Vampire

One of the most disturbing and confusing creatures on Aloria is the vampire, carrier of the Sanguine Curse, and creature of blood and night. Within the world are many vicious anomalies, but few match the vampire’s cunning relatability and malicious manipulation. The vampire in its physical understanding is a human infected with the Sanguine Curse - a disease whose primary feature is the need to ingest human blood in order to survive. Although they are more often than not depicted as wicked, destruction-hungry creatures, their history is as rich as it is diverse. In present Aloria, vampirism is vastly a widespread disease and issue, particularly in the capital city, Regalia, where they have been reduced to sewer dwellers, beggars and spreaders of sickness.

Origins

While the theory of how the Sanguine Curse began remains an overall mystery, vampirism has been referenced and acknowledged in historical documents dating as far back as 250 years. It is known how vampires were created in relation to upyrs, but the origins of upyrism is unknown. Ancient paintings depict vicious, blue-eyed creatures lashing at throats and participating in cannibalistic or otherwise psychotic, blood-thirsty behavior.

From Upyrs

Various manuscripts have been found that speak of proud beings self-proclaimed as upyrs - meaning “Higher Ones” in an old Seraph language. Shortly before upyrism disappeared and vampirism begun to reign, two upyrs were captured and detained, who claimed to be a part of the ‘original’ or ‘initially turned’ group: Joseph Blackwell, and one who insisted on being called ‘Vengeous’.

When questioned, they gave vastly different stories with but a few aspects remaining consistent: Both upyrs agreed that they had been on a ship, and both agreed that the ship had sailed too close to the Forbidden Continent. Tides from the continent were too strong, and in an unfortunate turn of events, the ship sunk to the oceans murky depths. Those who survived the wreck and subsequently became what are understood to be the first upyrs, all split up; swimming off in different directions. This means that while those first tainted with upyrism originated in one place, its initial spread to the masses could have started nearly anywhere within Aloria. However, the first upyrs to make an appearance among the rest of the world were most likely in Ellador, due to geographical proximity.

Joseph and ‘Vengeous’ remained in custody, and for the purpose of collecting information on their strange state and varied story, they were both permitted to receive human blood in payment. This, however, only lasted several days. Upon the eve of October 29th, 98 AC, these two upyrs were found within their cell hosting vastly different physical aspects and capabilities to their previous, grander state. Their eyes had changed from blue to red, they complained of blindness, heavy limbs and soreness in the muscles, and the shocking strength they’d held before proved to be lacking, although not entirely exhausted. No one is entirely sure what happened to cause this, but many attribute it to the origin of vampirism as we know it.

Wutienda’s Influence

Upyrism faded as gradually as it had originally appeared, only fifty years after the first ones were sighted and acknowledged. Though few know what actually happened, the truth is that a Vice was conspiring against the mighty upyrs long before they were aware. When the time came, Wutienda, deciding she wanted to take something from the Archdemon and make it her own, turned her gaze on the upyrs. These creatures, once uncontrollable, would pose as her army - something to protect and obey the weakest of the vices. As a result, she found a creative and innovative way to rid their disgrace from Aloria, that would not require her individual attention to each infected, but bring shame and embarrassment unto Behesael.

Human blood is their life-source, and as such Wutienda created and spread a highly contagious, however unnoticeable blood-disease to humans, elves, and dwarves via the waters of their ravines and wells. It had no symptoms, and bodies acted only as its direct carrier, leaving the uninfected free of any long-term effects. Its mark was only left on those unfortunate enough to indulge on the blood from their veins. Upyrs everywhere felt dramatic changes as they drank infected persons - their strength dwindled and the sunlight began to burn. Their bloodlust, however, remained. Each begun to take on different traits, some developing more hair, red eyes, or greater mental instability. This marked the beginning of Vampiric Bloodlines, and the end of Upyrism as we knew it.

One of the most subtle changes that occurred, however, was the way vampires thought. A vice they were once indifferent to was now their leader, and they found themselves much more influenced by Wutienda’s word.

Infection

A human can be infected with the Sanguine Curse in a variety of ways. The most common being through a Dark Altar; by offering the proper sacrament, and drawing a glyph with their finger upon the dark altar, they will soon find themselves infected with vampirism. However, even contact with infected blood can infect that which is otherwise clean. Pressing a wound against a vampire’s can cause infection. Ingesting a vampire’s blood can cause infection, and on a rare basis, even being bitten by a vampire can cause infection.

A series of effects also occur when a person is infected with the Sanguine Curse.

Curing

Upon being cured, the vampire is cleansed of its infected blood. However, various effects can take longer than others to reverse, depending on the vampire’s bloodline and how long they’d been infected. Some effects will stay with the human forever, such as inherited physical features, while others will simply retract back to their previous state. One thing is for certain, though: When a vampire is cured of the Sanguine Curse, it prevents all effects from getting worse, and cleanses the blood of its contamination. Curing works similarly to infection - where the vampire offers the required sacrament and draws the rune upon the altar, their body is cleansed through a magical process, and they become cured of the Sanguine Curse.

Due to their decreased strength in their pure human state, a cured vampire becomes thoroughly weak, feeling the comparative difference between unnatural vampiric strength and the lesser human counterpart. For the first few weeks, subjects studied spoke of:

• Tightness/soreness in the muscles.
• Decreased range of motion.
• Heavy limbs.
• Bizarre cravings due to malnutrition.
• Sluggish reflexes.
• Decreased vision and feelings of blindness, often complaining that the area is too dark even when sufficient light is provided.
• Aches in the bones similar to growing pains.
• Heavy bruising around the ribs and joints.
• Shortness of breath.
• Repulsion to food and severe stomach aches.
• Pain around the eyes reminiscent of tiredness or strain.

Dangers of Curing

One recently cured of the Sanguine Curse is highly susceptible to pathogenic infection within the first few weeks. Because white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, there is a period of vulnerability before the marrow fully returns and restores it's function, during which, the subject is left with a severely weakened immune system. Carelessness to environmental factors and diet could lead to fatal infections. Assuming the subject survived, the return of white blood cells in the lymphatic system and bloodstream would likely lead to inflammation in the major lymph nodes, causing temporary soreness while the body disposes of any pathogens. In some less common cases, more severe immune responses have been displayed. These responses vary from subject to subject, ranging from the development of new allergies to the onset of autoimmune diseases.

Under specific circumstances, some vampires cured will not survive the transition back to uninfected human. This is most commonly observed within the elderly, and those of Fahlein Bloodline. The effects are vastly taxing and dangerous as it is, and when accompanied with a host whose immune system is already compromised, the chances of survival are bleak, if not nonexistent.

Trivia

• While those infected do infact cast a very real reflection, a common and widespread mental illness known as reflexiophobia is solely found amongst many vampires. Taking effect within the first few weeks upon turning, reflexiophobia is the mental inability to comprehend one's own image. When we consider the mental strain put upon a newly turned vampire, it is easy to see how subconscious rejection of self would be prevalent. One is becoming something other than their average human self, sudden urges take place such as desires to bite and take otherwise innocent life. Because of this, the brain rejects what it is seeing out of fear and confusion, and thus erases ones own face from memory; causing a hazy void-like blur where one would normally see their own reflection.
• Vampires typically enjoy spreading legends about themselves. For example, while garlic has no effect on them, they insist it does. While they can enter any home as easily as a human, they typically insist they must be invited in due to religious or respectful notions set in by The Order. While they can cross streams with ease, some may refrain, often believing it bad luck. Sometimes these quirks may give an advantage against those they are hunting, but sometimes it simply slows the vampire down. You can reference The Orders decrees on human respect and dignity at Order’s Decree.
• Vampires cannot procreate. If a woman infected with the Sanguine Curse is impregnated, she will immediately miscarry. Furthermore, male vampires are simply infertile - they cannot produce children, and in fact risk infecting females they attempt to with the Sanguine Curse.
• Vampires have very rapid metabolisms, meaning their hair and nails grow faster than that of the uninfected.

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Accreditation

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• Written by Ryciera, Luthien, and PizzaRoles.
• Processed by Ryciera, Azas, and BabaManga, with help from JakkDhread.