The Realm of Telgrin was made up of more than just mere humans. As it was a place that was magical by nature, there were many different races that cohabited (mostly) in harmony. Here is some information on the different types of people who now reside in Telgrin Heights. Feel free to browse the entire list, or simply jump to the race you're most interested in. Humans |  Faeries |  Shapeshifters | Vampires | Werewolves

HUMANS

Humans are pretty basic. As they are here, they were in Telgrin; no special powers, they age normally, religion varies from person to person, and everyone has their own opinion on what is right and what is wrong. The only difference between the humans of the 'modern' world and the ones who lived in Telgrin was how they lived their day-to-day lives then. They were the ones who found the transition to living as humans live today the easiest. Top

FAERIES

The Faeries of Telgrin Heights are not pixies in bluebells. Typically humanoid in appearance, they are exceedingly powerful when it comes to magic. They have a tendency to have fiery tempers, and are capable of devastation if you cross them, but are more often than not fiercely loyal, and will do anything to protect the side they are fighting for. There are two different courts of Faerie; Seelie and Unseelie. THE SEELIE are the light Fae, the golden race. They are beautiful any way you slice it, with a kind of brightness about them that makes a person desire to be close to them. It is not uncommon for a Seelie to affect an entire room full of people, simply by being in a good mood. Their laughter is infectious, and seeing a Seelie who is unhappy has been compared to watching a wild animal that has been trapped in a small cage. Seelies are known for playing pranks on humans and having a light hearted attitude, forgetting their sorrows quickly and not allowing anything but the most serious of problems get them down. The Seelie Court are generally fond of other races, and have the tendency to be friendly to anyone they deem trustworthy. A Seelie does not, under any circumstances, tell a lie, and they don't appreciate being lied to. The Code of the Seelie Court Like many human courts, the Seelie Court had its own code of conduct, a code which all of the Seelie had to abide by. This code was: Death Before Dishonor: A member of the Seelie Court would protect his or her honor to the death. Honor was the single source of glory for the Seelie, the only way to attain recognition. A true Seelie would rather have died than live with personal dishonor, and would never bring dishonor to another of the Seelie. Love Conquers All: For the Seelie, love was the perfect expression of the soul. It transcended all other things. Though romantic love was considered to be the highest and purest form of love, platonic love was also encouraged. Beauty is Life: Beauty was one of the first tenants of the Seelie Court. To belong, a faery had to be beautiful, and all beauty was to be protected. The Seelie were known to go to war to protect beauty, whether it was a beautiful person, place, or thing. Never Forget a Debt: This tenant worked in two ways. The Seelie were bound by their code of honor to repay any debt owed as soon as was possible. This included both favors and insults. The Seelie would repay a favor in a timely fashion. At the same time, they would exact vengeance almost immediately. THE UNSEELIE are a darker court. They are more striking than beautiful, with sharp features that remain ingrained on a person's memory for their entire lives. And where a Seelie radiates brightness, an Unseelie seems to absorb it, leaving a shadow surrounding them that, while being impossible to see, is easily felt. Unlike the Seelie Court, no offense is necessary to bring down their assaults. They were known to roam the country roads, falling upon their traveling victims in groups to attack with no reasoning aside from they simply could. Like the beings of the Seelie Court who are not always benevolent, neither are the fairies of the Unseelie Court always malevolent. Unseelies can become fond of a particular human if they are viewed as respectful, and would choose to make them something of a pet. While both courts can manipulate time, the Unseelie will use it to their advantage, holding a human they've 'adopted' within the protection of their own homes, their magic preventing the aging process. Should the pet human leave the spelled area, all the time that had passed would catch up with them immediately, and they would perish in a matter of seconds. Some of the members of the Unseelie Court included: The Sluagh (the Hosts of the Unforgiven dead, akin to the Wild Hunt) Shellycoat (a trickster of the coasts) Redcap (a vicious faerie who drenched his cap with human blood) The Code of the Unseelie Court Like many human courts, the Unseelie Court had its own code of conduct, a code which all of the Unseelie had to abide by. The details of this code were: Change is Good: The Unseelie firmly believed that security was an illusion. They considered chaos to be the ruling force in the universe, and accepted that they had to adapt and change to survive. Glamour is Free: Glamour is one of the magics in Telgrin. Both the Seelie and Unseelie possessed its power. However, the two Courts had differing opinions over its use. The Unseelie believed that to have power and not to use it was near to sin. They used their power for whatever they saw fit. Honor is a Lie: The Unseelie placed no stock in the ideals of honor. Instead, they pursued their own self-interests vigorously. The Unseelie felt as if truth could be only be reach through a devotion to self, not a devotion to others. Passion Before Duty: Passion was considered to be the truest state of being. The Unseelie acted without thought on pure instinct and passion. Faeries have an exceptionally strong constitution when it comes to human diseases. While they can't escape a case of the sniffles, they are never at risk of the serious illnesses that humans are susceptible to. Faeries do not show their age in their face, and are weakened by most metals, but have a serious disfavor to iron. The only known ways to kill a Faerie are decapitation, and iron poisoning. For more information on the aging process, please check our frequently asked questions. Top

SHAPESHIFTERS

Imagine being able to prowl the woods as a panther, blending into the night and hiding in the branches of the trees. Imagine soaring over the tallest trees and buildings, the wind catching your wings as you play in an air currant. And then, at the end of the day, you're able to change into a person and continue your daily lives. You could do that, if only you were a Shapeshifter. The Shapeshifters of Telgrin Heights are animal in nature. They are born with an animal form already imprinted on their DNA, and there is no way to change it. They don't shift forms right away, and there is no way of knowing what their animal will be until they shift for the first time. Typically, Shifters go through their first shift when they are between the ages of thirteen and sixteen. It's a totally involuntary motion the first time, and the Shifter can't control when it comes on, or how long it lasts. Once the initial shift ends, the Shifter is then in control of their own form, and can change back and forth at will. Some Shifters enjoy being in a state where they are only half changed, and have the attributes of both their animal form, while keeping a mostly human appearance. Animal ears, for instance, or a tail. A Shapeshifter cannot glamor themselves while any part of their shifted form, however, so it is not advised for one to walk around town like this. There are more physical characteristics to a Shapeshifter than just the obvious animal body. Shifters are born with pointed tips to their ears, something that requires a glamor while they are living their lives outside the gates of Telgrin Heights. They are also almost unnaturally beautiful, a trait that some choose to dull with glamors while they are at work or school, or just out and about. Like Faeries, Shapeshifters are immortal unless their head is severed from their body. They also age at the same rate as the Fae. For more information on the aging process, please see the frequently asked questions. Top

VAMPIRES

While Bram Stoker may have a lot to answer for when it comes to how he wrote about Vampires, but he did get some of it right. The Vampires of Telgrin Heights are not skulking monsters who lurk in the shadows of unsuspecting women's bedrooms. They aren't pasty white creatures with burning embers for eyes, and long clawed fingers that reach for you from the darkness. In fact, Vampires look quite similar to humans. They are paler than most, but they are not without pigment entirely. Their eyes are vibrant, but very rarely do they appear to be red, and their nails grow like normal fingernails. If a Vampire has claws, that's because they've filed their nails to look that way. Vampires who came from Telgrin will not burn to a pile of ashes if they're exposed to sunlight. That isn't to say that they're able to enjoy leisurely picnics on a summer day. Too much sunlight is poisonous to a Vampire, and prolonged exposure will cause them to become progressively more ill. Symptoms of sun poisoning are weakness, disorientation, vomiting, blindness, and sores on the body. If the Vampire is out in the sun for too long, they will die. There are two types of Vampires in Telgrin Heights. Those who are born, and those who are made. A Vampire who is born is generally stronger than one who is made, and born Vampires can typically stay out in the sun longer before becoming seriously ill. When a Vampire is made, they can not immediately access the magical abilities that their Sire has right off the bat. They have the potential, but they need to be trained and taught to use their new powers properly. The process of turning a human is a lengthy one, and it is best if the Vampire has a special bond with the human. This isn't necessary, of course, but it helps the transition to go more smoothly. The Vampire must bite the person they are changing to drink their blood, and feed their own blood to them afterward. This act must be performed three times, and after the third time the transition will begin. It is a painful experience for the human, so the Sire will usually put them into a deep sleep, not unlike a coma. Top

WEREWOLVES

Info on werewolves goes here Top

The Codes of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts come from Monstrous.com. No claim is made to their creation.