Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Vampires and You: How to identify, protect against and vanquish the blood sucking undead

First and foremost, realise that there are several kinds of Vampires, Living, Undead, and Psi. The latter is not sanguinarian, and thus will not be covered in this article except where they may cross of with the former two.

Sanguinarians posses a type of virus that gives their body a form of immortality, enhanced strength, speed, and senses, especially smell, enhanced healing(easily bringing them back from the brink of death), and also prevents them producing blood of their own. This is what the desire for blood is stemmed from, but the blood production does not cease until after the first death, when the virus becomes active.

The Living Vampire is less dangerous, usually the offspring of a vampire, possessing their first life. They may be humans turned by a bite (or several, usually the vampire virus isn't transmitted through the saliva of just one bite) but not yet dead, but these can be treated as normal humans.

A turned human possesses no extraordinary strength or senses, can only 'pull an aura', or radiate an aura of power, at night, and are always looking to their master vampire for guidance. A turned human will not automatically become a vampire after death, they're sire or master vamp must be there to impart enough of the virus in them to take root, usually by giving them some of their blood.

A turned human once dead is a low blood undead. They have the powers of any undead, but lack the finesse and skill the born vampires achieve. You can distinguish them from born vampire undead by the smaller fangs, gaudier clothing, and the need to impress. They will still look to their master vamp, but rarely receive help from them. To kill them, simply shoot them until they stop moving, then put them in the sun. The sun renders the vampire virus that gives them their immortality dormant. Enough time in full sunlight and you'll have nothing to worry about.

A living vampire who was born a vampire, on the other hand, is far more dangerous than a turned human. Easily identified by a magnetic personality and sharp, if human sized, canines (though some cap their fangs) a living vampire possess above average strength, speed and senses, though not on par with their undead kin. The fact they are living means they still retain their soul, therefore sanctified crosses and holy ground offer no protection against them, as they do with the undead. Sunlight is not a liability, as the virus is still dormant in their system. Some may consider them more powerful than and undead because of this, but do not be fooled.

It is not advised to kill a living vampire, as they will rise again as an undead and likely hunt you down. This said, there may be times you are forced into combat with tem. They possess heightened senses of smell, and fear only acts to further their hunger. Remaining calm, keeping eye contact and not falling into patterns will help you when fighting one. If attacked by a living vamp, rendering them immobile and staking them may prove useful. Breaking bones will likely do little, your best bet is to keep a distance to avoid injury to yourself and shooting them, but a good sword slash will work just as well. Be sure to dispose of the body completely, cremation is advised to be done immediately and the ashes are to be scattered in running water.

Now for the big baddies. Undead vampires. Not turned human dead, but the real deal.

The undead vampire possesses incredible strength, speed, and stamina, exponentially higher than a humans. Their senses are much more refined, with a sense of smell that is tuned to pheromones in a way that no others possess. They can change their shape to that of a bat, rat, snake, or mist, with other shapes possibly not yet discovered. Their fangs are twice the length of human canines and very sharp, though this does not hinder their speech. They will be charming, sophisticated, and utterly aristocratic, but this merely hides the savage nature. They possess no souls, and therefore cannot be seen in mirrors.

Normal bullets and blades cause very little damage, as it is healed almost immediately. Blessed silver, or cold iron bullets, however, have much more effect, in that the injuries made by them cannot be healed until the bullet is removed, often scorching flesh. Explosive rounds with quicksilver, holy water, or rowan wood, do the most damage and are therefore the best bet for a very old undead. When using a sword, blessed silver or iron is the only type to cause lasting damage. Normal blades are just a nuisance and will simply annoy the undead vampire.

An undead vampire cannot walk in sunlight, nor on holy ground. They cannot cross running water of their own will, but may be carried across it in a coffin with earth from their native homeland. While they cannot enter a house uninvited, they need only be invited once. Powerful old vampires can often get around the invitation rule by the fact they were invited in hundreds of years ago.

To kill an undead vampire, the standard method is decapitation and staking, followed by cremation and the scattering of the ashes into running water. The stake should be of rowan, rosewood, hazel, willow or holly. Some state a clove of garlic should be placed on the tongue after decapitation, while it is not known if this has any effect, this precaution is often taken.


To protect oneself from vampires, the safest method is holy ground. While a living vampire can enter holy ground, they cannot get help from a master vampire, and if killed on holy ground will not rise again. Running water is a natural barrier against all forms of undead, so if fleeing them seek out waters flow. Holy water and blessed crosses are small deterrents to the undead, and drinking holy water regularly will give any vampire, living or undead, second thoughts about drinking your blood.

Remember that the older the vampire, the more powerful they are. Some of the oldest to date are over 500 years at least, with one now fully dead vampire claiming to have come over from Egypt in the 1700's after being undead for several centuries already.

In conclusion, the knowledge of vampires, living or undead, is your best defense against attack. Knowing the difference between the types may save your life, and knowing how to combat them effectively is the undead-hunters greatest strength.