- For the clan introduced in Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle, see Jiang Shi.
Jiang Shi (hopping corpses) are a form of non-Kindred vampire endemic to East Asia.
Overview[]
Described as long-limbed, desiccated creatures with papery white skin and carrion breath, the Jiang Shi are a product of Chinese philosophy and magic, and thus tend to appear where such communities do. Their creation requires one cut out a virgin's heart and press it to the ritualist's, so as to transfer the higher soul to the new vessel.
Much like Kindred, these creatures consume Vitae, and they are capable of learning and performing the physical Disciplines of Celerity, Resilience, and Vigor. However, they lack many features of the Kindred, being unable to shackle or be shackled by the Vinculum, lacking Clan weaknesses, and being unable to Embrace.
Jiang Shi bear anchors, much like ghosts, and are bound to them, being able to travel only a few miles away from one of them. Their grave is always one such anchor. The destruction of all of the hopping corpse's anchors results in its immediate death.
Powers[]
In addition to the physical Disciplines, Jiang Shi possess some of the following powers:
- Dust on the Wind: The Jiang Shi shifts into Twilight, masking the shift by appearing to turn into a column of dust. It can move quickly in this state and interact with dematerialized ghosts. The only other supernatural ability it maintains in this form is to travel instantly between anchors.
- The Hidden Grave: The hopping corpse sinks into the ground and reappears in its grave, entirely undamaged.
- The Infernal Flight: The caster transforms into a powerful, demonic bird.
- Mask of a Thousand Faces: Its deformities may make the acquisition of victims difficult for a Jiang Shi. This power mitigates that, allowing it to hide its deformities behind an illusory mask.
- The Wicked Visage: Opposite the Mask of a Thousand Faces, this power permits the hopping corpse to take on a particularly terrifying mien.
References[]
- VTR: Night Horrors: The Wicked Dead, p. 57-60
