Legendary Resistance (1/day). If Vladimir would fail a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Regeneration. Vladimir regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn. If Vladimir takes fire or radiant damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start of Vladimir next turn. Vladimir body is destroyed only if he starts his turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.
Special Equipment. Vladimir wields a +2 greatsword with a hilt sculpted to resemble silver dragon wings and a pommel shaped like a silver dragon’s head clutching a black opal between its teeth
Turn Immunity. Vladimir is immune to effects that turn undead.
Oathbind. If Vladimir would deal damage to a dying creature with his +2 greatsword, he can instead choose to stabilize that creature and subject it to the effects of a geas spell. This geas lasts until dispelled and can damage its bearer any number of times each day. A creature that takes damage in this way is also restrained until the start of its next turn. In addition, the geas can’t be ended or dispelled except through the effects of a greater restoration or wish spell, or if Vladimir uses an action to dismiss it.
Burning Hatred. When Vladimir is reduced to 0 hit points, black flames erupt along the hilt of his greatsword and the shadows encircling its blade become spiked black wires. His statistics are then instantly replaced by the statistics of his second form. His initiative count doesn't change, excess damage doesn't carry over to his new form, and he retains none of the conditions he had in his previous form.
Multiattack. Vladimir makes two with his +2 greatsword. He can replace one of those attacks with one use of his conjure phantoms action.
+2 Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) slashing damage. Against Strahd, Vladimir deals an extra 14 (4d6) slashing damage with the weapon.
Instead of pushing the target, Vladimir can force the target to make a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Conjure Phantoms. Vladimir summons a pair of phantom warriors, which appear next to a hostile creature that Vladimir can see. Each warrior makes a spectral longsword attack against that creature, then disappears. A creature that takes damage in this way can’t regain hit points until the start of Vladimir’s next turn.
Reaving Sweep. Vladimir sweeps his greatsword in an arc with thunderous force, creating a shockwave that rips through a 15-foot cone in front of him. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or take 21 (6d6) slashing damage and be pushed back 5 feet. A creature that succeeds on the saving throw takes half damage and isn’t pushed.
Umbral Snare. Black-spiked wires extrude from the earth around Vladimir in a 5-foot radius. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take 14 (4d6) piercing damage and be grappled by the wires (escape DC 19) until the start of Vladimir’s next turn. A creature that succeeds on the saving throw takes half damage and isn’t grappled. A creature that attempts to escape the grapple immediately takes an additional 7 (2d6) piercing damage, whether it succeeds or fails.
Vladimir can take up to three reactions per round, but only one per turn. If Vladimir would lose his reactions and isn't incapacitated, he loses one reaction instead.
Sworn Retribution (1/round). In response to taking damage from a creature he can see, Vladimir marks that creature until the end of his next turn. While that creature is marked, Vladimir doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when moving directly toward it, he has advantage on the first melee attack he makes against that creature each turn and his weapon attacks against that creature score a critical hit on a roll of 19-20.
Ghostly Command. In response to taking damage from an attack or spell, Vladimir conjures a phantom soldier to shield him, reducing the damage taken by half (rounded up). This ability can’t reduce Vladimir’s damage taken by more than 10.
Martial Reprisal. In response to taking damage from an attack or spell, Vladimir moves up to half his speed toward the attacker or caster and makes an attack against it with his +2 greatsword if it's within reach.
Description
Vladimir Horngaard joined the Order of the Silver Dragon at a young age and quickly earned the friendship of its founder, the silver dragon Argynvost. When he became a knight of the order, he traveled to distant lands to wage war against the forces of evil. The dragon stayed home and, in the guise of a human noble named Lord Argynvost, brought new initiates into the order.
Enemies of Strahd. Vladimir found himself fighting Strahd’s armies time and again as they swept across the land. When it became clear that Strahd couldn’t be stopped, the knights of the order led hundreds of refugees to Argynvost’s valley, but Strahd tracked them to their sanctuary and overwhelmed them with a vast force. Vladimir, whom Argynvost had made a field commander, couldn’t hold back the evil tide and was killed, only after the heartbreak of witnessing Strahd himself slay Vladimir’s beloved, his fellow knight Sir Godfrey Gwilym. With the battle won, Strahd surrounded Argynvostholt. Rather than cower in his lair, Argynvost emerged and battled Strahd’s armies to the bitter end.
Deadly Vengeance. Unwilling to accept his failure, Vladimir returned as a revenant. So great was his hatred of Strahd and his thirst for vengeance that those feelings fueled the spirits of many of his fellow knights—including Godfrey—to come back as revenants as well. Vladimir continued to wage the hopeless war, even as Strahd tightened his grip on the valley.
When Strahd became a vampire, Vladimir and his revenants should have gone to their eternal rest. But Strahd’s deeds were so heinous that Barovia and the knight’s spirits became trapped behind curtains of mist.
Blinded by Hatred. Vladimir hates Strahd but doesn’t want to see the vampire given his final rest. Vladimir wants Strahd to suffer forever for the deaths of Godfrey and Argynvost, the destruction of their order, and all the other crimes of which the vampire is guilty. Vladimir believes that all of Barovia has been swept into hell, and he wants to make sure that Strahd stays trapped in it forever. It angers Vladimir that he and his fellow knights are also trapped, but in Vladimir’s mind, such is the price of keeping the vampire confined. Even his love for Godfrey is now just a dim memory shrouded by his hate.
Were Vladimir to let go of his hatred, his spirit would find peace and could remember the warmth of love. Were Strahd to be defeated, even temporarily, the mists surrounding Barovia would fade, allowing the spirits of Vladimir and his knights to enter the afterlife. Nevertheless, Vladimir would rather savor Strahd’s torment than bring peace to his fallen order or peace to the land of Barovia. Gone are the days of honor and valor.
Vladimir Horngaard’s Traits
Ideal. “Vengeance is all I have left.”
Bond. “I have sworn oaths of allegiance to the Order of the Silver Dragon. Broken though the order may be, my allegiance never dies.”
Flaw. “Destroying Strahd would end the vampire’s torment, and that is something I will never allow.”







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