Vampyr

Vampyr are a race of Realmtouched Kinfolk created by the Erraté Edwardius and the Íshnubar Vorkawroth. A near-immortal but incredibly rare people, vampyr call the dark nation of Barthum home, though they can be found all throughout Veiltouria.

## Description

Vampyr's are one of the oldest Realmtouched, and are intimately linked with the Inner Realm of their origin Dorchadasdelve. They also have close ties to Nosfera, the Lesser Domain of Vorkawroth. An incredibly powerful people, vampyr do not die from old age, instead growing more powerful as they absorb more energy from the realm of shadow. Vampyr do not need to feed or breathe to survive, but do grow weaker the longer they starve themselves, until they become living corpses. Vampyr draw their nutrients from blood, and the closer their source of food is to a Primordial, the more powerful the vampyr becomes. They are a true race, and breed much like humans, only more infrequently and with a much longer gestation time. To bolster their numbers, vampyr use thralls charmed by magics, and in some causes create half vampyr spawn called shtriga. These shtriga are not vampyr, but have some of their qualities. Shtriga are also bound by blood-magic to follow the command of the one who turned them.

Vampyr physiological traits are intimately linked to the Bloodline they belong to. Many Bloodlines keep their breeding within the Bloodline, and so their qualities have become defined and pronounced. Vampyr can also interbreed with humans and other humanoids, though it is rare, and the offspring is unlikely to have vampyr traits. Those half-breeds that are born with vampyr abilities called dhampyr.

## Vampyr Bloodlines

### The Dashkovari

   The Dashkovari were once the most powerful of all the vampyr lineages and declared ruling family of the vampyr city of Barthum. The Dashkovari were the founders of most vampiric knightly orders and value excellence in combat above all, with most vampyr Justiciars having Dashkovari heritage. This excellence in martial prowess gave them an edge during the early days following The Exodus and landed them firmly in control of the Barthum throne. Dashkovari warriors prefer to kill or conquer their foes before feeding or turning spawn.
As a whole the Dashkovari understood that the decimation of mortals and wanton spread of vampirism was not conducive to a stable empire and imposed restrictions upon their own and other vampyr families so as to curb uncontrolled destruction upon the peasantry. Although not a popular move amongst most vampyrs at the time, it became accepted law with strict enforcement within vampiric lands but far more lax outside of Barthum’s regional borders.

Unduly destructive or infectious vampyrs would be warned and then brought to heel by The Justiciars, even in far off lands if their excesses grew to attract too much unwanted attention. The Dashkovari are also the family in which you are most likely to find individuals of a neutral or possibly even (albeit very rarely) good alignment. Since the return of Count Ulfvard however they have since been deposed form their ruling position and the majority of their number hunted down and executed. They have a long standing feud with the Ascenyi.

### The Ascenyi

   The Ascenyi bloodline are currently the most powerful and influential vampyr family. They are experts of political manipulation and envoy espionage, even above the scheming most other families, and are thus renowned for their incessant political maneuvering.
They may not have the brute strength of some of the other bloodlines, but they more than make up for this lack in cunning, deviousness, and their mastery of others. The Ascenyi are secret string-pullers of the world, invisibly exerting untellable control over history. Their immortal plots are difficult for short-lived mortals to see, and some that were set in motion in antiquity have yet to come to fruition.

While most vampyrs will indulge in vampiric excesses rather frequently, the Ascenyi are renowned to do so more than most, holding not only the most lavish balls but often followed by the most ruthless of blood orgies. The Ascenyi were also the founders of Barthum’s most notable spy guilds.

The Ascenyi Elders are loyal to Count Ulfvard and very defensive of their position as ruling family under his vassalage, they therefore divert a large amount of resources to keeping the other families in line and hunting down the Dashkovari.

### The Magyar

   The Magyars as a bloodline have excelled at accumulating wealth and foster an undeniable inclination towards exploration. While most other vampyrs balk at the idea of venturing afar due to vampiric resting requirements and the fear associated with leaving their coffinlike structure poorly defended, Magyar vampyrs see the added risk to their immortality as worth the reward.
By becoming wealthy merchants in charge of sizeable trade guilds, this family has tackled two birds with one stone. With trade caravans by both land and sea allowing them to easily bring their repositories along with them on their long and profitable journeys. Most vampyrs that have taken to piracy upon the open seas claim Magyar heritage.

Magyar vampyrs excel at blending in amongst mortal races and use their vampiric abilities to aid in formulating lucrative trade agreements. While Barthum still maintains a significant population of Magyar vampyrs, most of their number have settled in the Far Eastern Kingdoms following The Exodus, as guild-masters amassing large amounts of economic influence and have only minimal concern of the happenings or political intrigue of their home city.

### Von Sankovik

    The Von Sankovik bloodline are the true masters of dark magics and necromancy. They are the most learned of vampyrs, more skilled at sorcery than with the blade. These skills have come at a price, however. The appearance of the oldest Von Sankovik elders has grown so hideous and unnatural that an ordinary man cannot bear to look upon them, and many run screaming at the sight. Their obsession with understanding evil’s most powerful arcane secrets leads them to ignore their need to feed for far longer than most would find bearable.
Often found atop tower laboratories or in the depths of expansive libraries, their hunger for knowledge actually surpasses their thirst for blood, as does their appetite for misery. Experts in torture, they use the agony of mortals not only as ingredients for their experimentation, but to satiate their dark desires as well and will often keep victims alive teetering on the line between life and death for far longer than what is natural. They gain sustenance for their souls from the pain they exact their victims. There are few worse fates than to end up the prisoner of a Von Sankovik vampyr.

Their ranks contain some of the greatest Flesh Smiths to have ever unlived. They craft abominations of bone, muscle, sinew and agony, twisted undead homunculi that do their bidding, each incarnation becomes a more perfect expression of horror than the last.

### Banffysk

    The Banffysk lineage contains those powerful yet devolved Vampyr Lords that have since succumbed themselves willingly to their most primal urges, master shape changers they transform themselves into terrifying creatures larger and far more powerful in body, but weaker in mind.
Within most vampyrs, there is a constant animalistic urge that can occasionally drive a vampyr to bouts of uncommon savagery and bloodlust. Most vampyrs who still want to cling to their sanity are often known to seek control of this side of their existence, and in keeping to their trappings of aristocracy and nobility. However, there are some within their numbers that find little love for such noble life; these are usually those of the Banffysk bloodline.

Some Banffysk vampyrs simply allow the animalistic urge to overcome them to such an extent and for such prolonged periods of time that it destroys what was left of their former personality entirely. These feral predators abandon their dark castles in order to run unfettered through the forest. Those who revel in such behavior become physically changed beyond recognition.

While piety towards the God of Shadows amongst most vampyrs is skin deep at best, Banffysk vampyrs make up a large percentage of the Cult of Shadows, and often view the embrace of savagery to be an act of worship towards Edwardius.