Lilin Profile

LILIN (Vampires)

If the Surturi are the jocks and bullies then the Lilin are the queen bees, they are crafty and manipulative in all their ventures. They are also the most secretive of the seven, with many self-serving or ambitious objectives. Most of their relationships are based upon materialism and objectification. Sex is a popular tool, but anything can be used to move up on the social scale or accumulate wealth. However, a softer side reveals that they almost revere the idea of pleasure and happiness. Lighter qualities show they are also highly creative and friendly to those they may trust. Lilin only wish to indulge in excess, yet tend to tear down anyone who gets in their way. This passionate nature is endemic to their race regardless of status or personal factors and they stand assured of themselves. However, on the occasion that they spread intimacy, it is remarkably earnest and comforting. Unfortunately, most of the time they are judged based on surface information and past experience.

CREATIVITY (PLEASURE/GUILT) “I FEEL”

Appearance and Clothing: They closely resemble the vampires and succubus of our world with all their tropes and legends. They are based off reptiles such as lizards and serpents displaying soft almost smooth scales and a sinewy musculature that sometimes escapes the surface of the skin. Though slender their muscle tissue is actually much denser allowing a wiry strength. Most of their skin colors are variations of orange and brown but can range from a paleness due to subterranean living or a dark saturation when they remain on the surface for a time. Fangs are typical for their species and are similarly retractable like some vipers, they can be quite long as well but are now vestigial in nature if not simply for intimidation. They don't have hair but do have snake-like tendrils atop their head and occasionally on their faces in the form of beards or mustaches. They evolved to increase the surface area for where they traveled underground. These tendrils have the same sensitive touch receptors found throughout their body, but lack any major organ systems and even little blood. Their tendrils will also grow back over time if lost or detached with the blood vessels at the base quickly closing up. Head tendrils will completely regrow in less than a year. Their speedy metabolisms rarely accumulate excess fat where they are usually remarkably slender and very good looking. They have short non retractable claws on their hands that have degraded over time when compared to the longer claws found on their feet. They would use these claws for running and digging in their natural environment. For the Lilin you are clothed in literal rags or riches. The poverty stricken are lucky if they have any clothes at all, while the wealthy and noble might burn their cloth after a day of wearing. Due to the vast economy and celebrity of many Lilin, their apparel is commonly luxurious or highly stylized. Many of them are a direct source of fashion and trends that extend to other Deva as well. Their clothing is loose and often long, because of the heat layer upon layer might be packed on as well. Multiple scarves, headdresses, and undergarments made from several types of fabric ensure that their style is always elegant. Gems are common in any outfit and are a source of class while any piece of jewelry is thick, wide, and large. 

Occupations: Due to racial abilities, the Lilin are capable of great benevolence and ruthlessness. Their healing gifts make them gifted doctors and their life stealing talents make them great assassins, especially outside of their homelands. They often find it easy to climb to the top but back home, it is almost impossible because of the frequent politics. Inside the megacity that they call home, the bulk of the population finds work as slaves or courtesans. At the highest caste, they can be wealthy merchants who send caravans across the world. Or they are diplomatic nobles who found their wealth in subjugation or corruption. They tend to be shrewd business people and can commonly be found in urban districts around the world often behind a counter. They make great bankers as well and their trading interconnects many cities and states. More enjoyable endeavors have found them appreciative of the arts and are famous for their culinary skills. Many come to them as tourists for their cultural food that is quite unique from the rest of the world. Most of the workforce of the land is relegated to laboring in hotels, casinos, brothels, and other tourist attractions. It can be common of them to export their workforce as a servant labor union which they vehemently deny is slavery. They appreciate luxury art as well in sculpting, jeweling, and tailoring. Many are subject to work in the mines or factories to extract jewels and resources. Because of their obvious abilities they make great doctors in and out of their society as a greater degree of medical knowledge can help improve their healing. Scientists are not commonly found because of the wealth required to study and become educated, so many can be outsourced to this position. But those that do dwell in the academic field are experts in their category. 

One of the few middle class jobs available are in the military particularly in the secret police. This police force is unlike most as they operate as a judicial service keeping nobility and peasantry in check through a form of balanced enforcement and inspection. This way they protect the interests of the general public and cull the weak and summarily corrupt. It's a unique system that starts in monasteries housed on the surface. Anyone can make pilgrimages to these places rich or poor, and serve a disciplined and ascetic lifestyle characterized by constant self improvement and martial arts. These are called Monks and when they complete their training they can put themselves in service of whoever has the power to give them what they wish. Though Monks tend to follow the old traditions of their religion, they can also be part of the problem allowing the slightest forms of manipulation and debauchery. Monks also undergo extensive psychological conditioning limiting control over them and elevating their tactical acumen. They can be unpredictable warriors who may even allow changes in leadership. Still, they are a lawful bunch who use their speed and technical expertise to eviscerate their foes. Even a Monk’s weaponry is unique as they prefer barehanded combat and strange compact weapons. However in practice they operate behind the shadows as a mysterious clandestine grouping. They can belong to any caste not just the personal guardsmen of nobles but the noblemen themselves. 

Clerics are those who cling to nouveau religion and its teachings seeking to educate the masses in its way. They put themselves in the service of others actively completing charity work in monasteries and such using their healing gifts. They offer to heal the sick and poor and spread the gift of life to all as missionaries all over the world. Where these Clerics travel a retinue of pleasure and bliss follow punctuated with sex, drugs, alcohol, and sin. Although for them the sin is a holy thing, they are tempters and generous with dark gifts. Many of these gifts are pharmaceutical in nature going as far as bionic surgery. Though many see them as a form of snake oil salesmen, their presence is a gracious one in Lilin society as Clerics are one of the few groups who are often safe from persecution on all sides even if they aren’t always wanted. This includes their Temples and though part of a small organization, they hold much wealth and power that is hidden to plain eyes. This is mostly due to their leading research into medicine and biotech which they supply to clerics everywhere. This most often means they are heavily modified themselves to assist in healing. They tend to chase even fleeting moments of ecstasy whether through consumption or sexuality and can often be drug fueled. The skill of a Cleric could be described as flesh weaving. 

Language: Because of their inclination for business and a larger social life, they tend to be at least slightly educated in the common tongue. Even those deep in poverty can at least carry a conservation. This is partially due to the fair amount of their own language that went into forming the common tongue at its construction. They have always had a considerable hand in economic affairs and the common tongue was made to facilitate this. They prefer to speak their own language when around their own kind though. The Lilin language possesses 

Religion: The Lilin worship a triad of gods Food, Sex, and Survival each representing the cardinal desires and sources of happiness. They originally represented Abundance, Love, and Life but have since been twisted to match the modern lifestyle of most. Their god is a non physical and omnipotent concept that determines fate symbolized by three faces on one head. Their followers incite good fortune when they achieve a balance between opposing negative and positive energy. Some sects take this to extremes which may include cannibalism and ritual madness. However the Three Faces seek only to act as guiding tenets to follow rather than to worship, whereby pursuing them will lead you to true happiness and exploring their meanings will make sure you grow as an individual. Some still cling to the older more pure ways of the religion but its original ways are indeed dying. In fact, the origins of their great religion are still alive and well near the surface of their lands, and far away from the cavernous burrows of their cities. Here in these minute colonies and sparse country homes, they live harder lives cast away from any pleasures of the land. These surface colonies are best described as uncivilized, rural, and primitive including their form of religion that relies on tenets based more on wisdom of the self. It teaches a level of respect and gratitude to one's neighbors and environment. It was a form of worship that involved elaborate feasts, dances and music, and fun games. These particular teachings place a tremendous importance on extended family, a contrasting feminine or male energy/spirit, as well as confidence and charisma. As a whole, their religion has many secretive rites they perform based on their specific sect or cult, but there is always intense prayer and adherence. Because of their often secretive worship, they often get away with assimilating into other cultures or areas. This makes them effective socialites. However, they also require many holidays and celebrations to be made. And while they do not believe in specific gods or deities they believe in the occasional evil spirit that runs afoul. This brings conflicting negative energy to others, and so their feasts and orgies were often ways to bring fertility and prosperity to the land, causing a mass healing. Many of these older traditions are still held in some shape or form, but their original intent and wisdom have been mostly forgotten. Self sacrifice is often touted as well for sometimes they will harm themselves in order to purge evil from their souls. This purification is also seen in the way they use drugs, have sex, and generally party.

Homeland: The Lilin come from caverns and caves. Their long dark tunnels lead to one volatile capitol city that is constantly shaded in the smoke and sweat of the less fortunate. Above their caverns lies a dry savannah with a scorching sun and sandy deserts. The surface is ripe with dangerous beasts such as Basilisks, which the Lilin descend from and creatures that they actively avoid. Their great speed helps when trekking about the hot plains. The area is covered in traps prepared to take lives such as the toxic bogs that are accustomed to consuming victims whole. The environment surrounding them is one of if not the most hostile regions on the planet. Luckily they have learned to properly navigate its dangers to fuel their healthy trading systems.

Resources: The Lilin retain large sums of wealth through a steady slave trade and tourism they have engaged in for generations. Though many object to their methods, they are never without a workforce and find public works projects simple to build. The surface of their land is mostly savannah which houses beautiful oases and shimmering gems which many are attracted to if they can survive the desert. The natural business sense of the Lilin has yielded them a hefty amount of currency and trade with sometimes even the most remote regions. Money is without a doubt the largest of their resources that sometimes doesn’t seem to have an end. In terms of technology they have interests in biotech and have made many advances due in part to their abilities. Genetic engineering and knowledge of medicine are their specialties where they rival even the Annu and Indara. Chemistry is also where they manage to make potions and substances of remarkable proportions. 

Diet: They can absorb the action potential of electrical organisms with a touch. Although not instant it is effective in supplying them with a versatile energy source where many potential food sources are inedible. Unfortunately, they must find nutrients another way and are usually content to eat decayed tissue and plant matter. A poor side effect from this ability is that they have very sensitive stomachs and a large appetite. They use things such as lichen, moss, mushrooms, and roots in their cooking as it is typically more accessible in underground societies. They have a moderate carb/high protein/low fat diet from their food. 

Average Life Expectancy: Lilin usually survive for about 2000 years or more due to stealing life energy that if kept consistent can indefinitely keep them alive and youthful forever. In fact, one of the ultimate reasons Lilin try to acquire political or economic power is so they can afford to prolong their lives. 

Physiology and Abilities: Underneath their skin cells is a developed dermal sheath that can control the flow of ions across the cell membrane. A transmitter then conducts the flow of electricity towards a set of nerves leading to various points of cells. They have developed the ability to absorb and manipulate the electrical action potential in living organisms from their nervous system. Through the transfer and ultimately control of energy in others they can temporarily or permanently, increase or shut down cellular function and growth, increase physical attributes such as speed or strength, induce various mental or somatic sensations, control an organism's movement, or accelerate them with enough energy to disintegrate them. Meanwhile the energy they can absorb nourishes their own cells healing them, fueling cellular functions, and restoring their stamina. This ability tends to evenly distribute and take energy but by further controlling brain signaling can target specific areas. To avoid over flooding of their cells, they must take care in absorbing a safe dosage of energy, a sizable portion can keep them sustained for about half a day. Though they can theoretically absorb other types of electricity they aren’t technically well insulated. They can ingest food orally, but absorb the electricity in cells and neurons which allows them to survive on normally inedible organisms. This ability first developed when their species was initially socially dependent on each other. Keeping your neighbor alive meant you stayed alive with the transferal of energy. Eventually this ability has been warped to control and subjugate groups. They can even use their abilities to replicate their cells creating a new body completely through mitosis though at a humongous loss of energy. Through replicating even nervous cells one can clone themselves entirely and further control such dopplegangers.

Deep control over their neurons and cell activation allows them to optimize their cells to the fullest capacity giving them temporary but amplified speed, reflexes, senses, and even brain power using the maximum of their muscles and organs. Their motor neurons allow them to tap into larger groups of muscle fibers in a flurry of impulses. This gives them a larger capacity than seems from their muscle mass. Synchronizing these pulses makes every muscle in their body the most efficient it could possibly be as well as providing a boost simulating a superhuman physicality. These denser quicker neurons makes them quite a lot faster and reflexive than most species able to accelerate to 60 mph in under two seconds with a top speed of over 100 unboosted. They can increase the connectivity and output in their neurons increasing their processing power and speed as well. Most of these boosts are temporary in nature and cannot be sustained without a sizable energy source. Their complex nervous system can revert to chemical in contrast to electrical, this gives them a degree of stealth and a shield towards electroreception. They can disable clusters of nerves to render themselves resistant or immune to pain. They have a high aerobic scope that is afforded, in part, by their heart anatomy that completely separates the pulmonary and systemic sides of the circulatory system during systole. This allows them to create high pressure differentials between the circuits, which in turn ensures that oxygenated blood is quickly distributed to the body without flooding the lungs with high pressure blood. This gives them extremely high metabolic rates, equivalent speeds and reflexes, and lower sleep requirements with some only sleeping for a couple hours.

Their sense of touch is augmented by their abundance of sensory receptors, so many that an entirely new structure in the brain has evolved to process the information. Their touch can detect specific persons, objects, substances or places, invisible to the naked eye with nothing but the tips of their fingers. They can sense minute changes in temperature or pressure around them and can feel the vibrations to generate an image of what is around them. They evolved underground in an environment where food is scarce in all varieties and so can very slightly sense vibrational output and tremors. Their skin and blood are apparently infused with a venom mild enough to be served in drinks, and may cause mild hallucinations on oral contact. If one were to assume frequent or oral contact with their skin it could also fire pleasure centers in the brain.

Culture and History: Their territory is ruled by manipulative crime lords. These lords commonly corrupt the streets of their caverns with prostitution, murder, and racketeering. The lords of the Lilin also sell their people into serfdom and indentured servitude across the land. Even still, the citizens tend to find time drinking or sexing themselves in hedonistic desolation. Bordellos and casinos dot each corner, which are the breeding grounds for their love of sinning. Though their motivations may sometimes seem base, it is embedded in their religion, philosophy, and history to enjoy themselves. Unfortunately intimacy is hardly found, at least not for free. The social distance among their people is evident with the most noble adorning themselves in extravagance. The wealthy districts of their cities are luxurious, and the inhabitants hardly work instead indulging in food and drink. The larger poverty stricken are often not traditional slaves but are kept in check with back breaking work to feed the masses. Cosmetics and celebrity is important to the Lilin which is all part of the great game of politics. Trends come and go, but their popular culture is constantly evolving with many Deva struggling to emulate them. Outside of politics they prefer to gain power through currency and so make great merchants thanks to their business sense and wealth. Most who leave their lands tend to haggle for a living or take up lucrative mercenary work. While sexual reproduction is obviously the most popular choice based on their cultural values, asexual reproduction is also possible and sometimes necessary thanks to their harsh environment. Individuals born this way are not full clones of their mother, but half clones that are homozygous inheriting approximately half of their mother's genetic diversity. It can therefore produce male and female. Those born from such parthenogenesis are at worst seen as second class citizens and at best strange oddities. Families can be large and Lilin tend to keep careful track of familial relations even extended cousins. This is not because they extremely value family but because they see value in the potential connections and prestige they hold. The nuclear family is the most common model but with many members sometimes being sold and indentured this can be very muddled. Children must be able to afford to go to school so the larger population is only educated to an early point after which they enter the workforce. The Lilin use a secret police to enforce their laws that mainly operate from the shadows. You never quite see them and they use brutal interrogation tactics. If you are extremely unlucky you may be relocated by them into the slave trade. They are quick and efficient. Because of the rampant cyberization, growth in biotechnology, celebrity, and their unrefined diet, many Lilin have diseases or defects or deficiencies of varied levels and types. This is most evident in the lower class but can subsist into royalty. Bathing is an ever present necessity in every caste and a form of self care often beloved, for this water is integral. Most Lilin know how to drain organisms of their energy but anything beyond that in controlling it is rare for the general population. As far as controlling their own body, a swift speed is all most can afford and even then it is not pushed to the limit. All Lilin have an exceptional sense of touch. Their culture is reminiscent of Levant such as Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan.

Clans: the nature of clans and ethnic races for the lilin is hard to track because of the rampant sexual activity, biological modification, and tendency for them to burn family trees metaphorically and literally. However, any ethnic groups can be most generally separated by where they originally settled. There were some that moved deeper underground filtering wealth in the safety of the caverns. These individuals seemed to prosper the most and make up the bulk of Lilin. In their cities the Lilin have the most advanced technology and a much more modern lifestyle. The Deep Lilin have pale skin and pigments, tend to be of smaller size, and have a wider range of physical characteristics due to varying scientific augmentation. The Heath Lilin are also referred to as Mud Pits derogatorily, and also less commonly as The Moorish. They don't necessarily dwell on the surface but do live the closest to it at times. Many make small homes just a few dozen feet below ground and others live in small villages within the hills and dunes. Those that choose to live on top are usually the most vile that have nowhere else to go. Heath Lilin are quite a bit taller than their close cousins and much darker and rougher thanks to the sun and elements. These countrymen are seen as uncouth by comparison and are not of keen intellect. They mostly live simple lives farming what they can and leading almost tribal lives in comparison.

Architecture: Most buildings were made with limestone and sandstone due to their availability underground. Above ground sun baked mud brick  and wood is more common. Many of their greatest constructions are aligned astronomically and this is thought to help them navigate the vast deserts and savannah on the surface. Because of their considerable slave trade many of their buildings are monumental and well made with varying shapes and sizes. Pillars, pyramids, obelisks, and temples are ordained and made of finely chiseled higher quality stone and metal. The quarry is where over half of their slaves are stationed. Over the millennia, buildings were built on top and incorporated on others presenting differing styles and aged materials. Over time the construction of their lands have yielded archways and columns that create mazes among urban environments. Deeper into the city the richest districts display the most brilliant colors and frescoes. Whereas in the many ghettos the people struggle with upkeep of even the basic infrastructure. It is common for private gardens to be built underground with even the poor holding small ones for vegetables and such. The underground garden is a familiar symbol to the Lilin. The shapes of architecture have also been made to somewhat emulate plant life and organic structures. Water from underground aquifers has overtime been diverted and arranged into plumbing and a sewer system for rich or poor alike. 

Relationships With:

Surturi- Poor, the Surturi haven’t exactly ignored the Lilin but the Lilin aren’t exactly defenseless. Their environment simply makes a war effort nearly impossible.

Indara- Fair, although both groups are quite different, they still embrace certain similarities between their people like an appreciation for knowledge and freedom.

Prometheans- Poor, Prometheans do not condone the slave-like conditions of their children, yet continue to operate under many business relationships out of necessity

Cernians- Fair, the Lilin may be the only race with close ties to the Cernians as many travel to their cities for mercantile ventures and to partake in the same pleasures of its people

Sujan- Bad, Sujan abhor any of the actions of the Lilin and unlike most seem to discern many of their manipulative ventures. The Lilin likewise grow tired of Sujan self-righteousness

Annu- Good, the Annu are no stranger to controversial beliefs and respect the ambition and creativity of the Lilin. Theirs is a hotspot for steamy getaways and light vacations.

Common Names: Lilith, Inanna, Isis, Kali, Aphrodite, Rhea, Hera, Freya, Sobek, Heket, Juno, Venus, Hathor, Cupid, Kama, Nuwa, Typhon, Echidna, Medusa, Apep, Asclepius, Ishtar, Lamia, Mohini, Eros, Serket