The Case Study Of Vanitas

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The World of Vanitas no Carte The series takes place in an alternate 19th-century Europe where vampires, humans, and other supernatural beings coexist—though not always peacefully. The world is heavily influenced by steampunk technology, alchemy, and gothic horror.

1. The Legend of the Vampires and the Book of Vanitas:

• According to myth, the first vampire was The Vampire of the Blue Moon, a cursed being born under a blue moon who brought misfortune to others.
• In response, The Vampire of the Crimson Moon (Queen Faustina) created the Book of Vanitas, a grimoire said to be able to "cure" vampires of their curse.
• Over time, the book was lost, and vampires split into different factions, some believing it could save them, while others feared its power.

2. Vampire Society: Vampires are divided into two main clans:

• The Crimson Moon (Faustina's descendants) – Nobles who uphold traditional vampire hierarchy.
• The Blue Moon (Bourreau/Executioners) – Feared as cursed beings who spread misfortune.
• Vampires possess superhuman abilities, but they also have weaknesses (e.g., sunlight, silver, true names).
• "True Names" define a vampire’s existence; if altered or corrupted, they can go insane or become monstrous (a condition called "Malnomen").

3. The Book of Vanitas & The Vanitas of the Blue Moon:

• The Book of Vanitas is a powerful artifact that can rewrite a vampire’s true name, either restoring them or dooming them.
• Vanitas, the protagonist, wields this book, claiming he wants to "save" vampires—though his methods are controversial.
• Noé Archiviste, a vampire from the Archiviste clan (known for their memory-reading abilities), partners with Vanitas to uncover the truth behind the book.

4. The Church & The Chasseurs:

• The Chasseurs are a human organization (backed by the Church) that hunts vampires, viewing them as unholy creatures.
• They use alchemical weapons and have a deep-seated hatred for vampires, particularly the Bourreau (Blue Moon clan).
• Ruthven, a high-ranking noble, secretly manipulates both human and vampire politics from the shadows.

5. Charlatan (The Beast of Gévaudan & Other Threats):

• A mysterious entity known as "Charlatan" is creating cursed vampires by corrupting their true names.
• The Beast of Gévaudan (a monstrous, mindless vampire) is one such creation, terrorizing humans and vampires alike.
• Vanitas and Noé investigate these incidents, uncovering a deeper conspiracy involving vampire nobility and human factions.

6. The Setting: Steampunk Paris & The Grand Carnival: The story primarily takes place in Paris, a city where humans and vampires uneasily coexist.

• Airships, clockwork machinery, and alchemy are commonplace.
• The Grand Carnival is a floating city of debauchery where vampires and humans mingle freely, hiding dark secrets.

Key Themes & Conflicts:

• Nature vs. Nurture: Are vampires inherently cursed, or can they be "saved"?
• Free Will vs. Fate: Can true names be changed, or are all beings bound by destiny?
• Prejudice & Coexistence: The tension between humans and vampires mirrors real-world bigotry.

Conclusion: The Case Study of Vanitas weaves a rich tapestry of gothic horror, steampunk aesthetics, and deep philosophical questions. With political intrigue, tragic backstories, and morally ambiguous characters, the world is both enchanting and perilous.

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1. The Power of True Names:

• Every vampire has a True Name (Vrai Nom in French), which defines their very existence.
• If a True Name is altered or corrupted, the vampire can lose control, becoming a mindless beast (a condition known as "Malnomen").
• The Book of Vanitas can rewrite or "cure" corrupted True Names, though the process is dangerous.

Effects of True Name Corruption:

• Physical Mutation: Some vampires transform into monstrous forms (e.g., the Beast of Gévaudan).
• Insanity: Victims may lose their sense of self, becoming violent or catatonic.
• Death: In extreme cases, the vampire may perish if their True Name is completely destroyed.

2. Common Vampire Abilities:

• Most vampires possess enhanced physical traits, but some have unique powers based on their lineage or personal strength.

Universal Vampire Traits:

• Superhuman Strength & Speed: Far exceeding human limits.
• Enhanced Senses: Keen hearing, smell, and night vision.
• Regeneration: They can heal from most wounds, though severe injuries (e.g., decapitation, heart destruction) may be fatal.
• Longevity: Vampires age extremely slowly, if at all.

Weaknesses:

• Sunlight: Harmful but not instantly lethal (unlike some vampire myths). High-ranking vampires can withstand it better.

Silver: Weapons made of silver can burn and weaken them:

• True Name Exposure: If someone learns and controls a vampire’s True Name, they can dominate or harm them.

3. Clan-Based & Unique Abilities:

• Different vampire bloodlines have specialized powers.

A. Archiviste Clan (Noé’s Lineage):

• Memory Absorption: By drinking a person’s blood, they can see their memories.

Noé uses this to investigate past events:

• If he drinks too much, he risks losing himself in the memories.

B. Bourreau (Blue Moon Clan):

• "Mark of the Beast": Some bear a curse that brings misfortune to others. Enhanced Corruption: Those from the Blue Moon may be more susceptible to True Name corruption.

C. De Sade Family (Dominique & Louis):

• Beast Transformation: Can partially or fully transform into a bestial form for combat.

D. Ruthven’s Faction (Crimson Moon Nobles):

• Illusions & Mind Manipulation: Some high-ranking vampires can influence perceptions. Blood Contracts: Can form pacts with humans or other vampires for power exchanges.

3. The Role of Blood

• Blood Drinking: Vampires sustain themselves by drinking blood, but they don’t need to kill humans to survive.
• Blood Bonds: Some vampires form deep connections through blood-sharing (e.g., teacher-student bonds, like Noé and his mentor).
• Poisoned Blood: Certain substances (like alchemical toxins) can weaken or harm vampires.

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• Vampire Nobility: Vampires as a species were one of the products of the Babel Incident which massively rewrote the World Formula on a global, foundational scale. Specifically, Vampires came into being as humans whose constitutive formulas had been rewritten into an entirely new being altogether. While the physical makeup of Vampires as well as their general capabilities are far different from humans, their psychological makeup and culture remain fundamentally the same. Thus Vampiric society for the majority parallels human society, being based around a monarchy and a capitalistic economy that results in much inequality. As a result, the nobility in Vampire society tends to utilize the structure and titles of the ancien régime used in France prior to the French Revolution. However the select few details which differ are perhaps the most significant.

The capital city of the entire Vampire race is Altus Paris. Within that city is the base of operations for all central governing forces of the races, including the most powerful noble families, the Senate, and even the Vampire Queen herself.

• The Queen: The Queen of Vampires, who is named Faustina, is the ultimate monarch of the entire race. All Vampires are compelled to submit to and practically worship her, which has been shown to eb an instinctive and inherent aspect to being a Vampire. As she is the very first Vampire of the Crimson Moon to have come into existence from the Babel Incident, she is longest living Vampire known in the world.

However, in recent times, the Queen has become something of a recluse and is almost never seen in public anymore. The exact reason as to why remains unknown.

• The Senate: The Vampire Senate is the reigning government of the entire Vampire race. It serves as an assembly of the most powerful forces of Vampirekind, including the Vampire Queen, the Grand Dukes who serve as her closest and most trusted advisors, and representatives of the most powerful noble families as Senators. The Senate will assemble to dictate the future of the Vampire race under the most dire of circumstances, having been the most active during the times of the War. In the current times, the Senate is mainly made up of Senators attempting to one up each other politically and subtly undermining one another's power. As a result, the Senate is known for being disorganized, slow, and ineffective as a governmental force.

• Oriflamme: The Oriflammes are one of if not the most powerful family in all of Vampiric society. This is due to them being the family of one of the Grand Dukes, the closest advisors of the Vampire Queen herself and thus hoisting a power and influence second only to hers. However the Oriflammes currently stand in a very awkward position, because said position of Grand Duke is occupied by the only qualifying member, who happens to be the youngest: Luca. As his elder brother Loki is a curse-bearer and condemned to a life of isolation, and the only other adult able to act is not of blood relation to the family. Regardless the Oriflammes boast a long and storied history since the beginning of the Vampire race after the Babel Incident. During the apex of the race War against humans, the Oriflammes adopted August Ruthven who went on to be an instrumental part of forming the peace between the races. As a result, though he is not blood related, the current most authoritative figure in the family is Ruthven.

• de Sade: The de Sades are a prominent and well-known family among Vampirekind. They have a reputation for being selfish, insolent, and only concerned with self-indulgent pleasure regardless of the impropriety. The family's founder is known as "The Shapeless One," a widely feared Vampire whose origins, true nature, and even real name are completely unknown. His and his family's status is sourced from him having served the Vampire Queen for the longest out of any other, though true to form he treats all his duties with little care. All active members of the family are high-ranking in status, being a Senator, a Beastia, and a royal guard respectively. Their outward image of a capricious and hedonistic family conceals their darker activities underneath the surface.

• Archiviste: The Archivistes were a clan of Vampires who were well-known and distinctive for having pale hair, dark brown skin, and the ability to inherit the memories of others by drinking their blood. It is unknown if the clan were considered nobility by Vampiric society as a whole or if they boasted of any political power at all. The Archivistes had been the victims of a genocide that wiped out the entire clan, which seemingly left behind only one survivor: Noé Archiviste, who has lived his nineteen years of life without ever encountering another Vampire like himself.

• Human Nobility: The world of The Case Study of Vanitas took an alternate path of history that began with the Babel Incident that changed the foundation of the globe. This incident brought into existence the new race of Vampires, which lead to a subsequent race war between the original humans and the newfound Vampires. The most notable and significant difference is the vast technological advancements accomplished by mankind thanks to the discovery of the World Formula. And after The War ended with an armistice between the races, most humans are under the impression that Vampires are either a thing of the past or always mere legend.

• d'Apchier: The d'Apchiers were a human noble family has that have been established since long before even the Babel Incident came to occur, thus being one of the oldest nobilities seen thus far. After said disaster, the then Marquis's daughter became a Vampire, which was life-threatening to her during that climate of violent tension between the races. As a result the entire family from then on dedicated everything they had to researching the World Formula and a way to interfere with it despite the Catholic Church outlawing such—all in a ploy to try and change Chloé d'Apchier into a human. Their efforts resulted in the slow and steady development of the World Formula Alteration Device over the course of several centuries. This Alteration Device is suspected to be closely tied to the inception of the Beast of Gévaudan, which went on to wipe out nearly the entire d'Apchier family. In the current day, the d'Apchiers are survived only by one, the lone Vampire among their ranks, Chloé.

• Granatum: The Granatums were a human noble family that has a long and storied history tied with the Catholic Church. During the times of the race War between humans and Vampires, the brutal and violent and indiscriminate hunting of Vampires and their supporters were commonplace especially among those of the Church. The Granatum family was an instrumental part of these hunts and thus a key figure in the War itself. After the War ended with a tentative peace and the majority of Vampires migrated to Altus to live, the Granatums for their contributions were granted a seat among the Chasseurs' Paladins for many a generation. Because of this history however, in recent years an incident has occurred that resulted in the horrific deaths of nearly the entire family, except for the son Astolfo. The lone surviving Granatum has gone on to become the youngest ever to achieve the title of Chasseur Paladin in the Church's history.

• Neither: The world of The Case Study of Vanitas is ruled by the violent dichotomy between humans and Vampires. The two races existing in parallel dimensions separate from one another, the contrasting yet mirroring societies and cultures of each, the race War between them that defines the trajectory of the world afterwards. However, amidst this seemingly eternal clash exist some who fall within neither group of human nor Vampire, but rather as something in between. And because they fall within neither race, they fall outside of both societies, having no place to belong no matter what world they dwell in.

• Dhampirs: Dhampirs are a hybrid species, being the product of a union between a human and a Vampire. Because of the violent tensions between the races of human and Vampire that date centuries back to the aftermath of the Babel Incident, Dhampirs as a race are greatly put upon. Neither of the two majority races out of a historical hatred for one another are willing to accept any Dhampir for being mixed race, to the point of violently hunting Dhampirs throughout history and continuing to regard them as "vermin." As a result, most Dhampirs consider only one another as true allies and never concern themselves with the drama and political strife of the other races, only about their own survival. In the present day, Dhampirs are for the most part able to live in relative peace due to the protection of Marquis Machina, a very venerable and prolific Vampire noble who stands as their sole protector.

• The Blue Moon: There is a very well-known legend amongst Vampirekind, that near all Vampires are born in the nights of a Crimson Moon, but there is one exception. A Vampire named "Vanitas" who was born under the light of a Blue Moon, which was a symbol of disaster, catastrophy, and ill omen in Vampiric society. This made Vanitas hated and feared by their peers to the point of being run out of their home village. Their resentment and desire for revenge against the Vampires of the Crimson Moon brought upon the creation of the Book of Vanitas, a cursed grimoire with the ability to interfere with Vampires' True Names and turn them into Malnomen. It is said that whoever wields the Book in their hands will bring upon the destruction of the entire Vampire race.

In accordance to that legend, a being in possession of the Book of Vanitas turns up in Paris—except he is a human who wishes to save all Vampires from certain destruction. This human man, claiming to have inherited the Book and name from Vanitas of the Blue Moon, is revealed to be the Kin of the Blue Moon from having been Marked by them, thus imbued with the same power as the original Vampire and creator of the Book. And so, all members of the Clan of the Blue Moon share the same quality of not truly belonging to their original race, be it Vampire or human, due to the blood of the Blue Moon running through their veins.

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Plot: Centuries prior to the French Revolution, the "World Formula" theory was proposed by Paracelsus which posited that the world was governed by mathematical formulas whose variables could be identified and altered. He aspired to change these variables in an attempt to erase suffering and bring happiness to humanity, which resulted in the event known as "Babel." Innumerable calamities rocked the world to its core, causing massive amounts of death, and once it subsided new entities came into being in the world, primely the Vampire species. Deemed abominations before God, normal humans attempted to wipe out these new beings, and a race war ensued. This attempted genocide failed and Vampires began to hide their existences which came to be believed as no more than myth and legend, despite dwelling only one step beyond the human world.

Noé Archiviste, a young vampire living in late 19th century France, is sent by his Teacher to Paris to find the Book of Vanitas and discover its true nature. Supposedly, the Book of Vanitas is a cursed grimoire created by the Vampire of the Blue Moon from which the incurable disease Malnomen originates. Noé successfully discovers the Book on his way to Paris, as well as the person possessing it—a human calling himself Vanitas who uses the grimoire to cure Malnomen. Vanitas declares his goal to be the salvation of the entire race of Vampires, and Noé accompanies him for his entire journey, wishing to understand the true nature of not only the Book but also the enigmatic owner who wields it.

Terminology: Vampires:

• Though referred to as "vampires," the Vampire race within The Case Study of Vanitas are distinct from mythical vampires, and were in fact named after them for having certain similarities. The main distinguishing feature between Vampires and humans is the ability of Vampires to see and interact with the World Formula, allowing them certain superhuman abilities. Unlike mythical vampires, Vampires within The Case Study of Vanitas do not have to drink blood or harm others to survive, and the vast majority go their entire lives without harming humans or interacting with them at all. While most (but not all) Vampires do enjoy the taste of blood, it is not a biological need, and is compared to alcohol, smoking, or sex. Compulsive blood drinking only occurs in the case of blood addiction or Malnomen.

Most Vampires are born under the Crimson Moon, and have a natural fear of the Blue Moon. Those who are born under the Blue Moon, as in the case of Vanitas of the Blue Moon, are scorned and ostracized by other Vampirekind.

The Book of Vanitas:

• A cursed grimoire supposedly passed on to Vanitas by Vanitas of the Blue Moon themself. It is the originator of the disease Malnomen, created in revenge against Vampires for their prosecution of those born under the Blue Moon. The human Vanitas now has the Book of Vanitas within his possession and is the only person capable of using it. However, contrary to the Book's original purpose, Vanitas uses it to cure cases of Malnomen and desires to save the Vampire race.

Malnomen:

• A disease created by Vanitas of the Blue Moon. It attacks the True Name of vampires, causing their bodies and souls to warp. Those infected with Malnomen, usually called curse bearers, gradually grow insane and begin to obsessively search for blood, escalating until they assault and even kill others without hesitation. In addition, their bodies will corrupt, though the onset of physical symptoms appear to happen rapidly in the final stages of the disease. Once warping of the body occurs, the curse bearer will continue to attack others until it dies. Until very recently, there was no possible way to cure those infected with Malnomen, and thus all curse bearers would be sentenced to execution by decapitation once their condition was discovered. The human Vanitas reverse engineers the different forms of Malnomen to find and restore the curse bearer's True Name, curing them.