Urik von Kharkov is Darklord of Valachan. He has an unusual and complicated backstory, as a panther who was polymorphed into human form Morphayus, a Red Wizard of Thay to use as a sleeper agent against his rival Selena. Having forgotten his animal self, Kharkov was sent by Morphayus to Cormyr to receive an education unknowingly in preparation for use against Selena. Introduced to her as a fine nobleman and baron, von Kharkov soon fell in love with Selena, and she returned his feelings. When Selena was most vulnerable, Morphayus removed his enchantment and causing Von Kharkov, now again a panther, to tear his lover to shreds. Morphayus transformed Von Kharkov back into human once more. Horrified at what had happened and afraid to be used as a tool a second time, he fled and was taken by the Mists into Ravenloft, emerging in the realm of Darkon.
In Darkon, von Kharkov learned of the Kargat, Azalin's secret police, and eventually became a member of the Kargat and a Nosferatu Vampire in Karg. After two decades of bitter service to his vampiric master, von Kharkov deserted his post following the death of his master. von Kharkov confusedly wandered the Mists for a time, murdering any poor souls he came across. Perhaps intrigued by von Kharkov's strange mix of animal, human and undead hungers and needs, the Dark Powers soon von Kharkov darklord of his own domain
Von Kharkov resides in Castle Pantara as a distant but feared ruler, who rules largely through his second-in-command Lady Adeline and through his werepanther secret police. Every year he demands that a bride be provided for him; the fate of these women is not known to the inhabitants of his domain, but is all too easy to guess. To feed his vampiric hunger he has opted to feed shallowly from many sources, thus creating the idea of an endemic illness, debilitating but not life-threatening, known as White Fever. He fears the artifact known as the Cat of Felkovic, having once almost been slain by this uncanny figurine. He is also known to be the creator of the Fang of the Nosferatu.