Vampire Weaknesses
Some of the most common vampiric vulnerabilities are holy symbols, blessed accoutrements, sanctified places, mirrors, garlic, and running water.
One thing that the potential vampire hunter should remember is that not all vampires are affected by the same things. The discussions below relate to "typical" vampires – which, of course, is an oxymoron; no vampire is "typical." In practice, there is no guarantee that any individual vampire will suffer from any of the above "standard" weaknesses.
This holds particularly true with respect to uniquely powerful vampires, or the heads or progenitors of vampires lines. (A "vampire line" is defined as "all those 'subsidiary' vampires created by the same progenitor vampire, or by vampires who were created by the progenitor, etc." A progenitor is a vampire whose creator has been destroyed, or one who was not created by another vampire, but came into being by some other method.) These creatures tend to be unusual and will commonly possesses strengths and weaknesses altogether different from the "standard" vampire. This same is true for the original set of vampires created personally by a head of a vampire line. These creatures are referred to as the first brood and comprise the progenitor's strongest and best "children." Typically, a first brood will be approximately five-to-ten vampires in size. The first brood will exhibit many of the same qualities as their progenitor but modified in form. For example, if the head of a vampire line were able to shapechange into the form of a fly, his first brood might be able to summon and command swarms of flies. As another example, if the progenitor were held at bay by anyone reading from a holy book, the sound of such readings might cause physical harm to members of the monster's first brood.
Keeping Vampires at bay
Good Holy Symbols
There is no consensus among experts as to exactly why the holy symbols of good aligned faiths hove such an effect on vampires. No one can argue with the fact that this effect exists, however.
The majority of philosophers believe that the symbol itself is not significant; it is the faith of the person holding the symbol that is important. It should be noted that a holy symbol need not be a traditional one, such as a cross or star, to have power over a vampire. Any symbol of a deity dedicated to the precepts of Goodness will serve the purpose.
Evil Holy Symbols
As with other undead, vampires are sometimes subject to control by priests of evil-aligned faiths. Just as a good-aligned priest can use a holy symbol in an attempt to turn or banish a vampire, so can an evil-aligned priest use his symbol in an attempt to control the vampire. In both cases, the priest's faith and willpower are key issues, and the outcome is never certain.
There is no equivalent of presentment with evil-aligned holy symbols. A vampire is totally unaffected by an evil symbol presented by a layperson or by a priest of insufficient experience.
Turning Versus Presentment
In addition to priestly turning as discussed above, many vampires are also subject to the presentment of a good aligned holy symbol by a layperson or by a priest of insufficient experience to actually turn the creature. It should be noted that presentment of a holy symbol will never drive a vampire away: it will only keep it at bay temporarily. A presented holy symbol in the hands of the most virtuous and pious believer will force a vampire to remain at least five feet away from the character holding the symbol.
Blessed Accoutrements
In addition to holy symbols, there are a number of other religious items that can be used to exert control over the majority of vampires. Although they are usually not as effective as holy symbols, they can be used in a pinch. Some examples of blessed accoutrements are holy wafers, holy water, prayer beads, blessed books or tomes, and robes or clothing. Again, only to keep a Vampire at bay.
Additional Protection
There are three additional items that are useful for keeping vampires at bay. Once again, one must realize that not all vampires will be subject to these items.
Mirrors: It is this fact that likely explains a vampire's negative reaction to mirrors. If a mirror is presented boldly and with conviction to a vampire, the monster will recoil from it. Exactly why is this? It appears that vampires often resent their undead stale, and yearn for the warmth of humanity and feeling of being alive. Mirrors, because they do not reflect the image of vampires, remind the creatures in a most painful manner of their undead state.
Garlic: Garlic also has a strong effect on vampires. The reasons for this are unclear, but some innate quality in the plant causes vampires to cower from it. Some sages believe the reason is simply that vampires find the odour extremely offensive – so offensive, in fact, that a vampire will never approach any significant quantity of garlic, but I find this explanation much too simplistic. Perhaps vampires find garlic to be toxic to their necrological processes, as wolvesbane (actually aconite) is to werewolves. In any case, garlic can be used as a partial protection against the monsters.
Running water: Many legends tell of vampires being kept at bay by running water, and conclude that running water somehow has some warding power over vampires as does garlic and mirrors. If the benefit is great enough, vampires will risk such means of crossing running water, but will always do whatever it takes to minimize the risk. If circumstances allow, however, the fiends will shapechange to bat form and fly across a river. There is one exception: a vampire in gaseous form is strictly prohibited from crossing a body of running water that is more than three feet wide.
Sanctified Places
There are certain structures and locales that can strongly influence or prohibit vampires. These structures and locales can best be described as sanctified places. As a general rule, these locations are rare.
In order for a structure, building or area to be considered a sanctified place and to hold power over a vampire, it must be one of two specific types of establishment.
The first type of safe house from the vampire is one that is expressly owned. An individual or strongly defined group must own the location. If the location is inhabited, it must be inhabited by the owner or by a member of the owning group. The following are examples of locations that meet this criterion:
- a house, owned by the residents - a monastery, owned by the order of priests that dwells within it - a graveyard, owned by the priestly order that oversees it
The following locations would not qualify:
- an inn, because the residents staying in the various rooms do not own them - a public area, such as a village green - a town’s public graveyard, because the area would generally be "owned" by an elected (and hence ephemeral) town council - a trading coaster’s warehouse, because the building is owned by - a "corporation," which is a legal fiction
Churches, temples, and the like, even when officially owned and operated by amorphous groups such as a town council qualify because they are symbolically owned by the deity to which the buildings are dedicated.
The second type of place that is off-limits to a vampire is one that is in some way hallowed. In the case of personal homes, they are the retreat or sanctuary of the owner, and are inherently hallowed. Churches and temples are obviously hallowed by their nature. Note that, in this case, the word "hallowed" does not necessarily mean religious or holy: rather, it means “respected or “venerated.” The following list of structures/areas gives a general idea of what might be considered hallowed ground. As with holy symbols, the types of hallowed ground vary with different cultures and religions:
- house or home - church - holy burial sites - hallowed hunting grounds
In general, even the most powerful priest is unable to sanctify a location that does not have some tradition of sanctity or veneration associated with it. Thus, even a high priest could not buy the title to an abandoned estate- actually the lair of a vampire- and then somehow sanctify it, just to aggravate the vampire if nothing else. Unless the estate had some tradition of sanctity attached to it, the priest would have to establish the building as a temple, attract a body of other priests and a congregation, hold services, etc. Then and only then might the building be considered sanctified. (And if you think the vampire in the catacombs would abide that, then you would not last very long in the Land of Mists.)
Homes
Homes, that is, houses or other spaces where individuals or families have their permanent residence, enforce their own restrictions on a vampire. Homes are not actually sanctified places (except in the most unusual of cases) and so give priests or laypersons no benefits when turning or holding at bay vampires and other undead. They do, however, give those within a unique protection against vampires.
In short, a vampire is completely unable to enter a home unless invited by a resident; the creature is simply unable to physically enter the residence. A few important notes do apply. First of all, to qualify as a "resident" of a home, a person must have been invited to live there indefinitely. This can be the actual homeowner, the spouse, a relative of the owner, a live-in servant, etc. A guest of the owner does not qualify as a resident. Second, the invitation must be overt, stated in words. An implied invitation, such as an open door, is not sufficient. A single invitation to enter a home will allow the vampire to enter that home but once, immediately after the invitation is extended. The sole exception is if the "man of the house": the oldest member of the household offers the invitation. If it is the "man of the house" who formally offers the invitation to a vampire, the creature is thereafter always free to enter that home without further invitation. Third, just because a vampire is unable to actually enter a house, those within are not totally protected from the creature’s wrath. A vampire has a number of options open to it. For example, it could attempt to charm someone inside the house, or otherwise convince him or her to officially invite the creature to enter. It could summon minions, who are not forbidden to enter the house. Alternatively, it could burn the house to the ground or otherwise force its potential victims to leave the structure. In short, fleeing to one’s home to escape a vampire offers temporary protection at best.
In the Land of Mists there are a number of exceptions to the above remarks. Strahd von Zarovich is the absolute ruler of Barovia and thereby owns all properties contained in it. This mighty vampire lord can enter any building or structure that he wishes, simply because he "owns" them all.
Graves
Many experts find the statement hard to believe, but it seems that that most vampires, the "lords of the undead," are unable to physically open the grave, crypt, or other final resting place of another who was interred according to the precepts of the religion the person followed in life. (They can obviously open their own resting-place with impunity.) Although surprising on the surface, when viewed symbolically, this makes perfect sense. An interment site is, in one manner of speaking, the only property owned by its inhabitant, for eternity. And, assuming the deceased was interred with the formality and ritual associated with his or her faith while alive, the interment site is thus sanctified, at least to a degree. For these reasons, a “typical” vampire is unable to enter, break open, or otherwise physically disturb an interment site without the express permission of the "inhabitant" (who, obviously, is unable to give it).
This does not prevent a vampire from magically animating the inhabitant of a grave, however, and then having the animated corpse break out of the internment site. This restriction also does not apply to unfortunates who were interred without benefit of clerical rites and rituals: bodies buried in a mass grave, criminals who were excommunicated, etc.
Destroying a Vampire.
Mirror - A vampire will recoil from the sight of a mirror and will do all they can to avoid them; this fear is irrational. They also do not emit a reflection in front of a mirror; Garlic - Whilst not lethal to vampires, garlic is a strong allergen and they are turned off by large quantities of it. They can hardly tolerate the smell. Holy Symbols - For a symbol to be effective, the wielder must present it with conviction and full and devout faith to their religion. A simple follower who is used to giving lip service or a faithful wielding the symbol of another god doesn't count. Holy Symbols keep the vampire at bay, thus at a safe distance. However, they do not stop the vampire from attacking. A vampire held at bay could hurl rocks or arrows, attempt dominating the wielder of the symbol or do anything else he wishes to do so long as he doesn't approach the person. Vampires find it hard to touch, move or otherwise manipulate good-aligned holy symbols. Blessed Accoutrements - Those work similarly to Holy Symbols, but in a weaker form; some examples of blessed accoutrements are holy wafers, holy water, prayer beads, blessed books or tomes, and robes or clothing. They must have been blessed by a priest of the right faith to have any effect. Wooden Stakes - To kill a vampire with a wooden stake, it must be driven through the heart. This is a very hard process, especially if the vampire is conscious. To pierce a vampire's heart, the attacker must have a strength of 18 and be able to drive the stake through the thicker and denser muscle tissue of the vampire and aim for the heart. If the vampire is conscious, it will likely move and attempt to push the other away, making it nearly impossible as it takes a mallet to drive a stake through. It is also very hard even if the vampire is unconscious as it takes time to drive a stake home. A stake through the heart paralyzes the vampire, but does not destroy it. To destroy it, the head must be subsequently cut off the body, otherwise as soon as the stake is removed, the vampire will come back to "life". Running Water - Vampires immersed in rapidly flowing water (excluding oceans, creeks, slow streams, and the like) for three minutes or more automatically turn to gaseous form and must fly to their coffin. However, it must be immersed to the three quarters, thus including its heart. Vampires can float or swim across running water just like any human, so for a vampire to be trapped for that long, it must be held down under the water for three minutes. After one minute under water, the vampire will suffer damage and after three, it will be destroyed and turned to gaseous form. A vampire under running water cannot assume gaseous form at will however, but can turn in one of its other shapes. It can use its other abilities normally. Sunlight - Exposure to sun light can destroy vampires. Just mere indirect exposure to it causes significant pain and prolonged exposure can mean permanent death. A vampire destroyed by sunlight will turn to dust and be killed forever. A vampire in gaseous form destroyed by sunlight will dissipate into the air to never reform. However, a vampire could stand inside an inn with windows if it wasn't standing in a beam of sunlight. As a general rule of thumb, if the vampire cannot see the sun directly, it is not a direct source of light. Light reflected in mirrors counts as a direct source if the vampire could see the reflection of the sun in it. Under sunlight, vampires have only one thing in mind: finding shelter from it and they will do all they can to do so. Also, under the sunlight, vampires cannot use any of their abilities such as shifting shapes or turning into a gaseous form, all they can do is run for the nearest safe place; it dominates all their thoughts. Vampires can be tricked or forced into sunlight, but it is very rare and hard as they possess great strength and cunning.
_________________ "No motion has she now, no force; She neither hears nor sees; Rolled round in earth's diurnal course, With rocks, and stones, and trees."
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