Ineptshieldmaid, I'm kinda aiming this at you...

[xxlucyferxx]

Or anyone else who just happens to be a history buff. Although I don't think I have any others on my flist.

I really need some vampire mythology that Dr. Cornelius could feasibly have unearthed at some point during one of his magical escapades. I'm working on this section in Sanguinis Vinculum where he's been going through some ancient books he has about vampires, incubi/succubi, etc. I won't explain the whole scene here, but I really want to be able to quote a relevant passage or two from these books.

Problem: my knowledge of vampire mythology is fantastic when it comes to the 19th century, but that's far too modern for a Narnian setting. I need something that sounds as if it could have been written in a medieval book of the occult, or something along those lines. I tried to write my own passage, but I really don't know enough medieval literature to pull off that sort of thing. So basically, if you can give me a positive answer to one of the following three questions, I will love you forever:

a) Do you have access to any suitably ancient writings about the vampire, which I could use as a reference point and/or quote in my writing?

OR

b) Do you have any skill at all in writing in a way that might sound appropriate to the sort of literature PC-era Narnians/Telmarines might have had access to, and would you be at all willing to sacrifice a bit of time to help me construct something that won't sound completely embarrassing?

OR

c) Do you know a person who COULD help me with either of the above, and could you direct me to them?

Comments

[ineptshieldmaid.livejournal.com]

Hokay. First up, Wikipedia is everyone's best friend. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire#Medieval_and_later_European_folklore) Vampire, apparently, is a term which dates to the 18th century although there are similar myths across most cultures. If you have access to decent resources you might look up the Prussian vampire outbreak of 1721 or the Serbian Vampire cases that Wiki cites.

As far as context goes, your Caspian-verse doesn't feel medieval to me... more like sixteenth century, perhaps? And your narrative tone is good old Gothic. So for Dr Cornelius to dig up old records, all you need is something that feels older than the narrative present.

Your gothic reading has been all 19th century, hasn't it? You might lay hands on 'The Castle of Otranto' by Horace Walpole, 1764. Can't remember if it has vampires in it, but it's apparently the first gothic novel. Has a giant helmet falling out of the sky, I remember that much. The narrative style is really weird... has none of the lovely depth and control that you find in high gothic. You could model your hypothetical old myths on that narrative style.

On the other hand, you have PEVENSIES. Have any of them read 19th c. vampire lit?

[xphoenixrising.livejournal.com]

B for me. Or I could just write something up for you then you can see if you like it. I've got time today and tomorrow evening.

[anon-a-mous.livejournal.com]

I have many a book on ancient Vampire Lore and Mythology ( swoon I love Vampire lore)...Give me a moment to do some research and I'll try and get back to you as soon as possible.

[shadowedsummers.livejournal.com]

Hey...I could possibly help you with this little problem, I may be able to have acces to such writings