Vampire

Vampire
A Soulblight Vampire Lord.
Grand alliance	Death
Associated factions	Flesh-eater Courts Grand Host of Nagash Legion of Sacrament Legion of Blood Soulblight
Origins	Nagash's creations
Type	Undead

Vampires are one of the most powerful types of Undead that can be found throughout the Mortal Realms.

Origin

Vampires are unnatural creatures, a form of twisted unlife whose origins ultimately stem from Nagash himself. The first Vampires were created by Neferata when she was an ambitious mortal queen using the necromantic knowledge of Nagash. In return for all their new-found power and immortality they were cursed to feed upon fresh blood for sustenance or wither away to a final, bleak oblivion.^[5a][5b]

Vampires in the Mortal Realms descend from the dark triad of Neferata, Mannfred and Ushoran. While Ushoran's brood were to degenerate into the delusional abhorrant cannibal kings, those sired by the Mortarchs came to exemplify the pale and refined image of a vampiric aristocrat.^[5a][5b]

Vampires are almost exclusively human in origin but the cause for this is unknown. There are multiple theories for this such as a jealous curse inflicted by Elder Bones, vampires simply preferring to grant the blood kiss to those of a similar origin or that the longer lived races have less inclination to seek immortality. However the legends of Necros claim that at least one aelf has succumbed to the curse over the millennia.^[5c]

Biology

Unlike most other undead, vampires retain all the intelligence, will, ambition and desires from their lives. This means that, unlike them they can continue to grow and learn, spending their immortal lives perfecting skills and honing plans and schemes. The lords and ladies of Nulahmia and other such strongholds of their kind compete in political games of subtlety that make take centuries to play out.^[4]

Mortals who are transformed by the Curse gain many benefits - unnatural strength, incredible resilience and of course immortality, yet they become subject to the insatiable need to feed on fresh blood. If the thirst is not temporarily quenched, then the vampire can become little more than a mindless monster, only seeking to feed the predatory urges.^[2c] Thus all vampires wrestle with a constant desire to sup upon the blood of their former kindred – an ever-present hunger that, in almost every case, eventually comes to overwhelm them.^[5a][5b]

In addition to their thirst for blood Vampires are driven by a lust for domination, a trait acquired from the Great Necromancer.^[5a] As Vampires travelled to new lands and developed new obsessions, the magics of the Eight Realms also began to alter the curse within them. While the constant blood-hunger remained, some found the bestial aspects of their personality sharpened, their command of necromancy intensified, or even stranger alterations.^[5b]

Weaknesses

Across the Mortal Realms, there are many legends about such creatures, some spread by the vampires themselves – few are accurate. Contrary to some legends Vampires do not immolate when touched by Hysh's light, but loathe, despise or fear its scouring brilliance and take refuge beneath shadows and colossal swarms of bats where possible. They do not need permission to enter a royal abode and scattered sourwart seeds or flowing rivers cannot stop them. Some vampires of lesser power and will can be warded away by fastening an upsidedown straw doll to the door with a silver nail or covering oneself in week-old ashsprig. The only sure way to end a vampire, is the complete destruction of its physical form as leaving even a small part may allow it to reform over time.^[2c][5c]

Transformation

Vargheists are the bestial heart of the curse – huge bat winged abominations that are much larger than their civilised cousins – closer to the dark mirror of the Abhorrant Ghoul Kings. They do not sip the blood of the chosen from jewelled chalices, but rather tear their prey apart and lap up the spilled blood. Should a soulblight vampire go too long without blood, he or she may revert to this form and there is no way to return – some vampires impose this as a punishment on wayward kin. Yet even these monsters can be revered – as with the Avengorii Dynasty in the Realm of Ghur whose champions undergo the mas'ranga ritual willingly. ^[2c]

Cursed Bloodlines

Over time each of the dynasties or legions of vampires have developed their own characteristics, often shaped by their leaders, customs and desires and with their own methods of warfare. The most preeminent among them are the:

Legions

• Legion of Blood: The Legion of Blood, known for its splendour and opulence, is the epitome of what much of the Midnight Aristocracy envisions for the future of the Mortal Realms. The Legion is skilled in the use of patient intrigues and brutal force in equal measure, for Neferata the Mortarch of Blood has carefully shaped it in her image.^[5b][5f]
  • Nulahmian: The spawn of Neferata, the majority of whom serve in the Legion of Blood. The queen maintains a complex network of spies throughout the Realms and use Deathrattle legions for warfare. They are the peerless exemplars of the majesty of Death.^[2a][6]
• Legion of Night: The personal legion of Mannfred von Carstein, the Mortarch of Night, is perhaps the most infamous host of Gravelords in the Mortal Realms and is the single largest military power controlled by any vampire. It, like the Legion of Blood, count many lesser dynasties and bloodlines among its ranks.^[5b][5e]
  • Von Carstein are the spawn of Mannfred and often belong to the Legion of Night. They have been made ambitious and arrogant, using hordes of undead to slow their enemies so the vampires can sweep in for easy kills. They are sneakiest of the Bloodlines.^[6]

Dynasties

In a macabre parody of the noble houses of Azyr, Soulblight vampires are linked through a complex web of lineages and bloodllines, known as dynasties, many of which possess their own particular quirks and obsessions. The most powerful and infamous being the Avengorii, Kastelai, and Vyrkos dynasties.^[5b][8a]

Other Groupings

Several additional vampiric groups have been recorded:

• Abhorrant are the spawn of Ushoran and the masters of the Mordants and Flesh-Eater Courts.^[7a][7b]
• Tribal chieftains of Ghur that have abandoned the trappings of nobility are savage and bestial, bearing huge fangs and covered in heavy course hair.^[2c]
• The Vampires of Realm of Aqshy struggle to control their ranging passing. They are known to spread their bloodline as far as possible.^[5b]
  • In the Parching Wastes of Aqshy there are the Ash Vampires. They are thin creatures with pale skin and knife-like talons.^[2c]

Lands of Vampires

Throughout the Mortal Realms, vampires rule over a variety of lands, some of these see the mortal inhabitants of the domains treated as nothing more than cattle, others where they are integrated into the complex social structure - although of course, the Soulblight vampires remain at the pinnacle. ^[2c]

Notable

• Carstinia: The gloomy realm of Mannfred von Carstein, a dark mirror of his own bitterness. ^[2b]
• Necros: Home to a powerful vampire dynasty which has repeatedly driven off the hordes of Khorne, located in the Prime Innerlands of the Realm of Shyish^[3]
• Neferatia: A kingdom carefully fashioned to resemble the original home of Neferata. ^[2a]

Notes

Before the release of Battletome: Soulblight Gravelords (2021) there were four main bloodlines of vampire, each of them with a specific affinity^[1][2d]:

• Dragon Warriors with superior combat skills.^[1][2d]
• Lords of Night with the ability to more easily influence their minions.^[1][2d]
• Necromantic with the ability to cause fear and superior wizardry.^[1][2d]
• Swift Death with superior speed and agility.^{[1] [2d]}

Sources

• 1: General's Handbook (2017)
• 2: Battletome: Legions of Nagash (2018)
  • 2a: Neferata, pg. 22
  • 2b: Mannfred von Carstein, pg. 23
  • 2c: Soulblight Vampires, pg, 26
  • 2d: Allegiance Abilities Soulblight, pg. 72
  • 2e: The Missing Souls, Pg. 10-13
• 3: Malign Portents Website: Travellers Guide to the Mortal Realms
• 4: Vampire Lord product description
• 5: Battletome: Soulblight Gravelords (2021)
  • 5a: The Midnight Aristocracy, pg. 4-5
  • 5b: Lords of the Night, Pg. 16-17
  • 5c: An Undying Majesty, Pg. 38-39
  • 5d: Beasts of the Grave, Pg 46-47
  • 5e: Legion of Night, Pg. 18-19
  • 5f: Legion of Blood, Pg. 20-21
• 6: All of the Vampiric Bloodlines Are Noble, But Only One Has Wolf Paws
• 7: Battletome: Flesh Eater Courts (2019)
  • 7a: The Carrion King, pg. 8-9
  • 7b: Courts of Delusion, pg. 10-11
• 8: Age of Sigmar: Core Book (3rd Edition)
  • 8a: Soulblight Gravelords, pg. 208-210