The fangs of Vampires all seem to have originated from one primary point. Originals, around the world, were people infected with the Vampiric Virus’ (not to be confused with the deadly and highly dangerous Vampire Virus) earliest form and who, instead of dying to it or fending it off, instead absorbed and assimilated it, making the disease a symbiotic and essential part of their genetic and physiological makeup, adjusting for the differences the disease wished to wreak upon their bodies.
Perhaps, then, it is unsurprising that among the various Originals around the world several had mixed human and non-human ancestry while another, Astarte, one of the two originals found in the tombs of the Labyrinth, was a Metamorphmagus. Her sister Ereshkigal, likewise an Original, while not a Metamorphmagus, was a bat Animagus instead, and this skill in transformative magics, in both cases incorporated into the sister’s biologies, likely facilitated their transformation.
Fang sets vary hugely depending on Original, bloodline, and subsequent divergence. Venom in some form exists for almost all variants, though the venom of Yuki-onna is unique in that it is not transformative (as all other venoms are capable of being) likely due to the presence of Yokai magics, which render them capable of having biological offspring, removing the necessity of viral infection.
The above map (Included with legitimate copies of this book) details significantly known vampire strains around the world. The map is, these days, a bit out of date, as Mainland strains of vampire now infest nearly all of the world, new bloodlines and hybrid lines have established themselves across Otecatl, a number of Grotan vampires with their own unique variations have come forward, and it is certain that the Magic KIngdom does have vampires… even if they only reveal themselves when they kill foreign vampires attempting to establish themselves in their land. At present, the only vampires in the Magic Kingdom appear to be those born and turned there, and they have never condescended to speak to the mortals who they blame for the plight of their non-vampire kin.
As we go on, each of the fang sets - and some of the traits of the attendant bloodlines - will be detailed.
1 - The Rabisu, Originals of The Labyrinth
One of the oldest known and identified bloodlines, the twin sisters Ereshkigal and Astarte could not be more different in fang sets and are known for rarely getting along. That said, the pair will defend one another when called to - they are, in the end, sisters, and will protect one another from external attack, and then go back to sniping at each other, lethally or otherwise, in times of peace.
Astarte’s fang sets are uniquely elegant, consisting of two pairs of catlike fangs which only descend during feeding, venom administration, or threat displays. Attached directly to a venom sac, some Astarteen Vampires will have the venom sacs removed in order to openly mark themselves as non-threatening and having no intent to turn others. This is less of a sacrifice to Astarteen Vampires than many other bloodlines, however, as Astarteen Vampires are known to be uniquely fertile, with many of them capable of having biological offspring with little complication. They only have a chance to have offspring around once a decade, and pregnancies can last a year due to the slow maturation of the offspring - be they Dhampir or full Vampire - but this trait makes them much prized, and highly regarded by most other Vampire lines, for whom the trait is much rarer - and indeed, in some, non-existent.
Ereshkigal’s fang sets, to compare, are a mess; a large violent splaying of teeth coated with venomous saliva. Very few Ereshkigaleen can feed cleanly - though it can be done, with excess toothed skin latching on around the bite to create a seal, ensuring envenomed saliva enters all wounds and ensuring they will close and heal correctly. Fearsome when angry, Ereshkigal herself, and those directly descended of her, are highly adept at hiding their unusual fang sets due the transfigurative magic innate to her bloodline, though they burn readily in sun - a fact Ereshkigal resents of her sun-resistant sister. Nonetheless, Ereshkigaleen Vampires share that rare but precious trait with Astarteen Vampires, being capable of having biological offspring, though it is a much rarer and extended process for this bloodline than it’s sister.
2 - Sub-Bloodlines of the Labyrinth
While none of the sub-bloodlines directly mentioned here were actully created in the Mainland, they collectively mark themselves as “born of” the Labyrinth, being sired, albeit distantly, by the above-mentioned Rabisu twins.
Bastet was the first and likely most notable of these sub-bloodlines, their originating head still in existence. Although directly turned by Astarte herself, Bastet was able to diverge so rapidly due to Astarte’s Metamorphmagus ability and her own Animagus ability, giving her, in combination with the transformative power of the vampiric virus, a huge potential for change - which her biology gladly took. Bastet’s fangs, and those turned directly by her (other than the entry immediately following) are a single set, smaller than Astarte’s, and lodged directly into the front of the jaw, retracting only slightly, leaving the well-known sharp-toothed smile, common to several bloodlines. It’s worth noting that Bastet is of a special type amongst venom-sac vampires, with her venom sacs hiding inside the bone, in a cavity above the teeth, making it very hard for most Bastet-bloodline vampires to have their venom sacs removed.
The Lady Carmilla Karnstein was also directly turned by Bastet, and again, it was the combined pre-existing transfigurative magics of the bloodline combining to a latent transfigurative ability in her (Mircalla could, even prior to her Turning, take the Animagus form of a large black panther) allowing her to change once again from the sub-bloodline which sired her. This animagus ability has a lasting effect on Mircallan Vampires - many have feline Animagus forms as a result. Note the still-smaller and yet still-catlike fangs, and the much reduced size of the external venom sac.
Erzsébet Báthory is a unique Vampire, in that she was turned by both of the Rabisu sisters. Only possible due to the sisters having enough genetic similarity to render their blood and venom compatible in turning Erzsébet, there are, at present, no other known and verified two-Vampire turnings, though there are several such claims. Erzsébet’s fangs are wonderfully different to others of the Rabisu bloodlines, with her venom dual in origin, both from venom sacs and envenomed saliva, and her forefangs catlike thanks to Astarte but having additional molar fangs thanks to Ereshkigal. Those few Vampires she personally made, the Blood of Báthory, also share such traits, and her bloodline like both Astarteen and Ereshkigaleen Vampires, are known to be capable of having biological offspring.
Nosferatu are the last significant sub-bloodline born of the Mainland. Technically a hybrid line, Nosferatu were the result of a speculated Vampire and a Báthory-bloodline Vampire having a child together, creating a particular mingling of their fang types. While largely more similar to Dracul-bloodline teeth than Báthory-bloodline they retain a particular grace and elegance more common to the Báthory-bloodline, and, interestingly, no Nosferatu Vampire has ever gone blood-mad, intoxicated by too much (or any) human blood - indeed, no Nosferatu has ever gone rogue for love of blood, only for genuinely chosen maliciousness, and Nosferatu Dhampir are much prized in Mephis as there is no chance of them going blood-mad when hunting the rogue blood-mad vampires so sadly common to Mephis.
3 - Ashilan Bloodlines
There are three main and known bloodlines here, many other Vampiric creatures in this range such as the Churel, Lang Suir and Vetala, actually came about through utterly separate means, and should not be mistaken for “True” vampires - that is, ones that came into being due to the vampiric virus. Nonetheless, these creatures are not entirely apart from their virus-caused haemophagic kin, just as Baobhan Sith are similar enough to virus-vampires to be immune to their viruses, and there are stories of small, hidden, hybrid sub-bloodlines.
Further North, Grotan bloodlines exist, but the Originals of them are hard to find. Instead there are several sub-bloodlines with curiously fishlike fangs, due to the presence of Rusalki in amongst those first Turned, and several with more substantial fangs, midway between Pishacha and Drakul, which are often decorated with golden inlay. However, neither such sub-bloodlines have yet been fully examined nor incorporated into this map.
Pishacha Vampires are one of the most well-known of the bloodlines found throughout Ashilan, and one of only three formally recognised. A hybrid bloodline, Pishacha were supposedly born when a Vetala met an Ereshkigaleen Vampire who travelled towards Ashilan with Beraldt the Great, got bored, and decided to stay and explore Ashilan on their own. As you may remember, Ereshkigaleens can have biological offspring, and thus the first Pishacha came to be. Said first Pishacha much prefers to keep to herself, with only her parents, direct offspring and the Rabisu being considered close enough to call her by name, however she has Turned several humans - who in turn have Turned many of their own - as well as had biological offspring enough to have Pishacha Vampires be well-established throughout India, tusk-like lower fangs and jaggedy curving Ereshkigaleen upper-fangs included.
Kukudhi are a sub-bloodline born of Pishacha, not detailed on the map above, and are known to be similar in jaw structure though their fangs are somewhat smaller. Originating in Shiabe, the bloodline is known commonly throughout Grot, and are known to decorate their fangs with metal and small gemstones when they can. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a blood-drunk Kukudhi is considered a considerable prize by many Hunters.
Jiangshi are also known as Hopping Vampires and are found throughout Vevitia. Most Jiangshi are considered “True Undead”, as all Jiangshi die infected with the particular venom of their Sire or Dam, and are then given blood and chi from their Sire or Dam once their heart stops, the sheer energy of the transference completing their Turning. The fangs of Jiangshi are notably smaller than most other Vampire bloodlines, but are noticeably jagged, worn and sharp, and many are somewhat discoloured - due, many a mature Jiangshi will say, to the grave dirt. Jiangshi bloodlines are believed to be at least as old as that of the Rabisu, and their Original is believed to be in hibernation at present, as the Jiangshi Vampires do not report having heard from their progenitor for several hundred years - but no one has yet claimed to have killed and consumed them.
Yuki-onna are considered a borderline Vampire bloodline in the eyes of many, and some would say they are vampirism-mimicking creatures like their magical cousins the Baobhan Sith. However, where Baobhan Sith, being Fae, long ago diverged from humanity and were never infected with vampirism to gain their haemophagic tendencies, Yuki-onna are, technically speaking, a sub-bloodline of Jiangshi which adapted to utilise the cold and snow of Ashilans’s mountains and winters, and, in doing so, developed the Yokai magics that now set them apart from all other virus-vampires. The fangs of Yuki-onna are small and dainty, barely even noticeable to most who meet them, and rarely, if ever, used. Due to their divergence from virus-vampires with their Yokai magics, Dhampir descended of Yuki-onna are capable of something only otherwise seen in Part-Fae descended of Baobhan Sith - they can, if infected by another vampire, force the Turning to make them into a Yuki-onna instead of whatever bloodline or sub-bloodline their would-be Sire or Dam is of.
4 - Otecatln Bloodlines
A hard and confusing one to pin down, one bloodline dominates both North and South Otecatl, with three sub-bloodlines to supplement it. Once, says Coatlicue, Original of the Otecatln, there were many Originals and many small bloodlines to be found throughout the North, but many of these Vampires seceded with what remained of their non-vampire kin when the losses they were taking from Mainlanders became too much. The hidden lands kept in folded space these Vampires seceded to remain under tight lockdown, and none have yet been found, let alone entered. To make matters worse, Mainland bloodlines now litter North America - and some areas of the South - most often originating from Vampires who preferentially chose to feed on animal blood as opposed to human. Those who were then Turned by these Vampires are uniquely susceptible to blood-madness, and it’s believed this ill reputation drove the last of the unique North Otecatln bloodlines into hiding, lest they be wrongfully attacked using their status as native and vampire as an excuse.
Coatlicue is the one remaining Original of the Americas, but speaks of hidden Originals in South America, and has untold stories regarding the lost Originals of North America. Originally from Mesoatln, Coatlicue has since moved southwards to avoid too strong a presence of Mainlands, whom she is distinctly unfond of. The fangs of Coatlicue and her bloodline are wonderfully different, and many examining the fangsets of her bloodline have speculated that she may be a snake Animagus, or, perhaps a Nagual with a preference for snakelike forms.
Coatlican fangs form in what Vampirologists refer to as an “external pharyngeal jaw”, which is a contradiction in terms; a pharyngeal jaw actually being a secondary jaw found in the throat. However, the term has stuck and is an adequate enough explanation that no new term has yet stuck. To explain in less clinical terms - the fangs of Coatlican vampires are part of a secondary jaw system hidden on the inside of their cheeks which comes forwards, the fangs descending, when they open their mouths to feed or make a threat display. It’s believed that manifesting these fangs is part of what makes the Turning of Coatlicans so excruciatingly painful, as their bodies try desperately to find sufficient reserves of calcium.
Civatateo are rather simpler, and have a much less painful transformation. Instead of a secondary jaw, they instead have two sets of snakelike fangs embedded in their upper jaw which descend when they wish to feed or make a threat display.
Soucouyants have similar but straighter teeth to their Sub-bloodline kin - Civatateo and Soucouyants would be most accurately described as sibling bloodlines; they were not a string of changes as with the Astarte-Bastet-Mircallans, but two distinct bloodlines unrelated to one another.
North Otecatln Mercies are something else entirely, the result of a number of Vampires of various types forced into drinking human blood and Turning individuals to avoid killing them. Their teeth are like overlarge human teeth supplemented with small straight teeth which emerge to feed
6 - Magic Kingdom Bloodlines
Are known to exist however, have never been encountered. It is definite fact that there are Arcanic Originals, however none have ever been encountered, though the results of them keeping out other Vampire bloodlines have been seen - several times Vampires from elsewhere have arrived, settled in, and even lived for many years with no incidents… until they seek to turn someone. At this point, they invariably go missing, only to be found days later, drained of all blood, fang marks in their neck.
While there have been attempts to reconstruct the fang sets based on the bite marks, the fang marks do differ a lot on a regional basis, suggesting that there are a number such Vampires who remain gladly secretive.
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