A to Z of Vampires: Wurdalak

Off to Russia again today to visit the family preying Wurdalak!  The wurdalak was popularized by the film, Black Sabbath (from which the famous band gets their name!).  I covered this movie in my last October Horror Movie marathon and stated it up for Ghosts of Albion.

Once again going with OSRIC format today.

Wurdalak (Vampire)
(turned as type 11)
Frequency: Very Rare
No Encountered: 1
Size: Man-sized
Move: 120 ft
Armor Class: -2
Hit Dice: 9+1
Attacks: 3 (claw/claw/bite) + Blood Drain
Damage: 1d6+5/1d6+5/1d4+Blood Drain
Special Attacks: Per Vampire; Blood Drain
Special Defenses: Per Vampire
Magic Resistance: 25%
Lair Probability: 100% (home 50%, grave 50%)
Intelligence: Exceptional
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Level/XP: 9/4,240 + 13/hp

A wurdalak is created by a family curse.  Typically one laid down by a powerful witch on an entire line. When a member dies they will return as a wurdalak to feed on members of their own family.  Sometimes a wurdalak will also spontaneously arise when a member of the family disgraces their family name or when a member (typically a daughter) goes against the wishes of a recently deceased member (such as her father or uncle).

Once risen the wurdalak will return to their home to prey on the family members. It needs blood lke most other vampires and drains it at the rate of 3 Constitution points per attack.  A wurdalak can make up to three attacks this way per night.  Family members drained by a wurdalak become wurdalak themselves.  Non-family members drained by a wurdalak become ghouls.

It is wrong to assume to that because a person is not part of the wurdalak's family that they are safe.  The wurdalak will kill anyone in their way or whom they perceive as a threat.

The wurdalak has the following spell-like powers; charm person (3/day), cause fear (3/day), knock, spider climb (at will), and gaseous form (at will).  Once per it's "life" it can cast bestow curse as if they were a 9th level witch.  Typically this curse is bestowed near their death.

In combat the wurdalak will attack with claws and a bite. If it bites a victim in combat it can drain 1 point of Con. The other drain attack is for sleeping victims.  The wurdalak is very strong with a Strength of 22.

The wurdalak can cast shadows and reflect in mirrors.  They are not active at sundown like other types of vampires, but wait till 10:00 pm exactly.  To kill the wurdalak one must use a dagger that has been in the monster's family for at least three generations.  Sunlight reduces it to 0 hp, it will become gaseous and return to their coffins.   A sleeping wurdalak has an AC of 10.

Wurdalaks do not shape-shift into animals.