Zdislav

Overview

Zdislav is the elder of Laslea, a village in Vale Sangora. He is a storyteller who preserves the valley's oral history, including folklore that predates the Vrakhiri takeover by centuries. He bears two small, round scars on his neck over a vein. Puncture wounds that indicate direct contact with vampires. Whether he gave blood willingly or was taken by force is not stated.

The folklore of Vale Sangora

Zdislav shared his stories with Albertus Taurinus, the Italian chronicler who documented the history of the valley. Across multiple visits, Zdislav described the legends passed down through generations of Carpathian mountain people:

• Fearsome warriors from ages past, decked in gold and colored plumes, who fought pale wraiths among moonlit peaks

• Tiny forest folk with cat's eyes, forked tongues, and teeth like needles

• Ancient ruins filled with bubbling blood

• Horned mountain beasts that kept to the high passes

• Lizards the size of horses, burrowing in peat bogs

These are not idle fairy tales. Several of the creatures Zdislav described (the horned mountain beasts, the underground dwellers) correspond to enemy types confirmed for the game, including the uriashi and kobolds. The folklore appears to be the game's way of grounding its bestiary in local tradition rather than importing generic fantasy monsters.

Role in the Valley

As village elder, Zdislav's authority exists at the pleasure of Brencis's regime. Laslea is a small settlement far from the political center of Svartrau, which likely means less direct vampire oversight but also less protection. The scars on his neck suggest that even rural village elders are not exempt from the blood tax.