Vanpir and the Children of the Long Night.

Long ago when Erenth was young, all the people lived undying at the girdle of the world. And Mortas became the first of those who tasted death, having been slain by a jealous kinsman. Then the sons of Mortas laid hold of his killer and punished him by taking his hands, eyes and tongue in recompense for his crime. Then banished, the slayer found refuge in the service of Baere and he was protected by her from further vengeance.

But one of the sons of Mortas was not consoled and Vanpir was his name. He desired further vengeance and nursed that desire all the length of his life. Many long years Vanpir lived and his passion poisoned him. So that though his body faded, his hatred lived on. Vanpir delighted in the hardship of the children and grandchildren of his father’s killer and he fed his hatred upon their every misfortune. He hated also Baere who forbade him his vengeance and he sought to unmake all that she held proper.

But the day came when the body of Vanpir could not go on. For those who are not mortal will live until their spirits consume their bodies, as surely as a flame consumes its candle. In that hour he made common cause with the Malenir, a being of darkness who also hated Baere. The Malenir offered to restore his body, if he would replenish it with the life blood of others still living. So the Malenir brought a victim to him and Vanpir consumed her. Thus, Vanpir lived on and his body was restored.

So the Malenir brought mortal victims to him, those who had been forbidden immortality by the pronouncement of Baere. And Vanpir consumed their life blood and drained their life from them. Thus, Vanpir lived on and his body was restored to its strength. Born of foul desire and cursed to live in solitude. His days thereafter were spent in the agony of that desire for it rose in him as a hunger which only the blood of mortals could sate. Then Vanpir was shunned by all who knew him and the light of day burned at him. He became a creature of darkness and fled from the lands of all people, reviled and feared. He lived alone on the blood of beasts, refusing even to eat when the hunger consumed him, unless and until he lingered at the point of death. 

Then the Malenir was angry for it was deprived of the sacrilege it sought. It came to Vanpir in the form of a companion and consoled him as he slept near death. It took from Vanpir the curse and gift he had been given and using it, bore vile kindred. These live in the open and make their victims where they can, for by this method they seek to celebrate the evil their master wrought and to make it plain before all.