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===The [[Nova Vaasan Frontier]]===
===The [[Nova Vaasan Frontier]]===
*[[The Weary Horse Inn]]
*[[The Weary Horse Inn]]
==Chronology==
* [[1 BC]] Nation of [[Barovia]] forged of independent city-states by the [[von Zarovich family]].<ref>[[Gazetteer I]], p. 15.</ref>
* [[180 BC]] Founding of the [[Church of Andral]].<ref>[[Gaz 1]], p 16.</ref>
* [[280 BC]] Approximate date of the invasion of the [[The Neureni Horde|Neureni Horde]].<ref>[[Gaz 1]], p 16.</ref>
* [[299 BC]] Strahd is born.<ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref><ref name="R3e p.12">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.12</ref><ref name="RPHB p.14">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.14</ref>
* [[320 BC]] Strahd gains the military rank of [[general]].<ref name="R3e p.12">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.12</ref><ref name="RPHB p.14">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]]</ref>
* [[320 BC]] [[Terg|Tergs]] invade [[Barovia]].<ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref><ref name="Gaz I p. 17">[[Gaz 1]], p 17.</ref>
* [[321 BC]] [[Strahd von Zarovich]] takes the [[Barovian]] troops to war against the [[Tergs]] for the sovereignty of [[Barovia]].<ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref><ref name="RLCS p.17">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.17</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.19">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.19</ref>
* [[326 BC]] The [[Siege of Krezk]] occurs.<ref name="Gaz I p. 17">[[Gaz 1]], p 17.</ref>
* [[346 BC]] [[Count Barov von Zarovich|Count Barov]] and [[Countess Ravenia von Zarovich]] slain by [[Terg|Tergs]].<ref name="Gaz I p. 17">[[Gaz 1]], p 17.</ref>
* [[347 BC]][[Strahd]] makes a pact with [[Inajira]] right before a critical battle with the [[Tergs]].<ref name="Gazetteer I p. 142>[[Gazetteer I]] p.142</ref>
* [[347 BC]] Last of the [[Terg|Tergs]] driven from [[Barovia]].<ref name="Gaz I p. 17">[[Gaz 1]], p 17.</ref><ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref> Strahd takes the rule over Barovia as the prize for his victory.<ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref>
* [[349 BC]] [[Castle Ravenloft]] completed.<ref name="Gaz I p. 17">[[Gaz 1]], p 17.</ref> [[Strahd]] assumes [[residence]] there.<ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref>
* [[350 BC]] The [[Ba'al Verzi]] try and fail to assassinate [[Count Strahd von Zarovich]].<ref name="Gaz I p. 17">[[Gaz 1]], p 17.</ref>
* [[351 BC]] [[Barovia]] forms due the actions of [[Strahd von Zarovich]].<ref>[[Gaz 1]], pp 10, 16.</ref><ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref><ref name="I, Strahd">[[I, Strahd]]</ref> [[Strahd]] turns into a [[vampire]].<ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref><ref name="I, Strahd">[[I, Strahd]]</ref>
*{{Homebrew non-canon-small}}[[351 BC]] A [[comet]] shines in the [[Barovian]] sky during the fermenting season. Hence, the year is known as [[The Year of the Comet]].  [[Barovian Red]], a local wine, marked the [[event]] with labels bearing the image of the [[comet]].<ref name=ref1>[http://fraternityofshadows.com/TheCemetery.html Alanik Ray's library archive]</ref> 
* [[352 BC]] [[Strahd]] flexes his muscles to show domination over [[Barovia]].<ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref><ref name="I, Strahd">[[I, Strahd]]</ref>
* [[398 BC]] [[Count Strahd von Zarovich]] confronts [[Lord Leo Dilisnya]] at the [[Monastery of Silver Threads]], walking into Lord Dilisnya's trap. Strahd is almost put down, but the [[monk]]s of the [[monastery]] act to turn the tide of battle. Strahd turns Lord Leo Dilisnya into a [[vampire]] and [[Imprisoned|imprisons]] him in a [[The Tomb of Leo Dilisnya|tomb]] to starve from a lack of [[blood]].<ref name="Gaz I p.13">[[Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I]] p.13</ref><ref name="I, Strahd">[[I, Strahd]]</ref>
* [[400 BC]] First known [[reincarnation]] of [[Tatyana]].<ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref><ref name="I, Strahd">[[I, Strahd]]</ref>
* 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.<ref>[[Van Richten's Guide to Vampires]] p.6-9</ref><ref>[[Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium I]] p.10-13</ref>
* [[470 BC]] The [[Vistani]] appear in [[Barovia]] for the first time.<ref name="Gaz I p. 17">[[Gaz 1]], p 17.</ref>
* [[470 BC]] [[Madame Eva and Strahd form an alliance]].<ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref>
* [[475 BC]] [[Martyn Pelkar]] is drawn into [[Barovia]], bringing tales of a "golden morning lord."<ref>[[Gaz 1]], p 18.</ref>
* [[485 BC]] [[Petya]] and [[Anastasia Petrovich]] killed by [[Strahd]]<ref name="VotM">[[VotM]]</ref>
* [[495 BC]] [[Jacqueline Montarri]] murders [[Madame Eva]] and is horrifically cursed. [[Madame Maruschka]] becomes the new [[raunie]] of the [[Zarovan]] tribe. (Note that Madame Eva is still seen after this; this can be accounted for by her tribe’s [[Non-Linear Existence | existence in non-linear time]].) <ref>[[VotM]] pg. 284: “died four years ago.” [[RLMC I&II]] pp. 89-90: tells us how it happened.</ref>
* [[499 BC]] [[Alexi "Sasha" Petrovich]], [[Leisl]], and [[Jander Sunstar]] assault [[Castle Ravenloft]] drive [[Strahd]] into hibernation.<ref name="VotM">[[VotM]]</ref>
* [[525 BC]] [[Lyssa von Zarovich]] is born.<ref name="Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p. 34">[[Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I]] p.34</ref>
* [[528 BC]] [[Outlander]] [[adventurer]]s assault [[Castle Ravenloft]] and are destroyed.<ref name="Gaz I p.18">[[Gazetteer I]] p.18</ref><ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref><ref>[[House of Strahd]]</ref>
* [[542 BC]] [[Azalin]] enters [[Ravenloft]] and arrives in [[Barovia]].<ref name="GazII p.135">[[Gazetteer II]] p.135</ref><ref>[[King of the Dead]]</ref><ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref> Reluctantly, he serves [[Strahd]] for a time.<ref name="King of the Dead">[[King of the Dead]]</ref><ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref>
* [[542 BC]] [[Strahd]] discusses the potential threat [[Azalin]] poses with [[Madame Ilka]], the new raunie of the [[Zarovan]] tribe ([[Maruschka]] having apparently died at some point in the last 40 years).  <ref>[[I, Strahd, The War Against Azalin]] - p71, pp109-117, pp167-171</ref>
</onlyinclude>
* [[547 BC]] [[Forlorn]] appears.<ref>[[Gazetteer I]] p.63</ref> Strahd sends Azalin to investigate, but nothing of value to them is found.<ref>[[Gazetteer I]] p.73-74</ref>
* [[550 BC]] [[Lyssa von Zarovich]] becomes a [[vampire]] and discovers a way to achieve the power of a vampire much greater than her age.<ref name="Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p. 34">[[Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I]] p.34</ref>
* [[550 BC]] *In this approximate [[year]], [[Forfarian]] [[survivor]]s stream over the border from [[Forlorn]] to [[Barovia]] and end up settling in [[Immol]].<ref name="Gazetter I p.18">[[Gazetteer I]] p.18</ref>
* [[579 BC]] [[Strahd]] and [[Azalin]] create a [[portal]] to [[Mordent]]<ref name="GazII p.135">[[Gazetteer II]] p.135</ref>, where [[The Alchemist]] conducts strange research on changing the soul.<ref>[[I10: Ravenloft II: The House on Gryphon Hill]]</ref> [[The Mists]] snatch up [[Mordent]] before either [[Strahd]] or [[Azalin]] can make good their escape, leaving them with only hazy dream-like recollections of what happened.<ref name="GazII p.135">[[Gazetteer II]] p.135</ref>
* [[579 BC]] [[Azalin]] leaves the service of [[Strahd]].<ref name="King of the Dead">[[King of the Dead]]</ref><ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref> [[Darkon]] forms.<ref name="Gazetteer II p. 9">[[Gazetteer II]] p.9</ref><ref name="King of the Dead">[[King of the Dead]]</ref><ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref>
* [[581 BC]] [[Bluetspur]] appears.<ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref><ref name="RLCS p.17">[[Ravenloft Third Edition]] p.17</ref><ref name="RLPHB p.19">[[Ravenloft Player's Handbook]] p.19</ref>
* [[585 BC]] [[Thaani]] stream into [[Barovia]] from [[Bluetspur]].<ref name="Gazetter I p.18">[[Gazetteer I]] p.18</ref>
* [[593 BC]] The domain of [[Gundarak]] appears.<ref name="Gaz I p.18">[[Gazetteer I]] p.18</ref><ref name="DoD p.16">[[Domains of Dread]] p.16</ref>
* [[593 BC]] First known contact between [[Barovian]]s and [[Gundarakite]]s.<ref name="Gaz I p.18">[[Gazetteer I]] p.18</ref>
* [[613 BC]] (approximately) Strahd encounters [[Harkon Lukas]] running amok in Barovia and thoroughly thrashes him, forcing Harkon to flee into [[the Mists]].<ref>[[Domains of Dread]] p.16, 64</ref>
* [[718 BC]] [[Tara Kolyana]] is born. Not too long thereafter, her parents flee [[Barovia]] to go to [[Hazlan]].<ref name="Gazetteer I p. 144">[[Gazetteer I]] p.144</ref>
* [[720 BC]] [[Soth]] arrives in Ravenloft<ref name="DoD p.17">[[Domains of Dread]] p.17</ref>, slays the tribe of [[Magda Ilyanova Kulchevich]], encounters [[Strahd]], and meets [[Azrael]].
* [[720 BC]] [[Azrael Dak]] slays [[Medraut Gundar]].
* [[735 BC]] [[Tara Kolyana]] experiences her first brush with the supernatural with an [[afflicted lycanthrope|afflicted]] [[werewolf]]. After witnessing the man become [[cured]], Tara resolves to help people throughout the [[Land of Mists]]. Her parents make her promise to never to go to [[Barovia]].<ref name="Gazetteer I p. 144">[[Gazetteer I]] p.144</ref>
* [[736 BC]] [[Duke Gundar]] is [[assassinated]].<ref name="Gaz I p.19">[[Gaz 1]], p 19</ref><ref name="DoD p.17">[[Domains of Dread]] p.17</ref>
* [[739 BC]] [[Lyssa von Zarovich]] conspires with [[Bluetspurean]] [[illithid]]s to create a [[illithid vampire|vampiric version of their race]]. She hopes to use these vampire mind flayers to take over [[Barovia]], but she ultimately fails.<ref name="Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p. 34">[[Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I]] p.34</ref><ref>[[Thoughts of Darkness]]</ref>
* [[740 BC]] '''[[The Great Upheaval]]'''.
* [[740 BC]] [[Strahd]] begins the annexation of [[Gundarak]].<ref name="Gaz I p.19">[[Gaz 1]] p 19</ref>
* [[750 BC]] [[Strahd]] poisons [[Lyssa von Zarovich]] into a slumbering state that leaves her active for only a few hours each night.<ref name="Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p. 34">[[Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I]] p.34</ref> 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.<ref name="CotN:V p.21-26">[[Children of the Night: Vampires]] p.21-26</ref>
* [[753 BC]]: On his deathbed, [[Tara Kolyana]]'s father expresses how proud he is of her and tells her of the [[:category:prophecy|prophecy]] the [[Vistani]] gave about her and why they left [[Barovia]].<ref name="Gazetteer I p. 144">[[Gazetteer I]] p.144</ref>
* [[753 BC]]: [[Count Strahd von Zarovich]] personally [[execution|executes]] [[Burgomaster Shaithis Vosrovna]] for goating [[adventurer]]s into the [[murder]] of one of the [[Vistani]].<ref>[[Ravenloft Gazetteer I]], p35.</ref>
* [[754 BC]] [[The Resurrection of Erlin]] ([[Dread Possibility]]): [[Emanuel Maryszkas]] calls upon the power of [[Erlin]] for succor against [[Barovian]] pursuers. His prayer are answered, and his pursuers are driven away by [[unholy]] power.<ref name="Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p. 26">[[Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I]] p.26</ref>
{{MCS}}
{{MCS}}
{{ref}}
[[Category:domain]]
[[Category:domain]]
[[category:CL 7 Domain]]
[[category:CL 7 Domain]]

Revision as of 14:07, 14 February 2016

Barovia
Culture Level Medieval
Ecology Full
Climate & Terrain Temperate forest, hill, mountains
Year Formed 351 BC
Population 27,700
Races (%) Humans 98%, half-Vistani 1%, Other 1%
Languages Balok, Luktar, Vaasi, Sithican, Forfarian, Thaani
Religions Cult of the Morninglord, Ezra, Hala, Erlin
Government Feudal monarchy
Ruler(s) Count Strahd von Zarovich
Darklord(s) Count Strahd von Zarovich
Nationality Barovian
Analog Transylvania
Related Categories
Locations in Barovia
Transportation in Barovia
Inhabitants of Barovia
Former Inhabitants of Barovia
Flora of Barovia
Fauna of Barovia
Native Monsters of Barovia

Things, Creatures & Personnages of Legend

Biology

Flora

Fauna

Native Horrors

Wolves

Lycanthropic

Geography

Barovia map by the MCS. Note: Since this fan-made map predates 3rd Edition Ravenloft, there are some inconsistencies with the more recent maps.

Weather

Terrain

The terrain is mountainous and forested, winters are cold. A beautiful but hostile domain.

Mountains & Hills

  • The Balinoks divide the Core into east and west. The bridge that rejoins them is Barovia. It is her Old Svalich Road and her Svalich Pass that bring east and west back into contact with each other for a few precious months each year.

Forest

  • The Graenseskov ("Borderwood") grows thickly on the lower slopes of the eastern foothills of the Balinoks in Barovia and well out onto the flatter land of Nova Vaasa beyond them. Its upper reaches are known to Barovians as the Hills of Bleak Vistas and to the Nova Vaasans as the Howling Hills. The northern boundary of the forest lies a little south of the Old Svalich Road where the beech-firs of the Old Svalich Woods resolutely hold their ground. The southern limit extends at least to the border of Hazlani frontier but perhaps continues into Hazlan itself.

Lakes

  • Nameless? lake at adjacent to Immol


Landmarks

Communication

Rivers

  • The Saniset River has its source in summer melt waters from Terestrãu ("Mount Sawtooth") in south-eastern Barovia that feed the lake adjacent to Immol. From Barovia the Saniset rushes down onto the Ensommark ("Lonely Plain") of Hazlan, flows east by southeast to Sly-Var, passes just north of the Skyggeskov ("Shadowwood") as it crosses the border into Nova Vaasa, and flows gently to the sea. The upper reaches of the Saniset are unnavigable, even on a small raft, given its swiftness, rapids, and gravel bars.

Roads

Mistways

Note: The Bleak Road does not lead to or from Barovia, but rather the Misty Border south of Arbora in southern Nova Vaasa. This is treated in the errata. "Charted Mistways sidebar: The Bleak Road should connect “Southern Nova Vaasa — Northern Vorostokov”, and not Barovia!>(Errata)"

Frontiers

The Shadow Rift

Nova Vaasa

  • The Graenseskov ("Borderwood") grows thickly on the lower slopes of the eastern foothills of the Balinoks in Barovia and well out onto the flatter land of Nova Vaasa beyond them. Its upper reaches are known to Barovians as the Hills of Bleak Vistas and to the Nova Vaasans as the Howling Hills. The northern boundary of the forest lies a little south of the Old Svalich Road where the beech-firs of the Old Svalich Woods resolutely hold their ground. The southern limit extends at least to the border of Hazlani frontier but perhaps continues into Hazlan itself.

Hazlan

Forlorn

Kartakass

Sithicus

Invidia

Borca

The Great Upheaval

Barovia was impacted not insignificantly by the Great Upheaval. The land's chokehold over east-west trade was greatly strengthened by the cutting of the Timori Road. The disappearance of Markovia from its northern frontier would have been welcomed if only it had been replaced by something less ominous than the Shadow Rift. The disappearance of Bluetspur from its southern frontier was an indisputable boon. And the relocation of Hazlan from its central eastern and southern eastern frontiers to its southern frontier did little more than change the direction of travel from Immol to Toyalis.

Population Distrubtion

Towns

Villages

Authority

Darklord

Temporal Ruler

The current and undisputed ruler of Barovia is Count Strahd von Zarovich XI. The Zaroviches have ruled Barovia in an unbroken line for as long as history recounts, although doing so more than once in the teeth of enemy invasion. The name "Strahd" has been used by the last eleven counts, a want of creativity or perhaps a meglamania, that was previously absent.

Spiritual Ruler

No religion has been sanctioned by the Zarovich line in centuries, indeed religion is discouraged in Barovia. Additionally, the Barovians have long felt abandon by the divine. The Morning Lord is making some progress towards reversing the last situation.

Church and State

It has been centuries since the rule of Barovia's temporal leaders was recognised by a spiritual authority. Likewise, it has been centuries since the rule of Barovia's spiritual leaders was enforced by a temporal authority. A classical theologico-political arrangement ceased to exist in Barovia during the reign of Count Strahd von Zarovich I.

Government

At the local level by boyars in each town or village.

Law

Law-Enforcement

Information Gathering

The Vistani

Military Footing

Fighting the Gundarakite Resistance following the successful annexation of half the former land of Gundarak.

Possible army of skeletons and zombies hidden and at the ready.

Language & Culture

Balok

Mouning

Barovian females wear black for five years after the death of even their most distant relatives, lending a universal drabness to their dress.

Fashion

Barovian females wear black for five years after the death of even their most distant relatives, lending a universal drabness to their dress.

Inns & Taverns

Immol

Village of Barovia

Vallaki

The Nova Vaasan Frontier

Chronology



This page incorporates content from the inactive Mordent Cartographic Society. Used with their express permission.

References

  1. ↑ Gazetteer I, p. 15.
  2. ↑ Gaz 1, p 16.
  3. ↑ Gaz 1, p 16.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 Domains of Dread p.16
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ravenloft Third Edition p.12
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.14 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "RPHB p.14" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Gaz 1, p 17.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ravenloft Third Edition p.17
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ravenloft Player's Handbook p.19
  10. ↑ Gazetteer I p.142
  11. ↑ Gaz 1, pp 10, 16.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 I, Strahd
  13. ↑ Alanik Ray's library archive
  14. ↑ Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p.13
  15. ↑ Van Richten's Guide to Vampires p.6-9
  16. ↑ Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium I p.10-13
  17. ↑ Gaz 1, p 18.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 VotM
  19. ↑ VotM pg. 284: “died four years ago.” RLMC I&II pp. 89-90: tells us how it happened.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p.34
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Gazetteer I p.18
  22. ↑ House of Strahd
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Gazetteer II p.135
  24. ↑ King of the Dead
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 King of the Dead
  26. ↑ I, Strahd, The War Against Azalin - p71, pp109-117, pp167-171
  27. ↑ Gazetteer I p.63
  28. ↑ Gazetteer I p.73-74
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Gazetteer I p.18
  30. ↑ I10: Ravenloft II: The House on Gryphon Hill
  31. ↑ Gazetteer II p.9
  32. ↑ Domains of Dread p.16, 64
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Gazetteer I p.144
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Domains of Dread p.17
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Gaz 1, p 19 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Gaz I p.19" defined multiple times with different content
  36. ↑ Thoughts of Darkness
  37. ↑ Children of the Night: Vampires p.21-26
  38. ↑ Ravenloft Gazetteer I, p35.
  39. ↑ Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I p.26

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

Domains of Dread
Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I
I, Strahd, The War Against Azalin

Secrets of the Dread Realms - pp7,10-12,18,40
Ravenloft Third Edition - pp4,12-13,15,17,110,112-114
Domains of Dread - pp59-61
House of Strahd - pp14,18
The Ravenloft Campaign Setting:Domains and Denizens - pp7-10
Vampire of the Mists - throughout
Realm of Terror - pp63-65
Ravenloft I6 - pp6-7
Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I pp9-40
I, Strahd, The War Against Azalin - p38,pp42-43

Secrets of the Dread Realms - pp8-9
Domains of Dread - pp42-43
The Ravenloft Campaign Setting - poster map
Realm of Terror - poster map
Servants of Darkness - poster map
Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I - p12

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