Abhartach
| Name | Abhartach Strain Vampires |
| Race | Undead |
| Type | Vampire |
| Faction | Nightbred |
| Premiere | Desideratum: Blood Bonds |
| Relative(s) | NA |
Contents
Abhartach Strain Vampires
"What is fated- shall be unavoidable."
Biography
As seen in the novel, Desideratum: Blood Bonds, the Abhartach (pronounced Av-har-tatch) are one type of vampire. 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 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 Abhartach Strain or Abhartach Vampires have generally alabaster white flesh. Having first developed during the time of the Celts and Gauls, their populations are mostly found in western, central, and northern Europe. Usually, the hair of the afflicted becomes red, resembling that of a ginger human. While the sclera of their eyes are colored red to almost black, they have uniquely colored irises. Most vampire strains give the afflicted yellow, orange, or even reddish glowing irises, but in the case of abhartachs, the irises glow a bright blue or green hue.
There is wide-spread worship of Nuit and Aka Manah among these people along with the worship of some darker Gaelic deities. Generally, these vampires can use psionic powers, whispering into the minds of their enemies to seduce, frighten, or even kill. They typically are of friendly demeanor, though, being vampires, this façade can give way to intense cruelty at any moment. They also tend to embrace their condition without much regard for their previous lives, seeing this as an act of fate that could never have been avoided.
Desideratum: Blood Bonds
In Desideratum: Blood Bonds, the abhartachs are only one of many strains of vampires fought in the Shanghai Tunnels below the streets of Portland. The Night Stalker, Absinthe Van Gothen, goes to the tunnels to save the nosferatu Brone Lorcan and stop Lord Ivor from summoning the goddess Nuit into the Physical World.
Appearance
Abhartachs have extremely white flesh and almost always have red hair. The main discerning feature of this strain of vampires is that their irises glow blue or green as opposed to the usual yellows or orange hues of other vampire strains.
Abilities
Like all vampires, abhartachs have unholy strength far beyond that of normal mortals. However, specifically, abhartachs can use psionics. They have the natural ability to imprint their thoughts on others and can use this to enslave or worse.
Equipment
Abhartachs generally do not carry weapons of any kind. Utilizing magicks or their own inherent psionic powers, they tend to avoid physical fighting.
Notes and Trivia
Abhartach (pronounced [ˈəuɾˠt̪ˠəx]; Irish for 'dwarf') is an early Irish legend in real-world mythology. In essence, it sounds as if the Irish had a form of vampire not unlike many other countries. As taken from The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places written by Patrick Joyce (1875):
There is a place in the parish of Errigal in Derry, called Slaghtaverty, but it ought to have been called Laghtaverty, the laght or sepulchral monument of the abhartach or dwarf. This dwarf was a magician, and a dreadful tyrant, and after having perpetrated great cruelties on the people he was at last vanquished and slain by a neighbouring chieftain; some say by Fionn Mac Cumhail. He was buried in a standing posture, but the very next day he appeared in his old haunts, more cruel and vigorous than ever. And the chief slew him a second time and buried him as before, but again he escaped from the grave, and spread terror through the whole country. The chief then consulted a druid, and according to his directions, he slew the dwarf a third time, and buried him in the same place, with his head downwards; which subdued his magical power, so that he never again appeared on earth. The laght raised over the dwarf is still there, and you may hear the legend with much detail from the natives of the place, one of whom told it to me.
This is the inspiration for the red-headed, green-eyed abhartach vampires in the Anaxverse.
