Crafting Creatures: Vampires

There have been many incarnations of vampire from the terrifying Nosferatu to sparkly high schoolers. Most societies have folklore related to vampires to draw from. Here is a list of questions to consider when crafting your vampires.

1. Where did their powers originate? Has vampirism been around since time began or was there a point of origin? Were they crafted by a paranormal entity such as a devil, demon, or god?

2. Are you basing your lore on a specific culture? If so, what are the specifications based on that lore? Are you modifying them?

3. Can anyone become a vampire? Is being a vampire passed on through genetics? Are vampires "made" by other vampires, if so, how? What are the rules, limitations, or consequences?

4. Are vampires immortal? If so, at what point do they stop aging or how do they age? Do they need spells or potions to prevent physical aging? Do they stop aging at the point they were turned?

5. Even if "immortal," can they be killed? Does it require a stake through the heart, decapitation, sunlight? If so, how and what happens when they die?

6. Can anything weaken them? Do they have vulnerabilities?

7. Are there costs associated with their powers? Is their energy drained? Do they need to "recharge" by drinking blood or some other method, or do they have an endless supply of power?

8. What can your vampires do?

Control the elements of fire, air, water, earth
Grow or wither people, plants, or nature
Move things with the mind, wave of the hand, or incantation
Transport/teleport things or people
Telepathy
Mind control
Move through time and space 
Kill, maim, or make others ill with their bite
Heal wounds, regenerate, or reanimate
Enhance senses sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch
Superhuman powers such as excessive strength, speed, agility, intelligence
Shape shift
Fly
Powers of seduction

9. Do they sleep in coffins? Do they live in normal homes or have special living quarters? Is there any item their home must have such as dirt from a grave site, relics, etc.?

10. Are they sensitive to sunlight?

11. Can their reflection or image be seen in photos, mirrors, or other reflective surfaces?

12. Are there objects that repel them such as crosses, holy icons, magical objects, silver, iron, garlic, etc. ?

13. Are they reliant on blood to live: human, animal, or blood banks?

14. Is there a hierarchy or controlling body such as a tribunal, coven, chosen leaders, etc.?

15. Do they have a religion or worship a god or demon?

16. If born a vampire, do they live like normal human children and adolescents or are they sent to special schools or universities or taught by tutors? If a person is made a vampire, are they suddenly smarter, prettier, etc. or limited to what they knew in life?

17. Who knows about them? Everyone everywhere? Certain groups or places? Are they hiding in plain sight?

18. Do they have paranormal allies or enemies?

19. Are they an accepted part of society or must they hide in the shadows? Are they persecuted or the rulers? Have they infiltrated power positions?

20. What do they look like? Do they have a supernatural appearance that is hidden by spells or glamours?

21. Do they have special marks such as horns, tails, wings, birthmarks, skin lesions, or tattoos?

22. Do they have specific clothing, ceremonial robes, jewelry items, etc.? What happens to their clothes if they shape shift?

23. Do they have familiars such as bats, owls, or other animals?

24. Do they live and work like normal humans or do they have vast stores of wealth? If so, how did they come by it: magic or amassing human fortunes? Or can they simply summon everything at will including food, clothing, housing, etc.?

Next week, we look at crafting fae.

Further reading:

Worldbuilding: Myths and Legends

The Fantasy Skeleton

The Horror Skeleton

The Thriller and Suspense Skeleton

List of Vampire Traits in Folklore and Fiction

You might also be interested in: 
Story Building Blocks Build A World Workbook in print and ebook, 
Story Building Blocks Build A Plot Workbook Fantasy in print and ebook
Story Building Blocks Build A Plot Workbook Horror in print and ebook
Story Building Blocks Build A Plot Workbook Thriller & Suspense in print and ebook