The Polymorph

Description

Traits

Classifications

Due to their vast range of shifting abilities, it is hard to categorize these creatures into separate classifications due to overlapping traits.

Creature born from nocturnal emissions (wet dreams) that travel to the physical world after absorbing enough love from their prey (usually results in death, but not always).

They are unable to reproduce sexually as they do not have reproductive organs.

They require love, blood, and meat to continue dwelling in the living world. Malnourished succubi will first lose their attractive traits (depending on their prey’s preferences) showing their true form and eventually lose their physical form, returning to the dream void.

Most succubi that dwell in the living world can be found at night, breaking into people's homes or working as escorts. During the day, most succubi will stay with their prey from last night (if they survived) as their powers are weakened when exposed to sunlight, though some are known to go out searching for a new feeding ground. Succubi are shown to have a hierarchy of sorts and become extremely territorial when another succubus enters their claimed area, leading to duels or if one of the succubi is a higher rank servitude in exchange for being allowed to hunt.

Some succubi may take the form of their last victim (usually those who are single) to maintain appearances and a relatively comfortable life.

Succubi possess cold skin ranging from 5–10 °C (41–50 °F), with their genitals reported to be even colder as excessive contact causes frostbite in their victims. During intercourse, the victim may have difficulty breathing and bodily pain but ignore it due to their infatuation with the succubus and their overpowering pheromones. Succubi are also known to sit on the victims' chests and or choke them moments before climax in order to secure a meal.

The Succubine

Human who inherits traits of succubi through other means (ingesting organs/blood, bites, being cursed, fungal infection, etc.) but cannot travel through dreams. They will no longer physically age once turned. Those who are turned maintain reproductive functions for around 30 years (depending on age) before their reproductive organs stop functioning. Succubines will experience hypothermia when they turn as their body begins to lose heat until reaching a stopping point of 20-22 °C (68-72 °F). Their bodies will heat up in preparation for intercourse but only by ten degrees

Many turned females take it upon themselves to remove their uterus once it longer serves a purpose and only reminds them of what they can no longer have (biological children). On occasion turned males are also known to cause bodily harm to themselves with the most extreme being castration or penectomy. Unfortunately due to their regenerative abilities, this is not permanent leading some to begin a routine of self-harm.

The diet of a succubine does not have any drastic changes when compared to the average human as the only additions they require are love and an increased intake of meat. When malnourished, their body temperature will drop to that of a succubus and they will shift into an agitated version of their physical insecurities and gain traits depending on how they were turned.

They cannot freely shapeshift as succubi can due to the high amount of energy required, so most will refrain from shifting until they have a reliable source of love or have identified a target.

Feeding

• Philia AKA friendship - platonic love and trust gives the succubine a reliable source of low-powered energy though succubi will rarely experience this type
• Storge - platonic love based on memory and bonds. When someone fondly remembers a succubus, they will gain energy for the length of the memory. The strength of the energy depends on the feelings of the person remembering them
• Pragma - succubi who have decided to keep a victim alive will usually be influenced by this type of love. This type of love is looked down upon by most succubi as it severely restricts the number of potential prey as you are expected to remain loyal to one person
• Eros AKA lust - sexual desire from another person gives the succubus tremendous amounts of energy which usually leads to the affected person becoming a victim. When a succubus gains the energy, they begin to openly flirt and stay in the victim's personal space usually trying to get them to a private space
• Ludus - This is the only type of love where succubi are willing to lose energy as it usually allows them to secure a meal and/or a place to stay. Energy lost is gained back quickly as it doesn’t require much to begin with
• Mania - When succubi notice their victim is obsessive, they dispose of them rather quickly as they can become a nuisance when trying to find other sources of food. This type of love may even be draining for them since the affected person wants more love from the succubus
• Philautia AKA self-love - self-love affects a succubines ability to shapeshift. When this type is low, succubines may lose energy more quickly leading to malnourishment and making it harder to find a source of love. Succubi are not affected by this type
• Agape - Succubi do not understand this type of love as their entire existence is selfish and it would be against their best interest since they would lose energy. Succubines who are affected by this type seem to lose energy slower than the average succubine and gain more energy from platonic love