Vampires

Introduction:
During my many years of travel, cataloging beast races, and other such creatures in this world, I have found nothing as terrible and horrific as the Vampire. Within these pages, I have compiled all availible knowledge on these terrible creatures, and their affect on the races of this world.

Origins
There are many legends, rumors and tales of how Vampires came to be. Some say they were normal Elves and Men, who gave themselves to the darker powers of this world. Others say they are the bastard spawn of the Darkness, given forms of mortals so that they can spread chaos and destruction. The truth is far more sinister, for they were Elves and Men who drank the blood of a dead Demon, and were granted inhuman power as a result.

Abilities and Powers
While it is hard to discern truth from myth regarding the Vampire, in Imperial records of the Blood War, I have been able to compile what unnatural powers the Vampires have. This list however, is likely rife with myth, as it is difficult to tell whether something is true about the Vampires, or was spawned from fear for their power.

Vampires are said to have supernatural strength, being far stronger than any mortal race of their size has a right to be. In regards to how strong they are, no one knows for certain. Some say they were strong enough to tear men in full armor in two, whereas others say they are strong enough only to snap bone. Regardless, they are immensely strong and powerful.

In regards to their magical abilities, it would seem all Vampires practice the art, to a terrifyingly powerful degree. What is in the records, is of them using powers that no mortals can wield, to a horrific standard. They are said to be able to shatter the minds of mortals, and to be able to rend them heart and soul. They have been observed using the blood of their enemies against them, clotting it in their veins. While I would very much like to state that this is myth, much to my terror, most of it seems to be truth, or based on truth.

Vampires have an ability that is almost never seen in other races. They feast on the blood of their foes, and many reports confirm that they drink the blood of the living. They have fangs which are able to tear into flesh, and it is said that they keep vast hordes of unfortunate mortals, whom they constantly feed on. This unnatural race, is truly the enemy of all, and should they come to assault us in this time of turmoil, I fear that no one could stop them.

Lands and Holdings
It is unknown where their territory begins or ends, though it is known that they came from the North, a scourge of all that is good and righteous in the world. Some say they live in a massive tower-fortress, where they create horrific monstrosities, with which to wage war on the light, and that they seek to block out the sky itself, to create an eternal night with which they can feast on all. Others say they live nowhere, and are spawned from the depths of the Darkness. Others still say that they live in the mighty corpse of a great beast, what this beast is, or why they would live in one, no one can say.

Regardless, there is too much myth and legend to discern the truth about their land, unless someone were to try to find it. Though those who do try, are never seen again. Who knows what horrors lie up there, in their horrific home.

Biology
Vampires are Humans and Elves, they have the same physical appearence of them. But they have notable differences, their flesh is paler than the moon, and their eyes are icy blue, or are blood red. It is unknown how long they live, though many say that they can never truly die, and that they live forever. While Vampires have been slain, many say that while their physical form is dead, they will still haunt the world as spirits, or will reincarnate into more powerful forms.

Fortunately, this is myth. They are able to be slain, though it is extremely difficult, and most mortals will die in the attempt to kill even a weak Vampire. One of their most notable anatomical differences, is the fact they have sharp fangs, which they use to suck blood from their mortal victims.

Personality traits
I have not conversed with a Vampire, and I doubt many have had the chance. Their personality differences are unknown, as no Vampire has been seen to be peaceful.

The Blood War
During the Blood War, they attacked at night, making it near impossible to face them. They feasted on the blood of mortals, and their army was unstoppable by normal means. They scourged the North for months on end, until the Crown was informed of this horror. Assembling a host of Mages, the Crown sent these Battle-Magi North, to face the terror of the night. With the armies of the North behind them, the Battle-Mages fought the Vampiric scourge, though both sides took heavy losses, the Blood War ended when the leader of the Vampires was slain. They fled back North, to their terrible lands. Though there are more complete accounts of the Blood War, it would be too lengthy to include this in this book.

Myths and Legends
As the Vampires have been a terror that is well remembered, many myths and tales have been circulating around them, some of these are true, others are far less so. The most common is an old Wives' tale, told to unruly children, it says that Vampires will come to take them at night, so that the Vampires may feast on their blood, and turn them into Ghouls. This is myth, as Vampires didn't kidnap or capture anyone, though their mindless slaughter often left bodies unrecognizable.

Another legend states that Vampires cannot die, and that when they are "slain", their souls haunt and torment the living, and that they may later be resurrected into a more powerful monstrosity. This is myth, as Vampires can die, at least their phyiscal forms. If they do resurrect into monsters, they have not been seen.

Conclusion
In closing, I have concluded that Vampires remain a threat, though it is unlikely they will ever assault the mortal races again. Vampires are a very real thing, though there are many myths concerning them. There are no known Vampires in the south, though it is possible that they can hide their true natures.

-Excerpt from Aernos of the South's Compendium of Monsters