FK Vampires and Shapeshifting (or Other Unique Powers)

[switchbladeeyes]

I realize Forever Knight fandom folks are probably busy with fkficfest. But if you need a distraction (and perhaps some additional inspiration), here's something to chew on: can any vampires in the FK universe shapeshift?

I'd have thought, no. Such a power can be found in other vampire stories. Notably, the most famous vampire, Dracula, could turn into a bat, a dog, or a vapor (as mist or dust). But FK certainly never made any express reference to this kind of ability.

But an old FK trivia site that greerwatson has preserved talked about whether FK vampires could turn into animals. Answer: undetermined. Nothing says they can, nothing says they can't. The site also said being able to "dematerialize" is a vampire power. IDK that I'd have reached a "yes" conclusion on that one, but it’s plausible, and it’s also just plain fun to think about.

So now on shapeshifting, I'm a solid, well, why not? I don't think it would be a universal power, but it's a power some vampires may have.

After all, it's not unheard of in the FK universe for some vampires have powers that other vampires lack. For example:

LaCroix survived fire and a wooden stake even though both are fatal to vampires in the FK universe. He appeared to burn up. I just kinda assumed, idk, he flew away or something. Or his ashes reconstituted into a body... somehow (did Nick sweep him up and toss him in a bag down a garbage chute and he formed back up in a dumpster? Lol, maybe). I think the idea that LaCroix dematerialized intentionally, maybe shapeshifting into smoke, would be an interesting take! And one I had never considered before.

LaCroix can also hypnotize any mortals, including resistors.

LaCroix also seems to have the ability to read Nick's mind at least some of the time. I don't think we see other vampires using a power like that.

Divia survived decapitation and starvation as a very young vampire even though we know decapitation is supposed to be fatal for all vampires and starvation fatal for "young" vampires (relatively speaking; LaCroix described Nick and Janette as "young" and likely to starve to death in "A More Permanent Hell," even though they were around 800 and 1,000 years old, respectively). Unknown is whether Divia could survive staking and burning as well… maybe! That would be very interesting.

Divia had the power to kill other vampires by biting them, a power never seen until "Ashes to Ashes." Urs died immediately. Vachon started to go mad and lose control, and believed himself to be dying right before he killed himself. Nick was rendered unconscious by Divia’s bite, but recovered quickly. Nick’s recovery was not something either Nick or LaCroix were really able to explain. (Perhaps it was a unique power to Nick! If some small number of vampires can kill by biting, perhaps some smaller number are immune to that.)

Francesca had the power to truly transcend death, some part of her taking over the body of a mortal man centuries after she died. Wild.

While some vampire powers appear universal (e.g., flight, speed, strength), other powers are idiosyncratic. So why not shapeshifting? Or other unique powers (you can make them up!)?

It isn’t even weird if Nick’s never heard of some powers considering he was surprised by LaCroix’s return, Divia’s powers, and Francesca’s return (albeit in a body belonging to someone else). Not even weird if LaCroix has never heard of a power because he was surprised by Divia’s survival, and I think he was also surprised by Francesca (though I don’t recall if he really believed Nick on that one; whether he believed it or not, it was still new to him... and still true).

Thoughts?

Comments

[thefruitbat]

That's an interesting topic. You're right, the different powers shown in FK are varied and highly "inconsistent". I've always attributed them to poor script writing. 😅

I think the powers as flight, speed and mental control (and the link) are things that get stronger with age of the vampire, as well as practice. Like training muscles, they might need to use their powers to hone these skills.

Divia... well, that one is really hard to explain. I think she survived only due to plot reasons.

Another thought: If they can fly by manipulating matter via thought, could they also move objects via telekinesis?

[switchbladeeyes]

Telekinesis would be a good one! I like it! A very powerful ability. In a fight, you could toss aside or immobilize your opponent without ever making physical contact with them.

Interesting idea that some powers may improve with age. I feel like physical strength is one where we don’t see much variability (some, but not much) except for Divia, who was far stronger than other vampires. Maybe Enforcers too? Hard to say what their powers may be, but both Nick and LC were intimidated by them in "Unreality TV," if I recall correctly.

With age, they do seem to get stronger in the sense of greater resistance to certain vulnerabilities though, such as the sun’s rays. And LaCroix attributes his survival of the stake and fire to being “too old and powerful” to be killed that way (though who knows if he was being honest or just wanted Nick to believe he had no hope of killing LaCroix).

I agree some powers seem to require practice to maintain. The vampiric ability to sense one another (or as I call it, “vampire radar”) definitely seems to require regular use. Vampire radar also seems stronger among “related” vampires, but even then, it can still lapse. Nick sometimes does not know another vampire is nearby, even when that vampire is LaCroix. Though the ability to evade detection by vampire radar may also be a type of power (so Nick doesn’t sense LC sometimes because LC can effectively hide from him, even in the same room).

Here's a thought on hypnosis: what if vampires exist that can whammy other vampires? That would a be a strong power.

[greerwatson]

" I've always attributed them to poor script writing."

Or inconsistent editing, yes. It's well known that TPTB saw no reason for continuity and there was never a proper book for the series. (Fodder for fan fic!)

[thefruitbat]

You're right. And yes, inconsistent editing, plot holes, etc., are among the best fic-fodder. ^^

[switchbladeeyes]

Here’s some other ideas, maybe some vampires end up with powers that suck, like the ability to read minds but no ability to filter or otherwise not hear the thoughts of others

Or some vampires have powers that are just useless or stupid like the power to hypnotize, IDK, groundhogs. Like that may be a fun party trick, but otherwise not useful in any way.

[thefruitbat]

....but what if they make an army of vampire-groundhogs and controls their mind? Nobody expects an underground vampire-groundhog army! :D

[switchbladeeyes]

LMAO, that is true! Once we learn of the vampire-groundhog uprising, it will already be too late!

[thefruitbat]

I mean... good thing that the giant squid on the CN Tower was mostly harmless, right? ;)

[switchbladeeyes]

The squid may be Toronto’s only hope when the horde arives!

[switchbladeeyes]

And is it wrong that I now want to read this as some crack fic?

Or should I say… Kraken fic.

[thefruitbat]

silently opens the "crack treated seriously" drawer Haven't opened this since the Ikea Name Incident, but maybe, if inspiration strikes... there might be a crack fic for FKFicFest. But I think groundhogs are safe. For now.

[switchbladeeyes]

OH GOD I HOPE SO!

:-D

[calliope24]

Interesting idea!

I do agree with what others have said--that inconsistent writing and a lack of a series 'bible' are at the root of many of the contradictions in the series, but the idea of individual traits can't be dismissed either.

Divia is the biggest outlier, and there is a lot we learned about her and LaCroix at the very end of the series. One possible explanation for her being so powerful is that her master was so ancient, 'long before the pyramids', and so evil. But that then begs the question of how she was able to eliminate him when she was so young in vampire years? Maybe he was ready to go and Divia was not.

Perhaps that power is passed down along generations. You could use Divia's survival and reconstruction as an explanation for LaCroix's return from what should have been a lethal event. And maybe even for Nick's recovery from Divia's attack when Vachon and Urs did not recover.

Francesca could even be a variant of that idea, since she is LaCroix's child. Although reincarnation is a long held belief by many human cultures, so it's a little easier consider. I do think it's hilarious that both LaCroix and Natalie are both skeptics about supernatural phenomena, while Nick tends to embrace it.

I think I'd struggle a bit with shapeshifting idea. I completely agree that it wasn't addressed in the series at all, so that may be just based on my perceptions.

[switchbladeeyes]

Very interesting concept that some powers may be inherited along a vampire bloodline. It raises a question of whether Divia's master and all those in his bloodline cannot be killed. Divia said she staked her master, let him burn in the sun, and sealed his remains in a sarcophagus. But with this theory, he could still be alive in there. (Alas for the hapless archaeologist that cracks open that one!) It also means even post-AtA, Divia could come back.

LaCroix attributed his power of survival as coming from his considerable age, but maybe he didn't understand that it was inherent in his blood. It's not exactly something he could have tested until someone actually took action that should have killed him, only it didn't. No matter what, he'd have come back, either with his body healing or by his spirit/consciousness taking over someone else's body.

Some interesting implications come from this:

Even if LaCroix staked Nick in LK, Nick would not have died. He'd either have recovered from the injury, or his consciousness would eventually inhabit another body. (Not that LaCroix would know any of this, and it would come as a surprise to him later.)

If everyone in this line shares this trait, also destined to return in some form or other are Nick's ill-fated progeny: Gerald Archer, Elizabeth, and Richard Lambert 🤯

So perhaps once you join the unkillable vampire bloodline, well, you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Or perhaps the only exit it to become human again. (Though Francesca seemed to think she'd get yet another chance to go after Nick when the human body she was in was dying.)

Alternatively, maybe certain powers, while passing down the generations, become weaker over time. So even if Nick had strong regenerative powers inherited from LaCroix, it doesn't mean the vampires Nick made did. And while LaCroix had unusually strong hypnotic powers, Nick didn't necessarily inherit the same.

Powers weakening down the generations raises an interesting issue of whether something like that could be true of all vampire powers. Perhaps eventually, vampires will effectively "die out" as each generation becomes weaker than the generation that came before it.

Fun stuff to noodle through!

[calliope24]

LaCroix attributed his power of survival as coming from his considerable age, but maybe he didn't understand that it was inherent in his blood. It's not exactly something he could have tested until someone actually took action that should have killed him, only it didn't. No matter what, he'd have come back, either with his body healing or by his spirit/consciousness taking over someone else's body.

Exactly. Divia doesn't seem to have been a model of transparency in their 20 years together, so there's probably a lot she left out. And a lot she didn't know either.

LC seemed to think he was going to die after being staked in the fb in NiQ--except he didn't--even though it looked like he was staked pretty accurately in his left chest. Maybe he would have survived without Nick's assistance.

So perhaps once you join the unkillable vampire bloodline, well, you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Or perhaps the only exit it to become human again. (Though Francesca seemed to think she'd get yet another chance to go after Nick when the human body she was in was dying.)

Which mirrors the fear that Nick expressed to Natalie--that the evil in him would go on forever, even if he died.


Powers weakening down the generations raises an interesting issue of whether something like that could be true of all vampire powers. Perhaps eventually, vampires will effectively "die out" as each generation becomes weaker than the generation that came before it.

Very interesting! I have a feeling it may go the other way--we'll all be gone and they will survive. But that is something to think about.

Thanks!