Count Strahd von Zarovich
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This section contains canon info from officially published sources |
Count Strahd von Zarovich is the Vampire darklord of Barovia.[1][2] He rules the land publicly from Castle Ravenloft as Strahd XI, supposedly a descendant of Strahd I, but actually the same man.[3] Strahd murdered his younger brother Sergei von Zarovich on his wedding day in an attempt to claim Sergi's bride, Tatyana Federovna. This is the final act that caused him to become the first known darklord. Tatyana rejected his love and jumped to her death from the walls of Castle Ravenloft.[4][5][6] Strahd is now cursed to hunt and lose the reincarnations of Tatyana.[7][8]
Strahd was nobly born to Barov von Zarovich and Ravenia van Roeyen[9] in Prime Material Barovia in 299 BC.[10][11][12] He was the older brother of Sergei and Sturm.
Strahd spent the first few decades of his adult life in his war with the Tergs that had invaded and occupied Barovia. In perhaps the most critical moment in his war against the foreign invaders, Strahd called the fiend Inajira in the hope of securing victory at the cost of his soul.[13] Strahd largely managed to escape the arcanaloth's foul contract with the contract he made with Death that gave him eternal life, or unlife as the case may be. However, Strahd merely traded one form of damnation for another, as this horrible pact ultimately led to Strahd becoming an all but immortal darklord.[4][10][5][6]
Throughout his long history as darklord of Barovia, Strahd has come into conflict with many who would challenge his dominance. For example, his great niece, Lyssa von Zarovich, transformed herself into a vampire to challenge his rule. She also conspired with the High Master Illithid to generate a race of illithid vampires to depose Strahd, but the plan failed.[14][15] With the help of Emil Bollenbach, Strahd poisoned Lyssa as punishment for her plotting against him, causing her to fall into a debilitating slumber.[16]
Errata
- Pg. 150
- Stygian Inquirer: Strahd's ranged and melee attacks are wrong. He has a higher ranged than melee attack, but his Strength is greater than his Dexterity and he wields a magic weapon too. I have done the math the the attacks should look like this:
- Atk +20 melee (1d6+8 and energy drain, slam) or +25/+20/+15 melee (1d10+14, +4 bastard sword) or +19/+14/+9 ranged (1d8+6, +2 mighty composite longbow); I got these number via the following. The BAB for a Ftr 4/Nec 16 is 12/7/2. For the melee attack, you add +8 for STR mod, +4 for the bastard sword and +1 for weapon focus (bastard sword). For the ranged attack, you add +5 for DEX mod and +2 for the bow.
- Also the 3.5 DR would be 25/silver and magic as per the RL:PHB entry per an Ancient Vampire .
Strahd's Allies
- (In Curse of Strahd) Baba Lysaga (Unacknowledged by Strahd)
- Beucephalus (Mount)
- (In Curse of Strahd) The berserkers and druids of Yester Hill
- (In Curse of Strahd) The Children of Mother Night
- Wachter Family
- Zarovan Tribe
Strahd's Creations
During his time in the Mists, Strahd has developed a number of distinct creations, particularly in the areas of spells and undead unique to him.
- Books written by Strahd
Ring of Mortal Mimicry- Spells
- Spider Hound
- Strahd Undead
Strahd's Enemies
- Ardonk Szerieza and other Gundarakite rebels[17]
- Azalin Rex[18][19][20]
- The Dawnslayers[21]
- Duke Nharov Gundar[17]
- Inajira[18][22]
- The Keepers of the Black Feather[23]
- Lord Leo Dilisnya[24]
- Lord Soth[25]
- Lyssa von Zarovich[26][27]
- Zartin the Red[28]
Statistics
Figther 4 / Necromancer 16, Chaotic Evil[2]
Chronology
- 299 BC Strahd is born.[10][11][12]
- 320 BC Strahd gains the military rank of general.[11][12]
- 320 BC Tergs invade Barovia.[10][9]
- 326 BC The Siege of Krezk occurs.[9]
- 333 BC Tatyana, the future lover of Sergei von Zarovich and target for Strahd von Zarovich's desire, is born.[29]
- 346 BC Count Barov and Countess Ravenia von Zarovich slain by Tergs.[9]
- 347 BCStrahd makes a pact with Inajira right before a critical battle with the Tergs.[13]
- 347 BC Last of the Tergs driven from Barovia.[9][10] Strahd takes the rule over Barovia as the prize for his victory.[10]
- 349 BC Castle Ravenloft completed.[9] Strahd assumes residence there.[10]
- 350 BC Count Strahd von Zarovich, Commander Alek Gwilym, Sergei von Zarovich, and Lieutenant Falov lead a military strike force to defeat Red Lukas and his gang of bandits.[30]
- 350 BC The Ba'al Verzi try and fail to assassinate Count Strahd von Zarovich.[9]
- 351 BC Barovia forms due the actions of Strahd von Zarovich.[31][10][30] Strahd turns into a vampire.[10][30]
- 352 BC Strahd flexes his muscles to show domination over Barovia.[10][30]
- 398 BC Count Strahd von Zarovich confronts Lord Leo Dilisnya at the Monastery of Silver Threads, walking into Lord Dilisnya's trap. Strahd is almost put down, but the monks of the monastery act to turn the tide of battle. Strahd turns Lord Leo Dilisnya into a vampire and imprisons him in a tomb to starve from a lack of blood.[24][30]
- 400 BC First known reincarnation of Tatyana.[10][30]
- According to a version of Strahd's diary ready by van Richten in 736 BC, Alina, the second reincarnation of Tatyana Federovna dies of fever in this year of 445 BC. Count Strahd attempts suicide with Alina in hand, but the Mists prevent him and snatch away her corpse.[32] However, this goes against a version of Strahd's diary read by Jander Sunstar that says Tatyana's second reincarnation was Olya Ivanova who died 30 years later in 475 BC[33]
- Sometime between 450 BC and 460 BC: Gregorri Kolyan the bard is held captive by Strahd fo several years. Kolyan is ultimately let go with the story of Strahd's past.[34][35]
- 470 BC The Vistani appear in Barovia for the first time.[9]
- 470 BC Madame Eva and Strahd form an alliance.[10]
- 485 BC Petya and Anastasia Petrovich killed by Strahd[36]
- 499 BC Alexi "Sasha" Petrovich, Leisl, and Jander Sunstar assault Castle Ravenloft drive Strahd into hibernation.[36]
- 525 BC Lyssa von Zarovich is born.[14]
- 528 BC Outlander adventurers assault Castle Ravenloft and are destroyed.[37][10][38]
- 542 BC Azalin enters Ravenloft and arrives in Barovia.[39][40][10] Reluctantly, he serves Strahd for a time.[41][10]
- 542 BC Strahd discusses the potential threat Azalin poses with Madame Ilka, the new raunie of the Zarovan tribe (Maruschka having apparently died at some point in the last 40 years). [42]
- 547 BC Forlorn appears.[43] Strahd sends Azalin to investigate, but nothing of value to them is found.[44]
- 550 BC Lyssa von Zarovich becomes a vampire and discovers a way to achieve the power of a vampire much greater than her age.[14]
- 579 BC Strahd and Azalin create a portal to Mordent[39], where The Alchemist conducts strange research on changing the soul.[45] The Mists snatch up Mordent before either Strahd or Azalin can make good their escape, leaving them with only hazy dream-like recollections of what happened.[39]
- 579 BC Azalin leaves the service of Strahd.[41][10] Darkon forms.[46][41][10]
- 593 BC The domain of Gundarak appears.[37][10]
- 593 BC First known contact between Barovians and Gundarakites.[37]
- 613 BC (approximately) Strahd encounters Harkon Lukas running amok in Barovia and thoroughly thrashes him, forcing Harkon to flee into the Mists.[47]
- 718 BC Tara Kolyana is born. Not too long thereafter, her parents flee Barovia to go to Hazlan.[48]
- 735 BC Tara Kolyana experiences her first brush with the supernatural with an afflicted werewolf. After witnessing the man become cured, Tara resolves to help people throughout the Land of Mists. Her parents make her promise to never to go to Barovia.[48]
- 736 BC Duke Gundar is assassinated.[17][49]
- 739 BC Lyssa von Zarovich conspires with Bluetspurean illithids to create a vampiric version of their race. She hopes to use these vampire mind flayers to take over Barovia, but she ultimately fails.[14][50]
- 740 BC The Great Upheaval.
- 740 BC Strahd begins the annexation of Gundarak.[17]
- 750 BC Strahd poisons Lyssa von Zarovich into a slumbering state that leaves her active for only a few hours each night.[14] The poison is delivered via the blood of the dread flesh golem Tom (created by Emil Bollenbach) that acts as a stand-in for a human she hoped to enslave.[16]
- 753 BC: On his deathbed, Tara Kolyana's father expresses how proud he is of her and tells her of the prophecy the Vistani gave about her and why they left Barovia.[48]
- 753 BC: Count Strahd von Zarovich personally executes Burgomaster Shaithis Vosrovna for goating adventurers into the murder of one of the Vistani..[51]
TSR Collector Cards
Strahd's TSR 1991 Collector Card numbers are 489 and 611. His TSR 1992 Collector Card numbers are 285 and 608.
Appearances
Modules
- 1st Edition
- 2nd Edition
- Thoughts of Darkness (referenced only)
- From the Shadows (time travel sequence)
- Roots of Evil
- House of Strahd
- Lyssa von Zarovich's module in Children of the Night: Vampires
- 3rd Edition
- Expedition to Castle Ravenloft (not in continuity with Ravenloft campaign setting)
- 4th Edition
- Fair Barovia (Dungeon Magazine, online)
- 5th Edition
Novels, short stories, and other fiction
- Master of Ravenloft (AD&D Adventure Gamebook)
- Vampire of the Mists
- Knight of the Black Rose
- I, Strahd, The Memoirs of a Vampire
- Tales of Ravenloft: The Crucible of Dr. Rudolph van Richten (referenced only), Caretaker
- I, Strahd, The War Against Azalin
- Interview of the Lost Boys in the Dark Shadows of Ravenloft (Dragon Magazine, humor comic/non-canonical)
- For Every Vengeance There is an Equal and Opposite Revengeance (Dragon Magazine, humor comic/non-canonical)
Video and computer games
- Strahd's Possession (later included in several compilations)
- Iron & Blood: Warriors of Ravenloft
References
- ↑ Domains of Dread p.61
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gazetteer I p.150
- ↑ Gazetteer I p.28
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Domains of Dread p.14-15
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ravenloft Third Edition p.4, 12
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.4, 14
- ↑ Domains of Dread p.62
- ↑ Gazetteer I p.151
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 Gaz 1, p 17.
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 Domains of Dread p.16
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Ravenloft Third Edition p.12
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.14 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "RPHB p.14" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 13.0 13.1 Gazetteer I p.142
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p.34
- ↑ Thoughts of Darkness
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Children of the Night: Vampires p.21-26
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p.19 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "Gaz I p.19" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "Gaz I p.19" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 18.0 18.1 Roots of Evil
- ↑ Ravenloft Third Edition p.130>
- ↑ Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.132
- ↑ Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p.24
- ↑ Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p.142
- ↑ Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p.38
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p.13
- ↑ Knight of the Black Rose
- ↑ Children of the Night: Vampires p.20-26
- ↑ Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p.34
- ↑ Van Richten's Guide to Fiends
- ↑ Realm of Terror p.127
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 I, Strahd p.73-85 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "I, Strahd" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "I, Strahd" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "I, Strahd" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "I, Strahd" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "I, Strahd" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Gaz 1, pp 10, 16.
- ↑ I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin
- ↑ Vampire of the Mists p. 266-267
- ↑ Van Richten's Guide to Vampires p.6-9
- ↑ Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium I p.10-13
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 VotM
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Gazetteer I p.18
- ↑ House of Strahd
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 Gazetteer II p.135
- ↑ King of the Dead
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 King of the Dead
- ↑ I, Strahd, The War Against Azalin - p71, pp109-117, pp167-171
- ↑ Gazetteer I p.63
- ↑ Gazetteer I p.73-74
- ↑ I10: Ravenloft II: The House on Gryphon Hill
- ↑ Gazetteer II p.9
- ↑ Domains of Dread p.16, 64
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 Gazetteer I p.144
- ↑ Domains of Dread p.17
- ↑ Thoughts of Darkness
- ↑ Ravenloft Gazetteer I, p35.
Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue
Categories:
- Pages with reference errors
- Canon
- Netbook-canon
- Character
- NPC
- 1st Edition Character
- 2nd Edition Character
- 3rd Edition Character
- 4th Edition Character
- 5th Edition Character
- Amicicide
- Ancient Vampire
- Arcane Loremaster
- Artist
- Barovian (Prime Material Plane)
- Betrayer
- Challenge 15
- Chaotic Evil
- Commander
- Count of Barovia
- Count
- Darklord
- Darklord (Domain Lord Magnitude of Evil)
- Dancer
- Delegator
- Demonologist
- Fiend Summoner
- Fighter
- Foe of Azalin Rex
- Foe of Duke Gundar
- Foe of Jander Sunstar
- Foe of Malocchio Aderre
- Foe of Lord Soth
- Foe of Rudolph van Richten
- Foe of the Wanderers
- Former Inhabitants of Prime Material Barovia
- Fratricide
- General
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- Human
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- Inhabitants of Castle Ravenloft
- Inhabitants of Barovia
- Inventor of a Spell
- Killer
- Leader
- Mass Murderer
- Military Leader
- Military Officer
- Multiclass Character
- Murderer
- Musician
- Necromancer
- Necrologist
- Noble of Barovia
- Oppressor
- Orator
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- Performing Artist
- Personality of Barovia
- Poisoner
- Professional Killer
- Ravenloft Loremaster
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- TSR Collector Card Character
- Undead
- Vampire
- Van Roeyen Family
- Veteran
- Von Zarovich Family
- Wizard
- Writer
- Births in 299 BC
- Deaths in 351 BC
