Vampires experience a calling to the darker forces and an affinity to a nocturnal lifestyle. Many claim psychic powers and the ability to leave their own bodies and take up residence in others' bodies. Some say they can actually fly and enter people's dreams. A few vampires claim to suffer from porphyria, a rare metabolic disorder whose symptoms may include reddening, pain and blistering of the skin upon exposure to sunlight. Strathloch has malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer caused by excessive exposure to the sun's radiation.
Vampires consider themselves immortal.
They believe that when they die, their spirit leaves the body in search of a new member. They draw their strength or life energy from any human being, whether or not the person volunteers, but many will feed only off willing donors. Killing is strictly forbidden, but so is wasting food. But we are also healers. We give energy as well as take it.