Jiang Shi

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 Jiang Shi (Jiangshi, Jiāngshī) Strain or Jiang Shi Vampires generally have grayish dead flesh. Having first developed in China during the Qin Dynasty, their populations are mostly found in China, Vietnam and Korea. Usually incredibly agile, Jiang Shi can leap incredible distances and land on unsuspecting prey. Their hair is always black and their irises are always red. During some Chinese dynasties, their numbers swelled, but always they found themselves ultimately defeated. With the change in Chinese politics in recent centuries, they have found themselves fewer in number than ever before. Typically reserved in behavior, they harbor a potent, xenophobic hatred. The Jiang Shi see themselves as the greatest strain of vampires, and this may come from the desperation of the times and the bleak outlook on their future. The most infamous of this strain are the Jiang Shi Sisters, twins that serve Lord Ivor as his personal guard.