Liliana Vess (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
deathsmajesty) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2024-04-11 04:58 am
deathsmajesty) wrote in fandomhigh2024-04-11 04:58 am
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Necromancers Guide to the Undead, Thursday, Period 1
"And today, we're returning to Innistrad to discuss another type of vampire," Liliana said. "Continuing the trend of of different planes handle similar concepts, the vampires of Innistrad are not actually undead. They have what they refer to as a 'condition of the blood,' though what that means is unknown to me, as they have refused to share more unless I join their ranks." And she had no intention of doing that, though it was very rude that neither Olivia nor Runo would tell her.
"What I do know is this," she said. "Roughly six thousand years ago, there were no vampires on Innistrad. What there was, however, was a widespread famine and rampant starvation. Edgar Markov, an alchemist, was searching for some kind of solution to help families feed themselves, at the behest and with the funding from eleven other wealthy patrons. The answer he found was a brutal one: undergoing a blood ritual that would allow those who had to feed on blood. It would provide sustenance to those few, reducing demand for the failing crops, but it would also cull the overall population, reducing the number of hungry mouths to feed. Thus were vampires born on Innistrad."
She snorted in derision. "One might say he would have been better served looking for a way to end the famine itself, like enriching the soil or introducing blight-resistant crops, but that would hardly have the same cache. Again, the details of the ritual and exactly how it affects the body are unknown, save to those who underwent it and at least some of their vampiric offspring, but some of the more obvious effects can be noted. They are not dead, but they remain agelessness and their skin cold to the touch. Their vampirism neither a virus nor a curse, and experiments have proven that they cannot be 'cured' or their humanity restored. The eyes of Innistradi vampires have black sclera and gold, silver, or red irises in the middle. They have a particular weakness against weapons cut from living wood, although normal weapons can also be used. They are unable to cross streams that show the reflection of the moon, and water blessed by Avacyn or her archangels burns them like acid. Within silver or a silver-backed mirror, they appear as they would have as humans. If they fail to drink about five liters of human blood in a moon's cycle, they shrivel to dust. The ritual has not been performed since it turned the original group into vampires; the Innistradi vampires create their offspring via nearly exsanguinating the individual, leaving enough blood so the heart remains pumping, though the rest of the organs begin to shut down, and then offering their own blood in return. Further experiments have been done on how long one can wait to feed the blood and what affect it has on the newly-sired vampire, and anything past fifteen minutes results in a drastically weakened and impaired vampire, and anything past the half-hour mark results in true death."
Innistradi vampires had done the most experimentation and research on their condition than any other planes' vampires Liliana had ever met.
"That being said, because they are not undead, they can enjoy many of the benefits that other vampires, like the Sengir, cannot. They can walk outside during the day, though they tend to shrink from the full weight of the sun. It drains and exhausts them, requiring rest and a further infusion of blood to fully recover if they remain in direct sunlight for more than a few hours. This leads them to preferring evening and nighttime hours, or overcast days. Like the Sengir, this lessened reaction towards sunlight tends to diminish the more generations a vampire is removed from their line's progenitor. Innistradi vampires can partake of normal food and drink, though they receive no sustenance from it. They also do not breathe, though many at least mimic the chest movements to better remain unnoticed within the human populations.
"Among the existing vampiric bloodlines, some are more common but prestigious whereas some are rare but less respected. Of the original twelve bloodlines created that night by Edgar Markov, three of these bloodlines have died out completely. Five others are relatively minor, having sired fewer vampires. The four main bloodlines have developed a special affinity to certain abilities innate to the vampiric form; it is unknown if the other five just have not reached a critical number to develop such an ability or have it be widespread enough for it to be known.
Since they were in the Danger Shop, there was more button pressing. "This is Edgar Markov, nominally the progenitor of the Markov line, though he had many of his family members undergo the ritual with him, so they are all first generation vampires. Still he commands their loyalty - or at least, their obedience - and is the unquestioned patriarch of the line. Because it was his ritual and because the Markov line has so many first generation vampires capable of siring others, the Markov line is the most widespread and prestigious of all. They also have a tendency to develop psychic powers, though whether that is a gift that is somehow passed through the bite, or if they are drawn to creatures with latent psychic powers that are then uncovered and strengthened by their centuries of vampirism."
"Runo Stromkirk," she said with a surprisingly fond grin at the image that appeared next. "Unlike most of the other vampire clans, who live high in the mountains of Stensia, the seat of the Stromkirks' power is in Nephalia, on the coasts. They interact most with regular mortals and, as a result, their disguising glamours, or illusion magic, are more powerful and more sophisticated. Runo's direct lineage is known for producing some of Nephalia's greatest fencing masters. Runo was also one of my early mentors in necromancy and provided several more for me once I outstripped his abilities. I'm quite fond of him."
Next was a beautiful and glamorous woman with rich red hair and an expression full of mischief. "This is Olivia Voldaren, the progenitor of the Voldaren line. They are the second most prominent Innistradi family and only the Markov's greater numbers stop them from being true rivals." And Sorin Markov was a Planeswalker, but she wasn't going to talk about that bore if she didn't have to. "Voldaren elders can more easily master magic that enables them to transform into animal forms, especially those of the bat, cat, and rat. Olivia has also mastered the ability to fly, which may be the appearance of a second bloodline ability. She is also an excellent hostess and a charming bon vivant."
Important detail, hope you wrote that one down, students. "The last of the great Innistradi vampire families are the Falkenrath line, though their progenitor died millennia ago and even her name has been forgotten, though we know that she was a falconer of some repute. Falkenrath vampires do not stray far from that heritage, remaining associated with far-reaching activity and predation, as well as the boldest of vampires when it comes to hunting humans. The Falkenrath elders are more likely to master powers of flight than those of other lines, which, with Olivia also mastering the discipline, has created a great deal of speculation about what might have happened to their missing progenitor."
"The remaining five clans are not much of note, though this tasteless cow--" tell us how you really feel, Liliana "--is Henrika Domnathi, of the Domnathi lineage. The Domnathi bloodline has always been know to bargain and consort with demons, exchanging favors for the demons' powerful blood. The major bloodlines consider the Domnathi's potent magic dangerous even for vampire-kind, and in ancient times, the Domnathi were subject to many great purges - a practice one wishes they would bring back. Henrika is also able to transform into gray mist, though so far, it seems to be an ability that is limited to herself, and likely comes from feeding on her lover - now ex-lover, the demon, Griselbrand." Yup, Liliana was looking smug again. "The Maurer and the Dusken families have been feuding for almost as long as anyone can remember, though with Stephan Maurer's defeat of Irska Dusken, it seems likely the Dusken will become a fourth extinct bloodline. And the last bloodline we know about are the Nusfar, who all look like children, though whether that is because they only sire children or because that is their bloodline ability is a much debated topic."
After the lecture ended and Liliana had answered any questions that may have arisen, she summoned the portal she had arranged yesterday. "And now, for a field trip," she announced.
"What I do know is this," she said. "Roughly six thousand years ago, there were no vampires on Innistrad. What there was, however, was a widespread famine and rampant starvation. Edgar Markov, an alchemist, was searching for some kind of solution to help families feed themselves, at the behest and with the funding from eleven other wealthy patrons. The answer he found was a brutal one: undergoing a blood ritual that would allow those who had to feed on blood. It would provide sustenance to those few, reducing demand for the failing crops, but it would also cull the overall population, reducing the number of hungry mouths to feed. Thus were vampires born on Innistrad."
She snorted in derision. "One might say he would have been better served looking for a way to end the famine itself, like enriching the soil or introducing blight-resistant crops, but that would hardly have the same cache. Again, the details of the ritual and exactly how it affects the body are unknown, save to those who underwent it and at least some of their vampiric offspring, but some of the more obvious effects can be noted. They are not dead, but they remain agelessness and their skin cold to the touch. Their vampirism neither a virus nor a curse, and experiments have proven that they cannot be 'cured' or their humanity restored. The eyes of Innistradi vampires have black sclera and gold, silver, or red irises in the middle. They have a particular weakness against weapons cut from living wood, although normal weapons can also be used. They are unable to cross streams that show the reflection of the moon, and water blessed by Avacyn or her archangels burns them like acid. Within silver or a silver-backed mirror, they appear as they would have as humans. If they fail to drink about five liters of human blood in a moon's cycle, they shrivel to dust. The ritual has not been performed since it turned the original group into vampires; the Innistradi vampires create their offspring via nearly exsanguinating the individual, leaving enough blood so the heart remains pumping, though the rest of the organs begin to shut down, and then offering their own blood in return. Further experiments have been done on how long one can wait to feed the blood and what affect it has on the newly-sired vampire, and anything past fifteen minutes results in a drastically weakened and impaired vampire, and anything past the half-hour mark results in true death."
Innistradi vampires had done the most experimentation and research on their condition than any other planes' vampires Liliana had ever met.
"That being said, because they are not undead, they can enjoy many of the benefits that other vampires, like the Sengir, cannot. They can walk outside during the day, though they tend to shrink from the full weight of the sun. It drains and exhausts them, requiring rest and a further infusion of blood to fully recover if they remain in direct sunlight for more than a few hours. This leads them to preferring evening and nighttime hours, or overcast days. Like the Sengir, this lessened reaction towards sunlight tends to diminish the more generations a vampire is removed from their line's progenitor. Innistradi vampires can partake of normal food and drink, though they receive no sustenance from it. They also do not breathe, though many at least mimic the chest movements to better remain unnoticed within the human populations.
"Among the existing vampiric bloodlines, some are more common but prestigious whereas some are rare but less respected. Of the original twelve bloodlines created that night by Edgar Markov, three of these bloodlines have died out completely. Five others are relatively minor, having sired fewer vampires. The four main bloodlines have developed a special affinity to certain abilities innate to the vampiric form; it is unknown if the other five just have not reached a critical number to develop such an ability or have it be widespread enough for it to be known.
Since they were in the Danger Shop, there was more button pressing. "This is Edgar Markov, nominally the progenitor of the Markov line, though he had many of his family members undergo the ritual with him, so they are all first generation vampires. Still he commands their loyalty - or at least, their obedience - and is the unquestioned patriarch of the line. Because it was his ritual and because the Markov line has so many first generation vampires capable of siring others, the Markov line is the most widespread and prestigious of all. They also have a tendency to develop psychic powers, though whether that is a gift that is somehow passed through the bite, or if they are drawn to creatures with latent psychic powers that are then uncovered and strengthened by their centuries of vampirism."
"Runo Stromkirk," she said with a surprisingly fond grin at the image that appeared next. "Unlike most of the other vampire clans, who live high in the mountains of Stensia, the seat of the Stromkirks' power is in Nephalia, on the coasts. They interact most with regular mortals and, as a result, their disguising glamours, or illusion magic, are more powerful and more sophisticated. Runo's direct lineage is known for producing some of Nephalia's greatest fencing masters. Runo was also one of my early mentors in necromancy and provided several more for me once I outstripped his abilities. I'm quite fond of him."
Next was a beautiful and glamorous woman with rich red hair and an expression full of mischief. "This is Olivia Voldaren, the progenitor of the Voldaren line. They are the second most prominent Innistradi family and only the Markov's greater numbers stop them from being true rivals." And Sorin Markov was a Planeswalker, but she wasn't going to talk about that bore if she didn't have to. "Voldaren elders can more easily master magic that enables them to transform into animal forms, especially those of the bat, cat, and rat. Olivia has also mastered the ability to fly, which may be the appearance of a second bloodline ability. She is also an excellent hostess and a charming bon vivant."
Important detail, hope you wrote that one down, students. "The last of the great Innistradi vampire families are the Falkenrath line, though their progenitor died millennia ago and even her name has been forgotten, though we know that she was a falconer of some repute. Falkenrath vampires do not stray far from that heritage, remaining associated with far-reaching activity and predation, as well as the boldest of vampires when it comes to hunting humans. The Falkenrath elders are more likely to master powers of flight than those of other lines, which, with Olivia also mastering the discipline, has created a great deal of speculation about what might have happened to their missing progenitor."
"The remaining five clans are not much of note, though this tasteless cow--" tell us how you really feel, Liliana "--is Henrika Domnathi, of the Domnathi lineage. The Domnathi bloodline has always been know to bargain and consort with demons, exchanging favors for the demons' powerful blood. The major bloodlines consider the Domnathi's potent magic dangerous even for vampire-kind, and in ancient times, the Domnathi were subject to many great purges - a practice one wishes they would bring back. Henrika is also able to transform into gray mist, though so far, it seems to be an ability that is limited to herself, and likely comes from feeding on her lover - now ex-lover, the demon, Griselbrand." Yup, Liliana was looking smug again. "The Maurer and the Dusken families have been feuding for almost as long as anyone can remember, though with Stephan Maurer's defeat of Irska Dusken, it seems likely the Dusken will become a fourth extinct bloodline. And the last bloodline we know about are the Nusfar, who all look like children, though whether that is because they only sire children or because that is their bloodline ability is a much debated topic."
After the lecture ended and Liliana had answered any questions that may have arisen, she summoned the portal she had arranged yesterday. "And now, for a field trip," she announced.
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