Vampires/Vampire Hybrids

Vampires

All Vampires have increased senses; their eyesight, hearing and sense of smell will become exceptional at turning. Their sense of taste, while stronger, will also be altered. A salad will no longer taste good to a new vampire as they need blood. Vampires should not eat regular food; it will make them very uncomfortable and sick until the food is expelled from their bodies.

All Vampires can shapeshift into a bat at will. As with all powers, age will make a vampire able to shift faster and able to shift their clothes as well. Young vampires may return to humanoid form naked until they master this particular talent.

All Vampires have the ability to alter a weaker mind's most immediate memories. Bloodline and age can make this power stronger and allow a vampire more control over a human mind. This talent is intended to help a human forget being fed from or having witnessed a vampire feat.

All Vampires can detect another supernatural that they have close contact with. In youth they may not be able to tell exactly what the other is, only that they are not entirely human. With age and experience, they will be able to distinguish supernaturals more clearly.

All Vampires are creatures of the night; the sun is damaging to vampires physically and is draining. From the moment of being turned, a vampire will feel sunrise/sunset coming. Vampires do not necessarily go into a death-like sleep at sunrise but they will feel the impulse to sleep during the day; the older a vampire is, the less likely they are to feel tired during daylight hours (though, obviously, they must remain indoors and out of the sun).

All Vampires can be killed by a stake (doesn't have to be wooden or silver) to the heart or decapitation. If a vampire is set on fire and left in there long enough to burn completely, that will also do the job; otherwise they will heal once the flames are put out and they've gotten some blood. Garlic, silver, crosses, holy water, churches, etc have no adverse effect on vampires.

All Vampires require blood to survive. They can get this blood from humans, animals (though they may not gain the same degree of power from animal blood), other vampires (which will give them more power temporarily) or blood bank blood. The older a vampire is, the longer they can go without feeding. Ancients could go months if necessary, up until about 100 years though, it's best to feed at least once a night.

For all Vampires, age equals more power. A vampire is considered young for at least the first 100 years. The Ancients are several thousand years old. With almost all talents or powers; the older the vampire, the stronger they are.

Vampires are created by the maker biting and taking the blood of a human. The human must then drink some of their maker's blood. The change is painful and may take a few days to become complete. Usually a maker is responsible for his fledgling throughout the change and in teaching them the rules and organization of the vampires but not all makers adhere to this requirement. As a result, young vampires with no idea what has happened to them may make some havoc until they learn control and/or are detected by other vampires. Individual bloodlines may have specific rules regarding the creation of new vampires. A city Regis may also have rules for their area as well. The Bloodline of the maker determines the Bloodline of the fledgling. (see below for more information on Bloodlines)

New vampires, called fledglings, will have extreme bloodlust. Their bodies know they need blood to survive and makes them crave it above all else. Left unattended, a fledgling is likely to attack a human or animal or even another vampire for their blood. They have not learned control and it is likely that they will kill the human or animal; though if they attack a vampire, they have little chance of succeeding.

Major Bloodlines

Celeverat - very secretive, very rigid internal structure, power hungry, believe that a single vampire is only a small part of the greater whole but that all Bloodline members contribute to over all strength of the Bloodline. The Celeverat have very strong mental powers; they can often read minds, make psychic assaults on people and control weaker minds. They are also occult and magic users and, if powerful enough, can manipulate the elements around them. Suggested Traits: Ambitious, Disciplined, Perfectionist, Snob, Workaholic

Princeps - Very formal and rigid in social conduct, natural leaders. Bound by long standing tradition, rules and heritage. Most involved in mortal/human affairs. Sophisticated and gentile. Value initiative and achievement in Bloodline members. Like the Celeverat, the Princeps have strong mental powers. Although they generally do not use telepathy or mental attacks on others; they do use their powers to alter memories or over power the minds of others as needed. They can also manipulate and alter the emotions of one or more people in a room or area; this tends to make them easily liked. They have great ability to block mental attacks and/or tampering from other supernaturals. Suggested Traits: Ambitious, Charismatic, Perceptive, Perfectionist, Schmoozer, Snob, Workaholic

Artifex - Social position is very fluid within the Bloodline; very casual organization, few formal meetings or rules. Value art, music, creativity and discovering new talent or creating something can give a vampire prestige and position within the Bloodline. May influence or control art and music trends in the mortal world. The Artifex can also control the emotional tide of those around them and use telepathy but unlike the Celeverat or the Princeps, they tend to use it more for artistic endeavors - such as making a club full of humans like a band more than they might otherwise. The Artifex have very little interest in vampire politics unlike the Celeverat and Princeps. They are also extremely fast moving - more so than average vampires. Suggested Traits: Artistic, Charismatic, Dramatic, Party-Animal, Perceptive, Savvy Sculptor, Schmoozer, Snob, Virtuoso

Umbra - Generally ugly and/or disfigured looking. Anti-social from mortal as well as other Bloodlines due, in part, to physical appearance but very close knit within their own community/Bloodline. Rarely have international meetings of the Bloodline. Do not jockey for position amongst themselves, very little competition or drive for power. They are information gathers, both within the Bloodline and about others. The Umbra are very strong physically, more so than the average vampire. They have stronger bonds with animals than humans or vampires due to their physical appearances. They have the ability to conceal themselves both physically and mentally from weaker minded people which allows them to move about humans without being discovered. Suggested Traits: Grumpy, Hates the Outdoors, Loner, Perceptive, Unflirty

Rebellis - An anti-authoritarian Bloodline. While the newer, younger Rebellis tend to be wild and rebellious punks; older Bloodline members generally have learned a bit of discipline and try to impose mild structure on new vampires but are still revolutionaries. They are often plotting toward some sort of goal. There are many that fall between the two groups as well. The Rebellis are both strong and fast; as a result they have an advantage in a physical brawl. They also have the ability to control emotions of those around them if they dedicate the time and energy to trying (which they often don't). Suggested Traits: Athletic, Daredevil, Evil, Hot-Headed, Mean-Spirited

Solivagus - loners and rugged individualists. Rarely assemble formally but are concerned with keeping their new vampires out of trouble. Suspicious of outsiders and not always the most refined type. Often nomadic types; little to no Bloodline organization; as a result they may sometimes work with other Bloodlines for awhile before moving on. Solivagus are strong and have the ability to defend through vampire powers; can give themselves a thick hide, create illusions of themselves to confuse and distract their enemy, etc. Like the Umbra, they have a strong bond with animals and can communicate with them and eventually control them. They also have strong mental defense against other vampires. Suggested Traits: Adventurous, Athletic, Inappropriate, Loner, Loves the Outdoors (at night)

Vesanus - have no global, national or regional structure; some do not even admit to belonging to the Bloodline. They do not try to control newly made vampires, they do not rally together as a Bloodline in trouble. They are erratic in who they trust and when they trust them, as they are in all things. Potentially insane. The Vesanus have strong mental powers of telepathy, attack and manipulation. They also have the ability to conceal themselves from other people and vampires both mentally and physically. They are often in the shadows though it's hard to guess why sometimes. Suggested Traits: Inappropriate, Insane, Loner, Neurotic

Lesser Bloodlines

Caedere - they are assassins and hired killers. Of Middle Eastern descent, do not create progeny without permission from the Bloodline. They are exceptionally fast, can hide themselves mentally and physically from the weaker minded. This allows them to make their kills quickly and usually with no one else around to see them do it. Suggested Traits: Athletic, Evil, Loner, Perfectionist

Animi - masters of spiritual and moral corruption. Able to detect and exploit the weaknesses of others and other organizations. One of the more feared Bloodlines because of it. Use powers against other vampires and humans. Like many other vampires, they have the ability to conceal their presence from the weaker minded. They can also alter and control the emotional tide of those around them. Most notably though, they can take on the physical and defensive features of a single animal if needed. The animal may vary by vampire, but once it manifests, this is their animal for eternity. Suggested Traits: Evil, Mean-Spirited, Perceptive

Rogue Bloodlines - there are several vampires out there with no known association to the above Bloodlines. Whether they do not actually know what Bloodline they belong to or they belong to a rogue line will depend on the vampire in question.

(Author note - if you would like to use a vampire from a rogue line, please contact R or Cami with any information about the line so that it can be added to these Guidelines. Thanks!)

Hierarchy
Global
Concil Veteres (Council of Ancients) - The oldest vampire of each of the seven larger Bloodlines sits on the Council of Ancients. It is the overall authority over the vampires.

Regional
A region and/or city is lead by a Regis. A Regis can be from any Bloodline as long as he (or she) can take and hold power over the Vampires within his area. Ultimately the Regis is responsible for maintaining order and ensuring that the humans do not discover their existence. A Regis may also be responsible for settling disputes between Bloodlines. A Regis is responsible to the Council of Ancients and may face punishment or Final Death if he does not do his job appropriately.

Each Bloodline within a region/city is overseen by the eldest Bloodline vampire in that area; he (or she) sits on the Regatus Concilium. They answer both to their Regis and the leaders of their own Bloodline.

Regatus Concilium (Council of the Regis) - an advisory council for the Regis of a region and/or city. They can bring specific Bloodline concerns before the Regis to be handled.

All major cities have a Regis; smaller cities and surrounding areas may also have a Regis.


Vampire Hybrids

All hybrids between humans and other indigenous species are known as The Branded. Each of the hybrids develops a natural tattoo, or “brand,” at some point during puberty, but before or at adulthood.

The most prominent of the known hybrids are the dhamphir; the offspring of a vampire/human relationship.

The dhamphir are unlike their human parent in that they have a longer lifespan. They are more likened to their vampire parent in that they possess superior strength, speed and endurance, among other abilities. They tend to possess the special abilities of the parent bloodline, although believed to be to a lesser degree. Although not known for certain, most documented cases of dhamphir do not experience blood lust.

The actual age of dhamphir is unknown in recorded archives, however, they have a much longer span than humans and have been said to live several human generations or longer.