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With the return of Lord Strahd, the people of Barovia have been feeling rather conflicted for the past year now. The sun returned when he was gone but now the mists are back and the same gloomy skies are all they see again, their harvests were plentiful for a period of time before production slowed from less sunlight. Either way, life continued on. Just.. a little differently. Notices were put out for a public invitation, a celebration was in order and by the Lord himself!
Typically whenever there was an event like this,it was due to a bergomaster trying to lighten the moods of their townsfolk, but this wasn’t like any annual festival the people of Barovia were used to. This wasn’t just an exciting festival, but it seemed to be an announcement of sorts as well.
Joyous music played loud for the crowds as people danced or cheered their friends and neighbors along, surprisingly delicious food was also provided, so with heart and gusto people ate and shared drinks with one another. Every once in a while there would be a gentle quiet that reached certain parts of the town square as townspeople greeted their king, thanking him for such an occasion and even asking out of curiosity what he had planned. Their typically aloof ruler merely nodded along and gave a “Soon enough,” or “I’ll answer questions in an hour’s time,” as an answer amongst his people, only adding to their curiosity and slightly growing suspicion.
The Lord was rarely this kind, but ever since the party of adventurers that visited Barovia nearly a year ago passed through, their Lord seemed… different. The air about him had certainly changed, but nobody knew how or why, but they weren’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. If Strahd was content, then they would be as well. So, most of the townsfolk happily went along with their festivities! Some of the younger men would challenge their Lord for a bout of drinking, but of course Strahd politely turned them down. However, he did entertain a few women with a dance or two, which in turn made the young bucks feel as though they fell for some ruse. Thankfully they were all too buzzed to have taken it personally- besides, who could take it personal and throw their weight when it was Lord Strahd himself adding a little life to the party?
Somewhere in the crowd, both Rudolph van Richten and Ezmerelda D’Avenir stood together, a little curious about the supposed “surprise announcement” that the Count had plastered all about Barovia. Both vampire hunters only mildly suspicious about the whole ordeal; van Richten more so than Ez. So, doing just as the local folk did, they too partook in wine and food.
Eventually an hour had come to pass and villagers began to hush themselves, indulging in more food and drink as they waited on their ruler to share the ever exciting news. Some had shared whispers of spotting the infamous black carriage, and that the dusk elf Rahadin was seen escorting Lady Ludmilla off to the back of the stage.
Now stepping up and to the middle of the stage, Strahd himself clapped loudly, catching everyone’s attention, “People of Barovia! I would like to thank you for coming to this evening’s event… I hope that you all have had sufficient food and drink, that your time here has been merry.
“Now, I’m sure all of you are curious about why I’ve decided to throw such an extravagant event! I know I’m not known for my festive nature, but today marks an important event in the history of our land…”
A noticeable silence washed over the crowd of people; a quiet anxiety coming from some parts of the crowd, others deeply curious, all painting a fascinating aura for the Ancient Vampire to pick up on.
Stepping aside, the Count motioned for his spouse to join him, his head held high and a firm but proud smile subtly tugging at the corners of his lips as she pushed an ornate pram up the ramp, soon joining his side. Strahd carefully reached down inside and held up an infant, situating them in his arms as he let the now obviously
halfbreed
child hold on to his hand.
“Our major announcement that we’re celebrating today is that Barovia now has an
heir
to the throne!” He proudly called out, “I want you all to remember his name,
Lucious Gwilym von Zarovich.”
The people of Barovia could hardly believe their eyes. The Lord had an infant! And yet… The child looked little like him.. But who were they to question their Lordship? Many gasped in shock and awe, unsure of how to take the news until…
“That isn’t your child- That might’ve come from ye wife but it isn’t yours!” called a drunken man, stepping away from his group and into the clearing in the crowd as people paled at his stupid actions, “That’s that Paladin’s whelp! Our so called Lord is nothin’ but a cuckold ye hear!”
Now even more gasps broke out from villagers all around as the man waved his tankard angrily at Strahd. Rudolph and Ezmerelda cautiously sharing glances with one another as they too watched with bated breaths.
Handing Lucious back to his spouse with care, Strahd descended upon the steps of the stage and silently made his way over to the belligerent man, hands loosely clasped behind his back with a cool and unbothered air.
“Are we really going t’ keep livin in fear of a Lord who lets his brides lay with foreigners!?” Barked the man to deaf ears, quickly turning to face Strahd himself and spit in the Count’s face.
“Oh- You know, that’s a first..” muttered Ezmerelda to Rudolph as she loosely crossed her arms, eyes glued to the situation at hand.
“Heh… I say we uprise, we get rid of this mangy cur we’ve been fearin for our lives over..” laughed the man, earning a lift of the brow from Strahd, “I say-”
With the swiftness that the human eye could only wish to perceive, the Count had unsheathed his sword and sliced the man’s head off, being quick to grab hold of it as the body fell soon afterwards. Now gripping the head by what little hair it had, Strahd sheathed his sword and wiped away the spit from his face and turned in all directions of the crowd, all whom were much too shaken to say a word, let alone scream.
“Anyone who dare call me that again, claim that my son is not my kin, or otherwise will be met with the same fate as this fool- not only that but it shall be treason of the highest degree. Is that understood?” Snarled the vampire as he looked about his people.
“Yes!”
“Of course my lordship!”
A slow rise in applause and compliance to his word came from the Barovians all around him, leaving him to be relatively satisfied. And here he thought he wouldn’t have to shed any blood for once…
Handing the head to his chamberlain and barking an order to some guards to clean the body from the plaza floor, Strahd returned to his station at Ludmilla’s side. Eventually he felt comfortable enough to allow some villagers to come up and have a chat with Ludmilla and see their child under supervision, keeping an ever watchful eye over those who might entertain something stupid just as the man from earlier had.
Just as he’d gone back to watching the crowd, movement in his periphery had him check just off to his left, snorting at the sight of an annoyingly familiar face, “Van Richten.”
“Strahd…”
“So, I see you’ve come to enjoy the festivities tonight, yes?”
“Pff, festivities… You won’t fool me, von Zarovich… Surely there’s more to all of this than just introducing your…
heir
… There’s always some sort of catch to your plans,” sneered the old vampire hunter, hands in the pockets of his overcoat.
The vampire couldn’t help but laugh at van Richten’s paranoia, tilting his head at him with a smirk, “Now, now, am I not allowed to do something entertaining, all the while introducing Barovia’s very own prince on his first birthday?
“You were a father once, Rudolph, why not let me enjoy myself, hm?” he added with a daring look, smirking when he saw the vampire hunter’s lip twitch in anger.
Narrowing his eyes at Strahd, van Richten curled a lip in disgust, “I’m going to be keeping eyes on you…”
Trudging his way down the stage, van Richten met up with Ezmerelda again, looking as if he were getting into a mildly heated conversation with the young woman. Shaking her head, she left with him by her side, heading off to their respective horses that were kept nearby.
As festivities died down, villagers and guardsmen alike helped clear away any mess that was left behind until the plaza was just as clean as it was any other day of the year. As for the von Zarovich clan, they’d already gotten themselves settled back into the carriage for a ride back to the castle.
“Well, that went just as I suspected,” commented Ludmilla, gently patting Lucious’s back as he cooed quietly back at her.
Crossing a leg over the other and gingerly taking hold of the infant’s hand, Strahd tilted his head at the two, “Mm, I suppose one death and the threat of treason was much smaller than I imagined. Overall, not terrible.”