The thirteen Counts Strahd
Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2021 9:27 pm
Recently I have watched several Doctor Who episodes and so I started to think what if Strahd rejuvenation in his coffin after having been killed would work like Time Lords's Regeneration, partially? Partially, because Strahd phisical appearance would change only marginally, enought to corroborate the idea it's a son who succeed him; but his personality, while fundamentally the same would change too; This could allow different interpretation of the character.
Strahd I the Devil, (Before vampirization) the Count-King of Barovia, enbittered by a long campaign against the Tergs Strahd the I while alive was a strong ruler and a dabbler of the Dark Arts;
Strahd I the Devil (After vampirization) was a cruel and violent tyrant who fought a long excuciating war against the treacherous house of Dilisnya, getting himself slayed in an elaborated trap by Leo Dilisnya.
Strahd II the Unexpected succeeded his "father" after the latter "death" against Leo Dilisnya. He got revenge for his father and dedicated his reign to pacify the boyars . He was assassinated by his wife's brother the day after his second marriage;
Strahd III the Conqueror appeared as a young man and after avenging his father started a series of military campaigns which made Barovia a huge nation with large swathes of Invidian, Gundarakite, Forfarian and Borcan land; After his death during his campaign in Lazendrak, killed by Night King Ezekielm he was succeded by his eldest "son" Strahd IV.
Strahd IV the Grim abandoned his "father's" conquests and dedicated his long reign to the search of a bride, and to weed out opposition; he is remembered as a detached King, and under his reign Castle Ravenloft started to fall in ruin, as the Kingdom of Barovia closed itself to the world, Strahd IV was killed by assassins sent by rebel boyars.
Strahd V the Repentant or the Alchemist is remembered as one of the kindest ruler of Barovia, he dedicated his life to enbetter Barovian people life; he was the one Strahd who went closer to break his curse, but the Fiend Inajira tried to take advantage by Strahd's repentance, and claim his soul, killing his third wife Illyana in the meanwhile; Illyana's death and Strahd's rage destroyed the fragile humanity the Count King had just restored in himself; Officially Strahd V perished that day, heroically slaying an evil fiend.
Strahd VI, the Cunning or Friend of Vistani, was allegedly a cousin of his precedessor; he was a lot less benevolent then his "cousin" was but he restored Castle Ravenloft to its previos glory and signed the treaty with the Vistani Zarovan Tribe which allowed Barovian Trade to flourish. Strahd VI was killed by an headless woman.
Strahd VII, the Rich, allegedly the son of the previous Count-King, was particularly involved in Barovia economics, reformed the taxation system and encouraged merchantile activities; his long reign was ended, apparently, by robbers who managed to steal Barovia's regalia.
Strahd VIII, the Mercyless, "son" of the previous one returned to insulation in Castle Ravenloft, enforcing draconian law against criminality and ruling with an iron fist in a velvet glove; he was killed by "bandits" and succeded by his "son".
Strahd IX, the Silent, was never seen or heard by his subjects with few exception, he kept his kingdom going smoothly, but infrastructure and buildings decaded after his long reign, Castle Ravenloft included; he died allegedly peacefully in his bed, his "grandson" succeeded him.
Strahd X, the Wise, was the best ruler in Barovian history under him, Castle Ravenloft was rebuilded to his former glory the borders were opened, population soared and trade flourished, Strahd X was convinced that doing good would have allowed him to get his beloved once and for all; As such he became the patron of many great heroes financing the good fight all across the Core; it was during his reign that an exiled wizard called Firan Zal'holan, code name Azalin Rex; after a good relationship beetwen the two, Azalin discovered that his benefactor was a vampire; theyr relatioship deteriorated when Azalin's curiosity got him in the middle of the love triangle beetwen Strahd, Sergey's ghost and Tatyana's reincarnation and his interference killed the girl; Strahd the wise died that day, and his golden age ended, starting the age of the worst Count-King in Barovian history.
Strahd XI, the Cursed, supposed son and heir of Strahd X, he was a cruel, manipolative and machiavellian ruler, who kept Barovia in a state of fear and anguish; he was notorious for playing sadistic jokes and trying to corrupt innocent peoples, surrounding himself with undead and evil creatures and under his rule the people revolted, and he was killed by his own "son"
Strahd XII the Restorer, is slowly making people forget his "father's" rule, restoring Barovia to the glory of his "grandfather's" age; why he is an harder man the Strahd the wise, and way more conservative, under Strahd XII Barovia has growed back toregional power level.
Strahd I the Devil, (Before vampirization) the Count-King of Barovia, enbittered by a long campaign against the Tergs Strahd the I while alive was a strong ruler and a dabbler of the Dark Arts;
Strahd I the Devil (After vampirization) was a cruel and violent tyrant who fought a long excuciating war against the treacherous house of Dilisnya, getting himself slayed in an elaborated trap by Leo Dilisnya.
Strahd II the Unexpected succeeded his "father" after the latter "death" against Leo Dilisnya. He got revenge for his father and dedicated his reign to pacify the boyars . He was assassinated by his wife's brother the day after his second marriage;
Strahd III the Conqueror appeared as a young man and after avenging his father started a series of military campaigns which made Barovia a huge nation with large swathes of Invidian, Gundarakite, Forfarian and Borcan land; After his death during his campaign in Lazendrak, killed by Night King Ezekielm he was succeded by his eldest "son" Strahd IV.
Strahd IV the Grim abandoned his "father's" conquests and dedicated his long reign to the search of a bride, and to weed out opposition; he is remembered as a detached King, and under his reign Castle Ravenloft started to fall in ruin, as the Kingdom of Barovia closed itself to the world, Strahd IV was killed by assassins sent by rebel boyars.
Strahd V the Repentant or the Alchemist is remembered as one of the kindest ruler of Barovia, he dedicated his life to enbetter Barovian people life; he was the one Strahd who went closer to break his curse, but the Fiend Inajira tried to take advantage by Strahd's repentance, and claim his soul, killing his third wife Illyana in the meanwhile; Illyana's death and Strahd's rage destroyed the fragile humanity the Count King had just restored in himself; Officially Strahd V perished that day, heroically slaying an evil fiend.
Strahd VI, the Cunning or Friend of Vistani, was allegedly a cousin of his precedessor; he was a lot less benevolent then his "cousin" was but he restored Castle Ravenloft to its previos glory and signed the treaty with the Vistani Zarovan Tribe which allowed Barovian Trade to flourish. Strahd VI was killed by an headless woman.
Strahd VII, the Rich, allegedly the son of the previous Count-King, was particularly involved in Barovia economics, reformed the taxation system and encouraged merchantile activities; his long reign was ended, apparently, by robbers who managed to steal Barovia's regalia.
Strahd VIII, the Mercyless, "son" of the previous one returned to insulation in Castle Ravenloft, enforcing draconian law against criminality and ruling with an iron fist in a velvet glove; he was killed by "bandits" and succeded by his "son".
Strahd IX, the Silent, was never seen or heard by his subjects with few exception, he kept his kingdom going smoothly, but infrastructure and buildings decaded after his long reign, Castle Ravenloft included; he died allegedly peacefully in his bed, his "grandson" succeeded him.
Strahd X, the Wise, was the best ruler in Barovian history under him, Castle Ravenloft was rebuilded to his former glory the borders were opened, population soared and trade flourished, Strahd X was convinced that doing good would have allowed him to get his beloved once and for all; As such he became the patron of many great heroes financing the good fight all across the Core; it was during his reign that an exiled wizard called Firan Zal'holan, code name Azalin Rex; after a good relationship beetwen the two, Azalin discovered that his benefactor was a vampire; theyr relatioship deteriorated when Azalin's curiosity got him in the middle of the love triangle beetwen Strahd, Sergey's ghost and Tatyana's reincarnation and his interference killed the girl; Strahd the wise died that day, and his golden age ended, starting the age of the worst Count-King in Barovian history.
Strahd XI, the Cursed, supposed son and heir of Strahd X, he was a cruel, manipolative and machiavellian ruler, who kept Barovia in a state of fear and anguish; he was notorious for playing sadistic jokes and trying to corrupt innocent peoples, surrounding himself with undead and evil creatures and under his rule the people revolted, and he was killed by his own "son"
Strahd XII the Restorer, is slowly making people forget his "father's" rule, restoring Barovia to the glory of his "grandfather's" age; why he is an harder man the Strahd the wise, and way more conservative, under Strahd XII Barovia has growed back toregional power level.