Vampire

> *“I say you can find out the servants of the Witch Queen by their marks. No man is born so unnatural that his body does not revolt at the foul pollution of Undead blood. And by these marks you can tell them: by the fangs of the predator, for their thirst for blood is like that of a foul beast; by the porcelain white skin, cold to the touch and unnatural to the eye; the glow of their eyes, behind which lives the terrible hunger. These are the marks of the blackest evil. These are the marks of the Vampire.” -* Lester Hunniford, Imperial Inquisitor.
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Vampires are arguably one of the greatest creations of the Witch Queen. Perhaps the most advanced and powerful of all undead beings, they are the leaders and rulers of the Vampiric Union - an undead nation and breakaway state from the Empire of Man. Vampires are merciless and dangerous beings that feast on the blood of the living to satiate their all-consuming addiction to blood. Though they are beset on all sides by enemies, people that wish for their complete eradication, their intelligence and power means that the dark reign of the Vampires continues.

## **Physical Description - Greater Undead**

Though the condition of vampirism is believed to effect all races, most Vampires are converted humans. As a result they mostly exhibit human physical traits - but not exclusively. On average, Vampires stand between 5 feet and 6 feet, give or take a few inches. They are also stronger than humans, a result of the dark magic that is contained within their bodies. Their endurance and willpower is also unmatched by most.

Whatever the skin tone of the convert was during life, all Vampires have an inherently pale hue to them. Most of their race has an almost pure white colouration, somewhat resembling the skin of the Dark Elves. It is believed that the pale skin comes from their undead biology, most likely from their blood leaving the body during the conversion process. Despite being dead, Vampires are still able to grow hair just like the living can. Interestingly, many Vampires (especially those in the major Vampiric Houses) exhibit a regal, almost aristocratic look and demeanour. Whether this comes from a superiority complex or is just old traditions from when they were living varies from person to person - though it is usually the former.

## **Mentality - The Hunger**

Being an advanced form of Undead, the Vampires are technically immortal. They do not age and so do not die from ageing. This means that there are Vampires, albeit not many at all, that were alive during their race’s creation and are still alive today. This grants them a sense of longevity that is only matched by the Elves. This longevity allows the Vampires to plan and enact dark schemes over the course of many centuries, shaping their homeland as well as lands beyond to their desire.

Perhaps the most noticeable behavioural trait present within Vampires is what the living races refer to as ‘The Hunger.’ The Hunger refers to an innate desire within all Vampires to seek and consume blood. The living races believe that this is a requirement for Vampires and is essentially their way of eating - hence the name. In reality, though, a Vampire’s desire to consume blood is not actually required for their survival, for as a form of Undead they do not need to eat. Instead, The Hunger is perhaps more similar to a drug addiction. Their minds compel them to consume blood but it is not necessary for them to survive, even if they think it is. In fact, over a long period of time it is actually possible for Vampires to lessen their dependence on blood and even break it entirely, though this is an incredibly rare occurrence.

The way Vampires portray themselves varies greatly. Prominent members of the major Vampiric Houses, as well as most lesser Vampire Lords, portray themselves as aristocratic-like figures. They see themselves as objectively superior to their subordinates and, in many cases, superior to the living beings that they originate from. Even lesser Vampire Lords put themselves on a pedestal, even if they have no way to support their claims. Indeed, it seems the only person that most Vampires acknowledge as their clear ‘better’ is the Witch Queen herself.

Due to their superiority complex, it is quite rare for Vampires to co-operate with other races. Even lesser forms of Undead, which practically every Vampire employs, are raised as mindless pawns rather than functioning individuals. That said, Vampires have been known to work alongside others when necessary, but typically this is only a last resort - or part of a larger plan.

## **Society - The Midnight Aristocracy**

   A majority of Vampires live in the region of Mortsanheim, a place of eternal night and forever tainted with dark magic. Mortsanheim is the land of the Vampiric Union, a country founded by the Witch Queen before her alleged death during the First Vampiric War. In her absence, the five major Vampiric Houses, collectively known as the Midnight Aristocracy, continue to rule. That said, the union is a fragile one. Minor Houses are always trying to shoot above their station by threatening the other houses and even the major Houses themselves are always plotting against one another. Luckily, the Parliament of Blood (a council comprised of the major Houses) manages to at least maintain the peace - ensuring that their rule continues.

Most 'lesser' Vampires are forced into joining the major Vampiric Houses, for they rarely have a chance of survival on their own. That said, there are a plethora of smaller Houses that exist as well as smaller groups and even completely independent Vampires, though this is a lot rarer. Vampires that go it alone have to contend with Vampire hunters, rogue Undead, and vicious wildlife.

Vampires that choose or have to live in other countries must content with a world that considers their existence vile. Most non-Union Vampires live in the Empire of Man, a logical choice since most Vampires are of human origin. In the Empire, however, they must blend-in to survive. If the locals believe a Vampire is nearby militias are formed and mobs break out. Worse still, the Imperial Inquisitors, an organisation created to eliminate threats to the state, are always after Undead and Vampires to slay. Indeed, a life like this is a difficult one.

## **Vampire Adventurers - Blending and Scheming**

Though the exact numbers are unknown, Vampires can and do become adventurers. That said, they often hide their true identities from their comrades and party members, for most are not as open to the concept of Vampirism as the Vampire might want. Many Vampires that become adventurers are looking for a sense of belonging, for individuals that are able to accept them for who or what they are. Others, however, might be part of complex schemes orchestrated by a major Vampiric House.

## **Vampire Names**

Vampires are not born, they are made, and so do not have any independent naming structure or patterns of their own. A Vampire will almost always keep the name they identified with at the point of their conversion. That said, a majority of Vampires are Imperial in origin and so Imperial naming structures (and the naming structures of Mortsanheim especially) are particularly common amongst the population of the Vampiric Union.

## **Vampire Traits**

Your Vampire character has an assortment of inborn abilities, part and parcel of Vampire nature.

* ***Ability Score Increase -*** your Strength, Dexterity and Constitution scores each increase by 1.
* ***Age -*** Vampires are a type of Undead, meaning that they are immortal and do not age.
* ***Alignment -*** Vampires within the Vampiric Union are subject to a strict hierarchy, whether they like it or not. Considering that they’re creations of dark magic, this makes many of them lawful evil. Those that live outside of the Union, however, can fall under practically any alignment.
* ***Size -*** the size of a Vampire ultimately depends on the size of the race they were before. They can be Small, Medium, or Large.
* ***Speed -*** regardless of your size, your base walking speed is 30 feet.
* ***Superior Darkvision -*** you can see in dim light and darkness within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light. You can’t discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey.
* ***Undead -*** your creature type is considered to be both humanoid and undead. You don’t have to eat, drink, or breathe. Instead of sleeping, you enter an inactive state for 4 hours each day. You do not dream in this state and retain a limited awareness of your surroundings, giving you disadvantage on Perception checks.
* ***Unholy Body -*** dark magic created you, making you resistant to necrotic damage. Healing potions do not have a healing effect on you, though. Instead, they deal poison damage equal to the amount that was meant to heal. To heal you must either drink blood (which functions the same as drinking a healing potion), spend hit dice, or finish a long rest.
* ***Blood Drinker -*** though you do not need to eat or drink, you are addicted to the consumption of blood. This blood can come from any source, but if you do not drink any blood in seven days you will suffer one level of exhaustion and gain an extra level every day after that. If you reach 6 levels of exhaustion you will become paralysed. Drinking blood will recover all levels of exhaustion.
* ***Vampire Fangs and Talons -*** as a Vampire, you have claws and fangs at your disposal. You can bite or use your claws as an unarmed action. Both deal 1d6 + your strength modifier.
* ***Misty Escape -*** when you drop to 0 hit points, you can transform into a cloud of mist instead of falling unconscious. When in this state, you have a flying speed of 20 feet and can pass through any gap air can pass through. Upon your next turn you will leave this state and will fall unconscious. You cannot use this ability again until after a long rest.
* ***Languages -*** you are able to speak, read and write any language or languages that the Vampire’s original race could. You also maintain similar speech patterns, but might speak with a slightly drier tone due to a lack of natural body fluids, similar to mild dehydration.