A giant magical book kept in the library of Castle Ravenloft.
The book details the history of the Strahd family member, particulary those who carry the title of Strahd von Zarovich, as well as some lesser known ancestors and events.
In the Did You Know? section of the book, fact number three is: On the third day of the second year of Chawimbo, In the month of Dingle, a large cow married his sister.
Another fact in the book says: Did you know that Ernie von Zarovich invented corn?
In particular, on the last page, it says:
- So it came to pass on the night of Sergei’s wedding the disaster and discord befell this most ancient house, for Strahd stricken with jealousy could not abide his brother’s happiness and plotted to take Sergei’s new wife as his own. Strahd offered a toast at the wedding feast and Sergei did drink deeply from that poisoned chalice, but Sergei’s young bride Patrina shared in the drink and both fell at once into sickness and death. For his sins, Strahd lost the only thing he truly cared about and was driven mad by the gods as punishment. Now Strahd lives a cursed half-life as vampire and abomination. He can be harmed no weapon or spell, save at the hand of Sergei’s named sword, a present from Strahd on his engagement. The weapon’s location is lost to history.
Bobby Pancakes keeps the book and still has it on him when the Dragon Friends are sent back in time in “Canadian Death” (7.01). This proves disastrous when Bobby reveals its existence to the leader of the Freeborn, not realising he’s a young Strahd, in “Start on a Lizard” (7.04). Strahd steals the book and uses it to successfully topple the Netherese Empire, creating an alternate history where he is the immortal ruler of the world, which the Friends visit in “A Metric Throng” (7.05).