Stakes were a type of wooden or metal cylindrical post with a pointed end. They were similar to wooden pegs and metal spikes, but were generally much larger and more durable, being intended for outdoor use and rough conditions.[1]
Description[]
Wooden stakes sit alongside other vampire hunter supplies.
Stakes were typically made of either wood or some form of metal. They could even be made in the field by whittling down branches.[2]
Availability[]
- Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue sold stakes made of high-impact steel in sets of eight at a cost of 30 gold pieces. They advertised these as being capable of being driven into almost any surface, including ice and rock. They also sold wooden stakes as part of their tents.[1]
- Spoke in 'Spoke, a general store in Ruinspoke, sold wooden stakes.[3]
- Wooden stakes could be purchased in the city of Waterdeep as part of traveling gear.[4]
Usages[]
Staking a vampire is a delicate affair.
- Stakes were used to keep tents securely in the ground, being driven through the edges of their covering or through special reinforced holes on the covering.[2]
- Stakes could be placed upright on the bottom of a pit trap.[5]
- Though a few claimed it hurt them no more than any other sharp weapon,[6] stakes were often used in the act of slaying a vampire, vampire spawn,[7][8] or even a vampiric dragon,[9] an act known as "staking". This always immobilized a vampire when it was driven through their heart,[7][10] though vampiric dragons required particularly large stakes.[9] Sometimes they required stakes made from a particular material, such as charcoal stakes for elf vampires or silver stakes for gnome vampires.[11] However, staking a vampire did not fully kill it and their bodies still needed to be properly destroyed, as otherwise the vampire would regenerate once the stake was removed.[7][11][12] Even if a vampire had long since rotted away into dust, their bodies would be reconstituted within 72 hours of a stake's removal.[7]
History[]
In 1358 DR in the nation of Shou Lung, some hunters from the village of Tebing ambushed an eastern vampire by the name of Xi-Chu in the jungle and struck him through the heart with a wooden stake.[13]
Notable Users[]
General[]
- In the Domains of Dread, wooden stakes were a common tool of monster hunters.[14]
Individuals[]
- Ezmerelda d'Avenir, a vampire hunter in the Domains of Dread.[15]
- Jack Harker, a vampire hunter in the Vast around the 14th century DR.[16]
- Rictavio.[17]
Regions & Settlements[]
- In the Great Glacier, the hunters of the village Imajuvisik would tie caribou or other game animals to a stake in the center of small valleys to act as bait for tirichik or white dragons.[18]
Trivia[]
This tool was the namesake for the Silver Stake, an organization of lycanthrope hunters.[19]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Appearances[]
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 138. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kim Mohan (November 1986). Wilderness Survival Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan et al. (TSR, Inc.), p. 63. ISBN 0-88038-291-0.
- ↑ Joshua Freeman (July 2009). From One Dwarf to Another (TYMA1-5). Living Forgotten Realms (RPGA), p. 7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb (September 1988). City System. Edited by Karen Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 30. ISBN 0-8803-8600-2.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman (March 2016). Curse of Strahd. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7869-6598-4.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 258. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Andy Collins, Bruce R. Cordell (October 2004). Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 20–21, 163. ISBN 0-7869-3433-6.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (August 2001). “Vs.: Vampires”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #286 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 84.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Andy Collins, James Wyatt, and Skip Williams (November 2003). Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 195. ISBN 0-7869-2884-0.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 297–298. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 William W. Connors (1996). Monstrous Compendium - Ravenloft Appendices I & II. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 57, 59. ISBN 0786903929.
- ↑ Nigel D. Findley (January 1992). Van Richten's Guide to Vampires. Edited by David Wise. (TSR, Inc.), p. 45. ISBN 1-56076-151-2.
- ↑ Curtis Smith, Rick Swan (May 1990). Ronin Challenge. Edited by Jon Pickens, Steve Winter. (TSR, Inc.), p. 57. ISBN 0-88038-749-1.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman (March 2016). Curse of Strahd. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 209. ISBN 978-0-7869-6598-4.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman (March 2016). Curse of Strahd. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 169, 231. ISBN 978-0-7869-6598-4.
- ↑ Walter M. Baas, Kira Glass (March 1991). Nightwatch in the Living City. Edited by John A. Nephew. (TSR, Inc.), p. 21. ISBN 1-56076-068-0.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman (March 2016). Curse of Strahd. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 115. ISBN 978-0-7869-6598-4.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1992). The Great Glacier. (TSR, Inc), p. 62. ISBN 1-56076-324-8.
- ↑ K. Steven Miller. The Search for the Circle of Vehlarr: Part Two. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2008-05-19. Retrieved on 2018-12-18.