Dr. Rudolph Van Richten might just be the greatest monster hunter that has ever lived. Unfortunately for him, he lived in Ravenloft.
In a land ruled by Darklords and monsters, those who live in infamy are those who hunt them. Heroes to the peoples trapped by the Mists, villains to those who would rule over all, the monster hunters of Ravenloft are a rare breed.
Perhaps rarest of all was Dr. Rudolph Van Richten, whose guide to monsters has saved many a poor adventurer caught in the Mists of Ravenloft. But like most who live in Ravenloft, the doctor’s life was marred by tragedy.
Rudolph Van Richten – The Doctor of Darkon
Doctor Rudolph Van Richten was born in the city of Rivalis in the dread domain of Darkon. There, he proved to be an intelligent young man with a knack for anatomy and medicine. And at an early (but not prodigious) age, he enrolled at the University of Il Aluk, finishing his studies while he was still a proud youth of no more than 22.
For the first part of his life, Van Richten lived a life of study and practice. Skilled doctors are a boon in any town, but doubly so in one trapped in the Mists of Ravenloft, where monsters and undead lurk.
He even found love, marrying his childhood sweetheart, Ingrid, and together the two of them had a son, Erasmus Van Richten. For a while, life was good. And the Van Richtens prospered as much as any can in the Dread Lands of Ravenloft.
But all too soon, tragedy found them.
Vampires and Vistani
When Erasmus was just on the cusp of adolescence, Vistani agents of the vampire lord, Baron Metus, kidnapped his son. In hot pursuit, Van Richten raced through the countryside of Darkon to find those who kidnapped his son. However, he was too late. And when he finally reached his son, the vampire’s terrible work had already been done. Erasmus had been transformed into a vampire himself, and Van Richten was forced to slay his own son.
In an act of revenge, Metus sought out and killed Van Richten’s wife Ingrid. But in doing so, Van Richten was driven to learn the secrets of vampires. Armed with the knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses, Van Richten set out in search of the Baron. And when he found him, Van Richten accomplished what seemed to be impossible: the humble doctor slew the powerful vampire.
And so began Van Richten’s second career. Doctor, and now hunter of monsters.Van Richten was not alone in his pursuit, though. He took the Vistani Ez d’Avenir on as an apprentice, and the two of them bonded over monster hunting. Though eventually, their paths diverged as Ez pursued her own goals. Which is one of the reasons Ez d’Avenir is still alive to this day.
For not long after they parted ways, Van Richten was cursed, dooming any who became his friends to die. And because it’s Ravenloft, that curse was both real and nigh-immediate Thus the good doctor became a loner. Wandering through the Mists of Ravenloft, looking for those who would torment others.
Van Richten’s Guides
Van Richten has spent a lifetime hunting monsters. And the knowledge he has acquired is vast. He has authored a number of guides on various monsters, including:
- Ghosts
- Vampires
- Werebeasts
- Witches
- the Ancient Dead
- the Created
- Liches
- Demons
- Vistani
- the Shadow Fey
- Walking Dead
Perhaps most tellingly, he wrote a guide to the Mists of Ravenloft themselves. Perhaps that is why he was cursed. And why he must tirelessly pursue evil wherever it rears its head.
Van Richten’s legend will live on, through his actions and his wisdom and his life-saving guides.
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Source: Bell of Lost Souls
