"Then I stopped and looked at the Count. There was a mocking smile on the bloated face which seemed to drive me mad. This was the being I was helping to transfer to London, where perhaps, for centuries to come he might, amongst its teeming millions, satiate his lust for blood, and create a new and ever-widening circle of semi-demons to batten on the helpless." - Dracula

You are a citizen of a small, European town during the colonial age. You've heard whispers about how the Inquisition is torturing accused "witches" in gruesome dungeons of diabolical torment, with the explicit purpose of extracting confessions. Paltry facts, such as innocence or guilt, are meaningless; coercing confessions is the all-important goal. Neither innocent milkmaid nor righteous Lord are safe, for the brutal truth is that the Inquisitors care more about acquiring the wealth and land of those accused than saving anyone's immortal soul.

You're neither a witch nor a noble with land worth taking, so you convince yourself that such distant matters are none of your concern. Now, imagine you have become a member of a secret society, an order that has just informed you of a "truth" that is far more grotesque. A truth that speaks of a horror beyond the infernal plotting of warlocks.

The truth is that many of the nobles, and perhaps the Inquisitors themselves, are Vampires!

This Halloween installment of Sanctum takes another look at the Grand Inquisition, if from the other side of the looking glass. It also deals with the uniquely European nosferatu, otherwise known as vampires, and mixes history with Hammer cinema.

Vlad the Impaler is unique among warlocks, because his demons have found a way to free others of their kind. Somehow, his blood can weaken the magic that binds demons and souls. When one of his victims dies, their soul slips into the afterlife, but their demons remain in the body. The result is a malevolent creature which is neither dead nor alive... and which can create more children of its own.

This is why burial rites are so important. The deceased must not only be properly interred but, for those at risk, the proper rituals must be performed to ensure that the body remains inviolate and within it's tomb. Alas, it was too often the case that the proper rituals could not be performed. This, in part, is why a vampire plague spread across much of Europe during the time of the Inquisition.

Priests of this period were none to happy to hear stories of vampires. If there was one thing priests hated, it was the undead. They weren't good for business. Too, they had a nasty habit of hunting clergymen like mad dogs going after plump, farm-raised rabbits. As if that weren't bad enough, vampires also openly mocked Church authority! Their presence was proof of God's apathy towards Man.

Something had to be done.

The Fearless Vampire Hunters

The Vampire Hunter is an archetype well portrayed in cinema. For instance, "Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter" is a tale of swashbuckling adventure set in a relatively mundane, post-Renaissance world. Yet, it is a world where lurking supernatural horrors stalk the living. Released in 1973, this costumed swashbuckler was a product of Hammer Studios, responsible for such atmospheric entries into the vampire genre as "Horror of Dracula," "The Vampire Lovers," and "Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires."

"The Vampire Lovers" was the first entry into Hammer's Carmilla-inspired Karnstein trilogy, which also included "Lust for a Vampire" and "Twins of Evil." "Horror of Dracula" was similarly the initial entry in a series of Dracula inspired movies which included "Dracula: Prince of Darkness," "Brides of Dracula," and "Satanic Rites of Dracula."

So, what does it take to become a vampire hunter? Skill, bravery, and lots of luck. The Sanctum recognizes two types of vampire hunters:

• The Initiated, meaning agents sanctioned by the Sanctum to hunt vampires.
• The Uninitiated, meaning those who hunt vampires for reasons of their own, usually profit, and who are mostly unaware of the larger battle being waged.

Sanctioned vampire hunters receive the following benefits: 1) The support of Sanctum field offices, 2) Access to Sanctum libraries and vampire research, 3) Limited equipment/monetary support, when the situation warrants it (GM discretion), and 4) The ability to identify their foes.

Captain Kronos

As mentioned above, Kronos is an archetypal, swashbuckling, nineteenth century adventurer living in a mundane, post-Renaissance world where supernatural horrors regularly stalk the living. Late of the Imperial Guard, Kronos has taken to wandering the countryside with his faithful sidekick, Professor Grost, in search of adventure and vampires to slay. Kronos and his sidekick would fit perfectly into any Sanctum Inquisitorum game set circa the 1800s.

• Charismatic - Quite the ladies' man.
• Swashbuckling - Kronos wields a sword with panache!
• Vampire Hunter - A bit of a mercenary, but very good at what he does.

Professor Grost

Grost is an agent of the Sanctum circa the nineteenth century. Not necessarily an agent in good standing with every "office," as he doesn't keep in communication as often as he should, he is considered a trustworthy and knowledgeable field agent. Most often, Grost can be found working with Captain Kronos.

• Arcane Lore - Very knowledgeable in arcane matters.
• Vampire Lore - Grost is a specialist in both obscure vampire myths and methods of tracking and dispatching these fiends.
• Agent of the Sanctum - Despite a penchant for forgetting to report into local field offices, Grost is considered a very reliable and loyal field agent.

Gustav Weil

A descendent of Sanctum initiates, Gustav has continued the family business as best he can, by forming his own secret order to combat witchcraft: The Brotherhood. Alas, by Weil's time, the Sanctum Inquisitorum has become a shadow of it's former self. The Sanctum of the nineteenth century is a loose organization of independent groups lead by ranking initiates or their descendants. Too often, as is the case with The Brotherhood, contact between groups is rare or non-existent.

• Mania - Weil's obsession with combating witchcraft and vampires has turned into a form of religious zealotry that borders on psychosis.
• Self-Righteous - Weil believes himself to be an absolute arbiter of justice.
• Swordsmanship - Weil is a practiced swordsman who's preferred method of dispatching vampires is decapitation.

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Born August 28, 1814, to Thomas Philip Le Fanu and Emma Lucretia Dobbin Le Fanu, both Sanctum associates. His father was appointed chaplain to the Royal Hibernian Military School in 1815, where he taught until his appointment as dean of Emly in 1826, whereupon the family moved to Abington, County Limerick. Though never a field agent himself, Sheridan le Fanu did have access to numerous journals and documents, upon which portions of his literary work were derived. Viz. His most famous novella, Carmilla, which many believe to be based on actual case studies. (cf. Ornias)

• Learned Scholar - A poet, student of law, journalist, and acclaimed novelist.
• Arcane Lore - Has a passing knowledge of the supernatural.
• Agent of the Sanctum - As were his parents, Sheridan is more of an associate who deals primarily with matters of research and "getting the word out" via unconventional means, such as his novels.

Nosferatu

It all began circa 1429, when Vlad Dracul was made an initiate of the Order of the Dragon. This led to Emperor Sigismund appointing him, a year later, to the post of military governor of Transylvania. Shortly thereafter, his wife bore him a son, who would become infamous as Vlad the Impaler. Initially a pawn of the Church, Dracul was also an informal contact of the Sanctum. However, he was a headstrong individual who became driven by ambition and a thirst for power that ultimately led to his downfall.

His son, Dracula, born late in 1431 within the fortress of Sighisoara, Romania, would rise to secure the throne of Wallachia. Dracula was a ruler who dealt harsh punishments to those who broke the law, thus making him appear to be cruel and barbaric, especially to outsiders for whom he had no love. During Dracula's reign, his policies were based on "Romania for the Romanians," thus much of what foreign historians have to say of him should be taken with a grain of salt. Yet, even in propaganda there is a grain of truth.

Dracula's brood are dangerous because they are unpredictable. Their powers vary wildly. While many have the ability to metamorphosis into other forms, not all are capable of assuming the same shapes, thus making positive identification very difficult for field agents. Too, though many possess preternatural abilities, not all possess superhuman faculties. Indeed, some vampires may possess superhuman strength but be exceptionally stupid, while others may possess vastly superior intellects while having abilities that make them little more than bargain basement mesmerists.

Sanctums scholars recognize three types of vampire:

• Blood Drinkers - This is the classic literary vampire. These entities subsist on the blood of the living. Dracula was a vampire of this type.
• Life Drainers - "Psychic" vampires subsist on the energies of their victims, leaving them feeling drained and fatigued. Blood drinking is not necessary for these entities, though they often will use this as a cover, usually when they decide to fully drain a victim.
• Soul Stealers - While this type of entity is little understood, the primary case study is Carmilla.

Note: Even though Countess Bathory is associated with blood, she was a psychic vampire (likely a holdover from her early days as a witch) who happened to utilize blood ritual. Giles de Rais and Anthony Hopkins were also considered to be vampires of this type.

Vlad "Tepes" Dracula (c. 1431-1476)

Tepes has no great love for any organized religion, but most especially harbors a deep-rooted hatred of the Inquisition and the Catholic Church. He also harbors no great love for the Sanctum. During his reign, monastic centers belonging to the Roman Catholic church were seen as unwelcome foreign influences. They were often ransacked and Sanctum agents tortured mercilessly. While it has never been established that Tepes was a agent of the Diabolus (see Sanctum Inquisitorum), that he was a vampire is beyond doubt.

• Soldier - Tepes has the elite skills of a nobleman soldier of his era.
• Ruthless - When Tepes sets his mind to a task, he allows nothing to stand in his way.
• Vampire 0 - Vlad is the "patient 0" of the vampire plague, with many vampire "clans" owing him direct allegiance.

Carmilla Karnstein

Through the Hammer Karnstein trilogy arc, Carmilla (who first appears calling herself Micarlla) is a character played by different actresses. This inconsistency is easily resolved when one realizes that Carmilla was resurrected in the second feature through a black magic blood ritual. It is thus the spirit of Carmilla, or rather a spirit originally inhabiting her (cf. Ornias), which is responsible for the apparent conundrum. Thus, Carmilla Karnstein should be considered one of those rare aetherial entities: a ghostly presence which moves from host to host, possibly even a daimone of old. This makes her a very dangerous and enigmatic foe, for she is not only difficult to identify, but may go undetected for weeks or even months at a time. However, hunters do have two facts that they can rely on: First, Carmilla is always female. Second, she never stays in one physical location for long.

• Psychic Vampire - Carmilla literally seduces her victims, slowly draining them of vitality over a period of time.
• Metamorphosis - Possesses a limited ability to shapeshift into a feline.
• Cunning - Carmilla is a devious mistress of deception.

Elizabeth Bathory, aka. the Blood Countess (1560-1614)

Historically a name synonymous with vampirism and cruelty, linked with sorcery and the black arts. (Hammer portrayed her much the same in "Countess Dracula," though her sadism wasn't touched upon so much as her predatory sexuality.) Her infernal powers were such that the Sanctum had to keep a continual watch on her after the secular authorities walled her alive in her cell for fear she might work some form of diabolical retribution. Indeed, though history records her as having died within her cell-tomb, the facts as recorded by the Sanctum are something else altogether. Of course, the particulars are left to the GM's discretion...

• Noble Façade - Until her arrest and trial, Countess Bathory effectively used her noble standing to hide her demonic activities from secular authorities.
• Lycanthropy - It was reputed that Countess Bathory possessed the ability to transform herself into either a great wolf or a hell hound (a large, jet black canine with glowing, red eyes).
• Sexual Sadist - Countess Bathory's depravity would have made De Sade blush.

Next Stop: The Wild West Coast!