The Mods (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} mysteria_mods) wrote,@ 2007-12-09 22:45:00 |
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Vampires
No one is sure what makes a vampire. What force it is that makes them the undead. It isn't know either whether or not they lose their soul upon becoming a vampire. Only the vampire knows upon their final death.
General Information about all vampires
Becoming a vampire is simple enough. No, one doesn't get bitten three items. Instead you have to be drained of blood, to the brink of death, and then vampire blood must enter the system. The process the body will go through will make the person wish they were dead and if a weak minded person is turned they may become an animalistic vampire, having lost their mind.
Once one becomes a vampire they are immortal...in a sense. While a vampire won't die of old age or disease, they can be killed. There are three basic ways to kill a Vampire: expose them to sunlight (get exposed to sunlight and it's all over. Even a few seconds in it and they'll have wounds that take days to heal), behead them or burn them up. A Vampire assaulted by any other means, severe beating, any number of gunshot wounds, etc. may be forced into torpor and appear dead, but they will eventually heal and reanimate. The only certain way to ensure a Vampire's final death is one of the three methods listed above.
A wooden stake will not kill a vampire. However a wooden stake through the heart (and only a wooden stake -- not steel, silver, plastic or other material -- and only through the heart) will paralyze a vampire driving them into torpor. In such a state their bodies eventually shrivel and mummify. Eventually, the stake will rot, be eaten by termites, or may be pulled out by some unsuspecting mortal (or other Vampire) and the Vampire will rise again, usually somewhat peeved. And hungry. For you would-be Vampire hunters out there, a stake through the heart is a good start before you behead them or drag them out into the sunlight.
When a vampire is dead they don't combust into a puff of dust. The corpse slowly starts to turn to ash, a process that can take and hour to ten minutes depending on the age of the vampire.
Holy water, crosses, and the like only hurt a vampire if the person who welds them as pure, unquestioned faith. In this day and age that's a pretty rare thing. Garlic does not repel them.
Vampires are unable to enter a dwelling until they have been first invited inside. Once invited inside, however, they can return whenever they wish, until the invitation is revoked. If they are in the house at the time, the removal is swift and magical, with the door opening and a wind driving them out.
A Vampire's only sustenance is blood. In most cases the living blood of live humans. While a Vampire can subsist, for a time, on animal blood or blood stored in blood banks, eventually they will be compelled to seek out and drink the blood of a living victim.
A Vampire's internal organs, including their stomachs are as dead as they are. Vampires don't breathe, don't excrete hormones, sweat, wastes or anything else -- their skin does not contain sebum which means they seldom leave fingerprints behind though, of course, a bloody fingerprint would be possible. This means, since their stomachs do not secrete digestive acids, they cannot eat or digest food. While a vampire may be able to chew and swallow a hamburger, or drink a glass of wine, they will be compelled, very shortly, to vomit it back up. While such food is in their stomach they will feel extreme discomfort (which means fooling people into thinking they are human via this tactic is a touch-and-go thing at best). When a Vampire drinks blood, the vitae suffuses their entire body in way not fully understood but which is entirely unlike normal human digestion.
Sex is possible for a vampire, but only if they have feed before hand. Otherwise there is no extra blood to go rushing to any organs. Even after feeding it's still noticeable that certain body parts aren't as warm as they should be, but instead a few degrees below normal body temperature.
Other myths that don't really apply are running water. It's silly to think that running water it going to stop a vampire. Another is coffins. Vampires don't need to sleep in coffins. Some just choose to.
Another myth is mirrors. Vampires do have a reflection though their faces are normally obscured or distorted. To a casual observer, glancing in a mirror or reflecting shop window, nothing will appear out of the ordinary, though close examination will reveal the vampire's features to be strangely unrecognizable. This effect can be voluntarily mitigated temporarily, long enough, for example, for the vampire to check his hair or get a photo I.D. made (likely to be forged, unless you know of a good all-night DMV or Passport office). In most cases a considerable amount of mental exertion (on the part of the vampire) is required to form a permanently clear photograph of the vampire.
When a Vampire "sleeps" the force animating their dead body goes dormant as well. They appear, to casual examination, to be a recently deceased corpse, even down to the rigor mortis.
A vampire's fangs are always out and you can tell a young vampire just by how much fang he flashes around. Generally a Vampire's skin is paler and waxier than a living human's. Even if they are African, Asian or other race whose skin is not "white," per se, they tend to be paler or otherwise not quite the same shade as a living person of their race (though a vampire is able to force blood into their skin to give it a "Blush of life" this does not often last for long). In addition, a vampire's skin is free of many of the usual wrinkles found on even a relatively young living person's face. A Vampire does not breathe, except to talk (though, for a common human, ignorant of Vampires, noticing this in a casual setting might be difficult) and some Vampires make a point of training themselves to breathe regularly, even though they don't have to, as a way of maintaining their link to their former humanity. A Vampire's heart does not beat (again, not something a human would casually notice).
To go with that, they are only room temperature to the touch unless recently feed and then they are a few degrees warmer for a little while. The tears of a vampire are made of blood since vampires do not produce real tears.
Vampiric Abilities
All vampires share the same powers and abilities. The newly turned may be slower than say a vampire that has been around a lot longer. Below is a list breaking down the upsides to being a vampire.
Smell - Vampires don't rely on scent the way shapeshifters do, but they have a much better sense of smell than humans.
Hearing - Vampires have superhuman hearing. They can hear what you whisper as clear as day and can hear your heart beating from the next room.
Cold - Vampires cannot freeze to death and they do not get cold. Most vampires try to play human be wearing coats in the winter but they are not needed.
Strength- Vampires have a superhuman strength. Not Superman strong but they're stronger than your normal human.
Movement- It takes someone who has studied the movements to be aware of when a vampire is moving around them. Usually vampires move without a sound and some even seem to float as they walk. They can move at great speed and jump to great heights. Reflexes of a vampire are at a superman level.
Sight- The sight of a vampire is far better than the sight of a human. Also they can see in the dark. Of course they would or else they'd be bumping into walls at night.
Emotions - ability to feel and perceive more vividly than they did as a human.
Healing- Vampires usually heal pretty fast depending on the wound. The deeper and bigger the wound, the longer it takes to heal. Feeding will quicken the act.
Vampire Blood and Humans
When a mortal who had not been drained and is given vampire blood, they take on some of the supernatural senses of a vampire, some of the strength, and heal faster than normal. Depending on how much blood the human digust, the effects can last a couple weeks.
Some people peddle vampire blood as a drug. And just like any drug it's addicting. Any one who tries it is left with a craving for more. For those who give into the craving, that craving just gets stronger and stronger. For addicts coming off of vampire blood, the side effects are just like normal withdrawal. Some vampires also use this to tie humans to them.
No one is sure what makes a vampire. What force it is that makes them the undead. It isn't know either whether or not they lose their soul upon becoming a vampire. Only the vampire knows upon their final death.
General Information about all vampires
Becoming a vampire is simple enough. No, one doesn't get bitten three items. Instead you have to be drained of blood, to the brink of death, and then vampire blood must enter the system. The process the body will go through will make the person wish they were dead and if a weak minded person is turned they may become an animalistic vampire, having lost their mind.
Once one becomes a vampire they are immortal...in a sense. While a vampire won't die of old age or disease, they can be killed. There are three basic ways to kill a Vampire: expose them to sunlight (get exposed to sunlight and it's all over. Even a few seconds in it and they'll have wounds that take days to heal), behead them or burn them up. A Vampire assaulted by any other means, severe beating, any number of gunshot wounds, etc. may be forced into torpor and appear dead, but they will eventually heal and reanimate. The only certain way to ensure a Vampire's final death is one of the three methods listed above.
A wooden stake will not kill a vampire. However a wooden stake through the heart (and only a wooden stake -- not steel, silver, plastic or other material -- and only through the heart) will paralyze a vampire driving them into torpor. In such a state their bodies eventually shrivel and mummify. Eventually, the stake will rot, be eaten by termites, or may be pulled out by some unsuspecting mortal (or other Vampire) and the Vampire will rise again, usually somewhat peeved. And hungry. For you would-be Vampire hunters out there, a stake through the heart is a good start before you behead them or drag them out into the sunlight.
When a vampire is dead they don't combust into a puff of dust. The corpse slowly starts to turn to ash, a process that can take and hour to ten minutes depending on the age of the vampire.
Holy water, crosses, and the like only hurt a vampire if the person who welds them as pure, unquestioned faith. In this day and age that's a pretty rare thing. Garlic does not repel them.
Vampires are unable to enter a dwelling until they have been first invited inside. Once invited inside, however, they can return whenever they wish, until the invitation is revoked. If they are in the house at the time, the removal is swift and magical, with the door opening and a wind driving them out.
A Vampire's only sustenance is blood. In most cases the living blood of live humans. While a Vampire can subsist, for a time, on animal blood or blood stored in blood banks, eventually they will be compelled to seek out and drink the blood of a living victim.
A Vampire's internal organs, including their stomachs are as dead as they are. Vampires don't breathe, don't excrete hormones, sweat, wastes or anything else -- their skin does not contain sebum which means they seldom leave fingerprints behind though, of course, a bloody fingerprint would be possible. This means, since their stomachs do not secrete digestive acids, they cannot eat or digest food. While a vampire may be able to chew and swallow a hamburger, or drink a glass of wine, they will be compelled, very shortly, to vomit it back up. While such food is in their stomach they will feel extreme discomfort (which means fooling people into thinking they are human via this tactic is a touch-and-go thing at best). When a Vampire drinks blood, the vitae suffuses their entire body in way not fully understood but which is entirely unlike normal human digestion.
Sex is possible for a vampire, but only if they have feed before hand. Otherwise there is no extra blood to go rushing to any organs. Even after feeding it's still noticeable that certain body parts aren't as warm as they should be, but instead a few degrees below normal body temperature.
Other myths that don't really apply are running water. It's silly to think that running water it going to stop a vampire. Another is coffins. Vampires don't need to sleep in coffins. Some just choose to.
Another myth is mirrors. Vampires do have a reflection though their faces are normally obscured or distorted. To a casual observer, glancing in a mirror or reflecting shop window, nothing will appear out of the ordinary, though close examination will reveal the vampire's features to be strangely unrecognizable. This effect can be voluntarily mitigated temporarily, long enough, for example, for the vampire to check his hair or get a photo I.D. made (likely to be forged, unless you know of a good all-night DMV or Passport office). In most cases a considerable amount of mental exertion (on the part of the vampire) is required to form a permanently clear photograph of the vampire.
When a Vampire "sleeps" the force animating their dead body goes dormant as well. They appear, to casual examination, to be a recently deceased corpse, even down to the rigor mortis.
A vampire's fangs are always out and you can tell a young vampire just by how much fang he flashes around. Generally a Vampire's skin is paler and waxier than a living human's. Even if they are African, Asian or other race whose skin is not "white," per se, they tend to be paler or otherwise not quite the same shade as a living person of their race (though a vampire is able to force blood into their skin to give it a "Blush of life" this does not often last for long). In addition, a vampire's skin is free of many of the usual wrinkles found on even a relatively young living person's face. A Vampire does not breathe, except to talk (though, for a common human, ignorant of Vampires, noticing this in a casual setting might be difficult) and some Vampires make a point of training themselves to breathe regularly, even though they don't have to, as a way of maintaining their link to their former humanity. A Vampire's heart does not beat (again, not something a human would casually notice).
To go with that, they are only room temperature to the touch unless recently feed and then they are a few degrees warmer for a little while. The tears of a vampire are made of blood since vampires do not produce real tears.
Vampiric Abilities
All vampires share the same powers and abilities. The newly turned may be slower than say a vampire that has been around a lot longer. Below is a list breaking down the upsides to being a vampire.
Smell - Vampires don't rely on scent the way shapeshifters do, but they have a much better sense of smell than humans.
Hearing - Vampires have superhuman hearing. They can hear what you whisper as clear as day and can hear your heart beating from the next room.
Cold - Vampires cannot freeze to death and they do not get cold. Most vampires try to play human be wearing coats in the winter but they are not needed.
Strength- Vampires have a superhuman strength. Not Superman strong but they're stronger than your normal human.
Movement- It takes someone who has studied the movements to be aware of when a vampire is moving around them. Usually vampires move without a sound and some even seem to float as they walk. They can move at great speed and jump to great heights. Reflexes of a vampire are at a superman level.
Sight- The sight of a vampire is far better than the sight of a human. Also they can see in the dark. Of course they would or else they'd be bumping into walls at night.
Emotions - ability to feel and perceive more vividly than they did as a human.
Healing- Vampires usually heal pretty fast depending on the wound. The deeper and bigger the wound, the longer it takes to heal. Feeding will quicken the act.
Vampire Blood and Humans
When a mortal who had not been drained and is given vampire blood, they take on some of the supernatural senses of a vampire, some of the strength, and heal faster than normal. Depending on how much blood the human digust, the effects can last a couple weeks.
Some people peddle vampire blood as a drug. And just like any drug it's addicting. Any one who tries it is left with a craving for more. For those who give into the craving, that craving just gets stronger and stronger. For addicts coming off of vampire blood, the side effects are just like normal withdrawal. Some vampires also use this to tie humans to them.