Vampire Saga Lore #1: Killing a Vampire
As a 'thank you' for 500 views to my journal (since installing the counter, at least), I've decided to create this little series detailing the lore of Marthiel and the way things work. Please note that although the Vampire Saga is based on D's Vampire Story and I try to keep things true to the original, this is canon to my version of the world. If there's an area you'd like to request, please drop a comment.
Thanks for all the support over the years. You guys are awesome.
Killing a Vampire
There are three known ways to kill a vampire:
1) Damage of the body beyond repair
A vampire's very genetic makeup exists to keep it alive for as long as possible. So long as it receives a healthy supply of blood, it can heal almost every minor wound, including breakages and burns. If a limb is cut off, it will not be regrown, though it might be possible to 'reattach' it, providing the wound is fresh. The larger the limb, the harder it is to do this. Removing the head is one of the most reliable ways to kill a vampire.
The length of time taken to repair a wound varies depending on the severity, amount of blood lost and time spent resting. A scratch on the finger can take seconds to heal, a shallow stab wound minutes and a broken leg hours. Should the pain from an injury reach unbearable levels, it is possible for the vampire to pass out and regain consciousness once the body has healed itself sufficiently.
Despite the need to breathe, vampires cannot die from drowning, nor does age affect them (for details on the ageing of dhampires, see the other Lore documents).
2) Exposure to sunlight
The light of the sun can be deadly to vampires. Whilst it is possible to spend extremely short periods in sunlight with little damage, prolonged exposure results in injuries that take much longer to heal than regular burn wounds - up to weeks, depending on the severity. With extreme lengths of exposure, the affected areas will burst into flames. There currently exist herbal tonics that act as a barrier between the sun's rays and the skin, though these are rare, take a long time to brew and usually only work for short periods of time.
3) Use of a poisoned or enchanted weapon
Due to the rarity of enchanted weapons, it is difficult to determine their exact properties. Regular poison has little effect, though it has been known for individuals gifted in the art of alchemy to develop poisons which harm vampires. Again, all information on this is hazy. Furthermore, enchanted weapons can inflict painful injuries and even death on a vampire. One famous example is the Schwarzschild Sword which, despite doubts about its existence, is rumoured to have the ability to kill vampires in the same way a steel sword can kill humans.
Thanks for all the support over the years. You guys are awesome.
Killing a Vampire
There are three known ways to kill a vampire:
1) Damage of the body beyond repair
A vampire's very genetic makeup exists to keep it alive for as long as possible. So long as it receives a healthy supply of blood, it can heal almost every minor wound, including breakages and burns. If a limb is cut off, it will not be regrown, though it might be possible to 'reattach' it, providing the wound is fresh. The larger the limb, the harder it is to do this. Removing the head is one of the most reliable ways to kill a vampire.
The length of time taken to repair a wound varies depending on the severity, amount of blood lost and time spent resting. A scratch on the finger can take seconds to heal, a shallow stab wound minutes and a broken leg hours. Should the pain from an injury reach unbearable levels, it is possible for the vampire to pass out and regain consciousness once the body has healed itself sufficiently.
Despite the need to breathe, vampires cannot die from drowning, nor does age affect them (for details on the ageing of dhampires, see the other Lore documents).
2) Exposure to sunlight
The light of the sun can be deadly to vampires. Whilst it is possible to spend extremely short periods in sunlight with little damage, prolonged exposure results in injuries that take much longer to heal than regular burn wounds - up to weeks, depending on the severity. With extreme lengths of exposure, the affected areas will burst into flames. There currently exist herbal tonics that act as a barrier between the sun's rays and the skin, though these are rare, take a long time to brew and usually only work for short periods of time.
3) Use of a poisoned or enchanted weapon
Due to the rarity of enchanted weapons, it is difficult to determine their exact properties. Regular poison has little effect, though it has been known for individuals gifted in the art of alchemy to develop poisons which harm vampires. Again, all information on this is hazy. Furthermore, enchanted weapons can inflict painful injuries and even death on a vampire. One famous example is the Schwarzschild Sword which, despite doubts about its existence, is rumoured to have the ability to kill vampires in the same way a steel sword can kill humans.