Vampyre

Pulling at the cover of the book, you find hidden pages in the back cover, holding the full valuable information of the First Vampirism in Algoron. Now that vampires have re-emerged this information will tell you what vampires were, and what should be attempted to show you their undoing.

Interview with a Vampire – Paleceron Madaur, Captain of the Lance.

“I have just slain the vampire Ishamael Rinji. Now that he has had the affliction of vampirism removed from him, he seeks revenge against his former kind. For reasons unbeknownst to me he has sought his slayer to tell of his now cured affliction.

Weary from constant holy zapping and fighting evil, a chill suggestion entered my mind, calling me to the Tavern of the Bouncing Bugbear (where incidentally, every hour is happy hour).

It was well after the last watch, and the customers had long since departed. Pierre the award winning ribs chef had left part of his secret herbs out, which he really ought to be more careful about considering he's about to set up a franchise.

A single candle in the corner, which shed no light upon a hooded figure who stood behind the bar.

Reflex. Steel flashed out, the dull glow of my holy weapon shed light upon the retreating shadow.

An insubstantial voice half croaked and half whispered…

'Put away your weapons Seeker, and you shall have the information you have been looking for. Ask me questions of my nature, for my soul is weighed with the consequences of my actions.'

What follows is the information gleaned from this unlikely interview, taken in note form.”

General

Vampires become stronger over time.

It takes many moons to make your thrall a lesser vampire.

Thralls suffer no detrimental effects.

Silver stakes can be purchased from Stanley.

The affliction is simply what it is called when a master turns it's thrall to the other side.

A thrall is a mortal taken by a vampire and fed from several times.

If a vampire does not feed, It is merely a need. A vampire must feed or they begin to die. They won't ever die, but, they will become very, very hurt and tired, making it impossible to do anything effective.

The vampire feeding spots. Ishamael usually gated to Kalia in Arkane, in the thieves hideout, Gully dwarves is a popular one as well. Dwarven kingdom and the Nomads.

Vampires that can summon bats have no need to go out...they can simply feed from their bats.

There is little difference between undead and the living except in that they drink blood instead of water and are much stronger. They need air, but their heart does not beat. They are very secretive.

Vampires are weaker during the hours of day and stronger during the night hours.

Vampire progression

When a new vampire is created, they start out very weak. They are vulnerable to...just about every weapon including piercing, flaming, holy, and many more. After two hundred and fifty moons as a 'lesser vampire', they grow stronger to simply a vampire. Here they lose some of their vulnerabilities, such as piercing weapons and so forth. Flaming weapons that are holy will work the best. At two hundred and fifty, they become somewhat resistant to smashing weapons. At five hundred moons, much changes, the vampire can turn one of their thralls. They also become resistant to magic and lose most of their vulnerabilities apart from flaming and holy. A vampire may possess around five thralls. They are also then very resistant to being stunned and crushing weapons and such. When a vampire turns a thrall, they lose a some strength, and regress to a weakened state.

If a vampire reaches the age of a thousand moons, they become a Lord Vampire. They become immune to several types of attacks and resist magic more.

Who

There are 5 different families of vampires.

Rhea leads one family, and Mia and Aerte are present there. Mia was staked and made a vampire again in the same day.'

Kutt lead another family, though Joras leads it now after he was staked. Caledor was a vampire for a short time, and Jjik'da and Kayja also.

Rhea is the only first generation vampire remaining apart from M'kaath.

First generation vampires are the head of their family and make all of the decisions. They have no master apart from 'the one.'

The one, is simply, the rip in the realm that allowed vampires to exist. I won't delve too much into that, as it's hard to explain.

Ericka was the leader of the strongest and most populous by far. Ericka turned Agtinon. Agtinon turned Ishamael and Oneth. Ericka turned Sorcia. Sorcia turned Shay.'

The other family was Caine's, but it has ceased to exist.'

M'kaath is his own family.

Ihsan, Navik and Juelian will be vampires soon, perhaps.

The remaining vampires at present are Shay, Sorcia, Mia, Aerte, Rhea, Jjik'da, Joras, M'Kaath

In each family, there is an Archon, usually a second generation vampire who is the master of that family's thrall. They are basically an enforcer appointed by the master of the family and handles all the family troubles and take over as head should the elder perish.

Ericka and Ishamael were the only Lord Vampires. Oneth may be one by now.

There isn't fighting amongst the vampires...usually each family stays pretty much to the themselves.

There is a conspiracy with the political leadership of Shalonesti.

Many who have held some power have been a vampire at some point.

It is not known yet if Juelian accepts them or is against them as Aerte did.

Rhea has a manor, where many vampires rest unharmed, vampires may allow their brethren to be invited there.It's just a regular manor to any mortal...But there are secret entrances for vampires. It's quite the house. There are dwarves tied to the walls for the vampires to feed on... you could stay there forever and never have to leave.

Powers

Five powers, regardless of generation, are passed down through each affliction randomly from their masters. The affliction chooses itself, but this is no bearing on the strengths (both physical and mental) a vampire may receive.

The thrall and the master form a mental link.'

The master and the thrall can communicate at all times, regardless of position. Even sleeping.

They can also see each other at all times, regardless of hiding or nondetection spells.

One of the powers, however, is always constant. Depending on the bloodline, the said thrall, after being afflicted, gains the ability to shift into a mist-like form or that of a bat, which cannot be attacked.'

Another power is that of the mirage. It is very much alike to an illusionist's spell of blend. And shamans with soulsight can see you.

Another power is that of mind control...similar to charm, but different in the aspect that it is one command that the victim can't resist and is forced to do.' It can be resisted, though once a vampire has become strong, it is next to impossible.'

Another power is that called 'soul rot'...This is one of the stronger abilities which temporarily reduces level of training and level of casting thrice times over. It also isn't very pleasant, as it drains mana from the victim every hour on the hour.'

Mana drain and vampire drain...mana drain draws mana from the victim and into the caster.'

Another power, is super human strength...in which the amount of damage done is increased, and the strength of the afflicted increased.'

Another one is super human dexterity...Which is the exact opposite.'

Another one, this one mostly granted to Bladesingers, is screaming pierce is A spell of damage that ignores protection on the victim and deafens.'

The ability to bury themselves in places where things can be buried becoming completely nondetect. They may be moved by an earthquake.

All those with the affliction have the uncanny ability to gaze...this is used mainly to feed from victims.

All vampires can cloak...essentially this is how they go from their mortal, hidden form to their kindred form. When cloaked, all abilities are enhanced greatly.You can still see them, they are simply seen as a shrouded figure...or a vampire. The downfall is, the weaknesses are also present twice fold in this form.'

All vampires also have the ability to 'bloodvision'...they can view the world through the eyes of any of their thralls or any vampire of a lower generation then they are in their 'family.' A family is, simply, all the vampires, including the masters and thralls.'

The ability to summon a bat...it is much like a cleric's spell of elemental.

Even if the vampire is not a spellcaster, all of their kindred-spells are cast at their level of training.

All members of a family can communicate with each other telepathically.

A family can 'feel', showing all members of their family that are present in the realms.

In Ishamael’s mastership not a single spell was ever cast upon him.

If a fellow vampire in one of their vampires is in the room, they will sense a familiar presence.

If a member of a different family is in the room, they will sense a strange presence.'

It can also be used to sense mortals in the room. Very useful for finding invokers, I might add.'

In the daylight, vampires can not cloak. They can only cloak during the night, unless they are indoors, in which case they can take on their kindred form still, but it would depend on who the vampire is and how strong they are.'

A part of their advantage in their kindred form is that you don't really know their specialty.

Dealing with Vampires

You must pour holy water on a sleeping victim till they burn before the staking

You must know they are a vampire and then impale them.

If he's sleeping you shouldn't have trouble pouring on them. Strangle seems to be the most effective way, as magical sleep is too difficult to land.

When they are staked with a regular weapon, they lose part of their vitality and their moons as a vampire is cut in half.

Vampires can only die a total of twenty times before the affliction is too weak to survive, and it fades.

My list ends here. I have never had to write so much in such little time.

“The scratch of quill to paper filled the night, for there were many questions that demanded answers, answers to which any that held curiosity would find enthralling. Candles were spent and replaced. Pages were filled and placed upon the last.

When all was done, and all recorded, my unsteady hand, burned from this unholy inquisition placed down the quill. A cold chill swept the room, extinguishing the candle. Before it was relit, the dark presence had departed.”

The reader must take this information and use it against the infestation which curses this world. Expose and shame those of the House of Shalonost. Give those of Shadow and Malice no peace. Return them to life, or destroy them utterly.

Take this brother, may it serve you well.