Strahd von Zarovich

Strahd von Zarovich. Count Strahd. The Dark Prince. THe devil Strahd. All these and more have been used as titles for the ruler of Barovia.
Strahd is a powerful vampire who conquered a nameless valley many centuries ago, back in the days when he was merely a man, and gave it the name Barovia. Now, he lords over a land entombed by endless mists as its undying king, where the people make every step with trepidation, and where only the bravest even speak his name, for fear of bringing his wrath down upon them. At any moment the life of any Barovian could be snuffed out at the whims of Strahd von Zarovich. There is no escape.
Strahd's favorite amusement is summoning adventurers from other realms, using his allies the Vistani, who alone hold the right of free passage in and out of Barovia, to both recruit new adventurers and bring them through the mists. Strahd then tests the adventurers with the monstrous Death House, and only those who survive earn the right to even be acknowledged by him.
Strahd first met and acknowledged the party at the crossroads between the Village of Barovia, Vallaki, and Castle Ravenloft. There he showed surprise that the firbolg he had been hoping to meet had already perished. Nevertheless, Strahd formally greeted the party and left his impression on them. Verthica was angry. Garlic Masher and Jiunan Lychwright were determined.  Vengeance was terrified. Wignog Smieddwager was curious, especially after Strahd showed off a device known as a gun along with quite an impressive quickdraw. Strahd then left them with another test, as gunsnakes emerged from a nest, at his behest. A quick battle let Strahd gauge the party's prowess firsthand before he got back into his carriage and left.
As monstrous as he is, there are many who offer their allegiance to Strahd von Zarovich. There are the vampires Ludmilla Vilisevic and Celania. There is the Vistani ferryman Yuri Kalanikov and many more denizens of Baroiva, from other Vistani to the darkest and foulest of creatures. Some leading figures in Barovian society bend the knee willingly. Others do so out of fear. But there is perhaps no ally more important to Strahd than his majordomo, the elf Rahadin who has served the von Zarovich family longer than the immortal Strahd has been alive.
The only way back home is through Strahd von Zarovich, and the party is determined to accomplish this, and they have assistance as well. Ismark Kolyanovich and his sister Ireena Kolyana have tied their fates to the party's out of desperation to save Ireena from Strahd. The Martikov family had their home and business saved by the party and owe them a great debt. And the Vistani seer, Madam Eva, has looked into the scattered skeins of fate and brought forth a prophecy: items of power they would need to bring strahd down, an ally they must bring to the fight, and the battle that will decide the future of Baroiva.