Chronicles of the Shifter Directive Companion Guide Read online

Reproduction

  Draechen conceive offspring by coupling in their human form. However, they do not have live births. Instead, draechen parents lay eggs which are later hatched and eventually become hatchlings. Additionally, most draechen pregnancies are twin births, with only a few exceptions.

  Different types of draechen have different gene reproduction strength. If fire and ice dragons breed, they are likely to have offspring who mimic their abilities. In the case of fire and ice dragons, one twin is likely to have fire abilities, while the other ice abilities. Meanwhile, if an earth dragon reproduces with an ice dragon, chances are higher that the offspring will have ice magic. As a rule, black dragons are sterile and cannot reproduce.

  Draechen males also have the ability to conceive, which is one of the reasons why homosexual pairings don’t represent a problem for Ornozian society.

  The draechen two-hundredth birthday

  Because of their great power, draechen have a very serious affliction. Upon their two hundredth birthday, they begin to lose control of their abilities if, until that time, they do not find a mate who can act as an anchor.

  For most species of draechen, the deterioration of the psyche following this event is gradual, giving them some time to continue their quest. However, black dragons fall completely insane and are liable to attack friends and family without reason. At present, a law exists allowing black dragons to be permanently imprisoned or killed if, by the time of their two hundredth birthday, they do not have a mate.

  Draechen characters in Chronicles of the Shifter Directive

  ANCESTORS

  Sandorek. Secondary character. Black dragon. First leader of the Ornozian Empire who eventually lost controls of his powers and became the Ancient Horror.

  Prince Orvandel Tersain. Episodic character. Second son of the draechen emperor in the fourteenth century. Heir to the Ornozian Empire at that time.

  Prince Kaelezrin Tersain. Main character. Black dragon, with energy absorbing magic. Orvandel’s older brother, first son of the draechen emperor in the fourteenth century, who lost his position as heir because of his abilities. During the war against werewolves and vampires, he acted as commander of the draechen troops. Together with Ivenian Prince Talrasar, he sacrificed himself to defeat the enemy forces. It is a mystery whether he and Talrasar had an intimate relationship or not. Physical description: Black dragon. Black hair, black eyes, tall, muscular build.

  Cordellien Zager. Episodic character. Ice dragon. Second-in-command of Prince Kaelezrin.

  PRESENT DAY

  Emperor Kavehquader Tersain. Secondary character. Fire dragon. As the emperor of Ornoz, he never shape-shifts in his human shape in front of anyone else except his mate. In this second form, he can speak to other dragons, but not to people of a different species.

  Empress Rowenasheb Tersain. Secondary character. Ice dragon. As the empress and consort to Kavehquader, she is his right hand in matters both foreign and domestic. She assists him to communicate with foreign guests and is also in charge of most ceremonies in Draechenburg.

  Prince Hareematek Tersain. Main character. Ice dragon. Heir apparent of the Ornozian Empire and first-born son to the imperial couple. Tall, muscular frame. He shape-shifts into a blue, ice dragon. He has dark-blue hair and ice-blue eyes.

  Princess Akarawem Tersain. Secondary character. Fire dragon. Hareematek’s twin sister and the right hand of the empress.

  Prince Shtamakarein Tersain. Main character. Black dragon. General of the Chrysalidian Wyverns, also called the Dog-Catcher because of his extensive campaign to capture werewolves. He is notoriously very similar to Prince Kaelezrin, both from a physical point of view and with regard to his abilities. Physical description: Black hair, black eyes. Tall, muscular build. Shape-shifts into a black dragon. Prince Shtamakarein also had a twin who died while they were both in the womb.

  Lieutenant Sagenamadeen Zager. Main character. Ice dragon. Prince Shtamakarein’s second-in-command in the Chrysalidian Wyverns, known for his icy and stoic nature. His family is one of the oldest draechen noble clans. Physical description: Dark-blue hair, ice-blue eyes. Tall, muscular build. He shape-shifts into a blue, ice dragon.

  Bentoniezel Zager. Episodic character. Ice dragon. Sagenamadeen’s father and an important draechen noble.

  Lekishatek Zager. Episodic character. Earth dragon. Sagenamadeen’s mother.

  Hanna Zager. Episodic character. Sagenamadeen’s twin sister, to whom he is very close.

  Joyceropt Eretar. Episodic character. Important draechen noble.

  Elina Eretar. Secondary character. Fire dragon. Aspirant to the position of future consort and bride to Hareematek.

  Second Caste—Rare Shifters

  The second caste is made up out of various shape-shifters that are very few in number. Notable for the second caste is that it also holds a distinct type of shape-shifter—the chimeras. Unlike other shifters, chimeras cannot change into a full animal form, instead having a middle form with a certain part of their bodies animal-like in nature. Examples of such species are the naga, the medusas, the minotaurs, etc.

  The most important of the chimera nations is that of the naga. The naga are the unofficial leaders of the second caste and of chimeras.

  Characteristics

  All chimeras can shift into a middle form with a few animal features. As a rule, this transformation is swift, almost instantaneous. In the case of the naga, this form is that of a half-human with the tail of a serpent. Indifferently of the shape they use, all naga have slitted, snake-like eyes and forked tongues. They have a strong affinity toward water, are physically very strong and extremely intelligent.

  While in their homes, naga usually remain in their middle form, unlike other shifters who spend far more time in their human shape. In their chimera shape, they are extremely fast and deadly opponents in battle.

  Capital city and political organization

  The naga people organize themselves in a kingdom called Patala. This is also the name of their capital, a buried city located on an underground river in Spain. The naga ruling family is made up out of a triad, with two kings and a queen. Their political system is also based on primogeniture, but is independent of the gender of the first born. Both a daughter and a son can gain the title of heir. If potential heirs originate from a twin birth, the one who hatches from his or her egg first will be picked.

  International relations

  In spite of being in an apparently privileged position, chimeras in general are actually looked down upon due to their particularities, and are mockingly called “halves.” For this reason, they isolated themselves from the rest of the paranormal world.

  Naga maintain diplomatic relationships with the rest of the chimeras and limited contact with the draechen. They also have spies and informants everywhere. It is their belief that one day, the draechen will run amok and the intervention of Patala will be necessary to save the world.

  Religion and marriage rites

  Naga believe in the god Varuna, the Vedic deity of sky, water, and the underworld. According to their legends, they inherited the essence of immortality from the gods. Two gods dropped some immortal blood on the grass, and the naga licked it, also gaining forked tongues in the process.

  During their marriage rites, naga pledge themselves to each other in Varuna’s name. Traditionally, the ceremony takes place in an actual body of water, out of which the partners rise to make their oaths.

  Mate bonds

  Naga do not mate in pairs, but rather, in triads. The naga do not discriminate same-sex pairing, and as such, the three mates can be of any gender. The tendency is, however, for the people involved to be two men and one woman.

  While naga have freedom in choosing their future partners, mating in couples is strongly frowned upon. It is acceptable and in fact, quite common, for a person to take a single partner, but only with the knowledge that a third partner would join the pairing as soon as possible.

  Like in the case of the draechen, mate bonds c
an exist outside official marriages and, between true mates, appear through the claiming bite.

  Reproduction

  Naga are reptilian in nature. Like draechen, they conceive through copulation in their human form and they lay eggs out of which hatchlings eventually emerge.

  Naturally, only two of the partners can participate in creating a clutch of eggs at a given time. However, the children are accepted in the family as fathered by all. In matings where there are two men and a woman, the male who is the biological parent will be called the sire, while the other male will be called the father.

  Because of the dynamics in naga pairings, naga families can grow quite large. For this reason, naga population has been continuously growing, and it is arguable whether or not they can be considered rare shifters or not.

  The “cold”

  A serious problem of the naga people is that of a mysterious disease which they call the cold. The symptoms of this disease begin with a general apathy of the sick person and a gradual disappearance of emotions. Finally, this numbness settles over the senses as well, until the sick naga succumbs to it entirely and dies.

  The only real solution to combat this disease is a triad mate bond which anchors the sick naga, bringing him or her back to reality.

  Naga characters in Chronicles of the Shifter Directive

  Prince Camden Isaiat. Main character. Third child of the royal family of Patala, he often acts as an ambassador for his family. Physical description: long black hair, slitted (snake-like) eyes. Medium height, slender build.

  King Zaire Isaiat. Secondary character. Camden’s sire and one of the kings of Patala.

  King Nikhil Isaiat. Secondary character. Camden’s father.

  Queen Anais Isaiat. Secondary character. Camden’s mother.

  Prince Arlen Isaiat. Secondary character. First son of the royal family of Patala and official heir, he has been trained as a soldier and a spy under his sire, Nikhil.

  Princess Krysta Isaiat. Secondary character. Arlen’s twin sister, also a warrior working with her sire.

  Prince Ender Isaiat and Princess Endra Isaiat. Episodic characters. Youngest offspring of the family. At the time of the story, they are hatchlings.

  Lord Jarrod Stervos. Absent character. Former lover of King Zaire Isaiat, he is an important naga aristocrat who lives in Greece.

  Lord Talbot Stervos. Secondary character. Jarrod’s son and Camden’s first love.

  Third Caste—Avian and Reptilian Shifters, Tier One, Noble

  From the second caste onward, most shifters are divided into two tiers, noble and common. Additionally, from this point on, most shifters do not have particularly organized religions, but rather believe in gods as a whole. The rule of the shape-shifting process continues to apply.

  The third caste falls to avian and reptilian shifters of the first, noble tier. Examples of such shifters are swans, hawks, and eagles for avians, and crocodiles and snakes for reptiles.

  Shifters from this caste do not form part of the privileged few, but neither are they oppressed or discriminated against. Most do not argue against the draechen regime, but some, especially among the avians, are resentful of it.

  Like all other shifters, they also greatly value the mate bond and copulate in human form, reproducing according to their species.

  Avian characters in the Chronicles of the Shifter Directive

  Ulysses Koepke. Episodic character. Part of preeminent avian family.

  Hector Koepke. Episodic character. Ulysses’s brother.

  Portia Koepke. Episodic character. Ulysses and Hector’s sister.

  Castes Four to Six—Avian and Reptilian Shifters, Tier Two, Common. Amphibian Shifters. Mammalian Shifters and Water Creatures, Both Tiers

  Caste four is assigned to the second tier of avian and reptilian shifters, as well as amphibian shifters. This caste includes birds like crows and parrots and reptiles such as turtles and tuataras, as well as amphibians, such as frogs.

  Caste five includes noble mammalian shifters and water creatures. Notable examples would be all primates, equine shifters, bears, deer, whales, dolphins, and sharks.

  Caste six includes common mammalian shifters and water creatures, such as bovine shifters, rats, squids, and many types of fish.

  These shifters tend to stay away from international affairs, as they have no real power.

  Castes Seven and Eight—Felines

  Felines were separated from the rest of mammalian shifters as being arbitrarily considered the closest to werewolves out of the shifter population. It is arguable as to whether this was or was not true, as shifters from the same genus with werewolves—like foxes—were allowed positions in the sixth caste.

  This is one of the reasons why felines of both tiers dedicate their lives to mercenary activities. As a rule, they go against draechen while doing so, but are not above fighting their own kind for monetary benefits.

  The seventh caste includes the noble feline tier, such as lions, tigers, and panthers, while the eight caste common felines are mostly house cats or half-breeds between the various species. They do not have an actual political system, but rather, gather in prides led by the strongest member, usually one from the seventh caste. Also, they tend to ignore matters such as sexual orientation, as for them, sexual relief is a natural thing, no matter the gender of the partner.

  Feline characters in Chronicles of the Shifter Directive

  Phillip Strange. Secondary character. Panther-shifter. The leader of one of the most important mercenary groups and close friend of Graham Powers, a werewolf Alpha.

  Diane Strange. Episodic character. Panther-shifter. Philip’s mother.

  Caledon Hollenbeck. Episodic character. Phillip’s second-in-command.

  Ninth Caste—Werewolves and Vampires

  Werewolves and vampires were the main reason why the Directive came to be in the first place. Therefore, many of the provisions of the law were focused on them, on preventing them from gaining power once more and from multiplying excessively.

  In the mid-fourteenth century, werewolves and vampires experienced a feral state which led to them attacking human settlements and causing the Black Death. However, in present days, they have recovered from that condition and merely want one thing—freedom from the past.

  WEREWOLVES

  Characteristics and organization

  Werewolves shape-shift into an animal form, that of the wolf, the process usually being quite swift and natural. They are very strong and agile, although these abilities have proven to be insufficient when faced with their draechen opponents.

  Werewolves gather in packs led by the strongest members, the Alphas. Like in the case of draechen-shifters, Alphas can use mind speech with other members of their species.

  International relations

  According to the Shifter Directive, werewolves are largely considered slaves of the upper castes in general, and the draechen in specific. However, many werewolves refuse to accept this state of affairs and organize rebel groups that attempt to evade draechen hunting parties. They mostly live in hiding, although they have hope that one day that will change.

  They have a distant relationship with vampires, as they tentatively attempt to cooperate for the purpose of freeing themselves from the chokehold of the draechen.

  Mate bonds

  Werewolves do not have ceremonial rites per se to make matings official. Their mate bonds are created in a single way, through the claiming bite which is only reserved for one’s true mate. Once the two partners unite, they can speak telepathically through their mind link. Like for all shifters, this connection is very special for werewolves, especially since true mates are quite rare and difficult to find.

  Reproduction and families

  Werewolf reproduction is through regular coupling in either human or wolf form. The females of the species give birth to a litter of live pups, usually of more than one werewolf. After the pups grow up, they are forced to leave the original pack, as it is considered too risky fo
r a great number of wolves to stick together.

  The idea of werewolf family and of pack dynamics is strongly connected to heterosexual couples. Therefore, werewolves are against same-sex couples and despise relationships between people of the same gender.

  Werewolf characters in Chronicles of the Shifter Directive

  Graham Powers. Main character. Alpha werewolf and leader of one of the smaller werewolf packs. He is a good friend of feline shifter Philip Strange. Physical description: Dark, chin-length hair, honey-brown eyes. Tall, muscular build. Shape-shifts into a large black wolf.

  Stuart Powers. Secondary character. Graham’s younger brother and his beta.

  Tate Powers. Episodic character. Graham and Stuart’s father. Member of a different pack that abandoned Graham and Stuart after they grew up.

  Violet Powers. Episodic character. Graham and Stuart’s mother and Tate’s mate.

  Hugh Crane. Episodic character. Alpha werewolf. Leader of Graham and Stuart’s former pack.

  Monroe Lovington. Secondary character. Alpha werewolf. Leader of another pack and a good friend of Graham’s.

  Taryn Lovington. Main character. Monroe’s younger brother. Physical description: Medium height, slender frame. Chin length, black hair. Green-gold eyes. He shape-shifts into a small black wolf.

  VAMPIRES

  Characteristics