THE BRIDES OF DRACULA ("The Monsters Are Our Heroes" Villains)

In our previous blog entry, we developed statistics for Dracula. It seems only fair that we now focus on Dracula's trio of beautiful and deadly brides!

This game material uses the rules system from "The Monsters Are Our Heroes" rpg by Bloat Games.

The Brides of Dracula

These are three seductive vampire “sisters” – sometimes referred to as the “Weird Sisters” – who reside with Dracula in his Tansylvanian castle, where they entire men with their beauty and charm, and then proceed to feed upon them. Dracula provides them with victims to devour, mainly implied to be infants.

As vampires, the sisters are powerful in their own right; their beauty and seductive charm belie lethal, predatory interiors. Their beauty and flirtatious manner appear to be their greatest power when it comes to bewitching their victims into a trance-like state. Harker and Van Helsing are both attracted to and yet repulsed by them. They can seemingly appear out of nowhere and are inhumanly strong, as shown when they kill Van Helsing's horses. They also have the power of flight, as seen when they fly in the air with their dresses trailing behind them.

While the Brides usually remain nameless, they are named Verona, Aleera and Marishka in the 2004 film Van Helsing. Verona is the oldest of the brides and Dracula's consort, whereas Aleera and Marishka are his concubines. Aleera, the youngest of the trio, is portrayed as the most vicious.

To prevent stat block bloat, all of the Brides of Dracula share the following Traits:

Bite: +Strength bonus melee attack (piercing damage). A vampire can only use this attack against a Grappled or Helpless target. If a vampire uses this attack against a living creature, they heal a number of Hit Points equal to the damage dealt.

Unholy Strength: +Strength bonus melee attack (bludgeoning damage). A vampire can choose to Grapple the target (escape DC 10 + Strength bonus) instead of dealing damage.

Vampire Flight: The Brides of Dracula can fly and hover at will. Their flying speed is so fast that a Bride of Dracula can make a Melee Attack against a target up to Far distances.

Vampire Immunities: The vampire is immune to necrotic and poison damage. As an undead creature, the vampire does not need to breathe, eat, or drink (other than living blood to sustain his form).

Wall Crawling: The vampire can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an Ability Check.

Weaknesses: Vampires have the following weaknesses:

A vampire cannot enter a residence without permission from one of the occupants.

A vampire does not cast a shadow or a reflection in a mirror. If presented with a mirror, a vampire must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw to resist smashing the mirror.

Once per day, a vampire must take a Long Rest while in a container (usually a coffin) filled with the soil of their homeland. If prevented from accessing their coffin, the vampire gains a rank of Exhaustion.

If a creature presents a holy symbol against a vampire, the vampire must make an opposed Charisma check against the creature or be Frightened of the creature. The vampire can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of his turns, removing the Frightened condition on a success.

A vampire cannot cross running water under their own power. They take 2d12 acid damage each round they are immersed in running water.

A vampire is Paralyzed if a wooden stake is driven through their heart. 

A vampire takes 2d12 radiant damage per round exposed to direct sunlight. While in direct sunlight, a vampire has Disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.

Aleera

Evade 19

Hit Points 45 (6 HD)

Armor Points 3 (undead flesh)

Str 3, Dex 5, Con 3

Int 0, Wis 0, Cha 1

Luck 8

ATTACKS

Melee Attack +3

Ranged Attack +5

Damage Dice 2d6

ABILITIES

Evasion: When Aleera is subjected to an effect that allows them to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, they instead take no damage if they succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if they fail.

Insanely jealous of anyone who would dare compete for her master’s affections, Aleera is the youngest and deadliest of Dracula’s three brides. Noticeably, among all the Brides, Aleera was the one who respected her husband the most, openly addressing Dracula as "Master" and "Lord" when talking to or about him.

Marishka

Evade 16

Hit Points 38 (5 HD)

Armor Points 3 (undead flesh)

Str 1, Dex 3, Con 3

Int 0, Wis 0, Cha 5

Luck 11

ATTACKS

Melee Attack +1

Ranged Attack +3

Damage Dice 1d12

ABILITIES

Torturer: Marishka is used to inducing anguish upon others. When she succeeds on a Charisma (Intimidation) check against a creature, Marishka’s target takes 1d12+5 psychic damage.

A devilishly clever vixen who uses her beauty as a weapon against all those foolish enough to challenge her, Marishka is the one bride who should never be underestimated. Notorious for playing with her food before eating it, Marishka has made countless Transylvanian villagers wish for death long before it arrives.

Verona

Evade 17

Hit Points 51 (6 HD)

Armor Points 3 (undead flesh)

Str 4, Dex 3, Con 4

Int 0, Wis 0, Cha 1

Luck 8

ATTACKS

Melee Attack +4

Ranged Attack +3

Damage Dice 2d6

ABILITIES

Battle Ready: Verona has Advantage on Initiative rolls and Charisma (Intimidation) checks.

Defender: Verona can use an Action to give Disadvantage on the attack roll of a creature within reach of them.

Improved Critical: Verona’s attack rolls score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20.

The oldest and most worldly of the brides, Verona has fought for centuries to rid the world of all who stand against Dracula and his plans. As beautiful as she is deadly, the bloodthirsty Verona is Dracula’s second in command on the ground and in the sky.

Given Verona's elegant yet commanding demeanor, it is suggested she is of noble blood, possibly royalty. Verona is the eldest of the three Brides, making her the first vampire Dracula turned, in that she is seen ordering the other two about with condescending tones, and threatening facial expressions. Despite the way she treats Marishka and Aleera, she states that she loves them very much. Verona is entirely loyal to her master, serving as his consort, eager to please him by any means necessary, though she isn't above disagreeing with him, much to his immense displeasure.

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