Vrid

***"Adrien Knox. Isaiah John Locke."***
- Vrid's recurrent greeting to Adrien and Locke.

Halley's Archdemon

**Randal Lovrid,** referred to exclusively as **Vrid** in *Sanguine Melancholia,* was a character and recurring boss in the very same game. He was known as the Silencer for his incredible efficiency at terminating any targets assigned by the Council (usually Carter.)

*This article is about the version of the character that appears exclusively in STanguine Melancholia. For the Better Days version of the character (who goes by his real name and is a separate entity) see Randal Lovrid.*

## In-Game

Vrid hunts Adrien and Locke throughout the game on Carter's orders, first encountering them at Maelstrom's HQ during Precinct Security's attack on the base. He is driven off by a shotgun blast, which doesn't penetrate his tactical vest, but indicates that Graham Welles is near, a man he was not equipped to deal with.

He later crosses paths with Adrien and Locke and is fought for a second time when the Hunters infiltrate Precinct 02. He is defeated, but flees, believing that he cannot die before he accomplishes his mission.

Adrien next meets Vrid moments after a critically wounded Alli passes away in the outskirts of the Precincts, having been killed by an Archdemon. Vrid tells Adrien that the demons are the true enemies of mankind, and that his mission can wait, before providing backup for the Hunters as they fight the Archdemon. After the fight, he allows Adrien and Locke to walk away, as he believes that it would be disrespectful to fight so close to Alli's final resting place.

Vrid is next encountered by Locke and Iago in the desert, after Locke is kidnapped. Much to Vrid's confusion, Iago is extremely protective of Locke, and defeats Vrid to prevent him from carrying out his mission and killing the boy. Vrid flees once again, only to meet up with Adrien once more. He tells Adrien where to find Locke, having concluded that it would be smart to let Adrien risk his life to save Locke rather than going after him on his own. He tells Adrien that once Locke is saved, he will pursue them once again and complete his mission at last. Once more, he allows the Hunters to walk away without conflict.

Much later, Vrid is unexpectedly found wounded in the forest leading up to Candlelight Tor. He reveals that a Starseed was embedded in his chest, meaning he will soon become an Archdemon. Adrien recalls their past interaction and deduces that Vrid is terrified of demons, which the Silencer shamefully confirms. The two then realize that they have a significant level of respect for one another, which Vrid demonstrates by giving the detective his mask, revealing his scarred face for the first time.

Adrien promises Vrid that he and the other Hunters will not allow him to persist as an Archdemon. His kindness surprises Vrid, who wondered if he really deserved such a thing after how hard he had tried to hunt down Adrien and Locke. Sure enough, Vrid soon becomes Halley's Archdemon, and is mercy killed by the Hunters.

## Significant Relationships

### Austin Lasko

According to Lasko, he and Vrid were close, despite the latter's fairly quiet nature. After Vrid's death, Lasko finds Vrid's body and notices that his mask is missing. He pursues Adrien Knox, believing him to have stolen the mask, only to spot him risking his life to calm down an anxious Locke, a benevolent act that changes Lasko's view. He assists his fellow soldiers in saving Adrien and the other Hunters, and later confronts Adrien about the whole ordeal, getting confirmation that the mask was given to him as a gift.

Adrien reveals Vrid's last words to Lasko, which comes as a surprise to the surviving soldier, but is quickly understood. Lasko fulfills Vrid's final request by giving the detective the Solarbird, Vrid's heavily-customized handgun with incredible power.

### Adrien Knox

Though initially terrified of the masked soldier, Adrien and Vrid grew to deeply respect one another by the end of their conjoined storyline. Adrien solemnly reassured Vrid that he wouldn't allow him to exist as an Archdemon, and that he would be laid to rest. Vrid acknowledged his belief that Adrien is a far better warrior than him when it came to persuasion and logic, and thanked Adrien for teaching him about such things. He died shortly afterwards, only to turn into an archdemon, and was promptly put down by the Hunters of the Maelstrom.

Adrien decided to carry on his legacy by becoming the Masked Wolf using Vrid's gas mask, left behind as a gift to him.