...Vampires...
Board Specifics:
Vampire History.
Much about the origin of vampires around the world remains a mystery, even to the Old Ones. As with any civilization on Earth, there are theories and myths and even religions based on perceived truths and artifact evidence but the true origin of vampires remains a mystery to them. Like all great mysteries however, there are those dedicated to discovering the truth and those who already know it.
The spread of vampire around the world can be attributed to one singular cause however. Religion. When the Order of Démiourgos was founded is unknown but evidence of its existence has been found and documented by archaeologists since before the 19th Century. Common theories are that missionaries of the Order traveled over the oceans to the farthest reaches of the world, to found churches and spread the word and to "convert" followers to the Way of Démiourgos.
The Testament of Cain, written by the first Disciples of the Demiurge, complements this belief, stating these missionaries (the Disciples themselves) were the first vampires and that they traveled abroad since they could withstand the hardships of travel by land and sea given their natural gifts.
Each Disciple was charged with the responsibility of traveling to their new home, at the corners of the world, erecting a church and gathering followers in the name of their god. As was common with the Old Ones, the effects of vampirism were random from vampire to vampire. As the Disciples converted more and more followers, their particular gifts were passed on to their clergy. The result were vampires who differed greatly depending on which part of the world they were.
As an example, its been said that a Disciple with the power to render his body to mist, passed that gift on to his followers and so many if not all vampires from that country also gained this ability, whereas the vampires from a different country did not. The same could be said of certain physical traits and characteristics, such as hair color, skin pigmentation and physical deformities. Even with that said, there were some abilities and weaknesses that all vampires shared.
Typical Vampire Strengths.
These are the abilities and strengths common to most vampires though there are some recorded exceptions.
Improved physical strength.
Can lift/press more than the average human and is greatly more resistant to physical harm though not invulnerable.
Increased agility and stamina.
Can jump higher and farther and appears to be able to move faster, their instincts heightened thanks to improved senses. Not all vampires can fly, however. Being undead, vampires do not have the same oxygen requirement as the living and so never seem to be out of breath or tired. However, the longer a vampire goes without feeding, the less energetic they are, in effect making them seem weakened and worn.
Coercion.
With improved charisma, vampires have an uncanny power of suggestion particularly on the weak minded and paranoid. Playing to a person's fears often avails the vampire of the prey's blood. A person strong in religious faith or will, however, will present the greatest challenge.
Improved stealth, cloak, tracking.
Natural predators, vampires quickly adapt to city terrain and make use of shadows to conceal themselves from their prey. On the other hand, a vampire's hunger for blood makes them excellent trackers, particularly when they haven't fed in awhile.
Improved senses.
Vampires are nocturnal and so have a natural ability to see in the night. Their senses of hearing , taste and sight are also improved to the point of discerning blood types and differentiating a heartbeat over the clamor of cityscape sound. The sense of touch, however, is left diminished by a lack of regular circulation, effecting also their tolerance of pain.
Swordmanship.
While not always the chosen weapon of vampires (unless you are a Knight of the Toû Kósmou) and while nothing prohibits a vampire from using other arms and munitions, older vampires are proficient with various swords. In early days, vampires chose to become experienced in swordplay as one knew better how to avoid being punctured or slain by a sword if they actually trained with one. Since those days, vampires have continued to train with them in order to improve their dexterity, agility and hand/eye coordination. Unaffiliated or untrained vampires often do without. Knights of the Toû Kósmou are said to have their own brand of swordmanship, relying on various spins, thrust movements and punch and kick combos.
Typical Vampire Weaknesses.
Just as vampires around the world have different abilities, they have different weaknesses. These are some of the weaknesses they all have in common despite what part of the world they come from.
Sunlight.
Vampires cannot withstand ultraviolet rays for more than a few minutes. The more cloud cover in the sky, the longer they can survive but their skin will burn continuously for as long as they are exposed to sunlight. A vampire will burn continuously, suffering fatal third degree burns in about five minutes if exposed to direct sunlight and ten minutes if indirectly exposed. Contrary to fiction, their bodies do not explode into ash, they simply darken and burn into a crisp just as normal body would if exposed to fire.
Stakes.
A curse dating back to the story of the Garden of Eden explains the vulnerability vampires have to a stake of wood being lodged into their hearts. A wooden stake in the heart of a vampire will paralyze them, seemingly killing them. The vampires unlife is preserved, however, infinitely until either destroyed by other means or until the stake if removed. If removed, the vampire is returned to its natural undead state. Some vampires around the world have a vulnerability to wood, and wounds sustained from wooden weapons do not regenerate as fast and scars will not heal.
Other Weapons.
Despite vampires being stronger and somewhat more resilient than humans, they are not invulnerable. Gunshot wounds, sharp weapons and severing limbs will not kill a vampire but do cause blood loss, which will. Any wound great enough to "bleed-out" a vampire will destroy it.
Wildseed blood.
Vampires have been known to crave and become addicted to the blood of Wildseed. The reasons are as of yet unexplained but a vampire, able to discern it from human or animal blood, will almost always seek it out if able. The effects of drinking from Wildseed are random but temporary and the more awakened the Wildseed, the more intense the result of drinking from it.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
For whatever reason, a noted trait in many vampires the world over is O.C.D. Some lore mentions stopping a vampire with a broom as it will become obsessed with counting the number of straw in it or throwing poppy seeds at it to distract it with the task of counting the seeds. Whatever the cause, vampires do demonstrate O.C.D. in various degrees, some not so much as others.
Other.
Running water does not affect all vampires negatively. In fact, some vampires actually live beneath the water. Crosses have varying degrees of effectiveness, depending more on the person wielding it and the amount of faith said person has in the meaning behind the cross. A cross in the hands of an agnostic will catch a vampire off guard but only for a moment and only out of ancient instinct. Vampires do not have reflections. Silver has no effect on vampires other than it slows down regeneration. A sword made of steel will do the same damage as one made of silver and a bullet is a bullet (unless otherwise noted). A wound created by silver, however, will inexplicably leave a scar. There are parts of the world were vampires do not require being "invited in." Most vampires are well mannered however, and would like to be invited regardless. Not all vampires shape shift and not all have a second form that is mist or "a floating ball of light." See below for more information on regional abilities.
Vampire Reproduction.
Vampires do not reproduce. Period. Few vampires are capable of reproducing but often choose not to. As vampires are undead, the creation of life from two undead results in a creature that no vampire wishes to face, as proven by history. In the Order of Cain, reproduction is a sin, punishable by excommunication and immolation.
Vampires can sire a child but again, often choose not to. Condemning a vampire to the form of a child has been widely regarded as cruel. Even among the other vampire sects, reproduction in any form is normally taboo.
The Sired.
Any vampire is capable of siring another if instructed how to do so by another vampire. It is not an inherent task and many of a human has been slain by the amateur vampire attempting to sire them. The act demands the consumption of blood by both sire and converted. The Order of Cain urges all vampires to choose their sired wisely as the sire has certain responsibilities to them. Any vampire found to indiscriminately or carelessly sire numerous vampires will be neutralized and punished, often by having their canines removed.
A vampire can drink the blood of another vampire. In doing so, the drinking vampire will temporarily gain the abilities and some memories of the vampire it drank from. The effects fade after a period of about twenty four hours, however, as the traits of the other vampire's blood is cycled out.
In a random number of cases, the siring of a new vampire causes insanity or some other deep routed psychological condition. This is not always the case but can explain why some vampires have O.C.D., multiple personality disorder, and other "conditions."
Vampire-Human Relations.
Minimal as reserved only to whatever interpersonal relations individual vampires have with individual humans. As a rule, human are livestock, provided by god to feed vampire. As intelligent as they are, humans are misguided and accidental. Infantile and excitable and best left to the fang of the chosen people.
Vampire-Were Relations.
Mistakes of creation. After-birth. Vampires have hunted down these freaks of nature since the beginning of recorded time, as ordered by the Mother herself. The weres are abominations, hated (or feared) by all vampire. No peace has ever existed between the two races.
Vampire-Wildseed Relations.
If humans are livestock, Wildseed are delicacies. Vampires monitor and surveil Wildseed if only to know their activities and whereabouts... so that one can be fed upon should a vampire need an extra boost in power and abilities in a pinch.
Known Vampires Around the World.
This list is not all inclusive but acts as a good start.
Africa.
Adze can fly, their bodies taking the shape of fireflies. They tend to prey on children and mix blood with coconut water and palm oil. Asasabonsam live in trees and in dense forests and wait for their prey to come to them. Their feet are jointed so that they may act as hooks to allow them to move quickly from tree to tree and to trap its prey. Impundulu are best used as minions; fierce warriors with little intelligence or discipline. Their bloodlust is forever present, explaining their ferocious personalities and tendency to drain its victim. The Obayifo flies around at night as a glowing ball of light (or mist) as it hunts its prey. They are able to cause pestilence, killing whatever vegetation it comes into contact with.
Australia.
Vampires here, called Yara-Ma-Yha-Who, use suckers on their fingers, to drain blood from their prey. Their skin is red and they have no teeth. They tend to live in trees or dense forests. Yara-Ma-Yha-Who tend to sire over time, revisiting a favored victim several times over until they are finally turned. The Garkain are winged and possess a toxic ordor than can incapacitate their prey. Garakin tend to eat its prey's flesh in addition to drinking its blood.
Bulgaria
The Ubour does not turn until 40 days after its 'death.' Of all vampires, it seems to be able to go the longest without feeding. They eat normal food and will not attack humans to drink their blood unless there is no other source of nourishment. This says nothing, however about feasting on the blood of animals.
Central America.
Soucouyan age as normal but can "shed their skins " in a method of astral projection. Denying entrance to its body in the morning will destroy the vampire.
China.
The Ch'ing Shih can turn immaterial but appear as a glowing orb of light (or mist). Their breath is poisonous. They tend to have red, green or white hair. Their nails are curved and long (like claws) and their teeth are serrated. The Ch'ing Shih have glowing red eyes. The Ch'ing Shih may dwell underground. Only the oldest of Ch'ing Shih can fly. The Ch'ing Shih have a more human form that completely masks its vampiric features until discovered. These vampires cannot cross running water and can be held at bay with garlic.
France.
French Vampires have the ability to render its form into mist, allowing it to pass through cracks and for objects to pass through it. Remaining in this form leaves it unable to effect the world around it and scattering the mist will scatter the vampire for an extended period of time before it can "pull itself together." They regularly prey their victims during intensive love-making and by tormenting the victim's dreams with terrifying nightmares.
Germany.
Vampires here can cause pestilence and are generally known as tricksters. They are exceptionally susceptible to garlic. The Alp generally feed on women which it attacks at night, causing them to have horrible nightmares before turning them. It can also fly and almost always wears a hat. The Nachtzehrer chooses to cause death by using its own psychic abilities before turning them, which suggests they prefer the blood of the dead.
Greece.
The Keres loiter about battlefields like vultures and are always dressed in red. They possess sharp claws to rend flesh. The Catacano or "happy vampire" grins constantly and spits highly toxic blood that burns flesh. The Bruculaco have swollen, hard skin and when struck they sound like drums. They also are capable of spreading plague. Callicantzaros have talonlike fingernails which it would use to tear is victims into shreds. Lamiai, which are almost always female, travel about, drinking blood and feeding on the flesh of infants and, like the French vampires, would appear as a beautiful woman to seduce men into lovemaking then devour them in a gruesome fashion. After feeding, the Lamiai would take out its eyes in order to rest. The Vrykolakas must request entry and be admitted into the household in order to be fully able to attack. Once inside they would use their powers of suggestion to induce a heart attach in its victim.
Haiti.
The Loogaroo is said to go to a 'Devil Tree' each night to removes its skin. As a glowing ball of light or mist, it flies off to claim its victim.
Hungary.
The Liderc are similar to the French vampires in that they could kill victims by 'loving them to death.' The Nora can render itself invisible as it stalked and took on a second form, very small, bald and running on all fours, as it prepared to feed. Garlic could be used to keep the vampire at bay.
India.
The Baital are disfigured, half-man, half-bat creatures roughly four feet tall. Bhuta live in wastelands and graveyards in the form of 'willo-the-wisp' type lights or shadowy, ghostly apparitions. The 'Bhuta' cause severe illness in those it chooses to turn. Churel are extremely ugly vampires with black tongues, thick, rough lips, and wild hair.
Middle East.
Ekimmu can turn invisible and are capable of possessing humans, probably through improved powers of persuasion or mild telepathy. Ekimmu are exceptionally vulnerable to wooden weapons and the normal rules about stakes do not apply to them. Stake an Ekimmu and destroy them instantly.
North America.
These vampire tend to have stronger skin, allowing them to become more resilient to physical harm. They are also able to summon inner strength, which quickens their hunger as they are pulling from whatever blood reserve collected from the last time they fed. This makes the vampire appear larger, such as in the case of the U`tlun'ta. North American vampires must be invited into a personal domicile before entering. Silver nitrate is more lethal to these vampires than others around the world.
South America.
The Azeman Vampire is able to transform into the shape of a bat or other animals though vampire law dictates no vampire shall take the form of a wolf. The majority of Azeman are female.
Slavic Region.
These vampires are said to be exceptionally vulnerable to crucifixes (moreso than normal crosses) and holy water. Of all vampires, their telepathic powers are the strongest.
Role Playing a Vampire at Echoes of Creation.
Setting:
Role play predominantly takes place in the United States though flashbacks or musings might occur in places otherwise. While you may choose to create a vampire from another part of the world (and therefore have the abilities attributed to vampires from that region) it is up to you to explain how or why you came to the United States. It is not the responsibility of the moderators or role players to come get you. You are a vampire, the chosen race of god... act like it
Vampire Sects/Affiliations.
In modern day the Order of the Demiurge, aka Order of Cain, aka Cainites, is the largest international society of vampires in the world as it is the most organized and influential. Its churches are no longer public but its followers are legion. Whether you role play in Los Angeles or New York City, a church is there. Though it is not the only Sect in existence, it remains the most powerful.
The Knights of Toû Kósmou are the soldiers, investigators and police of the Order of Cain. Dressed in various attire, identified only by the holy symbol of the Order (a crescent moon with a black star between its points) worn on their person, some Knights seek to blend in while others want the world to know. The Knights take their orders from a Bishop, the highest ranking member in any given city. Knights sometimes lead solitary lives while others function in teams of three to five depending on the threat. It is the function of Knights to police all vampires (even non-believers) as agreed upon during the multi-party Summit of Attanasi as some laws are beneficial to every vampire, no matter what faction they are a member of.
The House of Amrit, can claim its roots from Italy with chapters of the House in every industrialized country. The House lives a hedonistic and aristocratic lifestyle with its attentions left to little more than whatever pleases them. It was said that the Mother gave birth to the Demiurge and He was the material world. It would be a sin, then, to not enjoy it. And enjoy it they do. Well dressed, well mannered and well informed, these vampire live a life of high luxury and also serve as the financial empire of vampire everywhere. Traders in gems, oil, and information, these vampire manipulate the world not from the shadows but from Wall Street. These are not vampire of action like the Order and its Knights but vampire of strategy and boardroom dealings.
Leeches: Betrayers of the race. Anarchists, bloodsucking immortals not worthy of the name Vampire and so will never be known as such. They will be hunted down and destroyed as defilers and heretics. These creatures have all of our gifts but none of our values and are considered a threat. Remember, you don't have to serve the Order but if you openly attack it or its members, this is where you will find yourself.
Wanna-Vees: Non-vampires. Humans who drink blood (Sanguinarians), LARPers, Goths... they love us and want to be us. Vampire groupies. What a vampire thinks of these poseurs is up to the individual vampire. Some surround themselves with these trolls, others use them wisely as familiars. And some... laugh and feed off them. Easy pickens.
Unaffiliated: You might play a vampire separate from any group mentioned above but be careful. In a pinch there will be no one to rescue you; when hungry no one to help you find nourishment. There are those that cling to their first lives, as mundane as they are, and refuse to ally themselves to one group or the other. These vampires are considered by others to be little more than pedestrians, an unfortunate happenstance. Though not targeted for destruction unless their actions jeopardize the vampire race, they are not to be bothered with either. They are simply left to their own devices since, in 98% of the known cases, the unaffiliated and therefore ignorant vampire will eventually do something to get themselves killed. Remember, child, there is strength in numbers.
Personalities:
(more information forthcoming)
© Kia Waring
