Vampire

A corpse animated by a parasitic intelligence made of negative energy, vampires are an oft feared but seldom seen boogieman to the superstitious. Supernatural and highly hierarchical predators, they blend into society and prey on the unwary by siphoning blood to sate their compulsive hunger.

Pale Predators

Almost all humanoid species are susceptible to vampirism, so vampires vary wildly in height, weight, and build. They are, however, generally quite gaunt as their bodies burn off excess fat that would otherwise go unused by the vampire’s new metabolism.

Vampiric coloration is generally dull and muted. Their skin and hair loses much of its coloration, trending towards whites, greys and blacks. Any body hair they do grow takes on a dull, oily sheen. Their eyes take on a catlike appearance and a deep red, purple or gold color. The most distinctive feature of any vampire, however, are their thin, dagger-like fangs, designed to puncture the skin of their prey.

From Beyond the Physical Realm

Vampires start their lives not on the Material Plane as fleshy undead, but in the Negative Energy Plane as wandering, undefined spirits of hunger. The energy given off by the Material Planes draws them like moths to a flame, and after traveling through the Ethereal Plane they search for a freshly deceased body to deposit their consciousness within. Once a body is animated by the vampire, it goes about reshaping the flesh to suit its needs, most notably growing fangs.

In addition to controlling the host body, the vampire gains some access to the previous inhabitant’s memories. These are often foggy, appearing as dim recollections and moments of deja vu. All vampires feel detached from these fragmented memories with most taking them as little more than a useful tool for learning the local customs, but some grow curious and seek to understand who their body belonged to in life.

Most often, vampiric production happens naturally with new vampires simply possessing discarded bodies as they find them. Some elder vampires, fiends and powerful necromancers have the knowledge necessary to bring a new vampire into the world on their own, though. The rituals required invariably take time and an immense ammount of talent to complete, but the created vampire is unswervingly loyal to its creator.

Constant Hunger

From the moment a new vampire awakens to the day the body they inhabit dies, one sensation dominates their mind- hunger. On the most basic level this drive manifests as a hunger for blood, without which they will inevitably wither and die within a matter of weeks. Most vampires prefer the blood of other humanoids, citing superior taste and nutrition, but if necessary they can sustain themselves off of animals and monsters.

The hunger vampires experience extends far beyond their physical needs, however. The vampiric urge to consume and dominate manifests in the way they handle their place within society. Many pursue positions of power, knowledge, or wealth and the privileges such stations offer. When crossed, a vampire will often respond with cold, vindictive fury as a hunger for retribution clouds their mind. They often treat non-vampires as lesser ‘prey’ and remain aloof, but those who do earn the respect of a vampire find them reliable allies.

Secret Hierarchies

Relations between vampires are generally hierarchical, with lesser vampires swearing fealty to their older and more powerful kin to gain protection and resources. A vampire’s loyalty to their superior can often be tenuous and much of their internal society is built on paranoia and strict, opaque rules of engagement. Each vampire also controls a territory of their own that they guard fiercely against other undead- even elder vampires are unwilling to enter their subordinates’ territories without good reason.

Because of their constant need for blood and frosty relations with their kin, most vampires choose to integrate themselves into other humanoid communities. They often find the customs and values of their living neighbors perplexing and alien compared to their society, but easy enough to imitate in order to blend in. A vampire rarely reveals their true nature, preferring to remain hidden behind complexly constructed lies and their own abilities. Those living near them often find them eccentric and someone reclusive.

Wanderlust and Necessity

Vampires who choose to set out adventuring do so to defend their territories, find an advantage over a particularly powerful rival , or to fulfil a duty from one of their superiors. Younger vampires may also choose to travel simply to experience the breadth of possibilities the Material Plane grants them compared to the foggy waste of the Ethereal Plane or the cold void of the Negative Energy Plane. For most, however, adventure is a task only undertaken if necessary