Category:Von Zarovich Family

This section contains canon info from officially published sources

The von Zarovich family comprises the founding family of the kingdom of Barovia on the Prime Material Plane and also the noble dynasty from which the infamous Count Strahd von Zarovich, the darklord of Barovia and indeed the first known darklord in all of existence, receives his noble bloodline from. A family tree of the von Zarovich bloodline was included in the Realm of Terror boxed set, the first printed version of the Ravenloft campaign setting and often referred to as the "Black Box" by fans. According to the family tree, all known von Zarovich descendants living in this day are descended from Sturm von Zarovich and Giselle von Zarovich, whom escaped the fate of their relatives^[1] for not having attended the Wedding of Sergei von Zarovich, a day damned not only by family enemy Lord Leo Dilisnya but also by the villainous treachery of Strahd von Zarovich. (This is not to say that there were not other von Zarovich descendants, but they were introduced in later products)^[2]

The extant von Zarovich bloodline in the domain of Barovia bears a karmic taint wrought by the actions of Strahd^[3]. He murdered his brother Sergei von Zarovich as part of a deal with dark powers for renewed vitality and the chance to win the unrequited love of Tatyana Federovna, Sergei's bride.Horrified, Tatyana jumped from the parapets of Castle Ravenloft, but her body vanished, never to be found. It was for Strahd's betrayal that Barovia formed as the first domain in the Demiplane of Dread and Strahd became the first darklord.^[4] Though the entire family is cursed, the way the curse manifests can vary from individual to individual. (Possible manifestations are listed in the family traits given in Legacy of the Blood: Great Families of the Core^[5], a late 3rd Edition product that covers many of the notable and historic bloodlines within the Land of Mists.)

History

According to the in-character description of "S" in Ravenloft Gazetteer I, year one of the Barovian Calendar starts with the founding of Barovia by the von Zaroviches on an outlander world of unknown name. As the ruling family, the von Zaroviches were involved in a number of events over the next three hundred fifty years. In 168 BC, the von Zaroviches gave their favor to the establishment of the Church of Andral. In 230 BC, the Neureni Horde invaded Barovia, gaing ground up to Vallaki. However, they were thwarted and eventually driven back by General-Princess Nicoleta von Zarovich.^[6]

The events that would lead to disaster for House von Zarovich occurred in the 4th century BC. In 314 BC, the Assassination of Lady Izabela Dilisnya led to the so-called War of Silver Knives, much less a war than a series of cloak-and-dagger murders as part of a blood feud between Dilisnya Family, Katsky Family, and the Petrovna Family.^[6] Barov von Zarovich (b. 277 BC) forced an end to the conflict and pacified the belligerent families with offers of land. Though an on-its-face peace was achieved, it was a strained peace. The internal divisions left by the aftermath helped pave the way for the Terg invasion in 320 BC. Several decades of bloody warfare ensued. Barov and his wife Ravenia van Roeyen were slain by the Tergs in 346 BC.^[7]

With Strahd obtaining the command of the military, fate for Barovia and its ruling house seemed for a time to turn itself around. In 347 BC, Strahd pushed out the Tergs.^[8] Lauded as a military hero, Strahd's victory was secretly (at least in part) due to a Faustian pact made with the yugoloth known as Inajira.^[9] Strahd oversaw the refurnishing of Castle Ravenloft and called his relatives to join him there in 749 BC. Strahd settled down and assumed the rule of Barovia thereafter, but soon Strahd became unsettled. The return of his much younger brother Sergei made Strahd ill at ease, for the difference in their age reminded Strahd of his long-gone youth. Strahd became infatuated with Sergei's lover Tatyana. On the day of Sergei and Tatyana's wedding, made a dark pact for immortality and murdered Sergei. At the same time, Leo Dilisnya, motivated by power and the lingering Dilisnya grudge agains the von Zaroviches, launched a plot of assassinations with the Ba'al Verzi against the wedding attendees. His men, disguised as castle guards, shot the rampaging Strahd dead, causing him to rise as a vampire. Barovia was thereafter doomed.^[10]

The middle brother of the von Zarovich Family, Sturm von Zarovich, and his wife Giselle Fallona, were not present at the wedding^[11] (or at least, that's what Strahd disguised as Sturm would later claim^[12]) and henceforth lived to sire offspring to continue the family line, according to the von Zarovich family bloodline^[1] Confusingly, Strahd is said in Legacy of the Blood to have assumed the guise of Sturm at some point to chase down Leo and the rest of the Dilisnyas^[12]; how he would have done this in the presence of Sturm's living descendants has not been specified in canon. Regardless, Strahd kept control of Barovia through a procession of "heirs" bearing his name, in reality the original Strahd all along. Although Strahd is remembered by the general public as a war hero, his "descendants" as corrupt monsters (in the figurative sense). Strahd kept up the act of taking a wife and pretending to sire a son.^[13]

In 740 BC, the Grand Conjunction occurred^[14], and at least two von Zaroviches were discovered living on Prime Material Barovia, King Barov von Zarovich VI and his wife Queen Kristiana von Zarovich. The former was murdered by Inajira, enraged by Strahd's deception and taking of his Book of Keeping centuries earlier, on a case of mistaken identity for Strahd. The fiend kidnapped Kristiana, for she was revealed to be a reincarnation of Tatyana Federovna. Prime Material Barovia found itself in the middle of a three way conflict between Inajira, Strahd, and Azalin Rex. Ultimately, all of their plans were foiled, but Queen Kristana vanished into the Mists.^[15]

The Family Today

According to Legacy of the Blood, House von Zarovich is a wide-spread and well-known clan, with distant branches extending even into other domains such as Invidia, Kartakass, and Verbrek. Although despised and doubtlessly persecuted by some rulers such as Azalin Rex of Darkon or Ivana Boritsi of Borca, the family's dread nature bestows a sort of fear-based esteem rooted onto those who can claim its ancestry. (Making such a claim may in some cases necessitate a trip to Castle Ravenloft.) Though in the main black-hearted, members of the family are expected to obey certain rules of decorum and class reflective of the family's prestige. That being said, Good aligned von Zaroviches are tolerated (so long as they do not transgress Strahd) but mocked and ridiculed.^[16]

Adventuring is an acceptable profession within the von Zarovich family, so long as the familial rules of behavior are followed. Although the von Zaroviches were in ancient times a clan of professional physical combatants, spellcasters now populate more of House von Zarovich's ranks. Both the Tyrant Mage and the Crimson Hound are Zarovich family prestige classes.^[17]

As reported by "S", the von Zarovich family is the only one of the old noble families of Barovia to still hold land in that realm^[18].

Notable von Zaroviches

Beyond Strahd, a number of other noteworthy von Zarovich characters have appeared in various Ravenloft products.

• Andrez Kriegel (alias Andrez Weisritter) is a wandering paladin that defiantly attempts to fight off the darkness within.^[19]
• Lyssa von Zarovich is an upstart young vampire born several generations after Strahd. She has sought and still seks to uproot his power. In 739 BC^[20],she conspired with the High Master Illithid to create the illithid vampire in an attempt to overthrow Strahd. The plot failed due to factors external to Strahd. He punished her insolence in 750 BC by incapacitating her with a poison that renders her helplessly asleep much of the night she would otherwise be active.^[21]
• Rahadin Described in the I-6 remake Curse of Strahd, Rahadin is not an actual von Zarovich by blood or even in fact human. Rather, the dusk elf was awarded von Zarovich family membership by King Barov for his faithful service in the displacement and extermination of his own kind.^[22]
• Sheriff von Zarovich A leader of the Order of the Ebon Gargoyle detailed in Champions of Darkness but unmentioned elsewhere, Sheriff von Zarovich is one of Strahd's most brutal enforcers. He bears the von Zarovich surname, but it is unclear if he is actually a von Zarovich.^[23]
• Talena von Zarovich is another servant of Strahd, a fiercely loyal Tyrant Mage that fancies herself as Strahd's living weapon.^[24]

Chronology

• 1 BC Nation of Barovia forged of independent city-states by the von Zarovich family.^[6]
• 168 BC With the approval of the von Zarovich family, the Church of Andral is founded.^[6]
• 230 BC The Neureni Horde invades Barovia. They are later routed by General-Princess Nicoleta von Zarovich.^[6]
• 277 BC Barov von Zarovich is born.^[1]
• 283 BC Ravenia Van Roeyen, later wife of Barov von Zarovich, is born.^[1]
• 299 BC Strahd von Zarovich is born.^[25][26][27] Barov and Ravenia van Richten are his parents.^[1]
• 306 BC Strahd von Zarovich is born to Barov and Ravenia von Zarovich.^[1]
• 312 BC Sturm von Zarovich is born to Barov and Ravenia von Zarovich.^[1]
• 313 BC Giselle Fallona, future wife of Sturm von Zarovich, is born.^[1]
• 314 BC The War of Silver Knives, a conflict between the Dilisnyas, Katskies, and the Petrovnas, purportedly begins with the Assassination of Lady Izabela Dilisnya.^[28]
• 316 BC Count Barov von Zarovich commands an end to the War of Silver Knives and appeases the warring parties with gifts of land, though the war will still fragment Barovia in the face of the Terg invasion to come.
• 320 BC Strahd gains the military rank of general.^[26][27]
• 320 BC Tergs invade Barovia.^[25][29]
• 324 BC Sergei von Zarovich is born is born to Barov and Ravenia von Zarovich.^[1]
• 333 BC Tatyana, the future lover of Sergei von Zarovich and target for Strahd von Zarovich's desire.^[1]
• 346 BC Count Barov and Countess Ravenia von Zarovich slain by Tergs.^[29]
• 347 BCStrahd makes a pact with Inajira right before a critical battle with the Tergs.^[9]
• 347 BC Last of the Tergs driven from Barovia.^[29][25] Strahd takes the rule over Barovia as the prize for his victory.^[25]
• 349 BC Castle Ravenloft completed.^[29] Strahd assumes residence there.^[25]
• 350 BC Count Strahd von Zarovich, Commander Alek Gwilym, Sergei von Zarovich, and Lieutenant Falov lead a military strike force to defeat Red Lukas and his gang of bandits.^[30]
• 350 BC The Ba'al Verzi try and fail to assassinate Count Strahd von Zarovich.^[29]
• 351 BC Barovia forms due the actions of Strahd von Zarovich.^[31][25][32] Strahd turns into a vampire.^[25][32]
• 400 BC First known reincarnation of Tatyana.^[25][32]
• Sometime between 450 BC and 460 BC: Gregorri Kolyan the bard is held captive by Strahd fo several years. Kolyan is ultimately let go with the story of Strahd's past.^[33][34]
• 525 BC Lyssa von Zarovich is born.^[20]
• 550 BC Lyssa von Zarovich becomes a vampire and discovers a way to achieve the power of a vampire much greater than her age.^[20]
• 620 BC Ivan Reichhardt, future husband of Siska von Zarovich, is born.^[1]
• 630 BC Anna von Zarovich is born.^[1]
• 633 BC Tod Heitman, future husband of Anna von Zarovich, is born.^[1]
• 632 BC Siska von Zarovich is born.^[1]
• 635 BC Holgar von Zarovich is born.^[1]
• 640 BC Isolde von Koss, future first wife of Holgar von Zarovich, is born.^[1]
• 641 BC Katarina von Zarovich is born.^[1]
• 649 BC Natasha ltskovich, future second wife of Holgar von Zarovich, is born.^[1]
• 651 BC Siska and Ivan Reichhardt die.^[1]
• 657 BC Sergei von Zarovich (7th Century) is born to Isolde and Holgar von Zarovich.^[1]
• 659 BC Ireena Kolokoff, future wife of Sergei von Zarovich (7th century) is born.^[1]
• 661 BC Ysilde von Zarovich is born to Isolde and Holgar von Zarovich.^[1]
• 668 BC Isolde von Zarovich dies.^[1]
• 670 BC Geier von Zarovich is born to Natasha Itskovich von Zarovich and Holgar von Zarovich.^[1]
• 675 BC Ivan von Zarovich is botn to Natash Itskovich von Zarovich and Holgar von Zarovich.^[1]
• 678 BC Natalia Andaas, future wife of Ivan von Zarovich, is born.^[1]
• 678 BC Barov von Zarovich (7th Century) is born to Ireena von Zarovich and Sergei von Zarovich.^[1]
• 681 BC Andrea von Zarovich is born to Ireena von Zarovich and Sergei von Zarovich.^[1]
• 681 BC Vasili Geistlinger, future husband of Lisbeth von Zarovich, die.^[1]
• 682 BC Victor von Zarovich is born to Ireena von Zarovich and Sergei von Zarovich.^[1]
• 682 BC Geier von Zarovich dies at the approximate age of 12.^[1]
• 683 BC Natasha von Zarovich dies.^[1]
• 685 BC Marlena Leibnik, future wife of Myroslav von Zarovich, is born.^[1]
• 686 BC Lisbeth von Zarovich is born to Ireena von Zarovich and Sergei von Zarovich.^[1]
• 688 BC Myroslav von Zarovich is born to Ireene von Zarovich and Sergei von Zarovich.^[1]
• 688 BC Elsa Drache, future wife of Barov von Zarovich (7th century), is born.^[1]
• 695 BC Victor von Zarovich dies at the approximate age of 13.^[1]
• 698 BC Andrea von Zarovich leaves Barovia.^[1]
• 699 BC Hans von Zarovich is born to Ireene von Zarovich and Sergei von Zarovich.^[1]
• 699 BC Peter von Zarovich is born to Natalia von Zarvoich and Ivan von Zarovich.^[1]
• 699 BC Ivan von Zarovich dies.^[1]
• 700 BC Andrea von Zarovich returns with her infant son Klaus von Zarovich. She will not tell who the father is.^[1]
• 705 BC A child is born to Elsa von Zarovich and Barov von Zarovich.^[1]
• 707 BC Raul Renier, future husband of Gertrude von Zarovich is born.^[1]
• 709 BC A child is born to Elsa von Zarovich and Barov von Zarovich.^[1]
• 710 BC A child is born to Lisbeth Geistlinger and Vasili Geistlinger.^[1]
• 710 BC Gertrude von Zarovich is born to Marlena and Myroslav von Zarovich.^[1]
• 711 BC A child is born to Elsa von Zarovich and Barov von Zarovich.^[1]
• 711 BC A child is born to Marlena and Myroslav von Zarovich.^[1]
• 711 BC Katarina Dragus, future wife of Peter von Zarovich is born.^[1]
• 717 BC A child is born to Elsa von Zarovich and Barov von Zarovich.^[1]
• 721 BC Lisbeth and Vasili Geistlinger both die.^[1]
• 727 BC Andrez Kriegel (later known as Andrez Weisritter) is born.^[35]
• 729 BC Ireena and Sergei von Zarovich both die.^[1]
• 731 BC Barov von Zarovich dies.^[1]
• 739 BC Lyssa von Zarovich conspires with Bluetspurean illithids to create a vampiric version of their race. She hopes to use these vampire mind flayers to take over Barovia, but she ultimately fails.^[20][36]
• 750 BC Strahd poisons Lyssa von Zarovich into a slumbering state that leaves her active for only a few hours each night.^[20] The poison is delivered via the blood of the dread flesh golem Tom (created by Emil Bollenbach) that acts as a stand-in for a human she hoped to enslave.^[37]

References