Encantadas

The primary denizens of Hell.

## Appearance

Encantadas typically appear to be anthropomorphic animals with two horns atop their head and long prehensile tails tipped often in a natural weapon. Standard size comes in either Demon or Angel morph, and ranges from 5 ft to 10 ft tall. Demon morphs have bat-like wings, and Angel morphs have bird-like wings. Very rarely an Encantadas will be born with half-feathered wings, but generally this is only down that falls out by adulthood.

All Encantadas can shape-shift to a certain extent, including taking on a feral shape related to their Soul Shape. Unless their Magic affinity is tuned to changing their appearance or camouflage, shape-shifting is limited by coloration and mammal category. For instance a fox-based Encantadas cannot become a bird, but can take on the shape of any other canid and canid-adjacent species. However, shifting from hooves to paws or from solid hooves to split-hooves is usually one of the first things cubs learn. The second is usually changing tail shape, though this is limited by how much tail an Encantadas' Soul Shape has naturally. In shifted form, tail weapons are inaccessible. Wings cannot be shifted from one type to another, as they are linked to subspecies as detailed below, but can be hidden as easily as changing foot and tail shape. Horns can only be hidden in feral form.

### Subspecies

#### Micro

Micro Encantadas are less than 5 ft tall, and have beetle or dragonfly hydraulic wings. They often have feelers or antennae instead of horns, and a common mutation is to have an insectoid abdomen instead of a tail either with or without a stinger. Many are venomous, though the method of delivery varies based on whether they have retractable fangs. Micros can be born from Standard Demons or Angels, and extremely rarely from Merfolk. All Micro Encantadas have an "H" somewhere in their Name.

#### Fae

Originally a mutation from Zacharias, the Fae Encantadas blend in with Standard Demons and Angels almost perfectly. However, their Soul Shapes tend to break the standard silhouette. All Encantadas with extra organs or limbs, including tauric mutations, are Fae. Often a Fae will simply look like a Demon or an Angel but something about them will be unsettling, not in their mannerisms, just their appearance. That being said, Fae Magic often takes a cost with its use, such as an inability to lie or break deals. Fae crossed with Micros often have arachnid traits due to the tendency of Fae to have extra arms and the Micro inclination towards stingers for tail weapons.

#### Merfolk

This subspecies was lost for most of Encantadas history due to their reclusive nature and vast underwater civilization. All Merfolk can breathe water and have gills at both their ribs and along their neck, regardless of appearance. A Merfolk that looks like a seal still breathes water when submerged. They also never stop growing, even when crossed with a Micro. The oldest Merfolk are large enough to send tidal waves just by surfacing in the center of the VastDeep Sea. However, this comes at a drawback as the older a Merfolk gets the more eldritch horror-like they become; tentacles, twisted bones, disturbing patterns of bio-luminescence, etc. Most Merfolk have no legs, having fish tails or cephalopodal tentacles. They still have arms and hands for the majority of their lives, though they can be lost after a few centuries of living in the deep parts of the ocean. ***There are no fresh-water Merfolk.***

#### Hybrids

Though not common, occasionally the offspring between two different subspecies, or between a Standard and a subspecies, will find that their Soul Shape doesn't take after either parent. Common hybrid traits include half-feathered wings, half-fish tailed but tauric lower body, butterfly or hydraulic wings on a Standard body, and other obvious mutations. Hybridization can also appear in an Encantadas' Magic, as each subspecies has different trends in magical affinity.

## Sex and Gender

Encantadas fully accept and understand that biological sex and personal gender are two often very separate things, and have no problem accepting someone's gender at face value. As such Encantadas experience the full spectrum of genders, and have four primary sex categories. These were developed in response to traditional pack dynamics as survival required a balanced four-square of parents to successfully raise cubs to maturity.

#### Alpha

Alphas traditionally defend the pack from threats via distraction. They use their environment to their advantage, and their Magic tends towards external abilities (e.g. elemental bending). However, due to their dependence on the environment their internal magical affinity has the smallest pool of power out of all four sexes. Coincidentally, alpha tails are shorter and more dense than others, able to be used in a fight or support their weight, but unable to actually grip anything with true dexterity. They also tend to be physically stronger and pack on muscle easier than others.

As a sex, alphas can only sire, and have a penis and testicles.

#### Beta

Betas are traditionally responsible for feeding the pack both by producing milk for cubs and by hunting/gathering close to the den. Their Magic tends towards internal abilities (e.g. telepathy) and relies almost exclusively on their own reserves to defend against threats. This means their pool of power is far larger than any other sex. Physically tends to be curvy with strategic fat accumulation to support carry cubs and shorter, though neither body shape nor height is not an indicator of sex. Their tails are the most prehensile, capable of true dexterity, including the ability to write legibly. The weapons are also smaller, more easily concealed within the tip, and due to the dexterity their natural shape is nearly double the length of their legs.

As a sex, betas can only carry, and have a vagina, uterus, and ovaries. They also have a heat cycle that can last up to 42 days.

#### Delta

The most flexible sex in the pack, they can sire and carry, either one at a time, or both at once. Traditionally they filled the role of alphas or betas where either sex was lacking, or supported the other sexes in both areas when possible. Wild card as far as magical ability, and their powers can develop in any direction. While they tend to be androgynous in a lot of ways, again there isn't an overall default build for Deltas. Even their tails can mimic either alpha or beta length, though they are both more flexible than alpha tails and usually shorter than beta tails.

As a sex, they have both a penis and a vagina, though it is worth noting the penis takes the place of the clitoris. Internally they have both a uterus with ovaries, and a seminal pouch, but they are incapable of fertilizing themselves. They have a heat cycle that lasts up to 21 days.

#### Gamma

Functionally sterile, gammas can be born or made. A born gamma will be a neutralizing presence in the pack from the moment they're born. This is the one sex that is obvious at birth because there are no reproductive organs to develop as they grow up. However, if at any point during any of the other sexes' life they become sterilized, through trauma, illness, or voluntary procedure, their scent profile will settle into that same neutralizing presence as the other hormones filter out of their system; even if they haven't presented.

Traditionally, gammas are the last line of defense between threats ands the cubs, and as such took on much of the cub rearing duties, staying at the den and teaching them how to grow up and interact with each other.

Genital configuration varies between individual gammas, and is subject to shape shifting as easily as hooves and tails. This is a gamma-specific ability. It is worth noting a lack of reproductive ability does NOT mean a lack of sex drive or attraction. Sexuality and sex are two different things.

### Sex Extremes

Due to their history as a genetically engineered species, Encantadas very occasionally develop extremes to each of the four primary sexes. These function nearly identically to their primary sex, but have mutations specific to each derivation.

#### Ipsil

Alpha taken to the extreme. They don't just use their surroundings to draw power, they can directly tap into the leylines of the area. They can also sense when the leylines are being drained or polluted.

#### Omega

Beta taken to the extreme. Not only do they have near-endless magic, when their limits are reached the next time they draw on their magic the limit will have increased. Their magic never drains their life force. ((needs reworking))

#### Enigma

Delta taken to the extreme. So flexible as to smell like what others are craving. Can consciously control this to some extent, but will often accidentally trigger opposite sexes' rivalry instinct. (e.g. Alphas will smell beta, but the beta in the room might be triggered into thinking the enigma is a rival beta for the alpha's affections, and vice versa.) Their magic is even more of a wild card for ability than standard deltas.

#### Null

Gamma taken to the extreme. Nulls often don't even have secondary sex organs. Some do, but most don't; shape-shifting aside. Their pack balancing abilities rival Prime Syndrome, but works across all sexes. Null magic tends to focus on ((voidy, shadow, secret shit)).