Page 239 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

did by pounding a wooden stake
RICTAVIO through his son's chest. Baron
Medium humanoid (human), lawful good Metus avenged that deed by
killing van Richten's wife, and
Armor Class 12 (leather armor) van Richten has lived with
Hit Points 77 (14d8 + 14) the horror of his family's
Speed 30 ft. destruction ever since. After
destroying Baron Metus
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA in turn, van Richten sought
9 (-1) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) revenge against the Vistani
and took up a life of hunting
Saving Throws Con +4, Wis +7 evil monsters.
Skills Arcana +9, Insight +7, Medicine +7, Perception +7, The Waiting Game. Van
Religion +6, Sleight of Hand +4
Senses passive Perception 17 Richten isn't a young man
Languages Abyssal, Common, Elvish, Infernal anymore. He knows his road
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) is coming to an end, but his
work isn't done. He has come
to Barovia to kill Strahd von
Special Equipment. In addition to his sword cane, Rictavio
wears a hat of disguise and a ring of mind shielding, and he car­ Zarovich, the greatest vampire
ries a spell scroll of raise dead. of them all. Van Richten has
studied Strahd for years and
Spellcasting. Rictavio is a 9th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting knows he can't hope to best the
ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell at· vampire in a straight-up con­
tacks). Rictavio has the following cleric spells prepared: frontation: he must wait for the
Cantrips (at will): guidance, light, mending, thaumaturgy right moment to strike. He has
1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, detect evil and good, protection good evidence to suggest that
from evil and good, sanctuary Strahd periodically hibernates
2nd level (3 slots): augury, lesser restoration, protection in his coffin, sometimes for
from poison years, when all is quiet ia the
3rd level (3 slots): magic circle, remove curse, speak with dead realm. While he bides his time,
4th level (3 slots): death ward.freedom of movement van Richten hides in plain sight
5th level (l slot}: dispel evil and good with the aid of a hat of disguise,
Undead Slayer. When Rictavio hits an undead with a weapon his thoughts protected by a ring
attack, the undead takes an extra 10 (3d6} damage of the of mind shielding. He is trying to learn more about the
weapon's type. Keepers of the Feather-a society of wereravens that
oppose Strahd-while trying not to expose the secret
ACTIONS society to their mutual enemy. He thinks the wereravens
Multiattack. Rictavio makes two attacks with his sword cane. might prove helpful when the time comes. Van Richten
Sword Cane. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one also wants to take out as many of Strahd's spies as he
target. Hit: 4 (ld6 + l) bludgeoning damage (wooden cane) or can, starting with evil Vistani.
piercing damage (silvered sword). Man with a Plan. Van Richten doesn't know that
his former protege, a good-aligned Vistana named
Ezmerelda d'Avenir, has come to Barovia looking for
RICTAVIO him. He taught her many of his monster-hunting tech­
Several months ago, a colorfully dressed half-elf bard niques, but she doesn't know all of his tricks and dis­
came to Barovia in a carnival wagon, with a pet monkey guises. So far, their paths haven't crossed. In the event
on his shoulder. He took over an abandoned tower on that van Richten becomes aware of Ezmerelda's pres­
Lake Baratok before rolling into the town of Vallaki sev­ ence, he does his utmost to protect her without putting
eral months later. Claiming to be a carnival ringmaster his own plans in jeopardy. If he can manipulate a party
in search of new actors, he began regaling locals with of adventurers into keeping an eye on her; he will do so.
tales of distant lands. Van Richten works alone. A curse placed on him long
Monster Hunter. The half-elfringmaster is,.in fact, a ago by a Vistani seer brings doom to those he befriends.
legendary human vampire hunter .named Rudolph van Furthermore, he believes too much is at stake to risk
A
Richten. Van Richten's tale is a sad one. s cholar and exposure. Consequently, if he tbfoks he's in danger of
doctor from a land called Darkon, he married his child­ being unmasked, he retreats to his tower (see chapter
hood sweetheart, Ingrid, and together they had a son, 11) or some other quiet corner of Strahd's domain.
Erasmus. When he was fourteen, Erasmus was stolen
away by Vistani and sold to a vampire named Baron Me­ RICTAVIO's TRAITS
tus to be used as a companion. By the time van Richten Ideal. "Evil cannot go unchallenged."
found his son, it was too late: the baron had already Bond. "To protect those I love, I must keep them dis­
transformed Erasmus into a vampire spawn. Erasmus tant and hidden from my enemies."
begged his father to end his suffering, which van Richten Flaw. "I am cursed. Thus, I will never have peace."
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APPENDIX D I MONSTERS AND NPCS