Vampire
Vampires are undead creatures who subsist off the blood of mortals. They are reviled and feared throughout Sulheim, to the point where vampire hunts take place when one's presence is suspected.
Vampires possess uncanny allure and powers of seduction used to enthrall their chosen victims. They hunt under the cover of night and can also inflict their curse upon any they so choose. The nature of vampirism corrupts the mind and turns the afflicted into a monster who chooses to commit evil deeds (though non-evil vampires do exist, they are few and far between).
Types of Vampires
Sulheim is stalked by five distinct types of vampire. In the time since the Flood of Light, vampires have adapted to lose their sunlight vulnerability and cannot be meaningfully stopped with Odic Light.Vampire Spawn
The weakest type of vampire. A vampire can spread its curse through killing their victims with a bite and raising them as a vampire spawn. Vampire spawns are subject to their master's command and are often used as cannon fodder and minions for reconnaissance. Vampire spawn live where their masters command. In the absence of a master (such as in the event of their death), spawn stay in packs and usually relocate to urban areas, specifically slums where missing individuals go without investigation.Moroi
Moroi are the most common vampires, and sometimes they are just called "vampire". Moroi are insular creatures and exist in very small numbers across Sulheim. Most dhampirs are born from moroi, as they are perhaps the most palatable for mortal races in terms of appearance and demeanor. Moroi retain their mortal appearances the most and "reproduce" by creating other moroi. Moroi cannot enter homes or personal buildings unless explicitly invited inside by the owner.Nosferatu
Coming from an old word simply meaning vampire, nosferatu are among the oldest of all vampires. The nosferatu kind initially formed from the twisted remains of plague victims prior to the Cataclysm; after the Cataclysm, no new nosferatu have ever been created. In the absence of spawn, nosferatu are known to create thralls whom are used much in the same manner as spawn. Many nosferatu lurk in the shadows near the heart of Sulhein. With faces disfigured by their plague, many choose to wear masques that cover their entire face. The term masquerade comes from this behavior.Strigoi
The most ancient of all vampires are the strigoi. The origins of the strigoi are lost to the ravages of time; few today have heard of them and fewer still have seen them. Many old wivestales about vampires are specifically about the strigoi, leaving most wildly inaccurate about the vast majority of vampires. In their true form, strigoi are bodiless shades incapable of interacting with the physical. However, when this malevolence is invited into a body through ancient rituals, a strigoi can awaken their true abilities. A living spellcaster must willingly perform the rite to invite the strigoi into their body (much like a moroi's compulsion to not enter homes unless invited). The origin of the rite is unknown, but its terrifying side effects are well documented. What may seem to some as a gateway to easy power is little more than a trap for the craven, as having a strigoi in the body causes sickness and very swift death. After the death of their host, a strigoi binds to their soul and becomes one with the body. Once they possess a mortal body, a strigoi is able to interact with the material and wreak havoc as much as it wishes.Vetalarana
A vetalarana is a psychic vampire. They feed on the thoughts and emotions of others, particularly intelligent mortals. They are naturally slender and pale with sunken cheeks, but after feeding on emotions and thoughts, they become flushed with color and appear to be a normal living being. Vetalarana are created when a psychic or occult spellcaster dies without accepting their own death, causing their spirit to linger and repossess their own corpse. Victims of vetalaranae become living husks incapable of thought. They are reduced to a comatose-like state. If a vetalarana is killed, their spirit can choose to occupy the nearby husk of a victim, while more powerful vetalarana can use the husks like puppets at any time.Vrykolakas
The vrykolakas are the most pitiable yet terrifying type of vampire. Born of wicked beings denied a proper burial, vrykolakas are tortured souls seeking to exact vengeance for the cruelty done unto their remains. They spread suffering and plague wherever they roam. Vrykolakas can infect their victims with their curse and create spawn of their own. Vrykolakas are twisted and bestial versions of the people they once were, unable to remember even their loved ones. Like moroi, vrykolakas have curious habits such as knocking on doors and calling out a person's name to mark them as their prey, but unlike moroi these habits are always out of pure sadism.
Scientific Name
Species sp. vampire
