The Dracans are dragon shape-shifters, meaning their primary form is that of a human and secondary form is that of a dragon, and their human form bears some similarities to their dragon form (hair color corresponds to scale color and the eyes never change between the forms), they tend to be tall and strongly built, and a way of moving that reminds one of a reptile or serpent. Their society is very military-ish and status is based on physical strength and the ability to influence people through intimidation, e.g. the Dracan king or queen can be challenged at any time for the throne by anyone in a one on one battle to the death, and the winner may take the throne, though it is still common for a particular family to hold the throne for several generations, with the position being passed on to the most promising of offspring (generally the eldest male). Common folk tend to be hunters and gatherers, minimal farming but much craft and they are excellent traders of some of the finest weapons, jewelry, tools, dye, and animal pelts.

The Gryphos are smaller in stature than the Dracans but by no means weaker. They are very inventive, inspired, and very artistic. They have large round eyes and at the base of their necks under their hair you can find downy feathers. As the Dracans, their human and griffin forms share similar traits such as eye color and hair/feather color. As you know, a griffin is generally depicted as being half-eagle half-lion, but in this case it can almost be any bird/feline cross, I've even seen a green parrot griffin and it looked pretty cool, and I'll go into more detail on this in the OOC's OP (if we have OOC's on this new forum… eh, I'll figure it out. Point is, this isn't the final draft.) Gryphos culture is much more agricultural, they raise many crops and animals and are expert weavers and tailors, producing the finest cloth and clothing.

The Alacai are fair and very elf-like, just like the others, their two forms share similarities that distinguish them. Generally flowing hair, fair skin, deep eyes, and all have a star-like mark on their foreheads where their horns would be in their second form. Their culture is surrounded in much mystery, generally they keep to themselves, only a few daring to venture out to other countries and mingle among other races, and that mostly out of curiosity. As a result of this, it is believed there are far fewer Alacai than there actually are, and they have done nothing to refute such rumors. The Alacai are also very deeply rooted in magic (which is seen as underhanded in Dracan society and more fairy-tail in Gryphos society). They are not magical as in study and casting of spells, but more in that magic is an essence which each is born with, and gives them some "unearthly" powers if you will, which differ from person to person. They are not known for trade, though occasionally you might stumble across a trinket or talisman that will bring you good fortune, and you know it must be of Alacai origin. They are known to be neutral and do not take sides.

Half breeds are very rare, and tend to hide themselves for shame. It is considered dishonorable for two individuals from different races to have children, and even worse for the children as they are considered something akin to a plague. However, on the rare occasion that it does happen, e.g. Gryphos x Alacai, you would not end up with a person whose second form was half griffin and half unicorn. Whichever parent gene was dominant would determine the second form of the child to be either griffin or unicorn, not both. If the dominant gene were griffin though, the individual may still display rather Alacaian aspects such as fair features or a superior intellect.

Appearance:

Human form:


Second form:

Name: Heather Blightweaver

Race: Alacai
Gender: female
Age: 35

Appearance:
Humanish shape: Heather is slender and willowy in shape, she looks like she might blow over in a stiff breeze. She stands just over 5’ tall, but she carries herself in a way that often makes her seem taller, head always held high. Her hair is deep deep brown threaded with black and hangs past her waist, loose and flowing around her like a shawl. Her eyes are a sparkling green and generally very sharp and focused. On the middle of her forehead, like a third eye, is the silver star “birthmark” that marks her as an Alacai.

Unicorn Shape: Heather is a slim unicorn with slender legs and fine bones. Her hair is pale white, almost but not quite silver as it lacks the shine or metallic glint. Her mane, tail, and feathers on her legs are darker in color and with a soft sheen to them. Her eyes are exactly like the eyes in her human form—brilliant green and with that nearly always focused and sharp look that make it clear she is always looking and listening. Her horn has a mother of pearl iridescence which shimmers in the right light giving the illusion of a glow.

Rank/Affiliation: Winnower. Her job is to help remove the “undesirable” elements from the forest lands wherever the Alacai choose to linger. This may be something as simple as tree blight or as complicated as a raiding party. Or anything in-between. There are other winnowers but in general they work alone seeking the assistance of other Alacai only when dealing with something beyond their own individual abilities.

Personality: Heather prefers to spend most of her time alone and prefers contemplative silence rather than discussion. Around other’s she is quiet and withdrawn, rarely voicing any opinion just following whatever tasks she is given. She does, however, always pay close attention to what is said around her and watch people in a way that often makes them a little nervous. She only opens up to a few people, and only after some time of trust building. She is the sort that makes few friends but those that she does make she is very close to. Alone she behaves very different; she is extraordinarily curious and will follow her curiosity wherever it takes her, even headlong into danger. Those personality traits are what make her such an ideal winnower. She must travel, vast distances and in solitude, to perform her tasks. She is also very clever and can often figure out ways out of whatever trouble she gets into—her curiosity often outweighs her intelligence or she would have simply avoided the trouble in the first place. She has a deep connection to plants, nothing mental or spiritual but rather a scholarly understanding of just what makes a plant community thrive. She is also a strict vegetarian.

Weaknesses: a sense of curiosity that will overwhelm almost all common sense to the point of rushing headlong into danger, an all encompassing & completely overpowering fear of fire (any flame larger than a candle), physically weak in her human form

Strengths: a sense of curiosity that will often inspire her to make reckless and thus bold and unexpected moves. clever and intelligent when she chooses to be, a skill (magical if you will call it that) over plant blights—both in living and dead plants—allowing her to call or banish blight to/from the plants and plant matter such as burlap sacks, hemp rope, and cotton clothing.

Brief bio:
Heather was always a strange child, preferring to spend time just sitting in a tree or lying in a blackberry patch to anything else. She really never really made any good friends as a youngling, only once she got older and met her winnowing teacher and began spending time with other winnowers.

Her talents as a winnower were discovered early; it takes a unique personality as well as a unique talent to be a winnower. They must spend massive quantities of time alone away from the herd. In addition they must be curious enough to want to travel—not all Alacai are. Heather was perfectly suited and soon was accompanying her winnowing teacher on her travels.

It was assumed Heather’s talents gave her an ability to heal plants; but it didn’t take long to realize that was not entirely accurate. A tree, broken and shattered by a passing war party, could not be tended by her but a blight stricken fern could be saved. It took Heather and her teacher much time to discover just how she could be of use…she had the personalit and intelligence but they still weren't sure she would be suited to such a life.

It sent Heather into a fit of depression so severe that her teacher feared the young Alacai would do herself harm. Heather wandered off in unicorn shape, seeking to be alone, when she heard the oddest sounds of wails off in the distance. Her curiosity won over and she followed them and found herself in a party of dracan’s preparing for an assault on their enemies.

Heather was “captured” and held as a prisoner. They feared she would betray their presence though they treated her well enough. They did hobble her though, like a common mule, which was horribly degrading. Until that moment Heather had never seen a dracan, only heard of them. She was quite afraid, but that fear multiplied when she saw the dracan’s enter combat armed with pitch, torches, and flaming arrows.

She feared fire above all things and the terror nearly overwhelmed her. The ropes binding her, formed of hemp, crumbled and rotted and Heather had no idea why. The fear surging in her didn’t even allow her to stop and think about it. Instead she ran, galloping blindly in terror, deep into the woods.

She didn’t know how long she ran or how far. Her teacher found her three days later, exhausted, battered, bruised, and bloodied from her mindless flight. She nursed her back to health but it was still nearly a year before Heather was willing to revisit the experience an try and put it together.

Since that time Heather has become happier, chosen her name, and she has a purpose and goal in life now. Most of her work involves moving rot and blight from the forest but occasionally she takes out a strangling vine or thins the undergrowth to prevent the plants from being choked out. And rarely, very rarely, she misleads and misdirects and re-routes others who might seek to enter “her” forest.

Name: Anna
Race: Gryphos
Gender: female
Age: 25
Rank/Affiliation: Handmaiden & messenger to the Gryphos princess

Appearance:
Human Form—Anna is small, just under 5 ft tall, and very slender and light of frame. Her hair is a cinnamon color and so shiny it almost looks copper, and cropped short and somewhat spiky. Her eyes, large enough to almost dwarf her face, are round and brilliant iridescent green. Under her brilliant red hair on her neck is a covering of dull olive green-gray down.

Griffon Form—Her griffon form is a melding of Hummingbird and Flat Headed Cat. She is smaller than most griffons, about the size of the feline she is derived from, but considerably larger than a hummingbird. Fast and agile in the sky the sun often shimmers and reflects off her feathers. Her feathers are brilliant iridescent green with a scarlet cap on her head. Her cinnamon colored fur blends perfectly with the green feathers though she still looks odd, what with the long beak and the quick movements, she shimmers like a jewel when she flies.

Personality: Anna is usually very quick witted and very friendly. She has an easy going nature and is very devoted to her mistress who is not just her mistress but also a friend. She has a good sense of humor, a love of all beautiful things particularly colorful tapestries, and a love of flying. In fact she almost always prefers to use her griffon form and fly everywhere. It’s just about her favorite thing ever. Her emotions burn hot and cold without warning and can be confusing to those who don’t know her well; her mistress knows her well and can weather the emotional storm without batting and eyelash now.

Weaknesses: her mistress—she is very devoted to the gryphos princess and would give her life for her if necessary or even if the princess asks. Emotional—she feels all emotions very strong and is prone to rapid shifts in emotion. Her only stability is her devotion to her mistress and she is protective or her. She trusts with too much ease, is easily consumed by envy she feels is better than her, hates and loves with equal ferocity, goes through intense bouts of melancholia which make her slow and sluggish, etc. Combat—She is all but completely helpless in direct combat and has no skill with any weapon other than to, if she is lucky and not distracted, not cut/stab/bruise/maim herself.

Strengths: speed & dexterity—she is amazingly fast, both in gryphon form and in human form she is among the top of her race. She has a maneuverability in flight that is second to none and has mastered using this speed and dexterity to her benefit. Her tactics tend to be to trick, trap, confuse, and tire. Endurance—she has a very high physical endurance, she may be small but she can go long lengths of time without rest, without stopping, and without slowing. Size—she is very small (in both forms) and this often gives her an advantage—lets her slip into and out of places with ease, loose pursuers, and hide in places no one would think to look.

Brief bio:

Anna has always been a bit unstable, her mannerisms nearly as flighty as the hummingbird itself. She is always rushing to get somewhere and when she does half the time she leaves abruptly for somewhere else. She was born to a servant in the royal Gryphos household and it was pure chance that brought her across the princess’ path. The princess need a message delivered, she tapped Anna to do it, and the rest was history. Anna was quick and efficient at delivering messages and soon she was hired by the royal household to do nothing but. As the princess needed and handmaiden and messenger, she had plenty of bodyguards but no one who could really fill a more feminine role, Anna was assigned to her.

It didn’t take long for the princess to win Anna’s trust. And that itself was not uncommon. Anna trusted everyone. But what was uncommon was that the princess never betrayed it and she and Anna grew to be friends, despite the fact they were mistress and servant. Anna is devoted to the princess, she is her first real friend. Anna occasionally wishes she could be an equal of the princess, but that will never happen and she is pretty much resigned to her fate. Usually she quite enjoys it even.

Character Sheet

Appearance:

Human - Average height, long silver/grey hair and beard. A body that was clearly once strong in his youth, but is in slow decline as he ages. His face and eyes betray his great wisdom - and also great weariness as the war stretches onwards. Wears silver and brown robes, carries a staff (not magical - or is it? Hint, hint).



Gryphon - Half European Lynx, half falcon. Lynx has silver/grey fur and blue eyes (like a Siamese cat), with black spots and tips of the ears. The tail has a 'stem' like a lynx's, but has a fan of grey feathers, speckled with black spots, spreading outwards at the end. Wings are falcon's, but far larger than a normal bird's. Silver feathers with black streaks and spots.



Name: Alata Barbatus
Race: Gryphos
Gender: Male
Age:9 61

Rank/Affiliation: Advisor (British spelling, don't judge) in the Parliament (or Council, whatever) of the Gryphos.

Personality: Old, wise, Gandalf-like figure (without the magic). Kind and gentle, but with a hidden fighting streak. Skilled healer.

Weaknesses: He has a fear of fire, because it is the primary weapon of the Dracans in dragon form. He is poor at swordplay and spearmanship (melee combat in general, except for staffmanship)
Strengths: He has great skill in healing, and usually carries around several potions or tinctures wherever he goes. He is a skilled archer, and uses his staff as a club in battle (similar to how Radagast uses his in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug).

Brief bio: Born in a village near the capital city, he quickly rose into the Royal Court because of his healing skills and great wisdom. He is often found studying either alone or with the visiting Alacai - he is fascinated by this race, untouched by the war. Besides acting as an advisor and physician, he frequently returns to his village in search of rest and peace - and to defend it from Dracan raids. In Gryphon form, he enjoys flying between the towers of the city, but often is seen fishing in rivers and streams, or curled up in his armchair in his house - where he lives alone except for his young nephew and a housekeeper. He also occasionally acts as a spy in the Dracan's territory, using his swift secondary form to stay hidden.

Dragon

Lana stands at 5’5, a height that is neither tall enough or short enough to be considered remarkable. Her average height is accompanied by an average weight. As someone who enjoys walking, she is fit, but by no means exceptionally toned. Her skin is pale, but it darkens with any time spent in the sunlight. A handful of very light brown freckles adorn her cheeks, somehow making her round face appear even more pleasant. She has large, deep set blue eyes, and plump pink lips which seem to always be smiling. Long, white hair falls to her waist, normally without any structure, but occasionally done up in a thick braid. Her hair hides the white feathers at the base of her neck.

Even in her Gryphos form, Lana is on the small side.