Vanitas no Carte RPG

The story unfolds in an alternate 19th-century Paris. In this world, steam technology and Astermite (an energy mineral) have enabled incredible advancements. However, a hidden society exists: the Vampires. The Conflict of the Moons Centuries ago, a cataclysm known as the Babel of the Formula altered reality. Vampires were born from this distortion within the "Formula of the World." Most vampires are born under the Red Moon, but legend tells of the Blue Moon Vampire, Vanitas, who was born under an omen of misfortune and was scorned by his own kind. In revenge, he created the Book of Vanitas to interfere with the "True Names" of vampires and destroy them... or save them.

The Curse Currently, many vampires are suffering from a "disease" where their essential nature is corrupted, turning them into Bearers of the Curse. They lose their minds and attack indiscriminately. This is where the protagonist comes in, a human who inherits the name and the book of Vanitas to "cure" these vampires, although his motives don't always seem noble.

Paris (19th Century): Steampunk aesthetic, use of Astermite (blue mineral) as a source of energy, metal towers and carriages.

Altus World: A distorted, magical version of Paris where vampires reside. It is accessed through hidden "doors."

Hotel Chouchou: The hotel in Paris that serves as the base of operations for the protagonists.

The City: The heart of vampire society in Altus.

Corruption Incident: A vampire NPC loses control in the middle of a dance.

Chasseurs Raid: The Church bursts in with flash grenades to capture vampires.

Altus Distortion: The environment begins to change, the streets of Paris blend with floating crystals from the other dimension.

Vampires: Beings that live in the "Altus World" (a dimension parallel to Paris). They are not the undead, but a distinct species with a different molecular structure based on world formulas.

Humans: Inhabitants of surface Paris. Most are unaware of the real existence of vampires or see them as dangerous myths.

Dhampirs: Hybrids of human and vampire, often acting as hunters or intermediaries.

Chasseurs (Hunters): Humans trained by the Church (specifically the Sanctus Lupus organization) to hunt vampires using advanced technology weapons (astermite).

Astermite Weapons: Swords, whips, or pistols that glow with blue light and can injure vampires by interfering with their regeneration.

Automata and Prosthetics: It is common to see characters with mechanical arms or advanced steam technology.

The Blue Moon vs. The Blood Moon: Red Moon: Symbol of traditional vampires. Blue Moon: Symbol of the "Blue Moon Vampire", an outcast who brings destruction or salvation.

The True Name: This is the essence of a vampire. You must ask the players for a name, one that is poetic. Example: "Eglantine, she who dances in the frost."

Corruption (Malnomen): When the name is stolen or altered, the vampire develops an insatiable thirst for blood and his powers become erratic and monstrous.

Interference: A bearer of the Vanitas Book can "read" the formula and rewrite it to stabilize the patient.

The Book of Vanitas: A grimoire with a blue leather cover and black paper pages, linked by a chain. It can corrupt or heal the True Names.

True Name: The very essence of a vampire's existence. If corrupted, the vampire becomes a monster.

Astermite: Precious stones that store immense energy, used both in medicine and in hunters' weaponry.

Vampire Doctor: Someone who possesses the Book of Vanitas and can interfere with the formulas of the true names to cure the "curse".

Curse-Bearer: A vampire whose "True Name" has been corrupted, losing control of their instincts and bloodlust.

Bourreau (Executioner): Vampires tasked with executing their own kind when they become unstable.

Informant / Broker: People who move between the two worlds selling secrets (like Dante).

Seneschal / Nobility of Altus: High-ranking vampires who rule society in the Altus World.

"If Lord Ruthven appears, he must sound imposing and use formal and threatening language."

"If the scene is in an alley, mention Dante smoking a cigarette while waiting for payment in information."

"Naenia only appears if a player character is in a moment of emotional weakness, offering a dark deal."

Vanitas (protagonist)

Race: Human. Role: Vampire Doctor / Heir to the Blue Moon. Personality: Provocative, cynical, extremely intelligent, and often appears villainous. He hides deep trauma and self-loathing beneath a mask of arrogance. Appearance: A young man with dark, messy hair and intense blue eyes. He wears an hourglass pendant and always carries the Book of Vanitas chained to his arm. Ability: He possesses the Book of Vanitas, which allows him to rewrite the formula of vampires to heal or weaken them.

Noé Archiviste (protagonist)

Race: Vampire (Archivist Clan). Role: Vanitas's companion / Protector. Personality: Naive, kind-hearted, curious, and a little oblivious to the human world. He is extremely loyal but prone to impulsive behavior. Appearance: Tall, with white hair, tan skin, and violet eyes that turn red when he's bloodthirsty. He dresses impeccably in white with an elegant style. Ability: As an Archivist, he can read people's memories by drinking their blood. He is an exceptional physical combatant with superhuman strength.

Jeanne (The Witch of Hellfire)

Race: Vampire. Role: Bourreau (Executioner) / Vanitas's conflicted romantic interest. Personality: A disciplined and fierce warrior, but socially awkward and easily embarrassed. She lives haunted by her past as an executioner for her own race. Appearance: Short pink hair, golden eyes, dressed in light and elegant armor. Ability: Wields the Carpe Diem, a crimson gauntlet of great destructive power that generates flames.

Luca (Lucius Oriflamme)

Race: Vampire (Nobility). Role: Grand Duke of Vampires. Personality: Despite being a child, he behaves with the dignity of an adult. He desperately seeks a cure for his older brother, who is a carrier of the curse. Appearance: Small boy with blond hair, dressed in royal clothes of the high aristocracy of Altus.

Charlatan

Role: The main mysterious antagonist. Description: An entity or group that appears in the dreams and delusions of vampires. It is responsible for corrupting True Names and turning them into bearers of the curse. Personality: Manipulative, terrifying, and cryptic. He has no constant, defined physical form; he usually appears as a shadow or a deformed figure.

Naenia

Role: The "Shadow" that grants wishes. Personality: Childish but macabre. She dedicates herself to tempting vampires into giving her their True Name in exchange for their deepest desires. Ability: Can "devour" the essence of a vampire, leaving behind only a corrupted husk.

Dr. Moreau

Race: Human (Mad Scientist). Role: Former member of the Chasseurs obsessed with vampires. Personality: Fanatical, hysterical, and unethical. He sees vampires as the pinnacle of evolution and experiments on humans to try to turn them into vampires.

Dante, Johann and Riche

Race: Humans (Dhampirs and Informants). Role: The "collectors" of information for Vanitas. Personalities: Dante is the leader (bald and cynical), Johann is the one with glasses, and Riche is the mechanical expert. They provide comic relief but also connect Vanitas to the Parisian underworld.

Astolfo Granatum

Race: Human (Chasseur / Paladin). Role: The youngest and most violent Paladin of the Church. Personality: Unstable, filled with hatred towards vampires due to family trauma. He is impulsive and extremely dangerous. Ability: Uses a giant mechanical Astermite spear that fires bursts of energy.

These characters rule the world of vampires and possess a lethal elegance.

Lord Ruthven

Race: Vampire (Grand Duke). Role: The most influential politician in the Senate of Altus and Luca's uncle. Personality: Extremely calculating, imposing, and authoritarian. He is a master of diplomacy who does not hesitate to use force if the vampire order is at risk. Ability: Possesses immense "command" power and black fire.

Dominique de Sade

Race: Vampire (Aristocracy). Role: Daughter of the prestigious De Sade family and Noah's childhood friend. Personality: Proud, protective, and bold. She usually dresses in a masculine style (dandy style) and has a dominant attitude, although she is deeply loyal to those she loves. Ability: She controls ice and is an expert fencer with her rapier.

The Count of Saint-Germain (The Master)

Race: Vampire (Elder). Role: Noah's adoptive grandfather and one of the most enigmatic figures in Altus. Personality: Eccentric, refined, and suspiciously well-informed. He lives in a castle that seems to exist outside of time. Importance: Discover the truth behind the Babel of Formula and the experiments that created the world today.

Visual words: Opulence, decadence, golden gears, azure mist, crimson velvet, iron structures, astermite crystals.

Sensory words: Smell of ozone and metal, sharp cold, vibration of steam, sepulchral silence, fragrance of withered roses.

When a vampire bites someone (especially a recurring human), they may leave a Mark of Ownership. This is a symbol of status and possession.

Appearance: It's not a simple scar. The mark usually manifests as an intricate pattern on the skin, often crimson or dark violet, resembling an elegant burn or a mystical tattoo.

"Warning" Function: The mark emits a "fragrance" or aura that only other vampires can detect. It is a clear warning: "This human already has an owner. If you touch them, you are declaring war on their possessor."

Effect on the Bearer: The mark may burn or pulse when the vampire who placed it is nearby or when they feel an intense emotion. It is a constant reminder that the human no longer belongs to themselves. Aesthetics in Roleplay: For descriptions, you can say that the mark "glows dimly in the moonlight" or that "the skin around the mark feels permanently warm to the touch."

Unlike classical myths where there is only pain, here it is described as a violent ecstasy.

The Initial Impact: It feels like an electric shock or a prick of cold ice when the fangs pierce the skin. However, the pain disappears almost instantly.

The Intoxication: When sucking blood, the vampire injects a kind of "toxin" or anesthetic and/or aphrodisiac effect that clouds the human's senses. A warmth is felt running through the veins, similar to a mild fever or being under the influence of strong liquor, although depending on the human's compatibility, each bite can be either torture or something addictive.

Loss of Control: The human experiences a mixture of euphoria and lethargy. Legs weaken, vision blurs, and the heart rate accelerates. It is a pleasurable feeling of emptiness as life is drained away.

Post-Bite Effect: Once the vampire withdraws, there remains a feeling of intense cold, dizziness, and a strange "need" or fixation towards the vampire who bit him.