He wrote the definitive information to Ravenloft. He’s hunted monsters from Darkon to Barovia and again. But who’s Rudolph Van Richten, actually?
Dr. Rudolph Van Richten was the best monster hunter that has ever lived. And in Ravenloft, he’s a rarer breed even nonetheless: a hero within the Land of Mists. Van Richten’s guides to the varied monsters of the world are important for survival.
But the place did he start? How does one man survive by slaying monsters for many years at a time? What makes a humble physician a legend that the creatures who lurk within the darkness concern?
Like most issues in Ravenloft, Van Richten’s is a story of tragedy.
Rudolph Van Richten – The Doctor of Darkon
Doctor Rudolph Van Richten was born within the metropolis of Rivalis within the dread area of Darkon. There, he proved to be an clever younger man with a knack for anatomy and medication. And at an early (however not prodigious) age, he enrolled on the University of Il Aluk, ending his research whereas he was nonetheless a proud youth of not more than 22.
For the primary a part of his life, Van Richten lived a lifetime of research and observe. Skilled medical doctors are a boon in any city, however doubly so in a single trapped within the Mists of Ravenloft, the place monsters and undead lurk.
He even discovered love, marrying his childhood sweetheart, Ingrid, and collectively the 2 of them had a son, Erasmus Van Richten. For some time, life was good. And the Van Richtens prospered as a lot as any can within the Dread Lands of Ravenloft.
But all too quickly, tragedy discovered them.
Vampires and Vistani
When Erasmus was simply on the cusp of adolescence, Vistani brokers of the vampire lord, Baron Metus, kidnapped his son. In sizzling pursuit, Van Richten raced by means of the countryside of Darkon to seek out those that kidnapped his son. However, he was too late. And when he lastly reached his son, the vampire’s horrible work had already been completed. Erasmus had been remodeled right into a vampire himself, and Van Richten was compelled to slay his personal son.
In an act of revenge, Metus sought out and killed Van Richten’s spouse Ingrid. But in doing so, Van Richten was pushed to study the secrets and techniques of vampires. Armed with the information of their strengths and weaknesses, Van Richten set out in quest of the Baron. And when he discovered him, Van Richten achieved what appeared to be unimaginable: the standard physician slew the highly effective vampire.
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And so started Van Richten’s second profession. Doctor, and now hunter of monsters.
Van Richten was not alone in his pursuit, although. He took the Vistani Ezmerelda d’Avenir on as an apprentice, and the 2 of them bonded over monster searching. Though Van Richten finally realized their paths diverged. And not lengthy after, Van Richten was cursed by a Vistani seer, dooming any who grew to become his buddies to die.
Thus the great physician grew to become a loner. Wandering by means of the Mists of Ravenloft, on the lookout for those that would torment others.
Van Richten’s Guides
Van Richten has spent a lifetime searching monsters. And the information he has acquired is huge. He has authored quite a few guides on varied monsters, together with:
- Ghosts
- Vampires
- Werebeasts
- Witches
- the Ancient Dead
- the Created
- Liches
- Demons
- Vistani
- the Shadow Fey
- Walking Dead
Perhaps most tellingly, he wrote a information to the Mists of Ravenloft themselves. Perhaps that’s the reason he was cursed. And why he should tirelessly pursue evil wherever it rears its head.
Van Richten’s legend will stay on, by means of his actions and his knowledge
