gained elsewhere. Striga also presents a very fascinating philosophical dilemma; that this curse can transform a moral character into someone unrecognizable. It’s this question: of how beings with such a limited scope manage to fill all the centuries they’ve been given without falling into depression, going mad, or getting killed. The essential battle of a Striga is between humanity and the compulsion to do harm. The niche is complex because of that black and white dynamic and the result is something that is far more unique and character driven than in most other formats on the server. It’s what has made this lore so paliable in the past and why people continue to be dedicated to it now. It’s the reason why it was the first to get traditional night creatures right on this server without conforming to the typical twilight cringe aesthetic. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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