Veckhan Duskbane, The Hollow Hunter
Early Life
Born in A378, Veckhan Duskbane was the son of Elios and Allara Duskbane, the leaders of The Dawn Wardens. His childhood unfolded within the halls of Shadow's Rest Keep, an unusual place to grow up, but the ever-resourceful Duskbanes made it a home. From a young age, it was clear that Veckhan was born to hunt. He would stalk the dim corridors, leaping out at unsuspecting Wardens, honing his instincts through play. With his parents often away on hunts, Veckhan was left to his own devices, immersing himself in the tomes and bestiaries of the order. He became a walking encyclopedia of dark creatures, his knowledge so extensive that seasoned hunters would stop him in the halls to test his expertise. Despite his youth, he was already seen as an asset—a boy who knew the habits, weaknesses, and lore of the monsters they hunted.A Demonic Deal
In A388, tragedy struck the Dawn Wardens. Elios and Allara set out on a hunt for the demon lord known as the The Hollow King —but they never returned. When news of their disappearance reached Shadow’s Rest, ten-year-old Veckhan was overcome with grief and fury. He swore vengeance upon the Hollow King, vowing to one day destroy the creature that had taken his parents from him. That very night, driven by rage and desperation, he fled the safety of Shadow’s Rest and ventured into the frozen expanse of the Bittercrag Mountains. Veckhan was unprepared for the merciless cold. The howling winds stole the breath from his lungs, and the snow swallowed his footsteps as he pressed onward. His anger fueled him for a time, but his body could not withstand the unrelenting chill. Exhausted and frostbitten, he collapsed, and in his final moments of consciousness, he cursed his own weakness—his inability to even survive the journey, let alone avenge his parents. He awoke and found himself deep within a cavern, the air thick with the stench of sulfur and decay. A pair of yellow eyes gleamed from the darkness, accompanied by the guttural voice of something inhuman introducing itself as Nyxavor. From his studies, he knew what lurked before him—a demon. The creature spoke, offering him the very thing he desired most: the power to kill the Hollow King. All he had to do was drink from the vial of blood it extended to him. Veckhan had spent his childhood learning the ways of demons and their deceit. He knew the truth behind such bargains—accepting a demon’s blood would bind him to its will, rendering him unable to harm it. Yet, as he lay trembling on the cavern floor, too weak to even stand, the weight of his failure pressed down on him. He had not even made it off the mountain. With desperation drowning out reason, he took the vial and drank. Veckhan returned to Shadow’s Rest. To their astonishment, one of his eyes had turned a sickly, unnatural shade of yellow—a mark of something tainted. The Wardens pressed him for answers, demanding to know what had happened in the mountains, but Veckhan gave them none. In the years that followed, Veckhan threw himself into training with relentless determination. He was faster, stronger, more resilient than ever before—his body honed into a weapon, his senses sharpened to an unnatural degree. He could see in darkness as if it were day, track prey through smell alone, and move with a speed and precision beyond his years. Beyond his physical training, he devoted countless hours to study, absorbing every piece of knowledge the Wardens had collected on demons, dark forces, and the art of the hunt. He had made himself a walking archive of their teachings, knowing that only through mastery of his craft could he one day face the Hollow King.First Hunt
In A394, at the age of sixteen, Veckhan was finally ready for his first hunt. On the eve of his initiation, Vespera Rune, called him into a private meeting. It was then that she revealed a secret that had been kept from him. She disclosed that Elios and Allara Duskbane had defied the sacred teachings of their order. In a dangerous and controversial act, they had broken the code of the hunt by sparing a demon—capturing it and imprisoning it deep within the dungeons of Shadow’s Rest. They had sought to extract knowledge from it, attempting to turn the demon’s own power against its kin. But they had been deceived. The demon had played a hand in their downfall, luring them into a trap from which they never returned. Then, Vespera spoke the name of the fiend that had betrayed them. Nyxavor. Veckhan felt his blood run cold, the same demon whose blood now coursed through his veins. Blinded by rage, Veckhan embarked on his first hunt unprepared. Tasked with tracking a Werewolf, he allowed his emotions to cloud his focus, and the beast got the drop on him. Just as it lunged, a gunshot rang out— a Hunter of The Ironbriar Rangers had intervened, wounding the creature and sending it fleeing into the night. His savior introduced herself as Dianna, a seasoned hunter with her own interest in claiming the werewolf’s head. Forced into an uneasy alliance, the two tracked the beast together, and over the course of their hunt, a mutual respect formed. From the start, their interactions were laced with playful banter, and Veckhan grew very fond of Dianna. However, when the time came to claim their prize, neither was willing to yield. Veckhan, unwilling to share the glory, resorted to deception. Using Gloombite Powder, he rendered Dianna unconscious, taking both the werewolf trophy and her prized rifle—an innovative weapon that would soon become an invaluable tool in his future hunts. After proving himself on his first hunt, Veckhan set out alone, determined to track down the Hollow King and uncover a way to break his cursed bond with Nyxavor, The Demon Imp. The path was fraught with dead ends and fleeting leads. Yet, he pressed on, hunting other supernatural creatures along the way, fulfilling his duty as a Warden even as his true goal remained just out of reach.The Warden and the Ranger
By A396, weary from years of relentless pursuit, Veckhan found his thoughts drifting back to the Ironbriar Ranger who had once saved his life. He tracked her down, and to his relief, she had not forgotten him either. What began as a simple reunion quickly evolved into a formidable partnership. Veckhan, with his knowledge of the supernatural, and Dianna, with her expertise in hunting beasts of legend, found their skills complemented each other in ways neither had anticipated. The duo quickly rose to prominence across Alboric, their exploits earning them a reputation as two of the finest hunters of their age. In A402, their skills and renown secured them a place among the original 113 members of the newly founded The Guild of Heroes. Their bond, only deepened over the years. In A405, they were wed at Weiss Manor in the Brighthearth Settlement, the estate of their close friend, Lady Petronela Weiss. The occasion was a grand celebration, attended by many members of the Guild, marking not just their union, but the enduring camaraderie among the Guild’s ranks.Guild Legends
Veckhan has since proven himself an invaluable member of the Guild, his unparalleled knowledge of the supernatural making him a vital asset in their most perilous quests. Though he and Dianna rarely remain at the Guild’s settlement for long, when they do return, they are most often found at Weiss Manor, enjoying the company of their trusted allies. Veckhan leverages his connections within the Guild of Heroes to gather information, track leads, and secure resources in his relentless pursuit of the Hollow King. Though years have passed, his hunt remains unfinished, and he continues to chase the demon across Alboric, determined to one day claim vengeance for his parents.Dialogue
Combat Encounter -"Come on then, show me those teeth." -"Let’s see if you bleed." -"I can smell the fear on you." -"You picked the wrong hunter to stalk." After Kill -"That’s the difference between a hunter and prey." -"The hunt never ends, but you? You’re finished." -"You’ll make a fine warning for the others." -"hmpf." Low Health -"I won’t let it end here. Not before I rip the Hollow King’s head from its shoulders." -"A Dawn Warden doesn’t fear the dark. Let it come." Party Resting/At Tavern -"You don’t get to be a legend without a few scars. We’re just collecting stories for the bards." -"There’s always another battle, another hunt. But for now? Let’s just enjoy the quiet." -"Monsters are terrifying, sure. But I’ve seen what men are capable of, and trust me—beasts are the lesser evil." -"When I was a boy, I thought the Wardens had all the answers. Now I know the truth—they were just as lost as the rest of us, doing their best to keep the darkness at bay." -"Dianna always says I brood too much. Maybe she’s right. But after the things I’ve seen, I think a little brooding is healthy." -"You lot aren’t so different from the Wardens. A mismatched group of stubborn fools chasing nightmares… The difference is, I actually like this company." -"I used to think being a Dawn Warden meant standing alone, facing the dark without fear. But I’ve learned that having someone to watch your back? That’s the real strength."Relationships
Vespera Rune, Leader of The Dawn Wardens
Mentor/Parent FigureTowards Veckhan Duskbane, The Hollow Hunter
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Veckhan Duskbane, The Hollow Hunter
- Born: A378
- Age: 30
- Nationality: Vydern
- Alleginaces: The Dawn Wardens, The Guild of Heroes
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Siblings
Children
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