Changes

A '''Vampire''' is a mythological creature who drinks the [[blood]] of living [[human beings]] for sustenance. They can also sometimes prey upon cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, and deer, according to the work of fiction they appear in. [[Bram Stoker]]'s ''[[Dracula]]'' is one of the most famous references to vampires.  Most tales of vampires came from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. Another famous example is [[Richard Matheson]]'s novel ''[[I Am Legend]]''. The origin of vampires in lore is assumed to be the result of burial practices at the time, which dealt with the peasants burying a shallow grave for the deceased and the resulting gas buildup inside the corpses causing them to "rise up", with such phenomenon being prevalent during warm months.<ref>http://www.useless-knowledge.com/articles/apr/oct227.html</ref>

A '''Vampire''' is a mythological creature who drinks the [[blood]] of living [[human beings]] for sustenance. They can also sometimes prey upon cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, and deer, according to the work of fiction they appear in. [[Bram Stoker]]'s ''[[Dracula]]'' is one of the most famous references to vampires.  Most tales of vampires came from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. Another famous example is [[Richard Matheson]]'s novel ''[[I Am Legend]]''. The origin of vampires in lore is assumed to be the result of burial practices at the time, which dealt with the peasants burying a shallow grave for the deceased and the resulting gas buildup inside the corpses causing them to "rise up", with such phenomenon being prevalent during warm months.<ref>http://www.useless-knowledge.com/articles/apr/oct227.html</ref>

In the horror genre, vampires have been popularized in many books, movies, and role playing games. The abilities of vampires differ in various fiction and myth.  In ''Dracula'', the vampire is able to transform into a bat or dog and to manipulate the weather.   In most variants of the myth, a vampire's human victim also becomes a vampire.   

In the horror genre, vampires have been popularized in many books, movies, and role playing games. The abilities of vampires differ in various fiction and myth.  In ''Dracula'', the vampire is able to transform into a bat or dog and to manipulate the weather. In most variants of the myth, a vampire's human victim also becomes a vampire.   

Vampires are impervious to most forms of injury, and can only be destroyed in certain ways.  Again these vary among differing fictions, but usually include driving a wooden stake through the vampire's heart, decapitation or exposure to sunlight (although it should be noted that in the original ''Dracula'' novel, sunlight merely weakened Vampires rather than actually killing them).  Vampires are usually repelled by [[garlic]], crucifixes and sometimes mirrors (the last of which generally has them lacking a reflection).

Vampires are impervious to most forms of injury, and can only be destroyed in certain ways.  Again these vary among differing fictions, but usually include driving a wooden stake through the vampire's heart, decapitation or exposure to sunlight (although it should be noted that in the original ''Dracula'' novel, sunlight merely weakened vampires rather than actually killing them).  Vampires are usually repelled by [[garlic]], crucifixes and sometimes mirrors (the last of which generally has them lacking a reflection).

Vampires are generally portrayed as evil, although a few recent books and films have portrayed vampire characters in a sympathetic light.

Vampires are generally portrayed as evil, although a few recent books and films have portrayed vampire characters in a sympathetic light.