Barovia

THE IDYLLIC VALLEY NESTLED IN THE Balinok Mountains was a slice of heaven to those who knew of its existence before Strahd's arrival. The serenity of the place was forever shattered when Strahd led a bloody crusade against the enemies of his family that ended here with the slaughter of hundreds. Struck by the scenic beauty of his most recent conquest and eager to escape the shadow of his father's legacy, Strahd made the valley his home and named it Barovia after the late King Barov, his father.
The land now called Barovia is no longer part of the world that Strahd once tried to conquer. It now exists within a demiplane formed by the Dark Powers and surrounded by a deadly fog. No creature can leave without Strahd's permission, and those that try become lost in the mist.
Strahd allows the Vistani to come and go as they please because he admires their lust for life and their willingness to serve him when he needs them. He also owes an ancient debt to the Vistani people. As a soldier centuries ago, he suffered a grievous injury in battle, and the Vistani tended his wounds and returned him safely to his family without making any demand for payment. The Vistani claim to possess potions that allow them to leave Strahd's domain, but the potions are false concoctions with no magical power. Nevertheless, the Vistani are willing to sell them for a hefty price.
Native Barovians have been terrorized for centuries by the one they call "the devil Strahd." Only a handful of them have the will to oppose him. Barovians congregate in the valley's three main settlements - the villages of Barovia and Krezk and the town of Vallaki - for fear of falling prey to wolves and other beasts that prowl the woods. Among these people are the Keepers of the Feather, a secret society of wereravens. Not powerful enough to defeat Strahd on their own, the Keepers readily assist adventurers who fnd themselves drawn into Strahd's domain.

Geography

Rolling thunderclouds cast a gray pall over the land of Barovia. A deathly stillness hangs over the dark woods, which are patrolled constantly by Strahd's wolves and other servitors.
The evergreen trees of the Svalich Woods climb the sides of the mountains that enclose the valley to the east. The largest of these peaks is Mount Baratok, with its snow-covered cap and rugged slopes. Baratok;s slight smaller twin, Mount Ghakis, is mostly bald with tufts of trees here and there. Between these two mountains stands Lake Zarovich, which is fed by streams of ice-cold water pouring down the face of Mount Baratok. On the south side of the lake rests the town of Vallaki, enclosed by a palisade. West of the mountains, atop a hill, stands the Abbey of Saint Markovia, around which the Barovians built a walled village named Krezk. Between Vallaki and Krezk lie the ruins of Argynvostholt, the fallen bastion of a knightly order called the Order of the Silver Dragon, wiped out by Strahd and his army. East of the mountains lies Barovia Village, shrouded in mist and bereft of walls and defenses. The dark silhouette of Castle Ravenloft looks down on this village perch atop a 1000 foot high column of rock known as the Pillarstone of Ravenloft.
A deadly fog surrounds the land of Barovia and engulfs any creatures that tries to leave. Even flying creatures are subject to the fog's effect. Cannot escape as the fog will turn everyone around back into Barovia.
By the will of the Dark Powers, the sun never fully shines in the lands of Barovia. Even during the day, the sky is dimmed by fog or storm clouds, or the light is strangely muted. Barovian daylight is bright light, yet it isn't considered sunlight for the purpose of effects and vulnerabilities, such as a vampire's tied to sunlight. Nevertheless, Strahd and his spawn tend to stay inside most of the day and only go out at night. They are also affected by magic-created sunlight.

Alternative Name(s)

The Lands of Barovia, Demmora, Cerrunos

Type

Valley

Owner/Ruler

Strahd von Zarovich

Related Ethnicities

• Barovian