Lief Lipsiege
Vistier Lief Lipsiege
Lief Lipsiege is an Aussenseiter Human Ghost who is the personal Vistier of Strahd von Zarovich. He is bound to Castle Ravenloft. Lief is almost always found in the Castle Ravenloft Grooms' Quarters, encircled in ancient cold-iron chains that keep his ghostly form bound.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
In life, Lief was an accomplished paymaster for an Aussenseiter mercenary band known as the Iron Union, who were famous for their siegebreaking prowess. During the Invasion of Rassveta, Strahd von Zarovich hired the Iron Union to break the Amurg fortress where now stands Castle Ravenloft, and due to their skill at arms, the battle was exceedingly short.
When it came time to pay the mercenaries, Strahd was impressed with the negotiating prowess of Lief, and how he managed to command higher rates of pay despite the incredibly short period of employment. The negotiations continued for years as the Union was employed again and again as a passifying force, first against the Zori, and later during the Palor. Ultimately, though, Strahd renegged on his payments, and instead offered land grants and titles of nobility for the majority of the sums, which infuriated Lief.
Once Castle Ravenloft was completed, and Strahd refused to pay Clan Brittlestone for their work, Lief helped the Clan campaign for compensation. Together with the Dwarves, Lief stormed Castle Ravenloft, intending to force Strahd's hand in payment. However, Strahd had already become a Vampire at this point, and the raiders were easily defeated. Still, Strahd remembered Lief's head for numbers, so he raised the man's Ghost and installed him as the Vistier of the County of Barovia forever.
Since, Lief has been forced to draft tax laws, and has helped create the system by which outside currencies are exchanged for local ones, a law enforced by Rahadin Temnoye, with whom he often works closely. Lief wishes for nothing more than to escape his servitude, though has no means to do so. He is, however, very learned about the secrets of Castle Ravenloft.
Mental Trauma
Lief appears tortured by his imprisonment and binding via Strahd von Zarovich's magical chains, and is incapable of leaving the walls of Castle Ravenloft. Additionally, as he is caught between a corporeal and ethereal existence, he is being slowly frayed and driven mad, forcing him to lose his temper, and control over his own emotions. He was very helpful to the Heroes — specifically Mina Barovonna — when they met him, and aided them by giving them information on Rahadin Temnoye and Ludmilla Vilisevic, but warned them if they accidently triggered certain topics that would drive him into a frenzy, he could not prevent himself from harming them.
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Children
Current Residence
Pronouns
he/him
Gender
Cisgender Man
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