Jander Sunstar

Jander Sunstar

Male elven eminent vampire Ftr16: CR20, SZ M Undead; HD 16d12; hp 125; Init +12 (Dex, Improved Initiative); Spd 50 ft.; AC 26 (touch 18, flat-footed 18): Atk +26/+21/+16/+11 melee (1d8-10, +1 longsword) or ++25/+20/+15/+10 melee (1d6+9 and energy drain, slam) or +24/+19/ +14/+9 ranged (188+4, mighty composite long bow [+4]); SA Blood drain, children of the night, create spawn, domination, energy drain, black thumb, SQ Damage reduction 25/+3, turn resis tance +7, resistances (cold, electricity, and fire 20), gaseous form, spider climb, alterate form, fast healing 8, light sleep, scent, uncanny dodge; AL CE; SV Fort+10, Ref +13, Will +10, Str 28, Dex 26, Con-, Int 17, Wis 17, Cha 24.

Skills: Balance +9, Climb +11, Craft (paint ing) +9, Gather Information +8, Handle Animal +9, Intimidate +8, Jump +11, Knowledge (nature) +5, Listen +9, Perform (flute) +10, Ride +10, Search +6, Swim +9, Feats: Alertness, Ambidexterity, Blind-Fight. Dodge, Improved Initiative, Iron Will. Languages: Balok, Elven. Signature Possessions: Carved wooden flute, +1 longsword, mighty composite longbow (+4).

## Background

Jander Sunstar, a gold elf who once followed Lythander Morninglord, makes an unlikely vampire. Jander normally wears a simple tunic and leggings with high soft boots and a cloak with a deep hood. He always wears soft leather gloves that are custom fitted to his hands. These gloves are so well made that they allow him to do all but fine manipulation with them. Jander wears them with the ease of long use. He carries in his belt an intricately carved wooden flute. His face is unlined and he has unblemished golden skin. His glorious white blond hair brushes his shoulders, and he moves with a feral grace surpassing what even most elves can manage. Only his haunted eyes tell his true age. Although they are beautiful, the shad-, owed pain of remembered horrors and grief lends them an eerie, disturbing quality.

Jander is normally very polite to people if a bit distant, and he still has the chivalrous heart that insists that he offer aid to those in need. Unfortunately, he does not trust himself around others and also does not want to deal with yet more pain as they are taken from him. So he tries to keep himself apart from other people but is quite willing to lend aid where needed.

Since he was already a vampire before coming to the Domain of Dread, Jander is somewhat different from the elven vampires normally found there. He feeds on blood instead of Charisma His face has, if anything, grown more beautiful. He has no spell-like abilities, perhaps due to his abhorrence of magic. The only real similarity is the change that the Powers caused in him when he first came to Barovia: he can no longer touch a plant without killing it. This is why he began wearing the gloves. He wears them now also to hide his blackened hands. Jander also struggles to hold onto his elven nature, fighting against the dark urges of his vampiric state, a battle that he does not always win.

In fact, losing a battle to his vampiric nature is what brought Jander to Barovia over 300 years ago In a frightening show of rage and grief, Jander made a dreadful vow of vengeance against the one who had broken his love's mind. Anna was the only name he knew for her. His vow was heard and he was brought to Barovia, where he met Strahd. He actually grew to respect Strahd in some ways and in fact was his teacher in some of the vampiric powers.

Jander's quest to find out his love's identity and fate went on over the course of several years. Eventually, Jander discovered the truth about Anna. She was the same woman that Strahd desired enough to murder his own brother to get. He also saw at that time the truth about the Dark Powers. He realized that he, Strahd, Tatyana, Sergei, and all the others were merely toys that the Powers brought to the Dread Realms for their amusement.

In his quest for knowledge on how to end this cycle of torment, he teamed up with a young priest of Lythander and a young thief. Their search led them to Castle Ravenloft in hopes of finding an artifact that could defeat Strahd. Strahd attacked them, and though they hurt him badly, Jander was mortally wounded by the holy artifact that they hoped to have the priest use against Strahd. The young priest was overcome by Strahd's power and could not present the item. Jander took up the artifact in a desperate attempt to defeat Strahd and to save his two young companions from the vampire lord's cruelty. He then sought release from his existence by allowing the sun to take him. The Dark Powers had other plans, though. Jander did not perish but lay hidden by the mists for 200 year, his body slowly regenerating the damage caused by the relic and his attempt at suicide. He has only recently awakened to discover the bitter jest that the Powers made of his attempt to escape them.

## Current Sketch

Jander has only just roused from his enforced sleep. Although his body has healed the damage the relic caused, Jander's hands are blackened and will occasionally spasm as if in pain. The discomfort of this is not that acute, but when it happens, especially when he is playing his flute, the bitterness and rage that he always fights to keep in check come out and he will lash out at anyone near him. Normally, his attacks take the form of verbal assaults, but if pushed, he occasionally turns to physical combat to alleviate his inner pain. This loss of composure, of course, only adds to his guilt when he regains control of himself again.

Jander came to Barovia to avenge his love. Now that he knows the truth of what happened to her, his determination and anger are aimed at the Dark Powers themselves. Not everyone believes him when he speaks of these nebulous dark forces. Those who do believe him usually want nothing to do with confronting the Dark Powers directly. Jander has compromised his goals for now by fighting against the people that the Powers have corrupted. He is operating on the premise that if he can remove enough of them and restore more goodness to the lands, the Powers will be weakened.

He hunts vampires and other evil creatures, believing that he is granting their souls peace. He is, however, careful in his selection of prey. Jander hunts and slays only the ones that have truly given themselves over to their monstrous side. He is doing anything he can to bring some hope and goodness back into the Dread Realms. Jander is just now realizing the scope of the land and is trying to become familiar with the various countries and their cultures. To this end, he travels incessantly and could serve as a possible "on the road" encounter for an adventuring group.

### Combat

By choice, Jander uses his skills as a fighter over his vampiric abilities, and he will only use his energy drain ability when defending others from an evil creature. Now that the Dark Powers have allowed it again, he uses his blood drain to feed on animals, feeding on sentient creatures only when he must. Jander is quite likely to hunt in his wolf form and will sometimes run with wolves, finding some release for his blood lust in the hunt. Jander falls fairly naturally into the role of leader and must make an effort to avoid doing so when he is working with others. He is hesitant about becoming part of a group since he is always aware of the dangers of allowing himself to get attached to people. Also, he knows that while he is a match for many of the horrors he hunts, most of his would-be companions are not. If he works with a group, he will do all he can to help and protect them from harm. He will not be willing to work with any group on a permanent basis, however.

Jander does not have a home. He journeys from place to place, watching and learning. Normally, he prefers to pass the day in the forests, usually hiding from the sun in caves and other dark areas. He never stays in any place for long, as he realizes that he will quickly over hunt an area if he lingers for more than a few weeks. Sometimes his loneliness and bitterness threaten to overwhelm him. At such he seeks a quiet place beneath the stars and plays hauntingly poignant music on his flute.