evildmguy
Explorer
I really like the ideas I have read here! Kudos to everyone as it has been inspiring.
I think you will need to redo the vampire in some ways, as I don't think being hurt by sunlight OR shadow fits well with Athas. Shadow Giants exist, so there is no reason a vampire couldn't. In the end, a vampire is a creature that lives on the life essence of others, specifically via their blood. It is this feasting on the blood that is supposed to keep them young and healthy. The other abilities could come from the class or monster type. I do like a sand motif, perhaps a dust devil instead of gaseous.
Maybe what you need to do is downplay the vampire side in some way. Give them a story at some point, such as the good ones here of a gladiator who was hidden but managed to survive on underground creatures. Or maybe a noble who bathed in blood, a la Countess Bathery, to stay young. It is a new kind of defiling, but instead of the land, it's goes directly to the living.
Then, forget about it for a while. Have them get involved in some politics and meet some people. Then have the first new dead show up, drained of blood and dumped some place. Perhaps make it more of a mystery. It could be that their patron is this vampire. Or a contact in the market. All of them are young and no one remembers them ever not being young. Further, the noble has looked the same for many years. How is this possible? (there is magic and many other explanations.)
Then, they either go to accuse someone, right or wrong, and face off against the vampire. Perhaps they thought it was the wrong person. Maybe you managed to get the vampire as a trusted contact or NPC. Heck, turn it around. They find out the vampire is like Dexter and only going after bad people. Evil templars, slavers or assassins are the targets. Then they have to decide if they destroy him or not. Works better if they didn't realize one of them was bad and was a friend.
I hope it works out, whatever you decide to do!
edg
I think you will need to redo the vampire in some ways, as I don't think being hurt by sunlight OR shadow fits well with Athas. Shadow Giants exist, so there is no reason a vampire couldn't. In the end, a vampire is a creature that lives on the life essence of others, specifically via their blood. It is this feasting on the blood that is supposed to keep them young and healthy. The other abilities could come from the class or monster type. I do like a sand motif, perhaps a dust devil instead of gaseous.
Maybe what you need to do is downplay the vampire side in some way. Give them a story at some point, such as the good ones here of a gladiator who was hidden but managed to survive on underground creatures. Or maybe a noble who bathed in blood, a la Countess Bathery, to stay young. It is a new kind of defiling, but instead of the land, it's goes directly to the living.
Then, forget about it for a while. Have them get involved in some politics and meet some people. Then have the first new dead show up, drained of blood and dumped some place. Perhaps make it more of a mystery. It could be that their patron is this vampire. Or a contact in the market. All of them are young and no one remembers them ever not being young. Further, the noble has looked the same for many years. How is this possible? (there is magic and many other explanations.)
Then, they either go to accuse someone, right or wrong, and face off against the vampire. Perhaps they thought it was the wrong person. Maybe you managed to get the vampire as a trusted contact or NPC. Heck, turn it around. They find out the vampire is like Dexter and only going after bad people. Evil templars, slavers or assassins are the targets. Then they have to decide if they destroy him or not. Works better if they didn't realize one of them was bad and was a friend.
I hope it works out, whatever you decide to do!
edg
