---What are the signs of vampirism? What abilities do vampires have?
In my experience:
Heightened senses, to one degree or another.
Such as:
Better hearing-being able to hear higher or lower-pitched frequencies, as well as things that are ‘quieter’ than most people can hear;
-better sight;
-the sense of touch is quite sensitive, you just seem to feel things better than most;
-more heightened sense of smell, as in you can still smell someone’s perfume in a room, even after they’ve been gone for days, it simply seems to linger, as well as seeming able to identify and pick out scents most people can’t;
-sense of taste is quite remarkable.
-This is not to say that all vampires have every sense to an “Nth” degree. My eyesight is bad, so I have to wear contacts. But, for the most part, these senses are exceptionally heightened.
-Quicker reflexes
-Some sort of blood-lust (in the case of Sanguinarius vamps) and/or a need to feed off of some sort of energy (in the case of PsyVamps)
-An affinity for the dark; dislikes being in the daylight
-Functions better at night-most seem to be more awake after the sun goes down; you can think better at night; etc
-Some sort of ‘allergic’ reaction to the sun (whether it can or cannot be diagnosed by medical science is up to debate)
-Some variety of Empathy
-Better-than-average or ’strange’ nightvision
-An awareness of energies most people don’t notice
-Weaker-than-average immune system if they haven’t fed; stronger-than-average if they have
-An odd mix of a desire to be around crowds and a mild(or stronger) case of social anxiety disorder; this is usually due to the Empathic abilities a lot of us have. Too many thoughts and emotions invading all at once
-An unusual gracefulness that seems to manifest at odd times
-Depending on the situation, many seem to display traits and characteristics reminiscent of MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder). Frequently, this very well could be a manifistation of past lives making themselves known.
-An ability to pick people out of a crowd who seem to be ‘different’… unusual energies or what have you. This also goes with vampires being able to pick each other out.
-“Mood eyes”; eyes that seem to change color with one’s emotions
-Physically stronger in certain situations. This is not to say they could pick up a car and throw it a hundred feet because they get annoyed, of course. But, for some reason, their strength seems to get better depending on the situation; *especially* in an emergency or in a dangerous situation.
-Extreme cravings for unusual foods or which food doesn’t seem to satisfy. You may wake up at 4:30 am and have an odd craving for banana pudding. You just woke up, and *needed* banana pudding at that moment. Or, for some reason, you want coconut milk on your cereal instead of regular milk. Odd little things that, for some reason, you just cannot explain. I know, one night, I woke up –woke up completely– from REM sleep and needed pizza right now. It was about 5am, and I *needed* that pizza.
Unexplainable, frequent headaches
-Never seems to get enough sleep (insomnia). It doesn’t matter how much you sleep, or how little . . . you just never seem to be able to get enough sleep some days. Or, you’ll have days where you’re up for longer than 24 hours and, no matter what you do, cannot force yourself to sleep.
-Seems to heal more quickly than others (when well-fed). A cut or scratch seems to heal in a matter of hours (or overnight) as opposed to a few days. If you catch a cold or the flu, you seem to recover quicker than most people, if you have the energy available for your body to accomplish this.
-Seems to experience symptoms similar to the flu (except with no fever) when they haven’t fed frequently enough
Some sort of ‘artistic’ talent-be it poetry, writing, drawing, computer work, etc.-that seem to come out of nowhere
-Higher than average intelligence
-Seems to suffer from some variety of depression or bipolar disorder. This “symptom” and the one above seem to connect. It’s that whole “There is a fine line between genius and madness” thing. Me, I have a high I.Q. I also have bi-polar disorder. Most vamps I have met in my life seem to have high intelligence, and some sort of depression.
-Some variety of one or more ‘mental abilities’-empathy, telepathy, aura sight, precognition, etc.
-A strange ability to ‘hide in plain sight’. You just don’t want to be seen. And, for some reason, even though you’re in the middle of a large crowd . . . no one seems to even notice you. And this “ability” seems to fluctuate at odd times. Usually, though, it manifests during serious stressful situations where you just cannot “handle” things anymore for a while. It also, however, has a habit of ‘going off’ when you don’t necessarily want to remain unnoticed.
---I have X number of those traits… does that mean I *am* a vampire?
Maybe, maybe not. I have met several vampires that do not have more than one or two of these traits; then again, I’ve come across vampires who seem to have them all. I’ve also come across ‘normal humans’ that seem to display most of these traits. In the end, the only one who can *really* decide if you are or not, is you.
---Where can I meet a vampire?
Anywhere, really. At school, at work, in the grocery store. The tricky part is *recognizing* when you meet them. Usually, though, a vampire is not going to come up to you and say, ‘Hi, my name is Bob, and I’m a vampire.’
---Can I pick a vampire out of a crowd?
That depends on how perceptive you are and if you know what to look for… and, up to a point, whether or not the vampire *wants* to be recognized as such.
---Can vampires pick each other out?
Usually, yes. There are those ‘newly awakened’ vampires whose senses have not yet quite reached that peak, and of course, there seem to be exceptions to every ‘rule’ you try to set to vampires.
---Do vampires have group meetings, clans (a la V:tM), covens, etc.?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on the individual or groups of individuals. Obviously, *some* do, as that is one of the purposes of this FAQ. However, if anyone tells you they are part of a ‘clan’ a la V:tM, such as Toreador, Malkavian, etc. or some other fictional name that denotes a ‘bloodline’, chances are, they’re delusional.
---When it comes to vampires RPGs, movies, music, etc.; are these harmful? Can they cause people to believe they are something they aren’t, or do they damage the real vampire community?
They can be, yes, and for the most part they do indeed damage the real vampiric communities. They usually portray vampires as “evil” and as being “of the devil,” so to speak. There are those out there who are unstable enough to believe everything they see in movies, and therefore come to the conclusion that vampires need to be extinguished. There are also those who come to believe they are vampires when they are not, which can lead to a bit of strife within the vampire community-especially online-due to the number of ‘posers’ making it difficult to believe someone else when they claim to be a vampire, even though we know *perfectly* well that vampirism is real.
In an odd way, though, it is actually beneficial to the vampire community, as it allows us to ‘hide in plain sight’ better.. we do not fit any of the ‘fantasy stereotypes’, and so people write it off as a ‘joke’.
---How does a vampire feeding affect both the vampire and the ‘donor’?
Generally speaking, it is quite enjoyable, for both parties… very sensual, highly erotic… but somehow at the same time not exactly sexual. It can lead into the sexual, depending on the individuals, but that does not mean that it *is* sexual. Afterwards, the vampire feels refreshed, perhaps a little stronger, in a better mood. The donor may feel slightly weakened, perhaps a little fatigued or lethargic, but oddly serene.
---What different kinds of vampire are there?
There are a number of ’sub-classifications’, and I will try to list them all here:
Bloodvamp/Sanguinarian - these vampires feed strictly from actual, physical blood, generally drawn from a small wound on their donor.
Energy Vamp - those that feed directly from some outside energy source
Within this category, there are a few ’subtypes’:
PsiVamp (PsyVamp) - those that draw the energy they need directly from another person’s (or people’s) psychic(aural, pranic, whatever you want to call it) energy
Emotional Vamp - those that draw energy from other people’s emotions; also called empathic vampires. Not to be confused with vampires who also happen to be empaths (which is quite a number of them)
Sexual Vamp - very similar to PsiVamps, except they draw their energy exclusively from sexual encounters
Elemental Vamp - these vampires tend to draw most or exclusively from the elements or nature… storms seem to be a favorite source.
Many people consider these to be the only two ‘true types’ of vampires. However, there is a third category, which seems to defy the ‘normal’ classification - Hybrid, or ‘Dual-Feeders’. It is into this group that I fall (along with many others). When feeding, in order to really draw what we need, we must ‘bite’ in the classic vampire sense, although we do not puncture with fangs or any other artificial device. We then simply draw what we need.. to us, we can taste blood, feel blood, have to swallow, even can taste the aftertaste on another who has just fed; however, once we are finished, there is no mark, aside from perhaps a small red mark like a hickey. Some consider this something of a ’self-hallucination’ of what is no more than a PsiVamp… but those of us who feed this way do not feel this is accurate.
And then, of course, there are those who are often seen as one and the same, but who have nothing, really, to do with real vampires:
Fetishists - a person who gains sexual stimulation or satisfaction from bloodplay. (Without necessarily believing themself to be a vampire, or Otherkin.)
Lifestylers - these people can sometimes be hard to distinguish from either real vampires or role-players, depending on which way they lean. Basically, they live the ‘lifestyle’ to the hilt, dressing the part, makeup, gothic houses, the whole bit.
Role-Players - usually used in a derogatory sense in the vampire community, this is one of the easier non-vamp groups to spot. Most often they have based their ‘personas’ on V:tM (Vampire: the Masquerade). They can usually be picked out by their assertions of wild supernatural powers (flying, bursting into flame in the sunlight, etc.), as well as by the ‘Clan’ system - Tremere, Toreador, Gangrel, etc. This is not to say every vampire who RP’s is fake.. after all, what better place to hide? It can serve as a wonderful release. It is when the lines of reality and the game become blurred that a problem arises.
Clinical/Psychotic Vampires - those who suffer from a serious mental illness, and truly believe themselves to be vampires in the classical, mythical sense (such as Renfield’s Syndrome). These are likely to turn ‘donors’ into victims.
---What is it like to be a vampire?
It’s like dancing naked in a warm summer rain. It’s like being surrounded by the purest love. It’s like a Sunday picnic in the park. It’s also like being kicked repeatedly between the legs. It’s like getting hit in the head with a baseball bat. It’s like constantly walking by a buffet of your favorite foods, but being unable to eat. In my experience, and most vampires I have spoken with, being a vampire is both a curse and a blessing. For the most part, a lot of us have to hide what we are from those we love the most, for fear of retribution, prejudice, fear, or some other sort of negative judgement. Most of us cannot run down the street yelling ‘I am a vampire’ for fear of being strapped in a white coat and thrown in a rubber room and basket weaving with our toes for the rest of our lives. but the blessing comes in the form of this: when it comes to regular life, we have learned more and experienced more than most ‘regular’ people have or ever will. We are usually able to help a friend in need of emotional support; we know better than most what it is like to be hurt, to be an outcast.
---I think a friend of mine is a vampire. Is there a ‘polite’ way to ask or try and find out?
It’s like trying to find a polite way to ask if a friend of yours is gay. It’s always a touchy subject, even moreso as anonymity provides a measure of safety for us. Start out with a general ‘discussion’ about vampires… not straight out asking if they are one, but simply if they believe in them and so forth. In time, perhaps, you can ease into the question of whether they are or not. Just be sure to be respectful about it.
---What is it like to Awaken?
Ever been hit on the head with a sledgehammer? It’s kinda like that. Have you ever had a crisis of faith so profound you don’t know *what* to believe any more? Yeah, it’s kinda like that, too. Have you ever been deliriously happy? Yeah, it’s kinda like that as well. It encompasses the entire range of emotions. It’s terrifying, intriguing, interesting, amazing and amusing all at once, with every other emotion in the gamut thrown in for good measure. However, some people, of course, take it better than others.
---Can an Awakening be ‘triggered’ by someone else? If so, what responsibilities are there for the one who triggered it?
Yes, I do fully believe an Awakening can be triggered, because mine was triggered by someone when I was 19. As for the responsibilities.. help them through it; help them deal with the emotional turmoil it causes; teach them what you know in hopes that they will take the benefit of that experience with them while learning their own way; in a way, almost become a ‘parent’ to them, helping and aiding and comforting as much as you can.
---Are vampires immune to blood-borne diseases? (Or any other diseases for that matter?)
NO. They are just as dangerous, or even moreso, to us as they are to anyone else.
---Can you tell me of any vampires in {insert town/state/whatever}?
Can I? Maybe. Will I? No. That is something you will have to search for yourself. I am not about to betray the trust of anyone in the community by stripping away their anonymity.
---Are there really vampire hunters?
Yes. Some of them are as bad as they are protrayed in the movies; a lot of them are much more subtle. There are some who believe Hollywood, and who, regardless of what the truth is, think vampires are an unnatural abomination and need to be exterminated. However, just as within the vampire community, there are those who are simply overeager RPG players, who really pose no threat; and sometimes, it can be difficult to tell the difference.
---If someone awakens to/becomes a vampire, does that mean they can’t do a lot of things they used to?
Why should you stop living your life just because you realize you’re a vampire? Seomtimes you may have to make certain adjustments, but you should be able to do basically everything you could before.
---What is the relationship between vampires and magic?
Most vampires, by nature, dabble in the ‘arts’. This helps them to hone their senses, hone their abilities, and by the same token, their abilities help hone their spells, charms, wards, etc. For most of us, magic is simply a part of our life. Others, not so much, if at all. Vampires do seem to have an easier time with magic than most people do, however.
---How do I know who I can trust (lover, friends, parents, etc.) about what I am, and how do I go about telling them?
A good place to start is a general sort of conversation about the supernatural/metaphysical/magic/whatever you want to call it. Feel them out, see how they feel about it. If the response seems good, lead into vampires… what do they believe about them, do they think real vampires are a possibility, etc. If the response is still good, then decide if you feel you can trust them with the knowledge. In the end, only you can decide who you can and can’t trust, though.
---Do vampires have a ‘normal’ life? What kinds of things do they do?
What is ‘normal’? In my opinion, there is no real definition of ‘normal’. Vampires, like anybody else, try and get by in their lives the best that they can. We have bills, we have to pay taxes, we need to work, we go through good relationships and bad. As to what do we do… what does anyone do? We go to work, we go to school, we go to the park or to the lake or to the bar or to friends’ houses… it varies as much as with anyone else.
