Ambrose and Viola Romuli

## Life in Barovia

Ambrose and Viola were born in the Vistani encampment outside the town of Vallaki in the cursed land of Barovia which is located in a hidden valley in the province of Glam. They met and fell in love at a young age and were known as a loving and peaceful couple who were just looking to start a family and avoid the dangerous Barovian politics that being a Strahd loyalist can bring.

After a couple year of marriage Viola gave birth to a set of twin boys who they named Izek and Goro, however one of the boys were born with a mutated arm that was much larger than the rest of his body, appeared burnt, and generated a strong heat. This mutation attracted the attention of Count Strahd von Zarovich who summoned the young family to Castle Ravenloft. Knowing the danger in refusing Strahd the Romui family travelled to Ravenloft where Strahd showered the mutated baby with attention, fascinated by Izek's strange arm Strahd requested the Romuli stay with him awhile. After several weeks and many requests to leave with no end in sight to their stay, Ambrose and Viola snuck out of Ravenloft with Goro, sadly leaving Izek behind as Strahd barely let Izek out of his sight. The Romui returned to the Vistani encampment, collected what belongings they could, and fled Barovia never to be seen in the cursed fogged land ever again.

## Life in Hol

Ambrose and Viola settled in a farm outside of the border town of Warham and attempted to raise their young son in peace, constantly worried that the Vistani would show up to return them to Barovia. For a couple years things were peaceful and the young family lived a joyful simple life tinged with sadness and regret in the knowledge of their abandoned child. However in Hol peace never lasts long and war broke out between Hol and the Principality of Newcestedia.

As much as Ambrose and Viola wanted to keep a low profile they could not ignore the sad state of the families, refugees, and broken soldiers passing their farm fleeing the various warzones and the Romuli Farm became famous as a safe place for anyone regardless of allegiance to find room and board. The pacifist adventurer Raandyy became a close friend to the family and stayed at their farm often as they traveled the lands helping where he could.

## Raid of the Drow

During one of Raandyy's visits the Romuli farm was attacked by a Drow war party led by Nuncle, the brother of recently deceased leader of the Drow. Nuncle was a particularly cruel warlord who was particularly angry due to a recent humiliation he had received at the hands of his nephew Hadori, the son and heir of the old Drow leader, who had recently denounced his birthright and kicked Nuncle down a cliff in course of their duel. Nuncle led a war party to attack the Romuli farm looking for slaves and food knowing that the Romuli farm was vulnerable but in his anger and bloodlust the raid turned into a massacre as Nuncle ordered the killing of all present. Ambrose and Viola, unwilling to abandon the families and injured staying on their farm, gave their son to Raandyy and asked him to flee and save their son Goro. Raandyy tearfully bid his friends goodbye and escaped the carnage with the young Goro, heading for the coast to find passage on a boat.

There were no survivors of the Drow attack on the Romuli farm.