Youri Ivanov
Baron of Palatinsk
Necromancer of the Third Circle
1016 AC
"Vampires, like criminals, are a superstitious and cowardly lot of bastards. They're just harder to kill."
Appearance
Youri Ivanov was once one of Glantri's most notorious eligible bachelors. Women across the nation swooned over his chiseled jaw and deep gray eyes. He was always impeccably dressed in the latest fashions, and was never seen without a beautiful ingénue on his arm.
Today, Lord Youri is rarely seen in public. He no longer concerns himself with fashion, preferring clothing in blacks and grays. He is always clean shaven, and his black hair is short, but this is more a function of his undead nature than any personal grooming habits. A sprinkling of gray in his mutton chop sideburns is the sole testament to Youri's age. He appears to be in his middle to late thirties, though he is actually somewhat older.
There are some who say that his brooding, intense nature only makes him more attractive than ever.
Though not overly muscular, Youri's body is lean and perfectly toned. Despite the fact that his vampiric nature precludes the necessity for doing so, Youri's obsessive nature keeps him on a regular intensive exercise regimen.
Personality & Quirks
Lord Youri is one of the most intense men one will ever meet. Once upon a time, he lived a dual existence—a carefree playboy by day, vicious vampire stalker by night. Since becoming a vampire himself, the playboy image has vanished, leaving an angry, unpredictable persona in its wake. He is almost wholly reclusive these days, having banished all servants and staff shortly after becoming the new Baron of Palatinsk. He lives alone, leaving the empty depths of his tower only to prey on criminals and undead that roam Boldavia. His polarized views of good and evil do not encompass the murky gray areas of justice, and often lead Youri to suddenly execute swift punishment on the falsely accused; he is Palatinsk's self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner. So consumed has he become by the desire to vanquish evil, many wonder who is the lesser malice—those who prey on the innocent or he who preys on the guilty?
Background
Upon his graduation from the Great School of Magic, Vlasniy Ivanov returned to his childhood home of Boldavia. His magical skills, combined with contacts with the nobility gained during his school years, allowed him to turn the business he inherited from his father into a highly successful venture. He soon became wealthy and influential in Boldavian politics, and became betrothed to Khristina Dilisnya, the daughter of the Burgomeister of Rymskigrad. They were wed in Vatermont of AC 963, and Khristina gave birth to their only son, Youri, later that same year.
In the winter of AC 973, Baron Grigori Leon of Palatinsk died suddenly and without an heir. Vlasniy Ivanov was the most qualified choice to succeed him, and was soon confirmed in the title by the Council of Princes. Lord Vlasniy uprooted his business interests in Rymskigrad and transferred his entire estate to his new baronial holdings. The move to the wealthy dominion only proved beneficial to the Ivanovs.
Shortly after moving into their new estate, the Ivanovs adopted a Thyatian orphan, Cassio Seneca, whose parents had been killed by bandits. Youri and Cassio became extremely close, spending every waking moment together. Even after Youri left Palatinsk to study at the Great School of Magic, he and Cassio kept in close correspondence, and Youri's adopted brother would often visit Glantri City.
During Youri's 18th year, Cassio was slain by a vampire. Though the entire Ivanov family took the teenage boy's death hard, Youri was devastated and returned home before his graduation. After a prolonged period of mourning, Youri's carefree attitude changed. He threw himself into his studies with a newfound intensity. He even persuaded his father to hire a weapons master to teach him the art of armed combat.
Several months later, the vampire that killed Cassio struck again. This time, however, Youri was prepared for him. Man and undead battled fiercely, and though it nearly cost him his life, Youri slew the murderer of his adopted brother. He paraded the creature's severed head through the villages of Palatinsk, and was lauded as a hero by the people of his father's dominion.
After that, Youri undertook the life of a vampire hunter almost full time. By day he would play the role of the noble's son, cheerful and carefree; by night he became a cold-blooded vampire stalker, tracking the lengths of Boldavia and slaying the walking dead remorselessly. He was regarded as a hero across the Principality.
Yet his dual existence was taking a serious toll on the man's emotional stability. His parents feared his obsession, which was causing him to undertake ever greater risks. His friends felt as if he always kept them at a distance, never letting himself get too emotionally attached.
Youri's crusades against the undead increasingly began to point towards a powerful guiding force of evil in Boldavia. Though he could never find proof, the young vampire slayer was sure that the Prince Morphail Gorevitch-Woszlany was in some way responsible for the vampires plaguing the Principality. For his own part, Morphail considered Youri little more than a nuisance, only worthy as an occasional diversion from the duties of ruling.
Morphail's attitude changed dramatically when the vampire hunter threatened the existence of one of the Prince's most valuable pawns. Lady Szasza Markovitch, in an attempt to gain Morphail's favor, decided to seduce and destroy Youri. Mutual acquaintances for many years, due to their status as Boldavian nobility, Szasza began to openly court Youri, who slowly began to return her interest. A love match between the two was highly regarded by Youri's friends and family, who hoped that he might finally settle down and retire from his philandering ways and (to those who knew of his dual life) his deadly vocation.
The time came when Youri proposed marriage to Lady Szasza, who accepted. That night, as Youri lay with his betrothed in bliss, Szasza tried to kill him.
Only instincts honed by years of combating the undead spared Youri's life that evening. The two began to fight, in earnest. Upon hearing the commotion, Youri's parents came to see what was the matter. They entered his chambers, only to find him strangling his new wife, screaming that she was a vampire! He was dragged forcefully from the room, and profuse apologies were made to the Baroness.
The resulting scandal was devastating. People thought that Youri had finally snapped. Years of fighting vampires, of studying their entropic ways to better combat them, had all finally gotten to the man. His parents were at a loss, and contrived to keep Youri locked away from the public until he was better. Their halfhearted attempts were unsuccessful. Youri would constantly sneak away, and was on several occasions seen operating within the dominion of Vladimirov.
One evening, at a state dinner in Palatinsk, an agent acting on behalf of Prince Morphail dropped the suggestion that the Ivanovs might have their son sent somewhere where he could find help for his deranged condition. Desperate, Youri's parents made secret arrangements to have him taken to the notorious Lovecraft Asylum outside of Rymskigrad.
Youri was institutionalized for only a few short weeks before he made good his escape. He returned to his home in Palatinsk, only to discover that his parents had been turned into vampires during his absence. Slaying them both, Youri then rode madly towards the Tower of Igorov, finally convinced that only Morphail's hand could be responsible. Prince Morphail allowed Youri to make it to the heart of his tower, where he personally confronted the young vampire slayer. There, to his misfortune, Youri learned the true extent of the Prince of Boldavia's power, and was soundly defeated.
Rather than slay Youri outright, Prince Morphail decided to transform the vampire hunter into a creature of the night. The Prince scandalized the Ivanov family name by seeing to it that the story of Youri's parents vampirism was leaked, as well as the tale of their inevitable demise by their son's hand.
Youri returned to Palatinsk, to rule the barony under Morphail's control, and to be forever tormented with the knowledge that he who had once sought to destroy the undead was now one himself.
Web of Intrigue
Prince Morphail Gorevitch-Woszlany is Youri's greatest foe—part of his mind still battles for control with the demonic nosferatu, while his conscious has resigned himself to his fate. Youri still maintains his existence as a vampire hunter within his own barony, coldly wiping out any signs of vampiric activity as they appear. Morphail often calls upon Youri to eliminate any vampires created in violation of the Vampire's Law.
When not slaying vampires, Youri vents his anger on the mortal criminals in Palatinsk. The result is that Palatinsk has the lowest crime rate of any dominion in Glantri—perhaps all of the Known World. Such notoriety comes at a cost, however. Zilio Greco (T10, NE ), Guildmaster of the Fellowship of the Pouch in Rymskigrad, has a personal hatred for Ivanov. The two have clashed in the past, and Greco is always having to take the heat from his bosses about the crime fighter's activities.
Youri despises all the other vampire nobles almost as much as he hates Morphail. He would gladly destroy them, but Morphail's hold is too great. Of them all, he reserves a special hatred for Szasza Markovitch, whose betrayal deeply scarred him and his ability to form relationships with others.
The new Baron of Mariksen, Lord Sergei Wutyla, intrigues Youri. He admires the man's strong will in taking a stance against Morphail, yet feels Sergei is foolish for being as outspoken as he is. He does not know that Sergei is a vampire himself, but it is only a matter of time before he does. It is not known how the unstable Ivanov might react upon learning of it; he might make efforts to ally with Wutyla, or he might attack the man, and steal for himself the amulet that blocks Morphail's controlling influence.
Style of Magic & Combat
Statistics: 10th level mage, Necromancer (Death Master) of the 3rd Circle; Str 12, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 14; AL CN (E tendencies).
Languages: Thyatian (Glantrian dialect), Traladaran (Boldavian dialect), Ethengarian (Krondaharan dialect).
Weapon Proficiencies: dagger, staff.
Skills: ancient history (Boldavia), reading/writing, religion, spellcraft, tracking, vampire lore, woodworking.
Lord Youri was famous for utilizing many tools and magical devices in his battles with the undead, such as magical staves, and a cloak of the bat. These days, he relies mostly on his own vampiric powers instead.
Youri's quarterstaff +2 was specially created and enchanted by him as a weapon against vampires. It is made of magically strengthened ash, and stands 6 feet in height. Both ends are sharpened to points, and there is a metallic band in the center of the staff. With one command, the staff unlocks and splits into two halves at the metal join (treat the magic as a wizard lock cast by a 10th level wizard if attempting to dispel the connection in combat). Another command causes the two halves to shrink down to two foot long stakes, which Youri uses as if they were daggers (each at +1 to hit and damage). He normally carries the weapons in this form, one strapped to each leg.
Youri began the study of the Secret Craft of Necromancy shortly after undertaking his career as a vampire slayer. He uses the knowledge and magic of the undead in his crusades. Some believe that in studying the ways of his foes, he has become more like them. He has created several spells specifically targeting vampires, most of which he is no longer able to effectively use in combat.
"He's a madman, even by Boldavian standards. He should be sent back to the asylum where he belongs."
(Innocenti di Malapietra)
References:
Spells of the Secret Craft of Necromancy
Youri Ivanov's Spells
Author: Andrew Theisen