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Description

Usually when the public talks about species like this, they rarely ever frame them as just that: a species. Most of the time, they speak of them like they are a curse or the result of some magic spell. Unfortunately in a world where magic does exist and does indeed make some horrific stuff, this thought process is hard to argue. However, there are some cases and some creatures that are a normal flesh and blood species, not brought upon by any hex or sin. Some may think I am accusing only humans of this behavior, but this is not true! Dryads, demons and fairies have succumbed to this fear before and still to this day! Don't forget the time dryads got caught up with the idea that a pale rind meant you were born the offspring of evil! Absolutely unforgivable, but sadly I know there remains a few pockets out there that still cling to that madness! Thankfully, smarter minds came to realize that the monstrosities we faced were real creatures that functioned like any beast, which means they can be dealt with like any other being. This entry here is an example of that, as some think that vampires are made from improper burials or those with evil hearts. In truth, these types of vampires are made by something a bit more real but no less unsettling. You can't talk about vampires unless you mention what lays quite literally in the heart of it all: The Vertedis.

I imagine most people have either seen or heard of a vampire before, but probably not nearly as many have heard of the Vertedis. This is because they are quite hard to see during all parts of their lifecycle, and dead specimens are rare since many of their hosts face immolation. To explain, Vertedis are parasitic worms that can only live and reproduce within human hosts. Give one to a dog or cat, and nothing is going to happen. They specifically need humans to truly thrive. Most Vertedis remain as eggs, never hatching until they are exposed to the right environment. These eggs are found in the saliva of a vampire and are spread when they bite and feed. Once dumped on or in human flesh, the egg is signaled to hatch and the larvae emerges. They will first feed upon surrounding blood and tissue to build up their strength and mass. Once fed, they will seek out darkness and blood. This means they will burrow deeper into the body, making their way towards the host's heart. When they arrive, they latch onto the organ's surface and call out to their fellow siblings. All others that make it to the heart will attach to the other end of the first arrival, and slowly chain themselves together. When this happens, their ends start to dissolve and merge together, taking many small larvae and fusing them into one long worm. To further help this process, they suck blood from the heart and surrounding tissue for nourishment. At this state of infection, the host becomes tired and weak, as their body is working extra hard to make up for this constant leeching. Meanwhile, the Vertedis is growing long and fat, turning into something that looks like a gray centipede. As is gets bigger, the Vertedis will keep its mouth firmly latched to the heart, but its branching back end will begin to worm its way towards the host's neck. What it is digging for is the Splenius magus, that special muscle that human's possess that aids in their magical ability. Located at back of the neck, the Vertedis burrows its back end to this muscle and binds itself to it. Now attached, it can harness the mana that is produced from this muscle and use it to trigger the next stage.

With the Vertedis now fully linked from heart to neck, the host is forced into a painful metamorphosis. Fueled by the stolen mana, the Vertedis causes the host's skin to grow out of control, fusing together digits and limbs. The body curls itself up into a ball, causing the skin on the arms and legs to merge and completely envelope the host. What is happening is the Vertedis wants to form a cocoon, and it is using the host's skin to make the chrysalis. The skin changes and hardens, locking the body inside so that it may grow and change. The repurposed mana drives the muscles to alter and the bones to warp. Inside this cocoon, the human body is broken down and remolded into something horrible and new. Since this state is vulnerable, even with the hardened skin cocoon, the host is usually driven to run off and hide from their fellow humans. The Vertedis uses their brains to fill them with fear and paranoia, making them think they are in danger. Once hidden away somewhere dark and safe, the cocooning it started. After weeks of growth and reshaping, the shell will crack open and the skin cocoon will slough off. What emerges is the newly formed vampire, the final stage of the Vertedis lifecycle.

The vampire that bursts free from this skin sac bears little resemblance to the original host. Using the skin for the transformation means that these creatures have lost most identifying marks or features that the person once had. Add in the extreme body modification, and you would be hard pressed to identify the individual after they have fully transformed. The vampire looks to have no hide, only solid red muscle. In truth, there is a transparent gelatinous membrane that coats its body, which helps ward off infection and prevent desiccation. Its body is hunched, its back legs shortened and bent for a more powerful animal-like posture. The forearms have elongated, and two fingers have stretched to ludicrous proportions. Each digit now ends in a black, hooked talon, and the knuckles are toughened to allow it to walk on them. Their body and heads have lost all hair, now replaced with stiff insect-like spines. Anchored to muscle, these can raise and lower, which is often used for signaling or showing its mood. The head is where the most changes have occurred, transforming this once simple human into something horrifying. The skull has grown a short muzzle, and its eyes have migrated to the sides of the head. Instead of a single pair of eyeballs, the vampire has now grown two clusters within the sockets. The normal protrusions of the ears and nose have been lost, leaving large open orifices. The mouth has been transformed into something more befitting an insect, with toothy mandibles sprouting from the top and bottom and the teeth turning into wicked blades. Anchored on a thick neck, the vampire can chomp down with incredible force and the razor fangs can slice right down to the bone. One last detail I like to point out that many gloss over, is the hefty lump that sits on the back of the neck. This is not just a simple bulge of muscle, it is the mutated Splenius magus and the rear end of the parasitic Vertedis. If one were to look at the rib cage, you would see another lump over the heart, a sign of the large parasite taking over. Now fully transformed, the vampire has only one thing on its mind...

Obviously, when we talk about the diet of a vampire, the answer of what they eat is going to be blood. They are sanguivores and aggressively so. Blood is all they eat and it is all they care about, any meat they consume is pretty much accidental during a feeding frenzy. I know some folk may think back to their horror tales and stories about vampires, of those that lure prey in and entrance them, all before sinking their fangs into their neck. Now I am not saying these vampires won't bite your neck, because they will. I am just saying that when they do, they tend to rip out the jugular and rest of the throat shortly after. These creatures do not seek to slowly suck the blood from prey, they are more of the "smash open the whole barrel and lap it off the floor" type. Their talons and and razor sharp mouth parts are meant for slicing open prey in as many ways possible so that the maximum amount of blood comes pumping out. Once that crimson fluid starts spilling, they greedily lick it up with their thick spiny tongues. This organ has been changed to be like that of a feline's, where it is coated in tiny hollow spikes to help rasp into flesh and get more out of this dying meat. They will rip into victims and jam their tongues into wounds to get the blood as fresh as possible, but when that source is bled dry, they will certainly lick what they can from the floors and walls of this grisly scene. This diet is meant solely to nourish the Vertedis, which in turn keeps its host alive and hunting.

When it comes to hunting the victims for that precious blood, these vampires do indeed stick to the night. That transparent membrane that covers their bodies is very delicate and vulnerable to drying out. Exposure to direct sunlight pretty much turns this membrane to dust and exposes the muscles. This alone is pretty painful, but the now vulnerable muscles must face the full strength of the sun. Areas that receive a dose of sunlight can be easily desiccated and also burn, as the altered anatomy does not have the defenses the usual body has. Just a few seconds of sun exposure can cause serious burns and injuries, making it vital that the vampires stick to the cool dark. If their full body is in the sunlight, or at least most of it, it takes less than a minute for them to receive fatal injuries. This isn't even mentioning that their eyes are now permanently tuned to darkness, which means a full blast of light in their face can easily blind them. Needless to say, vampires want nothing to do with sunlight, so they are nocturnal hunters. Scurrying from their damp dark homes, they use their incredible sense of smell to sniff out prey. Not only does their nose help find scent trails, but their finger tips are packed with sensors to aid in picking up vibrations and environmental changes. By smelling and feeling, they pick up traces and follow them to their source. Vampires are not picky with their blood, they do not care if it is from a beast or man, they just want victims that are plump and plenty. They can feed on smaller creatures, but this is usually done in desperation. They need to feed quite frequently, so they must either be good at locating prey every night or they need to find a constant source of viable prey. This is where the problems come in, because these sources are usually a farmer's herd of livestock or a quaint little village just brimming with walking blood bags.

Once a steady source of food is found, they are quick to find a nearby lair for them to set up shop in. These are dark, hidden away areas that they may rest during the day and hide from attackers. When night falls, they come rushing from their dens and immediately start looking for vulnerable members of the herd or town. If the vampires are well fed, they may use basic strategies and tactics to help isolate prey and take them down quickly. Stealth can be used, allowing them to set up ambushes or take out victims right in the comforts of their homes. A common method of attack is where a single vampire will climb up high out of sight, while another stalks the prey from behind. The creeping dread and unsettling sounds tend to push the victim right towards the hidden vampire, who will extend a long clawed finger down and hook them. With the barb set, the one up top drops down while the other rushes in. The victim never stands a chance, as their razor teeth rip them to shreds. These tactics and more can be used to terrorize a town, but some think that the other option is worse. Vampires work smart when their bodies have been getting a steady supply of blood, but when they are starved, it is a different story. Those that have been denied multiple feedings will get frantic and desperate, which can occur if several hunts have failed or if the population has grown so large that there isn't enough to go around. In these cases, the group will abandon all tactic and thought, and instead descend upon the nearest population like a locust swarm. These are the horrible nights that make it into horror stories and local folklore, when these flayed beasts charge through the town and devour everything in sight. They will smash through doors, throw themselves through windows and sink their fangs into anything with a pulse. Animals and people caught in the frenzy will be torn to ribbons, the only trace of them being a few bone fragments and a very large stain. Those who are attacked and survive do not fare much better, as they have just been infected with Vertedis eggs. If caught early on, they can receive treatment and medicine to kill the eggs and larvae before they burrow deep into the body. Unfortunately, towns under siege usually lack the time, resources and sanity required to administer such a thing. If bitten, or injured in a way that looks like a bite, there is a high chance the next horde you will face is your fellow townsfolk.

This is a pretty good time to talk about the infection process, and how one can get the parasite and remove it. As I mentioned before, the Vertedis keeps its eggs in the saliva of the fully transformed vampire and that is an important thing to note. There is a misconception that an infected host prior to metamorphosis can infect others, but that is not true. The parasites are not in the egg-laying stage, that only occurs after the transformation. This means there are no eggs in the saliva and being near an infected individual does not mean they can infect you. An exception to note, though, is that eggs that are in the original bite wound can be transferred to another individual if they come in contact with the injury in the early stages. If someone has a cut on their finger and they stick it into a fresh bite, then they have a chance of getting infected. I would like to point out that this scenario is very unsanitary and I honestly hope no one ever thinks digging around in fresh wounds with their bare hands is a good idea. Parasites or not, that is a recipe for an infection! The other thing to note is that it is spread by saliva, so a scratch from their claw or a jab from a sharpened hair is not going to infect you. This detail is often overlooked during the madness, as when vampires are about, everyone is frantic and terrified. Paranoid that another may join their ranks, they may see a fresh injury and assume the person is infected. Pray you never accidentally cut yourself while cooking when this paranoia is afoot, as even those who never encountered a vampire can be accused! It is only the bite that can transmit the eggs, but if one is unsure or wants to appease scared family, they should seek medication immediately. Since there are medicines made that can sterilize wounds and kill eggs in the earliest stages, I would ask people to go for that option and not the"He's been bitten! BURN HIM!" route. Not very productive or helpful.

I must stress that these medications must be administered early on in the infection process. As time passes, the larvae grow larger and dig themselves deeper, making it harder to kill them. Once they attach to the heart and start chaining, drugs are pretty much useless. The only hope now is a very difficult surgical process to go in and remove the growing parasite. Its expensive, risky and may ultimately be fruitless if they don't remove every piece or straggling worm. When the neck is reached by the Vertedis, all hope is pretty much lost. So this is why it is important to seek treatment quickly and to be smart when dealing with open wounds! Vertedis eggs can even be found on the mangled corpses left behind from a vampire attack, as the body is covered in saliva. Make sure to wear proper protection when handling the body and do a thorough cleaning afterwards! Scrub down the original site of death and prepare the body so that is cannot infect others. I am not saying throw it in a bonfire (though that would work), I am saying clean it, sterilize it or seal it away so nobody gets their exposed hands on it. Another reason why it is important to remove corpses that have been fed on by vampires is because these eggs can hitch a ride in the mouths of other scavengers! The eggs can stay unhatched for quite some time, especially if they are kept moist by saliva! They won't infect the animal, as they only hatch for humans, but they can hang on for quite a bit before they either perish or are swallowed. If this carrier bites a human, then they can infect them! Scary stuff! It is theorized that this transmission method may be why vampires are sometimes associated with wolves, as they think packs that scavenged on vampire kills may have spread the infection to humans they encountered.

So now we know what a vampire is, how they are made and how to avoid being turned into one. However, you may be in a position where you already have vampires running around and eating your livestock and friends. What do you do? Well, you go notify the proper authorities if they don't already know, and you don't look at me for the solution! This is a nature guide, I am no warrior or slayer! At least go find a book that is about killing vampires and don't get ideas from one that is spouting about troll courtship behavior! If, however, you are truly desperate, I guess I must offer what I can. First of all, get people together and find a proper place to barricade yourself for the night. Make lots of light and get fire at the ready, as their eyes are sensitive to rapid changes in lighting. Their exposed muscles also don't do well against fire, so that helps. Obviously, people say to get silver and that is true. The Vertedis parasite finds silver to be toxic, so jabbing this pure metal into their body poisons them. However, unless you ram a stake of silver directly into their heart or neck bulge, do not assume you have won. Silver poisoning takes time to set in, so be prepared to deal with a dying and angry vampire until it takes its toll. For it to really work, it needs to be pure, as smaller doses have noticeably weaker effects. If you have no proper silver, then aim for the heart or neck, as this is where the parasite sits. You want to destroy one or both of these spots in order to take out the parasite that is controlling them. The heart will result in almost instantaneous death, but it is much harder to reach. Aim for the Splenius magus to bring the beast to its knees, then take advantage of its weakened state to finish it off. Watch out for those long fingers, as they can whip those around and strike from a considerable distance! They also use them for climbing and swinging around, as vampires can be pretty agile in a fight! If you are looking for an edge in battle or a way to help dissuade them attacking safe houses, I recommend strong smelling herbs and oils. Their noses are very sensitive, which is how they hunt. Strong odors can throw them off and ward them away for a brief moment. Garlic is the usual option, but you need lots of it! Something concentrated and strong, to really batter their senses! When I was along for a vampire hunt, the convent I shadowed used garlic juice and some holy fragrance oil. When the beasts approached, they sprayed it on their faces and the vampires went nuts from the sensory overload. That was when they dove in and started stabbing! It was wild to watch!

I can already hear someone saying, "Hold up, Chlora, you just said you were on a vampire hunt! Then how come you say not to listen to you for vampire slaying ideas?" That is because I was merely watching, I wasn't doing any of the hunting! The Sisters were the professionals here and they did all the heavy lifting. I literally just stood there like a tree, because vampires don't drink sap and they wanted nothing to do with me! Cripes, I had one sneak right up to me during the fiasco and started sniffing me up and down! I didn't move a root while it was studying me, just acted like I was some common houseplant! It left me alone, as I had no blood to offer, and also because it suddenly had a lance driven through its spine. I scampered out of there the second that happened, because blood or not, that thing started swinging! It was certainly an informative experience, but I think it was a one-and-done situation for me! Just cleaning the bloody bits out of my gear and bark alone was enough for me!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-------------------------------------------------------

Kind of rapid firing some postings just to make up for me missing half the month. Didn't want to come up short for the spooky season. Here is something that has been brought up from time to time in previous entries but never given a full one: Vampires! Fitting for the season and about time I actually drew them up. Nothing too crazy or inventive here, but I find them fun.

Description

Usually when the public talks about species like this, they rarely ever frame them as just that: a species. Most of the time, they speak of them like they are a curse or the result of some magic spell. Unfortunately in a world where magic does exist and does indeed make some horrific stuff, this thought process is hard to argue. However, there are some cases and some creatures that are a normal flesh and blood species, not brought upon by any hex or sin. Some may think I am accusing only humans of this behavior, but this is not true! Dryads, demons and fairies have succumbed to this fear before and still to this day! Don't forget the time dryads got caught up with the idea that a pale rind meant you were born the offspring of evil! Absolutely unforgivable, but sadly I know there remains a few pockets out there that still cling to that madness! Thankfully, smarter minds came to realize that the monstrosities we faced were real creatures that functioned like any beast, which means they can be dealt with like any other being. This entry here is an example of that, as some think that vampires are made from improper burials or those with evil hearts. In truth, these types of vampires are made by something a bit more real but no less unsettling. You can't talk about vampires unless you mention what lays quite literally in the heart of it all: The Vertedis.

I imagine most people have either seen or heard of a vampire before, but probably not nearly as many have heard of the Vertedis. This is because they are quite hard to see during all parts of their lifecycle, and dead specimens are rare since many of their hosts face immolation. To explain, Vertedis are parasitic worms that can only live and reproduce within human hosts. Give one to a dog or cat, and nothing is going to happen. They specifically need humans to truly thrive. Most Vertedis remain as eggs, never hatching until they are exposed to the right environment. These eggs are found in the saliva of a vampire and are spread when they bite and feed. Once dumped on or in human flesh, the egg is signaled to hatch and the larvae emerges. They will first feed upon surrounding blood and tissue to build up their strength and mass. Once fed, they will seek out darkness and blood. This means they will burrow deeper into the body, making their way towards the host's heart. When they arrive, they latch onto the organ's surface and call out to their fellow siblings. All others that make it to the heart will attach to the other end of the first arrival, and slowly chain themselves together. When this happens, their ends start to dissolve and merge together, taking many small larvae and fusing them into one long worm. To further help this process, they suck blood from the heart and surrounding tissue for nourishment. At this state of infection, the host becomes tired and weak, as their body is working extra hard to make up for this constant leeching. Meanwhile, the Vertedis is growing long and fat, turning into something that looks like a gray centipede. As is gets bigger, the Vertedis will keep its mouth firmly latched to the heart, but its branching back end will begin to worm its way towards the host's neck. What it is digging for is the Splenius magus, that special muscle that human's possess that aids in their magical ability. Located at back of the neck, the Vertedis burrows its back end to this muscle and binds itself to it. Now attached, it can harness the mana that is produced from this muscle and use it to trigger the next stage.

With the Vertedis now fully linked from heart to neck, the host is forced into a painful metamorphosis. Fueled by the stolen mana, the Vertedis causes the host's skin to grow out of control, fusing together digits and limbs. The body curls itself up into a ball, causing the skin on the arms and legs to merge and completely envelope the host. What is happening is the Vertedis wants to form a cocoon, and it is using the host's skin to make the chrysalis. The skin changes and hardens, locking the body inside so that it may grow and change. The repurposed mana drives the muscles to alter and the bones to warp. Inside this cocoon, the human body is broken down and remolded into something horrible and new. Since this state is vulnerable, even with the hardened skin cocoon, the host is usually driven to run off and hide from their fellow humans. The Vertedis uses their brains to fill them with fear and paranoia, making them think they are in danger. Once hidden away somewhere dark and safe, the cocooning it started. After weeks of growth and reshaping, the shell will crack open and the skin cocoon will slough off. What emerges is the newly formed vampire, the final stage of the Vertedis lifecycle.

The vampire that bursts free from this skin sac bears little resemblance to the original host. Using the skin for the transformation means that these creatures have lost most identifying marks or features that the person once had. Add in the extreme body modification, and you would be hard pressed to identify the individual after they have fully transformed. The vampire looks to have no hide, only solid red muscle. In truth, there is a transparent gelatinous membrane that coats its body, which helps ward off infection and prevent desiccation. Its body is hunched, its back legs shortened and bent for a more powerful animal-like posture. The forearms have elongated, and two fingers have stretched to ludicrous proportions. Each digit now ends in a black, hooked talon, and the knuckles are toughened to allow it to walk on them. Their body and heads have lost all hair, now replaced with stiff insect-like spines. Anchored to muscle, these can raise and lower, which is often used for signaling or showing its mood. The head is where the most changes have occurred, transforming this once simple human into something horrifying. The skull has grown a short muzzle, and its eyes have migrated to the sides of the head. Instead of a single pair of eyeballs, the vampire has now grown two clusters within the sockets. The normal protrusions of the ears and nose have been lost, leaving large open orifices. The mouth has been transformed into something more befitting an insect, with toothy mandibles sprouting from the top and bottom and the teeth turning into wicked blades. Anchored on a thick neck, the vampire can chomp down with incredible force and the razor fangs can slice right down to the bone. One last detail I like to point out that many gloss over, is the hefty lump that sits on the back of the neck. This is not just a simple bulge of muscle, it is the mutated Splenius magus and the rear end of the parasitic Vertedis. If one were to look at the rib cage, you would see another lump over the heart, a sign of the large parasite taking over. Now fully transformed, the vampire has only one thing on its mind...

Obviously, when we talk about the diet of a vampire, the answer of what they eat is going to be blood. They are sanguivores and aggressively so. Blood is all they eat and it is all they care about, any meat they consume is pretty much accidental during a feeding frenzy. I know some folk may think back to their horror tales and stories about vampires, of those that lure prey in and entrance them, all before sinking their fangs into their neck. Now I am not saying these vampires won't bite your neck, because they will. I am just saying that when they do, they tend to rip out the jugular and rest of the throat shortly after. These creatures do not seek to slowly suck the blood from prey, they are more of the "smash open the whole barrel and lap it off the floor" type. Their talons and and razor sharp mouth parts are meant for slicing open prey in as many ways possible so that the maximum amount of blood comes pumping out. Once that crimson fluid starts spilling, they greedily lick it up with their thick spiny tongues. This organ has been changed to be like that of a feline's, where it is coated in tiny hollow spikes to help rasp into flesh and get more out of this dying meat. They will rip into victims and jam their tongues into wounds to get the blood as fresh as possible, but when that source is bled dry, they will certainly lick what they can from the floors and walls of this grisly scene. This diet is meant solely to nourish the Vertedis, which in turn keeps its host alive and hunting.

When it comes to hunting the victims for that precious blood, these vampires do indeed stick to the night. That transparent membrane that covers their bodies is very delicate and vulnerable to drying out. Exposure to direct sunlight pretty much turns this membrane to dust and exposes the muscles. This alone is pretty painful, but the now vulnerable muscles must face the full strength of the sun. Areas that receive a dose of sunlight can be easily desiccated and also burn, as the altered anatomy does not have the defenses the usual body has. Just a few seconds of sun exposure can cause serious burns and injuries, making it vital that the vampires stick to the cool dark. If their full body is in the sunlight, or at least most of it, it takes less than a minute for them to receive fatal injuries. This isn't even mentioning that their eyes are now permanently tuned to darkness, which means a full blast of light in their face can easily blind them. Needless to say, vampires want nothing to do with sunlight, so they are nocturnal hunters. Scurrying from their damp dark homes, they use their incredible sense of smell to sniff out prey. Not only does their nose help find scent trails, but their finger tips are packed with sensors to aid in picking up vibrations and environmental changes. By smelling and feeling, they pick up traces and follow them to their source. Vampires are not picky with their blood, they do not care if it is from a beast or man, they just want victims that are plump and plenty. They can feed on smaller creatures, but this is usually done in desperation. They need to feed quite frequently, so they must either be good at locating prey every night or they need to find a constant source of viable prey. This is where the problems come in, because these sources are usually a farmer's herd of livestock or a quaint little village just brimming with walking blood bags.

Once a steady source of food is found, they are quick to find a nearby lair for them to set up shop in. These are dark, hidden away areas that they may rest during the day and hide from attackers. When night falls, they come rushing from their dens and immediately start looking for vulnerable members of the herd or town. If the vampires are well fed, they may use basic strategies and tactics to help isolate prey and take them down quickly. Stealth can be used, allowing them to set up ambushes or take out victims right in the comforts of their homes. A common method of attack is where a single vampire will climb up high out of sight, while another stalks the prey from behind. The creeping dread and unsettling sounds tend to push the victim right towards the hidden vampire, who will extend a long clawed finger down and hook them. With the barb set, the one up top drops down while the other rushes in. The victim never stands a chance, as their razor teeth rip them to shreds. These tactics and more can be used to terrorize a town, but some think that the other option is worse. Vampires work smart when their bodies have been getting a steady supply of blood, but when they are starved, it is a different story. Those that have been denied multiple feedings will get frantic and desperate, which can occur if several hunts have failed or if the population has grown so large that there isn't enough to go around. In these cases, the group will abandon all tactic and thought, and instead descend upon the nearest population like a locust swarm. These are the horrible nights that make it into horror stories and local folklore, when these flayed beasts charge through the town and devour everything in sight. They will smash through doors, throw themselves through windows and sink their fangs into anything with a pulse. Animals and people caught in the frenzy will be torn to ribbons, the only trace of them being a few bone fragments and a very large stain. Those who are attacked and survive do not fare much better, as they have just been infected with Vertedis eggs. If caught early on, they can receive treatment and medicine to kill the eggs and larvae before they burrow deep into the body. Unfortunately, towns under siege usually lack the time, resources and sanity required to administer such a thing. If bitten, or injured in a way that looks like a bite, there is a high chance the next horde you will face is your fellow townsfolk.

This is a pretty good time to talk about the infection process, and how one can get the parasite and remove it. As I mentioned before, the Vertedis keeps its eggs in the saliva of the fully transformed vampire and that is an important thing to note. There is a misconception that an infected host prior to metamorphosis can infect others, but that is not true. The parasites are not in the egg-laying stage, that only occurs after the transformation. This means there are no eggs in the saliva and being near an infected individual does not mean they can infect you. An exception to note, though, is that eggs that are in the original bite wound can be transferred to another individual if they come in contact with the injury in the early stages. If someone has a cut on their finger and they stick it into a fresh bite, then they have a chance of getting infected. I would like to point out that this scenario is very unsanitary and I honestly hope no one ever thinks digging around in fresh wounds with their bare hands is a good idea. Parasites or not, that is a recipe for an infection! The other thing to note is that it is spread by saliva, so a scratch from their claw or a jab from a sharpened hair is not going to infect you. This detail is often overlooked during the madness, as when vampires are about, everyone is frantic and terrified. Paranoid that another may join their ranks, they may see a fresh injury and assume the person is infected. Pray you never accidentally cut yourself while cooking when this paranoia is afoot, as even those who never encountered a vampire can be accused! It is only the bite that can transmit the eggs, but if one is unsure or wants to appease scared family, they should seek medication immediately. Since there are medicines made that can sterilize wounds and kill eggs in the earliest stages, I would ask people to go for that option and not the"He's been bitten! BURN HIM!" route. Not very productive or helpful.

I must stress that these medications must be administered early on in the infection process. As time passes, the larvae grow larger and dig themselves deeper, making it harder to kill them. Once they attach to the heart and start chaining, drugs are pretty much useless. The only hope now is a very difficult surgical process to go in and remove the growing parasite. Its expensive, risky and may ultimately be fruitless if they don't remove every piece or straggling worm. When the neck is reached by the Vertedis, all hope is pretty much lost. So this is why it is important to seek treatment quickly and to be smart when dealing with open wounds! Vertedis eggs can even be found on the mangled corpses left behind from a vampire attack, as the body is covered in saliva. Make sure to wear proper protection when handling the body and do a thorough cleaning afterwards! Scrub down the original site of death and prepare the body so that is cannot infect others. I am not saying throw it in a bonfire (though that would work), I am saying clean it, sterilize it or seal it away so nobody gets their exposed hands on it. Another reason why it is important to remove corpses that have been fed on by vampires is because these eggs can hitch a ride in the mouths of other scavengers! The eggs can stay unhatched for quite some time, especially if they are kept moist by saliva! They won't infect the animal, as they only hatch for humans, but they can hang on for quite a bit before they either perish or are swallowed. If this carrier bites a human, then they can infect them! Scary stuff! It is theorized that this transmission method may be why vampires are sometimes associated with wolves, as they think packs that scavenged on vampire kills may have spread the infection to humans they encountered.

So now we know what a vampire is, how they are made and how to avoid being turned into one. However, you may be in a position where you already have vampires running around and eating your livestock and friends. What do you do? Well, you go notify the proper authorities if they don't already know, and you don't look at me for the solution! This is a nature guide, I am no warrior or slayer! At least go find a book that is about killing vampires and don't get ideas from one that is spouting about troll courtship behavior! If, however, you are truly desperate, I guess I must offer what I can. First of all, get people together and find a proper place to barricade yourself for the night. Make lots of light and get fire at the ready, as their eyes are sensitive to rapid changes in lighting. Their exposed muscles also don't do well against fire, so that helps. Obviously, people say to get silver and that is true. The Vertedis parasite finds silver to be toxic, so jabbing this pure metal into their body poisons them. However, unless you ram a stake of silver directly into their heart or neck bulge, do not assume you have won. Silver poisoning takes time to set in, so be prepared to deal with a dying and angry vampire until it takes its toll. For it to really work, it needs to be pure, as smaller doses have noticeably weaker effects. If you have no proper silver, then aim for the heart or neck, as this is where the parasite sits. You want to destroy one or both of these spots in order to take out the parasite that is controlling them. The heart will result in almost instantaneous death, but it is much harder to reach. Aim for the Splenius magus to bring the beast to its knees, then take advantage of its weakened state to finish it off. Watch out for those long fingers, as they can whip those around and strike from a considerable distance! They also use them for climbing and swinging around, as vampires can be pretty agile in a fight! If you are looking for an edge in battle or a way to help dissuade them attacking safe houses, I recommend strong smelling herbs and oils. Their noses are very sensitive, which is how they hunt. Strong odors can throw them off and ward them away for a brief moment. Garlic is the usual option, but you need lots of it! Something concentrated and strong, to really batter their senses! When I was along for a vampire hunt, the convent I shadowed used garlic juice and some holy fragrance oil. When the beasts approached, they sprayed it on their faces and the vampires went nuts from the sensory overload. That was when they dove in and started stabbing! It was wild to watch!

I can already hear someone saying, "Hold up, Chlora, you just said you were on a vampire hunt! Then how come you say not to listen to you for vampire slaying ideas?" That is because I was merely watching, I wasn't doing any of the hunting! The Sisters were the professionals here and they did all the heavy lifting. I literally just stood there like a tree, because vampires don't drink sap and they wanted nothing to do with me! Cripes, I had one sneak right up to me during the fiasco and started sniffing me up and down! I didn't move a root while it was studying me, just acted like I was some common houseplant! It left me alone, as I had no blood to offer, and also because it suddenly had a lance driven through its spine. I scampered out of there the second that happened, because blood or not, that thing started swinging! It was certainly an informative experience, but I think it was a one-and-done situation for me! Just cleaning the bloody bits out of my gear and bark alone was enough for me!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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Kind of rapid firing some postings just to make up for me missing half the month. Didn't want to come up short for the spooky season. Here is something that has been brought up from time to time in previous entries but never given a full one: Vampires! Fitting for the season and about time I actually drew them up. Nothing too crazy or inventive here, but I find them fun.