Okay, here are some vampire basics to begin with. Anything beyond this, ask one of the crew for approval. This is an evolving list, so bear that in mind when reading it.
Vampire Weaknesses:
Besides the weaknesses described above, vampires have several other chinks in their armor. As said before, wounds inflicted by silver or vampire/lycanthrope claws and fangs heal at near-human slowness or can be even more physically damaging. Direct sunlight shone on a vampire causes them to burst into flame. Holy items such as crosses will brighten with blue light if a person of faith holds them and is threatened by a vampire – though it will keep from lighting up if the vampire is not a threat to the bearer of the holy item. Contact with a cross held by a person of faith cause serious burns to even Master Vampires – the majority of vampires cannot even bear to see the light issued from crosses. The burns caused by contact from crosses and other holy items, as well as holy water (which has an effect akin to acid) and burns caused by regular fire or direct sunlight, leave permanent scars unless there is some outside source that is able to heal them. Vampires cannot enter a residence that they have not been invited to - places of business do not count as residences. Holy wafers placed at windows and doors can keep even invited vampires out of residences or places of business. A vampire who has been invited into a home can be forced to leave if the invitation is revoked.
Passive Vampire Abilities (Most Vampires receive these unless stated otherwise.)
Improved Strength and Speed:
Vampires possess strength and speed much higher than that of a human, complete with incomparable grace, a different sort than the animalistic fluid nature of lycanthropes. Older vampires have greater power and speed than younger. Vampires often seem much faster than they truly are, however, with their mind tricks, they can be across the room in what seems like an eye-blink.
Improved Senses:
Vampires new and old possess senses much greater than that of humans. Even the newly dead have better hearing than most dogs, and their sense of sight is much greater as well. However, they do not usually have a sense of taste, as they cannot ingest food. On occasion, a rare vampire can ingest food without harm.
Heightened Endurance and Resistance:
Vampires are resistant to many things – in fact, regular bullets will hardly slow them down and will heal nearly instantly. Wounds dealt by silver and lycanthrope/vampire claws and fangs, however, will heal with near-human slowness. Damage inflicted by fire and holy items backed by faith, such as crosses and holy water, cause permanent scarring.
Levitation:
After a few decades as a vampire, most learn the ability of flight to varying degrees. Many have no control or grace, but others have the ability to glide, levitate, and fly with grace, speed, and power.
Stillness / Making no Sound:
Once a vampire has existed as a vampire for several decades, he begins to come into his own power. Old vampires gain several traits, such as the ability to remain perfectly still, beyond that of anything a human can achieve. They also learn the trick of smiling without flashing their fangs – it is considered juvenile to do otherwise. Because of their grace, vampires can move similar to lycanthropes, making next to no sound.
Waking when Threatened:
Vampires of several hundred years of age gain the ability to wake if their bodies are threatened, even during the daytime. While sunlight will still destroy them, if they are inside or underground, they can rise up to kill those who attempt to slay them.
Rare Abilities:
Empathy – Some rare vampires can either pick up the emotions of those around them or make those around them feel the vampires’ emotions. Some, rarer still, can do both.
Resistance to Sunlight: Some vampires can be resistant to sunlight, though there are none that can handle too much of it without getting burned by it eventually.
Elemental Manipulation: Most vampires have at least one special ability that is uniquely their own. But on occasion there are those who can manipulate one or more of the elements, such as fire, earth, air, or water; or even one of the more specific elements, such as copper, oil, granite, and helium… I think you get the idea.
Weaving Shadows:
Some Master Vampires possess the ability to manipulate shadows and darkness into opaque walls, forming crude shapes with them and darkening them. Rarer still are those who can actually move through the shadows, using them as a way to travel from one place to another.
Beyond Rare Abilities:
Resistance to Holy Objects: Perhaps once in a thousand years, there are those vampires who come along who are resistant to the effects of holy objects. Even more rare are those who can handle or even use holy objects, though one or two have been known to exist.
Vampire Weaknesses:
Besides the weaknesses described above, vampires have several other chinks in their armor. As said before, wounds inflicted by silver or vampire/lycanthrope claws and fangs heal at near-human slowness or can be even more physically damaging. Direct sunlight shone on a vampire causes them to burst into flame. Holy items such as crosses will brighten with blue light if a person of faith holds them and is threatened by a vampire – though it will keep from lighting up if the vampire is not a threat to the bearer of the holy item. Contact with a cross held by a person of faith cause serious burns to even Master Vampires – the majority of vampires cannot even bear to see the light issued from crosses. The burns caused by contact from crosses and other holy items, as well as holy water (which has an effect akin to acid) and burns caused by regular fire or direct sunlight, leave permanent scars unless there is some outside source that is able to heal them. Vampires cannot enter a residence that they have not been invited to - places of business do not count as residences. Holy wafers placed at windows and doors can keep even invited vampires out of residences or places of business. A vampire who has been invited into a home can be forced to leave if the invitation is revoked.
Passive Vampire Abilities (Most Vampires receive these unless stated otherwise.)
Improved Strength and Speed:
Vampires possess strength and speed much higher than that of a human, complete with incomparable grace, a different sort than the animalistic fluid nature of lycanthropes. Older vampires have greater power and speed than younger. Vampires often seem much faster than they truly are, however, with their mind tricks, they can be across the room in what seems like an eye-blink.
Improved Senses:
Vampires new and old possess senses much greater than that of humans. Even the newly dead have better hearing than most dogs, and their sense of sight is much greater as well. However, they do not usually have a sense of taste, as they cannot ingest food. On occasion, a rare vampire can ingest food without harm.
Heightened Endurance and Resistance:
Vampires are resistant to many things – in fact, regular bullets will hardly slow them down and will heal nearly instantly. Wounds dealt by silver and lycanthrope/vampire claws and fangs, however, will heal with near-human slowness. Damage inflicted by fire and holy items backed by faith, such as crosses and holy water, cause permanent scarring.
Levitation:
After a few decades as a vampire, most learn the ability of flight to varying degrees. Many have no control or grace, but others have the ability to glide, levitate, and fly with grace, speed, and power.
Stillness / Making no Sound:
Once a vampire has existed as a vampire for several decades, he begins to come into his own power. Old vampires gain several traits, such as the ability to remain perfectly still, beyond that of anything a human can achieve. They also learn the trick of smiling without flashing their fangs – it is considered juvenile to do otherwise. Because of their grace, vampires can move similar to lycanthropes, making next to no sound.
Waking when Threatened:
Vampires of several hundred years of age gain the ability to wake if their bodies are threatened, even during the daytime. While sunlight will still destroy them, if they are inside or underground, they can rise up to kill those who attempt to slay them.
Rare Abilities:
Empathy – Some rare vampires can either pick up the emotions of those around them or make those around them feel the vampires’ emotions. Some, rarer still, can do both.
Resistance to Sunlight: Some vampires can be resistant to sunlight, though there are none that can handle too much of it without getting burned by it eventually.
Elemental Manipulation: Most vampires have at least one special ability that is uniquely their own. But on occasion there are those who can manipulate one or more of the elements, such as fire, earth, air, or water; or even one of the more specific elements, such as copper, oil, granite, and helium… I think you get the idea.
Weaving Shadows:
Some Master Vampires possess the ability to manipulate shadows and darkness into opaque walls, forming crude shapes with them and darkening them. Rarer still are those who can actually move through the shadows, using them as a way to travel from one place to another.
Beyond Rare Abilities:
Resistance to Holy Objects: Perhaps once in a thousand years, there are those vampires who come along who are resistant to the effects of holy objects. Even more rare are those who can handle or even use holy objects, though one or two have been known to exist.
