the building blocks of life — may seek to escape into the earth, there to develop into mushroom spawn that lies dormant until a time of maximum opportunity. How the 'vampire essence' or mushroom germs recognize this one opportune moment remains unknown. In Transylvanian legends, as in those of Sunside, certain vampire Lords store native soil and sleep upon it — clear evidence of the instinct for survival. And once again, immemorial Sunside myths have it that the Drakuls — an especially infamous line of Lords — kept loam from Starside's swamps for the same purpose, against just such an eventuality.
'FINAL PHASE: The True Death.
'Decapitated, a vampire dies. (There is no brain for the leech to control to its own ends — but the symbiont itself may still attempt to escape its host's termination). However, the bulk of a symbiont is located mainly on the left or heart side of its host's spine, and a stake driven through the heart will usually suffice to pin the creature there, for a time at least. A stake soaked in garlic will certainly do the job, for garlic, like silver, is a quick-acting poison to vampire flesh. But the only sure way to kill a vampire is to burn it to ashes. Wherefore Sunside's Szgany stake, decapitate, and burn all vampire manifestations wherever possible. Only then can they be certain that the vampire has died the 'True Death.' 'There exists one other phase in the vampire life-cycle. (See 'Egg-son' or '- daughter' in the next section following). VAMPIRISM: Infection, Deliberate and Accidental. 'By a bite. The virulence of a vampire's bite, which is usually delivered in the act of feeding, would seem to differ from vampire to vampire. But the bite of a Lord of the Wamphyri is especially infectious. It can cause delirium and death, though not necessarily the True Death. When a Lord (or Lady) seeks to 'recruit' a vampire thrall or servitor, the bite isn't usually deep and little blood is taken. In this case the bite has been used to transmit vampire DNA, but only in an amount sufficient to bring about the first phase of the change. It may then take years for a leech to develop and the servitor — or, later, the 'lieutenant' — to 'ascend' and become Wamphyri.
'But when a Lord or Lady's bite is excessive and too much plasma is taken — and a commensurate amount of vampire essence transfused — then the result may be 'death' of a sort, lasting the specified three days. Then, too, when the victim ascends it will be with the germ of a leech established and growing within him.
' 'Accidental' infection may occur when an infected animal (such as a dog, fox, or wolf), fighting to avoid entrapment or/ and execution, bites a human being. In such a case it is possible for a person bitten in this manner to develop the characteristics of the original host beast. This is the proven source of the werewolf legend; it seems feasible that in Earth's past there were even 'genuine' vampire bats other than Desmodus and Diphylla.
'Accidental infection may also occur when vampire blood is spilled, such as in Sunside executions of suspect vampires by the Szgany. In common with AIDS and similar contagious diseases, open wounds and mucous membranes are especially susceptible. Even healthy, whole skin splashed with a vampire's blood or urine should be treated immediately. (Oil of garlic applied with a silver scraper is the best remedy, though no guarantees may be given).
'The most definite, and definitely the most effective form of vampiric infection is obtained when a Lord or Lady wishes to create an 'egg-son' or 'daughter.' Apart from one rare exception (see 'Mother,' below) a symbiont leech is capable of producing only one cryptogenetic 'egg' during its lifespan. In this the parasite relies on the judgement of its usually human host to provide a superior vessel for habitation. The egg — a flexible ciliolate spheroid half an inch in diameter — is 'willed' into being by the vampire host and passed on mouth to mouth, or by sexual intercourse, or by simple spillage when it must find its own way. 'A spilled egg, being protoplasmic, will seep through the skin of a designated host or other acceptable vessel, interacting with him to cause speedy infection and transformation. Any such changeling is considered to have ascended and is Wamphyri.
'Not all exchanges of bodily fluids between vampires (the Wamphyri) and human beings are necessarily infectious. The vampire has a degree of control over his parasite, and also over his blood and other plasma fluids. A Lady of the Wamphyri may consort with a human lover without converting him. She simply avoids taking his blood, and following intercourse 'wills' her vampire essence to destroy his sperm. Likewise a Lord may will his sperm free of vampiric influence to keep a concubine pristine.
'This cannot in any way be taken as indicative of love or even affection; it is simply that the Wamphyri do not casually 'create' other Wamphyri! Egg-and bloodsons and daughters are chosen with infinite care, and among the reasons are these:
'A powerful egg-son may one day usurp the father; knowing and even accepting this, the nature of the man, the prospective host, must first be explored to the full. And egg-daughters — as all Wamphyri Ladies — are treated with great care not only by their sires but also other Lords, because while the occurrence is rare, nevertheless the occasional Lady will prove to be a 'Mother' or breeder of vampires. The exception that disproves the general rule, a Mother's parasite has the ability to spawn a great many more than the usual single egg…
'THE NATURE OF VAMPIRES: A Possible Explanation of the Wamphyri Lifestyle.
'The Wamphyri are aggressive, tenacious, territorial, egotistical, ruthless, and unrepentantly evil, and proceed in each mode or mood with passions exaggerated to a degree quite beyond human understanding. By our standards they are deranged.
'It appears that the symbiont leeches are directly responsible for their hosts' invariably antagonistic natures: unless the host is made strong, the parasite cannot be certain of its own longevity. Lacking aggression the host would be seen to be weak, easy prey to his contemporaries. And without tenacity or the will to survive, he must fail. If territory exists for the taking, a vampire will take it; extending his boundaries makes a Lord safer within his own sphere of jurisdiction. And as for ruthlessness: since the driving instinct of the leech is survival, the question of law and order
— and especially justice — never arises. Might is the only right. The 'evil' of the Great Vampire springs naturally from all of his other vices. An intelligent being may not be aggressive, ruthless and territorial — and of course a merciless killer — without being unrepentantly evil.
'As for the vampire's ego: that becomes glaringly evident in the pride he takes in his evil. According to Szgany legends, the first of the Wamphyri was Shaitan — in our world, Satan. And pride (or ego, as we understand it) was his downfall, too.
'It will have been noticed that the above vices are identical with Man's, forming in the main our definition of evil. In that respect it should also be pointed out that the vampire has no recognition of evil. 'Regret', 'shame' or 'guilt' are in all probability words that he does not accept, or emotions which — if experienced at all
— are held in abeyance by his parasite.
'As for any comparison with Man's evil: the scale of difference
— the enormity of the gap between ours and the vampire's capacity for evil — simply does not allow for comparison. Vampires are in themselves the Ultimate Evil.
'DISEASES and VULNERABILITIES:
'The Wamphyri shrug off most diseases common to man; their leeches produce antibodies to order. There is one ailment, however, whose morbid encroachment may only be delayed by the symbiont's healing powers and the host's protoplasmic DNA. Leprosy, 'the bane of vampires,' disfigures and kills them no less than it kills wholly human beings, but the disease's progression is usually far slower in the Wamphyri. The symbiont is itself susceptible to the disease, and once the infection breaks through a vampire's resistance to infect the leech the process becomes irreversible and the True Death results.
'Silver is a poison to the Wamphyri. The mythical 'silver cross' may well turn aside or stay a vampire's hand, but not by virtue of any mysterious religious power in the cross. The silver itself is the deterrent and may not be considered a 'supernatural' element in this regard but simply a poison to the Wamphyri, much as mercury, lead, and plutonium are poisons to Man. But it does more nearly compare with plutonium in this respect, as it is quite deadly when used correctly. (NOTE: In E-Branch, while the supernatural is never scorned, neither is it accepted until scientific explanations have been ruled out.)
'Silver will sear the vampire's flesh. Wounded with a silver knife, the wound will take longer to heal and leave a permanent scar. Injected internally, as by a shotgun using silver shot, or a gun firing silver bullets, it will cripple and even kill. Vampire flesh damaged by silver in this way must be shed and new flesh manufactured by a protoplasmic process.
'Garlic is also a poison. And once again, no supernatural reason is attached; garlic is simply poisonous to the vampire, even as various fungi, poisoned ivy, and many fruits and vegetables are poisonous to Man. The smell of garlic, offensive to many humans, is emetic to the vampire; its oil will sting him, causing his flesh to slough; taken internally, if it does not kill him it will certainly damage organs and make it difficult for the symbiont to effect repairs. The Szgany of Sunside make extensive use of garlic, not only in their cooking but also as a poison with
