Vampire

Vampires are undead immortals who feed and survive on the blood of the living or the blood of animals, and were turned by their Maker. Their primary characteristics include being "undead" (characterized by a lack of a heartbeat, brainwaves, electrical impulses, need to breathe, and other bodily functions), fangs, and the need to drink blood to survive.

Physical Characteristics

 * "These creatures are of the darkest parts of hell. They have the power to control your mind, seduce your spirit. They are deadly, and they must be destroyed."


 * -Unknown Withhunter

Vampires have no set appearance although they do share a set of common physical characteristics. Vampires are invariably tall and pale skinned, they are many times stronger than a mortal man and can move faster than the mortal eye can see. Some of them can pass for human in low light, and indeed many live among the the aristocracy of Bretonnia and the Empire, feeding on unknowing individuals. Vampires are all extremely charismatic individuals and are known to beguile their victims with their shear force of personality before feeding.

What all this cannot hide, however, is that all vampires are Undead. And are essentially living corpses with no pulse or breath. Vampires need to regularly feed off human blood to stay strong and keep up the appearance of being alive. If they can feed regularly they can maintain a convincing façade of life, but if they cannot gain a regular supply of fresh blood they will soon degrade into little more than walking corpses.

Vampires are unique among Undead in that they maintain full conciousness after being given the Blood Kiss. This means they keep all of their human ambition and desires. This also means that they can learn new skills over time, making the ancient Vampires powerful foes indeed.

Anatomy
Vampires are recognizable from their fangs, which are located behind the maxillary lateral incisors (as opposed to the canines, as per vampire mythology). Fangs can be extended and retracted by choice, and are controlled by the movements of certain facial muscles. However, fangs protrude automatically when vampires are feeding, angry, excited, aroused (colloquially referred to as a "fang boner"), need to fight, or see blood. Fangs can also be removed, but grow back after three months. Without fangs, vampires cannot feed live.

Due to the lack of blood flow, vampires do not have any bodily functions. Due to this, vampires do not produce waste, and are unable to become pregnant, impregnate female humans or supernatural creatures, and have lower body temperatures (than humans).

Vampires have anatomically different tear ducts from humans, as they expel blood, not tears.

Feeding
If a vampire abstains from drinking blood, they will experience the "bleeds", during which the vampire will begin to bleed from their ears and nose. The bleeds stop when the vampire feeds. While vampires are unable to hold in anything but (synthetic) blood, they can experience joy in smoking cigars and cigarettes. Since their bodies heal any damage rapidly, smoking will not have any lasting effect on a vampire such as it does on humans.

Maker

 * "Becoming a maker is an eternal commitment, greater than any marriage, deeper than any human bond."


 * -Godrik

Makers are Vampires who have turned Humans into Vampires. The new Vampire (also known as a progeny) must then stay with their maker until they are released and know enough about the Vampire laws.

Traits
The Vampire maker has a very deep connection with his/her progeny, something that no Human can fully understand. Throughout the series some physical and emotional traits have been seen among makers and their progenies. During the transformation from human to vampire, both the maker and progeny are buried together.

Abilties

 * Calling a Progeny: The maker can "call" his/her progeny whenever he wants. It feels like a shiver all over the body and possibly revealing the progeny where his/her maker is.
 * Empathic link: Makers can sense if their progeny dies, or is in pain or duress. It is unknown if a progeny can sense the death or pain of their maker. However, if in danger, their maker may call them.
 * Commands: Makers can force their progenies to do anything they want, they just have to finish the sentence by telling the words "As your maker, I command you". Apparently, these words have no effect if the progeny was previously released.
 * Release: At the moment the Vampire maker says the words "As your maker, I release you", his/her progeny is completely released of any control from his/her maker forever.
 * Strength: Makers are always stronger than their progenies, probably because of the age. There are extremely rare situations when the progeny directly kills his or her master, without any external help.