Nosferatu

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

Vampires are a type of undead monster in the Anaxverse. As seen in the novel, Desideratum: Blood Bonds, vampires in the Anaxverse are collectively known as the Nightbred. 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 the chaotic material plane, 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 particular 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 certain strains of vampirism due to their gnome.

The Nosferatu Strain or Nosferatu Vampires generally have alabaster, veiny white flesh. This is a transitory state but can become permanent. If a Nightbred does not drink human blood, little by little, their strain and DNA break down. Regardless of the original strain, they become hairless and gnarled. Their faces become twisted and their ears grow long and pointed. Their teeth grow sharp and their vampiric master (if it still exists) loses control over the vampire’s will. If the vampire feeds at this point, their devolution will cease, but they will remain forever in this state, a nosferatu. If they still manage to hold back the lust for blood, they will slowly lose the ability to reason or think, until they become the monstrous creatures known as the Starved. At that point, there is no absolution.

Nosferatu have some inherent natural abilities not shared by any other strain. They can become a fog or mist, virtually incorporeal and able to move through even the small crack in a barrier. They can also become massive vampire bats and take to the skies, flapping their mighty wings and screeching. There are fewer nosferatu than any other vampire strain since it is usually temporary as most vampires that refuse to drink blood, remain steadfast for whatever philosophical or religious reasons, and turn into Starved. The nosferatu, Brone Lorcan, is the only known nosferatu that has made it more than a few years without blood. In fact, he has somehow maintained control of his mind and faculties even after more than a century and a half due to enchantments on a pocket watch given to him by Anaximanes Ravenhurst. Generally seen as outcasts by other Nightbred, nosferatu tend to be loners and skulk in dark places until they transition into Starved.