Barovia Village
The Village of Barovia is the oldest and most sorrowful settlement in the cursed domain that bears its name. Nestled in the shadow of looming Castle Ravenloft, the village lies cloaked in a perpetual mist, hemmed in by oppressive forests and steep cliffs. Time seems stagnant here, as if the land itself mourns under the iron will of Strahd von Zarovich, the vampire lord who rules Barovia from above.
Overview:
- Location: Eastern Barovia, at the base of the cliffs upon which Castle Ravenloft perches
- Population: Fewer than 100 souls—quiet, broken, and resigned
- Leadership: Nominally governed by the Burgomaster’s family, though real authority rests with Strahd
- Atmosphere: Grim, silent, and suffocating—dominated by fear, grief, and watchful shadows
The Village of Barovia is where the horror begins—and where it never ends. Trapped under the shadow of the vampire lord’s castle, it is a place where the dead are never far, and the living endure by habit rather than hope. To enter Barovia is to feel the weight of Strahd’s gaze—and to step into a tale of tragedy, blood, and fate.
Demographics
The people of Barovia are withdrawn and haunted. Many are descendants of the original settlers, their family lines frayed by generations of despair. Hope is nearly extinguished, replaced by quiet endurance and superstition.
- Most residents lock themselves indoors at nightfall, lighting no candles, speaking no prayers.
- Children are rare. Smiles are rarer still.
- Strangers are viewed with suspicion—some welcome them as possible saviors, others fear they will bring worse.
Points of interest
Notable Locations:
- Burgomaster’s Mansion: A large, battered home that once belonged to Kolyan Indirovich, the late burgomaster. It is a central hub for those few who dare stand against Strahd, including his daughter Ireena Kolyana, who bears the vampire’s unwanted attention.
- Blood of the Vine Tavern: A gloomy drinking hall run by three Vistani women. Locals frequent it more out of habit than joy. A man named Ismark “the Lesser”, Ireena’s brother, often drinks here and watches newcomers with cautious interest.
- Church of the Morninglord: A decaying chapel at the western edge of the village. Its priest, Donavich, has been driven nearly mad with grief and guilt, as his son, Doru, returned from a failed uprising—turned into a vampire spawn.
- Vistani Encampment (nearby): Outside the village and across the river lies a Vistani camp. The seer Madam Eva dwells there, offering glimpses into fate and prophecy to those brave—or desperate—enough to ask.
Tourism
Barovia is a place of mourning, its very soil soaked with sorrow. Unlike the strained cheer of Vallaki or the wary independence of Krezk, Barovia has accepted its fate. The villagers live at the mercy of Strahd, and they know it.
- Funerals are frequent, with bells that toll more often than church services.
- Superstitions govern behavior—garlic on windowsills, mirrors removed from bedrooms, holy symbols hidden beneath clothes.
- Many have come to believe no hope remains… and a few secretly welcome the vampire’s embrace as a release from their suffering.
Geography
The village is a collection of lean, weather-beaten buildings strung along a muddy road that winds through the valley. Rotting fences surround overgrown gardens. Doors are barred from within. Windows are shuttered and dark. Little life stirs in the streets, save for gaunt dogs, crows, and the occasional pallid resident hurrying between buildings.
- The air is heavy with the scent of damp earth, woodsmoke, and decay.
- The Svalich Road, Barovia’s main thoroughfare, runs through the village and continues west toward Vallaki.
- The eastern gates open to a rickety bridge spanning the Ivlis River and the mists that surround the valley.
At all hours, Castle Ravenloft looms above, visible even through the fog, its silhouette a constant reminder of the village’s tormentor.
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