The Durst family was a wealthy merchant family that lived outside of The Village of Barovia. The entire family along with their nurse maid and servants seem to have perished in a series of gruesome events some time ago.
Gustav and Elizabeth Durst
The parents of the durst family lived in their manor outside of the Village of Barovia where they ran a successful grain and livestock company. They were the parents of Rosevalda and Thornboldt as well as baby Walter.
It appears that some great tragedy befell the family in the past that lead to their demise. At some point the family began practicing cannibalism in an attempt to achieve immortality and worshiping the Lord of Barovia, Strahd von Zarovich. However Strahd did not appreciate the worship viewing it as repulsive.
QuoteMy most pathetic servants,
I allow you and your pathetic band of miscreants to exist in my land only for my own amusement. I am not your messiah, and have not come to lead you on a path to immortality.
Continue your farcical rituals and have your meals of flesh. Carve my visage into every stone you see. Sire as many bastards as you wish. I care not. You are all worms writhing in my earth, and I shall not save you from your wretchedness. I much prefer you as you are.
Your dread lord and master,
Strahd von Zarovich
Their basement was home to this cult activity and contained a dining hall serving human remains, a small chapel devoted to Strahd, and a sacrificial pit containing corpses and ghost cultists.
Walter Durst
The youngest of the durst family was only a few months old when the terrible events took place, his body was never found.
The Fate of Gustav
The body of Gustav was found hung from his bed with the following note.
QuoteMy dearest children,
The darkness takes us, and I am sorry that your mother and I have brought it upon you. What began as survival turned into our obsession, and now to our downfall. In my final moments, I see clear. We are anathema, and are being punished. We deserve it, but I regret that your fates are tied to ours.
I love you both with all my heart. No amount of darkness and death will ever change that. May all of our souls find peace.
Your loving father,
Gustav
The Monster Matriarch
Elizabeth was found in some form in the basement of the house. The monster the children spoke of was their mother, distorted and transformed. A collection of all the people she consumed, the sacrifices she made now an angry and hungry mass trying to escape the basement.