Level
9th
Casting Time
1 Hour
Ritual
Range/Area
500 ft.
Components
V, S, M *
Duration
Until Dispelled
School
Necromancy
Attack/Save
CON Save
Damage/Effect
Summoning
The Crimson Covenant is a dark, ancient spell with roots embedded in forbidden blood rites long lost to time. Upon completing the grueling hour-long ritual, you target up to 5 humanoids within 500 feet, binding them to a blood pact that irrevocably alters their fate. Each target must immediately make a Constitution saving throw or succumb to the curse of vampiric transformation. A failure results in their immediate conversion into Bloodbound Vampires, creatures loyal to you alone. These vampires retain all of their memories but bend their will to your commands. In addition to standard vampire traits (such as darkvision, resistance to necrotic damage, and blood drain), Bloodbound Vampires possess unique abilities dependent on the target's original race and class, including increased movement speed, the ability to spider climb, and rapid regeneration. Each vampire created deals an additional 1d6 necrotic damage on all successful attacks, and the caster gains temporary hit points equal to half the necrotic damage dealt. At the start of each day, a Bloodbound Vampire must make a new Constitution saving throw or wither into a mindless ghoul under your control. If the caster dies, all Bloodbound Vampires turn to ash and are lost forever. In some cases, the remnants of their former consciousness claw back; every 10 days, roll a d100—on a 1-5, one vampire may betray you, becoming an independent entity hungry for your own blood. The blood pact cannot be easily broken. Only high-level magic such as 'Wish' or an extremely powerful deity intervention can reverse this curse. Any attempt to remove the enchantment causes the affected parties to immediately suffer 6d10 necrotic damage. The Crimson Covenant is an exceedingly rare and dangerous spell, often used as a last resort or to ensure complete domination over weaker foes.
Lore. The Crimson Covenant was said to be developed by an ancient blood mage king, seeking eternal dominance over his empire. The ritual was forbidden by the council of archmages after it tore nations apart through civil wars between the enslaved vampires and the free. Few have attempted the ritual in modern times, as knowledge of the spell remains elusive. Some say the blood diamond used in the ritual carries part of the mage king's soul, forever seeking new hosts to restore his legacy.
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