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 Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:43 pm
In this thread, we shall elaborate on some of the finer nuances of some of the breeds in Dream Dancers.
Why do so? Because some of our breeds and odder Star types operate under special rules for RP and suchlike that only apply to members of that breed. So, settle in for a discussion, or, if you prefer, an introduction to the Stars of Dream Dancers~!
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Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:57 pm
.:Starborn:.
The Starborn are perhaps the most common of all Stars, but certainly the simplest. They tend to be the most diverse in personality, some claim, but stories may not always be as simple as they seem.
What is true is that Starborn are the least gifted of breeds. They have no wings, spines, spikes, sharp teeth, fins, horns, or any hoof that is not a solid equine hoof. They possess no magic of their own until they reach RP elderhood and thus blessed by one of the 13 Signs or other godlike figures in Star mythology. This magic, however, is also bestowed on other breeds. It may not seem sufficient recompense for seeming the least of all Stars, but the Starborn still hold a beloved place in the world of Dream Dancers. Some of them are, after all, to be found amongst the greatest and most famous of all Stars.
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Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 10:09 pm
.:Arcturus:.
The Arcturai are another common breed, argued by some to be the most common, but that is, as ever, a matter up for debate. Most often, stories portray an Arcturus as being wise and kind and pure. That is, as in the case of any tales of any breed's personality, a matter for debate.
The Arcturai are unified by a single horn emerging from their forehead, spiraling or straight or curved or even in corkscrews, and a delicate beard growing from the stallion's chin. Many have cloven hooves and lion-like tails. They are among the breeds who possess magic before reaching RP elderhood. Their magic is in the form of some amount of healing magic, though they do not possess the power to heal the dead. As is so often the case of Stars who are not yet at RP elderhood, their power grows from a very low level to the ability to heal great wounds with use and experience over time. Even at RP elderhood, or even godhood, no Arcturus has ever been known to raise the dead, and it is considered completely impossible, even by the 13 Signs, or so say the tales.
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Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 10:13 pm
.:Lyra:.
The Lyra are somewhat less common than the Arcturai or Starborn, though they are no less respected. Stories treat the Lyra as a generally good and spirited sort, though also great travelers, too.
The Lyra only have one defining trait, in the form of at least one pair of beautiful bird wings sprouting from their backs. Some may possess two pairs of bird wings, but three pairs of Lyra wings has never, ever been heard of. Like the Starborn, they possess no magic, but, perhaps due to their wings, they are respected by many herds as travelers, messengers, airborne warriors, and in general for their gift of flight. They are not the only Stars in the skies, but they are one of them.
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:34 pm
.:Arion:.
The Arions are a notably less common breed, some say very rare, indeed, though this is not necessarily true. There are as many tales of them being whimsical beings as tales of them being quiet, dignified ones.
The Arions are unified by a pair of wings, as is the case of the Lyra, but instead of bird wings, they possess insect wings. Some also possess insect antennae, but not all do. Like the Arcturai, they possess some magic of their own. The magic of the Arions is in size-shifting. They may shrink to the size of a butterfly, or grow to their normal size, though they may not get any bigger, as their wings cannot support an Arion at a larger size, even if they could enlarge themselves beyond their normal size. Not even the Arions among the 13 Signs can enlarge themselves.
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:48 pm
.:Nova:.
The Novae are at least as uncommon as the Arion, though this may be due to their shyness, where the Arion's rarity may be partly due to their ability to shrink in size. Novae do tend to be shyer in the stories, but there are many tales of tricksters and pirates, too.
The Novae are biologically rather different from other Stars, with fins instead of hind legs and forelegs ending in a solid mass, rather than a hoof. Novae live their whole lives in the water, spending time ashore only long enough to give birth. Beyond their aquatic/marine nature, they possess no other magic of their own, except for a specific kind detailed below.
.:Genie:.
No one knows where the genies came from or much about them, really, beyond the famous legends of their bonds to lamps, bottles, and other hollow objects, as well as their magic. Their magic is perhaps what they are most famed for.
The genies resemble a Nova very closely, and are believed to descend from Novae due to some sort of magical accident not remembered. The principal differences begin with the fact that a genie is more a creature of the air and household objects, than a creature of the water; and that genies have a tail closely resembling smoke. Genies are bound to a bottle or lamp that is their home, as marked by metal bands on their forelegs above where the hoof should be; some say that, if a genie is wished free from their magic, a genie is no longer bonded to their home and may even lose the bands on their legs, though these stories are up for serious debate, if not being outright severely doubted by the foremost scholars of genie lore. What is apparently true is that a genie has the power to grant wishes for others, not themselves. However, as is the case of other magic-wielding Star breeds and types, the power of the genie grows with experience over time, from one very minor wish in a great while, to doing great wishes, within a range of limitations the genies apparently have on their magic, that seems also codified, to some extent. Genies cannot: Make people fall in love; Bring people back from the dead; or Grant more wishes. Genies as a moral general rule of thumb WILL not: Kill people. Some genies will kill, but most appear to have a moral rule against it that may be powerfully binding.
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:55 pm
.:Solara:.
The Solara are not one of the more common breeds, perhaps due to their own personalities and tendencies. Many tales, which seem to have a surprising level of frequency, for once, paint the Solara as an antisocial, proud breed that tend to favor other Solara over the other breeds. They are not necessarily evil in the stories, but they are not naturally the friendliest of Stars, either.
The Solara are some of the most physically recognizable of all Stars, especially the "pure" ones, depending on a debatable definition. Such Solara have a line of spikes along their spines, no mane, a draconic tail, great draconic wings, spikes along the upper edge of their shoulders, and spiked webbing behind their ears. Some Solara have manes without being considered "impure." As noted above, the Solara do tend to care more about the appearance of their breed more than others, a fact most stories actually get right. Beyond their ability to fly, Solara have the magic to breathe smoke and manipulate their own smoke into different shapes, colors, and even scents, sometimes recreating great moving tapestries of smoke. There are a few tales of contests between Solara to find the best smoke magician. Solara do NOT have the ability to fire, except for Fire-aligned RP elders, despite the periodic, fairly hysterical tale.
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:01 pm
.:Algiedi:.
The Algiedi are an increasingly common breed, though still uncommon. Despite what has become known as an unusually close ancestral connection to the Arcturai, the Algiedi as a group tend to be portrayed as bad-tempered, even grumpy and anti-social, as well as clever tricksters who enjoy a good joke. These stories, as in the case of the Solara, seem to be unusually commonly true.
The Algiedi share a common ancestor with the Arcturai, as can be seen by their cloven hooves, unusual tails, and horns. However, that's where the similarities end. Algiedi have a proper pair of horns/antlers (though some antlered Stars claim Arcturus blood instead, as can be observed through possession of healing magic, and may instead be throwbacks to the common ancestors of Algiedi and Arcturai) and cloven hooves. Some sport a horse's mane and tail, while others may be maneless and have a goat's tail. Both sexes sport a beard. Unlike the Arcturai, the Algiedi possess no magic of their own.
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:07 pm
.:Alcor:. The Alcors are a strange breed of unknown commonality, some say not a proper breed at all. Some say their personalities are closest to the personalities of the Novae because the Alcors, the Novae, and the genie Novae may share common stock, though this is a vastly discredited notion, and at any rate, stories seldom agree about any Alcor, unless speaking of the same subtype of Alcor. An Alcor may appear to be any other sort of Star, as they have a special type of magic that is the unifying marker of the Alcor. Alcors are shapeshifters, and, unlike any other type of magic, Alcors are proficient in shapeshifting from an early age. Many Alcors and Alcor types wear pelts that match their appearance when shapeshifted, though some do not, therefore negating any unifying factor that would automatically identify the Alcors to an outside observer. It doesn't help that non-Alcors may also wear pelts. The eventual result is that Alcors are poorly known by scholars, though more factual knowledge can be found and posted here.
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 10:11 am
.:Mutant and Crossbreed:.
Mutants and crossbreeds can exist in virtually any world, really. As is true of Starborn, they have all sorts of personalities and stories do not even try to unify any opinions on mutants and crossbreeds.
Mutants are marked by, of course, any traits not belonging to any of the breeds, and crossbreeds are marked by having traits of multiple breeds, except Alcors. An Alcor who otherwise resembles a purebred Starborn is just simply an Alcor. Mutants and crossbreeds can use the breed traits of their breeds, provided that they have the right body parts to do it. An Arcturus needs their horn, an Arion needs their wings, a genie is believed to need their lamps/bottles, some Alcor types need the appropriate pelt. Without those, breed magics cannot be accessed. Beyond these facts, little can be said in a unified way about mutants or crossbreeds, in story or in truth.
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