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Interlude: Vampirism

  Pasta-Gal

  It is some type of supernatural affliction. Over the centuries it has evolved to better suit its survival. This change of vampirism is why in old texts and descriptions of vampires they are more monstrous but now they much closer resemble normal humans albeit with some key differences. While Vampirism is most commonly seen in humans, it can and has on occasion been observed in other animal species; pnts and fungus seem immune.

  ChangesIt is not uncommon for young vampires to enter coma like states while their transformation occurs, this near death like state has resulted in the premature burial of many vampires and is why many think of vampires as undead creatures when they very much are still alive. For some the transformation happens rapidly and painfully over the course of hours, others slowly over a series of days to even weeks.

  Typical changesModern day vampirism as part of its changes induces the required changes to adjust the body to the new diet of life essence. This usually includes, but is not limited to, development of fangs, internal organs shifting and redeveloping, saliva developing an anticoagunt property.

  Vampires are nocturnal predators and because of that other parts of their physiology change to accommodate that. Vampires eyes are extremely sensitive to light and they develop additional cones that allow them to see partially into the infrared and ultraviolet spectrum. This is an extremely jarring change that has caused many to believe they are hallucinating. This sensitivity however makes it difficult for Vampires to navigate during the day even with sungsses, this aversion to the day time eventually led to the myth that the sun can harm or kill vampires, it can't it just is quite uncomfortable.

  Other more mild changes changes that also occur are the body temperature drops, skin looses color, becoming paler no longer having the red tint from blood in their bodies. Vampires loose the ability to produce their own blood and as such they drain it from others to replenish their own. Upon draining blood the vampire becomes flushed for a few hours the new blood circuting throughout their body brings the red color back to their body, if only temporarily.

  The enhanced physiology also usually makes the vampire immune to most illnesses.

  MutationsBecause of the ever changing state of vampirism some vampires may experience changes that others do not. Some vampires find that their nails have become harder and can more closely serve to function like cws. Some may have their eyes more well adjusted and not suffer from bright lights. Other's find that they can stomach more "normal" foods than their peers.

  One especially odd trait that can develop is a subtle shape-shifting like ability; it is a little more rare than most of these traits but is seen frequently enough that it is observed in at least one member of most vampire communities. This shape-shifting is affected by the psychology of the vampire, their body can over long periods of time slowly morph itself to match the way the vampire may view themselves. This in turn has allowed some vampires to appear to age more quickly to match humans of their actual age, while others it provides more gender affirming attributes. It is believed that this ability developed in order for vampires to better hide within human societies.

  There are also those within that minority of shapeshifters that can manipute their body into inhuman forms, such as animals.

  AgeVampires are not immortal, as some sources might have you believe. But they do possess extremely long lives, any where from 3-4 times as long. The limit seems to around 320 years. The younger a vampire is turned the longer they live, as vampirism merely slows the aging process down. So if a child was turned into a vampire at say age 12, physically speaking they would not mature into an adult until they were in their 60s(based on percentiles of age, a 12yr old is approximately 15% of their way through life). It is expected that this child would live to their mid 300s. If someone was turned into a vampire when they were already in their 50s(aprox. 62% through life) those remaining 30ish years would be slowed down and it is estimated they would live to be around 170.

  DietVampires body's adapt to digest and subsist mostly off of blood, however their digestive system does remain simir enough where some "normal" food may be ingested from time to time but it is not recommended and high consumption of these "normal" foods may cause severe sickness, indigestion, and vomiting.

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