Category:Vampire

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Vampire by Night
"Vampire by Night," by Talon Dunning, used with permission

The vampire is an evil and terrible undead spoken of in virtually all cultures, with tales alluding to vampiric depredations reaching across the Land of Mists and beyond.[1] Vampires are especially known and feared in Barovia, the Demiplane of Dread's first and perhaps most quintessential domain, so much that dread of the vampire is all but vital to Barovian cultural identity. The Balok word for vampire is vrolok. In Luktar, the word for vampire is voishlacka.[2]

Although the origins of vampirism are shrouded in mystery, Count Strahd von Zarovich, the Land of Mist's first darklord, is thought to be the that land's first vampire. Vampire kind also bears recognition as the first sort of creature hunted by Dr. Rudolph van Richten, the esteemed and writer of the various Van Richten's Guides, including Van Richten's Guide to Vampires (Item).[3]

Canon Information

Vampires are undead that feed on the living[4][5]. Vampires predominantly feed on blood, though a few varities feed on other nutrients from living creatures, such as other bodily fluids.[6][7] Others may ingest body organs[7], such as hearts or brains. A rare few vampires may feed on more recondite and less tangibles qualities[7], such as memories[6][7], mental faculties, or life energy.[6]

Regardless of what they feast upon, vampires gain sustenance only through taking it from living creatures. Vampires generally prefer to sup upon humanoid blood, though sustenance from animal or other creature types in times of emergency may be possible. In such cases, such blood is disgusting and substandard to the vampire and only provide a fraction of the nutrients of humanoid blood.[8] Vampires least once per day, or else begin to quickly suffer from starvation, resulting in continuous weakening leading to the assumption of a feral state.s[7], such as memories[6][7]

With the exception of elven vampires[9], vampires are mostly nocturnal creatures, for sunlight is deleterious, even quickly fatal, to the vast majority of vampires. During the day, most vampires must sleep in their coffins. As intelligent and canny creatures, many have dominated mortal thralls, controlled lesser undead, or other minions to guard their diurnal slumbers.

As powerful undead, vampires are effective immortal unless slain by starvation or external causes such as violence. Even then, it can be incredibly difficult to put down a vampire for good, as they are immune or at least resistant to normal weapons and some forms of energy. In heal wounds from most sources very rapidly. When a vampire sustains enough damage to slay it, the undead typically assumes an insubstantial state (usually by turning into mist) to retreat to its coffin to fully heal. There are several specific exceptions, the standard ones noted below.

The onset of immortality and changes in psychology typically slow advancement in any character classes to a crawl. However, a vampire's powers greatly increases as it grows older and reaches greater Vampire Age Categories. Such age categories vary at the weakest fledgling vampire to the greatest patriarch vampire.

Special Powers and Weaknesses of the Vampire

Beyond the abilities and immunities available to all undead, vampire possess special abilities and weaknesses peculiar to their own kind. Special abilities common to most vampires include some variety of shapechanging and the to call minor beasts of the night, usually animals, to serve as temporary minions and even sacrificial lambs if need be.

Within the Land of Mists

Vampires can be encountered in many domains, including Barovia[10], Cavitius[11], Darkon[12], Invidia[13], Kislova[14], Richemulot[15] Valachan[16][17]. Vampires of any vampiric strain can be encountered in Necropolis[18]. As undead, they may be encountered in Mordent[19][20], Sithicus[21][22], and Sanguinia[23]

Vampire Age Category

Vampire Lore

Text

References

  1. ↑ Van Richten's Guide to Vampires (Book) p. 6
  2. ↑ Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p. 15
  3. ↑ Van Richten's Guide to Vampires (Book) p. 6-9
  4. ↑ Monster Manual (3.5), p. 250-254
  5. ↑ Pathfinder Bestiary, p. 270-271
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Van Richten's Guide to Vampires (Book) p. 56-57
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Ravenloft Third Edition p. 177
  8. ↑ It should be noted that in 2nd Edition sources such as Van Richten's Guide to Vampires]] (p. 59), vampires in the Demiplane of Dread could only feed upon humanoid blood. However, this was reversed in 3rd Edition sources such as the core Ravenloft Third Edition (p. 177) campaign setting book, allowing for animal blood to be used, albeit providing half the n normal benefit.
  9. ↑ Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix I & II p.56-57, the "elven vampire" is a special vampiric strain unique to elves, though not all elf characters that are vampires belong to the "elven vampire" vampiric strain.
  10. ↑ Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p. 15
  11. ↑ Die Vecna Die p. 155
  12. ↑ Gazetteer II p.18
  13. ↑ Gazetteer IV, p. 44
  14. ↑ Baroness of Blood p. 309
  15. ↑ Gazetteer III p.86
  16. ↑ Ravenloft: Realm of Terror, p. 81
  17. ↑ Ravenloft Campaign Setting: Domains and Denizens, p. 32
  18. ↑ Gazetteer II p.57
  19. ↑ Ravenloft: Realm of Terror, p. 69
  20. ↑ Ravenloft Campaign Setting: Domains and Denizens, p. 25
  21. ↑ Ravenloft: Realm of Terror, p. 79
  22. ↑ Ravenloft Campaign Setting: Domains and Denizens, p. 31
  23. ↑ Ravenloft: Realm of Terror, p. 84

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

Ravenloft Third Edition
Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium I
Van Richten's Guide to Vampires

Ravenloft Third Edition - p176
Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium I - pp23,55,88
Van Richten's Guide to Vampires - cover,throughout
House of Strahd - p57
Ravenloft I6 - p29

Ravenloft Third Edition - pp176-182
Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium I- Section, The First: Vampires
Van Richten's Guide to Vampires - throughout
Monsterous Compendium I & II - pp53
Monsterous Compendium I - "Vampire"

Ravenloft Third Edition - pp176-182
Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium I - Section, The First: Vampires
Van Richten's Guide to Vampires - throughout

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Pages in category "Vampire"

The following 153 pages are in this category, out of 153 total.

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