Firan Zal'honan

Kidnapped by criminals, transformed into a vampire, slain by his father: Erasmus van Richten's teenage years haven't been pleasant. They haven't been entirely terrible, either. The ghostly son of Ingrid and Rudolph van Richten (detailed later in this section) follows his father, trying to aid him and ever wishing he could let his father know he's okay. But the interaction of Rudolph's curse and Erasmus's unique nature prevents the elder van Richten from perceiving his son's ghostly existence. Erasmus could have become a sorrowful bystander, but his unfaltering empathy and the circle of kind souls i n van Rich ten's orbit have kept him engaged over the years. Erasmus is a unique spirit. His behavior and rare appearances mark him as a thoughtful, art-loving teenager. He can't express himself as fully as he'd like, since he can appear for only a few minutes every day and can't speak. However, he can manipulate ectoplasm to paint colorful, floating symbols and images. When possible, he depicts information and conveys emotions or warnings. Erasmus's art is fleeting, though, vanishing in seconds. Sadly, his father cannot perceive him or any manifestation he creates. While traveling with his father, Erasmus bonds with Rudolph's allies. Aromantic yet deeply affectionate, Erasmus delights in frequenti n g the rooms of those he cares about, leaving behind colorful greetings. He never pushes others to reveal his presence, though, since attempts to do so only cause Rudolph pain. E R A S M U S VAN RICHTEN'S TRAITS

Ideal. " I've been given a second chance, and I ' l l make sure it h a s a purpose."

Bond. "I lost my family, but I can embrace a new one. Anyone who needs me and means well is welcome."

Flaw. " I've been the source of so much trouble. I never want to be a bother." ADV E NTUR E S WITH ERASMUS VAN RIGHTEN

Erasmus i s a ghost and t h e heart o f t h e van Richten family. Consider the following plots when featuring Erasmus in an adventure: • Erasmus understands the unquiet dead. Through devices such as tarokka decks and spirit boards, • he reveals the histories and intentions of spirits. An overzealous priest detects the undead presence hovering near Rudolph van Richten and • threatens Rudolph, Erasmus, or both. A powerful spirit, such as Lord Godefroy of Mordent, kidnaps Erasmus to manipulate his father. Born Ezmerelda Radanavich but preferring the name Ez, this young wanderer first encountered monsters among her manipulative family, who posed as Vistani to prey upon travelers. Eventually, they kidnapped Erasmus van Richten and sold him to his death at the hands of the vampire Baron Metus. In the brief time she knew h i m , Ez befriended Erasmus and heard him speak lovingly of a different sort of family than the one she knew. When Erasmus's father, Rudolph van Richten, tracked her family down and delivered her mother to justice, Ez didn't stop h i m .

I n t h e years t h a t followed, Ez joined a Vistani band, adopted the name Ez d'Avenir, and traveled far but never found the belonging Erasmus described. Eventually she sought out someone she knew could tell her more: Rudolph van Richten. After a wary introduction, Ez met van Richten and studied with him for a time, learning all she could of hunting deadly creatures. Although her and Rudolph's personalities clashed, Ez was surprised to reconnect with Erasmus, now a ghost. She and the spirit renewed their friendship and ultimately discovered paths beyond Rudolph van Richten's obsession. Rather than let her relationship with the doctor turn sour, Ez departed Mordentshire to hunt evil and find a family on her own terms.

Since then, Ez has changed much, learning the ways of the Mists and replacing her leg with a splendid prosthetic after a werewolf attack. She hopes that her explorations and her old mentor's wisdom eventually allow her to create a place that feels safe enough to call home. Ez D 'AV E N I R'S TRAITS

Ideal. "Evil that feeds on the innocent is the worst of all evils and must be destroyed."

Bond. " I've known little of family, but I hold those I care for close, and one day I ' l l consider them a family of my own."

Flaw. "I go where angels fear to tread." ADVENTUR E S WITH Ez D 'AV E N I R

Use the statistics o f an assassin to represent Ez, or you can use her stat block from Curse of Strahd. Consider the following plots when featuring Ez in an adventure: • Ez discovers an incarnation of the tragic soul Tatyana (detailed in the "Barovia" domain). While investigating ways to keep her safe, she acciden• tally alerts Strahd's agents to her existence. From a cell in II Aluk, Ez's mother Irena Radanavich manipulates a web of lies to bring her daughter back into the family.