Species
The world of Dancing with the Dead is just like ours, but with one crucial difference. Not every person who dies stays dead. Meet...the Undead. Corporeals and Ethereals. Physical and metaphysical, but both equally cursed by Undeath.
Corporeal Undead
Corporeals, or Corporeal Undead, are undead creatures with physical bodies. The word "Corporeal" has been in the Undead's lexicon from the twilight period of the Middle Ages, and is derived from the latin term "Corporealis", which means "bodily, physical". Corporeal undead can be found across the world and are sorted into two main types, these being:
- Cursed Humans - Humans that have been magically cursed with eternal unlife, which they then must maintain by preying upon the living. Vampires and Liches are the sole two races that fall under this category, but neither of them are to be taken lightly. Their capacity for ancient magic makes them the two ruling forces of the undead world.
- Reanimated Corpses - Dead humans that have died and returned from their graves. While these flesh-eating fiends might seem easy to outfox, it's better to be humbled by embarrassing social situations than by gnashing teeth.
Ethereal Undead
Ethereals, or Ethereal Undead, are undead creatures with spectral bodies. The word "Ethereal" has been in the Undead's lexicon from the sixteenth century, and is derived from the greek term "Aitherios", which means "Aither, ether". Ethereal undead can be found across the world and are sorted into two main types, these being:
- Beasts - Beastly, inhuman ethereals. These ethereals are never derived from humans, and are believed to spawn from the leftover energy of ethereals who have chosen to be put to rest.
- Men - Dead humans that have died and returned from their graves. These beings have human intelligence and can often recall their past lives. If they choose to, they can be put to rest peacefully, returning them to the earth and killing them for good.
Black Dogs
Black Dogs are a class of ethereals that take the form of canines. These vary in appearance, powers and temperaments. They’re discoverable in a wide array of “habitats” across the United Kingdom. On average, they’re most reported in heaths and moorlands. Some anomalous specimens roam inside cities if they feel inclined. Black dogs are solitary spirits, but they will form packs if they’re placed under stress.
Black Dogs choose the form of dogs to take advantage of humans. Benevolent black dogs may guide humans to safety. More opportunistic ones may shelter in settlements to protect themselves from other spirits. Malevolent black dogs may prey on humans, seeking their leftover energies as sustenance. When vampirism arrived, the dogs turned their attention to these haughty undead. The vampires responded by taming the dogs into what we know tonight.
Black Dogs are the most famous and beloved spirits of the United Kingdom. They are long-term subjects of research and many vampires will pay large sums of money to import them. All vampire hamlets own at least several, and many city branches do the same. In these settlements, Black Dogs are mirror versions of their living counterparts. Wild specimens still roam the United Kingdom, as new spirits spawn at a near-constant rate. Thus, an encounter with a Black Dog is not always a simple one.
Black dogs mimic human breeds of dog, and their appearances vary greatly. By default, all Black Dogs appear jet-black with red glowing eyes. Black Dogs are also capable of making their entire bodies glow, thus revealing a diverse spectrum of colours. These range from dark blues and purples, to bright greens and even pinks. Like all spirits, they emit a passive glow that they can brighten and obscure at all.
List of Black Dogs
Barghest - A Black Dog that looks like death itself. It is distinctive for its robe-like coat, skeletal face and its scythe-like forearms. Neutral in disposition overall, but likes to skulk about by itself. Independent temperament lends best to guarding, which it excels at due to its stealth. It also sees success as a traditional sighthound for vampire huntsmen. Its living world mirror appears to be the Afghan Hound.
Black Shuck - A Black Dog with all the presence of The Devil. It is the only Black Dog to own a single hateful eye, and to wield a force known as "Cursed Fire". Devillishly fast and wickedly good at escaping trouble. Extremely aggressive on a good night, possesses a demonic hatred for life on a bad night. Is only swayed by alcohol, which it relishes in. Its desire for conflict makes it an eager guard, but it needs discipline first. Its living world mirror appears to be the Irish WolfHound.
Church Grim - A Black Dog and a gaping maw into the underworld itself. It's one of the most unusual Black Dogs, as the length of its body also happens to be a huge mouth. When the mouth is fully open, the Grim stands at ten feet tall. The bite-force is enough to snap a horse in half. Inside the Grim is a "stomach" cavity, but it is completely non-functional. This Black Dog adores its handlers and glares at anything that it doesn't recognise. Cannot leave its churchyard, so it has no choice to be a guard dog. Its living world mirror appears to be the Bullmastiff.
Gytrash - A Black Dog with the spirit of a thousand disgruntled mules. It resembles an emaciated horse-dog with a gelatinous quality and a sickly green glow. It's also the fastest Black Dog on record, even faster than the Black Shuck at full charge. Unpredictable in disposition, and restless even when tamed. An all-rounder jobwise, but it needs stimulation or else it'll start getting nippy. Its living world mirror appears to be the Greyhound.
Padfoot - A Black Dog with a lust for man flesh and the hypnotic powers to get it. Possesses many rows of sharklike teeth and a signature hunched back. Aggressive in disposition by default, and a hungry nuisance when tamed. Cannot be exposed to human familiars, or else it will try to prey on them. Its hunger lends best to guarding, but it has seen success in combat. Its living world mirror appears to be a sort of bully dog.