Strahd von Zarovich

Title: Dreadlord and Master of Barovia Status: Alive (undead)

Known Information

A vampire who has controlled Barovia for over 400 years, draining the lifeblood of its people. Described by Burgomaster Kolyan Indirovich as too powerful to conquer.

He has bitten Ireena Kolyana, the Burgomaster's adopted daughter, twice. He has also charmed or called away at least one other young woman from the village — Gertruda, daughter of Mad Mary — within the past week.

He has spies everywhere — some creatures, some people, some possibly already encountered by the party. He can appear as a wolf with strangely human eyes. There is a curse on the land connected to something the ancestors of the Barovians did to him that he will not forgive.

The Order of the Silver Dragon — fallen undead knights — are noted as his enemies.

A letter from Strahd was found in the hidden study of Death House, addressed to the Durst family. In it he explicitly disavows being their messiah or chosen servant, refers to their altar work and torture dungeon with indifferent contempt, and informs them they are "but worms writhing in my earth." He signed his full name. A raven cawed when that name was read aloud.

Relationships

• Victim: Ireena Kolyana
• Subjects: All of Barovia

Notable Moments

• Session 1: Named in a letter; a raven responded when his name was spoken aloud
• Session 4: Confirmed details — has charmed Ireena twice; has spies throughout Barovia (people and creatures); can appear as a wolf with human eyes; the Order of the Silver Dragon (fallen undead knights) are his enemies; has bitten Gertruda's daughter away from the village; Castle Ravenloft is three days from the village via Vistani cart
• Session 19: A formal dinner invitation was found inside Actual Cannibal Shia LaBeouf's exploded head; high-quality envelope, deep red wax seal, handwritten on fine paper; text: "My friends, know that it is I who have brought you to this land, my home, and know that I alone can release you from it. I bid that you dine at my castle so that we might meet in civilized surroundings. Your passage here will be a safe one. I await your arrival. Your host and master, Strahd von Zarovich." Van Richten suggests this is consistent with his known behavior of breaking spirits rather than bodies