The following are just suggested species and classes for characters on Once, not a comprehensive list of all possible species and classes. You're welcome to scrounge other species and classes from world mythology and such.
Species Ideas
Human
The obvious, the basic, the thing that there are the most of. If there are halflings, they will probably be a mix of human and some other species. Humans can use different magics, as they don't have a base magic for the species. Most Uninitiated are either human or part-human.
Only humans have a “class”.
Werecreature (Therianthrope)
A common misconception is that “lycanthropes” are a race with two forms-- one human, one animal. The word “lycanthrope” specifically means a therianthrope whose animal form is a wolf-- there are other were-creatures, but they don't fall under the "lycanthrope" label. Weres can blend with humans fairly easily. There are many different types of were. Weres born were are listed as species; weres born as something else and turned were are listed as class.
Please note that this isn’t the movie Underworld; “lycan” doesn’t really apply unless your character really liked those flicks.
Selkie
Selkies are a human-like fae race that can turn into seals. They tend to live near water, but can blend with humans without much difficulty. Selkies traditionally live underwater, though some modern selkies live on land and even in cities. Selkies change shape by shedding their seal skin to become human, and by wrapping themselves up in their seal skin to become a seal again.
Fae
'Fae' is a term that refers to many non-human but human-like magical races, including elves and fairies and selkies, etc. There are many kinds of fae, not all of which are listed here. These include but are not limited to elves, and banshees.
Elves are vain, capricious creatures similar to humans, but tend to be taller, thinner, and more ethereal. They do, of course, have pointed ears. Elves of the Seelie Court are vain but not necessarily nasty, whereas elves of the Unseelie court take pleasure in taking human or fae lives. Elves, like faes, can cast glamours-- illusions that make someone think something is what it is not, or is not what it is. They use glamours to hide their pointed ears when living among humans.
Bean Sidhe or Banshees forewarn men of death by wailing. Other than that, they are similar to other fae.
Naga
A naga is a half-human, half-serpent creature. Its traditional form is the upper half of a human and the lower of a snake; however, Nagas can turn fully into a snake or fully into a human at will. They can usually blend in with humans successfully.
Nymph
Nymphs are traditionally attractive, air-headed creatures connected in some way to nature. Water nymphs include naiads (nymphs of fountains, streams, brooks), nereids (sea nymphs) and Okeanids or Oceanids (ocean nymphs). Land-bound nymphs include dryads (general forest nymphs) and hamadryads (tree nymphs). Air nymphs include, mostly sylphs.
For the modern world there are technodryads (or techniads -Cami), or nymphs connected to some form of technology. These may (hamatechniads! -Cami) or may not be directly connected.
Please note that hamadryads and some of the others (most technodryads and, if you like, any of the others) must be near their tree or plant or whatever object they're connected to at all times. They die or disappear if they stray too far.
Succubus or Incubus
Succubi and Incubi are the female and male forms of humanoid demons which suck the soul or life-force out of a human during sex. They do not have to kill someone while sucking out and eating their life-force, but can. They often come unannounced to humans during the night, but can also stalk their prey much like vampires.
Demon
'Demon', like 'fae', is a general term that is applied to many different creatures. There are lots of different kinds of demon and I'm sure you'll come up with them on your own-- please keep in mind that there is not necessarily a 'hell' in Once. No Satan, no Christian God, no Hell. There can be a netherworld or two, though.
Many demons can be called by a specific spell. If your demon can be summoned, please include their calling spell in your character description. Mages, demonologists and wizards can use this spell to call your character. Some demons can be controlled by people who know their true name. If this is the case with your demon, please include his/her true name in your character description.
Lachus
Plural 'lachii.' The lachus is a type of demon that feeds from human or mortal emotion. They tend to be somewhat spiny—a thin row of cartilage spines along the sides of the tongue, a few along the tops of the ears, and a ridge down the back. For most lachii, these spines are about as flexible as the end of your nose or tips of your ears—those parts, like the spines, are cartilage. Some lachii, however, have hard bone spines down the back or at their joints.
Don't see the race you want here? Don't worry, these are just suggestions. You can be any race you want-- within reason.
Class Ideas
Classes apply only to humans unless specifically cleared with an administrator before posting your character sheet. Uninitiates may belong to a class. Classes are not your character's job; "class" applies only to things of a fantastical nature. If you want to list your character's occupation, add it in a seperate category titled "occupation".
Note: You are only allowed one class, unless you contact the Admin before you create your character and make a damn good case for why you should be allowed more than one power.
Mage
Mages use gesture and speech to perform spells. They recite words and make complex gestures in order to direct the flow of magical energies. Mages must research their spells, and have to either memorize them or carry around instructions; however, almost anyone can become a mage. Your character doesn't have to be born with talent, they just have to be reasonably intelligent.
Witch or Wizard
Witches and wizards use physical objects to perform spells-- things like stones, herbs, incense, cloth, knives, and the like. Spells may also have to be said aloud. Anyone can perform witchcraft successfully if they have the discipline and the correct materials. An advantage to witchcraft is that it is flexible; witches and wizards can adjust a spell or even make up a new one much easier than a mage could. A disadvantage is that the necessities for a serious spell aren't always easy to find.
On another note, I'm not counting Wicca and Witchcraft as the same thing. Wicca is a religion. Witchcraft, here, is specifically a form of magic. The two may sometimes overlap, but they are not going to be counted as one and the same.
Pyro
Ah, the basic, the much-loved fire mage, or person with pyrokinesis. There are two general types of pyros-- ones who control and create fire using their mind (pyrokinesis), and ones who control and create fire using more traditional mage-magic (fire magecraft). People using magecraft would usually have to gesture or speak to use their power, whereas someone using pyrokinesis would have to have eye contact.
Psychic
There are a number of powers that count under the banner 'psychic.' I require that you choose only one or two-- the more variety you have, the less powerful it would be. Powers a psychic could have include telekinesis, psychometry, telepathy, empathy, clairvoyance, etc. (You MUST arrange with the other character’s player before using telepathy or empathy on their character-- after all, they have to tell you what their character is feeling. In general, I recommend against using telepathic or empathic characters.)
Elemental
Elemental mages are ones who have an innate connection to one of the basic four elements-- fire, water, earth, and air. They gain some control over these elements; however, they gain the weaknesses of the element as well. Choose only one element if you choose this class, please. (Note: we’re not counting darkness, light, ice, electricity, etc as an element… but if you like, you can say that ice is the aspect of water that your character is connected to, or that electricity is the aspect of fire that your character is connected to.)
Vampire
I'm counting vampire as a class, rather than a species, because people are turned into vampires rather than born vampires. A human turned into a vampire would normally lose any other class that they already had, though mages and witch or wizards would likely still have the knowledge of how to perform spells.
Vampires are undead who drink blood and can't come out in the sunlight. Other than that, it's up to you what their strengths and weaknesses are-- though they have to have some of both, remember.
Werecreature (therianthropes and lycanthropes)
While some Weres are born Were, others are turned Were. These 'turned' weres are humans who acquire a secondary form-- an animal form. Weres are traditionally wolves; however, there are other kinds. Weres can blend with humans fairly easily. There are many different types of weres.
Note: If your 'were' character started out as human and was turned Were, it's a class.
Ghost
Ghosts are, well... the ghosts of dead people. There are many different types of ghost. Most species can become ghosts, but it seems to happen to humans more often. Probably because there’s more of them, right?
Extra
Worshipping a Deity
A person of any species, class or status may worship a deity. Followers may worship any deity, major or minor, on Once. They can even worship one who doesn't exist, though in that case there's less chance of benefit from being a worshipper. Followers can pray to their deity and perform minor spells that relate to their deity (for example, a follower of the god of Death and Dreaming might be able to communicate with the freshly dead, or read the dreams of others.)
Mages, witches and wizards who follow a deity can also perform major spells that relate to their god's area of expertise. A mage, witch or wizard would gain extra power in a certain area by worshipping a god and devoting their soul and life to that god. A mage, witch or wizard could also attempt to call their god, though these spells are dangerous.
Cursed
A person of any species, class or status may be cursed. Curses are not positive: they are things like growing tentacles for half an hour every time you sneeze, or experiencing physical pain whenever you accidentally make skin contact with someone. Curses are something laid maliciously on a character, and they can fade in time or last for life (however long that will be). Curses can even be inherited, if it’s strong enough and set up that way. If you’re uncertain about the curse you have in mind for your character, PM an admin and talk to them about it.
If your character has a curse, you can put it under ‘class’ or note it elsewhere.
God-cursed
Being god-cursed is more or less the same as a regular curse, except it’s placed on your character by a god. Gods don’t have to prepare laborious spells and fumble with energy flows and sympathetic magic to place a curse on someone—it’s quite easy for them. If you want your character to be cursed by a god, contact the player of that god to discuss details.
Having trouble thinking of a character? Contact the admin, and we'll help you find an idea that works.
If you're confused, please read the FAQ, found in the help section.
