The Vistani

Vistani are commonly believed to be swindlers and thieves by many Barovians, although this reputation is not deserved and may bear out more because of their allegiance to Lord Strahd than any genuine disreputable behavior. Vistani know or believe certain facts about their people and their surroundings, some of it different than that typical Barovian. Therefore, this is considered to be secret knowledge. Mind the spoilers and get DM approval before continuing.

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Seriously, did your character have an in-game conversation with the Vistani to learn this information? Check with the DM to read on.

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Vistani know the following facts about Barovia and Barovians:

  • Strahd conquered this land centuries ago and named it after his father, King Barov, while naming the castle he had built in honor of his mother, Queen Ravenovia.
  • Strahd uses wolves, bats, and other creatures to spy on all in his realm.
  • Barovians are simple, frightened people. The Vistani, for the most part, do not trust Barovians, because of the poor treatment and mistrust they receive from the villagers. They tend to be more open and trusting of newcomers from the Mist than the Barovians.
  • The Old Svalich Road passes through Strahd's domain. Three settlements lie on the road like beads on a string: Krezk to the west, Vallaki in the heart of the valley, and Barovia to the east. Strahd has spies in each settlement.
  • There's an old windmill on the road between the village of Barovia and the town of Vallaki.
  • It is wise to stick to the road. Wild druids, wayward ghosts, and packs of wolves and werewolves haunt the Svalich Woods.

About Strahd, the Vistani believe the following:

  • Strahd comes from a royal bloodline. He died centuries ago yet endures as one of the undead, feasting on the blood of the living. Barovians refer to him, rather disrespectfully, as "the devil Strahd."
  • Strahd has taken many consorts over the centuries.
  • Strangers aren't welcome at the castle without an invitation, appointment, or legitimate circumstances requiring an audience with the lord of the land.

The Vistani have deep-rooted beliefs and superstitions that they pass down from one generation to the next:

  • The souls of those who die in Barovia can't escape to the afterlife. They are prisoners in Strahd's domain.
  • Some Vistani women are blessed with prescience. Of all the great Vistani fortune-tellers, none compares to Madam Eva. If knowledge of the future is what you seek, Madam Eva will tell you your fate.
  • Vistani curses are potent, but they are invoked with great caution. Vistani know that to curse one who is undeserving of such punishment can have grave consequences for the one who utters such a curse.
  • Ravens carry lost souls within them, so killing one is bad luck.