TBD

Lorenzo is a Vampire, infected with the Arcana Sanguine Strain. Like most strains of Vampirism this comes with an immunity to regular ailments, inhuman strength and durability, and a varying weakness for sunlight. What makes the Arcana Sanguine strain unique is its gradual evolution over time, and it’s ability to drain magic from blood.

There are three documented phases of progression for the Arcana Sanguine strain. Within the family these are referred to as “Adolescence, Adulthood, and Veneration”.

Adolescence starts when a Vampire is turned, and typically ends after forty to fifty years. An adolescent is characterized by pale skin over their pre-turned form, but holds little magical strength from their strain. They can use blood drank to pay the price for their own magics, but very inefficiently, and using blood to pay the price also means the adolescent isn’t nourished by the event. As a blessing they also are not nearly as damaged by the sun. Young adolescents lose the benefits of their strain, and ate generally very fatigued, but not lethally so. After twenty or so years the adolescent gradually becomes more fatigued by sunlight, until they are essentially paralyzed.

In “Adulthood” the vampire’s strain becomes more physically apparent, with several gaining yellow eyes, even paler skin, and more pronounced fangs. Adulthood is characterized by the ability of the vampire to more effectively steal magic by drinking blood. Specifically, the vampire may use the magic ability of a victim. As an example, a Arcana Sanguine strain vampire could gain mastery of ice magic after draining a ice-specialist Dreadlord of all reserves. This ability is dependent on how much blood the vampire draws, as well as the vampire’s age. New vampires require more blood to do less, while older adults have a significantly higher ceiling that is still typically lower than the original caster. Exposure to sunlight holds a painful burning effect on adult skin, though some can mitigate it with a particular application of magic. Such things of course have quite a heavy price, and a Arcana Sanguine vampire is never truly at fighting strength in the daylight.

Venerated Arcana Sanguine vampires are much less well defined than their younger brood, as anyone surviving that long is by necessity a special case. The Venerated are typically five centuries or more past their initial infection . Their bodies are completely consumed by the Arcana Sanguine strain, and undergo more drastic physical transformations. While these transformations are intensely variable in exact form, they generally become larger and more batlike, while gaining a horrific strength. The venerated can generally shift between this form and a more natural one, but it is unclear if this because of the strain or the sheer magic power and breadth that is normally acquired by the time one is venerated. To the venerated expression of magic is as simple as breathing. Their only weakness of the venerated is the sunlight, which is lethal to the touch.

Spreading of the Arcana Sanguine strain is a very deliberate affair, requiring a rune to be inscribed on a being before drawing their blood to be infected. Knowledge of the rune is kept only to “adults”, and even then only vampires of a certain rank. When ranks need to grow a formal ceremony occurs where a team of criminals is hired for a “big job”, where a vampire is also hired and assesses the talent of each member. The most worthy is turned, and told to drink any remaining blood from his or her crew, eliminating ties to old life and showing loyalty. The new recruit is given a new name and inducted to “The Family”. The Family business is any and all vice and crime.

The Family is run by the Consigliere, a council of venerated that fluctuates frequently in size, but has never been more than seven deep. Elections are held every century to elect the Boss, or head of the Consigliere, and again if the Boss dies during his term. The Boss assigns a number of Underbosses to manage the affairs of the family. The Underbosses each have an area to maintain, whether it be a city, part of a city, or product. The underboss assigns lieutenants from the adults, who have a number of adolescents reporting to them. Each underboss also has a small number of Operators or Fixers, talented individuals who operate alone and have considerable latitude to complete missions without a team from the family.