Vampire spawn (sing & pl[3]) were undead created by vampires.[3]
Description[]
For the most part, a vampire retained the appearance they had in life. The main differences were their pale skin tone and sharp, feral features, giving them a predatory aspect. Whatever their eye color was in life, after transformation, vampires' eyes changed to a red color that was hard to forget. Their hands ended in sharp, glassy claws.[5][6] Notably, vampires possessed retractable sharp monstrous canines used to pierce the victims' flesh.[5] When vampires were well-fed, their undead bodies' decomposition halted and was reversed. A recently-fed vampire had a more pinkish skin color, staving pale complexion and kick-starting the circulatory system temporarily. Sometimes, vampires conceal their undead nature by wearing blush and makeup.
They did not cast shadows, had no reflections in mirrors, and moved in complete silence. Sages claimed vampires retained their souls after turning.[5]
Personality[]
A vampire spawn was innately subservient to the vampire that created it. They could only achieve free-will if their creator died[7] or if their creator voluntarily granted them freedom, but once free of their bondage a spawn could not be enslaved again.[8]
Spawn typically believed they were superior to other living or undead creatures, regardless of how powerful a creature actually was.[9]
When it came to a life of adventuring, vampire spawn would seek vengeance on their creators, or penance for their new damnation. If these monsters could overcome their ravenous emotions, they might seek out knowledge, glory, or power. Pride was the true driver of the vampire spawn, since they believed themselves better than others.[9]
Alignment[]
A monster's alignment provides a clue to its disposition and how it behaves in a roleplaying or combat situation. The alignment specified in a monster's statblock is the default. A vampire typically becomes Neutral Evil when they are first turned into a Vampire Spawn and later may become Lawful Evil if they become a True Vampire. However, as thinking creatures, their alignment is subject to change and cannot easily be assumed, especially if they are an older vampire.[10] It is unlikely for a vampire to break free from its evil ways, however, due to its inherent Dark Desires.
Dark Desires
Whether or not a vampire retains any memories from its former life, its emotional attachments wither as once-pure feelings become twisted by undeath. Love turns into hungry obsession, while friendship becomes bitter jealousy. In place of emotion, vampires pursue physical symbols of what they crave, so that a vampire seeking love might fixate on a young beauty. A child might become an object of fascination for a vampire obsessed with youth and potential. Others surround themselves with art, books, or sinister items such as torture devices or trophies from creatures they have killed.[11]
Abilities[]
Vampire spawn did not possess all of the standard abilities of a true vampire, though they still suffered from the afflictions of all their traditional weaknesses and vulnerabilities.[9]
Combat[]
Vampire spawn were the masters of stealth and charismatic cunning, easily standing their ground against any foe in combat. For them, battle was simple, because if they couldn't win through sheer force, they could vanish using abilities like gaseous form or spider climbing. Like most undead, their bite and touch caused blood drain and domination, making them terrible opponents of living beings.[9]
Society[]
Religion[]
Much like other intelligent undead, vampire spawn were rarely known to associate themselves with any religion.[9]
Homelands[]
Vampire spawn were often found in the Rauvin Vale and Sundabar Vale in the Silver Marches.[12]
In the Demiplane of Dread, the vampire Strahd von Zarovich had numerous vampire spawn servants that either served at his castle or were hidden in settlements across Barovia. Many of these spawn were formerly consorts of his.[13]
Relationships[]
Besides true vampires, vampire spawn were often known to serve a variety of powerful undead, such as atropals and skull lords.[14]
When acting of their own free will a vampire spawn were often known to garner other undead as soldiers, such as ghouls and wights, or bodyguards, such as mummies or mohrgs.[9]
Notable Vampire Spawn[]
- Astarion, a high elf nobleman from Baldur's Gate who was turned by Cazador Szarr.[15]
Appendix[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Keep on the Shadowfell • Curse of Strahd
- Video Games
- Heroes of Neverwinter • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms • Baldur's Gate III
- Novels
- Master of Chains
- Board Games
- Tyrants of the Underdark: Aberrations and Undead
- Card Games
- Dragonfire • Magic: The Gathering (AFR)
- Miniatures
- Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures • Icons of the Realms
- Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
- Black Heart • The Vampire of Skullport • The Vast Emptiness of Grace • The Fallen Star
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 298. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 259. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 253. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ Andy Collins, Bruce R. Cordell (October 2004). Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 9. ISBN 0-7869-3433-6.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Bruce R. Cordell, Eytan Bernstein, Brian R. James (January 2009). Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 9–10. ISBN 0786950692.
- ↑ Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 250–253. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 295. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ Andy Collins, Bruce R. Cordell (October 2004). Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 163. ISBN 0-7869-3433-6.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Andy Collins, Bruce R. Cordell (October 2004). Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 38–39. ISBN 0-7869-3433-6.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 8. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 295–297. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 43. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman (March 2016). Curse of Strahd. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 10, 172, 237. ISBN 978-0-7869-6598-4.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 10, 236. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
- ↑ Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
Connections[]
Ravenloft racial variants: Dwarf vampire • Elf vampire • Gnome vampire • Halfling vampire
Related creatures: Dhampyr