Darren Voss

Darren Voss grew up on the outer edge of Willsforth, where his family lived as trappers and informal wardens. From childhood, he understood that the forest was not empty.

When Darren was thirteen, a vampire came to Willsforth and murdered his family. Darren survived, deliberately spared by the creature that destroyed them. The experience haunted him, but it also gave his life direction.

He left Willsforth to learn how to kill creatures others believed could not be killed. He studied under hedge scholars, exorcists, and disgraced clerics, learning monster anatomy, tracking, weaknesses, and preparation. He developed a simple conviction: every monster can be killed if you understand it first.

Darren became an expert with the crossbow, learned to fight with a curved scimitar when distance failed him, and built a reputation as a relentless monster hunter.

Eventually he returned to Willsforth when the surrounding wilderness began to change. Monsters were appearing more frequently, and their attacks showed strange patterns. During this time, he crossed paths with Xyriel Naqara.

Unlike most people, Xyriel did not simply fear the monsters Darren hunted. She wanted to understand them. Darren eventually chose to train her, and the two became partners with very different philosophies. Darren believes threats must be stopped before they spread, while Xyriel seeks understanding and balance before destruction.

The vampire that murdered Darren’s family still appears to be watching him. Over the years, Darren has found drained bodies, strange symbols, and witnesses describing a pale figure observing him from afar.

Darren tells others that he hunts monsters to protect people. That is true. But something once chose to spare Darren Voss, and he intends to make it regret that choice.