#found him a wife sooner. maybe she shouldve raised him better. maybe she couldve protected Sergei. probably not but it didnt stop her

[smol-tired-binch-blog]

Von Zarovich siblings

We have Strahd (23), Svetlana (25), Stanimir and Slavko (16), Sasha (12), and Sergei (5)

Background/headcanon under the cut:

So, admittedly a LOT of this is is just gonna be PURE speculation/projection from me, but hey, canon has One (1) Sibling set in stone and the rest is fair game. May this change if I learn more about him? Possibly, but my DM hasn't told me any of this doesn't fit so we'll keep it.

In my head, their mother had her first child at around 17/18, which was Svetlana, and then basically IMMEDIATELY after her husband was VERY keen to get a son, and so Strahd was born soon after. The twins were born a few years later, but tbh I reckon their father as the kind of man who still wanted to have as many heirs as possible just in case the first one dies or fucks up, so there may have been a couple of unsuccessful pregnancies along the way. Poor Lady Von Zarovich. She needs a cane to walk before she's 40 (what's that another reason for Strahd to subconsciously fear aging and the passing of time no waaaay)

I don't think any of these kids were particularly close with each other, the Zarovich household doesn't feel like a family that encourages outward signs of affection and I don't think it comes naturally to them (and when it does, it's discouraged, either purposefully or inadvertently). Sasha's the most sensitive, a quiet girl who just wants to avoid being in trouble.

Despite this lack of closeness, Svetlana was very much the Eldest Daughter and felt (and was made to) the need to look out for her younger siblings. In fact, she's the reason this painting exists; it was taken in the build-up to her wedding, as this would be the last time she and all her siblings would be back home together in one place. It's the happiest any of them have ever looked in a portrait.

On several occasions, the few times she saw him, she tried to offer to introduce Strahd to some nice noble ladies for him to settle down and marry. After all, as the eldest son, it first fell to him to continue the Zarovich name, right? But he always brushed her off, saying that could wait, his first priority was military conquest, he had time. In fact, tell you what Lana, after he's taken over this latest valley, THEN he'll let you find him a bride. It's just a small little valley, easy to conquer, surely these dusk elves won't prove too much trouble? We'll save those details for another post.

In fact, she helped find partners for all her siblings. Sure, 'love' was never a priority, but she felt more confident she could find them a suitable partner who they'd ALSO like and be cared for, not just letting political alliances take priority. That's her responsibility, as the eldest.

All the boys were expected to achieve greatness, and they mostly went for military prowess. Slavko in particular excelled, very confident in that one day he may even surpass his older brother. After all, whilst a mighty warrior, Strahd always preferred the role of tactician, of planning, of strategy. Not Slavko, he was straight in there with a sword, ready to fight whoever and whatever. His twin, though, was better suited to diplomacy. He was slighter, weaker, but cleverer. In another time, these two would have been the ones to have something of a Cain and Abel relationship....however, that never came to be. Slavko died on the battlefield shortly after he turned 30 (even if he didn't our boy Strahd blew them out of the water like GODDAMN DUDE)

Sasha fell ill in her mid 30s, and she too tragically passed away, her daughters and older sister by her side. A sister who watched too many of her siblings die before their time.

Svetlana lived a long life, raised her two sons well, but carried the heavy weight of her family's tragedy for the rest of her days. Stanimir, too, lived a good life, but even after having his own heirs, there was a melancholy relief that the Zarovich name soon faded out after their time. It carried far too much with it.