Barovia

Geography

Almost the entire valley consisted of densely forested rough terrain, with sheer cliffs and outcroppings. Few areas were easily traversable, and it was always dangerous to stay off the road. Winters were usually long and bitter.
The sky of Barovia was permanently overcast with storm clouds. Even during the brightest hours of the day, light was unnaturally muted and dimmed, and did not affect normally sensitive creatures such as vampires. In many locations, the mists partially or completely obscured vision.
The valley was located between Mount Baratok to the north and Mount Ghakis to the south. Both mountains were part of a larger mountain range known as the Balinok Mountains. The evergreen forest of the Svalich Woods covered the entire valley, which was trespassed by the Old Svalich Road that ran from East to West. At the center of the valley, south of the slopes of Mount Baratok, stood a large lake known as Lake Zarovich, which was fed by melting snow from the mountain.
It was bordered to the south by the domain of Hazlan.

Ecosystem

The Amber Temple, an ancient temple built by an order of wizards that were later corrupted by the Dark Powers. The temple housed vestiges of entities from across the multiverse and was the place from which Strahd forged his original pact with the Dark Powers. Barovia, Vallaki, and Krezk, the three villages located along the Old Svalich Road. Castle Ravenloft, Strahd's seat of power. Oraşnou, a small village located at the foot of the mountains in Barovia. The mists led there from the Quivering Forest.

Fauna & Flora

Much of the lower hilled forests throughout Barovia were made up of hardwood trees, such as beech, cherry, hazelnut, and oak. At higher elevations the predominant trees were evergreens, such as fir, pine, and spruce.
The forests of Barovia teemed with wildlife. Land animals such as deer, rabbits, rats, wolves, and black bears were common in the woods. The sky was populated with ravens, hawks and songbirds, as well as nocturnal bats and owls.

History

Barovia was conquered by then-human general Strahd and his army. It was later transported to the Shadowfell by the Dark Powers, as a consequence of a pact struck with Strahd to grant him eternal life. The pact involved the murder of his brother Sergei von Zarovich so that Strahd could take Sergei's wife Tatyana, with whom he had fallen madly in love. The pact inadvertently caused the death of Tatyana and ended up turning Strahd into a vampire and imprisoning him within the realm. It remained the only Domain of Dread for nearly two centuries, until other realms started joining it.

Type

Territory

Location under

Shadowfell

Owner/Ruler

Strahd von Zarovich

Characters in Location

• Strahd von Zarovich