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Count Valerius - AI-generated fantasy Monster

Count Valerius

Valerius was a diplomat in life who bartered his soul for the time required to understand every nuance of high society. He has ruled his county for four centuries, frequently hosting 'parties' from which the guests never truly depart.

Monsters
Medium undead · CR 15 · Unique

Count Valerius

A sophisticated, wine-connoisseur vampire lord who views intruders as uninvited dinner guests rather than enemies.
AC16
HP144/144
CR15
Init
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
ConditionsNone

Combat

AC 16 · HP 144 · CR 15

Count Valerius

Medium undead (shapechanger), lawful evil
Armor Class16 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points144 (17d8 + 68)
Speed
30 ft.,
Climb 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
Saving ThrowsDEXWISCHA
SkillsDeceptionInsightPerceptionPersuasionStealth
Damage Resistances
Necrotic,
Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Immunities
None
Weaknesses
Vampire Flaws (Sunlight Hypersensitivity, Stake to the Heart, Running Water)
Senses
Darkvision 120 ft.,
Passive Perception 17
Languages
Common,
Elvish,
Abyssal,
Draconic
Challenge15
Proficiency Bonus+5
Shapechanger. If Valerius is not in sunlight or running water, he can use his action to polymorph into a Tiny bat or a Medium cloud of mist, or back into his true form.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Valerius fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Regeneration. Valerius regains 20 hit points at the start of his turn if he has at least 1 hit point and is not in sunlight or running water. If he takes radiant damage or damage from holy water, this trait doesn't function at the start of his next turn.

Spells

Misty Step (level 2, conjuration). Valerius dissolves into shadows and reappears 30 feet away.
Greater Invisibility (level 4, illusion). Valerius becomes invisible, leaving only the scent of wine behind.
Dominate Person (level 5, enchantment). A refined command that compels a guest to 'sit and listen'.

Actions

Multiattack. Valerius makes two attacks, only one of which can be a bite.
Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 8 () bludgeoning damage plus 14 () necrotic damage. If the target is a creature, Valerius can choose to grapple the target (escape ).
Charm. Valerius targets one humanoid he can see within 30 feet. If the target can see him, the target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed. While charmed, the target regards Valerius as a trusted friend to be heeded and protected. The effect lasts 24 hours or until Valerius is destroyed or takes a bonus action to end the effect.

Reactions

Misty Escape. When Valerius takes damage, he can use his reaction to transform into a cloud of mist and move up to his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Legendary Actions

Move. Valerius moves up to his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Unarmed Strike. Valerius makes one unarmed strike.
Drink Wine (Costs 2 Actions) (costs 2 actions). Valerius takes a sip from his chalice. Every creature charmed by him within 60 feet must make a Charisma saving throw or be incapacitated by a rush of euphoric sensory overload until the end of Valerius's next turn.
Role
Social Hazard / Environmental Boss
Built for
10 to 12

Gear

  • The Chalice of Vintages (Wondrous Item, 5,000 gp)A crystal cup that never runs dry of the finest red wine.
  • Cane of the Nightshade (Weapon/Focus, 1,200 gp)A silver-tipped cane that acts as a spellcasting focus.

Feats

Shadow Touched
Alert

Augmentations

None

Notes for the game master

Valerius is intended as a 'Stealth Boss'. He uses Lair Actions to separate and confuse the party rather than killing them.
Lair Action 1 (Shadow Puppetry): Shadows of the players become tangible and attempt to grapple them (DC 15 STR).
Lair Action 2 (The Harpsichord's Call): Any player within 100 feet of the harpsichord must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom save or be forced to dance for one turn (speed 0, disadvantage on Dexterity checks).
Lair Action 3 (Wine of Forgetfulness): Mist smelling of grapes fills the room. Players must make a DC 15 Constitution save or forget what they were doing for 1 round (losing their action).

Tactics

  1. Opening

    Valerius appears from the shadows with a bow, offering the players a glass of wine. He uses his Charm on the person with the lowest Wisdom.

  2. Mid-fight

    If ignored or slighted, he uses Greater Invisibility and Lair Actions to harass the party, whispering critiques of their stealth skills into their ears.

  3. End of the fight

    If the Moon Amulet is taken, he stops playing the harpsichord. The silence is a signal that he is now taking the hunt seriously.

  4. Retreat

    If reduced to half HP, he turns into mist and retreats to his coffin, laughing about the 'crude manners' of the party.

How it fights

Use shadows to block line of sight to the Moon Amulet.
Target 'stealthy' players with the Harpsichord's Call to break their silence.
Charmed players are told to 'show the guests the exit' to avoid direct combat for Valerius.

Who it attacks first

Anyone holding his Moon Amulet
Bards or musicians who might challenge his harpsichord skills
The character with the highest Charisma (viewed as a social rival)

Works well with

Animated Shadow Curtains that block exits.
Charmed servants who provide cover and distraction.

How to beat it

Dispel Magic can break his lair's charm effects.
Silence spells stop the Harpsichord's Call lair action.
Daylight or bright light prevents his Shadow Puppetry lair action.

Ways to avoid a fight

The party can challenge him to a musical duel or a wine tasting to distract him.
Offering a rare vintage or a secret from a foreign court may buy his cooperation.

Ecology

Valerius stands with an unnerving, stiff grace, dressed in high-collared silks of deep burgundy and obsidian. His hair is powdered white, contrasting with skin the color of cold marble. He is rarely seen without a crystal chalice of thick, dark liquid and a silver-tipped cane.

Behavior

He is intensely polite but utterly condescending. He prefers to play a psychological game of cat and mouse, using his lair to disorient and charm intruders into revealing their true purpose before he decides their fate.

How it lives

As a master vampire, Valerius does not hunt; he harvests. He maintains a curated 'cellar' of bloodlines, treating mortals like vintage vintages. He has no natural predators and spends his decades mastering the harpsichord.

Lair

The Great Hall and Music Room of Castle Valerius. The air is thick with the scent of fermented grapes and old parchment. Shadows here have a weight to them, moving independently of light sources.

Habitat
The Shadow-Wreathed Manor, a gothic castle trapped in eternal twilight.

Signs that it is near

The faint, melancholic sound of a harpsichord echoing through hallways
The rich, sweet aroma of expensive wine
Shadows that seem to bow as you pass them

Tags

Vampire,
Aristocrat,
Caster

Lore

Valerius was a diplomat in life who bartered his soul for the time required to understand every nuance of high society. He has ruled his county for four centuries, frequently hosting 'parties' from which the guests never truly depart.

What drives it

To be entertained by the desperation of mortals and to maintain the aesthetic perfection of his estate.

After the fight

If the party leaves peacefully, Valerius sends them a polite 'thank you' note for the entertainment, possibly becoming a recurring, though dangerous, patron.

Variants

The Mad Composer: Valerius focuses purely on sonic/psychic attacks.
The Collector: The room is filled with mirrors that act as portals.

Hooks

Plot hooks

The Moon Amulet is required to break a lunar curse, and Valerius uses it as a paperweight.
The party is hired to retrieve the Amulet but specifically told that killing Valerius would trigger a political vacuum in the region.

How to use it

A high-stakes retrieval mission where the goal is to get in and out without triggering Valerius's temper.
A social 'gauntlet' where the party must keep a conversation going with him while one member steals the amulet.

Treasure

The Moon Amulet (Quest Item)
6 Rare Vintages of Wine (500 gp each)
Silk Tapestries (2,000 gp total)

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