The Vampires Charm

[synergy2]

Hey guys. So our party of 3 level 7s is fighting a Vampire Warrior, and my wizard recently got charmed. We stopped the session there, and I have been thinking of ways to deal with this from an in character point of view.

Do I have to forsake my allies and fight for the vampire, or do I merely see the vampire as part of the group? I know it's the DMs choice, but I want some arguments for or against either option. I kind of have a few ideas of how this plays out right now:

1) I fireball the ground, leaving out my allies and the vampire warrior. Hopefully all the adds are dead afterwards. I maybe charmed by the vampire warrior, but I am not charmed by his minions so they would still be hostile. Afterwards I try to make my friends stop fighting.

2)I fight for the vampire warrior and probably kill the Barbarian and Rogue in the process. Depending on the DMs rule, I might have no choice; in which case banish the Barbarian and let the vampires eat the Rogue. Then bring the Barbarian back and they die quickly :/

 

[jaelis]

The vampire targets one humanoid it can see within 30 feet of it. If the target can see the vampire, the target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw against this magic or be charmed by the vampire. The charmed target regards the vampire as a trusted friend to be heeded and protected. Although the target isn’t under the vampire’s control, it takes the vampire’s requests or actions in the most favorable way it can, and it is a willing target for the vampire’s bite attack. Each time the vampire or the vampire’s companions do anything harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. Otherwise, the effect lasts 24 hours or until the vampire is destroyed, is on a different plane of existence than the target, or takes a bonus action to end the effect.

That sounds to me like you would try to stop the fight, because you realize they are all friends. How would your character react if his friends were fighting?

 

[iserith]

Unless the vampire makes an effort to persuade your character into attacking your allies, I wouldn't attack them. They're still your friends, and so is the vampire, who you are now compelled to heed and protect. You might therefore only try to hinder rather than harm your allies or possibly try to convince them that the party should flee. The latter would likely be my choice if it's feasible since we can come back in 24 hours after the charm wears off and give this fight another go, perhaps better prepared for charm effects.

Whatever you choose, the challenge is the careful balance between acting in accordance with the terms of the effect your character is under plus taking actions - possibly against other players' characters - that will still be fun for everyone else and helps contribute to an exciting, memorable story. So whatever you are thinking of going with, ask yourself: "Is this going to be fun for everyone?" and "Is this going to help create an exciting, memorable story?" If you're not sure or the answer is "no," then I would suggest choosing to do something else.

 

[Warmaster Horus]

Be aware a Vampire's charm is a very potent effect.

The charmed target regards the vampire as a trusted friend to be heeded and protected. Although the target isn’t under the vampire’s control, it takes the vampire’s requests or actions in the most favorable way it can, and it is a willing target for the vampire’s bite attack.

Therefore if the vampire indicates the other members of the party are a threat to it and tells the charmed target to kill them, well that's what they would do. Since it's not a spell Dispel Magic won't end it, though Dispel Evil will. I've seen Charm Person used to contest a Vampire's power as well.