The Sunless Kingdom: A History of Barovia

The Sunless Kingdom: A History of Barovia is a book borrowed from Lady Marilena Fidatov by Sylvain. First published in 690, and co-written by Yosep and Nadezhda Mirsky, it is a rather less biased overview of Barovia's history than some others the party has reviewed.

Chapter 1

The first chapter of the book covers what little information the authors had available on the coill cailleacha, the valley's original inhabitants.
As before: Barovia was previously home to hunter-gatherers, as well as elven enclaves and the Vistani. These people, who called themselves the coill cailleacha, would go on to become what are today called the forest folk. Their connection to the land was of prime importance to them, and they left very few traces of their civilization behind as they were slowly pushed out — save the vast stone monoliths they would erect as sacred spaces, honouring their goddesses.
Unfortunately, the names of these goddesses, as well as the original name of the land, has long since been lost, the result of multiple waves of invasion, conquering, and a concerted effort to erase the coill cailleacha’s history.
Still, certain theories can be offered about the life of the coill cailleacha. By all accounts it seems they were, as they are now, deeply connected to nature, with precious few permanent habitation structures, practising druidic and holy magics, as well as training fierce warriors. They had, and have, exceptional adaptations for living in Barovia, including the ability to build shelters and hunt even in the most brutal Barovian winters.

Chapter 2

The second chapter covers the period of Derluskan conquest (~200–300).
The first invasion came in the year 200, when an invading army of Derluskans came, clearing the way for “pioneers” who sought to settle the land. The Derluskans, clearing land and claiming it as their own, pushed the coill cailleacha and the dusk elves deeper into the woods as they sought to continue their lives. Though these groups did not seek conflict with the Derluskans, they often found it when Derluskan settlers came upon them, suffering great losses as the Derluskans sought to “civilize” the land.
The Derluskans’ propensity for strife backfired, however, and their kingdom fell to civil war, with many of the settlers leaving the valley for fairer climes. By 300, the population of Derluskans still in the valley was less than a quarter of what it had once been. Those who stayed behind were concentrated in three outposts: Vallaki, Berez, and Krezk.
The ensuing period was characterized by frequent conflict between the elves, cailleacha, and remaining Derluskans. Having lost many of their people to the Derluskans, and emboldened by the departure of their armies, the original inhabitants of Barovia sought to chase the remaining interlopers out of the land, and return it to their gentler stewardship. The Vistani in this time remained largely a neutral party, offering aid and shelter to all who requested it, though there were always outliers who would throw in with one side or the other. Despite this, the three outposts endured.

Chapter 3

The third chapter covers the invasion of the valley by the armies of King Barov von Zarovich, led by his son, Strahd
Not quite 150 years after the Derluskans first came, in 347, a young general prince came to conquer the land in his father’s name: Strahd von Zarovich.
The von Zaroviches were the rulers of Tverdzavia, a kingdom established by King Barov von Zarovich himself when he was a young man. Tverdzavia grew exponentially over the course of King Barov’s rule, with his armies gaining renown and infamy in equal measure.
By the time the Tverdzavians came to the valley, King Barov was well past his prime, and it was Strahd’s name people on the outskirts of their empire had begun to whisper with fear. The eldest of two sons, Strahd had followed in his father’s footsteps, with a storied military career that showed a ruthless cunning that gained him victory after victory.
Strahd declared victory over the valley later that year, and renamed it Barovia, making the uttering of any previous names a crime punishable by death. The honour meant for his father was never revealed to King Barov, who died shortly before Strahd’s victory.

Chapter 4

The fourth chapter covers the early years of Barovia under Strahd's rule, including the death of his mother, the arrival of his brother Sergei, and the twin courtships Strahd and Sergei made to a local noblewoman.
The Derluskans by and large welcomed Strahd, who used their outposts as bases for his army to operate from, providing protection in return for their fealty. This began a long history of cooperation between Strahd and the noble families of Barovia.
Though the elves and the cailleacha continued to fight off Strahd’s forces where they could, the war was already won. The numbers Strahd’s army had made any attempts at resistance doomed before they were begun, though that didn’t stop the original inhabitants of the valley from fighting for it.
In these early years, an alliance was struck that would last for centuries: when Strahd von Zarovich, mortally wounded in battle with the resistance, took refuge in a Vistani camp, his wounds were tended to and his life saved. In return, he swore that the Vistani would never be harmed by him or his forces so long as they were on his land, and that he would always treat them with the same hospitality they had shown him. For many, this would only exacerbate tensions between the Vistani and more sedentary populations, who had long regarded these travelling peoples with suspicion.
In 350, the construction of Castle Ravenloft — a massive feat of architecture and engineering that drew experts from across the Tverdzavian empire, led by renowned architect and mage Khazan Fidatov — was completed, named for Strahd’s beloved mother, Queen Ravenovia. Again, Strahd’s tribute was followed by tragedy, as on her way to her new home, Queen Ravenovia died in Vallaki, before ever seeing the castle in person.
Despite this loss, Strahd’s younger brother Sergei lived with Strahd at Castle Ravenloft in the following year. The village of Barovia, first established as a satellite to Castle Ravenloft, so those loyal to him could have an easier journey to the castle, flourished, and though Strahd spent much of this time in seclusion or plotting further moves against the remaining resistance in Barovia beside his trusted lieutenant Rahadin, his brother Sergei quickly became a beloved figure among the people.
Originally trained to be a priest of the Morninglord, Sergei’s fate changed when he fell in love with Tatyana Ostrovsky, a young noblewoman from a prominent family in the village. Known for her shining red hair, gentle heart, and exceptional beauty, she was widely agreed to be a fine match for Sergei, and their wedding was destined to be an event to remember.
Only one shadow lay over the union: Strahd had himself courted Tatyana first. However, he stepped aside to allow his brother to wed her instead.

Chapter 5

The fifth chapter covers Tatyana and Sergei's wedding day, the ascension of Strahd as a vampire lord, and the destruction of the Order of the Silver Dragon.
Accounts of the wedding in 351 vary, but one thing is certain: that day, Sergei von Zarovich died, Tatyana Ostrovsky disappeared, and clouds descended over Barovia, never to lift again. Some accounts claim Strahd von Zarovich was responsible for Sergei’s death, with guards shooting at Strahd in front of several witnesses, while others claim Sergei had plotted to overthrow Strahd and his rightful claim to Barovia, and that it was those guards who had been part of the rebellion that attacked Strahd when the revolt failed.
It is difficult to say when it became common knowledge that Strahd von Zarovich had become a vampire. As with so many points in history, accounts vary widely. However, all knew that something had changed, with the sun no longer shining in the valley, and the borders of Barovia suddenly marked by impenetrable mists, which only the lucky came back from alive, if they were foolish enough to enter them at all.
A handful of years later, Strahd earned another significant victory: the Order of the Silver Dragon, a group of knights led by a man known only as Argynvost, were finally defeated.
Argynvost had led his knightly order into Barovia before the mists descended, in 348, when he heard of Strahd’s tyranny. Though Argynvost’s own origins are unknown, his knights came from far and wide, and fought for freedom and justice wherever they went.
Unlike the dusk elves and the coill cailleacha, the Order of the Silver Dragon was well prepared to face off against Strahd’s troops. However, once Strahd became a vampire and the mists descended, the tides began to turn, as Strahd’s human armies gained all manner of unholy accompaniment: zombies, skeletons, ghouls and wraiths. Though there were some mages and holy warriors among the Order of the Silver Dragon, eventually they were overwhelmed, their stronghold assaulted, and their warriors wiped away, leaving only rumours of revenants, crumbling ruins, and a few distinctly non-Barovian surnames behind.

Item type

Book / Document