The Tome of Strahd
The Tome of Strahd
As Mathias pours over Strahd’s journal, he notices something strange, the text appears to be moving. Concentrating, he notes another text in the same hand beneath the original, but some sort of magical properties causing the text to shift makes it difficult to read. With all his effort, Mathias begins to read the new account, which started almost exactly as the original, then took an unexpected turn.
I am the ancient, I am the land.
I, Strahd, Lord of Barovia, well aware certain events of my reign have been desperately misunderstood by those who are better at garbling history than recording it, hereby set down an exact record of those events, that the truth may at last be known…
As the eldest Prince, I was given charge of my father’s armies to defend his people against the onslaught of evil. I was good and just. I thundered across the land like the wrath of a just God, though the years of war and death took a toll on me, wearing down my soul as the wind wears stone into sand. I found little solace in life and longed to rest.
Eventually, my armies came to settle in the land I named after my father, Barovia. It’s people were oppressed for so long, they saw me as their savior. To appease the masses, I abided by their traditions when I took up Lordship over the lands. All eyes watching, I held the ceremonial dagger I was given for the occasion in one hand as the chaplain came forward, chanting his prayers under his breath. He held a small gold ewer of wine, which he poured over the blade of my dagger. This done, he made the sign of his faith over it and stepped back to his place among the men.
I raised the dagger to the sky and brought it level again, pointing it briefly north, east, south, and west, then stabbed it lightly into my right wrist.
“I am Strahd. I am the Land,” I said loudly, intoning the ancient epigram. It was part and parcel of the ceremony of possession. The blood welled out, dribbled down my palm, and dripped onto the muddy earth at my feet. “Draw near and witness,” I added. “I, Strahd, am the Land.”
After the ceremony, Alek Gwilym, my most trusted Commander and likely the only friend I have ever known, informed me that a Ba’al Verzi was hired to assassinate me. That did not bode well. A Ba’al Verzi could be anyone - your oldest friend, your most faithful servant, even the mother that bore you could be a Ba’al Verzi. Their ways were a secret among secrets, and should one be hired to kill you...why, then you would die.
The only comfort I found in this is the Ba’al Verzi were known to be strict and would only strike if there were no witnesses. It was rare to discover a plot of theirs against you, so I had a distinct advantage there, and Alek ensured I had two guards with me at all times. That was, of course, only a temporary solution. I could trust no one, not even Alek. Living as such was not an option for me and though as foolish as it may have been, I took the first opportunity I could to ensure I was alone.
If it had not been for Alek, I likely would have died that night. In the end, between myself, Alek, and Leo Dilisnya we discovered the Ba’al Verzi and unfortunately, Leo killed him before we had a chance to question him. A motive would have been nice, though it was true his family had a bit to gain from my death, it may not have been enough to warrant my assassination. The evidence was clear, however, and we found not only the fabled Ba’al Verzi dagger in his hands but the sheath made of the flesh of his first victim. Thankfully, the Ba’al Verzi’s strict code would ensure I would never be bothered by them again. If their assassin failed, they would never again send one of their own after you.
I was a soldier and ill suited for the sedentary life of managing a realm. I quelled by boredom by losing myself in the study of magical tombs for a long while. It was Alek that dragged me out of my studies one cold morning and not accepting any excuse I offered, forced me to travel to the many villages throughout Barovia. I did not enjoy visiting the peasantry. The displays of graveling and false praise were too much for me to tolerate for extended periods and being the ruler of the land, there was nowhere I could go without dealing with some overly ambitious lord. Alek and I had saved each other’s lives on many occasions, so I took to humoring him in these endeavors.
It was in the village of Barovia where I first met my Tatyana. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my eyes upon. She made me suddenly believe in the folktale of the kidnapped princess raised by peasants and eventually returned to her rightful place in the castle. Her eyes were brighter than gems and her full dark lips came together in such a way as to make all other women seem ugly by comparison.
There was no comparison. She was unique. She was perfect. I felt my heart swoop and soar at the sheer joy of looking at her. She was a treasure and for the first time I understood the laments of a man in love. The first time I talked with her, only made her beauty shine even more. Her smile was as infectious as her laugh and I, a man worn down by the horrors one must face during countless battles, was able to truly laugh once more. I visited her as often as I could and though the nobility of court did not approve of the match, we were soon betrothed.
The month of our engagement, my brother Sergei joined me at Castle Ravenloft, which I had named after our late mother. I had only known him through the correspondence he sent me while I was leading our armies. It was a blessing to see him now. He was much younger than me and studying to join the priesthood. I was thankful for him, for he was the only one that approved of Tatyana within moments of first meeting her. If only I had seen the signs of jealousy behind his eyes, I would have had some warning as to what was to come, but I was too blinded by my own joy.
The night I was to web my beloved Tatyana, Sergei took me aside to give me a gift for the occasion. After informing me of how lucky I was and how happy he was for me, Sergei’s gift was to stab me in the gut. He could have made it a simple, clean death and stabbed me in the heart, but he wanted to gloat. As I slumped down onto the floor, I heard a scream echoing through the castle.
“I killed her as well,” Sergei informed me, “And it sounds like her lady in waiting just found her in the bridal room. You did not deserve her...and she would not listen to reason.”
The screams started to echo from all directions. Weakly, grasping the black hilt of the Ba’al Verzi dagger sticking out of me I said, “What have you done?”
Sergei did not answer me, but swept from the room, leaving me to die upon the ground. I looked down at the dagger in my stomach. Part of me was impressed, Sergei has always seemed so naive and pious, but he had been taking me for a fool all this time. If I found Lady Ilona, she would be able to heal me, I could live and defend my people against whatever Sergei had started. And from the sounds echoing around me, it was clear the wedding guests were being slaughtered.
But what was the point of living without my Tatyana? Sergei may have been a skilled liar, but I knew he was not lying about that.
“You could have your revenge and your bride back in your arms,” a voice said.
I closed my eyes. The madness of death was upon me, my mind was failing for there was no one in the room with me.
“Don’t you want to live, Strahd?” Tatyana’s voice said, “Don’t you want to be with me once more?”
The voices would not leave me alone to die and the promise of Tatyana living again by my side was too much to ignore. I opened my eyes and saw a being made of black mist floating above me.
“What must I do?” I asked it.
The dark entity told me to pull the dagger from my body. I did so and as I did, the wound began to heal. The black mist disappeared, but I heard its instructions in my head. I followed them and was able to avoid any detection as I made my way through Castle Ravenloft to where my brother stood at overlook, gazing down upon the domain he now believed to be his. He was oddly alone, but I didn't think much on this as the dark entity instructed me to kill Sergei. That was something I was more than happy to do. I stabbed my brother with the same dagger he used to kill me. I hesitated as the entity instructed me to drink first from the instrument then from the vessel.
“It’s the only way for me to live again,” I heard it say in Tatyana's voice.
I licked the blood from the dagger clean then drained the blood from my brother. I drank every last drop and, a mixture of disgust and wonder washing over me as I realized I enjoyed the sensation. I was changing, but it mattered not and would be worth it if I could be with Tatyana.
That night, I slaughtered all those that had betrayed me as a thick mist surrounded Castle Ravenloft. Their blades and arrows did little to stop me, I took them down easily with my sword and sorcery to aid me. Leo Dilisnya ended up being the mind behind the attack, my brother had been merely a pawn. Though, this fact had little affect on my actions. I obtained my vengeance on them both, then sent those that remained loyal to me away for fear that my new found desire for blood would make it unsafe for any to be around me.
That done, I finally sought out Tatyana, but she was not int eh bridal room where Sergei had said she died. The only trace of her was a rusted brown stain of blood upon the floor. The voices that guided me to Sergei were absent now and as much as I asked, they would not answer me. I spent years scouring the castle and surrounding area, but never found Tatyana’s body, not even a scrape of her white wedding gown or a flash of the gems I had gifted her during our courtship. I cursed myself for not asking more of the entity that provided me with this “gift”. I should have asked how and when Tatyana would come back to me.
I was cursed to never forget the one woman I had ever loved and denied her presence for all eternity. For now I could not age and barely anything could bring me pain, let alone end my miserable existence. I could not even leave the land, for the mists that formed around my castle that night I lost everything precious to me, the mists became the borders of Barovia. I had tried and failed on many occasions to escape them.
Over fifty years went by before the dark entity fulfilled its side of the bargain. I encountered Tatyana once again, though she was called Marina now. I was overjoyed to see her once again and though she did not remember me right away with time and patience I was able to stir those memories in her. But once we found our love once again, she was taken from me.
Over the centuries of my existence, I have encountered Tatyana by many different names. Always, she does not remember me at first, but with time she always comes to accept who she truly is. And each time, when I gain her love, she is taken from me. I am cursed to only have her for quick flashes of light within this dim existence, but it is those moments that drives me on. It is those moments I live for.
Within the Tome of Strahd is a number of entries done in an unfamiliar shorthand, perhaps of Strahd's on invention.
While traveling in my guise as Vasali von Holtz to Vallaki to purchase supplies for Castle Ravenloft, I witnessed a fire break out in the farmlands. Upon investigating I came across a small town and wheat field engulfed in flames, the corpses of the villagers were strewn about the fields. I knew of a spell to summon rain that would easily put out the fires, but I needed water to make it work. Of course, I had to brave the flames to get to the well and the water within. It was simple enough, the only complication being a young girl clutching on to the rim of the well as I entered. I silenced her with a sleeping spell and set about to summon the rains. That done, I awoke the girl and learned that bandits had overtaken their small village and left everyone, but her, for dead. Resisting the temptation of her blood, I wrapped her in my cloak and sent her in my coach to Vallaki. I would take care of the bandits myself. I would tolerate no interlopers despoiling my property.
The Wachter house has been ever loyal to the house of Von Zarovich. This dates back to the very beginning when Victor Wachter had served me well in defending Castle Ravenloft against the traitor Leo Dilisnya who sought to overtake my rule the day of my brother’s wedding. I had released Victor from my service that night. Decades later his daughter Lovina had helped me in delivering my final punishment to that bastard betrayer, and since that point the family had always prospered under my protection. Yersina Wachter and her son Aldrick provided me with invaluable aid during Barovia’s war against the lich Azalin.
The Vistani and I have reached a place of mutual respect. They are content with my rule, and I do not trouble them.
The Dark Powers plague my existence, warp my mind and alter my memories of the past. At times They consume me completely and control my actions. I have done such cruel and thoughtless things by their sway. I fear I am losing what sanity I have left. I must find my Tatyana once more, for only in her presence can I find the truth.
The dark cycle of reincarnation has reached its limits. Across my realm are children born hollow. These subjects have but a scrap of the soul necessary to a mortal. Though otherwise ordinary, they are especially dour, fearful, and unimaginative. Interestingly, they do not satisfy my ever-present hunger as much as normal Barovians do. There is a vital substance missing and this may warrant further study.
I’ve had some good news for the first time since my change. Alek Gwilym, my most trusted Commander and friend, has returned to me. It seems he has gained an immortality of his own after slaying the alpha werewolf that changed him. At first he had little control of when he would change and of his mind when it occurred. Having the ability to shape change into a wolf myself, I have guided him through the process of retaining his own mind in that form and he now can change of his own accord, a full moon being unnecessary to access that power. Still, we must find a way to protect him from the damage silver weapons could cause, I do not wish to lose him.
Evidence suggests the Amber Temple holds the key to the knowledge of the Dark Powers that granted me the gift of revenge and the return of my beloved Tatyana. Try as I might, every time I come across a text related to them, the words obscure before my eyes. I must know if there is a way out of the accursed deal without dooming my beloved’s soul. Every time she begins to remember me again, the mists take her from me. I have tried countless ways to keep her safe, but have failed every time. I am beginning to lose hope. Will there be no end to this torment? Perhaps if I find someone else to replace me, the Dark Powers will let us go. No one must know how hollow I feel; how empty my existence is in absence and denial of satisfaction. My immortal, eternal image as the ruler of Barovia must never come into question. I must observe potential replacements from afar.
Though I was never friends with Azalin, he did open my eyes to something I had denied for centuries. When I uttered those words, “I am the land” seeping my blood into the battlefield as my enemies died all around me, I in essence became the land. I believe if I were to die, the people and land of Barovia would die with me. It is an ill fate, but I shall ever try to plan my escape from this prison the mists hold me in.
It is clear to me what must be done. I cannot allow those that would oppose me to roam freely in my realm. If they were to find out what I have become, Argonvoltz’s zealous knights would hunt me down. This evening I lay siege upon those that were once my allies and bring them to ruin. I will gift the head of Argonvoltz to the Baba Lysaga as a thank you for her past assistance.
Vladimir's accursed silver knights have slain another adventuring band. From what I witnessed while scrying, the knights slew them for seeking my destruction. I do not understand why my enemies would defend me. I can only reason that Vladimir believes mere death to be too good of a demise for me. Perhaps he wishes to bear witness to my eternal sentence.
After nearly a century, I have seen Tatyana once more in the service of the Burgomaster of Berez, Lazlo Ulrich. She was exactly the same as I remembered her on the day we were to be wed. Same voice, same appearance, and same caring demeanor. And she knew me for who I was right away. Was this what the Dark Powers had promised me so long ago? Tatyana alive and well once more? I could not risk losing her again and snuck into Ulrich’s home once all were asleep. She was so happy to see me and I promised her we would never be apart. I drank her blood and fed her my own, promising to return to her again the next evening. When I returned, the foolish Priest and Burgomaster had surrounded her with their foul holy symbols. I was able to break past them to her once more, but I could not stay long. One more night and she would be mine and I could not risk removing her from that place. When I returned, they had murdered her, driving a stake through her heart before burying her. All that was left of her was a dark stain of blood upon the bed she once laid. I will spare the people of Berez, but those responsible shall feel my wraith. I am the land and shall raise the waters of the Luna River and drown them for what they have done.
Baba Lysaga has outlived all of her counterparts. She has unlocked a secret to immortality, but not like Khazan, Exethanter, or myself. She bathes in the blood of beasts during each new moon. I infer that grave misfortune befalls her if she fails to complete this ritual. I suspect the influence of Mother Night.