Strahd von Zarovich

Strahd von Zarovich is the most well-known of Ravenloft's darklords. Strahd is an Ancient class vampire (DnD term for a vampire between the ages of 400-499), a master necromancer and the unquestioned ruler of Barovia.

Strahd became a vampire as a result of a "pact" between himself and an unknown entity (Strahd claims it to be Death, but most likely it was Inajira the Arcanoloth), for which he promised to kill his younger brother Sergei. Strahd did so for love of his brother's fiancee, Tatanya, but she wanted nothing to do with him. After he slew Sergei- on his wedding day no less- he confronted Tatanya but she fled from him, eventually hurling herself from the balcony of Castle Ravenloft. Immediately afterwards the Mists of Ravenloft drew Strahd to the Demiplane of Dread.

Strahd has ruled his domain for the longest of any darklord, and as such his knowledge of the workings of Ravenloft are without equal. When Strahd chooses to close the borders of his lands poisonous mists arise and suffocate anyone attempting to pass through them. The only exception is a being is either immune to poison or who doesn't need to breathe (a golem or another vampire). In addition, the Vistani know a secret antidote which renders the drinker immune to the closed border. Strahd's curse is that once every generation he will meet a woman who is (or at least who he thinks is) Tatanya reincarnated. He always tries to woo her but inevitable the scene of his damnation is replayed and the woman hurls herself to her death.

Strahd is perhaps the most difficult of all darklords to face. His mastery of necromancy is so great he has produced a kind of "super-zombie", one that is capable of seeing invisible, regenerating like a troll and whose appendages continue to fight on when severed. Strahd has had at least two darklords under his sway in the past; Azalin Rex the Lich and Lord Soth the Death Knight. Both eventually escaped but that he could control such beings speaks much of Strahd's power.