"Well, since you are here, I suppose I must introduce you to my household. Lord Bertholt von Zechlin, my champion, and his men – the finest blades in the Empire."
- —Lady Hermione to Countess Gabriella von Nachthafen[1e]
Hermione von Auerbach, also known as Lady Hermione of Nuln is an elder Lahmian Vampire of Estalian origins. She's an influential member of the Lahmian Sisterhood.[1c]
Hermione is known for her paranoia and cunning nature. She is perpetually suspicious, frequently accusing her Lahmian sisters of scheming to overthrow her as the leading representative of the Lahmian Sisterhood in Nuln. Her lifelong rivalry with the cool-headed Countess Gabriella von Nachthafen is well-known, and Hermione constantly believes that Gabriella is either attempting to undermine her or tarnish her reputation among the Lahmian leadership.[1]
History[]
Hermione hails from the sun-drenched lands of Estalia.[1c]
She was turned into a Vampire around the same time as her rival, Countess Gabriella von Nachthafen. Both have been in constant competition, vying for influential positions in Altdorf, Couronne, Miragliano, and Nuln. Hermione once pointed out that the infamous Adolphus Krieger was Gabriella's creation, a fact that led to Gabriella being forced to oversee the shadowy lands of Sylvania for the sisterhood for centuries, while Hermione was rewarded with the coveted position in Nuln.[1a]
In Nuln, she resides as the widow of Lord von Auerbach, living comfortably in a grand three-storey townhouse, a Tilean-style mansion located in the affluent Aldig quarter.[1d]
The mansion is an imposing yet elegant structure, exuding a sense of opulence and mystery. The front entrance is approached by grand marble steps that lead to an impressive portico crowned by a balcony. The architecture blends grandeur with menace, highlighted by a stately section on the far right, designed in the Tilean manner, which features an enormous stained-glass window towering twice the height of a person. This window is a dazzling display of craftsmanship, filtering the light through vivid colors and intricate designs, but it only adds to the building's eerie charm.[1d]
Despite its rugged beauty and the warm, glowing light from numerous windows, the palazzo doesn't feel inviting. Instead, its allure is almost predatory, as if the building itself is too inviting, like a dangerous creature luring unsuspecting prey into its grasp. The sense of unease is heightened by the palazzo's subtle resemblance to a glittering, jewelled snake -- enticing with its beauty but ready to entrap and devour.[1d]
Once inside, the entryway is small compared to the grand exterior. A high-ceilinged corridor stretches ahead, leading to richly paneled double doors at the far end. The air inside is thick with tension, and from behind the doors, the murmur of heated argument filters through, hinting at the secrets and power plays that lie beyond.[1d]
Hermione has a secluded country estate outside of Nuln in Mondthaus. The estate is only ten or so miles to the south of Nuln, on the edges of Wissenland's wine country.[1b]
Notable Vampiric Offspring[]
- Famke Leibrandt - Leibrandt is Hermione's protégé, a blonde girl of striking beauty who she eventually turned into one of her Vampire Thralls.[1e]
Notable Servants[]
- Bertholt von Zechlin - Von Zechlin is von Auerbach's fiercely loyal champion.[1b]
- Otilia Krohner - The sharp-eyed housekeeper who oversees von Auerbach's estate.[1b]