A common 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 is a type of undead and one of the most common types of supernatural beings.[1] Other terms used for them is corpse—which is considered derogatory—or simply undead.
Vampires are sustained by drinking fresh blood. It is possible that the quality or composition of the blood has an impact on the vampire, e.g. that drugs in the consumed blood can affect them.[2][3] Their souls are still integral to their physical form, but marked for Hell. The purpose for why Hell created vampires is unknown.
New vampires are created by a person being drained of blood by another vampire, but it requres that the person lacks a guardian angel; otherwise the person will simply die.[4]
Vampires can be identified by lacking reflections in mirrors and not showing up on cameras.[5][3] They are pale, tend to appear at least partly stuck in the time they were turned, and give a douchey impression. People who have been exposed to vampires usually have little trouble identifying them.[6]
Vampires have been active since at least the 13th or 14th centuries BCE, based on contacts with the Family.[7]
Dead vampires leave only inorganic ash, and sometimes fangs, behind.[8] They are functionally immortal, with the oldest known vampire—Cornelius—going back to ancient Rome, but tend to be somewhat stuck in the time period when they were turned.[9]
Society[]
Vampire populations are primarily organised in what is described as “somewhat feudal structures”.[Note 1] Most live in groups led by lords, with chains of allegiences between lords. Their population seems to be focused on cities. A group of vampires under a lord is called a court. They maintain 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 is led by Spencer Kensington III.[9][10]
There are also vampires who act outside of the purview of the vampire lords, but they seem to be the exception. The only real known confirmed example is the brothers Bjorn and Unferth.
Vampire society is very secretive and vampires view themselves as the natural superiors and rulers of the mortals among which they live. Mortals are slaves or food, with no rights as far as vampires are concerned. A mortal knowing that vampires exist is an offense punishable with death.[11][12]
Within the larger vampire society, they are often hindered by internal conflicts and mutual suspicion.[1] Vampire lords have regular contacts, but at lower levels the vampire society seems 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][13] Some reasons for this might be limited contacts at lower levels or that it is dangerous for a lone vampire to approach other vampires.
Vampires tend to be very conscious and protective of their status, and hold most other groups in the Shadows in contempt.[4]
They are generally held in contempt by Practitioners and other groups in the Shadows,[14][15] and are historical enemies of werewolves.
Current events[]
Vampire society at the highest level is currently absorbing and discussing recent events. 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][10][12]
It can probably be assumed that the events between them killed at least one hundred vampires.
Abilities[]
Vampires possess great speed and strength. They can heal from nearly any injury, if given access to blood. They also have powers of suggestion and mind control. Their bite can bestow either pain and terror or addictive euphoria. They use these powers to gain mortal slaves.[8]
Decapitation, sunlight, fire, or destruction of the heart or head can kill a vampire. Especially fire is fearsome to them, as they appear to be very dry, light, and flammable, despite their strength and endurance. It is also possible to craft bullets that are deadly to them. Among other elements such bullets will contain silver.[16]
There are no known Practitioners or magic users among vampires, though at least Cornelius had occultists in his service, and they appear capable of holding a séance with the dead.[13][11]
Horses tend to avoid vampires.[17] It is unknown if this applies to other animals.
Theories[]
Vampire society appears to have developed customs and social norms regarding how new vampires are to be created. Main evidence of this is 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 are however unknown.[11]
It is unknown if vampires have a functional sex drive, or if that is subsumed into their need to drink blood. Examples of sexual-like behaviour have so far only been shown towards their prey, with examples of some vampires being “kinky” and feeding from other—not specified—places than the wrist or neck.[5] Another example is Cornelius groping Rosario when he turned her.[11]
Mirrors and cameras[]
Vampire are not visible in mirrors and generally not visible using cameras.[5][18] They have used teleconferencing equipment and been visible there.[12] One possibility is that vampires have access to specialised cameras that can take pictures of them. Speaking against that, vampires are generally not very proficient with technology, and the Family lacked suck equipment.[19][12] Another possibility is that only vampires can see other vampires on screens or photographs, but the known tech-proficient vampire used tracker tags to follow other vampires.[18] A third possibility is that vampires can will themselves to show up in mirrors or photographs, but doing so requires conscious effort.
It is unknown why vampires do not show up in mirrors or cameras, or if it only applies to certain glass or materials.
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.[20][21] Anastacia Kanatova was also noted as a very powerful vampire lord.[9] 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 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
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Good Intentions, chapter 16
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 3
- ↑ Past Due, chapter 20
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Natural Consequences, chapter 15
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Natural Consequences, chapter 2
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Past Due, chapter 13
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Natural Consequences, chapter 7
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Past Due, chapter 29
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Past Due, chapter 7
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 13
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 16
- ↑ Good Intentions, chapter 17
- ↑ “Stellar Drift”
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 “So Many Crimes”
- ↑ Personal Demons, chapter 13
- ↑ Good Intentions, chapter 14
- ↑ Good Intentions, chapter 19