Arras of Derika

*"You Hexenjägers* *have got blood on your hands. Hexenjägers are killers, nothing less! You call me an abomination? An abomination? What would you know?"*

-Arras

## History

A high-ranking imperial general stationed in Sarindel, Arras was reshaped by Lord Alpha to lust for blood and combat. After decades of unrelenting war, Arras grew disappointed over the fact that old age would rob him of eternal combat. And so, he sought out an enemy necromancer, Gargura, so that he might become undead. With her help, he became a vampire so that he could fight forever, and more directly sate his blood lust. He was transferred from the Clubs to the Spades, and allowed to command a company of undead soldiers.

After the fall of the Final Empire, Arras returned to his home of Derika where he carved out a small fiefdom. Hearing of the vampire, Farcraft sought him out and defeated him in single combat, freeing his subjects and winning his grudging fealty. Arras would be considered one of the darker figures in the rebellion, shunned by his fellows - though Farcraft would give him a high rank. He would gravitate towards Brennen (who initially reported to him) and his old ally, Gargura. After Farcraft's death, he made a bid for command of the rebellion, but was defeated in combat by San-Janis. He offered his fealty to her, but she declined to take him into service. In time, he was won over by his old subordinate Brennen, who promised him war aplenty, and far greater freedom then Farcraft had ever allowed him.

## Personality

Arras might have been noble once; might once have possessed martial honor, but by the time Alpha was done with him, he craved combat and blood. He embraced vampirism willingly and cast aside his former humanity, respecting only strength. The one bond he still abided by was that of loyalty the mighty. If defeated by a superior warrior, he would serve that warrior until death.

## War of the Philosopher-Kings

Having followed Brennen to the Northern Dome, Arras was put in charge of the Ash Brigade, responsible for scouts, fast attack, reconnaissance, espionage, assassination, and misdirection. He was the first imperial soldier to set foot on Valusia, and killed many of the Forester Town Rangers before being forced to retreat by Forester himself. It was he who snuck behind enemy lines in Jotunheim prior to the burning of Utgard and desecrated the temple of Thrym, spurning the frost giants to attack in an undisciplined fury. As time passed, Brennen began to notice that Arras was growing bolder and more powerful, and that he might slip his leash one day. He suspected that Gargura was encouraging him to either desert or even betray his monarch, but he would never get the chance. Arras and his brigade engaged the Hexenjägers in the Northern Dome, and Arras boldly sought out Franz Forrawyn, thinking to find himself a rare worthy opponent. Forrawyn defeated him in a climatic duel, prompting Arras to cower and pledge service to the Fuhrer. Forrawyn would seize the vampire and cast him into a frozen fountain, breaking the ice. Already on death's door, Arras of Derika would face true destruction in the form of running water, cursing the Hexenjägers with his dying breath.