Tome of Strahd

The Tome of Strahd is an ancient work penned by Strahd, a tragic tale of how he came to his fallen state. The book is bound in a thick leather cover with steel hinges and fastenings. The pages are of parchment and very brittle. Most of the book is written in the curious shorthand that only Strahd employs. Stains and age have made most of the work illegible, but several paragraphs remain intact and readable.

Readable Texts

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 across 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 death, a pact of blood. On the day of the wedding, I killed Sergei, my brother. My pact was sealed with his blood.
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.

Tatyana my beloved, why must you hurt me like you have. I feel you in my grasp, yet you escape me the moment we touch. She taunts me! She taunts me! What will it take for you to love to me? I can change, I know I can, but you have forced my hand generations ago. I will find a way. I must find a way.

I have studied much since then. “Vampyr” is my new name. Everyone and everything is against me, even the sun. Little can harm me now, except for that damned sword Sergei brought with him. I must dispose of that awful tool, its sight alone causes me to feel and act in disparity. A possible solution to my now named curse could be to find a successor, yet none match my intellect or skill. Mother once told me a true king is only as good as the one he shares his throne with. I will find that person. They must relief me of my position. They must bring an end to this, so I can finally live the rest of my days in peace and quiet. 

Once I felt true compassion, this has since that horrid day been replaced with a dull emptiness. I wish to love, yet my heart does not seem to warm, not even at the sight of my beloved, Tatyana. The word 'love' no longer has meaning to me and has been replaced with a similar hollowness. I no longer experience pleasure or passion, the things that once caused me to pursue my life have now turned against me. 

Status
-

Item type

Book / Document

Rarity

Artifact