Relinquo (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} relinquo) wrote,@ 2009-05-25 13:01:00 |
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❝THE ANCIENTS❞
(vampire chronicle vamps)
The Vampire Chronicles vampires are different in several ways from classic vampires like Dracula. They are not affected by the usual weapons against classic vampires: garlic, crosses, and they cannot be killed with wooden stakes. Like classic vampires, most do chose to sleep in some form of coffin during the day because sun exposure can cause death/pain. Also, during the day, most "sleep", however, this differs from "mortal sleep" as: a) they become dead bodies, and b) the dawn often triggers their sleep against their will.
They need blood, but in some cases not every night (some suggest most "newborn" vampires must drink heavily every night). Human blood is preferred as it is more nutritious, but animal blood can also be drunk. They do not age physically (instead becoming more "statuesque" as they age, developing very smooth, white skin), and in all but a few cases, vampires younger than a thousand years old can usually be killed by exposure to sunlight or fire.
They do not possess stereotypically "vampiric" magical powers, such as changing into bats, but some of the stronger, older ones do have the power to fly. Most of them also have the power to read the thoughts of mortals and weaker vampires. They have other physical abilities: they can move very quickly (faster than human eyes can see), and possess great strength and extremely keen senses. Very old vampires or ones who have been made or strengthened by feeding on blood that is close to the root of the vampiric mother may have additional gifts like the ability to move matter with the mind and the ability to set things ablaze by the force of will. They have many artistic talents, like singing, painting and acting, and a preternatural "understanding" of any type of problem, puzzle or machine. They also have the uncanny ability to almost perfectly mimic anything (movement, playing musical instruments, etc.).
The main characteristics are that they are all excessively emotional, sensitive, and sensual, being easy prey to intense suffering and aesthetic passions. They are usually quite attractive, even beautiful, as vampires tend to make fledglings from humans they have grown to love.
The physical changes are apparent: their eyes become luminous, their skin pale and reflective and their fingernails are like glass. Furthermore, if their hair or nails are cut, they will grow back as they were when they "died" during their sleep. As they lose all natural bodily fluids, they are unable to have children.
Turning: The sire drains the fledge of their blood until they are near death, then they allow the human to feed from their own blood, triggering the transformation. It doesn't last too long, but the pain is crucial as the human body dies and becomes vampire.
~Click here for vampiric gifts
❝THE SOUTHERNS❞
(true blood vamps)
The science of bloodsuckers: What animates the undead? We're not sure, to be blunt. These vampires have no brain waves, no heartbeat, no need to breathe and no electrical impulses whatsoever in their bodies. Unfortunately, that’s about as specific as he gets. When asked how they digest blood, they simply reply with: "Magic."
Viral vulnerabilities: They can be plagued by such traditional banes as sunlight and silver. But they can also get sick: these vamps are susceptible to viral infection by a mutation of hepatitis, known as "Hep D." It’s harmless to humans, but if transmitted to their night-walking counterparts, can weaken vampires for up to a month, leaving them vulnerable to being captured — and possibly staked. Fearing unscrupulous humans might use this information to their advantage, vampires work to keep word of the virus out of the mainstream media.
Synthetic sustenance: The integration of vampires into human society hinges upon one crucial element — the breakthrough development of a synthetic blood substitute created by a team of scientists in Japan. Sold as a beverage called Tru Blood, the discovery is touted both by vampires and by humans who support the vampire rights movement as reason enough to legitimize the status of the undead. However, a comment made revealed a chilling detail: Tru Blood may not work as well as we’ve been led to believe, and is possibly not a sufficient substitute for human blood.
Underground drug trade: Forget smack and crack. Vampire blood is the latest underground narcotic to hit the streets. Some humans go to seedy lengths to capture and drain these type of vampires to use and sell their blood.
Generic name: Vampire blood
Street name: "V"
Street value: $600 for a quarter-ounce
Duration of high: Unknown
Dosage: 1-2 drops taken by mouth
Short-term effects: Heightened libido, awareness and senses; delirium Long-term effects: Heightened aggression; increased chance of addiction (which results in severe withdrawal symptoms and cravings)
Hierarchies, powers and nests: vampires who live in nests together tend to exhibit more vicious, cruel behavior than vampires who elect to live alone. They can influence human will using a mind-controlling ability known as "glamoring." In addition to hypnotizing humans, they are also able to lay claim to humans in order to keep other vampires from feeding on them — although they are more likely to only obey other bloodsuckers who outrank them in age and seniority.
Turning: Similar to the turning of an Ancient, the sire drains the blood from the human and lets them feed from their vampire blood, replacing the human blood with theirs. Once this is done, the sire and the fledge must both be buried under the earth for the transformation to begin. The fledge rises from the earth as a newborn vampire.
~Click here for True Blood info
❝THE COLD ONES❞
(twilight vamps)
They possess superhuman strength, speed, endurance, and agility, and are described as being inhumanly beautiful. Their scent and voice are enormously seductive to humans, so much so that they can occasionally send them into pliant dazes entirely by accident. They, like other vampires, do not need to breathe, though they can choose to do so out of habit and because it is helpful to smell their environment. They cannot digest regular food, and often compares its attractiveness to the prospect of eating dirt for a regular person. They are not able to sleep.
Unlike the three other races of vampires, they are able to walk in the sunlight without burning or dying. Though most of them choose not to, as when they are hit with sunlight, their cold, marble-like skin sparkle and gleam like a billion tiny diamonds - and will give away their nature.
Most of these vamps are also gifted with their own unique ability. Their abilities usually consist of their most powerful human trait from before they were turned - usually. From telepathy, seeing the future, precognition, mood alteration, compassion, elemental control, etc...
The Volturi: The Volturi are the equivalent of a royal family to vampires. They operate from the city of Volterra, Italy. They deal swiftly and decisively with anything they consider a threat to their coven, or the vampire world. They destroy anyone who attempts to overthrow them, or resist their authority. Although they are not the 'official' royal family of vampires, they still act as though they are, and are an incredibly influential coven. They are also considered 'nighttime patrons of the arts'; as, because of their inability to sleep, they study the arts at night. The Volturi act as guardians, keeping the secret society of vampires hidden from the human world as needed. They often send others to travel from Volterra to destroy overzealous covens from exposing vampires by mass eradication of every vampire (and any humans) present.
Turning: Their bite is very venomous and only one bite will start the transformation. It is described as having an intense burning and often lasts for a duration of three days. When the transformation is finished, the newborn is overcome with an overwhelming thirst that feels like their throat is burning. Their eyes are a bright red, and if they choose to become "vegetarian" (surviving off of animal blood instead of human), their eyes will slowly turn amber, brown and then a golden yellow.
~Click here for Twilight info
❝THE DEATH DEALERS❞
(underworld vamps)
When they transform, their eyes turn a startling shade of electric blue or bright gold, while their canine teeth lengthen to become pointed fangs. At all times, the lateral incisors on all of these vampires are elongated and come to a sharp point. They display most of the prominent vampire traits seen in myth and in popular culture: super strength, speed, reflexes, agility, coordination, endurance, regeneration process and heightened senses. They can be seen leaping from very high places; at least 10 stories in some places, and landing without injury or harm. These vampires, share a common weakness to sunlight, possibly due to a fatal allergic reaction to ultraviolet radiation. Some hunter's (human) take advantage of this weakness by filling their bullets with a photogenic solution (or, as some describe, "daylight harnessed as a weapon").
They are also powerful enough to survive a shotgun blast in the stomach at point blank range, and can easily throw Hungarian police officers around like dolls.
It can be assumed that the other vampires possessed various degrees of these abilities, due to their age and experience. Their heightened senses manifest in acutely increased depth perception, sense of smell, hearing, and nightvision (which may outwardly manifest as electric blue eyes or yellow eyes). They have the ability to cling to ceilings and jump at superhuman speed.
Turning: Their bite releases the vampire virus, which can aggressively overtake a normal human's physiology, causing them to become a vampire as well. Although, a bite by this type of a vampire is typically lethal, suggesting that the majority of those bitten die rather than transform into the immortal race.
"Death Dealers" are soldiers, who only respond and obey their coven leader. They keep the vampire law - much like The Volturi.
~Click here for more info