Van Richten's Monster Hunter's.pdf - Askadesign.com

It is important to remember that
vampires are incredibly cunning. Just
because the dozing creature has been
awakened by the approach of hunters
does not necessarily mean that it will
immediately leap to the attack. If
circumstances warrant, it may prefer
to "play dead," and lure its would-be
killers to their doom. Vampires that
doze also wake instantly and without
disorientation at the instant the sun
sinks below the western horizon. If
such a creature is awakened while the
sun is still above the horizon,
however, it does suffer some
moments of disorientation, and is
unable to use some of its abilities for
some time.
vampire sleeps will have a great effect
on the sanctuary it chooses, and how it
protects its resting-place. Vampires
that sink into deepest oblivion at the
moment of dawn recognize their
immense vulnerability and thus go to
the greatest lengths to hide their
sanctuaries and attempt to make them
totally impenetrable to mortals who
might be hunting them. Any traps that
they place will be as lethal as the
creature can possibly make them
because it knows any hunter who gets
through the traps will almost certainly
end the vampire's existence.
Vampires who doze, however, might
make different decisions. They, too,
are vulnerable during daylight hours,
but nowhere near as much as their
deep-sleeping kin. While they will
generally be as careful about hiding
and warding their sanctuaries (why
take chances, after all?), they will be
less concerned if circumstances
prevent them from taking all the
precautions they might want. They will
probably set lethal traps, but also
tripwires and other warning devices to
alert them to the approach of
attackers.
Many tales pertaining to vampires
claim that the creatures must sleep in
vessels that contain soil from their
homeland, or even soil taken from
their own graves. If they do not do so,
these tales tell, they are destroyed. As
with so many such tales, the truth
varies from individual to individual,
and from place to place. And, of
course, with vampires there are
always exceptions to the rules.
However, these creatures at least
believe the presence of such an item
to be an absolute requirement, and
will go to any lengths to ensure that it
is present. I use the word "believe,"
simply because I have never heard
any substantiated report of a vampire
being destroyed through not having
the required item present during sleep.
Vampires believe they will be
destroyed if an appropriate element is
not present, and so will make sure
that it is present. But is this belief
based in fact?
Personally, I find myself drawn to the
idea that this "requirement" is actually
a baseless superstition, perpetuated
and believed by vampires as well as
mortals over the centuries. I am
convinced that a vampire forced to
sleep without a symbolic tie to its
mortal life will not be destroyed. Of
course, proving this experimentally is
somewhat problematical. Vampires will
obviously not test my hypothesis
because, if I am wrong, they will be
destroyed. And vampire hunters are
understandably more interested in
destroying the creatures than in
experimentally examining their
limitations. Still, it is an interesting
concept to consider.
What happens to a vampire that is
prevented from reaching its sanctuary
before the moment of sunrise? The
consequences vary widely.