A Guide to Vampire Slaying by A. Stratlace

Introduction

The Vampire is perhaps the one of the most dangerous creatures that exists on Faerun. I have made it my life, my calling, to study, learn, and share all information on these creatures. I am Atticus Stratlace, and there are those that call me the foremost expert on Vampires on this isle and, whilst I strive to remain humble, I do believe that claim holds some truth.

However I have always referred to myself as a Vampire Investigator, or maybe Hunter if I'm in a particularly bold mood. Never a Slayer. Nonetheless, I have been asked to compile my knowledge on the slaying of these vile creatures.

With that in mind I present a few important preceeding notes.

Firstly: this slender tome covers the slaying of Vampires. If you wish a more general tome on Vampires I recommend Vampires: An Introduction by P. Misbrooke. I plan to write an updated text on the larger matter of Vampires myself, at some future date.

Secondly: this book deals mostly with the Slaying of Greater Vampires. Lesser Vampires or Vampire spawn are significantly easier to destroy; the methods here will work just as well, if not better, against them.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, I should like wish to warn the reader that much of my knowledge on the actual destruction of these beasts is academic. My years of extensive research have granted me some experience in the actual combat and destruction of Greater Vampires, but I would be remiss in claiming that I am proficient.

Nonetheless, I hope that what information I do have may be written here and perhaps expounded upon by the great Vampire Slayers that may come after me, to a truly seminal treatise on the subject.  Until such a time, here is the matter in its infancy.

Part 1) The Difficulties of Destroying the Vampire

Save perhaps liches, there are few Undead creatures more difficult to truly destroy than Vampires.

Wounds that would prove debilitating, or even fatal to mortals only serve to inconvenience vampires.

As undead they are not only unharmed by negative energy, but even healed by it.

The Vampiric mind is immune to any magic that would seek to control it, or terrorize it.

They quickly heal from wounds, and are generally hardier than many living beings.

They do not tire, nor sicken. Whilst they may eat and drink, they have no need to The only hunger a Vampire feels is that for blood.

As if the aforementioned traits were not enough, Vampires also possess a wide range of supernatural abilities.

These fanged monstrosities have the ability to turn into an incorporeal mist when its physical form is mauled enough. This form does not last long but whilst in it, a vampire cannot be damaged in any way. Vampires in such a situation will use this form to flee, sometimes seeping through windows, under doors and through cracks in walls. It is imperative then, that the hunter prepares for this method of escape in their combat.

Fortunately this mist does not last long. After a short time they revert to their corporal forms, and at which point they once more may be harmed.

It is at this point that they may be incapacitated and even destroyed, at least theoretically. It is not unknown for some Vampires to take supplementary options, such as binding their souls to their coffins, or other strange, dark divine magic. Whilst I may touch on this later, it is important to note that there isn?t always a single answer on how to adjust for such countermeasures.

Finally it must be remembered that, hardiness aside, the Vampire possesses a huge variety of offensive or supplementary abilities that make them a truly terrifying opponent. Hypnosis, shape-changing, sharpened teeth and claws, superhuman strength et cetera. And that's not even counting the social power, and the thralls and slaves and other contacts they may have.

Underestimate a vampire at your peril.

Part 2) General Weaknesses and Banes

Fortunately the Vampire is not invulnerable. Though it possesses many of the strengths that undeath confers, it also has the weaknesses too. Positive, healing energy damages it. Priests can, if powerful enough can repel it away. Spells that effect undead creatures such as Hold Undead, or Undeath to Death are also useful tools in the slayers handbook.

Perhaps the greatest enemy of the Vampire though is the Sun, both natural and through spells like Sunburst. Vampires cannot abide the blessing of Lathander for long as it burns them. Many hide or sleep in the their lairs during the day because of this. This brings forth an old conundrum for the slayer, whether or not to face a Vampire in its lair or not.

During the day many vampires sleep, and the light of the sun limits a Vampire's movements. But lairs are often well fortified and guarded, with many Vampires having thralls to protect them during this time. Further more, there is no guarantee a Vampire will be at rest. Just as a man may stay up during the night, so might one of these creatures. Vampires require no sleep, though many do indulge in something akin to it anyway, the reasons are unknown.

Fighting a Vampire outside of its lair may separate it from its protection, but as it will no doubt be dark it grants a greater amount of manoeuvrability and escape opportunities to the creature.

Of course, if (as many do on this isle) the Vampire resides some large place where there is no sun, such as the Underdark, the entire point becomes moot. So this is a question to consider on a case-by-case basis.

Holy Water also damages Vampires, though its effects tend to be somewhat negligible. Deep, running water is also a bane to them, though it requires full submersion to have any real effect.

Holy symbols and accoutrements of all sorts harm or repel vampires. The strength of this varies, and I would not use it as a first defence- but at the least it has been known to startle them, and repel them for a time.

Starvation is also a useful tool, a Vampire needs to feed. If one is able to corner and trap a vampire, entirely cut off its supply of blood then one could in theory, play a long waiting game and starve it out. However such a task is fraught with difficulty and danger. Vampires can gain sustenance even from small things that bleed, like mice and rats. Further more, its ability to turn into mist as a final recourse might provide it a last, desperate chance at escape. Not to mention any possibilities it has to call for aid.  

Last but not least, a starving vampire is a terrifying vampire, in the way that only cornered animals can be. A useful tactic, but not one without its perils.

Part 3) Myths, Misinformation and Misconceptions

There exist a few beliefs amongst the community that, if not wrong, are at least not entirely accurate or thought through. Note that some these will likely come up again in the final chapter.

I shall list them here.

Fire: Vampires are not especially vulnerable to fire. They hold no particular resistance against it, so it is still a viable tool,  but in combat it confers no other special advantage.

Decapitation:  Decapitation is a difficult thing to pull off mid combat, as any trained swordsman will tell you. Add to that the exceptional speed, resilience and dexterity of a Vampire and you have a nearly impossible task. Indeed it's often surprising how little they may be shaken by blows that would maim or down another person. Whilst aiming for the neck is no bad thing, don't count on it as being a sure way to end a combat quickly. It's only to be used when your foe is downed.

Stake Through The Heart: A stake through the heart will indeed destroy, or at least paralyse a Vampire. However as a tool in active combat, it is not ideal. The Heart is a difficult area to aim for, stakes aren't the most intuitive of fighting implements and reaching the heart requires significant physical strength. Furthermore, if the Vampire is wearing any heavy armour, it may prove impossible even to pierce the skin. Killing a Vampire immediately via a wooden stake is not impossible, but it is very difficult and generally requires a lot more close and intimate combat than I'd advise. More information on this later.

Garlic: Vampires do find garlic disgusting, but it is a mere repellent not a bane. It does not cause them any physical damage.

Coffin: Not all Vampires have coffins, and of those that do, not all consider them particularly important. There is a persistent belief that if one can find the coffin of a Vampire, one can destroy the Vampire completely. Whilst it is certainly true that some vampires seem extremely bound to their coffin, and others hold it close for sentimental reasons, it is by no means true that to destroy one is to destroy the Vampire.

That said, if a Vampire does have a bond to its coffin and rests within it, then it can be used as the basis for a trap, to destroy the beast whilst it is most vulnerable. This is likely the basis of the myth. Further more the destruction of a coffin might at least cause the Vampire some mild emotional or physical discomfort.

Part 4) Knowing Your Vampire

Perhaps the most important part of combating vampires is understanding them as individuals. No two vampires are the same, just as no two humans are the same. They share some similarities yes, but in truth it is knowing their personal skills, abilities and personalities that victory may be found.

Even on the vampiric level, some Vampires have been known to show resistances against the typical banes or tells, such as being able to withstand holy items, or cast shadows, or reflections. (Sunlight, however, remains a universal bane.)

As such knowing your enemy, your quarry, is absolutely vital.  

The best example I know of this comes in the story of Cruz Sanchez Vs Qrow.

Curz Sanchez was a dangerous, feral vampire of prodigious strength and endurance. He was known to go into a furious rage and be almost impossible to hurt. In an earlier battle between these two, in the shadow plane, they fought for literal hours until Qrow's friends appeared to give relief. Cruz being unable to manage to land a hit on the dexterous elf, and Qrow being able to do any significant damage to the prodigiously tough Cruz.

Their ongoing feud was resolved when Qrow managed to lure Cruz Sanchez to Soulhaven, via taunting and deceit, and do battle with him there. The cunning elf, still taunting his foe, fled to outside the monastery and Cruz, in his blind berserker fury followed.

Outside it was daylight and Cruz, weakened by the rays of the sun, proved much more vulnerable to the cunning elf's blade. Qrow was able to end the combat there and, whilst it is not known if this is where Sanchez met his final end, it is still an excellent example of knowing ones' foe, and using the weaknesses, whether they be natural, super natural or psychological, against them.

Part 5) Ultimate Destruction and Disposal

As mentioned in part 1, Vampires are notoriously difficult to truly destroy. To such an extent that one of the reasons I still produce dossiers on extremely old vampires such as Cruz, or ones that are almost certainly destroyed, such as Mairabeta, is that in truth I think it is difficult to know if one is ever truly destroyed from this world.

Nonetheless, we must try.

So combat has ceased. You have, perhaps against great odds, been successful. The Vampire lies at your feet, disabled or even (apparently) dead. Some Vampires, at this point, turn to mere dust and ash. Some however do not. The reason for the variance of this is unknown, though it is theorized it is sometimes due to the age of the creature.

Still, presuming that you now have a corpse on your hands, one must consider the proper methods of destruction so as to be as certain as one can be that the beast will not rise again. It is here, curiously, that some of the points of part 3 will return.

Here are some of the commonly used methods to ensuring (as much as one can) the full destruction of a Vampire. I've given the subtitles of various elements, based on the writings of the Eastern Vampire Slayers. I am unsure in truth if this does herald some strange mysticism, but I find it a useful memory aid, if naught else.

The Method of Wood: Stake to the Heart.

Yew, Ash, Aspen, Willow, Juniper or Hawthorne are thought to make the best stakes for this purpose. Lady P. Mistbrooke also recommends that an ash stake is blessed by a priest though I think that, whilst this may certainly make the item more efficient, it is not strictly necessary.

Some Vampires turn to dust as soon as it is rammed through their hearts (and as aforementioned, this is best done when they are supine, or at the very least unsuspecting) others are merely paralysed.  Once more the reason for this difference is not known. This is a very popular and classic method but unless the creature does turn to dust from it, it is best mixed with other options.

The Method of Air: Sunlight

Often combined with a Stake, leaving a vampire out in the sun for an extended period often also destroys them. This can take a little while though and is too much of an elongated torture for my personal tastes. If it is the best and only method to hand, so be it, but I'd generally advise a quicker method. Further more, the Vampire must be properly and securely bound for this, or staked. Keep in mind, in such pain a vampires strength may be tenfold, making it even more dangerous of a tactic.

The Method of Fire: Burning

Fire burns all to ash and can utterly destroy a vampire's corporal form. So long as you are sure it cannot turn to mist again. This is a good method.

The Method of Earth: Buried at a Crossroads.

Much success has been had by staking a vampire through the heart then burying them deep at a crossroads. It is not known why, but Vampires disposed of in such a way seldom rise again.

The Method of Water: Submersed in Water:

The water has to be deep and fast running, like an especially large river, or the sea. But a Vampire submerged in such a way, especially if staked prior, should be completely destroyed.

The Method of Metal: Beheading:

Whilst personally I'd advise for a full destruction of a vampire's corporal form, the simple act of beheading can also be enough. Do this with a sharp blade, and make sure the head is completely removed. Keep it far away from the body. I strongly suggest burning both afterwards.

Other methods are of course available, and even viable. For example the vampire Mairabeta was destroyed by the dis corporation of her negative energy (Undeath to Death) in Lunia, the first layer of Celestia, her ashes thrown into the Silvery Sea. That was however a very unusual situation and not one many Vampire Slayers will find themselves in.

Some vampires (apparently) require very specific methods of destruction, perhaps because their arcane abilities have weaved further protections upon themselves.

For example, I once received word that Adelyn Bell'rose could be "Trapped inside a glass coffin with roses and briar thorns".

The danger with eagerly believing such reports is that sometimes they are falsities spread by Vampires themselves. The above rumour, for example, could be true or it could be a lie spread by Bell'rose or her followers, to force people to expend time and energy on a tactic that will not work. (For the record, I do not credit the above rumour with much truth, though if others have Bell'rose at their mercy, I invite them to try it.)

Part 6) Conclusion

In Summation -

Rule 1) Never underestimate a Vampire.

Rule 2) Remember the weaknesses of the Vampire Kind. Use them in as much as you can. Consider the terrain you fight in.

Rule 3) Down the Vampire first- render them helpless, then deal with destruction and disposal. Don't rush right to the latter unless you must.

Rule 4) Know. Your. Vampire

Rule 5) Be sure to dispose of a Vampire's remains as thoroughly as possible.  

To those who take up this heavy task, good fortune to you and gods bless and keep you.

Atticus Stratlace