Book: The Court of Barovia
This is an incomplete and unofficial account of the
Court of Ravenloft. It serves as a foundation for a
more thorough and detailed review. Unfortunately,
the end of the Great War has resulted in the loss of
many records and the current state of the land is
shrouded in darkness. Despite these circumstances, I
have done my best to record the brief transition when
Strahd von Zarovich ascended to the position of
Lord of Barovia and those affiliated with his court.
the above marquee designates
this publication is authentic and validated
by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
x Leon Romowicz
Year 355
Setting
After the Great War against the Terg invaders, Prince Strahd
von Zarovich emerged victorious and declared himself the ruler
and lord of Barovia. Although his father had been a king, Strahd
chose not to assume the same title out of reverence for his
father's memory. Instead, he went by the name of Lord of
Barovia, signifying his authority and power over the land.
Castle Ravenloft
After taking control of Barovia in the year 347, Prince Strahd,
the Lord of Barovia, decided to rename Castle Barovia as Castle
Ravenloft, in honor of his mother, Queen Ravenovia. The castle
had suffered damage during the war, prompting Strahd to
commission its rebuilding. Artimus, also known as Builder of
the Keep, was chosen as the architect and led the reconstruction
efforts, including the new Spire of Ravenloft. Lord of Barovia
also commissioned Artista DeSlop to be the court's painter,
resulting in many of the castle's ornate ceilings and the chapel's
new stained glass windows being the masterpieces of DeSlop's
work. To furnish the newly rebuilt castle, Lady Isolde Yunk was
appointed as the purveyor of antiques and imports. The
renovation of Castle Ravenloft was complete in year 350.
Ravenloft Court’s Entertainment and Fair
The Lord of Barovia was a man who appreciated the
finer things in life, especially when it came to his dining table.
He spared no expense in securing the best foods and wines
available. Artank Swilovich , the founder and member of the
Barovian Wine Distillers Guild, became a close friend of the
court and frequently dined with the Lord of Barovia and
other noble guests. Bascal Ofenheiss was appointed as the
court's chef and soon became renowned throughout Barovia
as Chef Deluxe, famed for creating the most splendid tables
of food, complemented by the finest wines the region had to
offer.
Pidlwick, the Fool of Dorfniya , served as the court
jester, entertaining guests with his music, juggling,
magic, and mischief. It was said the Lord of Barovia
found Pidlwick's antics amusing at times, but also
grew enraged by his impish behavior on occasion.
Court of Ravenloft
King Barov von Zarovich
Y278 - Y346
Queen Ravenovia
King Barov von Zarovich and Queen Ravenovia were
frequent guests at Castle Barovia, prior to becoming Castle
Ravenloft. Despite never being able to ascend to the throne of
Barovia due to his untimely death at the hands of the Terg
forces, King Barov's name was forever intertwined with the
history of the land, with some believing that he was named after
the very valley itself, destined to rule over his namesake. In his
place, Prince Strahd emerged victorious against the Terg forces
and took over the reins of the kingdom.
Queen Ravenovia was known for her reserved and stoic
personality before marrying King Barov, and together they had
two sons: Prince Strahd and Prince Sergei, and a daughter
Princess Katarina. However, the King also had a son born out of
wedlock, Leo "Lion" Dilisnya , whom he loved dearly and
appointed as an Earl, much to the chagrin of his wife.
Following the deaths of King Barov and Queen Ravenovia, Lord
Strahd commissioned Artimus to construct a special crypt
overlooking the valley of Barovia as a tribute to his parents'
memory.
Prince Sergei
Y314 - Y347
Prince Sergei was the younger of the two brothers, with a
handsome appearance and a silver tongue. Knowing he would
never inherit the throne from his elder brother, Prince Strahd, he
instead pursued his love of art and music. Unlike his brother,
Prince Sergei was not a fighter or a warrior, taking more after his
mother, Queen Ravenovia. He lived with his mother and would
often visit Castle Ravenloft to spend time with his brother. It was
during one of these visits that he met Tatyana, and they fell
deeply in love. Prince Sergei made Castle Ravenloft his
permanent home to be closer to his love.
Tragically, Prince Sergei's life was cut short. He was ambushed by
the Terg assassins and killed on the eve of his wedding to
Tatyana. In honor of his beloved brother, Lord Strahd had a
special crypt built for Prince Sergei and kept an eternal candle
burning as a tribute to his memory. Lord Strahd even learned to
play the organ, a skill that Prince Sergei had loved and excelled
at, as a tribute to his brother's passion for art and music.
Lady Sasha
Ivliskova
Y316 - Y346
Prince Strahd entered into marriage with Lady Sasha
Ivliskova in 342, and for a time, she appeared happy. She spent
time with the court's artisans, and under her guidance, numerous
royal banquets and feasts were held. During one of these events
welcoming Queen Ravenovia and Prince Sergei, Lady Sasha
invited Tatyana, a beautiful young woman, the niece of the
Burgomaster of the Village of Barovia, to attend. Lady Sasha
believed Tatyana to be an ideal match for Prince Sergei, who was
immediately smitten with her. However, Tatyana's stunning beauty
caught the attention of another.
Lady Sasha's death remains shrouded in mystery. She was
discovered in the garden with a basket of mushrooms, which she
often collected for the court's chef. It was speculated that she must
have picked the wrong ones and died after taking a bite of a
poisonous mushroom. However, there were those who believed
that Lady Sasha was far too astute to make such a fatal mistake and
that she had been intentionally poisoned.
Despite the tragic circumstances of her death, Lady Sasha is often
forgotten, and Lord Strahd forbade her name to be spoken.
Lady Sasha Ivliskova
Y316 - Y346
Prince Strahd entered into marriage with Lady Sasha
Ivliskova in 342, and for a time, she appeared happy. She spent
time with the court's artisans, and under her guidance, numerous
royal banquets and feasts were held. During one of these events
welcoming Queen Ravenovia and Prince Sergei, Lady Sasha
invited Tatyana, a beautiful young woman, the niece of the
Burgomaster of the Village of Barovia, to attend. Lady Sasha
believed Tatyana to be an ideal match for Prince Sergei, who was
immediately smitten with her. However, Tatyana's stunning beauty
caught the attention of another.
Lady Sasha's death remains shrouded in mystery. She was
discovered in the garden with a basket of mushrooms, which she
often collected for the court's chef. It was speculated that she must
have picked the wrong ones and died after taking a bite of a
poisonous mushroom. However, there were those who believed
that Lady Sasha was far too astute to make such a fatal mistake and
that she had been intentionally poisoned.
Despite the tragic circumstances of her death, Lady Sasha is often
forgotten, and Lord Strahd forbade her name to be spoken.
Princess Katarina
Y310 - Y346
Princess Katarina, the daughter of King Barov and Queen
Ravenovia, was a woman of great strength and intelligence. She shared
a close bond with her older brother, Prince Strahd, and was known for
her love of sports such as fencing and games like chess, as well as her
passion for studying history. Some believed that if the King had named
an heir, it would have been Princess Katarina. However, her royal
duties often kept her in the company of the Queen and Ladies in
Waiting, which she found tiresome and would often escape from.
Tragically, Princess Katarina was captured by the Terg forces during
the war. Despite putting up a valiant fight and even dispatching two of
her attackers, including their leader, she was ultimately struck down
and her defiled body was hung from a tree at the crossroads as a
warning to others. Prince Strahd was devastated by the loss of his
beloved sister and never fully recovered from her death.
Lady Tatyana
Y325 - Y347
Lady Tatyana, known as the fairest of all Barovia, was the niece of a
minor noble family ruling the Village of Barovia. She served as a Lady
in Waiting, and it was during this time that Prince Sergei fell deeply in
love with her. They became engaged, bringing happiness to the Castle
during the end of the Great War. However, the joy was short lived as
Terg assassins murdered Prince Sergei, leaving Tatyana inconsolable.
Overcome with grief and love, Tatyana leaped from the pillar of
Ravenloft, joining her beloved Prince in death. The Court of Ravenloft
was forever changed by the tragic loss of these two young lovers.
Earl Leo “the Lion” Dilisnya
Y308 -+ Y347
Earl Leo "The Lion" Dilisnya was not interested in the political
and social aspects of court life. Instead, he was a skilled and
passionate hunter, a talent that he shared with his father, King
Barov von Zarovich. Despite his noble status, Leo's Vistani
heritage brought shame upon him in the eyes of many at court.
Leo had fallen in love with Lovina Wachter, a wealthy merchant's
daughter from Vallaki, and they had planned to wed around the
same time as Prince Sergei and Tatyana. However, tragedy struck.
Leo disappeared during one of his legendary hunting expeditions.
Some believe that he fell prey to werewolves or other dangerous
creatures, while others suspect that foul play was involved, for Leo
was the greatest hunter in all the land.
Duchess Dilisnya
Y290 - Y346
Duchess Dilisnya was a remarkable woman, known for her
intelligence and beauty. Her long black hair flowed down her
back, and as a Vistani of the Tser Pools, rising to nobility was a
rare feat. Although officially given the title of Duchess because of
her leadership role among the Vistani, it was an open secret that
she was the King's lover and had borne his bastard son, Leo the
Lion. Despite the court's prejudices against her Vistani heritage,
she found acceptance among Prince Sergei and Tatyana, who
frequently dined with her. However, tragedy struck when she
passed away shortly after the King's death. Many believed she was
assassinated, as her protection from the King was no longer in
place.
Khazan
Y ? - Y351
Khazan was the esteemed court wizard and trusted advisor to
Prince Strahd during the Great War. Revered for his vast knowledge
of Barovia's history and powerful magical abilities, Khazan played a
key role in guiding Prince Strahd to victory. As the war drew to a
close , Khazan withdrew to his tower on the lake and became a recluse,
shunning the company of others and devoting himself entirely to his
studies. Despite his seclusion, Khazan's wisdom and sage counsel was
regarded as a valuable asset to the court. He died a mysterious death
and was entombed in Ravenloft with great honor.
Prefect Ciril Romulich
Y272 - Y354
Prefect Ciril Romulich was a steadfast servant to both King Barov von
Zarovich and Lord Strahd, having faithfully served both rulers
throughout his career. He was a respected figure in the court and was
entrusted with important duties, such as officiating the weddings of
Prince Strahd and Lady Sasha, as well as the ill fated wedding of
Prince Sergei and Lady Tatyana. Ciril Romulich was also responsible
for overseeing the entombment of many members of the Ravenloft
Court in the crypts, including the late King Barov and Queen
Ravenovia.
However, rumors began to circulate that Ciril had committed heresy
against the Morninglord and had secretly served a darker master.
These accusations were largely based on hearsay and circumstantial
evidence, but they nevertheless tarnished his reputation and caused
many to question his loyalty to the von Zarovich family. Despite this,
Lord Strahd remained steadfast in his support of Ciril and continued
to rely on him as a trusted advisor and confidant.
Stefan Gregorovich
Y294 - Y350
Upon the suggestion of King Barov von Zarovich, Stefan
Gregorovich became the First Counselor to Ravenloft and often
visit Ravenloft and offer his services to Prince Strahd. Some
believed that King Barov was concerned about his son's growing
obsession with power, and that Stefan could offer sound counsel
to keep him in check. However, Stefan's life was cut short when
he was found murdered on the Svalich Road, believed to be at
the hand of bandits. Despite investigations into his death, the
circumstances surrounding Stefan's murder remain a mystery to
this day.
Stahbal Indi Bach
Y307 - Y350
Stahbal and his family were close friends of Prince Stahd .
Stahbal was considered Strahd's most trusted friend, to whom he
confided about his personal matters. It was believed that Stahbal
kept a diary that documented these discussions. He settled in Berez
and became friends with the Burgomaster of Berez. Stahbal would
often travel to Ravenloft with Stefan Gregorovich .
Stahbal was found murdered on the Svalich Road along with
Stefan, believed to have been killed by a group of bandits. Shortly
after, his entire family, including his wife, sons, and daughters, were
brutally murdered in an attack on their small keep in Berez. Prince
Strahd, devastated by the loss of his friend, had Stahbal interred in
the Ravenloft Crypts as a tribute to his memory.
In Memorial:
An Accounting of the Court of Ravenloft Crypts
The following is a sacred record of those interned during the Court of
Ravenloft. An accounting of those certain crypts under her most
sacred Castle.
† Crypt 2: Artista Descope
Court Artist
† Crypt 3: Lady Isolde Yunk
Isolde the Incredible,
purveyor of antiques
† Crypt 5: Artank Swilovich
Friend and member of the Barovian Wine Distillers Guild
† Crypt 8: Duchess Dilisnya
With fire in her heart and soul.
† Crypt 9: Pidlwich
Fool of Dorfniya
† Crypt 14: Stahbal Indi Bach
A truer friend no ruler ever had. Here lies his family in honor.
† Crypt 15: Khazan
Great Wizard who helped more than he knew.
† Crypt 16 Leo the Lion Dilisnya
Not pure blood, but pure heart. The greatest of hunters.
† Crypt 19: Artimus
Architect and Builder of Ravenloft
† Crypt 20: Lady Sasha Ivliskova
Prince Strahd’s beloved wife.
† Crypt 25: Stefan Gregorovich
First Counselor to Ravenloft
† Crypt 28: Bascal Ofenheiss
Chef Deluxe of Ravenloft
† Crypt 30: Prefect Ciril Romulich
Prefect and Priest
† Crypt 40: Princess Katarina von Zarovich
The best of us
†Overlook Vault: King Barov von Zarovich
A legend in his own time, undone through deceit.
†Overlook Vault: Queen Ravenovia von Zarovich
Beauty, Strength, and Love.
