Strahd Darkmire



Strahd Darkmire (850-45 YA) was a vampire who served as the Governor of Winksomsin from 412 to 161 YA. He was the leader of the Darkmire Clan, the lord and original inhabitant of Castle Darkmire, the son of Vladislavus Darkmire, the father of Bruce Darkmire, father-in-law of Gretchen Darkmire, and overlord of the Black Fang Syndicate from 666 to 175 YA.

Early life
Strahd Darkmire was born to Vladislavus Darkmire and an unknown mother 850 years ago. In childhood, he exhibited great feats of strength which told his parents that he had inherited the vampire gene. Like other vampireborn, Strahd stopped aging around the age of 24.

Strahd was educated by a private tutor until he reached adulthood, at which point he moved to Elftown to study at the Elftown Witch College. Strahd graduated with a masters degree in conjuration 824 years ago, after which he took up an internship in the library of the god Nethys. Strahd would work directly under Nethys for approximately the next 200 years.

Black Fang Syndicate
When Strahd's father became too occupied with ruling Winksomsin 666 years ago, Strahd stepped up to the plate ruling The Black Fang. The Black Fang voted strongly in favor of transferring power to Strahd, and he enjoyed leadership of the criminal syndicate for most of the rest of his life, even during his governorship. Strahd would step down from his leadership role following the birth of his elder son, Bruce Darkmire, 161 years ago.

Governor of Winksomsin
412 years ago, when Vladislavus Darkmire ascended to the position of Lord Regent of Central Murcia, Strahd Darkmire returned to his homeland near Winksomsin and took up the Governorship. Strahd commanded the locals to build him a castle, Castle Darkmire on a hill near the west coast of Central Murcia. Construction lasted three years and was completed 409 years ago.

As governor, Strahd was something of a tyrant, though lenient compared to his father before him. He allowed those who converted to the worship of his patron god Nethys lordship over their own land, and instituted Nethyism as the state religion of the region.

At some point during his governorship, Strahd either constructed, commissioned, or purchased the warforged construct Tinkbot, who was employed as a personal bodyguard.

Retirement and Death
Following the Civil War, public sentiment surrounding vampires began to sour. Mass protests against Nethyism and the Darkmire Clan's leadership erupted 118 years ago, and continued for three years. 115 years ago, Strahd caved under pressure and rescinded the role of Governor of Winksomsin. A democratic election followed to appoint the new governor, where Strahd's son Bruce Darkmire lost the election for the governorship to Snorri Burlson, a dwarfish immigrant from the Northern Kingdom.

Strahd retired to Castle Darkmire and lived in relative obscurity, though he did prey on the occasional human who strayed too close to the castle. This caused the government of Murcia to place a bounty on his head of 250,000 gold pieces. 45 years ago, an adventuring party led by Ulrich Snorrison broke into Darkmire Castle and murdered Strahd Darkmire in order to collect this bounty by stabbing him repeatedly and driving a wooden stake through his heart.

Strahd Darkmire lays buried in state in the crypts below Castle Darkmire, with the stake that Ulrich used to murder him still embedded in his heart.

Personality
Strahd was cunning and self-absorbed. He had a tendency to psychoanalyze people and tell them the "real" reason that they did things.