Vampire Dossier: Anastasia
Authored by: Atticus Stratlace
Overview:
A complex individual, very skilled at manipulation. She wrote at least one book about Vampirism, and it’s experiences of the curse. ( Vampirism: On My Life of Death
Full name Anastasia Severyna.
Spent(?) most of her time in Andunor. She had two thralls whom she seemed to care for, Velli Thom and Safira Afol. She fed on them with apparently their ‘permission.’
Her history with these thralls is to be detailed later. She is a very cold and unfeeling creature, with all the pleasures and emotions of life feeling distant and alien to her. The Vampirism in her case seems to have very literally leached all the life from her, leaving little but a shambling husk driven by hunger. She possesses (or possessed) nature magic, having one pet wolf that was loyal to her. She also was extremely quiet, moving almost soundlessly when she wished.
She was apparently a follower of Jergal.
Whilst she may seem to have some measure of interest and compassion towards others, as usual this is just a front. It is documented that she cares only for that which she can control. She is skilled as an alchemist
She seems to have been most active between 170-177ar.
Appearance:
Tall, human female with brittle dark hair tied back. Hair is black and brittle. She had long fingers which were always clawed. Pail skin, dark red-brown eyes.
Does not possess a shadow.
Does not possess a reflection
Does not require breathing and doing so is a conscious effort.
Does not need to blink – must take conscious actions to do so.
Skin cold – no ambient temperature.
Velli Thom claimed that her face ‘felt’ changed (note Velli is blind) with high cheekbones and a pronounced brow, - like a gargoyle. However Thomas Castermont- the other living witness to the creature, made no such notes on her appearance. So I’m unsure what is happening there.
History:
The following is primarily gathered from her book - Vampirism: On My Life of Death (written 170 AR) the testimony written by Safira Athol – "A comprehensive Guide to Thralldom, from a Former Thrall (written 177AR), - verbal accounts of Velli Thom – another slave. And finally verbal testimony of Thomas Castermont.
Date of birth is unknown, but Anastasia Severyna died and was transformed into a Vampire 163AR. She lived on a farm with her husband and son, in peace. Her last memories are of inviting an old friend over to dinner, a commotion, exhaustion, and then nothing.
The notes in her book are a little hard to decipher. What I think happened is her friend was, in truth, a Vampire who devoured and turned her into a similar creature, possibly accidentally. Her husband and son returned shortly after/during death and fought the creature and (somehow!) won, destroying it. Believing her dead, they placed her body in the root cellar, perhaps intending to bury it later. However, she awoke and fled into the wilderness, not knowing what had happened, confused and driven entirely by hunger.
She claims that her family believe her dead, but are still alive themselves. I can only presume she saw them later but did not (fortunately!) approach. They are most fortunate she did not kill them in a frenzy of hunger.
Because of the destruction of her vampire Sire, she is not a Vampire Spawn, but a fully fledge greater Vampire.
She existed for some long time in the wilderness, feeding off animals, living like one herself. Eventually she was discovered eating rats in the Celler of a pub by a band of miscreants. These robbers and bandits took her in, using her for their own benefit but probably treating her more like a pet or creature.
One of them however, was foolish enough to try and befriend her. However she forgot to consume enough blood one day, and the Hunger overtook her. She killed and devoured him.
The next period of her life is unknown, but eventually she made her way to Arelith, and to Andunor. There’s no record of her trying to fit in with civilised surface society – and she seems (interestingly!) to have no particular desire to.
She encountered Thomas Castermont there as a slave, and he describes her as reasonable – for her kind, treating her slaves well. She mentioned that she had a son, and he promised her (perhaps unwisely) that should such a child appear, he would bring him to her so she might say farewell, and that he would then destroy her her.
It was during her Andunor years she had two slaves (and one Thrall) – Velli Thom and the afore mentioned Safira Athol.
The following is drawn from Safira Athol’s book – A Comprehensive Guide to Thralldom By A Former Thrall:
Safira met Anastasia not long after her arrival in Andunor. First meetings were cursory but after reading Anasasia’s autobiography (mentioned earlier) Safira became infatuated by her. Anastasia drew her in slowly and carefully, giving information about itself, offering protection to her and her family, gathering sympathy and more until Safira offered it her blood from her wrist.
Anastasia then claimed that she found Safira’s blood ‘intoxicating’ and drew the poor woman further in, against the pleas of her family.
The continual use of herself as a blood-bag by the leech alienated Safira’s family, leaving her alone.
It was at this point she supped on the creatures blood, and became hopelessly addicted to it.
During this time she became Anastasia’s slave in all but name. Stocking shops, offering herself freely as food – both to Anastasia and to any other Vampire it cared to host, talking to those Anastasia demanded she talk to, and luring others in to become the creature’s next meal. This is quite typical Thrall and Vampire behaviour and a stark warning of the fate for those that get too close to such creatures.
This continued for two years until she encountered the a priestess whom she calls ‘Rowan’ – but who was in fact ‘Velli Thom’.
The two forged a good relationship, but Anastasia seemed to deeply desire Velli, even as the friendship between her and Safira grew.
Safira’s story states that one day Anastasia at last fed on Velli, taking more and more and more from the blind woman, killing her as it drained her. Something within Safira snapped, and she lunged forward and punched Anastasia, breaking the bite and saving her friend. She was clawed by Anastasia for this action, getting a scar on her lip from where it sliced across her face.
Anastasia afterwards claimed this was a good action, as she had lost control whilst feeding on Velli. However- later on she claimed that Velli had some power over Safira, that she had ‘Velli had poisoned Safira against her.’
Anastasia believed that Velli had ‘impinged upon it’s territory’ (for that is how it saw Safira, again – not an uncommon opinion for a Vampire to have about it’s ‘thralls’ or ‘property’) Once in a rage it seems to have tried to throttle Velli for this, trying to seek an answer.
Eventually Anastasia seems to have given up. She released Velli from her slavery and ‘banished’ Safira from her presence, sending them away and saying she wanted nothing to do with them.
With time and support of friends including Velli, Safira survived her withdrawl – though it was very difficult. She became Velli’s lover, and later assisted Velli in releasing her pact to the Fey. Shortly after this – Safira’s departed for Skullport where, rumours have it, she lives to this day.
Anastasia (along with another vampire, Perunika) meanwhile fell in with a drow matron who drew her into a war with ‘Hel’wael. This conflict did not end well. At one point, Anastasia attacked Velli, who was on the other side of this conflict. When Safira heard of this, she threatened to kill the Vampire and that- plus no doubt the other enemies she’d made, encouraged Anastasia to depart the isle.
Not much is known of her activity beyond this. Whether or not she returned to the isle, or is still gone. However she was active at least when I first came to the isle – see final notes.
The only other small historical detail is that apparently she attended a Cordorian Fighters Championship and did quite well.
She resided in the Trade Post in the Underdark for a little while. There was also at least someone by the same name residing in the Spires Citadel. It’s unsure if it was Anastasia though, or someone of a similar name.
Other Notes:
Skilled Alchemist, no skills in Carpentry
Apparently never feeds on other people without permission – though permission can be coerced. Seems to loose herself in hunger. Hunger is a primary motivator.
Fights with two blades and is apparently ‘Sneaky and Fast.’ - She regularly uses ‘Blade thirst’
Has No coffin
Seems to keep her activities mostly bound to the underdark, though is terrible enough there to any poor person that happens to cross a vampire.
Has a Wolf Companion, and some ability to commune with animals.
Upon her departure she left behind a mirror in her home. I had this mirror in my possession for a while before it was stolen. It used necromantic energy to make a ‘reflection’ of a person. I believe it was given to Anastasia by Safira, though this is only a guess. It had some sentimental writing on in Xanalrass.
Anastasia, as aforementioned, has shown interest in reuniting with her mortal son. I’ve sent messages out to the Radiant Heart that a family by the name of Severyna. Given we don’t know the geographical location of her family, I’m not sure of success, but they must be warned of the fate of Anastasia, and placed under watch, lest she should try and hunt them down.
History:
Spent most of her time in Andunor, where she encountered Thomas Castermont I believe. At some point made a deal with him. She has one child from when she was mortal – a boy. Thomas has promised that if he shows up, he shall bring the child to her so she can say goodbye, after which he shall smite her. (I consider this an EXTREMELY unwise action myself, likely designed to manipulate Thomas) Much of the information here comes from him. There are reports that she attended an arena combat in Cordor and was very successful.
Other Notes:
Should be kept away from living members of her family at all cost. If they still exist however, then it is likely she is fairly young as a vampire.
Notes:
Safira did not respond so immedatly to Anastasia’s commands, and she’d defh her occasionally so that she thought Velli had poisoned her against them. So she released Safira and banished Veli, she sent them away, told them she wanted nothing to do with them. Then fell in with a particularly awful matron, who poisoned her thoughts and told her to ambush Veli in the conflict with Hel’vael.
Anastasia left Andunor shortly after, because Safira vowed to murder her, essentially.
So this matron, Peruinka and Anastaisa ambushed the Hel’vael matrons and started a little war they could not win, so they resotred to cloak and dagger – like stabbing Velli when the others were at rest.
Velli throm – ex warlock packed to fey. She was also a clerid? (?). Went by the name of Rowan. Was probably a slave. She fell in love with Safira.
She tried to free Safira of her thralldom, during this process Safira started to reject orders of Anasasia so (see onwards)
Confirmed Anastasia never fed on them without permission.
Velli Thom was freed of her pact with Safira’s aid. After that Safira left for skullport and runs a shop there now.
Anasasia fought with two blades. She was sneaky and fast and used bloodthirst on her weapons. She was known for her absolute silence, able to sneak up on people with otherwise excellent hearing.
Apparently anastasia had a monsterious face- or it could be monsterious High cheekbones, pronounced brow, like gargoil.
Biographical Notes:
History taken from book Vampirism: On My Life of Death. (written 170AR)
*Became a Vampire in 163AR
*Born and raised in countryside in mainland, lived in a small homestead with husband and young son. Family still alive but believing she is departed.
*Last memories is having an old friend for dinner, followed by a commotion and exhaustion. Curiously she does not have a Master- it died sometime during her transformation. She awoke in her root celler and for weeks she didn’t understand what happened. I guess she wandered for a time, away from her family, trying to work out what had happened until she was found by a group of criminals.
She was living out of a basement in a pub, eating rats, and it was there she learned of her curse.
*These men sheltered her and gave her work. One of them thought to become her friend, but she did not feed well for a period and fell into a frenzy and ate him.
*Speaks of disassociation and detatchment since taking the curse.
*Has no shadow or reflection of her own (note- maybe shadow detatched?)
*Feels not sensations – eat but no taste, rest but not sleep, no pleasure in company, wounded no pain.
*Emotions muted. No sleep but medatative state. Main emotion comes from feeding and the sunlight.
*Drive to exist continues.
*Personal Changes for her.
*She once had blond hair and brown eyes, and average height. But her hair became brittle, dry and black (this explains a bit!) Hair pulls away but regrows after.
Eyes Dark with some red.
Haunts grown longer, nail grew sharp and pointed. Everything looks aggressive even when she is not. She has no heartbeat, No ambient temperature. Breathing has to be a concious activity. Horse voice. Must remember to blink. Alcohol no effect, No need for privy. No sense of pain (but a dull pressure)
Manafestation of her Hunger is ‘the black water’ – a void that eats all things- even stars.
Apparently when hungry her belly does not ache, she feels like Drowning. When the black water takes over, she goes into a frenzy state, her concious dreaming, her body murdering.
*Speaking personally her vampirism has come with a connection to nature. She has a Wolf companion she calls to her aid. She can commune with animals. Can also turn into a wolf. (Question – why connection with nature stronger?)
*She has no coffin.
*Final note in her biography: "Nothing surrounding this City (Andunor) in the dark is good or honourable, and as a result I have yet to be taken by the Black Water since I arrived."