Basic Information
Vampires are according to most folklore and fiction blood-sucking nocturnal creatures of at least vaguely human-like appearance.
It is hard to define a vampire since in legends the attributes of vampires vary greatly, such as Bram Stoker's Dracula versus Stephenie Meyer's Twilight, some traits are more common like others however, but it is unrealistic to mention all traits attributed to a vampire. Here follows some of the more common ones.
Common Strengths
- Superhuman Resilience (due to the undead state)
- Superhuman Strength
- Immortality
- Shape-shifting (often into animals such as a wolf, a bat, or perhaps a whole swarm of bats)
- Mind-Control/Mesmerizing
- Sharp/Superhuman Senses
- Superhuman Speed of Movement
- Minions
Common Weaknesses
- Vulnerability to Sunlight
- Need to sleep in a coffin or other specific object/space
- Repelled and/or injured by objects considered to be blessed
- Inability to cross running water or large bodies of water
- Compulsive behavior such as the counting of small objects, or unknitting of all encountered knots
- Vulnerability to things considered to be blessed, such as crosses, holy water and sacramental bread
Further Details
Here follows some more in-depth information on the topics discussed above
Strengths
Vampires are Undead Creatures
in most old legends vampires are essentially walking corpses, which has held true even up to recent days. The obvious aspect of it has been downplayed in most recent media however, and now the most common type of vampire looks like a slightly pale human
Note however that many (but not all) Japanese vampires, especially in fiction, are not at all undead.
Vampires have Superhuman Strength
In the most popular legends vampires possess superhuman strength, often to great levels.
Many stories tell tales of vampires with the strength of ten, or even more, men. This is usually justified as an effect of whatever unnatural power keep them animate.
While almost all vampires seem to possess this trait, some folklore tales explain that vampires are very weak and frail, and thus must attack sleeping victims to avoid getting overpowered and destroyed.
Immortality
Vampires being dead are in many legends very close to immortal, sometimes requiring complex procedures to dispose of.
For example, a legend might require a vampire must be staked with a special wooden stake, have its mouth filled with garlic or holy water, and then have the head chopped off, possibly followed by burning of the body and reburying the remains at a crossroad. Other legends make vampires out to be slightly easier to destroy, requiring simply that the coffin is nailed shut, a wooden/iron stake to piece its heart, or simply burning the body.
Modern vampires are in contrast usually far easier to get rid of, sometimes easily killed by simply blood-loss or a bullet to the head.
Most varieties of vampires are unaging
Minions
Vampires frequently have "Renfields", human thralls who run errands for them and take care of the coffin while the master is sleeping during the day, etc. They could be creepy and pathetic with annoying laughs and bug-eating habits, like the character Renfield from the Bela Lugosi movie, or tough bodyguards who can easily break the head of any hunter who thinks that the vampire is vulnerable in the daytime. They lack the vampire's weaknesses and are totally loyal to him.
In addition, some vampires can also control creatures like wolves, bats or swarms of rats to do their bidding.
Weaknesses
Vampires suffer in Sunlight
In Hollywood most vampires combust in flames, or otherwise suffer harm in sunlight. This is however little based on folklore, where most vampires disliked sunlight merely due to being nocturnal creatures.
Vampires sleep in Coffins
In old folklore most vampires returned to their coffin when the night was nearing its end, and this was the time when would be vampire-hunters or mobs of peasants would/should strike them, since they were according to most legends defenseless during the day.
This legend is rarely every used in modern medias, and is in fact frequently ridiculed by modern vampires
Vampires fear Crosses and other Religious Symbols
In much of the Christian legends unholy beings such as demons or vampires could be turned away or forced to flee via the power of faith, or some symbol thereof. Crosses and other symbols where often used to ward dwellings from creatures such vampires, demons and evil spirits.
Once again, like coffins, modern media vampires often ridicule this legend in various ways.
See Also
- News: Boston Latin officials seek to quash 'vampire' rumors
- News: 'Vampire' discovered in mass grave
Sources
Game and Story Use
- Adventure Seed: Red Reign of the Rat King
- Folklore vampires are often good and creepy monsters. The concept of a walking corpse coming to drain you of your blood has a similar type of horror value as that of a moaning brain-eating zombie. Player also often expect vampires to be both stronger and more intelligent than zombies, which if used right can make them very frightening.
- Modern/Hollywood vampires are often intelligent beings who retain much of what they were in life, while having many supernatural abilities, which can make them great antagonists. Many versions are also quite human in behavior, which can create moral dilemmas about killing them. This can depending on the campaign be a good or bad thing.
- Vampires are sometimes used for player characters in some campaigns. Their functionality as player characters is very variable since there are few set rules for what traits a vampire should have.
