Knight of the Vampire | 3rd-Level Fifth Edition Adventure

NOTE: This is June's Adventurer Patron Exclusive Adventure!

A vampire knight returns to his ancestral home seeking redemption in a town of secret plots

KNIGHT OF THE VAMPIRE

Knight of the Vampire is a Fifth Edition adventure intended for three to five characters of 2nd to 4th level and is optimized for four characters with an average party level (APL) of 3. A knight turned vampire spawn has returned to his ancestral home to watch over his grown children. After being forced to kill a local townsman, his presence has been revealed, and now adventurers have been asked to hunt down the monster terrorizing their town. This adventure takes place in the Freelands campaign setting but fits into any existing campaign with a town near a forest with only a few modifications. 

Backstory

Sir Mathus Holafina was a renowned local war hero who took to the adventuring life after the Great War ended, seeking his fortune to better his family’s place in life. While traveling the realm, he and his companions met their match in the dark recesses of a crumbling castle in the form of Baron Harold von Strucker, an ancient vampire lord. The next night, Sir Mathus was horrified to awaken buried in the earth and clawing his way out as the Baron’s new spawn.

For twenty years, Sir Mathus fought loyally for the Baron as his right hand. One fateful night, while Sir Mathus was prowling the streets of a nearby village for his master’s next meal, the Baron was taken by surprise by another band of adventurers. Stronger than Sir Mathus’ companions, these adventurers defeated the Baron, destroying him utterly. The Baron’s control over Sir Mathus disappeared at that very moment, and he regained his free will.

Unsure of what to do with his newfound freedom, Sir Mathus decided to return to his home and his long-lost family. He arrived at his ancestral home to find his children grown into accomplished adventurers in their own right. Ashamed of his transformation into the monster he has become, he now hides in the remains of an ancient lookout in the woods nearby, feeding on the forest animals and spending his nights gazing through the windows of his former home to catch glimpses of his family.

Adventure Summary

The vampire spawn Sir Mathus Holafina recently regained his independence after the defeat of his former master at the hands of a band of adventurers. Returning to his hometown of Mournstead, he hunts animals in the nearby woods for sustenance while spying on his son Trismus and daughter Amalia whenever he can. However, Sir Mathus’s presence is starting to be noticed by the townsfolk. Hunters stumbled across the carcasses of the slain animals, and Sir Mathus was recently forced to kill a drunken townsman who stumbled upon him as he spied on his family. The fearful town is calling for adventurers to discover what horror stalks their town’s streets.

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