Vampires in Faerun - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Vampires in Faerun

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
motteditor2
Jul 07, 2009 10:16:29 So, I'm working on a (3E) adventure for my party and decided that the group hasn't run across any vampires in this or our previous campaign, so that'd be fun for everyone.

The group's in Arabel and I think I've come up with a decent idea, a vamp trying to get her hands on an ancient vampire antiquity. However, I'm trying to flesh out the history of said item and wondering what I should tie it to. There's no area of the Realms that I'm aware of that has any particular ties to vampires and nothing I can find in the sourcebook or Lost Empires.

Any suggestions, or should I just make it up. (I was thinking some portal to Ravensloft could work if I have to.) Thanks.
#2
lord_karsus
Jul 07, 2009 12:28:10 -Castle Spulzeer, in Cormyr, has ties to Ravenloft (and the adventure can be downloaded for free, from the WotC website). The Dalelands, in the not so ancient past, had a "Vampire infestation", from which one Jander Sunstar became one among their ranks. Both are within some proximity to Arabel, especially Castle Spulzeer.
#3
old_sage
Jul 07, 2009 20:27:14 I suggest you take a look through the original Lords of Darkness REF5 tome, which features lore on vampires in the Realms.
#4
warweaver
Jul 07, 2009 22:55:34 There's also the Night Masks in Westgate, although the vampire overlords there might not be old enough for your purposes.
#5
markustay63
Jul 08, 2009 11:42:06 I created the town of Collinwood (which Brian James was kind-enough to make canon), and it is ruled by a Vampire Lord. The village is not very far from Arabel (being about the same distance west of Eveningstar thet Eveningstar is from Arabel).

He is a kindly (he is wearing an ancient Netherease Amulet of Alignment Change... which happens to look a lot like a Gothic 'Iron Cross' :D ) but aloof gentleman, and 'took in' the Halflings of Gray Oaks after their village was destroyed for a second time. He is the only Cormyrian to hold the title of 'earl', effectively making him the equal of a prince of the Realm. This stems from a VERY old deal made with the original Lord of Collinwood, who held a seperate and distinct (tiny) Realm in this region following the fall of Netheril. He is an extremely private person, but he can be counted on to add and bolster Cormyr's troops in times of need, the last time being during the terrible events that lead-up to the death of Azoun.

What nearly no-one knows (except for the royals, a few select War Wizards like Vangy, and Elminster) is that the current Lord Collinwood is the original Lord Collinwood who brokered the deal with early Cormyr and the Obarskyrs. Most of the Collinwood family has estates in eastern Amn and Tethyr (on the Erlkazar border), and every so often the Earl selects a certain decendent to come live with him for a time, eventually faking his own death and then sending the family member back west, while masquerading as the new, young Lord of the Keep (He rarely leaves the family estates, so very few people know what he really looks like).

Not sure if that is helpful - that is what I created in the Old Stonelands thread (with some further musings attached). I was planning on embelishing the whole thing and turning it into a CKC article eventually, but since that esteememed tome of fanlore is put on permanent hold, I might as well share what little I have now.

Perhaps it is the amulet the Earl wears that some other vampire is after? Or maybe there is yet-another Netherease artifact whose location Earl Collinwood is aware of, or is hiding for 'safe-keeping'? It wouldn't be too far-fetched to think that some Netherease dabbled in Vampirism as an early prelude to the Shades. Since the amulet (along with nearly everything else) is non-canon thus far, it could be an Amulet of Alignment stability instead, specifically designed to allow people to retain their true alignments despite whatever magical afflictions and curses may befall them.
#6
richard_k
Jul 08, 2009 21:12:31 Just a quick thought. Though this would be post spell plague I was wondering would Aberian Vampire be the same as Toril ones. Just had a thought about post spell plague vampires from Abeir being like Lumleys Necroscope ones, though i suppose they could be Far Realm vampires (I'm thinking Lord Swartz for that).

Coincidentally I'm reading some Robert Adams "Horse Clans" novels and I'm having some ideas about immortal horse riders in the hordelands.
#7
lord_karsus
Jul 08, 2009 22:31:48
Just a quick thought. Though this would be post spell plague I was wondering would Aberian Vampire be the same as Toril ones. Just had a thought about post spell plague vampires from Abeir being like Lumleys Necroscope ones, though i suppose they could be Far Realm vampires (I'm thinking Lord Swartz for that).

-There's no real reason they'd be different. Generic Vampires in the Forgotten Realms never had any major, noticeable differences from Vampires in Greyhawk, and other D&D campaign settings (with, possibly, the exception of Ravenloft). Converting Van Richten's Guide to Vampires, though, could net you with some differentiation.
#8
green_elven_vampire
Jul 09, 2009 0:08:22 I recall reading somewhere that there is a Cabal of powerful Vampires around the area outside Waterdeep in which your PC's could adventure to and seek out.
There are even a couple good and neutral Vampires within the ranks of The Moonstars in which you could seek out and possibly gain some help from.

GEV
#9
markustay63
Jul 09, 2009 22:26:35 Also, if you were using the 'old-school' D&D vampires before (energy drain), you can now use the real deal - say the blood-sucking type were form Abeir.

Or vice-versa, if you always had them drink blood (I always did - energy drain is too PG13).

The Hordelands is rather cool - its an area where both eastern and 'regular' vampires can be found. I had considered reading the Horse Clans novels - would you recommend them? I love the Tuigan and am always on the look-out for any way to 'spruce them up'. Immortal versions sound a little like Bloodgaurd to me, from the Thomas Covenant series (they did ride Ranyhyn - immortal horses - IIRC).
#10
richard_k
Jul 09, 2009 23:21:54 A life long friend of mines father recommended them to me and yeah I would also recommend the Horse Clans series. Unfortunately, at least for me, they are hard to come by. In any case I like the whole back story for these guys, normal people are taught a simple religion which incorporates survival skills into it, along with immortal protectors who move through their societies and they can talk to animals to (giant cats!).

And all this vampire talk has got me interested in Orbakh (sp*) again. Probably the only details I want from 4th Edition. HAHA.
#11
erianys
Jul 11, 2009 23:56:31 There's also Darkhold and the nearby Zhentarim (if you want to use a bit of lore from the 4e setting) alot/most of their leadership are vampires (thanks to Orbakh/Manshoon) and they like getting their dirty fingers on magic items and relics.
#12
richard_k
Jul 13, 2009 2:37:21 Yeah I was never a Zhent fan till I got the Villains Lore book, now after some Baldur's gate and Icewind dale run through's as Lawful Evils (RPGing as much as those CRPG's allow).

I was very disappointed they had the Shades destroy Zhentil Keep, I know Cyric did but hes an ass anyway.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 motteditor2 Jul 07, 2009 10:16:29	So, I'm working on a (3E) adventure for my party and decided that the group hasn't run across any vampires in this or our previous campaign, so that'd be fun for everyone. The group's in Arabel and I think I've come up with a decent idea, a vamp trying to get her hands on an ancient vampire antiquity. However, I'm trying to flesh out the history of said item and wondering what I should tie it to. There's no area of the Realms that I'm aware of that has any particular ties to vampires and nothing I can find in the sourcebook or Lost Empires. Any suggestions, or should I just make it up. (I was thinking some portal to Ravensloft could work if I have to.) Thanks.
#2 lord_karsus Jul 07, 2009 12:28:10	-Castle Spulzeer, in Cormyr, has ties to Ravenloft (and the adventure can be downloaded for free, from the WotC website). The Dalelands, in the not so ancient past, had a "Vampire infestation", from which one Jander Sunstar became one among their ranks. Both are within some proximity to Arabel, especially Castle Spulzeer.
#3 old_sage Jul 07, 2009 20:27:14	I suggest you take a look through the original Lords of Darkness REF5 tome, which features lore on vampires in the Realms.
#4 warweaver Jul 07, 2009 22:55:34	There's also the Night Masks in Westgate, although the vampire overlords there might not be old enough for your purposes.
#5 markustay63 Jul 08, 2009 11:42:06	I created the town of Collinwood (which Brian James was kind-enough to make canon), and it is ruled by a Vampire Lord. The village is not very far from Arabel (being about the same distance west of Eveningstar thet Eveningstar is from Arabel). He is a kindly (he is wearing an ancient Netherease Amulet of Alignment Change... which happens to look a lot like a Gothic 'Iron Cross' :D ) but aloof gentleman, and 'took in' the Halflings of Gray Oaks after their village was destroyed for a second time. He is the only Cormyrian to hold the title of 'earl', effectively making him the equal of a prince of the Realm. This stems from a VERY old deal made with the original Lord of Collinwood, who held a seperate and distinct (tiny) Realm in this region following the fall of Netheril. He is an extremely private person, but he can be counted on to add and bolster Cormyr's troops in times of need, the last time being during the terrible events that lead-up to the death of Azoun. What nearly no-one knows (except for the royals, a few select War Wizards like Vangy, and Elminster) is that the current Lord Collinwood is the original Lord Collinwood who brokered the deal with early Cormyr and the Obarskyrs. Most of the Collinwood family has estates in eastern Amn and Tethyr (on the Erlkazar border), and every so often the Earl selects a certain decendent to come live with him for a time, eventually faking his own death and then sending the family member back west, while masquerading as the new, young Lord of the Keep (He rarely leaves the family estates, so very few people know what he really looks like). Not sure if that is helpful - that is what I created in the Old Stonelands thread (with some further musings attached). I was planning on embelishing the whole thing and turning it into a CKC article eventually, but since that esteememed tome of fanlore is put on permanent hold, I might as well share what little I have now. Perhaps it is the amulet the Earl wears that some other vampire is after? Or maybe there is yet-another Netherease artifact whose location Earl Collinwood is aware of, or is hiding for 'safe-keeping'? It wouldn't be too far-fetched to think that some Netherease dabbled in Vampirism as an early prelude to the Shades. Since the amulet (along with nearly everything else) is non-canon thus far, it could be an Amulet of Alignment stability instead, specifically designed to allow people to retain their true alignments despite whatever magical afflictions and curses may befall them.
#6 richard_k Jul 08, 2009 21:12:31	Just a quick thought. Though this would be post spell plague I was wondering would Aberian Vampire be the same as Toril ones. Just had a thought about post spell plague vampires from Abeir being like Lumleys Necroscope ones, though i suppose they could be Far Realm vampires (I'm thinking Lord Swartz for that). Coincidentally I'm reading some Robert Adams "Horse Clans" novels and I'm having some ideas about immortal horse riders in the hordelands.
#7 lord_karsus Jul 08, 2009 22:31:48	Just a quick thought. Though this would be post spell plague I was wondering would Aberian Vampire be the same as Toril ones. Just had a thought about post spell plague vampires from Abeir being like Lumleys Necroscope ones, though i suppose they could be Far Realm vampires (I'm thinking Lord Swartz for that). -There's no real reason they'd be different. Generic Vampires in the Forgotten Realms never had any major, noticeable differences from Vampires in Greyhawk, and other D&D campaign settings (with, possibly, the exception of Ravenloft). Converting Van Richten's Guide to Vampires, though, could net you with some differentiation.
#8 green_elven_vampire Jul 09, 2009 0:08:22	I recall reading somewhere that there is a Cabal of powerful Vampires around the area outside Waterdeep in which your PC's could adventure to and seek out. There are even a couple good and neutral Vampires within the ranks of The Moonstars in which you could seek out and possibly gain some help from. GEV
#9 markustay63 Jul 09, 2009 22:26:35	Also, if you were using the 'old-school' D&D vampires before (energy drain), you can now use the real deal - say the blood-sucking type were form Abeir. Or vice-versa, if you always had them drink blood (I always did - energy drain is too PG13). The Hordelands is rather cool - its an area where both eastern and 'regular' vampires can be found. I had considered reading the Horse Clans novels - would you recommend them? I love the Tuigan and am always on the look-out for any way to 'spruce them up'. Immortal versions sound a little like Bloodgaurd to me, from the Thomas Covenant series (they did ride Ranyhyn - immortal horses - IIRC).
#10 richard_k Jul 09, 2009 23:21:54	A life long friend of mines father recommended them to me and yeah I would also recommend the Horse Clans series. Unfortunately, at least for me, they are hard to come by. In any case I like the whole back story for these guys, normal people are taught a simple religion which incorporates survival skills into it, along with immortal protectors who move through their societies and they can talk to animals to (giant cats!). And all this vampire talk has got me interested in Orbakh (sp*) again. Probably the only details I want from 4th Edition. HAHA.
#11 erianys Jul 11, 2009 23:56:31	There's also Darkhold and the nearby Zhentarim (if you want to use a bit of lore from the 4e setting) alot/most of their leadership are vampires (thanks to Orbakh/Manshoon) and they like getting their dirty fingers on magic items and relics.
#12 richard_k Jul 13, 2009 2:37:21	Yeah I was never a Zhent fan till I got the Villains Lore book, now after some Baldur's gate and Icewind dale run through's as Lawful Evils (RPGing as much as those CRPG's allow). I was very disappointed they had the Shades destroy Zhentil Keep, I know Cyric did but hes an ass anyway.