CLAN GUIDE - CHOOSE YOUR CLAN

There are 13 Clans in the Chimaeran Council. Each is powerful in their own right. Which one are you?

KINDRED
Also known as vampires, leeches, etc…but I would use Kindred when speaking about them... There are three families to this clan: The Noblesse, Diablo and Giovanni clans. Each family is powerful in their own right and extremely deadly.

SHAPESHIFTERS
Mostly composed of weres: werewolves, werecats and wererats. Most of the time they don’t get furry until the full moon though there are exceptions. This clan also involves the Feyan shapeshifters such as the selkies or seal people (half human/fey, half seal) and nagas (half human/fey, half serpent)

FEY
Faeries...Sidhe...Sith...The Alfar…whatever you want to call them are not the Tinkerbell we watched when we were kids. They’re real, are beautiful and can be very deadly. Feyan society is divided into the Seelie Court and Unseelie Court.

WITCHES
They may be human, but they are definitely magical. They have the power to call the elements, can be reincarnated and are definitely a force to be reckoned with.

FERANTI
They may be human, but they are definitely magical. They have the power to call the elements, can be reincarnated and are definitely a force to be reckoned with.

HUMANS
Me, and the rest of the world that is just plain human. Nothing magical, just your average Joes and Janes. Of course that’s not counting those with Psi abilities or the Satinamuh.

THE SHADOWS
The bad guys in my opinion. Chaos’s big helping hands and the ones I am actually kind of afraid of. Scratch that, I know I am afraid of them. I only wish I knew who they were. They are the ones helping bring that ‘presence’ on over. I of course am convinced it’s a big bad. This clan also has some of the 'clanless' people in it, those who don't have a 'home' yet.

SELENE, SETH AMD SIMON
The ultimate of the higher ups in this world. I am not sure whether they are good or bad or just playing with this world because it amuses them, but they seem to keep everything in balance. To be on their good side isn’t a bad thing. To be on their bad side, well I have never seen their bad side, but considering the fact that they are akin to Gods…it just wouldn’t be a good idea.

KINDRED:
Also known as vampires. There are three families to this clan: The Noblesse, Diablo and Giovanni clans. Each family is powerful in their own right and extremely deadly.

A. The Families
B. The Hierarchy
C. Powers/Weaknesses
D. Code of Berayah

THE FAMILIES:
NOBLESSE: The Noblesse Family is ruled by the elegant and dangerously beautiful Gitanne Noblesse who is Mistress of Flesh and the ruler of the city and the council. Her family is an old one and though the Giovanni are the oldest, the Noblesse clan is the most powerful. With ties to the Fey and Magic, this highly organized, aggressive and intellectual family has the power to walk under the sun even after not feeding for days. This makes them a worthy adversary to any other faction. They use magic more than any other clan. Gia and her clan are undecided on whether the wall should be breached between the worlds.

DIABLO: The Diablo Family is the youngest family of the three, ruled by Dominic and Katrina Diablo. Their ties are to the shapeshifters and more than one has the ability to call or turn into an animal of their choosing. But they are also the rebels, forever searching for the ultimate expression of their individuality. The family is compromised of stubborn, highly aggressive, ruthless, sensitive to slights, and extremely vengeful Kindred. They are the most uncontrollable of all the families and would seek to destroy each and every thing of they could. They want the walls between the Realms to be destroyed.

GIOVANNI: The Giovanni Clan is the oldest and most respected of the three families. Ruled by Nicholas Giovanni and his wife Marie, this family is the most respected. It is composed of the artists, the sophisticates and the genteel. They are cautious, honorable and elegant. But most importantly due to Seth’s love for Grace is protected by both he and Selene. This clan stays in the shadows and out of Kindred and Council politics unless absolutely necessary. However they have found it necessary to speak out against letting the thing knocking on the proverbial door in.

THE HIERACRHY:
The Kindred are divided into a hierarchy. It has existed for millennia is very important to Kindred society.

KING OR QUEEN AND THEIR COUNCIL: Composed of the ruler of the ruling Kindred Clan, the executioner and the Katal or elder. This group of Kindred are the most powerful of all vampires. They control the world’s Kindred and may remove a Master or Mistress of the Land if they chose to. They also Enforce and live by The Code of Berayah: or the rules that keep each and every Kindred in order. Only rarely does one step down from the position. They are only replaced if one is killed by another and that kindred takes their place. This is only happened a handful of times. The newest member is Gitanne Noblesse with her Enforcer being Asher and her Katal, Darian.

MASTER or MISTRESS OF THE LAND: More commonly known as Prince regardless of their gender, they control the vampiric community of a particular area. There is only one per area, usually a country save for the United States which is spilt up into three regions (West Coast, East Coast and Mid-West). They make and enforce their rules within the general conduct rules set by the Council. Generally they can do as they please as long as they keep out of the notice of the Council. They generally run one or more businesses in a city. They are ruthless, doing whatever it takes to keep their position. Most hold this a long time. It’s not unusual for them to rule a city for a century or more. They lose their position by being defeated by a challenger.

KINDRED: The rest of the vampiric population, these kindred rule over no one and are usually under the control or protection of a Master or Mistress. They range from the newly turned to the less aggressive. These vampires can turn humans into vampires, but rarely have human servants.

HUMAN SERVANTS: Humans, fey, witches or shapeshifters that receive ‘marks’ from a Kindred are bonded with that vampire that can last for centuries. There is only one human servant per Kindred. The marks go as follows:

1st Mark: vampire gives the person his/her lifeforce, and makes it impossible for the human servant to be mesmorized by a vampire or affected by vampiric glamour.
2nd Mark: human servant invulnerable to clouding of mind. The vampire can now invade the human servant’s dreams, and communicate within the dreams. The vampire can now siphon off lifeforce from the person if needed.
3rd Mark: vampire can communicate with the servant through telepathy. Without the servant’s permission for this mark it would be like committing rape. Enhanced healing and strength appear at this mark, though sometimes it is seen with the second mark.
4th Mark: the human must drink some of the vampire’s blood. It is done in a ceremony with witnesses. This final mark causes the vampire to lose all power over the human servant. This mark slows the aging process as well.

Other things to note: the human servant gains the ability to heal quickly, enhanced strength, though not that of a vampire or were, and their aging process slows down to nearly nothing. Harming a human servant harms the vampire. Kill the vampire and the human servant dies or goes insane. The vampire doesn’t die if the servant dies, but may mourn the loss for a long time. This bond is not chosen lightly. They are ‘stuck’ with each other for centuries.

POWERS/WEAKNESSES:
Forget what the storybooks told you. Crosses or articles of faith have little effect. After all the Noblesse have Bronic, who is a devout Christian. Garlic...tasty. Running water...not a problem. It's time to really learn about Kindred.

POWERS: Kindred are quicker than humans and most of the fey. Though not as fast as the shapeshifters, they sometimes can appear as such because of their ability to they cloud the minds around them to ‘not see’ them move. They are stronger (even the newest neonate has the ability to list a car), heal quickly, and can appear quite graceful and agile. Their senses are extremely acute especially their sense of smell and sight. Kindred are able to appear human only after years of practice or just immediately after a feeding. In fact many Kindred would appear quite human after a feeding, a flush may be beneath the skin taking away that alabaster quality and their heart may even beat. They are even able to eat small amounts of food, but it makes the Kindred ill. Of course these attributes quickly fade away within a matter of hours, but can prove to be quite useful when trying to masquerade as a human. Other noted powers and abilities may include: strong telepathy (Between bloodlines), charm, voice, the ability to call an animal, and empathy (though this is more tied to their sense of smell when they say that they can sense fear, lust, and lies.) Though not every kindred has all of these abilities, but rather only select ones.

WEAKNESSES: The Kindred are not without flaws and can be destroyed. Obviously blood is vital to their existence. They can drink human, animal, or Chimaeran blood for sustenance and to maintain their spiritual and magical power. Though a Kindred can survive for extended periods without blood, they may be driven insane by the experience and go into torpor (a very deep sleep in which they appear dead and pretty much are. Only feeding will wake them. Think Underworld as the clan heads sleep through the centuries). There are even stories of one Kindred beginning to rot from the inside out due to the lack of vitae. When a Kindred first rises, it may be confused or dangerous. As a result, those who may rise as Kindred are stored in a locked morgue or a similar type of circumstance, and attended by a vampire counselor, who supplies the newly risen dead with an animal to feed on and helps them adjust to their new status. Sunlight is harmful to most, with the exception of the Noblesse (but even the Noblesse won't be sunning themselves on a beach in the Hamptons) If the Kindred has fed enough and appropriate sunblock has been applied, some of the older Kindred may be able to stand an hour tops in direct sunlight and get away with some nasty sunburn. But it is too much of a risk. Plus your powers are useless anyway as you are expending most of your magic into not becoming a crispy critter. In other words, don't try it. Fire is deadly as is silver nitrate. Removing or destroying the heart, stakes were once used, can bring Final Death to a vampire. Kindred can be beheaded and silver nitrate kills. The police departments have been using silver nitrate bullets for years now. As it effectively solves shifters, kindred, as well as everyone else. When a vampire is killed, his body turns to dust, but the heart remains. Other Chimaera can feast on it and gain some of the power and knowledge of the former person. However Diablerie is against the law and means final death to any who are discovered.

CODE OF BERAYAH:
There is a code among the Kindred. One that is followed or results in punishment. Selene and Seth see that all live by such a code, even if they are Council members. The Code is composed of formal, written laws, but are nevertheless known by all Kindred. There are many variations, and though the words may vary, the intent endures. The Traditions do not stand alone, for there is and always has been a system of punishment for those who transgress them. The system is simple: a vampire who breaks the rules is slain. This credo of "just retribution" is known formally as the Lextalionis, and more commonly as the Blood Hunt.

        The Masquerade: An Age old law that demands that Kindred do not interfere with mortal man. They do not use their powers overtly or kill when feeding. Unrestricted hunting hasn't been legal since 1583. Violation of this is the most serious offense a vampire can commit. The strengths and resources of humanity in the modern age are such that were human and Kindred to war because man feared them, the survival of the Kindred would be in question. Before the Preternatural Act, this law was less revered.
        The Domain: Kindred entering new territory must notify the Prince of that particular territory. Otherwise this may be taken as a declaration of war and may well be hunted down by the prince and destroyed. They must request permission to hunt in that city as well. This law also states that individual Kindred can not claim rights to a territory. Only the most powerful vampires of a territory can claim domain over it. They do so according to the tradition, and pretend that all others live there only at the pleasure of them. Princes claim they posses the territories, and in most ways, they do. This tradition is used by them to support their claims.
        Accounting: One who sires a childe assumes responsibility for that childe's existence. If the childe is unable to endure the burden of its new existence, it is the sire's responsibility to take care of the matter. If the childe attempts to betray the Kindred and threaten the Code, it is up to the sire to prevent him. In other words, unless approved by the Council themselves A sire is responsible for all actions of their childer.
        Progeny: This tradition states that one must ask permission before embracing. The Prince must ask the Conclave and the rest of Kindred society must ask the Kindred that rules their territory. In situations where a neonate has already been created, the ‘Elder’ (Master or council) may claim the individual as his own, may declare said neonate and his sire outcast, or may even put them both to death. Selene and Seth officially support this tradition as it restricts the creation of new vampires, understanding that it is the only way to control the population.

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SHAPESHIFTERS:
The most important thing to remember is that all weres are shapeshifters, but not all shapeshifters are weres. And here is also where Permanent Midnight borrows a little of Laurell K Hamilton’s mythos. Weres suffer from the lycanthropy virus, which is passed through an attack by a were in his animal shape, or, rarely, by a bad batch of lycanthropy serum. The shape a new were will become at the full moon is the same as that of his/her attacker. Wolves and rats are the most common, because their form of the virus is extremely contagious--a scratch can infect. The feline form of the virus is less potent. To become a werecat, the attack must be savage, and a lot of those mauled by werecats die of their wounds. As sufferers from a disease, weres are covered by the Persons with Disabilities act, as well as the Preternatural Act. Despite the laws, however, there is a great deal of prejudice against them (think HIV sufferers), and they frequently face discrimination in the workplace, health care, and housing. For this reason, many weres are firmly in the closet, only allowing the members of the pack or close friends and family to learn their secret. A were doctor or nurse would face the same prejudice as a medical person with HIV. Many powerful Kindred, namely only those in the Council save a few exceptions can call a particular type of animal, including the weres of that species. It takes a very powerful alpha or beta to fight that call. Some vampires try to work out a friendly arrangement with the weres they can control, realizing that willing allies are better than slaves who hate you; they offer protection in return for service, and it becomes a partnership. Some of the older European vampires regard weres as their rightful serfs, and treat them with arrogance. More than one Master or Mistress has died at the hands of his subject weres. Weres tend to be wary of strange and powerful vampires until they know them, for this reason.

A. The Families and Hierarchy
B. Powers/Weaknesses
C. Other Shapeshifters

THE FAMILIES and HIERARCHY: Lucien Delacourte is the Alpha Male to all shapeshifters. He is the King to their World and his word is law. Though Lucien is a werewolf, he rules over them all including the werecats.

DOMINANCE: Dominance is a key element in most sects of Shapeshifters. Whether it is pack, pard, or knot a clear hierarchy is observed just as it is in the wild. Members move up or down in the hierarchy by winning or losing challenges. Not every member has the ability to become an "alpha" member of the group. You either have it when you become a shapeshifter or you don't. Although most dominance battles end when one participant backs down, leadership of the group is only transferred by a battle to the death. A dominant member of the group may issue any order to submissive member, provided that the dominant does not order the submissive to do anything illegal. A member may also offer or receive "protection" to or from another member. However, then they must accept all challenges on behalf of any person to whom he or she has offered protection.

WOLVES: The wolves congregate in a pack and are led by an alpha which can be male or female. They are the most powerful, charismatic, feared and dominant of them all. Rare alphas can feed the pack through their own blood. They can also use their energy to calm other weres or to dominate them. The consort of the Alpha or mate is equal to him/her and the bond is for life. Most important thing to remember: loyalty to the pack is above every other bond. There are a few very important roles in the Pack and most terms are borrowed from Norse mythology.

        Ulfric: The ultimate alpha male of the pack. An alpha werewolf may become Ulfric only by killing the existing pack leader. Theoretically, female weres may become Ulfric, but female Ulfrics are rare because the strongest males normally have a significant strength advantage over even the strongest females. The term is a derivative of the Norse "ulfr," meaning "wolf." (Lucien is the Ulfric for the Werewolves.)
        Bolverk: The Bolverk, named after Bolverk of Norse mythology, is the dark assassin of the Ulfric. The Bolverk carries out "hits" that the Ulfric may need to be done, or in general performs duties the Ulfric does not want to do himself, or if he is not available to do so. (This is an unnamed and available position)
        Freki and Geri: The Ulfric's two seconds. Named after Odin's wolves of Norse mythology. (Doyle Andrews is the Freki, but the Geri has yet to be named and is an available position)
        Sköll and Hati: The Ulfric's two enforcers. The Sköll is the Head Enforcer, usually in charge of being the Ulfric's Bodyguard and making sure no harm comes to him, while the Hati deals with dealing punishment to the pack as a whole -- a rank just under the Sköll. The two will usually have to work together to guarantee the safety of the pack as a whole. (These are unnamed and available positions)
        Lupa: Named for Lupa, the mother of Romulus and Remus, the position is reserved for the Ulfric's chosen mate. Although the lupa need not fight for her/his position, the position of most dominant female (or male in the case of male Lupas) is determined by conflict. The term is Latin for "she-wolf" and "prostitute." (This is an unnamed and available position)
       Erato and Eros: Erato, a muse of erotic poetry, and Eros is the god of love or lust. For the werewolves, these roles are held by other werewolves who help the new werewolves control themselves from changing during sex. (These are unnamed and available positions)
        Fenrir: An official challenger to the Ulfric, named after Fenrisulfr or Fenrir, the wolf that is destined to kill Odin in Norse mythology.

CATS: The cats, like the wolves have their own leader and social hierarchy. However, their social group is most often called a Pard. While most cats tend to be loners, werecats need one another’s companionship, sometimes even more so than the werewolves. They are a mixed sect including, lions, panthers, tigers, etc. The cats also have legends among them, particularly of the Cait Sith or Faerie Cats which many believe were the first werecats and the results of matings between the Feyan cats in human form and mortals. Their species is near extinct, as in history, many believed them to be the biggest threat. This reason is due to their reclusive nature, and the fact that they are very secretive creatures. Sneaky, cunning, and fierce when they are threatened. The principal social characteristic of the pard members is a need for physical contact as a source of emotional reassurance. Pard members frequently rub against one another and against their leaders if they were cats. Subtle touches are something all Leopards need, be it sexual or nonsexual. Simple brush of hands, shoulders or whatever isn't uncommon, just comforting to know that the other is there. Often the cats will sleep with each other as well (no not like that people!), literally laying with each other in bed or where ever. Nudity isn't something most felines are ashamed of but everyone's different, but don't act surprised if a fellow wereleopard happens to be randomly walking about with no clothes on.

       Nimir-Ra and Nimir-Raj: A given pard's queen is its "Nimir-Ra," and its king is its "Nimir-Raj." (Nimir appears to be a version of "Namir," the word for panther in Hindi, Arabic, and Hebrew. "Raj" is Hindi for king or ruler.) They are rare, very rare, and are always given the utmost respect, since ultimately the lives of the pard is in their hands. Those that hold these ranks are usually kind and caring as long as their submissives behave. Often seen as over protective in some instances, questioning their actions is something that should be done in as much of a submissive stance as popular. They reserve the right to take the life of a pard member if they so see fit. (Keil is the Nimir-Raj of the cats. He does not have a Nimir-Ra)
       Bastet and Léoparde lionné/or Bes: These describe cats who are leaders of their own pards. The Bastet is female and is the dominant female whereas the Léoparde lionné is male. Ultimately they owe allegiance to the current King and Queen. (Charlie is the Bastet of the Igaluk Pard or those cats that live from Ohio - West)
       Dominants: This term is loosely used for those few cats that are considered to hold an "Alpha Status" amongst their pard. This does not make them a King, Queen or even a Bastet, but it does mean that when there is not a leader to lead the pard that they are the ones to look to next for any sort of support a need a submissive may have. While they do not reserve the right to take a life, they are often seen as protectors of the leaders and their pard. (These are unnamed and available positions)
       Submissives: Submissives is a term used for the majority of the pard. While there is usually only one or two dominants that make up the pard, along side the leaders, the submissives is what most of the group could be considered as. (These are unnamed and available positions)

POWERS/WEAKNESSES:
Shapeshifters can assume at least two forms - human and animal. Many can also assume a "hybrid" form that is bipedal with animal characteristics or even transform a small part of their body at will (for example, "growing" fingers into claws). Changing between forms takes a great deal of energy; most shapeshifters must feed immediately after changing to animal form and collapse into a comatose state for several hours after returning to human form. Stronger shapeshifters do not need to feed immediately or collapse, but are extremely tired. Most shifters can change shape almost at will, as long as there is power behind it. Shifters who spend too much time in animal form may not be able to shift back completely. As a result, some may have fangs or voices or eyes resembling their animal form, even when in human shape.

POWERS: Despite the handicaps and bigotry they must face, weres have certain advantages. Aside from their ability to shape-shift into one form, they are immune to poisons and most toxins, so they are extremely healthy. They can heal any wound short of a death wound, but if silver is pressed into it, or the wound was made by a silver bullet or knife, or heated metal is pressed into the wound, they may scar. To prevent this, the wound must be re-opened and stitched. It will take fatal damage to brain or heart to kill them, preferably from a silver bullet. Even being skinned won't kill them, although they will be in agony. The downside is that drugs and anesthetics don't work well on them because they metabolize them so quickly. Some shifters heal faster than other, depending on their strength and power levels. They are much stronger and faster than humans as well, faster even than vampires. Weres have a form of energy akin to that of Fey or magic users. It can be sensed by a non-were if they are supernatural themselves or possess some power akin to magic. Non-weres may not be able to guess what animal form a were wears, however, although weres can tell just by looking at each other. Shifters have extremely acute senses, even in human form. Like Kindred, they can "smell" a lie, lust, fear and even hear the beating of a heart. Alpha shifters have the ability to command animals of their species. Stronger shifters, especially Alphas have: the ability to resist transforming under a full moon or by the will of someone more dominant, the ability to partially shape shift, the ability to force other members of their social group to change form or to prevent them from doing so, the ability to heal lesser members, and share their power and take it from members of their social group.

WEAKNESSES: All shifters are susceptible to the full moon. Even the most powerful alphas must change or they risk their sanity, health and the possibility that they may go berserk. The call of the moon is undeniably powerful to them, making it so that they usually feel it days in advance. Submissives are often the most sensitive to the call, making it so that they are often not allowed to leave the den without a dominant being with them. They must turn at the full moon, and if they change at other times, they must stay in that form for 8 hours, and hunt; if they try to change back sooner, they tend to fall into a very deep sleep. Shapeshifters tend to be easily spotted, especially cats and reptiles because they appear to be in tune with their bodies. They are graceful, dare one say fluid, in their movements. Every step that is taken is perfect and every move that is made is done so in an almost scary precision point basis. Many spend years affecting the movement of humans so they won't be "outed." Shifters' bodily fluids are contagious, but only when the shifter is in an animal or hybrid state. They are extremely allergic to silver and feel physical pain from even skin contact, although some seem to enjoy silver jewelry. They are feared by the human population and the ignorance and prejudice is quite similar to HIV/AIDS which means there are very few "out" shifters. Some shifters may also be "called" by someone who has mastery over their inner beast. Sufficiently powerful shifters may resist a call, or even interfere with the call preventing the caller from calling other shifters or animals.

OTHER SHAPESHIFTERS:
While weres are the most common form of shapeshifter, there are other kinds. They are divided as such:
       The Fey: Many members of the Seelie and Unseelie Court are naturally able to change form as part of their nature. Selkies, the seal folk, and nagas, serpent people, are examples of this. Pucas are Fey who have several forms at their command. Swan Maidens are also Fey shape shifters. Most of the High Court Fey can use Glamour to shapeshift--or at least to give the illusion of shifting through a spell.
       Genetic Weres: The offspring of two shifters these shapeshifters have the ability to change their form though do not during a full moon. They can change whenever they choose and are more powerful than a non pureblood.
       Skinwalkers: Shapeshifters who can shift their form but do not feel the call of the Moon at all.

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THE FEY:
Faeries...Sidhe...Sith...The Alfar…whatever you want to call them are not the Tinkerbell we watched or read about. They grant few wishes and aren't quite as nice as you would think. They are real, beautiful and can be very deadly. It is also wise to remember that the Fey (Seelie and Unseelie alike) are NOT, strictly speaking, of this world and they have beliefs and outlooks that frequently will seem alien to those born and raised here.

A. The Families
B. The Hierarchy
C. Powers/Weaknesses
C. Other Characteristics

THE FAMILIES:
There are two Courts in Feyen Society. That of the Seelie Court and that of the Unseelie. The Seelie Court is ruled by Maeve Llewellyn and the Unseelie by Roarke Bellemorte. Though they are both Feyen in nature, these two Courts are very different. The power of a Court comes from it's head, it's ruler. Each monarch shapes their court in their image and their powers. If the ruler begins to lose power or is sterile, then he/she is condemning their people if they do not step down as ruler. What is favored by the ruler is favored by the court, and this includes their favored color. Ultimately it is what is left of Faerie that determines the leader whether this is the will of the God/Goddess or something else.

THE SEELIE COURT: The Seelie Sidhe are the definition of dreams and fairy-tales. They are the creatures of light, wishes, dreams, joy and magic. When humans think of Faeries it is the Seelie Court that they are thinking of. It is known as the 'Glittering Thong'. The Seelie Court considers itself higher than any of the other Courts, and is very formal, similar to an old English Court. However, the Seelie Court has the highest ideals of pure blood. They reject anyone with impure blood and are prejudice against anyone with any amount of Unseelie blood. They consider the Unseelie Court to be full of fey with deformities, but years of inbreeding has caused the pure Seelie to breed their own monsters. The Seelie Court is not as pure and shining as it wishes to believe. It's enemies consider the Seelie Court to be pretending that it is something it is not; pretending to be human rather than true fey. It is easier to be decietful in the Seelie Court due to their interest in illusion, the Unseelie Court is a lot more forward and blunt. The Seelie Court are the more benign, stronger tendency to be good Fey. Though Good can be defined in a number of ways. Seelie Fey are much more likely to be inclined to working with others in constructive and beneficial ways. This does not mean that all Seelie Fey are happy-go-lucky, silly creatures who would do nothing to defend themselves or act against someone or something; but in almost all cases there has to have been a previous provocation or wrong that needs to be dealt with. All Fey of this group are ultimately allied under Queen Maeve, Queen of Air and Light. Anyone who displeases the Queen is exiled from the Court. The Unseelie Court takes in anyone who is exiled from the Seelie Court, but many Seelie Sidhe believe that the darker court is a fate worse than exile from Faerie.

THE UNSEELIE COURT: The Unseelie Court on the other hand considered the lesser court, and is known as the darkling thong. They are a little more malevolent in their machinations. Here the Fey of nightmare mingle with mean-spirited tricksters. They are far more inclined to operate in selfish instrumentation. Alliances with the Unseelie are frequently detrimental in the end result. Again, the lines can be particularly difficult to realize at first with the Unseelie since deception and duplicity run strong in their nature. Some of the Unseelie are the most beautiful and charming individuals you may ever run across and others may merely have an affinity for highly hazardous--and occasionally fatal--pranks. The Unseelie Court is ruled by fear, power and dominance, and is less formal than the Seelie Court. For thousands of years any unpure Seelie Sidhe have been left at the doors of the Unseelie Sithen by their mothers. This is one of the Unseelie Courts greatest strengths. In The Seelie Court disobeying the Queen, displeasing her or any other crime, will see you exiled from the Court. In the Unseelie Court your punishment depends on the King's mood. Exile is never used as a punishment, and the King prefers torture, humiliation and execution. Of course, death never comes quickly. All Unseelie Fey are ultimately aligned under the Unseelie High King, Roarke Bellmorte, King of Flesh and Darkness.

THE HIERARCHY: The Fey are divided into a hierarchy. It has existed for millennia and is very important to Feyan society.

HIGH KING AND QUEEN: Maeve and Roarke rule their own Courts respectively. They are the most powerful of the Fey and their word is law. They are indeed king and Queen of their subjects. Though there may be other King and Queens such as Mab and Oberron, they rule a particular sithin (such as those remaining in Europe) while Court is being held elsewhere. Ultimately it is the High King and Queen that they owe their allegiance to.

CONSORT: Being a Consort of the King and Queen is a very important position. In fact, other than the king or queen, it is their word that is obeyed. They are not emrely the lover of the King or Queen, but a future member of the royal Court. If Queen Maeve makes Rohan her King, he will then be known as King Consort just as Nastassia will become Queen Consort.

HOUSES: In each of the Feyan Courts there are Houses. Each House has a Lord or Lady that rules the House, and protects its members. These Houses are made up of Sidhe Nobles only, and have political allegiances. While the King or Queen does rule the Court, it is the Houses that control the politics of each Court. Some are neutral, while others are not afraid to show their beliefs. They are free Lords and Ladies, and in the Unseelie Court have enough political clout to keep from being a member of the King's Guards. Each House does not have a formal name. They are known by their magical abilities and/or their Lord/Lady. Example; The House ruled by Tom is known only as Tom's House. Some Houses are made up of Sidhe who have a shared power i.e. shapeshifting, but this is not always the case. There are three ways of becoming the head of a House; inheritance, election or by challenging each member of the House to a duel. The House is either destroyed or they concede that that person is the better fighter, and give their allegiance to them.

HIGH COURT FEY: Like that of the Shapeshifters and especially the Kindred there are rulers of certain geographical regions. But unlike the Kindred there may be more than one ruler, as both Seelie and Unseelie Courts may exist in the same region. Those that rule these regions are of the high court. They are the most powerful and oldest of the fey beyond the High King and Queen. They are the oldest and more pureblood of any other fey: Sidhe, Elves, djinn, Pari, Slaugh and the Fey of Celtic tradition are included among others.
        SIDHE - The most human looking of all the Fey. Their hair can be any color, and some Sidhe have patterns of leaves or flowers in their hair, while others have hair that looks/feels like metallic substances. They have tri-colored eyes and luminous skin. Shades of skin include pale white, black (true black, not dark brown), pastel shades, brown, and tanned (known as sun-kissed, a rare color in the Seelie Court). Seelie Sidhe generally have creamy or golden skin and ligther, more vibrant shades of hair color. Unseelie Sidhe have paler or darker skin. Since they accept Sidhe that are exiled from the Seelie Court, members of the Unseelie court have a range of hair colors. The traditional Unseelie shades are black, red and other 'darker' colors. All Sidhe are willowy and taller than the average human. They are also physically stronger and breed slower than humans. Most members of the Feyan Courts in this game are Sidhe.
        DEMI-FEY - The demi-fey are said to be the essence of faerie. If they leave then the faerie left behind will fade in power. There are two courts of demi-fey, one with each Sidhe Court. Demi-fey are small, with doll-like bodies that give them an innocent look. The demi-fey of the Seelie Court work harder at pretending to be innocent and true creatures of light, while the Unseelie demi-fey are known for their love and destruction of flesh. They like the taste of Sidhe flesh and blood. All demi-fey feed on flesh and magic, and the demi-fey of the Unseelie Court also feed on fear. Most of the demi-fey are winged, but not all. Some are considered cursed since they do not have wings. Their power lies in glamour, so powerful that they can overpower a Sidhe with it. A rare ability among them is the ability to grow to the size of a small human, complete with wings. This is only a rumour amongst the Sidhe, and no one has ever seen a demi-fey do it.

LOW COURT FEY: These are the rest of the Fey. They are not always pureblood, often the result between mortals and Fey mating, Fey and other preternatural creatures mating or a mix between a High court and Low court. Members of the low court include, brownies, dwarves, sprites, pixies, puka, satyrs, goblins, manitou, selkies, etc.
        BROWNIES - Creatures of light, Brownies belong to the Seelie Court. They are the size of small humans with brown skin with skull-like faces that have no nose, just nostrils. They have the power to clear a field of corn in one day and build a barn in one night. They can also levitate objects. They can turn bogart, where their faces look like evil-grinning skulls and their constructive powers turn destructive. They do not turn back from being bogarts, and they are truly insane and evil. Bogarts are not a apart of either Sidhe Court, they belong to the Slaugh.
        GOBLINS - The goblins are considered to be the foot soldiers of the Unseelie army, they are the ones who fight the battles for the Unseelie Court. They are considered hideous by human standards, with warts, bumps, and extra eyes. Extra limbs, especially extra legs which is the rarest form of beauty, and extra breasts are considered beautiful by goblins. Goblins consider every fluid that comes from the body sacred, and there is no greater crime among them than to drink such fluids or take flesh without permission. They enjoy their sex rough, and everyone, even victims of war/torture, have the right to negotiate what can be done to their bodies during sex. The goblins consider nothing wrong with public sex, and leer at women. To not leer is considered an insult, and suggests that they are ugly, infertile and unworthy of lust. Unlike the Sidhe they do not adhere to strict rules of marriage, and both partners are allowed to have other partners. Any child born from any liason is raised by the married couple. The husband of the couple is not always the male, it is the dominant goblin in the marriage. The shock troops of the goblins are the Red Caps. They are the most vicious of all the goblins, and are strong and are small giants (8-10 feet tall). They wear scarlet caps on their fore-heads, and dip them in blood at battles to keep the colour. Some have the rare ability to keep the blood flowing fresh. Due to the Sidhe/Goblin war, there are many half-sidhe goblins that were brought up in the Goblin mounds. Many died when they were young, before they came into their Sidhe magic. Some were eaten as babies by the Goblins, and those that grew older often traded their flesh for safety. Some sidhe-sided goblins looks more goblin, others look more sidhe and some are true monsters.
        JACK OF IORNS - Jack of Irons are the size of large ogres and small giants (about 13 feet tall). They have large tusks that are teeth, they are attached inside the mouth not to the outer face. This can cause them to speak with a slight slurring of words. The double task is highly prized among Jacks, and a curve at the end of a tusk is a sign of virility.
        PHOUKA/POOKA - A type of fey that can shapeshift into a dog, horse and sometimes an eagle.
        ROANE/SELKIE - A roane is a type of fey that can shapeshift into a seal using their sealskin.

THE SLAUGH/THE HOST: The Host is the polite name for the Slaugh, the original Unseelie Court before it had a name. To call them 'The Slaugh' is a mortal insult unless you are a member of Unseelie Court. The Slaugh are controlled by the King of the Unseelie Court, but only because the current King, Frost, is loyal to the High King. The Wild Hunt is part of the Slaugh and once the Hunt is called it cannot give up the hunt unless their prey is found or unless Frost calls it off. However, sometimes that does not even work. The Slaugh is made up of several species of lesser fey, but is always referred to as a group rather than individual species. It is home to the most monstrous of the fey, the ones that everyone fears. The species include hags, ogres, bugbears, and nightflyers. King of the Slaugh is an earned title, not an inherited one.
        NIGHTFLYERS - Nightflyers have wings and a mass of tentacles instead of a stomach. The tentacles include thick, muscular arms for heavy work and smaller more sensitive ones. The smaller ones are very sensitive and used for intricate work, they are also a second sexual organ and have suckers on the end. The Royals have a long spine along their penis which means they are fertile. Without the spine a female nighflyer does not ovulate during sex.

POWERS/WEAKNESSES:
Forget what the storybooks told you.

POWERS: All Fey have the power known as Glamour which is their ability to manipulate perception with illusion. Such innate magical ability not only works on humans, but other preternatural as well if the fey is powerful enough. The degree of the manipulation and how successful it is depends on the relative powerful of the Fey in particular and those it is using its magic upon. It is important to note that the High Court Fey are the strongest and most powerful of the Fey; those others that fall under Low Court Fey tend to have lesser strength and/or limited Glamour and magic at their disposal. Each Fey also has two hands of power as Glamour is an automatic. For example, Roarke is the King of Flesh and Darkness and can manipulate others forms (flesh) and the night is his ultimate territory which often frightens the Kindred.

WEAKNESSES: Though the Fey are very magical creatures, they have suffered much. Though the Preternatural Act protects them to some extent, they are in all purposes aliens as long as they are in America. They are the most feared and revered of all the creatures because of the power they wield. Because of this they must follow the strictest of laws. To violate these laws could mean deportation or even death, these of course not including what the high King or Queen may do to them. Such laws include: the everyman must not be victimized by magic, which means that magic or power of any kind to be used without the explicit consent of the subject(s) to be affected. Period. Fey can be killed. They are not immortal like some stories tell as everything can die. True, they can be centuries old and look like they're 25, but that is because they age much slower than other Chimaera. A fey's life force and power is one that any creature would crave, but can only be obtained through their deaths. Their death can only achieved either by natural causes (the Fey gives up the will to live...perhaps from a broken heart), Through savage battle (decapitated, etc) or if their heart is taken from their bodies. Without their heart, they are mortal and can be killed like any human (e.g. removal of their heart). To eat this heart, like that of the witches, will give the eater all the power, memories, etc that the Fey once had. But few Chimaera can stand having all of that and not go insane. Fey cannot be embraced by Kindred. Though their blood may be sweet, their bodies automatically reject Kindred blood and the blood acts almost like a virus killing the unfortunate Fey. Few have ever lived and most only did so because they were only half fey or were ghouls beforehand. Cold iron and steel can harm and kill a Sidhe. They heal quicker than humans, and can heal any injury made by weapons of any other metal. Sidhe cannot survive a bullet through the chest though. The killing blow is usually one through the heart. Many Fey can die from prolonged distance from nature (e.g. a prison cell) and will waste away and give up the will to live because they need that connection to "live" and stay sane.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS:
There are a few more characteristics and things that you should know about the Fey.
    Nudity - Fey are comfortable with their nudity, and touch each other for comfort without it becoming sexual. Fey can make any situation become something sexual, or they can choose to ignore it and keep it non-sexual. For humans, touching and nudity is almost always sexual.
    Insults and Manners - One of the greatest laws of the fey involves swearing oaths. If a fey gives their word or swears an oath, then they cannot break it and are bound by it. To break their word (to be foresworn) means that they will be out-cast. Even the rulers of each Court must abide by their oaths. It is impolite to try and read someone's magic on a first introduction. It means that you do not believe they have the power to shield him/herself from even your casual/weakest magic. It is an insult to ask for modesty in a non-sexual situation. To send someone away implied lack of trust or dislike, and only when their behavior is inappropriate can they be asked to leave. If another fey does not use your title after you have used theirs it is an insult. Likewise it is an insult to insist that a ruler of another court uses your title. Using someone's title and then dropping it during a conversation is being deliberately rude. Using magic to persuade another feyan noble is an insult. To do so implies that you considered the other noble to be a lesser fey (which means Nastassia is very, very naughty). To display anger in front of another fey implies that they are not important enough for you to hide your anger from them. It means that you consider the other person to be lesser than you and/or a lesser fey. The Seelie Court has very strict ideals of beauty, while the Unseelie Court views that there is beauty in everyone. The word ugly is not used in the Unseelie Court. To be seen crying out due to pain is a weakness among the Sidhe.
    Prejudice - The prejudice between the Sidhe and the lesser fey is well known. The Sidhe considered themselves better than the goblins, demi-fey, brownies and any unpure Sidhe. A Sidhe healer will not waste their energy healing a lesser fey. The Seelie Court is very prejudiced against the Unseelie Court. They believe themselves to be true beings of light, with no darkness and no evil. They consider the Unseelie Court to be monsters, impure, deceiving and deformed. If exiled from the Seelie Court, some consider the Unseelie Court to be a fate worse than exile from all of faerie. The Unseelie Court welcome all, while an Unseelie Sidhe will never be welcome in the Seelie Court. In truth; neither court is completely good or completely evil.
    Sex, Marriage, Pregnancy and Children - Children are a precious thing to the Fey, and are rarer than human children, especially amongst the Royals. Even fertile couples have to try quite a while to conceive, and sometimes never do. Anything, regardless of species, that can breed is worth keeping alive. The possibility of a child, or a fertile pair, can keep a Fey alive even if they have angered the King or Queen of their court. For this reason the Fey rarely marry for love. Usually, only fertile couples marry, regardless of their feelings for one another. Many couples have been trapped in marriage after one night of passion. A fey version of divorce can be granted, but only if both parties agree. For the lesser fey or lesser Sidhe, marriage is an opportunity, a way of becoming apart of a Court. Their husband has to treat them like wife or not touch them at all. Marriage by force is not recognized by The Fey. Sex with humans is illegal if the human is under 18 years of age, and if the Sidhe does not protect the humans mind. Otherwise they become elf-struck, and obsessed with the feel of Sidhe flesh.
    Lying - Fey do not lie. They bend the truth, they avoid saying the truth or they use pretty words to cover the truth. They never outright lie, they just omit the truth. To lie is to be foresworn and the punishment is banishment from faerie. Despite their nature, the Seelie Court and it's illusions are more likely to deceive than the Unseelie Court. The Unseelie Court is more truthful and honest, not trying to pretend to be something it is not.

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WITCHES:
Natural born witches that are given their powers at birth and are human. Some say that witches are the descendants of two mortals given wild magick by the Powers that be. Their ties are to no one but themselves, much like the Shapeshifters, though they are closer to the rest of humanity more than any other. Each witch controls one of the elements: earth, air, water, fire and spirit. Those with spirit are necromancers.

A. Beginnings
B. The Hierarchy
C. Powers/Weaknesses

BEGINNINGS:
In ancient thought, a man was split into three parts: the mind, the body, and the soul. When the body died, usually the mind dissolved and the soul passed on to reincarnation. However when the Talamasca pass on, their minds and souls never separate and they are reborn knowing what they were in their past life and retaining the magic and power they had in that life. So they are very much the person that they were in the previous life. Their physical appearance may change, but their minds do not. However they can be distinguished by their jade colored eyes that all Talamasca share.

When a Talamascan dies, either by natural or unnatural causes, they are almost immediately reincarnated. However, it is not always to their original family. Julia may have originally given birth to Natalie, but the Princess has also had many other mothers. Fortunately, most Talamasca are reincarnated into other Talamascan families and they are given the support needed. However, sometimes they are born into normal human families. Sometimes the jade green eyed baby is welcomed lovingly. Other times they are not and conveniently dropped off at a Talamascan orphanage. Though a Talamascan child may exhibit a few strange behaviors, they live their childhoods as any child would. But as puberty sets in, their ties to the elements and their former memories begin to mature. By early adulthood they will remember their previous lives and come into their full power. Suddenly a 21 year old becomes a 300 year old with a 21 year old body. Fun. Death by any other means than natural can be quite traumatic not only in that life, but the next. Murder is quite debilitating despite that they may reincarnate. Imagine a 16 year old reliving her death by Jack the Ripper in the next life. It isn't pretty and can cause many psychological problems.

HIERARCHY:
There is no true hierarchy as they are many and scattered, but it closely resembles that of traditional monarchy. They are ultimately ruled by the Talamasca family. But Gregory and his wife Julia rule with kindness and not fear. In latter years however a new sect has broken off called the Feranti headed by Dante Talamasca, Gregory's youngest son. This sect is devoted to the darker magics and to bring the Talamasca onto Earth's throne. There is a Council of elders (called the White Council) that holds some sway within the Talamascan Court.

POWERS/WEAKNESSES:
Forget what the storybooks told you.

POWERS: The Talamasca are wielders of elemental magic and hold sway over a particular element: earth, air, fire, water and spirit. Those who are spirit/flesh witches are necromancers and many have been swayed to join the Feranti. They are closely tied to that magic and the earth around them. The Talamasca are experts at wardings and divination. You will rarely see big spells from a Talamasca (fireballs, tsunamis, earthquakes, etc) or even moderate sized spells, but rather small cantrips (lighting a cigarette with the snap of your finger, using a bowl of water to communicate, protection spells, etc)

WEAKNESSES: Aside from their magics, the Talamasca are ordinary human beings. They heal and die in the same manner that the rest of mankind does (Though may employ healing spells to heal quicker). They are just as susceptible to diseases and things such as bad sight as anyone else and take as long to heal. However, they age half as slow as the rest of humanity and have the distinct ability to be reincarnated. One can gain all of their knowledge and power by eating their heart, so they trust very few people. If their heart is taken they will not reincarnate. Fortunately, when a Talamascan dies their heart turns to dust as they begin their new life. So murder is really the only way to truly give them Final Death. Sorry grave robbers.

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FERANTI:
The Feranti are an exclusive and very secretive sect of Necromancers, forsaken by the rest of the Talamasca clan. Officially, they're still a part of the clan, but recently they have distanced themselves from the rest. Whatever the reason is it made the Talamasca White Council suspicious. The sect is lead by Dante Talamasca, a skilled necromancer advised by his former mentor Rasputin who gave Dante the leadership after stepping down. Why he stepped down and let Dante take over, no one knows, but he must had a good reason... he always has.

A. Beginnings
B. Powers/Weaknesses

BEGINNINGS:
The Feranti are not like the rest of the Talamasca. For years Rasputin, Gregory's brother, searched for the secret of immortality so that he like the Kindred and Fey could live forever without having to reincarnate. Perhaps he discovered it by accident or perhaps the tales of mad Rasputin were indeed truth. Via the Ritual of Rebirth, he was able to strip the life-essence from a Kindred and transfer it into his student, Dante who received all the knowledge and power from the victim. That Kindred was Marius Noblesse, though no one knows that save for Dante, Rasputin and Gitanne.

POWERS/WEAKNESSES:
Forget what the storybooks told you.

POWERS: Ever since the Feranti have used the Ritual of Rebirth ritual to consecrate new members of the sect. They become stronger, faster and more nimble than average humans and heal a lot faster as well. They do not have the average weaknesses of the Kindred to sunlight... in extreme cases it just cause an allergic reaction. They do not die nor age, but do not reincarnate anymore since the Ritual of Rebirth also separates their mind and soul... but that's a small price if you have eternal life. What the Feranti do is more than just diablerie. The Ritual of Rebirth is the purest way to transfer power, strength, knowledge and memories from once Chimaera to another. Unlike traditional diablerie it does not fade with time and the Feranti are not then forced to seek a replenishment. Instead if the Feranti kills again it is because their thirst for more power is unmatched by any other Chimaeran race. All Feranti are necromancers and hold sway over the Spirit element. It is because of this power that they were feared when they were Talamascan and even more so now that they are Rogue. Many Feranti use their dead as servants whether it be zombies, revenants, or wraiths. Many also make a living raising the dead either for (clarification of wills, to say who murdered them, etc) They cannot raise a body until the soul has passed on to Soul Stream, to bring a person back before then is to trap them inside their dead body. A person would go insane within a matter of hours. As necromancers they have the ability to sense the dead. When they walk through a graveyard, they can tell when the graves are full and empty and sense the wraiths that have remained for whatever reason. The most powerful Feranti are said to have power not over just ghosts/wraiths, but over all dead things including Kindred. Perhaps that is how Marius was killed.

WEAKNESSES: Feranti may be killed the way humans are, but you'll have to try a hell of a lot harder. The only serious weakness they have is their thirst for Chimaeran blood, which they need to sustain their immortal life. Without it they die in about a week's time. This is also the main reason why the Chimaera fears them as they never know when they become their next 'dinner'. Though at this point it is all rumors.

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HUMANS:
The rest of the world as we know it.

A. Families and Hierarchy
B. Powers/Weaknesses
C. The Satinamuh
D. Human Reaction to the Supernatural

FAMILIES:
This group is divided into two: the average John Doe, not a drop of preternatural blood and no special talents and abilities and those mortals who don’t fit into any other category and have certain abilities that most don’t like psychic abilities. For Permanent Midnight this also includes the Satinamuh which is compromised of many immortal humans whose only power is that they cannot die on the most part.
NON-MAGICAL - So the normal human is us, your average man or woman who is probably still trying to deal with the fact that preternatural creatures exist and now have certain rights. They may be in awe, perhaps getting cartilage treatments in their ears to look more Fey or considering joining the Church of Eternal Night or they could hate each and every one of them wanting only for their destruction due to fear or otherwise.
MAGICAL - The second group of humans are those that have certain Psi abilities, in other words: Clairvoyance, Telekinesis, including pyrokinesis, Telepathy and Psychobiology. Check the Attributes for more. Psi powers also tend to be more draining, and don't really require ritual or spells to use, it is the power of thought. This is not to say that they can't use outside energies to accomplish their Psi feats, but that's beginning to get into other realms.

There is no hierarchy really. Though those with Psi powers tend to fare better. They have no loyalty to anyone other than themselves, their family and their race. They are the new inhabitants of Earth and they rule the lands that the Preternatural want. The members of the Council do however have an elevated position, but compare nothing to the other natural hierarchies that are in the government. No one rules over the humans, though seven leaders have been chosen for the Council, three of them politicians and four of them not.

POWERS/WEAKNESSES:
Hmm, what powers?

POWERS: Most mortals, as in you and me, don't have a magical bone in our body. In fact we probably wouldn't even know it if it bit us in the ass. But there are a few out there who are special. Some say they have been touched by the Chimaera while other insist they are using more of their brain as such abilities are supposedly innate. In either case they are unique individuals and essential in this current struggle. Here are a few abilities that some of these people have: Animal Psi (Ability to speak with animals); Anti Psi (Talent to cancel out all other abilities and even some Hands of Power); Astral Projection (Psychic's spirit splits from his body allowing the sprit to travel freely); Biocontrol (Psychic controls bodily functions: blood flow, healing, pain resistance etc.); Channeling (Psychic can channel the abilities of the dead into herself giving her skills, talent, and knowledge); Clairvoyance (extend the senses far beyond their normal range to see and hear in other places); Mind Shield (The ability to protect ones mind from psychic attack - ie dominate, mind magic.); Precognition (Ability to see the future); Psychic Hypnosis (Like hypnosis only better); Psychic Invisibility (Use your mind to trick others into not seeing you); Psychic Vampirism (The ability to drain emotion or life force and converting it into energy for the psychic); Psychometry (Allows psychic to read objects to see into the past and into the future); Psychoportation (The ability to teleport oneself over short distances); Pyrokenesis (The ability to start fires); Synergy (The ability to link other psychics together); Telekinesis (Allows character to project her will and move objects with the power of thought. Aka Psychokinesis); and Telepathy (The ability to read minds).

WEAKNESSES: Humans are mortal therefore they can be killed and harmed quite easily. This is their biggest weakness. They are not as strong or as magical. But they have other abilities that ‘they’ do not. They go where they choose, they can walk in daylight, they have the rules that all must live by. They have technology and the means to destroy all and they have Selene and Seth to watch over them until the Final Days arrive and all are equal. They may be mortal but never underestimate them.

THE SATINAMUH: The Satinamuh are those humans, often immortal thanks to the graces of Selene and Seth that seek to destroy each and every creature that threatens the existence of mankind. The Chimaera are a disgrace and a threat. They are inhuman and therefore deserve nothing more than death. Some alliances have been made between the Satinamuh and the Preternatural, but they are shaky and will be broken at the slightest provocation. There are more members of this faction than the ‘Others’ realize, which makes them a very real threat to all. Their sole purpose is to protect the human race at whatever the cost. Varying opinions litter the Satinamuh landscape. Some members take out the "bad" Chimaera, but the vision of bad isn't always how you and I would see it and many Chimaera have been "tried, sentenced, and executed" for a crime that would put a mortal in prison for a few years. Other members hate all things Chimaera, Buddha like living or not. Thankfully men like Danny are a bit more rare these days or if they do exist in abundance they make sure to stay clear of Nemesis' radar.

HUMAN REACTION TO THE SUPERNATURAL:
So how exactly do we feel about 'them'.

LEGAL STATUS: The United States gives more human rights to the Chimaera than any other nation. Perhaps that is why so many Chimaera have gravitated to the US and more importantly, New York City. It has also caused many Chimaera to explore the possibility of living legally and openly. Because of the difficulty in holding Chimaera in prison pending trial, they are entitled to very little legal process. Once a judge is convinced that a supernatural being has committed capital crimes, he or she may issue a warrant of execution without trial. (This represents an improvement for Kindred and Shapeshifters, however -- during earlier years, licensed executioners were entitled to execute without a warrant). Witches are executed within 48 hours of conviction of causing death by magic, without delay or appeal. A number of supernatural actions are illegal or even capital crimes such as: shapeshifters infecting another person against their will or infecting a minor, a Kindred embracing without consent, etc. Discrimination against Shapeshifter is theoretically illegal but common in practice, and many shifters hide their status for that reason.

LAW ENFORCEMENT: Supernatural Crimes in the Tri-State area fall under the jurisdiction of the Preternatural Investigation Taskforce, also known as the "Chimaeran or Spook Squad". Working for the Spook Squad is dangerous and low status work, and the division is therefore staffed largely with police officers who have offended their superiors. They are a specialized unit in many United States police departments, which is trained to perform dangerous operations. These can include serving high-risk arrest warrants, performing hostage rescue, preventing attacks from the preternatural population, and engaging extremely dangerous groups. Teams are equipped with specialized firearms including submachine guns, shotguns, carbines, tear gas, stun grenades, and high-powered rifles for marksmen (snipers), as well as silver bullets and silver weaponry needed for races like shifters and Kindred. They often have specialized equipment including heavy body armor, entry tools, steel reinforced boots and night vision optics. There are some who also rely on certain hedge magic for protection spells. Strangely enough many Squads have quite a few psions and often use some Chimaera as limited retainers on certain crimes. Overall, the Chimaeran Task Force or C.T.F, run by Alex Nguyen holds jurisdiction over some of the more serious cases (they are like the FBI and CIA for Chimaera)

EXECUTION AND ANTI CHIMAERAN GROUPS: Most members of the Satinamuh are licensed as Chimaera executioners and are authorized to kill Chimaera pursuant to a warrant of execution. Alas, Bounty Hunters are also in existence. Shifters happen to prey to most bounty hunters. In a few states, mostly Southern states, it is legal to hunt shifters for bounty. In a few of these states only a a postmortem blood test to prove that they are a shifter is needed to make it legitimate. It is something that Queen Gitanne has been trying to change.

There are several anti-Chimaera groups in NYC, most notably the League of Human Voters and Humans First. While the League of Human Voters seeks to restrict Chimaeran rights by legal means, Humans First uses violent action against all supernatural beings. Some particular races have more groups than others. The Kindred have Humans Against Vampires and the Fey have the Tuatha League.

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