Rudolph van Richten

> *"Live you always among monsters, and see everyone you love die beneath their claws." -- Vistani curse placed upon van Richten*
>
>

**Dr Rudolph van Richten** is a famous monster hunter, lore master, and author of the book series *Van Richten's Guide to Monsters*, which includes the Guide to Vampires instalment.

He owns a cart which is signposted *"Ricktavio's Carnival of Wonders"* and has the inscription *"I bring you from shadow into light"*.

In Barovia he used a disguise, aided by magical sunglasses, to pose as an alter-ego - Ricktavio. He came to Barovia to kill Count Strahd von Zarovich, and although he did not participate in the final combat he was essential in the downfall of Strahd during the Battle of Ravenloft.

## History

### Pre-Barovia

Years ago, according to Ezmerelda d'Avenir's journal, van Richten had attempted to help a Vistani child recover from an unspecified injury or illness, but he was not able to do so and is said to have been cursed by the Vistani as a result to see everyone he loves die.

After their child's death they took van Richten's son, Erasmus, in return and sold him to Baron Metus, an old and immortal vampire lord of another realm. Metus turned Erasmus into a vampire and van Richten was forced to kill him after Erasmus asked him to.

A lich took pity on van Richten's plight and gave him an a force of undead warriors to wreak vengeance on the Vistani with.

At some point he was also master of Ezmerelda, teaching her about lore, and how to fight and kill monsters, turning her into a formidable combatant.

### In Barovia

Van Richten assumed the alter-ego "Ricktavio", a half-elf bard, and entered Barovia with assistance from the unwitting Vistani. He stayed in the Blue Water Inn most nights although he also used Baratok Tower's living quarters as a base of operations, and had his cart (believed to have contained a tiger) in the industrial area of Vallaki to the south-east.

On the evening of the Feast the party of Hallgrimm Mikkenson, Sigismund "the Bold", Narid Ashplantt, and Ireena Kolyana saw his cart lurching, with sounds of wood and metal crashing coming from within. They noticed blood on the side of the cart. Given the earlier events of the day the party elected not to investigate further.

The evening before the Festival of the Blazing Sun he revealed his true identity to Hallgrimm and Narid and announced he was in Barovia to complete one final task - *"see the end of Strahd."* He planned to stake out Strahd for a long time before making a move, noting he usually would spend six months staking out an ordinary vampire.

The day after the Festival of the Blazing Sun the southern Vistani camp was attacked by an armoured tiger which only targeted Vistani and ignored the attacks of others, Hallgrimm and Narid would conclude between themselves that this was van Richten's work as a result of his belief that the Vistani were spies for Strahd.

## Ricktavio

Ricktavio is a tall half-elf barf adorned in colourful clothes that regularly entertains the patrons of the Blue Water Inn, and hosted the entertainment at the festivals of Vallaki. He accumulated a large unpaid tab at the Blue Water Inn.

## Relationships

### Ezmerelda d'Avenir

Ezmerelda stated that van Richten was her master, a relationship which he acknowledged, confirming that they travelled together for a couple of years. She was intent on finding him to assist him but he did not wish to be found by her, afraid she would succumb to his curse and die if she was around him. He was right.

### Vistani

He holds a venomous distrust and dislike, and still keeps a Vistana head in a box.