Ludmilla von Zarovich
NPC
(a.k.a. Ludmilla Vilisevic)
Ludmilla is Strahd’s oldest bride at nearly 200 years old. She has survived being cast aside like other consorts by not fatiguing him with a need for his attention, while actively seeking ways to attend to the matters he deems important. She is seen as the leader of his harem, and reins the others in when necessary.
She came to Barovia as a little girl, joining a Vistani tribe that passed by Amn in Faerun. She hid in one of the wagons and inadvertently found herself in Strahd’s cursed lands shortly after. She made a living by stealing and hiding in the shadows for years before a kind family in Vallaki adopted her. Her life with her family was better than life on the streets, but because of the color of her skin she was made to feel different, and by the time she was 18 she felt more like an outcast than ever. She set out to investigate the Amber temple one night soon after and ran into the dusk elf Rahadin on one of his trips to petition the dark powers. He perceived the beautiful young girl would provide Strahd an exotic distraction, which she did.
Over the next few years, Strahd taught her as an apprentice of the arcane arts as well as some courtly etiquette. She also served as a source of blood for the vampire. Normally he would have discarded her after a time, but she proved intelligent and charismatic which moved him to making her his bride.
As a vampire, she learned from Rahadin that one day her master would inevitably tire of her, unless she could prove herself useful to him. She then set about actively serving him in both his arcane studies and in recruiting his next bride, Anastrasya.
She now carefully stays out of her master’s way unless he needs her direct aid, and she has ingratiated herself to Rahadin who also keeps her in favor with Strahd.
Ludmilla is extremely careful in her behavior, but secretly is the deadliest spellcaster of the three brides. She lets the other two do as they will until she believes their behavior will displease their husband, at which point she brooks no rebellion and puts them into their place immediately.
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