Vampire
Vampires are an Infectious type demon that can only survive by feeding on the blood of humans. The transformation technically kills the host. While the weak spot of the vampire is positioned just over the heart, vampires are the only demon in which the heart does not move it's position inside of the host, and even when the demon weak spot is destroyed without damaging the heart, the host simply becomes dead. Vampires are the most human of the known demons. The host retains it's human mind and memories, simply overcome with an unquenchable thirst for human blood. They must consume some unknown quantity of this blood in order to survive. Should they go more than a week without, they become emaciated and weak. Two weeks without, and they die of heart failure. Vampires cannot subsist themselves only on blood, and still need to tend to the dietary needs of the human host.
The bite of a vampire is infectious, meaning that when a vampire feeds from a human, that human acts in the moment of feeding as a Same-Species Beacon, attracting the ghost form of any vampires in the area. Outside of New Orleans, vampires usually kill their prey to avoid propagating the condition. In New Orleans itself, feeding is restricted to specific areas designed to prevent transformation entirely. As a result, New Orleans has a large population of Infection Survivors.
Vampires have superhuman strength, able to lift and throw objects weighing up to 2,000 pounds with ease. Maximum recorded vampire strength peaked at around 5,000 pounds, though the vampire in question was only able to lift the object from the ground and nearly crushed itself in the attempt. They are extremely fast. While running normally like a human, they can maintain speeds of 35 MPH for up to an hour. They are also capable of moving so quickly they cannot be seen, but only for incredibly short bursts that takes a lot of energy. Vampires using this ability need to feed soon afterwards or die. Vampires are also supernaturally durable, able to ignore normally lethal wounds so long as their head and heart remain intact. Even in the case of head trauma, they are able to survive much more grievous injuries than humans. All wounds a vampire sustains can be healed through the drinking of additional blood. Vampires cannot develop human illnesses and do not suffer from exposure to radiation.
Besides their incredible physical abilities, vampires also cling to surfaces and can climb them much akin to a spider and utilize their incredible speed while doing so. Most vampires have the ability to control certain animals as well, and can communicate with them in a limited capacity. The exact capability of each vampire with this skill varies greatly. Some can only call the creatures to them, some are limited to a specific species, while others are capable of commanding all beasts in a large area with their willpower alone. The most common creatures vulnerable to vampiric influence are wolves, rats, bats, domestic cats, lizards, snakes, and alligators.
Vampires have a fear of fire that can be very difficult to overcome, cannot cross running water (though they can use a bridge), have a lethal allergy to the ingestion of garlic, and some are subject to a compulsion to count small objects such as rice or pebbles. The sun itself serves as a weakness for the vampires, but it does not burn them outright. Rather, it seems to irritate their skin and cut them off from using their supernatural abilities to their fullest extent. The biggest threat to a vampire's existence are the demon generals, as these can command all demons including vampires and un-transformed zoomorphs.
As the most "human" of demonkind, vampires are frequently offered alliances with human settlements, being offered blood in exchange for protection from lesser demons. The largest such settlement is the Barony of New Orleans, which contains the city itself and several surrounding settlements, each with a vampiric baronet. The NAFZ does not deal with vampires as a general rule, but will employ their services as mercenaries or for research purposes on occasion. The TCRD has a small division of vampire scientists researching a cure for demonic possession and ways to make other demons as "reasonable" as vampires can be.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Demon, Infectious Predator
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