The Wachter Family History

Malron’s Account

When Gumbo asked Lady Fiona Wachter whether she had any natural-born enemies, she brought this book of her family’s history out of her library and read to us from it⁠23. Her ancestor Lovina wrote it: the wedding of Prince Sergei and Tatyana, Leo Dilisnya’s uprising in Castle Ravenloft, and his vow to wipe out the Wachters.

The account

As Lady Fiona read it to us:

The wedding of Prince Sergei von Zarovich and Tatyana Federovna began with good cheer, but ended in madness and blood. Prince Sergei was found dead in his chambers, his bride-to-be rumored to have cast herself from the overlook in despair.

Though no suspect was confirmed, Leo Dilisnya—my own kin—led a treacherous uprising against Lord von Zarovich, abetted by a score of castle guards. When I sought to mediate, they turned upon us, slaughtering Vladislav and his mother and confining us within the confines of the kitchens.

It was only by some miracle that Lord von Zarovich emerged unscathed from their assault. Now possessed with an unearthly power, he smote the traitors and drove Leo himself from the castle.

In his escape, I saw Leo’s face contort with hatred and disgust. “Blood-traitor, I name you, Lovina,” he swore, “for your allegiance to the beast who abandoned Reinhold to his fate.” He renounced our bond, proclaimed I was no longer of House Dilisnya, and vowed that he would one day expunge the Wachter blight from the valley—once and forevermore.

I know not what has become of him. He is gone from the Pillarstone now, and though more of the treacherous guards return in caskets to the castle each day, his face is not among them. But each night I hear his voice in my nightmares, I know he yet lives—and dread the occasion of his return.