What is/isn't a vampire to you?
- Thread starter Torrasque
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This statement applies to pretty much all forms of story telling:
If you are too stupid to come up with your own fucking ideas or feel that you actually have a truly good idea for a story involving vampires/zombies/werewolves/etc then you MUST stick to what that particular item/monster/etc actually is. You don't get to fucking cherrypick what you do and don't like and keep the name, if you want to cherrypick the traits of those idea that's fine, but you should change the fucking name.
That brings on a rant about Twilight that's related to that statement; the only reason they use the name "vampires" is because without the inherant fear and connotations that come with the monster because the "vampires" in that movie aren't fucking scary. They're sparkly fucking retards. It's used as a crutch for poor writing.
To make this whole thing more topical relating to video games: My statement about proper usage applies to videogames as well. "Special Infected" are fucking stupid and you should feel ashed that you weren't able to make a game out of something like zombies, it wouldn't be a hard fucking job. That's not to say that the games themselves aren't good (L4D works well mechanically and atmospherically, but you can't deny that they were there because Valve wasn't able to think of any real way to make the game teamwork based), but it's yet another crutch that is made out of disrespect for the source material. That is something to avoid.
If you are too stupid to come up with your own fucking ideas or feel that you actually have a truly good idea for a story involving vampires/zombies/werewolves/etc then you MUST stick to what that particular item/monster/etc actually is. You don't get to fucking cherrypick what you do and don't like and keep the name, if you want to cherrypick the traits of those idea that's fine, but you should change the fucking name.
That brings on a rant about Twilight that's related to that statement; the only reason they use the name "vampires" is because without the inherant fear and connotations that come with the monster because the "vampires" in that movie aren't fucking scary. They're sparkly fucking retards. It's used as a crutch for poor writing.
To make this whole thing more topical relating to video games: My statement about proper usage applies to videogames as well. "Special Infected" are fucking stupid and you should feel ashed that you weren't able to make a game out of something like zombies, it wouldn't be a hard fucking job. That's not to say that the games themselves aren't good (L4D works well mechanically and atmospherically, but you can't deny that they were there because Valve wasn't able to think of any real way to make the game teamwork based), but it's yet another crutch that is made out of disrespect for the source material. That is something to avoid.
I'm not too fussy about what traits are displayed by fictional representations of mythological characters, but here's a short list:
1) They must need blood to survive - otherwise they're just a human with a really odd diet
2) They must harmed or weakened or killed by sunlight
3) They should be very long lived or immortal
4) They should hate or at least dislike other mortal humans. At the very least take little interest in them as they would view us as prey
5) They should stay out of the limelight and seclude themselves as they would be aware that humans would try to kill them should they ever learn of their nature
6) Ideally should be only killed through a stake in the heart or exposure to sunlight or being completely burned to a crisp.
That's about it.
1) They must need blood to survive - otherwise they're just a human with a really odd diet
2) They must harmed or weakened or killed by sunlight
3) They should be very long lived or immortal
4) They should hate or at least dislike other mortal humans. At the very least take little interest in them as they would view us as prey
5) They should stay out of the limelight and seclude themselves as they would be aware that humans would try to kill them should they ever learn of their nature
6) Ideally should be only killed through a stake in the heart or exposure to sunlight or being completely burned to a crisp.
That's about it.
I'd argue that bit (weirdly, this is actually something I was thinking about this morning). Firstly, writers/filmmakers/whatever should be allowed to present mythological creatures in different lights, and playing about with characteristics is often one way of doing this. Certain core factors (in this case, sucking blood and being undead are the golden two) must be kept intact so that the creature can still retain the name, but other than that, I think there should be room for different interpretations. Secondly, let's face it, if Twilight had been made but the vampires were called 'Nightwings' or something equally silly, everyone would see through it in moments, and just go "She just ripped off vampires but changed x to y!" and so on. Again, if you keep those core characteristics, people will still know what it's based on, and probably wonder why the hell you went and changed the name in the first place. To summarize, I really think the archetypal fiends we're used to should be used more as templates than cast-iron rules.Baron_BJ said:
What would they look like? Pale as death.
How deadly would sun be to them? I'd say they burst into flames in about 5 seconds and then if they can put themselves out....well, good for them.
What else would they be weak to? Stakes through the heart and decapitation should always kill them. Crosses should repel them and burn like red hot metal, and holy water should burn like a powerful acid. Garlic should be poisonous to them and the smell of it should be nauseating.
Leave the silver to the werewolf hunters.
Would they be alive or dead? They're vampires. Vampires are undead. They're not alive. End of the gorram story. Anyone who says otherwise is an idiot.
What about immortality? Immortal, so long as they keep adequately fed.
What about healing? Rapid healing based on the amount of fresh blood they have in their systems.
How strong would they be? Fairly strong, but not stupid uber like they usually are nowadays. Strong enough to tear a door off its hinges without trouble, but not so strong that they're going to be flinging cars at you.
Superhumanly fast when well fed, but not so fast they just become a blurry line. Cuz that's stupid too.
What role does blood play in its life? Keeps it alive as food/water, accelerates healing, more/fresh blood allows for more extreme levels of their powers.
Can turn into bats and fog.
No reflection in mirrors/don't show up on camera.
Somewhat OCD about counting things.
Adjust for realism/magic level of the setting.
If non-magical, crosses and holy water do nothing, can't transform into bats or mist, and they show up on camera and reflective surfaces.
Everything else can be considered chemical/biological/psychological features.
How deadly would sun be to them? I'd say they burst into flames in about 5 seconds and then if they can put themselves out....well, good for them.
What else would they be weak to? Stakes through the heart and decapitation should always kill them. Crosses should repel them and burn like red hot metal, and holy water should burn like a powerful acid. Garlic should be poisonous to them and the smell of it should be nauseating.
Leave the silver to the werewolf hunters.
Would they be alive or dead? They're vampires. Vampires are undead. They're not alive. End of the gorram story. Anyone who says otherwise is an idiot.
What about immortality? Immortal, so long as they keep adequately fed.
What about healing? Rapid healing based on the amount of fresh blood they have in their systems.
How strong would they be? Fairly strong, but not stupid uber like they usually are nowadays. Strong enough to tear a door off its hinges without trouble, but not so strong that they're going to be flinging cars at you.
Superhumanly fast when well fed, but not so fast they just become a blurry line. Cuz that's stupid too.
What role does blood play in its life? Keeps it alive as food/water, accelerates healing, more/fresh blood allows for more extreme levels of their powers.
Can turn into bats and fog.
No reflection in mirrors/don't show up on camera.
Somewhat OCD about counting things.
Adjust for realism/magic level of the setting.
If non-magical, crosses and holy water do nothing, can't transform into bats or mist, and they show up on camera and reflective surfaces.
Everything else can be considered chemical/biological/psychological features.
So, they should all be the same, despite all the differences there are already? By extension, every vampire story to have invented something new is to be despised?Baron_BJ said:
Vampires having fangs is rubbish because they didn't, until they did? Likewise, being affected by sunlight is stupid, because way back when they weren't?
...
One thing I'd like to see is them being absurdly right-wing. Ok, yeah, you could be turned into a vampire tomorrow, but we ask "Were you born in the 1800s?" of people, vampires quite possibly could be.
My version of the Vampire
Origin
Vampirism is ?achieved? through the performance of a demonological ritual of extreme difficulty to the user and extreme cruelty to the human sacrifice.
A vampire must pay the ritual demon with 3 peoples? blood by the end of each lunar month, or die.
?Death? for a vampire results in the body turning to smoke, followed by excruciating torture/playtime from the demon for however long the vampire lived for, followed by the human results of death.
Vampirism is very rare.
Appearance
In true form the vampire appears as a bony albino, with long, sharp teeth.
Weaknesses
They die if touched by sunlight, sparks, flames, or any physical object burning, cursed, blessed, or enchanted.
They?re unable to enter hallowed ground, or peoples? homes without invitation.
They are incapable of performing magic.
The sadistic ritual demon can observe their sensory input and read their mind, and constantly whispers to them, driving the vampire insane(er)
Strengths
They possess superhuman speeds of thought and perception, as well as superhuman senses, intellect, stamina, coordination, balance, and muscle effectiveness, especially for muscles normally weak in humans.
They do not radiate body-heat, and give off no scent, they do not leave behind any parts of their body, (instead any hairs, skin cells or blood disappears) they seem to deaden sounds generated by their footsteps or hitting anything.
They, and any clothes they wear, match the physical optical properties of the medium they?re in, this prevents reflections or shadows, but does not make them invisible, as anyone can see them with their souls? eye, so long as they?re looking directly.
Eye contact with them causes a type of short term paralysis lasting a few minutes, during which the victim feels extreme fear, but cannot act in any way, simply staying roughly in the pose they were in when eye contact was made.
They are immortal, immune to toxins, drugs, infection, disease, blood loss/blockage, hypothermia and hyperthermia, they do not need to breath, drink, eat, excrete waste, or sleep, and they cannot sweat, cry or salivate.
They can each take their own human form, in which:
? They?re fitness, senses, and muscle effectiveness is limited to match the form.
? They cannot perform the paralysing stare.
? They emit heat and scents, make footsteps and impact sounds, interact with light, and they can sweat, bleed, cry, and salivate.
? They are immune to death by sunlight.
They?re vampirism begins with them being in this human form.
Transfer to the true form occurs at will in three stages:
? Eyes turn red, when this occurs they regain they?re superhuman senses, the paralysis stare, and susceptibility to death by sunlight.
? Teeth sharpen and extend, this allows for the obvious ease of artery-biting, and also for the payment of victims? blood to the ritual demon.
At this stage the vampire also ceases to heat its? environment, emit scents, or be able to bleed, sweat, cry or salivate.
? Full return to true form, ceasing any remaining effects of human form.
The earlier stages are prerequisites for later ones.
Origin
Vampirism is ?achieved? through the performance of a demonological ritual of extreme difficulty to the user and extreme cruelty to the human sacrifice.
A vampire must pay the ritual demon with 3 peoples? blood by the end of each lunar month, or die.
?Death? for a vampire results in the body turning to smoke, followed by excruciating torture/playtime from the demon for however long the vampire lived for, followed by the human results of death.
Vampirism is very rare.
Appearance
In true form the vampire appears as a bony albino, with long, sharp teeth.
Weaknesses
They die if touched by sunlight, sparks, flames, or any physical object burning, cursed, blessed, or enchanted.
They?re unable to enter hallowed ground, or peoples? homes without invitation.
They are incapable of performing magic.
The sadistic ritual demon can observe their sensory input and read their mind, and constantly whispers to them, driving the vampire insane(er)
Strengths
They possess superhuman speeds of thought and perception, as well as superhuman senses, intellect, stamina, coordination, balance, and muscle effectiveness, especially for muscles normally weak in humans.
They do not radiate body-heat, and give off no scent, they do not leave behind any parts of their body, (instead any hairs, skin cells or blood disappears) they seem to deaden sounds generated by their footsteps or hitting anything.
They, and any clothes they wear, match the physical optical properties of the medium they?re in, this prevents reflections or shadows, but does not make them invisible, as anyone can see them with their souls? eye, so long as they?re looking directly.
Eye contact with them causes a type of short term paralysis lasting a few minutes, during which the victim feels extreme fear, but cannot act in any way, simply staying roughly in the pose they were in when eye contact was made.
They are immortal, immune to toxins, drugs, infection, disease, blood loss/blockage, hypothermia and hyperthermia, they do not need to breath, drink, eat, excrete waste, or sleep, and they cannot sweat, cry or salivate.
They can each take their own human form, in which:
? They?re fitness, senses, and muscle effectiveness is limited to match the form.
? They cannot perform the paralysing stare.
? They emit heat and scents, make footsteps and impact sounds, interact with light, and they can sweat, bleed, cry, and salivate.
? They are immune to death by sunlight.
They?re vampirism begins with them being in this human form.
Transfer to the true form occurs at will in three stages:
? Eyes turn red, when this occurs they regain they?re superhuman senses, the paralysis stare, and susceptibility to death by sunlight.
? Teeth sharpen and extend, this allows for the obvious ease of artery-biting, and also for the payment of victims? blood to the ritual demon.
At this stage the vampire also ceases to heat its? environment, emit scents, or be able to bleed, sweat, cry or salivate.
? Full return to true form, ceasing any remaining effects of human form.
The earlier stages are prerequisites for later ones.
For something to be considered a proper vampire for me they must:
. Drink blood to live
. Burn up and die in sunlight
. Have abnormal strength and agility
. You gain vampirism through either a bite or mixture of blood
. Very long lived or immortal
They must have at the very least all those properties. My favourite type of vampire is from my favourite film and book - Let The Right One In.
. Drink blood to live
. Burn up and die in sunlight
. Have abnormal strength and agility
. You gain vampirism through either a bite or mixture of blood
. Very long lived or immortal
They must have at the very least all those properties. My favourite type of vampire is from my favourite film and book - Let The Right One In.
As long as it's human and has to drink blood to survive it's a vampire. Everything else is optional.
There can be all kinds of vampires, the just have to be undead and blood sucking monsters.
-The paleness depends on how old they are and how much blood they drink. New vampires look normal but ancient ones have the white skin. Drinking blood keeps them looking more human longer.
-Sunlight would is a slow burn, like 10 mins would kill them but less than that would just hurt them and leave them some nasty wounds to heal from.
-A stake to the heart or decapitation kill them, silver and holy water are irritants but don't kill them, garlic is just smelly for their strong senses and crosses do nothing.
-They're dead and mostly immortal and tougher than humans but can still be killed.
-They can't heal instantly, but still inhumanly quick. If they get shot they'd be stunned for a moment and can keep going but the hole wouldn't close til a couple days later.
-Stronger than any human but not superman strong. They could easily pick up and throw a person easily but not something like a car. Similarly with their reflexes, they could dodge an arrow if they saw it coming, but not a bullet.
-Vampires need blood to live, but only human blood keeps them fit. They need like one person every week/other week, and need to feed more often if they don't kill (and I don't mean in a caring way, if a vampire wants to stay in a town without making a mess he can choose that way). Animal blood makes them weak but they can live off it.
-The older ones are similar to the aristocratic ones, while newer vamps are more modern.
-Vampires are sired by a mixing of blood, and often live in covens.
So mine are pretty traditional.
-The paleness depends on how old they are and how much blood they drink. New vampires look normal but ancient ones have the white skin. Drinking blood keeps them looking more human longer.
-Sunlight would is a slow burn, like 10 mins would kill them but less than that would just hurt them and leave them some nasty wounds to heal from.
-A stake to the heart or decapitation kill them, silver and holy water are irritants but don't kill them, garlic is just smelly for their strong senses and crosses do nothing.
-They're dead and mostly immortal and tougher than humans but can still be killed.
-They can't heal instantly, but still inhumanly quick. If they get shot they'd be stunned for a moment and can keep going but the hole wouldn't close til a couple days later.
-Stronger than any human but not superman strong. They could easily pick up and throw a person easily but not something like a car. Similarly with their reflexes, they could dodge an arrow if they saw it coming, but not a bullet.
-Vampires need blood to live, but only human blood keeps them fit. They need like one person every week/other week, and need to feed more often if they don't kill (and I don't mean in a caring way, if a vampire wants to stay in a town without making a mess he can choose that way). Animal blood makes them weak but they can live off it.
-The older ones are similar to the aristocratic ones, while newer vamps are more modern.
-Vampires are sired by a mixing of blood, and often live in covens.
So mine are pretty traditional.
I was deeply influenced by Anne Rice when it comes to vampires.
I prefer them to be white, aristocratic, beautiful, turns to dust in sunlight, drinks blood elegantly, wounds heal at different speeds according to powerfulness of each vampire.
But I do think Lestat went over board towards the end of the series.
I just love the agony concept of vampires. Are they evil? Is it worth immortality if you have to kill others to survive? And also, is immortality all that great when people die ahead of you and you have to keep adapting to the new generation etc.
I never really got around to the twilight, vampire diaries series thing though.
I prefer them to be white, aristocratic, beautiful, turns to dust in sunlight, drinks blood elegantly, wounds heal at different speeds according to powerfulness of each vampire.
But I do think Lestat went over board towards the end of the series.
I just love the agony concept of vampires. Are they evil? Is it worth immortality if you have to kill others to survive? And also, is immortality all that great when people die ahead of you and you have to keep adapting to the new generation etc.
I never really got around to the twilight, vampire diaries series thing though.
Wow that post was from a long time ago.Smertnik said:
I think I clarified what I said at the end of my post with regards to changes. If you want to use something like zombies, vampires, elves, etc but you feel like adding your own twist to it that's fine, but if you want to make changes then it's not that creature anymore, you've made a new creature with similarities to the old one.
We have labels for things, it does not matter whether or not the things in question are real. We use labels and words to tell different things apart, if the word "vampire" or "zombie" can refer to literally anything then the labels are meaningless. If a person wishes to take a vampire and change certain traits for their story then good for them, but it's no longer that creature and using those labels is simply a crutch because they wish to mooch off of people's feelings toward the creatures in question.
The description that "fits" for me.
-Living corpse with near human physical attributes. I'll buy into a relatively reasonable amount of enhancement, such as outperforming bodybuilders with some ease, and enhanced healing (over time) but not ignoring gravity or flinging cars like baseballs.
-ritualized death and rebirth, each vampire chooses that fate
-Any form of food will do for general sustenance, but blood is required for the regeneration of cells. Deny themselves for too long, and vampires get their own version of scurvy, with damaged and dead cells not being replaced or repaired. Keep themselves well supplied with blood however, and cells can continue to regenerate indefinitely. Animal blood can be used as a substitute, but significantly more of it is required since more genetic material must be generated.
-Sunlight does not necessarily kill. Direct exposure weakens the force keeping that body alive, which may be more than sufficient to destroy a vampire that was poorly fed or weak for some other reason.
-crucifix and garlic have no effect. Stake immobilizes and prevents regeneration.
-When well fed, display little visual difference between themselves and normal humans.
-mild form of mental domination that competes with the subject's own force of will. Complete control and sensory feedback when used with insects and other simple lifeforms. a strong rapport with larger creatures, such as the traditional wolves and bats. Influence with humans is limited to empathy and occasional flashes of surface thoughts. Mental suggestions can be made, but unless the subject has their own reasons for following them, they can easily be ignored.
-Living corpse with near human physical attributes. I'll buy into a relatively reasonable amount of enhancement, such as outperforming bodybuilders with some ease, and enhanced healing (over time) but not ignoring gravity or flinging cars like baseballs.
-ritualized death and rebirth, each vampire chooses that fate
-Any form of food will do for general sustenance, but blood is required for the regeneration of cells. Deny themselves for too long, and vampires get their own version of scurvy, with damaged and dead cells not being replaced or repaired. Keep themselves well supplied with blood however, and cells can continue to regenerate indefinitely. Animal blood can be used as a substitute, but significantly more of it is required since more genetic material must be generated.
-Sunlight does not necessarily kill. Direct exposure weakens the force keeping that body alive, which may be more than sufficient to destroy a vampire that was poorly fed or weak for some other reason.
-crucifix and garlic have no effect. Stake immobilizes and prevents regeneration.
-When well fed, display little visual difference between themselves and normal humans.
-mild form of mental domination that competes with the subject's own force of will. Complete control and sensory feedback when used with insects and other simple lifeforms. a strong rapport with larger creatures, such as the traditional wolves and bats. Influence with humans is limited to empathy and occasional flashes of surface thoughts. Mental suggestions can be made, but unless the subject has their own reasons for following them, they can easily be ignored.
1. Requires the living essence of humans (or, in a pinch, animals). Most popularly this means fresh blood, but it could also be fresh meat (as in, bitten out of the victim, not picked up at your local butcher shop. If it's had time to get cold, it's not fresh enough), the still-beating heart of its victim, or some type of psychic absorption, e.g. eating fear, or consuming the very soul of its victims. Some have extremely exacting dietary needs, e.g. only the blood of female virgins. Whatever they must have, they must have it regularly, and no other thing can sustain them. They may be able to consume human food but all they get from it is flavor. Without their special requirement, they will wither.
2. Ageless and vigorous. Vampires can be destroyed in a number of ways, but they do not succumb to the infirmities of age. Quite the reverse, their powers and vigor tend to increase with age and practice. Regardless of its appearance, which does not change much with the passage of time, a vampire is at least as strong and healthy as an athletic human in the prime of youth. Life signs are optional, vampires can be effectively "dead" i.e. no heartbeat, no body temperature, no breathing etc, or they can mimic the appearance of life more fully. Regardless, they are not alive as we understand the term. Some vampires can die of starvation, but most will weaken and slip into a coma-like state, slowly mummifying. If fed, they will revive with no ill effect.
3. Supernatural powers. Common ones include abnormal strength, resistance to injury, reflexes, mesmerism / mind control, command over animals, limited shapeshifting, and enhanced senses. As they are not truly alive, wounds that would result in massive trauma to a human may be almost ignored, and will heal without scarring. Not all vampires have the same set of abilities, you could meet one who is able to control dozens of minds but isn't any stronger than an athletic human, while another is so strong he can punch through an armored car but can't touch minds at all. Some vampires can feed their blood to living humans or animals to impart a portion of their unnatural vigor. Generally, the more well fed a vampire is, the stronger its powers. In the same way that exercise drains humans, using their powers excessively burns through their store of essence, making them hungry sooner.
4. Special vulnerability. The classic one is sunlight, but it could also be to some other common substance -- wood, iron, silver, fire, garlic, running water, even plastic. Occasionally this vulnerability represents a sort of poetic revenge, e.g. a vampire who ate fear would weaken or even burn when confronted with true courage. Holy symbols don't work. In a few cases they may appear to work when presented strongly by an individual with true faith, but it is in fact the person, not the symbol, i.e. the vampire burns because the person truly believes it should, not because he grabbed a cross in desperation. This may represent a low-grade psychic ability on the human's part, or the existence of a supernatural Creator who rewards true faith. Whole threads could be devoted to the subject. Doesn't matter to me. The point is once in a while the symbols seem to work, but in actuality they do not.
5. Procreation through infection. Vampires may be able to perform the physical act of sex but in most cases their plumbing doesn't work. Offspring are created in much the same way that a disease spreads, except the requirements are more strict. Simply biting the victim and leaving them alive is not enough, they must be drained of all their own blood first, then imparted with a small quantity of the vampire's own, that kind of thing. Those vampires who are alive enough to beget children in the human way tend to pass on a dormant form of their power, which can be awakened if properly stoked. The child of a vampire who ate fear would be human until the first time he ate fear. Important note: Once that boundary is crossed, there is no going back, ever. Forget Blade, Daybreakers, Near Dark, etc. There is no cure, period.
2. Ageless and vigorous. Vampires can be destroyed in a number of ways, but they do not succumb to the infirmities of age. Quite the reverse, their powers and vigor tend to increase with age and practice. Regardless of its appearance, which does not change much with the passage of time, a vampire is at least as strong and healthy as an athletic human in the prime of youth. Life signs are optional, vampires can be effectively "dead" i.e. no heartbeat, no body temperature, no breathing etc, or they can mimic the appearance of life more fully. Regardless, they are not alive as we understand the term. Some vampires can die of starvation, but most will weaken and slip into a coma-like state, slowly mummifying. If fed, they will revive with no ill effect.
3. Supernatural powers. Common ones include abnormal strength, resistance to injury, reflexes, mesmerism / mind control, command over animals, limited shapeshifting, and enhanced senses. As they are not truly alive, wounds that would result in massive trauma to a human may be almost ignored, and will heal without scarring. Not all vampires have the same set of abilities, you could meet one who is able to control dozens of minds but isn't any stronger than an athletic human, while another is so strong he can punch through an armored car but can't touch minds at all. Some vampires can feed their blood to living humans or animals to impart a portion of their unnatural vigor. Generally, the more well fed a vampire is, the stronger its powers. In the same way that exercise drains humans, using their powers excessively burns through their store of essence, making them hungry sooner.
4. Special vulnerability. The classic one is sunlight, but it could also be to some other common substance -- wood, iron, silver, fire, garlic, running water, even plastic. Occasionally this vulnerability represents a sort of poetic revenge, e.g. a vampire who ate fear would weaken or even burn when confronted with true courage. Holy symbols don't work. In a few cases they may appear to work when presented strongly by an individual with true faith, but it is in fact the person, not the symbol, i.e. the vampire burns because the person truly believes it should, not because he grabbed a cross in desperation. This may represent a low-grade psychic ability on the human's part, or the existence of a supernatural Creator who rewards true faith. Whole threads could be devoted to the subject. Doesn't matter to me. The point is once in a while the symbols seem to work, but in actuality they do not.
5. Procreation through infection. Vampires may be able to perform the physical act of sex but in most cases their plumbing doesn't work. Offspring are created in much the same way that a disease spreads, except the requirements are more strict. Simply biting the victim and leaving them alive is not enough, they must be drained of all their own blood first, then imparted with a small quantity of the vampire's own, that kind of thing. Those vampires who are alive enough to beget children in the human way tend to pass on a dormant form of their power, which can be awakened if properly stoked. The child of a vampire who ate fear would be human until the first time he ate fear. Important note: Once that boundary is crossed, there is no going back, ever. Forget Blade, Daybreakers, Near Dark, etc. There is no cure, period.