“”Welcome all, to my dining table! Prince, Baron, etc. The affectations of power we call ourselves matter not in this Salon, merely your ability to cordially debate the topic of dinner, and your decorum in the process. Now, in honor of our guest, the esteemed . . . and quite captive . . . Chief of the Police, our topic this evening will be the difference between ‘legal’ and ‘moral.’ Kindred or kine laws are all available for examples and debate, our dear chief has pinky promised to never speak of our discussions tonight . . .” 

– Baron Dr. Jonathan Wells 

Vampire Characteristics 

The following are key characteristics of all vampires in the World of Darkness. 

First, vampires are ageless. While it is possible to destroy a vampire, they will not age or die of natural causes. They do not need water, food, or air. A vampire is an undead corpse, animated by the supernatural properties of their Blood. 

Vampires need blood to survive. This is their nourishment, which they rely upon to perform the supernatural abilities that they use to survive. Most vampires seek the overwhelming high of drinking human blood, although ones of weak Blood Potency may opt to consume unsatisfying and foul-tasting animal blood. Some elder vampires must hunt younger vampires, their bodies no longer satisfied by anything less than the supercharged power of Vitae. 

Vampires are very resilient. As their internal organs do not matter for their function, vampires take normal damage from attacks with hand-to-hand weapons instead of Aggravated Damage. The exceptions are thin-bloods without the Vampiric Resilience Merit, who take damage like mortals. 

Vampires have specific banes they must be very careful to avoid. A stake through the heart paralyzes them. Fire will quickly consume a vampire who cannot escape. Sunlight destroys them quickly, their flesh burned away as if on fire. Vampires have difficulty remaining awake during the day and, as a general rule, operate at night.