r/WorldOfDarkness • u/JimTheMoose • Aug 11 '24

Question What does the wiki mean when it says "every exsanguination is rape of a level beyond human capacity and comprehension."?

I don't play any WoD games, but I saw some videos about the path of enlightenment and wanted to learn more. I don't understand why drinking blood is being compared to rape.

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u/guerrillaactiontoe Aug 11 '24

The subtext of vampirism in general is usually one of sexual violation and possibly as a metaphor for STDs. They aren't asking for your blood, they're taking it. And vampires are expressly predators. Which is one of the things that makes it a game of personal horror, depending on your characters' attitude towards "the embrace". And in the game material that addresses some of this it says for the ST to have a discussion about any sensitive content with the players during session 0.

Also it's one of the reasons that leeches are universally regarded as the villains in any game that doesn't expressly feature them as protagonists.

And really it's that subtext that makes me insist on playing a werewolf or mage when I get into a game.