MONSTERS, CRYPTIDS AND SUPERNATURAL CREATURES
VAMPIRE
Vampyre, Vampir, Upir, Upyr, wąpierz, upiór
An undead creature that sustains itself by feeding on the blood of the living. Throughout history they have been associated with death and disease, with such tales of remote villages falling prey to the gluttony of but one vampire, as it gradually feasts its way through an entire community. They are intelligent and scheming, but somewhat paradoxical creatures, blessed on one hand with the gift of immortality and on the other, damned to be eternaly consumed by their unquenchable thirst for blood. They have been documented since the early civilizations of man, spanning the globe through a multitude of myths and legends and are represented in many forms , some more bestial than others, but over time have fallen in to obscurity. It is a fair assumption to say that, as we ourselves have evolved over generations and gained in knowledge, so have they. Learning how to better conceal themselves from the living and fade in to the realms of folk lore.
Physiology:
It is difficult to make a singular, definitive description of the vampire, though there are several commonalities to many of the legends. Vampires, although retaining their human form are gaunt and pale in complexion, their skin is deathly cold to the touch and their eyes are deep set and penetrating , nails and teeth are elongated and an odour of death seems to be about them.
Etylmology:
The exact origin of the name is unclear, however some sources believe it may originally derive from the northern Turkish ubyr or uber, meaning witch
History:
The first recorded vampire can be traced to Greek Mythology with the tale of a man named Ambrogio, which includes features of vampire lore such as, blood-sucking and extreme sensitivity to sunlight and silver.
Territory:
Worldwide
Origination:
A person will become a vampire when a vampire feeds off of them, spreading the vampiric infection, through drinking the blood of one, via a magic ritual or a demonic bargain.
Nature:
Commonly cunning and manipulative. Will use deceipt to gain trust of its victims as not to reveal itself, though can become highly aggresive if ravenous or a fledgling vampire.
Modus Operandi:
Will bite or tear at areas of the victim to facilitate bloodflow (most commonly carotid artery) in some cases the Vampire will feed over several visitations, slowly draining the victim, where as in others they kill within a single attack.
Vulnerability:
Certain items or practices can be used to ward against or harm Vampires, such as garlic, a branch of wild rose and hawthorn, religious symbols, holy water and in some cases mirrors. Others will effectively kill one. These include silver weaponry, a wooden steak through the heart, decapitation, direct sunlight and complete incineration of the body.