Van Richten's Monster Hunter's.pdf - Askadesign.com

‘‘d’ much more concerned about relative
age, and their uses of titles are almost
exclusively symbolic and valued only
for their psychological effect. For
instance, a vampire addressing another
that is its senior in age might address it
as “Old One,’’ “Ancient One,” or even
“Eminence,” regardless of the senior
vampire’s actual age category. In this
case, the form of address would reflect
respect (or, more accurately, fear) for
the senior vampire. In the converse
situation, an older vampire might
address a younger creature as
“Fledgling” regardless of the younger
creature’s actual age, to signify
contempt for the junior vampire’s
weakness.
In most cases, of course, vampires
meeting for the first time will not know
each other’s age. The use of titles in
such a situation would depend on the
intentions of the creatures involved.
They might refrain from using titles to
avoid giving offense, or might use
them extensively in a game of “oneupmanship.”
Jarmin had asked me
walk with him, for he said he had
something uery important he
wished to discuss with me. I have to
admit I suspected what his topic
would be. After all, we had been
spending considerable amounts of
time together, and it was only
logical that marriage would be on
his mind.
We were within the cathedral
when the earthquake struck. The
ancient stone structure shuddered,
and there was a terrible crashing
noise from above. With hideous
strength, Jarmin flung me aside,
just in time to prevent me from
being struck by the massive stone
blocks that had fallen from the roof
of the apse. Jarmin was not so
lucky. The first boulder struck him
solidly on the back and smashed
him to the ground.
I buried my face in my hands,
weeping inconsolably over the loss
of my one and only love. And then I
screamed in shock as a familiar
hand rested on my shoulder, and a
familiar voice whispered in my ear!
“There will never again be need for
tears,’’ Jarmin told me as his lips
brushed my neck. “Nothing, not
even time, will keep us apart.”
-From the journal of Maria Castries
-7*-.?-.-* _ _ --
” -
v
All vampires enjoy certain abilities
which, were they possessed by a
mortal, would certainly be ascribed to
the realm of magic. To a vampire,
however, such faculties are quite
innate. Some of the powers, indeed,
appear to be the result of casting
spells, yet others render the creature
“superhuman,” so to speak. At this
point l shall divide these capacities into
“nonspell-like” and “spell-like” powers
and expound upon each, but I hasten
to add that, to the vampire, they are
one and the same, and altogether
inherent.
P?ovpell-like Powers
All vampires are extremely powerful in
the physical sense. The reasons for
this are unclear. Perhaps the
transformation from life to undeath
somehow tempers the body physically,
making muscles stronger and flesh,
bones, and sinew more resistant to
damage.
From the moment of their creation,
vampires are hideously strong. Unlike
mortals, who weaken as they grow
older and their muscles atrophy,
vampires actually gain strength as the
years pass. Patriarch vampires, for
example, develop a strength rivaling
that of some lesser gods. Vampires
gain great benefits from their