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Post by The Archivist on Apr 16, 2015 11:50:32 GMT -5
Vampires are one of the monsters found in OD&D.
The old folk term from Europe was vampyre/vampire/vampir/vampyr and dhampirs/dhampires aka daywalker in recent publications and the subject of a fantasy series as dhampirs by Barb and JC Hendee.
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Post by The Archivist on Apr 16, 2015 11:52:18 GMT -5
Based on two real life individuals from the Carpathians: Vlad "The Impaler" Teppisch, and Countess Elizabeth Bathory. Vlad the Impaler is believed to hold the record for killing the most people personally in the course of his life (well over a thousand); many tyrants have been responsible for the death of more, but Vlad did the most killing as a single individual.
Elizabeth Bathory was a comparitive amateur compared to him. She probably killed a mere 600 people or so.
Teppisch's way of killing people, of course, is well known. Bathory killed them to bathe in their blood, which she thought had rejuvenative properties.
Subsequent to this the legend of the vampire sprang up in folklore, which inspired John Polidori to write the first vampire novel (in which the vampire is an obvious parody of Lord Byron, whom Polidori disliked).
Bram Stoker refined the legend and popularised it in "Dracula" - and from then on, vampires have been a staple monster of page and screen.
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Post by The Archivist on Apr 16, 2015 11:54:12 GMT -5
At this point not sure where this was found.
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Post by The Archivist on Apr 16, 2015 11:55:04 GMT -5
Not sure where this came from either:
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Post by The Archivist on Apr 16, 2015 11:55:44 GMT -5
Or this:
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Post by The Archivist on Apr 16, 2015 11:56:17 GMT -5
Or this:
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Post by The Archivist on Apr 16, 2015 11:56:51 GMT -5
Or this:
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Post by The Archivist on Apr 16, 2015 11:57:26 GMT -5
Or this:
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Post by Crimhthan The Great on Apr 16, 2015 13:50:33 GMT -5
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:
The vampire hunters kit: In folklore and in your campaign.
In folklore: Wood stakes Mallet Mirror Cross Garlic Holy Water Iron collar
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:
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.
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.
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.
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
ifferent 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.
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
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
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
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
Adze - vampire spirit - African Algul - horse-leech, bloodsucking jinn or demon - Arabic Alp - vampirelike spirit - bogeyman - incubus - lecherous demon dog - werewolf Aluga - formidable blood demon Aluka - same
to be continued
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.
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Post by Old Timer on May 4, 2015 13:08:36 GMT -5
Wow, that is a lot of great information, have an Exalt, both of you!
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