Strahd von Zarovich

### Cause of Death

Killed fighting the Curse of Strahd Party; killing blow dealt by Hadrick with Sunrise.

## Appearances

### First Seen

Session 10

**Strahd von Zarovich** is a character in the *Forgotten Realms Campaign* of Nat19. He is a vampire, ruler of the land of Barovia, and the main antagonist of the first campaign, *The Curse of Strahd*. As an NPC, he is portrayed by *Aaron Robert Parnell*.

 Personality

Cruel, tyrannical, and every bit the "devil" that the denizens of Barovia make him out to be, Strahd is an incredibly arrogant man who views everyone around him as either playthings or food barring a select few unfortunate maidens who are spirited away by him for unknown fates. He also possesses a twisted sense of humor, taunting those who would stand against him and in some cases going so far as to use his charm abilities to turn friends against each other. It is also the source of his polite facade as he will act as though he is a courteous and gracious host towards others largely for his own amusement.

## History

Strahd von Zarovich was once a warrior and leader of an army. For many years he led his forces, eventually making his way to the valley of Barovia and took power over its people. Strahd created a castle and called upon his family to settle there. His mother and father, as well as his brother Sergei, joined him in Barovia.

Eventually, Strahd became infatuated with a woman named Tatyana. She did not view him as favorably, and instead fell in love with his brother Sergei.

Strahd claims to have made a pact of blood with death. On the day of Sergei and Tatyana's wedding, he killed the former, thus sealing this pact and turning him into a vampire. When Tatyana fled, Strahd pursued her, leading her to throw herself from atop the walls of Castle Ravenloft.

At some point in his past, Strahd was rescued by a band of wanderers called the Vistani. Among them were Ashley and Madam Eva. As thanks, Strahd granted their bloodline the ability to come and go from Barovia whenever they please.

## Role in Plot

Strahd appeared to Ashley, Devin, and Xhantharykk under the guise of Vasili von Holtz, as he and his carriage driver Rahadin visited the coffin maker in Vallaki. He offered the three adventurers a ride to their destination, and they accepted. However, when they reached the Church of Saint Andral, Vasili let loose a Fireball spell upon the church, largely destroying it and killing many of its residents. He then turned into a swarm of bats and set a group of vampire spawn upon the survivors.

When most of the church's residents had been slain, Vasili returned to the adventurers and revealed himself to be none other than Strahd. He asked Ashley where "[his] Tatyana" was, though the frightened bard could only guess, pointing him toward the Burgomaster's estate. Strahd was then assaulted by Devin and Xhantharykk, despite Ashley cautioning them against doing so. The vampire lord put a charm on Xhantharykk, telling him to teach Devin a lesson for daring to attack him. After this was done, Strahd and Rahadin departed for the Burgomaster's estate.

Later that evening, Strahd had Rahadin knock on the Burgomaster's door as the Curse of Strahd Party searched it for Ireena. Once he heard this knocking, and it was revealed to be Strahd at the door, Xhantharykk opened the door for him due to the charm placed on him, though Graiar quickly knocked the elderly elf out and slammed it shut. The party devised an escape plan in which the majority of them snuck out the back of the house while Hadrick stayed behind and fooled Strahd into thinking he was a first responder seeing to the Burgomaster's recent death. Strahd was not fooled by this story, but allowed Hadrick to tell it regardless, eventually praising him by name for the effort, and allowing him to leave unharmed as he spoke to the Burgomaster's now-widowed wife, Lydia.

Strahd later sent his assassin Griff to deliver a letter to the Curse of Strahd Party. Rather than deliver it directly, Griff gave it to his wife Aera to give to them. The letter was an invitation to a dinner party organized by Strahd at his castle. The date was left open-ended, so they could arrive whenever they pleased.

As the Curse of Strahd Party explored the fort of Argynvostholt, Strahd and Rahadin arrived with a guest from Faerûn, a paladin of Pelor named Monty of Kinshan. The darklord and his minion had slain the paladin's comrades shortly after their arrival in Barovia. Strahd led Monty to the Curse of Strahd Party, and after a brief scuffle, departed to fight the revenants residing in the mansion.

Strahd, Rahadin, and Griff would later arrive at the home of Dmitri Krezkov in Krezk to retrieve Ireena, who had been staying there for some time. The three passed by Hadrick and Jolyne as they left.

After the Curse of Strahd Party had made their way to Castle Ravenloft, Strahd found them inside the crypts of the castle just after they had slain the wraith of Kroval Grislek. He invited them to the dining hall for the dinner party, and they accompanied him there. During the dinner, Strahd was asked many questions by the Curse of Strahd Party concerning their reasons for being there. He answered as best he could, and offered certain members of the group official positions with him should they accept them. He also told them that he and Ireena, who he had charmed prior to the dinner party into being compliant, were scheduled to be married the following day. Once the dinner party had concluded, he and Ireena returned to their chambers.

Once the charm on Ireena had worn off and she absconded to the crypts in an attempt to escape the castle, Strahd himself came searching for her. Upon his arrival, Hadrick and Ashley enhanced themselves with magic and rushed to Strahd's coffin, which they had discovered earlier in their stay at the castle. Strahd fought against the Curse of Strahd Party alongside Griff, Patrina Velikovna and the now-vampiric Ezmerelda d'Avenir. When his minions were dispatched, Strahd teleported away with Dimension Door. However, the Curse of Strahd Party utilized one of their readings from Madam Eva, stating that if they go to the peak of the castle looking for Strahd, he will be there.

The Curse of Strahd Party used the magical brazier in Castle Ravenloft to teleport to the peak of the castle, and just as predicted, Strahd was there along with Rahadin. The final battle ended with Strahd slain at the hands of Hadrick with the Sun Sword, and Rahadin by the fiery hooves of Monty's mount Flynn.

With Strahd's death, the light of the sun was seen in its entirety for the first time in Barovia in hundreds of years. The misty walls that once imprisoned Barovia's people were lifted, allowing most of them to leave for Faerûn in search of better lives.

## Relationships & Affiliations

### Tatyana

Strahd held a deep, twisted love for Tatyana. He believed her to be his, and that in life she only spurned him because of his old age and his "deathly" appearance. His love of her is what inspired him to cheat death and become an eternally young vampire, though this came at the price of his brother and her fiancée, Sergei. Her subsequent fear of him and eventual suicide to escape his grasp did nothing to deter his affection for her, as he continued to pursue her in her following lives.

### Ireena Kolyana

Strahd pursued Ireena because she was a reincarnation of his love, Tatyana. Much like with Tatyana, his love for Ireena was twisted, so much so that he would subvert her will with magic in order for her to be with him.

### Sergei von Zarovich

In life, Strahd hated and envied his brother's youth and handsomeness. He ultimately killed his brother to seal a pact he had made with "death," and become a vampire.

### Ashley

Unbeknownst to her at the time, Ashley was one of the Vistani present when they took Strahd in and nursed him back to health in his youth, though his only reaction when she tried to press him on the subject was amusement.