REVEALED: Otto Bjornik's "Bai Lan the Unyielding" Vampire Hunter!

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out… I've been waiting with bated breath for the release of Otto Björnik's "Bai Lan" since we first saw the polished prototype, depicting a Taoist priestess (or Daoshi). A follow-up character to Bjornik's "Bai Chu" resin figure, which portrayed a traditional Jiangshi (Chinese hopping vampire), this new "Bai Lan" piece reveals one of those tasked — at least in Jiangshi fiction — with hunting and containing those undead threats. And to truly immerse us in the world of this piece, Bjornik has a beautifully detailed backstory for the character:

Bai Chu’s army has infiltrated and overwhelmed the land. Despite his small stature, he remains a brilliant strategist and commander, and he has created an unstoppable force. The people live in fear, wondering when they will hear the ominous sounds of marching boots and clanking armor. Day after day, reports come of Bai Chu’s forces descending upon their unsuspecting villages, draining fruits dry and wreaking havoc among their communities.

Upon hearing this distressing news, Bai Lan, the normally docile priestess and shaman, has decided to venture out of her temple to stop Bai Chu. Bai Chu and Bai Lan were once childhood sweethearts, and she knew him before he became a power-hungry general, before he ran into the vengeful Diwata who gave him his current diminutive form.

A scholarly pacifist, Bai Lan believes in balance and harmony as taught in her temple. She communes with the spirits and with Mother Nature to sense disturbances in Her equilibrium.

Bai Lan, gifted with a sharp intellect and a keen sense of intuition, is an excellent tracker. Her years of study and research make her a naturally skilled investigator. Day by day she makes her way closer to Bai Chu, tracking his movements, figuring out his next move. Upon finding a ravaged field whose crop of blood oranges have been turned into withered husks, Bai Lan picks one up and devises a plan.

When they finally meet, will Bai Chu recognize his childhood sweetheart? Or will he see his worst enemy yet?
With the name "Bai Lan" being derived from the Filipino word "babaylan", which means "priestess" or "shaman", she is truly the embodiment of her occupation. From the folds on the traditional robes of her office to the gorgeously rendered yin-yang symbol on its backside, this 5½-inch tall form is pristinely executed. With her eyes being illuminating windows into her soul, they are beautifully framed between the subtle red curl of her lips, her immaculately formed eyebrows, and her traditional Zhuangzi jin pointed hat. With one of her hands featuring outstretched fingers to touch attack any Jiangshi she might encounter, the other hand is holding a handbell which she can toll, every ring giving any undead she's subdued a command to hop as well as a sound to follow. But, as you may notice, that hand is interchangeable — held in place by magnetic force — for another that holds aloft a blood orange, like the ones from the above backstory!
This gloriously detailed debut edition of the resin "Bai Lan" sculpture will be limited to an edition of only 30 pieces, available to pre-order on March 31st, 2017 from Bjornik's online shop for $125 each with shipping scheduled for only a couple of weeks later (3rd week of April). Of course, if you can't wait to secure a copy of this at that time, you can always contact the artist directly and inquire about reserving one of these "Bai Lan the Unyielding" beauties!