Between the Tribunal Schools, magickal governments, and a couple wars, magick is enriched with so much history and culture.
Although it is hidden from the mortal world, magicians have played a part in nearly every step of the way.
This is your comp...
The first known vampire was Count Dracula, also known as Vlad the Impaler. He was a harsh Romanian man and ruler of Wallachia, Romania who successfully drove away the Ottoman Empire from his lands. According to recovered personal entries, lore, and crypts, vampirism began from magick. Vlad Dracula had just driven away his enemies and came across a refugee family of six; two parents and four children. They had escaped the empire and made their way into Romania, knowing that their borders remained safe. However, Dracula suspected them of being spies and personally massacred the children and mother, saving the father for last. Bram Stoker, the father, was a powerful warlock, even more so after having seen his family murdered. Before he died, using his last breaths, he put a curse upon Dracula. The following is a rough translation of writing from what historians believe to be the Count himself:
"The words echo. My thirst for blood is unquenchable. I'd pay with my life.
I can smell their fear, now. I can hear their hearts. They sustain me, help me live. I cannot help it.
They are dead because of me. They are dead because of that bastard."
"I am dead."
Essentially, Dracula had died the night of the curse. It took away what made him human. It has been said that Count Dracula realized the curse and shielded himself from society. He lived in the dark and let his close companions rule Wallachia. Because of how he went about hiding, he developed a skin condition called porphyria. This is a blood condition that causes blisters on the skin when exposed to the sun. This disease mixed itself with the curse and is now passes through vampiric lines. It is technically possible to kill a vampire through sun-exposure, but it would take a lot of effort and a very long time.
On that note, no, garlic, crosses, and holy water does not deter nor kill vampires. These were all myths created by mortals in fear. Vampires can, however, be killed through beheadings, fire, and wooden steaks. The reason for this being that the latter two destroy a body beyond repair. Wood damages the vampire due to the Count's tradition of putting his enemies on wooden poles/steaks outside his castle as a warning to others.
It is now impossible to lift the curse to "cure" vampirism. The entire family was murdered, they had no relatives, and so their magickal signature was forgotten. Vampirism is still passed down through less traditional means. Vampires are incapable of reproduction in the mortal ways because they are technically dead. Males are capable of impregnating a mortal, but that really just is a prolonged death. A vampire fetus kills the mother from within, which in turn kills the fetus. There have been no recorded events of naturally-born vampires. All vampires have been created through a mortal drinking the blood of a vampire and then dying while the blood is in their system. If they do not die to turn, they will instead experience drug-like effects; minor hallucinations and a mild version of vampiric abilities.
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Vampiric abilities include heightened senses, being exceptionally strong (with limits), persuasion, slightly quicker healing, and the ability to identify the types of people around them. They cannot mind-read or force someone to do their bidding. Mortals, however, are particularly susceptible to their powers of persuasion. Nowadays, mortals aren't being persuaded very often. Many of them willingly donate their blood to vampires, who then feed in private. In modern times, vampires don't usually feed in the open, although there are some unsolved murders that vampires have been suspected of causing. These individuals, cannot feed on babies, the dead, or other vampires. All of these cause violent sickness. They can drink from animals. These people are said to be the "vegans" of their community. Now, though, it is more likely for them to drink from both.
Vampires usually exist within their own societies, however, they can, and do, attend school amongst magicians. They also have the freedom to wander in society so long as they don't cause too much trouble. Vampires have seats in many councils. The government is slowly becoming more inclusive of creatures as well. It has been rumored that some (current and former) officials are vampires, but that is speculation and not currently definitive.
