The Vampires of Kauvet
Vampirism is rather a rarity within the realm of Kauvet as a whole, so much so that the ruling vampiric family of Kauvet are nothing more than myths and mysteries within the realm. With Kauvet being isolated by the elements themselves, Vampires were soon forced into a war of secrets and sanctions in an attempt to not only save the vampiric race itself, but to claim the lands of Kauvet as their own rightful hunting grounds.
Thank the stars themselves for Queen Everly Lavadin (see:
Age of Lavandin), ruler of Kauvet and the person who put House Strika of Gratio as the only ones to lay claim to the vampiric thrones. Making a mysterious deal with the young geomancer Strika whilst in her youth, the young princess and her party were put forth to bring the other four vampiric nobles to their end, thus elevating the once unheard of Vampire Strika into the dreaded Baron of Castle Gratio, home of the Vampires of all of Kauvet. Consuming the soul of Krinstar, the spine of Surgrath, the talons and claws of Tirieonan, and lastly the mind of Mesmirano transformed Baron Strika into an almost hungerless being and a vampire of the elements and magic itself. No one other than Baron Strika, Queen Everly, and the queen's adventuring party know of the deal made, and the intention is to keep it that way.
In the decades following what became known as the Cleansing of the Blood, much information about the other vampiric Houses has been tarnished and held within the Tiresian Archives library to catalog the monstrosities committed by the vampiric race. At the request of Baron Strika, House Strika has become known throughout the lands as a clan that seeks to preserve the environmental aspects of Kauvet.
Castle Gratio of Kauvet
Castle Gratio of Kauvet in itself is not a fully formed castle but more so references the barren, gray land that is devoid of color all around the keep and cottages that form the small campus of Gratio. Nestled between the regions north of where the Redwillow Forest and west of the Tundra, the region of Gratio is home to some of Kauvet's fiercest challenges.
Or that's what the Baron would want his subjects to believe. In reality, the lands to the west of Castle Gratio and south of the Crimson Stream are sprinkled with small villages and training grounds for some of the realm's most daring adventurers and still blossoming with color. Across the river and following the Path of Blades towards the Grey Keep of Baron Strika, travelers will note that while life still blooms in this land, its color fades more and more as during the trek to the Grey Keep.
Notable aspects of the land of Gratio include the Colorless Expanse, what many refer to as the true Gratio land of monsters and myths, and the now decrepit Castle Gratio, which serves as a beacon of respite from those traveling across the Tundra's cold expanse and the mystics of the Redwillows.
The winding river of the Crimson Stream leads to the frozen Lake of Fangs deep in the tundra to the east, opening of its mouth into the Sea of Depolis in the west. The lands of Gratio begin to become more and more devoid of color as one travels into the mountains to the north in search of the Grey Keep, the true throne of vampiric Baron Strika.
Trivia
- Mars (Emprex-Mixar) created the entirety of the lore around vampires and dhampirs in Kauvet.
- While sunlight is not lethal for vampires in Kauvet, it is harmful to them.
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