Vampire
Vampires are undead, supernatural beings that feed on blood. Vampires usually drink the blood of humans, but some also hunt their own kind or animals. They use this stolen blood to keep their dead bodies moving and to fire the supernatural powers they have because of their clan and the blood.
The vampire is an outsider. He's the perfect metaphor for those things. He's someone who looks human and sounds human, but is not a human, so he's always on the margins.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Externally, the vampire can hardly be distinguished from his prey, the human. He has the same physique, but is usually slimmer, almost lean, because the excess fat disappears from the body with the embrace. Depending on the time when the vampire was embraced, his physique differs as much as that of a human from the same time from a modern human. These differences are due to the body size, as well as the shape of the skull and face.
Genetics and Reproduction
For a long time, vampires were considered physically infertile because they are corpses in the medical sense. Recently, however, as the blood has become thinner, more and more vampires have appeared who can reproduce in a normal, biological way. These vampires are themselves more human than they are vampires, and their offspring are a kind of semi-being, neither one nor the other.
In vampiric terms, the species reproduces through a ritual called the embrace. In this ritual, all the blood is first taken from the human victim before a few drops of vampire vitae are infused. The necessary amount is about one drop, but more blood is needed to subsequently feed the fledgling. The vitae sets the change in motion that turns a bloodless corpse into a vampire. The whole process rarely takes more than a few hours, but it demands a lot from the fledgling.
Growth Rate & Stages
The vampire's undead body no longer changes, and therefore no longer undergoes biological changes. Nevertheless, there is an increase in power, which depends on the generation and age of the vampire. The older the vampire, and the lower his generation, the more powerful he is. In the development of age, some stages can be identified that are independent of generation:
| Age | Rank |
|---|---|
| < 50 years | Fledgling |
| 50 - 100 years | Neonate |
| 100 - 250 years | Ancilla |
| 250 - 1000 years | Elder |
| > 1000 years | Methuselah |
Ecology and Habitats
Vampires are predators that depend on the proximity of their prey. Although there may be vampires in small towns, they feel much more comfortable in larger cities. In most cases, one vampire can be found for every 60,000 - 100,000 mortals on which he or she can feed.
The main reason why they are so dangerous is that they can disguise themselves perfectly under their prey and do not really attract attention. Many blood relatives, as they sometimes call themselves, are so perfectly integrated into human society that they even perform functions there, such as running corporations.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Blood relatives feed on blood, whether from mortals or their own kind. In very rare cases, a vampire also feeds on animals. Some vampires also choose whole blood bags for their diet, which makes the blood banks highly sought-after hunting grounds. Other highly sought-after hunting grounds are hospitals, slums and areas with a high crime rate, as well as nightclubs and trendy bars. Anywhere where it is not noticeable when someone dies or when a couple is making out heavily.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
The facial features often appear more refined through the embrace, as the bone structure is more prominent. In addition, there are no differences in facial features between humans and vampires.
The fangs that have formed with the embrace are retractable and disappear completely into the jaws when not needed for drinking or fighting. Furthermore, as long as the vampire does not display any supernatural behaviour, he cannot be distinguished from humans.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The origin of the vampires is today assumed to be where humans also originated, in Mesopotamia. From there they spread with humans all over the world and underwent some changes. Today there are vampires all over the world, but mainly in Europe and America. Furthermore, the vampire population is increasing dramatically, especially in the big cities.
Average Intelligence
The average intelligence of a vampire is comparable to that of a human. In the course of time, however, these attributes sharpen and reach supernatural heights. Strategic planning and tactics in Jyhad require the vampire to develop a high level of intelligence. Moreover, the application of certain disciplines seems to depend on it.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The senses of a vampire, and thus his perception, are massively influenced by blood, so that no general statement can be made about the senses. There are, however, disciplines that influence the senses, such as sight and hearing, and make the vampire perceive more (Auspex). Other disciplines only sharpen the vision in the dark (Animalism, Protean).
However, the vampire's senses are unbeatable when it comes to perceiving his natural prey, humans. It is claimed that he can clearly perceive the heartbeat of a victim over a distance of up to 300 metres. In an open wound, the smell of blood is said to have the same effect as on a shark and can be perceived up to 700 metres away. This perception seems to be significantly influenced by the age and Generation of the vampire.
© 2020 - Susanne Lamprecht
Vampires hide from humanity whenever possible, using a concept called "masquerade". However, modern media and increasingly widespread surveillance have put the vampire on the radar screen of churches and more radical groups who are doing their utmost to hunt down and destroy the undead.
The physique of a vampire is identical to that of a human, but usually shows greater strength, agility and resilience.
The skin colour of the vampire ranges from almost alive to clearly dead. Especially vampires with a high humanity look like especially pale people. As the vampire grows older and loses his humanity, he initially appears sick until he clearly takes on corpse-like features.
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