Step into the dark with us

Crimson Shadows is home to a number of different types of supernatural beasties, some of which interact regularly and some of which do not. Each has their own unique history, their own customs, and their own potentials. Some of these groups are new to the scene, having never been encountered in significant numbers. Others are well known, well documented, and accepted parts of the modern world.

This list is likely to expand as the realm continues to grow and evolve, with new 'types' of supernatural creatures being added to the rolls of options for players.

Pagan Gods

Most of these enigmatic beings have existed as long as the archangels, born witness to the conflict between angels, demons, and fae, and watched with equal parts of love and hatred as humanity evolved and grew. Empowered by the worship of humanity, the pagan gods represent the power of faith and lesser glories that fall short of the Creator.

Angels

Saints and Sinners alike have said that they have seen angels. Long considered to be figments of the imagination, figures of delusions, or the result of powerful hallucinogenic, few people have ever met an angel and lived, and so stories and lore about angels is both rare and usually very old. Angels are servants of God, stewards over creation, and are supposed to be the protectors of humanity.

The Fae

Embodying the power of nature, chaos, and entropy, the Fae are the servants of the Earth Goddess and to them falls the task of safeguarding the natural world, and the delicate balance of the Gaia realm. They have long existed in our world in small numbers but now the gates to their Otherworld are flung open and the Faerie host returns to Creation.

Demons

Demons have been mentioned in every culture, across the whole world, throughout all of history. While most people do not believe in demons, Hunters know they are real, and so do some vampires, magi, psychics, and others. Demons, unlike other types of supernatural creatures, cannot be identified by scent since they possess normal humans. Humans don't know much about the origins of demons, the few that believe they exist, but hunters have learned that demons are human souls twisted and perverted and broken. Somehow that breaking empowers the soul even as it corrupts.

Vampires

Vampires have been a feature of myths and legendry for hundreds, if not thousands of years. When it became common knowledge that the blood drinkers did in fact exist, they were forced to live much more discreetly in order to avoid Hunters and the Catholic Church’s Inquisition. In the United States, Vampires are recognized as legal citizens and they have taken this opportunity to come out of the shadows and live openly.

Lycanthropes

Lycanthropes have existed for as long as, or possibly longer, than animals have walked the earth, although it was not until the advent of humanity that the virus which is responsible for therianthropy had somewhere to go and something to do. In some cultures prior to the modern age the lycanththrope was respected and valued as guardian and protector, or shaman and healer. In the modern world however, the lycanthropes are viewed with distaste at best and outright hatred at worst. Because of this, the various lycanthrope species tend to cluster together - not only for mutual protection and to be around others who understand, but also as a matter of the intersection of bestial instinct and human need for socialization.

Aleran's & Furycrafting

The Nation of Alera was founded nearly five hundred years ago when the descendents of former exiles raised the continent of Atlantis from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. The Alerans practice a type of magic that is only available to the Alerans and those that share their blood. This power seems to be rooted in genetics and is hereditary, and helps explain the Aleran value of keeping their bloodlines pure and untainted by non-Aleran blood. Their scientists theorize that they could breed the ability out of their subspecies Homo Sapiens Aleria.

Magic

For thousands of years prior to the rise of the monotheistic religions, magic was practiced in all places around the world. After the rise of monotheism, the practice was decried and rejected, particularly by Christianity. Some said magic was dead, or had never been real to begin with. They are wrong. Magic was, is, and always shall be available to the learned mind, or those inborn with the power. Magus (pl. Magi) is the name of those that continue to practice magic, regardless of whether they learned to do it or had the power inborn. They may call themselves by others names: druid, priestess, bokor, lector-priest, wizards, but Magi is the collective term used by science and occult study. A Witch, or a Warlock, specifically references a magic user that has the ability to use magic inborn rather than having acquired it by long study.

Psychics

Psychic powers are something of an unknown, and like magic, there have been psychic human beings seemingly since the beginning. Psychic powers, unlike magic or most other forms of supernatural phenomenon, are nearly impossible to study scientifically. There does not appear to be any genetic link between mental powers and those that have them. They also tend to operate off of emotions rather than logic and study, with a psychic’s abilities flaring up when they are angry, sad, lusty, or experiencing some other powerful emotion. What is known, is that the psychic abilities manifesting in the modern age are significantly stronger than those that manifested a century ago.

Necromancers

Some people have described Necromancers as juiced up Animators, but the truth is a little more complicated. Others have likened Necromancers to being 'living' vampires, which in some ways might be true. Regardless, Necromancers are human beings that have some sort of innate connection with and power over the dead, the world of the dead, and the undead.

Ghosts

Ghosts have been seen for thousands of years, dismissed as nonsense by some and eagerly sought out by others. The simple truth is, ghosts do exist, and the barrier or the Veil, between our world, and the world of the dead called the Shadowlands has grown thinner in recent decades, and now ghosts are appearing in greater numbers and with greater strength than the rest of the supernatural world expected.

Skinchangers

Tales of humans taking on the forms of beasts are as old as time and the subject of many fairytales and stories. Some are the inheritors of what began as a curse and which afflicts their bloodlines. Others may have some genetic abnormality. Regardless, the Skinchangers are real. While not as powerful as their therianthropic counterparts, shifters should not be underestimated as the powers and abilities of the natural world are open to them.

Power Scale

In terms of raw power or supernatural energy, the following chart depicts the sheer power level of the different supernatural critters that can be played in Crimson Shadows. While this represents raw power, clever use of powers can turn this table upside down, inside out, or outside in. Just as you wouldn't challenge Hercules to an arm wrestling competition and expect to win, going head to head against something stronger than yourself is not the recipe for success.

For emphasis - this chart concerns raw power and is not the final determining factor in any conflict, although it is an important one.