Rictavio aka Rudolph van Richten
Several months ago, a colorfully dressed half-elf bard came to Barovia in a carnival wagon with a pet monkey on his shoulder. He took over a tower on Lake Baratok before rolling into the town of Vallaki several months later. Claiming to be a carnival ringmaster in search for new actors, he began regaling locals with tales of distant lands.
Monster Hunter. The half-elf ringmaster is in fact Rudolph van Richten a legendary vampire hunter. His tale is a sad one, a scholar and a doctor from a land called Darkon, he married his childhood sweetheart, Ingrid, and together they had a son named Erasmus. At age fourteen, Erasmus was stolen by a Vistani family and sold to a vampire named Baron Metus to used as a companion. By the time van Richten found his son, he was too late, the baron turned Erasmus into a vampire spawn. Erasmus begged his father to end his suffering, which van Richten did by pounding a wooden stake through his son's chest. Baron Metus avenged that deed by killing Ingrid and van Richten has lived with the horror of what happened to his family ever since. After killing Baron Metus, sought revenge against the Vistani and took up a life of hunting monsters.
The Waiting Game. Van Richten is not a young man anymore and knows that his time is coming to an end, but not before ending Strahd, the greatest of all vampires. Van Richten has studied Strahd for years and knows he can't hope to best the monster in a straight on fight, he must wait for the right moment to strike. He has good evidence to suggest that Strahd hibernates periodically in his coffin, sometimes for years, when all is quiet in the realm. While he bides his time, van Richten hides in plain sight with the aid of a hat of disguise, his thoughts protected by a ring of mind shielding. He is trying to learn more about the Keeper of the Feathers - a society of wereravens that oppose Strahd - while trying not to expose the secret society to their mutual enemy. He thinks that the wereravens might prove helpful when the time comes. Van Richten also wants to take out as many of Strahd's spies as he can, including the evil Vistani.
Man with a Plan. Van Richten doesn't know that his good protege Ezmerelda has come to Barovia looking for him. He has taught her his many monster hunting techniques, but she doesn't know all of his tricks and disguises. In the event that he does learn of her presence, he will do all he can to protect her while not putting his own plans in jeopardy. If he can manipulate a party of adventurers into protecting her, he will. Van Richten works alone thanks to a curse placed on him by a Vistani seer. Furthermore, he believes too much is at stake to risk exposure. If he thinks he is in danger, he will hid in his tower or some place quiet in Strahd's domain.
Rictavio's Traits
Ideal. "Evil cannot go unpunished."
Bond. "To protect those I love, I must keep them distant and hidden from my enemies."
Flaw. "I am cursed. Thus, I will never have peace."
Monster Hunter. The half-elf ringmaster is in fact Rudolph van Richten a legendary vampire hunter. His tale is a sad one, a scholar and a doctor from a land called Darkon, he married his childhood sweetheart, Ingrid, and together they had a son named Erasmus. At age fourteen, Erasmus was stolen by a Vistani family and sold to a vampire named Baron Metus to used as a companion. By the time van Richten found his son, he was too late, the baron turned Erasmus into a vampire spawn. Erasmus begged his father to end his suffering, which van Richten did by pounding a wooden stake through his son's chest. Baron Metus avenged that deed by killing Ingrid and van Richten has lived with the horror of what happened to his family ever since. After killing Baron Metus, sought revenge against the Vistani and took up a life of hunting monsters.
The Waiting Game. Van Richten is not a young man anymore and knows that his time is coming to an end, but not before ending Strahd, the greatest of all vampires. Van Richten has studied Strahd for years and knows he can't hope to best the monster in a straight on fight, he must wait for the right moment to strike. He has good evidence to suggest that Strahd hibernates periodically in his coffin, sometimes for years, when all is quiet in the realm. While he bides his time, van Richten hides in plain sight with the aid of a hat of disguise, his thoughts protected by a ring of mind shielding. He is trying to learn more about the Keeper of the Feathers - a society of wereravens that oppose Strahd - while trying not to expose the secret society to their mutual enemy. He thinks that the wereravens might prove helpful when the time comes. Van Richten also wants to take out as many of Strahd's spies as he can, including the evil Vistani.
Man with a Plan. Van Richten doesn't know that his good protege Ezmerelda has come to Barovia looking for him. He has taught her his many monster hunting techniques, but she doesn't know all of his tricks and disguises. In the event that he does learn of her presence, he will do all he can to protect her while not putting his own plans in jeopardy. If he can manipulate a party of adventurers into protecting her, he will. Van Richten works alone thanks to a curse placed on him by a Vistani seer. Furthermore, he believes too much is at stake to risk exposure. If he thinks he is in danger, he will hid in his tower or some place quiet in Strahd's domain.
Rictavio's Traits
Ideal. "Evil cannot go unpunished."
Bond. "To protect those I love, I must keep them distant and hidden from my enemies."
Flaw. "I am cursed. Thus, I will never have peace."
Rictavio CR: 5
Medium humanoid, lawful good
Armor Class: 12 (leather armor)
Hit Points: 77
Speed:
30 ft
STR
9 -1
DEX
12 +1
CON
13 +1
INT
16 +3
WIS
18 +4
CHA
18 +4
Saving Throws: CON +4, WIS +7
Skills: Arcana +9, Insight +7, Medicine +7, Perception +7, Religion +6, Sleight of Hand +4
Senses: Passive perception 17
Languages: Common, Abyssal, Elvish, Infernal
Challenge Rating: 5
9th level spell casting Wisdom (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks).
At will: Cantrip: guidance, light, mending, thaumaturgy
1st Level: cure wounds, detect evil and good, protection from evil and good, sanctuary
2nd Level: augury, lesser restoration, protection from poison
3rd Level: magic circle, remove curse, speak with dead
4th Level: death word, freedom of movement
5th Level: dispel evil and good
1st Level: cure wounds, detect evil and good, protection from evil and good, sanctuary
2nd Level: augury, lesser restoration, protection from poison
3rd Level: magic circle, remove curse, speak with dead
4th Level: death word, freedom of movement
5th Level: dispel evil and good
Special Equipment. Wears hat of disguise and a ring of mind shielding and carries a spell scroll of raise dead.
Undead Slayer. When attacking with weapon, undead takes extra 3d6 damage.
Actions
Multiattack. Makes two attack with its sword.
Sword Cane. 1d20+4 | 1d6+1 bludgeoning damage with can or piercing with silver sword.
Children
Comments