What Is A +Anima?

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~What Is A +Anima?~

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The concept of +anima is a pretty simple one that even those who haven't read the series should be able to grasp easily; +Anima are essentially a type of shape-shifter.

+Anima are humans with animal features, such as ears, claws, wings, tails, enhanced senses or abilities, etc. Each +anima is based on a specific animal, and one animal only. However, the +anima can choose to keep these features hidden, and assume a purely human form to disguise themselves until they need their animal abilities or features. In this form, the only thing that distinguishes them from regular humans is a tattoo-like marking somewhere on their body, the design of which varies depending on their animal. They can switch between their human forms and their +anima forms completely at will. They are similar to shifters or were-beasts, except for the fact that they don't transform completely into their animal, always remaining at least partially human in appearance.

Of course, most regular humans either fear them, are jealous of them, or simply think of them as beasts. Though attitudes vary, many people see +anima as no longer human.

People aren't born as +anima. Anyone has a chance at becoming a +anima if a certain set of conditions are met:

• They are 14 years of age or younger
  
• They are in life-threatening danger
  
• They have the will to live
  
• There is an animal nearby who's abilities could help them survive this danger
  

For example, a child who was drowning may become a fish +anima (and therefore gain the ability to breath underwater when in their +anima form and survive), and one who fell from a cliff might become a bird +anima (and therefore gain the ability to survive by flying) providing that there was some type of bird nearby. Likewise, someone who was being chased could become something like a rabbit +anima, and therefore become able to run fast enough to survive. In this way, they essentially become possessed by an animal spirit - an anima - that chooses to become part of them in order to save them.

However, people don't always stay +anima forever. Once they get older, and oftentimes no longer have any need for their animal abilities at all, the anima sometimes chooses to leave them. This varies in a case by case basis. Some people remain +anima forever, and others lose theirs fairly quickly. Though in the world of this RP, +anima have been losing their animas less and less frequently, leading to an overall increase in their numbers.

That's about all there is to it~

There is one other way for someone to become a +anima/return to being completely human, but it is very minor and uncommon:

*Spoilers for all the way up to +Anima Vol. 10*

SPOILER: Click to show

There are labs that can remove anima from people by surgically getting rid of their markings (something the Caminus faction would want for themselves and believes should be more widely utilized). By transplanting the markings onto someone else, the anima can effectively be transplanted into them, turning them into a man-made +anima. However, as most people don't really want more +anima around, especially in times like these, such labs are very uncommon.

It's perfectly fine for characters to be made with this as the reason they are +anima, but as this is something uncommon, I don't want to see a ton of characters popping up with this background. Note that if you do use this information in your character's background, please put it in spoiler tags.

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If you have any questions on the concept of +anima as it relates to this board, and that aren't answered in the F.A.Q., feel free to PM me.

~A Few More Things You Might Want To Know~

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Not necessarily related to the +anima concept, but here are a few more facts about the world in general that you might want to make a note of if you haven't read the series:

• +Anima are kept as slaves in Sailand, and have been for many years. Enslaved +anima are easy to distinguish by the collars they are forced to wear around their necks.
  
  
• The world currency is called Gillah. 1 Gillah= 1 dollar or 100 yen. 1 Pillah = 1 cent or 1 yen.
  
  
• Both Astaria and Sailand are monarchies. Sailand's king has his own personal collection of queens, and therefore, many princes and princesses. Astar is the capital of Astaria and Stella is the capital of Sailand.
  
  
• The world is very old fashioned and the culture is very young. No modern technology exists. That means no guns, no cars, no light-bulbs, or anything of the sort, period.
  
  
• There are a tribal people called the Kim-Un-Kur that are settled on Moss Mountain, between the two countries. They have many +anima in their population, and are rumored to have something to do with the origin of +anima, though no one knows for sure.
  
  
• Sailand has a warmer, more tropical climate than Astaria, which is the harsher and colder country geographically.
  

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