Vampyres are bat-like beings who originate from Vampyrium. They are the dominant race of Morytania, and are mostly found in the Sanguinesti Region. They live on human blood, and force all residents of Morytania to pay a blood tithe. After the Misthalin-Morytania War in the Fourth Age, the vampyre race was trapped in Morytania by the River Salve, which was blessed by the Seven Priestly Warriors. The conclusion of the Sanguinesti Liberation War in year 169 if the Fifth Age resulted in true-born vampyres once again having the freedom to leave Morytania, although human-born vampyres will be cured of their vampyrism if they attempt to leave.
The vampyre race is comprised of both true-born vampyres, who were born on Vampyrium, and humans that have been converted through a process known as vampyrisation. The process of vampyrisation seems to cause the host to lose parts of their former personalty, as shown with Vanstrom Klause. Human-born vampyres make up the majority of vampires in the Sanguinesti region.
History[]
Originally a predatory race, vampyres thrived on instinct and hunted for survival on Vampyrium. Tribes separated the species into different groups, where leaders were chosen based on strength. Each tribe preferred blood of a specific style, as detailed in A Taste of Hope.
Upon Zaros' arrival, the concept of civilized society was brought over which drastically changed the vampyres' way of life.[1] The drastic change of society threw the tribes into a civil war where 8 tribes eventually emerged victorious. The 8 tribes reformed into houses which formed a new aristocracy unifying the vampyres.[2][3] Uplifted, the vampyres pledged fealty to Zaros, and would eventually follow him to Gielinor in its Second Age, where most of the vampyres remain to this day. It is unknown if any vyres stayed in Vampyrium.
Currently, House Drakan is the strongest of the houses and rules over Meiyerditch. Sometime between the Second and Fifth Ages, Lowerniel Drakan ordered for the destruction of House Pyrah because of their "abhorrent" practices which did not belong in a modern society. He also weakened House Ghrazi by turning clipping the wings of all vyres belonging to that tribe due to their "aggressiveness", which too did not belong in a modern society.
Variants[]
Vampyre Juveniles[]
Vampyre Juveniles are the first and weakest stage of human-born vampyres. If players speak to the citizens of Sanguenesti, they will reveal that juveniles are "probably converted from some sort of a bipedal creature". which hints towards a human origin. They can be found in the woods east of Burgh de Rott, and in Meiyerditch.
Players can kill them with any weapon, but those in Meiyerditch must be damaged with a silver weapon, and killed with the Guthix balance potion. When the potion is not used, they will transform into vapour form, and escape.
Vampyre Juvinates[]
Vampyre Juvinates are second stage human-born vampyres that have been initiated into an order, which makes them immune to any weapon that isn't made of silver or blisterwood. They are stronger than vampyre juveniles. They turn into fog and retreat unless the player uses a Guthix balance potion on them.
Vampyre juvinates often do dirty work for the vyrewatch, such as collecting blood tithes, ambushing travellers, and guarding the mines. They are located east of Burgh de Rott, in Meiyerditch, and all over Morytania during Temple Trekking.
Vyre[]
Vyres are comprised of true-born vampyres and the final stage of human-born vampyres. Forming the upper class of the Sanguinesti Region, Vyres such as Vyrelords and Vyreladies usually reside in Darkmeyer. Many vyres also reside in Meiyerditch, supervising the city in vyrewatch patrols. They have limited shapeshifting abilities and appear to have at least three forms: humanoid form (Resembles a fanged, tall human), vapour form, and vyre form (Resembles a large bat-like creature). Unlike their lesser counterparts, they have the ability to fly, and are immune to all known weapons except the Ivandis flail, blisterwood weaponry, and the Sunspear.
Vyres are found all over Meiyerditch, Darkmeyer, and east of Burgh de Rott, mainly as part of vyrewatch patrols.
Feral vampyre[]
Feral vampyres are human-born vampyres that have reverted to a feral, animalistic state. This causes it to lose its affinities to most weapons. Feral vampyres can be found in the Haunted Woods and the God Wars Dungeon. They are a result of using a Guthix balance potion on juveniles and juvinates.
Other[]
Wyrd[]
If an icyene or part-icyene is converted into a vampyre, they will develop into a wyrd. Wyrds are larger than other types of vampyre, are characteristically strong-willed and resistant to authority, and harbour a visceral hatred for creatures of light (including, ironically, icyene).
Safalaan becomes a wyrd during River of Blood, and is the only one who has appeared in-game.
Venators[]
Venators are True-born vampyres who have either devolved or remained on Vampyrium after Zaros's departure. They resemble the original form of vampyres before the arrival of Zaros and thrive on predatory instinct.
Notable vampyres[]
In Morytania[]
A vapourised vampyre
- The Drakans - Lord Lowerniel Vergidiyad Drakan was the ancient and powerful ruler of Morytania, but nobody had seen him in years until 169 Fifth Age where he was defeated by a human adventurer. The day to day running of Morytania was done by his siblings, Ranis and Vanescula. Ultimately, Ranis and Lowerniel were killed by his sister and the Myreque, leading Vanescula to assume rulership of Morytania.
- Malak, whom players meet in the Desert Treasure quest. He teaches players how to defeat the guardian of blood so that he can own more land. In this way, he is one of the only vampyres that actually helps the player in a quest. He once got sick when he drank blood from the citizens of Mort'ton.
- Vanstrom Klause, one of the Myreque quest series main villains. He is often praised by the Drakans and seems to be fourth in command.
- Dessous, a vampyre noble who owns land north of the Sanguinesti region. He is killed in Desert Treasure, as a favour for Malak, who wants his land.
- Solomon Lamescus, a prominent noble of House Drakan residing in the Sanguinesti region. He holds partial responsibilities as he gave information on vampyres, as well as Count Draynor .
- The Black Prince is another prominent noble Vampyre Lord featured in the Return to Canifis novel. He is the father of Gar'rth and the true heir to the throne of Misthalin. He appears to have some form of rivalry with Vanescula Drakan.
Outside Morytania[]
There are very few vampyres residing outside of Morytania, and the few that are have been greatly weakened. Most of them are lesser forms, such as vampyre juveniles. Known vampyres outside of Morytania include:
- Count Draynor, the younger brother of Lord Drakan, and the owner of Draynor Manor. He rests in a coffin in the basement, though players fight him in the Vampyre Slayer quest. In postbag 19 it is told that the count was banished from Morytania for his cowardice, and his absence from Drakan is what weakened him.
- Ruantun, who probably used to be a vampyre juvinate. He is found in the sewers of Draynor Village, and helps players to make a silver pot in the Desert Treasure quest.
- The Sinister Stranger, a fisherman who denies being a vampyre at all, but he is overpowered by garlic. He is involved with the Fishing Contest quest.
- There is also a vampyre in the coffin upstairs in the Paterdomus temple, who is involved with the Priest in Peril quest. In River of Blood this vampyre is revealed to be Ivandis Seergaze himself.
- Count Check who appears during Customer Supporter week.
Trivia[]
- Vampyres received major graphical updates along with the rest of Morytania on 17 August 2011. Some, however, did not, them being: Malak, Ruantun, Dessous, Vlad, Revenant vampyres and vampyres in the God Wars Dungeon.
- Prior to the update on 31 August 2011, Vampires and Vampyres were two different races. The level 60-70 bat-like creatures in the swamps of Morytania were listed as "Vampire" and looked much like Ruantun does now. The more intelligent figures, such as the Vyres were known as "Vampyre". It was thought that Jagex intended for them to be two separate races, but upon the release of The Branches of Darkmeyer, it was decided that the two should be mixed. It's unknown if this was planned all along, or if the distinction between "Vampire" and "Vampyre" became too confusing for players.
- All vampyres (juveniles, juvinates and vyres) are immune to damage over time abilities, even if it hit them and the weapon used was either the Ivandis flail or Blisterwood weapons. This is most likely an oversight from Jagex.
