A hierarchy of blood, immortality, and the curse of vampirism.
Vampirism is a sickness caused by a virus. A bite alone is not enough to turn someone into a vampire.
A bite anywhere below the nape will not cause vampirism, as the virus dies before it can reach the brain. However, a bite directly on the nape of the neck allows the virus to reach the brain and begin the transformation.
✦ Transformation occurs after several days.
Blood: Pure-blood vampire · Born vampire
Life expectancy: Immortal, usually 500+ years old
Sunlight: Cannot walk in the sun
Children: Can only have children with another Nosferatu
Rank: Top of the hierarchy
Shape-shifting:
Any animal form · Mist · Flames
Powers:
Blood: Turned vampire by a Nosferatu
Life expectancy: Immortal
Sunlight: Cannot walk in the sun
Children: Cannot have babies
Rank: Second in the hierarchy
Shape-shifting:
Mainly wolf · Bat · Any medium-sized animal · Mist · Flames
Powers:
Blood: Turned vampire by a Nocturne
Life expectancy: Immortal
Sunlight: Cannot walk in the sun
Children: Cannot have babies
Rank: Third in the hierarchy
Shape-shifting:
Mainly wolf · Bat · Any small animal · Mist
Powers:
Blood: Turned vampire by a Moroi
Life expectancy: Immortal
Humanity: Closer to humanity than vampirism
Children: Can have children with humans only
Sunlight: Can walk under the sun, but finds it uncomfortable
Rank: Fourth in the hierarchy
Shape-shifting:
Wolf · Bat · Any small animal
Powers:
Type I — Wolf:
Their primary animal form is a wolf.
Type II — Bat:
Their primary animal form is a bat.
The two types are otherwise identical.
Blood: Born from a vampire and a human
Life expectancy: Immortal
Humanity: Closer to humanity than vampirism
Children: Can have children with humans only
Sunlight: Can walk under the sun
Rank: Last in the hierarchy
A Dhampir has a chance of being born either completely human or as a vampire.
Shape-shifting:
Wolf · Bat · Any small animal
Powers: