![[RudolphVanRichtenPathfinder-v2.webp]] # Rudolph van Richten _Human Vampire Hunter | [[Barovia]]_ ## Summary The most famous vampire hunter alive, working in Barovia under the cover of a traveling bard named Rictavio. The party crossed paths with "Rictavio" repeatedly in [[Vallaki]] and slowly saw through the disguise. Captured by [[Rahadin]] late in the campaign, he was rescued by his protégé [[Ezmerelda d'Avenir]] and arrived at the [[Amber Temple]] as reinforcements for the final battle. %% ## Now _Concluded._ Freed from [[Rahadin]]'s captivity by [[Ezmerelda d'Avenir]]; the two arrived at the [[Amber Temple]] to fight in the finale. Survived. ## Appearance Disguised as a genial half-elf bard, Rictavio — colorful, quick with a story, keeping a wagon and a low profile. Beneath it, a tired old man carrying decades of loss. ## Personality As Rictavio, warm and performative, deflecting questions with tales. Under the mask, watchful and grief-worn. He gives quiet warnings to those he senses are slipping toward darkness. He slips into the first person when he tells his own hunting stories — the tell that gave him away to the party. ## Connections **[[Ezmerelda d'Avenir]]** — protégé; she left her family to train under him and later rescued him. **[[Rahadin]]** — captured him during the campaign's late stretch. ## Background **The tragedy.** Van Richten's family was captured by Vistani and sold to creatures of the night, and he was forced to drive a stake through his own son's heart. Hunting the Vistani responsible, he found a young girl among them, spared her, and half-raised her as a daughter. **Rictavio.** He entered Barovia disguised as the bard Rictavio, staying at the [[Blue Water Inn]] in [[Vallaki]]. The party grew suspicious as he told a werewolf-hunting story in the first person; he warned them, and Meera in particular, against letting the darkness consume them. **Captured.** Late in the campaign, with his cover broken, van Richten was taken by [[Rahadin]] and a revenant of [[Izek Strazni]]. [[Ezmerelda d'Avenir]] set out at once to free him. **The cavalry.** A pistol shot announced their arrival: van Richten and Ezmerelda fought their way into the [[Amber Temple]] during the final battle, bringing word that reinforcements were coming and the fight had to end fast. ## Stats **Base:** Rudolph van Richten (Curse of Strahd), the module's statblock; presents with the Rictavio disguise until revealed. CR 12. Fought as an ally at the [[Amber Temple]] finale. %%