Ludwig Strahd Von Zarovich

Ludwig had for many years trained to be a master tactician and an even more masterful soldier, all due to the hard training Ludwig had gone through. This training was overseen by his father Gismondo Strahd. Gismondo would make sure every morning that young Ludwig's bed was made perfectly. Gismondo would make sure that Ludwig was ready for survival scenarios and would often take Ludwig out on trips. These trips were not the typical father-son trips you would expect but instead trips where Ludwig would be taken in the family horse carriage out into the now Baratorsk forests. In the forest, Ludwig along with his father would be forced to stave off countless wild beasts and do his best to survive. For many, this would be a challenge but to Ludwig, it was his idea of "doing something fun" with his father. Many years passed and when the war between the Pride Kingdoms and the Undertow Union broke out, Ludwig along with his father was ready and present at the frontlines. This war went on to last much longer compared to what many had expected, including Ludwig's father. So whilst Ludwig battled on the frontlines of the Pride Kingdoms, Gismondo went home. Gismondo argued for the logic of his decision by simply stating that "Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, but here we went to war first."

Gismondo did this without letting Ludwig know, given that Ludwig still had the "idiotic and youthful courage" to fight as stated by the father. Ludwig arriving home after the end of the war was furious to find out that his father and went home early and to top this off had grown incredibly ill. It was not long after that the father died in his rocking chair in front of the fireplace in the Strahd Manor. Ludwig was devasted after finding this out, the emotionality ripping into him and spiralling him into a deep depression. Ludwig spent close to a year alone focusing on the studies of magic, alchemy and the divine. Many believe that he did this in hopes of realising a method of returning his father to life. The only time Strahd went out during this year, was to read out his father's eulogy for all that had come to attend Gismondo's funeral. In it Ludwig said nothing except for a few choice words. he started the eulogy by picking out a raven's feather from his coat, and stabbing it into his hand. He then took out a book and wrote Tome of Strahd on the front cover of the book. He said out to the crowd: "My father is dead, but in this, he shall live on." Pointing to the book. This happened 23 years ago now.

With Gismondo dead and Ludwig only just beginning to re-enter the public space again, he felt stressed when approached by Kaiser Gustaf and told that: now that his father died, Ludwig was expected to attend his father's past duties within the representative council during these troubled times for the Pride Kingdoms. His mother was within this council so Ludwig thought about everything she had taught him and grabbed the opportunity that had presented itself. Travelling to the Pride Kingdoms along with his mother, was the first time in a while that they had spent time together and his mother Zuroya Strahd looked like hell. As they travelled the two caught up and Strahds mother was stressed she explained how the council hadn't heard from King Zamodon in a year, and many council members were getting worried. The Frystian representatives were talking about backing out of the agreement and the Tenarusian members wanted to completely separate the ties. It was time for them to show that Prouzzia was needed. His mother is still called Tuetoenia, Prouzzia as she was a part of the Vorsteyians that immigrated during the founding of Tenarius. She saw Tenarius and the Adamiel family as invaders and that they wanted to take her culture away from her. Ludwig agreed. He was calm, he was ready, and the new discoveries that he made during his absence would prove fruitful for sure. His new abilities and a new sense of mind would ensure the safety of the country.

After the meeting had ended, Kaiser Gustaf was missing a tooth and Zuroya was running after her son that had knocked set tooth out. The King was dead, and according to Ludwig; Gustafs decision to stay in the correlation was a violation of everything the country stood for. He was done. The death of a king is to be announced, without our top chain of command, we will never prevail. His mother disagreed. The Black Carriage or the Raven Wagon as it was called formerly was a hot mess during the ride home. According to many both Ludwig and Zoruya were hoarse when they stepped out of the vehicle simply from screaming. It did not take long before they cut contact and Zoruya fell ill. She died three days after the disbandment of the Pride Kingdoms. Not long after Kaiser Gustaf died too. During their collective eulogy, Ludwig announced that he would be step up and that the world would cower when they saw how strong Tuetoenia would come back. "This I promise you" Ludwig had said to the crowd and an elsewhere sad occasion became one of hope.

Due to Ludwig's rocky childhood, he craves security now more than anything. The memories of his family haunt Ludwig; a family that without realization constantly made Ludwig test and prove himself in hopes of gaining their approval. His father was a high-ranking military officer and his mother was a highly respected politician. Both parents brought their lifestyle at their respected workplaces back home, so from an early age Ludwig was introduced to both military practices and the political playing field. This way of life highly impacted Ludwig but what impacted Ludwig the most was the fact that both parents also had a morally grey approach to their jobs and ways of advancement within them. From these Ludwig was placed in a rocky and morally challenging position from an early age. The constant shifts and changes of the political world and the strict and violent ways of wars shaped him into a tough and sturgeon addict to the military and politics. He lost love, he lost banality, he lost his ability to see beyond someone's achievements and view the person behind them. People couldn't be amazing for just being them, they could be amazing if they had a repertoire of achievements to show for it. Whilst he wants security, his sense of security can only come from a competent leader. During the Disbandment of the Pride Kingdoms, Ludwig discovered that only he could competently lead Tuetoenia as the previous Kaiser had failed to see through the disguise of the elder ooze that murdered the king.

Whilst Ludwig has had many relations that he has held most dear, most of these close relations are now dead. Both his parents are dead and his brother has been gone for a long time ever since his bride died on what in Tuetoenian history is known as the Crimson Wedding. On that fateful night, Ludwig lost the love of his life and his brother lost his bride. Ludwig, his brother and his brother's wife had a complex relationship, as Ludwig had come to love his brothers bride, Tatyana. The story goes through that Tatyana reciprocated this love and struggled with her feelings, for despite her love for both Strahds she could not find peace in choosing either. Eventually, after so much stress she had thrown herself off Castle Rabenloft. Ludwig's brother could not take this and choose to run off alone. All need time that day to process the loss within the Strahd family.  

Whilst Gismondo and Ludwig had a relationship that during the last days of Gismondo's life was strenuous, Ludwig still had respect for him and choose to name the castle he was offered after him. After the war of Sorashana ended Ludwig was offered a castle by the now-former Kaiser Gustaf as a sign of appreciation. Ludwig called the castle, Rabenloft after his father's middle name Rabenvert. He moved the remnants of his family here after his father's death. Whilst his mother along with Kaiser Gustaf both had lived in Pridwin for a long while, his mother saw fit that during these troubled times, she would move back. After the many fight on the day that Ludwig had joined her in Pridwin, she moved back, leaving Ludwig with his brother. It was during her first time returning to the castle that Ludwig´s mother Zoruya passed away while travelling to her husband's namesake. In sorrowful disappointment, Strahd sealed his mother’s body in a crypt beneath the castle.