Post by Dean Winchester on Apr 14, 2008 21:05:18 GMT -5
One of the most mythological creatures and certainly one that has the most lore written about: The Vampire. According to legends and myths that originated as far back as the 1600's, the people who were said to be vampires ranged from women who had wronged their husbands before their death to people who had red hair. It wasn't until the 18th century that the first accounts of vampirism were properly recorded and actually sounded alike. According to the myths, the corpses of women who had not been properly buried or had committed suicide would rise from their coffins and walk aimlessly throughout the cemetary until coming upon a child or a man. They would then proceed to take blood from their victims neck. Over the next years, after Bram Stokers Dracula was released, the Vampire legends became more detailed and began to match each other. Garlic and Holy Crosses were said to repel them and direct sunlight was said to kill them. Other then sunlight, the only way that a vampire could be killed was to have a wooden stake driven through their heart.
The bodies would then have to be burned and blessed before the corpses could rest in peace. Now, the legends and myths have been tamed down to a few very simple things.
Vampires are humans that have been transformed by another vampire either through a bite wound inflicted on their neck or wrist. Complete transformation occurs when a human ingests vampire blood. The process is actually quite painful, not romantic like the movies make you belive. The blood spreads throughout the body, changing and shaping the person like a disease until the victims heart finally stops and they become "the undead". They are said to have a second set of sharp retractable teeth that extend beyond their regular teeth when they are about to eat. As well as the vampirism gives them enhanced senses and enhanced strength. Although direct sunlight only burns "like a nasty sunburn", vampires do sleep during the day. Unlike the isolated creatures you read about in books, they tend to nest in groups of roughly 8-10 and when they marry or "mate", it is for life. Vampires prefer the taste of human blood but some sustain on animal blood to quench their thirst so that they won't have to become ravenous creatures and harm humans. They are not repelled by the Holy Cross, garlic or stakes through the heart. The only way to fully kill a vampire is by cutting of it's head and then burning the bodies or shooting it with the Colt. Dead mans blood also acts like a poison to them, making them weak and unable to fight back. Since their teeth are retractable, they can also easily pass for humans.
The bodies would then have to be burned and blessed before the corpses could rest in peace. Now, the legends and myths have been tamed down to a few very simple things.
Vampires are humans that have been transformed by another vampire either through a bite wound inflicted on their neck or wrist. Complete transformation occurs when a human ingests vampire blood. The process is actually quite painful, not romantic like the movies make you belive. The blood spreads throughout the body, changing and shaping the person like a disease until the victims heart finally stops and they become "the undead". They are said to have a second set of sharp retractable teeth that extend beyond their regular teeth when they are about to eat. As well as the vampirism gives them enhanced senses and enhanced strength. Although direct sunlight only burns "like a nasty sunburn", vampires do sleep during the day. Unlike the isolated creatures you read about in books, they tend to nest in groups of roughly 8-10 and when they marry or "mate", it is for life. Vampires prefer the taste of human blood but some sustain on animal blood to quench their thirst so that they won't have to become ravenous creatures and harm humans. They are not repelled by the Holy Cross, garlic or stakes through the heart. The only way to fully kill a vampire is by cutting of it's head and then burning the bodies or shooting it with the Colt. Dead mans blood also acts like a poison to them, making them weak and unable to fight back. Since their teeth are retractable, they can also easily pass for humans.