Boris Gorevitch-Woszlany
by Ohad ShahamBrother of Prince Morphail Gorevitch-Woszlany of Boldavia
Necromancer of the Third Circle
AC 1014
"You are the fairest lady in the ball. Your neck, it is so... appetising..."
Appearance
Born in AC 690, Boris Gorevitch-Woszlany should be very old, but brother Morphail Gorevitch-Woszlany, turned him into a vampire in AC 721, making him 31 forever. Boris is a very handsome man, with short black hair and deep black eyes with a reddish tint. He is not as tall as his brother, but stands proudly at 5'10".
He is always wearing fashionable clothes and is always the most noticeable male in a crowd-that is, when he wants to be noticed. Unlike Morphail, Boris has no accent, and will always prefer to speak in common Thyatian instead of Boldavian. He has a way of always sounding witty and charming, even when he is saying very harsh things at Parliament.
Personality & Quirks
Boris is a vampire, and he likes it! Boris believes that mortals are not just cattle on which he feeds, but that they are beautiful toys with which he plays.
Boris finds Boldavia boring, and almost never leaves the hustle and bustle of Glantri city. Boris follows Morphail's Vampire Law to the word; he does not infect commoners and never kills when he feeds on them. In order to accomplish that in the city, he has to play a game vampires like to call "the Masquerade"; that is, making your victims believe you are a mortal while you are feeding on their sons and daughters. Boris delights at seeing how naive mortals can be. He deliberately gives blunt clues of his vampirism, and laughs at the poor victim who interprets these clues as merely funny quirks or fascinating cultural differences.
Boris also likes to make people afraid-very afraid. He believes that blood tastes better when it is chilled with fear, and will use speech, atmosphere, and magic, to make victims tremble.
Boris is very smart and has brilliant charisma, but he prefers to use these traits along with subtle magic to get what he wants. Boris likes politics and intrigue very much, and he is the family's representative at the Parliament and at the capital in general.
Boris thinks very highly of his brother and is aware of his strength, but thinks Morphail should loosen up and enjoy himself more.
Background
Boris was the second son of the Gorevitch-Woszlany family, a union of two of the most powerful wizard families in old Traladara. He was always aware that he was not the heir to the family lands and title, so he decided to use his situation for the best. When his father Igor Woszlany died, he already had connections with all of the petty kings of Traladara and lived in luxury, going between his family estates in Marilenev and other kingdoms, and leaving the burden of rule to his older brother, Morphail.
At that time, Morphail was obsessed with his magical research and gaining power, and he neglected keeping an eye on the changing attitudes in Traladara. In the early 8th century, the other Traladaran kingdoms became hostile toward old Boldavia and the Gorevitch-Woszlany family, suspecting them of dark magic and lycanthropy. It was then when Morphail contacted the Immortal Alphaks and became a vampire.
When Boris returned home after being chased out of Marilenev by an angry mob, Morphail killed him and brought him back as a vampire. At first Boris was very angry at his situation. He locked himself in the tower and secretly began to go over Morphail's books of necromancy, looking for a cure, or at least a way to break from Morphail's control.
When things became worse in Traladara, the entire kingdom-estate of old Boldavia had to escape to the Highlands. It was after this exodus that Boris had learned to accept his situation, and, as always, to make the best of it. In a land filled with civil war, backstabbing wizards, and complex politics, Boris finally found his place. He learned to forgive his brother for making him what he is, and as time passed, even thanked him for it.
Web of Intrigue
Boris is a master socialite. He can appear at a party and become the main attraction. Boris also knows every nook and cranny in Glantri city and knows where to find almost anything within its walls.
Boris feeds on young and beautiful nobles or gentry only-and that is only after either scaring them nearly to death, or exiting them sexually. He thinks it is merely more fun that way. Boris has no preference to the gender or race of his victims. He can feed on an elven girl one night, and on a male Krondaharan youth the next.
Boris is very manipulative and tends to use every one he knows in his complex games. Boris is aware that his brother Morphail watches over him, but he can get away with practically everything, so long as he obeys the Vampire's Law. Surprisingly, Boris has very few personal enemies of his own. Most of the enemies of House Igorov, such as the McGregors and the d'Ambrevilles, see him just as a representative of Morphail.
Boris has two vampiric pawns of his own, both residing with him at the Gorevitch-Woszlany Manor in Glantri city. Nina Haaskinz (vampire, 7HD) is the illegitimate daughter of Lady Tereis Haaskinz and the niece of Prince Harald Haaskinz of Sablestone. Nina was just starting out at the Great School of Magic, when she was invited to Boris' manor for late afternoon tea. Boris used his wolves and spells to scare Nina so much, that she passed out. That was when Boris drank her blood till exhaustion and turned her into a vampire. Nina never leaves the manor, and Boris plans to use her against Prince Harald someday.
Boris' other vampire minion is Marco di Mamasercha (vampire, 7HD), a distant relative of the Malapietra family of Caurenze. He looks only 11 years old, as that was the age he was when Boris turned him into a vampire. Boris feeds him with commoners he finds in Glantri City at night, mostly lost children. For some undisclosed reason, he hides the existence of this vampire-child from the rest of the family.
Statistics & Style of Magic
18th-level vampire mage, Necromancer (Death Master) of the 3rd Circle.
Str 18 Int 17 Wis 15 Dex 15 Con 8 Cha 18; AL C (D&D), CE (AD&D).
Languages: Traladaran (Boldavian dialect), Thyatian (Glantrian and Caurenzan dialects), Sylaire, Flaemish, Kaelic.
Skills: politics, bureaucracy, oration, etiquette, spellcraft, spellflash, dancing, gaming, persuasion.
Weapon Proficiencies: dagger, knife, staff.
Boris is a powerful vampire, although not as powerful as Morphail. He has all the powers of Morphail's Bloodline.
Actually, Boris is not all that interested in Necromancy. At first, he studied the craft up to the Third Circle, in order to find a cure for his condition, but later on, he only used it to protect himself against Morphail and other undead. He is not fond of using the create undead power.
Boris is especially fond of illusion magic, and uses it whenever possible. Boris avoids combat, and even magic duels. If he has to fight he, will use one of the more mundane combat spells (such as lightning bolt), and than try to use his vampiric powers to get out of battle. Of course, that does not mean people could just attack him and expect him to flee. Boris will hit his attackers back when and where it will hurt the most! He has been known to assassinate whole families in their sleep, or making vampires of his enemy's children.
Boris has most of the spells in Morphail's spellbook, up to 7th level. He also has hallucinatory terrain and mirror image, and Morphail's mundane reflection that was taught to him by Morphail early in his vampire career.
Boris created a spell that combines hallucinatory terrain and fear, called Boris' fearful zone.
"He said he will meet us in this alley. He is so mysterious and dreamy! Boy, is it just me or is this place spooky?"
(Last words of a minor noble in Glantri City)