The Myreque has disbanded, and Vanescula and her vampyric forces have discovered a way to bypass the River Salve. King Roald, who is informed of the news, assigns the former Myreque lieutenant to search for a way to avert an imminent war between the forces of Misthalin and the vampyres.
This quest contains the following tropes:
- Grand Finale: "River of Blood" is the final quest in the Vampyre quest series, focused on preventing an all-out conflict between Misthalin's forces and the vampyres.
- Interquel: Per post-quest dialogue with Captain Rovin, "River of Blood" (released in 2016) is set between "Defender of Varrock" and "The Curse of Arrav" (released in 2008 and 2009, respectively).
- Million Mook March: The player character is confronted by an ensemble of vampyres, bloodvelds, and werewolves as Vanescula attempts to be permitted to cross the River Salve. Standing over on the other end of the river is an ensemble of human Varrockian soldiers, armed and ready to battle Vanescula's forces.
- Not Quite Dead:
- Efaritay's name was lost in history since her imprisonment in Castle Drakan up until Drakan's downfall. She appears in this quest, alive and well, and is revealed to be the same unknown female featured in "The Lord of Vampyrium".
- Vanescula biting Safalaan in "The Lord of Vampyrium" supposedly killed him. He's alive and well in this quest, albeit as a Wyrd, and reverts to his former self thanks to the efforts of the Myreque's former lieutenant.
- Sore Loser: Downplayed. While Vanescula doesn't take it well at all when the River Salve, blessed by the Extreme Guthix balance potion, reverts a number of her vyrewatch and Safalaan back to their former selves, she grudgingly agrees to form an alliance with Misthalin at the suggestion of Safalaan and Efaritay.
- The Unfought: Enforced. Unlike her brothers, Vanescula refuses to allow herself to be goaded into a fight with the player character if threatened.
