lb:wnotes:vampires
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| lb:wnotes:vampires [2025-10-13 19:46:30] – [Abilities] ninjasr | lb:wnotes:vampires [2026-04-02 02:03:20] (current) – [Other Views] ninjasr | ||
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| ====== Writing Notes for Vampires ====== | ====== Writing Notes for Vampires ====== | ||
| - | This article collects a number of notes on writing/worldbuilding | + | <div subtitle> |
| + | {{tag> | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | This article collects a number of notes on writing/world-building | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div passage> | ||
| + | Seeing how this is one of the first such articles, I figure I should explain the purpose. It's mostly me thinking about the //most reasonable results// of a few // | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the case of vampires, the baseline would be something like: immortal, hates the sun, drinks blood. Despite how little information that appears to be, we can speculate //a lot// about what they'd actually be like in reality. | ||
| - | Seeing how this is one of the first such articles, I figure I should explain the purpose. It's mostly me thinking about the //most reasonable results// of a few // | ||
| - | In the case of vampires, the baseline would be something like: immortal, hates the sun, drinks blood. Despite how little information that appears to be, we can speculate //a lot// about what they'd actually be like in reality.\\ | ||
| On top of that, I'm also thinking about other conditions (like where it's most likely vampires originated). | On top of that, I'm also thinking about other conditions (like where it's most likely vampires originated). | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div passage> | ||
| + | What should be kept in mind is that these notes are a suggestion and not a rule. Vampires not resembling exactly what I'm speculating about doesn' | ||
| + | |||
| + | To give a very simple example: vampires need to drink human blood to survive. Thus, it can be reasoned that vampires would prefer to live in cities, or near cities. But if, instead, it's suggested vampires prefer to live in isolated communities in the countryside...then that just doesn' | ||
| - | What should be kept in mind is that these notes are a suggestion and not a rule. Vampires not resembling exactly what I'm speculating about doesn' | ||
| - | To give a very simple example: vampires need to drink human blood to survive. Thus, it can be logically assumed that vampires would prefer to live in cities, or near cities. But if, instead, it's suggested vampires prefer to live in isolated communities in the countryside...then that just doesn' | ||
| So that's kind of what my notes are about. Assuming a generic vampire...well, | So that's kind of what my notes are about. Assuming a generic vampire...well, | ||
| - | {{tag>worldbuilding}} | + | </div> |
| ===== General Worldbuilding ===== | ===== General Worldbuilding ===== | ||
| This section contains notes that should apply generally in all situations. | This section contains notes that should apply generally in all situations. | ||
| Line 15: | Line 25: | ||
| Thru a discussion with a friend, I realized it's probably of the utmost importance to think this aspect of vampires thru: would they //want// to maintain secrecy? | Thru a discussion with a friend, I realized it's probably of the utmost importance to think this aspect of vampires thru: would they //want// to maintain secrecy? | ||
| - | Especially for the Contemporary Fantasy worldbuilding, | + | Especially for the [[#Contemporary Fantasy worldbuilding]], I assume that they //do// want to maintain secrecy, though it was pointed out to me that based on the vague description of vampires |
| So this section exists to weigh whether or not vampires would want to maintain secrecy or not. | So this section exists to weigh whether or not vampires would want to maintain secrecy or not. | ||
| + | <div passage> | ||
| I think the following conditions dictate whether or not they want to stay hidden from humanity: | I think the following conditions dictate whether or not they want to stay hidden from humanity: | ||
| * What abilities they possess and how powerful they are. | * What abilities they possess and how powerful they are. | ||
| Line 24: | Line 35: | ||
| * How much blood they need to survive. | * How much blood they need to survive. | ||
| * Their weaknesses. | * Their weaknesses. | ||
| + | But I think that, in general, vampires would lean towards hiding from humans unless the conditions are especially favorable to them. Whether it's our world or not (though if it's based in our world, they should remain secret if you want things to still line up). | ||
| - | But I think that, in general, vampires would lean towards hiding from humans unless the conditions are especially favorable to them. Whether it's our world or not (though if it's based in our world, they should remain secret if you want things to still line up).\\ | ||
| Let's go down the list one by one. | Let's go down the list one by one. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| ==== Abilities ==== | ==== Abilities ==== | ||
| - | What abilities vampires have is something that I generally consider to be unimportant. | + | <div passage> |
| - | It also depends on what those abilities are. Turning invisible is beneficial, but is it more beneficial than mind-control? | + | I generally consider |
| - | I generally assume that vampires are immortal and possibly stronger than humans, but otherwise leave abilities out because there are too many to possibly speculate about.\\ | + | |
| - | However, if you consider god-like mind-control | + | It also depends on what those abilities are. Turning invisible is beneficial, but is it more beneficial than mind-control? |
| - | Even god-like abilities don't guarantee vampire supremacy, since all it takes is one person getting lucky to kill a god. | + | </ |
| + | |||
| + | <div passage> | ||
| + | However, if we consider god-like mind-control | ||
| + | |||
| + | But assuming any reasonable limitations((: | ||
| + | |||
| + | Even god-like abilities don't guarantee vampire supremacy | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | // | ||
| ==== When ==== | ==== When ==== | ||
| - | When vampires appear is something that I talk about in [[# | + | <div passage> |
| - | However, and this is key: as time goes on, the incentive to hide grows. Even if they started out as ruling openly, they'd eventually go into hiding | + | I talk about when vampires appear |
| - | I think this rule also applies in Fantasy/ | + | |
| + | For example, if their origin is in the Bronze Age, it's very likely they' | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, and this is key: as time goes on, the incentive to hide grows. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div passage> | ||
| + | Even if they started out by ruling openly, they'd eventually go into hiding | ||
| + | |||
| + | One of those reasons being the explosion(s) of the human population...another is technological | ||
| + | |||
| + | Although it's far removed | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | I think this general | ||
| ==== How much Blood? ==== | ==== How much Blood? ==== | ||
| - | How much blood they need to survive | + | <div passage> |
| - | The situation does change slightly if they don't need to drink human blood specifically. I feel that, in general, vampires //can// drink non-human blood, but it isn't as filling or nutritious, making | + | I talk about how much blood they' |
| + | |||
| + | The general rule that applies | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div passage> | ||
| + | The situation does change slightly if human blood isn't needed | ||
| + | |||
| + | I personally just kinda assume | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | More could be speculated | ||
| ==== Weaknesses ==== | ==== Weaknesses ==== | ||
| - | What harms vampires also significantly | + | What kind of weaknesses |
| - | IE: does the Sun kill them or weaken them? | + | |
| + | The general rule I'd follow is that it depends on how common their weaknesses are and how deadly | ||
| + | |||
| + | So, like, does the Sun kill them or only weaken them? | ||
| ==== Vampire: | ==== Vampire: | ||
| It was pointed out to me that I was assuming that vampires are fewer in number than humans...but that I never explained why I assumed this, so this section exists to point that out. | It was pointed out to me that I was assuming that vampires are fewer in number than humans...but that I never explained why I assumed this, so this section exists to point that out. | ||
| Line 69: | Line 119: | ||
| The obvious solution is that vampires need to drink human blood or only a small subset can drink non-human blood. // | The obvious solution is that vampires need to drink human blood or only a small subset can drink non-human blood. // | ||
| I think this is the most reasonable one. | I think this is the most reasonable one. | ||
| + | ==== Human Juices ==== | ||
| + | Before I //finally// go thru // | ||
| + | |||
| + | Vampires – **originally** – didn't just drink blood. I believe that was explicitly established by Dracula. **Originally**, | ||
| + | The only condition seemed to be that it carry some kind of ‘life force’ from humanity. | ||
| + | |||
| + | You know where this is going, **I** know where this is going...so let's just say it: <fs xx-large> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Vampires could originally not only drink blood, but semen and sweat and anything else that possibly comes out of a human. Does that include urine? That one is // | ||
| + | |||
| + | So, yes, in order to feed herself a sexy vampire waifu could bite you, lick your face and then suck you o– **yeah**. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Now that I've handled that topic, how does this fit into worldbuilding as a whole? Does it? Well, if vampires can drink more than blood, the situation regarding them changes quite a bit. To the point that it's quite complicated and difficult to theorize about.\\ | ||
| + | Thus, I think it's smarter to just stick to blood. If other ‘human juice’ is considered, it should not be nearly as filling. This is because sweat and...// | ||
| ===== Contemporary Fantasy Worldbuilding ===== | ===== Contemporary Fantasy Worldbuilding ===== | ||
| These aren't sorted alphabetically...but, | These aren't sorted alphabetically...but, | ||
| Line 91: | Line 155: | ||
| If you're a little lazy, maybe you'd like to refer to this table instead of reading the sections. | If you're a little lazy, maybe you'd like to refer to this table instead of reading the sections. | ||
| - | <WRAP centeralign> | + | |
| ^ Origin Point | ^ Origin Point | ||
| ^ Time Period | ^ Time Period | ||
| Line 111: | Line 175: | ||
| | ::: | Eastern Europe (Romania) | | ::: | Eastern Europe (Romania) | ||
| ^ Modern Era | N/A | At most 200 years old. | ✓ | | ^ Modern Era | N/A | At most 200 years old. | ✓ | | ||
| - | </ | ||
| === Start of Humanity === | === Start of Humanity === | ||
| Vampires started around the same time homo sapiens appeared as well, making the oldest living vampire (assuming they' | Vampires started around the same time homo sapiens appeared as well, making the oldest living vampire (assuming they' | ||
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| These are Mesopotamia, | These are Mesopotamia, | ||
| - | <WRAP group> | + | <div section columns-2> |
| - | <WRAP half column> | + | <div column> |
| == Mesopotamia & Egypt == | == Mesopotamia & Egypt == | ||
| I find Mesopotamia and Egypt to be the most likely origin points as these are two of the oldest civilizations in the world. I also favor these origin points over all others. | I find Mesopotamia and Egypt to be the most likely origin points as these are two of the oldest civilizations in the world. I also favor these origin points over all others. | ||
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| Assuming vampires //do// start here, it can be assumed that they'd carry //things// from Mesopotamia and Egypt into the modern day. Maybe a preference for Egyptian aesthetics, or the use of odd terms descended from Akkadian. It could be anything, really. Though religious beliefs are the most likely – like how the Egyptians thought of the soul, for example. | Assuming vampires //do// start here, it can be assumed that they'd carry //things// from Mesopotamia and Egypt into the modern day. Maybe a preference for Egyptian aesthetics, or the use of odd terms descended from Akkadian. It could be anything, really. Though religious beliefs are the most likely – like how the Egyptians thought of the soul, for example. | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| - | <WRAP half column> | + | <div column> |
| == Indus Valley & China == | == Indus Valley & China == | ||
| The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the //other// early civilizations, | The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the //other// early civilizations, | ||
| China is probably in the same ballpark. I think that the population would have been high enough to support vampires, but it was isolated enough that they wouldn' | China is probably in the same ballpark. I think that the population would have been high enough to support vampires, but it was isolated enough that they wouldn' | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <div column> | ||
| == Other == | == Other == | ||
| Other possibilities include Crete, Cyprus, Mycenaean Greece and the Americas. I think you could justify vampires appearing in all these locations, though the Mediterranean civilizations would be functionally quite similar to Egypt or Mesopotamia...as I think vampires would then quickly spread to those anyway, where they'd become dominant. | Other possibilities include Crete, Cyprus, Mycenaean Greece and the Americas. I think you could justify vampires appearing in all these locations, though the Mediterranean civilizations would be functionally quite similar to Egypt or Mesopotamia...as I think vampires would then quickly spread to those anyway, where they'd become dominant. | ||
| The Americas are the ultra exception here in that you could justify vampires (or a vampire-like species) appearing, but you would have difficulty justifying a spread from the Americas to the rest of the world. | The Americas are the ultra exception here in that you could justify vampires (or a vampire-like species) appearing, but you would have difficulty justifying a spread from the Americas to the rest of the world. | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| === Classical Era === | === Classical Era === | ||
| This refers to a post Bronze Age origin of the vampires. This one is favored by...// | This refers to a post Bronze Age origin of the vampires. This one is favored by...// | ||
| Line 361: | Line 426: | ||
| What this means is that republics, democracies and other modern(ish) political systems will be virtually non-existent, | What this means is that republics, democracies and other modern(ish) political systems will be virtually non-existent, | ||
| Now, to be clear, ‘stability’ isn't the only deciding factor here. The others are age, influence from the old, historical awareness and burn-out. So let's go at them one by one. | Now, to be clear, ‘stability’ isn't the only deciding factor here. The others are age, influence from the old, historical awareness and burn-out. So let's go at them one by one. | ||
| - | <WRAP group> | + | <div section columns-2> |
| - | <WRAP half column> | + | <div column> |
| == Age == | == Age == | ||
| The long ages of vampires would be the biggest reason they'd prioritize these systems: they are very old. And what was considered progressive in the past would probably be considered conservative or reactionary in the present.\\ | The long ages of vampires would be the biggest reason they'd prioritize these systems: they are very old. And what was considered progressive in the past would probably be considered conservative or reactionary in the present.\\ | ||
| And, instead of assuming they'd become //more// progressive over time, it's more likely they'd become //less// progressive and //more conservative// | And, instead of assuming they'd become //more// progressive over time, it's more likely they'd become //less// progressive and //more conservative// | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| - | <WRAP half column> | + | <div column> |
| == Influence == | == Influence == | ||
| Now that I've established that old vampires are likely to be very conservative (and become more so as time goes on)...well, now comes their influence thruout society. | Now that I've established that old vampires are likely to be very conservative (and become more so as time goes on)...well, now comes their influence thruout society. | ||
| Line 381: | Line 446: | ||
| Besides passive influence, there could be (and probably would be) active influence in the form of education. I don't see why vampire cities wouldn' | Besides passive influence, there could be (and probably would be) active influence in the form of education. I don't see why vampire cities wouldn' | ||
| And...well...just have these teachers spread the dominant political views among the new ones. Though this could //still// be unintentional, | And...well...just have these teachers spread the dominant political views among the new ones. Though this could //still// be unintentional, | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| - | + | <div column> | |
| - | </ | + | |
| - | <WRAP group> | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | <WRAP half column> | + | |
| == Historical Awareness == | == Historical Awareness == | ||
| This is the biggest reason that I believe vampires would be politically conservative. | This is the biggest reason that I believe vampires would be politically conservative. | ||
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| Arguing with an old vampire would be annoying at best and frustrating at worst, because they could pull out literally every historical counter-example that exists. They can point out that for most of history, most states were monarchies and monarchies, on average, last longer than democracies and so on...and so forth... | Arguing with an old vampire would be annoying at best and frustrating at worst, because they could pull out literally every historical counter-example that exists. They can point out that for most of history, most states were monarchies and monarchies, on average, last longer than democracies and so on...and so forth... | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| - | <WRAP half column> | + | <div column> |
| == Burn-Out == | == Burn-Out == | ||
| The final important point to bring up here is the concept of burn-out. Basically, vampires that are ‘jittery’ and prone to mischief will not survive for long because they' | The final important point to bring up here is the concept of burn-out. Basically, vampires that are ‘jittery’ and prone to mischief will not survive for long because they' | ||
| Line 417: | Line 478: | ||
| This is because in a cycle of backstabbing you eventually run out of people to backstab. Because you've either been backstabbed yourself, or you're the last person left.\\ | This is because in a cycle of backstabbing you eventually run out of people to backstab. Because you've either been backstabbed yourself, or you're the last person left.\\ | ||
| Any unstable vampiric states that exist would eventually reach the state of equilibrium that is stability...so, | Any unstable vampiric states that exist would eventually reach the state of equilibrium that is stability...so, | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| ==== Economics ==== | ==== Economics ==== | ||
| The dominant economic system among vampire society would doubtless be patronage. | The dominant economic system among vampire society would doubtless be patronage. | ||
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| ==== Other Views ==== | ==== Other Views ==== | ||
| This is to include all the //other// views that vampires are likely to have. So, let's not delay and get into it. | This is to include all the //other// views that vampires are likely to have. So, let's not delay and get into it. | ||
| - | <WRAP group> | + | <div section columns-2> |
| - | + | <div column> | |
| - | <WRAP half column> | + | |
| === Racism === | === Racism === | ||
| I think there' | I think there' | ||
| Line 495: | Line 555: | ||
| And if we consider historical context...it' | And if we consider historical context...it' | ||
| It would be very difficult to convince an old sexy vampress that being racist is wrong when she witnessed the Islamic Invasions, Mongol Invasions, the Haitian Revolution, the decolonization of Mozambique, the rise of Zimbabwe, the fall of Apartheid, both Congo Wars and the Rwandan Genocide. | It would be very difficult to convince an old sexy vampress that being racist is wrong when she witnessed the Islamic Invasions, Mongol Invasions, the Haitian Revolution, the decolonization of Mozambique, the rise of Zimbabwe, the fall of Apartheid, both Congo Wars and the Rwandan Genocide. | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| - | <WRAP half column> | + | <div column> |
| === Sexism === | === Sexism === | ||
| If we strictly define sexism as any view that men and women are not equal...the majority of vampires would be sexist. But if we define it as seeing the other gender as subhuman, it's likely that the majority of vampires wouldn' | If we strictly define sexism as any view that men and women are not equal...the majority of vampires would be sexist. But if we define it as seeing the other gender as subhuman, it's likely that the majority of vampires wouldn' | ||
| Line 507: | Line 567: | ||
| So by very strict modern standards they'd be sexist, but otherwise they wouldn' | So by very strict modern standards they'd be sexist, but otherwise they wouldn' | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| - | + | <div column> | |
| - | </ | + | |
| - | <WRAP group> | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | <WRAP half column> | + | |
| === Homophobia/ | === Homophobia/ | ||
| This is an unambiguous case: vampires would probably be supremely homophobic and transphobic. | This is an unambiguous case: vampires would probably be supremely homophobic and transphobic. | ||
| Line 523: | Line 579: | ||
| A question I did ask myself is whether vampires would be fine with crossdressing. And what I concluded is that it's inconclusive and would depend on the city or religious beliefs. I think that, in general, it would be frowned upon...but not as much as being transgender. | A question I did ask myself is whether vampires would be fine with crossdressing. And what I concluded is that it's inconclusive and would depend on the city or religious beliefs. I think that, in general, it would be frowned upon...but not as much as being transgender. | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| - | <WRAP half column> | + | <div column> |
| === Classism === | === Classism === | ||
| Would vampires be classist and elitist? I’m leaning towards “probably not”.\\ | Would vampires be classist and elitist? I’m leaning towards “probably not”.\\ | ||
| Line 533: | Line 589: | ||
| Rather than classisim, though, vampires would be hierarchical and expect people to know their place in society. | Rather than classisim, though, vampires would be hierarchical and expect people to know their place in society. | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| - | + | <div column> | |
| - | </ | + | |
| - | <WRAP group> | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | <WRAP half column> | + | |
| === Debauchery === | === Debauchery === | ||
| I find it unlikely that vampires would be decadent or that they'd favor debauchery/ | I find it unlikely that vampires would be decadent or that they'd favor debauchery/ | ||
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| This implies the possibility of the hilarious situation where a sexy vampire waifu actually doesn' | This implies the possibility of the hilarious situation where a sexy vampire waifu actually doesn' | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| - | <WRAP half column> | + | <div column> |
| === Slavery === | === Slavery === | ||
| Slavery is ambiguous though the reasons why might be surprising. | Slavery is ambiguous though the reasons why might be surprising. | ||
| Line 555: | Line 607: | ||
| Also! I completely forgot to mention blood bonds (// | Also! I completely forgot to mention blood bonds (// | ||
| If this exists, then what vampires think of slavery changes significantly...as well as how they operate. So I'm briefly mentioning it here before I make bigger changes. | If this exists, then what vampires think of slavery changes significantly...as well as how they operate. So I'm briefly mentioning it here before I make bigger changes. | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | </div> |
| + | </ | ||
| + | ===== Miscellaneous Worldbuilding ===== | ||
| + | ==== Affection & Intimacy ==== | ||
| + | While it's difficult to speculate exactly how vampires would express affection and be intimate, there are a few things I'd like to mention. | ||
| - | </WRAP> | + | Drinking each-other' |
| - | ===== Miscellaneous Worldbuilding ===== | + | |
| + | What I //do// think would apply is...// | ||
| + | I think this is a fairly obvious (and universal) way that vampires would show affection, because it signals that they //could// bite but are explicitly choosing //not to//. | ||
| ==== Bats ==== | ==== Bats ==== | ||
| Vampire bats only live in the New World, so tying their origins to vampires makes no sense if they originate in the Old World. | Vampire bats only live in the New World, so tying their origins to vampires makes no sense if they originate in the Old World. | ||
| Line 565: | Line 623: | ||
| I'm sure I can write something else about this if it comes to mind. | I'm sure I can write something else about this if it comes to mind. | ||
| + | ==== Dracula ==== | ||
| + | I was gonna write something here, but then I realized it would fit better on a [[lb: | ||
| + | |||
| + | Once I get the motivation to do so, I'll add how Dracula might fit into the picture. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Oh, right, I remember what it was. I was discussing Dracula just the other day and it was suggested (not by me) that the canine teeth might have come from the // | ||
| ==== Moonbathing ==== | ==== Moonbathing ==== | ||
| Since the Moon reflects the Sun, it's possible that vampires might feel some kind of warmth (or get a tan) from the Moon. In that case, Moonbathing is totally a thing that could happen. | Since the Moon reflects the Sun, it's possible that vampires might feel some kind of warmth (or get a tan) from the Moon. In that case, Moonbathing is totally a thing that could happen. | ||
lb/wnotes/vampires.1760384790.txt.gz · Last modified: 2025-10-13 19:46:30 by ninjasr