Redemption and Consequence

[Mistmaster]

In my version he killed Sergei to steal his youth and strenght. He got it but with a twist. Strahd V and Strahd X got dangerously close to redemption, but failed respectively because of Inajira and (Unwittingly) Azalin.

[onmyoji]

Ah, but this is not by Strahd's choice, so he receives no credit.

He'll ultimately make the choice. It's more about my players opening the door to it.

Hmm. Provided the Core does not fall apart on Strahd's death, who do you think would replace him as Darklord of Barovia?

And why should it? There are more lands in the Core than just Barovia. It's never been cited as necessary to the Core—simply the first domain created.

(Fun fact: For my campaign, it isn't. If one looks at the 5E map, the "Krezk" third is one domain, the "Vallaki/Berez" third is another, and the "Castle Ravenloft/Barovia Village" third is the last. They all coalesced into the "Domain of Barovia" at some point after 351, all ruled by Strahd. Why else would there be two major physical gates to "Barovia" located how they are, if it wasn't once its own smaller domain. And if Gundarak can divide and part of which can become part of Barovia, then why couldn't two earlier domains exist before Strahd that he later annexes?)

— onmyoji

[JasperWick]

In my version he killed Sergei to steal his youth and strenght. He got it but with a twist. Strahd V and Strahd X got dangerously close to redemption, but failed respectively because of Inajira and (Unwittingly) Azalin.

I'm curious. How did these stories go, with Strahd V and X almost redeming themselves?

[Mistmaster]

Strahd V the Alchemist, or the Repentant was convinced that the key of getting Tatyana's love was atone and become a better person and ruler, and he started separating from and sealing off his monstruos persona within his coffin; he was still cursed but he was more human in aspect and feeling, if magucally and phiscally weaker; He begun to atone and made Barovia a better place to live in, reconciled with Sergei's ghost, and was on the verge to win the heart of Tatyana (then named Ariadne) and break the curse, but the day of theyr marriage, Inajura struck, ready to claim his soul but learned he could not; without his evil part, Strahd soul was not his to take; so Inajira kidnapped Ariadne and forced Strahd to free his evil part; Reunited to the Beast, Strahd gained back his strenght and powers and managed to destroy Inajira's phisical form, banishing him from Barovia, but after doing that he succumbed to thirst, killing Ariadne; Sergei's ghost destroyed her body before he could turn her in a vampire, and that cemented the rift between the two. That day Strahd V died, by his own hand and Strahd VI was born.

Strahd X The Wise was tired of centuries of scheming; he decided to try again but this time he did not take shortcuts; He remembered his past defeat in his Strahd III persona at the hand of a good aligned vampire-King Ezekiel of Lazendrak (QtR 26) , and decided to try and ask for his help; Ezekiel sent him a recipe for a very complicated potion who wouldkeep in check his vampiric thirst and give him back part of his humanity, along with the ingredients; Strahd started to reign on Barovia with equity and he became the sponsor of good aligned adventurers; this behaviour attracted Tatyana, then an Andaral Church Paladin by the name of Serifa; Strahd did not court her but they became close; Strahd was happy with the development and begun a timid reaquitment with his ever loyal ghost brother, who encouraged his behaviour. One day however, an exiled Darkonese wizard named Firan came to castle Ravenloft in search of help against the undead Tyrant Vecna XVI; Strahd trained the gifted wizard, and Firan was grateful, before beginning to suspect his mentor was hiding something; once he learned about Strahd vampirica nature, he decided to confront him and Strahd did not deny, but before he was able to explain, Serifa, who had been mysteriosly invited (by Inajira? By the Mist Powers? DM choise) to the meeting, attacked. Strahd simply dodged and stayed on defensive, initially, but he had been prevented, by Firan, from drinking his Vamp-placating potion; So before he managed to explain things to Serifa, his full vampiric side rehemerged, and he stuggled to control it allowing her to struck a fatal blow; Scared that Strahd vampiric strenght could overwhelm Serifa, Firan unleashed the most powerfull spells he had prepared, and unwittingly collapsed the room, managing to escape but alone. Strahd emerged from the rabble crading the dead body of Serifa; Mortally wounded byher holy sword and unnable to cohope with the pain of her death he destroyed the Vamp-placating potion's recipe and sample, and then died, regenerating in his coffin as Strahd XI the Accursed (CoS Strahd.)

[Zilfer]

I kinda like how you have each of your strahd's named a title. Helps a bit flesh out different era's of his rule, and possibly give a bit more credence on people believing someone would name all their descendants the same name. I'm currently using Strahd XIII because well 13 being that unique number that's always picked. xD Thanks for sharing your other Strahds.