Noctyr

Basically vampires. They roam the country roads of Thirshalon looking for prey. Once they drain a victim of its blood, the unfortunate orc (or human) will race out into the night and try to bite as many people or animals as it can find. In the morning they either become a fully fledged Noctyr or turn to dust with the sunrise.

A Vampire Lady encountered Oren, Eliam, and Votig the night after they arrived in Thirshalon. She gave them invaluable information about where to grow blood lotuses, then cut Oren's hand and tasted his blood. She fled on her wagon and afterwards discovered Minerva and Elise sleeping alone. She bit Minerva, who in turn bit Elise. Their curse waned when the sunlight activated the Aether in their blood, and they were left in control of themselves and only slightly inconvenienced by the sunlight, but their hunger for blood remained. This curse was fully lifted after they jumped into the wellspring in northern Thirshalon.