Vampyres

#### **Brief Description**

A creature of the night and one of the most feared monsters known to man. As with Leshies, Vampyres grow stronger with age, but unlike Leshies, they also undergo physical transformations as they age.

### **The Stages of Vampyrism**

1. ***Bebelus*** - Newly Born Vampyre
	* This refers to the newly born vampyre, in this stage, they are bestial bipeds that hunt only at night and tend to stay in forests and away from large populations of humans. They are quite large in this form, sometimes over eight feet in height and are covered in thick black or brown fur. Their faces have very batlike features, their fangs are also quite large and protrude noticeably from their mouths. In this form, instead of simply consuming the blood of their victims, they will consume the flesh as well and will even suck the marrow from the bones. This is the most voracious form of vampyre and this hunger will cause them too become reckless and over eat or over pursue their prey right into a trap. Because of this, only a small number of vampyres will survive the Bebelus stage, most will be killed by humans or other vampyres.
2. ***Gol*** - Secondary Stage
	* A vampyre who has survived the first 5-10 years of its life will undergo its first transformation, in their second stage the vampyre will begin too shrink in size and lose most of its fur. They still retain their bestial shape and thought their fangs will begin to recede, they are still very prominent features. In this stage, they will begin too regain their rational mind and become more cautious, though they are still very prone too chaotic and reckless behaviors when deprived of sustenance for long periods of time. It is in this stage that Vampyre will begin to switch to a diet of just blood, they might still consume some a portion of their victims' flesh. Though smaller in size too the Bebelus form, the Gol gains much greater speed and strength as well as a heightened desire for travel, though they will still avoid large settlements and keep too wooded areas.
3. ***Sparge*** - Tertiary Stage
	* If few vampyres reach the Gol phase of life, even fewer will survive to the tertiary Sparge phase. A vampyre who has survived twenty years will undergo its next transformation, in this stage, they will take on a more humanoid shape, they have lost all fur and their skin becomes a sickly grey. They still retain some of their bestial attributes, enough too never be mistaken for a human, but it is obvious that they are reaching maturity. Their fangs have receded to the point of being almost unnoticeable and their minds are much calmer and more organized than their previous forms. In this phase, their hunger will also recede significantly, requiring feedings only a couple of times a month. This recession in hunger in necessary as they will move into cities in this stage, though they will relegate themselves to sewers and catacombs beneath the cities. Sparge phase vampyres will be much more selective about victims as to remain unnoticed for as long as possible before moving on. This is a short phase, lasting only a year, and with it comes the beginning of the vampyre magics that will fully mature in their perfect form.
4. ***Vechi*** - Full Maturation
	* The final and perfect form of the vampyre, where they become almost indistinguishable from humans. In this form, they become the perfect predator, stronger and faster than any of their previous forms and dangerously intelligent. In this stage, a vampyre can walk freely in daylight for long periods of time, and their fangs can retract into their gums on command. Their magics have fully matured and can now enthrall both humans and animals, use hypnotic and mesmer magic, and also change their physical appearance. They are porcelain pale in complexion, but aside from this, they are entirely human in appearance. They have no need to feed on blood, though some still do, they can absorb the life essence from victims through the mouth to mouth contact. In this stage, vampyres will travel often and will find another vampyre too bond with, and every five years have offspring. This is the only phase where a vampyre can infect humans, though these humans will only be half vampyre in essence, and most of these will act in a servant role to their creator.

#### **Dealing With Vampyres**

Vampyres are extremely dangerous in all stages of their lives. It is best to deal with them in either the Bebelus or Gol stage before they have full control of their rational mind. When it comes to dealing with Vechi vampyres, it is ill-advised to attempt to combat them with anything less than a whole team of experienced spectres, and even then there is still only a marginal chance of success. It is recommended that a population having problems with a Vechi Vampyre should reach out to The Circle, the governing body of vampyre society if they deem intervention is needed due too over-feeding or some other reason, they will send representatives to deal with the situation.