The Dragon King Archimedes

The Fall of Strahd von Zarovich

Strahd von Zarovich was born into the powerful and noble von Zarovich family, rulers of a tumultuous and war-torn kingdom. From an early age, Strahd was groomed to lead, trained in the art of war, diplomacy, and governance by his father, King Barov, and his mother, Queen Ravenia. As the eldest son, Strahd bore the heavy burden of securing their family's legacy. While his younger brother Sergei lived a life of joy and freedom, unshackled by responsibility, Strahd was forced into a role he despised. Sergei embodied everything Strahd wished he could be—kind, carefree, and beloved by all who met him. Where Sergei inspired loyalty through warmth, Strahd demanded obedience through fear. A Life of Blood and Conquest In a bid to solidify the von Zarovich dynasty, Strahd led countless bloody campaigns, conquering lands and quelling rebellions. His victories were undeniable, but they came at a steep cost. The endless carnage hardened Strahd's heart, leaving him bitter and filled with regret. Despite his prowess, he longed for the life he could never have—a life free from the chains of duty and war. Seeking a place of peace to cement their legacy, Strahd’s family found the valley of Barovia. Enclosed by towering mountains, the land seemed untouched by war's chaos. Strahd conquered the valley, claiming it in his family's name. To honor their triumph, he commissioned the construction of Castle Ravenloft, a grand fortress overlooking the valley. Yet, even as Strahd secured Barovia for his family, his bitterness grew. His envy of Sergei deepened, especially as their bond withered. Where Sergei’s youth and charm brought joy to those around him, Strahd’s victories brought only fear and isolation. Tatyana’s Arrival When Tatyana, a radiant and spirited young woman, entered their lives, Strahd believed fate had offered him salvation. She embodied all the warmth and beauty he had lost in his years of war. But to Strahd's anguish, Tatyana’s heart belonged to Sergei. Strahd’s jealousy turned to obsession, and he began searching for a way to regain what he had lost: youth, vitality, and the love he believed was his by right. ________________________________________ The Bargain with Vampyr In his desperation, Strahd sought forbidden knowledge and came into contact with Vampyr, a dark and ancient entity. Vampyr promised him everything he desired: restored youth, unyielding power, and Tatyana’s love. All it would cost was his soul. Strahd accepted the bargain. His aging body was restored, his strength magnified, and his presence imbued with a magnetic allure. Vampyr whispered to him, urging him toward his destiny. But the entity had not revealed the full terms of their pact. ________________________________________ The Wedding and the Betrayal On the day of Sergei and Tatyana’s wedding, Castle Ravenloft was adorned with splendor. Strahd concealed his seething envy beneath a veneer of calm, offering his blessing to the couple. But Sergei, ever kind and perceptive, spoke words that shattered Strahd's composure: "Brother, you have sacrificed so much for this family. Perhaps now you can find peace, as I have." Those words, meant to comfort, were daggers to Strahd's soul. They reminded him of all he had lost—the life he had been denied, the joy stolen from him. Blinded by rage, Strahd struck Sergei down with a blade, his bloodlust consuming him. Vampyr seized this moment of fratricide to finalize its bargain. It compelled Strahd to drink Sergei’s blood, completing his transformation into a vampire. The act left Strahd both elated with newfound power and horrified by what he had become. Turning to Tatyana, he expected her to see him as her savior, the one who had freed her from an undeserving husband. Instead, she looked upon him with terror and revulsion. Overcome with despair, Tatyana fled to the castle's highest tower and cast herself into the mists below. The castle trembled as Vampyr's laughter echoed through its halls. Strahd's soul was forfeit, and with Tatyana’s death, the pact was sealed. Castle Ravenloft became his prison, and Barovia was swallowed by the mists, trapping Strahd and its inhabitants in a cursed domain for eternity.    

STRAHD’S AWAKENING

After Eons of cycles of this role as the monster in the mist Strahd slowly started to realize it was all fake and he was trap here. Everything would reset the only contrast to change was the adventures they had the power to change things so Strahd started to experiment and see where his limits lie.   Cycle 2000: A Glimmer of Clarity Strahd begins noticing the cyclic nature of his existence. At first, his experiments are rudimentary: testing the boundaries of Barovia and observing the behaviors of adventurers. His journal reflects growing despair and frustration with his cursed immortality. By now, he starts recording meticulous details of each cycle, documenting changes in Barovia and testing the influence he wields over its reality. His resolve to escape solidifies. ________________________________________ Cycle 2250: The Multiversal Revelation Strahd’s alliance with the Vistani grants him knowledge of the multiverse, a concept he initially dismissed as fantastical. The idea of endless planes where he could rule anew ignites hope. With this, he begins experiments to extend his influence beyond Barovia. By exploiting his legend and his control over the Vistani, he lures individuals into Barovia to test how much power he can exert over them from within his prison. These tests yield mixed results, as many succumb to the mists, while others resist. ________________________________________ Cycle 2275: Barovia’s Fixed Constants Through painstaking observation, Strahd identifies elements of Barovia that persist through each cycle: Madam Eva, the wizard, and Tatyana's reincarnations. Strahd grows increasingly obsessed with the mechanics of his domain. He notes that killing or altering key figures results in resets, where these figures reappear seemingly unaltered. He realizes they are tethered to the domain's fundamental structure. This knowledge lays the groundwork for his experiments in unraveling Barovia's fabric. ________________________________________ Cycle 3000: Tatyana’s Eternal Return Strahd delves deeper into his obsession with Tatyana. He begins crafting brides resembling her, each one serving as a mockery of the love he lost. One bride, Anna Sunstar, becomes his favored companion. Her uncanny resemblance to Tatyana soothes his anguish, but it also feeds his growing bitterness as he recognizes the futility of trying to recreate what he once had. ________________________________________ Cycle 3250: The Fog’s Guardians Strahd tests the limits of Barovia’s borders. He discovers monstrous entities within the fog that act as jailers, preventing his escape. These creatures seem to be extensions of the entity he once bargained with, a force he begins referring to as “the false Death.” Strahd’s attempts to outwit these guardians fail, but he gleans valuable insights into their patterns and weaknesses. ________________________________________ Cycle 3750: The Lich Gambit Driven to desperation, Strahd pursues lichdom, reasoning that undeath might grant him freedom. However, the attempt backfires as his power is siphoned away by Barovia itself. His form is reduced to a feeble skeleton, a humiliating failure that nearly drives him mad. This cycle reinforces his belief that the domain actively resists his escape. ________________________________________ Cycle 5000: The Lich's Cohort Strahd perfects a refined version of lichdom, creating ten lich followers bound to him through phylacteries. By siphoning their power, he fortifies his strength and secures loyal enforcers to protect his castle. The phylacteries are hidden across the Material Plane, ensuring their safety from the fog’s guardians. This cycle marks a turning point, as Strahd begins amassing an army of the dead, preparing for an eventual confrontation with the forces binding him.    

The Fall of Strahd and the Rise of Archimedes

After countless cycles of death and rebirth within Barovia, Strahd von Zarovich, the first vampire and lord of this cursed domain, devised a chillingly brilliant plan to escape his eternal torment. His epiphany came after thousands of experiments and failed attempts: the key to his freedom lay not in fighting the Dark Powers directly but in replacing himself with another. Strahd needed a suitable pawn—someone strong enough to endure the curse, yet malleable enough to mold into his image. He bided his time, watching and waiting for the perfect individual. His patience bore fruit when an adventurer named Archimedes, the Vistani King, emerged—a beacon of hope for the oppressed.     Archimedes, the Vistani King Archimedes was a young paladin of extraordinary charisma and unwavering resolve. Born among the Vistani but deeply disillusioned by their subservience to Strahd, he rallied the scattered clans and Barovian townsfolk under a united banner. He preached liberation, hope, and justice, igniting a fire in the hearts of the downtrodden. Word spread of this bold leader who dared to challenge the Devil Strahd himself. Strahd, ever the manipulator, took notice. Archimedes was everything Strahd needed: a symbol of hope, a leader who could rally people, and a powerful soul to bear the weight of Barovia's curse. Strahd’s twisted mind saw poetic justice in using a Vistani to free himself—those who had served as his intermediaries for centuries would now unwittingly enable his escape.     The Raid on Castle Ravenloft Under Archimedes' command, a massive force of townsfolk, adventurers, and defected Vistani stormed Castle Ravenloft. For the first time in centuries, the walls of the dread fortress trembled with the cries of rebellion. Strahd allowed the uprising to proceed, using the chaos to manipulate events to his advantage. When Archimedes and his closest allies reached the throne room, Strahd confronted them directly. The battle was fierce—holy light clashing against unholy darkness, spells tearing through ancient stone, and swords ringing against enchanted steel. But Strahd had no intention of killing Archimedes; he needed him alive. As the battle reached its peak, Strahd unleashed an ancient and forbidden ritual, one that shook the very fabric of Barovia.   The Soul Exchange Strahd’s spell intertwined his soul with Archimedes’, forcing the two to exchange bodies. The ritual was a grotesque display of dark magic, pulling energy from the very essence of Barovia. Archimedes' allies watched in horror as their beloved leader writhed in agony, his soul twisted and reshaped. When the light of the spell faded, Archimedes had become the perfect image of Strahd, while Strahd now inhabited Archimedes' mortal form. To ensure his deception was flawless, Strahd corrupted Archimedes’ mind and memories, erasing his identity and replacing it with that of Strahd. To Barovia, nothing had changed—Strahd still ruled, and the rebellion was crushed.   The One Who Watches Strahd, now in Archimedes’ body, disappeared into the mists, taking on the guise of a monstrous figure known only as The One Who Watches. Hidden from Barovia's view, he observed from the shadows for over a century, allowing the domain to stabilize and the new “Strahd” to fully integrate into the cycle. During this time, Strahd honed his plans further. To escape Barovia, “Strahd” needed to die permanently. The only way to achieve this was to allow a new group of adventurers to succeed where others had failed. Strahd manipulated events to ensure his old body—now inhabited by Archimedes’ twisted soul—would face its inevitable doom.   The Final Cycle After 100 years, a group of adventurers entered Barovia, determined to slay Strahd and free the land. Guided by Madam Eva and opposed by Barovia’s terrors, they fought their way through the cursed land. Along the way, they encountered The One Who Watches, who offered cryptic warnings and minor aid, steering them toward their goal. The adventurers finally confronted “Strahd.” they succeeded in slaying the vampire lord, plunging a holy blade through his chest. As the mists began to recoil and Barovia seemed on the verge of liberation, Archimedes—now fully transformed into Strahd’s double—emerged from the shadows. With Barovia’s curse broken, Strahd (in Archimedes’ body) declared his freedom. However, the Dark Powers, sensing their hold over Barovia slipping, unleashed a final assault to stop him. The domain began to collapse as the Dark Powers manifested monstrous forces to reclaim Strahd. The adventurers, along with Strahd (in Archimedes’ body), fought their way to the borders of the mists. In a climactic battle, Strahd confronted the avatar of the Dark Powers—a horrific amalgamation of despair and undeath. Using all the power he had accumulated over millennia, Strahd destroyed the avatar, shattering the bonds that tethered him to Barovia. The mists dissipated, and the cursed land began to dissolve, its inhabitants disappearing into the void. The Fate of Strahd and Archimedes Strahd, now free, disappeared into the multiverse to explore his newfound freedom, no longer bound by the curse of Barovia. The adventurers who had fought to free the land were left with mixed emotions—had they truly defeated Strahd, or had they unleashed something far worse upon the world? As for Archimedes’ soul, it remains unclear whether it was destroyed or trapped within the fragmented remains of Barovia. Strahd, now unburdened, carried with him the knowledge and power he had gathered, prepared to carve a new path in the multiverse.