ㅤㅤThis lore is designed in a way to be compatible with other vampire lore. All traits specific to my custom lore are considered part of this “strain” of vampirism, so other vampiric characters following different laws and lore for their existence, biology, powers, etc. are simply considered part of a different strain or type of vampire.
ㅤㅤ“Vampire” is treated as, for all intents and purposes, an umbrella term encompassing many different types of creatures that fall within the same spectrum of the supernatural. The preferred term among this strain (referring specifically to the characters I’m writing in this lore) is actually the archaic “vampyre” for themselves, passed down over centuries of lineage, but “vampire” is also acceptable as the modern form of address. Regional variations such as the Korean term heuphyolgui are also accepted terms, though some regional or cultural terms may refer to entirely different strains or creatures such as the aswang or manananggal from the Philippines, striga or vrykolakas from Greece, or jiangshi from Chinese folklore. Most of the common wide-spread strains of vampirism come from the Slavic or Eastern European regions but have migrated throughout the world over time, owed largely to historical trade and colonialism.
ㅤㅤThe main concept of vampires in this lore revolves around themes of parasitism and the price of stolen humanity. Vampires struggle to maintain the illusion of humanity that allowed them to continue living in society as any other and rely wholly off of feeding from the blood / vitae of humans to maintain themselves. When well-fed, vampires are almost perfectly passable as human beings, and their powers are at their strongest. When they are underfed, they become more corpselike, mentally more prone to beast-like behavior and, if starved enough, at risk for becoming entirely feral until properly sated once more; but even then, if a vampire has been feral for long enough, it could take months or years for them to regain themselves, or possibly never fully recover at all. In this sense, vampires are entirely dependent on humans, even though many may see themselves as evolved creatures above the mortals they prey upon. Without humans to feed on, these vampires would become beasts entirely.
ㅤㅤFeeding is precarious for vampires for this very reason. It must be done regularly to maintain power and appearances for those who wish to be “daywalkers” living normally among society rather than withdrawing as hermetic beings. Most vampires of this strain are forced into such societal withdrawal due to lack of access to frequent feeding; a portion of them are able to successfully live as daywalkers, and most still only interact with humanity at night. This is largely because of the risk of exposure feeding poses, which increases by frequency.
ㅤㅤSome vampires with enough resources and connections may seek alternatives such as feeding at bloodbanks, but the risk of stealing from these institutions is worse than normal hunting due to the presence of security, thus the only vampires truly able to successfully make use of these alternative feeding methods are ones with connections inside the facility itself willing to help them. Sometimes these are humans with aspirations to join the undead, fascination for them, or those paid by bribery or bound by vampires with the power of compulsion. This makes feeding from bloodbanks something only safely available to those with wealth and privilege, and typically only vampires who have infiltrated the higher echelons of society are able to gain such access. It’s also frowned upon for vampires to drink from animals, as while it may fill their bellies and keep them alive, it will not preserve their powers or humane functions due to the lack of human vitae, and thus will not keep them from falling into a beastmind. It may even hasten the process.
ㅤㅤWhen feeding, vampires do not only drink blood, but they consume the lifeforce (or “vitae”) within the blood. This is what helps them sustain their appearance of humanity and is why alternatives to human blood are not suitable, as mentioned above. When a vampire drinks directly from a human, they are simultaneously absorbing this vitae; it causes a physical reaction while feeding, with the vampire’s body attuning to their prey, their heartbeat and “breathing” falling in sync with the person they are drinking from. This lingers for several hours to a few days after feeding depending on how much the vampire drinks. Vampires do not have to drain an individual completely to be fed; they can easily be sustained by small, harmless feedings if done frequently enough. More powerful vampires may seek to keep thralls for this reason, creating a sustainable source of vitae for themselves that they can draw from frequently, but they must be careful to maintain their thralls as to not overuse them. Willing thralls can be hard to find, however, and compulsion is a power that only a portion of vampires possess.
ㅤㅤFor humans being fed upon, typically the only pain is in the initial bite and breaking of skin depending on how gentle the vampire chooses to be. Some more sadistic individuals may maim their prey on purpose, but this is also frowned upon due to increased risk of exposure. Others may choose not to use their fangs at all, instead making a clean cut to the skin of their prey to further obfuscate evidence of feeding. Vampiric “venom” is secreted by their fangs, elicited when they are extended, and works to create a sense of euphoria in human prey by inducing the release of dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins (it may be spread by contact with the tongue as well if the vampire licks the venom from their own fangs, a method commonly used by vampires who choose not to bite their prey but rather drink from their wound).
ㅤㅤBecause of this, a vampiric feeding may even have positive effects on the human as long as the vampire does not overfeed as they may have more restful sleep, may have dulled pain, or may feel calm for a few hours afterward. This was a natural adaptation in the vampires designed to facilitate the parasitic relationship between vampires and their prey. However, overfeeding, even if not to completely drain a human, will cause negative effects that may negate these positive after-effects, such as headaches, fainting, weakness, and other symptoms associated with various levels of exsanguination. Most vampires will typically feed to the point of inducing temporary amnesia for the sake of further hiding evidence of the feeding. Vampire bites close and heal in less than a day if given with care due to the properties of the venom, but those who are reckless with their prey or feed repeatedly from them in a short span of time may leave behind scars.
ㅤㅤVampires, when well-fed, may appear exactly like humans. These daywalkers blend in well with society for as long as they can maintain the facade. They are called daywalkers among their kin because they have reached a level of sustenance where they can walk in the sunlight without harm, though it is still uncomfortable to most. Others are not able to reach the level of power and immunity as the daywalkers but are still passable enough as human to interact with human society at night. Well-fed vampires maintain human-like complexions, lively heartbeats, and naturally mimic breathing without having to consciously do so. They can function much like humans and can maintain human bodily functions as long as they stay fed. This includes being able to eat and drink human food or engage in sexual activity, including, though precarious, the ability to procreate.
ㅤㅤVampires that are born from unions between two vampires are called “pureborn”. Vampires born from unions between a human and a vampire are formally called dhampir and casually referred to as halfbloods; these are the most common type of “born” vampires as pureborn are exceptionally rare (though highly prized by some bloodlines). Hybrids with other species of the supernatural are possible as long as reproduction is feasible, but very, very rare. It is easier for a vampire to father a child on a human woman than for a vampire to carry a child themselves. For a vampire to carry a child, it would require constant sustenance to maintain human functionality and thus keep the ability to carry a healthy pregnancy throughout a nine month term, which can be increasingly precarious, hence the rarity of pureborn children.
ㅤㅤThe traits of hybrids and pureborn depend largely on their parents and the blood lineage of their vampiric parent(s). Blood lineage, especially among lines descended from ancient vampires, is highly influential in what powers a being may develop. Pureborn are more likely to develop the “rarer” powers, whereas human hybrids are not guaranteed to develop powers at all. Human hybrids are the most varied group of born vampires as some may be born purely vampiric, some purely human, and others anywhere on a spectrum between the two, all with different requirements for feeding. Those that are more human may not need to feed to maintain their humanity at all, while others who are more vampiric may need to feed just as their vampiric parent does.
𝙷𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝙿𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍
ㅤㅤVampiric powers directly correlate in strength to how well-fed a vampire is, as feeding means more fuel for their powers, but the overall maximum potential of their powers will ultimately depend on their blood lineage and the power obtained from their sire. There are powers regarded as common among vampires, and there are others more rare and prized among ancient blood lineages. The closer a vampire is to the progenitor of these lineages, the more likely they are to develop these rare powers or a power unique to themselves. Examples of this include Dae Jaeshin, with the ancient and prized power of haemomancy, and Moon Junha, with the power to bend shadow and light. Both were sired by the ancient vampire Yi Nam-kyu, who himself possesses the unique power of blood visions called “sanguine scrying”.
ㅤㅤVampires who are poorly fed are unable to maintain the strength to use higher powers or appear human. When a vampire is unable to feed enough to sustain themselves, they gradually lose the facade of humanity and become more corpse-like; they become paler, colder, and lose the ability to maintain living functions, including no longer being able to maintain a heartbeat or human-like breathing patterns, eat or drink human food (their bodies will reject it upon the loss of digestive functions), or engage in sexual activity. Vampires who are starved enough may lose the ability to secrete venom, leading to more painful feedings, especially coupled with encroaching bestial instincts. Eventually, they become unable to retract their teeth or claws (if they possess the latter), and may be overcome by the beastmind if they do not feed soon enough or have the willpower left to fight against it.
ㅤㅤWhen the beastmind overtakes a vampire, they become feral, no different from a ravenous animal who will do anything to find food. As mentioned, if given over to the beastmind for long enough, it may become more impossible to ever recover from it fully, and some particularly unfortunate individuals may be lost to the beast within them forever.
ㅤㅤEach vampire has unique eye colors, usually derived from the colors of their sire (reds and pinks from a crimson-eyed sire, blues and purples from a blue-eyed sire, etc.). These may appear passably natural in some cases or completely inhuman in others, though this is easier to get away with in the modern era thanks to the existence of color contacts. Some vampires may choose to wear contacts to disguise their eyes nonetheless, and others may wear their strange colors proudly. Eyes are also the most obvious visual indicator of how well-fed a vampire is, as they will be bright and true-to-color when fed, but fade to duller, greyer hues when hungry. Eventually they will fade into a bright, unnatural, almost glowing silver if starved; this is the same for every vampire, and these bright silver eyes are often regarded as an ill-omen amongst vampirekind as they are often a precursor to one being overcome by the beastmind.
ㅤㅤVampire teeth also vary greatly. The majority of vampires have some form of retractable teeth, but few are unfortunate enough to have a mouth full of razor fangs, which are a hindrance to blending in. For those with typical fangs, these usually come in sets of one, two, or three, some with only fangs on their top row of teeth, some with fangs on both rows. When retracted, these fangs are usually hidden enough to visually pass as sharp canines or mild deformities. Overall, physiology, just as powers, varies based on lineage as well as the traits one held while human.
ㅤㅤBeing bitten by a vampire won’t turn someone into a vampire. Being turned is a very specific process for this strain of vampirism, and one that is quite precarious to survive. Most attempts to turn to another fail for various reasons. One might do everything right, but if the individual is not strong enough in will to survive the process, they will die nonetheless. To become a vampire, one must drink the blood of a vampire, then be drained of all their blood. This leaves only the remnant of that vampire’s ingested essence to sustain the exsanguinated individual, which, if the process fails, will kill them, but if it succeeds, that vampiric essence will become part of them and raise them in undeath. This is what forms the sire bond and blood lineage between vampiric lines.
ㅤㅤThe final part of the process requires the fledgling’s first feeding. This step is a test of willpower more than anything, a test to see if the fledgling can overcome the beastmind and survive as a vampire. What happens then largely depends on the sire. Some sires choose to give their new fledglings their own blood as a way to ease the process for them and further strengthen the sire bond between them. Others prefer to see if their new fledglings will sink or swim on their own as a form of testing them. And other, more cruel sires will simply abandon them altogether. These fledglings, without guidance, are usually the ones who fall quickly to the beastmind, often within the first three years of being turned.
ㅤㅤOf all the attempts to create fledglings, only about 1% in total will succeed. Some individuals may be incompatible with vampirism, and others may be more suited for it. This is based on various uncertain factors pertaining to mysticism and the circumstances of an individual’s birth and life, though these factors have been largely forgotten among more modern vampire lineages due to further delineation from the ancients and loss of ancient vampiric practices. Some say that certain bloodlines take more easily to vampirism, some say that one’s actions during life contribute, and others claim it can be influenced by matters of pure fate such as being born as a seventh son or being born under certain stars.
ㅤㅤThe truth of what makes one most suitable as a chosen fledgling is still kept by the highest ancients that exist in present-day, but they refuse to reveal these long-held secrets to their lesser kin in order to discourage reckless creation of fledglings and consolidate power between the elites among the undead rather than further diluting what many of them consider to be the Gifted Blood. The knowledge of how to choose the most suitable fledglings is part of how these ancient lineages have maintained power, able to grow their own courts while stifling those of potential rivals and maintain their place in vampiric hierarchy.
𝙺𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝙿𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢
ㅤㅤWhat powers a vampire inherits depends entirely on bloodline and their own individual factors. Most vampires only have basic abilities, but the closer a vampire is in lineage to ancient blood via their sire, the more likely they are to develop rare, more highly prized powers. The lists below are not comprehensive and may be added to over time.
ㅤㅤPossessed by all (non-hybrid) vampires to various degrees of efficacy:
superhuman strength and speed
inhuman sensory capabilities
ㅤㅤMost common powers possessed by vampires (most may have a couple of these abilities):
induced amnesia, memory manipulation
charm / persuasion, also known as subconscious influence
empathic abilities that may extend to emotional influence
animal communication & kinship (limited to specific types of animals depending on the individual)
ㅤㅤRare powers possessed by a smaller percentage of vampires:
shapeshifting (may be animal shifting, mist forms, or ability to change physical appearance)
shade-walking (ability to become invisible in shadows)
animal familiars / mind-sharing
astral projection or "dreamwalking"
dreamcrafting (power to directly influence dreams of others, often manifests alongside dreamwalking but not always)
clairvoyance, the ability to see spirits and identify supernatural beings
ㅤㅤExtremely rare or unique powers only seen in certain individuals, mainly ancients or those close to their lineage; some powers have been known in the past but are considered "extinct" if no known individual possesses them, though this does not mean the power will not reappear:
blood visions / sanguine scrying — possessed by Yi Nam-kyu
prophetic sight (non-divination) — possessed by Yi Nam-kyu
necromancy — considered extinct presently
shadow / light manipulation; may be illusory, may extend to physical control of matter — possessed by Moon Junha
haemomancy; blood magic, manipulation of blood — possessed by Dae Jaeshin
inflicted madness; the ability to impose mental anguish or upon another through projected imagery into their mind — considered extinct presently
carnomancy; the ability to control and re-shape flesh and bone, including regrowth of lost limbs and healing of other beings — unknown
hive mind; a unique form of joint telepathy once found in a certain lineage — considered extinct presently
toxigenesis; the ability to create and secrete various substances through ingested compounds in the body, then spread via touch — unknown
nervous system override; can elicit different sensations in the nervous system of another including but not limited to general pain, muscle cramps, burning sensations, itchiness, anxiety, the feeling of electrocution, or conversely ease pain or elicit sensory pleasure instead — unknown
