Strahd von Zarovich

He is the Ancient. He is the Land.

Strahd von Zarovich

As enigmatic as he is ominous, Count Strahd von Zarovich is the absolute ruler of Barovia. His motives for why he brought the party to Barovia remain uncertain, although he has mentioned before that he is looking for a successor. Alternatively, a more sinister reason becomes apparent in his presence: to torment and break them. Early in the campaign, he happily took Ireena as his captive. However, he did not thank the party or spare them any indifference. In fact, his welcoming persona dropped and did not come back after that. Before his attack on Vallaki, he explained that the Dark Powers brought misery to him, and that his suffering must be felt throughout Barovia. It is still unknown what acts of punishment the Dark Powers brought upon him, but the Tome of Strahd gives insight to what it could have been. Thanks to Ezmerelda and Van Richten, the party is aware of the basic weaknesses of all vampires and vampire spawn:

Forbiddance: Vampires cannot enter a residence without invitation from one of the occupants.
Harmed by Running Water: Vampires take 20 acid damage is they end their turn in running water.
Stake to the Heart: If a piercing weapon made of wood is driven into a vampires heart, they are paralyzed until the stake is removed. Doing this to a vampire spawn will kill it instantly.
Sunlight Hypersensitivity: While in sunlight, vampires take 20 radiant damage at the start of their turn, and have disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.

Furthermore, he expresses in the Tome of Strahd that there is nothing he fears more than a "sword of sunlight" that his deceased brother, Sergei, brought to Barovia. It is not known if this item is still in Barovia, for Strahd mentions immediately after that he must have it destroyed immediately. Boop once subjected Strahd to the capturing properties of the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, but Strahd was able to break free of the medallion's magical grip. However, doing so seemed exceedingly difficult even for him.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

From The Tome of Strahd: I am The Ancient, I am The Land. My beginnings are lost in the darkness of the past. I was the warrior, I was good and just. I thundered auoss the land like the wrath of a just god, but the war years and the killing years wore down my soul as the wind wears stone into sand. … All goodness slipped from my life; I found my youth and strength gone and all I had left was death. My army settled in the valley of Barovia and took power over the people in the name of a just god, but with none of a god’s grace or justice. I called for my family, long unseated from their ancient thrones, and brought them here to settle in the castle Ravenloft. They came with a younger brother of mine, Sergei. He was handsome and youthful. I hated him for both. … From the families of the valley, one spirit shone above all others. A rare beauty, who was called “perfection,” “joy,” and “treasure.” Her name was Tatyana and I longed for her to be mine. I loved her with all my heart. I loved her for her youth. I loved her for her joy. But she spurned me! “Old One” was my name to her – “elder” and “brother” also. Her heart went to Sergei. They were betrothed. The date was set. … With words she called me “brother,” but when I looked into her eyes they reflected another name – “death.” It was the death of the aged that she saw in me. She loved her youth and enjoyed it. But I had squandered mine. The death she saw in me turned her from me. And so I came to hate death, my death. My hate is very strong: I would not be called “death” so soon. I made a pact with Vol, a pact of Blood. On the day of the wedding, I killed Sergei, my brother. My pact was sealed with his blood, his…divinity. I found Tatyana weeping in the garden east of the Chapel. She fled from me. She would not let me explain, and a great anger swelled within me. She had to understand the pact I made for her! I pursued her. Finally, in despair, she flung herself from the walls of Ravenloft and I watched everything I ever wanted fall from my grasp forever. It was a thousand feet through the mists. No trace of her was ever found. Not even I know her final fate. Arrows from the castle guards pierced me to my soul, but I did not die. Nor did I live. I became undead, forever. … I have studied much since then. “Vampyr” is my new name. I still lust for life and youth, and I curse the living that took them from me. Even the sun is against me. But little else can harm me now. Even a stake through my heart does not kill me, though it holds me from movement. But the sword, that cursed sword that Sergei brought! I must dispose of that awful tool! I fear and hate it as much as the sun. I have often searched for Tatyana. I have even felt her within my grasp, but she escapes me! She taunts me! She taunts me! What will it take to bend her love to me? I now reside far below Ravenloft. I live among the dead and sleep beneath the very stones of this hollow castle of despair. I shall seal shut the walls of the stairs that none may disturb me.