Rudolph van Richten 735 HR
Rudolph van Richten is one of the most famous monster hunters in the world. A gentleman and a scholar, he is the author of numerous treatises on monster hunting that make him an authority on most creatures of the night. His works, such as A Definitive Compendium on the Hunting of Were Creatures, or Monstrum Maleficarum, are required reading in many institutions of learning, and in the Order of Kelemvor.
Van Richten is not settled down. Rather, he moves from city to city, giving the occasional lecture and selling his tomes. He tends to stick to the more cosmopolitan southern settlements, spending most of his time in Carovin, Amon, Velantir, and the nations of Rhudaria and Paxtria. So it was a surprise when the party of adventurers from the East stumbled upon him in the town of Vallaki, under the guise of "Rictavio" - a travelling carnival performer. The party even convinced him to accompany them to the haunted bog of Berez, where his knowledge proved useful.
He later accompanied the outlanders to Argynvostholt, where he grew closer with some of their members. When the outlanders were slain by Strahd on the road, it was only with a stroke of luck that van Richten was able to revive Cressida, and later recover Irina and Caithus. The outlanders also met his apprentice: the gregarious Esmerelda d'Avenir, a Vistani artificer who proved a powerful monster hunter herself.
Van Richten is not settled down. Rather, he moves from city to city, giving the occasional lecture and selling his tomes. He tends to stick to the more cosmopolitan southern settlements, spending most of his time in Carovin, Amon, Velantir, and the nations of Rhudaria and Paxtria. So it was a surprise when the party of adventurers from the East stumbled upon him in the town of Vallaki, under the guise of "Rictavio" - a travelling carnival performer. The party even convinced him to accompany them to the haunted bog of Berez, where his knowledge proved useful.
He later accompanied the outlanders to Argynvostholt, where he grew closer with some of their members. When the outlanders were slain by Strahd on the road, it was only with a stroke of luck that van Richten was able to revive Cressida, and later recover Irina and Caithus. The outlanders also met his apprentice: the gregarious Esmerelda d'Avenir, a Vistani artificer who proved a powerful monster hunter herself.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Rudolph van Richten was born in the great port city of Darkon, the capital of the Principality of Lornham. He studied Physick at the College there, becoming a renowned doctor. In the civilized, sophisticated country of Lornham, he prospered, and was happy. He had a wife, Ingrid, and a young son, Erasmus.
For many centuries, Lornham had been threatened by a cabal of vampires hailing from Castle von Metus in the Southern Balinok range. Being something of an amateur monster hunter, he participated in an investigation to root out a vampire spawn in the Southhammond district of Darkon. Unfortunately, he was exposed, and his son was kidnapped by a Vistani collaborator and sold to the vampire lord van Metus. By the time van Richten found his son, it was too late.
After destroying van Metus, van Richten sought revenge against the Vistani, and took up a life of hunting evil monsters. His acclaim has grown over the years, and now he is regarded as not only the finest monster hunter in Lornham, but also the known world.
For many centuries, Lornham had been threatened by a cabal of vampires hailing from Castle von Metus in the Southern Balinok range. Being something of an amateur monster hunter, he participated in an investigation to root out a vampire spawn in the Southhammond district of Darkon. Unfortunately, he was exposed, and his son was kidnapped by a Vistani collaborator and sold to the vampire lord van Metus. By the time van Richten found his son, it was too late.
After destroying van Metus, van Richten sought revenge against the Vistani, and took up a life of hunting evil monsters. His acclaim has grown over the years, and now he is regarded as not only the finest monster hunter in Lornham, but also the known world.
Education
Darkon College of Physick, the Great Rift, 630 HR
Personality Characteristics
Virtues & Personality perks
Though Rudolph sometimes bears a gruff exterior, he is a gentlemen and scholar at heart. He is extremely dedicated to his craft, using knowledge to turn the tide against monsters.
Despite his legendary reputation as a monster hunter, Rudolph prefers not to engage directly in battle with monsters. Instead, he studies and confounds them with clever strategies, all while healing and protecting hired hands as they distract his quarry. Only at the perfect moment does he strike with a well-placed blow from his silvered sword cane. This style can be contrasted with his brother Ilyanov, who used overwhelming force and eldritch magic to overwhelm his foes.
Vices & Personality flaws
Unfortunately, Rudolph van Richten strongly distrusts the Vistani, to the point of racism, despite the fact that his apprentice and close friend Esmeralda is Vistani. He can also be ornery and socially distant at times, not being accustomed to spending long periods of time with others. Finally, Rudolph is highly paranoid. Though this trait is useful when fighting creatures of the night, it also leads to his tendency to distance himself from friends and loved ones in the belief that it will protect them from his erstwhile "curse".
Personality Quirks
Being Lornish, van Richten has an extraordinarily dull taste in food. His mainstays are dry sausages and boiled potatoes, and he once mentioned to the party in Barovia that "even a pinch of salt will overwhelm the flavor of the taters!" He is also known to appreciate a good toke of pipeweed.
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