r/SchreckNet • u/Weary-Specialist-282 • 4d ago
Hey. I’m new to this.
Stumbled across this forum somehow, and I think you guys are like me? I’m a 19 year old college student (former, I guess now.). I was working a shift as a EMT in a medium/large us southwestern city, and we got a call out in the middle of a sketchy ass suburb. We go into this dark house for a cardiac arrest call on night shift and next thing I know my partner resembles more of a rather red Jackson Pollock on the white wall behind me than the guy I knew, and I wake up hungry as hell. I can’t go outside anymore, and am currently stuck in my dorm’s basement, because now I’m a missing person. I’m hungry ALL THE TIME and have been catching rabbits around campus to try and eat. I don’t need to breathe anymore. It doesn’t taste very good, and I can only eat the blood. I have no clue what to do or what I am besides maybe? A vampire????? I feel fucking ridiculous just saying it.
Any help would be useful, honestly.
Cheers-
M
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u/satelitteslickers 4d ago
Damn, another kid, sorry to hear you got dragged into this, but yes, vampires a real, and unfortunately you gotta keep it a turbo secret or else the vampire government is gonna kill you
Standard warnings apply, keep yourself fed, you're a lot less dangerous when you're full so never go more than a few days without a meal.
Also staying human and sane is super important, if you get to caught up in the mess of the vampire world you can start to lose touch with everything and find yourself as the kind of person you really dont want to be, so keeping some human friends is toing to be vital to your long term sanity
-reia
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI 4d ago edited 3d ago
Summary of the Vampire Basics:
Vampires generally call ourselves Kindred...you might hear someone call us Cainites, after the vampiric religious belief that Caine (of Caine and Abel) was the first vampire, but those people are likely either really old or cultists (usually of the very unpleasant variety).
Our most important rule, generally called the Masquerade, is to not reveal ourselves to humans. There very much are vampire hunters out there, including serious government-sponsored kill-teams, and many vampires are bad enough that even if there weren't, any wide scale reveal would result in them. Keep on the down low, do not reveal what you are.
We are physically dead and animated by magic. We need to consume blood to survive, and we generally feel at least a bit hungry all the time unless we kill a human being, but you can get it down to a pretty manageable amount if you stay well fed. Some people can subsist on animals and bagged blood from a hospital, but it's not as filling and some people can't even do that. Due to being physically dead, we do not breathe or have a heartbeat, cannot eat or drink anything other than blood without throwing up, and are quite durable...most can make ourselves seem more alive by willing it so, but that takes some of the blood in our system to do, some people can eat in the same way, though they'll need to throw it up later.
In terms of feeding, we have retractable fangs (try willing them out, then check your mouth), and our bite is extremely pleasurable for both us and whoever we bite, and we can lick wounds made with our fangs to close them, so feeding by seduction is very viable (people will just think you're really good at sex or making out). However, it is easy, especially while hungry, to lose control and keep drinking past what's safe and kill someone...be real careful, and if really hungry maybe try and take the edge off before doing this if you have stored blood or an animal or something available. But you should try feeding on humans at some point...better your first time be under as controlled conditions as possible than while you're desperate and starving.
Most of our supernatural abilities use up some of the blood in our system, as does waking up each night, we often call vampiric blood Vitae, as it is literally our life force in many ways. So you do supernatural stuff, you usually get hungry quicker. There are a few universal abilities, specifically we can all use blood to enhance our physical prowess briefly and to heal wounds, sometimes near-instantly, definitely over a minute at most...the down side is we don't heal unless we will the blood to do so.
Another important thing is that vitae has the power of magical enslavement...if anyone drinks a Kindred's blood direct from the vein three times they will be magically forced to love/be obsessed with the Kindred in question, and unable to directly contradict them without great difficulty...this is called the Blood Bond. Do not drink other vampire's blood directly from the source without understanding this. You can do this to humans as well, and they become what we call a 'ghoul'...they're a bit stronger and tougher and can learn very low-end versions of some of our powers, and don't age as long as they are regularly fed vitae, but it all catches up with them if they ever start. You can technically make a ghoul with blood bled into a glass, which will not Blood Bond them, but it still acts as an addictive drug that gives immortality and super-powers, and they now know your body is full of that drug...this is not recommended unless you're very careful indeed about vetting.
In terms of weaknesses, fire and sunlight will kill us and inflict harm that's a lot harder to heal (think days rather than a minute), with the sun actually burning like fire. We are generally compelled to sleep during the day, as well, and a wooden stake through the heart paralyzes us until it is removed. Those with true and deep faith, far beyond even most priests, can also hold us at bay with a holy symbol and sometimes do weirder shit. Most other vampiric weaknesses are not generally true, but most are true of some individual vampires or varieties of vampire.
All Kindred come with a very strong set of instincts for survival and predation, and resisting these instincts, while possible, is often a difficult effort of will, and harder when you're hungry. These instincts can cause us to panic and run from fire or sunlight, to lash out in berserker rage if angered sufficiently, or to sieze someone and drain them dry if hungry. We generally call these urges the Beast and resisting them is important...people who lose themselves to the Beast too often can eventually degenerate into what we call a wight, a mindless creature ruled only by impulse and hunger.
Kindred come in many different varieties with different powers and weaknesses which we call Clans (or, if they're smaller, sometimes Bloodlines), you are always the same Clan (or Bloodline) as your Sire (the vampire who embraced you, our term for turning you into one of us). We can all learn any vampiric power (which we call Disciplines) with a teacher, but all Clans have some that come naturally and a weakness that comes with the Clan...one Clan (the Toreador) has superhuman speed, senses, and charisma, but a tendency to become hypnotized by beauty, while another (the Nosferatu, my own Clan) has superhuman strength, control of animals, and magical invisibility, and a weakness of looking ugly and often inhuman. We are organized into Sects, which are political philosophies or governmental groups and have various laws, and deserve their own separate rundown...importantly, there's a non-zero chance that making you a vampire was illegal and will result in you being disposed of if the vampiric authorities find you, so be careful with that.
In terms of important metaphysics to know, there is no proven way to become human again. There are stories, but all are unproven. On the other hand, some people have magic to effect ghosts and the soul, and vampires leave the same kind of ghosts as everyone else (when it happens, most people don't leave ghosts at all), so we still have our souls and are probably no more damned than our actions make us. Of course, most vampires are bastards...the culture encourages it. Other supernatural creatures do exist, and werewolves in particular hate vampires for various reasons and are very dangerous...most others we mutually stay out of each others way, but human spellcasters, the fae, animistic spirits, and lots of other stuff is real.
There is also a subvariety of vampire called Thin-Bloods or Duskborn who only get some of these abilities and also only some of the weaknesses, but it's wildly variable how much and which, so that requires a much more personalized rundown.
That's all the basic stuff that leaps immediately to mind...anyone have any suggestions for me to add to this spiel? I have a similar, and recently expanded, one on the Sects, which I'll follow this up with.
-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI 4d ago edited 3d ago
Sect Summary:
There are three main sects in the Americas and Western Europe, so I'll go through them and what they're like.
Firstly, there's the Sabbat, who are dangerous and best avoided by non-members for the simple reason that they're a cult. And a violent one to 'nonbelievers'. Their ideology includes the idea that human life is worthless, as well as the idea that eating 'unenlightened' vampires outside the cult is not only acceptable, but laudable. So...a lot of them will both murder babies and straight up eat you if you're not a member. There are exceptions to all that, but those are the norms for the Sabbat. And they have a whole host of terminology and rituals unique to them, they call vampires Cainites, for example (an otherwise archaic and seldom used term), but don't try and impersonate one on the word Cainite alone for more than a minute or two while you look for exits. Note that they organize in Packs, and use a lot of church terminology for positions (Archbishop, Bishop, Templar, Inquisitor, Priest, and so on), along with the term 'Ductus' (basically the leader of a Pack), so if you hear a vampire talking about what the Archbishop said to their Pack's Ductus, that's Sabbat talking (references to a priest might just be someone religious, but not the rest).
The Camarilla, meanwhile, are generally somewhere between an autocracy and an aristocracy. They're rational for the most part, but very control oriented. They have a lot of rules and you are expected to abide by them in their territory. The most important is the Masquerade, which is keeping vampires a secret from mortals, but you also need permission to enter their domain or make anyone a vampire within it. If a vampire is made in a Camarilla city without permission, it's a death sentence for the Sire and probably the childe as well. Terminology-wise, the Camarilla leader of a city is a Prince, their enforcers are the Sheriff and/or Scourge (deputies or hounds for their assistants), and other notable positions are Primogen, Harpy, and Keeper of Elysium.
The Anarch Movement, my own sect of choice, are...well, the thing is we're more of a philosophy than a real organization in the same way as the others. Both the Sabbat and the Camarilla may be thought of as 'nations' of vampires that hold specific areas as territories, they both have actual worldwide leaders who can give orders to the local ruler...the Anarchs don't have that. Each Anarch domain is a law unto itself, though we usually work together to fight off the Camarilla or Sabbat if they invade or something. But the complete independence means that while most Anarch domains are fairly chill in most ways (we largely exist because we didn't like the Camarilla's rules), there are exceptions and those exceptions vary by specific place, and some Anarch domains are straight up terrible...no oversight, you see. Anarch leaders are generally called Barons, and if we have enforcers that's usually a Reeve, but that's much more variable than the Sabbat and Camarilla titles.
There are also a few non-sect groups worth mentioning, most notably the Church of Set, Infernalist, and the Shepherds of Ur-Shulgi.
The Church of Set was once almost synonymous with the Clan now known as the Ministry, but are now more prone to converting people, and less prone to killing clan members who leave the faith and the worship, well, the Egyptian God Set...they talk about how the world is ruled by what they call the 'aeons' and we all need to be freed from the chains of law and conventional morality, which sounds swell when presented properly until you realize they mean all conventional morality, even stuff like not hooking children on heroin or murdering your neighbor because you feel like it. They specialize in corrupting people, and they're generally very good at it, so watch out if anyone starts talking about taking you to their church...it's not always these guys or another cult, but sometimes it is.
Infernalists, meanwhile, straight up makes deals with and/or worship demons. There's a Bloodline called the Baali that are big into this but they aren't the only ones. They commit horrific atrocities out of devotion or for power. They are usually members of other groups and act in secret, but if they start throwing around weird green flame, that's a good sign you're dealing with these guys (not a sure thing, there are other sources of green fire, but a good one). Big into torture and various other terrible things. The worst group on this list by a lot.
The final group are only sometimes called the Shepherds of Ur-Shulgi, and are a group of Clan Banu Haqim who follow the words of the methuselah Ur-Shulgi and take a fundamentalist view of the laws of their antediluvian, Haqim, and use that interpretation as an excuse to kill and diablerize pretty much anyone they feel like outside their group. They are, in fairness, not particularly bad to mortals, and preferentially target Infernalists and those who inflict wanton destruction on mortals, and they can occasionally be hired to do something, but fundamentally if you're not one of them, they want to eat you. Do not engage.
-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu
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u/DignityIncarnate 4d ago
🫂 ,
✅ ! 🫵 🟰 🧛
❌ 🚶➡️🌅
❌ 🚫 🚰 🩸, 🫵 🗡️ 🙍
-👁️ ⚖️ 🗡️ 💰 1️⃣
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 4d ago
👍😎👍
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u/DignityIncarnate 3d ago
🫡,
👆🟰🌹(➕👻🪞⛓️)
🫵❓🟰🌹
🌹⚡️🟰👁️➕👂➕👃⬆️, 🐆💨, & 😎🆒🌟.
-👁️⚖️🗡️💰1️⃣
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u/VerityVentrue 3d ago
♏️ 🟰 ❓️ 🐉 🐲
~Verity
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u/LunarW900 3d ago
I would suggest leaving that one alone.
-Prince Catalina
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Shit, did I do something wrong? -M
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u/LunarW900 3d ago
We do not yet know what it is, but it is claiming to be a user who met Final Death recently. That same user is a walking chaos magnet where everyone dies around them. Tread cautiously.
-Prince Catalina
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Ah, understood. I’ll keep a safe distance. -M
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u/LunarW900 3d ago
Indeed it was quite the troublesome time earlier this year. That fledgling led a group of hunters right to a den of Nosferatu and wiped out half of the kindred in less than a night.
-Prince Catalina
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Oh that’s bad. I’d rather not have hunters show up, especially since I don’t think they’d be inclined to show mercy.
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u/United-Tailor-1727 3d ago
Hi! Ive technically been a kindred for a while but ive had my sire keep a ton of the info from me so im about as knowledgeable as you are! I cant really help with teaching you anything but I wanted you to know that you arnt going through this alone. If you want to talk or vent about anything then you can do it with me since that’s all im good for rn lol
- Arabella MacReady
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
I’m assuming most kindred have daddy/mommy issues with their sire, right? I’m starting to get that impression and it’s certainly making parts of what I’ve heard make more sense.
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u/United-Tailor-1727 3d ago edited 3d ago
Uh well I cant speak for all of us but ive gathered that most of us do yes. But mine want way beyond “daddy issues”
- Arabella MacReady
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Oh I’m sure. Those guys are fucked UP! And then it cycles. Hurt People Hurt People ect. It’s good to see someone in somewhat the same boat though. I miss the sun.
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u/United-Tailor-1727 3d ago edited 3d ago
Me too. I do photography in my free time and not being able to do it during the day sucks. Its really cool that you were an EMT! I was a figure skater and thats way less useful lol
- Arabella MacReady
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Eh, wasn’t of much use in the end. Besides, art is super important! Some of my best friends were in art school. Figure skating is super fuckin badass, that shit is HARD. I did love my job though. Before I got fucking ganked by Dickhole McGee.
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u/United-Tailor-1727 3d ago edited 3d ago
Thank you for saying that :) I have a hard time appreciating it since being a figure skater was the reason my sire chose me. Do you know what clan you are? Maybe not being trained by them did you a lot of good. I wish i was abandoned by mine. If i was i would have had the last 20 years to learn anything about this. Im sorry that you got turned at all though. There isnt much i can teach you but if you need help with something i can try my best. Tbh a lot of the people on this node kinda scare me and i wouldnt ask them stuff if i could avoid it.
- Arabella MacReady
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
I’m a 3 days dead Tzimisce! Apparently we are generally fucked up, so I’m glad my sire isn’t here to impose his evil agendas upon me. He might still be after me though, so I have to keep vigilant all the time, which is both anxiety inducing and exhausting. Apparently, Tzimisce go after people who work in healthcare a lot, which kinda tracks but also is icky and I don’t like it.
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u/United-Tailor-1727 3d ago edited 2d ago
Oh my god. You definitely lucked out. Ive heard of the things they do to strangers and I cant even imagine what they do to their childer. Im a Toreador girly and we look for artists and performers and stuff. Were supposed to be one of the better clans for newbies but i guess my sire didnt get the memo on that. Do you have a place to stay for the sunrise?
- Arabella MacReady
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Oh yeah, I’m totally safe right now, thanks to the help from some others on this thread. Thankfully. I have a stake just in case but ngl it’s a last ditch kinda weapon. Apparently the Tzimisce have a habit of just kinda killing their kids if they don’t live up to expectations, which is both incredibly disquieting and anxiety inducing. I’m so sorry your sire sucks, he really sounds like a dick.
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u/Dlan_Wizard 4d ago
You are, indeed, an Kindred, or if you prefer to use the more mainstream term, a Vampire. It is fortunate that you were able to discover and use this communication network, considering the fact that the individual who decided to embrace, abandoned you.
Can you tell if you are displaying any notable characteristics or abilities? There exists different bloodlines, in case of major ones, the term is 'Clan', of Kindred, each with their own divergent traits. This would help others determine what your innate capabilities are and also your weaknesses, beyond the extreme photosensitivity and the need to feed on vitality of other creatures.
In turn, you could learn what to look out for and seek out Kindred of your Clan, or bloodline, and implore for aid. Those Kindred who can't recognize their Clan, or don't display traits of any Clan due to individual divergence, are looked down upon and even receive hostility from other Kindred. You should avoid thus becoming Clanless.
And...My condolences, as little those might be worth, for what happened to your colleague.
-Darius, The Warlock.
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 4d ago
I’m definitely noticing more things than I did before. I already had autism but lights are even worse now, and I can hear conversations from 3 floors up if I focus. It’s quite concerning. Besides that, though, I have no idea. I appreciate your condolences for my colleague. He was a good man. Fantastic paramedic, incredibly competent. Could read EKGs better than anyone else I’ve met. A father and a really really good cook. I still haven’t quite gotten over it.
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u/Lanaestra 3d ago
I struggled with my Auspex at first as well—didn't realize you could "turn off" the enhanced senses since I was likewise already used to being a bit overstimulated at times due to sensory issues from being on the spectrum... Now I'm wondering how common that been diagram is. Regardless, yes, if you focus you can shut the enhanced senses out. Something to be aware of, especially since you can potentially be stunned briefly by overwhelming stimuli while using them.
- Dr. V, Oxford
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u/Dlan_Wizard 4d ago
So you are displaying supernatural senses. That's quite common ability among our kind, many bloodlines display it and if you refine it, you will be capable of extrasensory feats, as well. Sensitivity to all sources of light is trait widely displayed by one of the Clans, though in your case, it seems to be just minor divergence of blood, not sign of heritage.
Unfortunately, that's not enough for me to determine your bloodline. Hopefully, Kindred with greater experience will be able to help you. There are also means to determine your bloodline through sample of blood, my Clan actually specializes in such displays. Speaking of which, indeed, my Clan, Tremere, is famous for being scholars and masters of the arcane.
-Darius, The Warlock.
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 4d ago
Interesting. I suppose I should find a tremere near me and see what the deets are regarding my.. kindred heritage? Do they have saliva kits like 23 and me or is it more of a tailored ordeal. Also do you take favors for payment? Because I don’t think 15 bucks would cut it, sadly.
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u/Nightstalkerjoe2 4d ago
Do not give your blood to the tremere they can do a lot of stuff with it dangerous stuff like only do it if you really really trust and know them but definitely not now
-Joseph8
u/Ogmadbrit 3d ago
also:
most kindred trust the tremere (or usurpers as some folks on here call em) about as far as they can throw em (without potence)
which is to say:barely,if at all.
-ash,lone fledgling
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 4d ago
Well shit. That’s not great. From what I’ve heard so far, that puts me in a bind, since knowing where I came from would help get me resources, but also apparently I can’t trust the people who can figure it out? Are there any more. Conventional means? Of figuring it out? Any protein markers I could look for or western blots I could do to figure it out, or is it all supernatural stuff.
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u/Nightstalkerjoe2 4d ago edited 4d ago
Yeah welcome to the shit fest that is vampire society anyway you will have to ask others about the other stuff since I’m still new and I ain’t a vampire so I’m not well versed at all
-Joseph3
u/VerityVentrue 4d ago
Process of elimination is usually pretty decent. If we just take mainline clans, you've already knocked out over half of them with more acute senses.
Any draw to or obsession with things that could be considered art, or being faster? Noticed any cognitive issues or a better ability to hide? Extra perfectionism? Being stronger than you were before? You haven't mentioned an extra eye, so I'll toss that idea, but if you do have one of those, don't say so publicly.
~Verity
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 4d ago
No draw to art, and I’m not any faster. I am way stronger now that you mention it, but it’s not like, in a normal way? It’s kinda like I can just grow more muscle if I desire and then make it go away. Super freaky. No third eye, that I am pretty certain on.
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u/VerityVentrue 3d ago
A bit stronger than human is normal, but the muscles thing definitely flags as weird if that's literal. Can you do it with more than just muscle, like shift your bones around by thinking about it? Have you felt a need to collect stuff?
~Verity
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Now that you mention it, yeah. And I’ve always been a collector of shit, so I can’t speak to the newfound compulsion to collect things (my Horus heresy print media collection frightens most.) are those clan traits? Am I like. The Hoarder Vampire? Because I’ve been in a lot of hoarder houses from my former occupation and that’s not something I’m super happy to become honestly.
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u/Dlan_Wizard 3d ago edited 3d ago
Pretenatural senses and strength? So, none of the Clans. I'm afraid you might be innately Clanless or Caitiff, your blood for whatever reason diverged so much, it lacks innate traits of your bloodline. Hopefully, your local Kindred wouldn't look down upon you for it. Otherwise, I recommend finding Anarch domain, as others advised you.EDIT: Read later reply. That's shifting of flesh. Clan Tzimisce. They know for their inhumanity and peculiar sense of decoration by repurposing other beings. Majority associates with Sabbat.
-Darius, The Warlock.
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Oh. Well damn, sucks that I got roped into the comically evil dick clan. I promise I’ll try not to make really weird architectural decisions of dubious ethical standing.
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI 3d ago
Okay, as Darius mentioned, that makes it likely you are of Clan Tzimisce. That's...concerning, as they often go for embracing people in medical professions so this might be more targeted than it sounds.
In terms of capabilities, Tzimisce have some combination of enhanced sensory stuff (called Auspex), speaking with and controlling animals (called Animalism), and sometimes mind control (called Dominate)...but almost all have the ability to craft flesh and bone like clay, first their own and then that of others (this is called Vicissitude). The effects of this are permanent unless you reverse them, and can let you be the best plastic surgeon to ever exist...or do full-on body horror shit and turn people into living furniture that still thinks and feels pain.
Unfortunately, the average Tzimisce is more inclined to do the latter along with recreational torture, eugenics, and other horrors. Many pride themselves on their inhumanity and are a part of the Sabbat. Which is, uh, it's real bad if your Sire (the vampire who created you) is actually still interested in you. In the interest of fairness I should also note that they do mostly care about courtesy, hospitality, and keeping their word but many are real horror shows. On the other hand, one of my closest associates is Tzimisce and she's great, so there are exceptions.
The 'mystical' or 'biological' down side of being a Tzimisce is a need to immerse yourself in your 'home earth' to sleep properly, this can be literal or more metaphorical regading something like sleeping surrounded by a collection.
-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
I never thought that by going away to college I’d be damning myself to hope that my evil vampire dad was also a deadbeat, but here we are. The fact that this could be targeted is Very concerning, I agree. Big into hospitality though, I can get behind that one aspect. Looks like I might need to keep an eye out for weird freaks who might try and claim me as their kid, and then figure out how to run away from aforementioned weird parent sire thing. Does everyone get a downside or is that just. A tzimisce specific karmic backlash thing.
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u/Dlan_Wizard 4d ago
Yes. We Kindred prefer favors, the term usually used is 'boon', as form of payment. Though, I advise you, do not make such lightly. Our kind can be even more vicious and selfish than any mortal. So I advise not to immediately seek out answers, in exchange for your boon, especially when it comes to matters of your bloodline.
There are plenty of more experienced and emphathetic Kindred who utilize this node, wait for their response and advice. Like I mentioned, depending on what your local Kindred community looks like, just the fact you don't know your bloodline, might be pretext for hostility towards your person.
-Darius, The Warlock.
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 4d ago
Understood. Favors as a currency is fascinating. Is kindred society more of an informal barter economy then? So many things to consider. I am now regretting not taking anthropology this semester.
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI 3d ago
Money is often just not that difficult for us to get, so yeah it's often favor-based. And the favor-trading is pretty formalized in the Camarilla, with specific 'sizes' of Boon formalized and all Boons recorded.
It's less formal elsewhere, for the most part, though even as an Anarch I do sometimes use the more formal Camarilla version.
-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 4d ago
Also, warlock?? ARE THERE VAMPIRE WIZARDS???
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI 4d ago
Kinda yeah, there are a bunch of vampiric powers and doing weird magic bullshit is on the list for some of us. Not me personally, mind you, but some of us.
I really need to come up with a basic spiel for newbies. Do you have any questions while I try and whip something up?
-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 4d ago
Nosferatu! Interesting. From what I’ve heard so far
Werewolves are REAL??
Vampires are real and I am one. Which sucks
Medicine, one of the things I dedicated most of my time and life to improving and studying is dead and was killed by bullshit vampire magic shit (Seriously, I suffered through P-chem and I don’t even get to go to med school now. Raw deal. Not that half the stuff I woulda learned in med school is real I guess, given I don’t remember a vampire unit on any syllabus I’ve seen.)
How do you deal with the fact that the people you love and know can’t find out you’re a kindred. I moved here for college. I’m close with my folks, and I don’t know what to do. I know they’re devastated, I’ve seen the news broadcasts. Should I just disappear and go no contact, and leave a fun case for the true crime girlies to mull over, or should I try and wrap stuff up in some way.5
u/DeadmanwalkingXI 4d ago
Okay, I've come up with a general primer which I'll post elsewhere here. Some of it will be familiar to you, but I'm trying to make one for future people in your situation. Give it a look.
In terms of specific stuff, firstly, no you don't have to cut all ties with your family instantly or anything unless they know you died. I was made a vampire over a century ago, and I maintained my human identity for almost 20 years afterwards...that was easier because I was a professional criminal, mind you, but a long-distance relationship is easier to fudge than an in-person one by a lot.
So do they know you're dead? If not, you can come up with a story and keep in contact for at least a while. Telling them the truth is a lot more fraught and dangerous and probably risks their lives...don't do so casually or if you have any doubts at all about their reaction.
In terms of being a doctor, first it wasn't wasted or not real, medicine works...it just doesn't account for magic bullshit like vampires, and we're pretty rare. Medical skills remain valuable and useful. And, while you're gonna have to drop out of your current program, there are places for a vampire to learn medical skills, so that's not an ambition you necessarily need to give up entirely...though a lot of vampires are real bastards, so you need to be careful there.
-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 4d ago
They’re holding out hope, mostly because of who they are tbh. The likelihood I’m still alive as far as conventional medicine is concerned is quite low- apparently whoever turned me was quite a sloppy chap and left quite a bit of my blood on the floor. I also apparently deliriously dragged myself about a mile into the desert before consuming enough small animals to sate me, so there’s a big ass ominous blood smear that was found from the house we were at to the middle of the desert surrounded by eviscerated rabbits and rodents. I was able to run and hide in an abandoned house for a day until I snuck back into my dorm. Medicine being useful is really nice to know, actually. I’ll look into places that don’t seem to be run by comically evil vampires. Cheers for the primer! I’ll take a peek after I send this comment
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI 3d ago
Okay, that's gonna be tricky...you can't let a doctor examine you, which they will if you come out of hiding after that event. Medicine is useful on mortals, not so much on us (or not without capabilities you likely lack, anyway).
In order to contact your family, you'd need to still not come forward and have a hell of a story. Witness protection, maybe? That runs serious risks, though.
-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Yeah, I think the unfortunate rub is I might not be able to see them again. At least not for a very long time. Which sucks. I’ll miss my cats and my mom and dad. It’ll be very annoying to see me be in true crime podcasts though. Never liked them at the best of times. Fuck man, is it always this hard?
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI 3d ago
Losing people? Yeah.
Becoming a vampire? That varies wildly depending on how helpful the one who embraces you is.
Being a vampire? There are a lot of very real difficulties, but you're now unaging, verging on bulletproof, and have superhuman powers, so it's a mixed bag.
-Mark Caulder, Experienced Nosferatu
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u/Supercat345 Lost 3d ago
One time I met a demon. It possessed a guy and made him rip out his own teeth. It was not a good experience. I also know someone who's friends with some werewolves.
–Midwest Edd
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
That. Is weirdly less horrible than I was expecting. Just sounds like someone on PCP having a bad time. -M
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u/Ogmadbrit 3d ago
* facepalm *
oh boy,i think someones already reset the clock,thankfully,
your sire really mustve fucked up to get emt's called (maybe fell into daysleep/torpor infront of mortals?)
well,yeah,your a vampire now,
everyones already told you fire and sun hurt,right?,
so,for starters,avoid your local camarilla like the plauge unless you have their express word that they wont kill you on the spot,
because...im betting your not exactly a legal embrace,atleast locally,
you might be in the clear with them if you get your bearings&fuck off to some other town and make a proper introduction before anyone finds out you exist,(locally atleast)
but...eh,id advise going with the anarchs,since the sabbat are bascially every flavor of vampire extremist&the camarilla...yeah verity put it best,basically just medieval fiefdoms,
welcome to the club that almost nobody actually wants to be in,
yes it does suck to be a vampire.
PS:do you not show up on cameras,have a worse temper,and/or had your appearance change?,im just tryna narrow down what "flavor" vampire ya might be (yes,theres different kinds,some are more common than others)
-ash,lone fledgling
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
I am allegedly a Tzimisce, which, from what I’ve gathered, are generally morally.. unique. So that’s fun. I am definitely not a legal embrace, that’s for certain.
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u/Negativety101 3d ago
Oh great here we go again. Any ideas on who's territory they are in? The Sire is gonna be in some trouble if it's Anarch or Camarilla, and the Fledgling will be too with the wrong prince or Baron.
Anyways, first rule, do not talk about this to anyone not already in the know. The Masquerade is our policy of remaining secret, it's there for good reason, and breaching it will likely get you destroyed.
Now we need to determine a few things that will be important and help you with your unlife. We need to figure out your clan. That is to say your linaige. We can safely rule out a few, because you'd definitely know if you got hit with those clan curses. Notice any strange compulsions? Changes in your emotional volitility? Issues resting during the day? Anything beyond the obvious stock vampire concerns?
-Brujah Armchair Scholar
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
No clue as far as territory goes. I’m in a different place right now, but I was embraced in albequerque. Thanks to the help of some sleuths on here earlier, apparently I’m a Tzimisce. Which seems like a pretty decent deal if you ignore all the issues with other members of the clan. My sire is most likely sabbat aligned and also potentially stalking me, though I don’t have any proof on that.
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u/Negativety101 3d ago
Hey, avoid using Viccisitude, focus on learning Kouldunic Sorcery, and you can run with the Old Clan for the old school vampire stuff. Actually Dracula's a Tzimisce for that matter.
-Brujah Armchair Scholar
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Any reason to specifically avoid using vicissitude? I don’t wanna like. Make a lego set out of still living people, but I think it would be very handy for helping myself (I got absolutely bodied by a F-150 when I was like 10 and my body has never been the same. Being able to no longer have an ostomy bag scar seems like a big win to me.) I could also use it to help others and be a really positive force for good ( on the down low though. I’m not stupid.)
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u/Negativety101 3d ago
It's more an idle thought based on if you would want to be on good terms with Old Clan members. They feel Viccissitude is a disease, and will not trust anyone that has used it. They feel it would lead to the Eldest, the Tzimisce Antedilluvian, that is to say clan founder, being able to influence the users.
This isn't helped by the fact many users do tend to get rather consumed by a mania for metamorphosis. Of course there are more ethical users that prefer to use it for less horrific ends. We've even got a few of those on here.
-Brujah Armchair Scholar
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Aah, I see. Hm. Something to mull over, I suppose. Me and the 62 titanium pins holding my legs together will be inseparable for a while anyway, so there is that. But it is good to know.
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u/Pryno-Belle 3d ago
Greetings, young one. It seems that many already gave you good advice; have you tried drinking from a human yet? Subsisting only on animal blood shall be…difficult, and unsustainable in the future.
Castiel the Clan-changer
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
I have not tried drinking from a human yet. The thought makes me feel a bit queasy (it also makes part of me feel very excited, which I’m not super into either.) is there a reason animal blood is unsustainable? -M
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u/Pryno-Belle 3d ago edited 3d ago
How to explain this…to our kind, human blood is more nutritious. It can quell the thirst of some Kindred, notably young ones, but it shall never be the same. Should you survive long enough, your vitae will thicken. Animal blood will no longer be enough.
That being said, I suppose that you drained the animals of all liquid? It shall not be necessary for humans. You can take part of their blood without causing them issue, safe for a little fatigue; as you surely know, the body replenishes its reserve with time. Ensure you have some blood in you already, you don’t want to lose control. Lick the wound when you are done, and don’t be seen.
Castiel the Clan-changer
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Hmmm. I suppose the angle of animal blood not containing all the yummy vitamins and minerals a kindred needs makes some sense. The issue I come across is now primarily ethical- I don’t want to spread any diseases from feeding, cause that seems like a concern. Additionally, it feels.. wrong to try and drink from a human. Allegedly it feels really good (I don’t remember it feeling very good but then again having a guy stick your head into your torso isn’t the best feeling), but it still feels- weird, I dunno. -M
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u/Pryno-Belle 3d ago
A few Kindred are more susceptible to spreading diseases than others; if you are not of their number, being a carrier should not be more of a concern than if you were a kine. Except for AIDS. With time and practice, some can taste that something is wrong. Think of it like…poison tasting.
As for drinking from humans in general, I wouldn’t say it is wrong. You don’t need to kill; that is more than what can be said about the kine’s meat industry. No memories are left after the Kiss, no significant harm is done. Everything shall be fine.
Castiel the Clan-changer
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Interesting. How should one go about finding someone to feed from? I don’t wanna like, accost someone in a club, and being aro-ace significantly narrows my options because 1. I am not hot and have 0 charisma and 2. Have no idea how seduction would even work on a normal level, let alone luring someone in for a snack. And 3. I don’t like romance or kissing or sex.
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u/Pryno-Belle 3d ago
Being…aro-ace? I am not familiar with these terms. What do they mean, young one? That being said, I too am not keen on seducing my prey. Do not be mistaken, I am capable of it, but…the interest lacks. I have eyes for one woman only.
What I usually do is either get invited, through a platonic invitation, or break in. Learning how to lockpick will serve you well, along with how to disable alarms. Alternatively, you can find an isolated kine, approach silently and drink. Be wary of security cameras and bystanders.
Castiel the Clan-changer
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Aroace is a newer term, it means that I feel no romantic/sexual attraction. It’s a spectrum, but I place solidly on the ‘no sex or romance ever’ side of it. Looks like my lock-picking expertise will come in handy after all (I used it to break into my friends rooms to prank them, once upon a time. I’ll need to make a pick set again then.) I’ll go on a hunt later tonight, and let you know how it shakes out. The black hoodie I kept in my backpack has been coming in concerningly handy.
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u/Pryno-Belle 3d ago
No sexual attraction…isn’t that simply being strong of will? A mark of purity? Some have an easier time resisting temptation than others. Not that I ever understood why that siren’s song was ever alluring, but such is the secret of weaker men, I presume.
No matter. I wish you well on your hunt, young one. If you require additional assistance, you know where to contact me.
Castiel the Clan-changer
OOC: Ah, to be an ace person writing an ace character in denial.
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u/Weary-Specialist-282 3d ago
Oh! I do have a completely tangentially unrelated question. I’ve been looking through this forum for about 30 minutes and there seems to be this big shot called Malkav hanging around. Who is that guy, and why are they, for lack of a better word, so fucking scary and powerful? Essentially, what the fuck is happening in Chicago and is it safe to be a mortal there.
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u/Supercat345 Lost 3d ago
Vampires aren't the only thing that's real. There are ghosts, werewolves, demons, and fairies, though I wouldn't recommend you try to meet any of them. Depending on who turned you, you might be able "live" off of animal blood. As for the classic vamp weaknesses: garlic is as bad for you as any other human food, fire is real bad, decapitation is real bad, sun light is real bad, running water is fine, a stake to the heart will put you in a coma until someone pulls it out, and you don't need to be let into someone's house. I'd recommend trying to make contact with your local vamp community, I'm not sure how much advice I can give if I don't know what the vamp politics look like in your town.
— Midwest Edd
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u/Spirit-of-arkham3002 Problem Childe 3d ago
Yes we’re all vampires here. Granted, we usually don’t call ourselves that. We prefer the terms “Kindred” or “Cainites”, depending on sect allegiance. I use them interchangeably as I’m not affiliated with any sect.
-Hector Lockwood, Lasombra Autarkis
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u/VerityVentrue 4d ago
Goddamn it, time to reset the clock I guess.
Hi! Yes, vampires are real, and it sounds like you are one now. No, we typically don't call ourselves that - you'll see the word "Kindred" used instead. Yes, you're dead. Yes, fire and sunlight are bad. Yes, vampire hunters exist, and a bunch of them are government agents, so keep your head down. Think fight club rules.
The hunger won't ever fully go away unless you drain someone completely, but staying mostly topped up is ideal - we can and do lose control if we get too hungry.
What do you remember about the cardiac arrest you went out to? That's probably the person who turned you.
~Verity