Roderick Adrastos

Human (Formerly)

Roderick was a powerful vampire that had an impactful history in both South-East and East Arlec. He is best known for his war against the Nirvan Republic and their allies, making him one of the most well-known villains in both regions and a legend in folklore. It is unknown whether he is dead or alive.

## Early Life

Roderick was born in **557PR** in Orolan to wealthy parents. He enjoyed a comfortable life, getting an early education from his mother. While he remained close with his mother, his father was a different story, abusing him at most times and abandoning him in others. Friends of the family discussed that Roderick’s father wished for him to follow in his footsteps instead of becoming so close to his mother.

The abuse caused a change in Roderick, forcing him to cope in different manners. One of these manners was an obsession with death and religion, writing in his journals that he wished for his father to die in such a way that he could have prolonged pain. To achieve this, he was willing to follow any religion or find any form of magic. With such a deep motivation, Roderick was able to excel in magic. Awakening at an early age and progressing to D-Rank with relative ease.

It is believed around this time he began creating his first undead, killing animals and turning them into monsters.

## Adulthood

Roderick left his home to attend Caesar College in **579PR**, having support from his mother. Being able to escape the abuse from his father was enlightening, giving him a new outlook on life. But soon, he quickly resorted to his old ways, taking some of the animals he found around the school and turning them into Undead creatures.

In **582PR** his experiments grew worse, now capturing and using students as his test subjects. He was expelled later in the year for using a violent spell near a teacher, when his crimes were found they were reported to the Aliquam Guild, making him a B-Rank criminal. Now wanted in the Nirvan Republic, Roderick made one final stop at his childhood home while his mum was away and killed his father in cold blood, turning him into an Undead creature. In a final act of revenge, Roderick buried his father somewhere in the nation, leaving him as the creature until he is found.

For his mother, he left an apology note.

Now forbidden from going to the Nirvan Republic, Roderick went to Roufort University under the guise of being someone else. Always happy to accept students, Roderick was approved, continuing his experiments in secret along with gaining followers.

By **586PR** he was found out again and chased for his crimes, now becoming a wanted man in two countries and an A-Rank criminal according to the South-East Aliquam Guild.

In **589PR** Roderick made the transition into becoming a vampire, having enough knowledge from his experiments on how to do so. With the following he was already garnering, he was able to continuously feed on blood without any problems, avoiding the chance he would be captured going into a large settlement.

Roderick continued to grow his following after that and by **590PR** was a major figure in the underground magical community in both South-East and East Arlec.

### Tarsalk

In **600PR** Roderick made his move on the free city of Tarsalk, becoming a publicly influential figure. In **601PR** a council official named Armenius Zonaras was killed in suspicious circumstances, many believed to be caused by Roderick and his following. This position was promptly filled by Roderick himself, giving him a more legitimate power.

Behind the scenes the Aliquam Guild was hired to investigate. While he remained an A-Rank criminal, they were unable to act without legitimate crimes posed in Tarsalk. They did this by infiltrating his followers, finding out about his group of Necromancers and Undead.

In **602PR** they found their evidence, forcing a confrontation with Roderick’s forces. After a large battle, Roderick was defeated and exiled from the city, taking his cult with him.

Now aware of the infiltration, they went into deep lockdown, only allowing members into the group that they trusted completely. At the same time they moved to the Radiant Wilds, making it their new haven and growing their undead army from random travellers.

### Building an Army

In **615PR** a group from the Vulun Guild discovered a large undead presence in the Radiant Wilds. Roderick was annoyed at the intrusion, giving the adventurers some bait instead of killing them. When three groups of B-Ranks did arrive, they killed a large amount of the bait before returning their guilds successfully.

Losing numbers, Roderick and his group were happy enough that the adventurers didn’t push further. While they knew they could kill them, he wrote that it was easier to remain hidden.

In **616PR** Roderick’s actions in the North of the Nirvan Republic were noticed, with the Viper’s Fang sent to investigate the disappearances of many individuals. With just a stroke of luck, some Drow had come up from their own constructed Underdark tunnels to capture slaves. Believing them to be the culprits, Roderick remained undetected once more and moved his operations elsewhere.

## War

*See: Roderick's War*

In **622PR** Roderick and his army made a surprise attack on the city of Tarsalk, taking it with a quick siege. Successful in his first endeavour, Roderick wanted more. Using the weak excuse of revenge, Roderick marched his army on the Nirvan Republic by the end of **623PR**.

In **624PR** Roderick fought a losing effort in the Battle of the Undead, forcing him to flee to Tarsalk where he found it once again taken back by the city folk. Now without a home base he made an effort to return to the Radiant Wilds, just like he had before. Except again his plan was foiled, fighting against members of the Viper’s Fang and Nirvan soldiers that had expected him to return. This became known as the Battle of Roderick.

## Death

Events surrounding Roderick’s death are scarce to say the least. However it is at least written officially that Roderick was slain in the battle by a Nirvan soldier and a Viper’s Fang member. With no leader, the remaining followers scattered, abandoning their cause for the time being.

Some believe that Roderick actually survived the battle, and his followers have continued to grow. While the Aliquam Guild has also confirmed his death, they continue to put an end to different Roderick cults throughout East and South-East Arlec.