Shuttle's Shipyard

Count Valdris the Threadbound

3 min read

Count Valdris the Threadbound

An 851-year-old vampire who has lived in the tunnels beneath Shuttle’s Shipyard’s Dry Dock for six centuries. Surprisingly hospitable, terrible at cooking, and deeply invested in jazz music. He fled his vampire family to avoid participating in the Crimson Harvest — a ritual of slaughter — and now lives in quiet exile underground.

Quick Reference

Appearance: Very old, very pale gentleman in fine but extremely dated clothing. Hunched over books when not entertaining guests. Smells absolutely terrible. Moves with sudden, eerie speed when threatened. Voice: Formal and precise; treats every social interaction as a court occasion. Mannerism: Immediately offers refreshments (wine in cobwebbed glasses, 600-year-old biscuits) to all visitors. Tells jokes he considers “vampire humor.”

Background

Valdris was once a mortal count — a noble title he still identifies with, leading to frequent confusion over whether he counts things or whether he was a count. He was turned centuries ago, became entangled in his vampire bloodline’s politics, and fled to the tunnels beneath Spindle Square after refusing to participate in the Crimson Harvest, a ritual requiring the slaughter of entire villages.

He has lived alone here for 600 years, disturbed only by occasional dock workers who see his “Keep Out” sign and leave. He survives primarily on wine. He has set up a jazz ballroom in his tunnel room. He is genuinely delighted by visitors and genuinely terrible at hosting them.

The Party’s Encounters

  • Session 02 (cf. Session 02): First met the party during their parasite-nest clearance. Offered them ancient biscuits, pointed them toward the nest and the holy lake, and bandaged Snagmaz’s leg. Asked them to attend his 851st birthday in six days.
  • Session 04 (cf. Session 04): The party threw him his birthday party: blood-sausage cake, 100 ugly candles, Devin the dock worker with a fish gift, and even a brief visit from Selane. The evening was interrupted by his vampire family — Lady Thessaly, Krov, and Whisper — who demanded he return for the Crimson Harvest. Valdris refused. The party defended him, destroying Krov and Whisper. Thessaly retreated. Valdris stood up for the party: “They’re protecting a friend! They brought a cake!”

His Vampire Family

The Valdris bloodline now knows the party by name.

  • Lady Thessaly (matron) — charmed Valdris during Session 04’s fight but retreated when the party held firm. Will return with more than three.
  • Krov (giant enforcer) — staked by the duck in Session 04; turned to ash.
  • Whisper (doll child) — staked by Imedin in Session 04; destroyed.

The Crimson Harvest is still coming.

Personality

  • Delighted by company: 600 years alone means every visitor is a gift, even if he handles it badly
  • Formally polite: Treats poverty and plenty the same; manners are non-negotiable
  • Dry humor: His jokes are centuries out of date and he does not understand why they aren’t landing
  • Loyal: Once you are his friend, you are his friend. The party has his complete devotion.

What He Knows

  • Extensive vampire lore (bloodline politics, Crimson Harvest rituals, weaknesses)
  • The underground tunnel system beneath the Dry Dock
  • Centuries of city history — events the records have forgotten
  • Selane of the Deep Rock (“quite sweet if you get to know her”)

Status

Permanent party ally. His tunnel sanctuary is available. He owes the party his continued un-death.

The Suspicious Merchant

A slick salesman (later identified as Shimmer, a Rival Yard agent) was among the birthday guests in Session 04 and escaped during the vampire fight — likely reporting tunnel network intelligence to the Rival Yard.

Cross-Links: Session 02 · Session 04 · Rival Yard · Spindle Square

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