Barovia

Barovia is the name of a location within the fictional universe of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. In each of its iterations, the area is inspired by the Dracula legend and popular misconceptions of Transylvanian geography.

Barovia first appeared as the setting of I6: Ravenloft. Later, TSR developed this original adventure into the Ravenloft campaign setting, and writers re-conceived of Barovia as one of many domains within the Ravenloft demiplane.

Geography
Barovia is a mountain valley within the fictional Balinok mountains. The terrain is densely wooded, and the climate is one of frigid winters.

The valley hosts a small village (also named Barovia), over which looms Castle Ravenloft, ancestral seat of vampire ruler Strahd von Zarovich.

Strahd von Zarovich, a vampire and necromancer, remains the darklord of Barovia, inhabiting the Castle Ravenloft, close to the original village of Barovia (otherwise unnamed), the de facto political center of the land. Other large settlements include Zeidenberg, Immol, Teueldorf, Vallaki, and Krezk.

The population is 98% human, consisting of the native Barovians and the lower-class emigres from Gundarak, the Gundarakites. The Vistani, though a one-percent minority, are influential due to their compact with Strahd.

The most popular language, Balok, shows patterns of Slavic influence.

Fictional history
As originally conceived of in I6: Ravenloft, the history of Barovia mirrors the story of Dracula.

Barovia was conquered in the year 347 of Barovia's calendar by Strahd von Zarovich. It was formed from a part of the ancestral lands of Strahd von Zarovich at the time when he murdered his brother Sergei to win the hand of the beautiful Tatyana in the year 351 of the Barovian Calendar.

The novel I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire, which takes place sometime around 351, details Strahd's transformation into a vampire as a deal gone wrong with a personification of Death itself in an attempt to win Tatyana's love away from his brother.

In role-playing products
I6: Ravenloft: The setting's original appearance, for 1st edition AD&D.

House of Strahd: Largely the same setting as I6, but updated for 2d Edition AD&D.

Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: An update and expansion to the adventure, for the 3.5 edition of D&D. Includes instructions for incorporating Barovia into the Eberron and Forgotten Realms campaign settings. The instructions for the Forgotten Realms place it in northeastern Faerûn.

Barovia is also a domain of the Demi-Plane of Dread in the Ravenloft Campaign Setting. The setting was originally published by TSR, then later under license by Sword and Sorcery Studios, a division of White Wolf Studios.

Curse of Strahd: The module for the 5th edition of D&D was released on March 15, 2016. It is a reboot of the classic original, introducing elements from the 2nd Edition campaign setting as well.

In tabletop games
Barovia is the setting for the Castle Ravenloft Board Game.

In electronic games
Barovia was the setting of two PC games: Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession by SSI, 1994; by DreamForge Intertainment for Strategic Simulations, 1995; and Iron & Blood: Warriors of Ravenloft.

Barovia is in the "Mists of Ravenloft" expansion of Dungeons & Dragons Online.

Barovia is also a location in Arc Games' Neverwinter Online as part of the Ravenloft Campaign.