Dark Lord knowledge in Ravenloft

Question

When in Ravenloft, would the town in question know that the Dark Lord is indeed, say, a vampire? That he or she would be the real ruler of that Domain?

For example: Barovia. Strahd has been there for a long, long, very long time. How do the villagers see him? Simply an undying ruler (if a ruler at all)? For what he is, a powerful vampire? The real ruler of Barovia? His castle… simply a haunted castle that's been there since the beginning of Barovia? Or that the Castle Ravenloft is the home of the Vampire Dark Lord?

I guess it could vary from DM to DM, but I have always wondered how would you explain it. Are the people in each domain in denial, would they know by now, etc.?

Answer 1

It Depends on the Darklord

Not all Darklords are also the temporal rulers of their Domains (though some are), and not all of them reveal or flaunt their true natures. Indeed, some Darklords are deliberately denied political rulership of their domains (such as the Darklord Adam) as a way to isolate them and make them lonely. Of those who conceal their true natures, some do it out of habit or convenience (Azalin, Strahd), others out of necessity (Harkan Lucas, the Hive Queen) and still others because they hate what they are or have become (the ruler of Saragoss is one example). Oftentimes a Darklord still has feeding requirements, peccadilloes, or both that are easier to fulfill if the populace doesn't know what they are.

In Barovia's Case

According to Darklords and the Ravenloft Campaign Setting none of the citizens of Barovia believe Strahd to be human, but most of them have no idea what he truly is. They refer to him as "The devil Strahd" and fear him greatly; he rules with a casually brutal hand, ignoring them except when they get out of line. The Vistani know what he is, but Strahd long ago cut a deal with those wanderers and they are unlikely to inform others of his nature - let alone help them - without being paid the right price.

A Note

As noted in the Ravenloft Campaign Setting, education standards in Ravenloft are pretty low. With a few rare exceptions, it is a rural place without major centers of learning (a notable exception is the massive domain of Darkon, ruled by Azalin, with several urban centers) and riddled with racism and xenophobia. Often natives of Ravenloft will identify anyone unusual - a non-human race, magical abilities - as being "evil" and react with terror or, worse, a lynch mob. Even if you told one point-blank that the local Darklord was a vampire they might have no true idea what that signifies and simply attempt to protect themselves with ineffective superstition. Help from the locals is not a likely thing and might end up harming everyone involved; would-be heroes are not advised to seek it.

Answer 2

The villagers of Barovia definitely know what he is: if you look at the letter from the Burgomaster to the PCs, published in the House of Strahd adventure, it says:

"[my daughter] has been bitten by a creature calling its race "vampyr". For over 400 years, he has drained this land of the lifeblood of its people..."

They also recognise him as a threat to all the realm:

He has become too powerfull to be fought any longer. Go I say to you, give us up for dead and encircle this land with the symbols of good. Let holy men call upon their power that the evil one may be contained within the walls of weeping Barovia. Leave our sorrows to our graves, and save the world from this evil world of ours.

Of course, the PCs dont get to see this letter until they are trapped in Barovia.

Answer 3

It depends, there are some notes in various materials that say yes, but that could just mean an individual. Van richten figured out Azalin was a lich but not everyone else knows or cares. they assume he is just a wizard and they use magic to make their lives longer.

I will also add that Strahd has also put out rumors that he has elven heritage to explain his long life. That is mention in the RPG material and moreso in the novels (Vampire of the Mists, I, Strahd and I,Strahd: The War against Azalin.).