The Strigoi

"Unleash the Vengeful Spirits: Discover the Strigoi, an evil and restless family of Vaesen creatures,
known for their shape-shifting abilities and thirst for blood. Explore their dark powers, from
bloodthirsty embraces to ghastly possessions, in this supernatural RPG supplement."

By David Wartmann

This product was created under license. Vaesen and its logo are trademarks of Fria Ligan AB and Johan
Egerkrans. This work contains copyrighted material by Fria Ligan AB, Johan Egerkrans and/or other authors.
Such material is used with permission under the Community Content Agreement for Free League Workshop.
All other original material in this work is copyrighted in 2023 by David Wartmann and published under the
Community Content Agreement for Free League Workshop.
Title image taken from the Public Domain.
Dante and Virgil in Hell (1850). Oil on canvas, 281 × 225 cm (111 × 89 in). Musée d'Orsay, Paris
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

“Listen to them, the children of the night. strength and agility. They may also have
What music they make!” the power to control animals, manipulate the
weather, and even cast spells and curses on
- Bram Stoker,
their victims.
Dracula
As with many creatures of folklore and leg-
Throughout history, tales of evil spirits seeking
end, the Strigoi have only been passed down
revenge on the living have been passed down
through oral tradition, songs, and tales for cen-
through generations. These vengeful spirits take
turies. However, they continue to capture the
many forms, from the Slavic Strigoi to the Norse
imagination of people worldwide and have in-
Draugr, the Greek Vrykolakas, and the Balkan
spired countless works of literature, art, and
Dhampir. These creatures have captured people's
film. In the world of Vaesen, they are a fasci-
imaginations across cultures and inspired count-
nating and mysterious group of creatures that
less stories, songs, and legends.
are sure to capture the attention of any curious
The Strigoi family is a particularly interesting investigator.
group of creatures that have been the subject of
many tales and legends. As a standard form of Historical Background
an evil spirit, the Strigoi can take on many dif-
The Vaesen world is full of dark and mysterious
ferent forms and manifestations. They are of-
creatures, and the Strigoi is one of them. The
ten associated with vampires, werewolves, and
term "Strigoi" originated from the medieval Ro-
other supernatural creatures that are said to be
manian language, and it is derived from the
created by their possession of animals or hu-
Latin terms "strix" and "striga" which mean
mans.
screech owl and evil spirit, respectively. The
In some traditions, the Strigoi are considered addition of the augmentative suffix "-oi" re-
a type of ghost or wraith; in others, they are sulted in the word "Strigoi," with its feminine
associated with zombies, ghouls, and other un- version being "Strigoaie." The Romanian verb
dead shades. Depending on the local legends "a striga" means "to scream," and it's the word's
and folklore, this family may include banshees, origin.
wights, and other supernatural beings.
The first written record of Strigoi dates back to
The Strigoi are often portrayed as malevolent Jure Grando Alilović in 1656 in the small town of
and dangerous creatures seeking revenge on Kringa, Istria, which is now in Croatia1 . Locals
the living for wrongs committed against them described Jure as a Strigoi, as he conducted
in life. They may also be driven by a desire peculiar and strange behaviors that terrorized
for blood, flesh, or other forms of sustenance, the town 16 years after his death. The haunt-
which they seek to obtain by preying on the liv- ing stopped when the local priest and a group
ing. of villagers decapitated his corpse. The tales
were collected by Johann Weikhard von Valva-
Despite their evil reputation, the Strigoi are
sor, a Carniolan scientist and scribe, during his
also thought to possess certain powers and
travels along the Croatian coast and compiled
abilities that make them formidable opponents.
1 Vinšćak, T. (2005). On ”Štrige”, ”Štriguni” and
They are said to be able to shape-shift, move
”Krsnici” on Istrian Peninsula. Studia ethnologica Croat-
quickly and silently, and possess superhuman ica, 17 (1), 221-235.

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 ORIGINS OF THE STRIGOI

in "The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola." 2

Origins Of The Strigoi
In Vaesen, Erasmus Francisci and Johann
The origins of the Strigoi are steeped in mys-
Joseph von Goerres recently re-published
tery and dark folklore. Some tales suggest that
Jure's tale, adding various artistic elements and
they were once humans who died with unfin-
sensationalistic touches in their collection "La
ished business or harbored deep grudges, and
mystique divine, naturelle, et diabolique," pub-
their restless souls transformed into malevo-
lished in Paris in 1855.
lent spirits seeking revenge. Others believe
Several centuries before Jure's tale, a Molda- that they result from cursed bloodlines or dark
vian soldier and statesman, Dimitrie Cantemir, rituals gone awry, with generations of family
described his version of the Strigoi in his work, members inheriting the curse and becoming
the "Descriptio Moldaviae" (1714–1716)3 . Can- Strigoi themselves. There are also stories of an-
temir believed that the Striga was a Moldavian cient creatures, born from the depths of dark-
and Transylvanian belief associated more with ness, that have existed since immemorial and
witches and warlocks rather than the modern- evolved into the Strigoi that haunt the world to-
day blood-drinking undead vampires. day. Regardless of their origins, the Strigoi are
known to be formidable and relentless in pur-
In 1725, a Serbian peasant named Petar Blagoje- suing revenge against the living.
vič died, and his son believed he came back to
life at night, haunting him in his former home.
Petar demanded food and drinks, but when his
Abilities
son refused, Petar became enraged and bru- The Strigoi are known for their formidable
tally murdered him. supernatural abilities, which make them a
formidable threat. Their powers may include
John William Polidori, the progenitor of the
shape-shifting, allowing them to transform
romantic vampire genre of fantasy fiction,
into animals such as bats, wolves, or other crea-
published "The Vampyre"4 in 1819 in London.
tures of the night. They may possess super-
The mysterious yet charming antagonist, Lord
human strength, speed, and agility, making
Ruthven, is a Strigoi.
them formidable opponents in physical com-
In 1865, Wilhelm Schmidt described the Strigoi bat. Some Strigoi are known to have psychic
in his article on Transylvanian folklore as vi- abilities, such as telepathy, mind control, or
cious nocturnal creatures that preyed on in- the ability to manipulate shadows and dark-
fants. One way to avoid a Strigoi haunting or ness. They may also have regenerative powers,
praying on a newborn is to toss a stone behind allowing them to heal from injuries that would
oneself and say, "This into the mouth of the be fatal to a mortal being. Additionally, some
Strigoi!" Strigoi are known to possess the ability to con-
trol or raise the dead, creating armies of un-
With Bram Stocker's "Dracula"5 published in
dead minions to carry out their vengeful bid-
1897, the modern vampire concept was born
ding. However, their powers may vary depend-
and became popular worldwide.
ing on the specific type of Strigoi and the folk-
2 Online Resource
3 Online Resource
lore they originate from, making them a truly
4 Free Online Book diverse and unpredictable group of creatures.
5 Free Online Book

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BEHAVIOR OF THE STRIGOI

strigoi in Romania strâgoi, Moroi in western

Behavior Of The Strigoi
Transylvania, Wallachia and Oltenia, vidmă
The Strigoi are notorious for their vengeful be- in Bucovina, vârcolacul, Cel-rau, or vampire.
havior and malevolent intent toward the liv- Classically strigoi are predominantly male, and
ing. They are known to seek retribution for only the strigoaică are female, but several na-
perceived wrongs or injustices, often targeting tions and folk tales across the Balkan have both
those who have crossed them or their bloodline male and female versions of the strigoi. The fol-
in the past. They may haunt their victims, tor- lowing types or versions of strigoi are here de-
menting them with their shape-shifting abil- scribed further:
ities, causing nightmares, and draining their
life force. In some cases, the Strigoi may pos- The strigoaica
sess the bodies of the deceased, turning them
A strigoaică (singular feminine form) is a witch.
into mindless undead creatures or using them
These are comparable with various other forms
as vessels to carry out their dark deeds. They
of witches across Europe. Historically, these
are known to be cunning and manipulative, lur-
women are often too progressive or unconven-
ing their prey into traps or using their shape-
tional for their times and therefore persecuted.
shifting abilities to deceive and confuse. How-
The strigoaică are said to create love potions
ever, the Strigoi are also known to have vul-
and cast charms and rituals. They can have fa-
nerabilities, with different forms requiring spe-
miliars and often live on the edge of their clos-
cific methods of banishment or destruction, as
est society if found out; otherwise, they live in
detailed in local folklore and legends.
secrecy and try to blend in.

Encounters With The Strigoi The strigoi viu/vii

Encounters with the Strigoi are often har- The strigoi viu/vii (living strigoi - vui/vii re-
rowing and fraught with danger. Those who ferring to life/living) is an in-between form
cross paths with these malevolent spirits may of the evil/demonic spirit possessing a living
face physical attacks, psychological torment, being, thus giving him insight into the mysti-
or even possession. The Strigoi are known to cal and supernatural. Usually, these enlight-
be most active during the night, under cover ened (or, in our modern language, curious and
of darkness, when their powers are at their scientific) minds are referred to as sorcerers.
strongest. They may be encountered in des- The “Mythology of the Vampire in Romania” by
olate places, such as abandoned ruins, dark Adrian Cremene illustrates some of the trades
forests, or ancient burial grounds, where they of the living strigoi. The strigoi vii/vui steal the
are said to dwell. Local legends and folklore of- wealth of farmers, such as wheat, milk, or even
ten provide clues and rituals on how to protect butter. But it can also stop the rain, drop hail
oneself from the wrath of the and give death to men and cattle.

In several stories and folktales, stigoi vui/vii of-

The Types Of Strigoi
ten are pointed out during times of famine or
In his book “Mitologie românească”, Tudor sickness - the ones that are not or only mildly
Pamfil has compiled sevearl appellations of affected. A familiar tale associated with the
strigoi vii/vui is the stealing of energy during

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 BECOMING A STRIGOI

baking bread or the churning of butter. While a

Becoming a Strigoi
small village in the Balkans survived a period of
starvation when the supply of wheat and grain The encyclopedist Dimitrie Cantemir and folk-
was restored, several families were unsuccess- lorist Teodor Burada published in their 1882
ful in getting their bread to rise during the bak- book “Datinile Poporului român la înmormân-
ing. In contrast, one family got a significant tări” cases of strigoism. The strigoi can be a
rise and fermentation of the dough. The fam- living man born under certain conditions:
ily was cast out of the town for being strigoi vii
and stealing the village's energy. • Be the seventh child of the same sex in a
family;
Several regions have local variations of this • Lead a life of sin
form of strigoi, and often oral traditions in- • Be bitten/transformed by a strigoi mort
clude tales where the strigoi vii is unaware of • A pregnant female in the last three months
his curse. Various folktales describe that some of her pregnancy was infected/bitten by a
are born with the curse others become a strigoi strigoi mort
vii through their acts and dealings as a man. • Die without being married…
Under the circumstances, those born with the …by execution for perjury
curse can be awakened to use their powers by a …by suicide
traumatic event in their life, a life-threatening …having been cursed by a witch.
sickness or disease, or a near-death experi-
ence. Some stories mention that when the In his book “Where are the vampires?” Ionna An-
strigoi vii falls asleep or becomes unconscious, dreesco, published in 1997, says children born
his cursed, spirit-controlled part leaves his ves- with a caul atop their head will become strigoi
sel and haunts his close family or surrounding. upon death.

The vii form can transform into animals and ARTIFACT

display several powers of the strigoi mort. Darul tatălui - ‘Father’s Gift’
Once the last call of the rooster wakes the sleep-
ing body, the spirit form retreats and disap- The Darul tatălui, a small wooden box
pears into the sleeping body just short before with intricate engravings, is a Sinti and
waking up. Roma heirloom passed down within the
Cel Tradat family for centuries. It was
The strigoi mort seized by a landlord during the persecu-
tion of the Sinti and Roma in Eastern Eu-
The strigoi mort (dead strigoi) is the most dan- rope and later ended up in the hands of
gerous form. Its nature is ambiguous and can small-time Occultist Gunnar Mattison.
be both human and/or demonic. They emerge Breaking the warding sign on the box re-
from their graves, return to their family and veals wooden dentures with silver teeth,
behave as in their lifetime. During their visi- except the canines from Dragoslav Te-
tations, they drain and weaken their relatives pes, cousin of the infamous Tepes fam-
until they die in their turn. Strigoi mort can ily. If the teeth pierce the skin, the vic-
create new strigoi by partially killing their vic- tim is cursed by the strigoi.
tims or infecting the infants of their families.

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CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristics Magic and Curses:

• Enthrall [vs. Observation]

Strigoaica • Night Terror [vs. Observation]
MIGHT 4 · BODY CONTROL 3 · MAGIC 5 • Seduce [vs. Observation]
MANIPULATION 6 · FEAR 1/0 • Sleep [vs. Force]
• Energy Drain [vs. Observation]
Strigoi Vii
(using life energy; as strigoi mort,
MIGHT 5 · BODY CONTROL 5 · MAGIC 7 he will use this spell to restore his
MANIPULATION 8 · FEAR 1/1 health.
Strigoi Mort • Shape Change: mist, a flock of bats,
a wolf
MIGHT 8 · BODY CONTROL 9
MAGIC 10 · MANIPULATION 10 · FEAR Bloodthirsty Embrace
2/1 [BODY CONTROL vs. AGILITY]
Combat The Strigoi taps into its insatiable thirst for
blood and channels it into a deadly attack.
Attack Damage Range The Strigoi can make an attack against a
Bite 1/2 0 target creature within reach, using its su-
Claw 2/3 0 pernatural strength and agility. If the at-
Drop (during flight) 4 0/2 tack is successful, the Strigoi inflicts addi-
tional damage, draining the target's blood
and gaining health equal to a portion of the
Conditions damage dealt. The Strigoi also gains a tem-
porary boost to its speed and reflexes, allow-
Strigoi Vii ing it to move with uncanny swiftness and
agility for a short duration.
□ Bloodthirsty +1
□ Dazed -2 Ghastly Possession

□ Tactical and evasive +1 [MANIPULATION vs. VIGILANCE]

□ Broken The Strigoi can possess a target creature,
taking control of its body and mind. If the
Strigoi Mort
possession succeeds, the Strigoi gains com-
□ Bloodthirsty +1 plete control over the target's actions, forc-
□ On guard +1 ing it to do its bidding. The Strigoi can use
□ Dazed -2 the possessed creature to attack, manipu-
□ Tactical and evasive +1 late others, or fulfill its own goals. The pos-
session ends after 1D6 rounds, and the tar-
□ Furious but wounded +1
get creature may be left with no memory
□ Blood Frenzy +3
or recollection of the events that occurred
□ Broken - retreats for 1D8 minutes
while under the Strigoi's control. However,
and heals unless beheaded.  repeated use of this spell may leave traces
of the Strigoi's malevolent influence on the
target, causing long-term psychological ef-
fects.

Page 6
 CHARACTERISTICS
Ritual Tales and folklore of the strigoi have • Place a clove of garlic under its tongue.
spread over Europe, resulting in several local • Smear its body with pig fat killed on a par-
legends telling of ways to deal with them. One ticular gypsy holiday.
of many ways to identify a strigoi mort is de- • Turn its body face down so that if the
scribed by Serbian folklore in which a 7-year- strigoi ever woke up, it would be headed
old boy dressed in white on a white horse is to the afterlife.
placed near the suspected haunted graveyard
An alternative version enables family members
at midday. The horse is believed to stop at the
haunted by a strigoi or children destined to be-
grave of the alleged strigoi mort.
come a strigoi vii to perform a ritual to end the
Upon his return to Switzerland after a research family curse:
tour for his book “L'Homme et la terre” (The
• Exhume the strigoi mort that haunts the
Earth and Its Inhabitants”)6 , Élisée Reclus de-
family before dusk
scribes eastern European burials in Romania:
• Remove its heart, liver, kidney, and intes-
"If the deceased has red hair, he is very con-
tine
cerned that he was back in the form of a dog,
• Cut the removed organs into equal
frog, flea or bedbug, and that it enters into
amounts of children or infected family
houses at night to suck the blood of beautiful
members
young girls. So it is prudent to nail the cof-
• Burn the organs separately at the same fire
fin heavily, or, better yet, a stake through the
to ashes
corpse's chest."
• Behead the strigoi mort
A widespread and adapted ritual summarized • Drive an iron nail through its head and
by Simeon Florea Marian in “Înmormântarea la hammer it between the feet when return-
7 ing to the casket
români” (1892) describes the most commonly
known preventive method. When the body of • Mix the ashes with milk and let the in-
the suspected strigoi is identified, it will have to fected drink it
be unearthed and beheaded, then re-interred
The curse will be lifted if the suspension is
the corpse and head placed face-down - varia-
drunk before the last call of the rooster
tions describe various forms of this ritual.
Examples of Conflict
Based on Romanian superstition, another
method of guarding against a strigoi is to use, Creştinii câţi nu dorm, cu spaimă cheamă 'Pe
process, and eat the meat of a pig killed on the maica lui Hristos şi-aprind gră bit''Tă mâie şi
October 17 - feast day of Saint Ignatius. usturoi pe-un vas de aramă Ea singură -n căs-
cioară, biata mamă 'Stă chip înmă rmurit…
Various methods used by Sinti and Roma are
said to get rid of a strigoi following a precise (The Christians that are awake, with fear they call

ritual procedure: / The Mother of Christ and light rushed / Incense

and garlic on a bronze vessel / She's single in the
• Exhume the strigoi. lodge, poor mother / image sits stunned…)
• Remove its heart and cut it in two
• Drive a nail into its forehead. - Strigoii by Gheorghe Coşbuc
6 Free Online Copy
7 Free Online Resource

Page 7
CHARACTERISTICS
Several peasant children from a village in the
stands the struggles of those who come to
Carpathian Mountains died mysteriously. The
Uppsala seeking a better life and has made
villagers began to suspect a recently deceased it his mission to provide them with aid and
count in a nearby castle was a strigoi, dwelling support. Despite facing countless obstacles
in his old fortress just outside the town. Fright- and opposition from the city's conservative
ened villagers are now contemplating burning authorities, he has tirelessly collected dona-
the castle to stop the deaths. Unbeknownst to tions to help new immigrants settle in. He
most, one of the town elders has already been has helped construct a makeshift hut in the
infected by the strigoi curse. east of the city as a temporary home for
them.
Last month a strigoi vii moved to Upsala, flee- Fr Troester symbolizes hope for the immi-
ing his hometown in Romania. During the voy- grants and a thorn in the side of those who
age, he got infected with cholera and almost seek to oppress and mistreat them. He
died due to the infection. Finding shelter in a has faced physical violence and intimidation
from off-duty cops and conservative nation-
local bakery, he regained his strength and used
alists but refuses to back down in the face
his talents as a baker in the shop. Unbeknownst
of adversity. He is a man of great conviction
to him, he initiated the strigoi curse, separated
and willpower and is respected and admired
himself at night while sleeping from his body,
by those who know him.
and haunted the streets of Upsala for blood.
Role-playing hooks:
In a small village, a group of Sinti and Roma
Father Troester guides players in the chal-
lay camp while traveling. The local landlord de- lenging environment of Uppsala, offering
cides to raid, "deal with them”, and summons a help and advice while protecting the Cen-
small army of villagers. Hours later, the camp ter from hostile groups. With his firsthand
is overrun, and many dead. In confusion, the knowledge of the strigoi from childhood and
Darul tatălui was left behind. A local farmer in- clerical travels throughout Eastern Europe,
spected it and got pricked by it. He hides the he also assists in secret efforts to help immi-
box in his house, but waking the following day, grants escape the city.

the transformation to a strigoi has begun. Characteristics:

Father Peter Troester Attributes

Physique 2 Precision 2
“The tales I am about to tell you might Logic 3 Empathy 4
sound strange, but believe me, my child. I Toughness
witnessed most of them with my old weary Physical 1 Mental 3
eyes…” Skills
Father Peter Troester is a weathered man Inspiration 4 Learning 4
in his late 80s, with deep wrinkles and a Manipulation 3 Observation 3
quiet strength radiating from his gentle gaze. Medicine 2
He is the resident priest at the Eastern- EQUIPMENT: Journals of his travels in
Orthodox Church in Uppsala and arrived on eastern Europe and the Balkans, Rakija
a ship with refugees from Eastern Europe (schnapps), a small bottle of blood he col-
five years ago. lected of a suspected strigoi, a canine tooth
He is a compassionate man who under- in amber (unfortunately it's a pigs canine)

Page 8