Corrupt
2007 by CL
Born of nightmares, the corrupt epitomize every terrible facet of life, including the most horrifying folk tales that scare children into obedience. Many sparks die quickly, the nightmare being too weak to fuel them for long. Those that blossom fully, however, can live for millennia, their deaths coming only by steel or the slow painful retirement of imagination. The more prosperous the time, the fewer the Corrupt; complete happiness would wipe them out.
Opposite the Corrupt are the Fae, the dream-born that rule the outersphere and mingle with mortals, though many Corrupt don't differ much in appearance from their cousins. The Corrupt are not welcomed by Fae society in general, though the few that aren't predatorial or downright evil are occasionally given a chance by openminded Fae. For all intents and purposes, the Fae and Corrupt are different sides of the same coin, and are sometimes interchangeable. Both are considered to have fae blood, though neither side will gladly admit that.
On Being Corrupt
Corrupt, like the nightmares that spawn them, can take on any form imaginable. Often they are twisted monstrous creatures that fill the world with fear and contempt. Demonic beings with horns and tails, dire beasts with glowing eyes, and even vampires that leech physical energy are born to this race, though sometimes a simple tax collector or gentle giant can be formed from the same terror. Some can appear similar to others, but the sheer variety of appearances can be a very confusing thing for mortals to understand, as their desire to categorize leaves them without a proper description.
The outersphere holds the realm the Corrupt call home, an ethereal world of the insubstantial that only those blessed - or cursed - with fae blood can see or interact with. Outside Elyssia, the only known city, the Corrupt struggle to survive against one another. Most sparks that survive and become Corrupt elect to leave the outersphere, preferring to mislead the pathetic mortals into believing they are all-powerful, or simply fulfill the roles of monsters and demons to continue their kind. Those that remain often are predatory, either hunting the Fae as food, or leeching power from the other nightmare spawn. Those that do not fit this mold either become prey or loners, or try to fit in with the misfits on the outskirts of the Fae court.
Unlike the Fae, the Corrupt must use a more dangerous and intangible method of travel: shadow. This plentiful portal type is used by many to strike fear into the mundane, particularly children, allowing them an abundant supply of energy. Thus are born stories of the bogeyman and other creatures that go bump in the night. Only the most knowledgable (or paranoid) realize that the best way to repel these beings is to leave the light on.
Like the Fae, there is an acknowledgment of the existence of the deities, though instead of ignoring them they are sometimes willing to pay some homage. If they find favor with a god, they are likely to exploit that to their advantage.
The Power That Is
Because of the nature of their birth, the Corrupt are strongly connected to mortal thoughts and emotions. Because of this link, they have some power over them, but are also reliant upon them for energy. This symbiotic relationship is a delicate balance, and taking too much or too little can have disasterous effects. The type of emotion needed to feed a Corrupt depends upon their origins. Fear, hatred, depression, anger, jealousy, greed, and frustration are but a few of the fuels available to these twisted creatures. Without drawing from these emotions, the corrupt will die a horrible death and fade to nothing; drawing too much can destroy the mind of the mortal, causing a coma, permanent brain damage, or even death, though this effect can also be fuel for the more sadistic.
When replenished with enough emotional fuel, a corrupt is capable of warping reality, either in truth or by illusion. They may shape their bodies to those of trees, chairs, or even other people. They are almost always seen in their true form as it enhances the fear-fuel they desire. Those with more patience - or who have mundane greed in their hearts - will shift into mortal form and connive their way into mundane society to gain a sense of power and a seat from which to play dangerous political games.
Like their Fae cousins, the Corrupt are susceptible to allergies, though purification actually increases the reaction. Gold is a particularly strong poison for them, and they will avoid it with all haste. A single bullet of gold can put them into a coma, if not throw them into toxic shock and kill them. Touching gold will cause instant first degree burns, which will quickly become second and third degree if contact isn't broken.