A type of undead associated with Hell. They first appeared in Good Intentions. For a list of known vampires, see List of vampires.
General[]
The vampire was a type of undead and one of the most common types of supernatural beings.[1] Other terms used for them were corpse—which was considered derogatory—or simply undead.
Vampires were sustained by drinking fresh blood. It is possible that the quality or composition of the blood had an impact on the vampire, e.g. that drugs in the consumed blood could affect them.[2][3] Their souls were still integral to their physical form, but marked for Hell. The purpose for why Hell created vampires is unknown.
New vampires were created—turned—by a person being drained of blood by another vampire, but it requred that the person lacked a guardian angel; otherwise the person would simply die.[4] There might also be other unknown requirements for turning a vampire, since there is a known case of four criminals killed by vampires who turned into ghosts rather than vampires.[5] Newly turned vampires would rise again relatively shortly after being drained, in a known case mere minutes afterwards.[6]
Vampires could be identified by lacking reflections in mirrors and by not showing up on cameras.[7][3] They were pale, tended to appear at least partly stuck in the time they were turned, and with a douchey impression. People with experience of vampires usually had little trouble identifying them.[8][9]
Vampires were active since at least the 13th or 14th centuries BCE, based on contacts with the Family.[10]
Dead vampires left only inorganic ash, and sometimes fangs, behind. This was regardless of the age of the vampire, though the process appeared to be a little slower for recently turned vampires.[11][1] They were functionally immortal, with the oldest known vampire—Cornelius—going back to ancient Rome, but tended to be somewhat stuck in the time period when they were turned.[12]
Society[]
“The vampires are more society than organization,” said Elizabeth. “Solomon will surely invoke his losses in search of recompense, but I doubt he feels any personal sentiment.”
— Elizabeth, Grand Theft Sorcery, chapter 25
Vampire populations were primarily organised in what was described as “somewhat feudal structures”.[Note 1] Most lived in groups led by lords, with chains of allegiences between lords. Their population seemed to be focused on cities. A group of vampires under a lord was called a court. Despite this organization, there seemed to be little loyalty between vampires, and individual vampires seemed to care little for the fate of other vampires.[13]
They maintained ties with the mundane world through business ownerships and infiltration of the local police departments and political establishment. The Seattle vampire community was estimated to be at least sixty before the Battle of Blackthorne manor and was one of the largest known. Other large vampire societies could be found in Los Angeles and San Francisco.[2] The Los Angeles society was led by Cornelius, while the San Francisco society was led by Spencer Kensington III.[12][14]
There were also vampires who acted outside of the purview of the vampire lords, but they seemed to be the exception. The only real known confirmed example was the brothers Bjorn and Unferth.
Vampire society was very secretive and vampires viewed themselves as the natural superiors and rulers of the mortals among which they lived. Mortals were slaves or food, with no rights as far as the vampires were concerned. A mortal knowing that vampires existed was an offense punishable with death.[6][15]
Despite their organization, they were often hindered by internal conflicts and mutual suspicion.[1] Vampire lords had regular contacts, but at lower levels the vampire society seemed compartmentalized. The two known vampire survivors from the Battle of Blackthorne manor stayed put and hid in Seattle, and seemed to have very limited routes on how and where to report their knowledge of the event.[3][16] Possible reasons for this might have been limited contacts at lower levels or that it was dangerous for a lone vampire to approach other vampires.
Vampires tended to be very conscious and protective of their status, and held most other groups in the Shadows in contempt.[4]
They were generally held in contempt by Practitioners and other groups in the Shadows,[17][18] and were historical enemies of werewolves.
After events in Seattle[]
The Battle of Blackthorne manor destroyed a large and powerful vampire court including its entire leadership.[2][3] The twin battles of the bus tunnel and of Magnuson Park likely killed “several dozen” vampires, but also led to the deaths of the vampire lords of Los Angeles and New York, and possibly other cities in the western USA.[1][14][15]
It can probably be assumed that the events between them killed at least one hundred vampires. The events also had repurcussions on vampire society at the highest level, perhaps not so much because of the numbers as because of the loss of several influential vampire lords.
The known case here was that the vampire population in Los Angeles split into three after the death of Cornelius. The probably largest one—Fifteen Percent—was led by Mr. Solomon and Ms. Vivienne Ester.[13] It held large influence in Hollywood.[19][20]
Abilities[]
Vampires possessed great speed and strength. They could heal from nearly any injury, if given access to blood. They also had powers of suggestion and mind control. Their bite could bestow either pain and terror or addictive euphoria. They used these powers to gain mortal slaves.[11]
Decapitation, sunlight, fire, or destruction of the heart or head could kill a vampire. Especially fire was fearsome to them, as they appeared to be very dry, light, and flammable, despite their strength and endurance. It was also possible to craft bullets that were deadly to them. Among other elements such bullets would contain silver.[21] The sunlight needed not be natural—reflected or magically generated sunlight of sufficient intensity would also harm vampires.[20]
They had no need to breathe and did not generate snot.[13] This implies that their mucous membranes are non-functional. Weapons like pepper spray had little effect on them, and they could act in a tear gas cloud without protective equipment.[19]
There were no known Practitioners or magic users among vampires, though at least Cornelius had occultists in his service, and they appeared capable of holding a séance with the dead.[16][6] Molly stated that nuanced magic was beyond vampires.[22]
Horses, dogs, and other animals tended to avoid vampires.[23][24]
Theories[]
Vampire society appeared to have developed customs and social norms regarding how new vampires were to be created. Main evidence of this was the mixed reactions from other vampires when Cornelius turned Rosario during the Battle of the Bus Tunnel. The exact nature of those customs and norms is however unknown.[6]
It is unknown if vampires had a functional sex drive, or if that was subsumed into their need to drink blood. Examples of sexual-like behaviour is only known to have been shown towards their prey, with examples of some vampires being “kinky” and feeding from other—not specified—places than the wrist or neck.[7] Another example was Cornelius groping Rosario when he turned her into a vampire.[6]
Mirrors and cameras[]
Vampires were not visible in mirrors and generally not visible using cameras.[7][25] It is unknown why they did not show up there, or if it only applied to certain types of glass or materials.
They have used teleconferencing equipment and been visible there.[15] One possibility is that vampires had access to specialised cameras that could take pictures of them. Speaking against that, vampires were generally not very proficient with technology, and the Family lacked suck equipment.[26][15] Another possibility is that only vampires could see other vampires on screens or photographs, but the known tech-proficient vampire used tracker tags to follow other vampires.[25] A third possibility is that vampires could will themselves to show up in mirrors or photographs, but doing so required conscious effort.
Number of vampires[]
Based on US demographical statistics.
It is possible to estimate the number of total vampires in the USA. The Seattle area held at least sixty vampires, at a low estimate.[2] This was noted to be one of the largest identified populations, and the Pacific coast was also noted as a hotbed of supernatural activity. With a total Seattle area population of 4 million, this would give a vampire population of about 15 per million people. The US urban areas have a total population of about 290 million, giving a roof on the number of vampires of about 5 000.
But Seattle was noted for its supernatural activity, by both the Brotherhood of Apollo and by the angels.[27][28] Anastacia Kanatova was also noted as a very powerful vampire lord.[12] Assuming Seattle held twice as many vampires as is typical would give a total vampire population in the US of around 2 500.
Assuming that the battles of Blackthorne manor, the Bus Tunnel, and Magnuson Park between them killed around a hundred vampires, this means a loss in vampire population of 4%. Perhaps even more importantly, the battles between them also killed three of the most influential leaders of vampire courts in the country.
Sources[]
Vampires play a key role in the following stories:
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Natural Consequences, chapter 17
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Natural Consequences, Prologue
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 “Minor Errands”
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Natural Consequences, chapter 10
- ↑ Devil in the Details, chapter 19
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Natural Consequences, chapter 7
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Good Intentions, chapter 16
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 3
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 6
- ↑ Past Due, chapter 20
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Natural Consequences, chapter 15
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Natural Consequences, chapter 2
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Grand Theft Sorcery, chapter 24
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Past Due, chapter 13
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Past Due, chapter 29
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Past Due, chapter 7
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 13
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 16
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Grand Theft Sorcery, chapter 23
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Grand Theft Sorcery, chapter 25
- ↑ Good Intentions, chapter 17
- ↑ “More Than Friends”
- ↑ Grand Theft Sorcery, chapter 9
- ↑ Grand Theft Sorcery, chapter 18
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Grand Theft Sorcery, chapter 12
- ↑ Personal Demons, chapter 13
- ↑ Good Intentions, chapter 14
- ↑ Good Intentions, chapter 19