Tamrielic Vampirism : The Elder Scrolls Series Discussion

» Wed May 02, 2012 7:20 pm

Using the magical plastic surgery spell to conceal their appearance. All I know is that vampirism changes the person's appearance. For example, in Skyrim when you become a werewolf and you are seen by the people, you receive a bounty. Or if you transform back to human form.

Vampirism, at least for me, you don't get a bounty at all. I always thought that was weird. I read vampires of Illiac Bay and I found out that the man who became a vampire died and rose again three days later. He went to a tavern wench whom he was great friends with. And she didn't even recognize him at all. So I guess the fourth-stage you look like a walking corpse, and when in the first stage, you look more human-like. At least for the "Cyrodiilian/Skyrimian" vampires. I think in Daggerfall, you are permanently changed until you find a cure.

Yup Daggerfall vamps died in the process of changing and it twisted their appearance. Nasty variant of the strain. They still had human like aesthetics but not the ones that would make old friends recognize them. Actually I'm beginning to think that Morrowinds monstrous vampire appearance was atypical and is mirroring Azura's curse on the Chimer. Vampirism definitely affects appearance across the realm but not near as bad as the strains found in Morrowind.

» Thu May 03, 2012 1:57 am

Yup Daggerfall vamps died in the process of changing and it twisted their appearance. Nasty variant of the strain. They still had human like aesthetics but not the ones that would make old friends recognize them. Actually I'm beginning to think that Morrowinds monstrous vampire appearance was atypical and is mirroring Azura's curse on the Chimer. Vampirism definitely affects appearance across the realm but not near as bad as the strains found in Morrowind.

All vampires are undead. Not just the Daggerfall ones. I've said it before, but these lore jockeys always tried to justify fantasy with "logic". I.E, you cannot cure death. But it's been confirmed in various sources that ALL vampires are undead(Except for those ash vampires from Morrowind).

» Wed May 02, 2012 3:12 pm

All vampires are undead. Not just the Daggerfall ones. I've said it before, but these lore jockeys always tried to justify fantasy with "logic". I.E, you cannot cure death. But it's been confirmed in various sources that ALL vampires are undead(Except for those ash vampires from Morrowind).

Never said they weren't. I just think that the Daggerfall ones are the only ones to go through a death process first. The rest go straight to undead without dying. The whole thing is supposed to be a big middle finger to Arkay.

» Thu May 03, 2012 1:44 am

I think the others die too, but the Daggerfall scenario really made it awesome. I.E, waking up at a crypt/cemetary. In Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim you sleep for three days and poof, you are undead. But I do agree with you. And yeah, it was to spite Arkay haha.

» Wed May 02, 2012 12:56 pm

So what do you make of there being two vampiric "diseases"? (Sanguinaris Vampiris and Porphyric Hemophilia) Does anyone know what the disease was in Daggerfall? Could it be that the vampirism in Skyrim is a different strain (evolution?) of the original disease?

» Thu May 03, 2012 2:46 am

So what do you make of there being two vampiric "diseases"? (Sanguinaris Vampiris and Porphyric Hemophilia) Does anyone know what the disease was in Daggerfall? Could it be that the vampirism in Skyrim is a different strain (evolution?) of the original disease?

Differences in temporal and regional Restoration practices account for the difference in name.

Not evolution. Vampirism is altered by Daedra. Clavicus => Cyrodiil vamps, Vaermina => Berne, Aundae, Quarra (At least, this is implied by Bal's dialogue in the cure quest.) Skyrim should have had some lore on who made the Volkihar, but - eh. That's been hashed out.

» Wed May 02, 2012 5:33 pm

I don't make much of it. Different locations can call the same disease different names. There also has been 2 centuries since Oblivion vampirism. Dialect can change greatly in that time. A good real life example I can think of is how tuberculosis used to be called consumption.

Daggerfall's disease didn't have a name as far as I can recall. Vampires were disease ridden there. You could catch the vampire disease, the "vampire death sentence", or some regular disease. You really had no way of telling which was which unless you saved before time passed.

» Wed May 02, 2012 9:13 pm

Ah...but is the UI reflecting the subjective knowledge of the culture (its the same disease) or legitimate objective information (its a different strand). While the original vampirism was created by Molag Bal and was adapted by others it was created as a disease, and may (therefore) be subject to evolution. You could possibly make the same argument for the Blight (hence so many different versions of the Blight).

» Thu May 03, 2012 4:04 am

I think the Skyrim version is more likely closer to the original version than the others. I wouldn't chalk it up to evolution so much as more divine manipulation by daedric princes to bring out the worst in people.

» Wed May 02, 2012 2:46 pm

I hope Bethesda makes a quest line that involves Lamae Beolfag so we can see what the original vampire strain was like, but make it so that we can't catch that form of vampirism. I would like a whole questline involving her, and possibly Molag Bal, that way we could possibly add a vampire faction where they aren't hostile to you. I would also like to know how all the different vampire strains came to be, besides the Cyrodiilic vampires since we know how they came to be, but I would like to know where they originated from.

» Wed May 02, 2012 7:39 pm

Differences in temporal and regional Restoration practices account for the difference in name.

Not evolution. Vampirism is altered by Daedra. Clavicus => Cyrodiil vamps, Vaermina => Berne, Aundae, Quarra (At least, this is implied by Bal's dialogue in the cure quest.) Skyrim should have had some lore on who made the Volkihar, but - eh. That's been hashed out.

I am no lore expert, but Bal was involved in the creation of the speculated "first" vampire. What strain he gave her, or what factions she created is unknown to us. (at least to me)

So, could it be possible that the Volkihar are the strain that descended from this "first" vampire and remained in Skyrim throughout the history of Tamriel? From Immortal Blood, they were described as being able to reach up from frozen lakes to trap their victims.
Such powers would be developed, were the vampires who possessed them located in Cold climates (i.e. Skyrim), for extended amounts of time. Generations and generations.

Perhaps the strains can adapt, rather than being solely influenced by Daedric Princes.

» Wed May 02, 2012 1:11 pm

I am no lore expert, but Bal was involved in the creation of the speculated "first" vampire. What strain he gave her, or what factions she created is unknown to us. (at least to me)

So, could it be possible that the Volkihar are the strain that descended from this "first" vampire and remained in Skyrim throughout the history of Tamriel? From Immortal Blood, they were described as being able to reach up from frozen lakes to trap their victims.
Such powers would be developed, were the vampires who possessed them located in Cold climates (i.e. Skyrim), for extended amounts of time. Generations and generations.

Perhaps the strains can adapt, rather than being solely influenced by Daedric Princes.

I would say that it makes sense that the Volkihar are the strain that descended from the "first" vampire, but they stayed in Skyrim causing them to gain their own abilities over time so they can survive better in that environment, so I think it is more of a region variable that causes the different strains, and yes some Daedric influence which is the case with the Cyrodiilic vampires.

» Wed May 02, 2012 12:47 pm

Is it possible the true Volkihar were vampiric Falmer, and that's why they had such a powerful affinity for ice? If so, that would explain their disappearance-- even if they infected one of the 9 races, it might manifest similarly to Cyrodiilic vampirism.

» Thu May 03, 2012 12:44 am

Is it possible the true Volkihar were vampiric Falmer, and that's why they had such a powerful affinity for ice? If so, that would explain their disappearance-- even if they infected one of the 9 races, it might manifest similarly to Cyrodiilic vampirism.

How did you come up with that? It actually makes sense as to why the Volkihar we see in Skyrim are like the Cyrodiilic vampires rather than the hideous paranoid ones mentioned in Immortal Blood.

» Wed May 02, 2012 10:54 pm

How do you think they will implement vampires in the next Elder Scrolls game? What would you like to see, what abilities and the like?
i would really like to be able to turn certain NPCs into a vampire or a thrall, I would also like to see something where they make it so you are always hideous and take away the stages so when you feed you get stronger. I like the Cyrodiilic vampires they are my favorite, but I would like to see something new rather than destroy the lore like with the Skyrim vampires. I think they should make it so that if you wear a hood, mask, or helmet that hides your face then NPCs won't be able to tell you are a vampire, except for some who might question what you are and attack you.

» Wed May 02, 2012 8:21 pm

If the game is in Elseweyr, I won't even become a vampire. I'll just gladly be a khajiit warrior. But depending on the next ES, I don't think they should add vampires unless it is done right.

» Wed May 02, 2012 1:41 pm

If the game is in Elseweyr, I won't even become a vampire. I'll just gladly be a khajiit warrior. But depending on the next ES, I don't think they should add vampires unless it is done right.

If it was in Elsweyr I would expect no less than sixteen types of vampire and they were all reverse vampires (the stripes are their markings).

» Wed May 02, 2012 3:20 pm

If the game is in Elseweyr, I won't even become a vampire. I'll just gladly be a khajiit warrior. But depending on the next ES, I don't think they should add vampires unless it is done right.

Why wouldn't you want to become one? I think Elsweyr could give them a possiblity to add different clans living in each of the different geographical areas.

» Wed May 02, 2012 1:05 pm

I wouldn't count on in, Bethesda seems adverse to doing anything meaningful with vampires. Please add at least a vampire faction... Does everyone remember how popular the Dark Brotherhood was in Oblivion? Vincent Valtieri had a lot to do with that. Give us a faction of vampires with vampire-oriented services and vendors, with memorable characters and a dark, secretive atmosphere like a vampire coven you can belong to and I promise it will be the most popular faction of TES VI.

» Wed May 02, 2012 6:51 pm

I wouldn't count on in, Bethesda seems adverse to doing anything meaningful with vampires. Please add at least a vampire faction... Does everyone remember how popular the Dark Brotherhood was in Oblivion? Vincent Valtieri had a lot to do with that. Give us a faction of vampires with vampire-oriented services and vendors, with memorable characters and a dark, secretive atmosphere like a vampire coven you can belong to and I promise it will be the most popular faction of TES VI.

That's the truth, and I hate to get off topic, but if they did that with werewolves too then TES VI would be the most popular in my opinion.

» Wed May 02, 2012 2:05 pm

Just a pack of werewolves would suffice. A pack that enjoys Lycanthropy. But let's back on topic, we don't want that Freedom-Fighter guy to come and feed us his thread-Nazi B.S.

» Wed May 02, 2012 8:17 pm

I don't know who Freedom-Fighter is and don't understand what you mean by Nazi B.S.

» Wed May 02, 2012 12:48 pm

He pops up when he sees that something is wrong. I caught him twice already. First time, he complained why the thread "Vampirism is terrible" wasn't closed yet. Shortly after, it closed. Then he popped up on the Star Wars thread in the community section, complaining how the thread was derailed.

On topic: I think Bethesda wants us to argue about which vampires are in Skyrim. A more of a "Whatever you believe they are, let your imagination run free".

Or at least I hope.

» Wed May 02, 2012 12:49 pm

Oh, I know who you are talking about.
No, I think Bethesda wants to see if people like the new version of the Oblivion vampires that way they know what to do in the next game.
Or at least I hope.

» Thu May 03, 2012 12:42 am

I think Bethesda wants us to argue about which vampires are in Skyrim. A more of a "Whatever you believe they are, let your imagination run free".

i.e. We didn't have the time, the desire, or the resources to implement things correctly. Oh well mods will make vampires cooler anyways, too bad you need professional voice actors to make quests now, otherwise they'd really blow our vamps out of water.