Vampire Thrall
Vampire Thrall (Heavy Role; CR 9)
Vampires are one of the great nations of Undeath. Vampires are Emptied Undead, meaning they have been cored out of life. Unlike most of the Emptied, they do not noticeably decay, although during battle their disgusting nature is amply evident in the mess they leave behind. Vampires are the greatest representatives of the Corrupting Undead, those undead who seek the preservation and continuation of life, so that they may corrupt it into ever more Undeath. As a result, the motivations of Vampires are more complex than the Destroying Undead or the Eaters.
Vampires like people. They like the trappings of civilization, they like the happy whirl of social life, they enjoy the company of others, both undead and living alike. Vampires want to make more Vampires, it is an erotic part of their existence that they would be greatly diminished by losing.
Vampires get along well with most other Undead, even though relations often involve the Vampires using their domination abilities or simply persuading the other Undead to be patient. It is not unusual for Vampires to be encountered with powerful Skeletons, Wights, Death Knights, Liches, and other mighty Undead, even including the Lost Ones, who make terrifying allies indeed.
On top of this, Vampires are unique among Undeath in that they create living allies, their Vampiric Thralls. The existence of Vampiric Thralls makes finding a Vampire nest immeasurably more difficult, because Vampire Thralls are alive. Thralls are mortals who admire and envy the Vampires for their abilities, and whom the Vampires have fed their blood to. Vampire Blood can create new Vampires, or, in lesser doses, a living human becomes addicted to it, as if it were strong drink, or some horrifyingly strong opiate.
Vampire thralls are the first rank of Vampire culture, the eternally obedient and awfully empowered servants whom the Vampires use to interact with the daytime world. Their regular small doses of vampire blood keep thralls in a constant state of ecstatic empowerment, nearly immune to pain and injury, utterly and fanatically loyal to their dark masters, and nearly impossible to put down cleanly.
Most thralls are willing, but not all. it is not unheard of for Vampires to punish their living foes by attacking their loved ones, and in especially cruel cases, turning them into thralls.
Such a fate is to be avoided. Vampires must be rooted out everywhere they are discovered, without pause or hesitation.
GENERAL
CR 9 Hit Dice 14
XP 12,800 (Heavy Role included)
NE Medium Humanoid
Init +4; Senses Keen Scent, Perception +16
DEFENSE
AC 28, touch 18, flat-footed 22 (+5 armor, +6 dex, +5 natural, +2 deflection)
hp 320 (Heavy Role included)
Fort +12, Ref +8, Will +10
Aura: -
SR: - 19
Special Defenses: DR 10/Good
Immunities: -
Weaknesses: -
OFFENSE
Speed 50 ft., Types_of_Movement#Greater_Climb Greater_Climb 30 ft
Space / Reach: 5 ft. / 5 ft.
Single Melee Wrenching Grasp +16 (2d8+18/x2) + Staggering Blow (See below)
Full Melee 2 x Wrenching Grasp +16 (2d8+18/x2) + Staggering Blow (See below); 2x claws +16 (2d6+1/x2)
Ranged None, but see Droning Voice and Horrible Pounce
Special Attacks Droning Voice, Staggering Blow, Stuporous Gaze, Horrible Pounce
Action Points 1 (Heavy Role included)
STATISTICS
Str 43, Dex 16, Con 23, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 15
Base Atk +9; CMB +15; CMD 25
Feats <pick one or two thematically relevant feats; avoid complicated ones.>
Skills Diplomacy +14, Knowledge (Local) +14, Bluff +14, Intimidate +14
Languages Common, Stilth, up to two other languages based upon campaign location
SPECIAL ABILITIES
<special abilities should have a save DC 19>
<special attack damage (standard action): 5d6>
<special attack damage (aoe’s, swift actions or inflicting status effects): 2d6+1>
- Staggering Blow
Once per round, as a swift action, a Vampiric Thrall may lash out with a savage backhanded blow on a target within reach. This is treated as a melee touch attack with a +11 to-hit. If the Thrall hits, the victim takes 2d6+1 points of bludgeoning damage and is Pushed up to three squares, where they fall [Prone]. If the victim makes a Reflex save against a DC of 19 they are not Prone, although they still take the damage and move.
- Horrible Pounce
Thralls are supernaturally strong and quick, and can move in flickering bursts of speed that have to be seen to be believed. Once per round, as a standard action, the Thrall may Slide up to three squares and at the end of the Slide make two Wrenching Grasp attacks upon an unfortunate victim within their reach. As forced movement, this does not provoke attacks of opportunity.
- <ability name>
<ability description>
- <ability name>
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TREASURE
sell value of approximately 4,000 gp
COMBAT TACTICS
<describe typical actions taken during combat here>