Collaboration: Outline

Updated 3/23/17
In the modern world there are many secret organizations, some ran by warlocks, some by vampires, others by celestials.

In this realm there are:

Immortals:

Werewolves - trueborn (Homo Sapien Canis)  and diseased (Acursed, those that are bitten)

There is a clear difference between the race of werewolves, also known as Homo Sapien Canis, and those that are afflicted by lycanthropy the disease often called "Accursed".

Trueborn werewolves can change from their human form into the werewolf "hybrid" form at will. The change takes about a minute or less. Werewolves to have an affinity for wolves and other canines, they can influence and control such animals to do their bidding with few exceptions.

Accursed werewolves change during the full moon whether they want to or not. Their humanity has little or no control over their lupine actions. They seldom remember what they do when they change, and what they typically do is terrible.

Werewolf origins are fuzzy at best. They seem to have simply emerged in history around the year 950 C.E. in eastern Europe. One story that has emerged is that a powerful fey tricked a Germanic clan leader into accepting the gift to be able to change into a wolf so he could scout out his enemies forces. Instead he could change into a wolf-man capable of terrible savagery and he would age very, very slowly. The story goes the victim did see victory, unfortunately at the hands of his own savagery.

Trueborn werewolves are in control of their transformation, though when transformed are prone to a level of savagery uncommonly exhibited by humans. Thus they seldom change form except when they intend to draw upon both the strength and savagery found in their lupine form.

Vampires - trueborn (Homo Sapien Nosferatu)  and turned (also HSN but in this case the mutation is after birth, many would suggest that this makes them weaker with diminished powers but this has never been proven scientifically). Vampires crave power. When a vampire has aged a bit (few decades or more) they gain more control over their urges to feed. This new-found self-control is evident in their bearing. They will carry themselves with an air of being above everyone else. They are graceful, eloquent, and charming most of the time. They are, however, quick to anger with a propensity towards extreme violence. They possess some natural psychic abilities which gains strength the older they get. This is what allows them to 'charm' people, though most immortals and some supernaturals are not affected (psychics and some shaman). Younger vampires live primarily on their urge to feed. It is for this reason that vampires organize themselves into 'covens' that are led by older more mature vampires with some ability to control the ranks. Young rogue vampires are hunted by nearly all other groups described here due to their danger to others and the liability that they may expose this hidden world of the supernatural from the mundane masses that populate the world.

Vampire Origins:

Through analysis of historical records, religious documents, and divintations performed by oracles and psychics the widely accepted though little know origin story of Vampires is recounted below.

In the third century B.C.E. a Jewish temple priest by the name of Levi in Jerusalem came to be in possession if a spear fragment that he determined to be from the battle between the Arch-Angel Michael and Lucifer when Lucifer was cast out of Heaven.  Levi became obsessed with the shard, a preoccupation and an obsession that he kept secret from his peers and superiors. He became convinced that the blood stains on the shard were Michael's, eventually he extracted the blood and consumed it believing it would give him angelic insight or perhaps even divine powers. It appeared to have killed him but what they could not tell in that day was that the blood mutated him. He awoke some hours later in his tomb, had the strength to move the stone out of the way and he fled. It is said a village suffered some sort of plague or attack around the same time many conclude that the two events are related. As the story goes Levi travelled north eluding any that might recognize him. Most scholars conclude that the blood was not Michael's rather it was that of Lucifer. Though it is also argued that it was Levi's actions and desire for power that caused him to fall from grace and that this "punishment" would be the outcome regardless of the origin of the blood.

Vampires would be scientifically more accurate to be classified as mutants. Though their immortality and the vast powers they come to possess as they age would lend more to the argument of their supernatural nature. When a vampire is created it is mutated in the same way a trueborn is mutated, their biology is not dissimilar.

Demons - beings with infernal bloodlines. Demons were created when the Nephilim were destroyed. Nephilim were created when lower celestials mated with mortal women in the ancient world. When the higher celestials saw the damage these creatures were wrecking upon the earth they destroyed them. The spirit of a Nephilim was broken up creating many demons in the process. Demon spirits can possess mortals, sometimes one will mate with a mortal, this offspring has what is called an infernal bloodline. These individuals are mortal, but not mundane, and they are called 'Blooded '. These infernal spirits are not great enough to take form in the realm or Earth or the Otherworld and so the only means by which they can experience such realms is to infest the body of a mortal, taking possession of it. In rare cases the demon spirit is great enough to cast out the soul or essence of the mortal body they possess, such souls are sometimes lost. In such cases it is said that the physical body exhibits signs such as a change in eye color, skin tone, voice, and other manifestations of the vile spirit within.

Celestials: Celestials are beings that were created within the heavenly realm to serve a particular purpose or function. What is most know regarding celestials in the mortal realm comes from mortal interaction with celestials, most commonly referred to as Angels. This might be where a bit of confusion comes in, see Angels are a type of celestial, meaning that not all celestials are Angels but all Angels are celestials. The word Angel means "messenger", thus this is their function, Angels are the divine messengers to mortals. Angels themselves are not very powerful in the heavenly realms but are quite formidable when compared to the mortals and immortals of Earth and the Otherworld. The biblical devastation that has been attributed to Angels comes from events in which their message has been the Word of the powers of creation, or the Word of God to some, meaning it was not their will or individual power being put to work but that of their creator.
There are other celestials, some of their types have been named to humans in the past, beings such as Thrones, or Powers, among others wield great power relative to their Angelic lesser's. Lucifer was one of these higher celestials, one of the highest in fact, and his power remains great. He is of the oldest created beings, as old as our universe... his name means "Light Bringer". So guess how long he's been around (think Genesis)? While he has been banished from the heavenly realms, he has retained all of the potency that was imbued in him from the beginning.

Fay - Fay is a classification of magical creatures that are very reclusive. They originate from a parallel plane of existence, an otherworld, that is much different from our earth. The realm is neither heaven or hell. Fay include creatures such as fairies, sprites, nymphs, and dryads. It is suspected that these creatures also be credited for legends of elves but no one has ever seen or claimed to have seen such a fay.

Supernatural Mortals:

Mages (Wizards) - bloodlines reveal natural inclination to comprehending the arcane. Their magic focuses on illusions, wards and protections, teleportation, and dabbles a little in enchantments. Mages are a studious group, character tendencies lie with those strong in academia, and weak in athletics.

Warlocks & Witches - dabbling in sorcery, arts that are typically thought of as dark. They have some influence over spirits and can summon and control demons when they become very powerful. This practice deals primarily in conjurations and transformations. This group of people gravitate towards loyalty only to the coven in which they belong to. Governed by a high Lock or Witch, the coven will typically follow the prerogative of that individual. Characteristics of this group are the less-scholarly social rejects, though some tend to be comely  and athletic, they are typically the socially-awkward type.

Voodoo shaman - also dabble in sorcery, with a particular focus in necromancy. The biggest difference between the practitioner of voodoo and sorcery is the methods employed and the art's origins. Voodoo is known for creating zombies, witches are known for turning people into animals and keeping "special" pets. Voodoo practices deal with Necromancy, curses and hexes, and dabble a little in enchantments. Shaman are typically solitary in their vocation, meaning they don't tend to run with other Shaman. They do often affiliate themselves with another group most often mundanes, typically one would consider the group more of a congregation since the Voodoo is based upon a set of beliefs in how the universe works. For this reason it is often that a Voodoo Shaman head a criminal enterprise such as drug trafficking.

Psychics - mortals with the ability to read minds, scry other locations and times, tell fortunes. Powerful psychics can influence people, sometimes into doing things they would normally refuse to do, some can even take control of another person's actions. What psychics are capable of is NOT considered "Magic", they are in tune with the energies that ripple through time, sensitive to the auras of those around them, and willful in their manipulation of such naturally occurring phenomenon . These folks tend to be charismatic, more in touch with the heart than the mind, and are almost always disorganized. They also tend to be socially liberal "to each his own" is often a shared attitude of psychics. Their pursuits are typically personal happiness and acts of compassion towards the marginalized.

Blooded-offspring of a mortal and a demonically possessed mortal. These individuals are immune to fire and are sensitive to the presence of celestials and demons (collectively referred to as 'outsiders' because they are not of this world). The personalities and traits of these individuals vary as much as mundane mortals. The thing with Blooded is that they may gravitate towards any of the groups above and become one of these individuals. You might one day meet a Blooded Mage, Psychic or Witch. They of course would not identify themselves as being Blooded , and may not even be aware of why they are not harmed by fire. But scholars such as Mages would know why. Since Demons originate from the shattered spirits of the Nephilim who were half-Angel (Celestial) the Blooded share ancestry with Celestials as well. This is why they do not lean specifically one way in the spectrum of good or evil and as stated above one could be the vilest person on earth or the most devout Christian or Buddhist on earth.

This brings up a question often asked; are there such things as Psychic-Mages, or Vampire-warlocks? The answer to that is this: It is rare, but with the exception of Blooded, sometimes an immortal will have the time, resources, and inclination to partake in the study and art of that of a Mage, Witch, or Shaman… but not Psychic. Psychics talents are natural, and in this manifestation appear to be exclusive to mortals. There has never been a Psychic-Mage or other combination of mortal classification with the exception of the aforementioned "Blooded". The consensus on why this is, is that each discipline requires too much dedication to be developed in parallel and each discipline is associated with certain types of individuals. A person pursuing witchcraft is exploring a completely different, if not contradictory, approach to magic. Shaman are religious about their craft and view other methods as obsolete, but this too is a much different approach.

Mundanes - normal humans with no psychic or magic abilities.
Developed Mundanes - These are normal humans that through study and training have developed heightened senses. They are more sensitive to the energies and vibrations that permeate and surround all life. Such individuals can some to recognize the presence of immortals or magic. They have never been known to have any skill in spell casting or divination, but occasionally one with developed senses and combat training have made formidable adversaries going up against supernaturals.

Languages:

Vampires: Pure blood vampires have their own language (Vampiric) and writing loosely related to Aramaic. It originated in ancient times when vampire clans were first organized.

Celestials: Celestials speak and write the language of Angels. Little is known about this dialect.

Demons: Demons have their celestial origins, their language is very similar with bits of Latin and Aramaic interspersed throughout.

The Realms

Earth -First we have Earth, or our reality. The universe in which we see in the day and the night. It is the place where human laws of physics can be applied. It is the world that most mortals know.

Heaven -Heaven is the realm of the celestials. The place where Angels in all their ranks and God dwell. It is spiritually considered to be "above" the mortal realms.

Hell- Hell is an extra-planar place where Lucifer was effectively banished to during The Fall. It is also the place where demons dwell. Demons are not necessarily under the dominion of Lucifer, but as he is the most powerful being in the realm of Hell all others yield to his whims.

Otherworld- no one knows the true name for this other realm. It is a that is neither heaven or hell, nor is it Earth, it is probably most like earth. It is rich in flora and fawna, and also fay. All fay originate from the Otherworld. Some have made their way to Earth via temporary gateways that open up during specific days and/or astronomical events.

Travelling between the realms.

Mortals are the only beings that have the potential to visit Heaven, Earth, Hell, and the Otherworld. Fay can only travel between the Otherworld and Earth. Demons may only travel between Hell and Earth or the Otherworld. Likewise, Celestials can only travel between Heaven and either Earth or the Otherworld.

Both celestials and demons cannot transit directly from the realm of Earth to the Otherworld.

Special magic and ritual is required to move from one realm of existence to another. The very nature of each realm and ultimately His Word is why these laws exist. No amount of theoretical physics has been successful in explaining or describing why this is. It just is.