CHARNIPUTRA VAMPIRES
CHARNIPUTRA VAMPIRES
Classification: Presumably supernaturally altered humans
Location/Base of Operations: Native to the Himalayas, they spend virtually all of their time in flight
Known Members: Kuyuk
Affiliations: Dracula, other vampires
First Appearance:
(Behind-the-scenes) Tomb of Dracula IV#1 (December, 2004)
(Seen and identified) Tomb of Dracula IV#2 (January, 2005)
Powers/Abilities: As vampires, the Charniputra consume the
blood of humans, and presumably those slain by having their blood drained by the
Charniputra will
become Charniputra themselves.
They presumably have superhuman strength.
The Charniputra are described as "vicious flying vampires." They live in the air, alighting only to sleep, feed, and breed. They possess thick, armor-like skin, though a stake can still be driven into them, with effort.
The Charniputra's vulnerability to sunlight (probably), religious symbols, etc. is unrevealed, as is whether they possess other powers or limitations.
Traits: The Charniputra consume the blood of humans for sustenance. They are savage warriors.
History: The origin of the Charniputra vampires is unrevealed.
(Tomb of Dracula IV#1-2 - BTS) - Charniputra vampires were amongst the many vampires of the world summoned to Castle Dracula in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania to protect Dracula during his performance of the Ritual of Ascendance.
(Tomb of Dracula IV#2) - As Noah van Helsing's vampire hunters -- Benjamin Alomii, Blade, Enzo Ferrara,
Lucas Telling-Stone, Noah van Helsing, and Michiko Watanabe -- flew from the USA
to Europe, Dracula ordered Kuyuk, the leader of the Charniputra, to unleash them
against their plane.
As the plane crossed time zones and entered a night-time
region, the Charniputra appeared in pursuit of the plane.
(Tomb of Dracula IV#3) - While Kuyuk stood before Dracula, the
Charniputra attacked the vampire hunters' plane, tearing apart the hull, and
Blade leapt out of the plane and staked a few of them, buying the others time to
escape via parachutes; Ben Alomii caught up to Blade and saved him from falling
to his death. The plane crashed, but the vampire-hunters survived, and
approaching daylight drove off the other vampires, who returned to Castle
Dracula.
Though Kuyuk argued that this had just been their first
attempt against the vampire-hunters, Dracula denounced him for his failure.
Kuyuk begged for a chance to redeem himself, and Dracula called him forward to
embrace him, at which point he pulled Kuyuk into the chrysalis in which he was
developing power, absorbing Kuyuk's power and life force into himself.
the Charniputra attacked Noah van Helsing's vampire hunters -- Benjamin Alomii, Blade, Enzo
Ferrara,
Lucas Telling-Stone, Noah van Helsing, and Michiko Watanabe, as well as their
ally, Ion -- as they approached Castle Dracula. Michiyo sensed their approach
seconds before they struck down Ion. Michiyo explained their nature to her
allies, but a group of them abducted Noah van Helsing and brought him before
Dracula. Michiyo sent the rest of her allies to continue their trek while she
used her Silver Scythe for it's purpose, sacrificing her own life to destroy the
vampire that had slain her mother.
The other Charniputra returned to Castle Dracula. As they had slain one of his opponents as well as
capturing Noah, Dracula did not destroy Juito.
(Tomb of Dracula IV#4) - The Charniputra were present as Dracula completed the Ritual of Ascendance, but Aamshed unleashed 6000 souls against Dracula, destroying him and all other nearby vampires.
Comments: Created by Robert Rodi, Bruce Jones, Jamie Tolagson, Tom Palmer, and Jay Leisten.
On a quick net search I didn't find evidence that the Charniputra are a real part of vampire mythology. Let me know if there's some alternate spelling that would have more information.
In Blade III#12 a prophecy was fulfilled that brought back all vampires that ever died. This most likely included Charniputra vampires as well. We'll have to wait if they resurface.
--Markus Raymond
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Charniputra should be distinguished from other types of vampires
Leader of the Charniputra, at Dracula's command he sent the Charniputra to assault the vampire-hunters' plane. When the vampire-hunters survived the assault, Dracula slew Kuyuk, absorbing his full power and life force.
--Tomb of Dracula IV#2, (named) 3 (1 (fb) - BTS, 2, 3d)
images: (without ads)
Tomb of Dracula IV#3, p16, panel 2 (feasting on Ion)
panel 3 (Juito)
p17, panel 1 (impaled on sword)
Appearances:
Tomb of Dracula IV#1 (December, 2004) - by Robert Rodi & Bruce Jones (story),
Robert Rodi (script), Jamie Tolagson (pencils), Tom Palmer and Jay Leisten
(inks), Warren Simons and John Miesegaes (editors)
Tomb of Dracula IV#2-4 (January-March, 2005) - by Robert Rodi & Bruce Jones
(story), Robert Rodi (script), Jamie Tolagson (pencils), Tom Palmer and Scott
Koblish (inks), Warren Simons and John Miesegaes (editors)
First Posted: 07/13/2007
Last updated: 07/13/2007
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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