This large hound's mouth is a snarling nest of overlong fangs, and its eyes glow an unnatural red.

Vampires can bend the living to their will with a glance. Often they enlist willing mortals by offering the promise of eventual immortality in exchange for loyalty. Some vampires take a different course, gaining the loyalty of an animal by feeding it their blood and gaining a fierce sentinel to guard them during the daylight hours. Such creatures are known as blood hounds or blood familiars.

Blood hounds are animals that were given regular doses of a vampire's blood. This feeding creates a bond between the creature and its master, giving the beast powers beyond a normal specimen of its type. Many vampires prefer animals typically associated with their kind—bats and wolves, including those of the dire variety—but some prefer more exotic choices, such as large cats, bears, and even snakes. More powerful vampires often choose rarer and more dangerous creatures, such as owlbears or griffons. A vampire may create more than one blood hound, but is limited to a total Hit Dice in blood hounds equal to its own, even if it owns only a single blood hound.

Blood Hound

Medium monstrosity, lawful evil
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 45 (6d8 + 18)
Speed 40 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	3 (-4)	12 (+1)	6 (‒2)

Skills Perception +3
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Common (cannot speak)
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Familiar. The blood hound acts as a familiar to the vampire that created it, with all the abilities and functions associated with familiars. If it drops to 0 hit points, it dies.

Superior Tracking. A blood familiar has advantage on Perception checks made to track or locate a living creature.

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) piercing damage.