Donat/Vampires

A **vampire** (Donatese: вампир / *vampir*, sometimes *upir*, *lapir*, *yedogonya*) is a mythological being originating from Slavic mythology, which sustains itself on consuming the life essence (usually blood) of other living beings, usually humanoids and livestock. Vampires were thought to be reanimated corpses that came back to life through the powers of a demon. Tales of vampires existed within most civilizations throughout time, however, the term 'vampire' would start being used within the 19th century after the Great Famine of Donat, during which there were great vampire superstitions among Donatese peasants.

## Transformation

Within Donatese and Kruhastan circles, people refused to let a corpse be let alone in the dark because a black cat could jump over the corpse, after which the corpse would be reanimated in the dead of night and start sucking the blood of people and livestock. Thieves, adulterers, murderers and other sinners were believed to be 'most likely' to reincarnate as a vampire, along with people who died a tragic death or who were murdered. Then, the ground where the corpse was buried would open up and the vampire would be free to come out of that space. These people were usually buried deep with their face down and with rocks pressed against their back so that they couldn't escape. In some instances, horrid sinners would have their head cut off and placed into a jar separate from the body. Unless 40 days have passed since the person's death, a vampire is powerless and appears as a shadow, butterfly, moth or bat. After 40 days have passed, the vampire can take on a humanoid form and is no longer bound to his burial ground. Vampires were mostly middle-aged men.

## Protection from vampires

If a horse, donkey or mule would refuse to go near a grave or would be disturbed when coming close to one, a wreath of garlic would be placed on the gravestone because then the vampire could not exit his grave. If a grave is decided to be dug up and a corpse is found with eyes wide open and overgrown hair and nails that transformed into claws, hawthorns would be pricked into the corpse after which it would be burned. A vampire is helpless without his coffin or if his grave was disturbed or destroyed, unless 40 days have passed since his death. They despise garlic, hawthorns and foxgloves and will be drawn away if a home or barn hangs a Donatese cross on the roof. Fresh corpses would have their knees cut and hawthorns stuck into their nails so that they don't become vampires. Sometimes cinder was cast on corpses so that they cannot come back to life. If a vampire is identified and destroyed, the person who killed the vampire must not let blood for 40 days, lest they become one themselves.

### Appearance

Vampires were believed to have no bones or muscle and were like cocoons filled with blood, for which reason their skin would be reddishly pale. Their hair is overgrown and their nails are alike to animal claws. Vampire skin is reported to be rough and 'alike to the bark of oak'.

## Explanation of myth and popular culture

The first documented vampire from Donat by non-Donatese sources is 'Carl Paulovitz' who was reported to have become a vampire after his death in a Rutherish headline from 1851. The Donatese vampire is believed to have come from mass hysteria during times of great famine in Donat in the 19th century. At this time, many field workers, who were primarily men, died of starvation or excessive work. Lack of developed medicine in the area meant that superstition was widespread. Many "vampire characteristics" on a corpse, such as 'overgrown' hair and nails, wide open eyes and bloated stomachs were byproducts of decomposition.

The vampire became a personification of Donat in politics and was widely used during the 20th century.

1. ↑ Demons in Vera are beings materialized from sin
2. ↑ believed to be reincarnations of Gluttony
3. ↑ or a bird or bat could fly over it
4. ↑ The first documented case of this was the death of King Gospod II.
5. ↑ There certainly never was a 'Carl' in the Donatese language. Perhaps *Karlo Pavlovich'*?