The Thirst of Ages, Methuselah's Thirst or Thirst of Caine is a characteristic of Methuselahs and other ancient Kindred, when the blood of mortals no longer sates them.
Overview[]
After many years of being a Vampire, the blood of mortals will sometimes not be sufficient to feed and sustain a vampire's thirst. Thus, the thirst can only be slaked by supernatural (typically vampire) blood. Diablerists are the most notorious bearers of this thirst; it can be hard to say whether serial diablerie makes one more likely to incur this curse, or if the thirst for Kindred vitae almost necessarily leads one to diablerie.
Version Differences[]
Prior to Fifth Edition, Methuselah's Thirst meant that non-supernatural blood wouldn't sustain vampires at all.
Fifth Edition changed it to mortal blood never being able to fully satiate the vampire's hunger, even if the mortal was killed. Mortal blood being less nourishing is instead represented by the Blood Potency mechanics.
References[]
- VTDA: Dark Ages Storytellers Companion, p. 76
- VTM: 5th Edition Corebook, p. 181
