Lord Leo Dilisnya - Revision history

IanFordam: Fixed a typo.

2026-01-02T23:35:36Z

Fixed a typo.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:35, 2 January 2026
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	==Conceptual Development==		==Conceptual Development==
	Leo Dilisnya was first introduced in the bloodline family trees of the [[Dilisnya Family\|Dilisnyas]] and [[Boritsi Family\|Boritsis]] in the [[Realm of Terror]] ("Black Box") boxed set, where he is shown to have sired the family line that eventually produced [[Camille Dilisnya]], whom would marry [[Klaus Boritsi]] and produce all of the listed ~~Boristi~~ family. Leo Dilisnya is revealed to be the illegitimate child of [[Duchess Dorfniya Dilisnya\|Duchess Dorfinya]], a Dilisnya by marriage not by blood, and [[Gunther Cosco]], but Dorfinya nonetheless raises him as her husband, [[Pidlwik Dilisnya]]'s son. According to the information presented in the family trees, learning this fact only after his father's death motivates him to move away from his Dilisnya heritage.<ref name=RoTp.121-3>[[Realm of Terror]] p.121,123</ref>		Leo Dilisnya was first introduced in the bloodline family trees of the [[Dilisnya Family\|Dilisnyas]] and [[Boritsi Family\|Boritsis]] in the [[Realm of Terror]] ("Black Box") boxed set, where he is shown to have sired the family line that eventually produced [[Camille Dilisnya]], whom would marry [[Klaus Boritsi]] and produce all of the listed Boritsi family. Leo Dilisnya is revealed to be the illegitimate child of [[Duchess Dorfniya Dilisnya\|Duchess Dorfinya]], a Dilisnya by marriage not by blood, and [[Gunther Cosco]], but Dorfinya nonetheless raises him as her husband, [[Pidlwik Dilisnya]]'s son. According to the information presented in the family trees, learning this fact only after his father's death motivates him to move away from his Dilisnya heritage.<ref name=RoTp.121-3>[[Realm of Terror]] p.121,123</ref>

	The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.		The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.

The Lesser Evil at 04:20, 18 August 2021

2021-08-18T04:20:15Z

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	[[The Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] was the moment when Leo struck.<ref name=GazIp.13</ref>[[Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I]] p.13</ref><ref name=RavGazIIIp.15>[[Gazetteer IV]] p.15</ref> The massacre turned out to be somewhat wider than had been intended initially. It would claim his biological father Gunther, his brother Reinhold, his sister Gertrude, her husband [[Ivan Buchvold]], together their three children, and his sister Oleka, together with three of her four children. [[Count Strahd von Zarovich]] appeared to be fatally wounded. And the couple to be married, [[Sergei von Zarovich]] and his bride [[Tatyana Federovna]], were already dead, Strahd having murdered his brother Sergi and Tanyana having escaped Strahd by throwing herself from the castle wall. Leo was far from unpleased with the result. Unfortunately, Strahd, rather than expiring peaceably, rose up as one of the undead and routed the Leo's forces. The only Dilisnyas to escape [[Castle Ravenloft]] were Leo, Lovinia Wachter, Reinhold's wife [[Nadia Yakimov]] and her children.<ref name=RoTp.121-3>[[Realm of Terror]] p.121,123</ref>		[[The Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] was the moment when Leo struck.<ref name=GazIp.13</ref>[[Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I]] p.13</ref><ref name=RavGazIIIp.15>[[Gazetteer IV]] p.15</ref> The massacre turned out to be somewhat wider than had been intended initially. It would claim his biological father Gunther, his brother Reinhold, his sister Gertrude, her husband [[Ivan Buchvold]], together their three children, and his sister Oleka, together with three of her four children. [[Count Strahd von Zarovich]] appeared to be fatally wounded. And the couple to be married, [[Sergei von Zarovich]] and his bride [[Tatyana Federovna]], were already dead, Strahd having murdered his brother Sergi and Tanyana having escaped Strahd by throwing herself from the castle wall. Leo was far from unpleased with the result. Unfortunately, Strahd, rather than expiring peaceably, rose up as one of the undead and routed the Leo's forces. The only Dilisnyas to escape [[Castle Ravenloft]] were Leo, Lovinia Wachter, Reinhold's wife [[Nadia Yakimov]] and her children.<ref name=RoTp.121-3>[[Realm of Terror]] p.121,123</ref>

	Leo and his remaining kin went to ground, rightly fearing the vengeance of the vampire that now ruled the realm. Flight to other lands proved to be impossible, for the [[Mists]] had cut off the land from its neighbours. The patriarch of the Dilisnyas hid himself away in the [[Monastery of Silver Threads]] and prepared himself for the night when Strahd would come. In [[398 BC]], the Count of Barovia at last came for his most wayward subject. The preparations proved to be insufficient, if just barely. Strahd ended Leo's life, but not his existence. He made him a [[vampire]]<ref name=GazIp.13</ref>>[[Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I]] p.13</ref> and then sealed him away in [[The Tomb of Leo Dilisnya\|a tomb]] on the [[Wachter Estate]] to be driven mad by hunger before eventually expiring of it.<ref name="I, Strahd p. 254-270">[[I, Strahd]] p. 254-270</ref>		Leo and his remaining kin went to ground, rightly fearing the vengeance of the vampire that now ruled the realm. Flight to other lands proved to be impossible, for the [[Mists]] had cut off the land from its neighbours. The patriarch of the Dilisnyas hid himself away in the [[Monastery of Silver Threads]] and prepared himself for the night when Strahd would come. In [[398 BC]], the Count of Barovia at last came for his most wayward subject. The preparations proved to be insufficient, if just barely. Strahd ended Leo's life, but not his existence. He made him a [[vampire]]<ref name=GazIp.13</ref>[[Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I]] p.13</ref> and then sealed him away in [[The Tomb of Leo Dilisnya\|a tomb]] on the [[Wachter Estate]] to be driven mad by hunger before eventually expiring of it.<ref name="I, Strahd p. 254-270">[[I, Strahd]] p. 254-270</ref>

	The ultimate fate of Leo Dilisnya is not in fact certain however. The autobiographical [[I, Strahd]] is far from a reliable work in many aspects. In particular: it is not clear that a vampire can be starved to the point of destruction; it is somewhat doubtful that Strahd would instructed [[Lovina Wachter]] to open Leo's tomb after a month; and it is somewhat doubtful that Strahd would have put the [[Wachter family]] at risk by identifying their estate as the site of Leo's internment.		The ultimate fate of Leo Dilisnya is not in fact certain however. The autobiographical [[I, Strahd]] is far from a reliable work in many aspects. In particular: it is not clear that a vampire can be starved to the point of destruction; it is somewhat doubtful that Strahd would instructed [[Lovina Wachter]] to open Leo's tomb after a month; and it is somewhat doubtful that Strahd would have put the [[Wachter family]] at risk by identifying their estate as the site of Leo's internment.

The Lesser Evil at 19:07, 23 August 2017

2017-08-23T19:07:59Z

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	The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.		The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.

	The above contradiction could have been explained by the biased and self-serving nature of Strahd's [[autobiography]]. However, [[3rd Edition]] products canonized Leo Dilisnya's [[treachery]] and some other events if I, Strahd as actually happening to some degree. [[Gazetteer I]] also introduced Leo Dilisnya's continued existence as a [[Dread Possibility]].<ref name="Gaz I p. 13, 17 et. al.">[[Gazetteer I]] p. 13, 17, [[~~Gazetter~~ IV]] p. 15, [[Legacy of Blood]] p. 38-39</ref> However, it was not until the [[4th Edition]] [[module]] [[Fair Barovia]] that Leo Dilisnya was introduced as the [[villain]] of a module.<ref>[[Fair Barovia]], [[Dungeon Magazine #207]]</ref>		The above contradiction could have been explained by the biased and self-serving nature of Strahd's [[autobiography]]. However, [[3rd Edition]] products canonized Leo Dilisnya's [[treachery]] and some other events if I, Strahd as actually happening to some degree. [[Gazetteer I]] also introduced Leo Dilisnya's continued existence as a [[Dread Possibility]].<ref name="Gaz I p. 13, 17 et. al.">[[Gazetteer I]] p. 13, 17, [[Gazetteer IV]] p. 15, [[Legacy of the Blood]] p. 38-39</ref> However, it was not until the [[4th Edition]] [[module]] [[Fair Barovia]] that Leo Dilisnya was introduced as the [[villain]] of a module.<ref>[[Fair Barovia]], [[Dungeon Magazine #207]]</ref>

	==History==		==History==

The Lesser Evil: /* In Fair Barovia */

2017-08-23T19:07:15Z

In Fair Barovia

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	==In [[Fair Barovia]]==		==In [[Fair Barovia]]==
	In this [[4th Edition]] [[module]], Lord Leo Dilisnya breaks free of his imprisonment. He adopts the guise of [[Brother Henrik]], murders [[Nikolai and Karl Wachter (Fair Barovia)]], [[dominated]] [[Yelena Aresek]] and consumed some of her [[blood] [[ritual]] fashion in order to escape Strahd's [[scrying]], and set up shop at the [[Monastery of the White Sun]] on [[Mount Ghakis]]. He [[killed]] and [[reanimated]] several [[monastic]]s there as [[undead]] and keeping others alive in the loarder. He lingers there, using the [[defiled]] monastery as a refuge. He may transform into a man-[[bat]] hybrid or a [[lion]] as part of his salient [[vampire]] powers.<ref>[[Fair Barovia]], [[Dungeon Magazine #207]], p. 41-42, 48, 52-53, 70, 72</ref>		In this [[4th Edition]] [[module]], Lord Leo Dilisnya breaks free of his imprisonment. He adopts the guise of [[Brother Henrik]], murders [[Nikolai and Karl Wachter (Fair Barovia)]], [[dominated]] [[Yelena Olavnya Aresek (Fair Barovia)\|Yelena Olavnya Aresek]] and consumed some of her [[blood] [[ritual]] fashion in order to escape Strahd's [[scrying]], and set up shop at the [[Monastery of the White Sun]] on [[Mount Ghakis]]. He [[killed]] and [[reanimated]] several [[monastic]]s there as [[undead]] and keeping others alive in the loarder. He lingers there, using the [[defiled]] monastery as a refuge. He may transform into a man-[[bat]] hybrid or a [[lion]] as part of his salient [[vampire]] powers.<ref>[[Fair Barovia]], [[Dungeon Magazine #207]], p. 41-42, 48, 52-53, 70, 72</ref>

	==In [[Curse of Strahd]]==		==In [[Curse of Strahd]]==

The Lesser Evil: /* Conceptual Development */

2017-08-20T20:18:57Z

Conceptual Development

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	The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.		The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.

	The above contradiction could have been explained by the biased and self-serving nature of Strahd's [[autobiography]]. However, [[3rd Edition]] products canonized Leo Dilisnya's [[treachery]] and some other events if I, Strahd as actually happening to some degree. [[Gazetteer I]] also introduced Leo Dilisnya's continued existence as a [[Dread Possibility]].<ref name="Gaz I p. 13, 17 et. al.">[[Gazetteer I]] p. 13, 17, [[Gazetter IV]] p. 15, [[Legacy of Blood]] p. 38-39</ref> However, it was not until the [[4th Edition]] [[module]] [[Fair Barovia]] that Leo Dilisnya was introduced as the [[villain]] of a module.<ref>[[Fair Barovia]], [[Dungeon ~~Magaine~~ #207]]</ref>		The above contradiction could have been explained by the biased and self-serving nature of Strahd's [[autobiography]]. However, [[3rd Edition]] products canonized Leo Dilisnya's [[treachery]] and some other events if I, Strahd as actually happening to some degree. [[Gazetteer I]] also introduced Leo Dilisnya's continued existence as a [[Dread Possibility]].<ref name="Gaz I p. 13, 17 et. al.">[[Gazetteer I]] p. 13, 17, [[Gazetter IV]] p. 15, [[Legacy of Blood]] p. 38-39</ref> However, it was not until the [[4th Edition]] [[module]] [[Fair Barovia]] that Leo Dilisnya was introduced as the [[villain]] of a module.<ref>[[Fair Barovia]], [[Dungeon Magazine #207]]</ref>

	==History==		==History==

The Lesser Evil: /* Conceptual Development */

2017-08-20T20:18:45Z

Conceptual Development

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:18, 20 August 2017
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	The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.		The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.

	The above contradiction could have been explained by the biased and self-serving nature of Strahd's [[autobiography]]. However, [[3rd Edition]] products canonized Leo Dilisnya's [[treachery]] and some other events if I, Strahd as actually happening to some degree. [[Gazetteer I]] also introduced Leo Dilisnya's continued existence as a [[Dread Possibility]].<ref name="Gaz I p. 13, 17 et. al.">[[Gazetteer I]] p. 13, 17, [[Gazetter IV]] p. 15, [[Legacy of Blood]] p. 38-39</ref> However, it was not until the [[4th Edition]] [[module]] [[Fair Barovia]] that Leo Dilisnya was introduced as the [[villain]] of a module.<ref>[[Fair Barovia]], [[Dungeon #207</ref>		The above contradiction could have been explained by the biased and self-serving nature of Strahd's [[autobiography]]. However, [[3rd Edition]] products canonized Leo Dilisnya's [[treachery]] and some other events if I, Strahd as actually happening to some degree. [[Gazetteer I]] also introduced Leo Dilisnya's continued existence as a [[Dread Possibility]].<ref name="Gaz I p. 13, 17 et. al.">[[Gazetteer I]] p. 13, 17, [[Gazetter IV]] p. 15, [[Legacy of Blood]] p. 38-39</ref> However, it was not until the [[4th Edition]] [[module]] [[Fair Barovia]] that Leo Dilisnya was introduced as the [[villain]] of a module.<ref>[[Fair Barovia]], [[Dungeon Magaine #207]]</ref>

	==History==		==History==

The Lesser Evil: /* Conceptual Development */

2017-08-20T20:18:22Z

Conceptual Development

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:18, 20 August 2017
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	The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.		The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.

	The above contradiction could have been explained by the biased and self-serving nature of Strahd's [[autobiography]]. However, [[3rd Edition]] products canonized Leo Dilisnya's [[treachery]] and some other events if I, Strahd as actually happening to some degree.<ref name="Gaz I p. 13, 17 et. al.">[[Gazetteer I]] p. 13, 17, [[Gazetter IV]] p. 15, [[Legacy of Blood]] p. 38-39</ref>		The above contradiction could have been explained by the biased and self-serving nature of Strahd's [[autobiography]]. However, [[3rd Edition]] products canonized Leo Dilisnya's [[treachery]] and some other events if I, Strahd as actually happening to some degree. [[Gazetteer I]] also introduced Leo Dilisnya's continued existence as a [[Dread Possibility]].<ref name="Gaz I p. 13, 17 et. al.">[[Gazetteer I]] p. 13, 17, [[Gazetter IV]] p. 15, [[Legacy of Blood]] p. 38-39</ref> However, it was not until the [[4th Edition]] [[module]] [[Fair Barovia]] that Leo Dilisnya was introduced as the [[villain]] of a module.<ref>[[Fair Barovia]], [[Dungeon #207</ref>

	==History==		==History==

The Lesser Evil: /* Conceptual Development */

2017-08-20T20:16:00Z

Conceptual Development

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:16, 20 August 2017
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	==Conceptual Development==		==Conceptual Development==
	Leo Dilisnya was first introduced in the bloodline family trees of the [[Dilisnya Family\|Dilisnyas]] and [[~~Boristi~~ Family\|~~Boristis~~]] in the [[Realm of Terror]] ("Black Box") boxed set, where he is shown to have sired the family line that eventually produced [[Camille Dilisnya]], whom would marry [[Klaus ~~Boristi~~]] and produce all of the listed Boristi family. Leo Dilisnya is revealed to be the illegitimate child of [[Duchess ~~Dorfinya~~ Dilisnya\|Duchess Dorfinya]], a Dilisnya by marriage not by blood, and [[Gunther Cosco]], but Dorfinya nonetheless raises him as her husband, [[Pidlwik Dilisnya]]'s son. According to the information presented in the family trees, learning this fact only after his father's death motivates him to move away from his Dilisnya heritage.<ref name=RoTp.121-3>[[Realm of Terror]] p.121,123</ref>		Leo Dilisnya was first introduced in the bloodline family trees of the [[Dilisnya Family\|Dilisnyas]] and [[Boritsi Family\|Boritsis]] in the [[Realm of Terror]] ("Black Box") boxed set, where he is shown to have sired the family line that eventually produced [[Camille Dilisnya]], whom would marry [[Klaus Boritsi]] and produce all of the listed Boristi family. Leo Dilisnya is revealed to be the illegitimate child of [[Duchess Dorfniya Dilisnya\|Duchess Dorfinya]], a Dilisnya by marriage not by blood, and [[Gunther Cosco]], but Dorfinya nonetheless raises him as her husband, [[Pidlwik Dilisnya]]'s son. According to the information presented in the family trees, learning this fact only after his father's death motivates him to move away from his Dilisnya heritage.<ref name=RoTp.121-3>[[Realm of Terror]] p.121,123</ref>

	The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.		The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.

The Lesser Evil: /* Conceptual Development */

2017-08-20T20:14:39Z

Conceptual Development

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	==Conceptual Development==		==Conceptual Development==
	Leo Dilisnya was first introduced in the bloodline family trees of the [[Dilisnya Family\|Dilisnyas]] and [[Boristi Family\|Boristis]] in the [[Realm of Terror]] ("Black Box") boxed set, where he is shown to have sired the family line that eventually produced [[Camille Dilisnya]], whom would marry [[Klaus Boristi]] and produce all of the listed Boristi family. Leo Dilisnya is revealed to be the illegitimate child of [[Duchess Dorfinya]], a Dilisnya by marriage not by blood, and [[~~Guther~~ Cosco]], but Dorfinya nonetheless raises him as her husband, [[Pidlwik Dilisnya]]'s son. According to the information presented in the family trees, learning this fact only after his father's death motivates him to move away from his Dilisnya heritage.<ref name=RoTp.121-3>[[Realm of Terror]] p.121,123</ref>		Leo Dilisnya was first introduced in the bloodline family trees of the [[Dilisnya Family\|Dilisnyas]] and [[Boristi Family\|Boristis]] in the [[Realm of Terror]] ("Black Box") boxed set, where he is shown to have sired the family line that eventually produced [[Camille Dilisnya]], whom would marry [[Klaus Boristi]] and produce all of the listed Boristi family. Leo Dilisnya is revealed to be the illegitimate child of [[Duchess Dorfinya Dilisnya\|Duchess Dorfinya]], a Dilisnya by marriage not by blood, and [[Gunther Cosco]], but Dorfinya nonetheless raises him as her husband, [[Pidlwik Dilisnya]]'s son. According to the information presented in the family trees, learning this fact only after his father's death motivates him to move away from his Dilisnya heritage.<ref name=RoTp.121-3>[[Realm of Terror]] p.121,123</ref>

	The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.		The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.

The Lesser Evil at 20:13, 20 August 2017

2017-08-20T20:13:27Z

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	{{canon}}		{{canon}}

			'''Leo Dilisnya''' is a [[character]] associated with the in-world background of the Ravenloft campaign setting, particularly of [[Barovia]] and [[Borca]]. He is one of the [[ancestor]]s of one of two branches of what is known today as the [[Dilisnya Family\|Dilisny family]], having survived a [[massacre]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] he played a large role in causing. Lord Leo Dilisnya wished to wipe out the [[Von Zarovich Family]] and claim rule over [[Barovia]] for himself. However, in the end Strahd tracked him down and afflicted him with a horrible [[punishment]].

	'''Leo Dilisnya''' was born to [[Duchess Dorfniya Dilisnya]] in [[Prime Material Barovia]] in [[320 BC]]. He was the recognised son of [[Pidlwik Dilisnya]], but was in fact fathered by [[Gunther Cosco]]. He was the younger brother of [[Reinhold Dilisnya]], [[Gertrude Dilisnya]] and [[Oleka Dilisnya]], the grandson of [[Izabela Dilisnya]], and the uncle of at least nine including [[Lovina Wachter]].<ref name=RoTp.121-3>[[Realm of Terror]] p.121,123</ref>		==Conceptual Development==
			Leo Dilisnya was first introduced in the bloodline family trees of the [[Dilisnya Family\|Dilisnyas]] and [[Boristi Family\|Boristis]] in the [[Realm of Terror]] ("Black Box") boxed set, where he is shown to have sired the family line that eventually produced [[Camille Dilisnya]], whom would marry [[Klaus Boristi]] and produce all of the listed Boristi family. Leo Dilisnya is revealed to be the illegitimate child of [[Duchess Dorfinya]], a Dilisnya by marriage not by blood, and [[Guther Cosco]], but Dorfinya nonetheless raises him as her husband, [[Pidlwik Dilisnya]]'s son. According to the information presented in the family trees, learning this fact only after his father's death motivates him to move away from his Dilisnya heritage.<ref name=RoTp.121-3>[[Realm of Terror]] p.121,123</ref>

			The Ravenloft novel [[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] established a truly villainous character for Lord Leo. However, the majority of this text is Strahd's in-character biased and perhaps outright fabricated recollection of his past. In the book, Strahd blames much of the [[murder]] at [[the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich]] on Leo Dilisnya and his fellow [[Ba'al Verzi]]. However, this account was contradicted by the [[2nd Edition]] [[module]] [[From the Shadows]], where the [[player character]]s travel back in time to the day of the wedding.<ref>[[From the Shadows]] p. 10-16</ref> Leo Dilisnya or his assassins are not mentioned.

			The above contradiction could have been explained by the biased and self-serving nature of Strahd's [[autobiography]]. However, [[3rd Edition]] products canonized Leo Dilisnya's [[treachery]] and some other events if I, Strahd as actually happening to some degree.<ref name="Gaz I p. 13, 17 et. al.">[[Gazetteer I]] p. 13, 17, [[Gazetter IV]] p. 15, [[Legacy of Blood]] p. 38-39</ref>

			==History==
			Leo Dilisnya was born to [[Duchess Dorfniya Dilisnya]] in [[Prime Material Barovia]] in [[320 BC]]. He was the recognised son of [[Pidlwik Dilisnya]], but was in fact fathered by [[Gunther Cosco]]. He was the younger brother of [[Reinhold Dilisnya]], [[Gertrude Dilisnya]] and [[Oleka Dilisnya]], the grandson of [[Izabela Dilisnya]], and the uncle of at least nine including [[Lovina Wachter]].<ref name=RoTp.121-3>[[Realm of Terror]] p.121,123</ref>

	Leo inherited from his stepfather a hatred of the [[von Zarovich Family\|von Zaroviches]]. Pidlwik's mother [[Izabela Dilisnya]] had been [[murdered]] in [[314 BC]] by either the [[Katsky family]] or the [[Petrovna family]]. And before she could be avenged sufficiently by the [[assassinations]] of the [[War of Silver Knives]], [[Count Barov von Zarovich]] imposed in a peace upon the warring families. Pidlwik died in [[349 BC]], the zon Zaroviches unpunished for their interference. For his part, Leo plotted not merely to punish them. He plotted to make himself the ruler of [[Prime Material Barovia]]. The von Zaroviches would be wiped out.<ref name=RavGazIIIp.15>[[Gazetteer IV]] p.15</ref> His ailing brother Reinhold would be installed as [[Count of Barovia]]. And after a year or two, Count Reinhold would appear to die of his stomach illness, which was in fact a result of [[poisoning]] by his brother. Leo would then succeed Reinhold as Count of Barovia.<ref name="I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire p. 171-176">[[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] p. 171-176</ref>		Leo inherited from his stepfather a hatred of the [[von Zarovich Family\|von Zaroviches]]. Pidlwik's mother [[Izabela Dilisnya]] had been [[murdered]] in [[314 BC]] by either the [[Katsky family]] or the [[Petrovna family]]. And before she could be avenged sufficiently by the [[assassinations]] of the [[War of Silver Knives]], [[Count Barov von Zarovich]] imposed in a peace upon the warring families. Pidlwik died in [[349 BC]], the zon Zaroviches unpunished for their interference. For his part, Leo plotted not merely to punish them. He plotted to make himself the ruler of [[Prime Material Barovia]]. The von Zaroviches would be wiped out.<ref name=RavGazIIIp.15>[[Gazetteer IV]] p.15</ref> His ailing brother Reinhold would be installed as [[Count of Barovia]]. And after a year or two, Count Reinhold would appear to die of his stomach illness, which was in fact a result of [[poisoning]] by his brother. Leo would then succeed Reinhold as Count of Barovia.<ref name="I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire p. 171-176">[[I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire]] p. 171-176</ref>