A quick note to readers: Currently this page is extremely incomplete so please bare with us as our research goes on.
I have been directed to conduct this research on the behalf of IT'S AN UNDEAD WORLD AFTER ALL. I will not provide my name nor does UNDEAD WORLD know my name. I am an independent journalist subcontracted threw an unnamed third party to conduct this research. hence forth I will be referring to myself by the moniker of willing/unwilled. With that said, let me start by saying this research has taken me down some dark roads and I have met some characters who are beyond belief. Some where nothing more than silly fools with dangerous practices, while others, haunt my nightmares regularly. Weather it's just in my mind or it's the malevolent extension of their control over me, I may never know.
Willing/Unwilled.
Before we go to deep into Vampire types, one needs to understand their are two basic types initially. All other Vampire types are sub-types of the basic two, Physical and Nonphysical Vampires.
Physical: Physical Vampires require a tangible substances like blood for nourishment and are generally the result of the V retrovirus. Note: this does not limit them to only obtaining sustenance from blood.
Nonphysical: Nonphysical Vampires require intangible substances like emotions or a soul for nourishment and are the result of years of study and practice of the arcane and/or mental discipline. For the most part they are normal humans or non-terrestrial beings with extraordinary abilities and lack the weaknesses of physical vampires.
Hybrid: Hybrid vampires are a combination of the physical and nonphysical vampire types. Most who consider themselves physical vampires are in fact hybrids.
One should note at this point that not all vampires are undead but they are mentioned here for continuity sake.
The science of the Vampire virus
V Retrovirus: is an RNA virus that is replicated in a host autosome cell via the enzyme reverse transcriptase to produce DNA from its RNA genome. The DNA is then incorporated into the host's genome by an integrase enzyme. The virus thereafter replicates as part of the host cells DNA. The V retrovirus is an enveloped viruses that belongs to the viral family Retrovampiridae.
A special variant of the V virus is the androgynous V virus which is integrated into the genome of the host and inherited across generations. Examples of this are Sanguine Vampires and Genetic Vampires.
The virus itself stores its nucleic acid in the form of a +mRNA (including the 5'cap and 3'PolyA inside the virion) genome and serves as a means of delivery of that genome into cells it targets as an obligate parasite, and constitutes the infection. Once in the host's cell, the RNA strands undergo reverse transcription in the cytoplasm and are integrated into the host's genome, at which point the V-retroviral DNA is referred to as a necrovirus. It is difficult to detect the virus until it has infected the host and symptoms of the virus physically manifest.
In most viruses, DNA is transcribed into RNA, and then RNA is translated into protein. However, the V-retroviruses function differently - their RNA is reverse-transcribed into DNA, which is integrated into the host cell's genome (when it becomes a necrovirus), and then undergoes the usual transcription and translational processes to express the genes carried by the virus. Therefore, the order of steps from a V-retroviral gene to a necrovirus is: RNA → DNA → RNA → Necro V-virus.
Necrovirus: is a virus genome that is integrated into the DNA of a host autosome cell.
This state can be a stage of virus replication, or a state that persists over longer period of time, either inactive V-viral infection or endogenous V-retrovirus. In inactive V-viral infections the virus will not replicate itself but through replication of its host cell. This state can last over many host cell generations. Endogenous V-retroviruses are always in the state of a necrovirus.
When a (nonendogenous) V-retrovirus invades a cell, the RNA of the retrovirus is reverse-transcribed into DNA by reverse transcriptase, then inserted into the host genome by an integrase such as with Revananent Vampires.
A necrovirus does not directly make new DNA copies of itself while integrated into a host genome in this way. Instead, it is passively replicated along with the host genome and passed on to the original cell's offspring; all descendants of the infected cell will also bear necroviruses in their genomes. Integration can result in a latent infection or a productive infection. In a productive infection, the necrovirus is transcribed into messenger RNA which directly produces new virus, which in turn will infect other cells. A latent infection results when the necrovirus is transcriptionally silent rather than active.
A latent infection may become productive in response to changes in the host's environmental conditions or health, the necrovirus may be activated and begin transcription of its viral genome. This can result in the destruction of its host cell because the cell's protein synthesis machinery is hijacked to produce more viruses. an example of such cellular activity are Genetic Vampires.
It is thought that necrovirus may account for approximately 8% of the Sanguine genome in the form of inherited endogenous V-retroviruses.
VAMPIRE TYPES
Astral vampires (nonphysical): are vampires that are able to travel through the astral plane and feed off of the life-force energies of other entities within the astral plane, and/or they are able to materialize in astral form and feed off the life-force energies of people that are usually asleep. astral vampires are able to enter into a person's dream, and feed from the life-force energies within the dream. They can be invisible observers in the dream, or they can manifest themselves within the dream. Some are able to influence the course of the dream. There are also creatures known as Chit who are considered to be an example of astral Vampires, Chit are known to be able to posses a person not unlike demonic possession. They are said to posses those who are weak in spirit and mind or an individual who gives himself over freely in the belief that this possession will grant them power. Well it doesn't, so don't do it! All it does is give these things free roam of our plane of existence and the forfeit of your soul or what ever makes you, you. Really a bad idea.
Elemental Vampires (nonphysical/ PHYSICAL) : are vampires that are able to feed on the life force energies of the elements; earth, wind, fire, and water. Some will say that elemental vampires are elementalists who are able to manipulate elemental energies and then convert those energies into consumable life-force energies. Others will say that elemental vampires feed directly from elemental life-force energies. There are also those that will say that vampires who feed on life-force energies from plants and animals are also elemental vampires. However, there are those that distinguish such vampires as nature vampires. Another method of feeding often considered a subcategory or specialization of elemental feeding is electrical feeding; the indirect feeding on energies in electrical fields and lightning. Others will distinguish such vampires as electrical vampires.
Empathic Vampire (nonphysical): These are vampires that feed on strong emotions, such as anger, love, fear, rage, happiness, or they will provide little to no sustenance for the vampire. Like the Psi Vampires, Empathic Vampires do not need to have physical contact with their victim, but physical contact will increase the potency of their feeding. Unlike the Psi Vampires, however, Empathic Vampires do not need to have eye contact with their victims, they simply need to be standing within five meters of the person, or people, on which that are ‘feeding’.Some may even be known to start fights, just so they can feed from the emotions it causes. Empathic Vampires can feed from a single source or from a group of sources, it all depends on personal preference. They are less likely to kill their food source than other vampires, but can leave the human source completely drained of emotion. Sometimes, this lack of emotion will kill a human, as a main part of humanity is emotional function.
Genetic Vampires (physical): Are Vampires born of at least one Vampire parent. The parents of the vampire will be a human and a true vampire, both genetic vampires or a human and a genetic vampire.Their weaknesses and abilities is dependent on the Vampire parents type and dilution of the vampire blood line. Even this does not give certainty of what to expect. the vampire trait tends to lay dormant inside them until their body reaches the late stages of puberty, or releases a chemical which awakens the xv chromosome and begins many physical changes in the body. As a result of this, most Inheritors look around 19 - 20 years old their whole life. Inheritor vampires live to around the age of 350-400 years old.
Hybrid Vampire: Hybrids are a mix of both nonphysical and physical Vampires. They have many of the Psi abilities that a Psi vampire has, and can also gain energy from consuming blood. [they are the highest of ranks in the vampire world]
malkavian vampire (varies): They are basically vampires who suffer from mental illnesses, or are considered to be insane by the rest of the community. However, they just have a different outlook on life, and most of the time they are not dangerous.
Nightwalker (physical): This type of vampire is almost exstinct. The reason for this is that they do not have the healing of the Genetic or Revanent vampires. They do not have the speed, or even the life span of the ageless vampires. Infact, they are more human than vampire. They only live for about 100 years, they do not have the healing like the other "immortals", and their speed is the same as a human. However, they do have the need to feed, just like any other physical vampire, and are also extremely sensitive to sunlight.
Nosferatu Vampire (physical): When a human or vampire is turned, the body tries to fight the infection. In the case of the Nosferatu vampires, the body got the upper hand. This caused the virus to alter itself, thus allowing for it to survive in the new host, causing the vampire's body to be extremely disfigured. From what I have heard, the Nosferatu are derived from Revanent, Night walkers, and Genetic vampires. They are turned, not born.
Psionic Vampire (nonphysical) : a vampire that derives their power from non-physical energy, rather than blood. They drain energy from memories, thoughts and other life forces of mortals to replace their own life force. It is like recharging a battery. They do not need to have physical contact with their victim, though the feeding process is stronger with physical contact. They must have eye contact with their victim, whether they have physical contact or not. Once this eye contact has been established, the human finds in very hard, if not impossible to break eye contact until their captor releases them.
Some will also refer to psi vampires as pranic vampires, derived from the term prana, a Sanskrit term literally translated as life-force energy.
Given the energies on which they feed, it is very easy for a Psi vampire to kill their prey, especially if the human suffers from mental instability, is sick or has a serious physical injury.
Renfield Vampire (physical): These are humans who have a blood fetish, and who often get called vampires by other humans. They do not have a need to feed, but simply enjoy the taste of blood, or are excited by the sight, smell and taste of blood
Renfield's Syndrome, also called clinical vampirism, is a rare psychiatric disorder in which the sufferer feels a compulsion to consume blood. The disorder, identified by clinical psychologist Richard Noll in 1992, does not appear in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). According to current psychiatric terminology, Renfield's Syndrome is classified as schizophrenia or paraphilia.
Renfield's Syndrome is named after the character Renfield in Bram Stoker's 1887 novel Dracula. Renfield is a mental patient who consumes flies in the belief that he will absorb their life force. Eventually, he begins feeding flies to spiders and spiders to birds, then consuming the birds, to obtain a greater concentration of life force. People who suffer from Renfield's Syndrome commonly believe that they obtain some sort of power or strength through the consumption of blood.
Sufferers of Renfield's Syndrome are overwhelmingly male. The disorder is typically sparked by an event in childhood in which the sufferer associates the sight or taste of blood with excitement. During puberty, the feelings of attraction to blood become sexual in nature.
Renfield's Syndrome typically follows three stages.
In the first, autovampirism or autohemophagia, the sufferer drinks his own blood, often cutting himself in order to do so.
The second stage is zoophagia, which consists of eating live animals or drinking their blood. Obtaining animal blood from a butcher or slaughterhouse for consumption also falls into this stage.
In the third stage, true vampirism, the sufferer's attention is turned to other human beings. He may steal blood from hospitals or blood banks, or drink blood directly from a living person. Some people with Renfield's Syndrome commit violent crimes, including murder, after entering this stage.
Though Renfield's Syndrome is newly named and has not yet been accepted into the DSM, it is not a new disorder. Noll noted apparent references to the disorder in German psychiatrist Richard van Krafft-Ebing's 1886 text Psychopathia Sexualis and speculated that Stoker may have been familiar with Krafft-Ebing's work.
Sexual vampires (nonphysical/PHYSICAL): are vampires who feed on the life-force energies generated from having sex, especially the excess energies generated at the moment of orgasm. They can do so psychically and/or from bodily fluids. Female sexual vampires are sometimes referred to as succubi (singularly, succubus), and male sexual vampires are sometime referred to as incubi (singularly, incubus). Some will also refer to sexual vampires as tantric vampires. Others will refer to sexual vampires as pranic vampires. There is sometimes debate within the vampire community if referring to sexual vampires as pranic vampires is correct or not as there are some within the vampire community that refer to psi vampires as pranic vampires, which could lead to some confusion when talking about pranic vampires. Those that support referring to sexual vampires as pranic vampires argue that pranic energies and prana are two different things, and that pranic energies are energies related to sex while prana is just life-force energies. There are those that think the use of the labels tantric and pranic in reference to sexual vampires is an attempt by some within the vampire community at political correctness who feel that the term sexual vampire is derogatory and/or offensive or simply think that tantric and pranic "sound" better than sexual. However, it is also possible that those who use tantric or pranic when talking about sexual vampires are doing so to differentiate them from any link to behavioral psychology which seems to also be co-opting the term sexual vampire to describe a person who has a psychological need for attention (much like a psychic vaire) through sex.
Soul Vampires - Soul Suckers (nonphysical):A Soul Vampire feed on the souls of Human beings. The feeding process is the most intimate of all vampire species, as the vampire must be kissing, or be within close proximity to their victim. They literally suck the soul from their victims.. They have no other option but to take the whole soul of their victim, and while doing this, they learn everything there is about their human victim, everything from memories to skills. As a result of soul feeding, soul vampires will sometimes gain some or all of the abilities of the person they are feeding from. Soul vampires will also sometimes receive memories, thoughts and desires of the person that they are feeding from. Soul vampires are also sometimes referred to as soul devourers.
Once the soul as been consumed by the Vampire, it cannot leave pass on to the next realm, whether that be heaven, hell or otherwise. It will however, escape the Vampire’s body over the course of a week and once that week is up, the soul can finally move of to its afterlife realm, and the vampire needs to feed again.
If the human on which they have chosen to feed is unwilling, it can be very hard for the Soul Vampire to take their soul, though they are sometimes able to force the Human into a kiss or to open their mouth so that they may suck the soul from them.
Social Vampire (nonphysical) : social vampire is very much like a sexual vampire, except they feed on social energy, rather than sexual energy. A social vampire will tend to be the type of person who loves to be the center of attention, and cannot stand to be alone or ignored by others.
Revenants (physical) : is an animated corpse that survives by drinking the blood of the living. It also has a demonic nature and is a servant of Satan, dedicated to spreading its evil throughout the world. Bram Stocker added many desirable traits to the vampire, and the myth was later explored and refined by numerous artists and philosophers. The body of a Revenant is technically dead by human standards. It can be said that a Revenant’s body is in a state of arrested decay, animated by a supernatural force or spirit residing in its corporeal form, and kept vital by some magical energy that some refer as ichor. Revenants usually appear as "normal" humans do, unless they are aroused by bloodlust or enraged. In such cases, the appearance of two, reticulating canine-like fangs may be seen; accompanied by red eyes and a rather predacious countenance. They can shape-shift, forming animals or mist. They reproduce by draining their victims of blood repeatedly, during which an infection sets in that may or may not kill the victim. If the victim dies, they will usually rise from the grave as a vampire.
Sanguine vampires (physical): (or sanguinarians) are vampires who feed by drinking blood. Unlike Revanents Sanguine are alive and procreate like humans. Legends tell of Lilith, Adam of the bibles first wife, and Adam where the prodigeners of the Sanguine race. Still other tales claim it was a union between Adams son Cain and Lilith that sired the race but the Cain and Lilith scenario is more geared towards Revanent Vampires. It is not the blood itself that the Sanguine are feeding on. It is the life-force energy contained within the blood. Blood drinking is arguably the most potent form of feeding on life-force energy, and many sanguinarians can thrive for many weeks from a single feeding. (A single feeding is often about an ounce or two of blood taken from a willing donor.) Sanguinarians often describe blood drinking as a very fulfilling, very powerful and somewhat intoxicating experience. It also tends to be a rather intimate form of feeding. . However, Sanguinarians do not live much longer then the average human being.
Wannabe's: These are humans who want to be vampires. Most of the time they are 16-years-old kids who watch a lot of vampire movies, and think it would be "cool" to be a vampire. However, there are some people who are serious about wanting to be turned, who are in their 20's - 30's, and who know what they want and what they are getting themselves into. (aka, people who go "vampire" because of the Twilight book/movie, and all the other vampire novels.)