Characters

There are many characters in the Vampire Academy universe, and I'll try to tell something about them all, but it's hard. That's why I had them cathegorized: Moroi, dhampir, Strigoi, human and others, those, whose species is unknown. I hope you can find everyone you're looking for - if not, try the search bar on the right. If even that fails, feel free to notify me (through the comments).

Moroi are the good, living vampires. They are born, not made, and also mortal. In general, Moroi are said to be beautiful, very tall and thin. Their skin is very pale, though not as pale as Strigoi's. Thanks to their good looks, they often seek a job of models amongst the humans (for example, Jillian Mastrano Dragomir had a short encounter with a career as a model), and are also very successfull as professional dancers (for example, Emily Mastrano).

These living vampires posses the ability to magically control natural elements - mostly fire, water, air or earth, but sometimes a special vampire is born, a vampire with the ability to control mind - these are called spirit users (for example, Vasilisa Dragomir). Moroi have to drink blood for survival, but they don't have to kill their victims. During the feeding, endorphins are released altogether with their stamina, which makes the humans feel great and happy to be fed off - therefore it's not very hard to become addicted on vampire bite. Moroi can also survive on human food, though blood is needed, too. When Moroi go longer between their blood feedings (longer than two days), they start to weaken, which is signaled with even paler skin, dark circles under their eyes and the Moroi also sweat a lot when weak.

Though sunlight doesn't hurt Moroi, they don't feel comfortable during the day. Windows at their houses are often made of dark glass to prevent the sunlight. When in sunshine for a long time, Moroi turn tired soon.

All vampires, both alive and dead, have the ability to control minds, called compulsion, though both Strigoi and spirit users are much better at this than the rest of the vampires. However, in the Moroi world, it is tabboo to use compulsion.

The Moroi world is led by Moroi queen or king. There are also twelve royal families: Badica, Conta, Dashkov, Dragomir, Drozdov, Ivashkov, Lazar, Ozera, Szelsky, Tarus, Voda and Zeklos. The eldest in a royal family gets the title "Prince" or "Princess" and (usually) becomes a part of Royal Council. Royal Moroi usually have at least one guardian, though they usually get two. There are many Moroi and not so much dhampirs, which results in some Moroi having no guardian. This, however, does not apply on royal Moroi.

List of Moroi characters is here.

Dhampirs are half vampires, half humans. They can be born to human/Moroi parents, though it's tabboo for Moroi to live with humans. However, dhampirs can also be born by combining Moroi and dhampirs, which happens more commonly than with humans. Dhampirs cannot reproduce within their race, which results in the small count of them - they depend on Moroi, which is why they have to guard them to survive.

Dhampirs also have next to no rights amongst the Moroi. They cannot vote and they even don't get to say who they want to guard. It's expected from them, that they'll become guardians. Those who don't often live aside from the Moroi world, becoming "blood whores" - dhampirs (usually girls) who have sex with Moroi and also let the vampires drink their blood during the act. Not every dhampir woman, who doesn't become a guardian, is a blood whore, though. Some just stay with their children at home, forming small communities inside human citites (for example, Belikovs).

Dhampirs have no magical gifts, as opposed to Moroi, but are much stronger. They are not as tall, pale nor thin, they are curvy and muscular. They inherited the best from both species - they are immune to sun and are strong thanks to the humans in them. They also heal quickly, have good reflexes and better senses thanks to the vampire blood.

There aren't many humans in the Vampire Academy universe, though there are a few.

For example, Alchemists - a group of humans who protect the secret of Moroi and help in the war against Strigoi. Alchemists have no special abilities, though they aren't usual humans, either. Alchemists aren't born, they are made, usualy the eldest member of the family becomes an Alchemist. They have to be tattooed on their cheeks with a golden lily. The lily tattoo is made from Moroi blood and it's charmed with earth, water and air magic. The tattoo bonds Alchemists to keep the secret of vampires, and it also gets them a special immunity to a variety of illnesses (similar to dhampirs).

However, Alchemists aren't the only "special humans" in the series. There are also witches, who posses the ability to do magic. There are many spells, but it's harder for them to do magic, than it's for the Moroi. Moroi gain the magic naturally, but witches have to "wrest if from the world". There aren't many magic users, though there are some. Magic users form small groups called Covens and they call each other "sister" and "brother".

Strigoi are the evil, undead vampires who are made, not born. They posses no magical abilites, though they are much stronger and faster than both Moroi and dhampirs, which makes them very hard to kill. Strigoi are very pale, their skin is chalky white and they have red rings around their pupils. When a Strigoi is made, he or she no longer has any humanity in them, which makes them forget all the feelings; they could even kill their own lovers.

As said before, Strigoi are made, not born. Anyone can become Strigoi - humans, dhampirs and Moroi alike, though only Moroi have the chance to do it on their own. If Moroi want to become Strigoi, all they need to do is kill someone during their feedings. However, dhampirs and humans have no choice, they can only be made Strigoi by another Strigoi. When Strigoi feed off of their victims and then make them drink their own blood, their victims will turn Strigoi, too. Some Moroi are known (for example, Sonya Carp) for turning on their free will to cut them from their magical powers, which Strigoi do not posses.

Strigoi bite is known for being even better than Moroi. It was said nothing is better than a Strigoi bite, not even sex. However, not many people survive such bite, as Strigoi have no feelings and usually don't care whether they leave their victim alive or not. Strigoi prefer Moroi blood and are very ambitious, which leads them to kill preferably royal Moroi. They almost killed all the Dragomirs, only two of them are left now - Vasilisa and Jillian.

A Strigoi can be restored back to his or her original species by a spirit user (for example, Dimitri Belikov or Sonya Carp). Afterwards, they cannot become Strigoi again, at least not on their free will. Restored Strigoi remember everything from their undead lives, which makes it harder for them to become the persons they were once.

There are three ways to kill Strigoi: decapitate them, burn them with fire, or stake them with a special silver stake, which is charmed with four elements - water, earth, air and fire. When a silver stake is charmed with spirit and the spirit user who charmed it also stakes the Strigoi, the Strigoi is restored to its original species.

With some of the characters, we're not sure what species they were. It's possibly dhampir or Moroi, and these people are usually teachers and instructors at St. Vladimir's Academy. In this cathegory, there are following people: Aimee (a friend of Jill), Mrs. Callahan (teacher), Ms. Davis (teacher), Mr. Ellsworth (teacher), Jess McHale (one of the Keepers), Ms. Malloy (teacher), Martin (his brother was turned Strigoi), Ms. Meissner (teacher), Mr. Nagy (teacher), Tad (works for Abe) and Torrie (housekeeper for the Ivashkovs).