Superstition holds that the strange powers and terrible forms of Caliban are dark magic, that they are the spawn of witches who have lain with demons or Shadows: that they have no souls and are filled wholly with hate for living things and the pulsing of evil magics. In fact, the condition naturally occurs most often in elf/human hybrids and can be transferred to any mammal by an 'active' carrier.

Caliban are mocked, shunned, and occasionally assaulted. House Al-Jeget and House Dythanus are the only Great Houses who will allow Caliban to work for them, so many Caliban wind up as entertainers, soldiers, physicians, or blacksmiths...or exploited as living weapons.