Vampires

Vampires are dreadful, bloodthirsty creatures of the night that are weakened by sunlight and silver. Countless years of unlife have granted the eldest of their kind wisdom and guile that makes them far greater predators than any mortal being could imagine, but the unholy ferocity of their neonates is also not something one can easily ignore.

## Biology

Vampires, for the most part, exist as a modified version of Mammalian Ib. So long as they have steady access to the fresh blood of non-vampiric Mammalian Ib, they retain the same outward appearance of an ordinary member of their kind, save for the addition of their elongated canine teeth which morph into hollow fangs that are capable of either injecting or extracting blood, in addition to constantly secreting a mild amnestic. Internally, however, subtle changes are made to their biology that greatly enhance their physical capabilities.

Changes in a Vampire's exterior only become noticeable if they fail to consume the lifeblood of mortals for extended periods of time. As they transition through a state known as Blood Starvation, their form will gradually become more ghastly pale and emaciated, similar to undergoing the effects of corpse desiccation. In addition, they will gain more monstrous features as all their teeth and fingers elongate and sharper. Eventually, their jaw unhinges as well, and their tongue becomes barbed, protracted, and prehensile.

## Vampiric Curse

The Vampiric Curse has plagued Aum since the time of the Reaper's Rest, and it is, unsurprisingly, something that runs in the blood. The curse is spread from one individual to another through a process similar to feeding whereby a Vampire will sink their fangs into the jugular of their victim but instead of drinking the victim's blood, they instead inject the victim with their own cursed blood. It is worth noting that the curse must be spread via direct injection of Vampiric blood into the bloodstream and will not be spread via means such as ordinary ingestion; however, ingestion of a Vampire's blood does have the effect of placing its imbiber into a state of altered mind that causes them to become more susceptible to Vampiric suggestion and domination. Creatures in such a state are typically referred to as either Thralls or Drudges depending on their temperament, with the former being loyal and obedient servants and the latter behaving more similar to undisciplined and reluctant slaves.

One of the core aspects of the Vampiric curse is that it causes its afflicted to constantly crave the blood of the living. While young Vampires who lack proper self-control will typically suck out every last drop of blood from their victims, the more experienced of their kind will only drink enough to repel the worst pangs of their eternal hunger, knowing that true satiation is impossible. While such tempered feedings still draw enough blood to cause adverse health effects to their victims, for the most part, those victims survive with only a mild case of anemia and amnesia. In cases where a Vampire does drink all the blood from their victim, the corpse of that victim will arise as a Husk, essentially a mindless Zombie that will obey basic commands issued by its master but will otherwise not perform any actions at all. Husks are occasionally mistaken for ordinary corpses and are buried unalive; they do not undergo the ordinary process of decomposition and are generally avoided by insects and bacteria, allowing them to rest in placidity, staring up at the roofs of their coffins with blank expressions and whitened eyes for centuries on end.

## The Accursed Ones

The 21 Accursed Ones are the original bearers of the Vampiric Curse; each of their bloodlines possess slight variations in how the dreadful curse manifests.

### Duke Winston Grimwald

Duke Grimwald was once a petty baron struggling to maintain the colony he was charged with settling in the corrupted north region of the Sylvia Forest in the year 622; Imperial Domains had been preparing a number of colonial expeditions at that time near the end of the Unifying Era, but they did not have any serious concerns for the success of the missions during that time and sent them forth woefully unprepared for the unknown dangers they would face. He led the fourth and final Imperial expedition into that forsaken region, and endeavor was considered so hopeless that the doomed pilgrims named their damned village Nevermore. Miraculously, 54 of the original 212 settlers managed to survive up until the year 628, and just before the vile Bramble infestation managed to strangle them all out to extinction, the Reaper's Rest began and their fallen comrades arose from their graves and in their mindless bloodlust managed to drive off the invading Floren. The Undead then turned back towards the village and set forth to devour the flesh of their former friends and family, but when Baron Grimwald ordered them to halt, they immediately did so.

Over the years, Grimwald used his newly discovered powers to strengthen his grip over the accursed forest. The rest of the Empire turns a blind eye to his activities so long as he prevents the Brambles from spreading beyond the borders of his forest and continues to pledge loyalty to the Throne, even if such pledges are known to be almost entirely superficial.

Grimwaldian Vampires, also disparagingly known as Grimers, are supernaturally gifted in the art of Domination and are able to effortlessly command all mindless Undead creatures.

### Chester the Bard

Chesterian Vampires are known for being art aficionados and tend to possess an almost fetishized obsession with death, especially death of the tragic and heroic kind.

### Mad Beggar Benazare Ali

Benazare Ali was once your average-ordinary street loon who spent his long days in the Imperial Capital madly raving about the coming end times and how everyone in even the most highly defended city in all The Empire was doomed. People took pity on the old fool and would provide him enough food to survive, but none took he insane babbling seriously. Of course, it would turn out that he was right when the Reaper's Rest happened and endless hordes of the dead poured into the streets, but the fact that he was correct was more likely due to pure coincidence rather than any divine revelation he may or may not have received, and either way it did not make his incessant complaining and screaming about how "the end is nigh" any less of a nuisance.

Benzarian Vampires all are plagued by various mental maladies and madnesses and suffer an inability to cease spewing forth every thought that crosses their mind, though those more in control of their emotional state are at least be able to mask the meaning of their brain vomit through a series of mumbles and whispers. Benzarians will completely lose control over themselves and enter into an enraged state if they are silenced.

### Grafdor the Hunter

Grafdorian Vampires are exceptionally skilled as self-transmogrification and possess an unnatural command over beasts of all kinds. They also possess heightened senses that allow them to act as the most proficient trackers on Aum. Unfortunately, Grafdorians all suffer from severe claustrophobia and despise to enter narrow underground passageways or stay indoors for extended periods of time.

### General Senso "Warbanner" Jichi

While the General himself was eventually eliminated by the Slayers, his kin still carry on, waging war against the Hobgoblins of Weiji Pass in his name.

Sensorian Vampires possess enhanced physical and psychic abilities and can directly communicate and coordinate with their comrades through telepathy.

### Ingrid Lasiado the Cripple

Ingrid the Cripple - Incredible self transformation and the ability to cast crippling curses. Hate the sight of medicine and medical robes.

### Crusader Zarkov

Founding member of the Slayers. Power to control and destroy undead.

### Priestess Arrune

Second member of the Slayers. Power to speak with dead and undead

### Doctor Octavius Finch

Great intellect and the ability to create all sorts of strange devices and abominations. Hate idiocy.

### Unknown, The Scepter Thief

While there exists a myriad of legends and speculations, none are aware of the true identity of the patriarch of the Sceptarian Vampires.

Thief of the Emperor’s Scepter whose identity is unknown even to his kin. Thieves, Rogues, Assassins. Have magic for avoiding detection and breaking in without leaving traces. Hate silver shackles.

### Victor Ivan, the Bumbling Oaf

In the aftermath of a Vampiric assault on the Highland Brewery, Victor's unliving body was discovered incapacitated and almost entirely pickled within a tank of pure alcohol and he was soon extracted and detained in a Slayer laboratory at an undisclosed location for use as research material on the nature of Vampires.

It is unknown how Ivanian Vampires, also known as Oaves, continue to exist in the world given that they have all inherited the supernatural stupidity of their inebriated ancestor. Indeed, despite the fact that the alcohol content of their cursed vitae never drops below 0.12%, they still crave booze tenfold as much as they do the blood of the living, and the substance only serves to further hinder their already limited intellectual abilities. Many a time the Slayers have come to a village to investigate reports of Undead activity only to find traces of Ivanian ashes outside the door of a suspected lair, almost as though the plastered Oave had forgotten the sun destroys it and tried going out for an early morning walk after a late-night binge.

### Herbalist Azalea

Druid, Control over and summoning plants, creating plant monstrosities, believed to be responsible for the entire existence of Briars.

### Rohlin Untier, The Fury from the North

From local underground arena, a powerful barbarians with rage and incredible physical power with no skill or finesse required. Hate everything

### Odaji Yeyue, The Eastern Fist

Both he and Rohlin were fighting in the USL at the time, they continued fighting and ignored the rising dead around them.

From same arena as Fury (rivals) master of many fighting styles and creator of his own. Incredible patience and mastery of meditation. Dislike disorder.

### Farseer Andrea Fahsi

Power to see into the futures, create, speak to, and appease ghosts. Hate heathens.

### Pyromancer Durian Feran

All of the “Mage Vampires” descend from powerful mages with an affinity for magic of a specific elements. They have resistance to that element but a weakness to the opposite element. Often seek out and recruit young mages, some even train them for free while others forcibly enlist and dominate them.

### Lumancer Uun Sunborn\* -

Cannot go outside on the night of the new moon or particularly cloudy days

Husks - Creatures that vampires have completely drained of blood