# [[39 Vampires|Vampires]] The blood-drinkers who stalk the [[01 A World of Darkness|World of Darkness]] mostly call themselves [[10 Lexicon of the Damned#^Kindred|Kindred]], [[10 Lexicon of the Damned#^Lick|licks]], or [[10 Lexicon of the Damned#^Cainite|Cainites]]. The term “vampire” seems déclassé to the habitués of [[10 Lexicon of the Damned#^Elysium|Elysium]] and the theorists of [[06 The Camarilla#The Anarch Movement|Anarch]] utopia, reminiscent of cheesy Hammer sequels and tourist-friendly reactionary folklore. However, those [[10 Lexicon of the Damned#^TheEmbrace|Embraced]] in recent decades increasingly use the term among themselves, (“taking the v-word back”) establishing their claim to this status, despite the thinness of their [[46 The Blood|Blood]]. When challenged, they respond: “Who has a better right to the name? Those of us actually out in the night, or the mythical monsters from movies?” $\quad$Vampires cannot afford too many illusions; as predators, their existence depends on fooling their prey, not themselves. Whether they call themselves Kindred, licks, or vampires, they face certain immutable truths. To be a vampire is to be driven by an insensate [[41 Hunger|Hunger]] for human blood and by the immortal legacy of your vampire Blood. Hunger drives you to murderous frenzy, impels you to slake your thirst in mortal veins. The human blood you drink alchemizes and resonates, granting not just ecstasy but also immortality; not just strange powers, but also slavery. More than most of us, vampires are what they eat. More than most of us, vampires must retain their [[49 Humanity|Humanity]] if they want to be more than that. [[38 Vampire - The Masquerade Summary Sheet|⬅️ Previous Section]] | [[Vampire - The Masquerade 5th Edition Core Book#Structure|Table of Contents]] | [[40 Truth and Lies|Next Section ➡️]]