Vampire: Difference between revisions

In Ancerra during the events of Veil of the Eternal Night, there are three types of Vampirism. They are briefly explained here, but note that there are certain secrets mysteries surrounding these vampiric bloodlines that vampires themselves may not know. These secrets may be unearthed over the course of ''Soliloquy of Annihilation'' and ''Daughter of the Shadows''.

Regardless of their origins, all vampires share certain universal characteristics.

* Finally, most vampires have great egos. Given their long lifespan and their natural propensity to develop magical abilities, they often treat other humanoids as their playthings. Their ability to enthrall other creatures only feeds into their sense of pride and grandeur.

The oldest form of Vampirism is simply known as Ancerran Vampirism. Vampires from this bloodline gradually degenerate over the course of hundreds of years. Drinking blood can sustain them for quite a long time, but this does not mean that they are immortal. Most live to be about five hundred before no amount of blood can sustain them, and they eventually decay into dust.

Ancerran vampires are especially susceptible to running water. They also tend to naturally develop more instinctive tendencies, like a cat or a bird of prey, rather than the deliberate cunning of other vampires. Ancerran vampires are linked to ancestral soil, to which they return when they have been killed and need to regenerate. Ancerran vampires are not restricted to remain outside of domiciles unless invited, making them dangerously unpredictable.

Hailing from the plane of Shadowcroft, Croftian vampires are descendants from the line of Lilith, the first vampire in Shadowcroft. Lilith herself is immortal; she can be killed, but not by natural causes. Vampires of her bloodline tend to live a thousand or more years, but do still die of old age eventually. Lilith herself is both a vampire and one of Shadowcroft’s archdevils, and this fiendish bloodline remains strong in all of her heirs. Croftian vampires are not as vulnerable to running water as Ancerran vampires, but Croftian vampires are vulnerable to silver due to their fiendish heritage. Croftian vampires are also linked to specific coffins, rather than ancestral soil.

The strongest of the three strains of Vampirism, Draculean Vampirism is a scientifically synthesized form of Vampirism that keeps the strengths of Ancerran and Croftian Vampirism while mitigating their weaknesses. Dracula was the first to become such a vampire, and he considers turning someone else into a Draculean vampire a sign of tremendous benevolence.

Draculean vampires are unharmed by running water, though holy water still injures them. They are also not magically vulnerable to silver. Draculean vampires are truly immortal; they can be killed, but they will not eventually decay as Ancerran vampires do. Dracula himself is utterly pragmatic, and so while he is not magically forbidden from entering any domicile uninvited, he has forbidden all of his bloodline from entering a residence without invitation. He has done this not out of any misplaced sense of kindness or honor, but out of pure economical considerations: the humanoid population must be able to reproduce for him to feed upon indefinitely if he is to live forever.

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Dracula’s line is the most powerful vampiric bloodline in Ancerra, and this is reflected in the Heritage Discoveries mechanic in this class. However, the true strength of Dracula’s bloodline is not readily apparent until high- level play. Furthermore, note that creatures of Dracula’s bloodline cannot harm him unless he releases them from his sire, so if you want to go toe to toe with Dracula more effectively, consider playing an Ancerran or Croftian vampire.