General Info

Name: Vanator Aucide

Nickname: Van, The Cruel Hunter, Vengeful One

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Age: Undetermined, estimated mid-thirties.

Place of Birth: Leagan Village (Destroyed)

Mother: (Deceased)

Father: (Deceased)

Sister: Dorinta Aucide (Presumed alive)

Appearance

Height: 6’0

Weight: 175lbs

Hair: Black unkempt shoulder-length hair with gray whisps throughout.

Skin: Caucasian, pale

Distinguishing marks: Aside from being covered in scars overall, he has four large scars across his face, namely across his right eye which has gone blind due to injury. The eyelid remains closed and scarred over.

Eyes: Right gray (blind), Left pale blue

Clothing: Always wears a full set of blessed steel armor that has been tarnished from years of use. His face is always concealed behind a helmet.

Personality

Temperament: Vanator is a man of few words and intense focus, unable to easily connect with others or understand social norms. His unwavering commitment to eradicating vampires sets him apart, driven by both a desire to prevent the horrors he witnessed in his own village from happening to others and a thirst for vengeance against the creatures who destroyed his home and family.

Despite his single-minded pursuit, Vanator possesses an unexpected depth of compassion, often overlooked due to his intense demeanor and affiliation with the order. He is capable of engaging in conversation with those around him, even if the topic doesn't particularly interest him, and values the safety of his allies and fellow townspeople above his own obsession with vampire slaying. This was demonstrated when he took the time to train a village of hunters and farmers on how to better defend themselves against the vampire threat.

In the face of danger, Vanator's determination and fearlessness is unmatched, often placing himself in harm's way to eliminate as many vampires as possible. While his methods may be seen as ruthless, his end goal is rooted in protecting others from the same fate as his village. Despite his flaws, Vanator is a multifaceted individual with a complex past and an unwavering commitment to his cause.

Moral/ethical beliefs: Vanator is a man of high moral principles, and he tries his best to avoid conflict whenever possible. However, when he comes across vampires or any of their kind, he becomes an unyielding force, striking them down with brutal efficiency, regardless of whether they are friends or enemies. He takes great pleasure in hunting and killing these creatures, which has earned him the nickname of "The Cruel Hunter." Nevertheless, there have been times when he has felt compassion for his targets, although he always fulfills his duties in the end.

Religious beliefs: Vanator's religious beliefs are heavily influenced by the Sterling Order's teachings, which revolve around the worship of Puritatis, the angel of purity. As a member of the Order, Vanator is a devout believer and takes his faith very seriously. He believes that it is his duty to fight against the forces of darkness in the name of Puritatis, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill this duty.

Political stance: As an individual focused on fighting the forces of darkness and protecting innocent lives from harm, Vanator may not have a strong political stance. However, if pressed on the matter, he may lean towards a more authoritarian or conservative ideology that prioritizes law and order, as these values align with his duty to protect the innocent and uphold the will of his order's deity.

Hobbies: Since his youth, Vanator always found comfort in hunting wild game, partly due to his childhood revolving around the pelt trades his village had conducted in the past. Aside from that, he’s been spotted meticulously tending to the horses who pull his carriage.

Habits:

Brooding.
Meditation.
Training.

Quirks/eccentricities

Superstitious beliefs: Due to his immense knowledge of forbidden arts, Vanator has a tendency to harbor many superstitious beliefs that others may find silly. For example, he will always refuse to walk under ladders or cross the path of black cats.

Tendency to talk to himself: Vanator has a habit of talking to himself when he's alone or thinking through a problem. This could come across as odd to others who don't understand what he's doing.

Inept Cook: Ironically, Vanator struggles with the inability to cook or prepare food and as such, is forced to subsist on simple pre-made meals. Attempting to eat a cooked meal from Vanator’s campfire is equivalent to indulging one’s self in burnt shoe leather.

Likes: Learning new skills and trades is invaluable to Vanator. He is always eager to be taught something new, particularly if it aids him in his pursuits. It is because of this that Vanator has a vast skill set acquired over a lengthy career that requires him to travel and thankfully meet interesting people who can be a well of knowledge.

Dislikes: Aside from the obvious, Vanator cannot stand when something or someone stands in his way. Even if it’s a personal weakness, Vanator will not allow it to stop him and will overcome it. He’s even gone as far as to attempt to amputate his own arm whilst pinned down by rubble, despite his comrades actively trying to free him. Also cats.

Fears: Vanator has a deep-seated fear of failure and of not living up to the expectations of his mentor and the other members of the Sterling Order. He also fears that he will not be able to protect those he cares about, particularly after the loss of his sister. Additionally, Vanator has a fear of the dark, stemming from irrational fears brought about during his childhood in Leagan.

Strengths: Vanator's strengths include his skill and proficiency in combat, particularly in hunting and killing vampires and other supernatural creatures. He is also highly disciplined, dedicated to his duties and beliefs, and possesses a strong sense of justice. He is physically strong and capable, with excellent endurance and agility, and is able to adapt quickly to new situations. Additionally, he has a strong moral compass and a deep sense of empathy, which allows him to understand and connect with others on a deeper level.

Weaknesses: Vanator's weakness could be his excessive and indiscriminate hatred towards vampires and their ilk. His strong emotional reactions towards them could cloud his judgment and lead him into situations where he may not be able to make rational decisions. Additionally, his lack of trust in others, stemming from his early life experiences, could make it difficult for him to form close relationships and work effectively with others.

Another weakness Vanator faces are the increasingly worsening visions of Dorinta which can occur at inopportune times such as during a battle or while he's trying to focus on a task. They could also be emotionally taxing for him, bringing up painful memories and potentially affecting his mental state. Additionally, if the visions are intense and frequent, they could make it difficult for him to distinguish between reality and his visions, leading to confusion and potential mistakes.

Short-term goals: Hone his skills and ultimately become powerful enough to destroy the vampire known as Balaur.
Long-term goals: Vanator's long-term goal is to rid the world of all forms of dark creatures, particularly vampires and their ilk so that innocent people can live without fear. He also aims to protect the Sterling Order and uphold its principles in the face of opposition from mainstream religious society. In addition, he hopes to find a way to reunite with his sister or at least to bring closure to his past and come to terms with her loss.

Occupation: He is both an inquisitor and an executioner under The Sterling Order. His focus is not solely set upon destroying all creatures of darkness, but vampires in particular. Given his strengths and knowledge, he is the organization's leading expert in the tracking and eradication of vampires.

Skills:

Combat skills (both armed and unarmed)

Weapon proficiency (swords, axes, spears, etc)

Survival Skills (hunting, tracking, etc)

Magic (holy and dark)

Religious knowledge and study

Leadership and organizational skills

Interrogation and investigation skills

Diplomacy and negotiation skills

Riding (horseback and other mounts)

Archery and marksmanship

Espionage skills

Secrets: As an inquisitor and executioner, Vanator has access to sensitive information related to the Sterling Order's activities. He may also have knowledge of political and religious figures who oppose or support the Order's beliefs and practices. Additionally, his visions of his sister are a personal secret that he keeps hidden from others and are connected to repressed memories and emotions that he has not fully processed or come to terms with.

Gear

Always has:

His armor: Full plate armor, covering his entire body.

Purifier’s Edge: It's a longsword with a polished silver blade that glows with a faint white light. The hilt is wrapped in black leather and has a silver crossguard with intricate engravings of angels and demons battling each other. At the end of the hilt, there is a small silver sphere that emits a low humming sound.

Enchanted gauntlet: A trusty steel gauntlet imbued with magical powers that protect the wearer from minor attacks.

Weaponry: A variety of weaponry such as crossbows, throwing daggers, smoke bombs, and more.
Holy symbol: A silver Symbol of Puritatis to help him channel divine powers.
Torture Devices: Used mainly for interrogations.
Tools of the trade: Lockpicks, grappling hooks, and other tools used for espionage and infiltration.

Sometimes has:

Magical scrolls: Scrolls are usually scribbled up and sold to anyone with the coin to purchase them. They can do a menagerie of things and are considered illegal in certain regions of the world.

Torch or lantern: A simple torch or lantern to light the way.

Anointed oils: Blessed oils that stick to enemies like sap. Highly flammable!

Crossbow or bow: For long-range encounters or ambushes.

Medicine bag: For healing wounds.

Foot traps: A metal trap with jagged teeth. When stepped on, the trap will close around the prey’s ankle either trapping it or severing a foot entirely.

Spears: Useful for impaling vampires and keeping foes at a distance. Can also be thrown.

Bombs: You throw them. They explode. Depending on how they’re made and what materials are contained within, they can have a multitude of uses. Explosive, smoke, and silver flake are the common choice for Vanator.

Notable Events and History

Recent notable events

The Varghalom Incident: Vanator was sent to aid a small village. When he had returned, the entire village lie slain, or so it seemed. They were all turned and rose one by one. The only reason why Vanator survived was because the foggy air had lifted and the sun beamed down onto the mob of vampirized villagers, destroying them. The event spurred outrage and many accused him of killing innocent people. This incident left a mark on him from that day forth.

Early Life

For the first nine years of his life, Vanator Aucide belonged to a small village situated in the densely rural province of Valkoria. They called it Leagan, “The Cradle” due to the dense forest that surrounded and protected it from outsiders who could potentially meddle in their ways. The Leagans were devout followers of their own interpretation of the faiths and took extra care in keeping many of their beliefs a secret from prying eyes. Being so removed from the outside world, they had little to no knowledge regarding many facets of life and believed common practices such as sorcery and magic to be acts of blasphemy. However, what the Leagan people lacked, they made up for with their remarkable mastery of hunting and craftsmanship. Today, Vanator is the last remnant of his people and their ways.

Having been born into a family of huntsmen who traded pelts in order to help keep their village running, Vanator was taught extensively how to track and kill from the day he could walk. Although he showed much promise, he carried a lot of his father’s burden, which would make him rebellious and prone to moments of brooding, a temperament that only his sister, Dorinta could usually pacify. For this, Vanator admired and cared for his sister deeply, and due to her frail health which had been on a steady decline for as long as he could remember, he was fiercely protective of her. He often expresses the regret that he wished he was a better little brother as a child and felt he always caused trouble for her. He also stated the belief that if she hadn’t had to look after him so much, maybe she could have gotten better, but he was later scolded for confiding these thoughts to another adventurer he’d met during his travels.

Sadly, Dorinta would finally succumb to the illness that plagued her for so long and she passed peacefully in her sleep. It would be Vanator who discovered her and in his grief, he fled to the forest and remained there until nightfall. There, he would reminisce about their last conversation and gaze down at the odd necklace she had given to him just a day before. Suddenly, the scent of burning pine filled the air and in the distance, he could see flickering light accompanied by embers that floated into the moonlit sky. With haste, Vanator ran home and entered what could only be described as an inferno, and feeding it was the bloodied corpses of all those he loved.

As an orphan in the care of the Sterling Order, Vanator had a difficult upbringing. He was bullied by other children in the order because of the scars on his face, which he had received during his attempt to rescue Dorinta. The constant taunting and harassment from his peers made him feel like an outcast, further reminding him of his failure and leading him to retreat into himself and wear a helmet to hide his scars, which only made him a target for further ridicule. Despite the challenges he faced, Vanator found solace in the teachings of the order and his relationship with his mentor, a father figure who took him under his wing. Under his guidance, Vanator learned how to hunt and slay vampires, honing his skills and channeling his anger and pain into his work.

Vanator's childhood under the order was strict and rigorous. They taught him everything he needed to know about vampire slaying, including the uses of both dark and holy magics, and he quickly became a skilled and efficient warrior. However, this training came at a great cost. Vanator was not allowed to have a normal childhood or experience any kind of affection or love. He was constantly pushed to his limits and given little room for error. He was also taught to view the world in black-and-white terms, with little room for nuance or empathy, only adding to his awkward demeanor.