| Species | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpathians | Hän ku pesäk kaikak | Humans | Jaguars | Lycans | Mages | Rogues | Sange rau | Vampires | ||||||
Carpathians are an ancient, long-lived species from the Carpathian Mountains, the longest lived out of all the species. Their species was in danger of extinction for hundreds of years due to warfare, fertility problems, and the loss of their males to vampirism.
In recent decades, however, the Carpathians have begun to find mates in humans with psychic abilities and have discovered the cause of their infertility and high child mortality rate. Their numbers are growing, despite the threat of the Vampire Hunting Society, Xavier, Xaviero, Xayvion, other dark Mages, and the vampires.
Lycans and Carpathians[]
Fenris Dalka was hunting a Sange rau and compared Lycans to Carpathians.
| “ | Carpathians were born of the earth. Most of their safeguards were woven from natural things and reinforced with spells from the mages when the two species had been close there were always psychic footprints. No one could move or breathe without expending some energy, and Carpathians were very good at feeling or seeing it. Lycans were born of the earth as well. Both species epitomized both ends of the spectrum. They were predators, fast and ferocious. They enjoyed the battle and both had a taste for blood. On the other hand, they were loyal and dedicated to their mates and children. Both species put honor and integrity high on their list of attributes. They were willing to sacrifice for the better of their species. Both species embraced the night. Both read the wind. And both were gifted with tremendous powers. |
” |
Powers[]
Camouflage[]
Carpathians can camouflage their presence, especially when they are hunting vampires or do not want to draw attention from humans.
Compulsion[]
Compulsion is mind control. Carpathians do not abuse this power; rather, they most commonly use this technique when they need to disguise their true nature from humans.
Healing[]
Carpathians possess tremendous healing abilities. Their bodies heal themselves at a faster rate than humans, especially if they shut down their heart and lungs and lie in the rejuvenating soil of their homeland. Sometimes this soil is mixed with their saliva and placed in wounds like a salve. In addition to personal healing, Carpathians can heal other people. They achieve this by temporarily shedding their physical bodies and entering the injured person's body as a being of pure energy. The healing actions are often accompanied by chanting, herbs, and crystals.
Weather Control[]
Carpathians can manipulate the weather, such as gathering clouds to form cloud cover if they need to be outside during the daytime, or creating lightning when they incinerate a vampire's heart and body.
Shape-shifting[]
Carpathians can take any shape they wish, but they prefer owls for flight and wolves for running.
Telekinesis[]
Carpathians can move objects with their mind.
Telepathy[]
All Carpathians can "speak" to each other in their minds on a common path. Carpathians who have exchanged blood with each other can also speak on a private path; lifemates have their own private mental path as well.
Weaknesses[]
Carpathians are extremely sensitive to sunlight; it will kill them if they are exposed for too long. The more kills a hunter makes, the less time they can spend in the early morning and late evening sunlight, until they can no longer stand it. Most Carpathians are unconscious, seeming to be dead, during the day, but very powerful Carpathians can move about sluggishly. They are vulnerable to attack during this time.
Illnesses and Substances[]
Unlike humans, drugs and alcohol do not effect Carpathians. They can easily remove them through the pores of their skin. This allows them to drink tainted blood without any disastrous effects on their body. However, if they don't get all the harmful substances out of their systems, it can cause problems later. For this reason, Carpathians try to avoid prey that have been drinking and taking drugs.
As for human illnesses, Carpathians break them down on a molecular level if their prey carry a disease. But they try to avoid such individuals as they need what little help their blood can provide them. Human illnesses do not effect Carpathians because of the different make up of their body. However, Carpathians do have a kind of disease that effects some individuals, simply called the sickness.
Ages[]
For the most part, Carpathians don't really celebrate birthdays because of their longevity, but there are some ages that are important to take note of.
- The first year is touch on a child that is lucky to be born. It was discovered that parasites, created by Xavier were the cause behind the problem. Though destroying them is priority, this does not insure the child will be strong after birth. The first year will always be a trying time for child and parents.
- Mikhail determined recently that females can be claimed as early as the age of 18, due to the dire need for the males to have hope. Previously, the claiming age for a female was around 200, giving the woman time to learn about her own powers and accept that she is the light to her man's darkness.
- Savannah being claimed by Gregori when she was about 25 caused an uproar among the women because they felt she didn't have a real childhood, even though they understood why it was necessary.
- This rule does not apply to lifemates that are found while human, as humans mature much faster. The rule also doesn't apply to the other species either, as the maturity rates are different.
- Carpathian children are protected until their fiftieth year, when they are considered an adult and able to join meetings, councils, etc., with the exception of those women claimed after they turn 18 or as a different species, who are protected by their lifemates.
- Around 200 years of age, a Carpathian male loses the ability to see colors and feel emotions, and must find the other half of his soul, the one woman out of the billions in the world, that can save him from the darkness within him. Some lose colors and emotions earlier or later. Many have most likely stopped counting years of age by this point, going by decades or centuries rather than individual years, though not really keeping track as time does not matter.
- When Carpathians reach 500 years old, they are considered an ancient.
Children[]
Children are treasured by the Carpathian community as a whole. Everyone feels that, thought responsibility of caring for the child is that of the parents or adopted parents, each child belongs to everyone. Even the human children adopted by Carpathian parents belongs to everyone. What's more, children are only born fifty years apart. This is not a rule as some have been born only a few years apart to several centuries. Still, it is believed that a child is not conceived unless it is their time to be brought into this world. They are not only needed by destiny for a special task, but they are also needed by their parents. In turn, they need their parents. Nothing is ever done just for the sake of the world or duty when it comes to children. It is always about love.
In times past, hunters and artisans would come to teach the children their special skills along with the parents so that a sense of family was instilled in the new generation. As of right now, the only practice that has remained is telling stories that hide lessons and affectionate interactions with the children. However, Mikhail is trying to bring back some of the old ways while incorporating the new, such as video games and tablets.
It was found out that Xavier had introduced parasites to the water and soil that Carpathians used to sleep and heal in. Though they are being eradicated, they can be difficult to find and destroy. The parasites caused many miscarriages and infant mortality. Since finding out that human psychics can be converted, the number of children living past their first year has increased. It will forever be ingrained in Carpathian society to watch over their children while carried in the womb and in that first year to ensure the child lives.
Losing Color and Emotions[]
Usually around their two hundredth year, Carpathian males lose all color and emotion. Some can lose them as early as their twenties. It is unknown what the oldest age is, bit those who have grown up and spend time around their lifemate all their lives do not lose color or emotion. Regarding colors, they only see the world in gray tones. They often say black and white, but in reality, they are unable to see true black or pure white. As for emotions, there are none. No joy, no sorrow, no sympathy, no remorse, etc. They hope to find their lifemate, but not in the same way humans hope.
Upon seeing their lifemate and hearing her voice, colors and emotions are suddenly returned. This tells them that they have found the one and only woman that holds the other half of their soul, the light to the man's darkness. If he cannot use his senses to find her, his soul may be the only way to tell if she is nearby, giving him a faint glimpse of emotions until he sees and hears her. When they are close, they can feel edgy and frustrated, which can throw off experienced hunters and make them question it. However, the wonderful truth is usually revealed shortly after, much to the man's surprise.
The men feel it is their duty, honor, and privilege to see to their woman's happiness and well being, and they take that very seriously. Still, in the end, they want to be her choice, even if the binding ritual hadn't taken place. They need to know that, if both had been human, she would still love him with everything in her. And she needs to know the same thing. It may take time for the heart and/or mind to catch up with their soul and body, but the women and men both come to realize the truth and are all the happier for it.
Vampires and Lifemates[]
There is a sad truth that, should a male turn vampire, his lifemate could be out in the world, waiting for him. It is a tragedy with this happens as the woman must choose to either live out the remainder of her days alone or to follow him. If the male turns before his lifemate is born or after her death, he will not get a second chance at finding her. He must be destroyed and repent for even a chance at finding her. It is unknown if this is only in the afterlife, or if both halves are reborn again to give them that second chance.
No vampire can say the binding words to one a woman. No vampire that happens to find his lifemate allows her live, though he is unable to be the one to destroy her, using others to do so. He may feel guilt, shame, fear, and/or remorse upon seeing her, but she is like a mirror and he cannot bare to see his sins reflected in her eyes.
Exceptions[]
Few strange occurrences have happened that put some basic rules into question. It is unknown why they happen, only that those involved take everything one day at a time, for good or ill.
- Due to the amount of darkness in him, Zacarias's colors and emotions are currently only available to him if he is mentally connected to his lifemate, Marguarita. It was the same for Zacarias's father.
- Mitro bound Arabejila to him when he turned. This could be due to the fact that he was newly turned or he bound them together a split second before his soul was forever lost.
Timing[]
In Dark Demon, Vikirnoff explains to Natalya that some Carpathian males know when they have a real choice in greeting the dawn or living longer, risking becoming a vampire. How they know when that time is or what the trigger might be is unclear, but in choosing to stay alive, they put themselves and others at risk.
Greet the Dawn[]
Greeting the dawn is essentially the way a Carpathian chooses to suicide. If they have a lifemate, it is a way of leaving the world, knowing that they are no longer needed and their people can do without them. It is a beautiful moment between lifemates. Males without lifemates are not so lucky as they only feel the pain of the sun burning them. Those that do not greet the dawn due to it feeling like the cowards way out, like the Brotherhood felt, must either die in battle or they turn vampire, giving up their soul and honor for the rush of the kill.
Words of Temptation[]
From the time that the men lose colors and emotions, the darkness in them begins to whisper to them. It tempts them to kill while feeding, to take what he wants and how he wants. Tempting him to kill while feeding, to torment. It is ultimately a temptation to turn vampire, though the whispers never tell them what they become because all Carpathians already know what happens. For centuries, these words whisper to them, growing louder and more insistent as the centuries grow. If a male lives too long, goes beyond the normal limits and past the time he knows he should meet the dawn, he will stop hearing those words. It is unclear if the words begin to fade over time after reaching a crescendo or abruptly stop. But when it does happen, it shows that the male is far too close to the end his time, perhaps past his time in choosing to greet the dawn. Usually, these are ancients that have lived for over a thousand years, but it also affects psychic males that have been converted. These ancients are highly dangerous. The words also stop once their lifemate is claimed.
Turning[]
This is often a conscious decision on the male's part. He wants the rush of the kill, to feel something, anything, even if for a moment. However, it is not always so, as the thrall can over take one that loses their lifemate or they could have reached the end of their endurance and simply rise one night as a vampire.
Jobs[]
Though they do take work in the human world, such as owning mines and being oil barons, every Carpathian performs different duties within the actual community. Money is just a means to an end, not valued as it is by humans, so all jobs performed within the Carpathian community are done selflessly because they need to be done, and not for monetary gain.
Hunter[]
This is the most common job among Carpathian males, but in recent years, some females have also taken up the mantle of hunter. This is not to say that all Carpathians hunt as their main profession, but for males, it is a duty. Dominic Dragonseeker told Byron Justicano that someone who hunts when it is not their true calling is always welcome because they see details others do not.[1] A male who hunts does so because honor dictates it, but it is also what brings him closer to becoming a vampire. A Carpathian male can choose not to hunt vampires in favor of his true calling and/or to stay near his lifemate, and no one would think less of him unless he refused to fight to protect his people and family.
Warrior Women[]
This is relatively new in the Carpathian world. It was inconceivable before their numbers dwindled, but now that many lifemates are found in humans, the number of women hunters has increased, though a few of the ancient women hunt as well. It is a major topic at the Warrior's Council and have their people split over it.
With their people divided over the issue, the prince at that time, Mikhail Dubrinsky, knew that with the change in the world around them, the Carpathian people had to change at all. He said that those women who were warriors had a right to fight beside their lifemates and protect their people, despite the strong opposition from fellow hunters.
He also acknowledged that not all women are warriors, but allowing the women to learn to defend themselves would give the males some peace of mind and more protection for their children. He acknowledges that at least knowing how to fight and protect themselves from vampire is the right of every Carpathian woman and child, but he left the decision of women joining the hunt up to individual lifemates as each couple, and each person, was different and it should stay between man and woman, not made into a law that all women should adhere to.
Healer[]
This is the second most common job among Carpathians in general. It is also the second most demanding job as one must shed their body and become healing light, leaving themselves vulnerable to attack. A healer must always have a hunter they trust nearby to watch over them. While it is true that all Carpathians have the ability to heal, healers are more adept in this as they have a need to help people who are hurt, almost a compulsion to do so, and often have a natural instinct on how to aid the injured. Each healer and healing session is different, and some can take several healers and/or healing sessions; the worse the injury, the more of a toll it takes on the healer. A healer is always weakened after a session and needs blood to replenish him- or herself.
Artisan[]
These are Carpathians that work with the arts. Byron Justicano is known as a Gem Caller, a Carpathian with the ability to feel a particular gem he needs for a person.[1] Tariq Asenguard used to create carousels to train young warriors, then for the enjoyment of others later on.[2] These are but a few examples of artisans within the community, but there are several others
Scientist/Researcher[]
This job is only now coming to light with the development of technology. It consists mainly of healers that used to be human before undergoing the conversion and human allies, but some, such as Gabrielle Sanders, are just drawn to this kind of work and are good at it. At this time, they are greatly needed in order to find out how best to help women carry their children to term and allow the children to live past their first year.
Techie[]
This is a job that is only held by one Carpathian at this time, similar to being the prince (Mikhail Dubrinsky) and the second to the prince (Gregori Daratrazanoff). Josef is a genius when it comes to computers and uses this to aid the Carpathian people. He can hack almost anything, having done so to take the list of psychic women from the data banks of the Morrison Center for Psychic Research. However, as the Carpathian people begin to move more into the modern age, more and more young Carpathians will be with Josef in this field, and aid their people in new and better ways.
Lifemates[]
The males and females of the Carpathian race each hold a part of another person's soul. The only way to restore those abilities is to meet and claim his lifemate. If he does not meet his lifemate, his options are:
- Live a bleak existence with only the memory of honor to keep him going
- Meet the dawn: commit suicide by exposing himself to sunlight
- Turn vampire: seek the rush of the kill and experience the adrenaline-tinged fear of his victims
If the female does not find her lifemate, she either dies and is reborn until they find each other, or she lives a lonely life (if she has longevity) until her man finds her, but her abilities grow as she ages and she comes into her own. This allows her to be of better aid to her people and lifemate.
If the male lifemate dies, his woman will live a half life but if the female dies, the man must die soon after (most often by the hand of another hunter, but this is not always the case) or they will turn into a vampire.
Lost Lifemates[]
As far as we know, only a handful of couples never came together.
- Pater turned vampire long before finding Velda Hantz, who had lived her whole life alone, waiting for him. (Dark Destiny)
- Mitro Daratrazanoff denied his lifemate, Arabejila, and chose to become a vampire because he felt having a lifemate brought weakness. (Dark Storm)
- Iulian Florea found his lifemate at the end of her life in Romania, where she had lived in a nursing home alone. (Dark Illusion)
- Draven Dubrinsky and Yana were meant to be lifemates, but Xavier killed her to let the sickness take hold of Draven and further his plans.
For a complete list of lifemates featured in each book, see Lifemates.
Funeral[]
They burn the bodies of those around them on the battlefield with lightning. For those that died in battle honorably, they may utter a final goodbye aloud or in their minds. Usually, the ashes are scattered in the wind, but a few of them will take the ashes and scatter them in a place that is special to the person, forever letting them rest where they had found the most peace before passing.
For mated pairs, it is a private ceremony between the man and woman. They may hold a farewell party where their friends and family may say final goodbyes if they so desire, but this is unknown. What is known is that they will sit outside and watch the sun rise together, letting the dawn take them. It is the one time that the burning of the sun is not painful because they know that they go to the next world together, happy in knowing it is the right time and place and that their people will continue on without needing their guidance any longer.