The Spooks

Culture

The pillars of the supernatural community. Though their powers are exemplary, vampires retain a large amount of their natures from when they were human; however, lesser traits may fade over time. They generally only venture out into the world at night, being fatally allergic to sunlight. Difficult to detect, vampires look exactly like mundanes aside from the fact that they may be a shade or two paler than their former, mortal complexion. Whilst some of the typical lore surrounding these creatures is purely nonsensical, such as the fact that they cast no reflection in a mirror and that they are incapacitated by counting small objects, some particulars relating to their existence is steeped in truth. For example, vampires do have an aversion to all things Holy, crucifixes and holy water included, and they really are not fond of garlic.

Vampires tend to live in abandoned buildings and the like, where they can take up residence without detection. A sire or dam generally lives with its progeny, though there are exceptions. They do not conform to society's views on monogamous relationships, and may take several lovers at a time; the lovers are usually younger vampires, and are considered consorts.

Powers

Vampires have numerous supernatural powers in their arsenal that make them very dangerous creatures. The older a vampire gets, the more control they have over their talents, though a vampire is not necessarily proficient in every power known to their kind. In fact, some may not have the ability to shapeshift, while others will be able to take more than one form with ease.

Shapeshifting - This power sees a vampire able to shift into another form. Whilst the form is generally that of a bat, vampires older than two centuries have been known to also have the ability to transform into a fog-like substance.

Acceleration - Quite common, vampires usually (but not always) have the ability to move with accelerated speed. This is primarily a hunting function, though many use it to simply frighten or amuse, and some are obviously faster than others.

Influence - A rarer gift and employed with varying levels of success, vampires possessing this skill can exert a mild form of mind control over humans in order to coerce them into complying with certain requests, such as willingly offering up a vein. This power only works on humans, as other supernaturals are immune.

Strength - Another common trait, vampires largely are stronger than humans. This is in part due to their acceleration -- it is more force than lift.

Healing - Vampires tend to avoid injury for the most part on account of their other skillsets, however when they are injured (unless fatally so, or by sunlight or Holy water) they are rejuvenate their bodies at a vastly accelerated rate to the healing time of mortal beings.

Weaknesses

Vampires are designed to detect human blood, and it is the only thing they can smell or taste. While they can survive on the blood of other creatures, it's the equivalent of living on protein packs. It doesn't satisfy the craving. Although many would think the lack of a sense of smell in sewage-ridden Victorian London is a bonus, there are other issues to be addressed: namely, personal hygiene is a matter of conscious effort, and they cannot smell smoke, or gas, or other supernatural creatures.

Running water also presents a problem; they cannot touch it, nor can they travel over it. (Please note: this includes the English Channel. Vampires may cross it with soil from the place they were transformed, as happens in Dracula, but do bear in mind that there is limited food supply on a ship and they cannot eat the crew.) In addition, vampires are photosensitive. Going out in the daylight will not cause them to burst into flames, but exposure is uncomfortable. Prolonged exposure causes blisters and sores that they cannot heal naturally, and is eventually fatal. Those who are vain are nocturnal.

Vampires must be invited to cross the threshold of any privately owned building. Once invited, a spell and a talisman is required to uninvite them.

Human food can be consumed, but not digested. It tastes terrible. In order to get drunk, they need to drain an alcoholic.

They are repelled by crucifixes, and Holy Water, but unlike demons may cross consecrated ground.

The Creation of Vampires

In order to become a vampire, one must be bitten. The sire must drain the victim as close to halfway as possible before allowing the victim to feed from them to replenish the blood supply. If more vampire blood than human remains in the victim's body, that person will become a newborn vampire. If there is not enough vampire blood in the victim's system to sustain the transitional period, the victim will die. There is no way to properly judge the process to ensure success.

Once risen, a newborn vampire will endure a torturous transition from living to undead. This period may last from as little as a fortnight to several months, depending on the former immune system of the newborn. During the transition symptoms very like severe influenza will present, with finally a brain-fever resulting in the stopping of the heart from over-exertion. Once the heart stops beating, the transition is complete and the newborn will rise a vampire for the first time.

There is no such thing as a 'half' vampire.

Killing a Vampire

The only sure way to dispose of a vampire is to first put a stake through its heart. This does not kill the creature, but rather incapacitates it as the heart is no longer able to function well enough to carry blood to the rest of the limbs. Once paralyzed, the vampire's head must be severed completely, and finally all parts of the creature burned at a high temperature to ensure proper incineration.