Hidden Lore (Vampires)

Still WIP

Refer to Monster Hunters 3: The Enemy pp. 8-12, though many of the particulars will differ in this campaign.

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 popular TV/cinema/literature.

"It presents itself as mild anemia" (Porphyria)

• Nature: Supernatural undead (that is, not a virus)
• Contagion: Can (not always) spread to others
• Feeding: Consumes blood
• Sleep: Sleeps during the day
• Telltales:

• Fangs; Pallor
• No reflection
• Requires invitation to enter

• Abilities:
• Weaknesses:

• 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
• "Good"/"Holy" is bad for them

Known/Common (Skill 6-9)

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

"One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach; all the damn vampires."

• Nature:

• Really "hard to kill"
• Something of the former-self remains after "death"
• Older = more powerful; new vamps are "mooks"

• Contagion: Turning requires ingestion of vampire blood
• Sleep: Tends to return to the grave to sleep during the day, but not always
• Telltales:

• Eyeshine; "Demon face" (when attacking, agitated)
• No reflection, and doesn't appear on film
• Prefers the cold
• Invitation required for entry into private residence; not required for public places

• Abilities:

• Powerful vampires can compel humans into their service; "mind control"

• Weaknesses:

• Vulnerable to silver, sunlight, "Good"/"Holy", and will generally avoid them
• Irritated by garlic (like tear-gas/ammonia)

Rudimentary Taxonomy

• Alternate names (versions?): Upir/Upiór, Strigoi
• There are different "varieties," and "stages" of development
• Commonly Eastern-European

Slightly Obscure/Trained (Skill 10-13)

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

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

• 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"
• Familiars/Bug-Eaters: humans can be fed vampire blood to gain enhancements, mentally-enslaved (often driven mad). Some serve by choice, and are not enhanced, usually for the promise of eternal-life (and are just assholes).

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"

Obscure/Expert (Skill 14-17)

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

"You see the valets over there? They're vampires. So's the doorman…and the whore on the corner." "How can you tell?" "By the way they move. The way they smell."

TBD In-game

Advanced Taxonomy

TBD In-game

Highly Obscure/Authority (Skill 18+)

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

TBD In-Game