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Posted on the Intranet: Vampires 101
Submitted by Dorian (winglessangel) on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 03:50
posted by the_scholar
VAMPIRES 101
There's a ton of misconception about vampires and I'm hoping to clear a few things up. Vampirism is currently considered a "disease", brought on by being infected with the vampire virus. Not everyone survives the infection but about 70% do.
Truths
Vampires survive off human blood
Just humans, not animals or other creatures. A hungry vampire is the most dangerous, not just because he's hungry, but also because any self control is lost. The vampire in question will gorge himself, creating a path of death and destruction in his wake.
Vampires are stronger/faster/tougher than humans
Not lightning fast, but fast enough that they can catch you or you can't catch them.
Vampires are undead
No need to breath, eat (besides human blood), or other things.
Vampires are allergic to sunlight / holy objects and grounds
As popular culture leads us to believe, they can't go out into sunlight. Their skin will burn, flake and eventually turn them to a pile of dust. In the same vein, they can be burned by holy objects (any religion) and can't step foot on consecrated grounds. (This means a good place to hide out is a church, temple or chapel).
Vampires need to be invited into your home to enter
They can still enter public places (including hotels) or apartment buildings, but individual apartments or other places of residence require permission. Rule of thumb here: don't invite anyone suspicious in.
Myths
Vampires cannot shapeshift
So no need to worry about Count Dracula turning into a bat.
Vampires cannot hide their fangs
Technically some can, a result of practice, but the fangs are still there and never retract or anything of that nature.
A vampire bite feels awesome
This is both true and untrue. A willing donor will consider the bite pleasurable, but if you don't want to be bit it's going to hurt like hell.
That's it for now. I'll post Vampires 102 later, with some more detailed information.
Feel free to post questions and I'll do my best to answer. Also suggestions on other topics along these lines you might interested are also welcome.
Reply
posted by whats_up_doc
What about garlic? Does that work for keeping them away?
Do they stay looking the same as when they died? So - immortality, I guess? Do they age?
Are they cold to touch? (Not that I'd really want to get close enough to one to find out).
There've been a lot of books and Hollywood stories about 'good' vampires over the past few years - how reasonable are they? On a scale of Bram Stoker to Twilight, where's reality? I'm assuming that the sparkling isn't true...
RE; Reply
posted by the_scholar
Not so much on the garlic.
Yes, the standard immortality type stuff going on. There is a hierarchy among them, based on their "age" (since death). The "older" you are, the more important you are.
They are typically cooler to the touch. Being dead their blood doesn't really flow like a human's would. Think of a person with poor circulation who's fingers are always cool.
The sparkling is far from true. Actually most of the Twilight is crap. Just toss that whole series in the trash.
As for traits towards humans, they vary. A lot of it depends on the background of the vampire, but there is an entire bloodline (like a family) that is generally nice to humans, not killing unless necessary.
In contrast there's entire bloodlines who prefer mass destruction.
.
posted by whats_up_doc
So, what you're saying is that you can't judge a vampire by its cover?
I can't help but think that 'not killing unless necessary' is not the same as 'not harming' - they still live off human blood, right? Or do they just perform midnight raids on bloodbanks. Not that we can spare that either. Actually - that reminds me...
.
posted by the_scholar
Well you can't judge anything by it's cover can you?
No, they do still live off human blood, but they don't like to kill their victims. Rather they just keep them around, almost like pets. It's not exactly...ideal, but I guess it's better than just murdering people right?
.
posted by whats_up_doc
Once upon a time I thought you could - now I realise how much I don't know.
Though i do know I don't like the idea of being a pet. That brings up too may images of being kept on a lead and being expected to eat out of a bowl...
.
posted by the_scholar
Well yeah, I'm not sure how I feel about that either, but think of all the Twilight fans. They'd probably be gaga over the idea.
:)
posted by user kayotic
You're the man, Stretch. Excellent work. ♥
lol
posted by the_scholar
Stretch? Really? lol. Thanks!
;p
posted by kayotic
Dude, you're tall. Way tall. I have to cran my neck just to get a look at those eyes of yours. So Stretch it is. I mean, I could call you Lurch instead, if you really wanted... ;p
XD
in a choice between Lurch and Stretch, Stretch works just fine.
.
posted by go_boom
if 70% of people survive the vampirism virus - do all of those 70% of people get turned into vampires? the other 30% die? or can you successfully fight off the virus and remain human/not undead etc.
.
posted by the_scholar
Some can successfully fight it off. 20% do manage to remain healthy and not undead, but there's also that last 10% that die after being infected (and not the die and come back as the undead part, just die).