Faction name: The Sanguine AllianceAlias: Crimson States, The Land of Black WaterGovernment Type: CouncilFaction Species:While most of the people are just human, they are not represented in the upper echelons of the Sanguine Alliance. No mortal can ever hope to be part of the nobility. For they are exclusively vampire. Vampires are ancient creatures. Immortal and strong. Vampires themselves are divided in several ranks and classes. The first rank are the New Bloods. Vampires that only exist for a human life time or less. They are Fledglings (newly turned) and Neophytes (Less than 100 years vampire but more than 25 years). They are generally treated as dirt, used as live training for higher vampires or as servants. Then come the True Vampires: Nightstalkers are the hunters of the Vampires. They roam the nights, generally alone, to root out dissidents amongst the human population. Reapers are the elite fighting force of the Sanguine Alliance. Blood-priests are part of the clergy and delve into the deeper secrets of blood and magic. These True Vampires are generally considered equal in rank. Though one can have a higher standing than the other due to age. The last one is a Vampire Lord. A True Vampire who distinguished himself in the eyes of the Sanguine Alliance and is granted a piece of land and a handful of thralls to tend it. Then come the Elder classes: Ascendants are ancient vampires that uncovered a truth of vampirism. More in tune with their inner power, they are stronger than True Vampires. However, their youth still influences them. Elders are vampires that have undergone hibernation and rose up again. Generally, they are more tempered but also uncaring towards the world. Finally, there are Ancients. These vampires have undergone several hibernations. Most, if not all, are recluses, preferring damp forgotten caves and dark woods. Some wait half a millennium just for a single thing to happen. Others are awaiting something unexpected. While the oldest, Ancients rarely govern. Leaving the affairs of the state to the younger, Elder brethren.
There are rumors of an even older vampire caste: the Antediluvians. To believe in their existence is to believe in Kain himself. For Kain was the first vampire. Stories of how he turned diverge. In fact, there are as many stories of Kain as there are bards that tell his tales. The Antediluvian caste exists of the First Children of Kain. Who laid the foundation of vampirism. The lines continue to the Last Sinners. Who were supposed to be killed in a flood. This, all stories agree on. But whatever deity wanted them all dead, it failed. Some survived and brought the vampiric curse into the new land.
Not all vampires are sane (or only slightly disheveled). Some of them delve too deep in the secrets of the blood, not heeding the warnings. The blood, in turn, corrupts them. Makes them feral. They grow pale wild. Hair grows long and webbings grow in between their hands. If no action is taken, they vanish one night. Years later they return to their homestead, devolved into a giant, bat-like creature lusting for nothing more than blood and flesh. Others surrender to the beast inside. This often happens when a fledgling is not kept in check. He grows more hungry with every kill and lacks discipline. Such vampires often run away from their lord in pursuit of more blood. It is a liege’s responsibility to hunt them down then. Sometimes, they fail and the fledgling goes on a killing spree. Only to vanish in the wild lands. Accursed they are called and they will turn into a landlocked, giant beast. Some find it again and keep it as a pet. All vampires must fear certain states of mind and afflictions. As vampires can often change in many more horrible, senseless beasts. Forever doomed to bloodlust.
Territory Details:The land around The Black Water is owned by the Sanguine Alliance. To the east you have mostly marches and fields. Here most of the agricultural activities take place. Traveling upwards on the eastern shore you’ll encounter Agrat-Thul. An ancient, forgotten city. Said to be the home of all vampires in Nagoth during the time of Daigon. A crimson metropolis where blood literally flowed through the streets for all vampires to drink it. However, it was sacked by Justinian and his vampire hunters when they came to destroy Agrat-Thul. The vampires never rebuild the place, though it is said that more than one Ancient remains here. Going over the farther tip, there is little land far up north. However, on the west would be the first few cities, carved from the mountains’ stone. In the mountains themselves, slaves work tirelessly to delve up gems from the mountains. Down south is newly taken terrain. Some humans have settled the southern’ sea’s shore. While the vampires have built large mansions inside the protection of the Black Water.
Faction Religion/Ideology:The Sanguine Alliance have no true, set religion. Though there is a collective reverence towards Kain, the First Vampire and his First Children. They revere him as a vampire that ascended to godhood. His children became lesser gods and blessed their children in turn. All the way to the Last Sinners. Now, those blessings are still carried through the bloodlines. Though not everyone agrees upon every story. Some say, for example, that Daigon was Kain. A claim only made by fledglings with an ill understanding of their gifts. Others say Daigon was the incarnation of Kain. Others claim there was no Kain or Antediluvians. The only indication given towards a truth is that the Ancients seemingly worship nothing and nobody. But really, who can be sure with a creature that slept through ages?
The humans, secretly (though not so secret that their vampire overlords do not know) worship the Lightbringer. A version of Justanism where they believe the god of all that is good and light will come down and save them. Their overlords allow this practice, as hopelessness seemingly dulls the blood that is no longer tasty. However, it is a dangerous game. For too much hope can lead to action. Thus the Sanguine Alliance often commit to a culling. Publicly executing and torturing known worshippers of the Light. Yet alas, sometimes it wasn’t enough and vampires have been killed by plebs during revolts.
Faction Description:At first glance, not that much looks strange in the land of Black Water. Slaves work the fields, plebs work the mills and shops and all seems peaceful. Except for the black robed and masked figures, walking around with whips in their hands. Overseers that keep the people at bay in the fields. Prone to let the whip crack should any mortal not work hard enough. Life as a human in Black Water is to be chained to a Vampire Lord. You work his fields, sleep in his cottages and eat his food. When he asks for his tithe, you present you are to present your veins willingly. You can never escape lest the Nightstalkers catch you, kill your family before your eyes and then you. Most are content with their lives. They have shelter and food. Though some would dare revolt. The gibbets on the city walls though, serve as a stern reminder.
In the cities, one can find more vampires. Especially at night. They walk the streets as sirs and ladies. Rich and laughing with blood still on their shin. New vampires are chosen from the human stock. Often those with exceptional talent are taken. However, the façade hides an ill truth. There are never enough humans to serve the vampire’s lust for blood. Lesser vampires, fledglings and neophytes especially, must do with the lesser blood of animals, orcs and other vile creatures.
Older Vampire Lords are often eccentric, hosting massive balls. Others create what they will refer to as a ‘vineyard’. Though make no mistake. These vineyards are actual villages living under special circumstances. Some are put on a diet of only oranges for weeks. Other are prohibited from touching beer. This alters their blood, which their Vampire Lord then drains and bottles. Unlike wine, age does not matter. Instead, the age of the human, the name of the ‘wine’ and from which vineyard it comes are deemed important details. The same is often done for meat.
Vampire Lords rarely fully agree with one another. Each has their own agendas. Especially amongst the True Vampire caste. This is why the Elder caste generally take matters of state in their hands. Even though their divides are generally even deeper, they have grown accustomed to the idea of building bridges when needed. Their eventual goal is rather obvious: a world for vampires, where humans and their mortal ilk are but livestock kept at work and alive to serve their bloody rulers. A far-reaching goal for those cursed with aging. A mere test of patience for those untouched by time. Or so the vampires would believe.
Faction History:Despite the existence of the Ancients and Elders, lots of history remains obscure and even contradictory. The only fact considered true is the existence of Agrat-Thul, the Crimson Capital. A vast metropolis of vampires. Who supposedly worked with Daigon. However, when the dark lord was struck down and Agrat-Thul was razed to the ground, the vampires fled to the eastern mountains to hide. Many elders went into hibernation then and there. Lesser vampires who would not survive the hibernation hunted to remain alive. Eventually to crawl back out from the mountains to witness a land destroyed and ruined. Agrat-Thul was a haunted place and their once great empire was no more. Slowly the vampires expanded, taking humans as their slaves.
This expansion got a much-needed boost when vampires fled Justinian lands for Nagath. Many vampires went north, but others went south and arrived at the Sanguine Alliance lands. With this upkick in population, the Alliance could hasten their expansion. Now they have enough to raid the March Lords for the human population, as well as maintain the livestock at home. The Sanguine Alliance, in a way, is thriving. But it’s not all good. There are still not enough humans to feed all vampires and many Elders must remain in hibernation to survive.
Noticable charactersElizabeth of Vaggren – A human born in a rather unremarkable human farmer village. Not even a vineyard. Nothing in her childhood indicated any special merit, so she was barely glanced at by the Vampire Lords. However, when an Accursed began rampaging near her village things started to change. She was one of the first to pick up arms against it, long before even the Vampires could react. Very soon she had a band of men and women behind her holding pitchforks and cleavers. When the humans found the beast, the battle began. When the Vampire Lords arrived, they witnessed Elizabeth delivering the final stab into the bleeding beast below her. Initially, she was to be turned. However, word spread fast amongst the human population about her heroic victory. So, for now, she has been appointed as the representative of the humans in the Sanguine Alliance. Not that the post entails much power.
Mirabella of Gorogon Island – She was but a fledgling when she fled to Nagath. She thought it would be her final resting place, an end to a life she barely remembered. Except that it was miserable, painful and harsh. She didn’t remember how she got turned nor how she learned how to feed. Older vampires in Nagath guessed her at less than 10 years when she arrived. Alas, it did not matter. Unlike the other vampiric ladies that arrived, Mirabella had no former aristrocratic blood or education. She couldn’t write or read but she could throw another fledgling across a yard. She was taken in by Ersten, an older vampire, who taught her the ropes of being a vampire. She learned to hide her more savage and aggressive nature under silk and a smile. But she never forsook her fighting spirit. To this day she is one of the greatest fighters of her generation. Her greatest achievement was winning over Lord Ultain the Grey. A vampire Lord set to become an ascendant. The defeat shamed him and he did not make Ascendant after that. These days Mirabella is growing bored and hopes for a good to war too break out.
Relations to other Factions:Recently rumors have spawned that vampires are also surviving up north. Details are vague so far. Tushiena’s ships are always free to dock at the Sanguine Alliance’s ports. As the Vampire Lords often require exotic goods for their next experimentation. The Weeping Widows religion has taken hold in the human population. Though in vampires, only Fledglings dare believe the tales.
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