Vampires are creatures of accursed blood and tragic existence. Exquisite food, a warm summer breeze, and growing old surrounded by loved ones: these are luxuries a Vampire will never experience. Unable to enjoy many of life’s pleasures as they once knew them, Vampires often become bitter creatures, filled with hate for everything they once loved.
Becoming a Vampire
Vampires are spawned into the world when a mortal contracts the Sanguine Curse, dies, and is reborn undead. There are a variety of ways to contract the curse. A Vampire may have offered their blood to a loyal servant, powerful ally, or loved one they wished to elevate. More commonly, a Vampire may bite a victim, who survives the attack long enough to contract the Sanguine Curse before perishing and being reborn.
Other methods of becoming a Vampire include ancient and dark magic, as well as powerful but cursed magical artifacts. Vampirism may be passed along when an ancient Vampire allows a beloved plaything to drink blood from the Undead creature’s cursed veins. Regardless of how you have become a Vampire, you should discuss with your GM what type of Vampire you might become and how it can be implemented in the campaign.
Curing Vampirism
Once the character reaches Stage 1 of the Vampire Transformation, no typical magic like Remove Curse can remove the affliction. Magic on the level of the Wish spell is needed to completely remove the Transformation and its Boons and Flaws.
Vampire Stages
At each stage of this Transformation, follow the instructions provided for that stage.
Achieving a New Stage
To move from one stage to the next higher one in this Transformation, an event or some other notable occurrence tied to the story of the character should take place. The following events are suggestions for ones that might trigger a move to the next stage of the Transformation:
- Severing a tie to your mortal life, such as discarding a sentimental trinket or abandoning a loved one.
- Making a further bargain with the Vampire who gifted you with the Sanguine Curse.
- Drinking the blood of another, more ancient, Vampire.
- Failing two Death Saving Throws.
- Performing a blood ritual using Sangromancy.
Vampire Stage 1
When you initially contract vampirism, you gain the Fanged Bite Boon and one other Stage 1 Boon. You also gain the Stage 1 Flaw.
Vampire Stage 1 Boon: Fanged Bite
As an Attack action, you can make a Bite attack. You are considered proficient with this attack, and you can use Strength or Dexterity as the ability. This attack deals Piercing damage equal to 1d6 plus your Strength or Dexterity modifier. This Bite attack is not a weapon or an [Tooltip Not Found].
If the attack hits a creature that has blood, the target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or take an additional 1d6 Necrotic damage. You regain Hit Points equal to the Necrotic damage dealt this way. The DC is 8 plus your Proficiency Bonus plus your Transformation Stage.
Your vampirism follows the Soman bloodline, the most prevalent in Etharis. You gain the following features:
- Your Strength and Dexterity scores increase by 1. Neither score can exceed 19 with this feature.
- You have Advantage on attack rolls with Fanged Bite.
- The Necrotic damage dealt by Fanged Bite increases to 1d8.
- You gain a Climb Speed equal to your Speed.
Stage 1 Boon: Fzeg Bloodline
Vampire Stage 1 Boon
Your vampirism follows the Fzeg bloodline, a line of vampires that combines the affliction with lycanthropy. You gain the following features:
- Your Strength score increases by 2. Your Strength score cannot exceed 20 with this feature.
- You gain a Claw attack. This attack deals 1d8 plus your Strength modifier Slashing damage, using your Strength modifier and Proficiency Bonus on attack rolls. This Claw attack is not a weapon or an [Tooltip Not Found].
- When you take the Attack action to make the Claw attack, you may use a Bonus Action to make a Bite attack from Fanged Bite.
- Your Speed increases by 10 feet.
Vampire Stage 1 Boon: Strigoi Bloodline
Your vampirism follows the Strigoi bloodline. Your speed and guile almost match your ferocity. You gain the following features:
- Your Dexterity score increases by 2. Your Dexterity score cannot exceed 20 with this feature.
- If you make your Fanged Bite attack with Advantage, the Piercing damage increases to 2d4 plus your Strength or Dexterity modifier.
- You can take the [Tooltip Not Found] action as a Bonus Action, and you can use the Hide action anywhere that is not in sunlight.
- You have proficiency with the Stealth skill. If you are already proficient in Stealth, you gain [Tooltip Not Found] in Stealth instead.
[feat]Vampire Stage 1 Flaw: The Sanguine Curse[/feat]
The Sanguine Curse has taken hold of you. As a result, you gain the following features:
- You cannot enter a private residence that you do not own without one of the occupants inviting you. Once invited, you can enter without penalty as long as the inviter resides there. If you do enter uninvited, you have Disadvantage on all [Tooltip Not Found] while in the residence. Additionally, you take 1d4 Psychic damage at the start of each of your turns. You cannot be Resistant or Immune to Psychic damage while inside such a residence uninvited.
- You must feed at least once within seven days of your last feeding. See the Feeding sidebar for more information.
Vampire Stage 2
When you reach Stage 2 of vampirism, you select two Stage 2 Boons and gain the Stage 2 Flaw.
Stage 2 Boon: Eyes of the Night
Vampire Stage 2 Boon
You gain [Tooltip Not Found] out to 60 feet. If you already have Darkvision, the range increases by 60 feet.
Stage 2 Boon: Grave-Touched Soul
Vampire Stage 2 Boon
You gain [Tooltip Not Found] to Necrotic damage. If you already have Resistance to Necrotic damage, you gain [Tooltip Not Found] instead.
Stage 2 Boon: Inhuman Reflexes
Vampire Stage 2 Boon
You have Advantage on Dexterity saving throws.
Stage 2 Boon: Undead Resilience
Vampire Stage 2 Boon
You become supernaturally tough to kill. When you are reduced to 0 Hit Points by any type of damage except Radiant, you can choose to be reduced to 1 Hit Point instead. Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you finish a Long Rest.
Stage 2 Flaw: Greater Sanguine Curse
Vampire Stage 2 Flaw
Your curse has taken a stronger hold onto you. You gain the following features:
- You have Disadvantage on all [Tooltip Not Found] when you are in sunlight.
- You must feed every 4 days.
Vampire Stage 2
When you reach Stage 2 of vampirism, you select two Stage 2 Boons and gain the Stage 2 Flaw.
Stage 2 Boon: Eyes of the Night
Vampire Stage 2 Boon
You gain [Tooltip Not Found] out to 60 feet. If you already have Darkvision, the range increases by 60 feet.
Stage 2 Boon: Grave-Touched Soul
Vampire Stage 2 Boon
You gain [Tooltip Not Found] to Necrotic damage. If you already have Resistance to Necrotic damage, you gain [Tooltip Not Found] instead.
Stage 2 Boon: Inhuman Reflexes
Vampire Stage 2 Boon
You have Advantage on Dexterity saving throws.
Stage 2 Boon: Undead Resilience
Vampire Stage 2 Boon
You become supernaturally tough to kill. When you are reduced to 0 Hit Points by any type of damage except Radiant, you can choose to be reduced to 1 Hit Point instead. Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you finish a Long Rest.
Stage 2 Flaw: Greater Sanguine Curse
Vampire Stage 2 Flaw
Your curse has taken a stronger hold onto you. You gain the following features:
- You have Disadvantage on all [Tooltip Not Found] when you are in sunlight.
- You must feed every 4 days.
Vampire Stage 3
When you reach Stage 3 of vampirism, you select two Stage 3 Boons and gain the Stage 3 Flaw.
Stage 3 Boon: Beguiler’s Charm
Vampire Stage 3 Boon
You gain the ability to manipulate the mind of a creature with your unearthly charm. As a [Tooltip Not Found] action, you can choose a Humanoid or Beast within 30 feet of you that can see you. The creature must succeed on a Charisma saving throw with a DC of 8 plus your Charisma modifier plus your Proficiency Bonus.
On a failed save, the creature has the [Tooltip Not Found] condition for 24 hours. At the end of the 24 hours, you can choose to automatically renew the Charmed condition on that creature with no saving throw. You may only have one creature Charmed in this manner at a time. If you use this feature on another creature, or you or an ally damages the creature, the Charmed condition ends on the previous creature immediately.
Stage 3 Boon: Improved Fanged Bite
Vampire Stage 3 Boon
As an Attack action, you can make 2 Fanged Bite attacks. Additionally, you can make a Fanged Bite attack as a Bonus Action if you don't make a Fanged Bite attack as part of an Attack action on the same turn.
Stage 3 Boon: Mist Form
Vampire Stage 3 Boon
You can cast the Gaseous Form spell a number of times equal to your Vampire Transformation Stage without using a spell slot or needing to use Verbal, Somatic, or Material components. You regain all uses of this feature when you finish a Long Rest.
You can cast this spell as an Action on your turn, or as a [Tooltip Not Found] when you would take Bludgeoning, Piercing, or Slashing damage. You cast the spell before taking the damage.
Stage 3 Boon: Sangromancy Specialist
Vampire Stage 3 Boon Prerequisite: Spellcaster who can cast cantrips
Your magic is tinged with the blood that you crave. You gain the following features:
- You gain an extra 1d12 Sangromancy [Tooltip Not Found] per Vampire Transformation. You can use those dice on Sangromancy spells. You regain all spent Sangromancy Dice when you finish a Long Rest.
- When you successfully restore Hit Points using Fanged Bite, you regain one spent Sangromancy Die.
- Any cantrip you cast that does Necrotic damage can be enhanced by your Sangromancy Dice. You can spend up to 2 Hit Point Dice (including your Sangromancy Dice) to deal extra Necrotic damage with those cantrips. You can decide to spend these Hit Point Dice after you know if the cantrip affects the target(s).
Stage 3 Flaw: Supreme Sanguine Curse
Vampire Stage 3 Flaw
Your curse continues to transform you, bringing about further debilitations. You gain the following features:
- If you start your turn in sunlight, you take 1d10 Radiant damage. You cannot have [Tooltip Not Found] or [Tooltip Not Found] to this Radiant Damage.
- Your appearance begins to resemble that of a true vampire. In stressful conditions, as determined by you or the GM, your appearance changes outside of your control. When you do, anyone observing you knows your true nature.
- You must feed every 2 days.
You can hide your true appearance and disguise yourself as the humanoid you once were by concentrating on your composure. However, moments of bloodlust or stress are likely to reveal your true nature, including the following situations:
- Becoming [Tooltip Not Found]
- Concentrating on a spell
- Taking Radiant damage from sunlight
- Entering a feeding frenzy
- Having the [Tooltip Not Found] condition
- Entering hallowed ground
- Choosing to reveal yourself
In these events, or times of other extreme emotional or physical stress, a GM can call or a Constitution saving throw with a DC based on your current Transformation Stage. If you fail this save, your Sanguine Curse is revealed.
| Stage | Constitution Save DC |
|---|---|
| 3 | 16 |
| 4 | 20 |
Non-evil creatures that witness your true form become instantly [Tooltip Not Found] to you, unless the GM decides otherwise.
Vampire Stage 4
When you reach Stage 4 of vampirism, you gain the Regeneration Boon and one other Stage 4 Boon of your choice. You also gain the Stage 4 Flaw.
Stage 4 Boon: Final Soman Bloodline
Vampire Stage 4 Boon Prerequisite: Soman Bloodline
You reach the full manifestation of your Soman Bloodline. You gain the following features:
- Your Strength and Dexterity scores increase by 1 to a maximum of 20.
- Fanged Bite’s Necrotic damage increases to 3d8.
- When a Humanoid creature is reduced to 0 Hit Points by your Fanged Bite attack or through your feeding, it rises as a Vampire Spawn 24 hours later unless the body is destroyed or undergoes rituals to prevent its rising. You can have two Vampire Spawns created this way under your control, and they follow your verbal commands to the best of their abilities. If you take control of a third Vampire Spawn, you choose one of the other Vampire Spawn you currently control to no longer follow your commands.
Stage 4 Boon: Final Fzeg Bloodline
Vampire Stage 4 Boon Prerequisite: Fzeg Bloodline
You reach the full manifestation of your Fzeg Bloodline. You have the following features:
- Your Strength score increases by 2 points to a maximum of 20.
- The damage done by your Claw attack becomes 3d6 plus your Strength modifier Slashing damage, using your Strength modifier and Proficiency Bonus on attack rolls. You can also make three Claw attacks with an Attack action.
- You are Resistant to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage. Magic and silvered weapons ignore this [Tooltip Not Found].
- Your Speed increases by 10 feet.
Stage 4 Boon: Final Strigoi Bloodline
Vampire Stage 4 Boon Prerequisite: Strigoi Bloodline Form
You reach the full manifestation of your Strigoi Bloodline. You have the following features:
- Your Dexterity score increases by 2 points to a maximum of 20.
- You can summon 2d4 Swarms of Rats, Swarms of Bats, or Wolves as a Bonus Action. They appear at the start of your next turn within 60 feet of you. They follow your verbal or mental commands. They disperse after 1 hour, when you are reduced to 0 Hit Points, or when you dismiss them with a Bonus Action. You regain this ability after finishing a Short or Long Rest.
- You can cast the Misty Step spell up to four times without using a spell slot. You can also cast a spell in this way as a [Tooltip Not Found] when you are targeted with a weapon attack. You cast the spell before taking damage. You regain this ability after finishing a Long Rest.
Stage 4 Boon: Regeneration
Vampire Stage 4 Boon
The vampiric blood that flows in your veins gives you regenerative powers. You regain 15 Hit Points at the start of your turn if you have at least 1 Hit Point but less than 60 Hit Points. This feature has no effect if you are in sunlight or have taken Radiant damage since the end of your last turn.
Stage 4 Flaw: Ultimate Sanguine Curse
Vampire Stage 4 Flaw
Your transformation into a creature of the night is complete. And with that transformation comes susceptibilities. You gain the following features:
- One strike may end your existence forever. When you are [Tooltip Not Found], [Tooltip Not Found], or [Tooltip Not Found], and you are struck by a [Tooltip Not Found] with a Piercing Weapon made of wood or silver, you must succeed on a DC 20 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, you die and are reduced to ash. Only a True Resurrection or Wish spell can resurrect you.
- You must feed every day.