Curse of Strahd Lore You NEED!

The legendary Curse of Strahd module has rich lore spanning decades of releases. Here are the essentials with the most up-to-date info with Strahd, Argnvost, the Amber Temple, the Fallen Heroes, the Mad Mage, and Ireena Kolyana! Can you really say you played Strahd if you didn’t meet these folks?
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Also, thanks to u/sneaky49 for the photoshopped pic of the Amber Temple. You can’t find that just anywhere. / oc_curse_of_strahd_amb...

[@Maesoagaming]

How am I just now finding your videos D: This is really cool to know! I've been running Stradh and it's nice to have the audio information instead of just a block of text.

[@HalflingHobbies]

Good! I thought it would be helpful considering this information is spread out all over the book and when I first started running it, I hadn’t finished the book. So I didn’t even know about the Silver Dragon or the Amber Temple!

[@sojournersawake]

Love the theme of pride throughout the villain's actions.

[@HalflingHobbies]

It really flavors a lot of the campaign!

[@AAAAA-jm3xn]

This video is great, super useful to refer to when it’s been a while since i’ve ran a session. I’m quite certain that Strahd’s mother was “Ravenovia”, not that it matters :P you seem like an excellent GM, i was so drawn into your narration!

[@user-qd8yy9lc4g]

A lot of things in Curse of Strahd are new and weren't present in the previous incarnations of the setting, but Ravenloft is not new to retcons. Pulling from general breadth of Ravenloft knowledge, the following questions may be interesting to resolve on one's own:
1) Does Strahd have living relatives? In some versions of the story, there was a middle brother, Sturm von Zarovich, who was not present at Sergei's wedding and went on to live and have children, while Strahd maintained the appearance of his own lineage by impersonating nonexistent direct descendants all named Strahd. But, even then, in some versions Sturm died at Sergei's wedding, his "survival" being a ploy for Strahd to get back at rival family of Dilisnyas. His tomb was described as empty, which could go with either version. If they exist, are living von Zaroviches just as bad as their most famous relative? Or what if their whole relation is manufactured, or even magically impressed on them by some sinister force?
2) Why did Order of the Silver Dragon come into conflict with von Zaroviches? In original setting's continuity, Strahd's enemy were the Tergs, a people alien to the land. Did conflict somehow stir the evils of the Amber Temple? Was Strahd treatment of defeated enemies so terrible the noble knights rose against him? Or was it something unrelated?

[@HalflingHobbies]

Excellent questions! And wonderful food for thought. This setting is pretty open for interpretation. In the new setting Strahd has a half sister (that he doesn’t know about) and that is it. And all the conflict of the SDs comes from control of The Amber temple. It really lends itself to additional information!

[@seosaidh]

I think his mother was Ravenovia? Mind you, I haven’t played D&D since 2ed... and I’ve been hit in the head a lot.

[@user-qd8yy9lc4g]

It is supposed to be Ravenia, though 5e changed it to Ravenovia. In either case, name is a pun on Ravenloft, of sorts.

[@seosaidh]

@@redlinkBR misspent youth.

[@seosaidh]

@@user-qd8yy9lc4g From I6, Ravenloft (AD&D 1e)t: “K88. Tomb of Barov and Ravenovia.” (Pg. 30).
From RM4, Curse of Strahd (AD&D 2e): “Sergei con Zarovich, prince and beloved son of King Barov and Queen Ravenovia” (pg 58). Maybe they changed it in the interim- I can’t speak to that- but originally it appears to have been Ravenovia. 🤷‍♂️

[@HalflingHobbies]

Sorry! You are right!! My dyslexic brain changed it! I need to add an edit in the video, thanks for pointing it out!

[@davewire87]

@@seosaidhin all releases of the Ravenloft module (I6 1e, House of Strahd 2e, Expedition to Castle Ravenloft 3e, and Curse of Strahd 5e), Strahd’s mother is named Ravenovia. In the book “I, Strahd” by P.N. Elrod that details Strahd’s life, her name is changed to Ravenia. Ultimately it’s a matter of taste. Personally, I like the name “Ravenia” more and typically change it to that when I run Ravenloft.

[@vernonhampton5863]

I've got another Barovia one-shot planned players. This video will be used to help me make a game where the players will be... the Hand of Strahd.

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

Running CoS right now and this is a super helpful summary! The layout of that book is... unhelpful to say the least.

[@HalflingHobbies]

I agree! Everything is all spread out. Glad you liked it 😁

[@simsgirlgem]

Thanks this will help my dm friend greatly

[@jasonedgar7954]

Queen ravenovia

[@Sage2000]

Hi. I need better aventure hooks and explanation for why the heroes end inside Barovia. Ideas?

[@DannyBellTheAuthor]

What a terrible night for a curse.

[@HalflingHobbies]

"It's a nice day for a....RED wedding!"

[@DannyBellTheAuthor]

@@HalflingHobbies you know what would be a great idea for a campaign besides the typical "Everything is horrible and Strahd is a smug incel with superpowers" campaign? One where you are a traveler before Strahd becomes a vampire, but you hear about this huge castle being built and how one man is amassing that much power.
All the best lore stuff with Strahd exists befofe the fall as it were. How much more exciting would it be to start in a relatively peaceful place with one man on the brink of madness, and suddenly your present for the cataclysm? You could even be present as one by one, every good soul willing to fight Strahd falls, one by one, until only your party remains.

[@HalflingHobbies]

Danny Bell I really love this idea!! Like...REALLY love this idea!