Vampires

## Description

More a sub-classification of sorcerers that subsist on the blood or various other humors of living bodies than any specific species, vampires are all nevertheless obligate predators and universally deadly if given cause, by either threat or inclination, to exercise their abilities.

## Lamiae

*[Greek: lah-mee-aye; singular ‘Lamia’ lah-mee-ah]*

One of several species collectively known as “vampires,” the Lamiae are by far the most prodigious after the inquisition and Bram Stoker followed countless centuries of mortals in the near total obliteration of the Strigoi. As such, when most in the supernatural corners of the world hear “vampire” they assume “lamia” by default.

Transmitted by bite, a person becomes a lamia only if they survive the bite - very few Mortals possess both the fortitude or fortune to accomplish this. As a means to avoid their own overpopulation, most lamia will use blades to open the skin so that they can feed, or use their mouths lined with teeth similar in appearance to a cross between those of a shark and a snake’s fangs to rip out the throat or other major artery.

If a person does survive, they will become a lamia when the first Thirst sets in. Between the bite and then, they will develop an intense fever and terrible cramping pain throughout the body, eventually ending in the last twelve hours spent violently retching up all the shriveled, blackened internal organs which their own body has consumed the life from in an effort to sustain itself before succumbing to the Thirst.

### Origin

The profane offspring of six women cursed by the goddess Hera for sharing themselves with Zeus himself, all lamiae can trace their origins to one of these original six great monsters - Crotalina, Falla, Aspasia, Ursini, Seoane, and Eliapida.

### Effects

#### Enhancements

Far stronger than any Mortal and quicker than all but the most elite athletes, the Lamiae are deadly predators. In addition to their raw, physical power they also have a hyper acute sense of sight and their sense of taste is strong enough to allow a practiced lamia to track her prey by the scent of blood still inside his body.

#### Three Day Thirst

Lamia must feed at least once every three days or be overtaken by their Thirst.

#### Healing Factor

A Lamia can heal literally any wound save those inflicted by sunlight, silver, or the Elohim/Nephilim in a matter of minutes but the scar from the bite that turned them will never fade completely.

#### Don’t Look Here

Lamiae tend to go unnoticed by the mortal population. As long as the lamia isn’t drawing attention to itself, a human in the vicinity isn’t actively looking for her, or the lamia willingly suspends the effect upon one, several, or all mortals around her she is for all intents and purposes invisible. This effect becomes less potent as the vampire’s Thirst grows stronger and is just one more reason why bending oneself to the Three Day Thirst is very strongly discouraged.

#### No Reflection

As with most vampires, lamiae do not cast reflections in silver or in water, but the advent of digital photography and the tendency of modern mirrors to be backed with aluminum has mostly eliminated this inconvenience.

> *Detail: A victim’s scream as a lamia rips out their throat can sometimes be mistaken for manic laughter from a distance.*
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