The Khalbeth

The Khalbeth serve but one function - mutual power mongering. The Khalbeth is ruled by four powerful magi of the Black Arkat sect of Arkatism, who teach the Create Vampire ritual to those Uz who qualify as Masters of Arkat's Secrets (i.e. magi). They, in turn, pledge their allegiance to the four heads of the sect. The Khalbeth is a source of Uz vampirism within Guhan, the Kozoru (see Book of Drastic Resolutions Volume Three) are seen differently, for the Khalbeth call upon the same sort of powers that Zorak Zoran does for his undead creations.

All the magi in the Khalbeth will turn prospective candidates into vampires, if that vampire pledges to serve them in their undead existence until the magi dies. Few magi seek to turn themselves into vampires - immortality holds little interest to a race that has Wonderhome as it's afterlife. This means that most of the Uz that come to be turned into vampires are die hard fanatical trolls. The undead connections and fanatical nature of Zorak Zorani means that they often seek to join it's ranks, looking for an immortal existence plundering in hate, rage and anger. Some vampires are also familiars to the magi.

Obviously the time and energy expenditure on the magus' behalf means that they only bother with trolls whose pledge of allegiance is worthwhile to them - weaker trolls just aren't worth it. With minor variations, and a handful of exceptions, the Khalbethi seek powerful warriors (as few non-warriors seek to become vampires) who must have a minimum of 20 points of Rune Magic, or at least 130% in three useful skills. They only accept rune lords, priests and the odd acolyte. Shamans who join lose their fetch to vampirism, and all associated shamanic powers, and so rarely choose to join and are even more rarely accepted. Before becoming a vampire the troll spends a year studying the ways of Arkat and basic sorcery. Upon becoming the equivalent of a Journeyman sorceror they normally have the ritual cast upon themselves.

The vampires have normal vampric powers. However, they contrast with Vivamorti vampires in a few respects; They have no Henchmen or Steal Rune Magic spells to collect magic with for a start. Nor are they the heads of their respective cult, the vampires are servants, the magi are the leaders and the vampires do not have a large base of initiates and acolytes to draw support and power from. Lastly, Khalbethi vampires are not chaotic, any more than a Zorak Zorani skeleton or zombie is. They see the Vivamorti vampires as they do any other chaos, and attack it or seek to destroy it in some other way. The Vivamorti see the Khalbeth as a threat, the more vampric cults there are the less power that Vivamort has - the Vivamorti seek to monopolize vampirism and the Khalbeth are seen as an afront to that agenda.

Khalbethi vampires normally shapechange into flying beetles instead of bats and giant insects instead of wolves.

The Khalbeth themselves act as both a mercenary group and a group of Arkati advisors. Their combined pool of knowledge is awesome and the Council of Guhan pays well for their aid.