Canon Q&A With Storytellers

[Trahir Trahison]

Question: Typically when vampires feed on vampires it makes them ill. But Blood Thieves are already inured to the effects. Would they then be immune to the toxic effects after turned and immediately be able to drink vampire blood without illness or would their new vampire metabolism/adjustment reset their immune system?

[Azraeth]

Question: Can memories that have been erased through the Selective Amnesia RP power be seen by the following?

Read Memories, Blood Memories (RP Power)

If so to what extent? Would a power like Image Telepathy (RP Power) then be able to be used to restore the memories of the amnesiac?

Could this be done against their will?

I'd say it depends on both the type of memory and how the person with the Selective Amnesia roleplays the power.


For example, if the player writes the selective amnesia as complete erasure of the memory, then it's gone and cannot be retrieved by any means, I would say. If they write it as the memory being put behind a sort of wall, or block, then it could potentially be retrieved at the discretion of the players involved.

Image telepathy might work, but that doesn't mean the person with the selective amnesia couldn't just erase the memory again, assume it's an illusion, etc. I'm also not entirely sure it would 'restore', the memories. They'd be like seeing home movies on mute.

Yes, it could be done against the character's will, but the above situations might play out as I described.

When you're mingling powers, especially RP powers, there is a lot of nuance as to how they are played and used which impacts how effective they are in a situation, so just bear that in mind when working with that kind of thing.

That being said, I really love the creativity involved here, hope whatever you're planning pans out!

[Azraeth]

Question: Typically when vampires feed on vampires it makes them ill. But Blood Thieves are already inured to the effects. Would they then be immune to the toxic effects after turned and immediately be able to drink vampire blood without illness or would their new vampire metabolism/adjustment reset their immune system?

Player choice on this one. Theoretically, they should be able to drink vampire blood right off the bat, but if a person wanted to roleplay their character being sickened by vampire blood after being turned, that's also perfectly acceptable. I think that particular question comes down to storycraft and what the writer wants to get out of the situation.

[Trahir Trahison]

If a vampire bites an HIV-infected (or any other blood borne pathogen really) human and soon after feeds a blood thief could the blood thief become infected? What about if s/he sires a childe? If they take the RP curse Immortal Illness, can they infect others simply be biting them? Same question with those who have the curse weakness to toxins.

The HIV virus can be found in even dried blood a week after it is spilled in the right temperatures. Since it's heat that kills it and not cold, would a vampire's body when freshly fed be able to house it?

[Jedediah]

How long does the virus live outside the body?

HV is a very fragile virus outside of the body. The HIV virus needs the human body as its host. The life span of HIV outside of the body has not been determined. However, we know that HIV needs its host cell (a human), the body temperature, and the chemistry of the blood to survive. Out of the body, HIV is out of its environment. As the blood dries, the HIV will die. In areas like a syringe or on a razor in a medicine cabinet, HIV would probably live longer because of less airflow and it's a more moist temperature controlled area.

Just remember, outside of the body HIV can't survive. In minutes it will die and be harmless, but Universal Precautions should always be used.

after 12 yrs in ambulances, all are training and such says that hiv dies almost instantly outside of a human body, things like hepatitis B on the other hand can survive 7 days or more...

[Trahir Trahison]

I'm thinking plague-infected vampire. Possibly an elder.

[Azraeth]

If a vampire bites an HIV-infected (or any other blood borne pathogen really) human and soon after feeds a blood thief could the blood thief become infected? What about if s/he sires a childe? If they take the RP curse Immortal Illness, can they infect others simply be biting them? Same question with those who have the curse weakness to toxins.

The HIV virus can be found in even dried blood a week after it is spilled in the right temperatures. Since it's heat that kills it and not cold, would a vampire's body when freshly fed be able to house it?

This totally makes me think of 'rotty' vamps from the Anita Blake series, very Morte D'Amour.

I would say that the physical properties of the blood don't necessarily transfer over after a vampire drinks human blood. After all, the stuff that comes out of a vampire is definitely not human blood. And vampires basically use it to get anima.

However, if a person can come up with a good RP reason/plot for the blood thief to get infected, I'd be cool with that. For example. If the vampire has immortal illness, maybe they carry any and all viruses they pick up with them, in their blood. I personally think that would be a really cool curse because I imagine it would make turning extremely difficult, and I don't imagine blood thieves would want to make friends with them.

So as a general rule, I'm going to have to say no. But with the right combination of roleplay curses, powers, plot, and character participation, I don't see a problem with it.

As for weakness to toxins, I'd say it's very possible for them to catch an illness. However it's to the discretion of the writer, as to whether or not that's permanent. Or if it's communicable, etc.

[Elizabeth]

Question or a couple:

On the wiki is there a place where we know how 'old' some buildings are?

Say the cemeteries or graveyards? Mauso? If there is, can you link me?

I mean I know some just showed up on grid not that long ago due to expansions and whatnot, but what existed in HR structure wise in the 1700-1800-1900-2000?

If there are old buildings that aren't standing anymore, is there a section for that too?

Is there any approximation somewhere as to how many vampires lived in HR pre-holocaust days?

People too, would be cool to know.

Also, what the people in old times did primarily? Logging, farming, fishing? Things like that in this area.

TY

[Azraeth]

Question or a couple:

On the wiki is there a place where we know how 'old' some buildings are?

Yes and no. Currently, the oldest buildings in Harper Rock are going to be the Abandoned Mansion and the Abandoned Church.

Later on (I should be starting the project this month, depending on how full my plate gets), I plan to flesh out more about Harper Rock including descriptions of its territories, architecture, etc. When I do that, I'll be adding more usable information about how old buildings should be in given areas.

I would look at the Harper Rock wiki page, because the history covers a lot of good information about some of the stuff you are asking.

Say the cemeteries or graveyards? Mauso? If there is, can you link me?

The Old Town graveyard and Mausoleum are older than the cemetery in the QZ, I believe. I'd be fine with you saying that the graveyard was used by early pioneers and eventually it just expanded into a formal graveyard.

I mean I know some just showed up on grid not that long ago due to expansions and whatnot, but what existed in HR structure wise in the 1700-1800-1900-2000?

Most of the buildings in Harper Rock were destroyed, back when it was Fort Odawa, by a giant fire in 1813. The Mansion, Fort, and Church were rebuilt, but the Fort was destroyed later in 1902. I'd say that most of the buildings are newer than 1902.

If there are old buildings that aren't standing anymore, is there a section for that too?

Nah. You can feel free to make up whatever. Just be sure that it A) Existed in the time period you're thinking of B) Would have been used in a town like Harper Rock at the time C) Explain why it would have been destroyed (though the flood and fire are good for that).

Is there any approximation somewhere as to how many vampires lived in HR pre-holocaust days?

No, and that's more of a David question, because that relates back to how many first gens there are, and he's the one who oversees that kind of thing. If I were you, I'd go with 'several'. Bear in mind though that Isabella Drake was intentionally gathering vampires there, as guided by the Crow. So Harper Rock was slightly unusual as far as vampire population goes for the pre-holocaust world.

[Trahir Trahison]

Bewitch Vampire: For a few seconds, allows the user to control the actions of another character, and have them attack a non-friend or enemy on your behalf. In roleplay it can be described as mental domination, supernatural persuasiveness, or similar.

In an RP fashion could the dominating vampire demand a power use? I know not on the grid, but when used in an RP storyline, could a vampire using this power, order someone to utilize a power rather than simply having them shoot or swing a sword?