#no fun dnd roles for count dogula on account of being a bastard

[gigilberry]

Dracula DnD AU

So I actually did sit and come up with DnD classes for Lucy & her polycule however bear in mind that a) I'm a first time Dracula reader so for all I know maybe some characterisation/information changes later idk, and b) the most I know about DnD comes from tiktok skit compilations on youtube & occasionally listening to dnd podcasts so EXTENSIVE creative liberties up ahead:

Lucy Westenra

She's a race of human shaped cat creatures, since I love cats and I love Lucy I combined my two favorite things and she looks like this:

(Idk if it can be seen but she's somewhat chubby and it's not plot relevant but I want you to know it's there)

As in canon her family's part of the gentry, though not the nobility, and she was very sheltered growing up. What's different is that for her community polygamy is favored and seen in a good light - cats are communal raisers and also Lucy wanted polygamy so she gets polygamy.

Lucy is a warlock and what happened was this: her deity takes the form of a scrungly little goblin creature, and more than anything what it really wants is to be loved. One day teenage Lucy found them crying in the bushes and was like "Who are you?? Are you okay??? 🥺" and the deity was so surprised she wasn't repulsed by them that they instantly befriended her and got an idea. In exchange for them giving Lucy protection and powers, Lucy will gather the affections of people and it'll get siphoned to them.

It works something like how it does in the anime Sugar Sugar Rune, where whoever it is that takes a shine to Lucy has their momentary feelings absorbed into a small jewelry on her person, and this doesn't hurt them, alter their personalities, or make their memories/feelings vanish.

The deity receives the affection that Lucy gets and in exchange Lucy has strong persuasion, luck, and invisible protections that aid and guide her to safety, plus she also receives little gifts from her deity like trinkets and useful & pretty little items. To other people Lucy appears as someone with a melodious voice, a sweet and gentle smile, having an aroma of honeysuckle and lavender, and accompanied by the sound of bells from charm bracelets on her wrists and bells on her ankles.

The relationship between her and her deity is like the flip side of the sugar daddy/sugar baby dynamic I've seen described for this class. Every time they meet Lucy goes "Who's a good puppy?? You are!!!! :D" and gives them pets and they become a happy, adoring puddle at her feet, it's very silly and cute.

Arthur Holmwood

The thing about Arthur is that he's surrounded by so much death, so as an exchange or comfort or running with the theme of it I made him a Witch Lord. That is, his family has magic running through them, most likely through an otherworldly ancestry, and because he's a Lord this means he has responsibilities that someone of the nobility would - responsibility towards the protection and safekeeping of a peoples, territory, and dominion.

His family's responsibility is towards aiding lost souls and guarding the boundaries between death and life. And because this is Arthur "Get Shit Done" Holmswood this man has connections. He has wealth, power, influence, and an extensive network of resources and contacts. He can call upon those souls that linger and so long as he does his duties and pays respects then they will give him information and guidance.

Lucy's race being cat adjacent, they are more than capable of seeing and interacting with the dead and hold a lot of respect for witches. So by her people's standards, Arthur is A Catch. As far as appearances go, he looks mostly human though there's something just a little otherworldly about his features but it's hard to put a finger on what. Some of the more obvious ones are that he has night vision and glows faintly in the dark.

Quincy P. Morris

Quincy multiclasses in Ranger and Barbarian I feel like there's a joke in that one. He's traveled to many places and been on many incredible adventures, and has collected allies and knowledge alike. Analytical, perceptive, a man of action but also very noble and kind, Quincy is a fighter and a thinker possessing skills, stats, and charisma across the board. Were it not for him having little to no magical ability he would've been very much OP but I'm trying to curb my obvious favoritism here

John (Jack) Seward

He's a half-dragonborn wizard, and despite having dragon features he's still as much of a soggy wet paper bag man as canon. Being draconic gives him strength that can match up to Quincy if he wanted, though he prefers to rely more on his studies. He tries his best to keep up a somewhat tidy appearance but is usually impeded by frequently molting scales, askew glasses, and a generally sleep deprived and frumpy disposition.

Mina Harker

Mina is a dark elf and also a witch. Unlike Arthur's lordly upbringing, witchcraft was something she took pains to learn, what with her being an orphan and all. She teaches magic to students and is as much a lover of the dark and creepy crawlies and things that go bump in the night as any elf born amongst them.

In appearance, Mina is a tall and politely intimidating but otherwise neatly put together elf woman. She feels most at home in dark forests and chats with the supernatural on the regular. Her being a witch also means her and Lucy were encouraged to be besties from the get go.

Jonathan Harker

A regular ol' human and perhaps even a solicitor here too. Just like in canon he shows a deep well of strength of character in this au, and being a human of not much special abilities doesn't stop him from being courageous, determined, loyal, and deeply kind. He's the Connecticut Clark to his big, scary, amazing Goth wife and he's got a warm, sunshiney nature that's so in line with Lucy's that the rest of the polycule loves him just as much. He's always ready to help and protect and fight for those he loves.

And if you want an angstier angle, he can have some qualities of the supernatural lurking underneath the surface - a pallor to his skin, slightly elongated teeth, a taste for meats, being drawn to darker magics, etc - after a terrifying run in within the forests.

As for Van Helsing of the alphabet soup degrees, I feel like similar to canon he'd be a mysterious figure of sorts, but giving off the air of a sorcerer or monk. He's a scholar, a potioneer, an artificer, and many, many more that most don't come to know. He plays the role of the polycule's favorite uncle who occasionally drops by to send them all careening off on an adventure.