Maraenyth
Brief Bestiary and Terminology, Part 1
Human: A human is a human, of course, but there are actually several distinct varieties of human in Maraenyth.
Pure Human: These are humans such as you and me. Nothing unusual. While most monsters are stronger, quicker, or smarter than pure humans, the humans have managed to survive, and even thrive, thanks to their adaptability, ingenuity, and proliferation.
Kin: While humans generally cannot use holy, vile, or nature magic without an extraplanar being bestowing it upon them, such usage has a curious affect. Utilizing these magics "taints" the user, making them more like the demon, angel, or spirit-like. Normally, this taint is so miniscule as to be completely and utterly unnoticed, but the adaptable humans seem strangely sensitive to it. After many decades of use, such magic may become innate, and the human may acquire minor physical traits of their supernatural donor. Such humans are referred to as devilkin, angelkin, or wildkin. Curiously enough, these traits are hereditary, and in communities where one of these magics is particularly common spread, communities of kin can form. Kin typically have minor abilities derived from their "heritage," and usually have an inherent (but weak) ability to use the very magic that created them.
Devilkin: Devilkin are obviously humans tainted by unholy magic. They are typically inherently disposed towards malice and hatred, but it's not impossible to have a kind devilkin. Depending on the degree of taint, devilkin often have vestigial horns, bright red eyes, long nails, a faint, sulfurous odor, sharp, pointed teeth, or similarly fiendish traits. Though it's rare even among devilkin, some possess vestigial wings or tails, or even cloven hooves! Communities of devilkin are exceedingly rare, and tend to fall apart easily. Indeed, devilkin are the least abundant kin.
Angelkin: Naturally, angelkin are tainted by holy magic, and are typically kind and generous. And like devilkin, their benevolent natures are not absolute. Angelkin tend to be conventionally beautiful, and seldom possess the more bestial traits of devilkin and wildkin, though it does sometimes happen. Often, they have a faint, but visible, aura of light about them. Said aura can be of nearly any color, and its intensity typically reflects their degree of taint. While angelkin are uncommon, there are a handful of cities composed of them.
Wildkin: Tainted by nature magic, the wildkin are incredibly diverse, and no single mindset dominates them. They are as varied in appearance as they are in demeanor, though pointed ears, an abundance of hair, and animalistic eyes are all common traits. It's not terribly rare for them to sport claws, fangs or tails. Some wildkin even possess traits derived from plants or elements! Wildkin are the most common variety of kin, and have many distinct communities.
Demons: Demons are incredibly diverse, but are generally bad news. Most of them draw pleasure from the suffering of others, and some even gain power from such. A demon can look like virtually anything. Some are animalistic, most are rather monstrous and/or hideous, and some are actually genuinely beautiful. A demon's appearance actually changes over time in accordance to their personality and power, and strength of will. While weaker demons tend to be categorized. For example, weak, lustful demons tend to resemble the archetypical succubus/incubus. As a demon grows in power, their appearance becomes more distinct. Those that attain godhood are generally unmistakeable in appearance, though many demons have the ability to hide their true forms. The "power" of which I speak is something often transferred between demons, as currency. When a demon's physical body is destroyed, it releases much of its power, which can be taken by nearby demons. This power can manifest in many ways. Typically, is increases a demon's ability to use its innate magic, but can also grant it greater strength, intellect, tougher hide, or any other number of features.
Angels: Angels follow most of the rules that demons do, though as mentioned before, they are almost always benevolent in nature. They tend to adhere to conventional beauty, and even the most monstrous angels have a sort of regality to them.
Spirits: Following the same rules as their angelic and demonic cousins, spirits often take the form of ordinary animals, though the more powerful spirits can often take the form of a larger, more monstrous animal. While it is common among demons and angels, nearly all spirits have the ability to take on a human-like disguise, though often they bear a telltale sign of their true nature. Other spirits, such as the often-immobile plant spirits, have the ability to create an "avatar" of themselves, used both to interact with the world and to defend them. Some spirits take on the form of masses elemental matter, molded into the shape of a human, monster, or beast.
...wait. What's the difference between a monster and a beast?
Monster: The generally accepted definition of monster is an animate, either living or undead, being that is not a human, but is native to the mortal world, and is intelligent enough to communicate via actual language. Most monsters think it's silly for humans to define a category to specifically encompass non-humans, but tolerate it.
Beast: The term "beast" is generally used to refer to a creature that would be considered a monster, but is not intelligent enough. This encompasses not just ordinary animals such as lizards, bears, whales, etc., but also innately magical, but unintelligent creatures. It generally implies that a being is not a "person," and it is usually an insult to call a monster a beast.
Originally Posted by Mairzy Doats
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"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass the world is too full to talk about.” ~ Rumi