D&D General Ideas for minions of a vampire

[Koloth]

Vampires are often portrayed as charismatic. More through force of personality then pure good looks. Wouldn't be out of character for some rather normal living types to be followers. Possibly even some nominally good types that are fooled by the vampire's personality.

Maybe the vampire funds a medical care center where the poor can receive treatment. Most patients survive so the place is well regarded by local authorities. (behind the scenes, patients of a certain blood type often die from mysterious reasons(blood loss)).

As the vampire is in good with local authorities, maybe it is successful in casting the PCs into the role of the bad folks for the PC's attempts to interfere with the vampire.

 

[R_J_K75]

Fred? Mostly muscle, but also some charisma. IDK.

Why, what a groovy ascot you're wearing Fred!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Why, what a groovy ascot you're wearing Fred!

 

[R_J_K75]

My what a frilly ascot, or is that a doily? Is that from "What We Do in the Shadows"?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

My what a frilly ascot, or is that a doily? Is that from "What We Do in the Shadows"?

It’s a lace ascot/cravat, and yes, it’s from WWDITS.

 

[R_J_K75]

It’s a lace ascot/cravat, and yes, it’s from WWDITS.

Must've got it from Auroras Whole Realms Guide

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

@the Jester

Are you familiar with the concept of a Judas goat? It’s a livestock animal trained to lead others to the slaughter.

What if you had a “JG” NPC who insinuates themselves into the party’s lives, with the goal of drawing them ever closer to their master?

 

[EzekielRaiden]

I'm wanting to build the rest of the evil party. I know I want a tracker (perhaps I'll just use an invisible stalker?). I'm not sure what else- children turned into vampire spawn will be a thing if the skulk isn't eliminated quickly enough though!

Thoughts? Ideas? Nasty concepts?

A hemomancer--inspired directly by ATLA's bloodbending.

Someone whose magic specifically affects blood, and things that possess blood. The vampire has them under their thrall, but not actually a spawn or vampire, because only someone with living blood of their own can become such. The hemomancer has set up shop in town as an apothecary/healer--they're actually using their blood magic to do the healing...and also to flag targets so the vampire can know who to go after and who to avoid.

I imagine they're well-liked in town because they really do use their blood magic to help the townsfolk. They're just only doing that to lull people into a false sense of security. Whether they're a willing agent for the vampire, a backstabbing Starscream-alike who'll betray their master at a moment's notice, or a poor victim who went delving too deep into the secrets of hemomancy and wound up mind-controlled by a vampire, I leave up to you.

But I think this could be a really really interesting character. Hell, they could even potentially survive their master and become an ongoing antagonist with their own, completely separate agenda.