Stake

Stakes were a type of wooden or metal cylindrical post with a pointed end. They were similar to wooden pegs and metal spikes, but were generally much larger and more durable, being intended for outdoor use and rough conditions.
==Description==
Stakes were typically made of either wood or some form of metal. They could even be made in the field by whittling down branches.
==Availability==
* Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue sold stakes made of high-impact steel in sets of eight at a cost of 30 gold pieces. They advertised these as being capable of being driven into almost any surface, including ice and rock. They also sold wooden stakes as part of their tents.
* Spoke in 'Spoke, a general store in Ruinspoke, sold wooden stakes.
* Wooden stakes could be purchased in the city of Waterdeep as part of traveling gear.
==Usages==
* Stakes were used to keep tents securely in the ground, being driven through the edges of their covering or through special reinforced holes on the covering.
* Stakes could be placed upright on the bottom of a pit trap.
* Though a few claimed it hurt them no more than any other sharp weapon, stakes were often used in the act of slaying a vampire, vampire spawn, or even a vampiric dragon, an act known as "staking". This always immobilized a vampire when it was driven through their heart, though vampiric dragons required particularly large stakes. Sometimes they required stakes made from a particular material, such as charcoal stakes for elf vampires or silver stakes for gnome vampires. However, staking a vampire did not fully kill it and their bodies still needed to be properly destroyed, as otherwise the vampire would regenerate once the stake was removed. Even if a vampire had long since rotted away into dust, their bodies would be reconstituted within 72 hours of a stake's removal.
==History==
In 1358 DR in the nation of Shou Lung, some hunters from the village of Tebing ambushed an eastern vampire by the name of Xi-Chu in the jungle and struck him through the heart with a wooden stake.
==Notable Users==
===General===
* In the Domains of Dread, wooden stakes were a common tool of monster hunters.
===Individuals===
* Ezmerelda d'Avenir, a vampire hunter in the Domains of Dread.
* Jack Harker, a vampire hunter in the Vast around the 14 century DR.
* Rictavio.
===Regions & Settlements===
* In the Great Glacier, the hunters of the village Imajuvisik would tie caribou or other game animals to a stake in the center of small valleys to act as bait for tirichik or white dragons.
==Trivia==
This tool was the namesake for the Silver Stake, an organization of lycanthrope hunters.
==Appendix==
===See Also===
* Spike
===Appearances===
===External Links===
* 
===References===
Category:Tools
Category:Camping supplies
Category:Metal items
Category:Steel items
Category:Wooden items
Category:Items from Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue
Category:Items from the Domains of Dread
Category:Items from Shou Lung
Category:Items from Ruinspoke
Category:Items from Tymanther
Category:Items from Waterdeep
Category:Items from Toril