The Durst Family

The Durst family were the original owners and occupants of what is now known as the Death House, though they have been dead for many years now.

Nobles in the village of Barovia, it seems that the Dursts were cultists, and that they seemed to hold Strahd von Zarovich in high regard.

The patriarch of the family, Gustav, seems to have had an affair that led to the birth of a stillborn child, which may have led to the family's downfall in some way. The matriarch of the family, Elisabeth, seemed to be aware of this indiscretion, judging by the look she gave the child in the family portrait.

The exact nature of the cult they were in is unknown, though torture and cannibalism were implied.

Like many children in their situation, the Durst children appeared to be largely unaware of their parents' activities. They believed that the house had a terrible monster in the basement, who let out wailing screams.

The nature and timing of the Durst parents' deaths is unknown. The Durst children appeared to have been locked in their room from the outside at some point, where they then died.

The Durst family also owned a windmill. Whether or not it's the same windmill as the one our heroes passed by on their way to Vallaki has not been confirmed.

All of the Dursts were, when the party encountered them, some form of undead. The Durst parents attacked the party as ghasts, and were slain. The Durst children possessed the party as ghosts, and were laid to rest. Whether either situation is permanent, or if they reset as part of the curse of the Death House, is unknown.