Vampire Dossier: Annia Von Lichtstadt

Authored by: Atticus Stratlace

Overview:

Once a paladin of Tyr, Annia is a brutal and straight forward creature, though not without some guile and deceptive ability.

She bears a special hatred of Paladins, and those of the Light, feeling betrayed by Tyr for ‘turning his back’ upon her. Embittered by those of the Light, she now resides in the dark, where she has been gathering forces to attack Cordor – which as of last reports she seems to think of as the last bastion of the Triad.

She fights with blade and shield, the former being a corrupted relic if Kohlingen. She seems to be a form of corrupted Paladin, vailed in evil. She likes to take the form of bats and, as with many of her kin, tries to lure people away to remote locations where she can attack them. Since her discovery she’s been remarkably vicious and active.

Appearance:

Annia is a female human with long, dark blond hair. She wears armour bearing the symbol of Kohlingen and she speaks with a decidedly archaic accent. Her sword glows red.

History:

When Minmir Manor was corrupted by foul Manfried, Kohlingen sent forth a contingent of forty knights to destroy him. Unfortunately, for all their valour, and for all the foes they destroyed they were eventually overwhelmed and killed. The boldest and bravest of all, Annia Von Lichtstadt was punished most harshly by Manfried who (according to her account) transformed her into a Vampire*

She was bound to Manfried as a spawn is to it’s sire, and served him until his ultimate defeat, when he was bound and trapped in his manor.

Freed of his domination, she sought out Paladins of Benwick, and tried to explain her situation to them. She believes that, as a old Paladin of Tyr, she should not be hunted, perhaps even awarded or ‘cured’ of her Vampirism? I am a little unsure. But of course they did not take kindly to the sight of a Vampire.

Despite her protestations they bound her to her Sarcophagi, and buried it. There she rested for many years, awake, conscious, but impotent.

Eventually, as is known, Benwick too fell to the depredations of Devils. Years after that, tomb robbers pillaged the ruins and uncovered Annia’s sarcophagi. They opened it, and released her.

The previous account was given to me by the Vampiress herself (And as such may be taken with a pinch of salt.) She confronted me in the Eagle, I’d learned of her existence prior thanks to some scrying upon Lucretia. I recognised her from that, and from descriptions I’d learned since.

Having recognised her, I moved the conversation to the Shadovar Tradepost, where she told me of her history. She was angry and bitter at her situation. She feels that her loyal service to Tyr deserves something more. Acceptance? Freedom? Jusice? I do not quite know. But not a half life doomed as undead, bound to the underdark, hated by those she once might have called friends.

I attempted to explain that whilst the situation was far from fair, naught could be done about it. That if she truly was the Paladin she had been in light, she would recognise that she now was the danger, and should meet the sun, end her undead existence herself, rather than be a danger to the innocent people she once would have protected.

She did not take this well. She concluded the meeting after showing me her sword. And she has since sworn to slay all those around me, and save me for last.

After that event there were a series of attacks. Many of these are detailed in the attached documents.

She partook in an attack in Cordor with Lucretia. She attacked two paladins (Kenshin and Alen) and also attacked Marie and Pepper in Bendir. There may be more attacks that I’m unawear of at the time of this writing.

She apparently is setting up a group called ‘The Nightreign.’ This group is dedicated to destroying Cordor, which she sees as the next basion of the Triad on Arelith. She is quite a charismatic individual and I worry that she may find some success in garnering such a group. I do suspect she is working with others, and not just Vampires.

At the time of writing, this vampire has only been known for a less than a month, and already she has caused much mayhem. I am highly concerned for what the future will hold.

*How this was accomplished I do not know, if it is true. I cannot see why she would lie about this? But Manfried himself is a litch, not a Vampire. Perhaps he had vile magic? Perhaps he asked another vampire in his service to transform her, but used magic to bind her to him? Maybe it is the work of the Twisted Rune? Any option is plausible.

Other:

*Is able to disguise herself, and quite adeptly.

*Fights with a cursed sword and shield. She has been seen using Holy Shield and

*Regenerates very quickly. In her battle with Alen it was described that she healed faster than he could hurt her. Positive energy, or healing, is highly recommended upon her.

*Reports say Undeath to Death may also be quite effective.

*Likes to spend time as a Bat. Has been seen in that form multiple times, both on the surface and in the underdark. She’s often highly warded.

*Has been seen frequently in the company of Lucretia. Also believed to associate with Adelyn and perhaps Jhi.

*One of Annia’s pseudonyms used in her attack against Madeline was ‘Marrigold.’

*Has a definite sense of honour, as can be seen with her duel in Alen. That sense may be twisted, but it is there.

*Has owned slave(s) and has tried to enthrall them by force, an unusual tactic.