Ezmerelda Van Richten

Ezmerelda, a Vistana, is the protege of Rudolph Van Richten, a legendary vampire hunter. After an undisclosed period of time, Ezmerelda detached from Van Richten and set off on her own. While in the company of a Vistani caravan, Ezmerelda heard a rumor that Rudolph van Richten had gone to Barovia to slay the most powerful vampire of them all. She decided that he might need help and traveled for months to reach Erebus Krais's domain. As she arrived she encountered another vistana seeking someone within the country and the two traveled together for a time. She then rode her wagon to Vallaki and learned about an old tower that seemed the sort of place van Richten would use as a base. When she arrived there, she found some of Van Richten’s belongings, but of the vampire hunter there was no sign. Although she was anxious to learn the whereabouts of her mentor, she was also eager to earn his trust and respect. To that end, she began been poring over van Richten’s research and learning about Krais and Castle Ravenloft, with every intention of dispatching the vampire herself. She reunited with her mentor and a band of adventurers in Vallakai before storming the castle. It was just before the final assault that Van Richten gifted her the magical rapier 'Erasmus', a memento of his fallen son and the two confessed their mutual admiration to one another. After defeating the first vampire the two struck off to eradicate the remnants of the dark lords retinue and after hearing rumours tracked an old enemy, Rahadin, to an old mill overlooking the Silent Stone.

Ezmerleda defeated Rahadin in personal combat with the help of the adventurers but upon entering the mill discovered the fate of her mentor and father figure. Rahadin had steadily infected the old man with the blood of the high vampire Erebus Krais, slowly beginning a transformation to turn him into the thing he had dedicated his life to stopping. Knowing what needed to be done the two exchanged sad farewells and the legendary vampire hunter was able to see one last sunset before being put to rest by his protegee.

Declaring herself in the adventurers debt, Emerelda announced she would be there if ever they needed her sword and took the name 'Van Richten' in honour of the man she had come to call father.