Ageless Vampires

Definition

Ageless vampires (also known as Classical or Traditional vampires) are turned, not born. These vampires are turned by exchanging blood with another vampire. There are a few theories as to how this works, but the most common theory is that vampirism is a virus, which infects the host and alters the DNA of a human.

Unlike Sanguinarians and PSI vampires, ageless vampires do not have a need to feed simply to remain healthy, but to survive.

There seem to be two different "types" of ageless vampires. The first type do not breathe, consume food, have a pulse or heartbeat, or any bodily fluids, other than blood. Most of their internal organs are non-functioning. Upon turning, the blood stream is completely cut off from some organs, cut down on other organs, and increased on the remaining. The organs that no longer have blood circulating through them turn white or grey and decrease in size and mass. Those organs become useless. For the most part, an ageless vampire's body is dead.

These vampires can will themselves to breathe by forcing air in and out of their bodies, and they can also create a pulse, but they have to concentrate to do so.

The second "type" of vampire has a very low heartbeat, much like the heartbeat of someone in a coma, and can breathe without having to concentrate. They can also digest food, although it has no nutritional value for them.

We are unsure as to why some vampires are different to others in this respect, but there are a few theories.

Either there is a) more than one "type" of ageless vampire, or b) they are the same type, but some vampires still have functioning internal organs, due to the fact that they continued to use them to digest food and circulate air through the body after being turned. They don't NEED to eat or breathe to survive, however.

If the second type of vampire stopped eating and breathing, it is likely that the lungs and the organs of their digestive system would shrivel up and become useless, much like the first "type" of vampire.

Strengths

If an ageless vampire breaks a bone, it will heal almost immediately. They are also immune to diseases and viruses such as AIDS and cancer.

Upon turning, the skeletal muscles are enhanced, giving the host a slight increase in strength and a very significant increase in speed. The momentum that derives from speed increases the force inflicted on a target. Therefore, a punch from a vampire would have the equal force of his previous strength, but to an elevated level.

Vampires with non-functioning internal organs do not suffer damage in the same way humans do. For example, if you punched or shot a human in the stomach, they would suffer pain. If you punched or shot a vampire in the stomach, they would not feel pain, as the stomach is non-functional, and damaging it does not affect the vampire.

Weaknesses

Ageless vampires WILL die if exposed to sunlight for too long. Sunlight does not cause vampires to burst into flames immediately, but it does cause them to badly blister and burn, and their bodies to eventually break down.

It is a well known fact that heat and UV light from the sun's rays damages the skin. This happens a lot faster to vampires than it does to humans, however, as the vampire's immune system will attack the cells that have been damaged by the sun, and try to destroy them. The sun's rays will also continue to attack the cells, thus causing the host to be destroyed by the virus, because it thinks it is protecting itself by destroying the damaged cells. However, it is actually destroying the host.

While ageless vampires do not age, they are still capable of death. Most vampires can die from any serious injury, not just from a stake through the heart (that would kill anyone).

While they are immune to diseases and viruses such as AIDS and cancer, they can become carriers of a virus. For example, if a vampire feeds on a person with AIDS, they will not be infected, but they will become a carrier of the virus. Therefore, if they feed on a human and let them live, the human will then be infected with AIDS.

Misconceptions

Ageless vampires are not affected by crosses, holy water, or any other religious symbols, unless they believe it will affect them. The only effect garlic seems to have on vampires is its strong smell, which is increased due to a vampire's heightened senses.

Vampires are not demons, "evil" or cursed by God.

Ageless vampires are not born; they can only be turned by other vampires.

Ageless vampires are not immortal. They do not age, but they are still very capable of death.