Barovian

Description:

Barovians are pre-dominantly human. Although they know that dwarves, elves, halflings and other civilized races exist, few living Barovians have seen such "creatures," let alone interacted with them. The only non-humans most Barovians are familiar with are the adventurers occasionally pulled into the dimiplane . Barovians thus react to nonhuman characters the same way most humans in the real world would react to elf, dwarf, or half-orc adventurers suddenly walking the streets. Most such outsiders are scorned, feared, or shunned.   Barovians are deeply invested in their homes and their traditions. They are wary of strange peoples and customs. The way Barovians deal with strangers can be unsettling to newcomers. Barovians have a tendency to stare openly, in silence, thereby expressing their disapproval of anything that isn't familiar to them. Barovians aren't talkative with strangers, to the extent of being pointedly rude. Most Barovians have violent tempers that boil up through their customary silence when they are provoked. They also have a social cohesiveness (thrust upon them by their weird circumstances) that can make them act together against outsiders if a Barovian and is mistreated.
Barovians were a happy people once, but their history and current conditions aren't pleasant. Barovian children are raised in a culture of fear and told time and again not to wander too far from their homes or enter the woods. They experience little hope or joy, and they are taught to fear the devil Strahd above all.
Barovian adults eke out modest livings. With no new wealth pouring into the valley, they trade in old coins that bear the profile of their dark Lord, Strahd, as he looked when he was alive. They hide their precious baubles in their houses and dress plainly outdoors, so as not to attract unwanted attention.
Barovians live within a closed ecosystem. Every Barovian adult is expected to learn a trade or serve a function. Barovians stitch their own clothing, craft their own furniture, grow their own food, and make their own wine. With fewer than 3000 people living in the entire valley, finding the perfect mate isn't easy, so Barovians have learned to settle for what they can get.

Appearance:

Skin tones run from pale to olive-tan to light brown.

Dark hair and eyes are typical, the former ranging from light chestnut to nearly jet-black, the latter from pale hazel to deep brown. Men grow their hair to medium length, generally to just above the shoulder. Women wear their hair long, with younger women frequently braiding their locks. Most men wear thick, drooping mustaches, though beards are common only among younger men.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Mathilda Ivana Vasha Tereska Nyanka

Masculine names

Boris  Livius  Sergei  Dargos Falkon Radu

Family names

Stefanovi Barthos Mironovic Krykski Krezkova Belasco Grygorova Vadu

Culture

Common Dress code

Men wear loose white shirts, embroidered sheepskin vests, and dark breeches. Women wear blouses and long skirts and cover their heads with kerchiefs. Barovian women favor black, gray, and dark brown colors and wear the kerchief only when married.

Related Organizations

• The Kingdom of Barovia
• Vistani