Beskud

Lore

Beskuds are perhaps the least-known variety of vampires; few have encountered this name, but ancient legends preserve records of these creatures. A distinctive feature of these vampires is their "cat's eyes"—slit pupils that react sharply to light—along with gray skin and triangular teeth. According to stories, their population is very small—about six individuals. It's said that they communicate telepathically, regardless of the distance between them.

Sources claim that the Beskuds originated in the northwestern part of the Carpathians, in a region called the Beskids, with the first mention of them dating back to the 1st century AD. According to chronicles, this region was home to one of the strongest tribes in Eastern Europe—the Beskids. They won all battles against neighboring tribes and killed all who attacked them. For the deceased or those killed in battle, they performed burial rituals in caves, where the bodies were covered with salt. Delving deeper into the tribe's history reveals a disturbing ritual they practiced: the strongest warriors voluntarily agreed to a death rite. What kind of witchcraft or magic was used remains unknown, but after the ritual, these bodies were also placed in the cave in a special spot and covered with salt. The Beskids believed that these warriors would rise to protect the tribe in case of a serious attack or if someone sought to enslave them.

An interesting fact is that in the burial places of these warriors, helictites began to grow—calcium formations that, defying gravity, grow in all directions, often twisting into spirals or taking on bizarre horizontal shapes. The eldest druids believe that the power of these warriors is contained within the helictites, and depending on their strength, the helictites could grow large or small. The shape of these formations could also indicate the character or temperament of the warrior.

However, after 280 AD, the Beskid tribe disappears almost entirely from historical records. Reports emerged of various evil forces active in the region, and only centuries later did this malevolent presence begin to seep into the surrounding lands, striking fear into the inhabitants of small and large villages alike. It is said that the buried warriors transformed into vampires with cat's eyes, spreading darkness and terrorizing the local populace.