Be'tial

[Banshee]

Be'tial

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General Knowledge

        The be'tial are a foreign race, immigrants who had fled their own dying realm for sanctuary in Faerie. Though humanoid in appearance, they also display animalistic characteristics and can shift fully into an animal (albeit a very intelligent one) when they come into maturity. 

Culture

    Since taking up sanctuary in Faerie, their culture has shifted, becoming more mercenary. They educate themselves to emulate any culture, specializing in multiple languages and customs. This is in preparation of making them capable assets to the court they pledged themselves to. They do retain some previous cultural practices of their own, however. This includes being part of a pack or clan, with an alpha as a leader, and their protectiveness of their women and children, mostly due to their low rate of reproduction and higher male-to-female ratio. Despite their ratio, they will only ever take their soulmate as their romantic interest, though exceptions exist when it comes to a rejected bond.

Note: Since the Be'tial don't exhibit the same weaknesses a Fae may have, they can be used for out-of-realm tasks. As such, certain mannerisms and appearances may be adopted to blend in with out-of-realm populace. Magical items may also be loaned to the Be'tial for their tasks / more successful blending.

Allegiance Dealings

    Upon seeking asylum, certain deals have been made to ensure the survival of the Be'tial race. Unfortunately, Fae always require a price. Thus, negotiations have resulted in multiple deals being made. 

• Territory Claims - The Fae court that provides asylum to a clan must provide the necessary amount of land for the clan to thrive. In return, that clan will be forever allied with this court.
  
• Female Protection - All Be'tial females that are either birthed in their clans or found outside of their clans are provided immediate protection. No Fae is allowed to harm and/or kill a Be'tial female without full-scale retribution. In exchange, the Fae court providing asylum may claim 10 males within the clan (those of 18 and older) for their own service every 100 years. Only males who are healthy, trainable, have no current soulmate or offspring, and aren't the Alpha may be chosen.
• Alliance / Allegiance Servitude - Males claimed by the Fae courts are indentured to a lifetime of service to the Fae court who provided their clan asylum. They will be assigned roles within Fae society and follow the orders of the Fae court's nobles to the letter. To ensure longevity of the male Be'tials, necessities and certain privileges are provided to them. In short, they are long-term bodyguards, assassins, and other form of servant. Slavery applied to a clan-protected Be'tial (and the abuse / neglect that comes with it) is met with punishment. After all, the clan-protected Be'tial is an ally to the court.
• Rogue Banishment - Some male Be'tial break away from their clan to avoid being drafted into the Fae court of their birth-clan's alliance. This voids all of their previous protection (with exception of females) and can result in enslavement, injury, or death. Females who try to go rogue are captured, returned to their clan, and live out the rest of their lives under guard / watch.
  
• Freedom / Clan return - Certain instincts can win out on previous loyalty. One such instinct, that of finding their soulmate, results in loyalty to their life partner over all. As such, the Fae are to provide the Be'tial male with freedom from servitude, allowing them to return to their clan and be exempt from future enlistment / drafting.
  

    There is occasion where Fae might be crafty and exploit loopholes. An example would be when they find rogue and enslave him. From there, the rogue might be used like a pet for breeding, resulting in offspring that are not backed by clan. No female needs to be returned if the clans are unaware there are some. In addition, some rogue Be'tial or their offspring can be made into an unofficial clan where the Alpha is the Fae who subjugates them, resulting in a lot of slaves for their use however they desire. 

Characteristics & Types

Characteristics

    Due to their part-bestial nature, the Be'tials often appear humanoid in appearance. This may make them look most like humans, but some might look similar to elves (due to ears) as well. In contrast to other humanoids, they may have wings, horns, claw-like nails, animal-like eyes, tails, and / or ears of their clans. In addition, once they reach puberty, they are capable of completely shifting into the animal type of their clan (ex: dragons, birds, wolves). Their animal size (normal in Faerie) are considered bigger than the Earthern counterparts (if they exist on Earth) due to being 75% larger.

Note: Further understanding can be found below.

Types

    There are multiple types of Be'tial clans, all according to the animals they most resemble or can transform into. As such, their types are often determined by their clans. (Click and drag picture to the right onto a new tab for be'tial types chart).

• Dracken (Dragon) - This type of Be'tial most resembles the dragons of Eartern legend. Since dragons had existed in their origin realm, as well as the Fae realm, then they have adopted the ability to shift into one, as well as take on some characteristics. They are be born with unsurpassed strength and durability compared to other clan types, horns, fang-like canines, wings or a tail (not both wings and a tail), serpent-like eyes, claws, and resistance to extreme heat. 
• Feli'vian (Multi-creature) - Much like hippogryphs, griffins, and other mythical creatures known in Earth legend, this type of Be'tial will have characteristics of two to three animal types being made one. Characteristics exhibited by the Feli'vian include: wings or no wings, talon-like nails, bird or cat-like eyes, tail or no tail, exceptional agility and balance, cat-like or elven-like ears, and fang-like canines (or not). These characteristics depend entirely on the type of Feli'vian they shift into. (No Chimeras, hydras, or other creatures with multiple heads allowed). 
• Lupir'an (Canine) - Be'tial of this type will be able to fully shift into any form of canine (known to Fae and/or Earth), as well as exhibit certain characteristics. Such characteristics include: increased stamina / endurance and tracking abilities, canine ears and (single or multiple) tails, claw-like nails, and fang-like canines. In rare cases, a lupir'an in gestation will inherit some characteristics of the realm of Faerie, resulting in a lupir'an of fantastical characteristics (resembling fae beasts) and capable of manipulating one element (ex: kitsune, hellhound, etcetera). 
• Leios (Feline) - The leios can shift completely into a feline (known to Fae and/or Earth) and will have certain characteristics adopted by their shifted form when appearing like a humanoid. These characteristics are much similar to the Lupir'an by the fact they'll have feline ears and tails, fang-like canines, and claw-like nails. In difference, they might have cat-like eyes (or not), will be more flexible, and will have exceptional agility, balance, and grace. In rare cases, a leios in gestation will inherit some characteristics of the realm of Faerie, resulting in a leios of fantastical characteristics (resembling fae beasts) and capable of manipulating one element (ex: wingless griffin, etcetera).
• Urs'ai (Bear) - Urs'ai will be able to transform into an ursine / bear form (known to Fae and/or Earth) and their humanoid form will showcase a few shared characteristics. They'll have ursine or regular ears, fang-like canines, more-than-human strength and endurance, be more muscular / taller humanoid forms (taller than the average human or the same height as the tallest human), and have claw-like nails. 
• Sef'tisse (Reptilian) - As a Sef'tisse, this Be'tial type will turn into a reptile inherited by their familial lines and exhibit certain characteristics. They'll have fang-like canines (that may or may not be venomous), claw-like nails, have a slight scattering of scales, tail or no tail, have serpent-like eyes, have extreme agility (similar or better than the Leios), and be quite strong (stronger than a human, but less strong than a Dracken). 
• Avius (Birds of Prey) - The Avius are capable of shifting into certain birds of prey, as well as exhibit a few of their characteristics. Their characteristics include wings, talon-like nails, bird-like eyes, and be quite graceful and agile. They bear a close resemblance to their court's High Fae, which garners them more favor with the Fae in comparison to other Be'tial. In rare cases, an avius in gestation will inherit some characteristics of the realm of Faerie, resulting in a avius of fantastical characteristics (resembling fae beasts) and capable of manipulating one element (ex: phoenix, etcetera).

Note: See the Defined Terms / Types for known animal types or, if the creature you want your Be'tial is not included, submit an idea here. (Click links for quick access).

Abilities (and Form Enhancements)

Dependent on the type of Be'tial, certain abilities or enhancements may apply. The categories of abilities are as follows:

All - Every be'tial type is capable of this ability or enhancement. 
Type Dependent - The type of the be'tial decides where the ability or enhancement is applicable. 
Bloodline Dependent - This usually indicates a dormant gene among family members being active in a few descendants. Often described as a rare genetic trait.

The corresponding abilities will have one or multiple categories. 

• Shapeshifting – All
• E. Agility – Type Dependent
• E. Strength – Type Dependent
• E. Endurance & Durability - Type Dependent
• E. Smell – All except avius
• E. Hearing – Type Dependent
• E. Vision - Type Dependent
• Night Vision - Type Dependent
• Heat Vision - Type Dependent
• Detect Vibrations / Movement - Type Dependent
• Elemental Immunity – Type Dependent
• Venom Secretion – Type (& Bloodline, if applicable) Dependent
• Flight - Type Dependent
• Magic Detection (Active) - Type Dependent
• Elemental Manipulation – Available to all be’tial types, but considered a rare genetic trait
• Aura Projection – All, though specifically available to dominants / higher clan ranks
• Telepathy – All, only communicate within same clan or pack
• Innate Sense: Direction – All capable, rare genetic trait
• Bonding: Soul – All

Note: Click here to view a page with all the above abilities defined. 

Weaknesses

        While they may be exempt from the weaknesses shared by most denizens of Faerie, the Be'tial do still have a few disadvantages. Firstly, if a Be'tial takes the route of a rogue, all of their protections from asylum and clan will be void, making them prime targets for slavery, retribution, or other reasons. In addition, without an enchanted trinket imbued with magic, the Be'tial are unable to glamour themselves, which makes it difficult to avoid attention or the discovery of their origins / race.
         In addition, the Be'tial's animal instincts can sometimes get the better of them, replacing rational decisions with irrational ones, despite still being backed by human logic. An example of this would be hierarchial dominance - if the Alpha is challenged, the Alpha will likely choose to accept and fight to the death rather than fight to submission, as their dominance might keep them from choosing the option of survival. Another example is the Be'tials' inherent need to protect females - if a female is threatened or harm, they will endeavor to end the threat despite being outmanned or being without the power to do so.
        Lastly, Fae magic does work on the Be'tial. Certain collars can be made to prevent a Be'tial's ability to shift, trinkets can be made to help a Be'tial blend in, etcetra. Abilities don't necessarily have to be imbued into a trinket or item to work - a Fae just needs to be present and be higher in 'hierarchy' (nobility) to be able to work their magic. This can be considered a strength and a weakness, depending on the protections afforded to the Be'tial in question.

Strengths

        Since their ancestors were not native to the realm of Faerie, the Be'tial are not subject to the weaknesses all original-born denizens of Faerie share. Indeed, this makes them capable of handling iron without any ill effects and provides them with the capability of going to the Earthern realm for long (if infinite) periods of time, should they choose.