Race: the Kin

Kin are short, wiry, and furry, with large slightly pointy ears and large sharp teeth.   They stand about 5 feet tall, with dark colored fur that ranges from gray to black to dark red or brown in varying patterns that are usually extremely subtle and faint, difficult to see unless one is very close.

Kin are extremely adaptable. They generally live in live in small troupes, and may be found in any and every possible environment, some in hidden enclaves in an around major cities. They are naturally stealthy and sneaky, with a fair amount of skill in magic.

Kin form close and intense relationships with groups of other Kin,  and they form what amounts to a simple telepathic or empathic connection with each other. This connection persists even when one Kin is corrupted by the Blood, and the changes expeienced by the corrupted Kin will actually pass through his bond to the others of his troupe. Thus, undead Kin almost always come in groups.  The bond itself does not appear to be magical in nature.

Note that undead Kin (Shadekin, to be discussed later) are almost indistinguishable from their living  brethren, save for being stronger both physically and magically, and with an uncanny ability to disappear into shadows and reappear elsewhere. Many Kin will in fact actively seek to fall to the blood purposely, and convert their troupe with them. The only physical difference between  a Kin and a Shadekin is that the patterns in their fur - which are subtle differences in fur color/shade and difficult to see under the best circumstance - will change so that they form mystical patterns and writing, which move and shift constantly.

It is assumed that the Kin have their own language, but if so it is a secret carefully kept from other races. Hence the fact that the race is named in the human tongue.