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| Colvan | |
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| Born | ca. 0 AC, Hedrylli Empire |
| Died | 291 AC, Rumvalia (presumed) |
| Religion | Presumed Evolism |
| Affiliations |
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| Titles | Desprince Sire of the Silberfeder Covens |
| Persuasion | Colvan's Stat is 16 for Persuasion /Dice |
Colvan Zehler is the Desprince Sire of the Silberfeder Vampires, responsible for creating and promoting the bloodline's cultural beliefs. Infamous for his bloody campaigns in the eastern provinces of the Regalian Archipelago, he became a known adversary of both the Wirtemcaller and Calemberg Kingdoms and the Darkwald Order which frequently fought against his incursions into the countryside. Colvan remains one of the most notable Vampires in recent history, despite his relatively short lifetime when factoring in Vampirism's vast history.
Very little is known about Colvan's early life, other than the presumption that he was a warrior in the Hedrylli Empire which once spanned the entirety of Ellador's surface. It is believed he was infected by the Cult of Sangaley around the Cataclysm, after which he led armies of the newly created Dorkarthi Queendom. Following the Hidden War, Colvan infiltrated the ranks of the Wirtemcaller nobility and continued his attacks against those who bested him in Ellador. His last notable sighting was during the Undeath Terror, where he was presumed killed by the Darkwald Order.
Unfortunately for many, Colvan survived his ordeal with the Darkwald Knights and remained in a near-death stasis until he was revived by hopeful elements within the Regalian Undercity. Since then, the Desprince Sire has returned to the shadows to scheme against the Regalian Empire, biding his time before striking back against those who had bested him in the past.
Early Life
There is little information regarding Colvan's early life and it is equally uncertain if Colvan is his real name or simply the one he chose when he became a Vampire. He is believed to have been born in the Hedrylli Empire, a state that once spanned the surface of Ellador. One notable province of Hedryll was Dorkarth, located on the western coastline of the Ellador continent. Whether it was due to the conflicts between the Dregodar and the Dwarves, or Allorn machinations, Dorkarth eventually became a hotbed for the Cult of Sangaley, an Allorn blood cult that later developed into Vampirism around the Cataclysm. It is believed that Colvan was one of the first Dorkarthi Velheim to be turned into this new variant of Vampire, using this newfound power to strike back against the state he once called home.
The Dorkarth Conquests
Becoming a member of the Dorkarthi nobility, Colvan led Vampiric forces against both the recently-created Isldar and the weakened Hedrylli Empire. When conflict against the Isldar proved to be difficult, attention shifted to the conquest of the weakening Hedrylli Empire. Using his newfound vampiric powers, Colvan proved to be no match for the Hedrylli who never heard of or witnessed a Vampire before, conquering vast swathes of the continent alongside other Dorkarth commanders. During this rapid subjugation, Hedryll managed to send out ships to the far corners of Aloria, warning other states about the existence of Vampires and requesting any aid that could be provided.
While many nations in the north were ill-equipped to challenge Dorkarth, two states eventually answered Hedryll's call. The Regalian Empire had recently beaten back the Skagger Horde and incorporated the Gallovian Kingdom into its borders, whereas the Wirtemcaller Kingdom had recently built up a strong rapport with their allies to the west. Together, the two Corontium states sent an expedition led by the Wirtemcaller King to fight against the Vampires and did so with much success. As military states, Regalia and Wirtemcaller developed capable tactics to fight against Dorkarth forces and soon began to retake territory from the Vampires. Following a decisive battle, Colvan and his allies were pushed back to Dorkarth's present borders, ending any immediate ambitions for continental domination.
The Continuation War
Despite being defeated, Colvan refused to accept Dorkarth's defeat to the Regalians and Wirtemcaller, a sentiment shared by many other Vampire lords who each departed Ellador to set up new covens. As a strategist, Colvan saw the value of learning from one's enemies and infiltrated the ranks of the Wirtemcaller nobility as they returned home. Disguising himself as a provincial count, Colvan fought in the Second Skagger War to gain first-hand experience in Wirtemcaller tactics. Once he learned enough, Colvan shifted his focus on the kingdom itself, turning his most faithful captains into the first Silberfeder Vampires and preparing his lengthy campaign against the population.
Colvan's strategy emphasized the spreading of terror in the population, often torching entire villages and giving no quarter to anyone who attempted to surrender. Those brave enough to challenge the Desprince Sire were often captured and turned into Vampires themselves before being sent out to continue the terror campaigns. Once the local dukes started to muster armies to go after him, Colvan would move to a different area of the Wirtemcaller Kingdom to lay low before resuming his terror campaign in an endless cat-and-mouse cycle.
Eventually, Vampirism became public knowledge thanks to the efforts of the Darkwald Order, which forced Colvan to work with other Desprince Sires in the region to prevent their removal by the Regalians. While the raids continued, they soon shifted in focus from terrorizing the population to hunting the Darkwalds and their allies. Several campaigns ended in disaster for Colvan, who became confined to the dark forests of the Calemberg and Waldmark regions. All the while, the Darkwalds continued to flush out his Silberfeder covens.
The Rumvalia Campaign
Colvan's most documented attacks came during the Undeath Terror, where he tried to conquer the Baldmark region for himself. Turning the Duke and Duchess of Rumvalia into his thralls, Colvan intended to infect the duchy's military leadership before spreading out to neighboring provinces. However, his plot was discovered by the Darkwald Order, who sent a detachment to battle Colvan in Rumvalia. While he managed to best several Darkwald Knights, Colvan was mortally wounded by their leader, a relative of the Tyrmont family who likewise met his end by the Desprince Sire. It was here that Colvan was presumed dead, as reports of Vampire attacks reduced in numbers following the Undeath Terror.
Regalia
Colvan used powerful vampiric magic to survive his encounter with the Darkwald Knights, but this did have consequences. While he was able to stave off death, he was forced into a comatose stasis where he lost all perception of time. Following months of blood rituals to end the stasis, Colvan was revived by elements in the Regalan Undercity. Unaware of events since 291 AC, Colvan has seemingly returned to his dreadfort to research the current world and plan his next campaign against the Empire. He has not forgotten the names of those who bested him and intends to enact his revenge in due time.
Morality
Colvan is unapologetically evil, which is unsurprising given his history as a Desprince Sire. He is fully aware that he has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, viewing each victim as a mere statistic when planning his next military campaign. While one might have a macabre appreciation of his tactical mind, he remains a horrible individual who ultimately deserves to be killed, lest he kill everyone and their descendants. Nevertheless, those with equally corrupted morals may find the risk of engaging with him to be worth taking. After all, a Dorkarthi Vampire lord could be a strong ally to have, even if he may stab the same ally in the back on a whim.
Appearance
Colvan is a towering individual, enhanced by his choice of darker clothing to appear like a shadowy entity that often floats slightly off the ground. He has pale skin with several scars on his face, with batlike ears pointing out from his head. His long, blond hair drapes past his neck, with a well-kept beard filling his chin. For clothing, Colvan prefers to wear Wirtem fashions, with a heavy emphasis on black and red. He also wears a black cloak over his shoulders which adds to his shadowy appearance. Finally, his red eyes convey a sense of dread to those who spend too much time looking at them, with many feeling uncomfortable looking at them directly.
Personality
Colvan is cold and distant and has a high degree of aristocratic aura around him. He believes himself superior to those around him and often demands a sense of courtly or military decorum around him. While he expects deference and respect to be given to him, he likewise disdains an obvious sycophant, believing that one should prove oneself if one desires to curry favor with him. As the Silberfeder Sire, Colvan is also a tactical and analytical mind and enjoys the company of strategists and politically astute individuals. In short, those who can pretend to be courtly and competent will have an easier time interacting with Colvan than someone who offers nothing but a waste of space.
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