(To those who agreed to write lectures I am profusely sorry about the lateness of this. I won't make excuses, I messed up. Here's to hoping this series can still get off the ground and please forgive spelling goofs. I've been up since 2am.)

Artemus surveyed the list of lecturers he'd managed to get acceptance requests from and smiled slightly to himself. It was certainly an impressive array of talent and knowledge. Ego's as well no doubt. Looking around the Academy's lone lecture hall he realized there would not be enough space for everyone and that some of the lecture times would overlap.

"Well that should be rather easy to rectify I think..." a clever little smile slipped to his features then as he took out a pocket watch. The item itself was rather mundane looking and unimpressive over all. Stepping close to the twin set of double doors he began to knock on the set labeled 'Entrance'. Each knock then adjusted to a specific hour. Really this was perhaps the cheapest trick in his arsenal, locking the room to specific points in time to where whoever entered at the specific time interval would go to the corresponding lecture. There was a draw back of course as there always would be. What if someone ran late? Well then he'd have staff on hand to take care of that. The exit doors would function as normal no matter the time lock.

Turning from the doors he pointed a finger just above the lecturn making a banner fall scrolling in large script "Welcome guests faculty and staff!". "That should be appreciated, by some if not everyone." A satisfactory nod given to the banner he set his attention to a side table that would hold a bit of light confection. Some coffee, some juices, maybe muffins and low attention fruit. This would correspond to a matching table in the large lobby just outside the doors where a sign posted the lecture times. He just hoped that the order would not bother too many.

10:00 - Briarius Ravensheart of Ravensheart Academy
Of Nature and Necromancy.
Auditorium A.

12:00 - Lord Veighn Yhaull
Sentient Artifacts
Auditorium B.

2:00 - Minister Silas Greyshot
Ripple Effect and the Multiverse
Auditorium C.

Watching quietly as the seats began to fill hid emerald gaze fell upon Briarius making his entrance. Several student aides held positions close to the outter walls to better assist guests in finding their seats as well as direct traffic should the unforseen take place. It was a magic school after all.

His gaze turned back upon the sea of bodies then with raised hands asking for calm so he may speak. "Ladies, Gentleman, Bi-peds, Quadrapeds, and every sentient being in between. I'd like to personally thank each of you for coming. As many of you know the speakers presenting this day are some of the most prominant members in our diverse community. It is my hope that through the sharing of their knowledge, research, and theories we all may come closer together in our varied academic pursuits." Perhaps an enchantment or more a trick of the accoustics but as Headmaster Kurgen spoke his voice rang clearly to the ears and senses of the gathering without magnification.

Softly clearing his throat, Artemus gave a dramatic pause before continuing. "Our first speaker of the day is a man who, I feel, needs little introduction. He is a colleague and peer among the faculty here at the Arcanum Academy. Honored guests, friends, and colleagues, I give you Brarius Ravensheart." His hands spread welcoming the man openly to the daius with a friendly smile and a respectful inclining of his head.

There were a few murmurings at the unassuming question set to the audience. A few even were bold enough to raise their hands. Those who knew the potentially rehtorical question for what it might very well be remained silent to allow Briarius to continue his opening, for surely that got attention.

Standing towards the side of the dais, Artemus smiled to himself while watching his peer at work. He truly hoped to gain an insight into Necromancy with this. The nature he had down rather well.

Seconds after the question hung in the air a general darkening of an area before the doorway to Auditorium A heralded her approach. A stain grew upon the very air, spreading out in a writhing undulation of blackness. It repelled the light and grew in size before seemingly splitting open to birth the long naked leg of a feminine form.

Sliding free from the umbrous hold of shadows she emerged as an elegant statuesque woman. Her attire an adage to her own forgotten world: porcelain skin revealed in glimpses as the shadows continued to writhe and pull about her, twining with jealous possessiveness.

No sound revealed her arrival. And if a general sense of unease accompanied her it was on a primitive level of survival instinct that warned of a predator in the midst.

She chose a seat near the back of the room. Cold, soulless eyes meeting any attention garnered and a polite nod administered should it be needed before focusing upon the lecturer attentively.

A smile curved across his tanned at Briarius' lead in to the meat of his lecture. Many here more than likely knew of the various theories behind that given different events in different worlds. About the only thing that seemed recurring were the notions that somewhere, some when, an individual, or multiple individuals thought to ask the dead how to prolong their life. "The birth of be careful what you wish for....." he whispered softly, though perhaps Briarius would hear him given how close he is to the stage.

To the momentary smirk he merely smiled oh so innocently before falling silent again as Brarius continued. However his eyes found their way to a trio near the back which brought a warm smile onto his features. And then the, subtle, entrance of a rather provocatively dressed woman. He'd file away a memo on that one.

From there gaze swept to some of the Academy's students who'd come out and surprise, surprise there sat Miss Magnus and the Elric brothers. He often wondered what bonds of friendship brought those three together as they were more apt to make mischief than homeroom, and Magnus had yet to score below stellar. Of crouse their grades had started improve, however Artemus couldn't know if Magnus were merely inspiring the pair, or she just looked the other way when doing her homework for the classes they shared. Over three thousand students enrolled at Arcanum and those three managed to get his focus, an odd occurance that.

Thoughts on that thread brushed away, he turned back to Briarius and stopped looking to where the man was going and focused instead on the words as they came forth. He'd definitely spent too long among darker company that he'd forgotten to enjoy face-value.

She had not moved for the lecture's entirety. Not so much as a flicker of her lashes to shield those reflective eyes, nor a flutter of a pulse visible beneath her pale, alabaster skin. Her attention remained focused on Briarius as if by simple visual connection she could perform osmosis.

At the break for questions she quite suddenly...blinked. And as if that small human gesture signaled a return to the physicality of life, she turned to assess those who assembled to listen. Her gaze lingering long enough to commit details to an inexhaustible memory.

Upon determining that she interrupted none other, her question slid through the air on a voice used to authority. Not demanding, certainly, but simply expecting attention:

"Headmaster Ravensheart, if I may impose..." She rose in a fluid motion made liquid by the sentient caresses of the shades that surrounded her, "...perhaps you might settle a debate between a colleague and I. What are your thoughts on applying the necromantic arts to a creature that has been previously damned? One that once harbored a demonic possession? Would it stand to reason that the demon would maintain a link with that resurrected soul?"

He looked out to the audience for any further questions and to make certain the question he did answer was answered suitably

Briarius waited and when it seemed no one else had any more to ask, he spoke again.

"Well, if anyone has any further questions or insights, I can be found at Ravensheart Academy. Thank you for your time."

The Headmaster smiled.

"I have no pressing affairs and from what I divine about this auditorium, we won't be needing to vacate quickly. So, please, ask your question."

"Now there's a question I expected to be asked!"

The Headmaster gestured and an illusion of the known cosmos appeared.

"For centuries the origin of Vampires and Vampirism has been studied to death. Pardon the pun."

He waited for the polite laughter.

"However, it is widely agreed upon in academic circles that Vampires do come from the energies of deatha and wickedness. In some cases the deific powers that exist in a realm harness these energies to lay a curse upon a mortal. This does not actually explain anything. How did these powers know what to harness or what to curse said mortal with. The laws of probability work strongly against mere creativity and coincidence. The missing key actually lies on a world that was ravaged by genocide and war. The magical energies that are released upon the death of a living mortal far surpass any other source of immediate magic. The deaths of billions of mortals flooded this world with magic, ripping apart the fabric of reality there and opened many dimensional portals. Through these portals came many different beings, but the one that fits into this explanation is what i will refer to as a Vampire Intelligence. A Vampire Intelligence is a being created from the prolonged mingling of infernal, abyssal, death, and celestial energies. A sort of life from death if you will. It is these beings that infect mortals with vampirism and it is these beings that the gods gained the idea of vampirism from. If you trace the lineage of any vampire, you will eventually come across a Vampire Intelligence.

As to your question of the ability found in one and not the other even though they are the same creature, the answer lies in specifications. Not every rose germinated from the same plant is identical, are they? There are many energies at work here in different ratios. Powers are specific to the Vampire Intelligence that spawned the vampire."

"Not a true Intelligence, but very close. True Vampire Intelligences are created by the prolonged mingling of death and other energies. They are the true things of nightmare. However with enough ambition, a vampire could travel to another dimension that had previously not known vampires and essentially be the equivalent. What helps keep vampires balanced however, is their fairly mundane weaknesses and their ties to those who sired them. Although Master Vampires exist and they are not bound to another vampire, there is a strong chance they are the thrall of a Vampire Intelligence and don't even realize it.