The Keeper's Quarry
Sent by Guljin, the Keeper of Chains leads a group of hunters to Castle Dragomir. His goal: to apprehend the reclusive Severin Dragomir, a mysterious warrior known as the Nightstalker to neighboring villagers.
Lonely Castle
The grounds of Castle Dragomir have always been a desolate place villagers know to avoid. But recently, people have been disappearing at an alarming rate. In the fields, bodies are often found completely drained of blood.
Emissary of Peace
With so much dissent permeating Heathmoor, Guljin needs a noticeable show of force to re-establish the credibility of her reign. She intends to do so by having her Keeper of Chains deliver the Nightstalker to her arena.
The Nightstalker
Severin Dragomir. A shadow warrior with bloodstained claws and a long trail of mutilated bodies left in his wake. For years, they have called him The Nightstalker. Few dare utter his name, fearing he will come for them.
Liana the Pale
Liana has been the one venturing out at night in recent months, spreading hysteria in the villages as she brings back prisoners to the castle. With their blood, she hopes to find a solution to her father's deepest desire.
Bloodletting
As the Keeper and his hunters invaded the Castle, warriors bled and died. Screams of terror filled the dark as a crimson moon shone in the sky. A battle that would become known as the Night of the Bloodletting.
Battle of Darkness
In the damp crypts of the castle, the Keeper of Chains and Severin faced each other. Boots splashed in inches of thick blood, and iron and steel clashed in the dim firelight. A confrontation of dragon against chains.
Liana's Rampage
In the castle halls, Liana took on the hunters with rage and malice. She moved from one to the next, slicing necks, ripping throats off and plunging her sharp teeth into flesh. Any remaining hunters ran away in fear.
Blood Magic
The Dragomirs have been collecting animal and human blood for a long time. They believe that through the power of unholy blood magics, they can attain special powers. Some argue these twisted beliefs are but hokum.
The Keeper's Failure
The Keeper of Chains was prepared for one Dragomir… not two of them. With Liana by his side, Severin repelled the invaders, declaring "The dragon will never be chained!" The Keeper had no choice but to retreat.
Bloody Warning
The increasing number of missing villagers drew the attention of the Khatuns. Guljin sent out scouts and sentries to Castle Dragomir, but they all ended up impaled on spikes and lances, left outside the gates as a warning.
Secret Daughter
After her mother's tragic death, Liana was kept a secret. Forced to remain hidden, out of sight. None knew she existed. Not the neighboring villagers surrounding the castle--and certainly not the Keeper of Chains.
A Father's Sin
Severin is a distant father. The loss of his wife during childbirth broke him, and made him resent his daughter. Desperate for his approval, Liana has brought him prisoners to help in his deluded quest to resurrect his wife.
Blood of the Dragon
The Dragomir line is cursed with physical deformities including pale skin and sharp, inhuman features. They believe they are descendants of the dragons themselves. Myths given flesh. Nightmares become real.
Dragomir Ancestry Journal (1)
"The First Dragomir was fascinated by stories of the original Warden, Lord Ramiel. He became obsessed with finding the means to achieve immortality. The family legends say he set out to find a wyvern of his own."
Dragomir Ancestry Journal (2)
"Underneath a mountain, he found a slumbering wyvern and plunged a blade in its heart. He greedily drank its molten blood, a brutal desecration which resulted in a blood-curse he would pass down to us: his descendants."
Dragomir Ancestry Journal (3)
"I, Severin Dragomir, swear a purpose everlasting. Though my beloved Crina is gone, I will bring her back. In these ancient texts, I will find a blood ritual. I will find the answer. You will see the sun once more, my love."
A Crucial Defeat
The Keeper of Chains had failed in collecting the Dragomirs, and word quickly spread throughout the lands: Guljin was not able to enforce the peace she had promised. Those who had submitted began to lose faith in her.
The People's Will
Submission was no longer a worthy price to pay. The people turned on Guljin's regime. Slowly, they raised their heads, and warriors grabbed their weapons. The time had come to take matters into their own hands.
The Keeper's Retreat
Following his defeat, the Keeper of Chains now finds himself hunted by enemies of the Khatuns. Unable to return to his dungeon, he instead goes into hiding. But he has sworn this will not be the end of his service to Guljin.
Recruiting the Dragon
Some time after the Bloodletting, a hooded individual crossed the threshold of Castle Dragomir to find Severin. The Nightstalker prepared to attack, but the man surprised him by saying: "I intend no harm. I come as a friend."
Severin's Welcome
"Welcome to my home. Here you will find only… a red death."
The Keeper Smiles
"My queen wants you in her arena. The crowds will all see you, chained and helpless."
Broken Peace
"The people are rising. They won't bow down to the Khatuns anymore."
