Barovian

After his armies occupied the valley and slew its inhabitants, Strahd repopulated the area with human subjects drawn from his other conquered lands. As a result, Barovians have a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Alana, Clavdia, Danya, Dezdrelda, Diavola, Dorina, Drasha, Drilvia, Elisabeta, Fatima, Grilsha, Isabella, Ivana, Jarzinka, Kala, Katerina, Kereza, Korina, Lavinia, Magda, Marta, Mathilda, Minodora, Mirabel, Miruna, Nimira, Nyanka, Olivenka, Ruxandra, Serina, Tereska, Valentina, Vasha, Victoria, Wensencia, Zondra

Masculine names

Alek, Andrej, Anton, Balthazar, Bogan, Boris, Dargos, Darzin, Dragomir, Emeric, Falkon, Frederich, Franz, Gargosh, Gorek, Grygori, Hans, Harkus, Ivan, jirko, Kobal, Korga, Krystofor, Lazio, Livius, Marek, Miroslav, Nikolaj, Nimir, Oleg, Radovan, Radu, Seraz, Sergei, Stefn, Tural, Valentin, Vasily, Vladislav, Waltar, Yesper, Zsolt

Family names

Alastroi, Antonovich/Antonova, Barthos, Belasco, Cantemir, Dargovich/Dargova, Diavolov, Diminski, Dilisnya, Drazkoi, Garvinski, Grejenko, Groza, Grygorovich/Grygorova, lvanovich/lvanova, Janek, Karushkin, Konstantinovich/Konstantinova, Krezkov/Krezkova, Krykski, Lansten, Lazarescu, Lukresh, Lipsiege, Martikov/ Martikova, Mironovich/Mironovna, Moldovar, Nikolovich/ Nikolova, Nimirovich/Nimirova, Oronovich/Oronova, Petrovich/Petrovna, Polensky, Radovich/Radova, Rilsky, Stefnovich/Stefnova, Strazni, Swilovich/Swilova, Taltos, Targolov/Targolova, Tyminski, Ulbrek, Ulrich, Vadu, Voltanescu, Zalenski, Zalken

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

The children of Barovia aren't happy children. They are raised in a culture of fear and told time and again not to wander too far from their homes or enter the woods. They experience little hope or joy and are taught to fear the devil Strahd.
Barovian adults have modest lives. With no new wealth pouring into the valley, they trade in old coins which bears Strahd's profile.

Shared customary codes and values

Barovians are deeply invested in their homes and traditions. They can be quite xenophobic, generally staring at outsiders with distrust and disapproval. They tend to keep silent against outsiders and are known to have violent tempers if provoked. If one is attacked or hurt, they tend to band together against the outsider who hurt one of their own.
They were once a happy people, but their history and current condition has soured their outlook on life. However, if one manages to win their trust, they have a friend for life.
Since they live in a closed ecosystem, Barovian adults are expected to learn a trade or serve a function. They stitch their own clothes, craft their own furniture, grow their own food and make their own wine.

Common Etiquette rules

Barovians are human who are aware that nonhuman creatures exist due to many of them being drawn into Barovia by Strahd, but they treat them with distrust, fear or scorn.

Common Dress code

They dress in plain clothing outside to avoid the attraction of Strahd and his spies.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Barovians are made of flesh and blood but only about 1/10 of all of them have a soul. When someone with a soul dies, their soul remains trapped in Barovia until it reincarnates in the body of a newborn. This can take decades and anyone who is reincarnated looks exactly like their previous forms. This is why Ireena Kolyana looks like Tatyana.
The soulless Barovians are created by Strahd's consciousness to fill in the area are generally are more depressed and compliant. A soulless woman can give birth to a baby with a soul.
Strahd can only gain nourishment from Barovians with a soul.

Common Taboos

Soulless Barovians can not leave the valley. If Strahd is defeated and the fog is lifted, the soulless cease to exist.

Common Myths and Legends

Players can learn this info by earning a Barovian's trust

The Devil Strahd

1 - Strahd von Zarovich is a vampire and dwells in Castle Ravenloft. No one is welcome at the castle.
2. He is a curse upon the land placed due to a forgotten sin of the Barovians' ancestor (LIE)
3. Vampire must rest in its coffin during the day. At night, can summon wolves and vermin. They can turn into a bat, wolf or cloud of mist. In human form, can dominate with its gaze.
4. Cannot enter a residence without an invitation
5. Running water burns like acid and sunlight causes them to burst into flames.

The Land of Barovia

1. Anyone who attempts to leave will choke on the fog
2. Many strangers are drawn to Barovia but die or disappear shortly after
3. Wolves, dire wolves, and werewolves prowl the Svalich Woods and hungry bats fill the skies at night
4. Barovia village sits on the east end of the valley. Its mayor is Kolyan Indorovich
5. Vallaki town lies in the heart of the valley. Its mayor is Baron Vargas Vallakovich
6. The fortified village of Krezk lies at the west end of the valley and is built around an old abbey. Its mayor is Dmitri Krezkov
7. Wine is the lifeblood of Barovia. They get their wine from the Wizard of Wines winery near Krezk
8. A mad wizard with power haunts the foothills of Mount Baratok. He is an outsider and no friend of the vampire.

Beliefs and Superstitions

1. The Morninglord and Mother Night are the gods of Barovia who watch the people
2. Before Strahd, Morninglord watch the people during the day. But now the sun does not shine and Morninglord does not respond.
3. Mother Night is strongest during the night, though she does not answer prayer. It is believed she has forsaken the people to the devil Strahd to be punished.
4. Spirits drift along Old Svalich Road at night heading to Castle Ravenloft/ These are the phantoms of Strahd's enemies.
5. The Vistani serve the devil Strahd and are allowed to leave Barovia
6. NEVER HARM A RAVEN

Ideals

Courtship Ideals

With less than 3000 people living in the valley, finding a mate is difficult and many simply settle.

Related Locations

• Barovia