ll Vampires inherit the traits and characteristics of their Undead forefathers. The Blood Dragon Vampires are the greatest warriors amongst the lords of Undeath, for the first of their family was Abhorash, the Lord of Blood, and the supreme warrior amongst the nobles of Lahmia. All of these Vampire knights share some of the blighted and tragic destiny of their forefathers.

The story of the Blood Dragons began four millennia ago, far in the South, in the land of Khemri. It was here that the greatest of all Necromancers, Nagash the Black, was born, and here he created the art of Necromancy, the black magical art which can summon and control the dead. His evil deeds brought about the creation of the Vampires.

Blood Dragon

To avoid death Nagash laboured long and hard, and delved deep into the forbidden arts. He studied black magic and alchemy, and created a formula distilled from human blood which granted eternal life to its user, though at terrible cost.

Long Nagash reigned over Khemri but finally his evil attracted the wrath of the kings who ruled the neighbouring kingdoms. Undead legions marched to defend Nagash, but after a long and terrible war Nagash was defeated, Khemri was sacked, and the secret of the Elixir of Life was stolen by the nobles of Lahmia.

The nobles of Lahmia took the Elixir back to their city and started experimenting with it. It gave them eternal life but also exacted a terrible toll. The proud nobles became pale-skinned, and fanged like predators. They no longer cast a reflection in mirrors or the surface of water. They started to shun the sunlight and during the night they hunted for human blood, for it alone could slake their horrible, supernatural thirst. They were the first of the true Vampires. They built the great Temple of Blood where their victims were dragged to have their life-giving fluids drunk like wine.

Mounted Blood Dragon

From amongst the citizens of Lahmia they selected the best, strongest, most intelligent and beautiful to join them in their damnation. There was a warrior in the ancient city of Lahmia, greatest amongst the captains of the king’s guard. Handsome, strong and virtuous, he was a matchless fighter, and he soon caught the eye of Neferata, the Queen of Lahmia. Thus Abhorash was summoned before the mistress of the Temple of Blood, and he was given a cup to drink in honour of his queen. When he lifted the cup to his lips, his fate was sealed and damnation seized with an iron grip as he drank. His mind filled with visions of death and blood, for he had been given the Elixir of Life. Soon the rays of the sun started to sear his skin and he no longer felt the need for meat or water. Instead a terrible thirst for the blood of living men started to plague him. Long Abhorash fought the urge to prey upon his people, but the Necromantic powers invested in the Elixir of Life were too strong, and finally he succumbed. In a single night of rage Abhorash slew twelve men and women. He drained them of blood to quench his unnatural thirst. Only after he had done the deed did he understand what had happened.

It is said that Abhorash wept tears of blood for the murdered men and from that day on he travelled to the desert to prey upon the scattered nomads instead of his own people. He vowed to learn a discipline to keep his raging thirst under control, and practised the way of the warrior to harness his great strength under his iron will.

Abhorash rose quickly in the ranks of the Vampire nobles until he became the supreme commander of the Lahmian armies. He was given the honourary title of the Lord of Blood and he busied himself in bringing law and order to the kingdom. While Lahmia was in many ways a city of nightmares where the ivory-faced aristocrats hunted for blood during night, there was at least order in the kingdom. Laws were upheld and bandits were kept in check. The officials were so afraid of their immortal overlords that corruption and bribery became virtually unknown in Lahmia.

But the Vampire nobles of Lahmia were above the laws set by Abhorash. Despite his warnings they often hunted for human blood in the lands of other kings. This finally raised the other kingdoms’ suspicions and Abhorash could only watch as the arrogant Vampires roused the rulers of Numas, Zandri and Rasetra against Lahmia.

Next: Part 2