Topic: Vampire Hierarchies,A Study of Vampire Interaction (Read 128 times)
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Vampire Hierarchies,A Study of Vampire Interaction « Thread Started on Sept 19, 2006, 4:22pm »
Vampire Hierarchies, A Study of Vampire Interaction
In this paper I will explore and examine the structure and strict hierarchy of vampire society, including the unique interaction that occurs between them.
Every significant (and some not so) city will house a Master vampire. This generally, but not always, the oldest undead in the city. There can be only one Master. Their function is to act as the checking force upon which, all other vampires within their territory 'look to' (this phrase refers to the command status the Master holds over their flock) and therefore obey. The Master's flock (or 'kiss') is more technically known as a camarilla. They are generally bound to the Master by either blood, love or fear. Often the true reason is a little of all three.
A blood bond is where the Master has bitten the vampire, creating a euphoria and then offered a return of their own, much more potent blood. The amount allowed by the Master can usually be read as an indication of how in favour the vampire is. Love is also a common tool used to bind vampires closer to their Master. Master vampires are adept at using charm, both supernatural and natural, as well as charisma to bewitch those beneath them and turn them into willing servants.
Within the camarilla itself, there are two separate classes of living vampires and each has its place in the social pecking order.
Forming the upper class are the 'High-blood' vampires. These are composed of the living vampires of usually the oldest and purest blood-lines. Quite often the Master (or other undead) 'cultivate' a specific blood-line; carefully and patiently selecting suitable mates to breed the characteristics they desire. The process can take decades or even centuries for the undead to find their perfect scion that they wish to be their companion for the rest of their existence. It is uncertain exactly what characteristics they are searching for, but careful study shows the undead generally choose those who are strong willed and/or passionate. Speculation leads us to believe that the undead find it more pleasing to feed off and manipulate those bearing increased will-power, as the anguish caused is felt more deeply and produces stronger pheromones for the undead to feed off of.
In vampire culture it is considered a great honour to be chosen as a companion and candidates are usually revered. There seems to be a fine line however, between respect and pity for these vampires, as the emotional and physical demands placed upon them by their gnomon (formal name for the other half of the pair, living or undead and also known as a sire) can be extremely draining. High-blood vampires are not bitten but, conceived within a living vampire and therefore having an inactive vampire virus fixed into their foetal genome to modify their development to an in-between state of existence. As a result, high-blood living vampires possess an increased strength and reflexes, better hearing, and an incredible sense of smell all of which fall between normal human and an undead vampire. Even more telling is that they can bespell the willing, becoming deadly if their lust for blood overrides their other emotions. Fortunately, the blood lust in a living high-blood vampire doesn’t kick in until puberty, and even though they don’t require blood to remain sane as the undead do, the dormant virus seems to impart a craving for it.
Noticeable physical attributes for a living vampire are their sharper canines, although these can be 'capped' by tough, polyfibrous casings. These are generally administered at puberty, when a living vampire's control becomes incredibly unreliable, although adults sometimes use them if they are in particularly trying circumstances or subject to great amounts of stress. Due to the virus being fixed into their DNA, living high-blood vampires are guaranteed to become an undead even if they die with every last drop of blood in them.
Forming the lower class are the 'low blood' vampires. These are half-turned humans, bitten by an undead vampire and exist in a tenuous, 'half-turned' status. Only an undead vampire has the active form of the virus that can infect a human. The virus happily settles itself within cells of the blood-producing bone marrow of its new host and immediately goes dormant. Very little of the vampire’s abilities or liabilities are imparted to the recipient human. They are (and remain) at the bottom of the vampiric rung, constantly having to curry favour with their undead sires for a chance to ingest more of his or her blood in the hopes of achieving a higher level of vampire characteristics. They bear human teeth, human frailties, and despite some constructing elaborate fantasies, lack any blood lust but in their imaginations. In short, they have little in common with other vampires. Their role is essentially, to provide a willing source of blood to the undead and as a result, are an object of hidden ridicule to the rest of Inderland.
Low-blood vampires spend most of their existences in a state of fear that the undead who feed on them will eventually become careless and accidentally kill them, and forget to finish the 'turning' process to bring them back as an undead.
There appears to be a marked difference in social position even after death; a high-blood vampire is born with status that he or she carries into vampiric death, while low-blood vampires must actively fight for theirs. This can be potentially dangerous if they start to overcompensate, overestimating their abilities and becoming ruthless to measure up to their sire’s expectations.
~ Dr. Reizleic Fenrir, Professor of inter-species psychology and physiology
"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster... when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you..." - Friedrich Nietzsche
Alphawolf Global Moderator Special Researcher member is offline
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Re: Vampire Hierarchies,A Study of Vampire Interac « Reply #1 on Nov 26, 2006, 4:02pm »
Appendix: Shadows, A Brief Overview
Through the generations, living and undead vampires have evolved many ways to capture and keep a ready supply of companionship and blood, most of which hinge on pheromones both consciously and unconsciously emitted. Supporting the pheromones is a veritable cocktail of neurotransmitters and endorphin-inducing compounds in the saliva of a vampire. With any bite, the compounds settle into the tissue surrounding the wound, and when stimulated, even years later, may cause pain to be recognized as pleasure.
As their experience and control grows, a vampire can sensitize the bite so that they are the only vampire able to stimulate the scar, effectively preventing easy poaching from another vampire’s stable.
The person becomes mentally bound to the vampire and is known as a shadow. A shadow belonging to a living vampire is generally cared for, though there’s a significant loss of will. The level of care varies from vampire to vampire, some treating them as treasured possessions, others as little more than blood slaves. As a rule, their social status is below even that of the lowest of low-blood vampire, although it is important to note that they are not a part of a camarilla in the truest sense as they are not (and are unlikely to become) vampires.
Originally, there was thought to be no cure or treatment for the infection of saliva, but in more recent years, it has been revealed that magic may hold the key to freeing shadows from their gnomon's influence. This is achieved by working upon the body's natural ability to neutralise toxins and accelerating the process. If a sample of the biter's saliva is available, this speeds up the process as it provides a more precise focus for the spell to work on.
If bitten and left unbound, the bitten suffer no dependency upon any particular vampire. Their life can soon return to normal. However, if enough vampire saliva has been introduced into the wound, the victim is left in a dangerous state where they are highly susceptible to vampire pheromones without the usual loss of will. These unbound shadows are almost irresistible to a vampire’s blood lust, and if not under a strong vampire’s protection (for example, a well established high-blood), they are considered fair game for any vampire. Unclaimed shadows have a very short life expectancy, passed from vampire to vampire until they lose first their individuality and then their vitality.
~ Dr. Reizleic Fenrir, Professor of Inter-Species Psychology and Physiology
"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster... when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you..." - Friedrich Nietzsche
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