Vampire

A vampire is a being that has been blessed by a Blood God. In Astoria, vampires emerged from the current territory of the Principal Sanguinity under the patronage of the Blood God Shezmu, and physically led by the Avatar of Shezmu.

Characteristics
All vampires have charcoal black skin - a sign of Shezmu's blessing. Their canine teeth are long, and their eyes are piercing. Some powerful vampires have eyes that glow red, indicating a greater connection to Shezmu and indicative of greater access to blood magic.

Vampires do not appear in mirrors.

Traits
Shapechanger: If not in sunlight, can polymorph into a mobile pool of blood, mist, a bat, or a wolf.

Regeneration: Regenerates 20 HP a round as long as not being exposed to a below weakness.

Natural Spider Climb: Can climb walls and ceilings without checks.

Shezmu's Pull: Upon reaching 0 HP, a vampire dissolves into a pool of blood - which quickly begins flowing back to the altar of Shezmu at 50 ft/rd. This pool can climb walls, seep into porous ground, and temporarily enter bodies. If exposed to sunlight, trapped with garlic/silver, or encapsulated in silver, however, the pool dissolves and the vampire dies.

Unique Actions
Vampire Bite: 1d6 + AB + 4d6 necrotic damage and heals the vampire for the total damage dealt.

Weaknesses
They are weak to sunlight, garlic, and silver - all of which burn them with physical contact. Direct/physical exposure to any weakness stops regeneration for as long as contact is maintained. They do not have difficulty crossing running water.

Vampires must be invited into private dwellings to enter them.

Transformation
To become a vampire is not an easy task.

A vampire-to-be requires the direct blessing of the Avatar of Shezmu, and then must undergo a harrowing ritual that requires one hundred thousand gallons of blood, originating from a sentient creature.

There is not information available on what the ritual is. Only those within the royal Family have experienced the ritual.

Ghouls
Vampires are capable of creating semi-powerful servants out of humanoids, known as Ghouls. Ghouls can be created by a vampire by draining the ghoul-to-be's blood, and then filling them with their own vampiric blood. This can be done forcefully or willingly. Both sentient and non-sentient creatues can be transformed into ghouls.

They do not have the same weakness to sunlight, garlic, or the necessity of invitation that vampires have. They do not have the same bloodlust as vampires do, but they are certainly empowered by its consumption. They may either eat normally like most beings, or can subsist on blood.