No one knows where vampires originally came from. Vampirism is actually a disease more than it is a species. Those that have it tend to be happy that they have it, although their neighbors, if they have any left, wish otherwise.
A vampire is a dead individual. The body functions. The mind also functions. Somehow, the spirit of the individual remains with the body through other than natural means. Vampires can sleep, heal, learn, walk, talk, have hobbies, and do most other activities that normal individuals do. In all respects, vampires cannot be distinguished from normal individuals.
Vampires have an innate ability to species change into bats or wolves. Vampires also have an innate ability to hypnotize and charm. The last innate ability of vampires is their ability to make other vampires. The process of making a vampire is mostly unknown. A vampire drinking the blood of an individual is involved, but this is also how they feed. More information than this is currently unavailable. (Individual referee's may choose their own methods of this.)
Sunlight will kill a vampire. If a vampire is in the sun for more than 1 minute, they will be burned to ashes. If a vampire can get out of the sunlight before that time, he will regenerate normally.
Once an individual becomes a vampire, they must begin to consume blood in order to stay alive. Drinking the blood of other species allows them to stay alive, but the regeneration process of the vampire will begin to become impaired. A vampire who lives on the blood of a species other than his own for a long period of time (several months) will eventually become comatose and die. Because of this, most vampires try to live near large cities filled with their own species.
Vampires live for a very long time. During their lives, they may learn and study. Usually, most vampires will become very skilled in their crafts. Many vampires will study magic. Sages will sometimes seek out vampires for information, although this is not common. Usually the vampire will demand a fee of the sage that the sage usually is not willing to pay.
There are no records of a vampire dying from old age. When an individual becomes a vampire their body changes to a perfect and beautiful state. Vampires are in a constant state of regeneration. Wounds and other physical problems will always heal if there are no physical barriers. If a vampire has been wounded in a vital organ with an object that was never removed, that vampire may die temporarily. If, however, that object is ever removed, the regeneration process will continue and the vampire will come back to life. Usually, if the wound is in the heart or the head, temporary death can be assured. Once dead, a vampire may be permanently destroyed by completely burning the vampire's heart and head. If any portion of the head or heart is left unburned, the vampire will regenerate if no physical barriers prevent it.
All undead see spiritual naturally. The vampire range for this vision is 200'.
Reality
1725-35
The concept of vampires originally came from Eastern Europe. Many versions of the vampire have existed in many different countries ever since. The basic pattern is that of a corpse that comes alive at night to drink the blood of the living.
