Strigoi

In Romanian folklore, strigoi are troubled spirits that are said to have risen from the grave. They are attributed with the abilities to transform into an animal, become invisible, and to gain vitality from the blood of their victims. In reality, strigoi are ravenous undead generally formed when evil wizards, mages, or spell casters are murdered in ways that cause their spirits great turmoil. Their souls refuse to leave the body, and it reanimates itself. As in life, they are avid shadow casters, and are one of the stronger undead beings. They do rot and decompose, albeit at a very slow rate, and their eyes are usually a milky, soulless white. Strigoi will eat the flesh of the dead, but prefer the blood and warm meat of the living.

Strigoi are shunned by Nightbred because of their eating habits and appearance. Though strigoi are very similar, they are different, and vampires see themselves as vastly superior. As such, they will seldom tolerate the presence of a strigoi. Thus, the creatures are usually confined to abandoned buildings, mines, or graveyards. Absinthe Van Gothen fought a strigoi in Portland’s Lone Fir Cemetery when she tried saving Arion and Ayana Bishop from Heloise Laveau. The strigoi’s soul was one of the spirits required by Baron Samedi to aid him in opening the way forward.