Vrykolakas
A vrykolakas1 is a form of undead born from the corpse of a wicked person denied even basic burial rites.2 Related to vampires, these bestial undead can disguise their horrid visage magically to spread death and disease among the living, for even coming near a vrykolakas can infect a person with the plague. Their touch can drain mortals' life force.3
Appearance
A vrykolakas resembles a hunched, hairless, semi-intelligent ape-like creature with a withered visage and long fangs.4 Its pallid, pockmarked flesh is unnaturally stretched over its twisted frame. Since its spine is bent with undeath, a vrykolakas is rarely more than four-and-a-half to five feet tall, and they weigh 20 to 30 pounds less than in life. However, the creatures possess the supernatural ability to disguise themselves sufficiently to pass undetected in the communities of the living, although not as their former selves.3
Habitat and ecology
Vrykolakas are feral, solitary creatures. Newly risen vrykolakas often seek new victims of the same types that they favored in their wicked lives, and many do not recognize their own friends or family.356
If a vrykolakas' physical form is killed, its spirit immediately leaves its body and attempts to possess a nearby animal. If it succeeds, it returns to its grave and attempts to bury itself in the earth, rising within several days as a rejuvenated vrykolakas if undisturbed.37 Decapitating a vrykolakas before its death prevents this from occurring, as does the vrykolakas dying without any animals within 100 feet of its corpse.8
A person slain by a powerful vrykolakas can rise as a vrykolakas after three nights37 by burying the victim and volunteering its own blood on the gravesite,7 unless the victim is interred with a proper blessing.3 Decapitating a corpse similarly prevents it from rising as a vrykolakas spawn.8
Vrykolakas possess a unique bond to their gravesite. Every Starday, the vrykolakas must return to its gravesite and rest buried in the earth and stones for one full day. The creature is helpless and can easily be destroyed while resting, so they take great care to hide their burial place.3
References
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- ↑ The singular and plural forms of vrykolakas are the same.
- ↑ In Mother of Flies 88–89, vrykolakas were denied burial rites because they committed crimes. Bestiary 2 274 has no such requirement.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 . “Bestiary” in Mother of Flies, 88–89. Paizo Inc., 2010
- ↑ Mother of Flies 88–89 mechanically requires those turning into vrykolakas to be humanoid. Bestiary 2 274 has no such requirement, and provides human or humanoid only as non-exclusive examples of mechanical traits that represent being a living creature and require removal.
- ↑ . “Monsters A-Z” in Bestiary 2, 276. Paizo Inc., 2020
- ↑ Mother of Flies 88–89 suggested that vrykolakas prefer their friends and families as victims. Bestiary 2 contradicts this by suggesting vrykoloakas' preferred victims are those associated with its mortal evils, and also that many cannot recognize their friends or families.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 . “Monsters A-Z” in Bestiary 2, 275. Paizo Inc., 2020
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 . “Monsters A-Z” in Bestiary 2, 274. Paizo Inc., 2020
External links
- Vrykolakas (real-world mythical entity) on Wikipedia
