Avatarp Kindred

The Four Kindred

"The races of Ano, come in four great groups. The Mortal, Constructed, Spiritual and Cursed. To understand what each means, read on.

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Mortal Kindred, are species that are born, grow, and eventually grow old and die. They however, have immortal souls, but they cannot make extensive use of them, at least, not actively so. Hence, their death marks the departure of their spirits.

Humans.

They are the prime example of Mortals, in that they are born with the capacity to form an extension of the Tree of Souls, through their own spirit, but cannot do so without help, either from the Avatar System, or the Aether Nodes. Oddly enough, they seem to be the only species capable of performing feats based on a cultivated power system.

Psychics.

These odd deviations of normal humans, labelled Psychics are assumed to be Mortal Kindred as well. Generally, they look human, but have some varieties singular traits, that make them distinguishable from humans. Their powers can have varying effects, some even going as far as to call them born sorcerers. In Oricus, they are called Exalts, and in the Lotus, they are seemingly incapable of entering the dream.

It appears, that the definition of Psychic is quite loose...and is used to refer to "Human subspecies with naturally occurring supernatural abilities for one reason or another".

Animals, would technically be classified under the Mortal Kindred as well, but their lack of sapience, seems to be a deal breaking turnoff for some.

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Constructed are easier to explain. Artificial beings, in essence, without a real soul, but practically animated and permeated by a network of Aether, or other sources of energy, very similar to it.

Automata are the primary variety. Made of metal, or sometimes, partially of flesh as well, in the case of androids, they can use the Avatar System, and occasionally Aether Nodes as well. Some people from Acrima, speak of similar constructs, called Golems, made in a much simpler manner, but possessed of other virtues.

Genuine Automata, seem to be capable of calling unto weapons or smaller robots, through their own prowess, somehow. Mortals can become Constructed, through enough modifications. Other types, of course, always exist. Banner Knights, are considered Constructed, by almost anyone.

It should be noted, that we do not always know who constructs the Constructed. The Ancient Automata were likely Constructed, but as for who made them, and why they were made... We have no answers.

Cauldron Guardians, are perceived as Constructed, in most occasions. Keep in mind, that autonomous defense systems, like the ones in the Titans Corpse, do NOT have a will of their own, and thus, cannot be considered as part of the Four Kindred.

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Spiritual.

A difficult to define Kindred. Entities of a spiritual nature, generally do not care if their body is slain, as long as the core of their being is safe. Generally, spiritual beings cannot be killed, but they can be converted and transformed, through affecting their spirit.

Incarnates, are a prime example. Spirits born of nature, and it's phenomena, they have a physical form, related to their source, as well as said source. Even if the source, like say, a tree is destroyed, or burnt, the Incarnate survives, but it goes from a tree spirit, to an ash spirit, for example.

The dreamers of Lotus, appear to have a similar sort of deal, in that their real being is stored safely in the dream, thus their projection cannot really perish. Avatars work in a similar manner to this Kindred, apparently. It is said, that in ancient times, the mythical dragons were in fact, Spiritual Kindred.

But dragons don't exist, at least...not in Ano or Dormina. Most mythical beings, are assumed to have been a Spiritual Kindred creature too, or an Incarnate, whose being was misinterpreted by the ancient and uneducated humans, and written into the Cosmos Weave.

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The Cursed.

The Cursed are a number of Kindred, who seem to be suffering from a curse. Easy as that. Several types of Cursed are known to exist, but two are far more ubiquitous than the others. A common trait shared among them, seems to be the need for something material, that normal humans would not normally require, such as Aether or Abyssal Blood.

Undead, which are created from an odd disease, that first, kills the host, and then has the, reanimated, with a wiped memory as well as an ever decaying body. Consuming Abyssal Blood, seems to help them stave off the decay, and restore their memories, somehow.

Fiends, on the other hand, are those whose souls have been set on fire, attaining charred skin, lava veins, and other monstrous features. They seem to have an impressive Tree of Souls expansion potential, but they passively burn up the Aether in their soul, requiring them to seek out more and more of it, as they grow consumed by the hunger.

Some Fiends are reportedly more human, however, appearing as beautiful humanoid exemplars, with distinguishing Fiend-traits nonetheless, who are also capable of speech and thought, among other things. Some Fiends, have suggested that there is in fact, a hierarchy among them as well. Perhaps the Cursed are not as mad, or in pain or outright monstrous as we think of them?

Others are said to exist, elsewhere... Some mention a type of Cursed, with relation to the Moon, or Stars. Others, from Oricus, speak of an aquatic species that seems a lot like Cursed."