Vampires

Vampires In Grail & Grove
Perhaps the most populous and feared of the metahuman races, vampires are typically antagonists or complicated anti-hero allies in the Grail & Grove novels. Vampires are made, not born. Human beings are transformed by their vampiric Maker over the course of a long ritualistic feeding in which they are taken to the point of death over and over again, infused with the mana-rich blood of their Maker. It is a highly complex and personalized sado-sexual magical ritual that creates a permanant bond between the Maker and their progeny.

In post-Revival America, vampires can acquire legal citizenship. They are allowed to feed off consenting adults, and in some states, humans can sign waivers to be employed by vampires as foodstock with a mortality clause: their families will be paid an additional year's salary when (not if) they are completely consumed. It is illegal for a vampire to create a progeny against their will or wantonly kill.

Vampiric Lore
According to the Spring Court, the vampiric curse began during the Cad Gordeu when King Arwen cut his wrist into a chalice and revived his fallen champions with a taste of his blood. One of his Fae champions, Gwyn was restored in this manner seven times and became immortal but cursed to feed from nothing but blood. Gwydion was able to cast further geas upon him where he was frozen "like stone" during the day. In retaliation, Gwyn took Blodeuwedd and forced himseld and his blood upon her, transforming her into a vampire who was banished from the Spring Court. She was forced to join the Shadow Court along with her human hand maiden Lilith, who was likewise claimed by Gwyn. Blodeuwedd grew jealous of Lilith and drove her out of Annwn to the terrestrial world. The Spring Court considers Lilith the figure incorporated in Judaic mythology and the progenitor of human vampires.



Vampiric Abilities
Vampires in Grail & Grove stop aging when they are turned. Their biochemical processes end and instead they must maintain a steady intake of mana from the blood, breath, and skin of living people. They do not hunger but constantly thirst. The older a vampire becomes, the more impenetrable to damage they become. While fire and the sun will burn a young vampire, a master vampire can withstand direct sunlight, immolation and decapitation. Vampires develop psychic abilities and can learn spellcraft even if they did not previously possess them, especially if they were fae-blooded (or wolf-blooded, etc.) but they have no unique powers beyond their ageless state and ability to survive damage that would be fatal to most other creatures.

see also werewolves and vampires

see also humans and vampires

see also fae and vampiress

see also vampires in the G&G novels