Scarlett Memories

Beheading
Cut off the vampires head and you basically end the creature’s undead existence. This is based on the time`s belief that the center of the undead is the brain. This is true for zombies, but for a vampire the heart is the “vital” organ. Many corpses would be beheaded to prevent a supposed vampire from attacking. In some cases the head was buried at the feet or in a separate grave in the belief that it the creature would still rise he wouldn`t be able to use his senses therefore he would be easy to destroy.

Stake
First, a stake of wood or metal has to be driven through a vampire’s heart, as well as as pinning it to the ground. Then a ritual, or exorcism, is performed to render the vampire helpless. Finally the head must be severed and either buried separately from the body or both parts can be burned to ash.

Sunlight
Exposure to direct sunlight will destroy a vampire, but it is a very painful death. Vampires are creatures of the night, living and feeding in the darkness.

Crucifix
It’s important to note that you must use a crucifix, and not a cross! Why? Because a crucifix has the image of Jesus Christ on it while the cross is just a cross. The power of the crucifix comes from the Christian religion and Jesus Christ’s power over evil. Also very importantly, the crucifix will only have power over evil if you believe in its power. If you don’t believe in the power of Jesus, then the crucifix will be of no use.

Holy Water
Like the crucifix, holy water is powerful because of the user’s faith and belief in Jesus Christ. Holy water is just plain water that has been blessed by a religious holy man. When holy water is cast onto the vampires skin it burns like acid leaving burns and causing extreme pain.
It`s not a very good method because you would first need to retrain the creature, but it applied to a corpse while exhuming the body, injection with holy water in the heart is a winner.

Fire
This will also kill a vampire, but it must be burned down to absolute dust. If not, then the creature can replenish itself with the right amount of blood. It is a slow and agonizing process.
It`s not uncommon to give a corpse to the fire – older religions used burning instead of burial because the people believe that the fire would consume the evil part and the sins so that the good part of the soul may find its way to heaven.

Captivity 
If a vampire is unable to obtain a supply of blood for a long enough period of time, the creature will age and lose its vigor and vitality and ultimately crumble into dust, thus it is soon destroyed.

Garlic
Garlic is another ancient method of fending off evil spirits. Garlic has been used in cultures throughout the world as a healing medicine and for its purification properties. The odor of garlic has strong repellant properties. Even for us regular folk, after a meal with strong garlic, we can repel just about anyone/thing!

Silver
Silver bullets will kill a vampire as well as any other silver object such as a silver dagger or silver stake. When most people think of silver weapons killing monsters they think of silver bullets and werewolves, however, silver stakes, spears and daggers have also been known to slow down and kill vampires. Silver is considered to be a metal of purity and has been used for protection against evil in almost every world culture throughout history. Silver can be melted down to form amulets, jewelry, bullets, daggers and religious symbols such as crucifixes. Silver amulets and daggers can be put into the ground above the grave to prevent evil spirits from escaping. Silver nails drove into coffin lids are said to help prevent evil spirits from rising from the grave.

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† Vampire Accounts
† Legends