At dawn, vampires slip into unconsciousness. This can be resisted only for a little while. They can regain consciousness after the sun has set. Exact times vary between individuals, but between sunrise and sunset, all vampires are asleep.
Vampires will defend themselves unconsciously during the day if disturbed. If sunlight is let in on them, they will seek shelter as close as possible. If a mortal comes too close, they will probably end up dead. There is no evidence that vampires feed in their sleep.
Vampires can sleep anywhere that the sun won't reach them, but many prefer coffins. They are able to dig quickly into the earth and bury themselves, either just for a night, or for an extended period of time.
Sometimes a vampire will choose to sleep for extended periods of time, even centuries. This is usually related to sanity. If 'life' gets too hard, a vampire may choose sleep rather than suicide.
