In the future this section will be very cute & read as an in character interaction with an NPC, but for now I’m just putting the adequate amount of information here needed to design a Corvent!
Corvents are the result of a virus created by a mysterious man called Dr. Corvict, whose experiments in interplanar travel and genetic modification led him to accidentally release a virus into the multiverse, capable of reanimating corpses of nearly any species and imbuing them with consciousness and the ability to seek out other planes of existence. This virus became known as the Corvictus Virus. “Corvent” is short for “Corvictus Virus Patient”.
To start, there has to be a corpse!
Choose any sentient species. It doesnt have to be humanoid or bipedal, just capable of talking and communicating on the same level as humans. It also must be an adult, no designs that appear significantly underaged will be allowed, and this will be judged by the admins every time, it is non negotiable!
Now, kill it! It doesnt matter how your host dies, only that sometime within six months after death, your corpse comes in contact with the material you would like to become your Corvent’s adherent. This material needs to be flexible enough to reasonably become your Corvent’s outer layer of skin - so it needs to be able to bend and flex, be punctured or sewn upon. It doesnt have to be easy for these things, but it does have to be possible! Leather, fabric, vinyl, and other kinds of clothing material are popular, but feel free to get creative. If you can convince an admin that it will work, it will probably be approved.
Your host corpse also needs to be introduced to the Corvictus Virus while in direct contact with this material. The virus is present in many universes through mysterious means, so you don’t necessarily need to even make up a story reason as to how the corpse got exposed to the virus. It could just be there.
Once the corpse is exposed, reanimation occurs! If the infection type is standard, the Corvent’s body will regenerate to the healthiest state it was in before the host died, now with the adherent covering its extremities. There are rules as to the minimum amount of adherent must be present, so be sure to check the diagrams thoroughly while designing! The adherent must cover a minimum of fingertips - wrist, and heel - knee. There may be adherent present on head, shoulders, torso, etc, but the combined surface space of the torso, head, and any extra limbs must not be more 50% covered by adherent. If you are ever confused, feel free to ask what is okay!
Take a look!
Now that you have your freshly animated Corvent, time to check out all the new attributes your creature has! Corvents regenerate wounds and injuries quickly, and cannot be killed as long as their brains are intact. They do not need to eat, drink, or breathe to stay alive! It is up to you if your Corvent still has a heartbeat or breathes, those are just habits that Corvents sometimes retain to make themselves feel more alive.
After reanimation, your Corvent’s blood has a peculiar change. You can choose any liquid to act as the blood in your Corvent’s body. Try to choose one with a psychological significant to your Corvent but don’t be afraid to just have fun with it. There is a data line for blood type in the patient ledger, so be sure to choose one that you like, changing it in the future will require an official edit request.
Corvents have a complicated psychology, a direct result of the virus building bacterial colonies in their brains! They will have a spectrum of amnesia, either total loss of their previous life, complete memory of their identity, or something in between. It’s up to you to decide which! This can even change over time. Corvents have a fervent need to remind themselves that they are alive, and will fixate on something in particular that makes them feel more lively. It is most commonly something from their host life, but it can also be discovered after being turned into a Corvent as well.
Just keep in mind that this fixation needs to be a habit that your Corvent can repeat over and over to validate theirselves, and needs to be linked to feeling alive. This can be as simple as collecting movie tickets and obsessively watching films, or as complex as establishing relationships or starting businesses. Whatever your Corvent fixates on will remain an integral part of their personal for their entire lives, so think well about this!
Lets talk about Fixation Expression! Your Corvent has a fixation, or maybe you just have a vague idea that you aren’t sure how to execute. Fixation Expression is the compulsion Corvents experience to decorate their adherent with evidence that they are carrying out their fixation. This can be as literal or metaphorical as you like! One Corvent whose fixation is flower arrangement might literally attach flowers to their adherent...or receipts from the flower shop they work in. Or inscription of the scientific names of their favourite flowers. Or a marking for every happy customer. You get the picture. Another Corvent whose fixation is true love may obsessively collect and decorate his adherent with red string to represent the red string of fate. ETC, ETC.
Here are some examples!
Keep in mind that Corvents can be very exclusive and particular about their fixation expression. They may resist the urge to express their fixation until they encounter the perfect way to do so, and are oft times incredibly picky. One Corvent might glue every receipt he finds to his adherent, while another may hold out for months in between adhering flower petals in a particular pattern. It is all very individual, so don’t feel that you are locked into an incredibly complex design, but make sure that there is at least some evidence of their fixation.
Things that come into contact with the adherent for a prolonged period of time (Think weeks or months depending on the individual, and the material) will eventually be attached to the adherent semi-permanently. It wont need anything like stitches or glue to hold it down, but could still be removed with surgery. After many years of the object being attached semi-permanently to the adherent, even surgical removal won’t work. The object will simply grow back with time like the adherent does. Because Corvents are immortal, that gives a lot of time to make a unique fixation expression.
Important note: Gender affirming surgeries can be done successfully post awakening for Corvents who were either unable to achieve gender affirmation while alive, or have a gender contradictory to their host body after awakening. Any kind of trauma that validates a Corvent’s self identity will not heal. This includes surgeries, scarification, tattoos, and injuries that the Corvent believes are normal for it to have.
The guidelines above apply to all standard Corvents. Standard Corvents may not have any limbs, attributes, or abilities that the host body did not have. To add wings, special limbs made of adherent, eyes, or special abilities, the Corvent must have a Virulent Infection.
Note: Creatures that were shapeshifters before can still shapeshift, but will have the adherent present in all forms. There is no ”normal” form of the Corvent. Their adherent and claws will always be there, regardless of any magic or scientific shapeshifting abilities.
If you would like to do anything that isnt standard, ask an admin if it is allowed for the type of infection that you have. The only two rarities are Standard and Virulent, so uf it doesnt fit into the Standard rules, it is Virulent. There are almost no rules regarding Virulent Corvents. Ask if you aren’t sure!