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Each of us have our own views on what makes a vampire, a vampire. All the little tweaks, the strengths, weaknesses, and powers. Nobody can agree on one end-all vampire race.

So, in your own opinion, what makes our fiendish blood-drinking friends what they are?

Here's a few things the general population already agrees on. There's no need to state these, unless you have an alteration or a tweak to any of them.
Drink blood
Adverse reaction to sunlight
Fangs
Super-human speed/strength

And a bonus question!
What got you into vampires? :3

What the Council taught me, were the reasons why Vamps were the way they were ^_^; You guys are gonna be hearing me alot on that topic.

The Reason for blood drinking is kinda like a transfusion, vamps need to revitalize their dead blood with fresh blood to stay alive. Also, draining the person to death, steals all the years the person had left to live, hence why most vamps stalk younger prey.

The reason for the adverse reactio to sunlight was, that it sped up vamp metabolism, and supercharged the healing factor, which caused the body to spontaneously combust.

The Reason for the Speed and Strength, was the fact that they were dead, the lactic acid buildup didn't happen, allowing full access to the body's unlimited potential.

The council also told me, that Vampires could adhere to most surfaces, phase through some surfaces, and use various newer senses. The vampiric sight, would show thermal radiant heat from people, the flow of blood through the body, and muscle movemnt, allowing for faster reactions. The eyes also have the ability to amplify ambient light to see i near pitch black conditions.

What got me into vamps was the whole mystique of the immortal, living for a thousand years and seeing the world pass by.

A Accursed in human monstah D8<

I was under the impression that Succubi and Incubi were demons that take the form of a woman to get in bed with a man, steal his semen, then change form to bed a woman and impregnate her. *shrug* It's all so blurry. x3 Sex vampire, maybe? I dunno.

But to answer my own questions, I do agree with quite a lot of what Noir has given us here. But I personally have a more modern vampire in mind, by default preference. A vampire that's "evolved", so to say. By that, I mean that I take a more scientific view on our fanged friends.

Assuming that vampirism is caused by a virus (such as Porphyric Hemophilia), the negative effect causes the host to become hyper-photosensitive and subject to a sped-up version of heat exhaustion. Because of this, they stay out of the sunlight; it physically weakens them via fatigue. This is truer for new-turned more than it is for ancients. Ancients have developed a stronger resistance and can thus walk about in the daylight.

Blood drinking- replenish hemoglobin supply for increased oxygen to fuel strength and speed.
The virus also affects how quickly cells reproduce; speeds it up. Hence the self-healing. Even neural cells are affected, as are any other cells that don't normally reproduce themselves as quickly as skin cells.

As for what attracted me, I'm a sucker for classy, well-spoken beings and characters, which vampires are traditionally portrayed. I would elaborate more, but I've rambled enough xD

In my site, The Council was formed after the Clan Wars, which were caused by Lords trying to take over spilled out into daylight, nearly exposing the Vampires to the humans. The strongest of the lords convened to make the High Council of Lords, and began to dictate the size of the various Houses. They were democratic, and voted on all matters, but, the Head Lord, had the ability to overule the Council's decision at any time, however in doing so, he or she must resign from the Council completely. I will list the power structure




Head Of The Council were the Highest ranked vampire on the planet, their word was law and enforced without question, but they must first go through the Council to enact said laws. The council could choose to enact the law, or veto it, depending on a majority vote. The Council was made of 13 Members which are Life Time members unless challenged and defeated. The Night Lords are the special arm of the Council, agents with almost unlimited authority, told to quell any insurection however they please. The Coven of War are Knights serving the High Council for open warfare. Though they outnumber the Night Lords, they are not as specialized, or given delicate duties as their counterparts.
Lords of the Coven rule over a large region, normally Countries, in which they normally do as the see fit to carry out the Council's will. They pay taxes to the High Council, collecting the taxes from those under them. Lords of the Coven, can have anywhere from 5-10 clans under them, the Lords of the Clan ruling over their own specific family. It is usually the eldest, or strongest member of said family to be elected to this position. The Lord of the Clan rules of the Houses belonging to the family, and all the non ranking vampires in said Houses. Though most Vampires treat humans like garbage, there is no short of Familiars, to serve them.

I believe, I speak for the rest of the guild when I say this, but do not confuse those hideous, disgusting Fan Fiction celtic fairies for Vampires... Twilight is a poorly written spew of repetitive mindless drivel...

And quite honestly, anything and everything dies when it's torn apart and cremated, not just mosquito pixies. Fire has long been considered a purification medium (Look at the Silent Hill cult and their treatment of "witches" in the movie.) for this reason.

My Acheron vampires are all pyrophobic. Partially because such intense heat kills the virus that makes them what they are, and thus, them.