Vampire

Fangs

Vampires are a more monstrous race, that commonly spread by infecting others.

## History

Vampires first appeared in Ashenfall, created by a now long dead god. From there, vampires spread through the country, turning people to be more like them. Eventually, vampires made their way into the rest of the world.

## Appearance

Vampys, or Pureblood Vampires had more pale skin and pointed ears, though most had powerful magics that allowed them to hide their condition and blend in perfectly.

Most vampires resemble their original form in life, though now more pale, with pronounced fangs, and monstrous eyes. Some vampires' physical appearances change depending on variation from the standard Ekon strain.

## Variants

### Ekons

The most common rank and file of the vampire kingdom, and usually what people expect when they think of vampires. They were not born vampires, but turned through some other means, through a curse, a vampire bite, or disease. Ekons are affected by the sun, and take damage from it, but this can be remedied through potions, extreme magical enchantments, or dressing from head to toe in dark colored apparel. If someone is turned into a vampire by drinking pure Vampyr blood, they reach a higher blood status, and can be seen as a sort of advanced Ekon, likened to a hybrid. These “Super Ekons” do not require blood nearly as often, if ever, and are affected by sunlight in the same way Purebloods are.

### Skals

The most unwanted of the vampire race, Skals are often likened to rats, maggots, and other pests. The name Skal literally translates to Accursed. There is no help for them, and they deserve pity, but not mercy. The first skal was the result of a twisted experiment by the Vampire Scientist Thaddeus Scrimjaw, and the Skal condition can be transmitted from one skal to its prey through bite, or by replicating Dr Scrimjaw’s work, which has been lost to time, to much relief.

### Vulkod

The exact origins of the Vulkod, colloquially known as Wolven, are a bit of a mystery, but the prevailing theories point to experimentation on werewolves with the vampire curse, and vice versa. Taking on the properties of both vampire and werewolf, Vulkod are roughly the same size as Goliaths, have grey skin, have slightly more dog-like ears, and are naturally bred for combat. While once Vulkod were used as high ranking soldiers, they are difficult to replicate, and are one of the most rare breeds of vampires. While proud of their status, Vulkod secretly feel uncomfortable around skals, as it reminds them of their shared origin, and how close some of them came to becoming skals rather than Vulkod, and of the ones that did become skals.

### Nosferos

    Nosferos are another extremely rare breed of vampires. Much more magically inclined than other breeds, they often take roles as sorcerers, tacticians, or battlemages. Nosferos are completely hairless, possess grey skin, pointier ears than most vampires, and blood red eyes with black, cat-like slits for pupils. They actually shy away from many of the indulgences of their brethren, preferring a fine wine and well cooked steak as opposed to blood and flesh. This causes some nosferos to actually oppose the greater vampire kingdom, and even help humanity due to regular vampires being “brutish, sordid, and contemptible”. This is not always the case, though, as Nosferos can also choose to flaunt their magics over humanity, and try to dominate them in their own way. Nosferos are created with a special strain of vampirism, using elven blood mixed with pure vampire blood. When Elves are infected with vampirism, they take on many of the same characteristics as Nosferos, but they usually keep their hair and original eyes, besides the change to red.

### Aurorans

Literally “Sun Vampires”, Aurorans, or Daywalkers are a complete contradiction to everything known about vampires. Instead of being hurt by sunlight and strengthened by moonlight, they are bolstered by Sunlight and are unaffected by moonlight, provided they have absorbed enough sunlight over the course of the preceding day. The original Sun Vampire was actually a demon, known as Highlord Lothraxion, and his “Grand Army of the Light”, consisting of vampire paladins and clerics. A human can not become an Auroran, but when a vampire that possesses a strong will and a righteous heart is blessed by a cleric in bright sunlight, they can become a daywalker, in what’s known as the Auroras Ritual. This is most often the only way a vampire can return to something resembling the life they had before, though other methods have been found. Aurorans look similar to how they looked before the Auroras Ritual, but their eyes become a golden yellow, their skin regains a bit of color, their voices change to a more harmonious sound, and they glow in direct and intense sunlight. Aurorans still require blood, but now prefer animal or even vampire blood, and drinking human blood is both taboo and unfulfilling.

### Koroguhn

Roughly translating to “Ash vampire”, these are not actually vampires, but cremated remains of corpses zombified through intense magic. However, they possess many traits that confuse the average adventurer who encounters them, namely a desire for blood, rather than flesh (through flesh is tasty to them as well), and their aversion to sunlight, as it burns them back to ash. However, they do not stay down forever when killed by the sun, as moonlight can re awaken the curse they possess, bringing them back.

### Vampyrs

The original vampires, the Vampyr, or purebloods, are literally that. Born with the vampire curse, to pureblood parents, of a pure blooded dynasty. Very few pureblood lines exist, as only around 200 pureblood vampires existed at the height of their reign. The term Vampyr was their original spelling, but lack of literacy and understanding by common folk led to the general term of “Vampire” being applied to other breeds. Pureblood status is often lorded over other breeds, likely due to having the strengths the other breeds, but none of the weaknesses, besides a slight aversion to sunlight which gives a slightly sick feeling. Purebloods also do not have to drink blood, but still do so anyway as a treat. While there is no way to become a pureblood naturally, sometimes the vampire curse can lay dormant in genes, eventually reawakening in human offspring, or the curse can be obtained through godly means. Purebloods are often the best for blending in, as they are gifted with magic and can alter their appearance to a degree, changing their eye color from red to usually grey, yellow, purple, or black.

## Homelands

Vampires originally came from Ashenfall, but expanded into the lands of Belwyn, Ravenloft, Crivania, Estros, and Haskesh. However, the lands of Crivania, Ravenloft, and Estros have all been purified, and most Vampires have depated, though some can still be found in Ravenloft and Crivania.

### Ashenfall

Ashenfall's orignal name has been lost to time, but it was once a beautiful land of forests and mountains. Eventually, the lands were ravaged by a volcano, and in a last ditch effort to save the kingdom, the land was sacrificed to an ancient and malevolent god. After that, the sky stayed an ashy grey, and the lands were constantly covered in ash. When the people of Ashenfall tried to revolt against their god, they were cursed with vampirism. Currently, the land of Vampires is ruled by the enigmatic N'zaloth

### Belwyn

Belwyn is another one of the "Dark Lands", and is forever shrouded in eternal night, and covered in snow. Belwyn is dominated by the Blackwoods region, a forest of snow, and trees growing black leaves. To the south, a wasteland of ruins and sand lie, known as the Haunted Wastes. Currently, Belwyn is ruled by King Ravon, though Deathlord Morlund has taken over one of the last remnants of civilization, the town of Vandelheim, but Morlund was eventually killed by Cecil Von Zarovich.

### Ravenloft

Much like Belwyn, Ravenloft is dominated by forests and eternal night, though with mountains to the north, and ruins of ancient kingdoms to the East. Ravenloft was recently locked in a power struggle, between the Vampire Strahd Von Zarovich, his brother Vigo, the Dragonborn Iolodren, and the Skeksis. Recently, Ravenloft was purified of the darkness, thanks to three of the warring leaders joining forces to fight the Skeksis and perform the ritual of the sun, along with a group of heroes including Cecil, and many of the vampires were killed or fled when the sun returned.

### Haskesh

Little is known about Haskesh, but it is said to be a large swampland, with a black stone castle overlooking the lands.