I created this as a project between myself and a friend. He would write a compendium for Liches and I would write one for is not meant to be the definitive edition of vampires but rather my own interpretation out of all the strange versions of vampires. I hope people that read this enjoy and perhaps find some of the content within useful.
I should state that I do not own any content relating to The Witcher, Elder Scrolls, or D&D that belongs to their respective owners.
The pictures seen within were found on the internet and are not the property of the author.
Please leave a comment stating what you like or what you don't like about this document.
You find an ornate black and red tome within the Imperial Academy's Archive of Dark and Forbidden Magic it's surface covered in ornate drawings of humans performing profane rituals interspersed with blood shedding and bats. Expensive stones adorn the surface which is sealed with a clasp of leather and gold. The tome gives you the sense of an insatiable hunger.
When you open the tome you see the title in bold decorative letters the pages are made with fine paper and trimmed with gold and smell the faint scent of vanilla laced with the pungent odor of copper. Within you see ornate handwriting using what appears to be red ink and detailed drawings of creatures including anatomical breakdowns and rituals with attached notes.
Upon closer examination you can see where the author came back and wrote corrections and notes in the margins and based upon the varying fading of the ink it was likely done over decades.
You browse through some of the chapters.
The Compendium of Vampires
Foreword ~
This Compendium has been undertaken for the purpose of detailing the various species of Vampirism, otherwise known as Vampiris Sanguinaris. This will primarily be a first hand account from my own studies and personal experience with vampires during my travels throughout the multiverse and will detail the differences between Vampires to the best of my knowledge. I must make note that not all information will be relevant to every vampire as they are an ever changing species with only a few commonalities and so this compendium will be updated at a later date.
~ Signed Lord Warke, a humble Scholar.
By the Blood we are given life/born anew.
By the Blood we are Cursed/Damned.
By the Blood we are satiated and due to the blood we hunger/starve.
By the Blood we are made strong and by the Blood we are made weak.
By the Blood we are scorned from the Sun and welcomed by the Moonlight.
By the Blood We are Bound to forever stalk the night.
~ Excerpt from the Sanctum Sanguinem the vampiric holy book dedicated to The Father of Vampirism.
Vampiris Sanguinaris ~
Most people do not know what the true source of Vampiris Sanguinaris is though vampires throughout the multiverse claim it comes from their Patron deity and that all vampires carry his blood and the percentage of his blood that flows within them determines their place in vampire society. There are many forms of monsters across the multiverse that eat the flesh of sapient beings or drink their blood; this does not make them vampires such as the Striga. You could say that they possess vampiric attributes but they are not the same species. The Vampire is an ever changing species with several hundred distinct species cataloged as of this writing.
There are many names for Vampirism such as: Vampire/Vampyre, Strigoi,Revenant, Night Stalker, Lords of the Dark, Unholy Creature, and the academic name Vampiris Sanguinaris though the name used will vary by culture, language,social status, and dialect. The word 'Vampire' comes from a word in an Ancient language forgotten by most which means "To Drink".
A Vampire is any Humanoid or Bestial creature that feeds on the "Anima Sangui" the life force of any living creature usually through the consumption of their blood and is therefore considered a plague on the living throughout the multiverse. When a Vampire is created they are either born or are a mortal who has either been cursed with vampirism or performed a ritual with a vampire sire ingesting their sire's blood killing their mortal body before rising again in undeath.
One of the most important things to know about a Vampire is they are Masters ofDeception and Disguise from centuries of hiding from mortals. Thusly you will not find a vampire wearing fashions from centuries ago, instead vampires adapt their fashion based upon the current fashions of the culture where they dwell, however they will not typically adopt fashions of other races.
Vampires are notorious for lying. They do so either by misdirection from something they want to keep secret or plain boredom and are trying to amuse themselves "Think of Cat with Mouse playing with their food".
Unlike other forms of undeath Vampires still eat, sleep, and engage in sexual activity.
There are many kinds of Vampires which can be separated into two categories Humanoid and Bestial.
There is a subspecies of animal vampires called ``Bestial Vampires" which is not to be confused with sapient Humanoid Vampires. Vampirism is considered a Dark Magic. Regardless of origin there are a few prevalent commonalities between all vampires: Reddish Eyes, Fangs, Pale Skin to the point where the veins can easily be seen, Immortality, Aversion to sunlight, the ability to change form, and the consumption of blood whether it be from a sapient being or an animal. Vampirism increases the strength, speed, and magical ability of all those inflicted with it. Mortals call Vampirism a curse though If you were to ask a vampire most would tell you they consider it as a blessing. Due to a Vampire's immortality it is impossible to know what Traits, Knowledge, or Abilities any singular Vampire might have and you should be ready for anything. Perhaps the most important aspect of a Vampire is their creation of a Lair. It is the place where a vampire sleeps during the day and should they be killed it is the place they return to, to regenerate. An Elder/Higher Vampire is a being of power, wealth, grace, beauty, and intellect.
A Vampire possess' The strength of one hundred men, the speed of a falling star, dominion over the night and all her creatures even to see and hear through their senses, and heal even the most grievous of wounds.
To quote an Elder Vampire "To be a vampire means to be a Lion among sheep, Mortals will tremble at your approach, and you will never fear death again."
Due to new versions of vampires cropping up throughout the multiverse all with their own customs, abilities, and weaknesses it is unlikely all details relating to vampirism will ever be fully cataloged.
Infection ~
Vampiris Sanguinaris can infect every known Humanoid species unless they have some form of magical warding or divine protection though these things can be overcome if the Vampire is determined or if the person accepts it willingly.
Some Vampires are a naturally occurring species though most Vampires are created from having the blood magic curse "Vampiris Sanguinaris" placed upon them by either a powerful magic user or a Deity. The alternative means of infection is through being turned into one by a Vampire called their "Sire" who will drain you of most of your blood before feeding you theirs at which point you will die and be reborn within the next 48 hours as a Vampire though if the sire does not guide them a newly turned vampire can cause a great deal of carnage. Those inflicted with the blood magic curse can be from any sapient species.
When a vampire is created they can hear their Sire via Telepathy and will be mentored by the Sire.
Vampires are not repulsed by religious imagery unless cursed by a deit. A Deity of Evil Alignment cannot curse a Vampire. If a Vampire is cursed by a Deity then they will no longer be able to tolerate the sight of that deity's symbol, statue, or uttered name and can not enter grounds blessed by that deity.
An Elder Vampire is of "Pure Blood" and when an Elder Vampire turns a mortal they become Higher Vampires of "noble blood" and when a Higher Vampire turns a mortal they are lesser vampires of "impure blood" unless a blood ritual is performed which elevates them to Higher Vampire Status. A Lesser Vampire is capable of turning mortals into vampires though the product will always be a Lesser Vampire.
Cure ~
There are many Folk remedies and Peasant "Cures" for vampirism generally involving things such as garlic and holy water or eating mortal food stuffed with hemsbane with most treatments ending in death or mutilation of the afflicted.
However there are a few means to cure a vampire –
There is a ritual involving the sacrifice of a soul to purify the vampire by driving the curse from their blood called the Ritual of the Dawn which is known by some clerics and can be found within Professor Francis Stegovich's textbook Strange and Interesting Diseases across the Multiverse which can be found in most bookstores.
If a recently turned vampire does not consume blood and is able to kill their sire within 3 days of infection they will be cured of some forms of vampirism.
Humanoid Vampires ~
Here I shall list the various Humanoid Vampires which can be categorized into four subspecies of descending power: Elder, Higher, Lesser, and Feral. What generally separates a vampire into one of these subspecies is age, strength of the blood curse, and intellect. A vampire can ascend in rank via a senior vampire's patronage, time, feeding on stronger creatures, training, and study. It should be noted that among blood cursed vampires that the further away from the source the more diluted the power of the curse leading to degenerated and bestial appearance weaker magics and physical strength and a limited lifespan. While Elder and Higher vampires are both immortal and ageless.
They have an ancient and distinct culture, but the exact details are well hidden from the gaze of mortals. What can be said for sure, however, is that all intelligent vampires celebrate the full moon(s) as an important holiday during which they tend to raid villages and get drunk on blood.
Natural Vampire ~
First it should be noted that there is a world out there where Vampiric creatures, either formed on their own or created by a deity, are not cursed with vampirism but are vampires as an inborn trait. Scholars have theorized that these vampires were created by the Patron Deity of Vampirism, an idea which has created much debate in academic circles. Those that take Human form are always of the Elder and Higher Vampire class however very few have left their home world and those that have all went to the same new world so it is exceedingly rare you would encounter one in your journey across the multiverse. If you do encounter one, know that they possess many of the same attributes as cursed Elder and Higher vampires and are confronted at your own peril. It is said they possess their own language though no mortal knows it indeed their speech may not even be recognizable to mortal ears. Due to their similarities with cursed vampires and rarity I will not bother making a detailed account for natural vampires here.
Elder Vampires ~
The Elder Vampires are so named as they are the Eldest and therefore the most powerful known vampires in all of existence. They typically rule over a Clan/House of Vampires who can trace their heritage back to that Elder Vampire. The Elder Vampire can be thousands of years old though their exact age is unknown and if asked they will not answer. Elder Vampires have been known to enter periods of hibernation which can last for decades or longer and will not awaken until some appointed time or their rest is disturbed and may whatever deity you pray to help you should you disturb them. When an Elder enters hibernation they designate a Higher Vampire as the leader of the House/Clan typically one of the senior vampires.
Elder Vampires will often hibernate somewhere in the wilderness only to awaken sometime in the future to discover that mortals have settled the area and if those mortals then find themselves the target of an Elder the best thing they can do is get a Mage of sufficient power and knowledge to cast a Ward/Curse upon the Elder trapping them within their lair though this is only a temporary measure as the Elder can figure a way out if he wants he has the time to tunnel himself out or simply go to sleep till the Ward/Curse weakens and the mortals forget about them.
Elder Vampires have overcome their need to feed though it is unknown if they don't need to feed or simply do not need to for decades at a time.
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An Elder Vampire is the strongest of all known Vampires in magical ability and physical prowess and they are so fast that the standard humanoid can not even track them with their eyes all they will see at most is a blur.
There are tales of Adventurers, Holy Clerics, and Professional Vampire Hunters who entered an Elder Vampires resting place though few ever return those that do come out covered in blood traumatized and babbling incoherently and it is my humble opinion that these people were allowed to live as a warning to all who would think to enter.
An Elder Vampire has the ability to immobilize both mortals and higher vampires at will until he releases them.
Wherever an Elder Vampire takes up residence all forms of vampiric creatures will be drawn to them like moths to a flame.
An Elder Vampire will hibernate due to boredom. They have lived for thousands of years and are very knowledgeable and have been there and done that and so will go to sleep until the world has changed and they can go out and experience something new and learn about the new cultures and customs, the new magic and fighting techniques.
An Elder Vampire sometimes slumber in a singular spot so long that the floor is covered in crushed bones sometimes mistaken for sand from adventurers and vampire hunters foolish enough to enter.
An Elder Vampire can only be safely approached by or with a Higher Vampire as escort as the Vampire Code requires that they grant any Vampire an audience though if you waste their time or in some other way insult them they still might kill you.
In an Elder Vampire's rage they have been known to massacre entire cities and cause the collapse of nations.
Elder Vampires are exceedingly rare and Vampire hunters, both human and elvish, can go their whole life without encountering one and if they do I am not aware of a hunter surviving the encounter with their sanity intact.
Should someone actually manage to kill an Elder Vampire and live, all vampires are obligated to seek them out and kill them in accordance with Vampiric Code.
Higher Vampire/ Vampire Lord ~
"There's something so pure about a vampire's evil, so perfect in its utter corruption... It'll tear at your throat like a ravenous beast, then smile at your companions as it dabs its blood-soaked lips with a silk napkin."
— Terevan of Celduilon
Higher Vampires "Pure Bloods" or Vampires Superiores are the Nobility among vampire society and second in rank, power and influence to the Elders. In fact Higher Vampires are often chosen from the noble houses of the Mortals and Vampiric culture has been molded by that. Higher Vampires are in charge of the administration of the House/Clan and command the Vampires beneath them. They enforce the will of the Elder(s) of their Clan/House and compete amongst themselves for favor and position. From their ranks an heir is chosen by the Elder.
Higher Vampires will not be damaged by the sun but their ability to regenerate health,stamina, and mana are reduced.
Higher Vampires represent significant military, economic, and political power.
Higher Vampires go unnoticed by mortal society and are often pillars of their community.
A Higher Vampire is not like their lesser brethren and do not brutalize those they feed upon you will not see a mutilated corpse or viscera, the only known evidence of a Higher Vampire doing so is when they become enraged.
Higher Vampires are rarely discovered as a mortal could walk by one and not realize it.
When a Higher Vampire metamorphoses into their combat form it is a sight most terrifying though few ever live to report what they saw.
When a Higher Vampire changes into what mortals call their "Combat Form" their eyes become infused with magical energy emitting a reddish color, their fingers will turn into long claws some report up to twelve inches in length, the face becomes gaunt, the nose turns into slits, the ears elongate, and some have been reported to possess wings and either levitate or fly through the air.
Because of the rarity of higher vampires, as well as the unique abilities they often possess, classification can be extremely difficult. Fortunately, encountering one is an incredibly rare occurrence, with most people going their entire lives without encountering one knowingly. Not all higher vampires are dangerous to humans either; many even avoid human contact altogether, and some even work altruistically, if clandestinely, to aid humanity.
Lesser Vampires ~
Lesser Vampires are "Thin Blooded Vampires" and are weaker than Higher vampires as their blood is diluted from the source which is why they are referred to as "Thin Blooded" by the Vampire Lords. They are the most common form of humanoid vampire found across the multiverse therefore the most often encountered by mortals. They lack the refinement and sophistication of the Vampire Lords. Unlike Vampire Lords they require blood on a regular basis else they will become blood starved vampires and eventually are not immortal possessing a lifespan of at most only a few centuries. A Lesser Vampire is weakest when blood starved. If they go into the sunlight they will burn and suffer damage to their health. Lesser Vampires possess a more bestial appearance with elongated ears, a recessed nose and red can increase in strength by feeding on Higher Vampires and can even become Higher Vampires through a Higher vampires patronage though most will never survive long enough to be ascended. They do not possess a "combat form" like the Lords. Due to being the most common form of humanoid vampire and their thirst for blood they are most often found near mortal population centers the more vampires the larger the population center needed to sustain them. Lesser Vampires will either live near cities on their own or form their own groups where many of them compete amongst themselves to distinguish themselves to gain entry into a House/Clan.
Alps ~
Alps, Alpors or Fleetings are members of a natural vampiric race which inhabits the lands of the Northern Kingdoms since the Conjunction of the Spheres which occurred around 230 BR local calendar.
In many ways, Alps are similar to two other species of intelligent vampires, mulas and bruxae, although seemingly less powerful than the latter. While resistant to the sun they will tan to almost black if affected by it too much. They have pointed ears similar to elves. They prefer to prey on sleeping people and creatures. They put their victims to sleep by injecting a somniferous substance causing nightmares.
No other monster inspires so many myths and fallacies as the alp. People believe that this vampire is able to turn into a black dog or a venomous toad. They mistake alps for succubi, believing them to be lecherous and inclined to seduce handsome young men. Folk tales describe their charm and their beautiful, seductive voices, as well as their loathing of virgins. What is true beyond any doubt is that they move noiselessly and attack by surprise, rarely giving their victims as much as a chance to scream in terror.
Looked like a bruxa, but that was no bruxa...
– fragment of a conversation between the ealdorman of Falkoane and a witcher.
Alps are vampires that resemble bruxae in appearance. They are called phantoms by some, a name which fits well enough, for like phantoms they haunt and torment men. They usually take on the form of a woman with pale skin and red hair, though they can also appear as animals. They are most often found prowling near villages. They attack at night and are most active when the moon is full. Alp saliva can make one fall asleep, and when applied to a sleeping man, can invoke horrible nightmares. Some suggest they are the cause of legends about men who go to sleep healthy and are found in the morning white as snow, not a drop of blood in their veins.
In combat, alps display supernatural speed and incredible (even by vampire standards) stamina. One must aim one's sword with great precision, for alps are unequaled in the art of evading blows. The Yrden Sign is recommended, for it weakens an alp's defenses. Another strategy is to drink the Black Blood potion, for alps suck the blood of their victims to deprive them of strength and regenerate their own powers.
Unlike bruxae, alps cannot turn invisible, yet like bruxae, they emit a shrieking noise whose shock wave can incapacitate. Their greatest asset is their agility and they can leap with uncanny lightness that appears to border on the power of flight. When in human form, they easily blend in with the surrounding community, which makes them very dangerous indeed. They are also invisible to magical scanning.
Bruxa ~
Bruxa/Bruxae is a very powerful type of natural vampire that takes on the appearance of a dark-haired, young human, most often a woman, but whose natural form is that of a large, black bat with sharp fangs and claws. It is one of a few vampire species not affected by the sun, the others being alps, mulas, and Higher Vampires.
Bruxae are very agile and only silver swords are effective against them. While they have sharp claws for close up attacks, they can also let out a piercing scream from further away that can send even a grown man flying through the air. Only a magical shield is able to counter it, although the power of the cry can even break through it in certain situations. They are invisible to magical scanning.
The bruxae have the habit of singing in their native language, especially after they drink blood, and their songs are described as silent, shrill, and sickening. Thanks to these, bruxae can manipulate and bend to their will any human by altering their dreams and turning them into horrible nightmares.
It is said that at night bruxae haunt attractive young men and drink their blood. These vampires move quietly in the dark to suddenly emerge near their victims. Bruxae are womanoids and may take the form of beautiful girls, leading some to mistake them for water-nymphs, but their long fangs and unrestrained thirst for blood always betray them.
The bruxa is a higher vampire, that is a post-Conjunction creature, an intruder in our world. She appears as a beautiful woman, but when she is hungry or attacking, she is terrifying. As a vampire, the bruxa drinks blood. She often finds a victim to become her lover and a constant supply of sustenance at the same time.
The bruxa finds the smell of garlic to be socially inconvenient at most. And she considers holy symbols to be interesting examples of handicraft. She endures the light of the sun well, but she prefers the darkness of the night. As you see, you can stuff most stereotypical preconceptions about vampires up your arse when it comes to a bruxa. So what works? The blade of the silver sword, as usual. Apart from silver, she can be wounded with fire and a stake, provided that the latter is as long as a wagon's drawbar. A Bruxa is a womanoid, just like an Alp.
Less powerful bruxae often hunt in packs, making it easier to corner prey. If threatened, they attack with their talons and rip the victim apart, pausing only to savor the blood of their dying foe. The greatest threat to a witcher is the bruxa's voice. The creature can screech with such force that the shockwave will knock even a huge man down, making him easy prey for the vampiress. Blindness is as great a threat as this ghastly scream. Bruxae deprive their enemies of sight in order to play cat and mouse with them. Until sight returns, one should defend against their attacks in any way possible.
The bruxae have masterful control over their blood circulation, rendering poisons and oils that increase bleeding ineffective against them. They are good at defending themselves against witchers' tricks, but they are vulnerable to fire and can be knocked down and finished off as they try to get up.
The bruxa is built on contradictions. Her white pupils and blank face contrast sharply with her feminine silhouette. The long scarlet claws could be an elegant body adornment or simply marked with the fluids of a recent victim. Dried blood covers her breasts and mouth, leaving no doubt that the bruxa is a vampire, a monster in a beautiful woman's body.
When a Bruxa "Changes Shape" they are in fact revealing their true form by casting off the illusion.
These female vampires inhabit dark crypts and ancient ruins. They approach gracefully and are easy to overlook. The abrupt attacks of bruxae stun; while you are helpless, they suck your blood to regain strength. The wound they inflict hemorrhage intensely. An eerie cry echoing through corridors indicates an approaching bruxa – at once both beauty and the beast.
If you must travel through the woods, steer clear of any places where you can hear several different kinds of birds at once. That sound means you're entering a bruxa's territory and can kiss your life farewell.
– anonymous piece of advice
Fortunately for us all, bruxae are rare creatures. Most live far from population centers, for they care greatly for their own safety and make their lairs in places where they cannot be taken by surprise. Those who decide to live near men avoid crowds and emerge from their shelters only at night. When they do, one could almost mistake them for delayed travelers hurrying towards their night's lodging, yet subtle details give them away: their close ties to birds, their piercing voices and the breathtaking speed of their movements. Bruxae are far swifter and stronger than men, but their greatest asset is their ability to turn invisible.
Bruxae dart about with uncanny speed, and with their power of invisibility they can easily confuse opponents and attack unexpectedly or from behind. Thus when fighting these vampires the Moon Dust bomb is a great aid – while it cannot eliminate the vampire's invisibility altogether, it can make it easier to track its motions. A generous smearing of vampire oil is also effective.
Bruxae use their sharp claws to attack and can easily break through an opponent's guard by buffeting him with a hail of blows from all directions. They will try to bite their prey and drink its blood once it is weakened, so every witcher who expects to encounter such a monster should swallow a Black Blood potion beforehand. Bruxae are also known for their sonic attacks, which knock down and stun their prey.
Thrall~
A Vampire Thrall is any mortal or animal under a vampire's spell making them subservient. They are an easy means of food and daytime guardianship for a vampire. They will do anything the vampire they are encharmed by orders them to do even kill for them. They possess no special abilities or skills outside of what they had before being encharmed or learned during their enthrallment.
Spawn ~
Vampire Spawn are any mortals that have been drained of blood completely by a vampire thus causing them to return as an undead corpse within the next few days possessing some vampiric abilities such as a thirst for blood, low level blood magic, and frost magic. They no longer retain the same intelligence as they did in life but it is said they can regain some or all of their sapience if they consume a vampire's blood.
The Spawn are where the peasant belief of vampires rising from their graves come from as the peasantry would find a corpse drained of blood bury them and then the Spawn would be reanimated and dig themselves out. Due to this occurrence of rising from the grave some peasants have begun tying a string to the corpse's hand connected to a bell on the surface.
Dhampyr ~
The Dhampyr is the offspring between a vampire and a mortal bearing traits from both yet belonging to neither. They are not cursed with undeath though live longer than normal than their non half breed mortal relations. A Dhampyr can be identified by their unusual appearance: They are thin and tall, pale skin, slightly pointed ears, slightly pronounced canines, and eyes flecked with red. They are not affected by sunlight and have no physical drive to consume blood though they can consume it to strengthen themselves and heal wounds though not effectively as full blooded vampires and often results in a psychological need for blood. Many Dhampyr are capable of some vampiric powers most commonly the drain life spell but other things as well such as increased speeds, enhanced night vision, and transform into a cloud of mist for a few minutes per day. A Dhampyr's vampiric abilities may not awaken until later in life or not at all instead skipping a generation.
Dhampyr's that are raised among mortal society often face discrimination should their heritage be discovered and so when they reach adulthood often turn to a life of adventure or for those that viewed their heritage as something that makes them special they join a guild or religious order.
Dhampyrs that are raised among vampire society are typically viewed as special creatures by their sire as better than normal mortals but lesser than a true vampire. They are often used as soldiers or assassins, some even granted the privilege of bearing their clan as a surname which is a high honor for vampires.
Some Dhampyr view their heritage as a curse which can result in depression and suicide or they will channel their hatred and travel the world as monster slayers including hunting their vampiric cousins..
Feral Vampires ~
Feral Vampires are Blood Starved Humanoid Vampires that have either lingered on the edge of blood starvation or stayed blood starved too long they no longer wear clothes or maintain hygiene their impulse control is eliminated, lowered intelligence, and increased ferocity should be expected. Their eyesight is reduced below that of your average mortal with acute light sensitivity and gains the ability to use echolocation but their speech devolves making them little better than animals. These vampires can not be reasoned with and should be destroyed as soon as possible if you do not they will continue to indiscriminately kill every night trying to sate their insatiable hunger. Of all Humanoid Vampires they posses the most Bestial appearance with little trace of their former appearance left. They have been known to form primitive tribes if enough of them amass in one area. If exposed to sunlight they will soon die so they find places that provide reliable safety from the sunlight such as caves and sewer systems. They will feed upon any living creature that presents itself and so incidentally provide a service to mortal cities by living in the sewer and feasting upon the local rodent population though if their numbers grow too large they will deplete the rat population and seek out mortals for food. A Feral vampire is easily spotted and therefore can not walk openly among mortals like other vampires. They are not members of any House/Clan but can be found in the vicinity of a House's estate.
Bestial Vampires ~
Bestial Vampires are naturally occuring non-sapient vampiric creatures that kill with brutal ferocity and should any be found don't try to reason with them like one might for a humanoid vampire instead kill them without delay and burn the body.
Ekimmara ~
An ekimma or ekimmara is a type of lower vampire like fleders. These tend to be more vicious and animalistic.
Bah, ain't nothing to fear. Ekimmaras, why, they ain't nothing more than overgrown bats.
– Anonymous city guardsman's last words
Like other vampires, ekimmaras are not, despite what village gossips might say, undead humans. They are instead post-Conjunction monsters who have no particular feelings about garlic, holy water or religious symbols.
Unlike their portrayals in ballads and legends, they look nothing like handsome, pale aristocrats with charming eastern accents, though, like katakans and nekurats, they do bear a strong resemblance to overgrown bats. They also do not suck blood from the necks of virgins with a delicate, kiss-like bite – they tear them to shreds using long, sharp claws and then slurp the splattered blood off the ground.
Ekimmaras are unusually cruel and exceptionally swift. They are able to quickly land blow after blow capable of smashing even the best Mahakaman-made armor into tiny shards. They should be fought with a silver sword, remembering that they can regenerate back health over time. One should thus never attempt to tire them out or, gods forbid, wait for it to bleed to death. Instead, cut then down as quickly as possible and, if possible, burn the body to ash and scatter it to the four winds.
– Further information can be found in the book My Evening with a Vampire.
Fleder ~
Fleders are lesser vampires, but this description can be deceiving, for lesser does not mean weak and stupid. True, they are primitive and bear a closer relation to animals than to humans; but when they drop on their prey from above, they can be just as dangerous as their noble cousins, even to a witcher.
They are known by other names as well: kites and fliers to name only two.
Common people believe that fleders are dead heathens who turned into vampires and rose from their graves. Being vampires, they attack sleeping people and drink their blood. According to peasants, a man bitten by a fleder becomes a fleder himself. This is nonsense, obviously.
The deceased's corpse was completely mutilated. All that remained of the nose was a hole clotted with blood. One eye socket had been torn off. Seeing this, Sergeant Dovate vomited profusely and the administration of smelling salts was required. The investigation has been discontinued and the deed attributed to a supernatural being.
– fragment of a Toussaint Ducal Guard report
Fleders are classified as lesser vampires. Though weaker than the rest of their ilk in every aspect from the physiomagic to the physiognomic, they should not be underestimated – for they are very, very dangerous. Fleders cannot be mistaken for any other creature, with their wide, toothy jaws, flat, unpleasant faces and completely hairless, often warty bodies. These vampires mainly fight with their teeth and claws, flailing them blindly and not stopping even when their victim is already dead. Even a solitary fleder is strong enough to take down a trained soldier.
Compared to other vampires, fleders display meager intelligence, seen most clearly in the mindless rage which causes them to try with all their might to attack and tear to shreds any weaker being.
When fighting fleders, it is best to take advantage of their particular method of movement. These creatures do not run, but they do try to catch their prey and knock it over by leaping. Knowing this behavior, one can plan the fight appropriately and not let oneself be caught by surprise.
They are vulnerable to vampire oil as well as Black Blood.
The fleder is a lesser vampire. Its appetite for blood is the only thing it shares with the noble princes of the night. A creature with animal instincts, deprived of anything human.
The fleder is not a good flier, the membranes under its arms allowing only short jumps and attacks from above. Though not particularly smart, it knows that it gains an advantage and increases its chance of victory by suddenly attacking unsuspecting victims. Since the fleder's arms are also wings, its hands have thin extensions that enable it to pin down its prey. The long, prehensile toes on the beast's feet allow it to hang head down from the ceiling.
Garkains ~
Garkains are lesser vampires, so foul that the mere sight of one paralyzes opponents, especially sensitive ones. Apart from using its ugliness as a weapon, the garkain has at its disposal an amazing variety of ways to pin down victims and suck their blood.
Garkains, the filthiest of vampires, are uglier even than fleders. Since fleders are widely despised for their looks, it is easy to imagine how abominable garkains must be. As vampires, the creatures drink blood but they are also drawn to fresh meat, or even corpses. Garkains are often mistaken for gargoyles because they lurk on rooftops, waiting to dive at their victims.
Blood on the ceiling, guts on the walls... Must be a garkain.
– Yan of Lan Exeter, investigator and Captain of the City Watch
Garkains, like fleders, belong to the class of particularly dangerous vampires whose strength exceeds even that of fiends. An encounter with one of their number almost always ends in death, which is why there are not many eye-witness accounts of them. From the city guard reports written up in Lan Exeter describing the attacks committed in that city in 1104 by three garkains (later killed by a certain Olivier of Gulet, witcher), it seems these horrible monsters do not content themselves with drinking the blood of their victims. The investigators concluded from the blood and guts strewn around the crime scenes that garkains tear their victims to shreds with great delight and muck about in their bloody entrails.
Garkains belong to the group of creatures known as lesser vampires. They often gather around themselves members of other subspecies of lesser vampires, acting in such situations as leaders of the pack. They are by and large unable to run, but can jump a great distance and often attack their prey in that way. During combat, they usually keep their distance from their foes, trying to incapacitate them using a blast of mental energy provoking visions that beguile and disorient.
Before grappling a garkain, one should drink the Black Blood potion and stock up on vampire oil. It should also be remembered that the Samum and Moon Dust bombs are always effective weapons against any mental attacks.
Katakan ~
In natural form, katakans have many bat-like traits although somewhat larger and monstrous. They have long claws which continue to grow during all its life. They are also capable of disguising themselves and acting as normal humans.
As the rest of vampires, katakans are fully invisible to magical scanning and probing which means they cannot be detected by witcher medallions or master level detecting spells. Unlike alps, bruxae, mulas, and Higher Vampires they are susceptible to sun.
Like all intelligent vampire species, beginning with higher vampires and ending with nosferats, katakans enjoy drinking blood in smaller or larger doses but don't mutilate their victims by shredding them apart, leaving only bite marks. They are however somehow wilder and more savage than the rest of intelligent ones. Many of them like to wear shiny objects collected and woven into their fur.
Melitele, Great Mother, protect us from evil, from unclean devils and foul demons, and most of all from the clutches of katakans and nekurats...
– fragment of a prayer
Katakans and their more dangerous kin, nekurats, are the embodiments of human fear. They hide in the shadows. They feed on blood. They resemble enormous bats – though with long fangs and even longer talons. And, as if that weren't terror enough, they can turn invisible, waiting unseen while dread of their unpreventable attack overwhelms their victim.
When fighting a katakan one must pay particular attention to its shadow – often the only way to know its location.
Katakans are invulnerable to steel, regenerate quickly, hear acutely and move at incredible speed. To even the odds one can temporarily immobilize katakans using the Yrden sign, then seize that moment to attack with all one's might – for there might not be another chance.
Unfortunately, the legends are wrong and the sun's rays do not turn katakans to ash. They are vulnerable to sunlight, however, and when the sun stands at its zenith their regeneration is considerably slowed.
Vampire bites... and the strong stench of alcohol.
– Geralt of Rivia
Contrary to popular belief, monsters are not all alike. Like people, individual members of the same species can each have their own unique traits, preferences and weaknesses. A good example of this is the katakan which once fed on the inhabitants of Oxenfurt. Perhaps influenced by its close proximity to the hard-drinking student youth of the city, this vampire had developed a keen appetite for blood spiked with a hefty dose of hard alcohol - and also baubles and gaudy jewelry of all kinds.
The vampire had clearly thrived on its high-octane diet. It had grown exceptionally strong and gained the ability to regenerate lost life quickly, cause heavy bleeding with its claws and, if all that were not enough, meld into the air and appear again behind its opponent's back.
Vampiric Lair ~
If a Lair is found a vampire is not far away.
A Lair is something utilized by all Vampires; it is a place where a vampire sleeps and doesn't worry about the sun or being attacked. A lair can be anywhere a Mansion, Castle, or Cave the only requirement is that the lair keeps out the sunlight. It should be noted that what you believe to be a lair of a single vampire may in fact be a den of several or more vampires.
The Lair of an Elder/Higher vampire is a place they have resided in for centuries and tailor built to their aesthetic preferences hidden traps and passages are a constant danger to anyone who challenges the vampire in their own lair. It is unlikely a mortal, professional vampire hunter or not, will notice the vampire's lair until it is too late. It is common for their lair to be guarded by their vampiric brethren and other undead.
Vampires are often found in the countryside and in remote areas lording over peasants but can be found directly in the city unknown to the inhabitants as they can feed on the poor and the homeless.
For the more animalistic vampires either humanoid or bestial a lair/den is easy to spot; it will likely be a cave or sewer system near or in a mortal population zone and will reek of death as ample blood and viscera will be found in and around the entrance. There will likely be weak or no warding or traps without or within.
It is believed that when a Vampire creates a lair they twist the land around them killing off the grass and trees causing fog or mist to settle on the land and summon all creatures of the night to them and to drive off the wildlife however during my studies I have found this to be simple peasant superstition the reason for these occurrences is from the Vampire summoning fog so that they can hide from the sun and to aid their hunts this causes a decrease in sunlight and certain plants susceptible to that change die off but abundant moss will be found as for wildlife leaving the area it's simply that they sense a predator and the wolves and necrophages move in due to the corpses and smell of death from the Vampires prey.
Regeneration ~
A Vampire has the remarkable ability to quickly heal from any wound even what a mortal would consider grievous wounds. If a vampire loses a limb it will not grow back making the removal of the head the most effective means of killing a vampire. Should a Elder/Higher vampire be killed they will transform into a cloud of mist/smoke or a swarm of bats leaving behind any equipment and retreat back to their lair where they will reconstitute from any wound including missing limbs within the next few days. A Vampire will recover faster if they feed on blood. The amount consumed determines how quickly they regenerate while some vampires will even bathe in blood. Should a vampire's lair be discovered within 24 hours after a vampire has been killed and is again killed then the vampire will be dead permanently unless the Vampire kept a vial of their blood hidden somewhere.
When an Elder/Higher Vampire is killed you must destroy every trace of the body and sometimes that is not enough for if a single drop of blood remains their brethren can use blood magic rituals to reconstitute them.
A Lesser Vampire does not have this ability and is therefore easier to dispatch.
When a Vampire's body has been destroyed and it's brethren perform the ritual to revive them it is unknown how long it takes to regenerate though it is believed by scholars that a Higher Vampire takes up to a year to be brought back and an Elder takes up to six months though that time is only an estimate and can alter depending on the strength of the vampires who performed the ritual and how much blood they had to work with.
Feeding ~
A mortal once asked a vampire why they couldn't just suppress their hunger the vampire replied:
"To a Vampire the hunger burns in the body like a ravenous inferno so ask yourself if you were on fire what would you do for a single cup of water? Then ask yourself again how much further would you go for a lake, a source to quench the fire to bathe in it and let it soothe your body? Likewise a vampire goes to great lengths to quench the fire of their hunger for every cell in our bodies commands us to feed."
.Vampires feed on the life force of living beings.
A Vampire will feed for a variety of reasons to enhance their ability for enjoyment or sustenance. Once selected a vampire will either feed by biting into their prey using their fangs to pierce the skin or using blood magic to directly drain their life force
A Vampire most often feeds on the blood of Humanoids though can feed on animals however depending on the kind of animal and size it can provide less nourishment. They say that a vampire's abilities can alter or be enhanced by what it feeds upon such as if it consumes a Dragon's or Unicorn's blood.
When a Vampire feeds it experiences a euphoric state and the Lesser/Feral Vampires who have less control over their desires will seek out that state sometimes going on murder sprees.
When Vampires feed they empower the blood curse within them thus unlocking new vampiric powers.
A Vampire is capable of consuming normal food and drink but it provides no relief from their true craving.
There are some species of cursed humanoid vampire which if they do not feed for a long enough period will slip into a coma.
Among the vampire clans and houses they have been known to keep mortals around as servants for pleasure and easy access to food and the mortals perform their tasks willingly and cheerfully knowing that should they please their masters they may be elevated and welcomed into their ranks.
A Higher Vampire does not typically drain those they feed upon preferring to savor them over time.
Blood to a Higher Vampire is like alcohol, especially blood from a humanoid or magical creature such as a Dragon or Unicorn, a delicacy that is enjoyed but not required and just like mortals who consume alcohol will sometimes overindulge.
When I questioned a Vampire on how they determine who to feed upon they answered that a prey's Species, age, sex, moral alignment, and what was consumed all determine who the vampire picks for instance if they feed upon a drug addict who is currently under the influence it provides a different sensation for the Vampire.
The peasant belief that Vampires target virgins and the virtuous is true. There is something about them that makes the blood taste … delectable.
When a Vampire feeds they can see some of the memories of their humanoid prey this is one of the reasons why many Vampires take special care to who they pick to feed upon and if you consume a vampire's blood you will see some of their memories.
One can never predict what methods a vampire will utilize to obtain sustenance the usual means via "Venari" the hunt or perhaps unorthodox methods such as tricks or payment an example of this was when a vampire became the local physician and payed villagers for blood under the pretext of "alchemy experiments" and needing it for "Spells".
There was even a brothel with Bruxae and Alps working there in their human form who would service the mortal clients, seducing them and feeding upon them and selling the excess harvest. It became so popular that the mortals never looked too closely or asked too many questions.
Known Appearance/Physiology ~
For those of you who may be reading this that believe identifying a vampire is a trivial affair I would like to remind you that the mere accusation of vampirism can lead to the death of innocents or at the least destroy their reputation. A case of mistaken identity occured in the year 427 of the 4th Era according to the local calendar when some villagers saw a few nomadic tribals consuming the flesh of a dead man and believing they were Vampires the villagers gathered a posse and attacked these tribals killing all they could find it was only later that a scholar was able to find another group of tribals and learned that it is common practice among their people to consume their dead. So before you assume someone is a vampire or accuse someone of such, please seek out a professional who is the most qualified to handle such affairs, the same as a physician is best to handle illness. If you are concerned about how to protect yourself while waiting for the professional may I direct you to the Known Weaknesses category.
Generally a Vampire will look as it did in life although it will be pale and cold to the touch as their body will possess very little if any heat.
Vampires have a reputation for either being very beautiful or very ugly this is due to multiple things first the lesser and feral vampires have a more bestial appearance and secondly a Vampire is typically chosen from among the nobility, or from the peasantry if they are considered attractive. If someone is encharmed by a Vampire they will consider the vampire attractive regardless of how they might look.
Vampires when sleeping appear to be dead; they lie motionless with reduced breathing.
Mortals have reported a Vampire possessing an extended jaw and elongated tongue though this is likely an illusion to cause fear.
Humanoid Vampires possess elongated fangs (allowing them to pierce their victims skin), glowing reddish eyes,pale skin,and claws (Which they have been known to file down and can grow at will). Some Tribes of Lesser and Feral vampires have been known to have elongated pointed ears.
The longer a vampire goes without blood the more gaunt their appearance will become with the most pronounced effect when they are blood starved or when awakening from hibernation.
Some say a vampire is so pale due to a lack of blood in their veins others say it is a curse from the gods to show the world that they are undead but most things have a logical answer to them and a vampire's paleness is due to a lack of sunlight and slowed circulation.
Known Abilities and Perks ~
Vampires possess many intrinsic abilities with some varying by clan. For instance vampires are shape shifters most commonly into a Swarm of Bats,spiders,a rat, or a cloud of mist though this does not disclude other creatures of the night. Some vampire clans specialize in one of these forms though older vampires will learn to change into whatever form they desire. When they change shape it is instantaneous and can be done at will during the night or in the dark. When a Vampire changes shape they are limited by the form they take in strength and magical ability.
While the blood curse in vampires will empower them physically and to a certain extent magically it will not turn a novice mage into a Grand Wizard that can only come from years of study and practice of which a vampire has plenty.
A Vampire can learn to change into other creatures and in fact find it easier to learn due to their natural ability to morph though as stated are limited by their form so they could learn to change into a dragon but do not have the same speed and magical ability as when in a Human form and cannot breathe fire though Frost and Storm Dragons are possible.
Vampires can summon and command all creatures of the Night: Bats,spiders,rats,wolves, any Vampiric creature of lower level, and some say the older and more powerful vampires can even command the werewolves.
A Higher Vampire can control the weather to cause cloudy weather, storms, and fog.
Higher/Elder Vampires are Masters over the schools of Blood Magic, Sorcery, Illusion, Conjuration, Hexes/Charms, and are adept at the Necromancer arts.
Vampires have the ability to charm those around them to such an extent that the most ugly person would be considered attractive by those encharmed this allows them to go unnoticed in mortal society. Those under the Vampires spell will be willing to commit actions they would not with a sober mind. A Vampire can draw out a mortal's hidden desires and use those enthralled as servants while they sleep.
A Vampire's claws can sever flesh as easily as a sword.
Vampires are immune to Frost Magics but are vulnerable to fire damage.
Like Werewolves, Vampires are empowered by the moon.
Vampires have been reported to vanish in a puff of smoke and reappear somewhere else sometimes over an impassable gap or on a different level this comes from a vampires heightened magical and physical abilities allowing them to disappear in a cloud of black smoke or turn invisible, Jump large distances, and climb impossible surfaces for a mortal. They use the smoke/mist as a distraction and move so fast that by the time a mortal finds the vampire they are able to climb to the next level.
Vampires have enhanced eyesight abilities which when activated allows them to see a mortal's life signs even through walls and causes their eyes to glow a reddish color.
Vampires are resistant to mind reading attempts and only those with higher IQ can read their mind.
A Vampire's hearing and sense of smell is well above that of your average Mortal allowing them to hear a mortal's heartbeat.
A Vampire can see in the dark just as well as a mortal during the day if not better.
A Vampire can always sense the presence of another of their kind.
A Vampire can track their prey over miles by scent alone and will never forget a scent.
Vampires in combat emit a shrill scream causing pain, fear, and disorientation among mortals.
Vampires are immune to all known mortal poisons and diseases.
Vampires can shed some of their own blood to heal injuries and invigorate the body.
Vampires have the ability to place a Blood Brand on a target and detonate it causing critical damage.
They can place a curse on a target which will leech health from the target to the vampire.
They can curse a target causing bone shards to quickly grow in their body and if the target dies it spreads to all adjacent hostiles.
They can use magic to directly Drain Life, Magicka, or Stamina from a target.
Vampires gain benefits by draining victims thus killing them such as increased health, strength, stamina and magica.
They can sacrifice a part of their life force, decreasing their stats for increased damage output for the duration of combat at the additional cost of needing to feed after.
They can hex a target causing them to levitate then combust in a shower of gore.
Vampires naturally have a talent for blood magic to some degree though this does not mean that a Blood Mage necessarily is a vampire.
Like all Blood Mages, many of the vampire's abilities are taxing on their body.
Vampiric abilities and blood magics vary between clans and are cultivated over centuries.
Vampires can not be detected by detect life or undead spells as they fall in a middle ground.
As befitting an apex predator a vampire can walk without a sound at most you will hear their cloak rippling in the wind or something being knocked over this is intentionally done by the vampire to toy with their prey.
A Higher Vampire armed and armored for combat is something that should not be approached lightly. Vampire armament has been known to be enchanted to enhance their abilities.
Known Weaknesses and Combat Strategy ~
Even though Vampiric Species are deadly predators they possess a few weaknesses that a skilled adventurer will need to know should they encounter any of their kind though be wary that not every vampire will be susceptible to these tactics.
Most vampires are vulnerable to the sun to some degree and are empowered by the moonlight so they only go out at night and retreat to the shadows in the day though it should be noted that many clans/houses of Higher Vampires throughout the multiverse have overcome their aversion to the sun while some lose their ability to regenerate magicka stamina, and health in the sunlight. Weaker vampires will be burned by the sun, their skin sometimes igniting in flames. Regardless of whether a vampire finds the sun deadly or a simple nuisance they tend to avoid due to its negative effects.
A Bestial Vampire's eyesight cannot tolerate the sunlight and will be essentially blinded. They burn in the sunlight with steam wafting off their flesh and lose the ability to regenerate but will not be seriously harmed though this causes great agitation and will become more violent.
Vampires regardless of class clan or house are capable of going outside during sufficiently overcast days which the peasants have noticed creating an association between stormy weather and vampires and tend to stay inside their homes. If a vampire does go out into the sunlight they lose the ability to change shape and some of their vampiric powers.
A Blood Starved Vampire will suffer negative stat reduction for all abilities both magical and physical, this penalty can be removed through the consumption of blood how much is determined by the strength of the vampire stronger the vampire the more sustenance is required.
Most Vampires require blood to feed the blood curse maintaining their undeath and so will be forced to hunt else they will become blood starved and suffer stat reduction and eventually die this can be exploited by hunters and set a trap.
If an Elder or Higher Vampire kills another of their kind of equal level that Vampire will be dead permanently and is the best means to ensure a Vampire is properly dead otherwise the vampire will regenerate (See Vampire Lair for further detail).
Blood from a corpse if ingested or added to the bloodstream becomes poison to a Vampire and will kill in sufficient quantities thus the mortals have created a special alchemical mixture they call Dead Man's Blood.
Cursed Vampires can not enter grounds blessed by a priest/cleric however this has no effect on Natural Vampires unless that vampire has been cursed not to enter sanctified grounds.
An indicator of a Vampires presence at night are the bats that follow it as they recognize one of their own.
A Vampire is repulsed by silver which causes a glare in their eyesight and if injured by it their wound will take longer to regenerate. Silver burns a Vampire to touch. In fact Silver is the best known non-magical weapon that a mortal can use that will harm a Vampire. A Vampire becomes weaker and slower when wounded by silver or if around large amounts of it for an extended period of time.
Certain potions consumed by a vampire hunter and oils used on their blades can harm a vampire such as the potion Black Blood which when ingested by a Vampire hunter and is then bitten their blood will poison the Vampire and if they cut the Vampire with their blade the oil will do the same. There are silver infused potion injections used by vampire hunters, the intended effect I think should be obvious.
Monster hunting is an expensive profession due to all the silver, potions, and oils required though the pay is a great motivator.
Any responsible individual who expects to combat a vampire should first and foremost remember to never do so alone unless they have been specially trained to do so and even then the odds of killing a Higher vampire without others is small. A Vampire Hunter often packs things such as: Barbed Silver arrow heads, Silver Nets, Moon Dust Bombs used to weaken a Vampire and reveal it during invisibility, Black Blood, and Dead Man's Blood. Dimeritium bombs to nulify magic.
Moon Dust Bombs upon shattering releases a mist containing silver shavings. The Silvery mist nullifies the invisibility advantages of some creatures as well as preventing shapeshifters from changing form.
When a Vampire Hunter discovers they are hunting a Vampire Lord they will commonly cease all efforts until they are reinforced and will be unlikely to attempt combat with a Vampire Lord unless they have at least a dozen men and have mage support to place a magical field dampening the vampires speed and magical ability or blind it … well the smart ones anyway the dumb and greedy go to their fate and are never heard from again.
It is impossible to predict what kind or number of enchantments and wards a Higher/Elder Vampire will have placed on themselves over the centuries nor the strength of such nor what skills they will have learned or the strength of that vampire and so to be safe they should just be avoided.
The mortals have tried many solutions over the past few thousand years to rid themselves of the Vampire menace though all have ended in failure and they have yet to form any kind of final solution.
Vampiric Culture ~
Nothing stops us, nothing breaks us. Our Father awaits us in the crimson halls of Sanguinis.
– Unknown Vampire
Perhaps the first thing to know about Vampire culture is that they are ruled across the multiverse by a single Council of Elders who pass the laws that govern the clans and houses and resolve disputes/Feuds between Higher Vampires including between clans or Council spend most of their time slumbering in the Citadel of Ancients. They are only intentionally awoken once every century. It should be noted that not every Elder is a member of the Council; some are exiled for a time while others choose a life apart for personal or religious reasons while others choose their own path outside the authority of the Council.
The Council of Elders is guarded at all times while they sleep or are awake by an elite guard called theEternis Vigilis.
The Laws governing Vampire Society are often referred to as The Elder Law or the Vampire Code of which no mortal knows the entirety.
The rituals and traditions of Vampires remain largely unknown to mortals.
Vampires Live by a code agreed upon and imposed by the Council of Elders they say that before the code was created the Vampires warred constantly and feasted upon the mortals unsustainably and so to prevent the eradication of their kind and the mortals a truce was agreed to and rules for co-existence created. Higher Vampires are to intentionally limit their numbers this prevents competition between vampires and does not draw attention from mortals. Vampires will not kill one another unless one has breached their code and if they do they are brought before the Vampire council. Lesser Vampires are exempt from most of the Code and by Exempt I mean the Elders did not even consider them so when a Lesser Vampire that Serves a Higher Vampire kills another Lesser Vampire from a Different Clan it is up to the Lords to settle the matter however they see fit.
Vampire Code requires that a Vampire take responsibility for any they Sire or spawn failure to do so may incur punishment by the Elder.
The territory borders of clans is only known to Vampires themselves.
According to Vampire Code if one Higher Vampire wishes to hunt in a certain territory he must ask permission from the Elder (Does not apply if there is no Clan or Elder in the area) the same is true if he wishes to attack the mortals in the area. A Vampire Elder can temporarily grant a Higher Vampire the ability to summon ALL vampires if he wishes to launch an attack and may the gods help anyone who has such an army launched against them.
If an Elder Vampire in charge of a Clan/House Dies its final death one of the Higher Vampires will perform a Blood Ritual preparing a potion of the Elder's Blood before gorging themselves on it becoming the new Elder. If a Higher Vampire can not drink the Elder's Blood then the Higher Vampires will perform a ritual to strengthen the aspirants power making them an Elder. When the Vampire becomes the new Elder they must seek blessing from their deity else the house will view them as illegitimate.
Vampire Blood Contracts otherwise known as marriage contracts are agreements between Higher Vampires sometimes between clans where they marry to further their political standing and strengthen their powers of Blood. Once Higher Vampires "Marry" they will be mated for life and only final death will separate them.
Breeding between species of Vampire is heavily discouraged as offspring are considered "Of Impure Blood" though sexual activity in not unheard of.
All Vampires are territorial and if traveling through their land Vampire code demands you pay your respects to the ruler of those lands.
Politics among the Higher Vampires is complicated and prone to violent shifts with plots sometimes centuries in the making and much of it revolves around Territory and Marriage contracts.
In the eternal power struggles of the Vampires the slightest show of weakness can lead to death either from a vampire seeking to eliminate a rival or a vampire desiring to increase their station.
Vampires regardless of class will form into Clans/Houses and create a home base where the Elder or Senior Vampire (Should they Lack an Elder) lives though this does not mean that all the members of the Clan/House live together. Sometimes Higher Vampires will go out on their own or with a small following and create new clans/houses.
Higher Vampires to avoid suspicion will rotate between a City residence to a manor in the Countryside every few decades and lesser Vampires will also follow this pattern but annually and will often only enter the City during Winter months and retire to the Country during the Summer this is so they can walk during the day in the winter.
In the city Vampires have their own secret code to inform each other of danger and of gathering places.
There are mortals out there that willingly choose to serve Vampires to receive the benefits of a long healthy life and perhaps be chosen to ascend among their ranks.
There are Vampires out there that hunt their brethren even joining professional guilds that hunt monsters the reasons for doing so vary some for revenge others for sport. A vampire hunt is among the most challenging endeavors one could embark upon and some do it because well ….. they like the taste.
When I questioned a Vampire why they don't go out into the wilderness far from mortals, and their persecution of the different, to live in peace they replied that "Life would be so boring without new people."
To understand the mind of the vampire one must understand that they view the world as either hunter or prey. Unlike other forms of Undead a Vampire is a predator first and foremost everything about them is geared towards stalking and killing is why to a vampire mortals are viewed in the same way mortals view cattle,pigs, or chickens this is why you can easily find vampires hunting mortals for sport.
While vampires do engage in mortal markets and will use the standard currency of the land however among vampire society the trading of slaves, preserved blood vials, and hunting grounds is used as currency though standard currency is also accepted.
Though oddly enough Vampires have been known to make mortals their blood brother for those who have earned their respect.
Vampires trade in blood the same way Liches trade souls among themselves.
In regards to the feud between Vampires and Werewolves I will not comment on it as it is a long and complicated tale and not something one talks about in polite company with a vampire.
Higher Vampires do not appreciate being reminded that the Succubus is a relation of vampires as everyone knows a succubus is a harlot by nature and is not something Higher Vampires condone though lesser vampires have engaged in such things.
While a Succubus is a relative of the Vampire however it is considered rude to mention that in polite company among either Vampires or Succubi. Especially don't mention the Succubi that become vampires.
All Humanoid Vampires regardless of Sub-Species are known to dress extravagantly and in expensive finery this is due to multiple things a Vampires Ego and self-importance likely due to their long life among the nobility and secondly even Vampires not among the nobility dress this way due to the fact that the peasantry will not look twice at someone perceived to be a noble and it also helps them blend in due to the fact that the nobility is pale by default.
Vampire tales speak of a "Fountain of Never Ending Sustenance/Divine Nectar" or "The Immortal Chalice" a relic that generates blood somehow, it is likely just a tale told during times of boredom or when they have too much to drink however one has to wonder maybe it could be out there somewhere?
There are places in the multiverse in the hidden corners of the worlds where Vampires and the peasantry have entered into a mutually beneficial agreement. They all vary as to the exact nature of the agreement but in general there is some kind of trade where the Peasants keep the secret and sometimes worship the Vampire they offer blood and sacrifices at totems/statues and the Vampire, typically a Higher Vampire, offers protection and healing and for devout servants will offer extended youth.
Elves have a strong dislike for Human Vampires as they stabilize human economic markets disrupting Elvish plots to disrupt their economy and both live for centuries and create plots that will not bear fruit for decades. Vampires are also capable of matching and beating Elves in speed, strength and magical ability.
Vampires have a reputation for having corpses and blood splattered around their lair; this comes from the lesser Vampires who lack the Refinement of Higher Vampires and will sometimes not contain their hunger and will bleed dry their prey. A Higher Vampire often considers Lesser Vampires little better than Vermin though some set themselves apart and will be elevated to Higher Vampire status.
At the turnover of every Century Vampires from across the multiverse attend a gathering of the clans/houses at an event called "The Festival of Life '' the location of which is known only to members and their servants. It is here that rules are reviewed, new ones enacted, criminals sentenced, treaties discussed, and rivalries either settled or started. Vampires compete in gladiatorial games among other competitions for prizes and advancement in station. Marriage contracts are arranged and trade deals are made. Assassinations, poisonings, loss of station, and economic ruin are dramatic occurrences of the Festival that Vampires find very entertaining. The sale of goods such as the aged and bottled Virginis Sanguinaris are lucrative items. Vampires come to trade knowledge and learn about different areas of the multiverse and discuss the latest gossip. Clan members may take oaths or be traded and become members of different clans/houses. Clan borders will shift, members will be maimed or die, Houses rise or fall and the Vampire political games continue.
Ahh, it has been too long since I last attended.
Interesting Details and Misconceptions ~
It is not known how long a Vampire will live for as no vampires have reported one dying of old age and it is unknown if any mortals have attempted to cage one and tried to wait it out.
Contrary to popular belief when a Vampire dies its body does not burst into flame and turn to dust unless killed with a divine or holy weapon. If you burn the body the ashes/dust can be collected and used as an alchemical ingredient.
Due to the great healing and beneficial properties of Vampire blood when ingested without being bitten, mortals will pay a high price to obtain it, making it a lucrative market which creates incentive to hunt Vampires. Vampire Blood has the effect on mortals of increased health, vigor, strength, agility, magical abilities, hearing, sight, and smell but it is only a temporary effect; it is like steroids and can be addictive. Some say it can even heal the sick and fatally injured and even rewind aging.
Offspring between Vampiric Species produce weaker forms of Vampire and can produce the Subspecies Bruxae and Alps.
Offspring between a Vampire and a mortal produce half-breeds who only have some Vampiric abilities and can easily blend into mortal society such as the Dhampyr or it will produce the dreaded sub-species Bruxa.
The lesser vampires dream of a land where they can feed all the time and hunt without restriction and where they do not need to hide from mortals. The Higher Vampires understand that this is mere fantasy without overthrowing the Council of Elders and will never be achieved so they will curb efforts to achieve it.
There are many artifacts and powerful objects associated with Vampirism that enhance their abilities and blood magic powers.
Higher and Elder Vampires are believed to be immortal as they do not show any sign of aging though when a Vampire hibernates they will become emaciated and if they sleep long enough they will start to look like a corpse though when Elder vampires awaken they are not weakened and when they feed they will reconstitute When a Higher vampire awakens from a long slumber they will be at their weakest.
. Vampires are a topic of fascination for mortals in the city and a source of dread and misery in the countryside.
There seems to be a long standing feud between Vampires and Liches and no one knows why but it has lasted for as long as anyone can remember and the Elders are not forthcoming with answers. It could be that vampires view liches as their antithesis or from the fact that liches are undead corpses and are exempt from a Vampire's menu and if a Vampire tried to eat a Lich they would be poisoned.
Unlike Liches, Vampires are social creatures not only among their inner circle but also among the mortals for they understand that there are many forms of power and they will seek it out in all its forms.
There was an event I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing where a group of Liches entered a Clans/Houses territory and began to cause the Clan problems kidnapping mortals for foul experiments bringing attention from mortals not asking or paying for permission and not paying respect to the Clan so The Vampire Lord sent several Lesser Vampires as messengers to the Liches they did not return so a party was assembled and sent under the command of one of the Higher Vampires to find the Lich when they arrived at its lair they found the envoys dead and brought back from a Necromantic spell along with various other undead they killed them and burnt the bodies but could not find the Liches. The next night a large force of undead assaulted the Higher Vampires estate killing many of the Lesser Vampires before the Liches showed themselves along with a fresh contingent of undead cutting through any Vampires in its path until it found the Higher Vampires in their sanctum the battle was long lasting hours neither opponent tiring Both sides brutalizing the other to no effect the battle only ending when the Elder Vampire woke from the racket and entered the Sanctum quickly dispatching the last Lich ripping its head from its body and throwing it at the feet of the Vampire Lords before returning to his resting place with a warning "Don't let this happen again".
Many scholars have asked me "In a fight between a Higher Vampire and a Lich who would win" to them I say this "While both are immortals who spend countless centuries honing their abilities and gaining knowledge one of them spends all their time isolated conducting academic research without practical application in combat while the other is an apex predator always seeking out larger and deadlier prey."
During my travels I encountered a strange vampire who was researching the various forms of undeath by using animals as "Research Assistants" he was particularly proud of two snow hares one of which was a lich the other a vampire both are terrifying creatures of murderous intent who will rip out your throat if allowed out of their cage.
The Succubus while a relative of Vampirism is not undead however there have been reports of Succubi becoming either Liches or Vampires.
Tales tell of a mage who traveled the multiverse in search of the various occult and dark arts seeking ways to extend their life but he was not content with one form or the other so he sought to acquire the unique abilities of various forms of undeath first he became a Vampire then he tried to become a Lich and to this day the denizens of the multiverse are unaware if he was successful.
Peasants believe that the mere bite of a vampire will turn one into a vampire this is likely from an accident where a vampire was bleeding around the mouth and bit a mortal allowing some of the vampire's blood into the wound thus turning them.
There are many common superstitions among the proletariat believed to be weaknesses or means of identifying a vampire which are laughably inaccurate or false.
– The Belief that a Vampire is afraid of Garlic is a peasant superstition likely derived from the fact that Vampires are repulsed by the taste of someone who ingests large amounts of Garlic or onions. Garlic will not ward off a vampire, unless that vampire suffers from some unique curse.
– Mirrors will show a vampire's reflection therefore should not be used as a means of detection nor will a vampire die if they stand in front of a mirror for too long.
– Hanging a spoon on a vampire's nose will not kill the vampire.
– The Peasant belief that a Vampire can not pass over running water is another in a long line of misconceptions about these creatures that makes one believe if maybe the Vampires spread these lies intentionally.
– The peasant belief that Vampires target virgins and the virtuous is true. There is something about them that makes the blood taste … delectable mmmmmm.
– While it would be painful, driving a wooden stake into the heart of a vampire will not render them paralyzed or dead. This has not stopped mortals from using this practice throughout the multiverse on their dead.
Notable Vampires ~
Cursed Vampires ~
The Father of all Vampires ~
"All Mighty Father ye who challenged the gods, Hear my prayer.
Ye who has died and been reborn, grant me vitality.
Ye who has lived thousands of lifetimes, grant me wisdom.
Ye who slew armies, grant me strength.
Ye who gifted us the ritual of blood, I offer my life force as sacrifice and with this sacrifice I pledge myself to you."
– Vampiric prayer
There is an individual who tales tell is the Progenitor of all Vampires (for they all carry his blood) making him the First Vampire. Nobody knows how or why the First Vampire came into being only that it was near the dawn of creation; indeed even his original name has been lost to history and names have instead been created for him including The Father, The Slayer of the Gods, The Eternal One, The Insatiable Hunger.
The various tales about him agree on one thing that he was a Blood mage of unparalleled skill and made war upon the gods across the multiverse for their unjust treatment of the mortal races. He raised an army against them and defeated the armies of the gods in combat some say even killing a few gods though which ones no one remembers and at some point was killed and either from his own magics or from the gods cursing him he was revived as the first Vampire cursed to feed upon the same mortals he championed and though he would fall in combat many times after that the gods could not kill him permanently so they bound him by his blood to a singular location somewhere in the multiverse for all eternity with the words ``Abandon all Hope ye who enter here" inscribed over the entrance. It is said to be on an island group somewhere in the far north of their world with frequent cloud cover and rain.
He lives in his mountain fortress the Bastion Sanguinaris with his Vampiric children and servants and seeks out his mortal descendants as a means around the curse keeping him there or failing that was content to wait until the curse binding him faded. His efforts to find the mortal descendants are hampered by a religious order which safeguards his descendants. Even though he is bound to one physical location those who are under his command can come and go freely and his army The Sanguinis Legio stands ready to march forth.
It is said he has created his own demi-plane a place of darkness the only light coming from a moon and the crimson aurora, a place of mist, rain lightning and thunder, lichen and rock a place where the hunt never ends where creatures can be heard howling and a castle can been seen in the distance a shining beacon in the dark where he rules from the Scarlet Throne. Should a mortal have the misfortune of finding themselves in the Father's demi-plane or any vampire's demi-plane for that matter they should immediately flee as fast as they can.
Within his Castle a trophy room can be found where those that have caused him aggravation and have been executed are kept in Soul Gems and other soul storage devices on shelves as a part of his collection while those who have earned his ire are kept alive in … well let's just say they would prefer the shelf.
Vampires say he is the Patron Deity of Vampirism though what makes a person a god? Does the ability to communicate and hear every vampire and worshiper across the multiverse make one a god? Does the ability to command all vampires including the most ancient of Elders make him a god? Does being worshiped by people make him a god? He claims to have killed gods, if he has, does that make him a god?
I can tell you this: He doesn't care if people don't believe he is a god and if anyone wishes to challenge his claim of godhood they are welcomed to do so.
Regardless of whether he truly is a god or not a cult has formed around him led by his High Priestess Meredith the True Believer who supplies him with female mortals to feed upon for it is said that he prefers to feed on women and he is willing to reward those who please him. For every new mortal that bears his blood and every new worshiper he gains both power and influence. There are mortals that pray to him and if they earn his favor he turns them into vampires.
Nobody knows when or what will happen when he escapes his prison but one thing is certain even the gods will tremble with fear, of this I guarantee.
Lady Serana ~
Lady Serana is a Nord Elder Vampire known in her world as a Daughter of Coldharbour and is the daughter of Lord Harkon ruler of the Volkihar Clan for several thousand years and sought to blot out the sun, to usher in an era of Vampire supremacy, before he was overthrown by his daughter with the help of the Nordic Hero The Dragonborn who wished to prevent the chaos that would ensue should Lord Harkon succeed. Even with the Dragonborn's help Harkon was difficult to defeat who summoned a magical barrier around himself which required a divine weapon to pierce with the killing blow delivered by herself after his body was locked away to prevent resurrection. Immature for her age she has spent several thousand years in hibernation though was a young woman when she entered hibernation.
She now leads the Volkihar Clan known for their creation of golems in the shape of a gargoyle into a new golden age as official citizens of the new Dragon Empire. It is said that Lady Serana made a deal with the Dragon Emperor so that the Vampires under her authority would not be persecuted and allowed to feed as much as they want if they fought his enemies in the wars to come this provided her the opportunity to unite the Vampires of the land of Skyrim under her rule those that refused were shown the error of their ways. It is a popular source of gossip among vampires regarding the claim that Lady Serana is the Dragon Emperor's mistress while others say the Dragon Emperor is himself a Vampire. I have investigated these claims and can say that I do not know if she is his mistress as when I spoke to Lady Serana she refused to comment I even offered to aid her mother who was bound in another plane to entities known as the "Unseen Observers'' and still she refused though it is common knowledge that the choker with a magically infused red stone was given to her by the Dragonborn as a gift and she is never parted from it.
When I was able to enjoy the pleasure of her company she told me a tale of the god of domination from her world that claimed to be the patron deity of Vampirism. She says that women used to be offered to him and he would rape and defile them to death and the chosen women would rise again as pure blooded vampires. Though after a distasteful encounter with an angered lover it is said his manhood was bitten off so he no longer rapes and defiles instead opting for a calm cup of tea with the women offered to him and when he makes his selection he sends them back with visions of having been defiled. The god states that since he can't defile them and he doesn't want his dremora to do so for him he has no choice but to give them visions or lose respect as the god of domination it is a beneficial arrangement.
Lady Alcina Dmitrescu ~
The Lady Alcina Dmitrescu rules over a mountainous kingdom located in a frigid wilderness alongside her 3 daughters and several other noble houses where she commands an army of Lycans and other undead. She is said to be able to transform into a dragon though rarely does so. She is perhaps most famous among Vampires for her impressive stature and her production and sale of the Virginis Sanguinaris a kind of … specialty liquor for those with refined taste. She has grown quite wealthy from her lands which have abundant crystal mines. She embodies what it is to be an Elder Vampire. She will charm you during dinner holding a crimson crystal chalice in a velvet covered hand and drain you dry without a moment's hesitation. Some say she is seeking mates for her daughters and perhaps for herself if this is true then she will wield considerable power during the next Vampire Festival as it is a rare occasion for a Vampire to get married let alone four at the same time hmmm perhaps I will visit her.
Sabrina ~
Sabrina is a Cyrodillian Higher Vampire from the same world as Lady Serana, though not of the same clan. She was instrumental in a mercenary's campaign against a tribal people named the "Forsworn, '' as well as against the Elven order called the "Thalmor" in the lands of Skyrim. She is an oddity among vampires for being near-sighted and requiring spectacles, one of many defects generally corrected by vampirism.
She is a mistress of the arcane, wielding exceptional power and possessing vast knowledge of all matters profane and archaic - though many can't get past her unique anatomy, the product of an irreversible curse from her former sire and teacher. She is said to be very beautiful with a generous feminine appearance, tending to dress discreetly in accordance with her philosophy of survival through subtlety; the one exception to this is the eye-catching ringed choker she favours. Furthermore, she is said to possess a powerful ring of fire warding, potentially compensating for her inborn weakness to heat.
She spends most of her time in solitude conducting academic research only leaving her cave to feed. Unlike many vampires in her world, she places her faith and worship in Julianos the Divine rather than Molag Bal, the entity believed responsible for vampirism in her world. Sabrina is well-recorded to have a consort, a man who shares her Imperial heritage; while Sabrina, and no doubt this man, would claim that the attachment is legitimate, the argument could be made that she's simply manipulated him into thralldom as her daytime protector. Further investigation may be required.
Following her recorded Skyrim exploits, it is said she now spends her time studying and exploring a demiplane called the Shivering Isles in her pursuit to free a god from madness.
– "Chronicled by the scholar Samson in his account of Markarth events: The Forsworn Retribution."
Dracula ~
Was once a mortal human male known as Count Vlad Dracula "Son of the Dragon'' ruler of the kingdom of Wallachia who when faced with a superior invading army he sought out an Elder Vampire bound to a nearby mountain cave and made a deal with him thus becoming a Higher Vampire with the power to defeat his alone was enough to defeat the invading army and impaled the prisoners on spikes as a warning to all others. He became feared across the lands for his destructiveness and is said to have drank the blood of his enemies from a gold plated human skull. The mortals of Wallachia have named his army the"Armata Strigoi". He now rules over his lands with his three wives though in constant competition with his larger and more powerful neighbors.
Lamea Bal ~
"Mother Lamae was the first of us. Molag Bal made her his unwilling bride and through her brought terror to the night. Through her, he created the vampire kin. She is the blood-matron, mother to us all."
―Vorundil
Lamae Bal, also known as Lamae Beolfag, "Mother" Lamae, or the "Blood-Matron," was the first recorded pure-blood vampire in Tamrielic history and one of the last known surviving Nedes.
Lamae Beolfag was a Nedic tribeswoman who was raped by the Daedric Prince of domination and enslavement, Molag Bal. It is recorded that after the ordeal, Molag Bal shed a droplet of blood on her brow and left her to die.. She was a worshiper of Arkay.
Lamae was discovered by a tribe of nomads, who took care of her and attempted to heal her wounds. Despite their best efforts, however, she appeared to have died within a fortnight. The tribe then prepared to set her body aflame in a funeral pyre, but as it was still burning she rose up and emerged as the first pure-blood vampire. Enraged, she slaughtered the nomads by ripping out the throats of the tribe's women, eating the eyes of the children, and raping the men in a crazed act of violence.
As she was the first individual granted vampirism directly from Molag Bal himself, she became known as a Daughter of Coldharbour. This developed into a tradition among Molag Bal worshiping cults which dictated that females be offered to him on his summoning day. Few survive the ordeal, but those who do emerge as pure-blooded vampires. Being selected as an offering was considered to be an honor that is not rejected lightly.
She had also made her own cult of vampires in the Blood Matron's Crypt, where a select few individuals would learn of Lamae's past and curse Arkay and Molag Bal. Upon completing the tasks, the initiates would go into a pool and have their blood drained out by the cult's priests. Lamae herself would then appear and turn the initiate into a vampire.
She has a unique ability that for every vampire of her bloodline her power increases.
Count Strahd Von Zarovich ~
Count Strahd von Zarovich was a vampire and the dark lord of the valley of Barovia, one of the Domains of Dread located in a remote corner of the Shadowfell.
"I am the Ancient, I am the Land. My beginnings are lost in the darkness of the past. I am not dead. Nor am I alive. I am undead, forever."
— Tome of Strahd
In his youth, Strahd was a prince and a conqueror. After settling down in the recently conquered valley of Barovia, beginning to feel the weight of middle age, sometime before the 11th century DR Strahd forged a pact with the Dark Powers of the Shadowfell in order to achieve immortality. The pact involved the murder of his brother Sergei von Zarovich so that Strahd could take Sergei's wife Tatyana, with whom he had fallen madly in love. The pact sealed, Strahd chased Tatyana through his gardens in an effort to force her to love him, eventually driving her to fling herself off a cliff to avoid him and causing her death. Strahd tried to end it all but remained alive, undead and a vampire. The entire valley was swept into the Shadowfell and turned into a prison from which he could never escape.
In the Year of the Wandering Elfmaid, 1072 DR, Jander encountered Anna, a fragment of Tatyana's soul who had been trapped in an asylum in Waterdeep for almost a century. After years looking after her and failing to turn her into a vampire to prevent her death, in the Year of the Rose, 1098 DR, Jander was transported to Barovia by the Dark Powers, vowing to take revenge upon whoever had been responsible for her fate. There, he befriended Strahd, then still an inexperienced vampire, and, over more than 25 years, taught him much of his vampiric skills, including the ability to communicate with and control animals. After discovering the true nature of Strahd, Jander attempted to destroy him, but ended up only severely injuring him. He threw himself into the sun to end his misery afterwards, but, instead of dying, was transported to the adjacent domain of Forlorn.
In the late 15th century DR, Strahd confronted Minsc, Boo, Delina, Krydle, Shandie, and Nerys in an attempt to recover a locket that once belonged to Tatyana, the love of Strahd's life. The locket had the power to free the companions from Barovia, narrowly escaping the vampire's wrath.
Duran the Pale Emperor ~
"What I have seen and done to
achieve my position defies belief.
What I am capable of and will
be party to in order to retain it
would chill your soul."
Duran was a dwarven prince from the underground kingdom of Trinistria who was assassinated by his brother and resurrected as a vampire by a close relation who he did not know was a vampire. After he recovered from resurrection he proceeded to return home, kill his brother and assume the throne. He proceeded to conquer the underground kingdoms of his world incorporating them into his Vampiric Empire with his army the Pale Horde and now after several centuries of conquest he has moved onto the surface world. Every ten years they surge forth from the Shadow Keep within the depths attacking the surface world in what has become to be known as "The Dread Harvest." During the harvest the vampires surge onto the surface world gorging themselves on blood and taking thousands of mortals as slaves. He claims he conquered the underground kingdoms in service to his God and built temples and statues in his honor, even building magic portals to send tribute.
Calanthe the Deranged / The Blood Countess ~
The Blood Countess was once an elvish noble who was known for her vanity and became obsessed with preserving her youth and vitality. She became a student of the occult sending out knight errants to acquire arcane advisors, tomes, and alchemical ingredients. As time passed the methods known to her of extending her life became less effective and her search for alternatives became desperate she began to experiment with blood magic though benign at first limiting herself to animal blood she quickly escalated into peasant sacrifice to maintain her youth. Some stories about her state she bathed in the blood of sacrificed children. Until one day a knight returned with a rather unexpected guest a vampire who when the Countess asked refused to turn her so the Countess tortured and experimented on the vampire before she discovered the means to turn herself into one. Over the years the peasants learned to fear her, the castle, and the night giving her the moniker The Blood Countess as they pray for a salvation that doesn't come and are taken one by one.
Natural Vampires ~
The Unseen Elder ~
Not much is known about the one known as the Unseen Elder other than he is thousands of years old he is a naturally occurring species of Vampire and has chosen to hibernate outside a sealed portal to his home world guarding it from any intruders in the hopes that one day it will open. The cave he resides in is sealed from the outside world as he despises visitors and can only be opened by magic crystals that Higher Vampires possess. If someone does visit him they are required to not waste his time else he will kill them. Within his cave you can find ancient architecture from the first higher vampires that entered the world and flora and fauna not found anywhere else in his world. The Unseen Elder is rarely visited, with even Higher Vampires rarely disturbing the Elder unless it's under extreme circumstances, and for non-vampiric beings, having an audience with the Unseen Elder requires a very specific ritual of sacrifice to be performed, and even then it is not a given that the Unseen Elder would speak.
Detlaff van der Eretein ~
Detlaff was a Higher Vampire and once resurrected his fellow vampire Regis. He met and grew to love the human mortal woman named Syanna the Princess of the Duchy Toussaint and later was cooerced into commiting assassinations by what he believed to be her captors only to discover that Syanna herself was behind the plot and in his rage he asked and was granted by the local Elder Vapire command over all local vampires and permission to attack the nearby city of Beauclair in an event now known as "The Night of the Long Fangs". During the attack thousands of mortals died and failing to listen to reason Detlaff was struck down in final death by his friend Regis with the assistance of the monster hunter Geralt of Rivia.
It was horrifying to watch... that gentleman suddenly turned into a ghastly beast, with claws, and... tore those men to shreds with the precision of a master butcher...
– a witness to Dettlaff's attacks
Dettlaff is a higher vampire and one of the most terrifying creatures the world has ever known. Some vampires of his sort live among men easily and inconspicuously, sometimes even gaining the respect and admiration of their community. Yet even the most civilized vampire can be incredibly dangerous if provoked, and Dettlaff... Dettlaff was far from civilized.
When in his two-legged form, Dettlaff strikes in surprising and unique ways, so one must be extremely alert and attentive. His razor-sharp claws, wielded with great strength and precision, are his chief weapons, yet he can also wield weapons of human devising with extraordinary skill.
Like all higher vampires, Dettlaff can turn into fog and envelop opponents. When fighting a vampire in this form, one must watch out for magic puddles and attacks from the air. When wounded, Dettlaff tends to assume his winged form, using these powerful appendages to stun his foes near effortlessly.
One must remember higher vampires are immortal creatures and thus do not fear for their lives while fighting, meaning they take every risk. They are able to turn invisible and can regenerate strength during combat. All in all, they are supremely difficult foes, even for a witcher.
Orianna ~
Orianna is a wealthy higher vampire and philanthropist that lives in the Duchy of Toussaint. She runs an orphanage called "La Compassion Orphanage" and is patron of the arts. The local nobility and those of means hold her in high regard including the Duchess herself and often attend her lavish parties held at her estate. She is a personal friend of both Regis and Detlaff. She has the controversial habit of feeding upon the children in her orphanage though does not kill them. Some say she was killed by the famous monster hunter Geralt of Rivia though the reason for why is unclear.
The Queen of the Night ~
The Queen of the Night is a Bruxae who owns a brothel bearing the same name in the Trade Quarter of Vizima. Most of the women working there are, like the Queen of the Night, vampires that take blood in addition to money as payment for their sexual services.
Elder ones do not need blood to sustain their life, it is more like alcohol or a drug that they enjoy the most. She claims she was once the lover of the higher vampire Regis.
The House of the Queen of the Night is considered the finest brothel in Vizima.. All the local politicians and courtiers can be found there in the evenings enjoying the company of the many lovely ladies found within.
I shall take a break from my studies. I hear the Festival is approaching, it will be good to spend time with my children.
– Signed Lord Warke, A humble Scholar.
