Rules of DS Vampires

[Mysterious Benefactor]

The thing is--every vampire on DS always ended up desperate to get inside a coffin.  Not, for example, a nice empty room somewhere underground (Collinwood had plenty of those if you recall).

One should clarify that's true for every vampire on the original DS. However, in the '91 series, Barnabas, on his first day as a vampire, did indeed seek shelter in the basement of the Old House without a coffin.

[Lydia]

At one point, Barnabas needed some earth for his coffin to be effective.  But I believe that happened only once.[spoiler]It was in 1897, and he got Charity to go get the earth.[/spoiler]

[Nelson Collins]

I was always puzzled by Barn's revelation to Willie [spoiler]when he was planning to torture Julia into insanity and possibly suicide[/spoiler]
about the powers he said he learned about when in Martinique.  Am I remembering that correctly?

Also, and OT, didn't Barnabas supply his father with a revolver and silver bullets?

[Midnite]

Nelson Collins, I think this is it, with the full scene under RobinV's summary for #358:

Robservations 2/14/02 - #357/358 - Enter Tony Peterson, Esq

Carolyn goes to the Old House and finds Barnabas engaged in a strange ritual with a tray on the desk. She gleefully reports Julia was too upset to even come down for dinner. He assures Carolyn there will be no rest for Dr. Hoffman the rest of this night, and tells her about an Indian in Barbados...

[Midnite]

Also, and OT, didn't Barnabas supply his father with a revolverand silver bullets?

Well, from Reply #6 on page 1:

Barnabas provided Joshua with a gun and silver bullets so his father could destroy him...

[Zahir]

Yes, BUT--would they have worked?????

[Nelson Collins]

Well, from Reply #6 on page 1:

Barnabas provided Joshua with a gun and silver bullets so his father could destroy him...

Ah, apologies. I'd somehow got it into my head that Joshua had a very anachronistic revolver, but I was wrong, it was a flintlock pistol.

[Midnite]

Oh, no need to apologize.

Yes, BUT--would they have worked??

I think IluvBarnabas, in her last post in the topic, provided the definitive scene in that it leaves no doubt that vampire Barnabas was vulnerable to silver.  And the information came, not from Barnabas, but during an invocation to Ba'al.

[Zahir]

If you're referring to the bit with a voodoo doll and Barnabas' cane, I must point out (1) Barnabas handles that cane all the time, to no ill effect, and (2) Likewise, he handles wood--which we know to be fatal to vampires if piercing the heart--with a similar lack of concern.

[Midnite]

Yes.  It's stated in the scene that silver is Barnabas' vulnerability.  Quentin was about to stick a pin in the doll's heart, but he's told, "It must be silver."  When he starts pressing the head of the cane onto the doll's chest, Barnabas is instantly incapacitated by excruciating pain.  But Jamison faints and while Quentin tends to him, Magda rushes in, so the ritual is ended.

I must point out (1) Barnabas handles that cane all the time, to no ill effect, and (2) Likewise, he handles wood--which we know to be fatal to vampires if piercing the heart--with a similar lack of concern.

Exactly.  He can come in contact with either unless they pierce his heart.

Though early in the show, Barnabas tells Maggie that the wolf's head is an alloy of gold and silver, presumably as a way of explaining how he's able to carry it, but once the cane becomes synonymous with the character, this is never mentioned again.

You don't interpret the evidence provided on the show to mean that silver is detrimental to a DS vampire, and I do.  Agreeing to disagree is cool with me, Zahir. 

[Zahir]

Actually, I think you've made your case that silver--like wood--is dangerous to a vampire when in contact with said vampire's heart.  Bravo!

[Midnite]

Even cooler!