Nobility

It is unknown where and when the nobility had originally come from, however; what is known is that all nobles were once human. humanity had sought immortality since the earliest civilizations, and only claimed to have achieved this secret in the times of the great alchemists, especially Count Saint Germain. However due to the rampant superstition during these times it is impossible to discern what is fact and what is fiction. It is known that the people who became nobility were responsible for the accounts of humanoid abominations that have become legend, however; the nobility were also responsible for legends of humans with extraordinary almost supernatural abilities, because of this since ancient times the nobility have been associated with both heroism and otherness, and are often associated with the Byronic Hero in works of fiction.

The noble society is similar to that of an aristocracy.

### **Becoming Nobility**

***"Nobles are creatures that aren't worthy of the title of humanity."***

The qualities of their human forms become greatly enhanced when a person becomes a noble, and any imperfection is slowly removed, however; almost as compensation for their disconnection with reality the will also slowly lose their abilities to feel, not only emotion but also physical things like pain will no longer register, and they will continue to drift further from the world of reality, but in exchange they're given power only an those outside of our reality can achieve.

The distortion of this world became known to them and as a result they gained abilities far above those of humans, because of the unusual and often deadly powers that were bestowed on them they are often called reviled, by the people that know about them since they generally possess powers that exist beyond the realm of common sense. As a side effect of becoming one of the nobility people are usually tattooed with the Anathema somewhere on their body.

The Anathema comes at once, and the sensation of being branded by it is like that of a painful burning. It is unknown what the Anathema actually is but it resembles an elaborate tattoo of a snake swallowing an ornate cross.

### **Divisions within the Nobility**

"***We are not a family, our ties that run much deeper than blood***."

The Nobility were once extremely prosperous, they lived in a castle separated on three sides by mountains and on one side by the sea. Their realm was known as a realm of freedom and high learning, however; it is also rumored that in a single night, their empire came to a halt as there was a mass killing of the nobility by an unknown source, most of the nobles fled their towers and only Amelia, daughter of the Royal Family remained. Within the royal family itself there was a strict code in order that made them vow to protect the castle and those who lived within.

When the nobility existed beyond the walled city of Northern Reach, their society was divided into many divisions based on ability, and degree of learning. Although it was always non-discriminatory, and they held women in highest regard to the point where many women held positions within the society that were far more important than those of men.

Within the Nobility there is a hierarchy that is similar to that of a caste system, it is based more on experience and ability than anything else, there are many divisions within the nobility itself, usually based on the strength of their bloodline, whether they are pureblooded or not has significant influence on where their place in noble society are. Within the nobility itself there was a great division between the upper and lower courts.

Upper Court:

Royals

Purebloods

Perfects

Lower Court:

Unchosen

Impure

Unclassified:

Irregular