Through the Mists

Dr. Rudolph van Richten

At a glance

A monster hunter and scholar now revealed as the entertainer Rictavio. He has enlisted the company in his final hunt for Strahd and confirmed it as heir to Richten House.

Portrait

Van Richten, an older human scholar with round spectacles, holds his hat beside a candlelit table.

  • Primary reference: Rudolph van Richten Portrait
  • Canonical status: Solo reference preserving his undisguised appearance from the Session 27 recognition scene.

Known facts

  • In Session 30, Carver found the stolen inn journal maintained Rictavio’s persona without significant revelations. The company also opened the carnival wagon and released an armored sabercat; its intended purpose and his reaction remain unknown.

  • Hyskosa attributes his distrust to hatred of the Vistani and suspects him of hiding something from himself and the company; that is the seer’s interpretation.

  • Blinsky says Rictavio gave him the monkey Piccolo.

  • Authored monster-hunting guides and a journal found in Richten House.

  • Prepared for what he called his “last and greatest hunt.”

  • Feared he might never return.

  • Bequeathed something within the house to a future reader united with him by a singular purpose, instructing that reader to shelter it.

  • Multiple ghosts in the house ask for or seek him.

  • Father of Erasmus van Richten.

  • Developed several plans for entering Barovia and killing Strahd; some were crossed out.

  • Erasmus’s memories showed him leaving Richten House for Barovia on his final hunt.

  • Killed many vampires and vampire spawn during his career.

  • Survived because an unnamed red-haired monster hunter sacrificed herself for him.

  • Erasmus later revealed glimpses of his childhood, an adolescent brother, his education in Il Aluk, his wife and children, frustrated alchemical work, and a connection to an herbalist’s shop.

  • The sequence ended with Van Richten obscured by the Shroud, followed by an unidentified half-elf bard performing in Barovia.

  • Erasmus revealed that he later became a vampire and that Van Richten was forced to kill his own son.

  • Erasmus also showed Van Richten tormented by spirits, dreams, and hauntings in his library.

  • When Carver asked why Rictavio could not see Erasmus, the ghost showed Van Richten studying while surrounded by spirits he could not perceive.

  • Removed his hat in his private quarters and revealed his human appearance and identity to the party.

  • Acknowledged that the company had visited his home and met his son; confirmed Richten House belongs to the company as his heirs.

  • Offered a rookery and séance parlor as bastion options; neither was granted by default.

  • Identified the faces on Rage’s cape as Alanik Ray and Arthur Sedgwick, his detective friends, whom he said Baron Metus left for dead.

  • Said Azalin used Hyskosa’s Hexad to attempt escape from the domains and believes the detectives still investigate the failure.

  • Gave Rage a trinket that casts zone of truth for a proposed conversation with Hyskosa.

  • Asked the company to stay away from his circus materials at Vallaki’s stockyard, where he prepares.

Current status

Hiding as Rictavio at the Blue Water Inn while preparing to kill Strahd. He intends to infiltrate and attack the Vistani he regards as Strahd’s spies, but says he must wait until ready. The company agreed to help his hunt; no separate agreement to his Vistani campaign was recorded.

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