Vampirism
Sanguinora Dominus
Created by Lithane sometime during the Silver Age on the The Moon Aros, the Sanguinora Dominus Virus was originally one of the most terrifying creations of any god. Once it entered the system of any human except the golden ones, no matter their heritage, even if they had a God Trace, they were consumed by it. The virus fed off of a person's innate mana and quickly multiplied before making their blood a blackened sludge and their bodies were fully converted to what Lithane desired.
Thankfully, the world shattering magics of the The Silver Age Cataclysm tempered the virus and made it less 'deadly', but only as a function of time. The Virus once fully killed and coverted a person to vampirism in a matter of minutes, but now it can take up to a month. It also no longer feeds on magic to multiply and instead slowly converts the host's blood cells into a thick crimson ichor. Since it takes longer, the virus can now be treated. However, If left untreated, nearly all cases are still fatal with very little exception.
These two versions of the virus are known as S. Dominus Superia, and S. Dominus Inferia respectively. The superior version of the virus is thought to be all but extinct, but it is unknown if that is actually true. The Inferior version of the virus is very widespread but it can be cured rather easily in the early stages.
S. Dominus Superia
Symptoms and Progression
Transmission
The original version of S. Dominus Superia was given to Lithane's subjects in the form of a black drink. The Subjects were all human nobles that ruled the moon Aros under her. Transmission was as simple as drinking this black drink.Stage 1: 60 seconds
The subject writhes in pain and falls to the ground. Even the strongest of wills succumbs to the pain. Instant death occurs in 10% of all subjects. The other 90% start a process known as Vulkogenesis where they transform into a terrifying monsters known as Primal Vampires.Stage 2: 60 - 180 seconds
A bright light can be observed leaving the subject's body. This is the soul. The Superior version of the virus leaves the soul intact and is left unchanged by Lithane, as reward for their unwaivering loyalty and submission.Stage 3: 180 - 300 seconds
The Mana Lung is reshaped, as are the magical pathways in the body, granting access to Blood Magic. Muscles reform giving the subject much greater strength. The canine teeth turn into sharp fangs. The Skin gets quite pale and the eyes turn red. Their blood turns into black sludge, filled with copies of the virus.Stage 4: 300+ seconds
The soul enters the body again and the body reanimates, becoming a Superior Vampire.Immunities and Cure
Golden Humans
The Golden Race of humans are immortal and by edict of the Great Creator Silnos, they cannot be killed under any circumstance. This prevents them from turning into vampires. They can become carriers of the virus however, but unless they bite someone, the infection can't spread.Other Immune Subjects
Only Gods are fully immune to the virus.Treatment and Cure
The virus acts too quickly for there to be an effective cure.S. Dominus Inferia
Symptoms and Progression
Transmission
S. Dominus Inferia gathers in the saliva of vampires and infected individuals. Transmission is accomplished with a bite. Attempting to transmit the virus in the same way as the superior version of the virus will not work. It gets broken down by stomach acids. Most living creatures won't eat meat infected with vampirism, as it is said to taste terrible.Stage 1: 1-2 days (120 seconds accelerated)
There are generally no symptoms. The Virus is dormant but multiplying rapidly. It starts gathering in several areas, such as the manalung and the heart. If a person casts magic, they might notice the slightest red tinge in the energy they create, which is the only sign they might be infected.The process can be accelerated, which requires using the magic of a Bloodstone, also called a Heliotrope. These stones are quite common in certain parts of the world and are used by healers. This means that the majority of vampirism cases are accelerated with little hope of a cure.
Stage 2: 3 - 6 days (8 hours accelerated)
The Subject develops a mild fever that doesn't seem to go away. Their eyes become sensitive to sunlight. They become thirsty but also reluctant to drink water. They also develop an uneasy feeling in the back of their mind, but they can't quite make out what it is but they feel like someone, or something, is trying to speak to them.By the end of the sixth day, many subjects claim to hear a voice in their heads, a gently but girm feminine voice, telling them to submit to her and have all their desires fulfilled.
Stage 3: 7 - 18 days (1 day accelerated)
The subject falls very ill. They also feel isolated and alone. They abhor the presence of others. The sun feels like it burns them and almost any amount of light blinds them. They become afraid of water and turn violent when someone tries to help them. This often causes the subject to bite others, which spreads the virus.Inside the body, the manalung and magic pathways in the body start to change. The subject's blood turns dark and thickens. Their skin grows pale. Their canine teeth start to grow and sharpen which often causes extreme pain as the subject's mouth is slightly rearranged. Their eyes start to turn red.
The whispers in the back of their mind now turns into yelling and shouting by the same feminine voice. The Subject claims that are being tormented by a woman wearing blue with glowing red eyes. It is here that Lithane starts breaking the subject's mind down, preparing it to be dominated by herself and other more powerful vampires.
Stage 4: 19-30 days (2 days accelerated)
The Subject becomes delirious and in great pain as their body warps and twists inside out. They hide in shadows. They wear the thickest clothing they can and try to hide in whatever lightless place they can. They have spent so much time refusing to drink water that they are extremely dehydrated, but somehow still alive all the same.On this edge of death, the virus can now interact with the subject's soul, allowing Lithane to reshape it to her will. She greatly weakens it, to be open to her suggestions, but also tempers it, making it impervious to the will of other gods.
This has the effect of shutting the subject out of the afterlife, as the soul is no longer able to be seen by Saint Nora.
Stage 5: 30+ days (2+ days accelerated)
The subject suddenly awakes, feeling stronger than before. They might have a headache, but the feeling often goes away once they have a drink of water for the first time in weeks. The Subject is now stronger than several men combined, and they have access to blood magic. They are able to go into sunlight, and it no longer bothers them, though their now paler skin will never get darker though and they will always burn.The subject thinks they have won and they have bested Lithane, the Mother of Vampires, the Goddess of Domination. In reality, Lithane did her work. The subject is forever altered. Their morals are changed, and Lithane's goals became their goals. The Subject craves the domination of others. They crave drinking blood. They are now a vampire. They are not as strong as the superior vampires of the ancient days and are known as Lesser Vampires.
Immunities and Cure
Aether Corrupted Humans and Elves
Whether it is because of a God Trace or Dragon Trace, or some other aetheric corruption, a person is mostly immune to the machinations of other gods. It should be said that these aether corrupted beings are only resistant to the virus, and the symptoms will still appear. These symptoms progress over many years however instead of many days. The virus must still be cured in the first few weeks however, or there will be no escape from Lithane's eventual embrace.Treatments and Cure
Vampire Types
Superior Vampires
Primal Vampires
Inferior Vampires
Blood Magic
When the manalung is reformed according to Lithane's design, a Vampire gains the ability to cast this type of magic, which is unique to them. The simplest way to describe blood magic is that it is Domination in its purest form. Blood magic allows a vampire to see inside the minds of nearby people and animals, viewing memories and thoughts with perfect clarity. They have the ability to take away memories or implant fake ones. They can also alter existing memories to suit their needs. Vampires can leave psychic suggestions without their victims ever being aware. Vampires dominate their victims mentally, making them slaves or mindless thralls.
Blood Magic also allows a vampire to manipulate raw magical energy. They can take it away from one being and give it to others, or they can disperse it harmlessly into the air, or they can keep it for themselves. They can absorb the lifeforce of their victims to make themselves temporarily stronge. Vampires are aware of nearby living things, able to sense their energy.
Since they are no longer under the rule of Saint Nora, the once Supreme Goddess of Time, Vampires can also use blood magic to violate causality. They must be very careful about this however, as there are other, much stronger beings that guard the threads of the universe, aware of everything that happens in the flow of time. Usually Vampires just do this to make themselves younger, by making their victims older. This doesn't often draw the ire of any god.
Lucia slept quite well. When she was awoken to start her guard shift, she worried about going out into the quiet still atmosphere. She forced herself out and stood guard about fifty meters from the shelters. She could hear nothing but her own breathing. She also started to hear something...
"Lucia....Lucia...." It was just calling her name, whatever it was. Lucia tried to ignore it at first, but then she started to feel uneasy about it. Eventually the maddening whispering started to make her head throb. The more she ignored the voices, the worse it got. Lucia knew what it was, it was the unmistakable pull of blood magic. Someone was trying to contact her. The problem is that unless one of the nearby knights is secretly a vampire, there is only one being powerful enough to try contacting Lucia, and she dreaded what was about to happen next.
Lucia closed her eyes and immediately saw an elven woman with pale skin, dressed in blue, wearing dozens of pieces of ruby jewerly. She had dark blue hair and red eyes. The Woman gave a wicked smile, revealing her large fangs. "There you are Lucia!"
"This can't be happening..."
"Oh I'm real my dear, as real as you are! It has been a while too, about five of those Vreathe years by my count! Now, why don't you stop pretending to not know me and say my name."
"...Lithane, the Mother of Vampires."
"Yes, which includes you by the way!"
"I'm not a vampire!"
"But what about those beautiful pink eyes you have! They are the surest marker of your blood magic corruption! If only you didn't have that awful moon trace, if only Kalbeth didn't claim you, then you would be all mine!"
"Why are you trying to contact me?"
"The funny thing is, I actually wasn't, but then I sensed your presence on Izi. You became closer to me than you ever have been! Are you that desperate to be in my embrace?"
"What? Fuck no! And my presence on Izi is none of your business!"
"Oh, but we gods speak to each other! I can take a guess why you're on Izi! The other gods observed it happening from far off, watching over Vreathe. Let me guess... It has to do with a certain Frost Plague! It might also have to do with a certain God of Fire? It appears your masters were so scared of Beirunes acting on this new threat that he might cross over to Vreathe, and then it's all over!"
"..."
"Oh, don't be like that! I might actually even be on your side dear Lucia! See, my master doesn't want Beirunes or this newer upstart coming to Vreathe. It will interfere with our plans, so I am prepared to help you however I--"
"Absolutely not!" Lucia yelled. She opened her eyes, and she was suddenly face to face with Renelle. Lucia blinked a few times and looked around.
"Are you alright Lucia?" Renelle asked, clearly concerned.
"Who me?" Lucia laughed, "Yeah, no problem! I'm fine!"
"Alright then..." Renelle said. She knew something was wrong. She knew Lucia too long to not know something was wrong, but she decided to keep quiet for now, "It's my turn to pull guard duty. You should go get some rest. We continue onward to the Dark Citadel in a few hours."
Smoke and Frost V
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What a great take on vampirism, I really like all the detail put into it and you've made it feel really unique. Though, the symptoms and progression of the S. Dominus Inferia sounds terrifying.