This week we are going to look at the basic idea of a vampire, one of the most complicated of undead archetypes.
As is somewhat identifiable from these three examples, vampires, especially from a contemporary viewpoint, have very little that bridge gaps between different incarnations. On the most basic level, vampires are undead, and often have a connection to the night, and to blood, however even these requirements have been foregone in some characters that take the name of vampire. Instead, I will list all vampire characteristics I can find, and give you my guess as to how often they manifest in vampires as a whole.
Being Undead, 100% - While not all vampires must be born as a human, die, and return, even when vampires are born, it is often specified that they are stillborn, and emerge as undead from the process, often resulting in an extremely painful, and often very dangerous birth.
Drinking Blood, 99% - Drinking blood, even if not necessary for survival, is something almost universal among vampires. While the specifics of blood-drinking, whether it be required for continued life, if it must be straight from a living animal, only from humans, or if it can be synthetically recreated are up for debate between each iteration, vampires often have a compulsion to drink blood.
Fangs, 95% - As most vampires drink blood, they must also require some way to access that blood. Often times this is through a set of overly sharp canines on the top jaw. These fangs may suck the blood of a victim directly through them, or could serve simply as an easy way to cause blood to spill from the necks of their prey.
Weakness to Sunlight, 90% - A weakness to sunlight is extremely common among vampires, however, the extent to this weakness varies. Some vampires may instantaneously combust and turn to ash in any exposure to sunlight, some may begin to burn, slowly breaking down to the UV rays, while others may simply suffer from reduced energy or a general weaker state.
Paleness, 80% - Vampires are often recognized first by an extremely pale complexion, either due to the lack of sunlight or from the body no longer pumping blood through their own bodies. While this is a very common characteristic, some vampires feature a different complexion change, such as to blue, or perhaps completely changing forms.
Enhanced Physical Abilities, 75% - Increased speed, strength, and reflexes are very common among vampires, specifically at night. In some cases though, vampires may be seen as frail, fragile beings due to their reliance on drinking blood.
Animal Forms, 70% - While most would think bats, I decided to generalize this idea to animal forms, as Dracula was described as being able to transform into various creatures of the night, including wolves. Bats, however, are the most common animal form seen adopted by vampires. This is often used as a form of camouflage or transportation, but it can also serve as an extra form to suck blood in some cases.
Garlic, 60% - Garlic may not always work as a deterrent for vampires, however, even in the circumstances it fails to ward them off, it may be referenced, and mocked by the vampire themself.
Mirrors, 50% - Now we are getting to the point that these characteristics are more referential and fun ideas rather than central to vampires as characters. Vampires, in some cases, do not appear in mirrors, however, it is usually more complicated than that. They may not appear in any reflection of themselves, including the water, on film, or in pictures. Makes you wonder why they are often so attractive.
Flight, >40% - Sometimes vampires can just fly as they are. Requiring no wings or transformation. This is often chalked up to some sort of magic that the vampires have within them and does not often arise in the vampires that go for a more realistic approach.
Wooden Stakes, >30% - Wooden stakes can sometimes be seen as a weakness for vampires, them returning from death if killed in any other way. This is usually parodied, similar to the garlic, as contemporary vampires are less complicated to kill.
Holy Water, >25% - Another way to weaken a vampire. It often works in a similar way to sunlight to those that it affects, burning them in a very painful way.
The remaining characteristics, such as arithmomania mentioned in a previous vampire breakdown, or their inability to enter buildings or cross waterways, are used so infrequently they are not worth mentioning.
The spookiness of vampires is high as a basic undead. They often possess abilities directly related to fear, such as increased stealth due to animal transformations, visual changes that make them look closer to a corpse than a living person, and disturbing feeding ability. 7/10.
The danger of a basic vampire is not earth-shattering, but they certainly would have no problem defeating single targets, or even small groups. While it would be possible to overpower a vampire with sheer force, they usually require specific items to put them down for good. 6/10.
The transformation of a basic vampire is around a 3. The paleness and fangs are the most common visual changes, with little else to go on.
The origins of the term vampire aren't locked down exactly. It is assumed to be of Serbian origin for corpses that arise and suck blood from their victims, which is pretty apt. It is a very popular term, and I would find it very strange for an adult to not know the term vampire and some ideas behind them. 9/10.
Renesmee Cullen's Wiki page - https://twilightsaga.fandom.com/wiki/Renesmee_Cullen
Marceline the Vampire Queen's Wiki Page - https://adventuretime.fandom.com/wiki/Marceline#Current_
The Vampire Wiki Page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire