Available Races

[James]

These are the extra races available, instead of Wizards, and their guidelines for WR. If you would like to apply to have a new species accepted, PM 'admin'. More species will be added over time. This is just for sentient creatures for which there are roleplay opportunities.

Credit should also be handed to the Harry Potter Lexicon, Harry Potter Wiki and Accio Quote! for aiding with references.

Information is collected from the books and from interviews with JK Rowling, and complies with canon. The gaps have been filled in, using our own creativity, balance (roleplay-wise) and from common mythological themes. We hope you appreciate the effort put in here (the histories for some of these species are rather interesting) and ask that you do not copy these, and respect our rights, as they contain original work.

Thanks to Bane Orwell and Revan Haine for their great contributions here.

[Revan Haine]

WEREWOLVES

Basic Info

*Any one bitten by a Werewolve contracts Lycanthropy (Explained below).
*Werewolves are extremely tough and can shrug off some of the damage they would take in battle (EXCEPTION: Silver hurts them more than normal weapons).
*Werewolves have a low level telepathy with other wolves (NOTE: They can only give the followign messages: Friend, Foe, Flee, and Attack).
*Werewolves can see in low amounts of light... not in complete darkness however.
*Have an extreme sense of smell.

Lycanthropy

When a person contracts lycanthropy from a Werewolf, no symptoms appear until the first night ofthe next full moon. On that night, the afflicted character invountarily assumes Werewolf form and forgets his o her own identity. The Werewolf remains in form until dawn. The Werewolf undergoes this involuntary transformation under the full moon.

----Curing Lycanthropy

A person who eats a sprig of belladonna (wolfsbane) within one hour of being bitten will have a fifty percent chance of remaining un afflicted. However, belladonna is a toxin, so the person may die from ingesting it if not properly treated.

----Avoiding Transformations

By taking the Wolfsbane potion the night of transformation, a person can control the urge to transform for the night.

Werewolf Form

When transformed, a Werewolf is an extremely large half-wolf/half-human. They are not extemely quick, however, they are quite powerful.

[Revan Haine]

Veelas

ADVANTAGES

*Veelas have a hypnotic dance and song that makes all men dizzy. ((NOTE: This spell is harmless if your character cannot hear the Veela))
*When angry, a Veelas face instantly becomes birdlike and grows scaly wings, only in this form can a Veela throw fireballs. ((NOTE: A Veela must be ANGRY to do this, not just be showing off for a few friends))
* Veelas are extremely beautiful, fair haired and skin with beautiful eyes.
*Veelas are extremely acrobatic.
*Veelas do not grow fat.
*Veelas can have a child without male involvement.

Weaknesses

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*Veelas are easy to provoke.
*There are very few Male veela's.
*They are amazingly vain.
* They are raised to believe beauty is their greatest asset.
* Veelas are rarely strong.

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[Revan Haine]

House Elf

House-elves are small humanoid creatures who inhabit large houses belonging to wealthy Wizarding families. They are "bound" to the family of the house, which means they do all manner of menial tasks for them until they die. House-elves are apparently very happy with this arrangement and consider it a matter of pride that they serve faithfully and do not betray their families.

The role or function of the house-elves is very important. They hear and see things, as Dobby said and can use their powerful magic and these information for doing bad, neutral, or good. Winky took her master, Barty Crouch Jr, away from the dark wizards and into the forest.

There are over a hundred house-elves at Hogwarts, the largest number in any dwelling in Britain. They lay the fires, do the laundry, light the lamps, and do countless other such tasks. The house-elves are also the chefs of the castle and they create wonderful meals in the huge kitchens.

A house-elf is a short creature with large bat-like ears and enormous eyes. It is difficult for an inexperienced human to tell the difference between male and female house-elves, although the females generally have higher, squeakier voices. Neither male nor female house-elves wear clothing (and they would consider it shameful to do so); instead, they cover themselves in towels, tea cozies, or pillowcases. If their owner gives them an article of clothing, it breaks the "enslavement" and the house-elf is free. For most house-elves, this would be the ultimate insult and they would be shamed forever.

House-elves have a very powerful magic all their own, magic which requires none of the types of focusing tools (wands or words) that Wizard magic requires. Dobby used his magic to enchant a Bludger, to close the magic portal that leads to platform nine-and-three-quarters, to interfere with Owl Post and steal someone's letters, and to knock Lucius Malfoy down a flight of stairs. He also can disappear at will, which would seem to be a form of Apparition, but a form which can be done within Hogwarts, where, as Hermione constantly reminds Harry and Ron, normal Wizarding Apparition is simply not possible. All of these are very powerful charms.

Unfortunately, as long as they're enslaved, they aren't likely to be using this magic for anything but their mundane work.

[Revan Haine]

Vampire

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Name: Vampire (also spelt Vampyre), also called ‘Bloodsuckers’ as an insult
Average Life Expectancy: Though they cannot die of age or disease, Vampires often do not live past the age of 100, though living up to three centuries isn’t uncommon.
Appearance: Vampires resemble humans in nearly every way and shape aside from a few features. Vampires have fangs that vary in size, tend to have pale skin due to their lack of exposure to light (Naturally only seen quite a few months after the infection, in order for the tan to fade away.) Full-blooded Vampires age very slowly from the day they were bitten (about 1 “physical” year for every 100 actual years, though this varies from vampire to vampire)

Culture: Vampires do not have any set culture, values or beliefs designated by their race. However, Vampires share a great respect and reverence for the eldest of their species, and usually deal with them politely.
Sometimes vampires join together to form a clan in order to better hunt their prey and avoid predators. They commonly make their greatest hunter or their eldest their leader. A number of ‘formal’ vampire clans across Europe, developed during the 18th Century Vampire Revolution, which still stand today and are often recognisable by name.

Reproduction: Being undead, female vampires are unable to carry and develop a child. This essentially makes full blooded Vampire reproduction nearly impossible. The closest thing is when a Vampire bites a human and kills them, turning them into another full-blooded vampire.
Male vampires are, however, capable of breeding with a female human, and creating a Half-Vampire. These are exceedingly rare, as most relationships between humans and vampires are anything but sexual. Usually, if a male vampire were to have intercourse with a female human, then she would be turned into a vampire herself not long afterwards.

Strengths:

• Vampires have incredibly fast reflexes beyond human capability.
  
• Vampires have surprising strength for their size, allowing them to overpower most humans.
  
• Vampires are immortal and do not die from age or disease.
  
• Vampires can see in very dull light
  
• All vampires’ senses are extremely sensitive and powerful.
  
• Vampires regenerate skin and flesh extremely quickly (this does not apply to limbs or anything cut with silver)
  
• Vampires are considered "Undead". They are immune to certain spells which specifically cause death, such as Avada Kedavra or an Unbreakable Vow. They can be killed by other forms of magic, for instance, anything that would give fatal wounds.
  

Weaknesses:

• Vampires cannot cross running water, and if bathed in running water will die in thirty seconds. However, this water must be properly running with the pressure of a river or a powerful hose.
  
• Vampires are super-sensitive to sunlight. Ten seconds in exposed sunlight will disorientate the vampire and thirty seconds will kill it.
  
• Vampires have a strange allergy to garlic which makes them unable to be near large amounts of the substance. (A large amount being more than a clove of garlic. Seasoning would not kill or even hurt a vampire.)
  
• Silver burns vampires skin and leave unhealable wounds
  
• Vampires may not approach a Holy Symbol so long as the owner of the symbol actually believes in the religion. Coming into contact with such symbols does not amount to pain, the vampire only feels an overpowering urge to stay away.
  
• Vampires feel an incredibly strong need to feed on blood. Only the most strong-willed of the species can resist the urge, but their skills will diminish.
  
• Vampires cannot use magic, but are magical. For example, vampires can see the Leaky Cauldron and then take Floo Powder into Diagon Alley.
  
• A wooden stake through the heart will kill a vampire.
  
• Since Vampires are Undead, they have no souls and are therefore unable to feel true love. They can however feel all other emotions such as affection and lust, as these are not associated with the soul.
  

Political Standing:
Vampires have little to no rights in most cultures and countries and are often feared and hated because of their need for blood. Most Ministries, including the British, have even gone as far to name them 'Dark Creatures'. Eastern Europe and Northern India is more open to the vampires than other cultures, mostly thanks to major political movements that occurred in those regions during the 18th Centuy (see history).
Romania itself is practically run by vampires and is often seen as a safe haven for the species and a pure gold mine to vampire hunters, due to the price Vampire skin, blood, teeth and ash get on the Black Market. They are used as fashion, deadly weapons and highly potent potions ingredients.

History:
Vampires appeared very gradually into History, but are seen almost immediately to the careful eye. Ancient Egyptians mention the immortals in their hieroglyphics, doomed to live in their ancient tombs due to the wrath and power of Ra. Persians, Ancient Sumerians and the early tribes of India all claim to have been the first to have ‘suffered’ the infection first. The Romans first encountered the vampire whilst invading Germania. The vampires quickly feasted upon the Romans and infiltrated their ranks. From there, Vampires began to spread all throughout the huge reaches of the Roman Empire.

Always feared and hated because of their appetites, vampires struggled to find acceptance in any community and as such were forced to become independent and secretive to avoid persecution. However, Vampires were always among the first in exploration in those early days; constantly looking for a society that accepted them. The Aztecs, Incas, Native Americans, Chinese and Japanese all saw the vampires as demons like most of the world and hunted them down. Only the Mongolians, who respected all warriors, could possibly accept them. Thus, Mongolia became the medieval equivalent of today’s Romania and many vampires flocked there. Mongolia has continued to have a strong Vampire culture, even today.

Three-hundred years ago, however, a legendary vampire rose in Eastern Europe. He went by no name, but united numerous vampire clans and led a string of assassinations and political upsets in Romania and Western Russia. During the chaos properly organized the vampire population to triple when he announced his united clans would not “bite and kill” for four months. Upon discovering this, the Ministries were simply unable to resume oppression of the species as a massive Vampiric Revolution would likely follow. The legendary vampire then faded away from history and knowledge, leaving only his legacy and the united Vampire Clans.

Variations:

The Half-Vampire: (see Reproduction for details regarding the creation of half-vampires). Half-Vampires fall somewhere between a vampire and a regular human. They are always mortal, sensitive to sunlight, have a drastically reduced dependence on blood compared to normal vampires, and able to perform magic (provided the human half is a wizard/witch). All of the other vampire traits can go either way – some will be passed on, others will not.
If a Half-Vampire is bitten by a full Vampire, it will have no effect on them, as they build immunity to the infection at a very young age. Female Half-Vampires are capable of having children, though the likelihood of a miscarriage is larger than it would be for a regular human.

The Tomb Vampire: Historians agree that the Tomb Vampire is not really a variation of vampire, but a title given to the most powerful vampire in Ancient times. They couldn’t be more wrong.

Existing since pre-history, Tomb Vampires have few qualities that separate them from their brethren. They have senses that are superior even to their kin and a curious power that allows them to create creatures known as the Blind. If a person has recently been killed, it is possible for a Tomb Vampire to take out their eyes. Four days later, a Blind will rise, utterly loyal to the Tomb Vampire and suffering amnesia that is difficult to cure. They are usually much more pale than most vampires and have sunken flesh and thin bones. This is misleading, however, as they possess surprising strength and speed.

There is only ever one Tomb Vampire at a time. When they bite, only normal vampires are born. However, if a Tomb Vampire realizes their mortality and forces their life and memories into the bite, a Tomb Vampire will be created instead. However, the biting Tomb Vampire will die.

[James]

Centaur

Name: Centaur.
Average Life Expectancy: Typically about 70 years, though some are known to live to be as old as 130.
Appearance: Centaurs have the heads, arms and torso of a human, and the body of a horse. They are usually quite muscular, and can have varying skin tone the same as humans. All Centaurs are male.
Culture: Centaurs usually live in forests, though are capable of adapting to other wild habitats. They usually live in packs of 10-50. They do not trust Wizards and Muggles and prefer to avoid them. They are well versed and fond of Astronomy and Divination, but never meddle with Wizard affairs.

Reproduction: Centaurs have eggs which do not require fertilization, in a process similar to parthenogenesis. Like horses and humans, they fall pregnant, but the process usually only lasts a few weeks, and centaurs are born small but able to stand and walk within a few days.

It could therefore be argued that because of their parthenogenesis, all centaurs are technically female, but it would be a great insult to a centaur, and of little importance to a wizard.

They reproduce at a slow rate, usually having 1-2 children, which, in addition with a relatively long lifespan, can be held accountable for their aged population. Past the first few years of infancy, centaurs need not do a whole lot of "parenting". The father of a centaur is insignificant; the loyalty and respect of the pack is far more important.

Strengths:

• Centaurs are physically powerful and agile.
  
• Centaurs are skilled archers and spear-throwers. They are hunters by nature.
  
• Centaurs are skilled with Divination and Astronomy.
  
• Centaurs are expert magical healers.
  
• They are good at concealing themselves, particularly from Muggles.

Weaknesses:

• Centaurs can not use wands and are unfamiliar with much of Wizard-kind's magic.
  
• Centaurs are usually anti-social and sometimes violent with creatures other than their own race.

Political Standing:
While they are quite sentient and capable of speech, Centaurs are classified as "Beasts" by the Ministry of Magic at their own request, as they did not want to share the status with creatures such as Hags and Vampires. This means they do not share the same rights as races of similar intelligence, and have no position in any governing body.

Wizards have allocated territories for centaurs to live freely in, away from Muggle eyes. However, Centaurs have their own ways of concealing themselves from Muggles and don't seem to need much help from Wizards.

History:
Centaurs are believed to have originated from Greece, where they were relatively open to Muggles, until about the 6th-7th century when they moved into hiding. The specific reason for this is unknown, but given current attitudes held by centaurs it can be assumed that they grew tired of human attitudes and chose to disassociate themselves with them. It was another millennium before Wizards "forced" them into secrecy.

From this point onwards, the history of Centaurs is rather difficult to track (and relatively uneventful). They were often open to communications with Wizardkind, but not exactly engaging.

Wizard and Centaur relations became permanently strained in the 1300's, when attempts to classify all creatures as beasts or beings first began.

The first, crude classification issued by Buldock Muldoon, Chief of the Wizard's Council (which preceded the Ministry of Magic) classified all creatures with two legs as "Beings" This excluded Centaurs from the first interracial meeting while inviting such reckless creatures as pixies, diricrawls and fwoopers.

Muldoon's successor, Elfrida Claggs, created a second common definition of a being: any creature which could speak the human tongue. This invited Centaurs to receive the status. However, this definition was soon debunked, as Trolls and other violent creatures were able to speak basic sentences but clearly unable to discuss politics.

In 1811, a reasonable definition of a being was found: "any creature that has sufficient intelligence to understand the laws of the magical community and bear part in making those laws". This definition fit the description of the centaurs, but they refused to participate in any discussions on the matter, as they did not wish to be likened to some other so-called beings such as hags and vampires.

A Centaur Liason Office exists in the Beast Division of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, but no centaur has ever used it, to the degree that some Ministry of Magic employees take it as a joke. If someone is said to be about to be moved to Centaur Liason, they are being fired.