Vampires

Vampires are a race of immortals that stem from the God Sadin. They are forced to live in the darkness and feed upon the blood of mortals. Due to this nature the vampires are thought to be evil corrupted beings that have no mercy or feelings. This is not true, where some vampires hold onto their honor, goodness and nobility that they had possessed before their Dark Gift. Others allow their gift to drive them mad or push them toward dark intent.

Vampires do not need to kill in order to sedate their never-ending thirst, but alas many do kill their victims. In such cases all that remains of their victim is a dry. Physically they are absent of true warmth, their skin feeling cool or clammy to the touch. They gain the sensation of warmth when close to a living being; physically, sexually or by drinking blood. It can act like an aphrodisiac to them, a drug, clouding their common sense and better judgment.

The average vampire looks to be no more than eighteen up to forty some years old. Yet this physical appearance is deceiving for they could be several years older than they look, or more. Because they look human they blend in to society well.

Their top canine teeth are sharp, and their main asset for feeding. These sharp fangs lengthen when they feed, though sometimes they lengthen for intimidation use. Young converts need to feed often, where older vampires have learned to control their hunger, and have to feed less often. One of the Vampires largest assets are their heightened senses. Excellent night vision is one, seeing every detail clearly as if it were day, a stronger sense of smell and heightened hearing. They do, however, lose their taste for normal foods, being that their bodies are not meant for the break down of food. Instead, their internal organs are meant for absorption. A vampire could eat, but it brings them no satisfaction, and they often find it repulsive. The food they had ate would also upset their internal organs, and they would eventually throw it up. Drinking liquids, such as wines or champagne, has become a favored pastime for the vampire. These things they enjoy immensely, for it does not interfere with their bodies delicate internal balance.

They are gifted with the natural ability to tap into Dark magics without the use of Magite, but are unable to use it unless they have trained in its use, so a young vampire wouldn't know how to use their magic until they are trained. Vampires are, however, unable to use Holy Magite, and often won't use Light Magite because of its physically harmful reactions.

The sun is indeed most destructive, causing vampires of few years to combust spontaneously, leaving little time to react before they are reduced to ash. Older vampires suffer massive burns, charring of skin, flames erupting from their flesh, and melting of flesh and tissue. The pain alone is excruciating, and they can die within mere minutes of sun exposure.

Clothing does not help them hide from the sun, nor armor, for it seems to become ‘part’ of their physical being, and will also burn and sustain damage if exposed to sunlight. A vampire can also receive injuries from indirect light, and have to always stay in dark well shaded areas. Not even an overcast day will stop the suns damaging rays. The only time a vampire could walk outside during the day is if the sky were near black as pitch. Sun damage takes several days to months, even years, to recover from, depending on the severity.

To attempt day travel they utilized specially crafted carriages, where no light is allowed in by thick planking, sturdy sealant, and layers heavy upholstery. Yet even travel by carriage is risky. They also began to travel by coffin in the early years after the Perdition. These boxes would be as tightly sealed as the carriages, the lids being unlockable only from within. Of course Vampire Hunters learned of this because of the coffins expensive construction.

Vampires will feel a great need to sleep during the daylight hours. In the day their powers and physical energy are at their weakest, particularly when the sun is at its zenith. Young vampires are compelled to sleep at this time, in an almost coma like state, whereas older vampires may stay awake, but find it taxing, giving them headaches, extreme lethargy and body aches.

Holy spells and water do damage to a vampire as well. If splashed by holy water the vampire can experience scalding, blisters and the melting of flesh. Holy spells do double the damage, and often take five times as long to heal as normal wounds. Healing spells derived from light or holy can also harm vampires.

The Calamian ore called silver was found to be another weakness. If a vampire so much as touches silver it will burn the skin, char it if held too long. Many vampire hunters have taken on using the metal, for when damage is inflicted upon a vampire with silver it is extremely painful, such wounds from silver taking two times as longer to heal. When sliced or stabbed with silver, the tissue burns, often turns black, the blood oozing out green.

Vampires can naturally regenerate their flesh. This is increased if they consume blood, rest naturally, or burry themselves in the earth. Vampires won’t typically wont rest in the earth, but if they are in a desperate state the soil is a healing force that they won’t hesitate to utilize. If severely injured to near death (primarily from sun damage) vampires can burry themselves and go into a form of hibernation, where their body sustains itself and preps for regeneration. In this state the body does not heal, only stops immediate pain and further damage, so they can look like a rather messy corpse if discovered. This hibernation state can last for days, weeks, even years. Once awake or awakened, however, they must replenish their blood immediately in order to begin proper regeneration. Rising after a catatonic sleep will cause maddening bloodlust.

Because the Dark Gift is passed on through blood, Vampires can in essence sense one another. Of course they can’t feel each other out, know where the other is, unless they are in extremely close proximity. No, their link is through bloodline. They can feel deaths or births through their lineage, like a ripple effect. For example, if Volrin were to die, all converts created beneath him would feel and know that not only a vampire has died, a very old one had passed, for the ripple effect will be huge. Even those not in Volrin’s line would feel his passing. If a vampire of lesser stature, somewhere at the base of a vampire lineage were to die, their death would likely be felt by few, those who are linked to and closest in lineage to that vampire. The Blood King is the only vampire who can sense every death and every birth of a vampire.

It is also known that recent converts or those vampires of weak will are susceptible to manipulation by their creator. This form of control depends on the power of their creator and their fledgling’s mental strength. They can’t control their actions completely, but they do influence them with ideas, thoughts and emotions, and being that they are drawn to their creator it can make it that much harder to resist their influence. Rarely a vampire can influence their creator, but this case is only seen if a relatively weak vampire creates another, who has a stronger will than they do. However, the older a vampire gets, the less they likely they are able to be manipulated by their creator or a vampire of higher power.

As per the Vampire Code, they are usually very strict about whom they give the Dark Gift. Humans are the only race that can be converted into vampires. If the Intended chooses to take the Dark Gift the vampire must break their own flesh, release their dark magic, and allow them to drink of their blood. Some have opted for the ‘classic’ passing of the Gift, being that the vampire bites their own tongue to open the blood flow and passes it to the Intended by their ‘kiss’.

When a human is converted their body goes through a massive change. This is what they call the ‘death and rebirth’. The human body in essence dies, and can be extremely painful as the organs inside begin to shut down. Vampires have learned over the years that to lessen the victim’s pain they take a great deal of their blood, pushing them near unconsciousness. When the Intended reaches their death stage, the body begins to change, the internal organs rearranging themselves. Their rebirth then takes place once the organs are reordered, and they awaken, taking their first breath as a vampire.

Just like old wines vampires get better, stronger, with age. Because of their link with Sadin and Molrivath, vampires gain a natural affinity for shadow magic. This power is not truly potent or useable until they are much older, and even so they have to study Shadow magic to utilize it. It doesn’t come naturally, like many believe. Because of what they are, vampires cannot use light or holy magic.

The Vampires who devoted themselves to the Blood King and the Vampire Order commonly live in groups, with at least one vampire of substantial strength as their leader. They keep to themselves, typically, meddling seldom in human affairs. These groups often use the laws of the Order as their foundation, and add their own rules to these. Not all live the same as others, some opting for rich and decadent lifestyles, others humble and simple. Humans can and do live amongst these vampires, some as servants, others as friends and lovers.

True Vampires

Originally part of the race of humans called the Xivion, the True Vampires are those who were closest to the Dark Lord himself, Dimitrious Pendral Tempes, King of the High Order. The Blood King granted the gift to his closest generals, family and friends. At one point there were many True Vampires, but during the war of Daishevar many perished in the event known as the Perdition. Only the Blood King is capable of creating True Vampires, though he has not created one since the Corruption, for many had betrayed him and the Council. Today there are less than fifty True Vampires in existence. (True vampire-Extremely Rare- age 3,000+, *not playable, don’t even ask.)

Convert Vampires

Convert Vampires are created by another vampire, true or not, using the Dark Gift. Once bestowed upon the person their body dies, going through the ‘death and rebirth’. Because the Converts organs are resituated violently, it is believed this is why they cannot bear children. Converts tend to be young and vulnerable, often taken in by their creator and taught how to live as they are. Others created by cruel rogue vampires who force the Dark Gift upon them, are left alone to fend for themselves. Most of these die in the sunlight or go mad, either from their loss of life or crazed with hunger. Many grow arrogant and enjoy their newfound powers. (Young Converts- common- up to 100 years of age. Old Converts- uncommon- 100-300 years of age, restricted*. Ancient Convert- Rare- age 300+, *restricted.)

Half-Vampires

Half vampires are not too well known about, thought to be tales told by crazed individuals. They are the product of a human and a True Vampire. These beings are rare, since there are fewer than fifty True Vampires alive today. Most True Vampires hate the half-breed offspring and sworn to create no more, killing or capturing most they find, because of an uprising caused by Lance Al’Damoreth, the very first half blood. A half-vampire is born and grows as any normal human child does, but once they reach adulthood their vampirism traits emerge. They stop aging, and begin to feel the need for blood. Not as strong as their full vampire relatives who need it on almost a daily basis, but a need for it none the less. Half-vampires can live without blood for extremely long periods of time, months, sometimes even years, and can eat normal food for regular sustenance. The older they get, however, the more vampiric they become, and grow to need blood more often to sustain them. They can also live under the sun, though not at extended periods of time, which makes most vampires refer to them as Day Walkers. (Half vampire-Extremely Rare- 2,000-,*not playable, don’t even ask.)