Nosferatu
Parasite in the shadows

A subhuman monster crawling through the dark, driven by a hunger that will never be satisfied; a parasite skulking on the fringes of society, feeding off the life-force of humanity; a diseased creature whose only true companions are the vermin of the underworld -- the pathetic and depraved nosferatu is the true face of vampirism.

The name nosferatu is ancient, popularized in the 20th century by F. W. Murnau's famous 1922 documentary film of the same name. Each of these creatures was once a vampire of the type we're familiar with through Hollywood monster movies, but countless years of cursed non-life and constant hunger for blood eventually take their toll. The skin of the nosferatu becomes even more pale and unhealthy than it was, taking on a diseased appearance or greenish tinge, and the teeth and fangs become yellowed, snaggled and even more pronounced. Fingernails harden to claws, the ears either become batlike or fall off entirely, and the face becomes sunken and bestial. After long centuries, all that's left of the creature's once-human nature is a shambling, murderous parody of a man. How long the process takes depends on the individual vampire's personality and willpower, but it will eventually overtake all bloodsuckers who manage to avoid extermination by other means.

As creatures of disease and death, these lesser vampires have a very strong bond with rats, insects and other vermin. The power to communicate with and control these animals grows as the nosferatu decays, to the point where a single vampire can be "lord" of an entire city's pest population. As the vampire's intelligence fades, it is replaced by raw animal cunning and great strength -- a cornered nosferatu is an incredibly dangerous opponent.

Luckily for monster-hunters and ordinary citizens, the nosferatu's loss of human willpower means greater vulnerability to the usual anti-vampire weapons. Lesser vampires react with great fear and panic to holy symbols, holy water and garlic. Their aversion to light, in particular, becomes so great that even a powerful flashlight may stun a nosferatu. But don't rely on your high-beams -- a stake through the heart, followed by decapitation and cremation, remains the only way to permanently dispose of the vampire.

MONSTER NOTE: The term nosferatu comes from the Greek word nosophoros, meaning "spreader of disease". In the middle ages it was thought (correctly) that vampires carried the dreaded plague.