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Return to Vampire Biology
Vamp Bio General HTML
All Vampires have the need to drink blood. How they get this blood depends on the individual.
Some drink straight from the source, though since the advent of synthesized blood (from the VHD universe), Vampires can pop
some blood pills into a cup of water and get the food they require. They can reproduce both the ‘old fashioned way’
and by Turning just about any intelligent species into a Vampire. It’s easier for them to Turn humans, elves and some
very human-like creatures, than it is to turn, say, a God or animal, unless there is artificial help such as technology, magick
or Deity Intervention.
Once Turned, the majority of Vampires take on the traits of their new species: Reddish eyes, pale skin and the ability to
see in complete darkness. They become faster, stronger and more elegant. Most developed a more ‘anime’ - type look,
with larger (though not so large they’re abnormal) eyes and pointed chin. Their ears become pointier, much like an elf’s,
and most develop almost claw-like fingernails that are much different in structure than those of humans or elven nails. Some
individual actually lose weight within seconds of being turned, however, this is not a hard set rule. Most become very noble
in appearance. Their taste in fashion switches from bright colours to something more subdued. The main characteristics of
their personality remain the same, such as which baseball games they watch, but there are many little things that make them
appear to be someone different.
Within a few seconds of Turning, a new Vampire’s senses are bombarded with can be only described as animal - like sensitivity.
Their hearing is sharper. So is their sight and sense of smell. Most develop the ability to selectively taste what they smell
with the help of a vomeronasal organ
(VNO). Vampires show the tell tale signs of sniffing with this organ by raising their head slightly and
lifting their upper lip a fraction. It is much like what a Stallion does when testing a mare in heat but not as dramatic.
This organ helps them distinguish another’s mood better as Vampires can smell and taste what hormones are released during
a particular emotion. They can literally taste fear!
Vampires are very emotional creatures. They are quicker to anger, they are more likely to crash if someone they know is harmed
or murdered, they are more likely to lust, love and develop empathic ability. They are more likely to feel revenge and are
slow to forgive... not to say they CAN’T forgive and do so quickly. They have creative control over their emotions, but
they are more emotional than humans and other Otherkin. They seem fiery tempered and foreboding at times. They also appear
to be dark and mysterious and sometimes frightening, but they are not ‘evil’ per say. They just handle magickal
energies differently than other peoples. This is directly inherited from their species’ founder, Dracula.
Despite being Vampires, they are not ‘dead’ in the traditional sense of the word. They are unique biological creatures
in their own right with unique abilities. They appear ‘dead’ because of how they look and smell to others. They
have a very low body temperature and have difficulty handling the sun. Most peel and burn even under the weakest of natural
sunlight. Intense light bothers them, so their homes tend to be very dark and lit with candles, or very soft lamp light. They
prefer the night because the the natural light levels are lower. The night is more natural for them, much like sunlight is
natural for humans and many species of birds.
Both male and female Vampires share equal power in their abilities, though their physical characteristics may suggest otherwise.
Both can be very protective when guarding their loved ones or possessions. More so than Humans, but not to an unreasonable
extreme.
A characteristic musty smell follows a Vampire, and it is their calling card. Every Vampire knows each other by this scent,
though most don’t notice it unless it is very offensive. They are more aware of an individuals hormones and can ‘smell’
them before they notice their own body odor. They cannot hide their smell completely, even with magickal intervention and
bathing. (Basically think humans after a hard day at the gym and wanting to remove the BO :-P ). The scent cannot be imitated,
though many people have tried. It’s not super offensive, but it is unusual. It smells like damp earth, incense (Sandalwood
seems to be the best description of this scent) and herbs. It’s almost as if the Vampire stepped out of a hole they’d
been buried in. Dhampires retain this distinct smell but it’s not as intense, or offensive, as it is with pure bloods.
Male Dhampires and Vampires are muskier than females and females smell sweeter, like fruit or garden weeds. This smell contains
pheromones that sexually excites most humans and some elves. In comparison, humans are very sweet smelling, but their sweat
is very arousing to most sexually excited Vampires. Elves smell almost like candied fruit or cotton candy.
All Vampires have an intense dislike for strongly scented foods, especially garlic. It smells awful to them. It overwhelms
their already impressionable sense of smell. The smell will keep them at a distance (if they can tolerate the stench) or outright
keep them away, as in the case of younger or more scent sensitive Vampires. It’s much like an allergy to them. Keep it
away from them and they’re ok. Put it in their presence and they get nauseated or become violently dizzy. If the smell
is strong enough, it makes them violently sick to the stomach. They know immediately when someone has snuck it into their
food as they can smell it immediately. Most never get as far as tasting it and if they do, they become violently ill. Dhampires
have not lost these traits, but they are nowhere near as impressionable as their Vampire ancestors. Some may be able to sample
some garlic time to time in their food.
The Vampire aversion to crosses is a mystery. It’s an old technique brought over from other worlds to control the presences
of Vampires. It seems to work in ShadowBlood and some individuals are more susceptible to it than others. Even individuals
as powerful as Dracula have some aversion to the symbol and cannot completely ignore its presence. However, the more powerful
Vampires can outright destroy the symbol without harm to themselves.
Vampires become more powerful as they age. They all inherit the powers of the Vampire who Turned them, or the powers of their
parents. When Turned, they have the same abilities as their ‘sire’, but it will take years to develop and improve
those powers. Vampires also live to be very, very old. Dracula is suspected too be as old as ShadowBlood itself, but it’s
more likely he’s even older. Count Magnus Lee, from the original VHD anime, was about 10 000 years old. D from that same
universe is possibly 5 000, though many speculate he is closer to 2-300 hundred. I am keeping the age range of 20 - 2 000
as average for ShadowBlood Vampires.
There’s something about the natural essence of roses on a coffin that will deter a vampire from rising or entering it.
It’s not the physical act that prevents a vampire from touching it. It seems to be more a habit of respect, as the flower
and plant are intense symbols in Vampire philosophy and religious beliefs. It is an idea that was encountered millennia ago
and has been used for so long that the original meanings have been lost to antiquity. Roses are viewed as a love symbol, but
a black rose is a symbol of death (as in : “If I can’t castrate you, I’ll stake you myself”), and a pale
blue as a sign of affection. It is especially used when the departing vampire is leaving for short durations.
However, when a rose is charged with religious energy to prevent them from touching anything they love and own, they are not
immune to its effects. Any cut from its thorns may heal, but the religious energy may make them frustrated or downright angry
in its presence. It’s an automatic reaction to the weird vibrations created by the unusual energy field used. Those not
used to Vampire Energy (re: the darker powers nature has and those of Dracula himself) don’t know how to manipulate the
religious vibrations and make them undetectable to all but the most powerful Vampire.
Because they are tied so closely genetically to Vampires, Dhampires share some of the same difficulties and abilities as their
Vampire brethren, but with fewer ill effects. They’re usually not as strong, but there are the exceptional few such as
D, Conure and the potential offspring of Meier Link. Genetically they’re not as in bred as Pure Bloods, but due to their
mixed heritage, many Pure Bloods look down on them as if they’re mongrels. Many Humans, and to a lesser extent, Mutants,
look down on Dhampires because they are tainted with **GASP!!** Vampire blood!! They don’t seem to fit in where ever
they go though there are places where they are more openly accepted, such as the Order of Dracula monasteries, Dhampire colonies
and among the Barbarois.
Dhampires share traits with both ‘Sun Bait’ (aka: those creatures that can walk in the sun without problems) and
Vampires. They possess the Vampire’s powers with the ability to go long periods without food or water. However, all have
inherited the Thirst to some extent and most suffer severely from what is termed as Over Heating (Re: the cooling systems
are down!!!) if exposed to the sun for too long. When a Dhampire overheats, the only way to rescue them is to bury them. (NOTE:
This last bit is currently being researched but will remain the way it is until more information can be obtained. I don’t
know if this is a trait that all Dhampires in VHD’s universe possess, or if it’s just unique to D). Somehow the
contact with the earth restores their health and equalizes their Vampiric energy patterns. Some suspect that the contact with
the earth brings down their body temperature enough that they can recover. Earth is naturally cool, dark and damp :-) .
An amusing Vampire trait is Thrumming. It is literally a Vampiric Purr. Male Vampires Thrum more than females and Pure Bloods
tend to do it more than Dhampires. It’s a characteristic sound, much like a low, rumbly growl but it’s fluid, saturated
with emotion and very very deep. It’s emitted when the individual is profoundly content, often after a warm bath and
the individual has the luxury of letting their guard down. Sometimes Vampires Thrum when in pain or emotional distress, though
it is more often a sign of pleasure. The more relaxed a Vampire is, the deeper the Thrum. It is an instinctive response to
their environment.
Thrumming is produced by vibrating specialized muscled supported by small, membrane supporting ‘ribs’ in their chest.
The frequency of vibration controls the depth and severity of the Thrum. These supporting bones and the muscles are much
larger in male Dhampires and Vampires, which explains their deeper ‘Purr’. When sexually excited, males will produce
a more tender and eager sound. Females will respond with a gentler, almost sigh-like noise that will continue through foreplay
and until Orgasm. Thrumming is much like a cat’s purr. Vampires can also do it consciously, depending on their emotions.
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