Vampires

Vampires

Vampires are the undead. They are a concept about which every civilization and culture has some form of legend. It's a universal concept, and for good reason. They exist. There are certain rules that actually have it right, which are the following:

-Vampires do not change appearance. They have fangs that are present, that they should probably work to not make overly obvious.
-Vampires need an invitation to enter your home.
-Decapitation will kill them.
-Sunlight will kill them.
-A stake through the heart will kill them.
-A lot of other things may not, and a lot of the 'rules' don't work.
-Vampires are undead. Meaning their body has no living systems working. They're cold to the touch, have no heartbeat or otherwise, and only need to breathe while speaking.

-Vampires have their own power set and that is it. Their powers are the only ones they can possess.
-Anything that isn't human is gross. Don't drink from them.

Society
Vampires do have a pecking order. The older vampires are above the younger ones, in tiers. Each generation is higher up than the next. Everyone can be held responsible to obey the generation up above them. This can be somewhat inconvenient considering you may be called in to do something regardless of your caring about the task or people involved at all, or even your ability to actually pull off what might be asked of you. Crap rolls downhill, and you may get hit with it. However, if you're somewhere in the middle...hello delegation.

Bloodlines
There are seven vampire bloodlines: Faryngael (formerly Clandestine), Lamatu, Renfield, Vetala, Strigoi, Acherus and Lotharatum.

Bloodline Faryngael (Formerly Clandestine)

These are the young and the beautiful. They are the artists of the vampire community, the scholars. They choose the members of their bloodline very carefully. Even sometimes going so far as to court them for several years before allowing them into the fold. They choose only the most beautiful of people, either physically (and in the last century or so, the ranks have swelled with people chosen only for this. The elders are not so pleased) mentally, artistically. They boast to having had some of the world's most celebrated artists in their lineage, along with some of the great philosophers or academics of great import.

Generally speaking, vampires of this bloodline are kind to humans. They're pets, but they're good pets. If they aren't forced to kill, they normally choose not to.

Faryngael vampire's bite is pleasurable.

Abilities

-Faryngael vampires have the ability to invoke awe and lust in their victims. Eye contact or physical touch is required to use this ability. This ability does not change sexual orientation, and will NOT work on someone who is of the opposite orientation. If used continuously and for prolonged periods of time on a single individual, they will permanently be affected by the spell, and will effectively become personalityless smiling automatons that are only capable of staring at the vampire adoringly. Higher brain function will be lost.

-Faryngaels can call to victims. Much like in Dracula, when their victim is asleep, they can call to them and induce a trance-like state where anything they do while under the trance will be remembered as if it were a dream. In order to do this, however, the vampire has to have met them at least once, knows their name, and has some personal object of the victim's. This could be anything from a stray hair they shed at a party to a treasured bit of jewelry to a used q-tip.

Drawbacks
-One of the most tragic aspects of the Faryngael bloodline is the fact that they are cursed from ever seeing their reflection. With all the beauty in the world constantly surrounding them, they can never gaze at themselves.

-Wolfsbane and garlic DOES work to repel them. It will burn them if they touch it, and even a hint of the scent will drive them off because it makes them violently ill.

Bloodline Lamatu

These are the traditionalists, the keepers of history. They are generally older, turning only those who show an appreciation of the way things should be and only those who have experience behind them. Culture, taste, distinction and wealth are their hallmarks. Younger members are rare and where found have been chosen for a purpose. They never turn children. They are conservative and backward looking by nature, they do not like change.

Generally speaking, vampires of this bloodline view humans with utter contempt and disdain. At best they see them as cattle. They turn very few people, preferring to kill them. They see no point in ‘mercy’ – they view themselves as superior beings.

The Lamatu vampire's bite is painful.

Abilities
-Lamatu vampires have the ability to command people. This requires physical touch and also decisiveness on the part of the vampire. Note: Command works until the command is carried out, or, in default it wears off at daybreak the next day. At this time the command can be renewed, but this once again requires touch. If a command is constantly renewed (e.g. with a long term human servant), after a while the command will be permanent, but the human will lose their higher brain function.

-Lamatu vampires can travel through shadows, which they find to be a convenient way of getting around during daylight hours. They do, however, have a limit on the distance they can travel and most Lamatu can only travel between shadows within a half mile radius of their starting point. They also have to have access to the shadow at the other end (i.e. this cannot be used to get round the ‘entry’ requirement)

Drawbacks
-Lamatu vampires need sleep (at least 5 hours every day) and they must sleep in a coffin which has at least a 1 inch layer of the dirt from their grave lining the bottom of their coffin. Lamatu are incredibility particular about this and, despite the fact that they would throw a fit if they didn’t actually have this in place, they will become weak if they cannot obtain this.

-They have very discerning tastes, in that they can only drink a specific type of blood. What that type is is individual to each vampire, but it is discovered when they are first created and cannot be changed. All Lamatu vampires must have their taste stated in their character profile

Bloodline Renfield (Currently calling themselves Bloodline Clandestine, just to piss off the Faryngael. And to make fun of them. Incessantly.)

Hands down the most universally mistrusted, largely despised and occasionally pitied bloodlines, the Renfield line is kindly put--a little off. Unkindly put, they're mad as hatters. Their contribution to history and the vampire race in general has been a lot of wild, erratic behavior. It's thought that the chupacabra legend was really just a bunch of Rens starting something up out of pure boredom, and whenever they're bored enough again, they go create another hoax just for kicks. They're responsible for most of the disinformation spread about vampires throughout history, they seem to take great pride in making up more crap to sling at the media. There is no rhyme or reason to who is turned by the bloodline Renfield, though they may profess there's method in the madness somewhere. They may be right. They do tend to have meetings, and no one's aware of how they inform one another that they're having them, but cities have been destroyed in their wakes. They are also known for being highly annoying with bouts of clarity where they just Get Things. Whether it's just eerie coincidence or some extra perception, no one knows. It fails about as much as it works, so there isn't any discernible pattern.(Rens spread the rumor that they're really faking it when they're wrong, however, just to make everyone all the more paranoid.)

Renfields have a special way of communication, through graffiti and other chaotic messes in cities. How they 'read' the signs no one can guess and no Ren tries to explain, but it's their own personal interweb. Rens' opinion on humans is as varied as their collective insanities. Some of them adore humans, and would do anything to help them. Others could care less, still others specifically seek out to kill them whenever they can. Rens also occasionally like to masquerade as other bloodlines. Scarily enough, it's even worked in the past, events taking place and getting bloodlines into trouble with their elders, only to find out later it wasn't one of them at all.

Like all things having to do with the Renfield bloodline, their bite is just as unpredictable as they are. When biting anyone in a scene, a coin must be flipped to see if it winds up being pleasurable or painful.

Abilities
-Rens have the ability to amp up people's emotions. They can take any and shoot it through the roof, which often comes out in insane sort of fashions. It's an acid trip without the acid. It's just a touch of madness they can envoke in people. Physical contact or eye contact must be made to enact the power. As with other powers of this nature, if done for too long over a prolonged period with the same person, they will be left a mad shell with no mind or personality left behind it that can be brought back to the surface.

-Something that has probably kept them alive as a bloodline a lot longer than they might otherwise have is their ability to hide. They're the vampires that just go poof. Blink and they're gone. (note: this doesn't actually mean they're gone. It means you can't see them, however most beings do NOT know this.) Even the slightest break in seeing them, lose sight for an instant and whoosh!gone. This also means they're undetectable to other senses(the only ones who can still manage to see them are those who can see auras)

Drawbacks
-Each character at creation/turning point must choose some form of insanity. It can be as detailed and unique as you want to write it or as standardized and down pat as OCD.

-Renfields are repelled by any religious symbology. Any religious symbology. Any kind of Belief that's strong enough automatically repels them, and knowing a Ren, they may run screaming, flailing, and claiming to be on fire. It will physically harm them with burning if it's touched, and if trapped in a room with items they cannot get away from, they will become violently ill and weaken considerably.

Bloodline Vetala
The Vetala are where the legends of feral vampires comes into play. They shun humanity, viewing humans as more of a disease on the face of the earth than anything else. They choose to live in the wild whenever possible. Somewhat paradoxically to what most vampires are viewed as--unnatural--they see themselves as the opposite. They do not believe that vampirism is an affront against the natural order. They're merely top of the food chain. Or at the very least, above humanity. They have learned not to mess with lycanthropes, though have on occasion been known to work with them against common threats to wildlands territory. Generally speaking, Vetala are actually much more in tune with nature and living things than most other vampires. The only other bloodline that even comes close is the Strigoi with their mental connection to animals. They choose people to turn that have views similar to them. Ones that are closer to nature or animals.

Being they view humanity as a blight on the face of the planet, they do not shy from killing them. This doesn't mean they're out looking for a bloodbath every night, and they also do not only feed off of humans. However when they do feel the need to feed off of animals they generally attempt not to kill them. Humans are just cattle to them, and none of them ever worry about taking out one of them. Vetala are also not the kinds of vampires that will feed unless necessary, however. They won't let themselves starve, but they will not gorge either.

Vetala vampire's bite is painful.

Abilities
-Vetala can shape-shift. Most of the time this is used as a last ditch effort, as shape shifting is exhausting for a vampire. They have two forms, the first and most common being a bat OR a rat(choice must be made at character creation and other forms ARE acceptable pending mod approval). Their other form is mist, however this form is not used very widely as it generally takes a vampire out of commission for a night or two after they do it. It's much more a final defense mechanism than anything else.

-The strength inherent in vampirism is amped up in those of the Vetala bloodline, as well as heightened senses. They have a keener sense of smell, hearing and eyesight, able to see clearly even in near total darkness.

Drawbacks
-Like other shape shifters in the world, Vetala are in fact allergic to silver just as they are. It burns to the touch, and if they're exposed for a long period of time(such as a sliver of it embedded in their body) it will act like a poison to them and eventually kill them.

-Due to their close connection with nature and their more feral nature, Vetala vampires slowly spiral down into looking the part. For every decade the vampire has been around, they will gain one new animalistic trait. Examples of this are: cat eyes, pointed ears, claws, unretractable fangs, a duclaw on the back of the ankle, etc.

Bloodline Strigoi
The Strigoi are the most physically unattractive and obvious of the vampire bloodlines. They are generally creepy, monstrous looking creatures, and by no stretch of the imagination can they pass for human with their long claws, big pointy ears and huge fangs. For obvious reasons, they lack the seductive charm of the majority of vampires. Strigoi are ghoulish, living in cemeteries (preferring the old ones with crumbling headstones, moss-covered statuary and actual above-ground crypts), abandoned buildings, cellars and most importantly, sewers. They choose those they allow into their bloodline very carefully. They chose those they see as outsiders of humanity, loners or the shunned, the forgotten and ignored. Many homeless people have swelled the ranks of the Strigoi. The process of turning a human into a vampire of this bloodline changes their outward appearance, one of the defining traits of their bloodline. It twists their features, and gives them the trademark ears and claws, automatically reflecting the monster within on the surface. It is generally unusual for them to seek out humans when they don't need to feed, though there are some Strigoi who take a perverse pleasure in stalking or frightening them. Still others have been known to watch them with a keen fascination, as if trying to touch the world they were never a part of before, and are most certainly not a part of now. They can often times appear as loners themselves but in truth this isn't the case. While they may not always live together or in packs, that doesn't mean they don't care about one another's existence. As a matter of fact, their whole bloodline is based around being an outsider and trying to alleviate that. Often times, they even view the people they've turned as being 'saved' by them. They give them the gift of having a family that accepts them that they were denied in the human world. Unfortunately, due to the obvious nature of their appearance, Strigoi oftentimes do not have as long a lifespan as their cousins. They are either run out of areas if discovered or they are captured and killed. Later generations have upped their survival rate by going underground much more often, and staying there as much as possible.

One thing Strigoi do have going for them is an underground network. They may not choose to live together but that does not mean that they don't know how to get ahold of one another. They know the ins and outs of cities, most specifically the sewers and underground tunnel system. The largest territory of the Strigoi is New York City, with it's vast miles and miles of underground tunnel systems. It is generally thought that the cradle of their society is stationed there, all others having branched out after setting up shop in such a perfect place. They make it their business to know how you get around anyplace without having to take the streets. Many vampires employ Strigoi upon first entering an area just so they have an idea how to get around during the daytime should they need to.

They view humanity from a strange lens. More often than not they choose not to kill humans. They have mostly been known to do that when it's in defense of another, strangely enough. Despite their appearance, they can be the warmest of vampires at times. They really feel they are rescuing humanity's forgotten, to help them. It also occasionally translates as extreme bitterness towards the general population which is why the outbursts of killings happen in defense of someone they've chosen to look out for. Strigoi have been known to choose humans of 'their own' that they follow their lives. Many of these humans eventually become turned, but not all of them.

Contrary to their monstrous appearance, the bite of the Strigoi is actually quite pleasant.

Abilities
-The Strigoi are able to summon living creatures with a connection to the vampire. The creatures they can summon are specific to the vamp, and it must be chosen at character creation.

-The Strigoi have a natural affinity for direction and navigation. In fact, once they've been through an area even if it's a twisting and winding sewer system, they could perfectly guide you through it.

Drawbacks
-Universally, Strigoi are monstrous in appearance. There is no cure for it, and it happens at turning. The most beautiful of people would become monstrous during the turning process.

-Around the Strigoi plants tend to wilt and die if they're around too long. Markers of their dwellings are often told by the rings of dead grass around them or above them.

Bloodline Acherus
These are the vampires of nightmares, the ones that everyone fears – including other vampires. They thrive off chaos and bloodshed and make no attempts to blend in. They revel in their demonic nature and their every waking moment is a celebration of death and destruction.

They are nomadic by nature and move in packs – any pack which stayed in an area for too long would either kill everything living there and have to move on to find a fresh source of food (the idea of rationing kills to preserve a food source is totally alien to these guys) or they would be hunted down and killed by the local populace.

They are generally found around large population centres and keep a close eye on the happenings in the world. If there’s a war zone, riots, gang warfare – they are there. They can usually also be found at any large street festival, preying off tourists and party goers.

They will turn anybody and do not look at who they are turning. They turn to keep up the numbers in their packs and so will only do so when a pack member has died. They aren’t particular about who they turn though, because they know that they can beat the fledgling vampire into line – torture is a fact of life for these guys. If the fledgling doesn’t learn to enjoy it, they will be killed and another turned. That said, once they are accepted as part of the pack, the other pack members will fight to the death to protect them, as they will be expected to do the same for the rest of the pack.

Unsurprisingly, their bite is painful and they go to great lengths to make it even more so where possible.

Abilities
-Known for their resilience, they are very hard to destroy. While many of them are killed by stakes because they're overwhelmed, they do bounce back from nearly anything and faster than other vampires. Even from fire or sunlight burns, they will heal about twice as fast as any other vampires.

-They are fast – very fast. When they choose to, they can move at two or three times normal speed.

Drawbacks
-They are the most hunted of all vampires – the whole world is their enemy. Whilst other vampires fear them, if another clan in an area outnumbers them, that clan will try and take them out – several vampire clans have been known to put aside their differences to eliminate these guys. They are also targets for human hunters.

-They can only use their bursts of speed sparingly. They have the speed, but not endless stamina and using it will tire them out, meaning that they need to feed more.

Bloodline Lotharatum
The rarest of the bloodlines, Lotharatii are thought to have completely died out in some areas, though the word is it is actually the case that they have simply become increasingly reclusive. Once viewed as almost druidic in nature, Lotharatii are an insular clan, almost always to be found in at least pairs, if not family groupings. They do not socialise or live with others outside of their clan unless it is unavoidable and, if they have to do such a thing, their discomfort is almost palpable. Of the clans, they are the ones who are most in tune with their surroundings. They hunt only for food and kill swiftly and neatly, generally leaving no sign of their passing. They have an emphasis on balance and sustainability and are almost religious in their outlook.

They prefer to live in rural areas and are rarely, if ever, found in large cities. They adapt well to their surroundings and successfully blend in with their chosen habitat. Historically they lived in woodland areas in small camps, though they never in anyway reduced themselves to the animalistic level of the Vatala (who they view with the highest disdain and contempt. No Lotharatum would have the slightest to do with a Vatala and the only thing that prevents an all out clan war is the Lotharatum's reluctant acceptance that they would inevitably lose to the much more bloodthirsty Vatala, therefore they allow themselves only distant animosity). Lotharatii are clean and very particular vampires, taking pride in themselves and their surroundings, though they choose to live simply. In modern times, they are more likely to be found in small towns and villages and often hold down jobs - though if this is the case, they are in positions where they do not have to socialise with co-workers, often taking positions as night security or gas station attendants.

The bite of a Lotharatum vampire is quite pleasant

Abilities
-They can move silently through any environment and when they are simply walking and not in any way drawing attention to themselves, they go unnoticed. They are not invisible, but they are easily overlooked. They give off the equivalent of a 'do not see me' call to the rest of the world. This only works when they are not attracting attention to themselves by doing something unusual and it will not work if someone is specifically looking for them and knows where they are, or if they've already been noticed. This is almost the opposite of the Renfield ability, since it only works until they are specifically noticed.

- Lotharatii have the ability to calm the fears of their victims through a combination of a tone of voice and a light touch which is almost hypnotic and will sooth even the most hysterical of person.

Drawbacks
-They are particular - perhaps too particular. Their biggest weakness is a need for order. They cannot stand a mess and they have the vampiric equivalent of OCD, which includes an obsessive need to count things. These are the guys that, when faced with a pile of sand or rice in a place where it is not meant to be will be faced with the overwhelming need to count each grain.

-They are very susceptible to holy water. It burns upon skin contact and if drunk it involves a very nasty painful death over a number of days as the vampire is eaten from the inside out.

What kills/ hurts a vampire?
What kills a vampire? Sunlight (direct; indirect with protection can be tolerated briefly), fire (assuming it doesn't get put out right away), a stake through the heart, beheading, drinking holy water (externally applied it burns, but isn't lethal unless immersed in it).

Vampires have accelerated healing and generally do not carry the scars of their wounds. They can be scarred, but only by magical weaponry/ attacks. All vampires also carry the mark of the bite that turned them.