The HV Pathogen

The Wampyr Virus, also known as CHRP (Crypto-Hemophagic Reanimation Plague) or simply HV (Hemoglophagic Vitomortosis), is a highly evolved paranormal virus or virus-like pathogen. HV—not to be confused with Hendra virus—is a multigenomic virus-like pathogen that alters the genetic code, causing those infected to transform into vampire like creatures granting them biological immortality, undeath apotheosis, paranormal powers, and enhanced capabilities. These creatures are known as wampyri a.k.a *Homo nemortuis defuncta*. The mortal half human child of a wampyr, a dhampir, is called *H. n. vivens*. The purest breed is often known as H. n. nosferat.

## Infection

The HV Pathogen is spread through blood ingestion, injection or transfusion. If a Blodlich feeds a human victim infected blood  they will be infected by the HV Pathogen. The virus has an incubation time is about 60 seconds and results are near instantaneous, causing them to convulse as small amounts of blood trickle out of their ears, nose, mouth, and eyes. The postmortem transformation takes exactly 3 days and 3 nights to complete, followed by reanimation the next night. Afterwards the victim will begin to become dazed and faint, and sensitive to light, and mild flu like symptoms as the virus alters their DNA.

When the conversion process is complete, the victim will become a Blodlich. From this point onwards, the victim's body will stop physically aging and they will develop a very wide array of supernatural abilities. The victim's upper incisor teeth will experience rapid growth, reaching about **11.90 mm** for the average adult male. The crown of both incisors grow into tiny, venipunctural, and needlike protrusions that are barely visible to the naked eye. The only substance they can keep down in large amounts will be human or animal blood.

## Characteristics

The HV Pathogen also gives Blodliches drastic increases in levels of strength, speed and endurance, while also slowing down their metabolism, allowing them to survive months without food. Also, if any of a Blodlich's organs, except for the brain or the heart, sustain damage that would be fatal to humans, the Blodlich can simply enter another state of suspended animation (coffin sleeping) until the damage heals.

**They also undergo several alterations to their biology and outer appearance :**

* Changes to the brain and digestive system cause infected subject to change from an omnivorous diet to a hematophagous and hypocarnivorous diet. (Although they can still ingest other kinds of food, they are just likely to throw up if they eat too much.
* Anti-hemostatic saliva.
* Vampiric saliva has properties that greatly hasten wound healing
* Fast acting musclular-paralysis-inducing neurotoxin produced by an additional maxillary sinus
* Enhanced sensory integration
* Blood is pumped via contraction of skeletal muscles, rendering the heart inert.
* Blood type changes to a new blood type called V which can be transfused into any human (similar type to O-).
* Elevated iron and bile levels in blood.
* High concentrations of Leuenkephalin.
* Methemoglobinemia
* Immunity to prion diseases
* Iron detoxification
* Blood volume is increased by seven percent.
* Blood volume is redistributed away from the peripheral tissues and sequestered in the core.
* High blood viscosity causes negligible blood flow from wounds and injuries. To allow steadly blood circulation all the blood vessels are dilated but immediately constrict whenever a vein is pierced until the bleeding has stopped.
* The capillary meshes in the subject's core become far more extensive than anything in a human.
* Circadian rhythms switch from diurnal to mostly nocturnal.
* Increased reflectivity of the retina, reminiscent of the *tapetum lucidum* found in the eyes of cats and other nocturnal predators.
* Photophobia
* Hemeralopia
* Enhanced muscular endurance
* Enhanced reflexes
* Body is very agile and lightweight
* Bones are hard, unbreakable yet surprisingly light
* Reduced fear response
* Very extensive intracellular ATP levels
* Increased adrenaline production
* OCD
* Moisturized and slightly translucent skin
* Glossy hair
* Glittery and mildly bioluminescent irises
* Loss of melanin in the eyes
* Enlarged pupils
* Slightly darkened sclera with a colorless transparent nictitating membrane sliding across for protection.
* Ashen complexion with a sickly green undertone
* Livid eyes with dark circles underneath
* Discolored blue tinged lips
* Vampire bats have a prominent groove on their lower lip where the tongue protrudes as they lap the blood at the site of the bite. After about 100 years a similar groove begins to appear on a wampyr's bottom lip which slowly becomes more prominent over time.
* Amplified bioelectric currents
* Brainwaves are present (although slowed) yet virtually undetectable. For reasons unknown brain scans will detect complete brain death the when in                                                                                             actuality the brain is (for the most part) functioning normally.
* Neural impulses are extensively improved yet any neural activity is also nearly undetectable.
* Wampyri breathe differently than humans. Their breathing is solely clavicular and tends to be airy and gasping. The respiratory rate is at a staggering 4 to 10 breaths per minute.
* **Structural Changes Caused by the Virus :**
	+ Sharper and more pronounced upper canines.
	+ Marked recession of the gum-line.
	+ Small grooves on the back of each canine that help vacuum up blood
	+ The muscles, although incredibly developed, appear small and lean.
	+ Femininely upturned nose with a rounded tip.
	+ Nostril reduction
	+ Higher cheekbones
	+ Recession of the lobes of both ears
	+ The tubercle and the helix are tapered into subtle points resulting in more triangular shaped ears, giving the infected a rather elfin or batlike appearance.
	+ Almond shaped eyes
	+ Plump cheeks
	+ Willowy and athletic frame
	+ Long slender fingers with sharp tapered fingernails
	+ Highly reduced nailbed strain
	+ Highly reduced gum-line strain
	+ Incredibly hard nails and teeth
	+ Slight vertical extension of the mandible
	+ V-shaped chin
	+ Abnormal jaw flexibility
	+ Petite shoulders
	+ Shoulders broader than hips
	+ Slightly elongated arms
	+ Larger, perkier, and more rounded breasts (female)
	+ Lumbrical hypertrophy
	+ 9% enlargement of the amygdala

==

**Undeath :** ==

* + Cytopathic reanimation : The HV virus kills it's victim and then reanimates them three days later while also retaining personality and higher brain functions. Formation of complex neural structures enables re-animation of damaged cells and restoration of lower level vitals. The reanimated corpse is exceedingly quick, agile, and highly dexterous.
	+ Blood is pumped via contraction of the skeletal muscles rendering the heart inert. At rest, these contractions are mostly involuntary and take place in the limbs, emanating from the furthest extremities inward, like a wave. BPM for each contraction tends to be much lower than the average human heartbeat.
	+ Because the skeletal muscle pumps take over circulation from the heart, the cardiovascular system experiences a drastic pressure reversal: the veins now exceed the arteries. This is referred to as introverted circulation
	+ Lowered oxygen dependence
	+ Lowered brain activity
	+ Suppressed vitals
	+ Sluggish metabolism
	+ The ability to shut themselves down for decades, desiccating down to a beef-jerky condition
	+ Their flesh, like most dead things, are quite Insalubrious and perhaps mildly toxic and it always smells like a combination of an embalmed corpse, dirt in a cemetery, autumn leaves, and funeral incense.
	+ Their skin is static and quite cool to the touch
	+ Their breath is frosty and smells faintly of charnel.

## **Body Temperature:**

* Like the naked mole-rat and two-toed sloth, wampyri do not regulate their body temperature in typical mammalian fashion: being thermoconformers rather than thermoregulators, their core temperature depends largely on the surrounding environment. Unlike typical ectotherms, however, wampyri can still shiver and produce enough heat to keep their temperature at a bare minimum of 60 degrees Fahrenheit during rest, and up to 74 when fully active. When well fed they are about 5 to 10 degrees warmer, with core temperatures ranging between 64 and 76 at rest and up to ten degrees higher when fully active. This physiological discrepancy is due to heat released by the symbiotic virulence that resides in wampyric flesh—a phenomenon that causes wampyri to emit steam in cool weather and phosphorescence when in water.

## Treatment and Immunity

There is no cure for Wampyrism. only death.