Baron Peto Casse

Baron Peto Casse is a major character from the Ravenloft product line novel Baroness of Blood. By his bloodline of the Casse Family, he was the baron of the outlander kingdom of Sundell. By conquest, he also became the ruler of Kislova. However, since the latter land became an island of terror, he has been fully incapacitated, and his wife, Baroness Ilsabet Obour, has ruled in stead. In fact, his continued existence is part of Obour's curse, in that he ensures she will never rule Kislova in her own name or of her own authority.

Biography

Before ruler of Kislova

Baron Peto Casse is the son of the Widow Casse and a deceased father of unspecified name. He was an category:Impulsive youth and ruled as such, but ten years of hard experience tempered his brazenness and taught him to heed his father's advisors. Baron Peto played it safe by keeping Sundell neutral in the Kislovan Civil Wars until he received word fro Kislovan rebels that Baron Janosk Obour was planning an invasion of Sundell. So forewarned, Baron Peto led the troops of Sundell to a decisive victory against an army of invaders already weakened and wearied by fighting Kislovan rebels. Peto then led his troops to invade Kislova, all the way to its capital of [[Nimbus Castle].

At Nimbus Castle, Peto met with the older Janosk. In defeat, Baron Janosk demonstrated a brave face. Janosk brokered a deal to accept execution in return for Baron Peto Casse swearing to spare his allies and his family. Although Peto would've spared him, Baron Janosk insisted upon being decapitated in order to preserve face for his family in the eyes of the people. Mihael Obour became his heir in power, but Ilsabet Obour became his heir in ruthlessness and intellect. Janosk entrusted his revenge upon Peto to Islabet. All of the Obours, save for Ilsabet Obour, swore oaths of loyalty to Peto, and he Peto placed Mihael upon the throne to rule on Peto's behalf.

Love for Marishka Obour

Eventually, Peto courted Marishka Obour, eldest child of Janosk, and they were to be married. Ilsabet charged Marishka to never let him fall in love with Peto, their father's executioner.. Despite Ilsabet's admonishment, Peto and Marishka did fall in with each other. Ilsabet went on pilgrimage to see Sagesse of what was to become of her love with Peto, and Sagesse told her that she would not live long, but she could live as she pleased and do what she wanted during that time. On an outing with Marishka, Ilsabet poisoned Marishka's horse with a neurotoxin. The ensuing riding accident left Marishka critically injured and bed-ridden. Back in Nimbus Castle, Ilsabet slowly poisoned Marishka to death under the guise of nursing her and attending to her emotional needs. Although Ilsabet came to admire and bond Marishka like never before, Ilsabet went through with the murder. On death's door, Marishka and Peto became married in order to make her last few moments as enjoyable as possible.

Following her death, Marishka was not cremated, at her request. She wished to be buried, so Peto ordered the construction of a marble tomb for her. Marishka Obour's Tomb came to be thought of as a haunted place, watched over by the ghost of a werewolf, bidden to watch over it until a great wrong had been righted.

Ilsabet's Machinations

To prepare for her vengeance, Ilsabet caused the deaths of many (incidentally or on purpose) of many, mostly through (and some to further enhance) her developing knowledge of poisons. Her casualty list included (but was not limited to) both siblings and personal servants. Though she avoided punishment by temporal authorities, her actions did not go without repercussion. The deaths (or more accurately, the pain and fear) she caused alleviated the wasting sickness, making her healthier and more beautiful, albeit temporarily. However, she became haunted by the ghosts of those she murdered, particularly Marishka's ghost. She heeded not their warnings of doom she was wreaking upon her family, her country, and even herself. As her kills reached higher proportions, an increasing veil of mist began enveloping Nimbus Castle and the surrounding land.

ilsabet's blooming attractiveness earned her the attention of Baron in the monts Peto following Marishka's demise, and he gradually fell in love with her stronger spirit. Although against Ilsabet's initial wishes, she eventually came around to marrying him, if only to better wreak her vengeance and to gain control over both Sundell and Kislova. Some time later, Ilsabet gave birth a single child, Lekai, though this may not have been the child of Peto. On the sly, Ilsabet held an adulterous relationship with Lord Jorani her mentor and attempted to use a herbal concoction to ensure she carried Lord Jorani's child. (In truth, the herbal concoction was ineffective.)

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

		Baroness of Blood
		Baroness of Blood - Throughout