Vampirism

Blood drinking horrors born from the curse of Jora Kampfrun.

Transmission & Vectors

Vampirism is contracted when one already afflicted with Vampirism drains a victim of blood or when a Vampire preforms a ritual under a full moon in which they feed their supplicants their own corrupted blood. Both result in vampires, but of drastically different power.

Causes

Vampirism began as a gift from the Red-Ash Oak, a Fae from the Fell. When Jora fell from Anir's grace he would barter with the Elven demi-god for a way to twist the curse into a gift. Jora's blood would be cursed, corrupting those who drank it with a lesser potency of the Archfey's blessing.

Symptoms

Vampirism causes the Incisors to elongate into small fangs, and the skin to become pale and pallid, and eventually calloused. Lesser Vampires cannot cross running Water, nor can they survive in direct sunlight for more than a few painful moments before being reduced to ash. Vampires must consume Blood of the living or be driven insane by hunger. A Vampire cannot gain sustenance from other types of food, nor can magic sustain them as it can for other powerful wizards, a Vampire must always indulge in its thirst for blood. Vampires are very durable, their unnatural curse enhancing their bodies from earthly harm, though they are vulnerable to Sanctified weapons, Holy Water, and Silver. Vampires can transform themselves into a Gaseous form, certain vampires such as Jora used this ability so well they could quickly turn into mist and back into their solid form in the middle of combat to avoid lethal blows.

Treatment

One afflicted with Vampirism can be cured by a powerful Cleric, but only before they drink the blood of another. otherwise only Slaying a Vampire with Sanctified weapons, holy water, Silver, submerged in Running Water, or exposed to direct Sunlight destroys a Vampire turning them to ash.

Prognosis

Those afflicted by Vampirism become curse driven to drink the blood of a living creature, driving them mad with thirst until they indulge. Once this occurs the Vampire begins a transformation empowering its body to become a full fledged Vampire. The more a Vampire feeds, the more the transformation occurs, creatures such as Jora who have indulged for centuries were barely recognizable as Human.

Affected Groups

Any living creature can be afflicted by Vampirism , so long as they have blood, even particular Outsiders can be afflicted by the Curse.

Prevention

Once one is afflicted with Vampirism they have a small window of opportunity to seek aid from a Cleric to remove the curse, once they drink the blood of another they are forever cursed with the Sanguine Plague and become full fledged Vampires.

History

Jora Kampfrun was the first Vampire, cursed by Anir for disobeying his god. Jora turned to the Red-Ashen Oak to twist his Curse into a weapon that he could use to strike back against the Sunlord. Since then, Vampirism has spread and been quelled numerous times though never fully culled from the world. So long as a Single Vampire exists, legions can be born from their curse.

Cultural Reception

Most cultures despise and fear Vampires, as they hunt and kill the living to sustain themselves. Some Cultures, such as the old Narsai Kingdoms, used Vampires as a weapon, allowing them into their kingdoms.

Type

Supernatural

Origin

Divine

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired & Congenital

Rarity

Rare