Lautrec

Lautrec, the half-elven bounty hunter.

“
'*Ello, mate.*
”
— Lautrec's (patent pending) catchphrase.
**Lautrec** is a Half-Elf Rogue adventurer currently participating in Strahdborne. As of session 5, he has been slain by Strahd and resurrected as a vampire spawn under Strahd's command.

## Description

### Appearance

A tall, well built half elf with prematurely greying hair due to the stress of his job. Lautrec has his fair share of scars from a lifetime of violence, as well as a broken nose that never quite set right. Nonetheless, Lautrec can frequently be seen with a smile on his face - though he knows how to utilize how sinister it makes him look.

Lautrec takes pride in his appearance, keeping his hair and beard trimmed, wearing sturdy boots and a long leather coat for both fashion and defense.

### Personality

Lautrec prides himself on cold, strict professionalism. He'll never set out to antagonize someone nor make a mess of things, sticking strictly to business and doing only what is required to bring in his quarry alive or dead. No slaughters, no torture, no petty pilfering along the way, and certainly no collateral damage if it can be avoided. The exception is if someone has double crossed him, in which case, he will allow himself to be very...unprofessional.

While off the job, however, Lautrec has no problem letting loose, drinking, gambling, and womanizing. After all, gotta have a bit of fun in life, so long as you're up in time for work in the morning!

## Biography

### Background

"Been doing this job a long time, friend. Used to do it as an official, uniform and all, before finally realizing there was more money and freedom in independent work. Don't look at me like that, like you think I've left all my rules behind. I'm a bounty hunter, not a psychopath. I don't kidnap and kill for some sadistic pleasure or 'thrill of the hunt' nonsense. That's not just sick, it's unprofessional."

"I do it for the money. Bring people in alive or dead, with the occasional burglary and spywork if the pay and risk balance out. No torture, no mind games, no sporting chances, and no hard feelings. Just a quick crack on the head if wanted alive, a slit throat if not. Quick, clean, and efficient. No need to make things any more more complicated than that. After all, I don't know these people and they don't know me, they usually never even see my face, but if I didn't get paid to bring them in someone else would. No need to make it personal."

"That is, of course, unless you made the mistake of betraying me, in which case you just made it personal. In that case I'll make it a point to look you in the eye right before I stab you in the heart, because I want to see the look on your face when you realize it's all over. You might try to run, scream, fight - I can respect all those, and I'll make sure your death is quick, clean, and efficient. But if you sneer at me - act like you have nothing to worry about - well, that just shows you don't appreciate the gravity of the situation. That's when I allow myself to be very...unprofessional."

### Adventuring

Lautrec arrived in Barovia alongside the rest of the party, seeking the Vistani fortune-teller Madam Eva. Unbeknownst to the rest of the party, Lautrec had ulterior motives for joining the expedition: he believed Madam Eva and the Tarokka card she'd given him to be the key to tracking down his old nemesis, Phillipe Gascarde, whom he believed framed him and got him dismissed from the Roulan City Guard.

Lautrec did his best to support his new allies but faired poorly against the horrors of Barovia. When combing Durst manor, he was possessed by Rose Durst and nearly had his swords ruined by the careless ghost child. He was swallowed and nearly killed by the monstrosity that Lady Durst had become, though he claimed that had been his plan to distract Lady Durst from the rest of the party so they could finish her. In the village of Barovia, he semi-successfully helped Aellen to distract the old pastry seller and let her captive boy escape, though acknowledging she was part of a larger operation they would have to take down. Lautrec befriended the Kolyanovich siblings: at their father's funeral he calmed Irina from retaliating against Strahd and assured her she would have her chance at revenge, though his own attempts to distract or dissuade Strahd nearly resulted in Strahd lashing out at him. He also convinced Ismark to join the party in escorting Irina to safety rather than stay behind to run an ungrateful village and face Strahd's inevitable wrath.

Alas, Lautrec's efforts were in vain: as they left Barovia in the company of Stanimir and his Vistani, the caravan was attacked by Strahd's wolves, and in the struggle Irina was pushed into the river and died. When Strahd soon arrived to claim her body to raise as a vampire, Lautrec and the rest of the party attempted fruitlessly to stop him. Lautrec's defiance earned him the "reward" of being struck down by Strahd, then raised as a new vampire under Strahd's control. In life Lautrec's intentions were good if his methods unsuccessful, but as a vampire this was reversed: Lautrec seemed to relish his new role as Strahd's thrall and easily stood against his former allies. He departed the battlefield alongside Strahd and the newly-risen Irina, barely a trace of his humanity left.

## Quotations

*"Hello, mate!"* - right after having shanked or knocked out someone

*"I'm a professional, not a psychopath."* - when explaining why he refuses to take outright heinous actions

*So, your dad was sticking it to the nursemaid, eh? -* to Rose Durst, earning himself a slap from Aellen

*"Who the bloody hell is Strahd von Zarovich?"* - tempting fate in the aftermath of Durst Manor

*"He's far too gone old man, the only thing you can save now is his soul!" -* to Father Donavich, during the attempt to subdue the young vampire Doru.

*"Don't take the piss, old man!"* - as a newly risen vampire to Aellen, having been ordered by Strahd to "break him".

## Appendix

Strahdborne PCs
**Aellun** (Elf Ranger) · **Arbrek** (Dwarf Cleric) · **Gromash** (Half-Orc Barbarian)
 **Lo-thak** (Goliath Warlock) · Thalia (Half-Elf Paladin)

 Allies of Strahd: ****Lautrec**** (Half-Elf Rogue)