Vampirism
While being a vampire is not illegal here in the Concordant Zone, practicing non-consensual vampiric feeding and murder still remain illegal acts. The Zone Ministry of Edible Authorization provides a list of consensual blood donors and authorized non-sentient blood sources for our vampiric citizens.
Vampires are just like normal people and that's the problem. They just have an insatiable hunger for the blood of the living and a severly impaired sense of morality. Some of them feel like this gives them an excuse to be assholes. Give them a warm bottle of Hemo-goblin or Sang-wine and they're almost like normal people.
Vampirism is a supernatural curse that transforms mortals into ageless undead, ravenous for blood and sensation. New vampires are especially monstrous, unable to control their hunger. They wantonly kill their victims, creating angry mobs that hunt down and destroy any undead they can find.
As the years go by, vampires gain more control of their hunger and more of their previous personality can come out. Unfortunately, many vampires are never able to think of the living as anything more than food.
Becoming a Vampire
The simple act of feeding does not pass on the curse. Many have been the victims of vampires without becoming one. The vampire has to pass it on intentionally by bringing their victim to the brink of death and then allowing the victim to feed on them. The newborn vampire rises as spawn, under the control of their maker until the maker dies or releases them.
Types of Vampirism
Vampirism is closely related to the condition that aswangs have. They are sometimes indistinguishable from each other. Vampirism, however, is a supernatural curse placed on a dead mortal. Aswangs are usually still alive and infected with a parasitic black chick.
The main difference in types of vampires are what they feed on. The vast majority of them subsist on the blood of the living. Other types feed on mortal flesh, spinal fluid, dreams, thoughts, "life" energy, or embryonic fluid.
"Living" With Vampirism
In the Kirinal Concordance Zone, vampires are allowed to dwell among the population as long as they "Bear the Ident-a-hedron" and agree to only feed on consenting mortals. In exchange, they are provided with volunteer mortals in "blood bars". They are also provided with artificial substitutes with names such as "Hemo-goblin", "Sang-wine", and "Mother's Mead."
Hemo-goblin, made from real goblins! Our cruelty-free goblins were raised with democratic norms and good healthcare, they're delicious!"
Blood Bars
One of the best known blood bars is "Neck-romancy" which provides a "bespoke biting" experience in the back room. Instead of drinking from cups like "filthy mortals" they provide volunteers who consent to vampires feeding directly from them. The "donors" and vampires are observed by guards who prevent* the vampires from succumbing to blood lust and killing their donors.
*The prevention consists of very large soulforged with wooden stakes, silver swords, and garlic bombs. They apply these to any vampires who get too excited.
Warding Off Vampires
Despite their official status as "accepted" sophonts in the Zone, many still do not trust them and seek out apotropaic methods to keep them at bay. The traditional methods to repel them, such as garlic and silver, still work. Sunlight and running water still kills them. In addition, as undead, they are especially vulnerable to the divine magic of clerics.
I love the quotes at the beginning—"They're almost like normal people," for instance—and the bit about young vampires being especially monstrous. And I really loved the bit about consensual feeding and Blood Bars. Had never thought of that, but it makes total sense as a concept.
My binge of "True Blood" from a few years ago is showing!
Take a look at my Institutions of Learning challenge article.
Learn about the World of Wizard's Peak and check out my award winning article about the Ghost Boy of Kirinal!
Oh, I always meant to watch that but never did.