Drowned Lover (Aqua Virgineum)

*“I was South of Aramoor about 50 miles out when I reached the town of Blythby. A small market town in the countryside, I was staying at the local Inn. Making small talk, I was chatting with the Inn Keep, digging for any leads on any strange sightings.*

*The Inn Keep told me of a tale he heard as a lad of a young woman who had fallen for a travelling bard. The two had planned to elope secretly,  arranging to meet at midnight on the bridge at the edge of Blythby. The woman agreed to bring as much money and supplies with her as she could.*

*On that bridge, the Bard robbed the women of her money, slit her throat, then dumped her into the river. The Inn Keeper swore if you are to cross the bridge at night alone, you can hear the same woman calling for help.” -* Bartholomew Horingglow, Bestiarum Vocabulum, Aether, Vol II.

.

**Place of Origin**

A Drowned Lover is created when a humanoid die’s in water due to a doomed romance, whether from unrequited love or drowned by a lothario lover.

.

**Rarity**

Drowned Lovers are most common in the countryside and coastal areas of Aether. Even then, in these areas, they are not a common sight. Most reports of Drowned Lovers are another water-dwelling creature.

.

**General Overview**

A Drowned Lover awaken from death seeking vengeance. Even as they dish out retribution, a Drowned Lover often anguishes over their doomed existence and tragic fate. A Drowned Lover will often stalk the silent depth where they died – usually bridges, coastal cliffs and abandoned docks.

They await to pull the living to the same watery grave in which they are condemned. A Drowned Lover will appear alive at first and call out for help as if in danger of drowning. When within range, the Drowned Lover will use their hair to pull their victim close enough to kiss them.

The victim’s final vision is the Drowned Lovers tearful lament over the loss of life. Embracing and drowning the betrayer that killed the Drowned Lover will release them from undeath.

**Race Alignment**

Neutral Evil - The self is best advanced by using whatever means necessary.

.

**Natural Race Abilities/Affinities**

~ *Grasping Hair*

The Drowned Lovers hair attacks as though it were three separate limbs; each of which can be attached separately. The hair can be broken, but it is tough to do so.

~ *Disguise*

The Drowned Lover can use its innate spellcasting to appear alive. This disguise is used to lure people into the creature’s grasp.

~ *Silence*

The Drowned Lover has a magical aura around it, capturing all sound within the aura. Anyone who is attacked will enter this aura, and no sound can be heard from within the aura.

.

**Appearances**

Drowned Lovers have two appearances. They can appear as this did in life to lure passing victims into their clutches. Then there is their spirit form. They will transition to this appearance once a victim has been caught. They appear pale and thin in appearance, with long black hair that is used as extra limbs to bind their victims.

**History**

As long has love has existed in this world, so has the Drowned Lover a Piteous but terrifying existence. Tales are told across the Aether to young boys and girls to avoid travelling near water alone and if they hear someone calling for help unless they know them to ignore the cries.

It has been known for some to survive encounters with Drowned Lovers. Often the victim has bargained with the spirit agreeing to bring the one that caused the Drowned Lovers now pained existence. In most cases, the subject of the spirits pain perished decades ago.

**Created by MrBiscuits**

.