The Nine were the Firstborn of Ur, who aided him in his murder of Pel the Youth, and drank Pel's blood with Ur to gain immortality.
Some sided with Ur after they were cast from the Valley of Man; these were Judas and Jazibel, Absolmos Who Forgave, and Djehuty.
Others became his enemies; these were Ulthar, Xerxes, and the Unspoken.
The last two went their own ways; these were the Red-Maned Lion and Jaderoth.
Those With Ur:
Absolmos Who Forgave:
Absolmos was the Third of Nine, the third to follow Ur into immortality and shadow. He was a mercurial man, prone to brooding and to lightness, equally quickly, and in a fit of such fancy, he chose to forgive Ur, though he still felt bitterness over the First Murderer's trickery. Absolmos was given the Dark Gift of Shapes. There was no shape that Absolmos could not take, and he used this transformation to seek out new and different experiences, as he was wont to do.
The Dhampire bloodline of Absolmos are called the Absolmai, or the Absolmians. They are mercurial, quick to change, flighty, indecisive, and inquisitive by nature, always seeking new experiences. They possess the Dark Gift of Shapes as Absolmos did, and know the First, Second, and Fourth Blood Riddles.
Djehuty:
Djehuty, who's original name is forgotten, was the Fifth of Nine, the fifth to follow Ur in the murder of Pel the Youth. He was a brilliant man, a scholar and a philosopher, with a contemplative manner and a shining wit. He was also proud, and this pride led him to support Ur. Djehuty was given the Dark Gift of Sights. He could gaze into the future and the past, cast scryes and prophecy. It is said that he could also reach forward in time to twist events to more pleasing outcomes.
The Dhampire bloodline of Djehuty are called the Djehutayi, or the Djehutians. They are, like their father, intelligent, quick-witted, prideful, and philosophical. They possess the Dark Gift of Sights, and know the Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth Blood Riddles.
Jazibel and Judas:
Jazibel and Judas were brother and sister, the Fourth and Sixth of Nine, respectively. Jazibel and Judas were also lovers. They were beautiful and passionate, emotional always, and devoted to one another. Jazibel's vanity drove her to aid Ur, and Judas' devotion to her drove him to the same dark deed. Jazibel and Judas were given the Dark Gift of Desires. They could inspire love or devotion, hatred or fear, lust or loathing, at a glance. Jazibel once made an army of men fall madly in love with her, and Judas in jealous rage made the same army slay themselves with their own swords.
The Dhampire bloodline of Jazibel and Judas are called the Corai, after the name of the noble house to which Jazibel and Judas belonged, or the Corians. They are are all beautiful, emotional, and passionate. They are also vain, and decadent in their passions and orgies. They possess the Dark Gift of Desires and the Second, Fourth, and Eigth Blood Riddles.
Those Against Ur:
Ulthar:
Ulthar was the Second of Nine, the second to follow Ur in his sin. He was a dark, troubled man, who heard strange whispers that no-one else heard, and who was driven by bizarre, unnameable urges. It was this madness that drove Ulthar to aid Ur in murdering Pel the Youth. Ulthar was given the Dark Gift of Whispers. He could speak with strange beings that most do not dream of, convince the dead to rise, talk dreams into becoming reality, and whisper new things into reality. He could whisper himself sideways into the Othe Places, and that is how he eventually dissapeared. The Dark Gift of Whispers is not well understood, even by Ultharai, and thus, there are few skilled in it's use.
The Dhampire bloodline of Ulthar are called the Ultharai, or the Ultharians. They are similar to their parent in madness and darkness, and likewise hear the gibbered whispers of the Other Things. They possess the Dark Gift of Whispers, and possess the Second, Sixth, and Ninth Blood Riddles.
Xerxes:
Xerxes was the Seventh of Nine, the seventh to walk forever into night. He was a warrior, fierce, bold, and strong, always looking for adventure and challenge. He joined Ur in Pel's murder simply for boredom, and it was because of this unthinking mistake that he became so bitter and full of rage. Xerxes was given the Dark Gift of Might. He smote a mountain to pieces with his fist so that he might lead his bloodline on to further conquest.
The Dhampire bloodline of Xerxes are called the Xerxai, or the Xerxeans. They are fierce, courageous, head-strong, stubborn, self-confident, and quick to anger. They possess the Dark Gift of Might, and the First, Second, and Third Blood Riddles.
He Who's Name Was Devoured or The Unspoken:
The Unspoken had a name once, and under that name he was the First of Nine, the first to bloody his hands with Ur, and Ur's strong right-hand. It was the Unspoken who slashed the throat of Pel the Youth as the other Nine restrained him, and the Unspoken who drank of Pel's blood first after Ur. The Unspoken's trust and friendship with Ur was shattered when he was cast from the Valley of Man. Bitter and rage-filled, He Who's Name Was Devoured turned against Ur, and became forever a hated enemy. His Dark Gift was revoked by Ur when he committed his Great Crime and dissapeared, and his children were given one anew.
The Dhampire bloodline of the Unspoken are the Loathed Ones. Filled with rage, hatred, and self-loathing, the Loathed Ones seek to sequester themselves away from all others, and those who pursue must be destroyed. Theirs is the Dark Gift of Dissapearance, and with this Dark Gift may they become invisible, a mist or a shadow, or a half-recalled memory. The Loathed Ones used their Dark Gift to erase the visage and name of their parent forever. All beings now have forgotten his existence, save the Loathed Ones and Ur, though all beings in existence also secretly loath him for his Great Crime, which has also been forgotten. The Loathed Ones possess no Blood Riddles.
The Unspoken still exists, self-flagellant and self-loathing, stewing in rage and pain and loneliness. He is perhaps still a Dhampire, or perhaps he has become Something Else.
Those Alone:
The Red-Maned Lion:
The Red-Maned Lion was the Eigth of Nine, and went into darkness only half-willingly. It was his friend, Judas, Brother of Jazibel, who convinced him to aid Ur. The Red-Maned Lion was vicious, cruel, and animalistic, and revelled in living like a beast. He was repugnantly ugly, but laughed at his deformities. His Dark Gift was the Dark Gift of Beasts. With this Gift he became a monster, a ghoul and a destroyer who preyed on children and the weak.
The Dhampire bloodline of the Red-Maned Lion are the Brochai, after his noble house of old, also called the Brochians. They are, like their father, vicious, cruel, evil, and savage, bestial barbarians and monsters, who's forms are twisted and awful. They possess the Dark Gift of Beasts, and the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Blood Riddles.
Jaderoth:
Jaderoth was the Ninth of Nine, the last of all to join Ur's cause. He was a quiet man, reserved and brooding, more at home among the bones of the dead than among the living. When the bloody business of Pel's murder was done, Jaderoth remained behind to make an undead servant of Pel's corpse. He possessed the Dark Gift of Necromancy. With this Gift he created an army of the dead, and built himself a kingdom of bones.
The Dhampire bloodline of Jaderoth are the Jaderothai, or the Jaderothians. They are quiet, pale, dark-minded and intelligent, with hidden tempers and sly, manipulative ways. They possess the Dark Gift of Necromancy and are the only bloodline to possess all the Blood Riddles.
