Vampires

Vampires are a unique type of undead that feed on blood, and tend to be some of the most feared and powerful undead. They are a result of a powerful magical disease, known as *Sanguinis Vilis,* that was created during the Age of Strife and has since spread throughout the world mutating to create hundreds of strains from which spawned a variety of vampires. Though they share a common ancestry, the variation in strains of the disease has led to a wide variety of different vampiric bloodlines, each with a variety of different abilities and characteristics.

For example while they are typically classed as undead, some bloodlines possess the ability to seamlessly blend amongst living mortals, being undetectable by divination and other such abilities that are commonly used to detect the presence of undead. Others possess a kinship with beasts, possessing the ability to communicate with them and bend them to their will. Perhaps one of the most interesting things about vampires is their natural affinity towards the use of Sanguimancy, a sub-school of Necromancy that deals exclusively with the manipulation of blood, and its use in a variety of spells. Sanguimancy is a type of magic that is typically associated with demons, a fact which many believe points to a potential origin for the vampiric disease.

## History

The first recorded appearances of vampires date back to the Age of Strife, the exact origins of the vampiric disease is unknown and while many accounts mention a common progenitor, much of their history has either been lost to time or finds itself hidden by the ancestral heads of the various vampiric bloodlines.

Vampiric bloodlines have had a marked effect on the history of Penastria, from the vampiric kingdoms that once ruled large swathes of lands in the Pyrean peninsula to the various cabals that established themselves in the Chultani jungles and Yuantican cities of Voltamar. The Vampiric Wars in the Midlands are the most prominent of vampiric conflicts, with the city of Bretonne finding itself under a prolonged siege for 22 years, this particular siege still holds as the longest siege in recorded history.

In the year 1083 AoD, many vampiric bloodlines found themselves in ascendancy as a result of the Undying King's return. The ancient lich's return alongside his Eternal Ritual led to surge in necromancy with many vampires finding their powers heightened. This ascendancy was short-lived however, as the Undying King's defeat by the Heroes of Ankararam led to their powers once more waning, and led to many nations (now fully aware of just how dangerous these bloodlines truly are) turning their attention towards hunting them down. The Pyrean vampiric kingdoms fell in the years that followed, and since then no real vampiric power has flourished in the world with many vampires having now retreated chosen to establish small covens in the wilderness or the Underdark, while others have chosen to disappear amongst the mortals they hunt.

## Properties

While there are a large number of different vampiric bloodlines, they do possess some similarities such as their immortality and their need for blood. Their immortality is such that they never seem to age, and in truth their appearances tend to remain the same as they did at the time of infection; however, a vampire's appearance may change if they are deprived of blood. These changes tend to be temporary, with a vampire usually reverting to their original form once they feed, however, if a vampire is starved of blood for a particularly long period of time the changes in appearance may become permanent with lesser vampires becoming batlike beasts with an uncontrollable thirst for blood.

The process by which one becomes a vampire is not as simple as some would think, it's commonly believed that the disease can be spread through bites but *Sanguinis Vilis* is a purely bloodborne disease, that is to say that one must either ingest infected blood or have an open wound come into contact with vampiric blood. Singular exposure does not guarantee transmission. Even then, there are different ways in which the blood can react to an individual depending on the degree of transmission.

The most common way in which one becomes a vampire is through the ingestion of blood, upon exposure to the diseased blood, they slowly but surely become a type of lesser vampire known as a vampire spawn. While they do gain access to many vampiric powers, they lose all memories of their past lives and become feral beasts in service to their blood donor whom they regard as their sire and master.

The rarest way in which one becomes a true vampire is known as the blood kiss, it is considered to be a deeply personal process within vampiric society, forever binding the vampire and the kiss' recipient. The process involves a vampire completely draining an individual and then feeding them his own blood. The process is said to be extremely long, requiring that the vampire transfuse his own blood into the individual. The resulting vampire is referred to as a true vampire, possessing their bloodline's unique abilities and access to their previous life's memories (alongside any of the abilities they had in life). While they are emotionally bound to their sire, the connection is very much a reciprocal thing where both vampires regard as each other as family and do not necessarily have a master - servant relationship. Due to the nature of this bond, this method of achieving vampirism is extremely rare with potential sires requiring direct permission from the progenitors of their bloodlines (or the most powerful vampire present if the progenitor is not).

Contrasting lesser vampires, true vampires are extremely powerful undead possessing the full breadth of abilities inherent to their kind and their specific bloodline, and possessing the knowledge they held in life. Such creatures have been noted to possess unnaturally potent regeneration, and the most powerful amongst them have been cited as being nigh unkillable. True vampires also possess the ability to spread the disease, allowing them to sire more vampire spawns or others of their kind.

The most commonly cited weakness for vampires is their fear of the sun, and whilst this is true for many lesser vampires, one finds that the more powerful vampires are seemingly unaffected by the light of the sun finding it as little more than an annoying nuisance. Similarly, weaknesses such as running water and a fear of holy relics are not a catch all solution to vampires, with some weaknesses affecting certain bloodlines while not really bothering others. It is to be noted however, that the more powerful vampires are bound to their coffins, the exact nature of this connection is uncertain but such vampires tend to keep their coffins close by, leading to many vampire hunters believing their coffins to somehow be linked to a potential weakness.

## Prominent Bloodlines

### Bozorkány

The Bozorkány (*Pyrean:* Bewitching) is a bloodline of vampires that is commonly found in urban environments, the most populous of vampires they are extremely adaptable and can be found hidden within most of the major cities in Penastria. They are so named for their supernatural beauty and their mastery over charms, manipulation and seduction. They possess pale white skin, and many of them have grown accustomed to more refined prey preferring the blood of nobility which they claim has a very distinct taste with many of them grading it as if it were wine.

### Dzsungelhasar

The Dzsungelhasar (*Pyrean:* Jungle Hunters) is a bloodline of vampires that is commonly found in the Chultani jungles and marshlands, here they either integrate into existing tribes or form hidden covens from which they strike out. They hunt down the great beasts that dwell within the jungles possessing the ability to hide amidst the foliage. Their skin tends to be a pale grey, with many of them painting over their bodies to mark the beasts they've slain and consumed.

### Halalltétt

The Halalltétt (*Pyrean:* Death Touched) is a bloodline of vampires that is rarer than most, while still a prominent bloodline these particular vampires are known for being extremely reclusive, establishing lairs out in the wilderness. They are said to possess a strong affinity towards necromancy, communing with spirits and spending long periods of time wandering the ethereal plane. Due to this, they tend to go long periods without feeding leading to many of them developing permanent grotesque appearances with many of them resembling batlike monstrosities.

### Hidegvur

The Hidegvur (*Pyrean:* Frost Blooded) is a bloodline of vampires commonly found in colder climates, possessing an innate affinity towards cryomancy and the manipulation of the cold. They are said to stalk the frozen wilderness in search of prey with some of them transforming into mist to catch creatures unaware. Their skin is said to be a deathly white, their eyes a deep crimson, and they are extremely cold to touch.

### Vadahllvur

The Vadahllvur (*Pyrean:* Beast Blooded) is a bloodline of vampires that tend to find companionship amongst the various beasts that prowl the wilderness. They possess the ability to alter their forms, adopting more bestial features or transforming into animals; they also possess the ability to bend beasts to their wills, either using them as spies or calling upon their might in battle. These vampires are said to be the largest amongst their kin, described as being strong and burly humanoids