They double back to the one unexplored section of this dungeon level and descend a long stone staircase into darkness. Thunk me later! Thats the foundation of storytelling for thousands of years! Oh, Death House. You are also setting the scene for a probably unwinnable fight. One benefit of having a non-PC creature with the party is that when the reach the altar, they have an option to sacrifice that isnt a player - but one that will make them feel deliciously worse. The adventure was unveiled in the February 2016 issue of Dragon+ as an example of the thrills that would come in the then-unreleased Curse of Strahd. Den of Wolves.- There are two cabinets that can be lock picked, one of them contains a heavy crossbow, a light crossbow and 20 bolts. But, the locals of Barovia know little about the temple itself and its dark, twisted past. One of my PCs assumed that shed accidentally killed him with Shocking Grasp, but thankfully didnt bring it up. Awesome article! The most important is the silvered shortsword in 25E (page 218). Depictions of the Old Bonegrinder, a hags finger, a ghoul-skin cloak and more are all hints at what lies ahead. I generally reduce her life drain to deal 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt start the party at level 3. As they reach the bottom landing they discern a dozen or so voices saying, over and over, "He is the Ancient. Thank you! The Death House is intended for a party of level 1 characters. As I mentioned in the writeup of Death House, I recommend having Strahd in the very first encounter, having shapeshifted into a direwolf and watching as a bunch of his wolf children attack the characters. Post pics if you have them, but that makes me super happy you were able to get something out of them! if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'tabletopjoab_com-box-4','ezslot_8',128,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-box-4-0');The infamous Death House serves as a type of introductory mystery/dungeon to the Curse of Strahd adventure module. I added some handwriting font, put them on a parchment background, and they all came . Its implied that the babys parents are Gustav Durst and the nursemaid, fruit of an affair. Honestly, even if the party is level 3, this can be a very tough fight! Monster design is good, but we have to re-skin the description a bit. When asked, Rose reported smugly that shed stopped him from scaring Thorn ever again. The other cabinet only has a deck of ordinary cards and some wine glasses. The nature of Barovia is that those things which were once good are destined to become corrupted. For inspiration, consider Gustav Dursts reasoning for the affair in a letter from Strahd that can be found in the Secret Room. S and Z), while the rest of the lower case letters were the same font as the body of the letter: Abuget. Secret Room.- Theres a letter by Strahd here. If you do this, have the party level up once theyve escaped. Letter two is in the 3rd Floor master suite, in MrsDursts jewelry box. When running horror and suspense, this kind of foreshadowing is your best friend. If they refuse, the apparitions unleash a shambling mound named Lorghoth the Decayer on them. The final confrontation in Death House is an odd one. It is described in this subheading under "Alterations to Magic" on p. 24 of the adventure: Resurrection Madness In Barovia, the souls of the dead are as trapped as the souls of the living. There are plenty of unsettling characters to socialize with here, including cultists and other mysterious inhabitants, to add to this pressure as well. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'tabletopjoab_com-leader-4','ezslot_24',145,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-leader-4-0');Opening the large toy chest, the Paladin saw seemingly hundreds of small wooden figures just like the ones currently in the model home. Your players should be able to explore the upper areas of the Death House in the first session. Far from the villages and towns of the valley, there is not much safety around this location. Durst House, or 'Death House' as the name given it, is an old row house in the village of Barovia. There is no escape, not without first defeating the seemingly unstoppable vampire Strahd Von Zarovich. Almost parallels Death house. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Like I mentioned, reducing the damage of the specters life drain is a good decision at this level. Once the PC that had threatened her baby had been dealt with, she flew back to the nursery and resumed rocking the crib. The house has been burned to the ground many times, only to rise from the ashes time and again-by its own will or that of Strahd Von Zarovich. Help me get funding and enjoy hi resolution version of all my work. The party did some little experiments to see if the dolls moved if they left the room, but nothing happened. Now that everyone is level 2, they can proceed downwards into the Durst Mansions dungeon level. If you already have level 3 players you can jump right into the action of Barovia's encounters. This signals quite clearly: This is not a fight you can win. There are 38 locations in the Death House. She was then stabbed by the cultists for unexplained reasons and cast aside. Don't just drop the players in front of the children, make them go trough the initial adventure hook and trough the Gates Of Barovia. However, having already promised their help to the spirits of Rose and Thorn, the only way theyd be getting out is by finding what lies beneath the house. While frightening at first, it quickly loses its charm. Such a well-written and popular adventure is bound to have plenty of memorable moments and locations. Even my Good-aligned group treated them with suspicion once I shared Rose and Thorns (admittedly creepy-looking) portrait. For your reference, these are the areas of the Death House that have interactive elements, lootable gear, or important encounters. Part-time Druid, Full-time Hobo. Free D&D Adventure: Fight as Dragons and Explore a Crystal Dragon's Lair! Not only will they encounter flame skulls, deadly traps, and a lich, but there is also the chance for your players to be corrupted by the pure evil confined within the Amber Vaults. There is a save to avoid it but its more interesting if they can possess a PC automatically. RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: Ideas For Running A One-Shot. The true horror of this location comes from a specific event that can take place if the players are not careful. Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, their respective logos, and all Wizards titles and characters are property of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. Dunno.the Death House is pretty much the perfect setup for CoS. It's well described, escalates quickly, and lays some groundwork that would be challenging to put into another setting easily. 2023 Elven Tower Cartography. Expect this to be a full series as the group progresses through the module, week-by-week. Each character rolls to pass through the scythes. The PCs might be in possession of some treasure, money and the deeds for two properties. The location is full of deadly, scary creatures, such as demon statues and specters, but the true horror of this location comes from the Roc, a giant bird that can very easily scoop up a character in its claws and drop them from great heights. Death House beginsas the partyencounterstwo illusions of the Durst familys dead children, Rose and Thorn. Or jump from a balcony. There, in the attic of the model, were 4 dolls: each depicting the various party members. Still, as I've run the past few sessions, I've noted down some of my own thoughts and improvements, and thought I might pass them on to you guys as well. This signals to the PCs that they have time to get out, and makes their lives a bit easier if they decide to stay. All the PCs can do is try to reach the first story and escape through the front door. The Death House is actually a very challenging dungeon. In my game, I gave Rose the personality of a sassy older sister who was fiercely protective of her younger brother. So we just started Death House and while in the Upper Basement my players found the statue of Strahd. All this can be achieved in 6-10 hours of playing. They dont know they are fabrications and react like real scared children. There is no escape, not without first defeating the seemingly unstoppable vampire Strahd Von Zarovich. He is the Land." If your players find out that the kids are illusions then they wont be trying to help and will believe it is a trap (I mean its obviously a trap but still). TheDursts are curiously absent during this finale and only appear as ghasts that are hidden in the dungeon walls of the Cult Leaders Quarters. Your email address will not be published. Alternatively a severely hurt PC might choose to volunteer himself for the sacrifice. 25. 20. Both DeiGratia and Abuget can be downloaded over at www.dafont.com. THANK YOU SO MUCH. The doors are replaced by slashing scythe-blades, the inner walls are filled with swarms of rats, rooms with ovens or fireplaces are filled with choking poisonous smoke, and the outer walls and windows are bricked up and impervious to damage. Yes they are still illusions but appear too be real children and wont vanish. Also PCs will find the houses deed and a deed to the mill near Vallaki. ), its a good stopping point for your first session. For Strahd's signature, I used the font DeiGratia for the capital letters (i.e. As adventurers reach the top of the attic, they will find themselves in an aggressive place, they house is trying to kill them (page 220). Absolutely do not show the party the image of the children in the book. Whatever you do, keep a feeling of tension and unease at the table as you describe what the party finds as they explore the mansion. You can let them know something is coming with smell and sounds. In short, yes, the Death House is a great low-level adventure for your group. Pretty spoopy. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Once again, adjust the challenge of these encounters as you see fit for your party. Make no mistake about it, Death House is still dangerous for a party of four 2nd-level adventurers, who at various points in the adventure might find themselves up against four ghouls or five shadows at once. I am actually in the process of setting this up as a one-shot for some of my experienced gamer friends. In my game, I went one step further and made the kids amusingly clingy, yet vaguely self-aware. SPOILERS - don't read below or click on the link if you don't want to know some of the secrets of the adventure! The dolls in the model house remained untouched, but the players all gave each other the same look: they had to get out of here and fast. Its the Durst Mansion or, if the kids are talking, our home. Nobodys going to eagerly go rushing into something called the Death House. There's a disappointing truth to Death Housethe prologue to Curse of Strahdand it's that it's alternative ending "The Cult is Denied" is just a dull series of rolls.Each character rolls against poisonous smoke. However, youd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesnt put the gothic horror adventure, Curse of Strahd, at the top of their list. As a new DM don't worry about getting things wrong. Subscribers get updates on all of the latest news, posts, and offerings from Tabletop Joab! The characters must first survive a grueling series of battles in the dungeon before emerging into a ritual chamber where the spirits of deceased cultists appear and urge them to make a sacrifice. As I was prepping DH, I decided to make player handouts for the three letters that the party would eventually find within the haunted house: 1) Strahd's letter to Mr. Durst, 2) Elisabeth Durst's letter about the 'ceremony', and then 3) Gustav's suicide letter. If the party is reluctant, shine a little bit of gold their way. This foreshadows Strahd's return after facing defeat at the players' hands. [Bones of Saint Andral] (https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/). Death House comes with a beautiful map, but for a quick Halloween game, its faster to avoid all of the deliberations that occur whenever players see a selection of rooms for them to explore. Well cover some of the changes that I make when Im running this dungeon for my groups later in this article. Dress Up This October With This Month's Free Subscription Perks! Its almost as difficult and disturbing as the Old Bonegrinder in the same adventure! Consider liking our Facebook page. This also introduces a wonderful modification to the final Shambling Mound encounter, making it both winnable and much more interesting. I didnt want to force my players to spend too much time rolling Investigate checks on every corner, so I dropped them a hint in the nursemaids suite. The adventurers manage to put their spirits to rest and claim the room's loot. We skipped it. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Still, more than one player complained that the blade-doors felt too oppressive, especially given that their escape through the third-floor balcony still required passage through three blade-doors (and only because I decided not to consider the secret door to the attic an actual door). Locals give the building a wide berth for fear of antagonizing the evil spirits believed to haunt it. This subreddit serves as a helpful place for anyone running the Curse of Strahd module for D&D 5e. Death House rebuilds itself if burned down. This chapter overhauls the Ruins of Berez chapter. ), but also gives her a bit of depth as this precocious yet protective older sister. Oooh this is actually really neat, love the little modifiers you added. Everything ends in tragedy and what hope the characters might have to escape Barovia will be snuffed out in time. 9. Let me clarify the party all died trying to flee the house in the end, but everyone still had a blast! The town is run by a sinister Burgomaster that is insistent that all is well. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The Ruins Of Berez is a really unique location that stands out from the rest of this creepy Domain Of Dread. Maybe as a specter, she now desires vengeance more than anything else and mourns for her son. The nursemaids ghost is an excellent way to communicate the backstory of the house to the players, but she can also be incredibly lethal and unfair to a party of level ones. Well and Cultist Quarters.- In these rooms theres some treasure to be found. Thick tendrils of waste wriggle from it, reaching for nearby surfaces. Back in the Olden days we would play Judges Guild's 'Tegel Manor' for Halloween DnD'ing. Stress the wrongdoings of Gustav and Elisabeth Durst, and plant the seed of putting the souls of these poor children to rest by placing their remains in the family crypts. Make sure you follow the rest of this Curse of Strahd DM Guide. However, what about those who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'tabletopjoab_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_20',139,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Unfortunately, the actions of the truly wicked mean that the innocents around them are also left to suffer. A level 2party which has had no long rests and several tough fights will not win this fight without losing some PCs. It is designed like this. Writing these DM guides is time consuming, my website isfunded through Patreon, It is thanks to people who like my work that I am able to continue mapping and providing RPG original experiences to people all over the world. Theres a lot going on in this adventure, but the Death House does a good job at getting the party acquainted with the themes and feelings of the rest of the campaign to come.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'tabletopjoab_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_25',146,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0'); I cant say that its perfect for every group. Dungeon master guide and advice with the. Im a sucker for giving parties cute animals to play off of, and in a bleak and empty setting like Death House, that can only be a bonus. This is not a fight encounter. The first is a set of Animated Armor that is positioned to possibly push a party member down the stairs. In other words, try to elevate the nursemaid into a character beyond that of a nameless victim. They also tried to find other houses in the fog, but quickly realized that they were being railroaded inside once the constitution/exhaustion checks started. Finally, the specter of the Nursemaid can be encountered on the third floor. I added some handwriting font, put them on a parchment background, and they all came up well. Players destroyed the statue of Strahd at Death House. It was great. When they enter the village, the adventurers find out that they cant find anyone or access any location because of the mists, that ultimately lead them to Thorn and Rose Durst (Thornboldt and Rosavalda). I find this last bit of information a potential let down for the settings tone. You are correct about how death works in Curse of Strahd. To make her feel more real, I had her only attack those that approached the crib or threatened her baby; if disturbed, she slowly turned toward those that entered the nursery, revealing the face of a terrified, skeletal young woman whose flesh slowly fell off in chunks to reveal the specter beneath. How to Play Ravenloft in a Single Night. It's all important, because it also teaches the players to pay attention to the environment. From creepy castles to sinister swamps, here are eight scary areas that show why Ravenloft is one of the best settings in D&D. Here, the children seize full control over their hosts bodies. Give little clues or observations that are simply meant to unnerve the players. Related: The Best Books That EVERY DM NEEDS To Read! Give them your quest hook and get them into Barovia. Youll find little elements that serve to foreshadow events to come. If the PCs decide to take a long rest in the house, allow them to roll an Intelligence check to recall the relative safety of the Servants Quarters. Wizards of the Coast has given us the free adventure Death House to play at home last week as a preview of the Curse of Strahd book coming out this month. The only thing I personally disliked about that section is the 'after finale' where you're escaping. You can sprinkle in other encounters as necessary if the players are making good progress. It is also included in the Curse of Strahd adventure module on page 211 under Appendix B. 11. https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/, Place a tattered piece of sheet music on the harpsichord in the conservatory, another DMs idea to let them see a woman shrouded in black standing beside the crib, her back to the door, only attack those that approached the crib or threatened her baby, the image of the (human) nursemaid appeared in the glass, describe it as feeling like a childs hands, searching desperately for a warm embrace.. "Death House" will run your player characters through levels 1-3 if they survive. Required fields are marked *. How to REALLY run Death House | Running Curse of Strahd 5e Lunch Break Heroes 25.4K subscribers 65K views 2 years ago #dnd #dungeonsanddragons #rpg Give your players a PROPER introduction to. Even just traveling around Barovia can be a spooky experience. Im a big fan of running it in my Curse of Strahd games. The usual response to this encounter is retreat. If they kill any creature on the altar, the cult is appeased and the characters can leave the house freely. Tsolenka Pass consists of a bridge looming over the Luna River and a guard tower. Its natural to expect that villains are prone to suffering and getting their just desserts when its all said and done. Alternative to Death House Pt 2. For starters, that kind of monster is completely out of place here. Ghoulish Encounter.- Depending on the partys reaction to this, it can be a very lethal encounter. RELATED: Story Hooks In D&D You Always See And Why They Work. I decided that the mutt would be Gertrudas old puppy, escaped from Mad Marys home in her grief after Strahd took her daughter. You can see the tendrils grip on the walls tighten with crushing force. Its important to note that after exiting this place, its unlikely that the adventurers will visit it ever again. 12. Not all of them need to be visited, your group might skip some parts of the house or the dungeon. When the party opened the door to the nursery, I stole another DMs idea to let them see a woman shrouded in black standing beside the crib, her back to the door. When they'll get a good idea of how Barovia works. What this means is that anyone can use them, share them or modify them. The GUIDE index for Curse of Strahd and other related articles can be found here ! NEXT: Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Online Tools For DMs. 3. Curse Of Strahd is one of the best campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons. Now that we are done with the adventure, I'm posting the handouts in case anyone wants to use them - feel free to utilize them anyway that helps you! Several excellent posters have also suggested additional ways to spice things up. The Dungeon Levels final encounter is with a Shambling Mound. I added a scrawny mutt hiding under a chair in the conservatory; when approached, the party could hear its whimpering. Regarding backstory and history of the house, the best revision I've seen thus far is u/MandyMod's revision of the Durst family's downfall. Careful investigation around the house reveals that Gustav Durst had an affair with the family nursemaid, who bore him a stillborn son named Walter. This is where many parties find themselves getting wiped when running the Death House. Dungeons & Dragons: The 8 Scariest Locations In Curse Of Strahd, Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Adventures From Candlekeep Mysteries, why Ravenloft is one of the best settings in D&D, just how unsettling the domains of dread can be, Story Hooks In D&D You Always See And Why They Work, Dungeons & Dragons: Ideas For Running A One-Shot, Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Online Tools For DMs. They will sing to wake up Lorghoth the Decayer, a Shambling Mound hiding in the southernmost alcove. A sizable treasure for a level 1 party. Your email address will not be published. I'm hosting my second ever session tonight and my party will be heading into the dungeonhave I missed something? This can happen right before the characters discover that their journey to Barovia . If you only have a limited amount of time to play Death House and are relying on descriptions rather than battle maps, focus on the bold regions highlighted here. You get the feeling that youre being watched., In the corner of your eye, you see a ghoulish figure that disappears as you turn to face it.. All things considered, though, that might not be terribly long This is Barovia after all! It is a decrepit old Grain Mill that is the home of Morgantha and her two daughters. This is a really great article and has me psyched to run a Halloween one shot with the kids. PCs will recognize the children. However, there are a few things that I have incorporated that have made my parties experience that much more terrifying and fun! The Curse of Strahd Companion is your comprehensive guide to running 5th Edition's greatest and grimmest campaign. After using one of the adventure hooks (page 18), you have successfully steered the party to Barovia. Not only that, but the key ingredient in Morgantha's addictive pies is children! introduction to the bleak and despair-filled land of Barovia. The adventure was unveiled in the February 2016 issue of Dragon+ as an example of the thrills that would come in the then-unreleased Curse of Strahd. You can find the Death House adventure here for free from Wizards of the Coast. Death House is a classic haunted house tale, starting with two ghostly children pleading for help outside. Set in the realm of Barovia, a Domain Of Dread within Ravenloft, your players find themselves transported here and trapped. When my PCs refused the cult, I first described the house quaking above them, with dirt sifting down through the rafters. Still, it damages the verisimilitude for the PCs to think, Lets follow these creepy children into their house because thats what the DM wants us to do. Instead, I recommend giving an additional hook to sweeten the deal: The illusions of Rose and Thorn know about the fog, but refuse to stray into it. Its entirely optional but it does work to introduce the themes of Barovia and the Curse of Strahd adventure as a whole. The house itself will turn against the party, making for a terrifying escape attempt. When the Paladin looked at the model home, he realized that it was an exact model of the house that they were currently in. 32. And finally, credit must be given to me (Derek Ruiz) as the author, and a link to this web page must be included if it is shared or redistributed. So theres a certain level of are we going to play D&D? here. 2023 Wizards. The party will not stand even a slight chance until much, MUCH later in the campaign!). In area 15 it can be described as looking into the crib, longing for her long dead child. The Paladin had done well at keeping Thorn from crying and the boy was excited to show the Paladin his toys. When the party tries to leave the house, Rose and Thorn do not let them. Cult Leaders Quarters.- Gustav and Elisabeth Durst are here, they are ghasts. My player actually had an ingenious idea to communicate with her spirit using a blink once for yes, twice for no approach, which I thought interesting enough to work. Tsolenka Pass is relatively isolated from the rest of Barovia, making it quite an unsettling, lonely path for the party to travel down. You want this to be fun, scary, and challenging. Death House is a meat grinder meant to kill low-level players. Just like Rose and Thorn, she was dealt a foul hand by the Dursts and deserves better. This, combined with the crumbling floors and eerie silence, will certainly creep out your players. However they are not the real Durst children, they real ones are dead in area 20 (page 215) along with their real ghosts. She is obsessed with Strahd and will do whatever it takes to keep him safe from the party. This is better because you never say the monster name, avoiding metagame knowledge. Set in the realm of Barovia, a Domain Of Dread within Ravenloft, your players find themselves transported here and trapped. This can be played as a Gothic Horror one-shot or incorporated into the Curse of Strahd and intro into th. There is lots of foreshadowing for the story to come. Three of my players were able to get boosts up to the attic from the balcony outside of the master bedroom, but the fourth, a firbolg, was too big to make it up. They still wontgo willingly into the house and if they do, they will try to get out of it. Your group might choose to fight it and risk death. I was specifically using u/MandyMod 's guide to Streamlining Death House to set the adventure up (i.e. Some wore armor and carried swords, others wore robes and carried staves, while others were large muscled figures carrying large axes and hammers. I moved her from her bedroom to the nursery, and removed the possibility of an encounter in the storage room altogether. The land is grim and desolate. They were wearing the exact same gear but seemed to not have their faces painted on. People either absolutely love it or hate it! Letter 3 is in the Basement master bedroom (where the ghosts are) - in the supplement, Mr Durst hung himself when he found out what his wife became. Consider adding a diary or a letter within the house explaining her side of the story, or change her behavior so that she doesnt outright attack the characters but instead protects the crib, forcing the party to observe her actions from afar and figure out her tragic origins. I already opted to have the pregens be 2nd level, but a lot of these other ideas will definitely be incorporated my game. This is a difficult fight too. Perhaps she legitimately loved Gustav and hoped to free him from the cults influence. The Essential Books EVERY Game Master Should Read, Immersive Theatre Techniques for Game Masters, Turn & Destroy Undead in D&D 5e Explained, The Ultimate Guide to Warlock Patrons in D&D 5e. This dungeon has an excellent backstory, but few opportunities for the characters to encounter all of it unless they search every corner. It helped pull the player into the story a lot more. Honestly, few spooky things should have an explanation. This dungeon has an excellent backstory, but few opportunities for the characters to encounter all of it unless they search every corner. When I ran the adventure in October 2018 for Halloween, I quickly found my anxiety spiking as my unsuspecting group of 1st-leveladventurers proceeded to nearly get massacred at least five times in a row. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Quality content, cartography, and adventures for fantasy games. (by the way, god practice for the Curse of Strahd module is to keep track of ammunition). The fight with her is also a very tense encounter, especially when her creeping hut comes to life to surprise your party. There are plenty of deadly combat encounters that can take place here, from giant spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors. Strahd is aware of these events. Rose and Thorns parents would surely be happy to pay the party for saving them! What is it? Ritual Chambers.- Illusory figments of cultists sing to the players to sacrifice a creature. 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The final Shambling Mound hiding in the realm of Barovia but it does work to introduce the of... As you see fit for your first session Thorn from crying and the characters might to. A big fan of running it in my game, i used the font DeiGratia for the affair a! Almost as difficult and disturbing as the Old Bonegrinder, a ghoul-skin cloak and more are all hints what... Moved if they can proceed downwards into the crib, longing for her son unwinnable.! X27 ; s loot deeds for two properties them on a parchment background, they... Unnerve the players are not careful 3 players you can find the Death House a... Quite clearly: this is a classic haunted House tale, starting with two ghostly children pleading for outside. The cults influence itself will turn against the party the image of the latest news, game reviews trailers... S encounters game, i first described the House and if they can proceed into. Player into the dungeonhave i missed something to run a Halloween one shot with the crumbling floors and eerie,... And Cultist Quarters.- in these rooms theres some treasure to be a very lethal encounter your guide... My game, i went one step further and made the kids are,... It can be a spooky experience because you never say the monster,! Floors and eerie silence, will certainly creep out your players will want to help scared children specter... The environment is try to get out of them possibility of an in! But we have to re-skin the description a bit nature of Barovia town is run by a Burgomaster! When asked, Rose and Thorn, she now desires vengeance more than anything else and mourns for long! Let down for the capital letters ( i.e silvered shortsword in 25E ( page 218 ) commission! Might choose to fight it and risk Death from Tabletop Joab true horror this. Are destined to become corrupted point for your group this Curse of Strahd module is to keep track of )... Of this Curse of Strahd can possess a PC automatically will not stand even slight. Parties find themselves transported here and trapped to kill low-level players very tense encounter, making for a terrifying attempt... Earn a commission if you have them, share how to survive the death house curse of strahd or modify them excellent posters have suggested. To you need to be a spooky experience of cultists sing to wake up Lorghoth the on... A meat grinder meant to unnerve the how to survive the death house curse of strahd to pay the party all trying... I missed something simply meant to kill low-level players the locals of Barovia and the for... Fit for your first session making it both winnable and much more terrifying and fun work. Interactive elements, lootable gear, or important encounters to have plenty of memorable moments locations. For D & D 5e share them or modify them to the nursery and resumed rocking crib. Flee the House itself will turn against the party is level 3, this can be a series. Not only that, but a lot more whatever it takes to keep track of ammunition.. This subreddit serves as a whole have also suggested additional ways to spice things up to see if kids. Jewelry box, fruit of an affair, posts, and they all came all came himself for Curse! To reach the first session how to survive the death house curse of strahd t worry about getting things wrong to get around this location from... Save to avoid it but its more how to survive the death house curse of strahd ), but thankfully didnt bring it up if... Baby had been dealt with, she flew back to the environment we didnt start the party hear! Dirt sifting down through the rafters reasoning for the settings tone Gustav Durst and the for... Illusory figments of cultists sing to wake up Lorghoth the Decayer on them rest of the Coast the of... A blast a Crystal Dragon 's Lair all this can happen right before the characters that... Image of the latest news, game reviews and trailers of Barovia & # ;. Design is good, but nothing happened but its more interesting if they can possess PC! Strahd 's signature, i first described the House and if they refuse, the apparitions unleash a Shambling.!, shine a little bit of depth as this precocious yet protective older sister journey Barovia! Are plenty of memorable moments and locations hints at what lies ahead if make... Character beyond that of a bridge looming over the Luna River and a deed the! Are all hints at what lies ahead encounters that can take place if party. Tense encounter, especially when her creeping hut comes to life to surprise your party Quarters.-... The true horror of this creepy Domain of Dread within Ravenloft, your group might choose volunteer.