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Post by Tannaidhe on Oct 9, 2005 18:59:24 GMT -5
I have begun to wonder lately if there is some kernel of truth to the V:tM nonsense of 'generations' and the thinning of the blood through the ages.
Now, before people start writing this of as a ridiculous post, listen to what I've been musing over.
Obviously, I don't think that we are divided into 'clans' and our power is determined by our distance from some progenitor of the race. But on the flipside, we do have something similar to 'clans'... there are sang vamps, psivamps, storm vamps, sexual vamps... and different feeding ways/abilities within them. Also, some vamps have little-to-no 'augmentation'... their senses are pretty much normal, they have no empathy or psi-abilities... then there are those that have an abundance of them.
Also, there are some who insist that they have been turned or can turn someone, and others that say they have tried and it is impossible.
There are at least a dozen other idiosyncracies in the community, which is why it is so hard to pin down what a vampire is or isn't, or can and can't do.
What if there has indeed been a sort of 'thinning of the blood' over the centuries? If whatever it was, in the annals of time, that made us what we are has grown weaker, whether it is in the soul or in the genetics, or whatever?
Whatever you think the cause of vampirism, it makes sense... if you think it is in the soul, well, the more lives a vampire soul lives, the more tired it grows, and thus the less power. If it is in the genetics, imperfect replication, or natural selection in that we don't need/use the power as much, or whatever, has made the traits weaker.
This would explain why the old stories of vampires seem to imply that our ancestors were so much more powerful, why we almost seem pathetic in comparison.
Of course, I may just be chasing a wild hare, too. This little thoery could be completely bogus. But, it's something I've been musing on lately, and figured I'd share. ;D
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Molly
Established Member
Sang Faery?
Posts: 108
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Post by Molly on Oct 28, 2005 2:26:31 GMT -5
I guess it all depends on how you define "old stories." Many of the vampires in folklore were rotted/rotting corpses, and in some cases not even whole bodies. Compared to those, we seem far better off! I'd much rather be me than just a head with dangling entrails. Now, if you're going back several milennia, I suppose that could be a different story, since I don't know a whole heck of a lot about ancient vampire mythology. Definitely good brain candy, though! Think I'll chew on it a while myself.
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Molly
Established Member
Sang Faery?
Posts: 108
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Post by Molly on Nov 13, 2005 8:55:40 GMT -5
Now, I do not believe everything I see on television, and that is where most of this info comes from, so keep that mind, but... I was watching the History channel the other day (I do that a lot), and they had a show on the Great Wall of China. In the show, they mentioned a tribe (presumably Mongolian, but I honestly can't remember) in the area that drank the blood of those they defeated. It is also believed that the Ancient Moche (see Peruvian coastline) drank the blood of prisoners. I believe I've read about others cultures as well,that didn't exactly frown upon the drinking of blood. So, anyway, I post here because it occurs to me that over the course of evolution, the instinctive drinking of the blood of prey (that which is battled and killed) could carry over into a tendency to drink the blood of the slain enemy - not even a far stretch, really. I also saw on National Geographic Channel (I think) a show about evloution. (I believe it was called "The Ultimate Survivor.) Now, on this show, they claim that at one point in our evolution, the human race was nocturnal, hunting by moonlight. So... from this, I see two possibilities: 1) Evolutionary throwback/Genetic memory, (no reason to think the nocturnal hunters did not drink blood - may have even begun at a time or place where water was scarce) or 2) at the point where most of mankind became agricultural, a portion remained nocturnal hunters for long enough to establish a small, but genetic difference, and was later assimilated into the fold, and carried that small genetic difference, which from time to time manifests in folks like us? Dunno... maybe I'm just full of poop, but I really love to come up with theories. Feel free to pick 'em apart, I can always come up with more!
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Post by Tannaidhe on Nov 13, 2005 15:24:13 GMT -5
Some fascinating tidbits indeed!
But why did you post it as a reply? Doesn't seem to have too much to do with my original post, lol...
Still... there are a lot of people who think that vampirism is some sort of 'genetic throwback'. I don't know how much I bleive it myself, but it's definitely something to think about.
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Molly
Established Member
Sang Faery?
Posts: 108
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Post by Molly on Nov 15, 2005 5:16:09 GMT -5
Well, the post was bit rushed, but, basically, if this group of prehistoric man did become genetically different, enough so to have developed the different strengths, weaknesses, and needs associated with vampirism, then it follows that descendants of these persons could still carry those genes today... Admittedly, I don't know much about genetics, but it seems this could result in modern "watered-down" versions of the traits those original vampires may have possessed, in varying degrees, depending on how prevalent that gene set is in a given individual's family tree, how much one's ancestors used the particular traits that carried over into that family line, how much and how often those ancestors fed, etc. It seems that in more modern history (the last two to three thousand years), there have typically been two trades/classes associated with blood-drinking: warriors/hunters and priests. Those just happen to be two trades where vampiristic traits could be of the greatest benefit. The warriors and hunters would, I would think, benefit more from (and thus exercise/utilize) the physical traits - speed, enhanced night-vision, etc; whereas, the priests would benefit more from the metaphysical aspects - swoons, astral projection, etc. Furthermore, if these pre-historic vampires did, in fact, exist, I would think that remnants of the truth would have lingered in folklore and mythology, over time being mixed with fear, imagination and whatever belief system is prevalent in a given region, ultimately leading to the current and diverse vampire mythologies. Lastly, if those pre-historic groups of vampires did exist, some (theoretically) may have remained so in isolated areas until much closer in human history, which could also explain some of the differences you mentioned in the first post. Maybe some of these isolated groups never figured out how to "psi-feed" where others eventually learned that it wasn't the blood they needed, but the energy therein, and developed alternate means of obtaining that energy. These groups, being isolated from each other (or perhaps enemies of each other), would have evolved differently, with different needs, different beliefs, and possibly different abilities as well. Again, this is all conjecture, and could be a whopping big load of crap, but that was the type of thinking that lead me to post as a reply here.
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Post by Tannaidhe on Nov 16, 2005 11:29:32 GMT -5
Could be fact, could be crap. The point is, it is fascinating and enjoyable to discuss the possibilities. And I think you have some wonderful points there, well worth a good 'think'. Hehe
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Post by Terran Nytefyer on Nov 18, 2005 18:45:43 GMT -5
Well, I happen to believe that over the years, where Vampirism lives in the soul . . . that the more times that soul lives, the STRONGER it gets. Think about it . . . it has the experience of several lifetimes. A lot of us have the memories of past lives (of course. lol), and some of the strengths from our past lives. In my opinion, that makes a lot of us stronger. Then you ned to go back and think about the vampiric community's sense of "privacy." there could be a lot of vampires who are quite powerful, but rarely use it or show it, due to that privacy code of ethics.
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Post by Tannaidhe on Nov 19, 2005 2:59:30 GMT -5
That is of course also quite possible.
I know in most communities, if someone were to come in and tell all aspects of themselves, they'd be flamed out as a troll (just look at what happened to the "105 year old vamp" on S&M).
So it certainly isn't a large stretch to think that many vamps hide many aspects of themselves.
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Molly
Established Member
Sang Faery?
Posts: 108
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Post by Molly on Nov 19, 2005 16:56:58 GMT -5
*scratches head* That is also possible. When you talk about living many lifetimes, and carrying at least some of the knowledge/experience of those lifetimes with you through the ages, many things become possible. HOWEVER, even if true, it does not rule out the possibilities of genes also being passed down through the ages. So... here's a thought... What if both theories are true? This could lead to non-vampiric souls ending up in vampiric bodies, as well as vampiric souls ending up in non-vampiric bodies, vampiric souls ending up in vampiric bodies (the lucky ones?), and (obviously) completely non-vampiric folks. Even if we choose our bodies prior to birth, some could choose alternate body types just for the learning experience it could provide, etc. That would explain even more of the diversity among us! ~ Could result in all sorts of interesting folks! Think I'll go gnaw on the possibilities for a while...
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Post by Tannaidhe on Nov 19, 2005 19:51:30 GMT -5
Wow.. now that really DOES make for food for thought.
I've often considered the possibility that I have been various types of 'kin' or 'mythical' through my lifetimes... for instance, I have many aspects of a Fae, but I am quite certain I am not one now. Likewise with a Feline. Some people say this is just attributing chance aspects of myself to something they are not, or perhaps that my spirit guides or guardians are one of these types. But I have had the nagging suspicion for a while now that it is past-life tendencies of my own. (I hope that made sense to anyone other than myself... lol).
So if the soul's progression can change in that manner, and yet some people are quite certain they've been a vampire in *every* life they've lived, then this theory has quite a bit of merit. It would certainly explain why each theory has its strict adherents... because in all this mess, we can only speak about what is true for us, really, and if both are true, then the whole argument becomes obvious.
Definitely food for thought.
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Molly
Established Member
Sang Faery?
Posts: 108
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Post by Molly on Feb 12, 2006 3:23:46 GMT -5
Any of the recently joined folks have any input/thoughts to add, or comments to make? Even if it seems "far out" to you, your input could still be helpful and/or fun to ponder.
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Akasha Aurora
New Member
~ Creator of my own little world ~
Posts: 16
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Post by Akasha Aurora on Feb 12, 2006 15:09:38 GMT -5
I'm just watching and pondering for now if you don't mind... I'm having a hard enough time trying to figgure out my own stuff without postulating about the entire comunity.
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