Prologue - Youth

“I am the Ancient. I am the Land. My beginnings are lost in the darkness of the past…”

This chapter details Strahd's childhood. It establishes his relationships with his father King Barov, his mother Queen Ravenovia, Rahadin, and Sergei. It also allows the party to meet the boy who will go on to become the Devil.

The young Dark Lord speaks freely about himself to his perceived imaginary friends, the party learns the following:

• His name is Strahd von Zarovich.
• He is meant to become lord of this castle, and his mother thinks he'll make a great lord. His father, King Barov, believes he might, but he also says that he has a lot of work to do.
• He is nervous about living up to his father's expectations.
• His father's advisor, Rahadin, is his teacher. He's a difficult teacher, and he pushes really hard.
• His mother is pregnant with a boy, Sergei, and she says it'll be his job to teach Sergei everything he knows.

After listening at the door for some time, Rahadin, appearing the same age as when you first encountered him, steps outside and draws his blade, announcing that he and Strahd will return to training at once.

"...yet that past now is filled only with regret."

Tome of Strahd

Wondrous item, legendary

(requires attunement by a spellcaster)
While attuned to the Tome you gain the following benefits:

• You have advantage on any skill checks made to recall information about Barovian history or lore.
• You gain a +1 to your AC and to any saving throws when defending against Strahd von Zarovich’s magic.

While attuned to the Tome you may spend 4 hours attempting to decipher new sections of the Tome in order to gain further insight into the life of Strahd and the land of Barovia.
Deciphering a chapter requires an Intelligence (Investigation) or Intelligence (Arcana) check and at least 4 hours of dedicated research time. Another creature may assist you in the attempt and grant advantage on the check if they help. Attempting to decipher the book or offering your help in deciphering it reduces your passive perception by 5 for the duration of the 4 hours.
The Tome also appears to contain esoteric, magical knowledge akin to spells inscribed within a wizard's spellbook. As the secrets and magic contained within are revealed to you, you may cast any spells recorded in the Tome as a ritual. If a spell found in the Tome does not have the ritual tag, it is nonetheless a ritual spell for you when cast from the Tome. Once a spell is cast in this way, it cannot be cast from the Tome again until the following dusk. If the spell is of a higher level than you are able to cast, you must succeed on a DC10 + the spell's level Intelligence(Arcana) check. If you fail, the spell's use for the day is still expended.

Spells Learned

Prologue - Illusory Script (1st Level Illusion) Chapter One -

Item type

Book / Document

Rahadin