Vampire (World of Darkness)

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notable=May 2008
unreferenced=May 2008
in-universe=May 2008WoD vampire:"This article is about a fictional being in a game scenario. For the general folklore surrounding vampires, see "Vampire"."

A vampire is a fictional creature in the role-playing games and books based on the "World of Darkness" setting by White Wolf Game Studio. The concept of a vampire in "WoD" takes many elements from the folklore surrounding traditional vampires in Western culture, and adds a number of specific features for the sake of game mechanics.

The vampire that walks the "World of Darkness" is an undead creature. It is a former human being that has undergone the "Embrace" of a vampire, being completely drained of blood and then fed some by his sire, a vampire who has turned a mortal into a vampire through the embrace.

Vampires need blood (which they call "vitae") in order to sustain their undead bodies. It can be human, animal or vampiric blood (but animal blood is not as good, and vampiric blood has potentially troublesome supernatural properties — such as the ability to create a blood bond).

Vampire bodies do not function like the bodies of living organisms. They are (more or less) preserved in a life-like state, but they do not age or die from illness.

Weaknesses and strengths

Vampires fear fire and sunlight. They receive serious damage from both (sunlight is absolutely lethal after very short exposure). Vampires are also vulnerable to so-called "True Faith", that is, the strength of a person's true religious conviction (which is, fortunately for vampires, very rare). Such faith need not be religious "per se" — one of the rulebooks mentions a yuppie repelling a vampire with his credit card, thanks to his faith in the power of moneyFacts|date=April 2008.

Driving a stake through a vampire's heart will not kill him but will paralyze him. Damage done to other parts of the vampire's body, with any kind of weapon, is not significant: it may incapacitate the vampire, but he will heal quickly if allowed to do so, and provided the damage does not deprive him of all his blood.

Vampires are immune to most diseases, drugs and poisons, but can be affected by some if present in the blood of their victims.

"World of Darkness" vampires are not normally affected by garlic, silver or the like, and usually cannot be appeased with offerings (as in some traditions). However, some vampires have specific weaknesses, such as needing some earth from their place of birth to sleep. Certain vampires have exhibited traditionally accepted "weaknesses," such as being unable to cross running water or an aversion to religious icons, but these weaknesses are not prevalent.

From dawn till dusk, they enter a state of supernatural sleep which makes them extremely vulnerable. They may awaken in case of emergency or even not falling asleep at all if their will is strong enough, but during the day they are very weak.

Also, blood is truly vital for vampires, because they can only have so much blood in their body and they continuously spend it to heal injuries, use their powers or even simply to make their dead body move. When a vampire does not have any more blood in its body, it falls into torpor and cannot be reanimated unless someone feeds it with blood or a period of time has passed. This period ranges from a few days to several years, depending on the individual vampire's humanity - a measure of how much the vampire has retained of his former self and how much he has given in to his "inner beast".

When a vampire's loved one is dying and there seems to be no hope, by sucking the blood dry of the victim will completely store all memories and thoughts in that vampireFacts|date=April 2008.

Vampires strive for a Nirvana-like state called "Golconda". This vague concept, encompasses salvation, redemption, a mastery over the vampire's bestial urges, and a high degree of Humanity; effects might be to lose the need to drink blood or even a return to a human state. Vampires in Golconda spent one blood point in a week, they are immune to the effects of Frenzy and Rotschreck and can raise all Traits and Disciplines up to 10, ignoring their generation limits.

Origins

In the old World of Darkness (as depicted in ' and '), vampires descend from Caine, the first murderer, cursed by God. Caine Embraced three childer (the Second Generation), who in turn Embraced thirteen (the Third Generation, called the Antediluvians). These were the beginnings of the 13 vampiric clans. With each subsequent Embrace, the resulted childe becomes weaker as they become further removed from Caine. The standard generation in the modern setting is the 13th (twelve steps removed from Caine).

In the new World of Darkness (from ""), the origins of the vampire species are more mysterious. With the removal of the generation concept, the idea of single source became less certain. Common theories include that the Roman soldier Longinus became a vampire after piercing the side of Christ on the cross, or that the first vampire was Dracula or a mysterious figure called the Crone. Some have even suggested that each of the five main had a different origin.