Higher Vampire

## Characteristics

### Lifespan

Measured in centuries, most vampires enter a phase of "death" or hibernation around a millennium

### Distinctions

"Immortality", bodily regeneration, heightened speed and strength, superior intelligence and ease of learning humanoid languages. Most vampires posses a separate human, half-breed and vampiric form.

**Higher Vampires**, sometimes known as **Wights** but commonly known simply as **Vampires**, are a distinct and mysterious race of humanoids with superhuman-like abilities and bodily functions. Their origins are almost entirely unknown and the odds of crossing one of their kind are incredibly low, largely because of their keen ability to hide in plain sight and the isolation many of them choose to pursue.

Common folklore and tales claim that higher vampires are undead.

## Physiology

The majority of vampires possess a humanoid form that is indistinguishable in appearance from your average human, barring a paler skin tone, as well as two additional forms: a half-breed form that combines a human's appearance and vampiric features such as elongated and razor sharp claws; sharp teeth that can penetrate flesh; eyes in darker shades of red, and also an entirely vampiric form that is unique to every specimen and has little to no resemblance to their human form; often it includes wings, larger body and bone structure; bat-like facial features; additional limbs or appendages; flesh-like skin or darkened skin; increased durability, strength and speed; among others. Vampires are incredibly durable even in their human and half-breed forms, easily able to withstand most injuries with the key exception being decapitation or total immolation. They also possess incredible regenerative abilities, able to regenerate bodily wounds or even severed appendages such as fingers, feet, hands or genitalia. Additionally, most vampires - perhaps all of them - are immune to disease, or at least immune to symptoms. Furthermore, vampires are incredibly intelligent and are able to learn most languages with ease. Some vampires possess qualities that are entirely unique to them, such as the ability to become invisible at will or to turn into a mist and travel at great speeds. It is unclear if this is an in-born quality or one obtained by magic.

In terms of age, vampires live for centuries and are not known to die from old age, rather, when a vampire reaches its 9th century or a millennium it enters a state of hibernation as it slowly succumbs to immobility and other conditions that make it difficult for it to operate day-to-day. It is not known if vampires ever leave this hibernate state or remain in it indefinitely. It can be assumed that once a vampire enters a state of hibernation it is "dead" by old age. Their longevity is superior to that of elves or any other non-human races, but they suffer from a similar case of infertility as elves but in a much more drastic manner. Bruxa are believed to have a very limited fertility window that covers roughly a decade of their 2nd to 5th century, giving them roughly 30 years during which they can have offspring. Meanwhile, hexenbiest are sometimes themselves infertile or "periodically" fertile, operating on similar windows as their female counterparts, resulting in a very low yet incredibly long-lived population of vampires. It is possible for vampires to have children with certain non-vampires, resulting in a crossbreed named a dhampire - born from the union of a non-vampire, usually a human, and a vampire.

Vampires can detect each other's presence when nearby, such as when passing each other on the street or when they happen to be patrons at the same establishment. Although it is not as much detection as it is being made aware of the presence of another of their kind, but should two vampires greet one another it is certain that they would be aware of each other's vampiric origin.

### Myths and Misconceptions

* Higher Vampires are not harmed or warded off by garlic, the sun, silver, rushing water such in the form of rivers, or religious symbols.
* Higher Vampires do not have to be invited inside to enter your home, if they want to they can enter whenever.
* They are not undead.
* Higher Vampires do not exclusively feed on blood, although it is a major element of their dietary needs.
* You cannot be turned into a vampire.
* Vampires, although incredibly durable, can be slain through decapitation or immolation.
* Most vampires cannot fly.

## Language

Vampires have a native tongue of their own, one which is believed to be ancient and highly secretive. Lesser vampires speak a less-developed form of this language, dubbed low vampiric, whilst higher vampires speak a more developed and advanced form known as higher vampiric. A high vampiric alphabet is known to exist, perhaps a number of alphabets exist for this language, but human scholars have been unable to find an example of one. Of the few spoken words known to a select few scholars and linguists, a mere fraction can be repeated, for the phonics of the tongue are near impossible for humans, elves and others alike to repeat.

The language is described as silent, shrill, and sickening, almost visceral in sound. Alpats are known to sing songs in this language to manipulate and bend the will of men with varied imagery: usually sickening and horrifying, but also sometimes seductive and lustful.