Hidden Lore (Vampires)

Obvious

Roll: No roll required with Hidden Lore (Vampires); Occultism+2. Note: This is, essentially, a confirmation or negation of what can be gleaned from TV/cinema/literature.

"It presents itself as mild anemia" (Porphyria)

• Supernatural undead (that is, not a virus)
• Consumes blood
• Beheading, stake-to-the-heart is bad for them (no surprise; works on the living, too)
• Sunlight is bad for them (& they don't sparkle)
• Garlic is bad for them
• Don't cast a reflection
• "Good"/"Holy" is bad for them
• Require invitation to enter
• Sleep during the day

Known/Common (Skill 6-9)

Roll: Hidden Lore (Vampires)+4; Occultism+0. Note: Knows what is not true.

"You aim for the head or the heart. Anything else, it's your ass."

• Really "hard to kill"
• Vulnerable to silver, sunlight, "Good"/"Holy", and will generally avoid them
• Irritated by garlic (like tear-gas/ammonia)
• Eyeshine; fangs; *"Demon face" (when attacking, agitated)
• Prefer the cold
• Don't cast a reflection, and don't appear on film
• Invitation required for entry into private residence; not required for public places
• Something of the former-self remains
• Older = more powerful
• Don't (need to) sleep in coffins or graves

Rudimentary Taxonomy

• Alternate names: Upir/Upiór, Strigoi
• There are different "varieties," and "stages" of development
• Commonly Eastern-European
• Servitors: powerful vampires can dominate humans into servitude

Slightly Obscure/Trained (Skill 10-13)

Roll: Hidden Lore (Vampires)+0; Occultism-4. Note: has direct/second-hand-direct experience.

• Extremely fast, strong, tough, agile, and flexible. Normal weapons/bullets are not very effective, if at all.
• Irritated by allicin (chemical found in garlic) (like tear-gas/ammonia)
• Damaged (burned) on contact with holy water, holy symbols, sunlight; not "repelled/cowed" but will avoid contact
• Holy or silver attacks are harder for them to heal, can interfere with powers
• Stakes-to-the-heart can immobilize/stun (not necessarily kill)
• Can sometimes survive beheading
• Avoid Holy Ground™
• Don't appear in mirrors, and cannot be "directly" recorded on any video/audio medium, physical or electronic (blur/smear/distortion may be recorded).
• Invitation granted considered a "permanent precedent" unless ownership changes or magically revoked. Loopholes exist; a "welcome mat" is invitation enough.
• General existence of the Watchers, Hunters, similar organizations
• Sleep is really just a "standby" condition; they are fully aware when "sleeping"

Basic Taxonomy

• Most-common examples originate around the Carpathian Basin area of SE Europe (Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, etc.), and often speak those languages
• Recognized/commonly-encountered "clans"
• "Levels": Juvies (sometimes "feral") < Mooks < Masters < Primes < Elders
• Secret hierarchy/organization, rulership in place; "The Society"
• Familiars/Bug-Eaters: humans can be fed vampire blood to gain enhancements, mentally-enslaved. Some serve by choice, and are not enhanced, usually for the promise of eternal-life.

Obscure/Expert (Skill 14-17)

Roll: Hidden Lore (Vampires)-4; Occultism-10

TBD In-game

Highly Obscure/Authority (Skill 18+)

Roll: Hidden Lore (Vampires)-8; Occultism NA

TBD In-Game