Post by The Librarian on Jul 9, 2016 14:41:43 GMT -7
Viral Vampirism is most known from the Blade and Underworld series. Though they aren't the exact same, they are close enough to be talked about together.
Viral vampires are intricately involved in modern human society often utilizing the latest advanced technology while still clinging to the fineries of the past. Viral Vampirism broadly shares many of the characteristics of vampirism in wider folkloric and popular culture, but differs in many details. Significant differences between viral vampires and the folkoric depiction of vampires include the definition of vampirism as a biological condition, and not just a supernatural affliction. This means, for example, that viral vampires are not affected by religious symbols such as crucifixes and holy water. Garlic, silver and sunlight are explained as severe allergies or some other form of reaction. Blade and Underworld differ on whether silver hurts vampires and Garlic is not mentioned in Underworld. In the Blade universe vampires are also adversely effected by a blood thinner known as EDTA, this is often fatal. Other attributes traditionally associated with the folkloric description of vampirism such as turning into mist or a bat, or living hermit-like lives, also are not depicted as common. Though specific individuals such as Drake/Dracula (Blade) and Marcus (Underworld) do possess some ability to shape shift. These two are unique however and both are seen as the progenitors of their kind in their respective universes.
In the Blade universe, vampirism is a virus transmitted through the vampire's saliva during a neck bite, made by the vampire's fangs when feeding, or by dying with vampire blood in one's system or after being bitten. It takes approximately 72 hours after infection for the virus to effect a mutation in the victim to become a vampire, considered here as a new life form. This life form's blood cells cannot produce hemoglobin and so must feed on human blood. The diet of humans is edible to vampires, but provides little to no nutritional value. This need for human blood is known as "The Thirst".
The time it takes for the virus to work in underworld is unknown, but would likely be similar. The virus can be spread through contact blood or saliva, and possibly other bodily fluids. No explanation is given for the underworld virus to cause "The Thirst". A Vampire's transformation is not nearly as startling as that of their Lycan counterparts. When they transform, their eyes turn a startling shade of electric blue or bright gold, while their canine teeth lengthen to become pointed fangs.
Between Blade and Underworld, vampires In their normal or "relaxed" state look like normal humans, except their teeth are distinctly elongated and pointed. This is noticeable, but not nearly as evident as when they are ready to feed.
The virus endows the vampire with an improved metabolism and other biological functions that grant numerous improved or even superhuman physical and mental capabilities. These are made possible via new specialized organs created during the mutation process.
Such physical capabilities include:
Immortality Viral vampires seem to be able to live forever. This is more true in the underworld series where elder vampires look the same as they did when they were turned. In blade some elders are shown to have aged to a point where they become frail, though diet may play a part in this. Pure blood vampires appear to age to a certain point and then stagnate. In Blade, a 300 year old pure blood looks like a girl in her pre or early teens. It is not known how fast they age in underworld.
Strength: For example, the ability to leap large distances and to deliver powerful blows which can throw an adult male human across the room; the impact of such blows are able to crack solid surfaces such as concrete. Selene and several other Death Dealers are seen leaping from very high places; at least 10 stories in some places, and landing without injury or harm. She is powerful enough to survive a shotgun blast in the chest at point blank range (though the corset the female Death Dealers wear is most likely bullet proof, it could not come close to absorbing a shotgun blast), and easily throws Hungarian police officers around with little effort.
Speed:For example, the ability to dodge bullets and move faster than the eye can see.
Agility: Vampires move with great agility, flexibility, and reflexes. They are also able to scale sheer surfaces including walls and ceilings.
Healing Factor: Wounds tend only to slow the vampire down, and the vampire recovers faster (even in some cases regeneration lost body parts). This process is accelerated by the consumption of human blood.
Senses: Vampires have greatly heightened senses including smell and hearing and the ability see in the dark and (in the Blade series) perceive the ultraviolet spectrum.
In both Blade and Underworld, the Elder vampires are more powerful. They have had longer to learn and develop their abilities. In underworld, Elders are shown to be able to take memories from blood.
Vampires in Blade universe belong to different Tribes. Dependent on their Tribe, vampires will additionally possess specific strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Reapers are able to scale almost any surface like spiders, or even standing perpendicular to the wall (as seen in Blade II). However, Reapers are severely allergic to silver, sunlight, garlic and EDTA, exposure to which can result in spontaneous combustion or turning into ash. This process is known by fans as 'ashing'.
The pure blood or non-pure blood status of a vampire also affects their social standing and physical abilities. In later versions, new strains such as the 'Reaper' strain also affect the vampires' abilities.
Vampires are divided into two specific species categories: pure blood and non-pure blood, which carry specific connotations reflected in their society and hierarchy. Pure bloods are born as vampires, the offspring of two people who are already vampires. Non-pure blood ('turned') vampires have had a human existence before being turned into a vampire.
Pure bloods remain youthful during very long lives, for example Charlotte, a pure blood vampire of the House of Chthon is about 300 years old and still maintains the youthful appearance of an adolescent girl. A pure-blood vampire that looks like a full-grown adult is, then, truly ancient.
This youthfulness is due to pure blood ability to biologically regenerate from birth, meaning that unless injured with silver, they will heal all injuries flawlessly. It is also implied that they can see in light levels considerably below that of human visibility. While all vampires are capable of having offspring both through reproduction and 'turning', the birth-rate between mating pure bloods is so low that it is practically non-existent.
A pure-blood vampire is unable to become a human again, due to the condition being fixed in their DNA. This is not the case with non-pure bloods. In the first Blade film, a retrovirus is found that can return non-pure bloods to their human status.
These differences result in a class system divided according to pure blood or non-pure blood status. Pure bloods derive their importance from the 'incorruptibility' of their lineage and accordingly tend to take positions of dominance, regarding themselves as superior. Non-pure bloods are often in lower positions such as lackeys, minions or lieutenants. Non-pure blood reaction to this state of affairs is diverse; some accept the hierarchy as natural or even regard pure bloods as gods, while others look upon pure bloods with disdain.
Reapers
appear for the first time in Blade II. The character Eli Damaskinos, an ancient non-pure blood vampire elder, created this strain of the breed in a quest to eliminate the weaknesses of the vampire race. Carriers of the Reaper strain are known as 'Reapers'. Their heightened metabolism prompts them to feed more often, which causes the strain to spread rapidly. With the exception of the first Reaper, Jared Nomak, they are incapable of human speech, communicating through snarls and growls, though they retain enough intelligence to follow Nomak's orders, attack in an organized way, and set traps for their enemies and prey.
Strengths and weaknesses
Reapers gain distinct advantages over other vampires.
A thick case of bone covering their heart in the front and back, making it near-impossible to be staked directly.
A 'three-way' jaw, where the left and right sides of the mouth have fangs that inject a neurotoxin to paralyze their victims while feeding. This jaw is easily concealed, allowing the Reaper to surprise the victim.
The ability to transfer the Reaper strain to victims through a bite.
The ability to turn even a dead victim into a Reaper.
A highly evolved 'thirst' which allows them feed on both humans and normal vampires alike.
Even greater speed, strength, and ability to withstand injury than normal vampires.
Total resistance to silver and garlic.
Improved resistance to normal vampire weaknesses such as EDTA.
The only Reaper weaknesses are their intolerance to sunlight and/or ultraviolet rays, which causes them to combust almost instantly; as well as the constant pain caused by the virus in their systems. Impaling a Reaper through the heart is possible, but difficult due to the extra layer of bone. Additionally, with the exception of Nomak, all other Reapers are so dependent on blood that their bodies will start to consume themselves if they are unable to feed for a couple of hours, although their bodies will still try and 'feed' even after their brains die.
Jared Nomak
Nomak possesses the common powers of the Reapers. However in addition to this, perhaps as he is the first Reaper, Nomak seems to be in much more control of his 'thirst' than the other Reapers he turns, and his physiology allows him to go for longer periods between feedings than his fellows. Nomak also retains all of his higher brain functions, not only relying on his basic instincts to feed, but also being able to formulate plans and initiate dialogue.
Hybrids
In underworld there are three viruses- the Corvinus strain, Vampirism, and Lycanthropy. Vampirism and Lycanthropy are mutations of the Corvinus strain.
Selene was given the blood of Alexander Corvinus to make her strong enough to stand up to his son Marcus. Other than increased speed and strength and the ability to withstand sunlight it is not known what effects this will have on her capabilities but it does seem to increase her regenerative powers as she was able to take Markus' wing talon through the chest and recover extremly quickly.
Lycan-Vampire Hybrid
The physical appearance of a hybrid varies depending on the dominance of its "parent" species. A Hybrid with a Lycan dominant side resembles a Lycan in appearance. However, their faces are only slightly elongated, and their eyes are completely black. They also have little or no fur and blueish-grey skin. They have talons like a Lycan, and the animalistic posture of a Lycan. Michael Corvin was the only Hybrid of this kind but may have had certain unique attributes as he was also a direct descendant of the original immortal. These hybrids can assume a human appearance.
Vampire-Lycan Hybrid
A Hybrid who was a Vampire first, on the other hand, has more physical attributes portraying its Vampire ancestry. While it shares the black eyes, grey skin, Lycan talons and musculature of a Lycan dominant Hybrid, a Vampire dominant Hybrid has noticeably bat-like ears flattened into its head, a bat-like nose, no hair at all and taloned wings. Marcus Corvinus was the only hybrid of this kind but may have had certain unique attributes as he was also the original Vampire. These hybrids can assume a human appearance.
Viral vampires are intricately involved in modern human society often utilizing the latest advanced technology while still clinging to the fineries of the past. Viral Vampirism broadly shares many of the characteristics of vampirism in wider folkloric and popular culture, but differs in many details. Significant differences between viral vampires and the folkoric depiction of vampires include the definition of vampirism as a biological condition, and not just a supernatural affliction. This means, for example, that viral vampires are not affected by religious symbols such as crucifixes and holy water. Garlic, silver and sunlight are explained as severe allergies or some other form of reaction. Blade and Underworld differ on whether silver hurts vampires and Garlic is not mentioned in Underworld. In the Blade universe vampires are also adversely effected by a blood thinner known as EDTA, this is often fatal. Other attributes traditionally associated with the folkloric description of vampirism such as turning into mist or a bat, or living hermit-like lives, also are not depicted as common. Though specific individuals such as Drake/Dracula (Blade) and Marcus (Underworld) do possess some ability to shape shift. These two are unique however and both are seen as the progenitors of their kind in their respective universes.
In the Blade universe, vampirism is a virus transmitted through the vampire's saliva during a neck bite, made by the vampire's fangs when feeding, or by dying with vampire blood in one's system or after being bitten. It takes approximately 72 hours after infection for the virus to effect a mutation in the victim to become a vampire, considered here as a new life form. This life form's blood cells cannot produce hemoglobin and so must feed on human blood. The diet of humans is edible to vampires, but provides little to no nutritional value. This need for human blood is known as "The Thirst".
The time it takes for the virus to work in underworld is unknown, but would likely be similar. The virus can be spread through contact blood or saliva, and possibly other bodily fluids. No explanation is given for the underworld virus to cause "The Thirst". A Vampire's transformation is not nearly as startling as that of their Lycan counterparts. When they transform, their eyes turn a startling shade of electric blue or bright gold, while their canine teeth lengthen to become pointed fangs.
Between Blade and Underworld, vampires In their normal or "relaxed" state look like normal humans, except their teeth are distinctly elongated and pointed. This is noticeable, but not nearly as evident as when they are ready to feed.
The virus endows the vampire with an improved metabolism and other biological functions that grant numerous improved or even superhuman physical and mental capabilities. These are made possible via new specialized organs created during the mutation process.
Such physical capabilities include:
Immortality Viral vampires seem to be able to live forever. This is more true in the underworld series where elder vampires look the same as they did when they were turned. In blade some elders are shown to have aged to a point where they become frail, though diet may play a part in this. Pure blood vampires appear to age to a certain point and then stagnate. In Blade, a 300 year old pure blood looks like a girl in her pre or early teens. It is not known how fast they age in underworld.
Strength: For example, the ability to leap large distances and to deliver powerful blows which can throw an adult male human across the room; the impact of such blows are able to crack solid surfaces such as concrete. Selene and several other Death Dealers are seen leaping from very high places; at least 10 stories in some places, and landing without injury or harm. She is powerful enough to survive a shotgun blast in the chest at point blank range (though the corset the female Death Dealers wear is most likely bullet proof, it could not come close to absorbing a shotgun blast), and easily throws Hungarian police officers around with little effort.
Speed:For example, the ability to dodge bullets and move faster than the eye can see.
Agility: Vampires move with great agility, flexibility, and reflexes. They are also able to scale sheer surfaces including walls and ceilings.
Healing Factor: Wounds tend only to slow the vampire down, and the vampire recovers faster (even in some cases regeneration lost body parts). This process is accelerated by the consumption of human blood.
Senses: Vampires have greatly heightened senses including smell and hearing and the ability see in the dark and (in the Blade series) perceive the ultraviolet spectrum.
In both Blade and Underworld, the Elder vampires are more powerful. They have had longer to learn and develop their abilities. In underworld, Elders are shown to be able to take memories from blood.
Vampires in Blade universe belong to different Tribes. Dependent on their Tribe, vampires will additionally possess specific strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Reapers are able to scale almost any surface like spiders, or even standing perpendicular to the wall (as seen in Blade II). However, Reapers are severely allergic to silver, sunlight, garlic and EDTA, exposure to which can result in spontaneous combustion or turning into ash. This process is known by fans as 'ashing'.
The pure blood or non-pure blood status of a vampire also affects their social standing and physical abilities. In later versions, new strains such as the 'Reaper' strain also affect the vampires' abilities.
Vampires are divided into two specific species categories: pure blood and non-pure blood, which carry specific connotations reflected in their society and hierarchy. Pure bloods are born as vampires, the offspring of two people who are already vampires. Non-pure blood ('turned') vampires have had a human existence before being turned into a vampire.
Pure bloods remain youthful during very long lives, for example Charlotte, a pure blood vampire of the House of Chthon is about 300 years old and still maintains the youthful appearance of an adolescent girl. A pure-blood vampire that looks like a full-grown adult is, then, truly ancient.
This youthfulness is due to pure blood ability to biologically regenerate from birth, meaning that unless injured with silver, they will heal all injuries flawlessly. It is also implied that they can see in light levels considerably below that of human visibility. While all vampires are capable of having offspring both through reproduction and 'turning', the birth-rate between mating pure bloods is so low that it is practically non-existent.
A pure-blood vampire is unable to become a human again, due to the condition being fixed in their DNA. This is not the case with non-pure bloods. In the first Blade film, a retrovirus is found that can return non-pure bloods to their human status.
These differences result in a class system divided according to pure blood or non-pure blood status. Pure bloods derive their importance from the 'incorruptibility' of their lineage and accordingly tend to take positions of dominance, regarding themselves as superior. Non-pure bloods are often in lower positions such as lackeys, minions or lieutenants. Non-pure blood reaction to this state of affairs is diverse; some accept the hierarchy as natural or even regard pure bloods as gods, while others look upon pure bloods with disdain.
Reapers
appear for the first time in Blade II. The character Eli Damaskinos, an ancient non-pure blood vampire elder, created this strain of the breed in a quest to eliminate the weaknesses of the vampire race. Carriers of the Reaper strain are known as 'Reapers'. Their heightened metabolism prompts them to feed more often, which causes the strain to spread rapidly. With the exception of the first Reaper, Jared Nomak, they are incapable of human speech, communicating through snarls and growls, though they retain enough intelligence to follow Nomak's orders, attack in an organized way, and set traps for their enemies and prey.
Strengths and weaknesses
Reapers gain distinct advantages over other vampires.
A thick case of bone covering their heart in the front and back, making it near-impossible to be staked directly.
A 'three-way' jaw, where the left and right sides of the mouth have fangs that inject a neurotoxin to paralyze their victims while feeding. This jaw is easily concealed, allowing the Reaper to surprise the victim.
The ability to transfer the Reaper strain to victims through a bite.
The ability to turn even a dead victim into a Reaper.
A highly evolved 'thirst' which allows them feed on both humans and normal vampires alike.
Even greater speed, strength, and ability to withstand injury than normal vampires.
Total resistance to silver and garlic.
Improved resistance to normal vampire weaknesses such as EDTA.
The only Reaper weaknesses are their intolerance to sunlight and/or ultraviolet rays, which causes them to combust almost instantly; as well as the constant pain caused by the virus in their systems. Impaling a Reaper through the heart is possible, but difficult due to the extra layer of bone. Additionally, with the exception of Nomak, all other Reapers are so dependent on blood that their bodies will start to consume themselves if they are unable to feed for a couple of hours, although their bodies will still try and 'feed' even after their brains die.
Jared Nomak
Nomak possesses the common powers of the Reapers. However in addition to this, perhaps as he is the first Reaper, Nomak seems to be in much more control of his 'thirst' than the other Reapers he turns, and his physiology allows him to go for longer periods between feedings than his fellows. Nomak also retains all of his higher brain functions, not only relying on his basic instincts to feed, but also being able to formulate plans and initiate dialogue.
Hybrids
In underworld there are three viruses- the Corvinus strain, Vampirism, and Lycanthropy. Vampirism and Lycanthropy are mutations of the Corvinus strain.
Selene was given the blood of Alexander Corvinus to make her strong enough to stand up to his son Marcus. Other than increased speed and strength and the ability to withstand sunlight it is not known what effects this will have on her capabilities but it does seem to increase her regenerative powers as she was able to take Markus' wing talon through the chest and recover extremly quickly.
Lycan-Vampire Hybrid
The physical appearance of a hybrid varies depending on the dominance of its "parent" species. A Hybrid with a Lycan dominant side resembles a Lycan in appearance. However, their faces are only slightly elongated, and their eyes are completely black. They also have little or no fur and blueish-grey skin. They have talons like a Lycan, and the animalistic posture of a Lycan. Michael Corvin was the only Hybrid of this kind but may have had certain unique attributes as he was also a direct descendant of the original immortal. These hybrids can assume a human appearance.
Vampire-Lycan Hybrid
A Hybrid who was a Vampire first, on the other hand, has more physical attributes portraying its Vampire ancestry. While it shares the black eyes, grey skin, Lycan talons and musculature of a Lycan dominant Hybrid, a Vampire dominant Hybrid has noticeably bat-like ears flattened into its head, a bat-like nose, no hair at all and taloned wings. Marcus Corvinus was the only hybrid of this kind but may have had certain unique attributes as he was also the original Vampire. These hybrids can assume a human appearance.