The average Human is just trying to live the best life they can in an often soul-crushing world.
Weeks, months, years go by as they attend their job every weekday, go to church, start a family, and keep their heads down. However, there are those that live to break the mold and spark more life in the world, even if they burn out quickly. A large degree of difference in the already wildly diverse general citizenry of Acheron can also be seen geographically. Most humans living in the major cities do not deal with or believe in the supernatural world, while those in the fringe Districts near The Wall are more likely to partake in mysticism. These differences in belief, in philosophy, and even in Local Government structure are seized upon by Humans to show themselves they’re not all the same, even though the Central Government won’t let anyone stray too far from the path they’ve paved.
A long forgotten tribal people originally from the North-West, the War Born have been rounded up, reeducated, and forced to live in their ancestral mountain holdings as a single nation. Historically they used to breed men and women to be great warriors, a tradition that, with their nomadic lifestyle, has led to a robust people. Physically War Born are extremely fit, being of tall stature and lean build. Integration and re-education have not completely taken these warrior tribes' identities and traditions from them. Though, those identities and traditions practiced today are mere shadows of what they once were. War Born express their heritage through blue, green, and black tattoos in fractal designs. Tribal identity is expressed by colorful armbands and sashes which are given to children at the age of three. Ranging from olive skinned to near ebony, their work under the sun makes most War Born bronzed or darker by their teens. Typically, men and women keep their red or blonde hair long and pristine in accordance with old traditions. In modern day they work as field hands or traders and wear clothing for the job at hand.
The Grey Family has a reputation that is drenched in blood. They are some of the best inventors, scientists, and artists that the world has ever seen. However, one of their family members took their lust for knowledge too far and caused The Breach. Because of this, the Grey name carries the heaviest of burdens, as the ones who brought about the end of the old world. Over the centuries the Greys have strategically married the best and brightest inventors, artists, and scientists for generations. Anyone who they see as carrying the torch of passion that makes the Greys who they are is brought into the fold. This has formed a bloodline that is full of extremely passionate, obsessive, and ingenious people. However, being surrounded by like-minded individuals has made them estranged and a bit odd, giving their family an air of mystery to the outside world. Due to their marriage practices, the Greys form a family that is just as diverse as the populace, even including Darkleechers, The Exalted, and from time to time a Half-Leecher.
The Ellson’s are an ancient family that made their name and fortune on banking, jewelry, and mining of fine metals. Closed off to the outside world, they share very similar features; light blonde hair, blue eyes, proud noses, and thin builds. As aristocrats of the richest family, they dress accordingly, in finery even other powerful families can barely dream of. All factions must deal with the Ellsons as they control nearly a fourth of the world's banks. Controlling so much of the fiat trade has lead to the Ellsons securing massive pools of wealth, making them one of the three most powerful families. Rivaled only by the Greys and Freemen. The Ellsons claim that they are the oldest family and even tout that they are older than The Church itself. What is certain is that their family survived this long for a reason. The Ellsons are typically cold and calculating, with a lack of compassion for anyone outside their own circle. Discipline is integrated throughout their upbringings, leading to logical thought overpowering empathy. Because of this they are usually a step ahead of their competitors and are willing to do almost anything to achieve their goals.
Gripes are children born to The Church of The Twin Gods. They are usually born from two members of the clergy and, once born, are claimed as dependents by The Church which acts as their guardians. If Gripes manage to run away, they are often able to find freedom from The Church in those Districts far from The Churches influence. More commonly, Gipes are raised within The Church and come to love their lives, so few ever leave for good. On the whole Gripes live simple lives with their family, deeply ingrained into The Church, surrounded by a likeminded community. However, if the child was born out of wedlock and out of The Church, such as a clergy member having a child with a non-believer or non-member, the child is called a Grievance. Grievances are typically taken away from their parents and subjected to Arcane experimentation. They are turned into agents of The Church, trained as Black Priests, or turned into True Grievances; rumored to be half-person, half-beast, used to slay monsters and Heretics alike.
Humans who have, through ostracization and persecution, come to live beneath the shadow of The Wall have become known as The Exalted. Over generations the mutative effects of The Wall have given rise to The Exalted as a race all their own, though they originated as all other Human pedigrees. They’re known for having cat’s eyes, thick hide-like skin, extra limbs, bat-ears, and ghoulish skin tones of pale white and green-grey. The Exalted got their name from being blessed executioners in service to The Church of the Twin Gods and were exempt from all sins committed in their duties. Considering this is all common people saw of them for generations their whole pedigree gained this moniker. Those who are not graciously employed as Church or Government executioners wear the scraps they can find and eat what they must to live another day as the unwanted shunned from society before they were even born.
Fae Darkleechers have a wide range of physical traits, for example they are marked by irises of pure purple, blue, green, yellow, red, etc. and pupils of another bright color. Similarly, their bodies have a wide range of bright, vibrant colorings making them the most diverse, colorwise, of all Darkleechers. They will often have vestigial wings ranging from bird-like to insectoid. Translucent skin has also been known to occur in rare cases. The colors that accent their skin are navy blue, bright green, azure, turquoise, amber and many more. They can exhibit traits such as pointy ears, vibrant hair colors, glow in the dark freckles, and other oddities. Even by Darkleecher standards, the Fae Darkleecher is quite slight and small in frame though they are taller than their Eldritch and Spirit cousins. The Fae bloodlines are typically happy folk, prone to joviality and communal celebration in bombastic ways. They usually have positive attitudes about events in their lives, whether positive or negative, and have natural affinities with fate. Fae kin are drawn to horoscopes, fortune tellers, and other luck-based traditions. Gambling and generalized experimentation in a multitude of capacities are favorite pastimes of the Fae.
Spirit Darkleechers have animalistic and natural traits, such as antlers growing out of their foreheads, feathers instead of hair, or birthmarks in the form of bark-like growths. Eyes of Spirit Darkleechers are typically green, brown, blue, or opalescent with irises of soft pastels with a brighter pastel for the pupil. The common colors that accent their skin are dark greens, oaky browns, white-gray, and deep blues. Almost always Spirit Darkleechers have the fleck-freckles of metallic silver and gold, unlike their cousins who have this trait on a rarer basis. Both the mind and Soul of these Darkleechers are tied to the Spirit world. Because of this they almost always have a natural trait related to animals, plants, fungi, or other life. They can be isolationist or extremely social depending on which aspects of nature they exhibit most. Often, they find themselves working on the fringes of society as hunters, trappers, guides, and foresters if their tendencies are those of lone creatures. However, if they are social, they will integrate into any position where they feel welcome and at home with an unparalleled loyalty and enthusiasm.
Demonic Darkleechers are the largest and most physically fit of their kin. Often, they are marked with horns ranging from sharp and bull-like to the spiraling twists of a rams horns, giving them a threatening air. Occasionally they will have crowns of craggy bone spikes and patches of animal-like fur. Their eyes are typically steel grey, yellow, or red. With skin accented in black, yellow, red, stone, and metallic tones Demonic Darkleechers generally look the most humanoid as their skin color can be very close to humans and their general appearance - sans horns, bone spikes, etc. - is aesthetically pleasing to most due to their physical acumen. Their Irises and pupils look human despite the colors being similar to their skin tones. Demonic Darkleechers are very tight knit both with other Darkleechers and with humans, forming bonds easily, if not as firmly or jovial as their kindred. This leads Demonic Darkleechers to be the bedrock of Leecher society in many places and the glue that holds Leecher and human society together. Of all their Kin they work with humans the most and often find themselves laboring in factories, law offices, business, and any other places Darkleecher and human society intersect.
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Eldritch Darkleechers have the darkest or palest complexions without many of them falling in-between. Their skin is often accented by deep-dark blues, green, and purples reminiscent of the night sky or deep sea, as well as pure black and white. It is not uncommon for them to have fine tentacles instead of hair, as well as gills and scaly patches of fish or frog-like skin. Most have eyes that are slit like snakes or shaped like a squids and are the colors of the sea or blood. Scars like those seen on burn victims form semi-symmetrical birthmarks on their skin in many cases. Physically they are small and thin, with cheeks, hips, elbows, and other bones protruding from their body as if they are malnourished even if they have fat hanging from their jowls. Socially Eldritch Darkleechers are the most likely to not interact with humans as their features are the most alien of all their kin. Bodies of water make them feel at home, as does the star filled sky. This being said they are very cunning and can integrate into human society smoothly and often do, but generally this is for personal reasons and not social ones.
Half-breeds between Darkleechers and Humans are known as Half-Leechers. They are exceptionally rare due to a high infant mortality rate and the social taboo of having cross-species children. However, the few children who do live to maturity usually have vague aspects of each parent with extreme exaggerations of a few familial traits. Some are even reported as having their demonic horns grow out their eye sockets or an exoskeleton in the form of calcified tentacles covering their body. The variations and extremes of these physical aspects change on a case-by-case basis. Half-Leechers, no matter what lineage, are naturally less hardy than their forebears and cannot reproduce. Yet another reason they are taboo in almost all circles.
Soulmenders are tragic by nature. Originally, they were Humans or Darkleechers at one point or another, before their souls were caught, upon their demise, in a Soulmetal phylactery. Their Soul now animates a new Soulmetal body, but they lose all memories from their previous lives. Once a fad among the rich who could afford to save their loved ones from injury or illness, Soulmenders fell out of style. Returning “not quite the same '' the cited reasoning in most cases. Recently they’ve come back into style as Soulmetal becomes cheaper and the differences in personality before and after the shift into a Soulmetal body matter less to society. After they were created Soulmenders were often either treated like old family friends or cast out to fend for themselves. In modern times these old Soulmenders are immortal timekeepers, family counselors, and raving madmen. Sometimes, Soulmenders are used as utility machines, being taught how to do simple tasks, leading to people becoming Soulmender typewriters, cameras, phone boards, and other such things. Due to their ability to modify their bodies Soulmenders make for great factory workers, guards, tailors, masons, crafters, explorers, and countless other things.
