vampires

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Vampires are beings who subsist by feeding off the life essence (generally in the form of blood) of living creatures. They are distinguishable by their lifeless pallor and sharp fangs, though there is variety amongst cultures. Not all vampires look the same and some are more monstrous in appearance than others but the general human corpse shape is consistent. Their image cannot be captured, therefore photographs and film of them will come up blank and they have no reflection.

The abilities of the vampire varies across cultures as well. Depending on the vampire’s origin, they could have poltergeist-like abilities or the ability to summon thunder. The American vampire is the most basic vampire. They can assume the shape of a bat or wolf, as well as a gaseous form. They must drink blood to stay alive and their bodies will reflect it. When they first feed, their cheeks have a rosy flush to them and they glow but as the days wear on, they become more and more sickly-looking. If they never feed again, their flesh will eventually rot away and they will die or starvation, though this is extremely uncommon. They have all the same bodily functions of human beings, but are immune to illness and disease. They are typically stronger than human beings and feel only a fraction of the pain due to poor nerve endings.

They are a type of undead and therefore very difficult to kill. They are repelled by garlic, much like mosquitoes are, as well as religious symbols as long as the holder is devout. It does not necessarily have to be a crucifix, but those are the most common as Christianity is one of the most common religions in the United States. Many vampires were once religious, but converted to atheism and still wear their holy symbols around their necks as a form of reclamation. They cannot cross running water, unless the vampire is inside their own coffin, nor can they enter a private space without first being invited. They can come and go from public spaces freely, as that is what public spaces are for. Exposing a vampire to direct sunlight disorients them and will quickly char their flesh unless they are able to take cover. Many vampires wear long sleeves and wide-brim hats to avoid it or live in areas with poor weather and many clouds. If they are submerged in running water completely, they will quickly die. Having the strength to hold them under is the hard part. Driving a stake through a vampire’s heart will kill. If it is removed, however, they will come back to life unless the body is destroyed. A typical way of doing this is severing the head and stuffing the mouth with holy wafers (or their equivalent).

Vampires can feed without killing (as long as they do not drain too much blood) or turning, so becoming a one is never accidental. To become a vampire, you must be a full-blooded human. After a vampire feeds on you until near-death, then feeds you their own blood until consciousness is regained. Then you must be buried for three days. After this, you rise as a vampire. Accidental consumption of vampire blood in small amounts will give any creature fever-like symptoms for a few days and they will eventually recover. Therianthropes have a distinct allergy to vampire blood, so their symptoms are often more severe.