Vampire Dossier: Labelia

Authored by: Atticus Stratlace

Overview:

A female gnomish vampire, who has emerged from a four thousand year old torpor still clinging to the bitterness of the past. An anarchist, a soldier, a shadow-dancer, she fights with two short swords, though has been seen to use a shield. In matters of manipulation her stance is curious. Unlike Laverne, or Bell’rose or Francesca, I am unsure how much of her manipulations are conscious, or unconscious as otherwise she puts herself in a fairly streight forward position. None the less, much of the information in this dossier, especially where it comes right from Laberia, should be taken with more than a grain of salt given the vampire capacity for lies.

Some facts that have been observed of import: She flinches away from mirrors when brandished at her, and I believe Holy symbols too. She appears to need invitations to enter public residences. She has a love of art.

She currently resides in Andunor, under the auspice of John Slamanader, the Yuan’ti owner of the Boreal Keep, also known as the Erudite Arcarnum. She has spoken of a desire to remain there, but I think it likely she will meddle in surface political affairs, especially where she has a perception of Tyranny. I would certainly expect attempts to destabilize the good relations between Brogendenstein and the Gnomeish Grotto.

She has shown a good understanding and speech of Undercommon.

Appearence:

Gnomish female with brown hair in a bob and ruddy brown eyes. Pail skin, wears black trousers, with a white shirt and a breastplate. Seems unassuming and withdrawn at first glance. Physically very fit, but of no great beauty (though granted I am unsure how one judges this by gnomish standards!). Has an attunement to fire, when last observed.

History:

Millennia ago, the Netherese enslaved the gnomish race, using them as tinkerers and toymakers. Their subjugation was brutal, and as ever is the case there rose up those who wished to fight it. This Revolution of Iron, had within it Laberia. The following is a direct quote from her at a meeting in the gnomsih Grotto, where she appeared uninvited. I asked her how she became a Vampire there and her answer was as follows. Given this is from her own lips, some doubt must be added. Still.

“It was not my choice. By the third revolt there were so few of us left, they had taken so many of us… so we had to kill from the shadows. A war of dishonour. But by then it was necessary. The leaders of men are who we killed.

One of those ticks, The Gentry of the sky cities. I was sent to kill. She was responsible for a great deal of our labour, and the Revoltuion of Iron judged her worthy of death, for those glittering souls she had overseen the ending of. I did not learn,until it was too late, that she was already dead. She was a vampire. I… do not remember the end. But I remember rousing in a pit, buried with the bodies of our kin.”

It is believed that her living kindred found her corpse and buried her in state in a Sarcophagi (which comes into play later in her history.) Millennia passed, and somehow she eventually awoke, and made her way to Arelith.

Her Time on Arelith:

The first part of this is sketchy – we know that she came into some dispute with Thomas Castermont, when a friend of hers, Meriadoc, came to Cordor and antagonized the populace. He refused to leave and was attacked by the Guard. As the face of legal matters in that city Castermont was blamed and called a ‘Tyrant.’

Later she seems to have spent most of her time in Guldorand, the port district or, to be precise, the Rogues Gallery – a collection of artists and entertainers in that district. Amongst their number is or were… Maxine Bianca Wylder, Ivarathe, and possibly the assassin Elais.

During this time it is believed (though she has stringently denied it) that she assisted or even arranged the assassination of the then Sheriff Brinja, with the assassin mentioned above. Certainly it seems plausible, given she was vocal in her criticisms of the Sheriff and held a wish to see a new regime, however both she and those associated with her have vehemently denied that this was the case.

During a conversation with Maxine, her nature was uncovered (see attached report by Maxine) [Wiki Editor Note: Attachment not provided] Maxine discussed it with others (including Aria, Ivrathe and Gabriel.) The next day, Laberia started stalking Gabriel.

When Aria contacted Gabriel – presumably to talk about the situation, Laberia threatened Gabriel. Gabriel told others that his life was in danger after that, but not why or from whom.

When he later asked Aria what she knew about Laberia, she confirmed knowledge that she was a vampire. Meanwhile, Laberia was lurking about Soulahven, and so people made a hunting party to try and find her, which included Roffin and Aria. See attached report for detail of that.

After this she went into the underdark, though did emerge a few more times at least. Once to attack Gabriel – who apparently escaped though badly injured. Another time to meet with Maxine on Sencliff and lay out some demands.

The demands included that all portraits from the Rogues Gallery be made public (the intent of the owner anyway), that her portrait returned (see attached note for description of picture) and also the return of her sarcophagi. As of the writing of this, the Sarcophagi was in the keeping of first Gabriel, then Maxine- but then went missing from Maxine’s place of residence. It’s theorized that it has been stolen by Laberia’s allies, but this is not known for sure.

The latest meeting was with myself and several other gnomes on the gnomish Grotto. She appeared as a bat and laid out her private manifesto

“The Kingdoms of men have spread across the world. They are cruel, ignorant. Writing their names on every corner of the world and calling it good. I have seen the divides, of wealth, of creed, of purpose. Even here, the dwarves are sick with dreams of control, keeping you all under heel…”

I’ve no doubt that after the writing of this dossier, many more appearances will be noted.

Other notes:

Laberia is a soul who’s been worn down by the sins and horrors of war and slavery. I believe she sees herself as a sort of living reliquary for all those she lost. Her existence, to fight perceived ‘tyranny’ makes their sacrifices worth while – not to mention her own.

This aim can be seen as grand, laudable. However her vampire nature has and will inevitably twist, warp and mutate it into something awful and malevolent.

In terms of worship, she has professed both a respect and love of the gnomish deities, but also of Jergal. She had a conversation with Scrivenger Priestess Cirian Grady about that faith – how the rituals and the like no longer gave her comfort. Apparently she left still morose but perhaps a little comfort? It would not surprise me in her new environs she went to a different faith soon enough.

She has been described as morose, detached, but passionate beneath it all. She was quite well liked I think, before her discovery, and feels betrayed by the hatred she now faces.

She writes poetry (see attached notes) and appreciates art.

She likes drinking whisky.

She owns(ed?) a shop in the crows nest called ‘Cheaps’ It is associated with the ‘Cheaps Trading Consortium.’

Update – 184 AR:

The ongoing conflict between Laberia and Maxine continued for many moons after the publishing of this dossier. A back and forth of events, mostly with Maxine attempting to destroy the creature.

Laberia was taken under the wing of the gnoll Myryn BlightScar, and became the Sharps Chief Executioner. During this time Maxine attempted to kill her with a blessed gonne slug. She missed and only escaped through the skin of her teeth.

On another time she was captured, but again was spared death – and was ransomed for two hundred thousand gold.

Laberia herself killed a few others during this time, and was reported to have taken two thralls, a freakishly tall man and woman.

Finally a plan was made by Maxine to entrap and destroy Laberia in the court of Spires, near Brogendenstein. A contraption was designed to let in sunlight from above the cave where the Crown of Spires. Maxine, who had maintained some sort of relationship with Laberia (a complex, bitter thing, a mixture of friendship, love, hatred, and sorrow. A dangerous thing that I can neither condone nor condemn) tried to meet with the Vampire.

Maxine did not come alone, others came with her, but Laberia also brought others.

The exact events are confusing, but it appears that the contraption did work to an extent, blasting Laberia with sunlight. However the Vampire managed to survive it and combat broke out. Maxine tried to escape but alas, in this case, she was unsuccessful and was caught by Laberia.

Laberia gave her a bitter choice, enthrallment or death. Maxine chose death, though rumours have it she cast a powerful curse upon the creature before hand, which may be the reason why the vampire still bears a terrible scar from the ordeal.

After the death of Maxine, things went quiet with Laberia. The next bit of news we heard was that she was now the leader of the Erudite Arcarnum, and residing there.

Around the turn of 184AR it was Laberia, acting under contract, cut down the then sheriff of Guldorand Lora. The reasons given for this were anger at the actions of Guldorand, during an exchange of corpses/prisoners (see attached note.) [Wiki Editor Note: Attachment not provided]

Not much news has come from Laberia since this action, it is believed she bides her time in Andunor, running the Erudite Arcarnum.

Recent Notes:

Taken two thralls, who work with Scycya and Jhi – also work with an imp called Piu.

Two thralls are – freakishly tall man and a woman. There’s contention over the woman with gnolls as she was a former slave.

Portrait:

This is a copy of a painting done by Bianca Wylder, rendered as best I can in lesser materials. This portrait was one that Laberia desired greatly to be returned to her, signifying some importance, so I made this copy for study.

Ace of Swords – Laberia – Bianca Wylder – AR 181

Picture in watercolour, washed out and vague. Definition found in line work beneath. Colour unable to be rendered in sketch form.

From within the haze is a gnome female, her hand grasping a crossguard-knife to her chest like a prayer. Eyes are deep set in her face as unpolished gemstones at a horizontal level focused on the way before her.

A spectre haunts the way ahead, skull adorned with a spectral crown of old masters. Crooked sockets stare past the gnome, focused instead on the dead, the so many dead, vaguely defined bodies crippled from labour, from hunter and thirst, that would go on to pile up as parapets of the dead fields beyond.

The gnomish avenger was not amongst the ruined number, though she too was a ghost, a sort of wraith-like quality to how her hair set around her face, the anger burning a bleeding, black heart at the centre of her chest.

What softness her gnomish femininity might have afforded her was robbed by a hunger for vengeance.

ACE OF SWORDS: AVENGER
LABERIA
A.R 181

GRAPHITE AND GOUACHE
BIANCA WYLDER

Collected Poems

Atticus Notes: Laberia made a small body of poems called ‘Letters to the Stars.’ I have a copy of this book but shall transcribe some poems below in this section, so they may be observed in one place.

I – Love.

One in ten
fed the stone
to make amends
for the ten and tens and ten
that dreamt of home

I was ten and you
were one
You were one as if
you did not sing or
scream or
dream

In the pyre I found
what our oaths would mean.
The war will call
for hearts unseen
and though I will always
answer
I know
I know that even when
the kingdom is ash
and the walls are gone
and are stars
are free
we can never have
Victory

You
and me.

Precise and clear. The sketch accompanying this poem is a jawless skull over a scroll. The sign of the reaper.

Defeat

Forever
we had promised
When the fires burned high
and possibility sang
from each star in the sky.

The breath of night
when each moment was our own
dwindled with the dawn
then was swallowed by the stone

They marched in squares
brick by brick
street by street
the drum of slow
but sure
defeat

Numberless figures on a harsh red are depicted marching across a jagged plane. Nothing is left in their wake

War

I found you in the files you lit
with old drums and spite
the yearning long nurtured
each bitter night.
As I took for myself
the air to scream
I wondered if you knew
what our oaths would
mean.

Shatter the chain and
break the bone.
Let the world remember.
Make this moment our own.
It was an end to laughter
but what we won was more
the stars would sing
to the music of war.

On the field of flame
in the pulse and the breath
anything could be.
So I seized the stars
for you
and me.

Two indistinct figures embrace before a great pillar of flame realized in harsh and chaotic lines. A dark blue has been used to ink the night sky above, empty of stars

Oath

We took our bonds together
under the stars I had forgotten.
Your eyes were so bright I almost
missed
the terror.

You stammered and I sang
so that we could be
Brave
Without knowing then
that brave
was easy.

Honour thy lord
Honour thy gods and honour thy duty
honour thy house and honour thy name
honour thy
Love.

I gave the words to your eyes
to fill the space
where a future should have been.
So you would not have to see
where the others
Fell.

Together we fed
our blood to the stone
in a promise that only
you
still
remember.

Stood straight as an arrow was a soldier, one fist planted on her chest. There was a pride in her smile that could not reach her eyes. The eyes themselves were scribbled circles.

Stars

You had to leave
and I was too young to know
it wasn’t your choice to go.
So I wept
In ways that were small
because then it was all
easy.

So you took me to the tower
and introduced the stars
I remember the names
Even the ones you
made up
so that I could smile.

You told me that night
their light is the same
wherever you are
and if you speak the star will
listen.
They listen and
like the echo of the stone
they repeat
in the way the light
smiles back.

So no matter how far you go
the stars will see
and you said
I would only be
a star
away.

A night sky is scribbled in dark blue ink with empty circles of hazy space marking stars. Some distant leviathan of hard dark lines advances from the edge of the page, threatening to consume the stars themselves.

Broken Oaths
(Atticus Note – Written and shared post discovery. This is not signed by Laberia, but reads like her work, almost certainly hers.)

I remember the day my sister passed, in an experiment I never saw.
I remember how my owner brought for me a doll. How she smiled, as she offered it to me.
In the manner of a master to a dog.
As if it might have made the moment right.
It annoyed her, that I would not stop weeping.
I was not a person, then. None of us were.
What use was a voice, when you had already been robbed of personhood?
What use is expression at all?

That is what you made me, in that moment.
Not a person any longer.
A thing.
A husk.
Robbed of voice.
It is a unique cruelty.
So easy it is, to decide all expression is some masterful deception.
Some mechanization, empty of emotion.
I think it must be a myth the hunter invented, so there would be no hesitation.

I had come to you at my own risk.
Moved by guilt
To protect the community I loved.
You left that out of the publications.
Yet your note appealed to my values.
As if they exist only when it is convenient.
By your own deeds, you prove as hollow as you insist I must be.
What do you know of me?
What do you know of my deeds?

Hunt me if you must, inconsistent heart.
But do not write in man’s history that I, Laberia, did not care.
Do not tell your men of laws, with their absent smiles and dispassionate cruelty.
That I have not purpose.
Because I did my Duty.
Even in this age.
And if you would answer what I am now?
Do it for what I am
Not what you insist I must not be.

You abandoned me,
before I you.

That is how I know.
I am as I was in life.

The accompanying sketch might have been Laberia. Half remembered, and vague. The eyes have been violently scribbled out.