Barovia#

The Land of Mists and Sorrow#

🌫️ About This Location#

Barovia is a demiplane of dread—a gothic horror realm trapped in eternal twilight, ruled by darkness, and sealed by supernatural mists. Here, hope is a flickering candle in overwhelming shadow, and the very land conspires against those who dare disturb its cursed slumber.

Type: Demiplane (Domain of Dread)
Region: Outside Normal Reality
Status: Cursed
Known For: Perpetual gloom, vampire lords, tragic histories, mists that trap travelers, despair that seeps into souls

🎭 What Players Will Encounter#

The Atmosphere#

When your party enters Barovia (if you’re unlucky enough), you’ll find:

🌑 Oppressive Darkness

Sunlight is rare, weak, and temporary
Shadows move with purpose
The night has teeth
Darkness isn’t absence of light—it’s presence of something else

😰 Pervasive Dread

Everything feels wrong in ways hard to articulate
Hope drains like water through cupped hands
The land itself is hostile to joy
Despair is contagious

🏚️ Gothic Horror

Crumbling castles and forgotten villages
Fog that hides horrors (or reveals them)
Architecture that defies reason
Beauty twisted into nightmare

Current Situation#

Barovia exists in eternal stagnation:

Trapped outside time: The curse is both ancient and immediate
No escape: The mists return those who try to flee
Cycle of suffering: Repeats endlessly with small variations
Dark powers: Feed on the misery they perpetuate

**💀 Critical Warning**: Barovia is a trap. Enter if you must, but understand—many who go in never come out. Those who do are never the same.

👥 Notable Figures#

HAWA#

Role: [To be determined based on character details]
Status: Agent of Bureau

A figure encountered in this realm of darkness. Their story is intertwined with Barovia’s curse in ways not yet fully revealed.

Key Info:

Survived in a land that breaks most
Has knowledge valuable to outsiders
May help or hinder (intentions unclear)
Part of Barovia’s tragic tapestry

🗺️ Key Locations#

Castle Ravenloft#

The dark heart of Barovia. Approaches only if you have no other choice.

The Village of Barovia#

Where fear-numbed people huddle against the night. Survival, not living.

The Mists#

The boundary and the prison. They let you in. They decide if you leave.

Forgotten Places#

Ruins, crypts, and locations best left undiscovered. Curiosity here is usually fatal.

📜 What Your Party Needs to Know#

Survival Rules (Such As They Are)#

Never Travel Alone: Especially at night. Especially ever.
Trust Nothing: Appearances deceive, promises lie
Respect Old Warnings: They were written in blood
Keep Your Wits: Madness is easier than sanity here
Don’t Make Deals: Especially with things that smile

The Nature of the Curse#

Barovia is:

A prison for its lord and all who enter
A living nightmare that feeds on fear
Resistant to change or hope
Possibly aware of your presence

Campaign Connections#

If your campaign brings you here:

Plot significance: This isn’t random—there’s a reason
High stakes: Whatever brought you here matters
No easy answers: Expect moral complexity
Lasting impact: Barovia changes people

🎲 Running Barovia Sessions#

Tone & Atmosphere#

Themes: Gothic horror, inescapable fate, corruption, desperate hope
Mood: Oppressive, terrifying, occasionally heartbreaking
Feel: Like the walls are closing in (because they are)

Encounter Types#

Survival Horror: Against creatures, elements, and despair
Investigation: Uncovering tragic histories
Social: Dealing with broken, desperate people
Moral Tests: No good choices, only less terrible ones
Psychological: Fighting creeping madness

Setting the Horror#

Make players feel:

Trapped: The mists are everywhere
Watched: Something always observes
Small: Against forces vast and cruel
Desperate: For any glimmer of hope

⚠️ Special Warnings#

For Players#

This is Gothic Horror D&D
Character death is more likely
Moral ambiguity is everywhere
Happy endings are rare
Pyrrhic victories are common

For DMs#

Set expectations clearly before bringing players here
Use horror responsibly (know your players’ limits)
Balance dread with moments of hope (however brief)
Remember: fear is more effective than shock
The goal is tension, not trauma

**🎭 For Everyone**: Barovia is not a typical D&D location. It's oppressive, dark, and psychologically challenging. Make sure your table is comfortable with horror elements before venturing here. Use safety tools. Check in with players.

**Session Zero**: If planning Barovia content, discuss boundaries, triggers, and comfort levels. Gothic horror isn't for every table, and that's okay.

“Welcome to Barovia. We are all prisoners here—some of us just don’t know it yet.”
— Message found carved in an abandoned house

“The mists brought you here for a reason. They always do. Usually, that reason is to die.”
— Old Barovian saying