Introduction to Vampyres

Silax pulled himself off the floor, but it took a lot of effort. He felt completely drained and extremely weak. He didn't know what had just happened to him, but he could feel that there was something different about him.

He dusted himself off and looked at the spot where the lectern was, but it was no longer there. On the floor where the lectern once stood, was the chalice and a leatherbound book.

Across the face of the book were the words "FONS ET ORIGO", same as was written on the chalice. He realized he could now understand the words somehow.

He bent down to pick up both objects but was startled by what he saw. His hands were unrecognizable, he now had long and sharp nails that resembled claws. Their appearance was menacing, causing him to feel a strange dissonance, as if he was looking at another man's hand.

He examined himself to see what other change he had occurred to his body. The only other visible change were the fangs that protruded from his upper jaw.

This realization caused his heart to beat rapidly, he knew what this meant, he had become a vampyre. He was confused, he couldn't understand how this had happened.

'How did feeling a cup with my blood, and putting my hand in a hole, lead to me become this thing?'

He took another look at his hands, looking at the claws on them, the only thought in his mind was for them to disappear. Immediately his long nails retreated into his fingers, going back to normal.

The change was a welcome surprise, he tried the same with his fangs, and the same happened, his teeth were back to their normal shape.

He attempted to extend the claws and fangs once again, and they immediately came out. It wasn't difficult to extend and shorten them, it was an instinctual feeling.

'This can't be happening. I've become a creature of the night, one that can't survive under sunlight. How am I supposed to live my life? I won't be able to go back to my old life. No. There has to be a solution to this.'

He immediately turned his attention back to the chalice and the book on the floor, he picked them up, and as soon as he did, a symbol flashed on the spot where they had been.

He understood what the symbol meant; it was like the information had been transferred into his mind.

He threw it to the back of his mind, there was a more pressing matter right now. He needed to understand exactly what had happened to him, and if there was a way to undo it.

He opened the book to see what was written in it. The words were written in the same script as the ones written on the cover and the chalice.

The word Vampyre was written at the top of the first page in bold print, under it was the description of what a vampyre was.

This is an introduction to your new life, a guide to help you overcome the challenges this change will bring your way. The stronger your become, the more help it will render.

Vampyres are a race unlike any other. They are beings of chilling elegance and predatory grace.

They possess a special digestive organ that stores blood and absorbs an energy called RADIX from the blood that they consume.

They retain a youthful appearance for most of their life. Their skin flawless and unmarred by wrinkles or blemishes, glowing with a hint of the luminescence of moonlight. The average lifespan of a vampyre is three hundred years.

Their eyes are their most striking feature. The irises usually an unsettling red color or an unnervingly golden hue, able to shift from an alluring charm to a cold, predatory glint in an instant.

They possess fangs and claws which are usually hidden. The fangs can extend with lightning speed, and are perfect for tearing into flesh. Their nails are sharper and more akin to claws, reflecting their predatory nature.

They take great care with their appearance. Their movements are graceful and controlled, belying the monstrous power that lies beneath the surface.

They are an intelligent and cunning race. They can be charming and persuasive, weaving intricate webs of manipulation to get what they want.

They exude an aura of power and control. Even the most unassuming-looking vampyre can command attention with a mere glance. Their presence can also be unsettling, giving a subtle pressure that makes mortals feel like prey.

Silax was not thrilled by what he read, what he wanted was a way to revert this transformation.

The first page was just an introduction to what vampyres were. Although the new information made him see vampyres differently, but not enough to choose to remain one.

He had always thought of them as an abomination of nature, but this description made it seem like they were just another race, like elves or humans.

He turned his attention to the page next the one he had just read and continued reading.

Plebeian vs Patrician

Plebeians are also known as The Turned:

These are vampyres created when a vampyre infuses their essence into the body of another being, kickstarting a metamorphosis.

They are generally weaker than their patrician counterparts.

Their powers develop much more slowly, and they don't usually reach their full potential.

They lack the direct connection to the ancient bloodlines of the patricians.

Patricians also known as The Born:

These vampyres are born, not made.

Their vampyric essence passed down through generations within specific bloodlines.

They are innately more powerful than the plebeians, and their abilities manifest earlier and tend to be stronger.

They possess a deeper connection to the energy that fuels their existence.

This page was brief and succinct, but Silax obtained more information on what he had become, even though it was not the answers he wanted.

He kept on reading, turning the book to the next page.

Ghouls

The infusion of essence plunges the one being turned into a state of intense physical and emotional torment. Their body struggles to adapt to the vampyric essence, pushing them to the brink of death.

Not everyone survives this process. Those who do, emerge as fledgling vampyres, however, some unfortunate souls falter during this agonizing process.

There are several reasons for failed transformations:

The vampyre might not have infused enough of their essence, leaving the person suspended in a state of undeath without granting full vampyric power.

The turned's own life force might be too strong to fully succumb to the vampyric transformation.

In some rare cases, the turned's body violently rejects the vampyric essence, leaving them a twisted mockery of their former selves.

These failed transformations result in the creation of Ghouls.

Ghouls are frail and often scarred from the ordeal.

They disintegrate into ashes when exposed to direct sunlight.

They lack the regenerative abilities and heightened senses of true vampyres.

They possess an insatiable hunger for blood, a constant gnawing they can never fully satiate.

They are often tethered to the vampyre who sired them, bound by an invisible leash and an overwhelming urge to serve their master.

They are neither truly alive nor truly dead, forever trapped in a state of agonizing hunger and servitude.

Silax imagined a scenario where his transformation had failed, the possibility that his life could have ended from the simple act of placing his hand into the lectern.

He shrugged away those thoughts, not regretting his actions. If his quest for power led to his demise, then he was okay with it. He had resolved himself that he wouldn't live his life powerless and unable to decide his own fate.