Hollows (series)
Encyclopedia
The Hollows series is a series of mystery novels in an urban fantasy
alternate history setting by Kim Harrison
that take place primarily in the city of Cincinnati. The city itself is mostly separated in two parts: The main part of the town (usually called downtown) and the enclave on the opposite side of the Ohio River
nicknamed "The Hollows". Most Inderlanders in Cincinnati live on "The Hollows", although exceptions exist on both sides.
The series currently consists of nine novel
s and six short stories
published by HarperCollins Publishers.
Novels in the series are told in the first-person
point-of-view
of Rachel Morgan, a detective witch who works with local law enforcement agencies and faces threats both mundane
and supernatural
in origin. The series also focuses on Rachel's relationships with her partners, a living vampire
and a pixy, as well as her personal relationships with males of different species.
films, including several of his most famous westerns
.
double-helix by James D. Watson
, Francis Crick
and Rosalind Franklin
, genetic manipulation becomes a possibility, changing several events in the history of this alternate universe
. A virus nicknamed the T4 Angel virus attached itself to a flaw in the genome of a genetically manipulated tomato (its lab identification being T4 Angel tomato), and quickly spread around the world. As a result of the plague, all biogenetic research, including reverse engineering and genetic splicing, has been outlawed. Additionally, the human race has developed a cultural fear of tomatoes and tomato-based food products such as pizza sauce and tomato ketchup.
The supernatural beings are known as "Inderlanders". As laws and societies are dramatically changed by factors relating to these new sentient species, all levels of law enforcement in the United States break down. Two new organizations, the Inderlander Security service (consisting entirely of non-humans) and the Federal Inderlander Bureau (consisting entirely of normal humans), replace the former law enforcement agencies at all levels. The convention that allows both agencies to operate forbids Inderlanders from being on the F.I.B. payroll, although consulting jobs mostly are allowed.
The Ever-after presented in the novels is referred to as the basis for the 'happily ever after' that often occurs at the end of modern fairy tales; due to mistranslation and omission, the factual "in the Ever-after" (referring to a place) became the figurative "happily ever after" (referring to time).
The Dresden Files
. Vampires can also sensitize their victim's bite so that only that vampire can affect the victim, leaving the victim mentally bound to that vampire. There are two kinds of vampires, living and undead.
Living vampires are normal humans infected with the vampire virus. They are divided into two groups, high- and low-blood. Low-blood vampires are normal humans that have been infected by an undead vampire, and have only a small amount of the benefits the virus grants, such as increased strength and speed, as well as the craving for blood. When low-blood vampires die, be it of natural causes or otherwise, they simply die like any other human, unless an undead vampire is there at the moment of death to bring them back as an undead.
High-blood vampires are vampires that were born already infected by the virus, and having their development in the womb influenced by it. They have increased strength and speed, more so than low-blood vampires, but not as much as the undead. They also have a greater craving for blood than low-blood vampires, but it is not essential to their existence. When a high-blood vamp dies, no matter the cause, they rise again as an undead the next sundown.
When vampires become undead, they gain the full physical benefits of the vampire virus, but lose their souls and their ability to keep their aura in the process. They now have the ability to turn humans into vampires and bespell even unwilling hosts. Vampire society is regulated by master vampires, usually in control of the underworld in larger cities. Master vampires have a coterie called a camarilla
, to which their followers and families belong, with a complex social hierarchy in which everyone looks to someone else except master vampires, who are the kingpins of the vampire society. Vampires outside of a camarilla often look to become part of one, as a camarilla serves as a support group for the lifestyle demanded by vampires.
The common presentation in the novels thus far is that of a werewolf
, although werefoxes have been mentioned. The main difference between werewolves and werefoxes, is said that werefoxes can control the size they turn, while werewolves size is converted over from their human weight and sight
In society, weres live and operate as natural wolves do: there are packs, alphas and loners in their society.
There is no "werewolf curse" as presented in other stories. Instead, Weres must rely upon breeding to increase their numbers, unless under an external influence. Legends tell of a demonic device which allows Weres to turn a human by bite. The story tells that this device, called the "Focus", used to play a major role in their political structure, revolving around who controlled it. They were going to convert humanity by force over five thousand years ago, but the witches crossed over from the ever-after around that time, and the vampires, humans, and witches banded together to remove the Focus. It was said to have been destroyed, but was not and it plays a role in the latter books of the series.
s and spirits is made plain by references to fears by characters. Ghosts are disembodied souls that are in limbo have not "moved on" according to the series mythos. Ghosts can also be created by the desecration of a tombstone. One character is a ghost but is later given corporeal form.
in the novels, earth magic, ley line
magic, demonic magic, and wild magic. All magic draws its power from ley lines, sources of energy that are scattered across the surface of the world. A magic user is labeled as either white or black, depending upon how the magic affects their soul. White magic is not damaging to the practitioner's soul, while black magic is. The stain upon the magic user's aura
(energy emanated from the soul and that which protects one's soul) depends on how much the magic distorts the natural. The stain, named because it appears as a black layer covering the aura, can be fostered off onto another but cannot be destroyed.
. The energy is either channeled using a focus object or what is referred to as "wild magic" in which the power is imprecisely directed by the magic user that drew on the line. Ley line magic can only alter perception and not physical form like earth magic.
Urban fantasy
Urban fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy defined by place; the fantastic narrative has an urban setting. Many urban fantasies are set in contemporary times and contain supernatural elements. However, the stories can take place in historical, modern, or futuristic periods...
alternate history setting by Kim Harrison
Kim Harrison
Kim Harrison is a nom de plume of American author Dawn Cook. Under the name of Harrison, she is best known for her Rachel Morgan urban fantasy series set in an alternate history where a worldwide pandemic caused by genetically modified tomatoes led to the death of a large portion of the world's...
that take place primarily in the city of Cincinnati. The city itself is mostly separated in two parts: The main part of the town (usually called downtown) and the enclave on the opposite side of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
nicknamed "The Hollows". Most Inderlanders in Cincinnati live on "The Hollows", although exceptions exist on both sides.
The series currently consists of nine novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s and six short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
published by HarperCollins Publishers.
Novels in the series are told in the first-person
First-person narrative
First-person point of view is a narrative mode where a story is narrated by one character at a time, speaking for and about themselves. First-person narrative may be singular, plural or multiple as well as being an authoritative, reliable or deceptive "voice" and represents point of view in the...
point-of-view
Point of view (literature)
The narrative mode is the set of methods the author of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical story uses to convey the plot to the audience. Narration, the process of presenting the narrative, occurs because of the narrative mode...
of Rachel Morgan, a detective witch who works with local law enforcement agencies and faces threats both mundane
Mundane
In subcultural and fictional uses, a mundane is a person who does not belong to a particular group, according to the members of that group; the implication is that such persons, lacking imagination, are concerned solely with the mundane: the quotidian and ordinary...
and supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
in origin. The series also focuses on Rachel's relationships with her partners, a living vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
and a pixy, as well as her personal relationships with males of different species.
Book title allusions
With the exception of the series' first installment, titles are allusions to Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
films, including several of his most famous westerns
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
.
- Dead Witch Walking: The phrase "dead man walking" is the common literature and Hollywood call to announce a condemned prisoner's arrival onto death rowDeath rowDeath row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
. The title may specifically allude to the 1995 film of that nameDead Man Walking (film)Dead Man Walking is a 1995 American drama film directed by Tim Robbins, who adapted the screenplay from the non-fiction book of the same name...
, or the book upon which that film was based. The phrase dates back at least to a 1909 poem by Thomas HardyThomas HardyThomas Hardy, OM was an English novelist and poet. While his works typically belong to the Naturalism movement, several poems display elements of the previous Romantic and Enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural.While he regarded himself primarily as a...
, although capital punishmentCapital punishmentCapital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
is not the prima facie subject of the work. - The Good, the Bad, and the Undead: An allusion to The Good, the Bad and the UglyThe Good, the Bad and the UglyThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a 1966 Italian epic spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach in the title roles. The screenplay was written by Age & Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni and Leone, based on a story by Vincenzoni and Leone...
(1966), the final installment of the Dollars trilogyDollars TrilogyThe "Dollars Trilogy" , also known as the "Man with No Name Trilogy", refers to the three Spaghetti Westerns starring Clint Eastwood and directed by Sergio Leone: A Fistful of Dollars , For a Few Dollars More , and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly .A Fistful of Dollars is an unofficial remake of...
. - Every Which Way But Dead: An allusion to Every Which Way but Loose (1978).
- A Fistful of Charms: An allusion to A Fistful of DollarsA Fistful of DollarsA Fistful of Dollars is a 1964 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood alongside Gian Maria Volonté, Marianne Koch, Wolfgang Lukschy, Sieghardt Rupp, José Calvo, Antonio Prieto, and Joseph Egger. Released in Italy in 1964 then in the United States in...
(1964), the first installment of the Dollars trilogyDollars TrilogyThe "Dollars Trilogy" , also known as the "Man with No Name Trilogy", refers to the three Spaghetti Westerns starring Clint Eastwood and directed by Sergio Leone: A Fistful of Dollars , For a Few Dollars More , and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly .A Fistful of Dollars is an unofficial remake of...
. - For a Few Demons More: An allusion For a Few Dollars MoreFor a Few Dollars MoreFor a Few Dollars More is a 1965 Italian spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Gian Maria Volonté. German actor Klaus Kinski also plays a supporting role as a secondary villain...
(1965), the second installment of the Dollars trilogyDollars TrilogyThe "Dollars Trilogy" , also known as the "Man with No Name Trilogy", refers to the three Spaghetti Westerns starring Clint Eastwood and directed by Sergio Leone: A Fistful of Dollars , For a Few Dollars More , and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly .A Fistful of Dollars is an unofficial remake of...
. - The Outlaw Demon Wails: An allusion to The Outlaw Josey WalesThe Outlaw Josey WalesThe Outlaw Josey Wales is a 1976 American revisionist Western film set during and after the end of the American Civil War. It was directed by and starred Clint Eastwood , with Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Sam Bottoms, and Geraldine Keams.The film was adapted by Sonia Chernus and Philip Kaufman...
(1976). (This book has been released in the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
under the title Where Demons Dare, which does maintain the pattern of Clint Eastwood allusions. The object here is Where Eagles DareWhere Eagles DareWhere Eagles Dare is a 1968 World War II action-adventure spy film starring Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood and Mary Ure. It was directed by Brian G. Hutton and shot on location in Upper Austria and Bavaria....
(1968).) - White Witch, Black Curse: An allusion to White Hunter Black HeartWhite Hunter Black HeartWhite Hunter Black Heart is a 1990 American film, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood as John Wilson, based on the book by Peter Viertel. Viertel also co-wrote the script with James Bridges and Burt Kennedy. The film was based on several Golden Age of Hollywood movie producers...
(1990). - Black Magic Sanction: An allusion to The Eiger SanctionThe Eiger Sanction (film)The Eiger Sanction is a 1975 American action thriller based on the novel The Eiger Sanction by Trevanian, a pseudonym for the American author, Dr. Rodney William Whitaker. The film was directed by Clint Eastwood, who also starred as Dr. Jonathan Hemlock.-Plot:Dr...
(1975). - Pale Demon: An allusion to Pale RiderPale RiderPale Rider is a 1985 American western film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars in the lead role. This movie has plot similarities to the classic Western Shane , including in its final scene, as well as previous Eastwood films featuring his Man with No Name character and his 1973...
(1985), which in itself is an allusion to the Fourth Horseman of the ApocalypseFour Horsemen of the ApocalypseThe Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are described in the last book of the New Testament of the Bible, called the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ to Saint John the Evangelist at 6:1-8. The chapter tells of a "'book'/'scroll' in God's right hand that is sealed with seven seals"...
from the Christian Book of RevelationBook of RevelationThe Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
, a representation of deathDeathDeath is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
. - A Perfect Blood: An allusion to A Perfect WorldA Perfect WorldA Perfect World is a 1993 drama film directed by Clint Eastwood, and starring Kevin Costner as an escaped convict who befriends a young boy , and ends up embarking on a road trip with the child...
(1993).
Rachel Mariana Morgan
A witch-detective initially working as a runner for the Inderland Security (I.S.) service. She procures three wishes from a leprechaun she apprehends on her last run for the Inderlander Security service and uses a wish to get her independence. She makes a deal with the living vampire, Ivy Tamwood, and the pixy, Jenks, to give them the remaining wishes for their assistance in leaving the I.S. The three create the Vampiric Charms freelance runner service, and take various runs, or 'missions', both together and separately. In earlier books, she works to remove a death bounty placed on her by her former employer as well as freeing herself from a demon's debt. In the most recent books, Rachel finds herself learning about and using ley line and demon magic, both in order to do her job and protect her life and the lives of her friends and family. She is deeply ambivalent about using dark magic, but will continue to do so when she finds it necessary. Her aura's initial color is gold, like Trent's and Algaliarept's.Ivy Alisha Tamwood
A living vampire that works with Rachel at the I.S. and follows her into freelance work. Ivy is six feet tall, elegantly thin, and very pale, with long black hair and an Asian cast. Ivy struggles with her vampiric nature on a personal level, as well as attempting to keep Rachel from being attacked by fellow vampires. She is bisexual and harbors a deep longing and affection for Rachel. She is deeply devoted to Rachel and Jenks, doing whatever it takes for them, mainly Rachel. Ivy is the last living vampire of the Tamwood bloodline (her younger sister, Erica is part of the Randal bloodline) and Ivy has been made a scion of her old master vampire Piscary. He has purposely tried to direct Ivy into lack of control and violence in any of her blood-related relationships. After claiming her as his scion, Ivy has had to work ever harder to resist his pressure to follow his desires. At one point, Ivy has to agree to let Piscary control her even more, in return for him leaving her sister alone. Ivy sees Rachel as her only true friend, her deep love interest, and as her one hope to escape her future as Piscary's scion. She hides her caring for Rachel beneath a very brittle and distant veneer, but she will kill anyone who gets in her way if Rachel needs her help.Jenks
A pixy who works with Rachel and Ivy in their freelance business. He often provides the comedy in the novels as well as working as a saboteur, electronics expert, and spy. He is always watching after Rachel, worried about her and Ivy's interactions, as well as the men who come into her life as they usually turn out to be untrustworthy.Trenton Aloysius Kalamack
A purebred elf who is a shrewd businessman, one of Cincinnati's most powerful Inderlanders, and has a childhood history with Rachel. He is very attractive, tall, with baby-fine blond hair and green eyes. His father is responsible for curing Rachel's Rosewood Syndrome. Trent's goal is to resurrect the fertility of the elven race using whatever means necessary. He has a deep hatred for demons, due to his race's biological warfare with them in the past which nearly caused the elves to be wiped out. He is often flanked by his bodyguard and fellow elf, Quen and assistant, Jonathan. Even though they are very similar with different ideals, Rachel and Trent have a love/hate relationship.Algaliarept
A 5,000 year old demon whose job and livelihood depends on tricking susceptible victims into the Ever-After for servitude through cunning manipulation. Al is typically shown as a tall, muscled Britishman who has long brown hair, wears smoked-rim glasses, and dresses in a crushed green velvet, laced outfit with boots. Several characters throughout the series have owed Al demon marks or have had dealings with him.Background
The series is set in an alternate history where supernatural beings live side-by-side with normal humans. According to this timeline, after the discovery of the DNADNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
double-helix by James D. Watson
James D. Watson
James Dewey Watson is an American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist, best known as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA in 1953 with Francis Crick...
, Francis Crick
Francis Crick
Francis Harry Compton Crick OM FRS was an English molecular biologist, biophysicist, and neuroscientist, and most noted for being one of two co-discoverers of the structure of the DNA molecule in 1953, together with James D. Watson...
and Rosalind Franklin
Rosalind Franklin
Rosalind Elsie Franklin was a British biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer who made critical contributions to the understanding of the fine molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal and graphite...
, genetic manipulation becomes a possibility, changing several events in the history of this alternate universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
. A virus nicknamed the T4 Angel virus attached itself to a flaw in the genome of a genetically manipulated tomato (its lab identification being T4 Angel tomato), and quickly spread around the world. As a result of the plague, all biogenetic research, including reverse engineering and genetic splicing, has been outlawed. Additionally, the human race has developed a cultural fear of tomatoes and tomato-based food products such as pizza sauce and tomato ketchup.
The Turn
The T4 Angel virus killed a quarter of the human population. Upon noticing the combined number of their various species now neared that of humanity, the supernatural species quickly seized the opportunity to make themselves known. The fact the structure of the civilization remained somewhat intact during "The Turn" is attributed to the fact many of the supernatural beings being in (or seizing) positions of power, including a vampire named Rynn Cormel acting as the president of the USA (but never sworn in).The supernatural beings are known as "Inderlanders". As laws and societies are dramatically changed by factors relating to these new sentient species, all levels of law enforcement in the United States break down. Two new organizations, the Inderlander Security service (consisting entirely of non-humans) and the Federal Inderlander Bureau (consisting entirely of normal humans), replace the former law enforcement agencies at all levels. The convention that allows both agencies to operate forbids Inderlanders from being on the F.I.B. payroll, although consulting jobs mostly are allowed.
The Ever-after
The Ever-after is a magical plane that existed outside the ken of normal humans until the Turn. The main pixy character, Jenks, describes it as "...a drop of time that got knocked out, sitting alone by itself with no past behind it to push it forward and no future to pull it along." Concentrations of Ever-after energy are scattered across the normal plane and are called "ley lines." Ley lines can be felt on the normal plane by magic users and the races that formerly dwelt in the Ever-after, such as the elves and witches. The only race that currently dwells in the Ever-after is that of the demons, having driven out the elves nearly two thousand years ago. Witches also formerly dwelt in the Ever-after but fled to the mundane plane approximately five thousand years ago.The Ever-after presented in the novels is referred to as the basis for the 'happily ever after' that often occurs at the end of modern fairy tales; due to mistranslation and omission, the factual "in the Ever-after" (referring to a place) became the figurative "happily ever after" (referring to time).
Supernatural races
The novels use Inderlander to refer to all of the supernatural beings that revealed themselves during the Turn. They are divided into two groups: those that are derived from humans and those that are non-human in origin.Inderlander (non-human) races
- Witches: An Inderlander race with a life expectancy of 160 years and a proficiency in the magical arts. They look and appear human but have a different genetic background, preventing mixed-birth children. Most of the population believe the race of witches to be the result of a curse cast on demons by elves; they fled the Ever-After 5,000 years prior to the Turn, abandoning the realm to the demons and elves. Rosewood Syndrome is a consequence the curse that created the witches which affects certain children who would otherwise become demons and normally leads to an early death. Rachel Morgan suffered from this disease as a child and spent her summers at a Last-Wish Camp for children where she met Trent and Stanley (Lee).
- DemonDemoncall - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
s: A purely magical and aggressive race that dwells only in the Ever-After. Magic users, usually with the goal to barter for favors or knowledge, summon and trap demons to the mortal plane. At dawn, demons are forced back into the Ever-After. Their natural life expectancy is 160 years but through magic they are virtually immortal. In an attempt to rid reality of Elves, past demons created the Ever-After but instead of jailing the Elves, the creation forged a link to it trapping themselves. Only a few thousand demons survived the creation of the Ever-After. Due to the elves magically manipulating and corrupting their DNA, demons have only been able to produce magically stunted children or children that die as toddlers. The only known female demon alive is Newt, who is incredibly powerful and feared but suffers from insanity. Attempts of other demons to reproduce with Newt have been unsuccessful. There are at least two different kinds of demons:- Surface Demons: These demons sport hooves and horns and appear to have a lower level of intelligence. These demons dwell on the surface in the ever-after. They can be used as henchmen for the more intelligent demons.
- "Higher" Demons: While not labeled as a superior breed, these demons are much more intelligent, live below the surface of the world in the Ever-After and rely upon magic and bureaucratic rules in society. No physical description of higher demons is known since they are always under disguise spells. In Black Magic Sanction, and Dead Witch Walking, it is suspected that demons like to take the form of whatever terrifies their targeted victims.
- ElvesElfAn elf is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind...
: A race that migrated from the ever-after nearly 2,000 years ago after losing several wars with the demons. The life expectancy of a full blooded elf is given to be similar to a witch. Trying to preserve and restore their heritage, elves closely mingled and interbred with humans, which led to a massive die-off during the Turn as they fell susceptible to the Angel virus. They are widely believed to be extinct.
- Pixies: A small humanoid race that lives in gardens and has an intense rivalry with the Fairies. Pixies have a tendency to act like humans and larger Inderlanders. They rely on the pollen from plants to survive. Pixies are extremely territorial, and will attack fairies or even other pixies who invade their territories.
- FairiesFairyA fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
: A small race that lives in gardens and has an intense rivalry with the pixies. Fairies tend to eat insects and work as mercenaries.
- LeprechaunLeprechaunA leprechaun is a type of fairy in Irish folklore, usually taking the form of an old man, clad in a red or green coat, who enjoys partaking in mischief. Like other fairy creatures, leprechauns have been linked to the Tuatha Dé Danann of Irish mythology...
s: A small race (approximately the size of human midgetMidgetA midget is a short person with relatively average bodily proportions in comparison with other human beings. The term is often improperly used to describe a person with the medical condition dwarfism. The two terms are often used synonymously because both terms originate as words defining small...
s) that often grant wishes when captured though they usually offer no more than the minimum of three required by law. They have the ability to fabricate rainbows but are required to pay taxes for any gold at the rainbow's end. It is impossible to steal from a Leprechaun due to their ability to manipulate reality (normally used to grant wishes).
- TrollTrollA troll is a supernatural being in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In origin, the term troll was a generally negative synonym for a jötunn , a being in Norse mythology...
s: A vaguely humanoid race that lives under bridges and can be a public nuisance as they eat the mortar that holds bridges together. Although most trolls don't speak English some have learned it. they are known for their sensitive senses, and can draw water into themselves for extra mass.
- BansheeBansheeThe banshee , from the Irish bean sí is a feminine spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld....
s: A female species, they prey upon the emotions of others, using the energy to feed. They hunt all creatures with emotions and as they would normally kill their prey are under many legal restrictions in order to control their hunting. Banshees typically hunt with care, selecting emotionally rich victims and often say harmful things to increase the emotional yield. the amount of emotion required for a banshee to become pregnant coupled with the lack of restraint young banshees have means that their numbers increase very slowly this is not a major problem as banshees require territories and the reduced population can only support a small number. Once a banshee reaches maturity she no longer ages.
- GargoyleGargoyleIn architecture, a gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque, usually made of granite, with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between...
s: A species that hunts at night, preying primarily on birds supplemented with iron and other metals. They pick churches and other stone buildings as homes and roost there during the day. Leathery and light when active at night, they turn to stone during the day. Gargoyles have an intense connection with the ley lines of the world and provide focus and other abilities when aiding witches or held captive by demons. unbound gargoyles can pass unhampered through all protection circles. once bound, a gargoyle can only pass through their bond-mate's aura, will live as long as their bond-mate and are sensitive to their bond-mate's actions and well-being. Like the Troll a Gargoyle can draw water into itself for extra mass.
- DryadDryadDryads are tree nymphs in Greek mythology. In Greek drys signifies 'oak,' from an Indo-European root *derew- 'tree' or 'wood'. Thus Dryads are specifically the nymphs of oak trees, though the term has come to be used for all tree nymphs in general...
s: A race that originally bound themselves to trees, moving to statues placed on ley lines to avoid extinction due to deforestation. Despite this they have been rare since before the turn.
- NymphNymphA nymph in Greek mythology is a female minor nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from gods, nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as beautiful, young nubile maidens who love to dance and sing;...
s: A race originally thought to have died out during the industrial evolution, they have trouble breathing even with today's less polluted air. They have the approximate strength and speed of a living vampire and have a great deal of control over air.
Vampires
Vampires in this series are similar to common portrayals of vampires, with some exceptions. Their saliva contains neurotoxins that make the pain of a vampire's bite feel like pleasure, similar to the vampires of the Red Court in Jim Butcher'sJim Butcher
Jim Butcher is a New York Times Best Selling author most known for his contemporary fantasy book series The Dresden Files. He also wrote the Codex Alera series. Butcher grew up as the only son of his parents, and has two older sisters. He currently lives in Independence with his wife, Shannon K...
The Dresden Files
The Dresden Files
The Dresden Files is a series of contemporary fantasy/mystery novels written by Jim Butcher.He provides a first person narrative of each story from the point of view of the main character, private investigator and wizard Harry Dresden, as he recounts investigations into supernatural disturbances in...
. Vampires can also sensitize their victim's bite so that only that vampire can affect the victim, leaving the victim mentally bound to that vampire. There are two kinds of vampires, living and undead.
Living vampires are normal humans infected with the vampire virus. They are divided into two groups, high- and low-blood. Low-blood vampires are normal humans that have been infected by an undead vampire, and have only a small amount of the benefits the virus grants, such as increased strength and speed, as well as the craving for blood. When low-blood vampires die, be it of natural causes or otherwise, they simply die like any other human, unless an undead vampire is there at the moment of death to bring them back as an undead.
High-blood vampires are vampires that were born already infected by the virus, and having their development in the womb influenced by it. They have increased strength and speed, more so than low-blood vampires, but not as much as the undead. They also have a greater craving for blood than low-blood vampires, but it is not essential to their existence. When a high-blood vamp dies, no matter the cause, they rise again as an undead the next sundown.
When vampires become undead, they gain the full physical benefits of the vampire virus, but lose their souls and their ability to keep their aura in the process. They now have the ability to turn humans into vampires and bespell even unwilling hosts. Vampire society is regulated by master vampires, usually in control of the underworld in larger cities. Master vampires have a coterie called a camarilla
Camarilla
Camarilla may refer to:*Camarilla, an unofficial group of courtiers or favorites surrounding and influencing a king or ruler, specifically the two such groups prominent in German history....
, to which their followers and families belong, with a complex social hierarchy in which everyone looks to someone else except master vampires, who are the kingpins of the vampire society. Vampires outside of a camarilla often look to become part of one, as a camarilla serves as a support group for the lifestyle demanded by vampires.
Weres
Weres are lycanthropes with bestial attributes but are otherwise human in appearance. The origin of the Weres lies in a demon's curse upon a group of humans. The demon used a spell to turn into a wolf, then preceded to have intercourse with them.The common presentation in the novels thus far is that of a werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
, although werefoxes have been mentioned. The main difference between werewolves and werefoxes, is said that werefoxes can control the size they turn, while werewolves size is converted over from their human weight and sight
In society, weres live and operate as natural wolves do: there are packs, alphas and loners in their society.
There is no "werewolf curse" as presented in other stories. Instead, Weres must rely upon breeding to increase their numbers, unless under an external influence. Legends tell of a demonic device which allows Weres to turn a human by bite. The story tells that this device, called the "Focus", used to play a major role in their political structure, revolving around who controlled it. They were going to convert humanity by force over five thousand years ago, but the witches crossed over from the ever-after around that time, and the vampires, humans, and witches banded together to remove the Focus. It was said to have been destroyed, but was not and it plays a role in the latter books of the series.
Ghosts and spirits
The existence of ghostGhost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
s and spirits is made plain by references to fears by characters. Ghosts are disembodied souls that are in limbo have not "moved on" according to the series mythos. Ghosts can also be created by the desecration of a tombstone. One character is a ghost but is later given corporeal form.
Gods and goddesses
Although many claim none exist, religious artifacts have a great deal of power and several characters of note are religious. It is suggested that it was not unusual for Inderlanders to convince humans to worship them.Magic
There are four known branches of magicMagic (fantasy)
Magic in fiction is the endowing of fictional characters or objects with magical powers.Such magic often serves as a plot device, the source of magical artifacts and their quests...
in the novels, earth magic, ley line
Ley line
Ley lines are alleged alignments of a number of places of geographical and historical interest, such as ancient monuments and megaliths, natural ridge-tops and water-fords...
magic, demonic magic, and wild magic. All magic draws its power from ley lines, sources of energy that are scattered across the surface of the world. A magic user is labeled as either white or black, depending upon how the magic affects their soul. White magic is not damaging to the practitioner's soul, while black magic is. The stain upon the magic user's aura
Aura (paranormal)
In parapsychology and many forms of spiritual practice, an aura is a field of subtle, luminous radiation surrounding a person or object . The depiction of such an aura often connotes a person of particular power or holiness. Sometimes, however, it is said that all living things and all objects...
(energy emanated from the soul and that which protects one's soul) depends on how much the magic distorts the natural. The stain, named because it appears as a black layer covering the aura, can be fostered off onto another but cannot be destroyed.
Earth magic
Earth magic filters ley line energy through plants and animals and, although slower than ley line magic, is just as powerful. It is associated with living things, potions, amulets, and charms. Spells can sometimes be stored and called upon later. Earth magic can actually alter one's physical appearance or shape. The effects are permanent unless doused in saltwater. Earth magic tends to be associated with white magic users, since it is more difficult to gain access to the materials necessary for black earth magic; black earth magic involves the sacrifice of animals and, in some cases, humans or Inderlanders.Ley line magic
Ley line magic has less permanence than earth magic, but is much faster and more easily adaptable. Power can be drawn directly from a ley line or through an animal familiarFamiliar spirit
In European folklore and folk-belief of the Medieval and Early Modern periods, familiar spirits were supernatural entities believed to assist witches and cunning folk in their practice of magic...
. The energy is either channeled using a focus object or what is referred to as "wild magic" in which the power is imprecisely directed by the magic user that drew on the line. Ley line magic can only alter perception and not physical form like earth magic.