If the tales are true, Ravenna used to be a realm of quiet, solemn beauty, with green forests, towering cliffs, and waterfalls that plunged a half-league before kissing crystal-clear lakes below.
If only that were true today.
Now, Ravenna is a darker place than your ancestors recall. Today it lies enshrouded in a cursed fog—a mist of its own evil making, some claim. And in truth, Ravenna may well be the victim of its own jealously guarded secrecy and desire for privacy. In the last ten years, Ravenna’s notorious fogs have taken a turn for the malevolent; some claim they turn smart folk simple, others claim darker things.
A longstanding rumor has it that once King Caldric dies, Ravenna will be ripe for the taking… that is, if anyone wants the dreary land at all. Ravenna’s only real rival is the nation that conquered it once already, Zhadra, though not even the Black Wolf seems eager to retake a cursed land. Ravennan tradition holds that all things are cyclical, and that their current curse will soon herald days of prosperity… though then that too will eventually end, and all will become accursed again. A Ravennan’s general outlook is both dogmatic and (perhaps appropriately) fatalistic.
Locale: Eastern Crown’s Reach nation inhabiting a large forest pressed against the Godspine range; borders Baltanya (north), Zhadra (west), and Lacéne (south)
Banner: A black raven on a field of misty gray-blue bordered in black otter (black lapis for brooches)
Role: Former fiefdom leal to Zhadra, currently petitioning for Sovereign Nation status. Rumored to currently be cursed—entry strongly dissuaded.
Theme: Fog-shrouded nation chock full of cursed townships and haunted castles. We’ve got some old-fashioned Gothic adventures happening here! Sharpen those stakes, laddies, we’re hunting vampires!
Ruler: His Watchful Grace, the Raven King Caldric Erenmoor IV
Duchies: Being until very recently a former duchy itself, Ravenna has no current duchies to call its own.
Capital: Ravenos
Cities & Strongholds: Gothica, Novendova, Parta Morc, Ravenloft, Tomlac, Visicci
Notable Towns: Barovia, Blajior, Brohmyr, Carrowton, Crows, Dragobor, Gort, Gradalac, Krezk, Luanora, Moldovor, Mucklow, Rekhel, Sklar, Tangle, Vallaki, Vechor, Worsa
Landmarks: The Alpwood, the Arothi Range, the Ashen Forest, the Barovian Valley, Blajior, Dal Dochia, Dal Morc, Khern Falls, the Khern River, Ombra Fen, the River Ilvis, the River Zasta, Sonje Peak, Vale Valvha, the Valinok Peaks, Vechul Moor, Zvalich Wood
Exports: Now? Nothing. Formerly lumber, carrion birds, and itinerant or wayward souls
Internal Factions: The Domani Path, the Knights of Erenmoor, the Knights of Luana, the Mistwardens, the Ravenswatch, the Scholomonari, the Visanei Oameri, Wurlden’s Wagoners Guild and Trading Coster
Old Tongue: Romou (very likely derived from 18th century Romanian, with touches of 19th century Moldovian)
Nobiliary: vun (example: Lord Valacholi vun Valcastle)
Noble Houses: Andruvol, Bajar, Bathor, Bivescu, Bojhari, Bulgoric, Erenmoor (ruling), Ghicas, Gradishar, Hragach, Indirov, Kestra, Kovach, Krell, Mirescu, Nikolari, Pale, Prasnadic, Rovhun, Radu, Radlavich, Valcastle, Vallachia, Vhedske, Vornic, Vranesh, Zarov
Faiths: Illumination Reformation (54%), Zvystni Bohova (38%), Deith Diadh (4%), Wakhan Shakoi (2%), Aegyr Udoen (1%), Other (1%)
Said to be far more cursed than any other of Ravenna’s cursed lands, the Barovian Valley is the largest vale in Ravenna. The dreaded Mists of Barovia inhabit all of the vale, including the village of Barovia, and the towns of Krezk and Vallaki as well… not to mention Castle Ravenloft, the alleged source of those mists. Breathing the Mists of Barovia is not inherently dangerous, but breathing outside of the mists whilst infected by them causes an immediate inability to breathe, forcing the choking person back into the mists. (Teleporting out of the mists almost inevitably has tragically fatal results, unless one can immediately teleport back into the valley before having to take a breath.) Few people willingly journey through the Barovian Valley, especially off the beaten path, but there are a few bold souls:
A Vistani (or by some whispers, ex-Vistani), Arrigal is known to be loyal to Ravenloft’s master, Count Strahd vun Zarovich—to such an extent that he is known as “Strahd’s Dog” (though never to his face). Arrigal is said to be accompanied by a “looming figure” that acts as a bodyguard… and Arrigal is no novice with a blade himself. An exceedingly dangerous man to cross.
Few know the purpose of this massive minotaur; all that is truly known was that he was held captive in Vallaki for a time, but was set free. Now, he roams the mists with impunity, seeking someone or something with grim determination.
The valley’s namesake, this sad hamlet is mostly known for being utterly beholden to Castle Ravenloft and its despotic master, Count Strahd. Curfew in town is at one chime past twilight and no later; after curfew, it is said the dead rise and walk the streets seeking the living to slay and devour. Thankfully, Barovia’s residents are few these days, and those few are wise enough to bolt their doors and bar their windows. At one chime before Dawn, curfew is lifted, the dead go back to their graves, and a semblance of normal activity returns to this decidedly abnormal town.
Called “Ismark the Lesser,” he is the son and heir of Barovia’s deceased burgomaster, Kolyan Indirov. Ismark was once a paladin—a knight of unquestioned honor—but has since fallen for reasons he will not discuss. He is known to be fond of wine, and can be found most nights at Barovia’s Blood On The Vine Tavern… though more recent rumors claim that he has moved to the nearby town of Vallaki. Other, darker whispers claim Ismark has been slain.
The younger sister of Ismark, Ireena is said to be beautiful, willful, and an expert with the rapier. She has also, of late, become the object of attention of Castle Ravenloft’s master, Count Strahd vun Zarovich. More than a few Barovian locals say that while she had long resisted Strahd’s advances, his most recent visit claimed her soul. For this reason, Ireena is treated as though she has already passed on from this world—not so much ignored as mourned.
Said to be born of Paladori nobility, this recent ally of Rainbow Seabreeze (see below) has come to Barovia seeking something he will not discuss. But he is ever intent on his goal, whatever it is, and wields a razor-edged sword in one hand—and arcana in the other. Wise men would keep a distance.
Few have ever called this bard “wise,” but “fortunate,” aye, certainly. He claims to be a “sea elf,” and perhaps his fins are tucked into his high, fanciful boots. He is charming to say the least; every Vistani who has drawn steel on him has either perished or (against most odds) befriended sweet Rainbow.
This tall, black-walled castle looms large in more than one way; its shadow—and the shadow of its master, Count Strahd vun Zarovich—falls across the hapless village of Barovia, and woe to the fool who defies Count Strahd’s decrees. Indeed, the whole of the Barovian Valley feels Ravenloft’s presence, and even the people nearby towns like Krezk and Vallaki always have one eye on Ravenloft’s silhouette. Raised on the order of Queen Ravenova Zarov III some 200 years past, the keep has been in the hands of her bloodline ever since, even though House Zarov has fallen to ruin, and Ravenna’s crown is in Erenmoor hands now. Castle Ravenloft stands, crumbling though it seems, and waits.
Said to be the great-great grandson of Queen Ravenova’s eldest son, other (quieter) voices whisper that Strahd is in fact Ravenova’s true son, and that he has paid for immortality in a most dire way, the blood of his brother Sergei on his hands, cursing him, and the blood of Barovian villagers feeding his thirst for power and sustenance. Others scoff at the very thought; a 200-year old vampyr ruling the vale? It seems unlikely. And yet… many people have a number of pointed questions for Strahd to give answer to. The count claims willingness to answer all. Please be invited to dine with him tonight within Ravenloft’s shadowy halls.
A bastion built to defend against threats old and unknown from the Godspine Mountains in the east, this city-sized fortress is one of Crown’s Reach’s most ancient—and mysterious—constructs. Entry is only permitted to those who know specific phrases or bear a specific bloodline, and the citadel’s monstrous stone doors are said to have runes that magically bar interlopers. Its reticence to newcomers is made all the more puzzling by its great size—the second largest city in Ravenna, bowing only to Visicci. Gothica also acts as a dam to Khern Fall, which plummets more than seven throws down to become the thundrous Khern River.
Standing stubbornly at the westernmost point of the Barovian Valley, the tall-walled town of Krezk was once known as “The Rat’s Haven,” likely due to the number of rodents found within its ramparts. Recent years have seen that reputation clean up a little, as the town’s venerable Great Cathedral—a grand sanctuary built tall with pale stone—has seen an uptick in attendance due to the swift ascension of its new and energetic high priest, a bright-eyed young man named Elijah.
This young priest heads Krezk’s Great Cathedral, an honor rare for a man so young. But there is something otherworldly to Elijah, and the common folk say he has been blessed, “Touched truly by the Light.” Whatever the truth, Elijah seems willing to take on all tasks, and boldly proclaims his opposition to the valley’s alleged master, Count Strahd. Elijah’s rise in stature has coincided with a precipitous drop in the number of rats seen in Krezk.
A massive hobgoblin of hitherto unseen size, the Bloodhammer was most recently seen on the outskirts of Vallaki, but headed towards Krezk, where it is believed he will open an infernal smithy (since he is often seen carrying an entire forge on his back). It is said the Bloodhammer has never been defeated in single combat.
Quite possibly the Most Wanted Man in all of Ravenna, Crebb, a former locksmith, has a laundry list of crimes ranging from petty theft to the brutal murder of a number of people, including the Captain of the Vallaki guard, Tobias Grey. 10,000 pieces of silver have been offered for Crebb’s capture—alive or dead. He was recently seen near Krezk, though his true location always seems very hard to pin down.
Little if anything is known regarding this dark, enigmatic figure, other than he has been seen accompanying Audreyzoe of the Vistani (see OMBRA FEN, below) at certain points, and the Bloodhammer (see above) at others. Most assume he cannot be trusted, but then when is an infernal ever trusted?
Originally believed to be male, Faren is actually a female Sylvanni ranger known for her penchant for sleeping in trees. If tales are true, her bow is exceptionally accurate, she can hear a tit mouse approaching three fields away, and can leap from the ground to the top of a house with only a twitch of her eyebrow. Said to travel at times with the Wolf-Masked Girl (see below).
Very little is known of this very little man. Is he a pik? Is he a well-fed gnome? None can say. The only fair rumor accurately attached to him is that he has somehow made the Vistani rogue Arrigal (see: BAROVIAN VALLEY, above) very, very angry.
Those who whisper they know her true name are the lowly and downtrodden of this land, and they are unwilling to spread gossip regarding this mystery woman. It is evident that the commons love her dearly, and she rewards that love with her protection. “All that is evil fears the wolf-headed woman with the raven wings.” She has proven her worth time and again.
Named for the bygone heroine Luana, Luanora is said to be one of the few bastions of goodness and Light remaining in Ravenna. Its elite fighting force, the Knights of Luana, have a repute for honor and justice that extends to every corner of Ravenna. Luanora also has an odd reputation for having at least one rainfall per day, though if that’s the extent of Luanora’s curse, well… the rest of Ravenna wishes it had that problem.
Once the religious center for the Zvystni Bohovan faith, the town (and its primary cathedral) has recently undergone a radical conversion to the Illumination Reformation. Some whisper it is because the son of Father Dvevori, the town’s spiritual leader, was recently cursed with lycanthrope, and the old priest is desperate to find a cure. Others suggest even darker, more subversive reasons for the change. The only truth known for certain is that the Old Gods are no longer welcome in Moldovor.
This seemingly endless mire takes up the entire western span of the Barovian Valley south of Krezk, and allegedly hides more than a few ways out of the vale itself… but one must first contend with swarms of motflies, wagon-sized crocodiles, and the persistent rumor that Baba Yaga herself has made the fen her home. Good luck traveling through, and bring many pairs of boots.
This mysterious veiled woman seemingly appeared out of nowhere and—if tales are true—claimed the Vistani people as her own. Some whisper she is Madame Eva’s long-lost sister, returned for revenge; others claim she is a harbinger of dooms to come. Audreyzoe is currently wanted for theft and murder in the town of Krezk, and was most recently seen going into Ombra Fen. Perhaps she seeks an alliance with Baba Yaga herself?
Some say this powerful, imposing warrior woman from the north is always accompanied by a massive grizzly bear, while others claim she is the bear, and can change her form at will! Cugertha is said to have slain in single combat two lycanthropes, thirteen dire wolves, and a giant zombie. Little else is known of her, though rumors abound that she is hunting some sort of “bull.” (Pity the bull.) Cugertha is also known to be a fine friend to local blacksmiths.
Very few people have seen this fae child’s face, but those who have speak of hair the red of roses and eyes that glow like fire. He is often seen by Audreyzoe’s side, but just as often is not seen. At all. He is known to be armed and dangerous and, like Audreyzoe, wanted for crimes committed in Krezk. Though surely, being so young, he was coerced into making those poor choices…
The capital city of Ravenna, Ravenos is really only a city in name. In truth it is little more that a towering citadel on the Godspine, and is dwarfed in size by Ravenna’s two other primary cities, Visicci and Gothica. Still, Ravenos remains the most defensible of cities, perched on a soaring cliffside, with only a narrow road for entry. It overlooks the town of Crows, below, which itself has no direct route leading up to the castle proper. Ravenos is called the “Ravenous Keep” by many of the older residents, due to its violent past.
The sovereign ruler of Ravenna, Caldric began his rule with a kind heart and gentle hand, but has evolved into a ruthless and paranoid man. Some people outside of Ravenna believe he has singlehandedly brought about the ruin of his and other neighboring nations, blaming him for the appearance of Ravenna’s “Demon Fog.” Recent rumors say Caldric is in as bad a shape as anyone, for he is said to lie catatonic and bedridden, a victim of one (or more) of Ravenna’s many curses.
Little is known about the only son of Caldric Erenmoor… except that the bookish young man is the sole heir to the Ravennan crown and the Erenmoor legacy. Few know what he actually looks like these days or where he resides, though many believe Xavier is undoubtedly hidden away in the bowels of Ravenos, hoping against all hope that his father recovers soon.
The newly-sent envoy from Ravenna to Palador, Egrayous is slight of build, but an influential speaker and a seemingly honest man. His presence in Palador irritated the Black Duchy of Zhadra, and an attempt has already been made on his life. Egreyous is currently back in Ravenna, accompanied by his warder, Mecca, and Sir Ossion Talondar of Palador, seeking answers to the curses that plague Ravenna.
Ravenna’s Royal Herald. A controversial name to bring into any conversation these days, Lord Krell is either touted as the man holding Ravenna’s fragile alliances together—or the man working to undermine them at every turn. Everyone, however, agrees he is a loquacious man with a gift for wordplay.
Warder of Ravenna and bodyguard of the Ravennan envoy, Egrayous Kestra. Mecca seems to be a stern woman of ill humor. Her personal sigil—a black dragon—is painted on her shield, and she is known to carry at least four different swords when traveling. Her stylized black dragonscale armor is the envy of many a Ravennan warrior.
Originally a Knight of Palador, Ossion was sent with Ravennan envoy Egrayous Kestra to investigate the veracity of Ravenna’s various curses. Rumor abounds that the quiet but charismatic Sir Ossion recently wed a Ravennan woman, but proof of anything in Ravenna remains difficult to ascertain.
This sprawling, odd town sits at the foot of Ravenna’s capital. And indeed, Crows is five times the size of Ravenos, though it lacks walls; many people consider Crows to merely be an extension of Ravenos. Its architecture is decidedly nonhuman (fae, some claim), its streets winding and somewhat nonsensical. Its other known feature is the prevalence of (quite obviously) crows that perch its rooftops and nest in its rafters. It is considered a serious crime to harm a crow or raven within the knowing of Crows’ constabulary.
This crossroads hamlet is known mostly as the town nearest to the Barovian Valley without actually being within the Barovian Valley—and therefore not cursed by the choking fog that is alleged to lurk within the vale. It is also known to be the home of the redoubtable Pixie Inn, an infamous inn and tavern frequented by adventurers, mercenaries, and darker folk such as the Visanei Oemeri and cloaked members of the Scholomonari. The rumor regarding its lanterns being powered by enslaved pixies is patently false.
A cabal of Ravennan spellcasters whose ultimate goals are as shrouded in secrecy as Ravenna is shrouded in mist. Many people claim the Scholomonari are weather mages responsible for Ravenna’s persistent fogs, but just as many claim these mists protect Ravenna from outside invasion and do little harm to Ravenna’s scant populace, so opinion there is divided. Others claim the Scholomonari do the work of a dark power intent on enslaving the common folk. No Scholomonari has volunteered his or her secrets to any known written record, however, so their ambitions remain a mystery.
Reports out of Vallaki are hard to verify, but according to various (some would call them “wild”) rumors coming out of this tragic Barovian Valley town, Vallaki is either A. Flooded with darkness, B. Flooded with light, or C. Merely experiencing yet another weird “festival” as mandated by its demonstratively and perpetually cheerful mayor. (A fourth rumor has the mayor himself dead. But who can trust scurrilous gossip these days? Fake news!) Whatever the truth is, one thing is a certainty: All Will Be Well!
If word from Krezk’s Great Cathedral can be believed, this woman is the niece of King Caldric himself, though what she is doing in the Barovian Valley is anyone’s guess. “Bringing Justice to Vallaki” is only one of the suggestions put forth, though conquering it seems more likely, as it seems she has brought a large and heavily armed force with her. It is also unknown whether this young woman’s show of force is on the king’s order; does Caldric desire Vallaki for some reason? Or has the Lady gone rogue? Only time will tell.
Nearly always by the Lady of Erenmoor’s side, this mysterious figure is oddly hard to pin down. Some say he is a dark fae; others claim he is an elf. He works from the shadows, which begs the question: Why does the Lady require so shadowy a servant? Others claim that certain sectors of the smallfolk refer to this dark servant as the “Chosen.” But chosen for what? An enigma wrapped within a mystery.
This looming creature is said to be half man, half winter bear; its name is weird and foreign and nearly impossible to pronounce by the human tongue. If tales are to be believed, it is stronger than a giant and can leap across rooftops like a large mountain cat. This creature is allegedly responsible for singlehandedly burning down the Mayor’s mansion—as well as destroying a church attic—in Vallaki.
Demon or dragon, few can truly say what sort of creature this is. But one thing is known for certain: the destructive “Firehand” entered the Barovian Valley in the company of the bear-creature known as Bobohrr—and almost immediately burned an apothecary in Vallaki to the ground—so it is very likely they both travel together. The mayor of Vallaki remains silent as to any bounties levied for either creature, however.
This beautiful minstrel hails from Lacéne, and has come to Vallaki for reasons of the heart; locals have recently learned she intended to escape an inconvenient marriage, and the man in question, Knightlord Gurlage il’Guscant, was apparently so madly in love with her that he followed her to Vallaki. Sadly, once there he quickly met his demise, likely at the hands of one of her many other suitors. It is unknown at this time his Lord Gurlage’s expansive family will attempt to exact retribution for his death, but what is known is that Evie currently remains quite single.
More commonly known as the Visanei (or Vistanei), these wandering Ravennan natives are said to be the only people who can cross Ravenna’s cursed borders without suffering any of the associated curses. Some claim this is due to a pact with a powerful devil; others say it is because they are the only remaining folk whom the land truly loves. Whatever the case, the Visanei, with their love of song and dance, and with their colorful wagons and colorful clothes defy the standard character of the typical dour Ravennan. Many claim the Visanei are not averse to using magic, and some suggest their name (meaning “Dreaming People” in the Romou tongue) relates to their ability to scry into the future and dream-see the paths of others. The Visanei have, it is noted, taken full advantage of their ability to pass between borders, delivering messages and supplies to and from the outside world—for the right price.
173 PC: A Firstrealm people calling themselves the Oemani arrive, making landfall on the continent of Caelarn. The new, magic-filled land offers dangers all its own, but the Oemani persevere, eventually finding sanctuary and settling in the misty hills and deep dark woods east of the Storming Sea.
10 PC: The Oemani are now called the Oemeri, meaning the “People” in the still-developing Romou tongue. Some of the Oemeri (through interbreeding with local fae, it’s suggested) begin to learn arcana, with magic-use taking root within their culture.
0 VC: Far to the south and west, the distant Isle of Avalonia crowns a man named Arturos, declaring him “The First and Last King” of all the realms. The Oemeri receive this message a few years later and collectively shrug.
80 SVC: Avalonia declares all the lands of the Storming Sea to be under its governance, forming a new protectorate to be known as Crown’s Reach, and that all the people within their domain should submit to the “Will of the Light.” The Oemeri are seen as insignificant and are ignored, a status they find agreeable. For them, everyday life continues with little thought given to distant isles or their proclamations.
248 SVC: More Firstrealm clans arrive in the forests east of the Storming Sea—this time a group called the Wallachs, whose leaders have somehow learned the secret of utilizing arcane nexus portals. The Wallachs come into contact with the Oemeri and are welcomed.
267 SVC: The concord between the Oemeri and Wallachs is broken, with the Oemeri accusing the Wallachs of delving into sacrificial magic and necromancy. They part ways, with the Wallachs expanding their territories into the deeper, darker woodlands.
298 SVC: Tales of nightmarish horror begin to trickle out of the deep woodlands held by the Wallachs—now called Warlachs—with many former Wallachian people fleeing back into Oemeri lands. Survivors speak of powers granted to the Warlach rulers by demons and worse; stories of monstrous wolves, conjured fiends, and shapechangers abound.
312 SVC: The Oemeri begin sending vigilantes and adventurers out into Warlach lands in an attempt to verify—and then with good fortune destroy—the evils burgeoning within. Most do not return. Those that do tell of massive citadels of stone erected by magic, as well as labyrinth catacombs filled with mutated beasts and magically-summoned monsters. Eventually, the Oemeri choose to leave the Warlachs to their own devices.
370 SVC: Priests speaking for the glory of their god Perunor arrive in Oemeri lands. Many of the priests, uncomfortable with the Oemeri’s natural affinity with arcana, move north into the Baltanyan reaches. More than a few remain in Oemeri lands, however, and are soon joined by priests speaking the virtues of Danica, the terror of Kosche, and others. And from that pantheon does the Zvystni Bohovan faith first come into being.
450 SVC: A period of darkness descends on the Oemeri, as a number interconnected natural disasters suddenly strike. Few know the reasons behind the extended cataclysm, though more than a few priests declare that a “Godswar” has begun. The Oemeri can only hope to lay low for the years to come; some pray to the Zvystni Bohova for succor, others to the Light, but most simply hope the earth and sky will soon cease their calamitous conflict.
466 SVC: Sixteen years of nigh-constant destruction have passed, when it all suddenly ceases. A number of priests claim the so-called Godswar has finally come to an end, and the surviving Oemeri, for their part, have no desire to question their fortune. But Bohovan clerics and Light-worshipers seem to agree on one thing: a new era has begun. Various lands are claimed by surviving nations, and Crown’s Reach secedes from Holy Avalon with a concordance ratified by ten of the Storming Sea kingdoms. The Oemeri lands, not yet a unified nation, are not included in the Crown’s Reach Concordance.
560 SVC: A Firstrealm clan of free-roaming warriors called the Szeki arrive from a distant “Land Beyond the Forest,” settling near the Godspine foothills. They find common ground with the Oemeri, burgeoning their fighting forces. The few cadres that attempt to move into the former Warlach lands return with horror stories to tell: the lands are cursed, mangled beyond recognition and monster-filled, with the once-imposing Warlach citadels reduced to ghost towers.
836 SVC: A farming clan called the Dubroi arrive from the Firstrealm, fleeing some nameless terror and hoping for a new beginning in this new land. They quickly make peace with the Oemeri and the Szeki, and with an advanced knowledge of farming techniques are readily welcomed to the swell of humanity burgeoning within the woodlands. A long period of peace begins.
893 SVC: King Nikolar Kestra I, a charismatic and resourceful tactician, ascends as King of the Szeki. A keen conciliator, he quickly makes inroads with the Dubroi laborers, as well as many of the (now quite scattered) Oemari clans. Nikolar even makes a push into old Warlach lands, seizing a number of older citadels left broken and abandoned from the Godswar.
896 SVC: King Nikolar formally ties together the Szeki and the Oemeri, taking to wife an Oemeri princess named Tatjia Ravena. Tatjia, a regal beauty gifted with the old blood, can talk to ravens and crows; Nikolar ignores the worried protestations of some of his more superstitious advisers and arranges the wedding himself. Knowing his realm must be united, the king invites the Dubroi labor leaders to the wedding festivities, and as a gift, grants them ownership of portions of Szeki land, declaring the Dubroi to be lords of their own domains.
Nikolar and Tatjia were that rare, divine pairing; theirs was a love made manifest, so potent, so pure, it united a nation. The bards still sing of their union.
And of all that came after.
901 SVC: On the five-year anniversary of Nikolar and Tatjia’s wedding—and on the occasion of the first birthday of their new Crown Princess, Ravenna—King Nikolar proclaims his newly-united kingdom the Protejata Ravenna, meaning “Protectorate of Ravenna.” He expands all territories and forms multiple alliances through arranged marriages. That same year, Nikolar successfully petitions the Ten Kings to include Ravenna as a member of the Crown’s Reach Concordance.
912 SVC: A charismatic warlord named Vladis Tsepin arrives in Ravenna from the Firstrealm; the few men who follow him are battle-hardened and merciless, but they are nothing next to Tsepin, whose bloodlust seems unquenchable. Tsepin, despite his dark reputation, finds work in King Nikolar’s forces.
917 SVC: Vladis Tsepin, now a landed lord in his own right, strikes deep into old Warlach territories. He scoffs at warnings, saying “Fear is a phantom, and I cannot die.” And indeed, Tsepin returns two years later with treasures aplenty… though it is also clear to any who can see that Tsepin has undergone certain dark changes. Nonetheless, Tsepin has brought honor and glory to the kingdom. King Nikolar asks him what boon might be asked as his reward—and Lord Vladis asks for King Nikolar’s 19-year old daughter Ravenna.
He is refused, and is instead gifted lands and castles—none of which he asked for.
920 SVC: House Vranesh, a wealthy and influential Szeki house, is nearly obliterated when a 20-man vanguard and carriage escort—as well as over 30 nobles within—are attacked and slaughtered whilst traveling to Dal Kestra, the king’s city. Included in the massacre is Lord Vherad Vranesh—Princess Ravenna’s arranged betrothed. Blame for the attack is laid at the feet of Lord Vladis, who does not even deny his role; “The will of the people,” he calls it. King Nikolar calls it treason, declares Vladis a traitor of the state, and calls for his head. To his surprise, a large portion of the Dubroi side with Lord Vladis, and war is begun.
924 SVC: After four years of brutal war, Oemeri and Szeki Ravennans led by King Nikolar still fight against Dubroi Ravennans led by Lord Vladis. All sides have taken heavy losses, with little end in sight. Nikolar’s allied lords blame the Dubroi betrayal on the king’s choice of “making ploughmen into patrons,” but Nikolar understands something he had failed to recognize earlier: the evil inherent in Vladis. If only his daughter Ravenna had the same sense. Ravenna had not consented to the betrothal four years ago, but Nikolar and Tatjia had agreed House Vranesh was in the best position, and their young suitor was handsome, charming…
Alas, Ravenna had openly protested the match, and had even gone so far as to suggest a meeting with Lord Vladis. Ravenna had even written to Vladis at least twice in times of truce, though her mother had found and confiscated the letters before they could be sent. (It remains unknown if any others were successfully sent. Bold couriers could be found, if one had the wealth, and Ravenna did, once even using sapphires pulled from a brooch to use in barter.) Another cease in hostilities is announced at the end of the year, and then…
925 SVC: Ravenna Kestra—Crown Princess of the Protejata of Ravenna—disappears. To this day it is unknown if she escaped willfully or was somehow taken from her father’s own keep, but she was gone. King Nikolar’s fury knows no bounds, and he sends everything he has at Lord Vladis, who has retreated deep into Warlach territories. King Nikolar finally tracks Vladis to an ancient tower in a desolate wasteland, and there confronts the remainder of Vladis’s forces. Vladis has the ground advantage and has readied for the attack, but Nikolar has five times as many men, his forces swelled with a fresh levy of Baltanyan knights.
Nikolar loses three-fifths of his force, but wins the day, and Lord Vladis amends his stained honor, riding out to meet the king head on. Nikolar butchers the usurper and beheads him… only to find out it was never Vladis at all. One of Vladis’ loyalists had rode out in Vladis’ armor and helm. The princess is found inside the tower, seemingly unharmed. Of Lord Vladis, however, there is no sign. He is never seen in Ravenna again.
926 SVC: Though the war is won by King Nikolar, the price is heavy. Princess Ravenna is placed in seclusion and the topic of a marriage for her is never broached again. That very year, plague sweeps through the nation, taking with it, among many others, the king’s beloved wife. Three more Dubroi lords rise up in an attempt to secede, and all are put down, each more violently than the last. Ravenna remains united, but the cost in blood is high.
329 SVC: King Nikolar I Kestra dies of a mysterious illness. He is succeeded by his daughter, Queen Ravenna, First and Last of Her name, who declares “Nation and Queen are One” at her twilight coronation. Queen Ravenna rules the nation of Ravenna for over 200 years, and the nation spirals deeper into darkness. The queen is said to have over a thousand consorts, each more depraved than the previous, but she never takes a husband. Her court, it is whispered, revels in the macabre, and the countryside is overrun with plagues of a cursed sort; vampirism, lycanthrope, and other umbral banes run rampant. No one is safe, not peasant nor lord or lady. Through the intervening years, blood and woe are the only things known in Ravenna.
1155 SVC: Queen Ravenna, Sovereign of the Protejata Ravenna, destroys yet another seditious attempt to remove her from power, but her will to rule, many say, has left her. At winter’s apex she simply disappears, leaving the remaining noble families to squabble for the crown. They do, and bloodily, but she is no longer there to be amused by it all. Occasional tales surface as the years pass—of a solitary woman in black walking solitary roads, a flock of ravens at her beck. They whisper that the appearance of this Raven Queen always spells doom to whomever should glimpse her face.
But dark tales are Ravenna’s past and future; its lifeblood. This is just the way of things.
1256 SVC: House Zarov briefly ascends to power in Ravenna as King Volurne vun Zarov takes the throne. He is succeeded by his royal wife, Queen Ravenova I, who conquers the Barovian Valley, driving many of the lycanthope clans into hiding and claiming it in the name of her son, Prince Sergei. Sergei is betrayed and murdered by his brother before he can be crowned, however, and the Ravennan crown is passed to another family. House Zarov maintains control of the Barovian Valley even today.
1298 SVC: A new dawn arises in Ravenna; a surprising influx of noble families fleeing the Firstrealm in times of rebellion adds new blood to the already-stacked list of middling nobility in the country. After a short period of turmoil, Ravenna has set itself to rights, with multiple cities and principalities united in girding themselves against the spread of evil.
1380 SVC: House Bajar, with the support of clerics from the Illumination Reformation, takes power in Ravenna. Working with other neighboring nations, Ravenna is once again granted sovereign membership in the Crown’s Reach Concordance. The crown begins enacting anti-arcana laws, but finds large pockets of resistance, especially within the numerous Oemari clans still living in various parts of the country; they argue that arcana helps stifle the tide of umbral and shadow magic prevalent in the outlying portions of the country, specifically in older Warlachian lands. The Familiari Consanta is enacted, allowing arcane magic if used in conjunction with observatory or guardian-based magic, and specifically allowing familiars—summoned creatures that specialize in the detection of unnatural energies—to be present in everyday life. That is, if one has the ability to summon one.
1443 SVC: Ravenna is suddenly and overwhelmingly invaded by Zhadra, its neighbor to the west, effectively removing power from Ravenna’s ruling House Erenmoor and placing it in the hands of Zhadra’s own King Viktor. Zhadra’s troops, though facing horrors they’ve never seen before, are resolute, seemingly fearing their tyrannical king more than any Ravennan ghost or ghoul. Ravenna thus becomes a Grand Duchy subject to the Black Wolf Kingdom of Zhadra. The other kingdoms of Crown’s Reach protest, wary of Zhadra’s new predatory nature, but King Viktor assures them he has all he requires. The Northlaw is updated and ratified by all active Crown’s Reach nations to ensure Zhadran compliance.
1464 SVC: Zhadra invades its southern neighbor, peaceful and prosperous Lacéne, thus breaking the Northlaw and finally earning the ire of all other neighboring nations. Viktor vun Zhadra’s forces are driven back by the combined might of Palador, Gault, and Vertaes; Zhadra is stripped of its Grand Duchies, Baltanya and Ravenna, and is itself made into a Duchy beholden to neighboring Palador. Baltanya and Ravenna each begin the annual task of petitioning the other Crown’s Reach kingdoms in the hopes that their sovereign status might be reinstated.
1470 SVC: The current year. Naught can be expected but more doom and gloom from this mist-cursed realm, and journeying into Ravenna is actively discouraged. However, if you find yourself within her fog-bound borders, either by poor choice or unfortunate circumstance…
…do try to stay safe. Wear some silver. And ‘ware the crows.
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