Oh, I’m sure if I asked you about vampires, you’d tell me the juicy good stuff. Immortal, mostly. Exceptionally handsome or beautiful. Eyes that can pierce and charm your very soul. Of course there is the hunger for blood thing, and weaknesses to sunlight, silver, holy weapons and wooden stakes. So if in your enthusiasm, you found a notice wanting aid in dispatching a vampire, with a 100g reward, you sign up and head out with your fellow adventurers to an elven ruin, or a dwarven mine, do you know what the outcome would likely be? You and everyone of your fellow adventurers would die. A little knowledge is a double edged sword. On the one hand, knowing what you face can help you immensely. On the other, thinking you know what you face will spell certain doom.
I am Tuck, assassin of the Bone & Blade guild in Cheshire. I’m also known more publicly as Tanner, monster hunter of the famed Argent Moon guild of adventurers. The original Tanner was hunting me while I was still learning about myself in my new “life” as a dhampir, a sort of half-vampire, half goblin (in my case). I was clumsier then, and my exploits began attracting suspicious minds. At any rate, Tuck survived, and learned very quickly to be more assassin, and less dhampir, unless absolutely necessary. As luck would have it, disguises are my forte, and Tanner became a new mask in my arsenal.
As Tanner, I had access to the Argent Moon’s library of knowledge. While I used to enhance my own knowledge of dhampirs, for personal reasons of course. The subject of vampires in general fascinated me. To begin with I had no idea that vampires could be classified in age categories, much like dragons. From vampire spawn (freshly turned) to Patriarch, a vampire for at least 1000 years, the powers and abilities they display are vastly different. A Patriarch for example wouldn’t even have to get out of his chair to dispatch a party looking for a fledgling vampire.
Similarly I wasn’t aware that the nature of the vampire can change depending on the bloodline of the victim. Apparently it occurs about 1 in 100 times. In those cases, instead of a “normal” vampire being created, an elven or dwarven vampire rises instead. Again, attempting to dispatch an elven vampire, regardless of age, when expecting a normal vampire will likely result in death. As Tanner was apparently a mentor of sorts, I have had to learn and teach new members of Argent Moon in order to maintain cover. Works quite well for me as I get to learn far more than I would have as Tuck.
Types of Vampires
Elven Vampire
These are tragic and horrible creatures. Elves are known to be lovers of life and nature, and when turned into a vampire it is if as nature itself is horrified by the result. Once in a while, that horror manifests as an elven vampire. Physically, the beauty and grace that elves are known for are twisted horribly. Pointy teeth jut out in every direction from the elven vampire’s mouth. Their eyes are bloodshot almost glowing red or green. Their limbs are spindly, ending in jagged nails. A naked elven vampire looks emaciated. Unless possessing of powerful magic, this means they must disguise themselves when not in their lairs, or their appearance gives them away.
Seeing one is a shock to the normal person’s system. It is as if they’re aware that this horror should not exist. For the weak of heart, they can actually be frozen in fear, on sight, and for minutes after they lose sight of it. Truly weak willed people can actually die from shock.
Elven vampires can only be harmed by blessed or magical weapons. Non-magical silver is useless. Non magical weapons simply pass through the elven vampire as if it was not solid. It retains the immunities that standard elves have to sleep magic and the like. It also only takes half damage from fire or cold sources. Like other vampires, it possesses extraordinary healing powers.
Physically weaker than traditional vampires, elven vampires nevertheless retain the agility and speed elves are known for. What is lesser known is that elven vampires feed on beauty. They can drain a person sense of self. Continual draining can leave visible scars that only serves to further weaken the victim’s pride.
Another unique ability comes from it’s ties from nature. It can magically walk though a man-sized or larger plant and walk out of another elsewhere. The range differs, but older elven vampires have been known to transplant across the world. The plant is marked by this use. Trees develop burn like marks on it, which will heal in time. A plant less sturdy than a tree is likely to die from being used this way. On a similar note, the touch of an elven vampire is anathema to normal plant life. Grass dies in its footprints, bushes wither at its passing. Sturdier plants can recover, but enough contact will kill even the mightiest of trees.
As they are rare it’s hard to catalogue all of an elven vampire’s ability. Some could be magical abilities granted by being a wizard for example. Some of the rumors that the Argent Moon are trying to prove/disprove is the ability of an elven vampire to transform into an eagle (or similarly large bird). Summoning animals of the forest is another. Burrowing through the ground is another, though mostly proven. It is known they can, but it is unknown why most choose not to travel this way.
What is known is that sunlight does not harm an elven vampire. Ironically, being active after sunset is lethal to an elven vampire. While elves don’t sleep, elven vampires must return to it’s lair and coffin to rest during the night. The lunar energies hurt an elven vampire like the sun hurts typical ones. Holy water does not work on them, but sap from deciduous trees burns as if it were holy water. Mirrors, holy symbols and garlic are similarly useless. Wooden stakes are similarly not used to incapacitate an elven vampire. Charcoal stakes will do the trick however.
A Darkness Rising 