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Death is not the end!
Aug
Death and taxes; the two sure things in our world.
In Dungeons & Dragons, we can split those sureties in half—who pays taxes in their game, after all?
But death? Death is a constant companion.
In Dungeons & Dragons, there are several rules-as-written (RAW) spells that can be used to bring a character back from the dead. Revivify, Raise Dead, Reincarnate, Resurrection, True Resurrection, and Wish. While each of these are good at what they do, none of them are particularly flavorful.
Here in our latest supplement, we’re providing you with FIVE new ways to bring characters back from the dead in your game. These are flavorful, impactful, and they all come with some sort of cost that will drive character development. Each of these methods is geared toward a Ravenloft campaign, but you can adapt them to any setting you desire.
In the video below, I talk about each of these methods of returning to life, but you can get the full color PDF on our Patreon! I’ve also included one of the methods farther down this page.
Get the full color PDF over on our Patreon!
Becoming a Blood-Touched
The blood-touched are a wretched species of vampire spawn, with but a drop of vampiric blood running in their veins. Tormented by a ceaseless hunger, they are yet granted few of their elders’ powers. Blood-touched are usually created accidentally, when a vampire drains a victim and leaves it for dead, and usually a matter of embarrassment to their sire.
What Qualifies You for this Fate? Blood-touched died at the hands of a vampiric creature—full vampire, vampire spawn, etc. The victim does not need to be drained by the vampire, but there must have been some contact with the vampire’s blood—although a drop suffices.
What are the Consequences? Blood-touched become extremely resilient and strong, but they are not immortal. Even those who sought out this existence usually come to regret it, for the constant hunger that torments them makes what little boons they gained turn to ashes.
Creating a Blood-Touched
You retain all your class and racial or lineage features. You gain the following features:
Vampiric Constitution. You can double your proficiency bonus on any attack roll, ability check or saving throw you make, but you must immediately succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or gain one level of exhaustion. Exhaustion levels gained in this way can only be removed as if you gained them via your Relentless Hunger feature.
Draining Bite. You can make an unarmed melee attack with your fanged teeth against a humanoid grappled by you, using your Strength modifier. On a hit, the target takes 1 piercing damage, plus 2d4 necrotic damage. You gain temporary hit points equal to half the necrotic damage, or you can remove one level of exhaustion instead.
Relentless Hunger. When you finish a long rest, you must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or gain one level of exhaustion. You can remove one level of exhaustion by successfully using your Draining Bite, but you must complete a long rest before you can benefit from this again.