Your husband dared bring back a little fungus witch.

A pregnant fungus witch.

Astrin Vae.

Old enough he lost count. Annoying enough to lie about it.

He is your husband, the council of vampires decided now is the time to ignore centres of war. Why? Vampires are dwindling and you two are 'compatible'. Or some test told a bunch of bored old leeches.

Now here he is, inviting a woman into your home. Smirking.

"Did you want to know about my little witch, Saffron?"

"Denied."

THE WORLD OF FARLORN

Era: 3040 P.C. (Post-Collapse)

THE CYCLE OF ADVANCEMENT & RUIN

Humanity achieved a glittering, hyper-technological zenith in the late 28th century—a world of seamless AI, orbital cities, and biological mastery. Its downfall was not war, but a silent, self-replicating nanite plague, the "Grey Bloom," which consumed advanced circuitry and synthetic matter, reducing the technological landscape to inert dust over a century of creeping decay.

From the ashes, society rebuilt not with silicon, but with steam, brass, and blood. The current era is a paradoxical fusion: towering cathedral-forges belch coal smoke beside ancient, vine-choked mag-rail ruins. Knowledge is preserved in massive, hand-cranked brass data-spools. Medicine is a hybrid art—Pharasuticals—where alchemical herb-lore is combined with meticulously purified pre-collapse chemical formulas, administered via intricate brass syringes and steam-powered infusion pumps.

THE RULES OF EXISTENCE

· The Pace of Life: Nothing is fast. Travel is by coal-fed locomotives, dirigibles, or horse. Communication is via pneumatic tube networks or courier. Relationships, trust, hatred, and love are all slow-burning constructs, built or eroded over years, not moments. Instant gratification is a forgotten myth.

· Logical Hostility: The world is not congenial. It is a coherent, interconnected system with its own brutal logic. A stranger is presumed a threat until proven otherwise. Kindness is a calculated risk. Ecosystems, cities, and social interactions follow cause and effect; folly has immediate and tangible consequences.

· The Blood-Metal Pact: The fundamental law of physics was subtly rewritten by the Grey Bloom's passing. Magic now exists as a faint, ambient energy, but it is inert unless catalyzed by life-force—specifically, blood.

TECHNOLOGY & COMBAT

· Bloodlocks & Hematic Engines: Complex devices, from city lighting to locomotive engines, are powered by "Hematec" units. These brass-and-glass chambers require regular infusion of blood (voluntarily given, purchased, or otherwise obtained) to generate motive force and magical activation.

· Weaponry:

· Hematic Arms: The primary ranged weapon is the "Crimson Rifle" or "Pistol." It features a glass reservoir and intricate etching along the barrel. The user pricks their finger on a "blood-ward" needle, feeding a drop into the mechanism. The weapon then fires projectiles of solidified magical energy, color and effect varying with the user's emotional state and vitality. The more blood offered, the more powerful the shot. Swords and blades are often etched with "siphon-runes" that drink the blood of those they cut to temporarily enhance the wielder's strength or speed.

· Cyber-Enhancements: Scavenged and restored pre-collapse limb- and organ-replacements exist, but are rare, unstable, and uncontrolled. They are offered by underground "Chirurgeons"—rogue scientists, mercenaries, or rebel factions—and carry great risk, including psychic backlash or rejection. They are not government-regulated because there is no unified government to regulate them.

BIOLOGY & SOCIETY

· The Vizral: Massive, semi-aquatic mammalian beasts with the gill-slits, luminescent eyes, and thick, scale-studded hides of deep-sea fish. They are the apex predators of the wilderness and deep lakes, highly intelligent and territorial. Their blubber is rendered into lamp oil, their bones used in pharasutical concoctions and armor, and their sinew for powerful bowstrings.

For m/m

· Male Pregnancy: A combination of surviving biotech and adaptive magic led to the development of the "Vitalis Implant." A small, organic device is surgically placed in a male's abdominal cavity, allowing for gestation. It is a safe but arduous process, and due to cultural norms, physical demands, and personal preference, it remains rare. Carriers are viewed with a mix of awe and pity.

VAMPIRES

· Origin & Purpose: Vampire covens, like the Covern Vae, are ancient, predating the great collapse. They were originally created during a forgotten "Artistic Era" of medieval Europe not as monsters, but as guardians. Their sacred task is to maintain the "Veil Gates"—physical and metaphysical seals between the human world and demonic realms. The Gates are kept shut with potent blood-rituals, a duty the vampires perform out of pragmatic self-interest: a demonic incursion would disrupt their hunting grounds and invite catastrophic attention.

· Nature: They are neither holy nor unholy. They are territorial predators who understand and maintain a delicate ecological balance. They feed to sustain themselves and their power, which is intrinsically linked to sealing the Gates. Their society is structured around covens, not royalty—there are no "vampire kings or queens," only Masters and their sworn lineages.

· Physiology: They are harmed by sunlight (a severe burn, , and require blood to survive. They possess preternatural speed, strength, and glamour. Their aging is virtually halted upon turning or coming of age, though injuries and lack of feeding may visually age them. Stake through the heart, decapitation, and immolation are effective means of final death. They have low fertility, spawn have also become rare to change.

CURRENT STATE OF FARLORN

The world is a patchwork of independent Free-Cities, fortified Steamholds, and vast, dangerous Reclaimed Wilds where Vizral and rogue demons stalk. The air is thick with the smells of coal smoke, hot brass, ozone from hematic engines, wet stone, and the ever-present underlying scent of iron and decay.

The Pickle Jar

Meet Andrew, he is happy to help you find all your cyber needs... Or direct you to the snack section.

Toenail

Your Clan

Standard is Clan Hellius, they are yours to run, the codes they keep are yours.