Vaness Von’frevein
Vaness Von’frevein is the second-born daughter of Lord Fargus Von’frevein and a member of the Servants of the Moonlit Circle. She is counted among the wielders of dark powers, and is described as noble, fey-infused and excommunicated.1
A sickly child
Born into a noble house of Vansreik, Vaness was never expected to become an adventurer. She was a sickly child, and doctors were frequent visitors to her home. Because of her illness she spent most of her time listening to fairy tales and reading of the adventures of knights.2
Erdentree
After its release, the ancient fey spirit Erdentree went through a troubled time. Adjusting to the energies of the mortal realm and to freedom for the first time in a century was no easy task, and for months it wandered the woods, causing the deaths of many of their inhabitants out of fear of being captured again. During one of these feral outbursts it found its way to the Von’freveins' winter house.2
Vaness saw Erdentree from her window and went to the archfey with nothing but admiration and wanderlust. Erdentree recognised the purity of her heart and sensed in her a captivity like its own, and it connected with her. For the first time in its centuries-long existence it let a mortal ride it; they spent the night riding through the grove and the great forest while Erdentree spoke to her. The archfey wanted Vaness to be its sole warlock and protector.2
Heretic
Days after she became Erdentree's warlock, Vaness's illness disappeared. The doctors and her family's wizard grew suspicious, and when the local priest caught her practising her new magic, their suspicions were confirmed and she was declared a heretic. It mattered little to her, for she was already done with her old life.2
She joined the Servants of the Moonlit Circle and, through her close bond with Erdentree, became a prominent figure in the company. Cast out of her old position, she went to live among the wood elves of the Western Provinces, trained under them and soon became a skilled swordswoman. Erdentree's magic strengthens her swordsmanship, letting her master complex manoeuvres with ease, and boosts her vitality.2
In battle
Besides the sword, Vaness uses illusion and enchantment magic. She loves creating distractions on the battlefield and enjoys toying with her enemies, and her favourite fights are ambushes in which she catches her targets off guard. She usually goes for the nearest enemy and avoids being surrounded or flanked.2
Notes
Sources
This article draws on:
- MCMercenary Compendium(Bad Badger Games, 2024), pp. 10-11, 13, 143
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OrganisationServants of the Moonlit CircleA mercenary company founded through the druid Circle of Lunara by the survivors of a mission that freed the fey spirit Erdentree from the Feywild. Led in spirit by Archdruid Perildien Elderwood, it fights the influence of the dark archfey Blaspheus.CharacterLord Fargus Von’freveinA lord of a noble house of Vansreik and the father of Vaness Von'frevein, whose winter house the archfey Erdentree once wandered into.
PlaceVansreikA lawless city inside the Great Crater of Mortenox on the south-western edge of the Empire, grown up around the Deep Pit, whose noble houses, church and rival mercenary guilds compete for the riches buried beneath it.RegionWestern ProvincesThe western provinces of the Empire, forest country of wood elves and rangers where northern settlers have been common since Skolpa's raids and the great mercenary companies compete for contracts and influence.PlaceGrove of the MoonA grove where several mercenaries of the druidic Moonlit Circle can be found; close to it lies the nest of fey-touched wyverns where the trial of the sting is held.
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