In Yrnath history, the discussion of vampirism is a topic that few willingly engage with. Many cultures have associated vampirism with the demons of the lower planes or other sinister forces beyond the mortal realm, and as such have shunned those afflicted.
The First Vampire
The first recorded case of vampirism comes from the small farming village of Vaethmoor, in the year 1E 598. A traveller had met a young woman living in Vaethmoor, and had instantly fallen for her. Her beauty, it is said, was unlike anything that had graced the mortal realm previously, and would likely never be seen again. The traveller had tried desperately to woo her, but was met with rejection and frustration after discovering that she had already been betrothed to another. Acting out of pure rage and jealousy, the traveller slaughtered the young woman, so that he may tap into the powers of necromancy and bind her to his will forever. Her father and her lover, both desperate to bring her back, prayed to the divines for help.
The answer they received, however, was far from what they had hoped. Trgnovac, the Erdean God of Money and Trade, intercepted the traveller's ritual. As punishment for his actions, the woman was restored to life, but she was forced to bear a curse that gave her a near-insatiable thirst for blood. Instead of gaining what he coveted, the traveller had earned himself a long and torturous death. The revenge, however, did not sate her bloodlust, and soon her thirst led her to consume much of Vaethmoor's population. In doing so, she transformed much of the city into her thralls, though some were believed to had simply contracted the same cursed hunger that Trgnovac had thrust upon her.
Types of Vampires
There are four distinct types of vampires, each feeding off of a different form of energy from sentient beings. Within these types exist a number of additional sub-types, divided by general appearance or place of origin.
Sanguifamic Vampires
Sanguifamic vampires are the most common types of vampires, as they are the variety that comes to mind most often when vampires are mentioned. These vampires are sustained through the consumption of physical life energies, usually through the consumption of blood and flesh. These vampires tend to congregate in cities or near important trade roads to ensure plenty of prey are available.
Bloodfang Vampires
Bloodfang vampires are a sub-type of sanguifamic vampires that have a direct ancestral connection to the residents of Vaethmoor who were transformed by the first vampire.
Sensofamic Vampires
Sensofamic vampires, also referred to as emotional vampires, are vampires that sustain themselves off of the emotions of those around them. These vampires tend to congregate in areas of regularly high emotional intensity, such as theatres or national capitals. These are often referred to as the "safe" vampires, as they are incapable of creating thralls, though they are still capable of passing their condition to others.
Somnifamic Vampires
Somnifamic vampires sustain themselves off of the dreams others experience. These vampires tend to congregate at and seek out work in hotels and inns, as the regular flow of customers allows them to feed every night. Their feedings, unlike the other types, are also able to be done without directly contacting their prey, as they can instead feed passively off of the restful dream energy that surrounds those who are fast asleep. If they choose to contact their prey, however, it is said they are able to experience the dreams they are consuming as they happen.
Sapiofamic Vampires
Sapiofamic vampires sustain themselves off of knowledge and intellect. These vampires tend to congregate at academic institutions, trading the knowledge of their long lives in exchange for sustenance.
Author's Note
A surprisingly controversial issue in scientific communities is whether to classify the concubus as a form of vampire. Concubi do feed off of the desire and arousal of their prey, however as they also feed off of the act of sex itself some have questioned whether including them might broaden the definition too greatly as other species are sustained through acts, but do not feed off of physical energies in the same way that vampires do. Notably, attempts at more restrictive and specific definitions tend to also exclude types of sanguifamic vampires, as most sub-types feed directly off of flesh and blood.
