Vamps and Weres as players

In case some of you were thinking about starting out as werewolves, vampires, or something like that, I figured I might want to tell you about the types of them before I went on with the Illusionist just in case. (yes, yes, you can play "monsters" and "creatures" as players...)



First off, remember that there was a very large outbreak of Vampires (Vamps) and Lycanthropes (Weres) in the year 401 A.C. Over the next couple of years, the epidemic spread across the Northern Hemisphere and parts of the Southern. Also, most aquatic communities got hit as well (thus the large number of Weresharks and such.) The Hollow World did not get hit by the epidemic. This is mostly because of the difficulty in the virus would have in getting down there. Also, most denizens of the night would not live happily in a the land of high noon where there is no nights. However, after the epidemic died down, the Hollow World did feel the after effects with this new "community" of Weres and Vamps looking for a new home and so on. This increase in the Were and Vamp population made those creatures much more than legends that were on people mouths in the taverns. It made them a common day-to-day problem. One final matter of importance is that the outbreak was originally a Were-virus. However, as the population of Weres increased, a strain finally hit the Vampire community and started a new Vamp-virus that started to spread just as fast as the Were-virus. Thus, the 401 outbreak was actually two virus strains.



With that little back-story out of the way, it is time for the types:



1) The Infected Type: This type of Were or Vamp is the type that is infected with a strain of the 401 outbreak. In 1000 A.C., there is no known Vamp or Were that were the original host of the virus. It is likely that a Vamp lays out there that made the Vamp strain possible, but so far, he or she (or it) has yet to be found. (finding such an early host can be deadly for the Infected Type as it can help research for a cure). It goes without saying that these are the most detested types of Weres and Vamps. They tend to harbor the most "barbaric" traits. Many infected like this fall prey to their "appetites" and thus become the target of the hunters, purgers, and the higher types. The Infected tend not to be anywhere near as powerful as the other two types. They can grow to be pretty powerful should that Infected live long enough. Because of their hunger, uncivilized nature, and infamy these types of Weres and Vamps tend to live in in small packs. Most of the time, they don't make their homes, they steal. About 7o% of the world Vamp and Weres are Infected types.

2) The Cursed Type: The Cursed are the ones who were "bitten" or cursed by other means by the third type. About 25% of the world Vamp and Weres are this type. The Cursed Type can be disrespected by the third type due to the fact that some become cursed by accident. The person who was cursed should have died. Sometimes it is because of they are weaker than the third. Cursed start out weaker than the third type. Though, with training, a Cursed can become stronger than many of the third type. Cursed are linked with their "masters". The type link varies. A few examples are:

Control: The Cursed obeys their master commands without question

Life Line: Health is exchanged back and forth in master favor. (Death of master means death of Cursed.)

Blood: A rare link. The Cursed can be considered a son or daughter of the master.

Hunger: The Cursed gets the urge to feed when the master feeds (master normally feed at a set time)

Wrath: When the master is angry towards something, all Cursed get the urge to deliever pain to the subject.

There are many more. The Cursed tend to be the characters of the Legends. The third type tend to hide out of sight successfully enough to remain out of stories.
3) The True Type: The True Types are the ones who gained their Vamp or Were traits by birth, gift from an Immortal, or do not have an explaination on why they are a Vamp or Were. The ones who do not have an explaination tend to be the most powerful of this type. The True Types only take up 5% of the know Vamp and Were population. The True Types tend to live like royalty. Only, royalty that can lay waste to a small army. Young True Types are vastly stronger than any Infected and greatly stronger than any Cursed. Their strength only grows as they age. No matter what age. Some True Types live for so long that it is said that their line does not die with age. True Types cannot be considered evil creatures. Some do harbor that personailty. However, many can be argued to be creatures with a different "taste" about them.
There is even a possible fourth and fifth type. These later unknown types would, in theory, but more powerful than True Types. They would also be the cause of True Types. There is no physical proof of a fourth and fifth type. Just as there is no physical proof of 4th and 5th diminsions.

Due to the power of the 2nd and 3rd type, a player is not likely to be any one of those unless it is campaign specific. (Lets put it this way, a level 1 True Type can whomp a regular level 36 fighter).