u/Better_Practice_2121

I've started new series for my upcoming Barovia: Painted in Silver 's NPC art. I dont want to use ai art, avoid it as much as possible. Here is my first commission from my good friend;

Created by: elwnyx on instagram, commission.

Story and Purpose (Homebrew)

• She possesses the skills of both a rogue and a monk.
• She embodies the "silent hunter" aspect of Strahd.
• Strahd bestowed her a unique necklace that tethers them to the power of the Dayheart. (incoming work. It will replace the Heart of Sorrow at the Castle giving a pool of legendary resistance to linked vampires)
• She is Strahd's second bride, succeeding Sasha Ivliskova (Sasha's stats and motivations are currently in the works).
• She is a descendant of the former Burgomaster, Nicolai Ionelus (inspired by Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume I, p. 36). Her real Surname is Ionelus only known by Strahd and Rahadin.
• She almost defeated Rahadin in 1v1 combat while she was still human (and she constantly brags about it, even after all these years).
• Even as a human, she managed to evade Strahd. Impressed by her mastery of the shadows, he offered her a place at Castle Ravenloft. She accepted it, because she revels in silent and ruthless killings.
• Her love for Strahd has long since faded. She is currently plotting to escape Barovia; failing that, she intends to rule it.
• She is a psychologically disturbed, calculating hunter completely devoid of empathy.
• She is the mastermind behind the Feast of St. Andral. (incoming details later with Vallaki post will be updated here also)

Stats attached as well. I did calculate the DPR and HP using Quick Monster Builder by Icarus Games. Feedback appreciated.

Now its my time to thank you all...

I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of Castle Ravenloft being the literal and metaphorical "weight" at the center of the valley. I can't remember exactly where I first saw the idea of a centralized castle map, but it inspired me to sit down and redraw the entire map for my upcoming campaign: Barovia: Painted in Silver.

The Concept: The Silver Winter (710 BC) My game takes place about 25 years before the standard module timeline. It is currently the "Silver Winter." Count Strahd is in a state of hibernation (which I’ve set to about 5-10 years rather than decades, to keep things tight). Because he is dormant, the land is a bit more "livable" but trapped in a perpetual, snowy chill.

I chose this year specifically because I wanted to feature a 38-40 year old Rudolph van Richten in his prime and to harmonize the 'Silver Winter' hibernation cycle with the freezing winter of Orăşnou mentioned in the Adventurers League Season 4 modules. (DDAL04-08 (The Broken One))

Why... Because... I wanted the world to feel larger and The Castle Ravenloft to be seen from EVERYWHERE... more complex, so I’ve integrated several settlements from 3e/AL lore:

Zeidenburg: I needed a true "metropolis" for urban intrigue. It’s the heart of trade and home to Lyssa von Zarovich (who is busy making her own "vampire mind flayer" experiments in the shadows).

Teufeldorf: Added as a military and religious hub, serving as the HQ for the Ba'al Verzi and the various churches.

Immol: Included for its famous Archives, perfect for players seeking forbidden knowledge also much closer to the Amber Temple. I've read they can be crazy. So I did want to put it there instead.

Worldbuilding so far (Constructive input welcome)

The Influx: While the Mists make leaving impossible (as the Vistani are the only ones with that "privilege"), entry into Barovia is still happening. This has led to the cities becoming more developed and crowded. Of course some people can use talismans. Because why not. But they wont work once the Count is awake and closes the borders.

The Awakening: The campaign starts with Strahd sleeping for a while but then waking up. His first order of business? Taxes. I’m planning a "Feast of Burgomasters" where every leader in the valley is summoned to Castle Ravenloft to explain the "missing funds" from his slumber years. It’s a great way to force the PCs to form political ties. They should have already made some political allies. Also, young Lief Lipseige, the guy needs some screen time.

The Status Quo: Argynvostholt sits near the center of the map, making its beacon visible across the entire valley. Berez are still in ruins, the druids are still mad.

Brides did not sleep, but did not leave The Castle Ravenloft all at once. They went for a holiday taking turns. Or to conduct some experiments... Now, they are acting as Strahd’s active field agents while he re-establishes his iron grip. No Escher because he is the Erasmus, Van Richtens son in my head canon.

I will use Sasha Ivliskova as well. Please feel free to share where to find detailed info about her.

Ireena: No. As the reincarnation of Tatyana, I will use Petra Rilenovich, the painter from Vallaki. ''Petra Rilenovich, a young prodigy who has gained local renown for her remarkable paintings of what she calls her “dream lives”. Because I have Van Richtens Guide and its time to use it, also, some of my players have connections in Vallaki.

Credit Where Credit is Due: I am not the most talented artist for specific landmarks, so I had to use AI to generate some custom assets for the unique buildings. However, the heavy heavy lifting for the cartography was done using this amazing brush set: (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1656481105/fantasy-map-brush-pack-mountain-lake). A huge thanks to BladeAndBrushStudio for the tools!

What’s Next?

This map is just the beginning.

Barovia is currently run by Kolyan The Great. Images are welcome :D

As my players explore and the world takes shape (sometimes the DM needs to be surprised too!), I’ll be sharing more of the general lore and mechanics. I’m also planning to start a YouTube series to deep dive into this 710 BC setting. I already have a Turkish youtube channel but better not share here for now.

I’ve learned so much from this community (Reloaded, Fleshing Out, PyramKing, Lunch Break Heroes, and all the others), and I wanted to give something back. This map is free for anyone who wants to run a this version of Barovia.

Let me know what you think! I’d love to hear how you’d handle a hibernating Strahd waking up to a valley that’s grown a bit too "comfortable" without him.