Vampire

Vampires
Three higher vampires in Blood and Wine
General Information
Sub-races	Higher vampires Alps Bruxae Katakans Mulas Nosferats Ekimmas Fleders Garkains^[1]
Cultures	Tdet^[1] Gharasham^[1] Ammurun^[1]
Languages	Vampire Speech, telepathy, languages of other races
Physical Description
Lifespan	Measured in centuries
Other distinctions	Some species are almost unkillable

“

The moon shines bright,

The vampire alights
Swish, swish goes his cloak...

Maiden, are you not afeared?

”

— pg(s). 143, Baptism of Fire (UK edition)

Vampire is a hypernym used to refer to a number of creatures that thrive on blood, often feeding off their victims' life force.

“

I looked for the words "Witcher urgently needed". And then there'd be a sacred site, a dungeon, necropolis or ruins, forest ravine or grotto hidden in the mountains, full of bones and stinking carcasses. Some creatures which lived to kill, out of hunger, for pleasure, or invoked by some sick will. A manticore, wyvern, fogler, aeschna, ilyocoris, chimera, leshy, vampire, ghoul, graveir, werewolf, giant scorpion, striga, black annis, kikimora, vypper... so many I've killed.

”

— pg(s). 116, The Last Wish (UK edition)
— pg(s). 148, The Last Wish (US edition)

“

'Don't scoff. You can't be a stranger to vampire bite marks. Ever come across a case of a vampire ripping its victim to shreds?'
'No. That never happens.'
'In the case of higher vampires — never, I agree,' Emiel Regis said softly. 'From what I know alpors, moolas, bruxas and nosferats don't mutilate their victims. On the other hand, fleders and ekimmas are pretty brutal with their victims' remains.'

”

— pg(s). 151, Baptism of Fire (US edition)

Physiologus entry[ | ]

“

A vampire, or upir, is a dead person brought to life by Chaos. Having lost its first life, a v. enjoys its second life during the night hours. It leaves its grave by the light of the moon and only under its light may it act, assailing sleeping maidens or young swains, who it wakes not, but whose blood it sucks.

”

— pg(s). 143, Baptism of Fire (UK edition)

In the saga[ | ]

Vampires in Sapkowski's works break with many popular stereotypes. In particular, vampire repellents such as holy water, crucifixes, garlic, wooden stakes, etc. are nothing but folklore within the Witcher saga. For example, Regis, the vampire who accompanies Geralt for a time, was once decapitated, staked through the heart, sprinkled with holy water and finally buried, but that did not prevent him from regenerating, albeit slowly.

Here are a few more myths and facts about vampires in Sapkowski's works:

Higher vampires do not need to drink blood. It is like alcohol to them, in that they can become drunk from it. Additionally, drinking blood increases their strength.
They are not adversely affected by silver.
A vampire bite does not turn the bitten creature into a vampire.
Vampires are not undead or transformed creatures; they are born as vampires. The race of vampires appeared in the world after the Conjunction of the Spheres.
Not all vampires must avoid the sun. Many have adapted and easily tolerate daylight.
They cannot be seen in mirrors and other reflective surfaces.
Rushing water (rivers, etc.) poses no obstacle to their movement.
Holy water, crucifixes, and garlic are ineffective against them.
Partial bodily damage, such as a stake through the heart or decapitation, is only an inconvenience to them.
Some can touch white hot metal with their bare hands without injury (this was the case with Regis).

Notable vampires[ | ]

Vampire species[ | ]

Higher vampires:
- Higher vampire
- Alp (Alpor in The Last Wish)
- Katakan
- Mula (Moola in The Last Wish)
- Bruxa
- Nosferat
Lower vampires:
- Ekimma (Ekimmara in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)
- Fleder
- Plumard

In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt[ | ]

In The Witcher 3, genuine higher vampires are an extremely powerful breed, capable of supernatural abilities and often camouflage themselves as humans.

Vampire species:

In the Blood and Wine expansion[ | ]

Vampires feature prominently in the Blood and Wine expansion. Of named higher vampires, Geralt encounters Dettlaff van der Eretein and Orianna.

During the quest La Cage au Fou, Geralt and Regis' exploration of Tesham Mutna reveals that higher vampires descend from tribes that arrived on the Continent during the Conjunction period. The symbols of three tribes remain deep within the ruins, serving as reminders of their original homeworld.

Tribes: