Decimandria: Fangs of Anger

Bestiary

VAMPIRES

One of the most dangerous creatures that roam Decimandria. Though most humans consider them a myth, there a few who have seen their reality. As for the myth, it portrays vampires as if they're some sort of undead beings who can't step in sunlight, are allergic to garlic, and can be killed with a wooden stake through the heart. The reality, however, is far from the truth. 

Vampires are creatures of a different race than humans entirely. The story of how and why exactly vampires came to Decimandria has been lost in the annals of time. Even vampiric history cannot recall it. However, it is known to the learned vampires that Decimandria was not their home in the beginning; vampires had a realm they called home before. Now, the only thing left to them is the Shadow Void. Called "Rev'rach" (literally meaning 'bridge-arch') in the vampiric language. It is hypothesized that the Shadow Void is the connecting realm between the vampiric realm and Decimandria. Many attempts have been made by a great number of vampires over the ages to navigate this dark dimension, but all of them have ended in failure. The portal back to their home has never been found by any of them. However, due to the exploration of the Shadow Void, vampires discovered portals to other realms, like Earth's, and some migrated to those dimensions and continue to live their lives there. The Shadow Void has also become a source of strength for vampires, some being able to summon subservient creatures that exist there.

Sunlight doesn't bother them any more than it does humans. In fact, it bothers them even less since they have a enormous resistance to hotter and colder environments. Even magical fire and ice rarely do them any harm. It is rumored among the vampires that drinking dragon blood can increase their powers far more than they inherently have, but this still remains largely unproven. Regardless, they are extremely powerful, with a wide range magical abilities at their disposal. However, vampires have a hierarchy; levels of different vampires separated by their power and abilities.

Lesser Vampires: 

As the name suggests, these type of vampires are the lowest sub-group in the vampire hierarchy. Usually, they are shunned by others of their kind. They stay alone, but will form groups if it means survivability. 

Lesser vampires need to drink human blood to go out in the sunlight, without which, the myth about sun burning them becomes true. Consuming human blood also increases their speed and power. Silver is painful for them to even look at, as it shines brightly in their eyes, irritating and angering them. 

Lesser vampires are created when a human body which has been bitten by a vampire, rejects the vampire gene. The result is a creature with stunted powers and abnormal growth. A lesser vampire cannot turn another human into a vampire. Lesser vampires can also be formed if a human gains the vampiric gene through some cult ritual, offerings to dark powers, alchemical experiments with the vampire gene or, in very rare cases, by extremely excessive drinking of higher vampire blood.

They can adapt the physical appearance of a human, and will mostly find victims to seduce in that form. Lesser vampires are indiscernible from humans by appearance. Even most magical spells would not be able to find them, as they metamorph into the shape of a human rather than put up some illusion. Lesser vampires can also metamorph into vampire bats if they so desire. However, their real and most dangerous form is the one that looks like almost a cross between an overgrown bat and a lion. It is called as "Gar'ach" in the vampiric language which can be roughly translated to mean "impure form". Towering over six feet tall with huge claws able to rip apart metal armor with ease. In this form, they are even more dangerous. Lesser vampires have characteristic yellow glowing vampiric eyes, and it is often used as a distinguishing factor when determining the sub-group to which a vampire belongs to.