Traits

Markings

Markings are very important to Lockhearts, especially their key/lock markings and their Heart meter. Generally, Lockhearts do whatever they can to keep their markings as visible as possible. Lockhearts seen hiding their markings are considered strange. Lockhearts view having a full heart meter with pride, and love how it outwardly shows the strong connection they have with their partner.

Additional markings on the body have mixed reception from the Lockheart community. Battle scars are considered merely unsightly, while self-inflicted markings on the body such as tattoos can be anything from tacky to offensive.

Key and Lock Markings

Key and Lock markings are a point of pride for Lockhearts. No matter what they're wearing, Lockhearts will find a way to hilight or display their Key or Lock. Complex designs on these birthmarks are considered uncommon and desirable traits. Markings that incorporate a heart in the design are extremely rare, and Lockhearts think of them as being personally branded by Empathy as marked for greatness.

Common
Simple key and lock markings are considered common

Uncommon
Semi-complete key and lock markings are considered uncommon

Rare
Complex key and lock markings are considered rare

Mythical
Key and lock markings which contain a heart are mythical

Abnormal Key and Lock Markings

There exist Lockhearts with two keys, two locks, or one of each. They can appear together or one on either ear, but depending on the community a Lockheart lives in, they may prefer to try and hide one. Having multiple markings enables the Lockheart to bond with a second partner. Some Lockhearts believe that more than one partner defiles the entire ideal of their species, while others see it as a blessing to share one's love more widely - an ideal, one may argue, that Empathy has always expressed openly. Any abnormalities in key and lock markings are considered Mythical.

Heart Meter

All Lockhearts are born with a heart meter within them. Most heart meters are located on a Lockheart’s wrist. However, if they are not located on the wrist they are on another visible part of the body. Heart meters are considered Common.

Hidden Lock, Key Marking or Heart Meter

As most Lockhearts take pride in their markings and enjoy comparing them between themselves, hiding one's markings is considered extremely suspicious and unusual. This behavior is often looked down upon in Lockheart society, but some individuals may prefer to hide their markings than to reveal they've been tattood over, scarred, or that they have more than one. Hidden key and lock markings or heart meter is considered Rare.

Beauty Marks, Birthmarks and Moles

Naturally occurring marks and imperfections like these are considered attractive by most Lockhearts. They add personality! They are considered Uncommon.

Scarring

With adequate care from their bonded partner, a Lockheart can heal perfectly from almost any wound. Only dark magic can leave permanent marks on a Lockheart's body, and even these can be removed with enough care and attention from a loving partner. However, if left long enough, these marks can become permanent. Permanent scars are viewed as a mark of shame - a sign that the Lockheart's bond is not strong enough to heal the wound.

Severed limbs which are recovered and reattached in a timely fashion can still heal without leaving a scar, but bodyparts which are lost, not recovered in time, or destroyed do not regenerate. Those with missing limbs are more often treated with sympathy so long as the scar has healed, and Lockhearts will sometimes petition human engineers as a group to obtain prosthetic replacements for well-respected members of the community who lose limbs in battle. Scaring is considered Rare.

Tattoos

A Lockheart's body is considered holy - a sacred gift from Empathy which elevated them from their base animal forms and made them what they are. While Lockhearts do not have a religion per se, tattoos, and other body modifications are looked down on as an attempt to deviate from an already perfect form. When you're on top, the only way to go is down. Tattoos are considered Uncommon.

Common
Lockhearts' eyes can be commonly observed in almost any solid color.

Uncommon
Gradations within the same hue

Rare
A second, lighter color within the pupil of the eye

Mythical
Gradation between two different hues

Mythical
Heterochromia

Jewelry

Due to their lifestyle and the occupational hazards of being in near constant battle, most Lockhearts are unable to make traditional schooling and jobs work for them. Although they do make an effort to blend with human society and go to school, homework is relatively low on the priority list of most Lockhearts and so their money-making potential is extremely low. However, humans sometimes recognize a Lockheart's contribution to society by way of gifts, and one of the favored gifts for a Lockheart to receive is jewelry.

Lockhearts love to show off. They tend to be fastidious, cleanly, well-groomed and prideful of their appearance. Many Lockhearts wear fake, plastic, or costume jewelry in their daily attire, but those who are given pieces made of real jewels or precious metals are the objects of great envy. The only exception to this rule is piercings, which violate the Lockhearts' cardinal rule of not altering their bodies.

Ogres

This special mutation of Lockheart are most often found in volcanically active parts of the world, and tend to have earth elemental based powers. Ogre Lockhearts are almost always melee type. Aside from the horns Ogres grow from their foreheads regardless of animal species, they are aggressive and physically larger than the average Lockheart with red, orange, or yellow tinted eyes and white hair.

Harpies

Very few Lockhearts, even those derived from bird species have wings capable of flight. Regardless of their animal species, Harpy Lockhearts possess large feathered wings which can support their body weight and achieve lift. This added mobility makes Harpies excellent ranged fighters using bows, slings, thrown weapons or magic, but melee types do exist, often preferring weapons like the lance which allow them to charge into battle from a great distance and wreak havoc. Their bodies are smaller and more fragile than average allowing them to fly, and they sometimes grow feathers in place of hair. Harpies are generally born in areas of extremely high elevation, and often have air-themed magic and abilities.

Demons

Like Harpies, Demon Lockhearts are some of the very few with working wings. Theirs however, are more bat-like, flesh type wings. In some variations the wings attach to the arms, in others they are totally independent appendages that protrude from the back. Unlike Harpies however, Demons are much hardier and find themselves in melee roles more often. They generally have fire or stone themed abilities or powers. Demons prefer living close to the earth in cave dwellings, rather than cities or buildings. They are often possessed of darker, earthy skin tones, black or dark brown hair, and green or brown eyes.

Occult

These unusual Lockhearts are characterized by extra eyes, most commonly in the center of the forehead, but sometimes appearing on the backs of the hands or chest. Occult Lockhearts are often water based animals, and tend to have psychic, eye magic, illusion or water type powers. The most physically unusual of Lockheart types, Occult Lockhearts often hide their extra eyes unless in combat where their abilities depend on their use.

Mythical Beasts

Some Lockhearts are born of special magics which combine different animals into chimera, or are born from beings which exist only in the collective unconscious such as kirin, pegasi or dragons made manifest by the will of Empathy. These Lockhearts are often possessed of multiple magical abilities, incredibly powerful in battle, and viewed as leaders in the community. When a female Lockheart gives birth to a Mythical species child, it is seen as an incredible blessing and celebrated by the whole community.