An ancestor of Lotan, six or seven generations back, and the founder of the family's fortune. Everything recorded here comes from Lotan's own telling of the story in taverns; see House Kaligor for what that is worth.

The Fall of Strahd

By the account, Velonar was one of the party that fought Count Strahd von Zarovich through Castle Ravenloft, room by room, for weeks. At the end of it his companions had fallen and his magic was spent, and he was the last one standing in the devil's chamber.

He called on his patron — Lotan names Asmodeus — and offered his own life for his party's. Something answered, but not with what he asked for. A new power filled him instead. When Strahd rushed him, Velonar caught hold of him, purple otherworldly flame took the devil, and Strahd burned to ash.

Lotan tells this part loudly. It is the part the room is paying for.

The Sealing

The victory was temporary by design — Strahd's soul returned to rest, and a clock started on his return. Velonar's patron showed him the Amber Temple in a dream, and a way to shut it for good.

That took a second campaign across Faerûn: Baldur's Gate, the dead city of Omu in Chult and the teeth of the King of Feathers, a chalice stolen from Xanathar's own desk in Waterdeep, and a battle at Dragonspear Castle where they set demons on the devils of Avernus and killed one of Zariel's lieutenants for his sword.

With those pieces, Andrea Kaliskiny, and the blood of Lady Noctyrix, the temple was sealed for a thousand years.

After

Velonar married Andrea. They had children. They bought the Wizard of the Wines — the most famous winery in Barovia — and the family has made wine there since.

Lotan notes, without appearing to think much of it, that his ancestor asked one power for help and a different one answered. He tells the same shape of story about himself and does not connect them.

Ties

Related

Andrea KaliskinyA druid of the Fifth Order of Celtans who joined the sealing of the Amber Temple — and, by Lotan's account, was sent to do exactly that. Lady NoctyrixA bruxa of the Amber Temple, killed by Lotan's ancestors — and the source of the curse his family is said to carry. House KaligorThe Barovian line Lotan comes from — a warlock ancestor, a druid bride, a dead vampire's curse, and a winery that has outlasted all three. Lorenzo di ErranteA name from a thousand years past — the younger di Errante brother of legend, lost with his house in the catastrophe that raised the fog over Vallombrosa. Marcello di ErranteA figure from the legend of Vallombrosa, surviving in the Amaranth Theater's annual restaging of The Tragedy — and in a thousand years of contradictory tales. Tolomeo LucenteA scholar and explorer who surfaces only in the margins of old records — remembered, where he is remembered at all, for chasing knowledge others left alone.