Vampirism

Both minor vampires (Weird Monster table result 3, level 8 undead) and major vampires (Boss table result 6, level 10 undead) lurk in the Abyss. Only magic weapons, spells, the Vampire Hunter skill, holy water, or attacks that inflict 2 wounds with a single blow can harm them.

Level Drain

Whenever a character takes any damage from a vampire, they must save versus the vampire's magic level:

• Minor vampire: save vs level 4 magic
• Major vampire: save vs level 5 magic

On a failed save, the character loses one level and all bonuses associated with it (1 max life point, spell slot, attack bonus, etc.).

Transformation

If a character's level reaches 0, or the character dies from level drain before their level hits 0, they cannot be resurrected normally. The character will rise as a vampire.

Two options:

1. Burn or stake the body before it rises (destroy it immediately).
2. Kill the vampire that caused the death, then resurrect the character normally.

Finding the Vampire Again

If the vampire fled (failed morale roll) or the party withdrew, you can spend clues to pursue it:

• Spend 2 clues to meet the vampire in the very next room/corridor (no content roll).
• Spend 1 clue if you have a character with the Vampire Hunter expert skill.

The vampire will not have healed. There is a 2-in-6 chance it has gathered a random group of minions.

Protection

• Garlic Poultice (Alchemist, automatic, 1 gp): Prevents level drain for the adventure. The character still takes physical damage from attacks.
• Cross against Vampires (Magic Defense table, result 2): +2 Defense rolls vs vampires.
• Vampire Hunter expert skill (C, W, Wi): +1 Attack rolls vs vampires; can attack vampires without stakes or magic weapons.