Striga

## Myth & Legend

Omnia is chock-full of tales of the undead, cursed beings that stalk the shroud of night and hide in blackened alleyways and behind dark corners. One of the most notable of these creatures would be the Striga, or to the uneducated, Vampyres (Originating from the word Strigoi). It has been said that Striga require the blood of the living to survive, draining humanoids dry in a matter of moments. No truthful claims of the Striga have ever been brought to light, though murmurs of these beings have been whispered for some time.

Tales of Striga and other similar creatures originate from Jinxia, though in the modern era are commonly told as scary stories to children in Blackhallows. For at least two full generations, some living in more populated cities have been warned to secure their loved ones tombs with chains and locks, fearing that they may rise from their eternal slumber with malicious intent. Other rumors such as warding one's home with garlic, arming ones self with silver, and even lining doors and windows with salt to prevent these beasts from entering the homes of innocents have spread far and wide. The majority of these claims are unsubstantiated, merely old Wives' Tales meant to scare the younger generations. Though, there is some merit to those stories.

## Cruor Stigma & Cruor Hysteria

Scholars within the last thirty years have recorded instances of a so-called 'Cruor Hysteria', tied directly to the mass eradication of those suspected of being Striga. Whether those killed were actually infected with the disease or not is unknown, though the corpses of hundreds of individuals slain with bits of silver embedded into their bodies were known to be found within the Marigold Forest.

Common gossip has concluded that the Striga themselves are indeed undead creatures. Born from the bodies of the living after being transfused with the blood of the dead. The exact process is unknown, though most have theorized that a Striga itself must infect a living person before they are able to turn. The sickness then corrupts the body and eventually a new Striga rises from the grave.

Based purely on the incoherent mutterings of those behind closed doors, it is suspected that not only are Striga fundamentally immortal, their only weaknesses are silver and the sun. Rumor claims that if a Striga were to step into any form of direct sunlight it will simply burst into flames upon contact. Silver to the heart is also suspected to kill them, though to the more intellectually adapt members of society, it would become clear that silver to the heart would kill mostly anyone. Creatures of the night feeding upon the blood of the living has proven to invoke enough fear, but the addition of them being practically indestructible only breeds more hysteria.

Whilst theories as to how to kill a Striga are many, what Striga are actually capable of is even more of a mystery. Many tales have been spread regarding their abilities, the most common being that Striga can transform into a cloud of bats, or even into a wolf. They can supposedly turn invisible, and even entrance the living to complete tasks for them. Other, more miniscule rumors regarding the abilities of Striga include them being able to see in pure darkness, or hear the heartbeats of the living from great distance. It is unclear as to if the Striga are simply inhuman beasts, or cursed souls unable to operate beyond the temptation for blood.

## The Infection

Cruor Stigma is classified as a blood disease, an infection or infestation by most. The Host, once they come into contact with the diseased blood, is nearly always doomed. The only known way to stop the infection would be to cut it off at the source. Death.

As it stands, it is suspected that there are multiple different types of Striga in existence, ranging from decrepit creatures hiding in the underground, or powerful beasts roaming the forests looking for unsuspecting travelers. Some may even be hiding plainly amongst the human, searching for the easiest target to pick off next.

Common symptoms of those infected with the Cruor Stigma include: Sweating, Vomiting, Hysteria, Hallucinations, Body Aches and Pains, Chills, and Violence. There is no known cure for anyone already infected with this virus.

### Becoming A Striga

For one to become a Striga, two simple things must occur. Firstly, the victim must ingest the blood of another Striga. Any Striga will do, actually. Secondly comes the harder part; Death. The manner of which they die does not matter as long as the body is relatively intact. One who dies without their head attached to their body, heart destroyed, or finds themselves burnt to a crisp will not come back. If one were to ingest Striga blood and not die they will experience extreme abdominal pain, hallucinations, and flu-like symptoms for a week until the Striga blood itself ends their mortal life. If one ingests Striga blood, they *will* end up dying.

These steps must occur in that order, as Striga blood cannot revive one who is already dead. Once death occurs, the clock begins ticking. It can take anywhere between six hours to seven days for the transformation to take hold. If one allows the blood to take their life, it will take longer for the transformation to work as their mortal body had longer to fight off the change. The firstborn of each Bloodline has stronger, more potent abilities than any of their progeny.

Becoming a Striga comes with its own pros and cons, a simple list of rules and regulations all Striga must follow regardless of bloodline.

### Effects of Silver

When in the direct vicinity of Silver (Roughly a 7 block radius) without it being blocked by containers, walls, or otherwise hidden behind a barrier, Striga will begin to feel a plethora of negative effects that grow in severity based on length of exposure and distance between the Striga and the object. Quantity of silver also plays a role in this, as a single silver coin will have less of an effect than a solid silver cell.

First comes the nausea, feeling almost as if the room is beginning to spin. This is accompanied by a splitting headache that begins behind the eyes and spreads around the head with increased exposure. After some time the Striga will also experience acute paranoia. The feeling of being watched, judged, anxiety rising in their chest. Almost akin to a panic attack, only growing the more they’re exposed.

If the Striga were to come into direct contact with Silver, they’re in for a treat. Contact with the metal burns similarly to fire, as if there is acid being poured onto their flesh. It does not corrode the skin any more than creating minor burns, pustules, and a boiling effect on the surface. If a Striga were to be pierced or sliced with a weapon made of silver, they will find that it does not heal like other wounds, unaffected by their accelerated healing process.

These feelings will subside once they’re away from the silver, though any wounds created with Silver will remain and heal slowly over time. Just as a mortal’s wounds would.

### Ferality

Becoming a Striga isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, when one is first turned or if they experience enough blood-loss due to wounds and/or starvation, a Striga will enter what’s commonly called a ‘feral state’, which is the overall term for when a Striga gives in to their predatory instincts and throws all human morality out the window.

A feral striga is not only driven by only their base instincts, they’re giving in to them. Gone is the man behind the creature, in full view is the Striga in their natural form. Hunger, bloodlust, and power are at the forefront. When a Striga is in a feral state they may have a hard time discerning friend from foe, but during the first two weeks especially they may experience paranoia, hallucinations, and emotional outbursts. All of their senses are at a 10, touch, hearing, smell. It’s as if their body is on autopilot with only a few goals, that being to maim and kill. With enough willpower a striga can snap themselves out of this mindset, but the majority of the time it’s up to those around them to either render them unconscious or to simply give them what they want in hopes that they’ll calm down. When they’re like this, a striga just isn’t themselves. Coherent thought and morality may be lost to them, but it’s not gone forever. Whatever they do when they’ve gone feral will still be in the back of their minds once they’ve come to their senses.

## Striga Traits

All Striga come with a set of strengths/weaknesses, though additional strengths and weaknesses may vary per bloodline. None of these abilities give a stat or roll boost unless otherwise specified.

#### The Good..

* All Striga gain a +1 to their Strength Attribute
	+ This does not apply to skills. The point simply goes into the overall strength modifier.
* Elongated Canines (Shape & Style vary per bloodline, Fangs apply to brawl stat)
* Eyes visibly reflect light in darkness, similar to that of a cat
* All Striga are slightly faster than the average Mortal (No stat boost)
* Striga have a keen sense of hearing, allowing them to even hear the heartbeats of any nearby living creatures (No stat boost)
	+ This ability only works within the same building/general area. This also allows Striga to be able to discern whether someone is alive or not. Assume that walls, different floors of a building, or being in larger crowds may inhibit this ability.
* Most wounds will not kill them. Their blood is coagulated, it will still hurt! But they will heal once they’ve fed.
	+ Most wounds will not heal until feeding. These wounds do not stitch themselves shut instantly, but do heal significantly faster. Assume it would take upwards of an hour or two for a stab wound to heal. Small superficial cuts would take a few minutes. All blood lost must be replaced, or starvation may occur.
* All Striga have elongated claws, shape and style vary per bloodline (Claws apply to Brawl stat)
* If a Striga is killed by conventional means, like being stabbed or electrocuted, they will slowly heal and revive themselves over the course of a few days
* Striga no longer require food or drink to live. Nor can they digest it.
	+ Ingesting food or drink will cause the Striga to become ill. Any and all non-food substances (May very by bloodline) will cause them to vomit within a short while.
* Most sorcery affects them normally, save for wounds inflicted by silver. Those of which cannot be healed by a ‘Heal Wounds’ rune
* Striga are resistant to all forms of alchemy, thus making it impossible to overdose. This also prevents them from reaping the benefits of Alchemy as well.

#### The Bad..

* All Striga are burned by the Sun. Prolonged exposure will burn them to a crisp
	+ Upon first entering sunlight Striga will experience a sharp singing sensation, shortly thereafter the exposed body parts will burst into flames. Assume that burning affects them just as much as it would to a normal person being burnt.
* No Striga can survive without their head
* Removing the heart from the body or pulverizing it will also kill them
	+ The heart being stabbed, pierced, crushed, removed from the body, or otherwise damaged will result in death. Assuming anything that would kill a human being regarding damage to the heart (save for heart attacks and/or disease) will kill them.
* All Striga smell vaguely of petrichor, the scent of rain
* Fire is deadly. Becoming fully engulfed by flames or by the sun will prove fatal
	+ Assume that fire does the same amount of damage to a Striga that it would a living person. Getting an arm or leg burnt will not kill them, but being completely engulfed will.
* Silver is a Striga’s biggest weakness. Silver mirrors bear no reflection, silver weapons feel like fire on their skin and the wounds from such heal at a normal human rate, if at all. A silver dagger to the heart will kill them. Being in the presence of silver will also cause nausea.
	+ Silver burns  on contact with the skin. This includes smoke, sizzling, etc. Being within close proximity of silver will also cause a Striga to progressively become more ill. Starting with a headache, to nausea, to potential vomiting/paranoia if in direct exposure for too long.
* No Striga can perform Sorcery in any way
	+ Striga with runes will not regain the points lost from Sorcery when becoming a Striga
* Striga cannot perceive Fae at all
* Striga must have the soil of their birthplace under or inside their bed. Firstborn Striga sleep within coffins.
	+ Striga who do not do this will simply be unable to sleep. The effects of sleep deprivation affect them just as they would a living person.
* Striga cannot drink the blood of other Striga (Exception: Anathema)
	+ Striga Blood offers no nutritional value. Not only that, but it will cause a nauseous, suffocating feeling within the Striga that consumes it. Dead blood is no good to you.
* Striga must drink the blood of living humanoids to survive, Animal blood may help stave off hunger, but it is not nutritious. Normal food is not only useless, but will cause a Striga to become ill until expelled.
	+ Animal blood offers little nutritional value. Striga must consume blood as often as a human would need to eat food (May vary per bloodline). Any and all blood consumed by a Striga will be converted into their own blood soon after consumption, meaning their stomach contents and tears may also infect living persons.
* Striga may not enter a home without permission (May vary per bloodline)
	+ Permission must be offered by a living person who is considered the ‘owner’ or authoritative resident of the home. Striga who own property or public buildings do not apply.
* A newborn Striga will be feral for two (Real-Life) weeks upon awakening. The bloodlust will drive them to near insanity. It is best to keep them contained during this time.
	+ Ferality includes an insatiable craving to eat, general paranoia, disorientation, hallucinations, etc. Go ham with this.

## Bloodlines

There are currently three bloodlines of Striga in Omnia. Any and all current Striga can be traced back to one of these three, leaving a trail of their influence across the world.

### **The Pantomimes**

Striga of the Pantomime variety tend to be generally more unsettling than the others. They tend to avoid danger rather than provoking or participating, and they don't seem to have any unified goals or ideals, as they vary from person to person

**Hemoviscidity**

All Pantomimes are capable of exuding a red slime-like substance from their hands and feet that varies in stickiness. If you (A non-pantomime) make physical contact (Or, god forbid, ingest) the slime, roll a D6 and ask the nearest Pantomime what wacky side-effects you are now enduring.

**Osteotransmogrification**

All Pantomimes can easily, bend, snap, stretch, and otherwise distort their bones and bodies. This can allow them to grow additional (albeit weaker) limbs, temporarily change the shape of their bodies, and, if bent correctly, take less damage from blunt-force attacks.

**Affective Effluvium**

Pantomime bodies are able to secrete a bitter-scented semi-translucent gas through their pores that, when inhaled, create strong emotions in non-pantomimes. Gas can only target one person, HOWEVER, if multiple pantomimes in the same area activate their Affective Effluvium, it becomes an area of effect attack.

### **The Apollyon**

The Apollyon Bloodline, known as the ‘Noble Covenant of Apollyon’, are royal-gothic Vampyres divided between Lords and their Familiars. They are all led by a Crown, the Bloodline’s progenitor with whom all Apollyons share a bloodpact. The Crown chooses Lords for their great ambitions, whereas Lords choose Familiars to serve their wishes. The Bloodline conducts a strict hierarchy and unifying culture under the Crown, and functions as a Royal Court of Vampyres. The Apollyon Bloodline’s ideals are control, ambition, luxury, and success at all costs.

**Imperius (Authority)**

Apollyon Vampyres can ‘Charm’ a target for 1 Instruction, lasting up to 1 hour. The Charmed target sees the Apollyon as a platonic soulmate and follows their instructions favourably, but isn't under mind-control. If Charmed, roll a d20 Intrigue to contest the effect. Targets can only be Charmed out of CRP, but may be Charmed beforehand to help in CRP.

**Velarius (Veiling)**

Apollyon Vampyres share two distinct souls- a First (the original) and their Veil (the secondary). Both share the same Racial Abilities and Character Points. Each Veil has their own needs, wants, desires, ambitions, etc, and should be treated as a separate individual. Physical appearances vary significantly, with Veils presenting entirely different races and sexes to their First. Neither the First or Veil is identifiable as the other, and additional insight into Veil creation and purpose is known only to Apollyons.

**Dominius (Domain)**

Apollyon Vampyres can conjure a ‘Citadel’, a darkness-formed Weapon-Set that uses Strength talent d20 rolls. The Citadel can be summoned and used to attack in one emote, and cannot be disarmed. Apollyons can also channel darkness to perform a ‘Flit’ using d20 Agility rolls. Success allows an Apollyon to travel intangibly between 2 visible points within 42 ft [14 Blocks], leaving a trail of particles (smoke, creatures, etc) from start to stop. Flits can be performed tangibly with conjured wings, allowing up to 1 Passenger carried across 24 ft [7 Blocks].

### **The Anathema**

The Anathema are a rarely announced and seldom-seen Bloodline in comparison to the other two, comprising of small numbers and relatively friendly members. They act more like a freeform pack or family than a hierarchy, with due respect to the Harbinger for being the eldest and most experienced. Instead of slinking about sewers or subjugating shadows, the Anathema are considered your loud bruiser archetype of the bunch. These Striga value change, chaos, and the balance these two things bring.

**Apex Predator**

Unlike their cousins, who prefer to prey solely upon the living, Anathema also consume other Striga. Their corrupted blood doesn't choke them of the air they already lack, instead tasting like a delicacy to be chased. After feeding on another Striga, the Anathema gains one ability from their bloodline, rolling a d3 to decide, reading the abilities vertically. For example; An Anathema consumes an Apollyon Striga and rolls a 1 on the d3, gaining the Imperius ability. For average Anathema, this ability lasts for 6 hours before the need to consume again, and cannot be rerolled until the end of the duration should they eat again.

**Marked for Death**

Built for hunting efficiently, these Striga bear the ability to block out focus on everything save for their prey. Their scleras blacken and their eyes change shape and color dependent on the individual, allowing them to essentially see in infrared and pick up heat traces, though they cannot make out specific details about what they are looking at such as face shape, eye color, et cetera. Additionally, while they are focused like this, they are able to see the heart, veins, and arteries. This brings a feeling of being undeniably hunted from the inside out to whatever they look at, though this feeling is not overwhelming nor does it act as a fear aura. Should the Anathema focus further, they are able to forgo seeing other creatures in favor of focusing solely on one being, buffing their vision's range from 7 blocks to 20.

**Aberrant Mimicry**

As Anathema embodies change, they bear some semblance of shapeshifting abilities tied to what they consume. When consuming primarily humanoids, their appearance changes to reflect a more normal person, allowing them to blend in. When consuming monsters, however, their form changes to resembles their meal. Each feeding brings them closer and closer to this resemblance, though even at their fullest, they look more akin to a monstrous cross between their original form and the monster. Anathema must fully consume three monsters to gain their associated traits, and these monsters must be canonically established. The mechanical benefits of this ability lasts for 6 hours, but the aesthetic and mental changes last until changed.

**OOC Note: One cannot write becoming a Striga into their backstory. This is purely attainable In-Character. No character can have already been a Striga at this time.**