History of the Valley through its Peoples

by The Polyhistr — written in the year 350, Barovian Calendar

First Folk (thousands of years ago)

The first folk settled in the valley in time immemorial… at least several thousand years ago, based on my studies of a few stone henges, menhirs, and circles here that serve as remnants of their civilization. There have been historians that categorized the first folk into separate peoples—the mountain folk congregated on the slopes of Mount Ghakis, the forest folk in the expanses to the west, valley folk by the banks of the Luna River, and the mysterious feral hill people in the north—but this is somewhat arbitrary.

Their culture was largely coherent and consistent, worshipping and organizing around time, nature, and the great wheel. While it was simple, that does not imply primitive or barbaric: they had rather peaceful ways and produced lasting cultural relics. Only a few tribes' practices verged on blood rites or cannibalism.

They also seemed a rather egalitarian culture, as my research found few references to great leaders among them. The exception was Kevan, likely due to his bloodthirsty reputation relative to the generally pacifistic tenor of these people. (His tribes, not surprisingly, were the ones with the bloodier reputations.)

Eventually the arrival of innumerable waves of immigrants, invaders, and other peoples led to the first folks' disappearance, whether due to acclimating into these cultures, retreating to the corners of the world, or simply dying out.

Mysterious Wizards (two to three thousand years ago)

It is also worth noting that the first immigrants to the area were not invaders or large forces, but a small group seeking solitude: a secret society of wizards. Multiple accounts noted that hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago they came to lurk in a hidden sanctuary high up in the mountains to the south. They also vanished long ago. This is a lacuna I cannot fill, and I yearn to learn more. I should hope the venerable Polymath will take us there someday!

Gundarakites (one to two thousand years ago)

The Gundarakites arrived in multiple waves, as refugees from their own neighboring lands' despotic rulers. Despite a flight from violence, the scant records of them indicate they brought violence with them. Over time their numbers swelled, spreading throughout the valley. Still, few records of these people remain: their settlements left little of the sophisticated staying power (or perhaps magical power) of the first folk's stonework. And eventually, the Gundarakites themselves fell to the next set of invaders.

The von Zarovich Founding (400–300 years ago)

As seminal as this period was, there are strangely few details: my research could find no names of rulers, nor even the formal name of this first dominion of the von Zarovich line that originally held this valley and all neighboring lands. Still, the calendar that we use to this day is derived from this very time: the crowning of the first von Zarovich king in year 1, in what is now known as "the Barovian Calendar" or BC. Many of the claims on this "homeland" are based on collective memory, records of dubious quality, or pride on the part of the von Zarovich house. Indeed it is this zeal to "reclaim the homeland" that spurred King Barov's, and later Lord Strahd's, campaigns.

Tergs (300–200 years ago)

The von Zarovich rulers lost this Barovian homeland and were cast into exile in relatively short order, in the grand scheme of history. The Tergs, a fierce people out of the east, swept through in within merely a decade. Unfortunately many a culture fell to the Terg sword and fire and torch (a reason there is likely little left to tell us of the Gundarakite or von Zarovich eras). Yet once here even the Tergs did settle, another example of how this beautiful valley transformed conquered conquerors into settlers. Indeed one of their great leaders, Dostron, is credited with the first permanent keep on the Pillarstone of Ravenloft in the eastern valley. Legend has it that Dostron made a pact with devil-lords of the Hells, who thrust a basalt column up from their realms into our world. Whether there is any truth to be wrung out of such a myth is not for this scholar to say. But the pillar itself remains, even if Dostron's keep does not: the first in many increasingly audacious fortifications at the site. Dostron was also likely the first individual to be interred in the catacombs on that site… though legend would say his soul was long since dragged away as part of his compact.

Shattered Era (200 years ago—347)

The Tergs were great warriors but less impressive at rulership, especially in lands so far from home. After a few generations their dominions collapsed, and we enter a long era of bickering nobles and squabbling pretender kings—Endorovich, Katsky, and Troisky among them. All are found in Castle Ravenloft's catacombs, suggesting each ruled from the castle, or at least claimed ownership of it, at the time of their death. In short, it was a miserable age for the common folk.

Order Arrives (305—347)

While technically within the Shattered Era, it is worth noting that some time before the valley was reunited glimmers of order came about. Specifically: the Order of the Silver Dragon. Their leader, Argynvost, personally oversaw the building of said keep, which the knights named Argynvostholt in his honor. Internecine battles did continue across the valley to some degree, as while the Order was focused to the south on some projects as much as protecting the peoples nearby. Still, the presence of these noble knights did diminish bloodshed in the western valley—until their own bloody defeat.

Dorian (341—347)

While the Order of the Silver Dragon quelled chaos west of the mountains, order was maintained in slightly more violent ways in the eastern Ivlis valley: by the warlord Dorian. A ruthless and brutish ruler who imposed a harsh regime on the local people, his seat of power like many before him was a fortified keep on the Pillarstone. Such a keep could have withstood a long siege by the arriving von Zarovich forces, but Dorian chose to end his reign, and his life, in battle at the site that is now the Ivlis River Crossroads.

Strahd von Zarovich (347—Present)

The campaigns of Barov and Strahd von Zarovich are matters of modern warfare and politics—courtly affectations being the purview of the Polyglot. But after the easy defeat of Dorian, and then the much harder-won victories over the Order and their allies, any last petty rulers were swept away. Lord Strahd chose to settle in this valley both due to its beauty but also in a nod to the return to the von Zarovich homeland of centuries past.

Strahd named the region Barovia for his father, who died in the campaigns. He named the new castle he was building on the site of Dorian's keep Ravenloft, in honor of his mother (who died in transit to her new home here).

Lord Strahd also wisely chose to update the keep with the auspicious designs of the enlightened Artimus the Polymath.

Castle Ravenloft took many years to complete, and in its glory it combines elements of many prior fortifications on the site with soaring new design wonders. Lord Strahd's youngest brother Sergei is set to arrive soon, to continue his duties in preparation for the priesthood, under Andral Kir, High Priest of the church, who has already relocated to Castle Ravenloft.