Nephilim
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Nephilim are perhaps the rarest nonhumans out there: as the offspring of one angelic and one demonic parent, they're unlikely to come into existence, and unlikely then to survive.
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[edit] Physiology
Nephilim appear human until they come of age, and sometimes even then. Unlike angels and demons, who undergo their metamorphoses at age sixteen, the stress of having both angelic and demonic blood triggers transformations by the time a nephilim child turns thirteen, and sometimes happens as young as nine. This is an excruciatingly painful process which can last as long as a week, and often leaves the child deeply emotionally scarred.
Generally, with regards to body temperature, breath rate (and processes), and heart rate, Nephilim appear human. In some pathological instances one may tend toward either the demonic or angelic side of the scale, requiring more or less oxygen, being hotter or cooler, but these features are largely random and never approximate true angelic or demonic qualities.
The Nephilim aging process is strange and uncomfortable, to say the least. After their metamorphosis they age rapidly; by the time they're fifteen they look fully adult, and by the time they're twenty-five they look forty. Then their growth rate experiences a dramatic decline, slowing to one apparent year for every five literal ones. No one is certain how long the Nephilim lifespan is; few make it to forty literal years due to health complications, persecution, and the not-so-occasional suicide. They're prone to physical and mental illnesses, succumbing especially often to cancers.
Nephilim blood is a deep, opaque red, with oil-slick iridescence when spilled.
[edit] Psychology
Unions between angels and demons are rare, willing unions more rare, and long-term relationships nigh unheard-of. Because of this, Nephilim generally grow up with only one birth parent, if any. As information on Nephilim is so rare, they tend to undergo their metamorphoses in atmospheres of fear and uncertainty, without access to information on what's happening or why. In addition, as demons tend to mistrust Nephilim and Angels can often consider them as lowly as demons, many Nephilim grow up either outcasts or actively hunted. Nephilim are generally solitary and wary of others to the point of xenophobia. The major exception to this rule seems to be other Nephilim, who are accorded some familiarity.
Some philosophers have argued that the greatest schism between angels and demons has been a natural introversion/extroversion in the way in which they regard themselves: angels are focused on their own nature and Inner Being, becoming as fully that thing as they can, whereas demons are focused outward, on controlling and manipulating the world around them. Whether or not one subscribes to this philosophy, one must admit that it opens up an interesting avenue into the study of the nephilim: generally, they exist neither knowing their purpose nor role in the world at large. They have no grand powers or special callings. In fact, most of their supernatural heritage seems to be trying to cancel the other half out.
[edit] General Abilities
Nephilim are faster and stronger than humans, but not greatly. While, in general, even weak angels or demons are stronger than most but the strongest humans, an average nephilim would be easily matched by a strong human.
Nephilim are, however, keenly sensitive to supernatural abilities. They can generally tell when someone is not a "mundane" human - if they've been touched by the Rift, supernatural abilities, angelic or demonic blood, etc. This same sense allows them to pick angels and demons from humans, though they can't identify them. For most Nephilim (except Emim), angels, demons, Rift-touched and supernatural humans register as the same.
Nephilim can also sense Rift activity, and generally find close proximity to a Rift physically disconcerting or even painful. Many can predict Rift "weather," periods of activity and quiescence, contraction and expansion.
[edit] Types
[edit] Emim
Emim are unusually sensitive to supernatural phenomenon. They can identify angels and demons, often down to their subspecies, and learn over time to "push and pull" the Rift. This measure never approximates true control, but they can occasionally stall something coming through or pull something through provided it was near to the rift on the other side. They have a limited ability to "see along" the rift--use it to pick up sounds, images, senses from far away so long as Rift exists on both ends. However, they are frailer than their Rephaim and Anakim brothers, and spend much of their lives sickly.
[edit] Rephaim
In some ways the opposite of Emim, Rephaim seem supernaturally dead. They retain the general Nephilim abilities, but angels and demons cannot tell that they're anything other than human. They resist psychic and magical effects, sometimes to the extent of reflecting some portion of the power back at the user. A Rephaim attempting to cross the Rift in the wrong direction won't succeed, but nor will they be harmed.
[edit] Anakim
The "fortunate sons" of the Nephilim. Comparatively hardy, they're most likely to live long and avoid the majority of the vast, crippling diseases. Stronger and faster than the average Nephilim, and generally more capable of blending into human society. Anakim have the highest probability of living (somewhat) normal lives and being at least partially happy. They retain all the general Nephilim abilities, such as species-sensing and Rift awareness.
