Clan Name: The Salvesk
Clan History: The Salvesk vampire clan was formed on the old Zarethian Empire planet of Talov, a small backwater planet that was nevertheless the site of an important shipyard. The snowy surface of Talov was at times, nearly inhosbitable outside the insulated hab-domes of the cities. It was in these isolated, cramped and crowded cities that the first hints of Salvesk Sanguiniin first made its mark (created by a mysterious necromancer of great power). Marked as a simple strain of zinfluenza, the medical authorities werebaffled when their cures only made things worse and their subjects died in droves. This epidemic devastated the population, killing nearly 10% of the total population on the planet and turning a remarkable .9% into the Salvesk clan of vampires. After three years of killings, the zarethoan residents of Talov cracked down and slaughtered all but a few of the Salvesk clan, leaving only those who were intelligent, cunning or ungodly powerful to fall back into the shadows of legend. The people of Talov survived the Lorcar invasion onboard the civilian ship the Zynnerath and along with them, the Salvesk clan survived, minute and invisible without the effects of the sun to hinder them. They arrived at Tefillin and most went down at first notice, the others went to Zaned, when it was found.
Clan Description:
Living Status: Alive
Type of Vampirism: Infectious Disease (Salvesk Sanguiniin). Salvesk Sanuiniin drives the host into a temporary but very lethal state of fever, most subjects fall into a deep, coma-like sleep until they either die or wake up in five to ten days time. 95% of subjects die in the comatose state. The ones that survive this ordeal find themselves in an almost berserker like state driven partly because of an inexplicable amount of anger at anyone or anything unfortunate enough to be in their vicinity as well as a sudden thirst for blood. Those that survive this stage, which only ends when they drink three bodies worth of blood, become the basic stage of vampiric being. Salvesk Sanguiniin is only transferred via being born to a mother who has it sired by a father who has it or by being bitten by a berserk fledgling and surviving (no easy feat). As such, Salvesk vampires are quite rare, even for vampires and most choose not to show themselves.
Subjects under the influence of Salvest Sanguiniin have a slight desire to drink blood, this can be any blood, from anything. Animals, people, even bloodpacks will suffice. However, they gain a deeper desire to drink someone's blood if they dislike them and gain a deeper satisfaction from it, almost akin to euphoria if they feel true hatred. The subjects are also much more prone to meglomania, fits of indulgence, and grudges. The more they dislike the owner of the blood they drink, the more intense satisfaction they will recieve, as well as a hearty increase to their already extraordinary physical abilities.
There are many ways to become a Grand Salvesk Vampire but few ever come close to achieving the prestigous position. One way would be to get the Council of Eighteen (the current eighteen vampire lords in charge of the clan. Most are not actually grand vampires) to each give you a pint of their blood, mix it all up and then drink that mixture for two days. Another would be to drink the blood of 1000 people you hold a significant grudge against and the third, more obscure option would be to be the subject used in the Awakening Ritual. The Awakening Ritual is gathering twelve followers who, each in turn cut themselves symbolically and bleed into a bowl whilst taking an oath of allegiance (which doubles as an enchantment incantation) in the tongue of the ancient inhabitants of Talov. Seeing as most Salvosk are self-centered, megomaniacle and sometimes just plain insane, these rituals are quite difficult.
Powers:The basic Salvesk vampire fledgling holds few abilities other then the ability to shapeshift into the beings that they've consumed the blood of, if only temporarily. How long they can stay in that form depends on how many people they've consumed the blood of.
Salvesk vampires cannot die of natural causes, they are completely immune to diseases and will only age up to a certain point (30 in human years), after which, they stop aging completely. This also allows them a small regenerative capability.
After consuming about 50 or so enemies, the physical abilities of the vampire increase. Since the Zarethians are already well above the average Humans physically, these vampires have nigh superhuman reflexes.
The Salvesk also possess the innate ability to charm the weakminded simply by having them look into their eyes and so long as they have eye contact, that individual is much more receptive to suggestions made by the vampire.
The most powerful ability of the Salvesk is their work with blood magic. Similar to the Valshiek magic, they can manipulate the blood in someone elses body, immobilizing them, or making them act under their will. They can even completely drain their blood from a distance. Power increases with the number of enemies killed.
Weaknesses: Solar light is dangerous but only in large quantities. If a Salvesk vampire was to spend, say, thirty minutes out in the sun, they would very slowly begin to rot. Their flesh would necrotize, causing extreme pain, but would heal after they got out of the sunlight for a while. Other then the sun and their own psychological issues, the Salvesk clan also have a weakness to death like all other mortal beings. They can die by normal means such as stabbings, beheading and other injuries. Another weakness is their weakness to oathes. If one can manage to get a Salvesk vampire to swear an oath to him, that vampire will be forced to comply for so long as the one who gives the oath is alive. Many of the other, more traditional methods of destroying a Salvesk vampire were lost with the planet that once caged them. However, many different
metals are able to burn the vampires upon touch. Silver, gold, platinum, copper are all effective at slaying these creatures.
Grand Vampires: These powerful vampires are an even larger threat then their weaker kin. They are often times the strongest, most fearsome and ruthless of their whole clan and will not hesitate to prove it. These vampires gain an affinity with blood that far outstrips their brethren. They can write runes of power upon their bodies with the blood of their enemies, and are granted temporarily greater abilities. These vampires can transform themselves to reflect their true nature, usually a foul, twisted beast, sometimes a wolf-like creature.
These lords are also able to possess a willing individual and act with their body from many miles away. They quickly regenerate any wound not created by fire or acid and are superzarethianly powerful physically.
Despite these traits, they do have some weaknesses unique to them. There can only be a handful of them at a time, and vampires wishing for a promotion are many and must kill a Grand to unlock a spot. They are also much weaker to the sunlight when transformed and blood magic in the sunlight will result in a very large explosion of magical energy. They cannot attack the innocent, children and virgins repel them. No matter their form, animals will shy away from them or attack.
