Vampires in folklore & in your Campaign

[Crimhthan The Great]

Different methods of becoming a vampire as found in folklore:
I. Those that have a predisposition to becoming a vampire:
II. Those that do something in life that leads to them becoming a vampire:
III. Something to do with how they died or something after death that causes them to become a vampire:

Different methods of destroying a vampire as found in folklore:
I. Common methods:
II. Uncommon methods:

Different methods of detecting a vampire or vampires as found in folklore:
I. Examination of the grave or cemetery:
II. Examination of the corpse for the signs of vampirism, along with examination of the coffin or tomb:
III. Examination of possible victims for signs of attack by vampire:
IV. Examination of the suspected vampire's appearance and habits:

[Crimhthan The Great]

The vampire hunters kit: In folklore and in your campaign.

In folklore:
Wood stakes
Mallet
Mirror
Cross
Garlic
Holy Water
Iron collar

[Crimhthan The Great]

All the different powers of a vampire as found in folklore:
I. Common vampire powers:
II. Uncommon vampire powers:

All the different ways of preventing a vampire, that is to make sure that once someone is buried, they stay buried:
I. Common pre-burial steps and common corpse preparation steps:
II. Common burial steps:

[Crimhthan The Great]

Protection from vampires, the common methods of keeping yourself safe from vampire attack as found in folklore:
Here are a couple to get this started:
Types of Protection:
1. Crosses or crucifixes
2. Holy water


Comments:
1. The traditional method - they can hold vampires at bay and can make a gravesite useless to them.
2. Vials of holy water can be used in a multitude of ways:
Poured onto and into graves, coffins and tombs, thrown at vampires, sprinklered on things like doors, thresholds, window sills and windows and many other things/areas to prevent entry into or use of an area by a vampire.

[Crimhthan The Great]

Different methods of becoming a vampire as found in folklore:
I. Those that have a predisposition to becoming a vampire:

If your mother was stared at by a vampire while she was pregnant with you.
You died without being baptized.
You were born the seventh son of a seventh son.
Your mother did not eat enough salt during pregnancy, you can substitute other things for salt.
You were conceived on a holy day, etc.
You were born at a certain time of the year such as a holy day, a new moon, a full moon, etc.
You were born with (something unusual), things such as excess hair, two hearts, an extra nipple, with teeth, especially eye teeth, a red caul, a red birthmark, dark eyes, etc.
You received a curse from someone.
You were weaned too early.
You were suckled after you were weaned.

[Crimhthan The Great]

Different methods of becoming a vampire as found in folklore:

II. Those that do something in life that leads to them becoming a vampire:

Being a werewolf.
Eating sheep killed by a wolf.
Committing suicide.
Leading an immoral life (sleepers, murderers, rapists, treacherous barmaids and the like).
Practicing witchcraft or sorcery.
A priest saying a mass while in a state of mortal sin.
Dealing treacherously with widows and orphans.

[Crimhthan The Great]

Different methods of becoming a vampire as found in folklore:

III. Something to do with how they died or something after death that causes them to become a vampire:

Death caused by violence
Being murdered
Killed by a vampire
The wind of the Russian Steppe blowing over the corpse
Being buried face up in the grave
Being drowned
Stealing the ropes that are used to help bury a corpse
Having an animal jump or fly over a corpse, most commonly a cat but also other animals
A shadow falling on a corpse
Murder without justice
Murder without revenge
Have your brother sleepwalk
A candle being passed over a corpse
Being unburied
Not having the required burial rites performed

[Crimhthan The Great]

Different methods of destroying a vampire as found in folklore:

These are methods by which a vampire may be destroyed. Many are only effective on a specific species of vampire. They can often be used in any combination, but must be used with great care.

I. Common methods:

The most common method is driving a wooden stake through the vampires heart. Some say that a specific wood must be used or at least is more effective.
Exposure to sunlight will kill a vampire, but it is said that very old and powerful vampire may become immune and able to endure sunlight without harm.
When beheading a vampire, it is highly recommended that you avoid getting its blood on you.
You may cremate a vampire and scatter the ashes, this is a widely used method.
Vampires can be killed used a blessed holy sword.
Immersing a vampire in running water is very effective.
Pouring garlic and holy water into the vampires grave in large amounts will also work, oil, wine and vinegar are also efficacious.
A crucifix can be used to repel or hold an older vampire at bay but can kill young vampires if you touch them with the crucifix.
Removing the vampires heart and burning it, is messy but effective.
You can trap a vampire in its grave using iron bits, rice (Chinese vampires), roses, garlic, red peas, holy water, stones.

II. Uncommon methods:

The following are only useful on a single or few vampire species.

Breaking the vampires spine, followed by beheading or other methods.
You can inject the vampire with holy water, assuming that you really want to get that close.
You can steal the vampires left sock, fill it with dirt, grave dirt or rocks and throw it in a river outside of the boundary of a village, town or city.
Magic, with a highly trained sorcerer.
Some Malaysian and Bulgarian sorcerers are trained to confine them to a bottle.
You can use a dhampir, however, they can not always be trusted.
If you remove the heart as mentioned above, you should then boil the heart in water, vinegar, oil or wine.
You can use a Sabbatarian if they wear their clothing in a specific fashion.
Some species can be killed using a rooster, a dog or a white wolf.

[Crimhthan The Great]

Different methods of detecting a vampire or vampires as found in folklore:
These are clues to the presence of vampires, especially useful in determining whether or not there are a lot of vampires in the area.

I. Examination of the grave or cemetery:

Finding one or more of the following at the grave or cemetery site:
Disturbed earth
Finger-size holes in the ground
Groaning sounds coming from below ground
No birds singing in the area
Dogs barking and refusing to enter the area
Footprints leading away from a grave
Continual mists in the area
Coffins are disturbed
The tombstones have been moved or fallen over
Crosses have fallen over or been broken
Horses shying away from a grave

II. Examination of the corpse for the signs of vampirism, along with examination of the coffin or tomb:

The corpse has open eyes
A ruddy complexion
New nails or long hair
A bloated body
Long, talonlike finger nails
Fangs
Blood around the mouth or in the coffin or tomb
An open mouth
White liver
An overly protective cemetery caretaker
Flexible arms and legs
Lack of decomposition of the body

[Crimhthan The Great]

III. Examination of possible victims for signs of attack by vampire:

Possible victims may be sleepless, have nightmares or anemia
They may be nervous and irritable
They may be exhausted
Have bite marks on their necks
Sleepwalk
Have developed an aversion to garlic that was not formerly present'
Have no appetite and unexplained weight loss
They may have difficulty in breathing
Light sensitivity
Strange growth of the teeth, especially into fangs

IV. Examination of the suspected vampire's appearance and habits:

Other things you may notice,
They may be unwilling to enter a home without be invited
Have hairy palms
No appetite
May never be seen during daylight hours, although this is not true for all species or for some very old very powerful vampires.
Have fangs, red eyes and long nails
Be very pale and have an intense fear/dislike of bright lights
Very, very bad breath
Has extraordinary strength and dexterity
Moves very quietly
Has great knowledge of botany with a large amount of soil in or near a house
Lives in a place others have termed as evil
People who know him or her frequently die under mysterious circumstances
Don't discuss religion
Have strange taste in clothing
Has an enormous sexual appetite

[Crimhthan The Great]

All the different powers of a vampire as found in folklore:

Not all vampires have all of these powers, some are species specific.

I. Common vampire powers:

They can create other vampires, either by choosing them or by biting them 3 times
The bruxsa, langsuir and aswang can fly as they are, other vampires must first change shape in order to fly
Vampires can turn into a mist or vapor to escape or enter an a tight spot
They can drain the life force from a person
Vampires can climb as easily as a spider
The vampire life span varies and not all are immortal
They can shape change into bats, cats, dogs, wolves, insects, rats, locusts, fleas, mice, birds and even butterflys.
They can control animals, including rats, insects, fleas and bats
They can control wind, rain and other natural forces
Their strength is equal to that of many men and increases as they age
They can change their size
They can use hypnosis, to lure and trap their victims

II. Uncommon vampire powers:

They can cause blights and crop failure but this can be prevented by the kresnik, a type of vampire hunter
They can cause plagues and epidemics
The jigarkhwar can steal the liver right out of the body and the upier can do the same with the heart.
The nosferatu can cause impotence
They can sire children, called dhampirs in some areas

[Crimhthan The Great]

All the different ways of preventing a vampire, that is to make sure that once someone is buried, they stay buried:

I. Common pre-burial steps and common corpse preparation steps:

Follow all burial rituals closely and accurately
Kill the vampire that killed the person being buried
Take the body out of the house through a hole that you cut in the wall
Close all windows or some say open all windows
Place coins or garlic or thorns or sometimes other items in the mouth of the corpse
Cover all mirrors or all standing water
Don't allow animals from jumping over the body or don't allow moonlight from shining on the body or don't allow a shadow to fall on the body
Pour incense that has been blessed into the eyes, ears and mouth of the body
Place a hymnbook, a cross or a brick under the chin of the corpse
Always close the eyes of the dead person
Cremate the body, this never fails
You can stretch the body of a dead cat or dog across the threshold of the home where the person was killed
Mutilate the body by removing the heart, hamstringing, driving a stake into the chest, sticking thorns in the body, driving nails into different body parts or driving a sickle into the heart
Behead the body and place the head under the arm or between the legs or bury in a separate grave
Bind the body, tie the mouth shut, bind the legs and feet together or wrap the whole body up tight

II. Common burial steps:

Bury at a crossroads
Place poles, stakes or thorns in the soil of the grave
Bury the body in a prone position
Place any of the following in the coffin:
sickles, thorns, knives, daggers, nails, stakes, candles, towels, fishnets, millet, wild roses, crosses, food, incense, garlic, oats, etc
Place any of the following on or near the grave:
stones, roses, thorns, garlic, seeds, millet, sand, etc

[Crimhthan The Great]

Protection from vampires, the common methods of keeping yourself safe from vampire attack as found in folklore:

Type of Protection:
1. Crosses or crucifixes
Comments:
1. The traditional method - they can hold vampires at bay and can make a gravesite useless to them.

Type of Protection:
2. Holy water
Comments:
2. Vials of holy water can be used in a multitude of ways:
Poured onto and into graves, coffins and tombs, thrown at vampires, sprinklered on things like doors, thresholds, window sills and windows and many other things/areas to prevent entry into or use of an area by a vampire.

Type of Protection:

Comments:

[Crimhthan The Great]

Abchanchu – Bolivia
Abere – Melanesia
Adze – Ghana
Alp – Germany
Andilaveris – Greece
Aniukha – Siberia, Russia
Apotamkin - Quileute
Arnold Paole-Serbia
Asanbosam – Ashanti people
Asema – Surinam
Asiman – Ashanti people
Aswang – Philippines
Aufhocker – Germany
Azeman – Ashanti people
Baital – India
Bajang – Malaysia
Baka – HooDoo Tradition
Bantu – India.
Baobhan Sith – Scotland's Highlands
Bas – Malaysia
Bebarlang – Philippines
Bhauangkara – Tibet
Bhūta – India
Bibi – the Balkans
Blautsauger – Germany
Brahmaparush – India
Bruja – Spain and Central America
Bruxa – Portugal
Cadaver Sanguins – England
Callicantzaro – Greece
Camazotz – Maya Mythology
Canchus - Peru
Catacano – Crete
Chedipe – India
Chordewa – Bengal
Chupacabra – Originated in Puerto Rico
Churel – India
Cihuacoatl - Aztec
Cihuateteo – Aztec Mythology
Cihuateteo – Mexico
Dachnavar – Armenia
Dala-Kumara Yaka - Sri Lanka
Danag – Philippines
Dearg-dul – Ireland
Dhampire – Slovakia
Dila – Philippines
Djadadjii - Bulgaria <this is a vampire hunter>
Doppelsauger – Germany
Draugr - Norse
Edimmu – Sumer \ Iraq
Empusa – Ancient Greece
Eretik - Russia
Estrie – Jewish Tradition
Fifollet – United States (Louisiana)
Ghoul - Arabia, Europe and Persia
Glaistig – Scotland
Grando the Carniola Vampire – Yugoslavia
Hannya – Japan
Haubui- Norwegian
Hidam Vampire – Hungary
Hisi-Hsua-Kuei – China
hooh-strah-dooh – Wyandot – North America
Hupia - Taíno
Impundulu – South Africa
Incubus – Medieval Europe
Inovercy – Russia
Jaracaca – Brazil
Jenglot - Indonesian and Malaysian
Jiangshi – China,
Jigarkhwar – India
Kalu-Kumara Yaka - Sri Lanka
Kappa – Japan
karalanos - Egypt
Kasha – Japan
Kataknana – Crete
Kephn – Burma
Kichkandi - Nepal
Kozlak – Dalamatia
Krvopijac - Bulgarian
Kudlak – Czechoslovakia
K'uei – China
Kukudhi – Albania
Kuzlak – Dalmatia
Kyuuketsuki – Japan
La Llorona – Central America
Laistrygones - Ancient Greece,
Lamia – Libya
Lampire – Bosnia
Langsuir – Malaysia,
Leanashe - Ireland
Leanhaum-shee – Ireland
Lemures – Ancient Rome
Lidérc – Hungary
Liebava – Moravia
Lilith – Sumer \ Iraq
Loogaroo – Caribbean Islands \ Mauritius
Lugat – Albania
Manananggal - Philippines
Mandurugo – Philippines
Mara – Slavonic
Masan – India
Mati-Anak – Malaysia
Melusine – France
Mmbyu – India
Mullo – Gypsy
Muroni - Romania
Nachtzehrer – Germany
Nelapsi – Slovakia
Nora – Hungary
Nosferatu - Romania
Obayifo – Ashanti
Obur - Bulgaria
Ohyn – Poland
Ol' Higue - Jamaica
Opyrb - Slavic
Pacu Pati – India
Pelesit – Malaysia
Penanggal – Malaysia
Peuchen - Chile
Pichal Peri - India
Pichas - Nepal
Pishtaco - Peru
Pontianak - Malaysia
Rakshasa – India
Ramanga - Madagascar
Revenants – England
Riri Yaka - Sri Lanka
Ruza Vlajna - Serbia
Sava Savanović – Serbia
Shtriga - Albania
Soucouyant - Trinidadian Guadeloupean
Strigoi – Romania
Strix – Ancient Rome
Strzyga - Slavic
Suangi - New Guinea
Succubus – Judeo-Christian
Succubus - Medieval Europe
Sukuyan – Caribbean
Sybaris – Greece
Talamaur – Australia
Thayé - Burma
Tlahuelpuchi – Mexico
Ubour – Bulgaria
Upier - Poland
Upir – Ukraine
Upyr - Russia
Uruku - Mesopotamia
Ustrel – Bulgaria
Utukku – Iraq
Vampir - Slovenia,Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Croatia
Vampiro - Brazil and Portugal
Vapir - Bulgaria
Vǎrkolak - Bulgaria
Vendalla - Ethiopia
Vetalas – India
Vhlk'h dlaka – Greece
Vipir
Vourdalak – Russia
Vrykolatios - Santorini
Wak Wak - Philippines
Wampir - Poland
Yaka - Sri Lanka
Yaksha - Sri Lanka, India
Yama – Tibet, Nepal and Mongolia
Yara-ma-yha-who – Australia
Zaloznye Pokojniki – Russia
Zaolas - Brazil
Zorfabio – New Zealand

[Maximum Forest Ranger]

Crimhthan The Great, how much of that do you use?