Witch hunter Helmut van Hal, also Helmut von Hal is a descendant of the notorious Vanhel.[1a] In 2092 IC he crossed the border to Sylvania with a force from Stirland, where he burned down the villages of Dechstein and Lichenheim. He was able - according to rumors, led by Mannfred von Carstein - to kill the vampire Pieter von Carstein in the crypts of Schloss Sternieste with the stake and thus tried to wash away the guilt of his family.[2]
Writer of the book, Against the Darkness, or The Record of My Struggles Against Humaniry's Enemies in the Service of Our Lord Sigmar, printed by Armoury of Faith Press, in 2098 IC, van Hal's memoirs are available in a number of populist editions, such versions are usually so bowdlerized as to be all but useless. To read of van Hal's struggles with the Ratmen, the only available option is to seek out the earlier, unabridged editions.[3a]
Helmut van Hal accounts reported that even unarmed, an Eshin Assassin is a dangerous opponent. Also, his account of the unarmed combat methods used by an Assassin he fought would seem to bear remarkable resemblance to the techniques of the warrior-mystics of Cathay as recorded in the tales of the Tilean merchant-adventurer Marco Polare.[3a]
Canon Conflict[]
According to older - apparently incorrect - information, he is said to have destroyed Pieter together with his wife Emanuelle von Carstein after the 2010 IC night siege in Tempelhof Castle, which clearly cannot be correct in terms of time.[Needs Source]