Lamia

(LAY-me-uh)
Variations: Lamie, Lamien, Lamies, Leecher, Lilatou (ancient Babylon), Lilats (Assyria and late period Babylon), Swallower, Vrukalakos
==Ecology==
"The goddess Hecate had in her retinue a host of vampiric female demons alternately known as Lamia, Empusae, and Mormo. There is some confusion between these types of vampires, as the terms are used sometimes synonymously and sometimes specifically. The lamia were the most elaborated upon in literature and lore."Classic: Blood Types pg 17
"In ancient Greece there was a vampiric being known as Lamia. Her name was used in early versions of the Bible to mean “screech owl” and “sea monster.” She was a monstrous creature that fed exclusively on the flesh and blood of children each night."Bane, Theresa (2010) Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology McFarland pg 89
"According to legend, the first Lamia had an affair with Zeus, the king of the gods. When Zeus’s wife Hera discovered the liaison, she cursed the Lamia with her inhuman predatory form, pronouncing her fate: as an inhuman monster with a taste for infants, she would never again bring live children into the world, but rather only be responsible for dead ones."Classic: Blood Types pg 96
==Variants==
*Mormo, Jaracacas
The name was also used to refer to a host of vampiric beings in many ancient cultures.
==Lamia (Classic: Fantasy Bestiary)==
===Grapple===
A Contest of ST is needed to break free of the grapple. The lamia does not need to make a DX roll to grapple if she and her victim are already embracing when she shapechanges, or if the victim is charmed (see Rumor). Otherwise, normal grapple rules apply.
===Bite===
The neck bite suffers no penalty for close combat, and no further rolls to hit are needed once the teeth are in the neck — unless the victim succeeds in breaking free. The bite does 3 hits damage per minute as the lamia sucks its victim’s blood. It cannot penetrate any armor greater than DR 1.
==Additional Information==
*Lamia (Wikipedia)
==References==
Category:Myth
Category:Racial Templates
Category:Vampires
Category:Fantasy Bestiary Update