{{DISPLAYTITLE:Arch}}

An '''Arch''' is the leading role associated with a [[Bloodlines|Bloodline]]. The existing hierarchy guide describes the Arch as the progenitor and highest authority of the Bloodline, responsible for guiding its community and helping its lineage grow.

__TOC__

== Legacy threshold awaiting verification ==

<blockquote>
'''Unverified legacy information:''' The older hierarchy guide stated that becoming an Arch required 125 total members. That threshold was not confirmed by current documentation during the 2026 audit and should be treated as historical until the game owner verifies it.
</blockquote>

== Leadership guidance ==

The existing guide preserves the following community expectations for the role:

'''Community Engagement''': Archs must actively engage with the community, fostering a positive and inclusive environment within the bloodline. They should participate in discussions, events, and help resolve conflicts among members impartially.

'''Leadership Skills''': Archs should demonstrate strong leadership qualities, such as effective communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. They should be able to inspire and motivate others, leading by example and guiding members toward common goals. Commitment to Improvement: Archs must show a commitment to continuously improving the bloodline and the community as a whole. They should be open to feedback, willing to listen to suggestions from other members, and actively seek ways to enhance the experience.

'''Fairness and Impartiality''': Archs should be fair and impartial in their dealings with other members, avoiding favoritism or bias. They must uphold the rules and standards of the community, ensuring that all members are treated equally and respectfully.

'''Collaborative Spirit''': Archs should encourage collaboration and teamwork among members, promoting cooperation and mutual support. They should be able to delegate tasks effectively and recognize the contributions of others to the bloodline's success.

'''Vision for the Bloodline''': Archs should have a clear vision for the bloodline's future, with goals that align with the interests and aspirations of its members. They should be able to articulate this vision and inspire others to work towards it.

'''Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution''': Archs must possess diplomatic skills, able to navigate conflicts and disagreements peacefully and constructively. They should strive to maintain harmony within the bloodline and mediate disputes when necessary.

'''Adherence to Ethical Standards''': Archs should adhere to ethical standards, acting with integrity and honesty in all their interactions. They should prioritize the well-being of the community and avoid actions that could harm or disadvantage other members.

'''Knowledge and Experience''': Archs should have a good understanding of the lore and dynamics of the bloodline. They should also have experience in leadership roles or relevant areas that contribute to their effectiveness as an Arch.

'''Continuous Learning and Adaptability''': Archs should be willing to learn and adapt to new challenges and changes within the community. They should stay informed about updates, trends, and best practices to keep the bloodline vibrant and competitive.

== See also ==
* [[Player Hierarchy]]
* [[Bloodlines]]
* [[Clans]]
* [[Dynasties]]

[[Category:Player Hierarchy]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Hunters}}

<blockquote>
''Between the living and the creatures of darkness stand those who have chosen the blade.''
</blockquote>

'''Hunters''' are one of the four playable species in ''Descendants of Darkness''. They fight with bladed weapons, draw upon Energy, and can place '''Hunter Protection''' on living regular humans. Protection reduces the damage a human receives while it is being built and, once completed, allows the Hunter to receive distress alerts when that human is in danger.

This page covers the Hunter-specific parts of play. For rules shared by every species, see [[Gameplay]], [[Combat]], and the [[Descendants of Darkness Main HUD|Main HUD guide]].

__TOC__

== Quick reference ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Feature !! Hunter rule
|-
| Primary resource || Energy
|-
| Combat identity || Bladed weapons
|-
| Unique human ability || Hunter Protection
|-
| Valid Protection target || A living regular human
|-
| Partial Protection expiry || After 7 days without further progress
|-
| Completed Protection duration || 21 days
|-
| Damage mitigation || Half of the Protection percentage, up to 50%
|-
| Website records || Hunter Protections, Protected Human Kills, and the private Protected Human Tracker
|}

== Hunter identity and role ==

Hunters are Energy-based combatants whose gameplay centres on bladed weapons and the defence of regular humans. Their role is not limited to protection: Hunters can fight other players, confront [[Abominations]], advance through the same age-based combat system as the other species, and take part in the wider hierarchy of the game.

No separate Hunter creator is established in the current wiki lore. Hunter identity is therefore defined here by its player-facing role and abilities rather than by an invented origin.

== Energy and combat ==

Hunters use '''Energy''' rather than Blood. A Self Scan or public player scan shows current and maximum Energy; maximum capacity, combat strength, attack range, and scanning range develop through the [[Player Age Groups|age groups]]. See the [[Self Scan|Self-Scan guide]] for the fields shown by the HUD.

Hunter attacks use '''bladed weapons''' as their species identity. Damage and attack rate remain consistent with other species in the same age group; see [[Species-Specific Attacks]] and [[Combat]] for the shared rules.

Hunters do not gain Energy by damaging regular humans. They can gain Energy through qualifying combat against players and Abominations, and making real Hunter Protection progress can also restore Energy.

== Interactions with regular humans ==

A regular human is not a registered player. Humans have their own blood level and can be examined with the HUD's [[Scan Others#Human Scan|Human Scan]]. Hunters may attack regular humans, but their defining human ability is Protection.

Hunter Protection works only on a '''living regular human'''. It cannot be applied to:

* Registered players
* [[Abominations]]
* Dead humans


== Hunter Protection ==

[[Hunter Protection]] is the Hunter ability used on living regular humans. Partial progress reduces incoming damage; completion at 100% begins a 21-day Protection, records the protecting Hunter, and enables distress alerts. The standalone guide covers progress, expiry, mitigation, alerts, Protected Human Kills, the private tracker, and its relationship with [[Witch Resurrection]].

== Hunters and Abominations ==

Abominations cannot receive Hunter Protection. They are separate combat targets that can carry larger blood stores and individual Essence rewards. Qualifying combat against them can restore Hunter Energy. See [[Abominations]] for scanning, rewards, and tracking information.

== Statistics and scanning ==

Hunter-related information appears across the HUD and website:

* Self and public player scans use '''Energy''' for Hunters and may identify their current species and Order affiliation.
* Human scans can display Protection progress.
* Player profiles can display Hunter Protections and Protected Human Kills.
* Website leaderboards rank Hunter Protections and Protected Human Kills.
* The private Protected Human Tracker records relevant protected-human activity.

For scanning ranges, public and private scan fields, and human status information, see the [[Scan Others|Scan Others guide]].

== Hierarchy and changing species ==

Hunters take part in the game's wider lineage and organisational systems. See [[Player Hierarchy]] for the current hierarchy guide and [[Species Change]] for the in-world device used to change species.

Species choice affects your resource, combat identity, human ability, affiliation type, and roleplay. Review the cost and current restrictions before changing.

== Rules ==

The [[Guidelines and Etiquette|Dark Oath]] applies to Hunters as it does to every player. In particular, scans and system information are protected by the Masquerade and must not be disclosed to non-players.

== See also ==

* [[Witches]]
* [[Hunter Protection]]
* [[Witch Resurrection]]
* [[Gameplay]]
* [[Combat]]
* [[Descendants of Darkness Main HUD]]
* [[Species-Specific Attacks]]
* [[Abominations]]
* [[Player Hierarchy]]
* [[Species Change]]

[[Category:Gameplay]]

Guidelines and Etiquette

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Ninja: Consolidate audited content into canonical standalone guide

Dynasty and Clan Activity Scores

2026-08-11T20:46:43Z

Ninja: Consolidate audited content into canonical standalone guide

= Dynasty and Clan Activity =

Dynasty and Clan Activity rewards regular, meaningful participation by members.

Supported gameplay is recorded automatically and credited to the Dynasty and Clan the player belonged to when it was performed.

Dynasty and Clan Activity is separate from a player's [[Dark Rating]].

== Activity Scores ==

[[Dynasties]] and [[Clans]] have two official activity scores:

{| class="wikitable"
! Score
! Description
|-
| '''Weekly Score'''
| Qualifying activity earned by members during the current weekly competition.
|-
| '''Lifetime Score'''
| Completed Weekly Scores accumulated since the current activity system began.
|}

The activity system follows this general process:

<pre>
Members participate in supported gameplay
↓
Activity is recorded
↓
Member reaches the weekly requirement
↓
Activity is allowed to enter the Weekly Score
↓
Fair-play and balancing limits are applied
↓
Final score is added to the Lifetime Score
</pre>

== Gameplay That Can Build Activity ==

Dynasty and Clan Activity is earned through meaningful gameplay performed with the current HUD.

Examples of gameplay that may contribute include:

* Feeding on humans.
* Feeding on other players.
* Participating in normal player-versus-player combat.
* Depositing blood into a Blood Bank.
* Reviving another player through a supported revival system.
* Siring a genuine new player.
* Fighting and defeating enemies such as Abominations.
* Participating in other supported HUD gameplay.

These examples are intended as hints rather than a complete scoring guide. Different activities may contribute differently, and not every attempt will award additional credit.

'''Important activity rules:'''

* Repeating the same action does not guarantee additional activity.
* Regular and varied gameplay is encouraged.
* Not every HUD interaction qualifies as activity.
* Internal limits control how much repeated activity can contribute.
* Activity may take some time to appear after it is performed.
* Exact point values and scoring limits are not publicly displayed.

The activity system does not add an extra resource cost to an action. However, the gameplay action itself may still use blood, energy, Essence, items, or other resources normally required by that action.

== Weekly Qualification Requirement ==

Each member must reach a set amount of qualifying activity during the week before their activity can be added to the Weekly Score.

Before the member reaches the weekly requirement:

* Their qualifying gameplay may still be recorded.
* They are not yet considered a Qualifying Member.
* Their activity does not increase the displayed Weekly Score.
* Their recorded activity remains available for the current week.

Once the member reaches the weekly requirement:

* They become a Qualifying Member.
* Their eligible activity from that week is allowed to count.
* Their contribution is included after the next score calculation.
* Internal balancing limits are still applied.

The exact qualifying amount is not publicly displayed. Keeping this requirement private prevents it from becoming a farming target.

The qualification requirement begins again at the start of every new activity week.

== Weekly Score ==

The activity week runs from Monday until the following Monday using Second Life Time.

During the week:

* Members participate in supported gameplay.
* Qualifying activity is recorded automatically.
* A member's activity does not enter the score until they reach the weekly qualification requirement.
* Dynasty and Clan scores are calculated separately.
* Scores are refreshed periodically and may not change immediately.
* Internal limits prevent repetitive activity from unfairly inflating a score.

At the end of the week, the final scores and rankings are recorded before the new competition begins.

Activity that did not meet the weekly qualification requirement is not carried forward to qualify during the following week.

== Qualifying Members ==

A Qualifying Member is someone who has reached the set participation requirement during the current activity week.

A member's activity does not contribute towards the Weekly Score until this requirement has been reached. Once reached, their eligible activity from that week can be included, subject to normal balancing limits.

The Qualifying Members value shows how many members successfully reached this requirement. The official leaderboard position is determined by the Weekly Score.

A member may have participated without becoming a Qualifying Member if:

* They have not yet reached the weekly participation requirement.
* The same interaction was repeated too often.
* Their recent activity has not yet been processed.
* Their activity was not supported by the scoring system.

The exact qualification requirement is kept internal as part of the fair-play protections.

== Membership Size ==

Dynasties and Clans are not penalized for having inactive or casual members.

'''Membership rules:'''

* A larger membership does not award activity by itself.
* Inactive members do not lower the Weekly Score.
* Removing inactive members will not improve the score.
* Only qualifying activity performed by members can increase the score.
* Roster size is not used to divide or reduce earned activity.

This allows members to participate at their own pace without becoming a burden on their Dynasty or Clan.

== Changing Dynasty or Clan ==

Activity remains with the Dynasty and Clan the player belonged to when it was earned.

If a player changes membership:

* Previously earned activity remains with the former Dynasty.
* Future activity follows the player's new Dynasty.
* Previous Clan activity remains with the former Clan.
* Future activity follows the player's new Clan.
* Changing membership does not transfer completed activity.

Activity earned under different memberships is evaluated separately. Activity earned for one Dynasty or Clan cannot be used to qualify activity for another.

If an entire Dynasty changes Clan:

* Activity already earned remains with the former Clan.
* Future activity is credited to the new Clan.

A player without a Dynasty cannot contribute towards a Dynasty score.

A Dynasty that does not belong to a Clan can earn its own Dynasty score, but it cannot contribute towards a Clan score.

== Rankings ==

Dynasties and Clans have separate activity leaderboards.

'''Leaderboard rules:'''

* Rankings are determined by the official Weekly Score.
* Higher Weekly Scores receive higher positions.
* Identical scores share the same rank.
* Rankings may change as new activity is processed.
* Final results are recorded when the weekly competition ends.
* Membership size alone does not determine the ranking.

Recent activity may not appear immediately, so players should allow time for scores and rankings to update.

== Lifetime Score ==

The Lifetime Score records completed Weekly Scores earned since the current activity system began.

The current Weekly Score is not added to the Lifetime Score until the weekly competition has ended and the results have been finalized.

'''Lifetime Score rules:'''

* Completed qualifying Weekly Scores are added to the Lifetime Score.
* Activity below the weekly qualification requirement is not added.
* Weeks without an earned score do not subtract anything.
* Previous scores remain with the Dynasty or Clan that earned them.
* Membership changes do not move finalized scores.
* Activity from before the current scoring system began is not included.

The Weekly Score shows current participation, while the Lifetime Score represents long-term participation.

== Fair-Play Protection ==

Dynasty and Clan Activity is intended to reward genuine gameplay rather than repetitive score farming.

For this reason:

* Exact activity point values are kept internal.
* The weekly qualification requirement is not publicly displayed.
* Per-member scoring limits are not publicly displayed.
* Repeating the same interaction may stop providing additional credit.
* The same scoring rules are applied to every Dynasty and Clan.
* Internal scoring protections may be adjusted when necessary.
* Activity performed only to manipulate a score is not considered genuine participation.

Players do not need to follow a special routine. Using the HUD normally and participating throughout the game is the intended way to contribute.

== Dark Rating and Legacy ==

'''[[Dark Rating]]''' is a personal measurement of recent activity.

Dark Rating does not calculate, add to, or multiply a Dynasty or Clan Weekly Score. The two systems use separate calculations.

'''[[Legacy|Legacy]]''' measures the strength and activity of a player's family tree. Dark Rating is one of the factors used by Legacy, but Legacy does not determine Dynasty or Clan Activity Scores.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

'''Why did our Weekly Score remain unchanged even though members were active?'''

A member's activity is not added to the Weekly Score until they reach the set weekly qualification requirement.

Their activity may have been recorded, but it will not contribute until they qualify and the score is processed.

'''What happens when a member reaches the weekly requirement?'''

They become a Qualifying Member, and their eligible activity from that week is allowed to enter the Weekly Score after processing.

'''Does the weekly requirement carry over?'''

No. Members must qualify again during each new activity week.

'''Why did the score not change immediately after a member qualified?'''

Scores are processed periodically. The contribution may not appear until the next calculation.

'''Do inactive members lower our score?'''

No. Inactive members add nothing, but they do not reduce the score.

'''Can removing members improve our score?'''

No. Removing an inactive member does not improve previously earned scores.

'''Does having more members automatically increase our score?'''

No. Membership size alone does not award activity. Members must participate in qualifying gameplay.

'''Does Dark Rating determine our Weekly Score?'''

No. Dark Rating and Dynasty or Clan Activity are separate systems.

'''Does changing Dynasty move my previous activity?'''

No. Previous activity remains with the Dynasty and Clan where it was earned. Only future activity follows the new membership.

'''Why did my gameplay not make me a Qualifying Member?'''

You may not have reached the weekly participation requirement, the interaction may have reached an internal limit, or the activity may still be waiting to be processed.

== See also ==
* [[Player Hierarchy]]
* [[Dynasties]]
* [[Clans]]
* [[Dark Rating]]
* [[Legacy]]

[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Player Hierarchy]]

Dark Rating

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Ninja: Consolidate audited content into canonical standalone guide

Bounties

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Ninja: Consolidate audited content into canonical standalone guide

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Bounties}}

<blockquote>
''Every debt has a name. Every bounty has a price.''
</blockquote>

The '''Bounty System''' lets you put a price on another player's head, and rewards whoever kills that target in valid Descendants of Darkness PvP combat.

Bounties are placed on the Descendants of Darkness website. Claims are settled automatically by the game the moment your HUD records a valid kill — there is nothing to redeem and no claim button to press.

Several players can fund the same target, so rivalries, revenge and old grudges stack into one much larger reward. Bounties use '''Essence only'''; there are no Linden-dollar bounties.

__TOC__

== Quick reference ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Rule !! Current value
|-
| Where bounties are placed || [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/bounties Bounty Board] on the website
|-
| Minimum addition || 5 Essence
|-
| Maximum addition || 1,000 Essence
|-
| Contract fee || 10% of every placement or top-up, paid on top of the reward
|-
| Activation delay || 5 minutes on every new placement or top-up
|-
| Preset durations || 1, 3 or 7 days
|-
| Custom duration || 1–90 whole days
|-
| Permanent option || No deadline
|-
| Maximum open targets per player || 10
|-
| Maximum unresolved reward from one player on one target || 1,000 Essence
|-
| Maximum unresolved reward on one target from everyone || 10,000 Essence
|-
| Anonymous bounties || Not available — every bounty is identified
|-
| Assists or split rewards || Not available — the killer takes the reward
|}

== Opening the Bounty Board ==

Sign in at [https://descendantsofdarkness.com descendantsofdarkness.com] and choose '''Gameplay → Bounties''', or go straight to [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/bounties descendantsofdarkness.com/bounties].

The Bounty Board is available to any logged-in player. There is no in-world placement interface; bounties are placed through the website only.

== Placing a bounty ==

# Open the '''Bounty Board'''.
# Select '''Place a bounty'''.
# Search for the player you want to target.
# Check their name, avatar, species, organisation and status to be sure you have the right account.
# Enter a whole Essence reward between '''5 and 1,000'''.
# Choose a timed duration, or '''No deadline'''.
# Request the review.
# Check the reward, fee, total cost, remaining balance, activation time and deadline.
# Confirm that you understand the activation, refund and cancellation rules.
# Pay the total and place the bounty.

The review screen is priced by the game itself, so the cost you see is the real cost at that moment. Once you confirm, the window becomes a receipt showing what you paid, when the reward activates, its deadline and the new total on the target. You do not need to leave the window open for the payment to complete.

=== Who can place a bounty ===

You must be '''alive''' to place or top up a bounty.

You cannot:

* Place a bounty on yourself.
* Place or top up a bounty while dead or Hibernated.
* Exceed the open-contract or reward limits.
* Spend more Essence than you hold.

Your target must be huntable. Alive and Hibernated players are valid targets. Players in other states may still appear in search so you can confirm you have the right account, but they will be marked unavailable and cannot be selected.

=== Choosing the reward ===

Every placement or top-up adds a '''whole Essence amount''' between '''5 and 1,000'''.

The amount you enter is the advertised reward. The 10% fee is charged on top and never reduces what the claimant receives.

{| class="wikitable"
! Advertised reward !! 10% fee !! Total you pay !! Available to the claimant
|-
| 5 Essence || 0.50 Essence || 5.50 Essence || 5 Essence
|-
| 100 Essence || 10 Essence || 110 Essence || 100 Essence
|-
| 1,000 Essence || 100 Essence || 1,100 Essence || 1,000 Essence
|}

=== The contract fee ===

Every placement and every top-up carries a '''10% contract fee'''. The fee is:

* Charged in addition to the advertised reward.
* Taken immediately when the placement is confirmed.
* Never part of the claimable bounty — it leaves the economy entirely.
* Kept if the bounty later expires.
* Kept if your own contribution is returned because you claimed the target yourself.

Each top-up is a fresh commitment of Essence, so each one is charged its own fee.

=== Choosing a duration ===

* '''1 day'''
* '''3 days'''
* '''7 days'''
* '''Custom''' — any whole number of days from 1 to 90
* '''No deadline'''

A timed duration starts when the new Essence '''activates''', not when you pay for it, so the five-minute wait never eats into the time you bought. Deadlines are shown in your local time.

=== The five-minute activation period ===

Every new placement and top-up waits '''five minutes''' before it can be claimed. During that time:

* The reward and fee have already been paid.
* The target is warned that new Essence has been placed on them.
* The new reward shows as '''Pending activation'''.
* The new reward cannot be claimed.

The pending period is '''not''' an undo window. Once you confirm, the Essence is committed.

Topping up a target does not shelter them either — only the new money waits. Any older active money stays claimable throughout.

If the target dies before your new money activates, it is not paid out for that kill. It stays unresolved and can become claimable in a later life.

=== Bounties are public ===

Bounties are never anonymous. Any logged-in player can see who placed what. A target's details may show:

* The placer's identity.
* Their combined unresolved reward on that target.
* The first placement time and the most recent top-up.
* Activation information.
* The deadline, or No deadline.
* Whether the money is active, pending, paused or on hold.

Choose your enemies carefully — the name behind the bounty is part of the game.

== Adding to an existing bounty ==

You can add Essence to a bounty placed by another player, or top up one of your own.

Contributions stay separately identified, but every claimable contribution on a target is combined and paid out together when they die.

If you already have an open bounty on that target, your new payment is treated as a top-up to it. When topping up your own timed bounty you may:

* '''Keep the current deadline''', if enough time remains for the new money to activate.
* '''Extend the deadline''', measured from the new activation time.
* Switch the bounty to '''No deadline'''.

A deadline can never be shortened, and a No deadline bounty cannot be turned back into a timed one.

Every top-up has its own 10% fee, its own five-minute activation, warns the target, and counts towards your limits. Rapid top-ups may be grouped into a single warning to avoid flooding the target with messages, but every payment is still recorded and visible.

== Limits ==

These limits keep the Essence economy stable and stop the board being dominated by a single player.

{| class="wikitable"
! Limit !! Meaning
|-
| 10 open targets per placer || You may have unresolved Essence committed against no more than 10 different targets at once.
|-
| 1,000 unresolved Essence per placer, per target || Your combined unresolved contributions on any one target cannot exceed 1,000 Essence.
|-
| 10,000 unresolved Essence per target || All contributions from every player on one target cannot exceed 10,000 Essence.
|}

Limits are checked again when you confirm. Reviewing a bounty does not reserve your Essence or hold a slot, so a placement can still be refused if something changes while you decide.

== Claiming a bounty ==

A bounty is claimed automatically when the target is killed in a valid, HUD-recorded PvP fight. If the combat qualifies, the game settles the bounty as part of the death.

=== Deaths that count ===

{| class="wikitable"
! Event !! Bounty result
|-
| Valid HUD PvP kill || '''Counts'''
|-
| Valid official Challenge kill || '''Counts'''
|-
| Hunger death || Does not count
|-
| Administrative death || Does not count
|-
| Challenge penalty || Does not count
|-
| Any other non-PvP death or status change || Does not count
|}

Only the player the HUD recognises as the killer can receive a bounty.

=== What is paid ===

At the moment of a valid kill, the game gathers every contribution on the target that is active and claimable — nothing pending, paused, on hold or expired.

All qualifying contributions resolve together, and the killer receives the combined reward '''on top of the normal PvP reward'''. The bounty never replaces or reduces what you would have earned anyway.

=== No assists, no split payouts ===

If several players take part in a fight, the HUD-recognised killer takes the whole claimable bounty. Clan, Dynasty, species, weapon and region make no difference to the payout.

=== Claiming a target you helped fund ===

You cannot turn your own bounty money into profit. If you funded a target and then kill them yourself:

* Your own active contribution is '''returned''' to you.
* The 10% fee on that contribution stays spent.
* Everyone else's active contributions pay out to you as normal.
* Your returned Essence is shown separately from the bounty reward.

Anything of yours still pending is neither returned nor paid for that kill, because it was never claimable. It stays unresolved for a later life.

== Bounty states and clocks ==

Not every unresolved amount is claimable at every moment. The Bounty Board separates money by its current state.

{| class="wikitable"
! Displayed state !! Claimable? !! What happens to a timed deadline
|-
| Pending activation || No || The purchased duration begins at activation.
|-
| Bounty active || '''Yes''' || The deadline counts down normally.
|-
| Bounty paused || No || The exact remaining time is saved until the target is huntable again.
|-
| On hold || No || The clock stops until the bounty is resumed.
|-
| No active bounty / closed || No || Already claimed, refunded or otherwise resolved.
|}

=== Hibernation is not immunity ===

A Hibernated player:

* Can have a bounty placed on them.
* Stays visible on the Bounty Board.
* Keeps their active bounty money showing in scans.
* Can be killed for a valid claim.
* Does '''not''' pause a timed bounty.

Hibernation helps you survive while away from the game. It does not remove you from PvP, and it does not lift the price on your head. Note that you must be alive to place a bounty — a Hibernated player can be hunted, but cannot hunt back through the board.

=== Death and other non-huntable states ===

When a target leaves every huntable state, any unresolved timed bounty on them pauses and the exact remaining time is saved. When they become huntable again, the clock resumes from that point rather than burning away while they could not legitimately be claimed.

This matters most when pending money survives a death: the active money is claimed by the kill, while the pending money waits for a future life.

== Expiry, refunds and cancellation ==

=== Timed expiry ===

When a timed bounty reaches its deadline unclaimed:

* The unresolved reward returns to whoever funded it.
* The 10% contract fee is kept.
* The expiry is recorded in Bounty History.
* The placer receives a refund notice, and the target may be told the bounty has lapsed.

=== No deadline ===

A No deadline bounty never expires on its own. The Essence stays committed until a valid PvP kill claims it, or until it is returned to you because you claimed the target yourself.

Do not choose No deadline unless you are willing to leave that Essence committed indefinitely.

=== Can I cancel a bounty? ===

No. Once confirmed, a bounty cannot be withdrawn — otherwise players would simply pull their reward the moment a target looked close to death. The five-minute activation period is not a cancellation window either.

Very rarely, a bounty may be placed '''on hold''' while a problem with it is sorted out. While on hold it cannot be claimed and its clock is stopped. If this affects a bounty you placed or one on your own head, you will be notified.

== The Bounty Board ==

The main board is the public view for logged-in players. It shows:

* Total claimable Essence across the board.
* The number of wanted players and active contracts.
* Each wanted player's identity, species, and organisation or Outlaw status.
* Their claimable reward and how many contracts are on them.
* Availability and the soonest expiry.

Only '''currently claimable''' Essence feeds the headline totals and rankings, so nothing is advertised as collectable when it isn't.

=== Searching and sorting ===

Search and filter by player name, species, organisation or Outlaw status, and deadline. Sort by highest reward, lowest reward, most contracts, newest activity, expiring soon, or player name. The default view puts the richest claimable reward first.

=== Target details ===

Opening a wanted player shows the amount claimable now, pending, paused or on hold; the total open contracts; each placer with their reward and state; placement and top-up activity; activation time; and the deadline, countdown or paused clock.

You can inspect the contracts on your own head — you just can't add to them.

=== Bounty History ===

The board keeps a paginated '''Bounty History''' of public outcomes, newest first: successful claims and automatic expiries.

A claim entry may show who claimed it, the target, the reward paid, any contribution returned to the claimant, how many contracts resolved, the identified placers, and when it happened. An expiry entry may show the target, the reward refunded, the contracts resolved, the placers, when it lapsed, and that the fee was kept.

== Bounties in scans ==

A positive, currently claimable bounty shows in player scans as a bounty total.

* Only claimable Essence is counted.
* The line is hidden entirely when the claimable total is zero.
* Pending, paused, on-hold, expired and closed money is excluded.
* Other players see the claimable price when they scan the target.
* A wanted player can see the price on their own head through a self-scan.

A scan total can therefore be lower than the unresolved total on the website, if some of that money is not yet claimable.

== Notifications ==

Bounty events are delivered through the website Notification Centre and, where possible, the HUD. You may be notified about:

* New placements and top-ups.
* Activation warnings.
* Successful claims and rewards paid.
* Your own contribution being returned to you.
* Timed expiries and refunds.
* A bounty you are involved in being placed on hold or resumed.

Targets are warned as soon as new money is placed on them, even though it does not become claimable until the five minutes are up. HUD messages use player profile links where possible so named players can be checked properly, and rapid top-ups may be grouped to reduce spam.

The Notification Centre is the lasting record. A HUD delivery problem never undoes a placement, claim, refund or any other completed Essence action.

== Worked examples ==

=== Example 1: A normal placement ===

Ninja places a 100 Essence bounty on a target for 7 days.

* Advertised reward: 100 Essence
* Contract fee: 10 Essence
* Total paid: 110 Essence
* Claimable after 5 minutes: 100 Essence, for the full 7 days

If it expires unclaimed, Ninja gets the 100 Essence back. The 10 Essence fee is gone.

=== Example 2: Several players fund one target ===

Three players hold active bounties on the same target — 100, 250 and 50 Essence. A fourth player kills them in valid HUD PvP.

The killer receives '''400 Essence''' in combined bounty rewards, plus the normal PvP reward. All three contracts resolve together.

=== Example 3: The claimant funded part of the bounty ===

Player A places 100 Essence on a target. Player B adds 250 Essence. Player A then kills the target.

Player A receives their own 100 Essence back, Player B's 250 Essence as the bounty reward, and the normal PvP reward. The 10 Essence fee A paid is not recovered.

=== Example 4: A kill during activation ===

A target already carries 200 active Essence. Another player adds 100, which begins its five-minute wait. The target is killed two minutes later.

* The 200 active Essence is claimed.
* The 100 pending Essence is not.
* That pending contribution stays unresolved, and its clock pauses until the target is huntable again.

=== Example 5: Hibernation ===

A target with a timed active bounty enters Hibernation. The bounty stays active, the deadline keeps counting down, the target stays visible in scans and rankings, and a valid PvP kill can still claim it.

== Frequently asked questions ==

=== Can I place a bounty anonymously? ===
No. Every bounty is identified.

=== Can I place a bounty on myself? ===
No.

=== Can I place a bounty while Hibernated? ===
No — you must be alive. You can still be targeted while Hibernated, though.

=== Does Hibernation pause the deadline? ===
No.

=== Does the five-minute delay let me cancel? ===
No. Your Essence is committed the moment you confirm.

=== If I top up an active bounty, does the whole thing become pending? ===
No. Only the new money waits. Existing active funds stay claimable.

=== Can I shorten a deadline when adding Essence? ===
No. You may keep it, extend it, or switch to No deadline.

=== What if the target dies while my contribution is pending? ===
It is not paid for that kill. It stays unresolved for a later huntable life.

=== Can a bounty be split between several fighters? ===
No. The HUD-recognised killer takes it.

=== Do official Challenge kills count? ===
Yes, when the Challenge produces a valid PvP kill. Challenge penalties do not.

=== Do hunger or administrative deaths pay bounties? ===
No.

=== Do I still get the normal PvP reward? ===
Yes. The bounty is paid on top of it.

=== What if I kill someone I placed a bounty on? ===
Your own active contribution comes back to you rather than paying out as profit. Other players' contributions pay you normally. Your fee is not returned.

=== What happens when a timed bounty expires? ===
The reward returns to whoever funded it, and the fee is kept.

=== Can a No deadline bounty expire? ===
No. It stays committed until claimed or resolved.

=== Why is the scan total lower than the website total? ===
Scans show claimable Essence only. The website also shows pending, paused and on-hold money.

== Key rules at a glance ==

* Bounties use Essence only, and are placed through the website.
* You must be alive to place or top up; alive and Hibernated players are valid targets.
* You cannot target yourself.
* Add 5–1,000 whole Essence at a time, plus a 10% fee on every placement and top-up.
* New money waits five minutes before it can be claimed, and cannot be cancelled.
* Every bounty is identified.
* Only valid HUD PvP and official Challenge kills claim a bounty.
* All active claimable contributions resolve together to the killer — no assists, no splits.
* Your own contribution is returned, not paid as profit, if you claim the target yourself.
* Timed expiry refunds the reward but keeps the fee; No deadline money stays committed.
* Hibernation does not stop a bounty.

<blockquote>
''Choose your enemies carefully — and watch your back. The night now has a price.''
</blockquote>

== See also ==

* [[Essence]]
* [[Combat]]
* Hibernation
* [[Trial of Shadows|Challenges]]

[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Essence]]

Trial of Shadows

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Trial of Shadows}}

[[File:Trial Of Shadows.png|left|thumb|Trial of Shadows scroll]]

The '''Trial of Shadows''' is an ancient scroll used to challenge another player to a fight to the death.

== How it works ==

'''Challenge:''' Use the scroll to select a fight duration and choose another player to challenge.

'''Acceptance:''' If the other player accepts, a countdown to the duel begins.

'''Combat zone:''' Both players must remain in the region where the fight starts.

'''Leaving the region:''' A player who leaves the region, logs out, or removes their HUD has 60 seconds to return. Failure to return in time results in being consumed by the darkness.

'''Victory:''' The fight continues until one player is defeated or the selected duration expires.

== Purchase ==

* '''Location:''' The Realm, the system land
* '''Price:''' L$200

This feature may still have bugs. Report problems to the Descendants of Darkness team.

== See also ==

* [[Combat]]
* [[Bounties]]
* [[In-World Devices]]

[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:In-World Devices]]

Feeding and Blood Levels

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Feeding and Blood Levels}}

Feeding uses the Main HUD's [[Attack and Feed Button]]. Clicking the button near an avatar who is not a registered player begins an interaction with that regular human.

__TOC__

== Player Blood ==

In the first [[Player Age Groups|age group]], a player using Blood starts with 5.000 litres and loses 0.500 litres nightly, giving about 10 days before death without feeding.

Hunters and Witches use '''Energy''' in place of Blood on their player scans; see [[Hunters]] and [[Witches]] for their species-specific interactions with regular humans.

== How to feed ==

* Move within 1.5 metres of the target.
* Click the main HUD button and choose your attack.
* Hold the first five seconds to start healing; after that you can move back to five metres and continue feeding.
* After the first five seconds, feeding works from any angle.

== Human Blood ==

A new regular human normally begins with 5.000 litres of blood. Feeding reduces that amount. A human reduced to zero is dead and cannot be fed on again while depleted. A human who is not killed gradually regenerates blood over time.

Human recovery and revival items are covered under [[Elixirs]].

== Human scan states ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Status !! Meaning
|-
| '''Novus Sanguis''' || New blood with a full 5 litres.
|-
| '''Sanguis Plenus''' || At least 4 litres remain.
|-
| '''Sanguis Medius''' || Between 2 and 4 litres remain.
|-
| '''Sanguis Exiguus''' || Less than 2 litres remain.
|-
| '''Sanguis Nullus''' || No blood remains; the human is dead or fully depleted.
|-
| '''Ignotus''' || The human's blood status could not be classified.
|}

'''Sanguis Nullus''' is the current term for a regular human with no blood. It does not mean merely that the avatar is unregistered.

The [[Scan Others#Human Scan|Human Scan guide]] explains the full result, including applicable [[Hunter Protection]] and [[Witch Resurrection]] states.

[[Category:Gameplay]]

Combat

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Combat}}

Combat uses the Main HUD's species-specific [[Attack and Feed Button|attack button]]. Attack animations and names differ by species, while damage and attack rate remain consistent within the same [[Player Age Groups|age group]].

== Basics ==

* Be within 1.5 metres of the target.
* Click the main HUD button and choose your attack strength.
* Expect counterattacks and stay mobile.

Both players may enter species-specific combat animations when their personal animation settings are enabled.

== Followers and speed boosters ==

* Followers stick to targets; attaching one to someone makes them trail you.
* If they attach one to you, they will stay close—use speed boosters to break away.
* Collisions from two followers can force close-quarters brawls.

== Tips ==

* Open with a quick hit, then reposition.
* Use speed boosts after landing a hit to control distance.
* Assume your opponent can mirror your moves; plan escapes before you engage.

== Related combat systems ==

* [[Power Attack]]
* [[Safe Zones]]
* [[Species-Specific Attacks]]
* [[Trial of Shadows]]
* [[Bounties]]

[[Category:Gameplay]]

Abominations

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Abominations}}

[[File:Descendants of Darkness abomination video.mp4|thumb|Abomination.]]

Once they were human. Now they are corrupted echoes that bleed deeper and leave scars on the ledger.

__TOC__

== Quick facts ==

* Abominations are rare spawns among regular humans.
* They carry more blood than ordinary humans.
* Each has its own Essence reward.
* Every Abomination kill is permanent and also counts as a human kill.
* Some Abominations return after death; if one rises again, the hunt resumes.

== Identifying an Abomination ==

Each Abomination carries an individual echo or description. A [[Scan Others#Blighted Abomination Scan|Blighted Abomination Scan]] may show its status, current blood, Essence reward, and echo or backstory.

Abomination scans deliberately omit:

* Hunter Protection progress
* Witch Resurrection progress
* Revival scheduling or cooldown details

[[Hunter Protection]] and [[Witch Resurrection]] do not apply to Abominations. Any Abomination-specific return behavior is separate from Witch Resurrection.

== Rewards and tracking ==

* Abominations have larger blood stores than ordinary humans.
* The Essence reward varies by Abomination and is claimed by the killing blow.
* The kill is written to the ledger permanently and also counts toward human kills.
* Qualifying combat against an Abomination can restore Hunter Energy.

== Leaderboards and ledger ==

The login-required [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/leaderboards/abomination-kills Abomination Kills page] includes the current Abomination list and kill leaderboard.

== See also ==

* [[Essence]]
* [[Combat]]
* [[Hunters]]
* [[Witches]]

[[Category:Abominations]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]

Resources

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Resources}}

Use these official resources to join, learn, troubleshoot, and review your ''Descendants of Darkness'' activity.

== Getting started ==

* [[Getting Started]] — overview for new players
* [[Joining the Game]] — system land, support, and community access
* [[Choosing Your Species]] — the four playable species
* [[Induction Ceremony]] — becoming a registered player
* [[HUD Help and Redelivery]] — replacing or troubleshooting the HUD

== Gameplay guides ==

* [[Descendants of Darkness Main HUD|Main HUD guide]]
* [[Gameplay]]
* [[Player Hierarchy]]
* [[In-World Devices]]
* [[Guidelines and Etiquette|The Dark Oath]]

== Official destinations ==

* [https://descendantsofdarkness.com Official game website]
* [https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Uphill/52/64/36 Descendants of Darkness system land in Second Life]
* [https://discord.com/invite/DFeParPK3H Descendants of Darkness Discord]

== Login-required records ==

The game website provides player profiles, leaderboards, Dynasty and Clan rankings, the [[Hunter Protection|Protected Human Tracker]], and the [[Witch Resurrection|Witch Revive Tracker]] to eligible signed-in players.

[[Category:Resources]]

Essence

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Essence}}

'''Essence''' is a personal game resource used by several systems in ''Descendants of Darkness''. A player's current amount appears in their private [[Self Scan]].

__TOC__

== Earning Essence ==

Each [[Abominations|Abomination]] carries its own Essence reward. The player who lands the killing blow claims that reward.

== Spending Essence ==

Essence has several documented uses:

* [[Bounties]] are funded with Essence.
* The [[Reawakening Shrine]] takes two Essence from the player performing a revival.

Other features may use Essence when stated by their current in-world device or game interface.

== Protecting stored Essence ==

Essence held by a player is otherwise lost when that player dies. The [[Essence Chest]] can store Essence outside the player's carried balance and allows deposits, withdrawals, access control, and transaction history.

== Website ranking ==

The login-required [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/leaderboards/essence Essence On Hand leaderboard] ranks current carried reserves.

== See also ==
* [[Abominations]]
* [[Bounties]]
* [[Essence Chest]]
* [[Reawakening Shrine]]

[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Resources]]

Arch

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Bloodlines

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Bloodlines}}

A '''Bloodline''' is the highest organisational level represented in the current player hierarchy. Bloodlines contain [[Clans]], which in turn contain [[Dynasties]] and their members.

__TOC__

== Lineage and identity ==

Bloodlines represent shared ancestry, heritage, history, and identity within ''Descendants of Darkness''. They provide a framework for lineage-based roleplay, relationships between groups, leadership, and long-term community stories.

== Rankings and profiles ==

Signed-in players can browse [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/bloodlines Bloodline Rankings] on the game website. Bloodline profiles may show leadership, founding information, Clan and Dynasty totals, descendant totals, lore, and history.

The leading role associated with a Bloodline is described in [[Arch]].

== See also ==
* [[Player Hierarchy]]
* [[Clans]]
* [[Dynasties]]
* [[Legacy]]

[[Category:Player Hierarchy]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]

Clans

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Clans}}

'''Clans''' bring multiple [[Dynasties]] together beneath a shared organisation. In the current hierarchy they sit between Dynasties and [[Bloodlines]]. A Clan may therefore include Houses, Packs, Covens, Orders, or a combination of those Dynasty types.

__TOC__

== Leadership and membership ==

The existing hierarchy guide describes the Clan leader as the '''Sovereign''', with a possible '''Co-Sovereign''', followed by Ambassador and Proxy roles. Current game-site Clan profiles display their available leadership and the Dynasties associated with the Clan.

== Rankings and profiles ==

Signed-in players can browse [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/clans Clan Rankings] on the game website. Clan profiles can show leadership, member and Dynasty totals, bloodline relationships, descriptive material, and activity information.

Weekly and lifetime scoring are explained in [[Dynasty and Clan Activity Scores]].

== Legacy requirements awaiting verification ==

<blockquote>
'''Unverified legacy information:''' The older hierarchy guide described approximately 25 active members, at least two member organisations, and a L$20,000 creation fee. It also linked a [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf49QRpPqZKhS6ve9X4_rH7ie-agoDd5xR2iV9BqBARSXHb8A/viewform Clan Application Form]. These requirements were not confirmed by current documentation during the 2026 audit and should be treated as historical until the game owner verifies them.
</blockquote>

== See also ==
* [[Player Hierarchy]]
* [[Dynasties]]
* [[Bloodlines]]

[[Category:Player Hierarchy]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]

Dynasties

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Dynasties}}

'''Dynasties''' are the species-specific organisations at the member level of the current player hierarchy. They sit beneath [[Clans]] and [[Bloodlines]] and are the groups players directly join.

__TOC__

== Species and Dynasty type ==

The current game and website use a different Dynasty type for each playable species:

{| class="wikitable"
! Species !! Dynasty type
|-
| Vampire || House
|-
| Lycan || Pack
|-
| Witch || Coven
|-
| Hunter || Order
|}

These terms describe the same level of the hierarchy. The website groups all four under the common name '''Dynasties'''.

== Rankings and profiles ==

Signed-in players can browse [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/dynasties Dynasty Rankings] on the game website. The listing can be searched and filtered by Dynasty type and species. Dynasty profiles may show leadership, membership, clan and bloodline relationships, descriptive material, and current activity information.

Weekly and lifetime scoring are explained in [[Dynasty and Clan Activity Scores]].

== Legacy requirements awaiting verification ==

<blockquote>
'''Unverified legacy information:''' The older hierarchy guide said that forming a species organisation required 10 followers and L$1,000, while also saying a beta setting temporarily reduced the follower requirement to five. No current source reviewed during the 2026 audit confirms which, if either, is now active. Treat those figures as historical until the game owner verifies them.
</blockquote>

== See also ==
* [[Player Hierarchy]]
* [[Clans]]
* [[Bloodlines]]

[[Category:Player Hierarchy]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]

Witch Resurrection

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Witch Resurrection}}

'''Witch Resurrection''' is the Witch ability used on eligible dead regular humans. A human must first pass an initial 21-day eligibility period; reaching 100% Resurrection Progress schedules, rather than immediately causes, their return.

For the broader species guide, see [[Witches]].

__TOC__

== Quick reference ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Rule !! Current behavior
|-
| Valid target || An eligible dead regular human
|-
| Initial wait after death || 21 days
|-
| Partial progress expiry || 7 days without further progress
|-
| Scheduled revival period || 21 days after progress reaches 100%
|-
| Blood on return || 1.0 litre
|-
| Related records || Witch Resurrections and the private Witch Revive Tracker
|}

Witch Resurrection has two separate 21-day periods: an eligibility wait after death and a scheduled-revival wait after Resurrection reaches 100%.

=== Full timeline ===

{| class="wikitable"
! Stage !! What happens !! Scan wording
|-
| Death || A regular human dies. The initial 21-day eligibility wait begins. || '''Revivable in'''
|-
| Eligible || After the first 21 days, a Witch can build Resurrection Progress. || Resurrection progress/state
|-
| 100% complete || Resurrection is scheduled and the completing Witch is credited. The human remains dead while the second 21-day period begins. || '''Revive in'''
|-
| Return || When the scheduled period ends, the human returns with 1.0 litre of blood. || Living-human information
|}

The earliest normal return is therefore roughly '''42 days after death''' when a Witch completes Resurrection as soon as the initial 21-day wait ends. If no Witch completes it immediately, the total time is longer.

=== Initial 21-day cooldown ===

For the first '''21 days''' after a regular human is killed, Witch Resurrection cannot begin. Scans describe this wait using '''Revivable in'''. When the countdown ends, the dead human becomes eligible for Resurrection progress.

=== Building Resurrection Progress ===

Once the human is eligible, a Witch can begin building '''Resurrection Progress'''. Each successful use that makes real progress moves the spell closer to 100%, can restore Witch Energy, and refreshes the unfinished spell's activity window.

Unfinished Resurrection progress expires after '''7 days without further progress'''. A later attempt must begin the progress again if the partial spell has expired.

=== Completion and scheduled revival ===

Reaching '''100%''' does not immediately revive the human. Instead:

* Resurrection is scheduled.
* The Witch who completes the progress is recorded and credited.
* The completion contributes to the Witch Resurrections statistic.
* A second '''21-day''' period begins before the human returns.

During this scheduled period, scans use '''Revive in''' to show the remaining time. If Resurrection is already scheduled, another attempt reports that it is already scheduled rather than beginning another revival.

When the scheduled revival completes, the regular human returns with '''1.0 litre of blood'''.

== Witch Revive Tracker ==

The [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/revive-tracker Witch Revive Tracker] is a private, login-required Witch page. It can show:

* Mortals currently being revived
* The time remaining before each return
* The player who originally killed the mortal
* Mortals recently restored to life

The tracker is available to Witches; non-Witches do not receive Witch revival records.

== Witches, Hunters, and human death ==

[[Hunter Protection]] and Witch Resurrection can affect the same regular human at different stages:

# A Hunter protects a living human.
# Another player kills that human while the Protection is active.
# After the initial Resurrection wait, a Witch may build progress and schedule the human's return.
# The Hunter's private '''Protected by Me''' view may show the Witch revival status.

Witch Resurrection does not replace Hunter Protection. Protection applies while a regular human is alive; Resurrection applies after an eligible regular human is dead.

== Limits ==
Witch Resurrection cannot be used on living humans, registered players, or [[Abominations]].

== See also ==
* [[Witches]]
* [[Hunter Protection]]
* [[Scan Others]]
* [[Feeding and Blood Levels]]

[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Species Guides]]

Hunter Protection

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Hunter Protection}}

'''Hunter Protection''' is the Hunter ability used on living regular humans. Progress reduces damage before completion; reaching 100% begins a 21-day completed Protection and enables distress alerts for the protecting Hunter.

For the broader species guide, see [[Hunters]].

__TOC__

== Quick reference ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Rule !! Current behavior
|-
| Valid target || A living regular human
|-
| Partial progress expiry || 7 days without further progress
|-
| Completed duration || 21 days
|-
| Damage mitigation || Half the Protection percentage, capped at 50%
|-
| Related records || Hunter Protections, Protected Human Kills, and the private Protected Human Tracker
|}

Hunter Protection is built as a percentage. The HUD's Human Scan can show the current Protection progress on a regular human.

=== Applying Protection ===

Each successful use that makes real progress moves the human closer to 100% Protection. Real progress can restore some Hunter Energy and refreshes the unfinished Protection's activity window.

The Hunter who completes the process at 100% is credited with the Protection. Completion contributes to the Hunter Protections statistic and begins a full '''21-day''' Protection period.

=== Partial Protection and damage mitigation ===

Protection helps before it is complete. A human's damage mitigation is half of the current Protection percentage:

{| class="wikitable"
! Protection progress !! Damage mitigation
|-
| 20% || 10%
|-
| 40% || 20%
|-
| 60% || 30%
|-
| 80% || 40%
|-
| 100% || 50%
|}

Mitigation is capped at '''50%'''.

=== Expiry and duration ===

An unfinished Protection expires after '''7 days without further progress'''. Making additional real progress before then keeps the attempt active.

Once Protection reaches 100%, it is complete and remains active for '''21 days'''. The completed Protection enables the distress-alert behaviour described below.

== Protected-human distress alerts ==

Distress alerts apply only while a fully completed Hunter Protection is active.

=== When an alert begins ===

When real damage leaves the protected human at '''50% blood or lower''', a distress incident can begin. The protecting Hunter is told:

* Which protected human is under attack
* Who the attacker is
* The region or map location of the attack

The attacker is warned that the human is protected and that the Hunter has been notified.

=== Continued attacks and reset behaviour ===

Continued damage during the same incident does not repeatedly spam the Hunter. Each attacker can still receive their own warning, so a different attacker who joins the incident may be warned even when the Hunter has already received the main alert.

A later hit can create a fresh Hunter alert when any of the following occurs:

* Five full minutes pass with no damage to the protected human.
* An attack happens in a different region.
* The human recovers above 50% blood, ending the incident, and is later reduced to 50% or lower again.

=== Lethal hits and the protecting Hunter ===

A lethal hit that crosses the 50% threshold can still trigger the distress warning before the human's death is recorded. There is no additional distress-HUD warning simply because the human then dies.

The protecting Hunter does not trigger the normal distress response by attacking their own protected human. If that Hunter kills the human, the death does not count as a Protected Human Kill against their own Protection.

== Protected Human Kills ==

Killing a regular human while a fully completed Protection is active can count as a '''Protected Human Kill'''. These kills have daily, weekly, monthly, and all-time rankings on the [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/leaderboards/protected-human-kills Protected Human Kills leaderboard] (login required).

Player profiles can include both '''Hunter Protections''' and '''Protected Human Kills'''. Completed Protections also have their own [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/leaderboards/hunter-protection Hunter Protections leaderboard] (login required).

== Protected Human Tracker ==

The [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/protected-humans Protected Human Tracker] is a private, login-required record of activity involving fully protected regular humans.

'''Attacked or Killed by Me''' is available to signed-in players and can show protected humans they attacked or killed. Repeated attacks may be grouped together with the number of attacks, the latest attack, the region, and whether the human died.

'''Protected by Me''' is the Hunter-only view. It can show the humans protected by that Hunter, attackers and repeat attacks, whether and where a protected human died, and Witch revival information when applicable.

== Hunters, Witches, and human death ==

Hunter Protection and [[Witch Resurrection]] can affect the same regular human at different stages:

# A Hunter protects a living human.
# Another player kills that human while the Protection is active.
# After the human becomes eligible, a Witch may build Resurrection progress and schedule their return.
# The Hunter's '''Protected by Me''' view may show the relevant Witch revival status.

Protection itself cannot be applied to a dead human; returning the dead is the Witches' role.

== Limits ==
Hunter Protection cannot be applied to registered players, [[Abominations]], or dead humans.

== See also ==
* [[Hunters]]
* [[Witch Resurrection]]
* [[Scan Others]]
* [[Feeding and Blood Levels]]

[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Species Guides]]

HUD Help and Redelivery

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The Game HUD is essential. Without it, you cannot interact with the system — you cannot feed, fight, or participate in any of the core gameplay. It is automatically sent to you after your induction.

== HUD Help and Redelivery ==

If you lose your HUD, it stops working, or you need an updated version, there are two easy ways to get it redelivered:

# '''Type''' <code>redelivery</code> '''in the Descendants of Darkness in-world group chat''' — the system will automatically send you a fresh copy.
# '''Visit the system land''' and click on the HUD vendor there to receive a new copy directly.

This covers most common HUD issues. If you are still having trouble after trying these steps, reach out via the Support Boards on the system land or ask in the group — players and staff are generally very helpful.

----

== See also ==
* [[Descendants of Darkness Main HUD]]
* [[Getting Started]]

[[Category:Getting Started]]
[[Category:HUD Guide]]

Induction Ceremony

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Once you and your sire are ready, you will go through the '''Induction Ceremony'''. This is the process by which your sire officially brings you into the system. Upon completion:

* You are entered into the system as a new player.
* You become part of your sire's bloodline and lineage.
* Your '''Game HUD''' is automatically delivered to you in Second Life.
* You will receive an invite to the '''Descendants of Darkness''' in-world Second Life group.

All species follow the same induction process. No one species has a different or more complex joining procedure than another.

'''Your sire is your first and most important guide.''' It is their role to teach you how to use the HUD, how to feed, how to survive, and everything else you need to know about playing within the system. Don't be afraid to ask them questions — that is what they are there for.

----

== See also ==
* [[Joining the Game]]
* [[HUD Help and Redelivery]]
* [[Getting Started]]

[[Category:Getting Started]]

Choosing Your Species

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Ninja: Create standalone guide from audited umbrella content

Once you are ready to join, you must choose your species. There are currently four playable species:

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
! style="background:#1a0000; color:#c9a84c;" | 🩸 Vampire
! style="background:#1a0000; color:#c9a84c;" | 🐺 Lycan
! style="background:#1a0000; color:#c9a84c;" | 🌙 Witch
! style="background:#1a0000; color:#c9a84c;" | ⚔️ Hunter
|-
| style="padding:10px; background:#0d0000; color:#cccccc;" | A creature of hunger and allure, forever bound to the crimson thirst.
| style="padding:10px; background:#0d0000; color:#cccccc;" | A beast of fury and instinct, shaped by moonlight and primal rage.
| style="padding:10px; background:#0d0000; color:#cccccc;" | A master of the arcane arts, bending reality to their will.
| style="padding:10px; background:#0d0000; color:#cccccc;" | A mortal Imbued with ancient purpose — born not of darkness, but to stand against it.
|}

'''This choice matters from the very start''' — the player who brings you into the system (your '''sire''') must be the same species you wish to become. If you want to be a Vampire, your sire must be a Vampire. If you want to be a Hunter, your sire must be a Hunter. This is because you inherit their bloodline, their DNA, and become part of their lineage and downline within the system.

Take your time choosing. While it is possible to change species later, this is an advanced process and not something new players need to concern themselves with right away.

{{Collapse|title=Can I change species later?|content=Yes, species changes are possible further into your journey, as is re-siring. However, these involve additional steps and are not part of the joining process. Focus on getting started first — there will be plenty of time to explore these options once you are settled in.}}

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== Species guides ==
* [[Hunters]]
* [[Witches]]

== See also ==
* [[Species Change]]
* [[Getting Started]]

[[Category:Getting Started]]
[[Category:Species Guides]]