diff --git a/src/checkmodal.ts b/src/checkmodal.ts
index f58f06a..5f40651 100644
--- a/src/checkmodal.ts
+++ b/src/checkmodal.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import {DrawPile} from "./drawpile.ts";
-import {CheckData, CheckDataOption} from "./newmap.ts";
+import {CheckData, CheckDataOption, ChoiceOption} from "./newmap.ts";
 import {getPartLocation, withCamera} from "./layout.ts";
 import {AlignX, AlignY, Point, Rect, Size} from "./engine/datatypes.ts";
 import {D} from "./engine/public.ts";
@@ -81,21 +81,34 @@ export class CheckModal {
 
     let options = check.options;
 
-    let addOptionButton = (option: CheckDataOption, rect: Rect) => {
-      let skill = option.skill();
-      let skillName = getSkills().get(skill).profile.name;
-      let hasSkill = getPlayerProgress().hasLearned(skill);
-      // hasSkill ||= true;
-      let optionLabel: string
-      if (hasSkill) {
-        optionLabel = `[${skillName}] ${option.unlockable}`;
+    let addOptionButton = (option: CheckDataOption | ChoiceOption, rect: Rect) => {
+      let accomplished: boolean;
+      let optionLabel: string;
+      let resultMessage: string;
+      if ((option as ChoiceOption).isChoice) {
+        // TODO: Use OOP here
+        option = option as ChoiceOption;
+        accomplished = option.countsAsSuccess;
+        optionLabel = option.unlockable;
+        resultMessage = option.success;
+
       } else {
-        optionLabel = `[Needs ${skillName}] ${option.locked}`;
+        option = option as CheckDataOption;
+        let skill = option.skill();
+        let skillName = getSkills().get(skill).profile.name;
+        let hasSkill = getPlayerProgress().hasLearned(skill);
+        // hasSkill ||= true;
+        if (hasSkill) {
+          optionLabel = `[${skillName}] ${option.unlockable}`;
+        } else {
+          optionLabel = `[Needs ${skillName}] ${option.locked}`;
+        }
+        resultMessage = hasSkill ? option.success : option.failure;
       }
       addButton(this.#drawpile, optionLabel, rect, true, () => {
-        this.#success = hasSkill ? option.success : option.failure;
+        this.#success = resultMessage;
 
-        if (hasSkill) {
+        if (accomplished) {
           let cb = this.#callback;
           if (cb) { cb(); }
         }
diff --git a/src/huntmode.ts b/src/huntmode.ts
index bdc202f..e49395f 100644
--- a/src/huntmode.ts
+++ b/src/huntmode.ts
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ export function initHuntMode(huntMode: HuntMode) {
 
 export function getHuntMode() {
   if (active == null) {
-    throw `trying to get player progress before it has been initialized`
+    throw new Error(`trying to get hunt mode before it has been initialized`)
   }
   return active;
 }
diff --git a/src/manormap.ts b/src/manormap.ts
index d28b62c..1425cf3 100644
--- a/src/manormap.ts
+++ b/src/manormap.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import {Architecture, LoadedNewMap} from "./newmap.ts";
 import {Grid, Point} from "./engine/datatypes.ts";
 import {getThralls} from "./thralls.ts";
-import {LadderPickup, ThrallPosterPickup} from "./pickups.ts";
+import {LadderPickup, ThrallPosterPickup, ThrallRecruitedPickup} from "./pickups.ts";
+import {getPlayerProgress} from "./playerprogress.ts";
 
 const BASIC_PLAN = Grid.createGridFromMultilineString(`
 #####################
@@ -29,12 +30,16 @@ export function generateManor(): LoadedNewMap {
       let cell = map.get(xy);
 
       let placeThrall = (ix: number) => {
-        // TODO
         cell.architecture = Architecture.Floor;
+        if (true || getPlayerProgress().isThrallUnlocked(thralls[ix])) {
+          cell.pickup = new ThrallRecruitedPickup(thralls[ix]);
+        }
       };
       let placeThrallPoster = (ix: number) => {
         cell.architecture = Architecture.Floor;
-        cell.pickup = new ThrallPosterPickup(thralls[ix]);
+        if (!getPlayerProgress().isThrallUnlocked(thralls[ix])) {
+          cell.pickup = new ThrallPosterPickup(thralls[ix]);
+        }
       };
 
       switch (BASIC_PLAN.get(xy)) {
diff --git a/src/mapgen.ts b/src/mapgen.ts
index 759fdc6..051a15e 100644
--- a/src/mapgen.ts
+++ b/src/mapgen.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import {choose, shuffle} from "./utils.ts";
 import {standardVaultTemplates, VaultTemplate} from "./vaulttemplate.ts";
 import {ALL_STATS} from "./datatypes.ts";
 import {ExperiencePickup, LadderPickup, LockPickup, StatPickup, ThrallPickup} from "./pickups.ts";
+import {getPlayerProgress} from "./playerprogress.ts";
 
 const WIDTH = 19;
 const HEIGHT = 19;
@@ -301,9 +302,10 @@ function carveVault(knife: Knife, room: Rect, vaultTemplate: VaultTemplate) {
     let cell = knife.map.get(goodie);
 
     if (a.contains(goodie)) {
-      // TODO: Place the zone's NPC here
       let thrall = vaultTemplate.thrall();
-      cell.pickup = new ThrallPickup(thrall);
+      if (!getPlayerProgress().isThrallUnlocked(thrall)) {
+        cell.pickup = new ThrallPickup(thrall);
+      }
     }
 
     if (b.contains(goodie)) {
diff --git a/src/newmap.ts b/src/newmap.ts
index e3c8131..53a49dd 100644
--- a/src/newmap.ts
+++ b/src/newmap.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,14 @@ export enum Architecture { Wall, Floor }
 
 export type CheckData = {
   label: string,
-  options: CheckDataOption[],
+  options: (CheckDataOption | ChoiceOption)[],
+}
+
+export type ChoiceOption = {
+  isChoice: true,
+  countsAsSuccess: boolean,
+  unlockable: string,
+  success: string,
 }
 export type CheckDataOption = {
   skill: () => Skill,
diff --git a/src/pickups.ts b/src/pickups.ts
index 367df03..156082d 100644
--- a/src/pickups.ts
+++ b/src/pickups.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {getThralls, Thrall} from "./thralls.ts";
+import {getThralls, LifeStage, Thrall} from "./thralls.ts";
 import {CellView, CheckData} from "./newmap.ts";
 import {getPlayerProgress} from "./playerprogress.ts";
 import {getHuntMode, HuntMode, initHuntMode} from "./huntmode.ts";
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {sprLadder, sprLock, sprResourcePickup, sprStatPickup} from "./sprites.ts
 import {GridArt} from "./gridart.ts";
 import {getCheckModal} from "./checkmodal.ts";
 import {Point} from "./engine/datatypes.ts";
+import {choose} from "./utils.ts";
 
 export type Pickup
   = LockPickup
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ export type Pickup
   | LadderPickup
   | ThrallPickup
   | ThrallPosterPickup
+  | ThrallRecruitedPickup
 
 export class LockPickup {
   check: CheckData;
@@ -146,7 +148,10 @@ export class ThrallPickup {
 
   onClick(cell: CellView): boolean {
     let data = getThralls().get(this.thrall);
-    getCheckModal().show(data.initialCheck, () => cell.pickup = null);
+    getCheckModal().show(data.initialCheck, () => {
+      getPlayerProgress().unlockThrall(this.thrall);
+      cell.pickup = null
+    });
     return true;
   }
 }
@@ -177,3 +182,71 @@ export class ThrallPosterPickup {
     return true;
   }
 }
+
+
+export class ThrallRecruitedPickup {
+  thrall: Thrall;
+  bitten: boolean;
+
+  constructor(thrall: Thrall) {
+    this.thrall = thrall;
+    this.bitten = false;
+  }
+
+  computeCostToClick() { return 0; }
+
+  isObstructive() { return false; }
+
+  drawFloor() { }
+  drawInAir(gridArt: GridArt) {
+    let data = getThralls().get(this.thrall);
+    let lifeStage = getPlayerProgress().getThrallLifeStage(this.thrall);
+    let ix = 0;
+    let rot = 0;
+
+    if (lifeStage == LifeStage.Vampirized) { ix = 1; }
+    if (lifeStage == LifeStage.Dead) { ix = 1; rot = 270; }
+    D.drawSprite(data.sprite, gridArt.project(0.0), ix, {
+      xScale: 2.0,
+      yScale: 2.0,
+      angle: rot
+    })
+  }
+
+  onClick(_cell: CellView): boolean {
+    if (this.bitten) { return true; }
+
+    let data = getThralls().get(this.thrall);
+    let lifeStage = getPlayerProgress().getThrallLifeStage(this.thrall);
+    let text = data.lifeStageText[lifeStage];
+    getCheckModal().show({
+      label: `${text.prebite}`,
+      options: [
+        {
+          isChoice: true,
+          countsAsSuccess: true,
+          unlockable: "Bite!",
+          success: text.postbite,
+        },
+        {
+          isChoice: true,
+          countsAsSuccess: false,
+          unlockable: "Refrain",
+          success: "Maybe next time."
+        }
+      ]
+    }, () => {
+      this.bitten = true;
+      getPlayerProgress().addBlood(
+        lifeStage == LifeStage.Fresh ? 1000 :
+          lifeStage == LifeStage.Average ? 500 :
+            lifeStage == LifeStage.Poor ? 300 :
+              lifeStage == LifeStage.Vampirized ? 1500 : // lethal bite
+                // lifeStage == LifeStage.Dead ?
+                100
+      );
+      getPlayerProgress().damageThrall(this.thrall, choose([0.9]))
+    });
+    return true;
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/playerprogress.ts b/src/playerprogress.ts
index 7d952e1..7a8d362 100644
--- a/src/playerprogress.ts
+++ b/src/playerprogress.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import {ALL_STATS, Skill, Stat, SuccessorOption, Wish} from "./datatypes.ts";
 import {getSkills} from "./skills.ts";
+import {getThralls, LifeStage, Thrall} from "./thralls.ts";
 
 export class PlayerProgress {
   #name: string
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ export class PlayerProgress {
   #itemsPurloined: number
   #skillsLearned: number[]  // use the raw ID representation for indexOf
   #untrimmedSkillsAvailable: Skill[]
+  #thrallsUnlocked: number[]
+  #thrallDamage: Record<number, number>
 
   constructor(asSuccessor: SuccessorOption, withWish: Wish | null) {
     this.#name = asSuccessor.name;
@@ -24,6 +27,8 @@ export class PlayerProgress {
     this.#itemsPurloined = 0;
     this.#skillsLearned = []
     this.#untrimmedSkillsAvailable = [];
+    this.#thrallsUnlocked = [];
+    this.#thrallDamage = {};
 
     this.refill();
   }
@@ -52,6 +57,12 @@ export class PlayerProgress {
       }
     }
 
+    for (let thrall of getThralls().getAll()) {
+      let stage = this.getThrallLifeStage(thrall);
+      if (stage == LifeStage.Vampirized || stage == LifeStage.Dead) { continue; }
+      this.#thrallDamage[thrall.id] = Math.max(this.#thrallDamage[thrall.id] ?? 0 - 0.2, 0.0);
+    }
+
     this.#untrimmedSkillsAvailable = learnableSkills
   }
 
@@ -175,7 +186,38 @@ export class PlayerProgress {
   }
 
   getStats() { return {...this.#stats} }
-  getTalents() { return {...this.#talents} } }
+  getTalents() { return {...this.#talents} }
+
+  unlockThrall(thrall: Thrall) {
+    let {id} = thrall;
+    if (this.#thrallsUnlocked.indexOf(id) != -1) { return; }
+    this.#thrallsUnlocked.push(id);
+  }
+
+  isThrallUnlocked(thrall: Thrall) {
+    return this.#thrallsUnlocked.indexOf(thrall.id) != -1;
+  }
+
+  damageThrall(thrall: Thrall, amount: number) {
+    if (amount <= 0.0) {
+      throw new Error(`damage must be some positive amount, not ${amount}`)
+    }
+    let stage = this.getThrallLifeStage(thrall);
+
+    if (stage == LifeStage.Vampirized) { this.#thrallDamage[thrall.id] = 4.0; }
+    this.#thrallDamage[thrall.id] = (this.#thrallDamage[thrall.id] ?? 0.0) + amount
+  }
+
+  getThrallLifeStage(thrall: Thrall): LifeStage {
+    let damage = this.#thrallDamage[thrall.id] ?? 0;
+    console.log(`damage: ${damage}`)
+    if (damage < 0.5) { return LifeStage.Fresh; }
+    if (damage < 1.75) { return LifeStage.Average; }
+    if (damage < 3.0) { return LifeStage.Poor; }
+    if (damage < 4.0) { return LifeStage.Vampirized; }
+    return LifeStage.Dead;
+  }
+}
 
 let active: PlayerProgress | null = null;
 
@@ -185,7 +227,7 @@ export function initPlayerProgress(asSuccessor: SuccessorOption, withWish: Wish
 
 export function getPlayerProgress(): PlayerProgress {
   if (active == null) {
-    throw `trying to get player progress before it has been initialized`
+    throw new Error(`trying to get player progress before it has been initialized`)
   }
   return active
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/statemanager.ts b/src/statemanager.ts
index 774b930..36d978f 100644
--- a/src/statemanager.ts
+++ b/src/statemanager.ts
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ export class StateManager {
 
   startGame(asSuccessor: SuccessorOption, withWish: Wish | null) {
     this.#turn = 1;
-    initHuntMode(new HuntMode(1, generateManor()));
     initPlayerProgress(asSuccessor, withWish);
+    initHuntMode(new HuntMode(1, generateManor()));
   }
 
   advance() {
diff --git a/src/thralls.ts b/src/thralls.ts
index 47b7ca1..2c0c539 100644
--- a/src/thralls.ts
+++ b/src/thralls.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,21 @@ export type ThrallData = {
   sprite: Sprite,
   posterCheck: CheckData,
   initialCheck: CheckData,
+
+  lifeStageText: Record<LifeStage, LifeStageText>
+}
+
+export enum LifeStage {
+  Fresh = "fresh",
+  Average = "average",
+  Poor = "poor",
+  Vampirized = "vampirized",
+  Dead = "dead",
+}
+
+export type LifeStageText = {
+  prebite: string,
+  postbite: string,
 }
 
 let table = new ThrallsTable();
@@ -94,7 +109,29 @@ export let thrallParty = table.add({
         success: "TODO",
       },
     ]
-  }
+  },
+  lifeStageText: {
+    fresh: {
+      prebite: "Garrett flips a poker chip and mutters to himself.",
+      postbite: "You plunge your fangs into his feathered neck and feed.",
+    },
+    average: {
+      prebite: "Garrett looks a little less fresh than last time. He's resigned to the fate of being bitten.",
+      postbite: "You puncture him in almost the same place as before and take a moderate amount of blood from his veins."
+    },
+    poor: {
+      prebite: "Garrett, limp in bed, doesn't look like he's doing so well. He's pale and he's breathing heavily.",
+      postbite: "\"Please...\" you hear him moan as you force him into the state of ecstasy that brings compliance.",
+    },
+    vampirized: {
+      prebite: "Garrett looks about as cold and pale as you. Another bite may kill him.",
+      postbite: "The final bite is always the most satisfying. You feel little emotion as you hold the body of a dead crow in your arms.",
+    },
+    dead: {
+      prebite: "This bird is dead, on account of the fact that you killed him with your teeth.",
+      postbite: "The blood in his veins hasn't coagulated yet. There's still more. Still more...",
+    }
+  },
 })
 
 export let thrallLore = table.add({
@@ -122,7 +159,29 @@ export let thrallLore = table.add({
         success: "Taken aback at how well you know the cheer, he freezes -- then joins you with a similar howl.",
       },
     ]
-  }
+  },
+  lifeStageText: {
+    fresh: {
+      prebite: "Lupin awoos quietly to himself.",
+      postbite: "You bite the raccoon and drink his blood.",
+    },
+    average: {
+      prebite: "The color in Lupin's cheeks is beginning to fade. He's becoming accustomed to your bite.",
+      postbite: "He'll let you do anything to him if you make him feel good, so you make him feel good. Fresh blood...",
+    },
+    poor: {
+      prebite: "Lupin is barely conscious. There's drool at the edges of his mouth and his eyes are glassy.",
+      postbite: "This is no concern to you. You're hungry. You need this.",
+    },
+    vampirized: {
+      prebite: "Lupin's fangs have erupted partially from his jaw. You've taken enough. More will kill him.",
+      postbite: "His life is less valuable to you than his warm, delicious blood. You need sustenance.",
+    },
+    dead: {
+      prebite: "This dead raccoon used to be full of blood. Now he's empty. Isn't that a shame?",
+      postbite: "You root around in his neck. His decaying muscle is soft.",
+    }
+  },
 })
 
 export let thrallBat = table.add({
@@ -150,7 +209,29 @@ export let thrallBat = table.add({
         success: "\"Settle down!\" she says, lowering your volume with a sweep of her hand. \"It's true though.\"",
       },
     ]
-  }
+  },
+  lifeStageText: {
+    fresh: {
+      prebite: "Monica nibbles a pastry.",
+      postbite: "You dig your teeth into the koala's mortal flesh.",
+    },
+    average: {
+      prebite: "Monica doesn't look as fresh and vibrant as you recall from her TV show.",
+      postbite: "A little bite seems to improve her mood, even though she twitches involuntarily as if you're hurting her.",
+    },
+    poor: {
+      prebite: "Monica weakly raises a hand as if to stop you from approaching for a bite.",
+      postbite: "You press yourself to her body and embrace her. Her fingers curl around you and she lets you drink your fill.",
+    },
+    vampirized: {
+      prebite: "Monica shows no interest in food. She's lethargic, apathetic. A bite would kill her, but you're thirsty.",
+      postbite: "Her last words are too quiet to make out, but you're not interested in them. Nothing matters except blood.",
+    },
+    dead: {
+      prebite: "This used to be Monica. Now it's just her corpse.",
+      postbite: "She's very delicate, even as a corpse.",
+    }
+  },
 })
 
 export let thrallCharm = table.add({
@@ -178,7 +259,29 @@ export let thrallCharm = table.add({
         success: "His mind overflows with fantasy, and when you let a glint of fang peek through, he claps his arms affectionately around your supercold torso.",
       },
     ]
-  }
+  },
+  lifeStageText: {
+    fresh: {
+      prebite: "Renfield exposes the underside of his jaw.",
+      postbite: "You press your face flat to his armorlike scales and part them with your teeth.",
+    },
+    average: {
+      prebite: "Renfield seems relieved to be free of all that extra blood.",
+      postbite: "You taste a little bit of fear as you press yourself to him. Is he less devoted than you thought?",
+    },
+    poor: {
+      prebite: "Renfield presses his face to the window. He won't resist you and won't look at you. He does not want your bite.",
+      postbite: "Does it matter that he doesn't want your bite? You're hungry. He should have known you would do this.",
+    },
+    vampirized: {
+      prebite: "Renfield is repulsed by the vampiric features that his body has begun to display. Another bite would kill him.",
+      postbite: "Better to free him if he's going to behave like this anyways.",
+    },
+    dead: {
+      prebite: "Here lies a crocodile who really, really liked vampires.",
+      postbite: "At least in death he can't backslide on his promise to feed you.",
+    }
+  },
 })
 
 export let thrallStealth = table.add({
@@ -206,7 +309,29 @@ export let thrallStealth = table.add({
         success: "TODO",
       },
     ]
-  }
+  },
+  lifeStageText: {
+    fresh: {
+      prebite: "Narthyss is producing a new track on her gamer PC.",
+      postbite: "You push her mouse and keyboard aside and focus her attention on your eyes.",
+    },
+    average: {
+      prebite: "Narthyss has no desire to be interrupted, but you're thirsty.",
+      postbite: "You dazzle her with your eyes and nip her neck with erotic enthusiasm.",
+    },
+    poor: {
+      prebite: "Narthyss knows better than to resist you -- but you sense that you've taken more than she wants.",
+      postbite: "Her response to your approach is automatic. No matter what she tells you, you show fang -- she shows neck.",
+    },
+    vampirized: {
+      prebite: "Narthyss' fire has gone out. She's a creature of venom and blood now. Another bite would kill her.",
+      postbite: "Now she is a creature of nothing at all.",
+    },
+    dead: {
+      prebite: "Narthyss used to be a dragon. Now she's dead.",
+      postbite: "Dragons decay slowly. There's still some warmth in there if you bury your fangs deep enough.",
+    }
+  },
 })
 
 export let thrallStare = table.add({
@@ -234,5 +359,27 @@ export let thrallStare = table.add({
         success: "TODO",
       },
     ]
-  }
+  },
+  lifeStageText: {
+    fresh: {
+      prebite: "Ridley is solving math problems.",
+      postbite: "You delicately sip electronic blood from the robot's neck."
+    },
+    average: {
+      prebite: "Ridley's display brightens at your presence. It looks damaged.",
+      postbite: "Damaged or not -- the robot has blood and you need it badly.",
+    },
+    poor: {
+      prebite: "The symbols on Ridley's screen have less and less rational connection. It's begging to be fed upon.",
+      postbite: "The quality of the robot's blood decreases with every bite, but the taste is still pleasurable."
+    },
+    vampirized: {
+      prebite: "With no concern for its survival, the now-fanged robot begs you for one more bite. This would kill it.",
+      postbite: "Nothing is stronger than your need for blood -- and its desperation has put you in quite a state...",
+    },
+    dead: {
+      prebite: "Ridley was a robot and now Ridley is a dead robot.",
+      postbite: "Tastes zappy.",
+    }
+  },
 })
\ No newline at end of file