Vampires - General Information

The discovery of the vampire species was a dark day for me. I did not know the power that necrosis energy had over creatures. Before I knew about vampires, I thought creatures with necrosis energy were mindless abominations. I will admit that I was wrong on too many levels. Vampires changed my entire perspective on just how powerful the undead can truly become.

The vampire species comprises vampire Templars, vampires and thralls. The creation of a vampire is an interesting concept in that their own blood is used. After biting a subject and drinking its blood, the vampire will bite themselves and make the subject drink their blood. Because of time limitations, I couldn't examine the vampire's blood. However, I learned that they have a sickness or corruption that gives them their abilities, which is directly connected to necrosis energy.

An important note about their blood is that each type of vampire has a different strain on their disease. Each type has different effects when they bite a subject or force them to drink their blood. It is common for the vampire species to bite their lip before drinking from its victim in order to mix their blood into the wound and inflict vampirism.

The First Vampires

The first generation of vampires and thralls were all humans. Only after time passed and the vampires wanted to increase their numbers were other species turned. Vampires and thrall’s appearance is that of their original sub-species. They could be the local shopkeeper down the street or be a city guard. Although most vampires wouldn’t stoop to that low and portray nobles or wealthy merchants.

The Original Vampire

During my time among the vampire species, I studied in their libraries and learn about their origin. Vampires originated from one creature who, according to legend, was to watch over the Cyclops. However, shortly after it was created, the creature became consumed and corrupted by necrosis energy. It turned on its creator and those it was supposed to watch over.

Human templars were sent by the temple of Gaia to vanquish the creature and restore peace to Samisami. After a long and exhausting battle, the Templars were successful in defeating the creature. However, the blood they became covered in during the battle was corrupt and tainted. It absorbed into their flesh and consumed them, taking over their bodies and minds. This created the first order of the vampire templars. From there, the templars used the corpse of the creature to create powerful artifacts in order to aid them in their growth and conquest. Soon the templars were creating different vampires and conquered Samisami. That is until the world shattered and the continents were separated.

The most recent research on the vampire templars shows that they still rule over a large section of Samisami but are rarely seen. They use the fear of the unknown and the vampires and vampire lords to rule over their territory.

Tekton - City of Vampires

My visit to this city was only after the world had been shattered, as admittedly I did not exist before such time. I wish I could have seen the majesty of the ancient human city, but can only imagine what it was like based on its current appearance.

What now appears to be ruins of the once great and powerful human city of Tekton is actually a thriving metropolis ruled by the undead and abominations. Ultimately, the vampires rule the city, but there are different districts that are ruled by other creatures. The inhabitance of the city range from humans to many abominations and monsters.

The city was originally designed to fit both massive and smaller creatures in the land. The mixture of heights and architecture to accompany all sizes would have been a truly fascinating sight.

The location of the city being on the edge of Nisumari and other floating continents having similar looking cities on their edges; I believe Tekton could be a small district in a much larger city. This massive city, of course, would have been whole before the world was shattered. Knowing this, it is possible that humans did not originate in Nisumari.

Types of Vampires

Thralls

The lowest of vampires. Thralls are the servants to vampires and will do almost anything to win the favor of their masters. Including fighting each other over who gets to present their latest victims to their vampire masters. Thralls, being the last type of vampire, are not very intelligent. Their bites do not turn creatures into vampires, but infect them with vampiric poison.

Vampires

Vampires are the second most powerful creatures of the vampiric city. They are considered nobles of the city and rule over the thralls. Vampires can turn creatures into thralls, who do their bidding.

Vampire Templars

Templars who had slain the original vampire only to be drenched in its blood and turning into vampires. The transformation caused their armor to fuse with their flesh. Their appearance and persona became distorted and evil. They gave off an aura of pure evil and corruption. Upon returning to their city looking for their reward and praise, they were only greeted with fear and hatred. They were removed from all status and told to leave the city.

Universal Special Abilities

Blood Drinkers

Although vampires require blood to thrive, they cannot die from lack of blood. If they are to starve, instead of dying, they become frail and weak, but still deadly. Their health and might are halved (rounded down) if they have not fed at least once every week.

When a vampire bites a target and drinks their blood, they gain back health.

• Thralls: Gain 1d6+8 health
• Vampires: Gain 1d10+10 health
• Vampire Templars: Gain 2d10+15 health

On a successful grapple, they can make a lucky bite attack.

Charming

All vampires have mesmerizing eyes, and when they wish can attempt to charm another humanoid. The target is required to look into the eyes of the vampire or vampire templar for the charm to go into effect. A self-psyche check is made to resist the charm effect. One one target can be charmed at a time.

When charmed, the target will do anything the vampire commands. Also, they will do everything in their power to please the vampire. The target is charmed indefinitely as long as they stay within 120ft. of the vampire that charmed them. Once outside of the range, they are released from the charm but have all future self-psyche checks to be charmed are unlucky. The charm also ends if the vampire is killed.

Fear Immunity

Undead are immune to fear effects.

Immortal

Thralls are immortal unless they are decapitated or have had their hearts removed or destroyed.

Vampires and vampire templars require their hearts to be pierced by titanium or ironclad in order to be defeated. Otherwise, they are immortal and cannot be killed. If decapitated, the body will follow the head until it can reattach it.

This means all vampires are immune to damage that causes any type of aging.

When a vampire species is reduced to zero health, they collapse and are in a comatose condition for one round. After which they come back to life with the following health:

• Thralls: 30 health
• Vampires: Half health
• Vampire Templars: Full Health

Resistance

All vampires are resistant to piercing, slashing, and blunt weapons unless they are titanium or ironclad.

Teleportation

Vampires and vampire templars can teleport up to double their movement for the cost of five essence and a free action. Vampire templars do not require movement to use this ability and can also perform it as a counter action. This can cause advantage attacks on the vampire.

Vampiric Contamination

When a target becomes contaminated with vampire blood, they can contract vampiric rot or become poisoned. Vampiric Rot has two forms: a disease that turns people into vampires, and a poison that acts instantly.

Vampiric Rot

The disease requires a stamina check versus DR 18 to resist the disease. Every three days the victim suffers 1d4 vitality damage until it reaches zero and they die. The victim feels ill after the first day of being inflicted. Only a boosted cure spell or temple services can remove vampire rot.

Vampiric Poison

The poison version requires a stamina check versus DR 12 to resist the poison. A vampire’s saliva causes the bite wound to remain open. This causes a minor bleed effect of one health per round. This is considered a class one poison.

Vampires and vampire templars inflict both the disease and poison, while thralls can only inflict the poison.

Vulnerability

All vampires take double damage from positive damage, titanium and ironclad weapons, along with taking damage instead of healing from Gaia energy.