Fiction:Cosmos of Nahiarus/Vampire

Vampires are entities afflicted by supernatural curse, regarded as undead by most. Vampires are typically characterised as creatures who have preternatural senses and abilities, though are only sustained by blood. Vampirism is a supernatural affliction that only affects humanoids.

Appearance
Vampires vary greatly in appearance depending upon race and age, though most vampires are typically depicted as having pale skin and emaciated features. Nearly all vampires have a set of teeth that resemble carnivorous beasts, usually possessing one or two pairs of elongated fangs which are best suited to puncturing flesh. Vampiric transformations begin to diversify as a vampire grows older and more powerful; the oldest of their kind closely resemble normal living beings and can hide in plain sight.

Characteristics
A curse bestowed upon ancient civilisation by Raknashra, vampirism is described commonly as a trade in greater power for a loss of one's own natural state of being. Though magical in its origin, vampirism is primarily transmitted through blood, and ingestion of infected blood can potentially result in the victim becoming a vampire themselves. Contracting vampirism only results in either the death of the victim or their transformation; it can be cured before physiological changes occur, which is usually between 72 to 96 hours of being infected. As a result, most vampires are consummately made.

The sole diet of vampires is blood - any other intake for a vampire causes them to become sick in a manner akin to food poisoning. Vampires can only drink the blood of non-vampires (drinking vampire blood only dehydrates oneself further), and drinking the blood of the deceased will also cause debilitating sickness. A vampire will not die from dehydration; instead, they will weaken until they fall into a death-like coma.

Vampires grow more powerful through ageing; the eldest and most powerful of Vampires are those initially touched by Raknashra's curse, approximately 5000 years ago. Most vampires experience enhanced senses and reflexes, though most vampires tend to suffer withdrawal-like symptoms from thirst in their relative youth. The most notable weakness of a vampire is sunlight - younger vampires are extremely susceptible to direct sunlight, whilst the eldest of vampires are able to walk in daylight.

Though most vampires will eventually fall into a coma under prolonged dehydration, their vampiric senses will force them to feed - their senses will heighten even further, and their sensibilities become clouded to the point where they cannot reason between friend and foe. Vampires that have overcome this can grow into their amplified senses.

As vampires grow older, their affinity with their affliction becomes more beneficial. Through blood, vampires can acquire knowledge about their victim and can even access unconscious memories. Vampires can also become proficient shapeshifters, often being able to move in the form of creatures of their choosing or sometimes as something completely immaterial. In turn, vampires become greater sorcerers in age, and their magical powers can evolve into terrifying forces given the education.

Vampires cannot normally reproduce outside of their own kind, though it has been recorded that mortal-vampire halfbreeds have existed in history.

Notable Vampires
Kandrasetu - progenitor of vampires