Shadowdroppers and Rainbow Drinker Headcanons
Both are hereditary and can be passed on to descendants.
Any caste is able to acquire their traits.
Both are able to turn others, effectively increasing the size of the gene pool.
Both are able to live for an extremely long time, rivaling that of Seadweller lifespans.
It is possible to be both a rainbow drinker and shadowdropper.
Both have extremely heightened senses.
There are autoimmune disorders that can attack either expression.
Magic can turn someone into a drinker or dropper, but these are inherently different than those that occur naturally and can be unpredictable and dangerous (they’re usually curses.)
A long time ago at some point in Troll evolution, a virus infected Trollkind creating an immunodeficiency for iron, forcing the Troll to crave high concentrations of blood.
Over time this virus created a mutual bond with its host, enabling for increase strength, up-regulation of enamel, increased production of melanin for protection against the sun while creating a heavy boost to the immune system to keep the Troll free of blood-based diseases.
The glowing skin was a mutation within the Jadeblood portion of the vampiric population, allowing for better sight and navigation in the underground caverns. Over time, this mutation also became common enough in the gene pool to where most if not all Trolls with rainbow drinker genetics can glow.
Most of the time, the genes that express drinkerism are turned off until specific criteria is met-- either through aging or through what is known as the “First Death.”
When a Troll with drinker genes is killed/dies, their body is put into torpor while the drinker genes begin to activate to heal and reanimate the body. They are not truly “dead,” but culturally are labeled “undead” for this reason. This can only ever happen once to a rainbow drinker; the next time, they die for good.
They still need to eat and sleep, but at less intervals.
Blood allows the rainbow drinker to appear younger and more lively.
Rainbow drinkers have a type of venom in their bites that, when injected into the victim, increases the production of feel-good hormones and shocks the victim into a state of paralysis. This allows the drinker to easily feed from their prey by tricking the victim into a state of intense pleasure.
All Jades have the rainbow drinker gene.
In order to change someone else into a drinker, not only would the victim have to get their blood (mostly, not all) drained but the victim must also consume the drinker’s blood.
Drinkers have quick regeneration abilities, so even if injured they won’t be for long. Drinking blood speeds this along!
Rainbow Drinkers have something known as a “blood kiss.” That is, their own blood can be secreted through their lips. This can be used to heal others’ wounds.
Shadow Droppers are also known as Shiftbeasts or Shifters.
Shadow Droppers can take the form of only one animal, but there are countless types of Shadow Droppers out there. It relies on the genetics, what is inherited, and what is given.
Shadow Droppers can have increased senses based on their animal type. For example, canine shifters may have a strong sense of hearing or smell, while avian shifters might have very strong eyesight that can see for miles.
They can only change others through saliva contact on open wounds or through ingesting their saliva.
Which means that this was also a disease once upon a time that became an evolutionary phenomena.
Their entire bodies are changed into the animal the shift into. This includes rapid bone growth or reduction, rapid hair, feather, membrane, or scale growth, and much more. They are able to shift freely back and forth.
However, some shifters get “stuck” in an in-between phase. They cannot get out of this, and over time it greatly impacts their sanity. Some cultures refer to these as “Halfbloods” and they are highly dangerous.
They are seen more culturally as “monsters” and it is always legal to kill them regardless of caste. Unlike with rainbow drinkers, shadow droppers are seen by the Government as Mutants.
Even though they are able to change forms, the Troll’s horns still remain present even in their shifted form.
