Vampire

*"Oh please, my dear, I prefer the term 'Hematological scholar', it's much more refined" - Baron Benedict "The Butcher" Bannerbrook, the Vampire of the Hinterwald.*

### Summary

Vampires are mysterious, and powerful, creatures who were once regular humans, but are now supernatural creatures who sustain themselves on fresh blood. They are incredibly rare and most of the world believes they are a fairytale.

A person becomes a vampire when they are afflicted with a bizarre, magical parasite, which can be transferred through a vampire's bite, or a Forbidden magic ritual. The parasite swims through the subject's bloodstream and alters their body. Some don't survive the process, some possess a strong enough immune system to reject the parasite, and some become Vampires.

Vampirism is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it provides enhanced strength, speed, reflexes, healing, and longevity. On the other hand, Vampires are afflicted with an endless hunger, an insatiable desire for blood. If they do not feed this desire, they are terribly weakened.

Vampires are most powerful immediately after sating their blood thirst, having consumed the life force of another being.

### Appearance

Recognising a vampire can be difficult, most of the time they look perfectly human. One consistency is that they all have longer canine teeth, and look slightly pale due to the blood loss within them. Their quick reflexes can sometimes give them away, as they sometimes forget the civilised part of their brain and resort to animal instincts. Startling a vampire will often elicit a supernaturally quick response.

Some vampiric bloodlines have particular traits which mark them out as being obviously monstrous. These bloodlines are usually devolved and impure, but can still be incredibly powerful.

### Strengths & Weaknesses

Vampires are significantly stronger and faster than humans, as the transformation increases muscle density. Additionally they have much quicker reflexes. Rumours that vampires can fly are untrue, though they can leap great distances. One of a Vampire's greatest powers is their ability to absorb a creature's life force through biting them.

Vampires, are known to have significantly longer lifespans than humans are are less likely to succumb to the frailties of old age, as long as they maintain a steady supply of blood. However, they cannot come back from the dead, and are far from unkillable.

Fledgeling Vampires, newly turned ones, are sensitive to the light of the sun.

### Deities

Vampires are generally hated by the gods. Gods, Ascended, and other supernatural beings see them as an unnatural curse upon the world. Many of them are afraid of the power that the Vampire curse could achieve if it spread too far.

One of the few supernatural entities who supports Vampires is Pazadai, the Demonlord of parasites and manipulators. There are rumours that Pazadai was responsible for the creation of Vampires in the first place.

### Vampiric Bloodlines

As the Vampire parasite spreads and multiples and infects new prey, it adapts and mutates, giving rise to hundreds of varieties of distinct “bloodlines”, wherein different parasites have developed different skills and benefits. Though there are far too many varieties to count, and many are unremarkable, there are a few particularly unique and powerful bloodlines.

#### Bloodthorne Bloodline

Vampires of the Bloodthorne Bloodline are the most insidious, and hardest to identify. They are almost indistinguishable from regular human beings, and are masters of subtlety. Refined and charismatic, they lurk among humankind, and selectively pick off their prey, with a charming demeanour and subtle psychic magic.

These vampires are mostly descended from House Bloodthorne, a noble family based in Tyrrus who wielded great power many centuries ago, until they were destroyed by a holy crusade. Some of their splinter groups, such as the Treugards and the Bannerbrooks, have managed to retain their aristocratic position and have been unsuspected for centuries.

#### Crimson Bloodline

The Crimson bloodline was refined over centuries by the Izirian Crimson Monastery, reserved for the most elite members of their organisation, until it was accidentally spread beyond. Since then, rumours spread of deadly vampires lurking among the swamps of the Bloodwater, giving this bloodline the reputation of ‘Night Hunters’.

Crimson vampires have an affinity with magic, due to the bloodline’s roots in the mystical Crimson Monastery.

Though perhaps not immediately identifiable as vampires, the ‘Night Hunters’ are usually gaunt and pallid. They shun sunlight, though they are not harmed by it once they become full vampires.

#### Dain Bloodline

Supposedly the purest Vampiric Bloodline, the Ascendant parasite was awoken by Syvaar Dain, a Zongol Warlord. Ascendant Vampires do not suffer some of the same weaknesses and madness as other Vampires, but the parasite also has developed fewer powerful mutations.

Ascendant Vampires are able to gain permanent strength from powerful creatures whose blood they consume. Dain and his followers take full advantage of this, seeking out powerful champions and creatures to slay and consume.

#### Uresh Bloodline

The Uresh vampire bloodline, also known as "Manadrinkers", originated in the ancient Izirian city of thieves, Uresh. The city was destroyed, but its legacy lives on, and its vampiric pilgrims have spread across the world, looking for power to steal.

Uresh Vampires are most common in places with a concentration of magic users, such as locations with advanced magical knowledge, and cities with prestigious magical institutions, such as New Haven, Dalanaan, and Great Vaikaal. The Uresh bloodline is also the most likely bloodline for Denizens to be a part of.

Manadrinkers can be identified by their softly glowing eyes, which often change colour depending on the nature of the magic they regularly consume. When a Manadrinker is sated with powerful magical blood, their form is often slightly mutated to match. For example, if such a vampire consumes a pyromancer’s blood, their eyes may glow brightly with fiery energy and orange-red cracks may appear across their skin, as if they are burning from within.

#### Vos'Kela

The Vos'Kela vampire bloodlines threw off the shackles of civilised society centuries ago, and instead live like the parasitic beasts they are. Unlike other vampires, the Vos'Kela are truly monstrous in appearance. They sometimes hunt alone, sometimes in packs, but whatever the case they are shunned from civilisation and instead lurk on the fringes.

According to legend, the Vos’Kela (originally just Kela) were originally created by the mages of the ancient Chakradei Empire, and were originally powerful and beautiful warriors. After the fall of the Empire, they were devolved into almost-bestial creatures by the influence of the Demonlord Pazadai.

Vos'Kela Vampires are noticeably monstrous in appearance, with pronounced fangs, blood-red eyes, and a distorted form with inhuman proportions.