Von Carstein - Konrad

Konrad

Konrad Von Carstein is described as the most ferocious and bloodthirsty Von Carstein. He is the younger 'brother' to Mannfred (whom Vlad had sired first). No one knows what possessed Vlad to sire Konrad instead of simply killing him: perhaps he found Konrad's mad antics amusing. What is certain is that Vampirism did little to strengthen Konrad's already tenuous grip on reality. His exploits included burning down entire towns because their smells displeased him, and trying and convicting his own mother for the crime of having given birth to him without his prior permission. During Vlad's campaign, Konrad appointed himself as Vlad's executioner, killing any who displeased the Count...which coincidentally included many who'd displeased Konrad. Following Vlad's defeat and death, Konrad formed his own unit - the Hamaya - from the more trusted members of the Vampire nation, including Jerek von Carstein. The chief contenders to his throne -his 'brothers' Fritz, Pieter, Hans and Jerek - all came to unholy ends. Konrad killed Hans in a duel over who was the toughest. Pieter was killed by a descendant of the infamous Witchhunter Van Hal in a crypt outside Nuln, and Fritz was assassinated by Jon Skellan during his attack on Middenheim. Jerek fled Sylvania to seek his own way in the world after being defeated in battle by Konrad.

Konrad was a vicious butcher on and off the battlefield. Wishing to emulate the victories of Vlad, Konrad marched on the Empire on a number of occasions: because he had no talent at sorcery, Konrad cajoled, bribed and bullied a number of necromancers into serving him. The undead horde they raised was so immense it was able to triumph against any force sent against it, despite Konrad's insanity and his ineptitude as a general. After several attempted invasions of the Empire, Konrad's advance was finally halted at the Battle of Four Armies by a combined force from Altdorf, Talabheim and Marienburg (the battle is remembered mainly for the fates of the Imperial leadership, all of whom were contenders for the Imperial throne: the Count of Altdorf and Ottilla of Talabheim ordered each other's assassination in the middle of the battle, while Helmut, Count of Marienburg, was slain by Konrad), before finally being defeated at the Battle of Grim Moor by an alliance of Dwarfs and Men, under the command of Elector Count Helmar of Marienburg—the son of Helmut. In the middle of the battle, Konrad's necromancers turned against him and he abruptly killed them for their treachery. As a result, his undead horde collapsed without them to animate it. Konrad was the battle's last casualty: the Dwarf Thane Grufbad Steelhelm held Konrad down while Helmar of Marienburg beheaded his father's killer with his Runefang and hacked the body to pieces, burning the remains.