BUST Vampire Lord - Arthur Belfrie

Bust designed by DM Stash, unpainted, unassembled

The twin brother of Jochen Belfrie, the first king of the Belfrie Sovereignty. Arthur is the lesser-known twin who was expunged from all historic records, owing to his vampiric nature. His existence turned to myth, though the actions he took during the Belfrie Rebellion still echo through history. Now he leads one of the largest covens of Thrasliche Vampires on Tharador, attempting to guide them through the teachings of Almenhier, though persecution seems to follow them everywhere.

Arthur Belfrie was a hero of his time, leading the armies of Mistrath and East Draksborne in rebellion against the imperial crown alongside his twin brother Jochen. Yet Draksborne’s emperor fell desperate in the final years of the prolonged war, resorting to dark arts and unholy allies to try to turn the tide of the war. It was during the Siege of Limlight that Arthur discovered this, with his siege camp beset by a horde of vampires in the dark of night as the army slept. Though the alarm was sounded, there was little time to prepare for a response against the bloodlusting fiends.

Arthur was gravely wounded by one of the fiends during the battle, succumbing to his wounds as his men surrounded him, trying to protect their general and lord. When he awoke several hours later, he found himself alive, his wounds healed. Yet a mind-numbing fever now held him, and an insatiable desire for blood. Among the battlefield he found several of his soldiers slowly dying to their own wounds, though with no control, Arthur feasted upon his loyal subjects. There were some who rose from this, joining Arthur again in undeath, though many perished and when Arthur’s bloodfrenzy ended, a wave of guilt washed over him.

He travelled to his family vineyard: Vyncourd Manor outside the town of Volosvio. There he and the followers he had brought with him began to make sense of their situation, planning what to do next. Arthur decided to leave his followers there, begging them to feast only upon animals or the like in his absence as he travelled to Mistrath to find his brother and inform him of the blight that now grasped him. Jochen was horrified by his brother’s fate, yet understanding that he had kept his sanity, for the most part, and it was still his brother. However, Jochen was a diplomat and Arthur was the commander, Jochen weighed the thought that if Arthur’s affliction became known, it would result in the cause wavering as nobles would not want to send their men to their death’s for a vampire. So Jochen’s plan was to use his brother’s dark curse to put an end to the war, swiftly. Arthur and his other afflicted men were to traveld to Sundestra and use their powers to infiltrate the keep and force the surrender of the emperor, or slay him.

Though their mission was a success, word quickly travelled that Arthur Belfrie was a darkspawn and had slain the emperor in bloodlust and forced the surrender to be signed by his heir. With little other choice, Jochen was forced to denounce his brother, enlisting paladins of Erdrydion to pursue him and purge his cursed soul so it might journey onwards. Yet Arthur eluded them, fleeing along with many of his soldiers to Baldur and joining the colony on Duskweave Isle, where they lived as recluses, feasting upon wayward travellers, guards and outlaws. It was at this time they were approached by Almenhier Thrasliche, the first Vampire and the founding ancestor of the Thrasliche clan, the only vampires whose wills were their own. He instilled upon them his mantra and creed, teaching them means of feeding on animals, or seeking out and feasting on the wicked; in the penal colony of Duskweave there were plenty to choose from.

 When the Isle was condemned by the Lich Kelathar, Arthur and his vampiric followers (whose numbers had bolstered on the isle) were spared, so long as they devoted themselves to him. Thus this was true for two centuries, until Arthur sought out the god Seroca to erase the isle from history, ensuring it was removed from all maps and text. By doing this he limited the forces that would be added to the lich’s armies, and when the isle was rediscovered again and the heralds of his brother’s kingdom came to claim it, he and his coven joined them. The Paladin Yinsylim who slew Kelathar gave Arthur and his coven one chance to exile themselves from Tharador, never to return. Though Arthur agreed to this, his followers bade they instead find a new home in the sea on the other side of the continent, in the Katarn Sea.

There history seemed to repeat itself, as they happened upon another isle, with several abandoned colonies dotting its shores, varying in origin from Sea Elf, Alimrothi, Baldurian and even Mayrethi. It seemed to be their best option for a new home without travelling far across the sea, and they quickly settled there, bringing their Werewolf cattle with them. Now Arthur is content with their new home, though he sees that others question his leadership after their exile from Duskweave. He can sense their plotting to overthrow him, though he wishes to keep the peace for as long as he can.