"Who Wants To Be The Demon King"

[KittyEmpress]

The ballroom was lavishly furnished despite the decay, the obsidian stone walls accented with deep purples contrasting the dark greenery that had grown all around it - the Demon King's castle now overgrown with flourish plantlife, that none bothered to remove before today. All of the furniture was newly made - or at least appeared so, but the decor was... outdated, to say the least. That which remained. Because you stood, ultimately, in a tomb that had been thoroughly robbed, time and time again, to the point where few willingly would come here. A symbol of how far your people had fallen over the last thousand years, a ruin that they now celebrated your people's defeat in.

"You are likely asking 'why were were gathered here', 'what is the purpose of this meeting', 'where can I get another drink', or 'Why did you specify to bring our children'/ But before I answer those questions, we need to tell a story!" Magic wove through the air, as the ancient crone witch Agatha spoke Power into the wind itself, "Long before any of you would remember, our people ruled this world. It was not the soft and placid races of Man who walked with heads held high, but the varied and colorful clans of Demon."

It was a story you had heard over and over again since you were a child - you were born to the heads of one of the Demon Clans, after all. Clinging to lost glory sometimes seemed like all those fallen nobles could do. Still, you had nothing to do but to listen. Your parents had confiscated all of your magical entertainment items before this began.

"We had united this world under one banner, the banner of the Demon King - a true existence of Greatness. Now look at the world - fractured, fragmented, a dozen petty kingdoms, each warring over whose God is true, whose greatness is greater. The true Hero lies dead, and unity is gone." The power in the air took another turn, as Agatha seemed to grow younger by the moment - the ancient crone who had survived since the last Demon King's rein losing her hunched back first, "They've forgotten the portents, they've forgotten their fear. They view us as nuisances, creatures to go bump in the night, things that any so called 'hero' can destroy." Her wrinkles receded as her gray skin regained the obsidian-black luster it held ages before.

"On his death, the Demon King gave a warning to the Hero. A thousand years past his death, his power would return. The power of the King who united all of Man against him will come again soon." The energy that filled the hall was enough to fill your royal-heart with dread. Everyone seemed frozen in place as Agatha, the last True Demonic Dragon stood tall in front of them. The beast that stood by the Demon King's side was strong enough to make everyone kneel instinctively - even your body moved without your say so. "That time..."

And then suddenly, she reverted back, the old crone back in front of you again, the Demon King level energy dissipating, "Is not yet. Next year, children. Next year." A laugh came from the crone-witch's lips, as she watched the reactions - annoyance, confusion, anger, fear, and defiance amongst them, "But that return is why we are here. The Demon King's power will return - not the man himself. And so we must conduct a test." You and eightother children are pulled into the air as the crone-dragon lifted you high into the air above, "One of your children shall be the Heir to the title of Demon King. But first, we must choose who it shall be - who is most worthy!"

The lord of the Maou clan was the first to speak up in response to this, "We descend directly from the last Demon King! Surely it should be our right by blood!" He looked enraged with the mockery that was to even imply any other clan could become Demon King, "My son and daughter, pure blooded and rightful as they are, are the only two candidates who need to be even considered, you old crone!" Any fear he felt from her brief return to her peak was... forgotten, clearly.

Agatha didn't even need to speak for herself though, as the Lady of the Oni clan rose in response to that provocation, "You sound like humans, proclaiming bloodlines and 'purity'! It was not bloodlines that we swore to follow the Demon King for, it was his strength! And as the Strongest Clan, we shall only grow stronger when my daughter/son sits upon that throne, and shows what an Oni Demon King is capable of!"

The din of the party - once just barely withholding the tension of the many races in the room, now erupted into chaos as every member of Demon Clan Royalty proclaimed why their children should be the one to take the power of the Demon King. The Orcs countering the idea of the Oni being the strongest, the Goblins proclaiming their numbers as key, the Fairies their natural magic, the Gnolls their mastery of demonic-beasts, the Dragon-kin their loyalty, and more. Every clan had a reason why they should be considered the strongest, the greatest. And they seemed ready to come to blows over it.

Until Agatha clapped her hand, and a spike of the previous energy sent everyone back down to their knees, collapased to the floor.

"Tearing each other apart is unbefitting of Demon-kind, I hope you will all agree." A crone's laugh echoed through the halls, "We will decide who the Demon King will be in the most fair way possible - through a contest. Your children will be sent into the world of Man. They will kill, they will steal, they will deface, they will manipulate, and they will bring ruin to our hated foes. And I shall watch as this happens, and I shall judge them. In one year's time, I shall proclaim a winner to this contest from amongst the survivors." She put emphasis on that word. "You are not to harm each other directly or indirectly in any way during this contest. Do you hear me?"

You didn't have much choice it seemed. Because whether you desired it or not, your parent(s) gaze was firm. And you knew that for the Clan, you had to accept this challenge.

But just... who are you?

These options are ordered based on the typical Demon hierarchy, higher up means you're a more 'respected' race.

[x] A. Daughter of the Maou Clan
[x] B. Son of the Maou Clan

Maou Clan

Descended from the Last Demon King, the Maou clan are renowned for being what most Men think of when they think of a true Demon. With naturally deep magic cores - rivaling or exceeding even those of High Elves - and a natural talent for shadow magic that all of them share, Maou are amongst the most magically inclined demons - however, they are also one of the more physically frail Demons. Luckily for Man, they are the rarest of the Demon Clan's remaining families, the need for blood purity ensuring they are born only of rare and scarce magical rituals, summoned from the magical echos of the Demon King himself.

You were born in a life of luxury - while many Demons lived in fear of their every day, hunted by adventurers, the lordly homes of the Maou were deep in demonic territories that most Men were not willing to walk into. Many other races of Demons leave the homes of their own Clans to work for such places, and as such, you have a deep understanding of all other forms of Demons - both their strengths, and their weaknesses. You are also more socially apt than many, with an education in proper ettiquette. However, you are unused to a life of 'roughing it', and being sent into the world with nothing but the clothes on your back and your magical talents is likely to be difficult.

Unlike many Demons, you can blend in with Elves with ease, your long ears and slender form quite reminiscent of that race of Man.

Starting Talents: Mana Core +, Darkness Magic +, High Society Ettiquette + Demonic Knowledge,
Starting Banes: Frail Body, Pampered Upbringing, Superiority Complex

[x] C. Son of the Dragonkin Clan
[x] D. Daughter of the Dragonkin Clan

Dragonkin Clan

Descended from Agatha and her former family, the Dragonkin are the remnants of the True Dragons. With blood mixed with that of Man, their draconic powers and appearance have greatly lessened over the years, and each generation thins the blood further. Unlike many of the Demon Clans, the Dragonkin Clan have only one goal in life; to further Demon Kind. Directed by Agatha their Matriarch, each Dragonkin grows up learning of the greatness of Unity, and is instilled with a bond of loyalty to their people. For this reason, Dragonkin can often be found even in regions under different Demon Clans, without suspicion - utilizing their resistance to magics in their job of keeping peace for Demonkind.

You lived a rigid life, though it was one where you Wanted for nothing. You were drilled on all of the information of Demon history, you were taught all the secrets of the last War, you were born to protect Demons from Man and from Each Other - though much of your knowledge of Man is... outdated, to say the least. However, your role as separate from the rest of Demon Society due to your people's nature as the watchmen of Demonkind meant you had little time to interact with others. Instead, you simply learned of your people's superior loyalties, of how the idea of Demons being united came almost purely from Agatha's work as your progenitor, and your ancestor's work since. Due to this, you have trouble treating others as equals.

You appear similar to a human at a distance - but your body has black scales dotting all around it, as well as features such as horns, fangs, or even tails.

Starting Talents: Magic Resistance +, Demonic Knowledge +, Tough Scales, Knowledge of Man
Starting Banes: Superiority Complex, Magic Resistance.

[x] E. Daughter of the Vampire Clan
[x] F. Son of the Vampire Clan

Vampire Clan

One of the two Demon Clans originated from the Races of Men, the Vampire Clan are perhaps the race most closely associated to that of Man - in many cases living amongst them, being invited to their dinners, to their parties, working alongside them in governing policy, manipulating them into looking the other way as people go missing. No one is quite sure where the Vampire 'Curse' originated from, but it is well known that it is a curse that can be spread to any race of Man - and yet, many believe them to be a myth. An act purpetrated by the Vampire Clan themselves, a legacy of works fictionalizing their own existence, so that they may hide within the populace - and so that many think they were weak to objects so foolish as cloves of garlic. In reality, Vampires are a varied Clan - with their curse enhancing much about them, allowing them to expand into a variety of talents.

You were once a normal mortal, though you scarcely remember that life now. Your memories begin on the night of your Siring, by the current Lord and Lady of Vampires. Your new parents were viewed as eclectic but well respected members of the higher ranks for their People, and you spent many years attending formal parties, great galas, and the like, as their charming child. Those few who questioned how they had hid your existence for so long did not question it for long - either disappearing or being distracted from the situation. Unfortunately, you had little time to develop any specialty skills - instead, much of your time was spent on learning how to hide your nature, and to use your natural vampiric talents, as they intersected with those of your original People.

Besides your palid features, you look the same as any member of your original Race of Man.

Starting Talents: Beautiful, Charming, Strong, Fast, Tough, Blood Magic, Necromancy
Starting Banes: Sunlight Weakness, Holy Weakness, Blood Reliance

Unlike other Clans, the Vampire Clan will choose only their original Race of Man after this choice, without the ability to choose a 'class' specialization.

[x] G. Daughter of the Fairy Clan
[x] H. Son of the Fairy Clan

Fairy Clan

Technically, not all Fairy belong to the domain of Demon - some, calling themselves Summer Fairies, believe that mankind can be curbed from their excesses through the acts of trickery, wise words, gifts, and other stupidities. The Winter Court, however, bears no such belief - they believe firmly in the act of subversion or death. Kidnapping children, embedding changelings, or even just murdering those who need it. Fairies are the smallest demonic race, and the most physically fragile; even more so than the Maou - however, they have the strongest connection to what the Races of Man would refer to as Life magic.

You were raised with a deep hatred of specific races of man; Humans, Gnomes, and Dwarves were all prone to destroying the natural world in the pursuit of expansion, advancement, or simple greed. Time and time again your parents took you to see places that were once of great natural splendor, now torn apart by quarries that corrupted the land itself, twisting and killing the natural energies. Due to this upbringing, you find it nigh impossible to work for long periods amongst these people, even in acts of subterfuge - the only race you can stand for long periods being Elves.

You are extremely small, at only two feet tall with your wings. While your wings are a deep dark color, contrasting those of a Summer Fairy, few Men actually know the difference between different Fairy types. Your shapeshifting ability allows you to blend in with Man, though your shapes are far from perfect.

Starting Talents: Life Magic +, Flight +, Animal Kinship, Shapeshifting
Starting Banes: Incredibly Weak Physique, Hatred of (Most) Men

[x] I. Daughter of the Oni Clan
[x] J. Son of the Oni Clan

Oni Clan
The largest and most physically impossing of demons, many Oni claim to be the 'original' Demons. Their red skin and horns are still, to this day, used as representation for all of Demonkind, after all. Regardless of their claims - the fact that they have existed for many eons, before the concept of Demon and the unity of the Demon King is something that cannot be contested to. Often referred to as brutes by other clans, Oni society thrives on survival of the fittest, might making right. A society of twisted honor, where if you lose in a fight, you must accept that you were Wrong, no matter the reasoning behind it. However, there is no concept of trickery in battle; once a fight has started it can be strength of arm, of magic, of curses, of poisons, or any other route to secure a victory - and all are treated as equal. Amongst humans, Oni are known as cannibalistic, many claiming they eat infants! But in truth, the Oni consume only those they deem 'worthy', a twisted form of honoring the dead, as they encorporate those they viewed as worthy into their body via consumption of flesh. This act can, in fact, strengthen an Oni.

You were not the only child of your parents - and yet you rose to the top of them, you beat children older than you, you defended yourself from children younger than you, and you rose up to your place. You know what it means to be given nothing by those who birthed you, and to earn your way in the world. You are far from the pampered brats of many of these households, coddled and protected from the world. However, your roughness means you fail to understand others - and the only social options open to you are the art of intimidation. Oni also have notably small mana cores- the smallest of all Demon Kind, in fact. Most Oni Mages take to the art of charm making, writing their mana into consumable paper charms in advance, that can then be used later - a long and tedious process.

You are extremely obviously an Oni, standing between nine and ten feet tall, with red skin and large horns. It would take great magical skill to hide this nature.

Starting Talents: Strength +, Toughness +, Oni Physique, Weapon Training
Starting Banes: Tiny Mana Core, Intimidating Brute

[x] K. Daughter of the Succubus Clan
[x] L. Son of the Succubus Clan

Succubus Clan
Despite the stories about them, Succubi are about far more than seduction or carnal pleasure - they are about enchantment, manipulation, and corruption. More than any other Demon Clan race, a Succubus will avoid a fight with any race of Man - for their skill at direct violence is next to none. Instead they take the forms of Man, and they inspire them to darker thoughts - they encourage them to greater risks. They are the voice in the ear of the husband before he cheats, they are the petitioner who drives the priestess to darkness as they weep, they are the dark presence that turns that which is Good into that which is... not. Few, if any, engage in acts of direct seduction - though they adore the act of getting innocent men and women burned as succubi in their place. However, they have had to war for every bit of respect they sought to gain amongst Demonkind, who view soft strength with disregard.

Every word you have ever heard is a lie, every claim a falsehood. Every lesson you were ever taught had a lesson beneath the surface level. You know that nothing is as it seems, and that everything has a weakness, has something to be gained from it. There is no such thing as true love, there is no such thing as eternal loyalty, there is always a price that can twist a heart, and Good is a falsehood that the weak use to shield themselves from the world. These are the truths you know to be fact. And you can prove it as well. You, like all of your kind, struggle with magics outside of your people's natural talents - your nature rejecting the more simple, less manipulative powers.

In your natural form, you are obviously not human - red scales, wings, and a tail amongst other facets. But your mastery of shapeshifting is bar none, and only Great Mages would be able to detect the changes in your form.

Starting Talents: Shapeshifting +, Charisma +, Enchantment Magic +
Starting Banes: Physical Weakness, Magical Weakness

[x] M. Daughter of the Orc Clan
[x] N. Son of the Orc Clan

Orc Clan

The second most numerous clan, the Orc Clan is widely regarded as the grunts of the Demon Clans - they are soldier born, true and hardy, but they lack the decisive power that the champions of the Oni Clan does. However, they have the most Man-like society of the Demon Clan - every Orc is free to pursue their passion in life, so long as they also pursue the art of war during it. This means that while every Orc you meet is a soldier of some level, they are also the most varied of demons - an orc soldiers may in fact be a blacksmith creating weapons of war that rival that of great dwarves, or an architect creating great fortifications for the Orc Clan to utilize, or a songstress singing of great battles and orcish ancestors - even orc artists exist, though the races of Man would claim nothing orc-made could be art, so lacking in refinement and charisma are they.

You, like most orcs, grew up in a rigid and disciplined environment. What Man would never understand of Orcs is that they are not Warriors, they are soldiers. Drilled with brutal discipline from birth, to work with one another, to commune with one another without a word. A single Orc is no scarier a combatant on average than a single Dwarf. But a squad of Orcs, working in drilled concert with one another is a weapon multiplied by the strength of its members. You have a drilled in understanding of the flow of battles, of openings, of when to support others on your side, and when to push what they have given you. Unfortunately, you are but one Orc.

You are unmistakenably an orc - seven feet tall on average, of green skin ranging from deep forest to pale celery.

Starting Talents: Peerless Drill +, Battlefield Awareness +, Weapon Training, Teamwork
Starting Banes: Uncharismatic, Alone


[x] O. Daughter of the Gnoll Clan
[x] P. Son of the Gnoll Clan

Gnoll Clan

A clan of hyena-like monsters and the youngest of Demon Clans, they rose to prominence only after the last Demon King had been killed. It is well known to creatures both Demonic and of Man that spots of great Demonic Power, or Corruption, interfere with and warp the surrounding wildlife. The first Gnolls were an extremely rare example of such - as normal Hyenas began to twist, and warp, becoming intelligent - and their children only becoming more so. These beast-demons have taken to living in close proximity to some of the Fairy Clan, as they learn what it is to be a Demon - their nature making them even more understanding and capable of utilizing the animals and monsters of the world than the Fairy Clan. From this relationship the Gnoll Clan has achieved some minor mastery over Nature magic, though not the full power of Life.

Despite their recent birth as a Demon Clan, the Gnoll Clan is the only Clan to be gaining land against the races of Man, rather than losing it. At the center of it is one fact; every Gnoll is an army unto themselves. The most loyal of dogs turn on their masters as they face the King of Beasts, the most trained of horses buck their riders from their back, and the most dangerous of wild creatures rush to their aid. Even twisted, demon-tainted monsters do not attack members of the Gnoll clan, and some have learned to master the art of taming even those Monsters. More than that though; every animal is an informant for the Gnolls. Few farmers realize how well their cattle know their routine.

However, Gnolls have little in the form of formal teaching - their society too young to find value in such. As such, most Gnolls are... dull, to say the least, and know little of the world around them.

You appear similar to a Beastman - to those not from the Beastmen at least. Where Beastmen are more Man than Beast, you are a twisted form of a Beast turned bipedal, a hyena who stood on two legs, limbs stretching to accomodate.

Starting Talents: Animal Kinship +, Bestial Combatant, Life Magic
Starting Banes: Limited Knowledge

[x] Q. Daughter of the Goblin Clan
[x] R. Son of the Goblin Clan

Goblin Clan
The most numerous of the Demon Clans, most commonly referred to as 'pests' by the races of Man, and 'servants' by the other Demon Clans. Your people outnumber every other Demon Clan combined by at least 10:1, and yet you get no respect - you have eternally been the weakest of the Demons, the lowest, the ones given the least respect. Even the Gnolls, born within the last hundred years get more respect than you do. If not for the fact that Agatha had kept her promise to the Demon Lord to keep the Clans united, your people likely would have been enslaved by the other Demon Clans ages ago. Goblins are good at one thing besides repopulating, however; eating. Goblins come in various shades, hues, skin densities, bone growths, and more, based on their diet. And the same applies to non-standard diets; such as heroes.

You are one of fifty members of royal kin, but you were the one chosen to come to this party when the invitation said 'bring your greatest child'. Perhaps your parents just didn't want to think too hard about it, choosing the child who just happened to be closest at the time. But now you were being thrown into a battle for succession, a battle that could bring glory to the Goblin Clan, that could raise you from the bottom to the top. If you can survive it.

You are as small as the Half-Folk, standing at three feet tall, with skin ranging any color - and changing, based on your diet.

Starting Talents: Goblin Dietary Evolutions
Starting Banes: Weak, Stupid, Uncharismatic, Uncoordinated, No Equipment

You gain no 'class' talents as a Goblin Clan. This is your starting loadout. This is the hardest start.

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Hi everyone! Welcome to a new, hopefully shorter term Quest, to ease me back into writing. This is a slightly comedic but definitely Evil quest, where you'll be encouraged to do hammy evil things and make peoples lives miserable, to win the fabulous prize of power! Yay!

For this vote, feel free to vote for whatever options you approve of.

 

[KittyEmpress]

Vampire Clan

You were not born a Monster, not like everyone else here. Once, you might have dreamed of being chosen by one of the Gods of Light. Once you might have feared when the Goblinkin might raid your home, without your Heroes to defend you. But not anymore. Blood no longer runs through your veins naturally - it must be replenished through outside sources regularly, lest your body cease to grow and function, and begin to onset the rot and decay that has been denied of it. Your skin burns under the light of the sun, as if you were exposed to fire itself, and you cover yourself thickly whenever you walk into it. And places blessed with divinity make your whole form Itch - an idle blessing from a priest on the side of a road on a good day enough to make you breathless, as if you had been punched in your solar plexus.

However, your unlife has also blessed you in ways you found most agreeable. On first embrace, your body righted itself into its most perfect form - every pox mark, every scar, every thing about you that could be considered a Flaw on your form was healed. Your words drew eyes towards you just by speaking, your voice the kind that drew people in. You had to be careful of how you showed off your physique to the mortal world, because you simply were stronger than you should be. Even as a youth, your body held the power of an adult. And now as you reach adulthood yourself, your body is that of a peak mortal, in all physical aspects.

Your magical talents were the only ones you had to 'learn' to master, but the art of Bone and Blood came easily to your undead form. Your Father's teachings were anything but swift - a repetition of a hundred times to ensure you were comfortable. And while you could at most raise a skeleton or zombie, far from the dread wights he was capable of, you knew that they were at least something; for every wound was potentially a death, and every guardian corpse taking the blow was thus potentially a life. Blood Magic was even more important in this matter, however. While your body was great in many ways, it did not heal itself naturally, not in the way a truly Living body would. Instead, through works of Blood Magic you could do that and more, utilizing the blood stores in your own veins, rather than the mana core inside of your body.

Being a Vampire made you Better. But what were you before?

[x] A. A human, Write in a trait.
Humanity is the most numerous Race of Man, and is spread across nearly every part of it in some way. Three Gods name themselves as Patrons of Humanity, lending a special eye to them above all others, including the chief goddess Lumesa. As a whole, humanity is not exceptional in any way; they are not the strongest of Men, they are not the most Magical, the most Beautiful, the most Intelligent, or the most Graceful. In many ways, the average human is Less than the average member of any other Race of Man. But their talents are more varied; and their strength comes from numbers, making that variety most terrifying. There are four mainly Human kingdoms, though three all come from the remnants of an Empire founded by the Last Hero - each claiming to be his true successor.

Human Vampires often exist at the higher parts of society - in old money families who predate the Hero's rise and fall, even. These families utilize their influence on human politics to help stave off any attempts at unity against Demons, empowering the worst of Humanity's biases and greed against each other.

Starting Trait: (Any! Write in a trait, and that's your human talent. This cannot upgrade a currently possessed talent. Some limits apply, but not many)

[x] B. A Predatory Beast(wo)man Write in a species
[x] C. A Prey Beast(wo)man Write in a species
Originally born from uplifted animals around the Mother Tree, Beastmen are a species that looks wise is even more varied than that of Humanity. Large, fur covered wolf headed beastmen co-exist with four feet tall humans who simply possess bunny ears, and everything in between. The Sacred Forest is their only Kingdom, but is one of the most massive in sheer landmass - mostly due to the fact that few would comfortably be able to live within the dark forests, even amongst the Elves. Beastmen are technically one species - and are a true Species at that - but are commonly split down the lines of Predator and Prey species, due to the large size dimorphism between the two.

Predatory Beastmen most often descend from Wolves and Bears, but also include Badgers, Cats, Owls, and many others. Predatory Beastmen, even those originating from what are originally small animals, are physically larger than most Men, usually standing around six feet tall. Their appearances are also more often schewed towards the Beastial side - though this is purely a result of the standards of beauty imposed by other members of the species. More Man-Like catgirls and the like are looked at with suspicion of being half-breeds and the like. Predatory Beastmen currently control must of the Sacred Forest, due to their superior strength in an age of conflict - their natural skill at utilizing their bestial weapons something many have come to fear.

Starting Traits: Natural Weapons, Species Trait (Unlike with Human, you don't get to decide this trait. You get to decide your beast species, and I will give you a trait for it.)

Prey Beastmen mostly descend from Deer, Rabbits, and even small Birds, though they also include some rarer species like Squirrels and Horses. Much like Predatory Beastmen, irregardless of their original species, Prey Beastmen tend towards similar heights - topping out around the five foot mark. Prey Beastmen have a highly tuned danger sense, that tells them exactly when they're about to be in terrible trouble - and this has made many of them easier to intimidate, not harder. Human-looking Prey Beastmen are more often seen, though most Prey Beastmen do not display a preference.

Starting Traits: Prey's Sense, Species Trait

Vampiric Beastmen are a rarity - though that is mostly due to how young their species is. No Families have sprung up within the Sacred Forest, instead most Beastmen Vampires are chosen of outsiders, exiles, or explorers. Those who left the sacred forest.

[x] D. A dwarf!
Dwarves are one of the oldest Races of Man, predating most of History as it is currently known. While their current obsession with metals and magma are new developments - relatively - they have always been known for the Halls of Stone, carved deep into the earth and hiding their true power from outward eyes, within stone that spoke to them. Even the smallest of Dwarf Villages are the equivalent of highly fortified castle towns, when compared to the homes of Men or other species. Their greatest cities are guarded by fortresses that only can withstand their own weight due to the nature of Dwarven Mastery. Short and stocky, most Dwarves rarely peek above four feet tall, but are often as wide or wider than a full grown human man - and are in no way weaker than one.

However, their society is full of paranoia - dwarves are naturally agoraphobic, an act simply written into their existence. And from this fear of the open sky and places under the sun, came a fear of those who lived under it openly. While Dwarves do not hate other races of Man in the way Elves do, they have a deep distrust for them - every dwarf is raised from birth to fear surface-dwelling people, for inevitably the surface dwellers only want them for their riches, for their mastery of metal, or for other sick and twisted reasons. However, this distrust and fear also has lead to dwarves refusing to expand beyond ancient homes, locking them into conservative ways that eat away at them, as they pick clean their halls of all they were worth.

Dwarves are known for their ability to 'see' through solid stone, so long as they are touching it. All Dwarves have some level of this talent, extending their senses to around a dozen meters. But some Stone-Sages can see through stone even miles away. Dwarves are also highly resistant to the effects of heat, which was part of why the God of Magma and Flame chose them to be his patron race. The dwarves also also excessively stable, as a result of their body's low center of mass; the saying goes that a dwarf can stand tall even as a bull charges him down.

Dwarves are long lived and hate the sun; and thus they have been long infected by a multitude of vampiric families, who barely need to work to sustain their cover. The greatest danger to a dwarven vampire is the fact that the act of working a craft is seen as a holy act - causing a deep discomfort, physical pain, or in some rare cases literal death, when witnessing a Great Workman do their work.

Starting Traits: Stone Sense, Heat Resistance, Stable Footed.
Starting Bane: Agoraphobia

[x] E. A High Elf, write in magic type
[x] F. A Weald Elf
Elves were the first race of Man to divorce themselves from the United Empire of Man, founded by the Last Hero. It was on the day of his death, without a moment of hesitation - all races of Man who were not elven were forcibly removed from Elven lands at sword point, and those who resisted were ejected by their forests themselves. The reason for this was simple; the Elves viewed themselves as the greatest amongst the races of Man, and could not accept the idea of simply being one of many. Indeed, to imply any relation between Elf and Mankind as a whole is an insult to elven dignity. Only rare travelers and traders are permitted entry into the Elf-homes, and they are carefully scrutinized.

Elves are split into two cultural forces; high elf nobility, and 'weald' elf commoners. High Elves are renowned for their great magical talents, and often master multiple forms of the magical art. Weald elves, however, have a natural kinship to animal creatures and the forests themselves. All elves were originally weald elves, but as time moved forward and some elves began to venture into the forests less and less, pouring over books and knowledge, a division came. High Elves are typically pale haired irregardless of their skin color - most often greys and whites, but often times speckled based on their magical mastery, while weald elves typically sported greens and browns.

High Elf Starting traits: Mana Core, Any Magic Type (Cannot upgrade current traits)
Weald Elf starting traits: Animal Kinship, Forestry, Herbalism

High Elves are more often the target of Vampiric inflitration than Weald Elves, due to their importance; but are also much more dangerous. Powerful mages being one of the few beings that can identify a vampire, and being extremely common amongst them. Still, Necromancy is not illegal for a High Elf to practice, and some do choose it as their art of choice; allowing a vampire to hide amongst them for a time at least. Weald Elf vampires find themselves less well viewed by comparison; though one particularly notable family of them claims to have mastered the art of creating Ghoul-Animals, animals with the power of vampires.

[x] G. A Gnome

Gnomes should be the most populace race of Man, for many a biological reason. They are not, for many a sociological reason. Namely; Gnomes lack fear, to a dangerous degree. Despite being almost as small as a Half-Folk, with none of their plucky camraderie, Gnomes were well known for charging into danger without an ounce of hesitation. For what the Gods did not gift them in size, they gifted them in bravery. All was... unstable but stably so in their society, until the discovery of Spiritual Engineering. Humanity was actually the first to discover the art of binding Spirits to rune words - but Gnomes were the ones who perfected it. Or at least tried to. The art of Spiritual Engineering was a dangerous one, liable to explode in your face with the slightest mistake. So any race with a sense of fear abandoned it.

Leaving it to the Gnomes. Four feet to four and a half feet tall with colors ranging all the human ones, Gnomes are not fast, are not strong, are not even particularly tough. But they're clever to a fault, and their people respect those who are Inventive above all else. So societal pressures force Gnomes to live fast, and innovate quickly. This has made them a terrifying force in the modern days. While they lack the stability of dwarven designs, their innovations can be thrice as terrifying as a proven dwarven ballista. A storm cannon that launches literal storms of lightning and fire would make or break any offensive against an Army of Man... if they could only stop the spirits from rebelling.

Starting Traits: Spirit Calling, Spirit Binding, Spiritual Engineering, Fearless
Starting Bane: Fearless

Gnome Vampires do not last long; for many of them walk into the sun unfearing, in the moments they are turned. However, with proper warning and educating on the benefits of not walking straight into their deaths, a Gnome Vampire can and will survive to do horrible, horrible things. As long as they don't expose themselves out of a sense of superiority. Spirits are much less intimidating with the power of a Vampire, after all.

[x] H. A Half-Folk

Half-Folk are... agreeable. That is their strongest trait - very few people can come to hate a Half-Folk. Loved by their patron goddess more than any other race, they live life in near idyllic happiness, farming, brewing, and never seeking more. No nation of Half-Folk exists, because they are instead an exception to nearly every people's hatred - even some small amount of Half-Folk villages exist on the outskirts of Elven lands. The average Half-Folk tends to live a simple life and never seems to mind it - for what happiness can truly be found in hustle and bustle, in finding the newest way to Move Up, that cannot be found in simply wrapping your arm around someone you love, and eating a good meal after a hard day's work?

Very few Half-Folk heroes exist, and those who do often are priests of their loving Goddess. Instead their lands are often protected by heroes of other species, who live in The Big House upon the village land - a station that many heroes come to covet if they want an easy life. For near every Halfling old enough to hold a spoon is skilled at all manner of 'life' skills - cooking, brewing, house building, fishing, the like - and are more than happy to share the fruits of these masteries with their heroic protectors.

Starting Traits: Unassuming, Life Skills

Half-Folk vampires can sometimes forget they are vampires - feared and hated. Even if their neighbor catches them sneaking into their pig pen at night to suck blood, they're likely to simply offer them a hot meal and a drink! Many Vampires have been made of Half-Folk, only for them to fall into a comfortable routine, simply limited to going out at night more often than before, and needing to drink blood instead of beer. It's something of an embarrassment to Vampires.

 

[KittyEmpress]

Sheepfolk aren't exactly the most renowned Beastfolk. And you felt that for much of your life. You were born in the Forest-home, the Sacred Forest, the Grand Forest, or whatever other name it might be called, as most Beastfolk were. And you were pushed around. You were trampled upon. Every chance you tried to receive was taken by someone stronger than you. Larger than you. You tasted dirt more often than you tasted true food. You were the lowest of the low - a Prey Beastfolk without even a family name to protect you. If it weren't for your 'Parents', you would likely have died and become fertilizer to those great trees.

But you felt even more out of place now, here in the ruins of the old Demon King's castle. You knew you weren't weak, that you weren't some pushover anymore. But some part of you felt a panic as you looked through the crowd. Oni standing twice as tall as you with clubs wider than your entire torso, Maou whose magic was so thick it coated them like an aura, the Gnolls resting with their monstrous pets, and more. It was hard to calm your heart as you just looked around, your refined sense as Prey lighting up at all of the dangerous creatures around you. Your own 'parents' were watching the surroundings with just as much trepidation, though you could only see it due to how well you knew them. This panic only became worse as you were floated into the air by a crone's magic.

You weaved a little magic into your wool as you felt the fear overwhelming you, your neck-wool becoming thicker in an instant, as it covered up to your eyes, giving you a shield to look over from. You could feel your magic in the air, fighting against you as you did it - as if something was trying to stop you. But your eyes locked with Agatha, the ancient crone-dragon's, and suddenly you stopped feeling that pull, as an expression of... dissapointment? Sadness? Pity? washed over the ancient face. Your parents saw it too, and you could see them looking at you as your wool doubled in size in an instant.

Your Mother and Father were Lady and Lord Hardhoof - your Mother a Goat-folk, and your Father a Horse-folk. They were named as (very) minor nobility at territory just on the edge of the Grand Forest, inside of the predominantly human kingdom of True Roedane. In exchange for this relative comfort deep in the countryside, they had strict duties entrusted to them. Their duties were simple, and well suited to the talents of what none suspected were Vampires; to surveil the Beastfolk of the Grand Forest. After all, every Beastfolk is welcome in the Sacred Forest, so who better to recruit to watch their movements? Due to this, you've spent time alongside both humans and Beastfolk.

Humans often saw you as an oddity or a plaything, if you didn't stop them. While your features were clearly human, the sheep-like nature was confusing to many - your wool grew in thick around your neck and on your head, leaving you with quite a unique 'hair' style. More than that, thinner wool covered much of your arms and legs, making you appear quite hairier than the humans you interacted with. However, your status as an oddity also gave you an ease of cover - no one questioned your pallid features, no one questioned your deep red eyes. For sheep were sometimes pale, and sheep sometimes had red eyes. You didn't even need to work to disguise yourself from the humans - you had been seen taking great hits and getting back up, and no one questioned it - because who hadn't seen a Ram smash heads with another, and then stand up? Humans were ignorant of you. But their ignorance was also filled with curiosity.

In the Forest-home, things were slightly harder. One of the first things you learned when you started to go to be eyes in the Foresthome was how to Lose. You weren't physically bigger than basically any beastfolk - but your nature as a Vampire made you stronger, faster, tougher than them. Even as large tiger-folk tried to impose their strength upon you, you did not balk - and that was a problem. A sheepfolk who could arm wrestle a bearfolk and win was unheard of. Unnatural. And so you had to learn to lose - to back down, to play the weakling. Predators always thought of you as small and weak, they pushed you around, and treated you like dirt. And you had to let them, because otherwise they might Know, or at least suspect. As soon as you were put in your place however, no one treated you as anything noteworthy - you were just another species of Prey in a forest ran by Predators.

Agatha began pulling in the other candidates one by one. And though she did not speak quietly, the words did not carry. Only the children in front of her heard them, as they were told why they were here, "Your family was called here, ahead of every ancient Vampire Clan, every line that went down for generations. Not because your Father was the strongest Vampire, not because your Mother was the most magically inclined. But because you had done more for Demon Kind than any other had in years of late. Power is not the only truth of a Demon King. Magic is not the only truth of a Demon King. Nor is it manipulation, seduction, or any other singular art. A King of Demons must be able to put Demons first. Your family has done well in doing so, child of Curse. Speak your name to me, and why you wish to be King."

Your mind reeled as you thought of the why. Was there a why? Had you ever considered this before? But it wasn't as if you could say no - even if only to do your 'parents' proud, who took you out of a horrible life and gave you luxury and power.

Though that power was... tempting. There was so much you could do with that power.

What is your first name?
[x] Write In

Why do you want to be Demon King?
[x] Write in

 

[KittyEmpress]

As Lydia's words fell from her mouth, she found she could speak only the truth, as the hag's magic reached into her and she spilled her innermost desires, "I'm tired of pretending to be weak. I'm tired of being looked down upon, I'm tired of being tread on, of being told to cloak myself in a veneer of weakness or else I may face death. I am a Vampire, I am better than Man, I am Superior, I want to walk down the streets and have men bow and scrape for my mercy, I want to hold my head high and never feel Shamed for what I was born. I want to drink deep of the blood of Wolf-folk who see me as a Little Lamb, and I want them to fear me as I do it." Your words were full of vitriol, of hatred, and you felt a coalescing in your soul as you spoke your words.

"You carry a bold soul, one that seeks majesty and respect. Now you may walk with the blessing of the Eldest, young Lydia Hardhoof. Such that your bold soul may show you its strength." Agatha's face was just a small smile as her magic released you. But you felt stronger, Bolder. Part of you wanted to announce your desires to everyone, no longer compelled by magic, but by the enforcement of your Demonic Story, of who you are. You could also see that the frail hag looked weaker after speaking to you - and even as you were shunted back to the crowd, you watched as she spoke to the next and the color drained more fully from her scales, the deep black turning grayer.

Agatha has just used her own Demonic Energy to Gift you a new Trait by upgrading your Desire.
Bold - When you take action boldly, openly. and without trickery, your demonic power emboldens all aspects of your power.

As each of the Noble children were talked to, their innermost desires reinforced into potent boons before sending them into the world, your parents approached you. Lord Thystle Hardhoof and his wife Lady Patricia Hardhoof were not harsh sires, as it went. They were indeed quite caring, though they still had pushed you to master yourself, and the instincts you first awoke. Your Father was the first to lay his hand on you, each of his fingers ending in a tiny hoof, "You don't need to bring honor to us, or become Demon Queen, Lydia. You just need to not perish." His words were filled with actual concern, and you knew he wasn't just putting on a show for those around you, because Demons didn't respect that kind of familial bond, "Even if you lose, we will still be proud of you. Remember, he who lives another night has another chance." Besides his hoofed-fingers, the only signs of his horse-ness being the tail that swayed with worry as he spoke to you.

Your Bold nature warred with your father's concern - was he questioning your ability? Did he think you were going to fail? Of course not, but that didn't make it sting any less. He would never understand the pain in your soul from having to hide yourself, it's why you never revealed it to him. "I'm going to win, Father." You told him it resolutely, for the first time feeling strength in the conviction you hadn't embraced. "I will survive and I will win." You felt the newfound strength filling your form as you declared yourself boldly, with all of your rivals and their families around you.

Your Mother, the more animal-like of the two, let you a bleating laugh at your declaration, "Baaaahahaaahaha." Her laugh filled the halls, as the Vampire-Goat seemed oh so enthused by your reaction, "Chew them up then, darrrrling." Your goat-headed mother pat you gently on the head as she said it, "Just remember; there is strength in what we taught you. Proper planning, proper watching, can turn victory from defeat." The pat turned into an actual hug.

Meanwhile, all around you the families were heaping expectation after expectation upon their offspring. Only a few lucky Demons seemed to have families at all concerned about their safety over honor and victory; the Succubi and Gnolls amongst the few.

Your eyes were drawn around the room, as the reinforcement of each chosen child had finished; and all of the children were motioned forward by Agatha. Your mother and father giving you one final squeeze before watching you move towards the center, "I hope you have all said goodbye to your families. For some of you may never return here. Like as I would to make the rise of the Demon King easy, enjoyable, I cannot. We grow through conflict. We grow through violence. We grow through adversity. And so all of you will face these things in droves. I wish that I could say that I will save you, if true danger comes to you. But you will be on your own as you leave these halls." The old hag was soft, perhaps, but she did not beat around the bush as she warned you.

"For your first task!" A large flat piece of magic formed in the air as she waved her staff, and a handful of peaceful looking villages flashed across it, each gathering one by one with their names and where they were located accompanying it - eleven in total, "You will be assigned what is considered a 'border village'. The kind of place where no Lord resides, where few care about - the common threats will be militia, and perhaps the odd wandering Hero. Your job will be to bring down the power of Demons on this land, in whichever way you so desire, and to leave it scarred. Your time period will be a singular month. You will be scored on creativity, on the number of Infamous Deeds you produce - and the depths of those deeds - as well as in how much Demonic Energy you can harvest from these fools. The more impressive your acts, the more you will gain."

Lord Lucente, the participant of the Maou, was the first to speak, "I could destroy such a village in a single day. Surely you cannot expect this trial to last a month?" You could feel the pride dripping from his tongue as he spoke, "Is it even a fair contest if we must delay the completions to allow fairness to our weakest?" His eyes rolled over basically everyone in the crowd - only the Dragonkin seemed to not suffer from his indignant gaze.

"Speed is not what is being measured here, Lucente." Agatha did not call him by his title, and you could see anger boiling in the young man's face just from that, "If you can do it in a single night, then find twenty nine other villages to end the other nights. Or find a more time consuming but impressive way to make your mark upon them. Were it only a contest of speed, I believe we both know you would not be the sole competitor - nor even the favorite."

The largest of the contestants, a red skinned Oni named Tanue, seemed unaware that almost everyone had taken Agatha's words as praising her. Instead she simply was picking her ear with her pinky finger, the Ogress not wearing any armor or carrying any of the weapons of the Oni clan. "This is boring." Is her comment as people pause to see her reaction.

"A fair assessment, my young Tanue." Agatha cackled as she said that, "I tire of this farce. You will each now pick a village that is yours for the duration of this month. Originally I was going to have each of you choose straws to decide the order in which they are picked!" The old hag cackled as she displayed the straws in her hand, some much shorter than the others, "But Lucente has annoyed me with his prattling! So now all of the upperclass will suffer the spite of an old woman!" Another cackling laugh as she waved her hands - and each stick moved towards someone. It was clear from how long the Glik's was and how short Lucente's was what the prescribed order was, "Yes! From the least respected to the most! You will gain the advantage of first choice! Choose wisely! Ask whatever you may wish."

Glik, the goblin champion, was... completely indstinguishable from any other non-evolved goblin to you. While both their (you could not tell a gender) parents were evolved-types, it seemed that none of their children were. So the little green gremlin, smaller than a half folk, moved forward with no grace, but also no hesitation, "Glik kill Dwarf-home. Glik eat dwarf meat!" He didn't wait for any description, "Gogogo. Now!" The little being was shunted through space by a portal of demonic energy, as Agatha dragged a hand down her face.

Even she didn't seem to care for Goblins much. "I don't know what I expected. Luu-rii-saa. Ask your questions."

"I have no questions." The gnoll woman was as large as an orc - and taller than an Oni, from where she sat upon her World-Devouring-Snake Monster Companion. The beast was easily twenty feet long, and it held her aloft upon its head with no problem, "Saa-rii-luu and I have agreed, we shall feast upon the homes of the Beastmen in the Village of Aeth. Let them see what a true Beast is." You recognized that place - you'd been there, briefly, on journeys into the Grand Forest. That could have given you an advantage, had it not been chosen.

"Very well. Good luck to you both, Younglings." The portal that swallowed up the gnoll and snake seemed less aggressive than the first.

"I have many questions." The young man who spoke up seemed almost refined, for your understanding of orcs. You could see the deep intelligence in his eyes, despite his people's reputation as stupid grunts. "What are the military standings of their kingdoms. What advantageous terrain exists around these villages? What dangers lurk inside or out of them? What other hostilities may target them. What is the political situation within the village? What families feud with one another?" The questioned rolled off his tongue one by one, and he just kept asking.

Agatha, for her part, answered each and every one of them. One by one. And as nearly an hour passed, Mol slowly stopped asking about the villages one by one. Until he finally said, "I shall face my trial in the human village of Everpyre. Their family feuds and bandit problems create many potential enroutes for me. Thank you." A bow of the head, as a portal swallowed him up as well.

Lilanu, the Succubi contestant, frowned a little at that, "Well, the orc asked all of my questions for me, and then stole the choice I would have made. I am simply devestated," Their voice was hauntingly beautiful, as you heard it spoke, and it took all of your strength not to fall for the charming words - even as a couple of the contestants looked genuinely sad for Lilanu's loss. "I suppose I shall take the second village of beastfolk, then. Stoking the flames between predator and prey, oh what better a show could there be?" A little haughty laugh echoed as they were whisked away by a portal.

Tanue the Oni was not nearly as picky as either before her, and was nearly as blase as the goblin about her decision, "I don't really care. Give me the one with the highest risk of encountering a Hero. Slaughtering peasants sounds boring. I suppose that leaves me with the Elf-Home." A shrug of the shoulders, as the massive redskinned Oni was swept away by the magical portal.

Lucente looked annoyed in that moment - and it didn't take a genius to tell that the elf-appearing Maou had intended to take the sole elf village from amongst what was offered.

"Well!" The little tinny voice of the tiny Fairy came from Nightshade, the fairy contestant, "Some might think, oh no, the poor fairy. Both Beast villages taken, and elf home too~" It teased as it flittered around, unlike everyone else who at most stepped forward, "But no! Why would I want to harm the few good Men in the world? No, send me to Gnomtinoplis! Or as close as you can!" A little tittering laugh, "I will free their spirit works, and show true havoc to those who do not respect the natural world!"

You were next up, as the portal swallowed up Nightshade and sent them to the land of the Gnomes. A dangerous choice to be certain.

Five villages remained; enough for the three of you and two others, it seemed. And you had to choose one.

[x] A. Broggi-Ville

belonged to the singular Human-Dominant nation that did not claim descendence from the Hero-Emperor's empire. Instead this series of islands formed a nation that was a fiercely independent lot, with a culture more openly warlike than other Nations of Man, outside perhaps the Beastmen. Every Norgian is expected to learn the basics of fighting. However, these villages are fiercely indpendent - few would call upon assistance from outsiders, and while Heroes do exist in their midst, most would never deign to visit a small village such as this. These villages can also be a breeding ground for feuds building under the surface - for when hundreds of men live in close contact with only each other, small slights add up. The titular Broggi-Ville takes up an entire small isle in the hundred isle kingdom, with only sea vessels allowing travel to and from.

Pros: Little chance of reinforcements.
Little to no chance of Heroes.
Disharmony.

Cons: Trained for battle
Nowhere to run.
Sheep-Out-Of-Place

[x] B. Honey-Hills

A half-folk village at the very edge of the Folk-For-Freedom-Kindness-And-Love Collective's territory, it can be described as... an extremely typical half folk village. There exists no militia in this village, for no Half-Folk would choose to learn to wield violence. Instead the plentiful farms, established meaderies, and excellent chefs employ a Hero as guardian of this village. There is only one problem - the new Hero has yet to arrive, after the last departed their role. This is an easy target, ripe for the taking, simple to destroy with great speed; or perhaps a target to subvert, to turn against a Hero they had invited. Regardless, this is a place of innocence and plenty - it would be a truly evil act to destroy it, but perhaps not an impressive one.

Pros: No guardian (currently)
Weak, easy half-folk.
Time to prepare

Cons: Weak, easy half-folk
Little to no chance of valuables.
You're basically bullying the most pathetic people.
An Unknown Hero

[x] C. Dwarven Outpost 2273

A dwarven 'village' created by the Center of Dwarven Expansion and Preparation as a quarry-village. Set up in a remote region of the CoDEaP territories, its only job was to strip mine all of the useful hard stone from the region, before dismantling the outpost and returning to base. The Dwarves of this outpost have no interest in gold, iron, or any similar 'useful' materials - their quota's demand stone, and so stone they provide. Dwarven territories are intensely paranoid, however - and outposts set up with many around them to provide support in case of a threat. A potential treasure trove, but also a potential danger.

Pros: Full of treasure.
No proper Warriors.
No Heroes.
Underground Halls

Cons: Dwarven Paranoia
Ease of Reinforcements if Discovered
Sheep-Out-of-Place

[x] D. Rustleberg

A human village of the Kingdom of True Roedane; the nation you technically as nobility of. While far from your family's territory, this village features many similar features to all True Roedane villages; including the excessive care put into their Church, dedicated to Lumesa above all others, but technically dedicated to all of the twelve gods. Your knowledge of the local culture is impeccable, and despite your odd looks, True Roedane does have a small-and-growing population of displaced Prey Beastmen, fleeing the oppression of their Predator kin. So long as you can avoid or neutralize the threat of the Priest, the militia would pose little threat to you, knowing what you do about their organization. However, you risk your family's status being put at risk if you are discovered.

Pros: Easy to blend into.
Knowledge of village.
Church treasures.

Cons: Family At Risk
Powerful Church/Priest
Harmonious Village

[x] E. Johannasburg

Buy, sell, grow, repeat, the Merchantry of Roedane claims to follow the truth of the Hero-Emperor, who once held more gold in his coffers than the rest of the world combined; money is power. Everyone is welcome in the Merchantry, so long as they bring gold - and it is said that loyalty only lasts so long as wages are paid on time. The village of Johannasburg exists like most Merchantry villages; a local resource (in this case, beavers and their skins) was discovered, and those seeking to make a fortune flocked to the land. In less than a year, now stands a fully functioning village; that just happens to have more gambling parlors, taverns, and temporary lodgings than it does homes or farms. Only a few seek to make permanent residence of this town, after all - the rest are simply here to compete, and then to leave. And outsiders wait, ready to take 'tolls' or lives from those who try to partake of their fortune elsewhere.

Pros: Greed blinds
Disharmonious
Bandit troubles.
Outsiders welcome.

Cons: Self sufficient residents
High chance of Heroes
No trustworthiness

Sorry for the delay. I got injured at work and sitting up at my computer was a massive pain, and I hate to phone write.