Masters of the Night

The Masters of the Night are a not immortal, but extremely long-living race, with their lifespan extending for more than ten thousands of years. Despite they are few, they are not united, indeed, since they are egocentric, amoral and very instinctive, with some exceptions. Aside that, they are smart, able to conceal their tracks e manipulate mankind from the shadows. Some of them are confined to live by hunting with their pack of undeads, others prefer to handle the levers of power of some nations, others are playing themselves out to be gods, or even common people. Most of them see humans as nothing more that food, slaves or toys, but some Masters take into great consideration specific individuals that proves themselves as good and loyal servants or even friends.

The Masters are not affected by the classical vampire weaknesses, for example, they are not afraid of sunlight, even if intense quantities weaken them. But, as the aforementioned classical vampires, they need to drink blood and can turn humans into un-deads by biting and injecting a special fluid inside them. If injured, they heal in a few seconds. They are shape-shifter, i.e. have the ability to deform their body within certain limits. They also have powerful psychic powers, with the most common trait that of creating illusions, often so realistic to induce real pain and sensations like if were real. The extension of their powers greatly varies, depending from the strength and skill of the single individual and the if it is well fed. Some Masters are able to grow to enormous sizes and turn into dragons or other monsters, as well cast powerful illusions and affect the minds in many ways, like direct control or manipulate their memories, dreams etc... A Master gets weaker the more it doesn't consume blood, withering more and more to death, but this requires millennia. Another peculiar aspect of them is the capacity to live even if their body is dismembered, and if they are unable to reattach themselves, they can expand e spread their biological matter over time, covering large areas and affect objects, spawning creatures in the process. The only thing that can kill them is a Dampyr, i.e. the son of a master of the night and a human female. Dampyrs do not have any particular superpower, but their blood is lethal to vampires, and therefore constitute the only effective weapon against the Masters.