Post by Sanguine on Sept 21, 2008 12:46:16 GMT -5
Specifics on Vampires
[/b][/u]There are many different interpretations of vampires, this post is to clear up any questions about how vampires ask. If you don't understand something or think something may be left out, feel free to PM any of the staff.
General Qualities of the Vampire
1.) Vampires survive on blood, especially from a human. There are very few (if any) that are considered "vegetarians", or drink animal blood instead. Vampires can drink animal blood as well, but it does not empower them the same way it does human blood, nor does it taste as good. Also, vampires tend to only drink until they are about 80% satisfied, as the thought of "overeating" and becoming fat is revolting.
2.) None of them are especially speedy or powerful. They cannot move faster than the human eye can track, and they cannot stop quickly-moving or large objects with their bodies alone. However, they all do have special magic that gives them far from human capabilities. Physical activity will not tire a vampire, but using magic will.
3.) All vampires are beautiful. Rarely will you find a fat or ugly vampire. However, if you wish to create one, PM a staff member to see if there are openings.
4.) Vampires are either part of a district (a region where vampires can associate freely) or become loners to roam the world.
5.) Vampires typically harbor good feelings towards other vampires. Call it a primal instinct, but most vampires do not make enemies with other vampires upon first meeting each other unless one vampire makes a very strong, negative impression. Spontaneous wars between districts is impossible.
6.) Vampires sleep to replenish energy lost while performing magic, and to process blood into energy. Vampires rarely sleep at night unless they are desperately in need of it, so they usually confine themselves indoors before dawn to sleep.
7.) Vampires have fangs. These fangs can both puncture the skin and siphon out blood, but also inject vampiric blood as well. These fangs can puncture most substances from paper to thin sheets of steel and thick hide. They are located where a human's canine teeth are. Most vampires need a lot of practice to be able to accurately bite a human with such awkwardly placed fangs.
8.) Vampires can rarely consume regular food and drink. Any liquid other than blood evaporates in the body, and any food turns to ash that they must spit up later. Vampires also do not secrete bodily fluids, such as tears and urine, other than blood, saliva (while feeding) and sexual fluids. This means vampires cannot cry.
9.) Vampires are cold to the touch. Atmospheric temperatures do not affect them physically.
The Life of a Vampire
1.) For a vampire to be created (also known as "born" in vampiric terms) both a human and a vampire are required. The vampire must drain all of the blood from the human's body through their fangs. This is difficult for most vampires, as to drain a human entirely would require an empty stomach, which is difficult to resist when filled. The vampire must then wait until the blood runs cold, and then inject it all back into the human. The human is clinically dead for a period of approximately twenty-four to one-hundred and twenty hours while the corpse processes the new vampire blood. After this transition period, the new vampire awakens for the first time.
2.) When a vampire is born, they are called a "fledgling". This title is retained until the vampire reaches the age of one-hundred and fifty years old, at which time they are known as a "middling". Fledglings are young and waste more magic and energy than their elders, and therefore require more blood to sustain themselves, at least during the first few years.
3.) A fledgling will start to learn magic after the first few years of their life, and at this time they begin to learn which branch of magic they have. Their features should, by then, be fully vampiric, unless the fledgling is destined to be "ugly", or lacking the usual beauty of a vampire. A fledgling will often, once under control of its new body, search the world for a suitable vampire community, or district.
4.) A middling is a vampire that is the age of one-hundred and fifty to eight-hundred and ninety-nine years old. Middlings are often quite experienced at surviving like a human and blending in well with their environments. They are usually adept at their magic, though not masterful. Most middlings will have chosen a district at their age and settled a good relationship with the leader of the district.
5.) When a middling reaches its nine-hundredth birthday, they are considered an "ancient", and become regarded as the most respected and feared vampires in the world. Ancients are often masters of their bodies, and can therefore go days or even weeks without feeding or sleeping. They become the most beautiful people on the earth, instead of turning older and graying.
6.) Ancients quite often are masters of magic. They can live until the end of eternity. Unfortunately, most ancients, around their "century" (or one-thousandth birthday) choose to end their vampiric existences out of sheer boredom of the world.
7.) When one vampire creates a fledgling, he or she gains a parental bond with the flegling. This fades after the first several years of a fledgling's life, but the vampire becomes the fledgling's mentor and protector over this passage of time.
Magical Properties
1.) All vampires hold magical powers. These powers overlap and are generally the same. The strength of magic is determined by age and the amount of time spent practicing a certain skill. However, the more prolonged the magical ability is used, and the amount of strength the ability is, the more energy is drained from a vampire, energy which can only be regenerated through a combination of sleep and blood consumption. A vampire cannot die if they run out of their magic stores - however, they are severely weakened and cannot cast even the smallest of abilities.
2.) There are two branches of magic: water and fire. These branches are decided at the moment a vampire is born. The main difference between the two is their most basic magical ability - whether they can control fire, or whether they can control water.
3.) Fire magic is the more aggressive branch. When more powers and abilites are learned, these are quite often in strong and more blatant forms. Fire magic most commonly appears in the more willful vampires, though there are exceptions.
4.) Water magic is the more mysterious branch. When more powers and abilites are learned, these are often more subtle and well-supported than their fiery bretheren. Water magic most commonly appears in the more reserved vampires, though there are exceptions.
5.) When a branch is decided, it is set in stone. A vampire with a feiry branch of magic cannot control water. A vampire with a watery branch of magic cannot control fire.
Here is a list of the current powers vampires can learn:Fire (branch)
Water (branch)
Telepathy
Telekinesis
Shape-shifting
(both animal and physical appearance)
Shadow Control
Mind Control
Premonition
Flight
Regeneration (healing)
This list can change, so check back occasionally for updates.
Death and Weaknesses
1.) The only method of death for a vampire is "thirst" (lack of blood), murder or suicide. Vampires cannot become ill or die of natural causes. The sun is the main fear for vampires.
2.) Direct sunlight is fatal to a vampire. Lights reflected from mirrors are nearly as harmful. If a vampire goes uncovered into broad daylight, the sun can and will kill them. Light from special UV lamps are also harmful, but not fatal. Sunlight through a window is harmful, but not fatal. Most light bulbs are not harmful unless a vampire ventures too closely. Sunlight can cause burns that magic cannot heal for several years.
3.) Fire is harmful to a vampire. A vampire can be killed with fire. Fire can cause burns that magic cannot heal for several months or even years. Vampiric fire is only an irritant to other vampires. Fires involving gasoline or oil are fatal.
4.) Holy water is harmful to a vampire. It is the only substance that a vampire can consume without it evaporating or turning to ash. It works like poison, where it slowly and painfully degenerates the vampire from the inside-out. Vampires cannot enter a room with open (as in not contained in a sealed bottle or jug) holy water, and upon contact with holy water are burned. If the holy water has not been freshly blessed (known as "stagnant") then it ceases to be holy.
5.) Vampires cannot enter churches at any time. Pure silver crosses and crucifixes burn upon contact with skin, and any other holy crosses and crucifixes are irritants. Vampires also cannot enter any private residences without permission. However, the first time permission is granted, the vampire can freely enter and exit the residence at any time, and they cannot be barred from the place again. Public areas, like malls and schools, are available to vampires without permission.
6.) If a vampire is struck entirely through the heart with a wooden or steel stake specifically made to kill vampires, the vampire will die. If a vampire is intentionally beheaded, it will die. However, many wounds, even potentially life-threatening ones, can be healed with any combination of vampiric magic. If a vampire is unintentionally beheaded, as in accidentally, so long as the head is intact it can be healed back onto the body, unless the body has starved at that time.
7.) If any crucial part of a vampire is destroyed, or permanently removed, the vampire will die. If a vampire is nailed to a cross, it cannot escape on its own and it will die slowly and painfully.
8.) Our vampires are soulful. This leads to the ability to appreciate beauty in art and music. Vampries are capable of leading their existences as actors, writers, and other artful professions. It is uncertain what happens when a vampire is destroyed. Vampires are not doomed to hell.
9.) Vampires have special vampiric blood. Though it does not circulate through their bodies, it will leak out of open wounds. It is different from human blood in the way that it is thicker, and much cooler and darker.
Romance, Relationships, and Sexual Intercourse
1.) Vampires rarely find romantic interest with other vampires. However, they do form loving bonds with close friends, especially those of the same gender. Vampires may be straight, but many playfully act frisky around the friends in their district.
2.) Vampires cannot secrete most bodily fluids - except for sexual fluids. However, all vampires are infertile. Even through regular sexual intercourse, a vampire cannot become pregnant and give birth.
3.) Vampires rarely find attraction towards humans whatsoever. Occasionally, a vampire will like a human enough to make them into a vampire. They are not revolted by ugliness or overweightness unless it is involved in their own kind. A vampire will not ever mate with a human, and humans cannot conceive vampiric children.
4.) No vampire babies or half-vampires. Ever. No exceptions. Also, human infants and toddlers cannot turn into vampires. If their blood is drained and then re-injected, they will remain dead. The youngest a human body can process vampiric blood is 8 years of age. At the same time, the oldest is 55 years of age, for the same reasons.
5.) Vampires can get horny, but only around other vampires. Humans and objects do not give them sexual satisfaction. Vampires are not kinky.
6.) Vampires rarely seduce humans with magic. However, there are occasions where it is necessary. Humans quite often find even the ugliest of vampires attractive, and with a bit of mind-controlling magic, can set up a scene.
7.) When vampires find a partner (known as a lover on this site, not a mate) whom they are in love with, they are bound for their existences. When one dies, the other usually does as well, out of sorrow. There is no such thing as an affair in vampiric relationships.
8.) Sexual intercourse is not strictly reserved for lovers. Occasionally, sexual practices can be performed between friends. This is not scandalous, and it does not offend any side of a party.
Specifics on Humans
1.) Currently, the only type of human that will be accepted as a character is a vampire hunter, or more simply, a Hunter.
2.) Most humans do not know of the existence of vampires. They believe vampries are figments of fairy tales and gothic stories. Hunters are humans that know of vampires, and have made it their "night job" to hunt the creatures.
3.) Hunters are NOT special. Let me repeat: Hunters are NORMAL. They are not especially strong or fast. They are not superhuman. At best, they are at Olympic level in terms of agility and strength. They do not have magic, and they are rarely different than any other human.
4.) Hunters are easily picked out by vampires because of the vampires' mind-reading abilities. Therefore, Hunters often live normal lives, and put ideas of Hunting out of sight and mind in the daytime. They only begin to think about vampires at dusk.
5.) Hunters weild crossbows with wood or steel bolts when Hunting vampires. Not regular bows and arrows. Not spears or swords. Hunters always weild crossbows.
6.) Hunters reside in the districts of vampires. They are not "loners". However, they may "wander" from place to place.
7.) Hunters are not especially vicious or violent. They are regular people. They can hold relationships as well as any average human. They know what to look for when searching for vampires. They do, however, find vampires revolting, if not attractive. Hunters are prone to weakness and seduction from a vampire.
This information is capable of changing. Check back occasionally for updates. Major and minor changes will be announced, either with a thread or via pm.
