Cure for Vampirism? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cure for Vampirism? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
davethebrave371
10-28-06, 09:12 PM I don't know if this is the appropriate forum, but it seems the appropriate time of year, anyway! :D

Are there any published cures for vampirism, and by that I mean both before transformation (i.e. is there anything you can do to make sure the corpse doesn't rise as a vampire), and after transformation (i.e. is there anything you can do to reverse the effects on a new vampire other than killing and then resurrecting them)? :confused:
KingGolem
10-28-06, 11:51 PM Well the only thing I know of that keeps corpses from rising as any undead is some wondrous item (which I can't for the life of me recall) thats a small bronze coin with a skull on it that you place in a corpses mouth and it can't be brought back as undead. I think its in the Arms and Equipment Guide. I don't know of any cure for vampirism after they rise.
the_great_mighty_nerd
10-28-06, 11:53 PM divine intervention. it can do anything.
davethebrave371
10-29-06, 12:05 AM So very few things to prevent, and nothing to reverse?
Bawitda
10-29-06, 12:13 AM There are a few classes with abilities that keep creatures from rising as undead, as I recall. If I remember correctly, the Radiant Servant of Pelor has such an ability, though without my copy of Complete Divine handy, I can't be sure.
LordHawkeye
10-29-06, 12:30 AM No, it was hunter of the dead who had that ability.

Protection from evil cast on corpses prevent them from rising as undead in many cases so I don't see why it wouldn't work with would be vampires.

As for curing it, only way I know is destroying the vampire then ressurecting it. But this will only work if it wants to come back.
davethebrave371
10-29-06, 12:37 AM So there isn't some obscure Book of Exalted Deeds thing that I don't know about because I don't own the "Book of" books? Anything?

I'm just wondering because I'm running my players through an adventure that ends with an epic confrontation with a vampire who I had to advance to match the players' average party level (a fair bit higher than the module), and I had some extra feats...so he had Improved Grapple now, and will probably be able to drain enough from at least a couple people to kill them before he goes down if they aren't tactical. Now, ideally, they'll do really well and no one will be dead. But if someone [b]is[/d] dead, with the exception of one or two of my six players, they'll want to not be a vampire.
Bawitda
10-29-06, 12:42 AM If there is, it's likely to be in Libris Mortis.
Eikre
10-29-06, 12:57 AM Get a priest to bite it in the neck.
Roivas
10-29-06, 12:59 AM The cure for vampirism according to myths is to cut off the head, burn the body, stuff holy wafers or a lemon in it's mouth, and bury it on consecrated ground. As far as preventing vampirism the best method would be death ward or protection from negitive energy. An once of prevention is worth a handful of holy wafers. Mmmm... holy wafers.
davethebrave371
10-29-06, 01:00 AM Get a priest to bite it in the neck.

Hey that's a thought. Not the priest biting it in the neck. But is there any Good Outsider or maybe Deathless or something that has an ability (Sp, Ex or Su) that could negate vampirism?
Bawitda
10-29-06, 01:04 AM The cure for vampirism according to myths is to cut off the head, burn the body, stuff holy wafers or a lemon in it's mouth, and bury it on consecrated ground. As far as preventing vampirism the best method would be death ward or protection from negitive energy. An once of prevention is worth a handful of holy wafers. Mmmm... holy wafers.

Well, I guess destroying them is a cure of sorts, but I think Dave's looking for something a little less... final.
Khael
10-29-06, 03:55 AM Vampirism isn't meant to be a physical disease as such (Unless you enjoyed stuff like Blade That much), traditionally its a spiritual one, hence the cannot enter without invitation, silver weakness, holy symbol vulnerability and running water. Not to mention the sunlight.

Thus its not mean to have a cure other than 'stake them though the heart, and cut off their head. If they can't rise they can't be undead'.

Saying that in the Libris Mortis there is a spell that prevents affected chraracters from rising as spawn, which is probably the closest you'll get. But death ward, or soulfire armour(BOED, immunity to energy drain, ability drain, ability damage) is the best way to actally avoid dying. Since let's face it, how many PCs want to limit themselves to 'how can we not rise as vampires after death?' as opposed to 'How can we not drop dead?'
Naderion
10-29-06, 04:27 AM A cure for vampirism would cure their 'undeadness', but would return them to the state they had before rising as a vampire. Which is dead.
You don't just have to cure the vampirism, but also have to bring live back into the body (which it had lost), so in the end, it still needs some kind of ressurection.
Doom_Linnorm
10-29-06, 04:49 AM If you can't find it, make it.
Sometimes you just have to go beyond RAW and tinker with an idea untill your have a Throw-it-at-the-PCs worthy little trinket.
davethebrave371
10-29-06, 04:49 AM Since let's face it, how many PCs want to limit themselves to 'how can we not rise as vampires after death?' as opposed to 'How can we not drop dead?'

So basically, avoiding/preventing the event, or else getting destroyed and res'd, are the only two options?
Khael
10-29-06, 04:59 AM So basically, avoiding/preventing the event, or else getting destroyed and res'd, are the only two options?

By RAW, yes. But as said by others DM Ex Machina means you could pull off an actual cure, but that is really for you to work out the details for.
davethebrave371
10-29-06, 05:07 AM By RAW, yes. But as said by others DM Ex Machina means you could pull off an actual cure, but that is really for you to work out the details for.

Well, if there is nothing, I suppose that'll have to be what I do. Or else just leave 'em to their fate. :plotting:
kelvinaw273
10-29-06, 01:55 PM Stake and Mallet?

No seriously, I ran a character in White Wolf that started as a Gangrel vampire and spent two years of play time learning a rite that could make them human again ... it failed, and he ended up as a werewolf ...

I would say that if you have a PC being vamped that they would have to spend a campaign trying to find a way to become mortal again, and even should they find one it should be an epic quest to do so!
davethebrave371
10-29-06, 03:06 PM Stake and Mallet?

No seriously, I ran a character in White Wolf that started as a Gangrel vampire and spent two years of play time learning a rite that could make them human again ... it failed, and he ended up as a werewolf ...

I would say that if you have a PC being vamped that they would have to spend a campaign trying to find a way to become mortal again, and even should they find one it should be an epic quest to do so!

I guess, given that WW has these epic campaign long quests to become mortal, I figured WotC would have a quickie little mechanics loophole that I could build some flavour around. It's sad when that's what you associate companies with, eh? Anyway, since it's the culmination of an adventure instead of a campaign arc, I figure this battle, while a dramatic way to introduce vampirism, should probably end with the adventure. I made the vamp tougher, to be sure, and if they're smart about it, his Improved Grapple won't matter (some of them read the boards, so I'm not going into any detail here), but if they aren't smart, it looks like they're going to be vamped. Yikes!
Platonix
10-29-06, 03:32 PM If you have access to the book Savage Species, check out the Emancipated Spawn prestige class. A PC becoming a vampire or vampire spawn can actually become an interesting plot device. (BTW, yeah, go over the vampire's abilities and remind yourself that, dpending on how it happens, a PC killed by a vampire might rise as a mere vampire spawn, not a full vamp.)
davethebrave371
10-29-06, 03:38 PM If you have access to the book Savage Species, check out the Emancipated Spawn prestige class. A PC becoming a vampire or vampire spawn can actually become an interesting plot device. (BTW, yeah, go over the vampire's abilities and remind yourself that, dpending on how it happens, a PC killed by a vampire might rise as a mere vampire spawn, not a full vamp.)

Oh, I have no doubt I could make it very interesting. I just don't think it's the kind of interesting the characters'd like. A couple of the players maybe, but none of the characters.
Thiez
10-29-06, 04:14 PM Just look at the bloody vampire "Raise Spawn" thing:

Create Spawn (Su)

A humanoid or monstrous humanoid slain by a vampire’s energy drain rises as a vampire spawn 1d4 days after burial.

--> It's supernatural, so AMF should work. But read it again.

"1d4 days after burial.".

Don't stick a corpse in the ground -> it won't become a vampire.

That is, if the body died because of energy drain. Now the con drain is more difficult. Still, you can't become spawn if you're in an antimagic field.
No_Lynch
10-29-06, 04:41 PM Easy. Do the following:

If it's a vampire, then drive a stake through it's heart (killing it) and then ressurrect it. Ressurrection restores undead to the way they were before becoming undead i.e. living.

If it's not, put it inside a hallow spell until you can revivify it.
Platonix
10-29-06, 05:28 PM Just look at the bloody vampire "Raise Spawn" thing:

Create Spawn (Su)

A humanoid or monstrous humanoid slain by a vampire’s energy drain rises as a vampire spawn 1d4 days after burial.

--> It's supernatural, so AMF should work. But read it again.

"1d4 days after burial.".

Don't stick a corpse in the ground -> it won't become a vampire.

That is, if the body died because of energy drain. Now the con drain is more difficult. Still, you can't become spawn if you're in an antimagic field.
Just a quick note: some people believe, and some DMs house-rule, that if a corpse that would become a vampire is left in the open, then it ends up getting destroyed by sunlight (as a vampire would) before it can fully awaken as a vampire.
MasterGrazzt
10-29-06, 05:37 PM I can't think of any canon cures, but for your own game you could always steal from Vampire: the Masquerade and use Golconda.

Golconda, while not a cure, is the closest as any vampire who isn't a member or doesn't know a member of the now extinct (technically, everything from V:tM is extinct, though ;)) Children of Osiris bloodline. Basically, it's vampiric zen enlightenment. While I don't remember the specifics, if they were ever even spelled out, it's a state where a vampire is in complete control of themselves and their urges. While still needing blood to continue, a vampire in Golconda can take just the right amount and not worry about ever going berserk because of hunger or the like.

Now of course, this depends on what you're using vampires for. If they're pure palm-chafing villains, obviously, this isn't helpful at all. But if you're using them as a metaphor for redemption or something along those lines, it might be just what you're looking for.
davethebrave371
10-29-06, 07:12 PM Ok, thanks all, this thread has been muchos helpful!
PhaedrusXY
10-29-06, 07:39 PM It is called a stake through the heart, followed by Raise Dead/Ressurection (or True Ress, if the DM is a real stickler). :D
Vaalingrade Ashland
10-29-06, 07:42 PM Destroying the vampire and ressurecting the corpse is the only DnD cure for vampirism.

A DM can stilll rule that there is a literal cure that removes the template however.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
davethebrave371 10-28-06, 09:12 PM	I don't know if this is the appropriate forum, but it seems the appropriate time of year, anyway! :D Are there any published cures for vampirism, and by that I mean both before transformation (i.e. is there anything you can do to make sure the corpse doesn't rise as a vampire), and after transformation (i.e. is there anything you can do to reverse the effects on a new vampire other than killing and then resurrecting them)? :confused:
KingGolem 10-28-06, 11:51 PM	Well the only thing I know of that keeps corpses from rising as any undead is some wondrous item (which I can't for the life of me recall) thats a small bronze coin with a skull on it that you place in a corpses mouth and it can't be brought back as undead. I think its in the Arms and Equipment Guide. I don't know of any cure for vampirism after they rise.
the_great_mighty_nerd 10-28-06, 11:53 PM	divine intervention. it can do anything.
davethebrave371 10-29-06, 12:05 AM	So very few things to prevent, and nothing to reverse?
Bawitda 10-29-06, 12:13 AM	There are a few classes with abilities that keep creatures from rising as undead, as I recall. If I remember correctly, the Radiant Servant of Pelor has such an ability, though without my copy of Complete Divine handy, I can't be sure.
LordHawkeye 10-29-06, 12:30 AM	No, it was hunter of the dead who had that ability. Protection from evil cast on corpses prevent them from rising as undead in many cases so I don't see why it wouldn't work with would be vampires. As for curing it, only way I know is destroying the vampire then ressurecting it. But this will only work if it wants to come back.
davethebrave371 10-29-06, 12:37 AM	So there isn't some obscure Book of Exalted Deeds thing that I don't know about because I don't own the "Book of" books? Anything? I'm just wondering because I'm running my players through an adventure that ends with an epic confrontation with a vampire who I had to advance to match the players' average party level (a fair bit higher than the module), and I had some extra feats...so he had Improved Grapple now, and will probably be able to drain enough from at least a couple people to kill them before he goes down if they aren't tactical. Now, ideally, they'll do really well and no one will be dead. But if someone [b]is[/d] dead, with the exception of one or two of my six players, they'll want to not be a vampire.
Bawitda 10-29-06, 12:42 AM	If there is, it's likely to be in Libris Mortis.
Eikre 10-29-06, 12:57 AM	Get a priest to bite it in the neck.
Roivas 10-29-06, 12:59 AM	The cure for vampirism according to myths is to cut off the head, burn the body, stuff holy wafers or a lemon in it's mouth, and bury it on consecrated ground. As far as preventing vampirism the best method would be death ward or protection from negitive energy. An once of prevention is worth a handful of holy wafers. Mmmm... holy wafers.
davethebrave371 10-29-06, 01:00 AM	Get a priest to bite it in the neck. Hey that's a thought. Not the priest biting it in the neck. But is there any Good Outsider or maybe Deathless or something that has an ability (Sp, Ex or Su) that could negate vampirism?
Bawitda 10-29-06, 01:04 AM	The cure for vampirism according to myths is to cut off the head, burn the body, stuff holy wafers or a lemon in it's mouth, and bury it on consecrated ground. As far as preventing vampirism the best method would be death ward or protection from negitive energy. An once of prevention is worth a handful of holy wafers. Mmmm... holy wafers. Well, I guess destroying them is a cure of sorts, but I think Dave's looking for something a little less... final.
Khael 10-29-06, 03:55 AM	Vampirism isn't meant to be a physical disease as such (Unless you enjoyed stuff like Blade That much), traditionally its a spiritual one, hence the cannot enter without invitation, silver weakness, holy symbol vulnerability and running water. Not to mention the sunlight. Thus its not mean to have a cure other than 'stake them though the heart, and cut off their head. If they can't rise they can't be undead'. Saying that in the Libris Mortis there is a spell that prevents affected chraracters from rising as spawn, which is probably the closest you'll get. But death ward, or soulfire armour(BOED, immunity to energy drain, ability drain, ability damage) is the best way to actally avoid dying. Since let's face it, how many PCs want to limit themselves to 'how can we not rise as vampires after death?' as opposed to 'How can we not drop dead?'
Naderion 10-29-06, 04:27 AM	A cure for vampirism would cure their 'undeadness', but would return them to the state they had before rising as a vampire. Which is dead. You don't just have to cure the vampirism, but also have to bring live back into the body (which it had lost), so in the end, it still needs some kind of ressurection.
Doom_Linnorm 10-29-06, 04:49 AM	If you can't find it, make it. Sometimes you just have to go beyond RAW and tinker with an idea untill your have a Throw-it-at-the-PCs worthy little trinket.
davethebrave371 10-29-06, 04:49 AM	Since let's face it, how many PCs want to limit themselves to 'how can we not rise as vampires after death?' as opposed to 'How can we not drop dead?' So basically, avoiding/preventing the event, or else getting destroyed and res'd, are the only two options?
Khael 10-29-06, 04:59 AM	So basically, avoiding/preventing the event, or else getting destroyed and res'd, are the only two options? By RAW, yes. But as said by others DM Ex Machina means you could pull off an actual cure, but that is really for you to work out the details for.
davethebrave371 10-29-06, 05:07 AM	By RAW, yes. But as said by others DM Ex Machina means you could pull off an actual cure, but that is really for you to work out the details for. Well, if there is nothing, I suppose that'll have to be what I do. Or else just leave 'em to their fate. :plotting:
kelvinaw273 10-29-06, 01:55 PM	Stake and Mallet? No seriously, I ran a character in White Wolf that started as a Gangrel vampire and spent two years of play time learning a rite that could make them human again ... it failed, and he ended up as a werewolf ... I would say that if you have a PC being vamped that they would have to spend a campaign trying to find a way to become mortal again, and even should they find one it should be an epic quest to do so!
davethebrave371 10-29-06, 03:06 PM	Stake and Mallet? No seriously, I ran a character in White Wolf that started as a Gangrel vampire and spent two years of play time learning a rite that could make them human again ... it failed, and he ended up as a werewolf ... I would say that if you have a PC being vamped that they would have to spend a campaign trying to find a way to become mortal again, and even should they find one it should be an epic quest to do so! I guess, given that WW has these epic campaign long quests to become mortal, I figured WotC would have a quickie little mechanics loophole that I could build some flavour around. It's sad when that's what you associate companies with, eh? Anyway, since it's the culmination of an adventure instead of a campaign arc, I figure this battle, while a dramatic way to introduce vampirism, should probably end with the adventure. I made the vamp tougher, to be sure, and if they're smart about it, his Improved Grapple won't matter (some of them read the boards, so I'm not going into any detail here), but if they aren't smart, it looks like they're going to be vamped. Yikes!
Platonix 10-29-06, 03:32 PM	If you have access to the book Savage Species, check out the Emancipated Spawn prestige class. A PC becoming a vampire or vampire spawn can actually become an interesting plot device. (BTW, yeah, go over the vampire's abilities and remind yourself that, dpending on how it happens, a PC killed by a vampire might rise as a mere vampire spawn, not a full vamp.)
davethebrave371 10-29-06, 03:38 PM	If you have access to the book Savage Species, check out the Emancipated Spawn prestige class. A PC becoming a vampire or vampire spawn can actually become an interesting plot device. (BTW, yeah, go over the vampire's abilities and remind yourself that, dpending on how it happens, a PC killed by a vampire might rise as a mere vampire spawn, not a full vamp.) Oh, I have no doubt I could make it very interesting. I just don't think it's the kind of interesting the characters'd like. A couple of the players maybe, but none of the characters.
Thiez 10-29-06, 04:14 PM	Just look at the bloody vampire "Raise Spawn" thing: Create Spawn (Su) A humanoid or monstrous humanoid slain by a vampire’s energy drain rises as a vampire spawn 1d4 days after burial. --> It's supernatural, so AMF should work. But read it again. "1d4 days after burial.". Don't stick a corpse in the ground -> it won't become a vampire. That is, if the body died because of energy drain. Now the con drain is more difficult. Still, you can't become spawn if you're in an antimagic field.
No_Lynch 10-29-06, 04:41 PM	Easy. Do the following: If it's a vampire, then drive a stake through it's heart (killing it) and then ressurrect it. Ressurrection restores undead to the way they were before becoming undead i.e. living. If it's not, put it inside a hallow spell until you can revivify it.
Platonix 10-29-06, 05:28 PM	Just look at the bloody vampire "Raise Spawn" thing: Create Spawn (Su) A humanoid or monstrous humanoid slain by a vampire’s energy drain rises as a vampire spawn 1d4 days after burial. --> It's supernatural, so AMF should work. But read it again. "1d4 days after burial.". Don't stick a corpse in the ground -> it won't become a vampire. That is, if the body died because of energy drain. Now the con drain is more difficult. Still, you can't become spawn if you're in an antimagic field. Just a quick note: some people believe, and some DMs house-rule, that if a corpse that would become a vampire is left in the open, then it ends up getting destroyed by sunlight (as a vampire would) before it can fully awaken as a vampire.
MasterGrazzt 10-29-06, 05:37 PM	I can't think of any canon cures, but for your own game you could always steal from Vampire: the Masquerade and use Golconda. Golconda, while not a cure, is the closest as any vampire who isn't a member or doesn't know a member of the now extinct (technically, everything from V:tM is extinct, though ;)) Children of Osiris bloodline. Basically, it's vampiric zen enlightenment. While I don't remember the specifics, if they were ever even spelled out, it's a state where a vampire is in complete control of themselves and their urges. While still needing blood to continue, a vampire in Golconda can take just the right amount and not worry about ever going berserk because of hunger or the like. Now of course, this depends on what you're using vampires for. If they're pure palm-chafing villains, obviously, this isn't helpful at all. But if you're using them as a metaphor for redemption or something along those lines, it might be just what you're looking for.
davethebrave371 10-29-06, 07:12 PM	Ok, thanks all, this thread has been muchos helpful!
PhaedrusXY 10-29-06, 07:39 PM	It is called a stake through the heart, followed by Raise Dead/Ressurection (or True Ress, if the DM is a real stickler). :D
Vaalingrade Ashland 10-29-06, 07:42 PM	Destroying the vampire and ressurecting the corpse is the only DnD cure for vampirism. A DM can stilll rule that there is a literal cure that removes the template however.