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−	[[File:Vampire_beastman.png|300px|thumb|A vampire in his man-bat form.]]Vampires are a type of blood-drinking [[undead]] descended from the ancient [[shifters]], who now reproduce by spreading their gift (or curse) to others.	+	[[File:Vampire_beastman.png|300px|thumb|A vampire in his man-bat form.]]A horror shrouded in mystery, the vampire comes in many forms. [[Men]], or even [[Alfar|elves]] and other beings, [[Curse|cursed]] with vampirism are doomed to live cursed lives as [[undead]]. What [[gods]] wrought this curse upon the world remains unknown, but there is little doubt some form of [[Demon|archdemons]] were involved. What we do not know, however, is why the gods would allow something so terrible to exist. Most of this article is comprised of excerpts from ''[[Vita Mortis]]'', by Grigore Summers.
−	==History==	+	==Appearance==
−	The dark and mysterious vampire bat shifters were shunned even during the days of Wulfgard, when shifters ruled much of the mortal realm, for their love of the taste of blood. When the old gods were defeated and the shifters cursed, the vampires sought to avoid the fate of [[beastfolk]] and retain their shape-shifting gifts by selling their souls to the [[Demon|Archdemon]] [[Arashk]]. As a result, they remained able to change shape at will and gained immortality, at the price of their undead state and blood addiction. Rumor has it there are other kinds of vampires as well, such as those that can shapeshift into rats, but if these exist, they are relatively rare - or simply very well-hidden.	+	Vampires most often appear much as they did in life, so long as they drink enough mortal blood. In this way, they continue to live among their own kind and trick them into believing they are trustworthy. In truth, they are undead abominations, parasitic in nature. The only elements that may betray a vampire’s true nature is that their skin is often pale, save for immediately after feeding. If someone avoids the sunlight, it is also likely they may be a vampire. Some vampires may also bear hideous cauls, particularly those that dwell near swamps, though many vampires are said to be alluring instead.
	==Powers==		==Powers==
−	The vampires retained all of their former powers and became virtually immortal in their state of undeath. As with most creatures, the power of a vampire varies from individual to individual; however, it is also influenced by how long a person has been a vampire. Contrary to some tales, vampires do not have enhanced physical attributes across all forms. When in human form, a vampire is physically on par with an ordinary human (or elf or dwarf, as the case may be) in every respect, save perhaps for a heightened sense of hearing. To achieve flight and use their bestial strength, they must shift into their beast-man form. When in this form, they can also send forth a sonic blast that may stun their victims.	+	The abilities of a vampire are many and terrifying. Vampires may influence the minds of many mortals, and the most powerful may even force others to do their bidding. They cannot, however, exert this control over animals. Not all vampires possess these powers, as it seems to be true that some form of vampire hierarchy exists, generally with one vampire ‘sire’ ruling other, lesser vampires.
−	===Psychic Abilities===	+	===Shape-shifting===
−	All vampires have at least a few minor psychic abilities. The most powerful vampires can use these psychic abilities to dominate the minds of weak-willed individuals, while lesser vampires can only use them to persuade or mislead. Contrary to some legends built around them, however, vampires have no control over animals, which is why vampire hunters often bring dogs. Also, it is very difficult for a vampire to control the mind of [[beastfolk]] or anyone infected with [[Werewolf|lycanthropy]], due to their somewhat half-animal nature.	+	The shapeshifting abilities of the vampire are legendary, though little is known about them. Some say vampires turn into bats and man-bat monstrosities. Other vampires seem to bear more resemblance to rats. Some do not exhibit animalistic traits at all and instead appear something more akin to a demon. Most all vampires are in some way associated with mist and becoming mist to move from place to place. It is said a vampire may assume these forms at will, though if they intake too much blood, they may enter a monstrous form in a more permanent state.
−	===Bat Forms===
−	Vampires are able to transform into the forms of a bat, their natural form (human, elf, or dwarf), or a man-bat (these vampire man-bat forms are not to be confused with ordinary [[Bat-folk|bat-folk]]. They only have increased strength, speed, heightened senses, and the ability to fly when they are in man-bat form, not in their natural form. Their man-bat form is stronger than most mortal men, but their strength is exceeded by werewolves and most beastfolk. Also, unlike a werewolf's uncontrollable transformations, a vampire's shapeshifting is voluntary and painless, though still not instantaneous. In the case of dwarven vampires, their man-bat form is not relative to their size as a dwarf, nor are their limbs stumpier in comparison to other vampires. All vampires' man-bat forms are larger than a human or at least the same size, and when a vampire is transformed, it is virtually impossible to tell the vampire's true race.
−	===Mist Form, and Other Vampire Types===
−	Legends speak of a wide variety of forms vampires can take, including mist (often described as mist with glowing red eyes). Likewise, some tales speak of vampires that are not descended from specifically the vampire bat shifters, and instead their bestial forms are those of rats or other, stranger animals. It is unknown how many - or if any - of these legends hold any truth.
	==Blood Addiction==		==Blood Addiction==
−	A vampire must drink the blood of the living in order to survive. The bite of a vampire induces a pain that paralyzes the victim, which gives them time to feed. However, vampires must carefully balance the amount of blood that they drink, lest they slip too deep into undeath or too close to their animal side. Vampires who drink blood in moderation can pass as normal, but those who do not drink enough will enter deep undeath, and those who drink too much will turn feral.	+	Perhaps the best-known quality of vampires is their need to feed upon the blood of mortals. Without this blood, they will enter a state of deep undeath, returning to a corpse-like state and appearance. If this goes too far, they will become entirely dormant until blood is administered, reawakening the vampire. If they drink enough blood, vampires may appear entirely ordinary, as they did in life. However, if a vampire gorges itself, it will become more animalistic and lose its common sense and intelligence, becoming a bestial creature that longs only for still more blood. In this way, demons have forced vampires to exist tenuously based upon controlling their own urges, and they absolutely require the life-blood of mortals to exist. A vampire cannot drink corpse blood as opposed to blood from a living creature, or it will cause them great illness. Likewise, the blood of an animal is said to cause them madness. They must drink only the blood of noble mortal beings. This is yet another reason they must be destroyed.
−	===Life-blood===
−	The vampire's victim must be alive at the time of the feeding - or else very recently dead, killed only seconds or minutes ago - in order for the vampire to gain any life force; otherwise the blood is useless to them and only weakens them. This is why vampires must feed from the living and why powerful vampires keep human cattle from which to feed.
−	===Deep Undeath===
−	Vampires who do not drink enough life-blood go very deeply into a weakened state of undeath, their movements slowing, their skin becoming pale and aged, their muscles withering. Eventually they become little more than corpses, entering a state of hibernation until either killed by some means or returned to "life" by the administering of life-blood.
−	===Feral State===
−	Opposite of Deep Undeath, a vampire who drinks too much will blood become more and more ravenous for it, losing control until they go feral. They begin to exhibit bat-like features even in their "normal" form, and will eventually enter their man-bat state perpetually so long as their hunger continues to be fed.
	==Reproduction==		==Reproduction==
−	As undead, vampires cannot reproduce through normal means. Instead, they spread their curse by bite, similar to [[Werewolf|werewolves]], but transferring their curse involves a more elaborate ritual than does the transference of lycanthropy... But such a ritual is unknown, as it is not generally the case that one witnesses a vampire infecting someone. Rumor has it that the vampire must drain the victim of nearly all his blood, effectively killing them, and then drip some of their own blood back into the victim, while calling upon their innate demonic magic to seal the curse. Some time later (six days, most tales say), the dead individual will arise as a vampire.	+	As unnatural abominations, vampires cannot reproduce and must instead be created through demonic rituals that remain largely mysterious. It is said that the vampire must bite and drain all blood from the victim, then a ritual is performed by the vampire in order to share the curse and damn the victim’s soul. Six days after this is performed, the victim’s once dead body will enter an undead state and return as a new vampire.
−	A newly "reborn" vampire is extremely susceptible to the psychic suggestions of the master who created them, unless their will is strong enough to break free, or their master is destroyed.	+	A victim of a vampire may have bite marks on their throat, wrist, or stomach. Some vampires are said to bite between the eyes, though this is likely to be hearsay. The legends surrounding vampires abound, and it is difficult to know which are true and which are not.
		+	==Weaknesses==
		+	Although they are said to be impossible to kill, vampires can at least be deterred. They fear the sun above all else, as well as any object or ground blessed by the gods. Running water burns them like acid. [[Silver]], as well, can be used against them with great effectiveness. Some methods may be undertaken to prevent one from returning as a vampire, such as staking the body into the coffin before burial. Beheading a vampire, cutting out their heart, burning the heart, and drinking the ashes is one way to prevent the vampire’s return.
−	It is said that there are other ways that one might become a vampire - including a much lesser-known ritual that involves sealing the vamprisim curse onto a living being, dooming them to return as a vampire six days after their death - but any other ways to acquire vampirism remain shrouded in mystery.	+	Another favorite of vampire hunters is a blessed stake driven through the vampire’s heart. This also pins the vampire’s husk that passes for its soul, not allowing it to escape in the form of mist. However, the [[Venatori]] have learned that while vampires shun sunlight and will burn in it, they are not instantly destroyed by it and may even survive in the sun, especially if they wear some form of heavy clothing for protection. The light, however, will always temporarily blind their eyes.
−
−	There is no known cure for vampirism.
−	==Weaknesses==
−	As a combination of undead and Shifter-kin, vampires have numerous weaknesses. However, they are nonetheless extremely difficult to kill. Even "mortal" wounds will heal over time, especially with the application of life-blood, which can often bring a vampire back from a state of "death." However, although vampires often shun the food of mortals, rumors about them being unable to eat garlic or drink wine are entirely unsubstantiated.
−	===Sunlight===
−	The chief weakness of a vampire is sunlight. As creatures of the night, vampires prefer the darkness, where they can take advantage of their acute sense of hearing. Even more than this, however, vampires cannot be touched by sunlight because they are undead. Like all undead, they begin to burn and crumble when exposed to the sun, and they will quickly disintegrate.
−	===Holy Objects and Running Water===
−	Also due to their undead state, all things blessed by the higher powers will cause harm to vampires. These objects include holy weapons, holy water, and holy symbols. Holy weapons and holy fire can kill vampires permanently, as can a holy stake being plunged through their heart. It is said that vampires cannot cross running water, as such violently moving water will burn them as if it was acid.
−	===Silver===
−	As descendants of the Shifters, vampires share their weakness to [[silver]] weapons. Injuries caused by silver will be extremely painful and negate a vampire's regenerative abilities. Thus, wounds inflicted by silver are capable of being fatal wounds, unlike wounds inflicted by ordinary weapons.
	==The First==		==The First==
−	As [[The Six|the Six]] are the most powerful werewolves, [[The First|the First]] are the most powerful vampires. Their group is comprised of the first vampires ever to come into existence – the eight vampire bat shifters who originally made the demonic pact with Arashk that caused them to become members of the undead. They have existed since the days of Wulfgard, and their power is immense. However, of the original four males and four females, only two males and one female are known to still be “alive” for certain: the others may have entered a state of dormant hibernation or been killed. The three known to still be active are [[Vladimir Draculea|Duke Draculea]], who still rules over a section of the Empire, hiding his vampiric nature; [[Grimwing|Grimwing the Warlock]], who leads a group of feral vampires that live in the mountain caves near the city of [[Dhuum]]; and [[Lady Nefertari]] (known as Lady Carmina in [[Achaean Empire|the Empire]]), who currently leads a coven of female vampires in [[Kemhet]]. All three of these ancient vampires command many followers and thralls.	+	Among the most frightening of vampire legends are the First, said to be the first vampires to ever exist in [[Midgard]]. Where these vampires are now remains unknown, but many claim they still live on since time immemorial, haunting civilization and hunting mortals - while perhaps also ruling them.
		+	==Recent History==
		+	Should there be any suspicion of a vampire in the area, the Venatori should be notified as soon as possible. Throughout their existence, hunting vampires has remained one of their most important, if also most difficult, tasks. The threat of a vampire is not taken lightly, however, and their presence must be confirmed before the vampire can be slain, particularly as it can be difficult to truly determine if one bears the curse of vampirism.
−	[[Category:Monsters]][[Category:Undead]][[Category:Shifter-kin]][[Category:Curses]]	+	[[Category:Monsters]][[Category:Undead]][[Category:Curses]]

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Latest revision as of 18:28, 9 October 2022

A horror shrouded in mystery, the vampire comes in many forms. Men, or even elves and other beings, cursed with vampirism are doomed to live cursed lives as undead. What gods wrought this curse upon the world remains unknown, but there is little doubt some form of archdemons were involved. What we do not know, however, is why the gods would allow something so terrible to exist. Most of this article is comprised of excerpts from Vita Mortis, by Grigore Summers.

Appearance

Vampires most often appear much as they did in life, so long as they drink enough mortal blood. In this way, they continue to live among their own kind and trick them into believing they are trustworthy. In truth, they are undead abominations, parasitic in nature. The only elements that may betray a vampire’s true nature is that their skin is often pale, save for immediately after feeding. If someone avoids the sunlight, it is also likely they may be a vampire. Some vampires may also bear hideous cauls, particularly those that dwell near swamps, though many vampires are said to be alluring instead.

Powers

The abilities of a vampire are many and terrifying. Vampires may influence the minds of many mortals, and the most powerful may even force others to do their bidding. They cannot, however, exert this control over animals. Not all vampires possess these powers, as it seems to be true that some form of vampire hierarchy exists, generally with one vampire ‘sire’ ruling other, lesser vampires.

Shape-shifting

The shapeshifting abilities of the vampire are legendary, though little is known about them. Some say vampires turn into bats and man-bat monstrosities. Other vampires seem to bear more resemblance to rats. Some do not exhibit animalistic traits at all and instead appear something more akin to a demon. Most all vampires are in some way associated with mist and becoming mist to move from place to place. It is said a vampire may assume these forms at will, though if they intake too much blood, they may enter a monstrous form in a more permanent state.

Blood Addiction

Perhaps the best-known quality of vampires is their need to feed upon the blood of mortals. Without this blood, they will enter a state of deep undeath, returning to a corpse-like state and appearance. If this goes too far, they will become entirely dormant until blood is administered, reawakening the vampire. If they drink enough blood, vampires may appear entirely ordinary, as they did in life. However, if a vampire gorges itself, it will become more animalistic and lose its common sense and intelligence, becoming a bestial creature that longs only for still more blood. In this way, demons have forced vampires to exist tenuously based upon controlling their own urges, and they absolutely require the life-blood of mortals to exist. A vampire cannot drink corpse blood as opposed to blood from a living creature, or it will cause them great illness. Likewise, the blood of an animal is said to cause them madness. They must drink only the blood of noble mortal beings. This is yet another reason they must be destroyed.

Reproduction

As unnatural abominations, vampires cannot reproduce and must instead be created through demonic rituals that remain largely mysterious. It is said that the vampire must bite and drain all blood from the victim, then a ritual is performed by the vampire in order to share the curse and damn the victim’s soul. Six days after this is performed, the victim’s once dead body will enter an undead state and return as a new vampire.

A victim of a vampire may have bite marks on their throat, wrist, or stomach. Some vampires are said to bite between the eyes, though this is likely to be hearsay. The legends surrounding vampires abound, and it is difficult to know which are true and which are not.

Weaknesses

Although they are said to be impossible to kill, vampires can at least be deterred. They fear the sun above all else, as well as any object or ground blessed by the gods. Running water burns them like acid. Silver, as well, can be used against them with great effectiveness. Some methods may be undertaken to prevent one from returning as a vampire, such as staking the body into the coffin before burial. Beheading a vampire, cutting out their heart, burning the heart, and drinking the ashes is one way to prevent the vampire’s return.

Another favorite of vampire hunters is a blessed stake driven through the vampire’s heart. This also pins the vampire’s husk that passes for its soul, not allowing it to escape in the form of mist. However, the Venatori have learned that while vampires shun sunlight and will burn in it, they are not instantly destroyed by it and may even survive in the sun, especially if they wear some form of heavy clothing for protection. The light, however, will always temporarily blind their eyes.

The First

Among the most frightening of vampire legends are the First, said to be the first vampires to ever exist in Midgard. Where these vampires are now remains unknown, but many claim they still live on since time immemorial, haunting civilization and hunting mortals - while perhaps also ruling them.

Recent History

Should there be any suspicion of a vampire in the area, the Venatori should be notified as soon as possible. Throughout their existence, hunting vampires has remained one of their most important, if also most difficult, tasks. The threat of a vampire is not taken lightly, however, and their presence must be confirmed before the vampire can be slain, particularly as it can be difficult to truly determine if one bears the curse of vampirism.