Café de Nuit

I guess I would want to start by saying that if any of your are taking part in Staunton Bluffs Episode II PbP then please do not read this post. I'd appreciate it.

Rafael is more than welcome to continue reading however, for ultimately he is ending up with this little background writeup i'm working on.

I've created a Barovian native from Barovia Village named Izabela. Born BC732.

Long story short, she is raised differently than other Barovian children in the sense that she does not fear the night, the ruler (Strahd) or have fear in such beasts that other children learn about existing at an early age. Shortly before her 21st birthday her father is called to Castle Ravenloft. He returns with an outfit for Izabela and only states that she must go to see Strahd. Izabela goes to Castle Ravenloft and is taken in under his care. Although Izabela does not know this, the dark powers have already started to nature her due to her upbringing and lack of fear for the land. Strahd charms her with dinner, conversation (see below) and her own private room with a balcony for observing the stars (her pastime). During their conversations Strahd makes it clear that he has ties with her mother and father and that they are "highly respected in his eyes". He grants Izabela full use of the castle, only forbidding her from the obvious locations (Tower of witches and wizards, catacombs, etc..). He also grants her permission to return to the village to see her family whenever she wishes. When she does return, Strahd sends a pouch (with money) for the father and clothes for the mother. Izabela spends years with Strahd, living under the roof of Castle Ravenloft and looking for clues in books about Tatyana's whereabouts. Izabela has absolutely no idea of Strahds true nature, the fact that Tatyana existed in BC351 and the even more hideous fact that Strahd drove Tatyana over the ledge. Izabela is on a dire quest within books, for years, looking for information on Tatyana. In early 758BC Strahd leaves Castle Ravenloft for weeks during a terrible snow storm. Izabela attempts to return to Barovia Village but finds the drawbridge raised and the doors shut and locked. During this extended period of Strahd being gone she realizes that she is not alone in castle ravenloft, as the food continues to be served three times daily, her bathe drawn in her room every eve, and her bed meticulously changed daily. Izabela however never meets this infamous servant. Strahd eventually returns with news of Tatyana being in Mordent, in a small village east of the coastline. He demands Izabela to journey to Mordent. He promises safe passage through Barovia until the mists. He also grants her one last visit to her family.

OK... sorry for the rant and rave.

My questions:

1 - What is Strahds tie to Izabela's family?
2 - Why is Strahd so bent on Tatyana that he needs Izabela and ultimately sends her to Mordent?
3 - Obviously Strahd is using Tatyana as a lure for Izabela to be put into some form of harms way. What is Strahds ultimate goal? What is he trying to achieve?
4 - Should Izabela be confronted by the "servant" before she is sent on her way? I was thinking maybe a replica of Sergei?
...and lastly...
5 - When Strahds confronts Izabela after his extended trip, what is her response to his request for her to go to Mordent?

Basically I am almost complete with the background. My character, now in SB Episode II has just come out of the mists and something has gone terribly wrong... she is not in Borca, or Barovia.

Can anyone help me with my five questions and lead me down the path of finishing my background?

Thanks,
Scott

I will wath this thread as it hopefully grows, but reserve any comments about the backstory - I don't want to create some possible spoilers. - Still, the only thing I as your DM can recommend is not insert to many ties to Strahd's family - means, at best leave Sergej and Tatyana out of the backstory....

Odd but interesting background. But I wonder why Strahd would do such a thing with Izabela, if she isn't of the Von Zarovich blood?

Joël

Ha, ok, well I figured someone would reply with forgetting about Strahd entirely.

Let me ask this one question then.

What are the chances of a Barovian having ties (or relations) with individuals from other realms?

I'm scheming up a new idea...

Scott

The chances of a Barovian having ties with another domain are pretty good, I would say. It's been around a long time and it lies on a couple of major trade routes, so I'd say the villagers and townspeople are quite like to have such ties, in terms of business partners or acquaintances if not in friends and family. In the backwoods it would be much rarer, of course.

StuckInOrbit wrote:Ha, ok, well I figured someone would reply with forgetting about Strahd entirely.

Let me ask this one question then.

Oh, from my point of view, you can well keep your background with the story of Strahd etc. - The point is just that I solved the *incarnation* problem of Sergej and Tatyana in another way for this game. - And, to speak open, the Strahd plots will play a role in our game - and already have begun to do so. Tatyana doesn't exist in this campaign - there is another incarnation around...

As to other ties, you might just have found an old book in Strahd's libraray describing Staunton Bluffs, and he might have sent you out to explore that island...

Thanks for the replies!

Rafael, I like your idea about the book on Staunton Bluffs.

I will attempt to re-write around that. It is a great idea mainly for the fact that the island I live on is surrounded by bluffs, and when I present this writing at our island gathering it will have more of an impact.


Scott

Very cool. If our campaigns wouldn't have already had other plans for Strahd, I would indeed have accepted your first attempt. Very intriguing storytelling this is...