The Blade Mythology
Aug. 19th, 2006 12:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fembuckRead an interesting thread over at Horror Comic Book News that is trying to catalogue all of the information about vampirism in the Blade universe based on information from the movie trilogy and the series thus far. This was posted by LolaRuns and seems pretty accurate (my comments/questions are bolded).
Vampirism is a Virus
Unlike in other vampire lore (for example Buffy) Blade vampires are not dead. They are people who got infected by the virus. The virus makes fundamental changes to their body make-up, for example giving them the abbility to to regererate and heal everything from minor wounds to whole limbs.
The “killing” of the victim after they have been infected is probably (1) ritualistic to signify the end of their old life and their birth into a new life (2) practical because that way they are considered dead already by official society and they can go underground where nobody will notice that they have suddenly stopped aging and never seem to die (3) delivers a shock to the system that probably makes it easier for the virus to truly take over the body.
Good speculation, especially number 3, but I still think the writers did it cause it sounds cool and toe-the-line of mainstream vampire lore of vampires being the walking dead. Yeah, Krista being thrown off the building was cool, but I think this element of the process is kinda stupid
The virus premeates every part of a vampire’s body, settles in every cell (think the single tooth turning into dust when the FBI agent held it into the sunlight). Certain things (silver, garlic, sunlight) seem to cause an allergic reaction within in the infected cells, causing them so ‘overreact’ and setting themselves on fire. The attack on certain fundamental parts (like the destruction of the heart with a stake, chopping somebody’s head off) seems to overwhelm the cells as well and cause the same overreaction.
Vampire Abilities & Changes
The virus means that the person stays essentially the same, they mostly gain superhuman abilities. For example.
[] Superstrenght
[] Self-healing up to regenrating whole limbs
[] Retractable vampire teeth
[] Ability to see in the dark (can be turned on and off at will)
[] Ability to errr, stick to walls and ceilings
They also develop a dependancy on human blood. Maybe the virus “consumes” blood and after it has infected all the blood in a person’s body new blood has to be added from the outside so the virus has something to infect. Otherwise it maybe tries to keep infecting the body cells or attacks them, causing the body to weaken.
It also might affect the brain chemistry/sanity [Blade remarking that it is important that Krista takes the serum rather than drinking blood, saying that he gave her the serum to make her think straight].
Snorting or otherwise consuming refined vampire's ash gives you shortime vampire abilities (maybe a weaker, diluted infection that can be battled down by the body's immune system). As a result, a particular type of drug trade, hunting vampires to sell their ashes has become an industry.
Transfer
Vampirism gets transfered from saliva to blood when a vampire bites its victim. It can also be transfered from blood to blood (Marcus/Krista, pilot).
Because it is a virus transfered by saliva, the vampire doesn’t have any way to decide whether he wants or doesn’t want to turn somebody they have bitten (like “hold back”), the infection happens on its own. Therefore every person bitten by a vampire theoretically turns into one unless reliably killed after feeding or by draining them completely (I’m guessing because in a completely drained person where is no way for the virus to be transported across the body).
If a cure is administered quickly then the virus can be wiped out and what remains is only a healthy human.
I like this idea and the saliva thing plays well with the whole vampirism as a virus thing. Kinda sucks for the vamps and humans as well though that they can't just pop in for a snack and then leave you alone. Vamps seducing and feeding off of humans has always been kinda sexy (like that washroom scene in Kindred: The Embraced), but really it's the only way it works here
It seems that animals can be infected on occasion (vampire dog in Blade Trinity) but not naturally (the dog was vampirified through experiments, right?).
The Serum
Rather than drinking blood, Blade injects himself with a serum that replaced blood for him. It it continuously adapted any time Blade's metabolism threatens to get immune against it.
The same serum was given to Krista after she had fed once (off Boone). However the serum proved not effective when they tried it on Krista's mother (who had already fed several times). Presumably it works for Krista because she can be considered not fully turned yet.
Purebloods
Purebloods are born as vampires. They age very slowly (Charlotte is 200 years old and seems to have the body of a girl around the age of 10). They usually lead the various houses. They consider themselves superior to normal vampires.
Pretty much what I thought, even the age range. I read somewhere else - can't remember where, probably later on in this thread knowing my memory - that a lot of the Chthon purebloods were wiped out during some big vampire war hundreds of years ago which is why Charlotte has such an important position despite being so young. I like this idea since I always wondered by a vamp tween had so much responsibility.
Relationships between pureblood and normal vampires are frowned upon (according to Marcus in 1x09).
Daywalkers
Known Daywalkers are Blade and Drake. Blade was created when his mother was bitten while giving birth to him. Drake is considered the first vampire and might have been created by spontaneous (virus-) mutation.
Both can create vampires by biting others but neither passes on their daywalker abilities through that.
They have all vampire strenghts plus resistance to sunlight, garlic and silver.
Unlike Blade, Drake also had the ability to shapeshift (or to create an illusion around his body).
Supposedly some arcane tribes (like the Natives who turned Marcus) were also Daywalkers.
All pretty interesting and has clarified some questions I've had of the series so far. Pretty interesting Q and A with Geoff Johns one of the writers of the show here as well.
Vampirism is a Virus
Unlike in other vampire lore (for example Buffy) Blade vampires are not dead. They are people who got infected by the virus. The virus makes fundamental changes to their body make-up, for example giving them the abbility to to regererate and heal everything from minor wounds to whole limbs.
The “killing” of the victim after they have been infected is probably (1) ritualistic to signify the end of their old life and their birth into a new life (2) practical because that way they are considered dead already by official society and they can go underground where nobody will notice that they have suddenly stopped aging and never seem to die (3) delivers a shock to the system that probably makes it easier for the virus to truly take over the body.
Good speculation, especially number 3, but I still think the writers did it cause it sounds cool and toe-the-line of mainstream vampire lore of vampires being the walking dead. Yeah, Krista being thrown off the building was cool, but I think this element of the process is kinda stupid
The virus premeates every part of a vampire’s body, settles in every cell (think the single tooth turning into dust when the FBI agent held it into the sunlight). Certain things (silver, garlic, sunlight) seem to cause an allergic reaction within in the infected cells, causing them so ‘overreact’ and setting themselves on fire. The attack on certain fundamental parts (like the destruction of the heart with a stake, chopping somebody’s head off) seems to overwhelm the cells as well and cause the same overreaction.
Vampire Abilities & Changes
The virus means that the person stays essentially the same, they mostly gain superhuman abilities. For example.
[] Superstrenght
[] Self-healing up to regenrating whole limbs
[] Retractable vampire teeth
[] Ability to see in the dark (can be turned on and off at will)
[] Ability to errr, stick to walls and ceilings
They also develop a dependancy on human blood. Maybe the virus “consumes” blood and after it has infected all the blood in a person’s body new blood has to be added from the outside so the virus has something to infect. Otherwise it maybe tries to keep infecting the body cells or attacks them, causing the body to weaken.
It also might affect the brain chemistry/sanity [Blade remarking that it is important that Krista takes the serum rather than drinking blood, saying that he gave her the serum to make her think straight].
Snorting or otherwise consuming refined vampire's ash gives you shortime vampire abilities (maybe a weaker, diluted infection that can be battled down by the body's immune system). As a result, a particular type of drug trade, hunting vampires to sell their ashes has become an industry.
Transfer
Vampirism gets transfered from saliva to blood when a vampire bites its victim. It can also be transfered from blood to blood (Marcus/Krista, pilot).
Because it is a virus transfered by saliva, the vampire doesn’t have any way to decide whether he wants or doesn’t want to turn somebody they have bitten (like “hold back”), the infection happens on its own. Therefore every person bitten by a vampire theoretically turns into one unless reliably killed after feeding or by draining them completely (I’m guessing because in a completely drained person where is no way for the virus to be transported across the body).
If a cure is administered quickly then the virus can be wiped out and what remains is only a healthy human.
I like this idea and the saliva thing plays well with the whole vampirism as a virus thing. Kinda sucks for the vamps and humans as well though that they can't just pop in for a snack and then leave you alone. Vamps seducing and feeding off of humans has always been kinda sexy (like that washroom scene in Kindred: The Embraced), but really it's the only way it works here
It seems that animals can be infected on occasion (vampire dog in Blade Trinity) but not naturally (the dog was vampirified through experiments, right?).
The Serum
Rather than drinking blood, Blade injects himself with a serum that replaced blood for him. It it continuously adapted any time Blade's metabolism threatens to get immune against it.
The same serum was given to Krista after she had fed once (off Boone). However the serum proved not effective when they tried it on Krista's mother (who had already fed several times). Presumably it works for Krista because she can be considered not fully turned yet.
Purebloods
Purebloods are born as vampires. They age very slowly (Charlotte is 200 years old and seems to have the body of a girl around the age of 10). They usually lead the various houses. They consider themselves superior to normal vampires.
Pretty much what I thought, even the age range. I read somewhere else - can't remember where, probably later on in this thread knowing my memory - that a lot of the Chthon purebloods were wiped out during some big vampire war hundreds of years ago which is why Charlotte has such an important position despite being so young. I like this idea since I always wondered by a vamp tween had so much responsibility.
Relationships between pureblood and normal vampires are frowned upon (according to Marcus in 1x09).
Daywalkers
Known Daywalkers are Blade and Drake. Blade was created when his mother was bitten while giving birth to him. Drake is considered the first vampire and might have been created by spontaneous (virus-) mutation.
Both can create vampires by biting others but neither passes on their daywalker abilities through that.
They have all vampire strenghts plus resistance to sunlight, garlic and silver.
Unlike Blade, Drake also had the ability to shapeshift (or to create an illusion around his body).
Supposedly some arcane tribes (like the Natives who turned Marcus) were also Daywalkers.
All pretty interesting and has clarified some questions I've had of the series so far. Pretty interesting Q and A with Geoff Johns one of the writers of the show here as well.
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no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 05:39 am (UTC)I like this idea because a) it leaves open the possibility for a cure and b) vamping/feeding has potential negative consequences for vampires, ie, Boone. He didn't go through the 'ritual killing' process, but he's still a vamp now.. and a dangerous one at that. And goes with the line regarding who gets turned and when as more of a process by committee. I like the 'idea' of ritual killing as rebirth but, like you said, it's more of an 'ooh cool' element than it is an organic storytelling device. Was it really necessary for Krista to smother her mom? Or did she do it under the assumption that it's what she's supposed to do?
Plus, it makes me wonder if there are humans who are immune to the vampire virus. And what, exactly, would that mean to both humans and vampires. Like if a vampire consumed the blood of a vamp-virus immune human, would it kill or cure him/her? If it's a cure, would the vamp power structure be undermined by vamps wanting to return to their human state? Also, if the vamps are bound by houses, does this mean there are varying strains of the vamp virus? Kinda like the common cold and how there are like a billion different viruses which can cause a cold.
Daywalkers - Both can create vampires by biting others but neither passes on their daywalker abilities through that.
I'm not sure if this is an absolute or not. Or, I should say, I hope it's not. Especially, if they're going with the arcane/daywalker tribes. I'm going with the supposition that if vampirism is a virus, then the Daywalker virus may be a seperate strain entirely. One which Drake was unable to pass on due to mutation or biology; the possibility that human genetics may play a role. Like, does every child born as Blade was turn into a Daywalker, or was there something specific about his birth?
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 06:17 am (UTC)I like this idea as well. And with vampirism being a virus it makes sense that they would need to be very careful about who they turn and how many they turn (you know maintain a certain quality of vampire) in order to maintain balance. Which is exactly why I think familiars are living in a dream world because they are exactly the type of people vampires would like to avoid, crazy power mongers like Boone, or desperate followers etc.
Was it really necessary for Krista to smother her mom? Or did she do it under the assumption that it's what she's supposed to do?
She just did it because it's what was done to her. Boone proved that it's not necessary to actually murder the infected person. In fact it doesn't even seem like the process is sped up if you do. Krista made it all the way to the morgue and toe-tagged before she woke up again and she was "murdered" and Boone seemed to take the same or a similar amount of time. MamaStarr is different because she turned almost immediately but I'm assuming was due to time constraints for the episode (even though it kinda messes with the mythology they set up).
Also, if the vamps are bound by houses, does this mean there are varying strains of the vamp virus? Kinda like the common cold and how there are like a billion different viruses which can cause a cold.
I think this is the case, at least it was in the movie. Under the House of Erebus there were 12 tribes, and the tribes consisted of vampires with different natural abilities. For example, The Ashe Tribe are the most sensitive to those elements most traditionally used to combat vampires. While the Lemure's are known for their ability to seduce their prey, they are beautiful denizens of the dark. There's some mystical elements to the tribes, like Faustina's can control people's minds and the elements, which wouldn't necessarily play with the scientific approach the television series as taken, but have tribes (as vampires within the House of Chthon) that are more or less sensitive to sunlight (maybe some can get away with going out in the day slathered in sunblock like Deacon Frost in Blade I), some that a naturally quicker or stronger, some that are more blood thirsty etc. and seeing how they all come together under the one House and what different positions they occupy could be really cool. Kinda of like how in Kindred: The Embraced, the Ventrue were the leaders, and Gangrels bodyguards/muscle etc.
Like, does every child born as Blade was turn into a Daywalker, or was there something specific about his birth?
This is something I'm really interested in. Because all of the vampires seem to know how Blade was born (mother bitten while nine months pregnant and whatnot) and you'd think that they would have tried to recreate similar scenarios to create another daywalker. Because Blade is still unique, I'm guessing their had to be some other factor in his daywalkerness.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-22 04:22 am (UTC)But yeah, other than that I vote for "It looks more impressive (both the smother and the tower dive)" (and hey, it did look quite striking, didn't it?).
I so wonder if there are better and worse infectors and whether that maybe changes with age. Like Marcus saying that biting is not the best method, maybe his virus isn't very powerful or numerous in his saliva, so he goes for straight blood infection. Or maybe blood infection is faster than saliva infection.
I do have to say I was most impressed by the turning of the mother. I mean, Krista barely nicked her! Interesting that both Krista and the mother weren't really drained (Krista stopped herself very quickly and she herself wasn't drained at all). Wonder if that too has an effect on the speed of the transformation.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-22 05:58 am (UTC)I think that's probably the idea they're after, they just haven't done a really good job showing it. Like Krista was killed, and Boone was left half drained but they seemed to turn at similar rates (a few hours after being dropped off the building Krista turned, and then at the end of the episode presumably a few hours after he was bitten Boone turned as well). Then Krista's mom who was killed seemed to turn in a matter of five minutes or so.
The speculation about killing speeding up the process makes sense though. I just hope they maybe even just have someone mention it and then I'll just fanwank away the inconsistances I've seen :D
Like Marcus saying that biting is not the best method, maybe his virus isn't very powerful or numerous in his saliva, so he goes for straight blood infection. Or maybe blood infection is faster than saliva infection.
Once again I think Marcus's turning of Krista fell victim to "this sounds/looks cool". It was a very modern, very kind of sexy way to turn someone. I think we were suppose to see the vampires as urban and humane instead of animalistic and monsterous. Marcus didn't rip her throat out after all, he just gave her a needle. We've all had needles it's not that bad. Because once again very little/no difference between Krista turning and Boone turning. I kinda think the needle thing is stupid and hope they pretend that it never happened from now on and stick with good old fashioned biting, lol.
Interesting that both Krista and the mother weren't really drained (Krista stopped herself very quickly and she herself wasn't drained at all). Wonder if that too has an effect on the speed of the transformation.
Once again that would make sense. You'd think the less contact the less of the virus that would be transmitted and the longer it would take to replicate or whatever and spread. But once again the shows execution of the turning sucks and we don't see that. Instead Krista who was injected with a shitload of Marcus' blood takes hours to turn, and Krista's mom who was barely grazed by Krista turns in minutes.
Really I think a lot of the uneveness has to do with storytelling. For example they need Krista's mom to turn quickly and escape before Krista could inject her with the serum and if she'd stayed dead as long as Krista had Krista would have had plenty of time even after the fight with Glynis. Likewise, they didn't want Boone to turn right away because they wanted to reveal him to us at the end of the episode to get us all a twitter about the next episode. And they wanted to have that dramatic rain scene and romantic rescue by Marcus when Krista was turned.
And I understand that, but I'm also interested in the mythology which is why I just want some character to lay out the ground rules. Then all accept those and chalk up everything else to dramatic lisence ;)
no subject
Date: 2006-08-22 06:09 am (UTC)As for the Blood vs. Saliva infection thing, I asked Geoff Johns about it and whether it makes a difference and his answer was something like "Not if you ask Boone.". So if it makes a difference, then probably not a big one. Some people have suggested that maybe Marcus consideres biting too pedestrian, which is why he turned Krista with the needle. Speaking of which, have we ever actually seen Marcus bite anybody? performance problems? Maybe they just think that showing Marcus feeding would show us too much of his not nice nature (rather than his rather clean killing other people) and make him less desirable for the Krista/Marcus shippers.
BTW, somebody on the boards claimed that supposedly more experienced vampires might be able to hold back when biting somebody and not turn them. They said the virus is spread through an enzyme which they can hold back (but if the enzyme is in their saliva/mouth when how would the blood infection thing work?). But they didn't name any source, so, I don't know how legit it is.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-22 06:46 am (UTC)I think the time difference in turning time would have to do with the method of death too. Krista was dropped off a freaking building, she would have been injured very badly and her body would have to heal before she could be reborn. Krista only smothered her mum, there were not greivous injuries for her body to heal, so she turned very quick. Boone wasn't injured too badly and he wasn't killed, but he still took hours to turn, so maybe it took that long for the virus to overwhelm the relatively healthy body.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-22 08:52 am (UTC)