The Vetala

***The Vetala***are a strigoic faction within the novel *Dark Blaze*. They are led by Grandmistress Kali Vineeth, who alongside her incestuous husband, Sunil, have established a strong foothold in Central Asia.

The Vetala earned their reputation as a strong nation for their various wars with the Jiangshi, Neamh-Mairbh, the Osmanlı-Strigoilerii, the Thule, smaller strigoic factions and the Hindu Pantheon.

## **Background:**

Whilst their father, Vlad Drăculești, was alive, the Vineeth Siblings answered their mother's call to expand out into Central Asia and do what Alexander the Great could not; conquer Hindustan.

As the Vineeths made their way steadily though the Middle-East eastwards to Central Asia, Belquis, their brood-mother, ordered the Adze to expand throughout Africa. Upon Vlad's defeat, the Vetala were formed and continued their mother's objective and clashed with the native defenders in Hindustan, alongside the Neamh-Mairbh who had used their British resources to expand throughout into the British Empire.

The Adze, Vetala and Osmanlı-Strigoilerii embarked in a war over the right to keep Belquis safe, with the Adze reigning victorious as the Vetala were busy defending their lands from Klyki and Jiangshi aggressors.

Throughout the remaining centuries before the Great War, the Vetala focused more on securing their own borders and internal affairs.

## **Society & Structure:**

### **Society:**

The Vetala has a clear-cut divide between the high class of the faction and the low class. Druggans and ghouls are not considered a part of the Vetala, and druggans must vigorously attempt to please their sires before becoming full fledged members in the low class.

### **Structure:**

The Vetala is military based. There are the commanders at the top, the officers in the middle, and the soldiers of the low class that make up the bottom.

## **Territory:**

Below is a list of countries which the Vetala hold territory:

* India - headquarters in Calcutta.
* Ceylon.
* Nepal.
* Afghanistan.
* Persia.
* Burma.

## **Members:**

### **Major:**

 Sunil Vineeth
 Belquis Drăculești

### **Minor:**

As of yet, there are no known minor strigoii within the Vetala.

## **Affiliates:**

As of yet, there are no known affiliates to the Vetala.

## **Equipment:**

Below is a list of weaponry that has been seen used by the Vetala:

* Various silver bladed weaponry.
* Webley Revolver Mk. V - pistol.
* Short Magazine Lee-Enfield - bolt-action rifle.
* Tulwar - sword.

## **Sub-Factions:**

As of yet, there are no known sub-factions within the Vetala.

## **Appearances:**

The Vetala appear in Hadrian Voivode's 1915-1916 Marele Consiliu chapters.

## **Trivia:**

* The Vetala are named after a revenant creature from Hindu Mythology.
* Kali named herself after the Hindu Goddess of War.
* The Vineeth Siblings are the only known incestuous couple within strigoic society.
* Their brood-strigoi, Belquis, is based on the Queen of Sheba from the Hebrew Bible. She was seen as a Goddess of Love in African lore, and a djinn in Arabian lore. It is unknown what origin Darryl M. Finch-Ellis has chosen, as of yet.
* Sunil's inspiration is not his father, Vlad, but is in fact Alexander the Great.