Captain Ravenloft: The Undying Sentinel of Barovia

July 13, 2025

“I can do this all night. But preferably before sunrise. That’s when the zombies get handsy.” —Captain Ravenloft

Barovia has many champions. Most are doomed. Some are morally questionable. A few sparkle dramatically when exposed to sunlight (if they ever find any). But only one carries a shield painted with a giant raven sigil and yells “Justice… never dies!” while suplexing vampire spawn off a balcony in Castle Ravenloft.

Introducing Captain Ravenloft, the only paladin brave enough—and patriotic enough—to believe that Barovia still has hope. And if it doesn’t, he’ll just punch that hope back into the land with radiant fists and the power of community theater slogans.

This idea popped up in one of our offline games when the topic came up. Barovia is a dark place and not a place for your standard hero, so of course this is the idea that came to me. Sure I am not playing this character, and if you are playing with a DM who uses the game as written this mindset is sure to get you killed quite fast, but it is at least humorous to think about.

The Origins of the Captain

Legend tells of a humble Barovian farm boy named Algernon “Algy” Vulk. Sickly, undersized, and extremely allergic to mist, Algy dreamed of becoming a knight. Through divine intervention (and possibly a cursed protein shake), he transformed into a beacon of holy vengeance, wrapped in tricolor plate mail and unshakable optimism. He then legally changed his name to Captain Ravenloft and declared war on Strahd, darkness, and anyone who lit a sconce ominously.

He’s not just a symbol. He’s a guy with a shield, a code of honor, and an unyielding hatred for dramatic staircases.

Antics You Can Expect at Your Table

🛡️ Shield-Chucking Justice

Captain Ravenloft treats his shield like a returning frisbee of fury. Every combat opens with a radiant “Hark! Foul creature!” followed by a Divine Smite-infused discus throw to the face. If your DM allows homebrew, give him a boomerang-style magic shield called “Oathkeeper’s Edge” that always returns to his hand unless Strahd is using Counterspell out of sheer pettiness.

🪓 Unnecessary Speeches

The captain has a Heroic Monologue Table that you roll on every time initiative is rolled. Expect things like:

“Injustice may cast long shadows, but I brought a lantern and a really big sword!”
“By the light of the Morninglord and the vaguely hopeful look of Esmerelda, I shall stand my ground!”
“This shield was forged from the hopes of the innocent! And maybe a few melted chamber pots!”

🦇 Confused Fan Club

Despite being a literal threat to Strahd, many Barovians think he’s a myth. Children draw him wrong. Bards mispronounce his name. One conspiracy theorist insists he’s just Ezmerelda in armor and a mustache. He absolutely is not, but he has used that disguise to sneak into Vallaki.

🍗 Problematic Dining Etiquette

Captain Ravenloft will fight a vampire at the dinner table and call it “cutting carbs.” He once impaled a Strahd double through a cheese wheel. And he never trusts a chalice of wine.

Building Captain Ravenloft in Curse of Strahd

If you want to bring this shining (and slightly delusional) beacon of justice into Curse of Strahd, here’s how to do it.

Race: Human (Variant)

Feat at Level 1? Yes, please.
Take Shield Master for theme and tactical shove-shenanigans.

Class: Paladin

Go Oath of Devotion or Oath of the Watchers
- Devotion fits the wholesome classic “good guy in a bad world.”
- Watchers makes him anti-planar and anti-undead, i.e. Barovia’s worst nightmare.

Stats (Point Buy Suggestion)

STR: 15 (+1)
CHA: 15 (+1)
CON: 14
DEX: 10
WIS: 10
INT: 8

He hits hard, resists fear, and wins hearts with unwavering optimism and radiant smites.

Equipment

Shield of the Raven: Counts as a +1 shield and can be thrown as a returning weapon. Returns at the end of the turn. Once per long rest, when thrown and smite is used, causes target to make a DC 15 Wisdom save or be frightened until end of next turn.
Armor of Barovian Valor: Plate armor themed with ravens, runes, and overly patriotic filigree. Glows when Strahd is within 120 feet.
Cloak of Misplaced Confidence: Offers no mechanical benefit. Captain Ravenloft just looks cooler with it.

Why You Should Add Him to Your Game

Whether as a PC, NPC, or a one-episode guest star who rides a spectral goat into Vallaki while giving a motivational speech, Captain Ravenloft is the kind of nonsense that Curse of Strahd needs to survive its own brooding weight.

He makes your players laugh, makes Strahd roll his eyes in irritation, and reminds everyone that sometimes, what Barovia needs isn’t just a hero.

It needs a ridiculous, over-the-top, shield-hurling paladin who thinks heroism can actually win.

And maybe… just maybe… he’s right.