How do you scare a vampire? What would scare a guy that was already dead?

I have just run up against a problem that I could use some help on. One of my characters, just said this:

“What a minute. Okay, let’s think about this situation we have here. So, this guy is a vampire, right? We know that. That means he can’t die, because he’s already dead. You can’t kill a vampire, you can only scare them off and keep them at bay and make them so scared of you that they’ll never bother you again. Right? Am I right? So, if you can’t die, what do you fear? I mean, how do you scare a vampire?”

Okay. Here’s the thing. In my world, the undead are exactly that – the undead. They are already dead and therefor can not die once again. The only way to get rid of a vampire is the scare them off, because you can not kill something that is already dead. So, here’s my question: How do you scare a vampire? If you had vampires in your town, and you couldn’t kill them off by the traditional methods (stake through the heart, decapitation, etc) because you already tried that and found out those things don’t work because these guys are already dead and can’t be killed again – what would you do? How would you scare them into leaving your town alone? What would scare a guy that was already dead?

EDIT –

I’ve got answers coming in from NaNo – I’ll copy them to here:

[quote=RoswellianMisha]Well, what vulnerabilities do they have to begin with? Why haven’t they taken over the world, for example? If they are a superior race, what makes them stay secret?[/quote]

I haven’t really thought that part out much. I didn’t have any sort of plot or outline when I started and I had no idea what I was writing until, suddenly Dracula showed up in my story and took over it.

I’m thinking there are not very many of them, because it’s pretty hard to turn someone into a vampire. I think they just keep taking your blood, but you don’t turn into a vampire unless they actually kill you, and killing folks who defeat the purpose. For one thing creating new vampires would create competition, and I’m guessing these guys are loners and don’t want competition, so they are not out there trying to make new vampires. Secondly, they need blood to survive, so killing people would be a disadvantage because it lessens the blood supply. Or something along those lines at least. Therefor there are not many vampires out there and not many people are actually getting killed by them either.

I think instead of turning people into vampires, he would use mind control to make them sort of zombie-like, and get his minions that way. Than he wouldn’t have to worry about competition for local blood. I mean, it would take a whole town to feed a vampire if he didn’t want to kill every one right?

[quote=RoswellianMisha]
If you are in a modern set, you can have some high tech device that makes them uncomfortable, like a high decibel sound that only they can hear, or some very strong smell that makes them run for the hills.


If they don’t have that many physical vulnerabilities, maybe you can stop thinking in physical terms -unless your vampires can feel pain- and start thinking about their minds. What do they care for?


Once you figure out what keeps them interested in life, you might get something to take away from them. The prospect of losing it may keep them away.[/quote]

Yeah, kind of got a modern set going. I haven’t done any naming dates or anything and it seems to be pretty much “current time” so far. The MC’s are three 10 – 13 year old boys who find Dracula living next door, so I’m trying to figure out, what can these kids do to get rid of the vampires in their town.

I’ thinking of going with classic garlic to help them out here. Not sure yet, but I’m guessing the vampires are pretty sensitive to strong smells and such and so are sort of allergic to garlic. (and possibly rancid yak butter – thanks to the DARES thread LOL!)

I think their senses are super sensitive, so sounds, smells, etc would be big irritants. I like the high decibel idea. Hadn’t thought of that. I wonder how I could work that in?

[quote=RoswellianMisha]

If they are subjected to the rules of magic -like not being able to enter a house if they are not invited- then maybe you can call in a mage and put a protective charm.

[/quote]

The whole being invited thing, was on my mind but I’m not sure yet how to work it. It was one of the first things I thought of though. I plan on using it as the reason why so few people are getting attacked by the vampires – he can’t just sneak into their houses at night – they have to invite him in.

[quote=Dweebert]Plucking out their fangs?

Ok how about Blinding?

How about fire, it hurts and maims.

Assuming the are undead I assuem they can be burnt or cremated.

And even if they can reconstitute themselves from ashes, what happens if the ashes are scattered or stored lin multiple containers, or the ashes are mixed in a vat of concerete and then pured into a buildling’s foundation?

On a similar note Being buried would probably be a big fear.

You also said decapitation wodl not kill them, but It should definately scare them.

Picture a row of pikes, each with the still screaming head of a defanged blinded vampire on it.

I think tha would be a effective deturrent for any wanna be Draculas using Dracula’s own tactics![/quote]

LOL! Love that – Rows of staked vampires – Dracula’s tactic being turned back on him.

I think there might be a way to bury them in their coffins so that they can’t get out. That sort of thing might work. Iron nails and buried upside down, something like that could work.

Turn to ash and than coming back – but not able to if ashes are locked in separate places – ugh – icky – but effective! That could be something I could use.

[quote=Lentil]Well, if they can’t die, any possibility of being trapped somewhere and left for years and years and years would be pretty scary. Do they retain human phobias and such? Can they regenerate limbs? If not, things that do permanent damage would not be great, as, well, living forever in a mutilated body is no one’s idea of a picnic.

Do they *know* they can’t die? Could you scare them into thinking maybe they could?[/quote]

I think Dracula knows he can’t die, but not sure about the others – they might not know.

Yeah – I think phobia would work too. Phobias are pretty irrational in humans, so why not have the same phobias they had when they were alive? Plus a lot of vampire myths have them pretty OCD so phobias could work good.

[quote=Sapphire-Shard]Cause them some sort of unimaginable pain?

Although i’m not sure how you would do that to a dead person.

Setting them on fire might work i guess! Or, depending on the time your novel is set, blast them with a UV light.

That would depend on whether your vampires are injured/killed by sunlight though…[/quote]

Yeah, I’m planning to use the whole sunlight thing. Only it doesn’t kill them, it’s more like wicked painful super powerful sunburn allergy to UV light sort of thing.

Wow. You guys have giving me all sorts of ideas I can work with here. Thanks! (and keep adding more too – I’ve got a whole 28 days more of writing to do – I’ll need all the ideas I can get! LOL!)

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