Would vampires even be a threat in today's modern world?

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-10-06 10:01pm

Ok, let's say that a population of Bram Stoker-esqe real life vampires is discovered. Let's also say that we discover them in Los Angeles or some major American city. After a few kills, how long could they last? With our modern technology, how long do you think they could go on killing and turning people?

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2003-10-06 10:04pm

If they start small and gain cultish status they would have longevity.

I doubt they would become some nigh invincible force that would sunder the world...probably with our current state be regarded as some offshot of the Goth mentality.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-10-06 10:05pm

Well, how about this: The police discover that they are in fact supernatural beings that need blood to survive. It becomes common knowledge that these creatures are a threat to humanity.

Darth_Shinji · Post by **Darth_Shinji** » 2003-10-06 10:06pm

Were they all born in america? Big, Big, issue to deal with first.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-10-06 10:09pm

Yes, they were born here.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2003-10-06 10:17pm

Assuming Bram Stoker vamps are very much Traditional Legend vampires in power on poinst not covered in depth.. There's a danger.

The biggest danger is that, unless detected early and neutralized, they will develop a 'cult of personality' around themselves, feeding on the Goth subcuture initially for all the obvious reasons. Keep in mind Bram Stoker's vamps didn't take that much blood: Three vampires sustained themselves on a single infant. Their mind control over their minions, and their hypnosis, are very scary when you realize the sort of people they'd use this on. PCP is bad. PCP plus mind control and an Uzi? Terrifying.

The biggest problem is modern portrayal of vampires distorts their weaknesses horribly out of line with Bram Stoker/Traditional levels. Dracula was out during the day, as were several of the period. They simply had no(Or greatly weakened) powers. Driving a stake into a vampire when it's standing will get it to laugh and you and break your neck: The stake is there to hold the thing to the ground while you behead it. And stuff it's mouth with something. Even in a household where mythology is conversasion, Tev and I can't recall if it's Garlic or Holy Wafers.

Without a quick destruction, expect vampires to adapt to corporate America quickly. After all, their manipulation powers will give them a serious edge...

Darth_Shinji · Post by **Darth_Shinji** » 2003-10-06 10:21pm

Well that makes it difficult to stop them. Truth be told you've picked the worse type for modern day humanity to stop, since modern day tech helps them more than it hinders. The whole point of Bram Strokers novel is if Dracula became acuistomed to modern tech he would be really hard to kill. Crosses can't stop bullets.

Now I'm not saying they can take over the world or anything. But once they split up and leave the city they would be nearly impossibile to hunt down.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-10-06 10:21pm

We could probably get some enlightened vampires on our side. That could help.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-10-06 10:59pm

There would be a whole "VAMPIRES ARE SATANS ARMY!" uprising in the South, while groups of pacifist (read: animal blood for sustanence) vampires start rallying for equal rights.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2003-10-06 11:30pm

SirNitram wrote: The biggest problem is modern portrayal of vampires distorts their weaknesses horribly out of line with Bram Stoker/Traditional levels. Dracula was out during the day, as were several of the period. They simply had no(Or greatly weakened) powers. Driving a stake into a vampire when it's standing will get it to laugh and you and break your neck: The stake is there to hold the thing to the ground while you behead it. And stuff it's mouth with something. Even in a household where mythology is conversasion, Tev and I can't recall if it's Garlic or Holy Wafers.

Don't ask me why I remember, but its Holy Wafers.

Some legends said putting the head in natural running water would work, but wafers were always good.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-10-06 11:32pm

DPDarkPrimus wrote:There would be a whole "VAMPIRES ARE SATANS ARMY!" uprising in the South, while groups of pacifist (read: animal blood for sustanence) vampires start rallying for equal rights.

What about the hardcore that would want the vampires to not feed off of any animal life?

Yup they have to go vegan and drink only vegetable juice.

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2003-10-07 12:06am

Would modern explosives here this vampire variant?

If so, a large swat team, or marine unit, armed with lots of fragmentation and themite grenades firing into the buildings they are in would neutralize them.

And they are not invulerable. Just riddle there legs with automatic weapons fires until they can't stand, then stake and bake them (stake, holy wafer, head amputation)

Either that, or they'd disappear and start running blood banks like they seem to in movies

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-10-07 12:30am

Solauren wrote: And they are not invulerable. Just riddle there legs with automatic weapons fires until they can't stand, then stake and bake them (stake, holy wafer, head amputation)

This raises the question of whether or not they can turn to mist... mist is a pretty good way to avoid bullets.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2003-10-07 02:40am

DPDarkPrimus wrote:This raises the question of whether or not they can turn to mist... mist is a pretty good way to avoid bullets.

They can. They must, however, sleep upon Transylvanian dirt each day or they will be destroyed. In addition, they can be killed with a stake through the heart, and sunlight.

Stoker's vampires were strong, agile, and immortal in the sense that they did not age beyond middle age, and did not die of natural causes. They can control certain natural forces (ie. wolves), maintain small "harems" of vampires, and are extremely cosmopolitan. Identifying vampires is problematic; killing one is even harder.

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2003-10-07 02:56am

Master of Ossus wrote:
DPDarkPrimus wrote:This raises the question of whether or not they can turn to mist... mist is a pretty good way to avoid bullets.
They can. They must, however, sleep upon Transylvanian dirt each day or they will be destroyed. In addition, they can be killed with a stake through the heart, and sunlight.

Stoker's vampires were strong, agile, and immortal in the sense that they did not age beyond middle age, and did not die of natural causes. They can control certain natural forces (ie. wolves), maintain small "harems" of vampires, and are extremely cosmopolitan. Identifying vampires is problematic; killing one is even harder.

Well, sorted then, they won't even get through American customs...

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-10-07 03:36am

Do vampires have normal human body temperature?

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2003-10-07 03:48am

No, I remember in Stoker's novel (I think it was his) after the girl was turned, her skin was ice cold.

lgot · Post by **lgot** » 2003-10-07 11:29am

Stoker's vampires could not be killed by sunlight - Dracula could walk in daylight, he was actually only with his supernatural powers moderated (no mists, wolf, bat).
But they could not cross running water. Funny isnt ? Van Helsing killed Dracula -and he was what...just a dude with sword and pistols. In fact, Stoker's vampires are nowhere that powerful or invulnerable...

Majin Gojira · Post by **Majin Gojira** » 2003-10-07 11:33am

They aren't that strong or powerful compared to modern uberwanked vamps, but Stoker vamps are a lot harder to kill because specific things need to be done...

Darth_Shinji · Post by **Darth_Shinji** » 2003-10-07 03:28pm

lgot wrote:Stoker's vampires could not be killed by sunlight - Dracula could walk in daylight, he was actually only with his supernatural powers moderated (no mists, wolf, bat).
But they could not cross running water. Funny isnt ? Van Helsing killed Dracula -and he was what...just a dude with sword and pistols. In fact, Stoker's vampires are nowhere that powerful or invulnerable...

Actaully.....No Dracula never did die. There was a short story that was suppose to be published with Dracula that indicated he lived. You can find it on the net easly enought.

And guys these vampires are from america. They need soil of thier native land, not trannselvaina soil.

BlkbrryTheGreat · Post by **BlkbrryTheGreat** » 2003-10-07 03:39pm

I would say that unless they actually do something "wrong" they should be left alone.

LordShaithis · Post by **LordShaithis** » 2003-10-07 03:46pm

So you send out a SWAT team with Predator-style goggles, dum-dum bullets, and flamethrowers, with orders to smoke anyone who's too cold. Problem solved.

BlkbrryTheGreat · Post by **BlkbrryTheGreat** » 2003-10-07 03:49pm

GrandAdmiralPrawn wrote:So you send out a SWAT team with Predator-style goggles, dum-dum bullets, and flamethrowers, with orders to smoke anyone who's too cold. Problem solved.

Wow, what a fine idea... perfectly consistent with the American ideals of justice

Darth_Shinji · Post by **Darth_Shinji** » 2003-10-07 04:04pm

GrandAdmiralPrawn wrote:So you send out a SWAT team with Predator-style goggles, dum-dum bullets, and flamethrowers, with orders to smoke anyone who's too cold. Problem solved.

*Vampire laughs and turns mist, flies to the rooftop on the otherside of the street with the stashed sniper rifle for just such a situation. *

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2003-10-07 04:47pm

lgot wrote:But they could not cross running water. Funny isnt ? Van Helsing killed Dracula -and he was what...just a dude with sword and pistols. In fact, Stoker's vampires are nowhere that powerful or invulnerable...

Van Helsing didn't really kill Dracula. If you examine the circumstances of the final sequence in the book, it actually becomes an interesting political allegory. When Van Helsing stabs Dracula, Dracula turns himself into a mist and the characters no longer see him. However, the question as to whether or not he actually died remained open until Stoker wrote a follow-up, in which Dracula was still alive but had retreated due to weariness of his "life."