Strahd von Zarovich

*"He is the ancient, he is the land."*

   **Count Strahd von Zarovich** was a powerful vampire wizard and the de facto ruler of Barovia. He resided in Castle Ravenloft from its re-construction in Y350 until his death in Y735. He found pleasure in abducting unwilling adventurers and dropping them into his domain using mystical impenetrable mists, then made sport of them trying and failing to defeat him in their attempts to leave. He was defeated and destroyed in the Battle of Ravenloft.

He was referred to by the native mountainfolk as *"the Shadowsworn"*.

Strahd claimed that he was the Champion of Vampyr, and that he sought a successor. Barovians believed he was the Champion of Mother Night.

Strahd had been trapped in Barovia for centuries due to a pact made with Vampyr in exchange for immortality. According to Dr Rudolph van Richten Strahd was an ancient vampire. He also stated that when Tatyana was dead Strahd hibernated. Lady Wachter corroborated this by noting that Strahd was not seen often but sometimes would turn up looking for a woman from time to time.

Strahd had an army of undead at his command, three vampire spawn brides, a flying flaming black steed called Beucephalus. He kept watch over Barovia by scrying, according to Anastrasya Karelova. She stated he used ravens for this purpose as well.

## History

### Early life

The first son of King Barov von Zarovich and Queen Ravenovia, Strahd was born 11 years before his only sibling Sergei von Zarovich.

Strahd's chambermaid as a baby was Baba Lysaga, a follower of Mother Night. Van Richten stated that Baba Lysaga also claimed to be Strahd's birth mother.

According to van Richten Strahd fought as a general in his father's army.

### Count of Barovia

Strahd, with help from Rahadin, one of his generals that had served his father before him, scoured his conquered lands for wizards and artisans, brought them to the valley of Barovia, and commanded them to raise a castle to rival the magnificent fortresses of his ancestral homeland; Rahadin himself recruiting the Archwizard Khazan to design Castle Ravenloft.

In Y347 during his war with the Order of the Silver Dragon Strahd and his forces were lured into a trap at Argynvostholt and he was grievously wounded, however Strahd managed to escape with his life and was healed by the Vistani people south of Vallaki, earning the Vistani Strahd's favour until his death.

After he was able to gather reinforcements to sweep the valley Strahd was able to defeat the Order, winning a final battle at Castle Ravenloft and killing their silver dragon leader Argynvost, keeping his body as a trophy.

When a dusk elf named Patrina Velikovna came knocking on Strahd's door, Rahadin could see that she intrigued Strahd, but Rahadin was suspicious of her motives. Patrina tried to seduce Strahd with the prospect of immortality - something Strahd desired above all. She told him of a vault of forbidden lore called the Amber Temple, where the secret of gaining immortality was hidden.

While Strahd was off searching for the Amber Temple, Rahadin was appointed Chamberlain and handled all of his master's affairs, but began searching for a woman who could tear Strahd away from Patrina Velikovna, and the prospect of immortality. With Strahd eyeing Tatyana, Rahadin had the pleasure of informing Patrina that her presence at the castle was no longer desired.

Unfortunately for Strahd, his brother Sergei also fell in love with Tatyana and they were to be married within a year.

The tale passed through the generations was that Sergei was assassinated by the Ba'al Verzi during the wedding. According to Kasimir Velikov, Tatyana was found dead by Strahd at the bottom of Castle Ravenloft. He was not seen for another 20 years and when he emerged he was a vampire. Strahd stated that he obtained these powers from Vampyr at the Amber Temple.

However, Strahd's Tome contradicts this:

*I made a pact with death, a pact with blood. On the day of the wedding, I killed Sergei, my brother. My pact was sealed with his blood.*

*I found Tatyana weeping in the garden east of the chapel. She fled from me. She would not let me explain, and a great anger swelled within me. She had to understand the pact I made for her. I pursued her. Finally, in despair, she flung herself from the walls of Ravenloft, and I watched everything I ever wanted fall from my grasp forever. It was a thousand feet through the mists. No trace of her was ever found. Not even I know her final fate. Arrows from the castle guards pierced me to my soul, but I did not die. Nor did I live. I became undead, forever.*

### A cursed life

Patrina Velikovna and her people were living among the Vistani when they heard of Tatyana's death and Strahd's curse. The ageless Patrina returned to Ravenloft in the hope of winning Strahd's love. This time, it was clear that Patrina craved Strahd's power and that Strahd would never love her. To prevent Strahd from claiming his sister as his wife, Kasimir Velikov orchestrated the stoning of Patrina, with the help of the other dusk elves.

Strahd secured Patrina's corpse and entombed it in the catacombs of Castle Ravenloft, sending Rahadin to punish the dusk elves for this crime. Rahadin slew the entire female population of the dusk elves there and then, so that the males could no longer breed.

In Y385 Strahd was dismayed to find St Andral taking a stand against him, and in Strahd's own words to Hallgrimm and Narid, his guards betrayed him and joined St Andral. St Andral, a follower of the Morninglord, was a mere commoner yet due to the protection of forbiddance Strahd was unable to enter St Andral's house where the group sought sanctuary. After St Andral chose to fight Strahd at Castle Ravenloft and was defeated, his bones were laid to rest in his home, making the grounds hallowed, and the Church of St Andral was built upon it.

Eager to put Tatyana out of his mind, Strahd lured more women to the castle, taking several of them as brides before draining their lives and turning them into vampire spawn.

When writing the History of Barovia Harkus Vallakovich refused to write a chapter on Strahd, save for a line stating that it would be foolish not to account for him as a notable person.

He was able to track down Leo Dilisnya in Y398 and defeated him. Leo spellcasting abilities inspired Strahd to hone his own magical powers.

After Tatyana was reincarnated for the first time in the form of Marina her father, the Burgomaster of Berez, tried to foil Strahd's advances on the young girl. In response Strahd flooded and destroyed the town.

The spirits of his enemies were forced to roam the path from Castle Ravenloft to the churchyard of Barovia Village at midnight every night.

Strahd was known to have written a letter to Gustav Durst expressing disapproval of his original contact. He made reference to "ones that brought [him] to this land".

### Recent history

Strahd appeared to have written a letter impersonating the Burgomaster of Barovia Village Kolyan Indirovich to plea for outside help against dark forces, promising a share of great wealth. This letter was found by the party on the corpse of an apparent messenger.

He used his magical mist to abduct Hallgrimm Mikkenson, Sigismund "the Bold", and Narid Ashplantt and place them in Barovia, apparently for his own entertainment, as he had done with adventurers in the past.

After sending a force of zombies and wolves to attack the Burgomaster mansion and causing Kolyan to die of fright, Strahd crashed his funeral and attempted to lure the Burgomaster's daughter Ireena Kolyana back to Ravenloft with him.

In preparation for the Feast of Vallaki Strahd coerced the coffin maker, Henrik, to accept delivery of a number of crates of dirt, which contained his vampire spawn within. Months later they would be awakened to wreak havoc and cause death and destruction within the city. Amidst the confusion and terror Strahd flew into the city on his flaming night-mare, incinerated a squad of guards with a single fireball, and took the bones of St Andral from Hallgrimm's hands crushing them before him and Narid.

The Abbot of St Markovia had created what he described as a bride for Strahd named Tatyana, which was one of his "mongrel" creations, however when the party unsuspectingly brought freshly deceased Ireena to him the abbot tricked the party into leaving her with him. Whilst the party were away the Abbot gave Ireena to Strahd in an attempt to make him happy and in turn lessen the suffering of the people of Barovia.

### Defeat

Strahd was defeated by the ultimate party of adventurers he brought to Barovia during the Battle of Ravenloft.

## Relationships

### Sergei von Zarovich

According to his own tome Strahd always hated his brother for his looks and his youth. He would hate him even more when Tatyana fell in love with him.

### Rahadin

Chamberlain, honourary brother - see Rahadin.

### Lief Lipsiege

Strahd's accountant, that the Martikovs mentioned made his payment for wine and was in charge of keeping track of taxes. The party found him chained to his desk, even having to go to the toilet in a bucket as he was not permitted to move freely. He stated that he had worked for Strahd for a long time, but that towards the end of Strahd's reign he no longer went out to make payments and this had been entrusted to the brides, consorts, and Rahadin.

### Escher

Effeminate vampire employee/waiter. Formerly a consort of Strahd. During the wedding of Strahd and Ireena he was selected as Strahd's champion to fight against Narid Ashplantt in trial by combat, and was unable to keep up with Narid, enabling the ranger to escape Ravenloft. He was killed during the Battle of Ravenloft.

### Sirius Belview

Mongrelfolk staff member of Strahd. He appears to have several trinkets and items scattered around his room which he noted that Volenta lets him keep for helping her. He seemed interested in Hallgrimm's Traekleaver axe. He dislikes Anastrasya but thinks that Volenta is kind. He stated that they boil zombies near his room for the aroma.

### Vistani

Strahd had a working relationship with the Vistani people, apparently allowing them the ability to come and go from Barovia as they pleased - a luxury no-one else was known to enjoy including Strahd himself. Rudolph van Richten advised they were spies for Strahd, and Kasimir passed on his suspicion that one or more of the Vistani at the camp south of Vallaki were working for Strahd - a suspicion confirmed in the Battle of Ravenloft when Arrigal was part of the ambush at the bridge.

### Soldiers

* Alex Gwilym - Possibly related to Sir Godfrey Gwilym, knight of the Order of the Silver Dragon
* Leo Dilisnya - formerly a strong spellcaster within Strahd's forces
* Reinhold Dilisnya - a skilled tactician within the force, described to have suffered from chronic bowel problems
* Buckfield
* Dirisker (might not be his exact name)
* Ilya

## Challenges to power

Strahd has faced numerous challenges to his rule of Barovia, most often issued by those he draws into his domain for the purpose of watching them attempt to defeat him. He stated there have been hundreds of adventurers brought to "dance" for him.

* Y347-Y350 - Order of the Silver Dragon - lead by Argynvost, they came close to defeating Strahd. However with the help of the Vistani he recovered and ultimately defeated them in battle at Castle Ravenloft.
* Y350 - Leo Diilisnya - attempted to murder all of the von Zarovich's at the wedding of Sergei and Tatyana.
* Y351 - St Markovia
* Y385 - St Andral - a commoner and follower of the Morninglord, who sought to provide sanctuary against Strahd, defeated in battle at Castle Ravenloft.
* Y734 - Archwizard Khazan - raised an army of peasants, defeated by Strahd.
* Y735 - Adventurers lead by Hallgrimm Mikkenson, Narid Ashplant, and Eklyre Temere, aided by Archwizard Khazan. They were successful during the Battle of Ravenloft.

## Personality

Strahd presented himself as softly spoken and well dressed individual, often donning a bejewelled cloak, red waistcoat, and leather knee high boots. He enjoyed toying with adventurers from far away lands that he found interesting and would taunt them with apparent gifts for giving him a good show, such as with the final adventuring party after their exploits in Durst House.

Madam Eva described him as a man of his word and trustworthy.

Strahd was known to enjoy the wines of Barovia and was a major paying customer of the Wizards of the Wine.

## Abilities

### Strengths

* Apparate and disappear in a flash of lightning
* Transform into a dire wolf, a bat, or mist
* Summon wolves, vermin, zombies, and bats to do his bidding
* Teleport people to Barovia within a swirl of thick mist
* Charm beings into following his will using his voice within 40 feet
* Fireball and thunder attacks
* Controls the weather
* Can project his voice/use telepathy
* Scrying
* Connection to Heart of Sorrow to absorb damage for him

### Weaknesses

* Sunlight
* Running water
* Holy water
* Presentment
* Blessed items, which can be used to brand
* Hallowed grounds
* Trapped in Barovia
* Stake through the heart when unconscious
* Lack of reflection
* Arrogance
* Doesn't have truesight