![]() In more recent times, they became a symbol of abuse and spousal murder. In early times and cultures, the vampire represented death, decay, and a fear of what lies beyond our own mortal experience. Throughout our shared history with the legend of the vampire, the exact thing that they symbolize has changed quite often. In every corner of our planet, living individuals independently came up with the idea that the dead may rise up to gain succor on the lifeforce of those who still live. I’m no folklorist, but I’m well aware that the concept of a vampire-or some form of life-draining undead-is a universal concept that can trace its roots back for millennia. Vampires are metaphors for rape, abuse, and other societal woes Strahd’s isn’t simply “not the kind of person you love.” He simply isn’t a person at all. And most importantly, he is incapable of meaningful change-either is it below him or it is beyond him. His follies and faults remain constant throughout his history (which is what keeps him trapped in Barovia). Every part of his being aligns toward these goals, with no contradictions. ![]() ![]() If portrayed as written, Strahd’s goals are simple and he is single-minded in his pursuits. Strahd, on the other hand, is none of these things beyond some superficial façade put on to fool the characters in your game. ![]() They are capable of change and development. He is more a literary symbol than a three-dimensional character.Ī person is so much more than a collection of ideas. He is the personification of envy and a lust for power over others. Strahd is a collection of bad ideas and toxic personality traits made manifest, held together by malice and maladjustment. I don’t mean this in the literal sense that he’s a fictional character rather than a real-world person. And, when his playthings begin to bore him, he locks them in crypts to waste away and die. What he calls “love” is more akin to an unhealthy obsession and fascination. I’m sure I’m leaving out some canonical heinous deeds both pre-and-post life.īeyond what he did in the past, Strahd is a horrible being in the present. He was always, without exception, a horrible being.Īs if coveting his brother’s girlfriend to the point of murdering said brother wasn’t bad enough, this is a guy who flooded an entire town ( Berez, Curse of Strahd), killed a family of travelers in the night ( Vampire in the Mists), his own best friend ( I, Strahd: Memoirs of a Vampire) and took many a maid to his castle, never to return. At no point during his conception, or any of his subsequent official appearances in Dungeons & Dragons lore, was Strahd ever intended to be anything but a monster with a pretty face. … a selfish beast forever lurking behind a mask of tragic romance, the illusion of redemption that was ever only camouflage for his prey.Įven Strahd’s real dad thinks that he’s a piece of crap. Tracy Hickman-Strahd’s co-creator-described Strahd von Zarovich as: Putting aside the problems inherent with believing that any individual can be “fixed”, let’s take a look at why romantic entanglements with Dungeons & Dragons’ “First Vampire” is a horrible idea. They aspire to redeem him and lead him back to the light-as if the former warlord would shake off his past misdeeds and settle down to an idyllic life of running a frozen yogurt stand. They espouse his “dreaminess” or the allure of his dark and brooding nature. One thing I see again and again are reports of players whose want to romance Strahd von Zarovich. And because I frequent the r/curseofstrahd subreddit, some of those weird things overlap with my favorite Dungeons & Dragons adventure. With all the time that I spend on the “front page of the internet”, I see a lot of weird things. I’m not even sure there are other websites out there at this point.
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