Sergei von Zarovich

Sergei von Zarovich was the second son of King Barov von Zarovich and Queen Ravenovia, born 11 years after his elder brother Strahd von Zarovich. Sergei studied as a priest of the Morninglord from a young age, and travelled to Barovia a few years after Castle Ravenloft was constructed to become ordained.

Strahd was excited to have his brother with him in Castle Ravenloft, and afforded Sergei every opportunity to complete his studying. Sergei was an excellent swordsman in his own right, and aided Strahd with the training of the guards when time allowed it, but did not take up any military duties at Castle Ravenloft.

Unfortunately for Strahd, Sergei fell in love with a woman named Tatyana that Strahd himself had shown an interest in, and they were to be married within a year, with Sergei abandoning his post as a priest.

Lord Victor Wachter attended the doomed wedding of Sergei von Zarovich in the year Y351, where Leo Dilisnya, a member of the Ba'al Verzi, orchestrated a massacre intended to wipe out the von Zarovichs, leaving the magical blade at the scene. Victor managed to survive, but Sergei, as well as Victor's brother and sister in law Reinhold and Gertrude, and his wife Oleka, were among the many who died in Castle Ravenloft that day.

According to Strahd's Tome it was not Leo Dilisnya that killed Sergei, but Strahd himself that commited fratricide in an attempt to steal his bride in accordance with a deal made with Vampyr.

The Abbot of St Markovia confirmed that Strahd tried to steal his brother's wife, and became transfixed by her.

Sergei's remains now lie in a crypt in the catacombs beneath Castle Ravenloft.

After his death, Archizard Khazan was ordered by Strahd to destroy his sword; a platinum hilt and guard, with a thin crystal blade as strong as diamond. Khazan managed to disassemble and destroy the blade, but the hilt was stolen.

Sergei's face is engraved on the silver coins of Barovia, however Strahd had removed silver coins from circulation. It is unknown whether the two facts are related, or whether the coins being removed has anything to do with lycanthropes in the valley. Strahd himself would suggest it was nothing to do with him and was in fact because people kept melting them down for silvering weapons, but that he was happy to see his brother's face gone.