Like a vampire the Estrie is a corpse that crawls out of her grave (Estries are always female) to drink the blood of the living. They are possessed by a demonic spirit, but may have been witches when they were alive. The name Estrie comes from the French Strix or night owl. A word that also is related to Strega, Stirge and a host of related creatures.
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| Estrie by Feline Zegers |
Estrie
Armor Class: 4 [15]
Hit Dice: 6d8+6** (38 hp)
No. of Attacks: 2 claws, 1 bite (monster form) OR 1 (human form)
Damage: 1d6+2 / 1d8+1 OR by weapon type.
Special: Blood drain, cause fear (as per spell), witch spells, shapeshift
Movement: 30’ (90' fly)
No. Appearing: 1
Saves As: Fighter 7
Morale: 10
Treasure: None
Alignment: Chaotic (Chaotic Evil)*
XP: 1,750
The Estrie is a type of vampire that can pass for a normal human during the daylight hours. Indeed she can appear to be living, have good alignment (if detected) and even walk onto holy soil and wear holy symbols. However at dusk she will revert to her vampiric form which appears to be a rotting corpse. She can shapechange after that, but it takes a full turn for her to do so. The estrie must kill anyone witnessing this transformation or she will loose her powers (fear, spells) over them.
As a vampire the estrie can also shapeshift into large night owl, a large black cat or into smoke if she is reduced to 0 or fewer hp. Unlike a vampire the estrie can be hit with normal, non magical, items.
The estrie can cause fear but she lacks the charm power of many other vampire types. She can though cast spells as if she were a 3rd level witch; specifically of the Mara tradition.
Estrie's are strong (18 strength) in their "Vampire" form, but seem to be normal humans in their "human" form.
The estrie attacks with a claw/claw/bite routine. A successful bite inflicts 1d8+1 damage. A critical hit bite (a roll of 20) does damage and drains the victim of 1 point of Constitution.
If someone offers her bread in any form she is powerless against that person until after the next sunset. In her vampire form she cannot enter a dwelling without permission.
In order to fly the estrie must have her hair unbound and allowed to to blow in the wind. Some scholars believe she needs her hair to fly or at least to navigate.
Her favored prey are young men, ones that would be enchanted by a young woman without the need of arcane inducements. She will attack these men as they sleep, not wanting to enter into combat. The estrie must feed every night. In this form of attack she drains either 2 points of Constitution or 2 points of Strength each night. If only attacked once or twice the victim can regain lost points with bed rest at the rate of 1 per week. If the victim has been attacked three times then the rate is 1 point per 2 weeks. Any victim drained to 0 in either Constitution or Strength will die. Male victims, the most common, will return from the dead as a shadow. The rare female victim will return as an estrie herself.
An estrie must return to her grave before dawn. She must remain in her grave till "noon". By this it is when the sun has passed it's mid-day point. After this she may rise and appear human.
To destroy an estrie one must first force her back into her grave. Then the body must be exhumed. The mouth of the creature, which is always open, must be filled with dirt from her own grave and then sewn shut. The head is then removed.
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