Vampyres don't exist- LIE
Ask any given number of people whether they believe in vampyres and the overwhelming response will be in the negative. There are two main reasons for this. The first reason is fear. Not the fear of the common man for Vampyres but quite the reverse. As we are all quite aware humans are prone to mass hysteria and violence against anything they cannot understand. Because of this, Vampyres over the millenia, have feared the human race and what it may do if the existence of Homo wampyrus were confirmed as scientific fact. Vampires therefore keep themselves well hidden and do all they can to propagate the Vampire as a myth and Hollywood invention. One classic example is the popular fantasy role-playing game by White Wolf, Vampire: The Masquerade. This game describes a rich history of Vampyre 'clans', each with it's own back story and complex interactive culture; all presented as a made-up gaming environment. In reality, the book is based on fact with only some embellishments to make it 'more exciting'.
The second reason is connected closely with the first. Remember, Vampyres are people too which means any survey will include a proportion of Vampyre participants who will naturally vote 'no' in order to discourage belief.
Vampyres are evil- LIE
Most Vampyres were human once and therefore have the same capacity for good and evil as any member of the human race.
There are evil vampires of course, just as there are evil humans but Vampires are also as capable of as much good as humans.
Vampyres are often portrayed as evil because of the nature of their food but Vampyre drinking blood is no more evil than a lioness tearing a zebra to pieces for to feed her cubs.
In today's society, most Vampyres discreetly advertise for willing 'donors' or purchase from blood banks in those countries that allow it, therefore avoiding the need for any stereotypical neck biting.
Vampyres only feed on blood- LIE
Haemavorous Vampyres, those that feed on blood, are by far the most fascinating and varied, however there is another kind that feeds on the life-force generated by every living thing and especially humans. Most of these Vampyres, known as Psychic Vampires are outwardly indistinguishable from humans and many do not share other Vampire weaknesses like aversion to sunlight of garlic. Many Psychic Vampires feed on the life-force or 'psychic energy' of those around them without ever knowing that they are doing so and remain blissfully unaware of their true nature.
This web site mainly deals with the haemavorous types but further reading on intentional and unintentional psychic Vampyres is available in a book entitled 'Vampires: The Occult Truth' by Konstantinos and published by Llewellyn
Vampyres can shape-shift- TRUTH
The shape-shifting capabilities attributed to Vampyres by popular fiction and the movies have some basis in fact. For most Vampyres shape-shifting skills are limited to the extension of fangs, claws or a lengthening of the ears. However there are some individuals, particularly amongst older members of the Wampyrus chiroptera group who have advanced abilities in shape-shifting. They are able to affect a transformation all the way into a huge bat-like creature which, while unable to perform actual powered flight, is capable of gliding over long distances in the manner of a hang-glider.
The transformation takes a huge toll on the Vampyre's energy levels and can take upwards of twelve extremely painful hours to perform. Because of these limitations the shape-shifting Vampyre rarely uses it's talent during it's usual feeding routine.
Vampyres are only active at night- LIE
It is true that the Vampyre condition makes them extremely and painfully sensitive to sunlight, or more precisely ultra-violet radiation. However this does not mean they cannot move about during the daylight hours. Humans have evolved as diurnal (daytime) animals but, despite poor night vision and a strong urge to sleep, we still spend a great deal of our night-times fully active. The same is true for Vampyres in reverse. As long as the Vampyre takes care not to expose his or her self to full on sunlight they are quite capable of acting out a life style approximating that of their human neighbours. Given a choice, most Vampyres would choose to sleep during the day and use the night-time hours to feed and socialise but this is in no way a rule. For most Vampyres it's a matter of choice and factor 40 sunblock!
Vampyres are repelled or hurt by garlic- TRUTH
In fact most haemavorous Vampyres are allergic or at least sensitive to the entire allium family which includes onions, chives, leeks, shallots and of course garlic. The degree of reaction varies from individual to individual but it is with garlic that the problem lies. Garlic contains a chemical which causes constriction of the throat and larynx leading to breathlessness and in extreme cases death through asphyxiation.
Vampyres are immortal- LIE
Vampyres are dead (or undead)- LIE
The misconception that Vampyres are the dead somehow brought back to life stems from two places. First, one of the early symptoms of the onset of Vampirism is a prolonged state of catatonia or hibernation. In the past, this state with it's cooling of the body and slowing of the heart to less than five beats per minute was often mistaken for death and the 'corpse' duly buried. Upon awakening, the Vampyre finds to his horror that he has been buried alive and proceeds to dig himself out. Naturally the Vampyre's friends and family think he has come back from the dead.
Secondly, and more relevant to modern times is the fact that when a human succumbs to Vampirism, he or she withdraws from his or her previous life and hides or moves away, often without a word to friends or reletives. After some years the family and friends of the missing person assume that they are dead.
Years later curiosity overcomes the Vampyre and he or she seeks out old aquaintances who are startled to find that not only is their dear departed still alive, but they appear to be no older than when they went missing all those years ago.
Vampyres sleep in coffins- LIE
Why would they? Coffins make very uncomfortable beds.
As explained above, Vampyres are not dead or Undead. The coffin fixation is purely an invention of folk law and novelists. These days some Vampyres make a point of having a coffin shaped coffee table or something of that sort as a kind of 'in joke' with their friends. The coffin is very much the 'flying ducks' of the Vampyre community. Kitch, tastless but fun
Vampyres have super strength- TRUTH
Vampyres enjoy a more efficient metabolism than most humans. Because of this, their bodies are able to perform more efficiently too.
Most Vampyre's strength is no more than any human could achieve, the difference is that a Vampyre has this strength without effort of training whereas a human would have to spend long, hard and regular hours in the gym to achieve the same results.
Some Vampyres are able to use a degree of shape-shifing skill to adjust bone pivot points, muscle attachment ratios and tendon strengths to obtain powers beyound that which is achievable by their original bodies, however,this is rarely worth the effort and pain to perform.
Vampyres cast no reflection- LIE
Even Vampyres cannot change the laws of physics! However, some Vampyres, particularly the Nosferatu group, are able to affect the human mind to some degree.
This enables them to alter a human's perception and effectivly 'become invisible' to them at will.
Vampyres fear religious symbols- LIE
Vampirism has been around since the dawn of man, long before the birth of even the oldest surviving organised religion. Christian crosses and other religious icons hold no fear for Vampyres, after all a cross is only a symbol of faith and not the faith in it's self. However, if the human who is brandishing the cross is sufficiently strong in their faith, if the belief in the icon's abilty to repel the Vampyre is absolute, then the Vampyre can feel this in the human's psyche. Most vampyres find this strong mental conviction unpleasant and will leave in search of less fervant prey. The human, of course, believes it is the cross that has repelled the Vampyre and as a result their faith is strengthened further.
Although most Vampyres have little time or interest for religion, some use religion as a smokescreen in order to appear more human and so fit more succesfully into human society.
