Vampires

Vampires are a human variant race to be featured in the Sci-Fi Mercenary campaign setting. There is very little public knowledge about the Vampires as they keep to themselves and outsider contact to their system is strictly limited. The Vampire race can only be found on a very limited number of planets.

## Society

The Vampires live in a theocratic society dictated by the Arch-Vamps who enact the will of the psychic artefact known as the Obelisk.

##### The Obelisk

The Obelisk demands massive amounts of blood sacrifice each week. Very few Arch-Vamps claim that they can commune with the Obelisk directly and know what it wants, however, these Arch-Vamps are considered sacred and fundamental to religion. These Arch-Vamps are the head of the theocracy.

##### Arch-Vampires

The Arch-Vampires, who have drank excessive blood and have been selected by ritual, typically enact the will of the obelisk.  There are some Arch-Vampires who claim to hear the Obelisk's divine desires. These Arch-Vampires tend to take a more Pope-like position and head the theocracy. Arch-Vampires who have undergone ritual have attributes such as greater endurance, speed, and agility, this leads to them being practically invulnerable. The some Arch-Vamps have more bat-like features similar to ghouls however this can vary greatly, while other Arch-Vamps looks may just be looking older or younger after the ritual.

##### Dukes/Duchesses

These Vampires are the equivalent of lords, they own land, tell Vampires on the land what to do, and command a large legion of their own henchmen and underlings. Most Dukes and Duchesses focus on harvesting humans, infrastructure, and working on the catacombs within the lands unless their land is utilised for any particular purpose.

##### Senior Nightguard

These Vampires are experienced henchmen for the Duke/Duchess serving quite a few terms as their underlings. These Vampires are experienced, promising, and above all else devout to their lord. This is a honourable, fortunate position in Vampire society. The Senior Nightguard may also undertake Fledgelings and perform expeditions for their Duke/Duchess.

##### Fledgeling Nightguard

These Vampires are rookie henchmen for the Duke/Duchess. These fledglings are yet to spend many terms under their lord. They perform a variety of tasks and enact the will of their Duke/Duchess.

##### Vampires

The standard Vampire makes up the vast majority of Vampire society. These Vampires appear to be human with slight variation including pointed ears and sharp teeth. In order to stop them from turning into a Ghoul, the average Vampire needs to consume at least one drop of blood a day. If they fail to drink blood, they may eventually become feral and reduce to a Ghoul. The threat of becoming a Ghoul often used by the Arch-Vamps to control the general population as the Arch-Vamps control distribution of human livestock.

##### Humans

Humans are the livestock of Vampire society as Vampires require consuming human blood to survive. They are often kidnapped from different planets and farmed by the Vampires. The quality of life for the humans in vampire society can vary depending on which faction they happen to fall into the hands of as some are more lenient and sympathetic than others.

##### Ghouls

The very bottom of society kept underground within the catacombs. They are starved of blood reducing them into feral inhuman creatures with bat-like qualities. These Ghouls are further weaponized by the Arch-Vamps as they are mindless primal beasts with an endless bloodlust. These Ghouls can vary greatly in appearance however they tend to have sickly pale skin and long ears. They manoeuvre quadrupedally and some may possess fleshy membraned wings enabling flight. They most commonly tend to have no sense of sight but are adept at using echolocation.

## Factions

### Culture

#### The Coven

The Coven is individualistic and self-serving. Every Vampire looks out for themselves and the higher they are in rank, the more likely they are to try and backstab each other for prestige and power. This faction is very orientated around the Obelisk religion. They are harsh to humans and treat them as no more than livestock. The Coven occupies two of the known planets in the Vampire system and also have a variety of outposts and bases for agriculture on their human farming planets.

#### The Shroud

The Shroud are a bit less religious towards the Obelisk. These Vampires try to live a life more akin to that of the humans that came before them. They look out for each other and treat humans more humanely, offering the humans a part in their society exchanging goods and infrastructure for blood. The Shroud occupies one of the known planets in the Vampire system.

## Biology

The vampires are a human variant race. It is unknown how the vampires acquired their unique qualities, however, in the vampires' long history it is believed that their qualities were gifted to them by the Obelisk which is integral to their culture.

## Infrastructure

### Architecture

The Vampires' preferred architectural style seems to be reminiscent of European gothic architecture.

### Catacombs

A subterranean tomb used for disposal of the dead (human and vampire) and to lock away the Arch-Vamp's feral army consisting of the Ghouls. These tombs can be found everywhere underneath The Coven's home planets.