Dungeons & Dragons: The History Of Strahd Von Zarovich (2024)

There are many villains within the world of . There's Vecna, the lich who would become a god, and Xanathar, the paranoid beholder of Waterdeep, but even they pale in comparison to the vampiric lord of Barovia. Strahd von Zarovich.

While not the strongest being within the Monster Manual, Strahd is terrifying in his own right. The horrors that the vampire has inflicted upon Barovia are well known, but the life he had prior is often forgotten. The story of the being, who's often referred to as the first vampire, is filled with tales of conquest, love, jealousy, despair, and anger. Here is the complete history of Strahd von Zarovich.

Updated June 23, 2024 by Brooke Phillipps: Strahd von Zarovich remains one of Dungeons & Dragons' most iconic villains in the multiverse. It is no wonder, then, that his reappearance in Wizards of the Coast's Vecna: Eve of Ruin highlights in equal parts his ambition and apathy for the living in an exciting adventure surrounding the Death House of Barovia, where Strahd intends to make your party his guests forevermore. In his module, Curse of Strahd, his consistent interactions with the party serve to foster vendettas between the two, making the inevitable confrontation all the more thrilling. Cruel, calculating, enticing, and dangerous, Strahd has been tormenting player characters since his introduction in 1983. But who is this enigmatic villain?

What Was Strahd's Early Life?

Born to Barov and Ravenovia von Zarovich, Strahd lived a life of privilege, war, and bloodshed. Though he was born into the position of the eldest prince, much of Strahd's early years were consumed by participating in the various wars that plagued the land.

Renowned as a fearsome warrior and respected by the armies he led, Strahd conquered in the name of his father and family, destroying armies that sought to see them fall. While he found glory and camaraderie on the battlefield, those years of war would eventually leave their scars on the noble.

Strahd Conquers Barovia

Upon conquering a large valley that he would name "Barovia," Strahd established himself as the lord of the region, taking up residence in a castle christened 'Ravenloft,' after his mother.

It is in Barovia that Strahd would finally look back at his life. Now in his middle age, the man would begin to believe that he had squandered his youth in war and killing.

Pleasurable as it might have been to him at the moment, his youth had fled, and with it, the ability to live his life in whatever way he might have wished had the war not been pushed upon him so young.

Who Are Tatyana And Sergei?

Despite retiring from war, dark thoughts of squandered youth and jealousy still haunted Strahd.

To make matters worse, his mother would die en route to the castle he had conquered and named after her, sending his younger brother, Sergei, alone in her place. Sergei's youth and beauty embittered Strahd, who saw all he might have been in the young priest.

Oblivious to his older brother's jealousy, Sergei moved into the castle, determined to befriend the brother he had never gotten to know.

While there, he would meet a young Barovian peasant named Tatyana. The two would quickly fall in love and Sergei took her back to the castle to introduce her to his brother.

Unbeknownst to Sergei or Tatyana, Strahd quickly became infatuated with the woman and began to romantically pursue her. He showered her with gifts and wealth in hopes of gaining her affection.

The attempt was futile. Not only was Tatyana in love with his brother, but she showed no particular inclination towards Strahd, aside from that of an elder brother. Seething with jealousy, Strahd descended into desperation, propelled on by his regrets and his anger towards his brother for 'stealing' his love.

Strahd's Fall

Sometime before the 11th century DR, Strahd sought aid from entities known as the Dark Powers of the Shadowfell.

Though details vary from source to source, Strahd believed his pact was forged with an entity known as Death. His pact demanded that he kill his brother to achieve immortality, and Tatyana's love would be his.

Upon sealing the deal, Strahd returned to his castle as Sergei and Tatyana were to be wed, where he would murder his brother and profess his love for Tatyana. Horrified by the death of her betrothed, Tatyana fled, prompting Strahd to chase her through the castle gardens.

In a final attempt to avoid Strahd's possession, Tatyana threw herself off the parapets of the castle, taking her own life.

Strahd was shot by his own guards, but would not die. Instead, Strahd rose again as the self-professed 'First Vampire.' He became bound to Barovia, no longer able to leave its borders, even when the entire valley was swept into the Demiplane of Dread, bound by a deadly Mist.

Strahd And Magic

Imprisoned by the same powers he had sought immortality from, Strahd's desire for power and knowledge never faltered.

He desperately sought a way to return his lost obsession, Tatyana, to him further diving into the Dark Arts. Through his study, he learned necromancy and created hordes of undead capable of regeneration, as well as creating other vampires and bringing werewolves to heel and serve him.

Tatyana's Reincarnations

For the rest of his undeath, Strahd never forgot Tatyana.

The vampire would realize, after some time, that his beloved was being reincarnated among the villagers of Barovia. However, each time Strahd found and wooed one of these lookalikes, they would inevitably die.

Strahd's obsession makes him unable to let go, and so the cycle repeats with every reincarnation.

This, he believes, is part of his curse. However, it is as much torture for the young woman as it is for Strahd, cutting her life short and forcing her back into an endless rotation of fear and pursuit as a punishment for his indiscretions in life.

Encounters With Strahd

While most of Strahd's power came from self-study, there were a few who imparted their knowledge to the vampire. These unfortunate souls who wandered into Barovia would find themselves charmed by the undead noble, either through his natural charisma or through arcane means.

Often, they would end up 'gifting' their knowledge or items to Strahd. Such individuals, like Mordenkainen and Volothamp Geddarm, have fallen to his charms in the past.

For Mordenkainen's part, he led a revolution against the vampire lord but was soundly defeated and lost his staff, spellbook, and mind to the vampire.

Volothamp, or Volo as many know him, got off slightly easier. Strahd had tricked the traveler into dining with him, intent on learning the strange magic that Volo possessed. Thankfully, the human was able to escape with the help of the mage Elminster.

Other famous D&D characters, such as the Rashemi Minsc and Lord Soth, would encounter or fight him through the Dungeons & Dragons canon.

Jander Sunstar

Around 1072 DR, Jander Sunstar, a gold elf vampire who harbored a hatred towards other vampires, encountered an aspect of Tatyana's soul that had escaped Barovia and been reborn within Waterdeep. The two would fall for one another, though the fragment of her soul left her mind in shambles.

She would die of a sickness, leaving Jander to swear revenge on the one that had cursed his love in such a way.

In 1098 DR, the Dark Powers transported Jander to Barovia. He encountered Strahd who convinced Jander that he was an ally rather than the villain he sought. Believing the dark lord's words, Jander taught Strahd much of what he knew regarding his vampiric nature.

Jander would eventually discover Strahd's true nature and what he had done to Tatyana and attempt to slay the dark lord.

The two's clash was bloody and left Jander severely injured but alive. Jander attempted to end his own life by exposing himself to the sun, but was transported to the domain Forlorn before he could die. The elven vampire would then become a vampire hunter, vowing revenge on Strahd and others like him.

Strahd Throughout Dungeons & Dragons

Being one of Ravenloft's most iconic villains has its perks. Namely, appearing in various forms of media and sourcebooks, whether through reference or as a character.