Mortem

Name	Mortem
Race	Undead
Type	Vampire
Faction	Nightbred
Premiere	Desideratum: Blood Bonds
Relative(s)	None Applicable

Nuit’s corruption of human blood works similarly, to some degree, as that of other demons from the Outer Darkness. Being a goddess more aligned with the night and death, her minions walk a line between the living and the dead. However, while her curse affects the spirit and is spiritual in essence, blood is a physical corporeal substance native to the Physical World. Like all genetic material in this chaotic place, every time a vampire forms, there stands a chance for mutation within their strain. Oftentimes, on these rare occurrences, the afflicted vampire obtains a singularly useful ability- perhaps to shape-shift or to sexually reproduce. In some cases, due to circumstances in a given area or population, a vampire strain might spread like wildfire. It could also be that people of certain descent and DNA might be more prone to become particularly affected by strains of vampirism.

The Mortem Strain or Mortem Vampires have generally alabaster white flesh. These Nightbred are formed if a corpse, whose blood still drips warm, is drained by a vampire. Having already died, the effects of Nuit’s power are changed. Since mortem Nightbred can be formed by any other strain, they can be found all around the world. Regardless of strain of the vampire that bites the corpse, the afflicted will rise the next night as a mortem. However, if a mortem vampire bites even a living person, that person will also rise as a mortem. Because of their closeness with death and the Outer Darkness, mortem vampires tend to be able to cast potent shadow spells even without much training. Because of this, mortems tend to make up a majority of the magic casters within the Nightbred ranks.