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A vampire is
commonly described as a creature who awakens at night from their coffin
to drink blood in order to replenish their own life source. There
are two physical attributes of a vampire that seem to be consistant
throughout various vampire myths. These two attributes are
pale skin and unusually sharp or pointed teeth. |
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In some vampire
variations, vampires can have the appearance, personality, thoughts, feelings,
and even memories of the human being they once were. They are daemon
at the core and do not possess a soul. |
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The stereotypical
Dracula has white skin, slicked black hair, and a long flowing black cape
with a red lining. |
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In vampire mythology
there are two prominant ways to be transformed into a fellow vampire:
1. To become
a vampire you must be bitten by a vampire.
Examples: Dracula and Blade |
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2. To become
a vampire you must first be bitten by a vampire and then
drink some of the vampire's blood. There must be a mix of both human
and daemon blood. (Pictures in column illustrate the exchange of blood.)
Quote: "To become a vampire they have to suck your blood, then you have
to suck their blood. It's like a whole big sucking thing." - Buffy
Examples: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Interview With The Vampire |
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A Wooden Stake |
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A wooden stake
is the most commonly known weapon used to kill a vampire. The stake
can kill a vampire only if it pierces the creature's heart. Other
items, such as a pencil and a pool cue, have the same effect as a wooden
stake. |
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A Cross
A cross can not
actually kill a vampire, but is a useful tool in warding off vampires. |
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Holy Water
Holy water can
ward off vampires or kill them. If a vampire is just splashed with
holy water, it will only burn him/her. If a vampire ingests holy
water, it will destroy the vampire, burning from the inside out. |
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Garlic
The smell of
garlic can keep vampires away. Like holy water, if garlic is eaten
it will destroy the vampire. Garlic is considerably harder to trick
a vampire into eating, because of its strong, distinctive smell. |
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An Axe
An axe is very
helpful in beheading a vampire. When a vampire's head is cut off,
the vampire automatically dies. This method is sometimes combined
with the wooden stake method. |
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Fire
Fire is probably
the most effective way to kill a vampire. When the vampire is set
on fire it bursts into flames and turns to ash. |
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The Sun |
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The sun is just
as effective as fire and creates the same results. The difficulty
may lie in getting the vampire outside into the sunlight. The sun is the
reason why vampires remain inside during the day, and wander outside only
at night.
The only known
vampire to not be affected by sunlight is Dracula. In Bram Stoker's
novel Dracula roams freely during both the day and night. |
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Silver
Silver is rarely
associated with vampires but moreso with werewolves. In the movie
Blade (see Movies), the character, Blade, kills
many vampires with silver bullets filled with garlic. |
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THE HEADLESS TEACHER
There was a teacher
in China whose wife went to wake him,and she found his head had been chopped
off. She ran for help, but was accused of mudering her husband and
was put in jail. Months later, some villagers passed an open coffin
and found a vampire holding the teacher's head. The vampire was burned,
and the woman was set free. |
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BLOODBATHS
Countess Elizabeth
of Bathory in Hungary enjoyed bathing in young girls' blood. She
believe it kept her looking young. After she murdered 650 girls,
officials locked her in a room in a castle and left her to starve to death.
VAMPIRES OF THE WORLD
Malaysia - In Malaysia vampies look
like flying heads, and they drink blood
through their noses.
Denmark - In Denmark, the Mara vampire
drained the blood of sleeping young
men. She was afraid only of knives.
Japan - Japanese vampires
can take the shape of anything, even their dead
victim. |
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