Vampires - The Creature

Written by CoolG1319

Get to Know Them First

Anatomy & Sensory Capabilities

Vampires share a strikingly similar anatomy with humans, largely due to their origins. Yet, there are significant differences that set them apart. Their arms are long and slender, matching the length of their legs, which facilitate agile movement on all fours and they possess elongated, slender claws specifically designed for grasping and slicing through their prey. Vampires also feature long, pointy ears. Additionally, they boast sharp, pointed incisors that are perfectly designed for piercing flesh and drawing the blood of their victims, usually small animals like rabbits, rodents and the occasional deer.
These creatures also exhibit an extraordinary level of vision and sense of smell that borders on the remarkable and rivals even werewolves. Their ability to navigate complex environments and detect subtle changes in their surroundings is truly alarming. This heightened perception enables them to survive and thrive in various habitats, forging an essential connection with their ecosystems. Vampires possess an exceptionally acute sense of touch, enabling them to perceive even the faintest vibrations and fluctuations in the air. This unique blend of heightened senses transforms them into formidable predators, perfectly suited for both hunting their prey and evading potential threats lurking in the shadows.

Extraordinary Powers & Abilities

These ruthless creatures are endowed with an astonishing set of abilities. Beyond their extraordinary strength, speed, agility, and acute night vision, vampires have the innate power to shapeshift into bats and cats. However, they can only masterfully adopt other animal forms through the art of magic. This transformation grants them an unparalleled advantage, allowing for stealthy movement and elusiveness in their pursuits.

(Near) Unkillable Nature

Vampires possess an impressive resilience, making them seemingly unkillable—if not exceedingly challenging to defeat. While we understand they can be eliminated, the exact method remains shrouded in mystery. What we do know is that when they meet their end, their bodies erupt in a grotesque explosion of blood and entrails.

A Peculiar Condition

The majority of vampires suffer from a genetic condition known as palepellis, which hinders the production of skin pigmentations and leaves their skin with an unnaturally pale appearance. Skin pigments play a crucial role in shielding the skin from the sun's harmful rays, prompting these vampires to don thick cloaks with hoods or wide-brimmed hats whenever they venture outside, to protect their delicate skin from burning. In certain cases, palepellis can extend to the hair and eyes, resulting in shades of white, blonde, and even striking red or orange. Vampires whose eyes are affected by palepellis must wear heavily tinted sunglasses when outdoors to safeguard their light-sensitive vision.

Reproduction Process

Females experience a unique gestation period, lasting only two to three months. Instead of traditional human birth, the fetus develops within a protective sac covered in a thick layer of slime. After weeks of growth, when the time is right, the fetus uses its claws to break free from the sac, marking its entrance into the world.
Females have a reproductive capacity of five to seven children, which helps maintain a robust population and extend their influence across Ysteria. This reproductive strategy not only ensures genetic diversity but also allows them to adapt swiftly to the changing environment.

Diet

Vampires are adaptable omnivores, primarily sustaining themselves on fresh animal blood and meat. They source their meals from creatures raised in holding pens kept near their homes, which can include a variety of animals such as sheep, poultry, cattle, and pigs.
However, they also occasionally indulge in fruits and various edible plants. This diverse diet not only provides essential nutrients but also helps sharpen their hunting skills.

Behaviour

Vampires are fiercely territorial, ruthlessly defending their claimed lands and rarely yielding without a battle. This fierce nature is reflected in the heavily fortified and barricaded borders of their territories, where outsiders are seldom welcomed unless explicitly invited by the owners. Moreover, it is strongly discouraged for one vampire family to unlawfully or unscrupulously lay claim to the territory of another family, regardless of whether they are rivals. Any attempts to encroach on these boundaries are met with swift and often brutal retaliation.
Vampires are also meticulous about cleanliness; they take great care to maintain their personal hygiene and the pristine condition of their environments, finding any hint of dust or dirt intolerable. Their abodes gleam with perfection, and it's considered a fundamental courtesy to remove any dirt from your shoes before stepping inside a vampire's home.

Subspecies

As previously noted, vampires are highly adaptable beings, thriving in a variety of environments. This remarkable versatility has led to the emergence of several distinct types across the diverse biomes of Ysteria. Some have developed unique traits suited for living in the darkest forests, while others thrive in the heat of desert landscapes. These adaptations not only enhance their survival but also influence their interactions with local ecosystems and other creatures.

Simple Vampires

Description: They can be described as "basic vampires." Assertive and relentless, they represent the most significant segment of the vampire population. Their thirst for power and dominance drives them to seek out opportunities to expand their influence. Simple vampires are often at the forefront of conflicts within their realm, eager to assert their superiority. They are also quite prone to palepellis.
Appearance: Mentioned in the Anatomy & Sensory Capabilities section. Additionally, they may have white or gray skin, along with black, gray, or white hair, and possess yellow, gray, or white eyes.
Commonality: Widespread
Habitat: The regions of Ysteria that aren't covered by forests, deserts, swamps, or tundras. These include vibrant meadows and expansive grasslands.

Vampires of the Forest

Description: Elegant and alluring, they occupy the forests of Ysteria with an ethereal beauty that captivates all who encounter them. Their presence weaves a sense of magic into the very air, leaving a lingering enchantment long after they've disappeared from view. They are less prone to palepellis.
Appearance: Light brown or fair skin and often possess fuller, curvier physiques and captivating eyes in shades of blue, green, yellow, or brown.
Commonality: Quite common
Habitat: Forests and other wet regions

Vampires of the Desert

Description: The enigmatic and cunning Vampires of the Desert inhabit the arid, desolate terrain of Ysteria. Renowned for their exceptional survival instincts and extraordinary talent for maneuvering through the shifting sands under the veil of night, they thrive in this unforgiving landscape. They are the least prone to palepellis.
Appearance: Skin tones ranging from dark brown to sandy brown, or even near-black, paired with a robust, muscular physique. Hair colors can vary, including black, pink, red, or brown, while eye colors may include vibrant shades of orange, brown, or hazel.
Commonality: Less common
Habitat: Deserts and other arid regions.

Ghoulish Vampires

Description: Feral and enigmatic, the Ghoulish Vampires haunt the shadows under the moonlit sky, biding their time for the unwary to wander too near. Their crimson eyes shimmer with insatiable hunger, and their haunting whispers resonate through the darkness, beckoning those brave enough to heed the call.
Appearance: Characterized by an eerie pallor and emaciation, their eyes gleam with an otherworldly intensity, ranging from stark white to deep blood-red. Their hair is a striking contrast, appearing in shades of black, white, or grey, or is entirely absent.
Commonality: Hard to come by
Habitat: The darkest depths of Ysteria

Lifespan

While their natural lifespan averages around five hundred years, it is possible to extend it through the use of various potions. However, this extension comes at a cost: the body deteriorates more rapidly than usual.

Average Height

Adult male vampires can be as tall as eighteen hands while females can be up to seventeen hands in height.

Average Weight

The majority of the vampire population tends to be relatively slender, with males typically weighing no more than a hundred-and-forty pounds and females around a hundred-and-twenty-five pounds. In contrast, those with "fuller" bodies maintain an average weight of a hundred-and-sixty pounds for males and a hundred-and-forty pounds for females.

Related Ethnicities

• Vampires - The Race