The way my vampires work are a little different than your standard fantasy vampire (more of a mismash of a couple tropes). Here's where I can set the record straight!
- One special trait/ability
- Reflective yellow eyes (exception for Prime Vampires)
- Sharp claw-like fingertips
- Darkvison + general heightened senses
- Strong poison resistance
- Fangs, bite mark, standard stuff, etc.
Vampiric Weaknesses
Results in Death:
- Stake through the heart (must fully pierce)
- Beheading (again must fully sever)
- Prolonged Sunlight Exposure (depends on vamps strength but like 3 min MAX before fatality)
- Starvation (takes a month or two but technically does the trick)
Results in Incurable Burn
- Garlic
- Crosses
- Holy Water (in universe is water from a specific spring)
- Vampire Blood
Each and every vampire is granted 1 special ability, which is rooted in it's soul and adapts to the rest of it's body. Whenver a soul reincarnates the crux of the soul power will remain the same, however the specifics will vary. The vampiric ability will be stronger the more equipped a mortal body is to take on a vampiric soul.
Example:
A vampiric soul with root electrical powers may take on two mortal bodies in the span of 150 years. The first body doesn't mesh well with the soul and is bestowed with great static electricity , not useless but certainly not the most powerful either. This vampire goes about it's life, but due to it's below-par powers is quickly put out of its misery within the decade. After 30 or so years the vampiric soul is implanted into another mortal body, and this time, they do mesh well. As a result, the body is bestowed with thunderstorm control , a much better power. This vampire proceeds to do much better for itself, killing and pillaging and whatnot for the next 110 years.
Obviously this is not the only factor in making a vampire strong (in fact, a cunning vampire can make more good out of a bad power than a stupid vampire could with a good power), but good soul-body cohesion certainly makes being strong much easier.
Soul Powers Currently in Rotation
- Soul Chain
- Electricity
- Heat Radar
- Shadow Control*
- Rapid Heal
- Mirage*
- Foresight
- Solid Bonds*
"*" = Prime
Vampires have entirely different personalities than their mortal counterparts, however they retain all memories from their past (think of it like watching a TV show, you can see all the characters but some of their innermost thoughts are off limits / can only be implied).It can take up to a week for a vampire to catch up on all their past memories. Some vampires resent their past selves (see Noelle Bergund ) and some cherish them (see Drac).
Inherent Traits
Although vampires can only die by certain means they still can have injuries that result in lifelong disability, for instance, a vampire who's arm was cut off would not need to seek immediate medical attention, but their arm would NOT grow back. The arm can technically act on its own until the body is disposed of, provided it finds a way to supply itself with enough blood. Severed limbs can be reattached but, unless the link to the main body's brain is surgically reformed, it will not share the same thoughts as the original. Smaller cuts and injuries will heal more rapidly than an average human, but healing will still take some time. A death by blood starvation is sped up if too much blood is lost in the event of an injury, but this is rare (basically it's the equivalent of starving to death because your stomach was cut open). Vampires cannot be poisoned in any way that would result in death, and all other poisons are quickly wiped from the bloodstream.
Strongest of the strong (usually). A vampire who's vampiric soul and body have the maximum compatibility and therefore yields maximum powers. This is reflected with special eyes that match the users power.