Nectite

Nectite
Characteristics
Notable members	Gravestone
Inherent abilities	Undead, sensitivity to daylight

Nectites (singular: Nectite) are a subterranean, post-mortal offshoot of the ancient Atlantian Vicci lineage. Tasked by the "powers that be" of the continental sentinel peaks, a Nectite functions as a localized, solitary Guardian designed to prevent the escape of primordial ghost energy banished within structures such as Cambiare Rock.

Bilogy & Physics

The Mystic Anchor Tethers

A Nectite is an undead biological construct reanimated and sustained exclusively by the energy pool of their assigned mountain.

• The Radius Constraint
  • A Nectite's life force is directly linked to the geographical footprint of the sentinel peak. If a Nectite remains away from the mountain's active energy field for an extended period, they suffer a progressive loss of physical energy, leading to paralysis and permanent mortal death.

• Detachment via Amnesia
  • Upon reanimation, a Nectite is systematically stripped of all memories regarding their previous mortal identity. This total amnesia serves as a functional detachment mechanism, preventing the Guardian from abandoning their post to pursue past earthly attachments.

Mechanics & Limitations

• Vampiric Nocturnal Cycles
  • While Nectites do not possess a bloodlust or a need for physical sustenance, their energy grids are drastically suppressed by solar radiation. Direct sunlight aggressively siphons their power reserve, forcing them to operate primarily under the cover of night. Nectites maintain a clear physical reflection.

• Rapid Siphon Healing
  • Within the boundaries of their anchor zone, Nectites are fundamentally immortal. They possess zero conventional pain receptors (pain functions only as a specific proximity alert or severe trauma alarm). Wounds, lacerations, and structural bone fractures heal at an accelerated rate; however, lost body parts (such as eyes or limbs) are permanent and cannot be regenerated.

The Succession Process & Operational Lifecycle

The succession of a sentinel mountain's protector operates on a strict, cyclical framework managed by the ancient forces bound to the rock core:

Mortal Death ──> Reanimation/Amnesia ──> 5-Year Independent Training ──> The Confrontation ──> The Prophesied Defense ──> The Choice: True Death OR Natural Life

1. The Reanimation Phase: When a standing protector's term expires, a new candidate is selected from the freshly deceased population near the mountain and reanimated with zero memories.
2. The 5-Year Silent Training: The new Nectite is left completely isolated within the hand-carved catacombs beneath the mountain for a continuous five-year period. This window is designed to force the entity to master their specialized combat perks independently and adapt to their new undead physics.
3. The Confrontation: Upon completion of the fifth year, the "powers that be" actively manifest to confront the Nectite, revealing their grand defensive purpose and detailing an impending, prophesied assault on the sentinel peak.
4. The Ultimate Choice: Once the prophesied threat is successfully repelled or neutralized, the Nectite is relieved of duty and presented with a permanent choice:
   1. Return to Death: Re-enter a peaceful, permanent state of post-mortal rest.
   2. The Restoration of Life: Be restored to a living, breathing human form, allowed to live out the remainder of their natural life span on Earth until dying of natural causes.

Backstory

The Vicci

The Nectites were originally part of the Vicci, an evil species that roamed the world and took over civilizations through possession and murder. In 558AD, a faction of the Vicci realized they were becoming too powerful and no longer wanted to use their powers for evil purposes. When they revolted, a war broke out between them and the Vicci, which ended in the total destruction of the Vicci species in physical form. The evil energy of the Vicci immediately scattered throughout the world in an attempt to continue their evil ways. Now calling themselves The Nectites, the group decided to split up across the continents and banish the evil.

Five Centuries of Fighting

During the next five centuries, the Nectite population grew in numbers as they found and captured the evil spirits. Needing a place to put the spirits (since evil cannot be completely destroyed simply transfered to something else), the Nectites created a single location on each continent to store the evil. The location faction assigned an individual infused with some of the power from the mountain itself, to protect it from others wanting to release the energy back into the world.

Dwindling Population

Over the next 1,000 years, the Nectite race slowly died off leaving only a handful across the world. The remaining 'leaders' of the species gathered sometime during the 16th century to create a council in hopes of maintaining the protection of the mountains should their numbers dwindle to nothing. It was during this time that they found a new spell that would strip their physical form and put their energy into the nether, allowing them to live forever. This spell was very similar to the one originally cast upon the Vicci with some slight modifications. This overseeing council proceeded to watch the mountains and ensure that someone was always there to protect in during their time of need.

Historical Exceptions

While the sentinel mountains are designed to sustain exactly one active Nectite Protector at any given historical moment, there have been a few unexplained anomalies have shattered this baseline rule:

The 1929 Filcher Anomaly

In 1928, Stewart Filcher was siphoning the power grid of Cambiare Rock to serve as the active protector. However, due to rare, pre-existing telepathic and psionic human abilities possessed by Filcher prior to his mortal death, his mind was able to resist the amnesiac detachment protocols. Breaking free from the mountain's geographical tethers, Filcher hijacked the siphoned essence of the rock to mutate into The Dark Killer, bypassing the physical boundaries that traditionally terminate a rogue Nectite.

The Mountain

The mountain in New Prairie is not the only one of it’s kind in the world. There are similar mountains throughout the world, one on each continent including one on the lost continent of Atlantis. The mountains all look identical, containing an underground entrance at the base of the mountain that allows access into the center. The entranceways to these tombs are usually hidden or caved in to hinder the entrance of unwanted people.

Known Nectites

• Stewart Filcher (1928 - 1929]]
• Winston Cooke (19?? - 19??)
• Gravestone (1986 - 2004)