March 2, 2021

Origin Stories: Vampires

Who was the first vampire?


Lilith, according to medieval Jewish folklore, was Adam’s first wife before Eve. When Adam insisted she play a subservient role, Lilith grew wings, flew away from Eden, and has roamed the Earth for 4,000 years. “Lilith” is derived from a Sumerian word for female demon. A winged demon known for preying on pregnant woman and infants, she has been portrayed as the first vampire.

A Hebrew legend casts Judas Iscariot, betrayer of Christ, as the first vampire. In the book of Matthew, Judas, one of Christ’s apostles, betrayed Jesus for payment of thirty pieces of silver. After Jesus’ crucifixion, Judas tried to return the silver to appease his guilt. When his return was refused, Judas hung himself. The book of Agulah, written 843 years later by a Catholic monk named Aed in Aramaic, contains details of the punishment God inflicted on Judas. According to this source, God cursed Judas with immortality, the inability to walk in the sun, and the insatiable craving for human blood. The curse was also extended to Judas’ offspring.

In the Middle Ages, superstitions about vampires were used to explain plagues and other unfamiliar illnesses, in particular, a blood disorder called porphyria. Symptoms of porphyria included sensitivity to sunlight which caused severe skin blisters or burns, receded gums which looked like fangs, and aversion to garlic due to its sulfur content. Some symptoms could be temporarily relieved by ingesting animal blood.

Vlad Dracula, known as Vlad the Impaler, ruler in Walachia, Romania, off and on from 1456-1462, is thought to be the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula. According to legend, Vlad killed his enemies by impaling them on wooden stakes and dipped his bread in their blood.

Vampires in The Magicals Series


Creation and Maker Relationship

A vampire “parent” is called a maker. A vampire “child” is referred to as offspring. The offspring have an obligation or loyalty toward their maker, but makers can release their offspring. When you are turned (created) into a vampire, your soul floats away, and human blood becomes your only source of food.

Special Abilities or Talents

Vampire abilities/talents are either a skill obtained during creation or learned later. Some abilities include: flying; reading minds; moving objects telekinetically; seeing the future; possessing super speed, super strength, and/or heightened senses; and healing quickly. Vampires go underground to heal faster. Vampires can erase people’s memories or give powerful suggestions. They speak an ancient, unknown language. Vampire blood has healing qualities for humans, tastes like strawberries, has an intoxicating side effect with a resulting hangover effect, and can be an aphrodisiac. Vampire tears are blood.

Other Relationships

Vampires live alone, with their maker, or in groups (families) called “nests.” Their interactions with humans are limited, as they tend to consider humans a lower life form, with the exception of protection. Vampires can have protection arrangements with wizards. Thralls are humans controlled by vampires, the connection can only be severed by the vampire who bit them or death.

Vampires can procreate with humans. Vampire offspring will protect their mother in the womb. They have a nine-month gestation period and look human. Vampire hunters are the human-vampire offspring who hunt to kill their vampire parent, when their parent’s memories emerge in their mind at puberty, but not all half-vampires become vampire hunters.

Supernatural beings can sense other supernatural beings.

Blood Exchange and Blood Bond

A blood exchange occurs when a vampire gives a human their blood. It allows a vampire to transmit his memories into a mortal’s mind, creates a link between vampire and mortal, and marks the mortal to other supernaturals. Humans can learn to shield against the contactless transmission of memories, but this usually results in a headache. Memories can also be transmitted by the vampire holding the other person’s head (think Vulcan mind meld). Blood bonds strengthen when more blood is shared and when the mortal gives the vampire their blood.

Codes and Law

There is a vampire “code” to keep their existence a secret. There is a vampire “law” not to harm another vampire’s human. Vampire’s mark a human as their own through a claiming ceremony. Vampire claiming is similar to human marriage. The ceremony involves a special dagger and blood exchange, and is sealed with a mating. As a result, the human will gain some vampiric abilities without becoming a vampire.

General

Vampire existence is a curse, death means Hell. The older and purer the blood, the stronger the vampire. The need for and amount of “rest” reduces with “age.” They are immortal, although there are ways they can die. For instance, prolonged exposure to the sun.

They drink human blood to survive. A human goes to a beautiful place during the bite, but vampires don’t need to drink directly from the source. They can tolerate a glass of red wine. Vampire skin is pinkish after feeding. If a vampire is too hungry, the hunger takes over. Their eyes turn yellow when their fangs drop. Fangs can extend and retract at will.

If a human really wants a vampire to leave their home, they can compel them. Anyone can enter a vampire’s home if the deed is held by an undead being (vampire).

Wards are used for protection. Wizards can cast protection spells to make a property virtually invisible from the road or air. Anyone who approaches the property will simply change their course and not realize it. The address doesn't exist, either. There is an actual address on the deed, but not one that can be found by GPS.




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