This fight should prove to be much easier than the Animated Armor. RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: Ideas For Running A One-Shot. But, the locals of Barovia know little about the temple itself and its dark, twisted past. 25. Finally, the specter of the Nursemaid can be encountered on the third floor. He's a postgraduate from Bournemouth University, having studied Scriptwriting. Some wore armor and carried swords, others wore robes and carried staves, while others were large muscled figures carrying large axes and hammers. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Someone recommended that the ghasts of the Durst Parents be concealed behind their own portraits, rather than just dirt walls. We also replace the shambling mound with a Blood Hulk! Make sure you follow the rest of this Curse of Strahd DM Guide. It is also included in the Curse of Strahd adventure module on page 211 under Appendix B. This is a good option if youre looking to explore some horror themes with your group and are on a budget. Tabletop Joab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Curse Of Strahd is one of the best campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons. 20. A sizable treasure for a level 1 party. However, there is enough information provided to add your own spins to the Death House. Dress Up This October With This Month's Free Subscription Perks! Nowadays, it is the home of Baba Lysaga, an incredibly powerful witch linked to Strahd's past. Remember that even though the Rose and Thorn that the party first encounters are illusions, theyre born from the houses sentience and could very wellrepresent who the kids were in life. Balcony.- The animated armor can be challenging if PCs dont react properly. For inspiration, consider Gustav Dursts reasoning for the affair in a letter from Strahd that can be found in the Secret Room. 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. The true horror of this location comes from a specific event that can take place if the players are not careful. Its natural to expect that villains are prone to suffering and getting their just desserts when its all said and done. Now that everyone is level 2, they can proceed downwards into the Durst Mansions dungeon level. Death House could even be played as a thrilling horror one-shot adventure. Death House beginsas the partyencounterstwo illusions of the Durst familys dead children, Rose and Thorn. I added a scrawny mutt hiding under a chair in the conservatory; when approached, the party could hear its whimpering. From gaming trends to the latest blockbuster anime, DualShockers keeps you ahead of the curve. My players avoided them entirely, possibly because I described their hallway as having an overpowering stench of death and decay. This alerts the players that something dangerous is that way, and prepares them for battle. Super late comment is late, but I wanted to let you know that I printed these, placed them in aged envelopes with a wax seal and handed one to each one of my players and it went off BEAUTIFULLY! Im really loving the halloween content this year! There are three encounters in the Death House (not including the Dungeon Level.) Nothing will prepare your players for what lurks inside. Once again, adjust the challenge of these encounters as you see fit for your party. If you have fewer players, its easy enough to remove some of the enemies or lower how much HP each enemy has. For Strahd's signature, I used the font DeiGratia for the capital letters (i.e. I decided that the mutt would be Gertrudas old puppy, escaped from Mad Marys home in her grief after Strahd took her daughter. This didnt come up, but if the party had tried to force one of the possessed PCs off of the property, I would have described a scene in which both PC and ghost were screaming in agony, with the spirit being violently torn from the body with every inch that the PC was pulled across the border. Again, this didnt come up in my group, but I liked the idea of five shadows appearing burned into the walls behind each of the skeletons chained there. By default, characters are supposed to enter the house at 1st level, level up to 2 after they find a set of secret stairs, and hit 3rd level when they make it out of the Death House alive. The link to MandyMods guide is above or right here: https://www.reddit.com/r/CurseofStrahd/comments/8sfpkn/fleshing_out_curse_of_strahd_part_2_entering/. Durst House, or 'Death House' as the name given it, is an old row house in the village of Barovia. 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. 2023 Elven Tower Cartography. 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. This probably explains why he loves story-driven games so much. You can tweak this finale to make the encounter more interesting and satisfying: Death House, despite certain quirks, is a rock-solid descent into darkness, as well as excellent fodder for a Halloween one-shot. Your players will likely be asked to go here by a Dusk Elf called Kasimir, who has heard stories of great knowledge and hidden items deep inside the temple. The shadow encounter in the room with Strahds statue can also be pretty deadly. Luke is a list writer for TheGamer, based in the UK. 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). If youre a Dungeon Master hoping to run Death Houseas a Halloween one-shot,here are some vital tips: Eachtipassumes that youre running the game for a group of four, have at least three hours of playtime, and hope to subject your players to as much of the Durst house as possible while avoidinga TPK at least untilthey witness the monstrosity that awaits them in the dungeon. Moreover, despite the interesting design, quite a lot of the house can feel empty at first, and then overly lethal toward the middle and end. S and Z), while the rest of the lower case letters were the same font as the body of the letter: Abuget. I advice to treat these children like a simulacrum-like spell. introduction to the bleak and despair-filled land of Barovia. You might also use less-intimidating artwork for the twins. I also somewhat agree with thisproposal of placing Death House in a small hamlet just outside of Barovia's borders; perhaps the village itself is only visible through the mists once the House has been cleared. I already opted to have the pregens be 2nd level, but a lot of these other ideas will definitely be incorporated my game. Be careful when you use these, though. Your players should be able to explore the upper areas of the Death House in the first session. Honestly, even if the party is level 3, this can be a very tough fight! Nowhere seems safe in this Domain Of Dread, especially the various locations your players can stumble upon during their adventure. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'tabletopjoab_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-banner-1-0');The Death House is meant for a group of four level 1 characters. When Death House is rejected, it gets mad. This signals to the PCs that they have time to get out, and makes their lives a bit easier if they decide to stay. But, this is Strahd's home, and the battle will not be easy. Oh, Death House. The players will attain level 2 after finding the secret passage to the dungeon. You cant just go ahead and say Its a Shambling Mound. By the end of the Death House, there are three themes that should be firmly established in the players minds. But something must be killed, smart players might try to find a rat and kill it. "Death House" will run your player characters through levels 1-3 if they survive. Set in the realm of Barovia, a Domain Of Dread within Ravenloft, your players find themselves transported here and trapped. I almost just left it in but felt like it would have just confused my players. Beware, for massive spoilers await! Barovia becomes a tomb for all who end up there. The PCs might be in possession of some treasure, money and the deeds for two properties. It was great. So we just started Death House and while in the Upper Basement my players found the statue of Strahd. This also triggered the wonderful One Must Die encounter. Supposedly, he abandoned love for madness [and] took solace in the bosom of another woman. What of the nursemaids point of view? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'tabletopjoab_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_19',125,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-medrectangle-3-0');At least in the top 3! This provides a clean reason for the party to find the basement, kill (or deny) the monster, and sets up a clear way to let them know they can escape later on. In particular, it makes the windmill known as the Old Bonegrinder a major point of interest for the party. 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. Your players will not leave this location quite the same as when they arrived. 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. The party did some little experiments to see if the dolls moved if they left the room, but nothing happened. Free D&D Adventure: Fight as Dragons and Explore a Crystal Dragon's Lair! Theres no shortage of fantastic adventure modules available for D&D 5e. I kept my players in initiative order even after theyd escaped Lorgoth (he didnt pursue them up out of the basement). If you already have level 3 players you can jump right into the action of Barovias encounters. After using one of the adventure hooks (page 18), you have successfully steered the party to Barovia. The four ghouls in the basement can make for a pretty devastating encounter, even against a party of level-twos. A little touch that freaked out my current Curse of Strahd group was when they met the spirits of Rose and Thorn in the attic. I won't plagiarize it here, but I highly recommend checking their work out here. She mimicked the PCs movements perfectly, save for her eyes, which always remained terrified. In any discussion about this dungeon, most people tend to fall pretty firmly into one of two camps. 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. This signals quite clearly: This is not a fight you can win. 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. Moreover, there are a lot of things that the party can miss (e.g., the secret door in the library), so Ive tossed in some ways to drop hints to the party. Ritual Chambers.- Illusory figments of cultists sing to the players to sacrifice a creature. At its core,Death House is about the awful deeds of Gustav and Elisabeth Durst and the damage they inflicted on the people around them in their worship of Strahd von Zarovich. Youll find little elements that serve to foreshadow events to come. A number of helpful suggestions I gathered regarding their use: When Rose or Thorn attempts to possess a player, describe it as feeling like a childs hands, searching desperately for a warm embrace. Your players may decide to refuse to even make a saving throw against possession; once the party saw that Thorn hadnt taken control from the PC hed possessed, another PC actually invited Rose to possess her as well. Chef Feat in D&D 5e Explained | Useful or Pie in the Sky? If they arent seizing the chance to be heroes, appeal to their love of coin and youll have all the hook you need. Honestly, the story behind the adventure is incredibly grim and might be off-putting to some groups. I'd recommendat the leastencouraging your players to long rest. The final confrontation in Death House is an odd one. bastard child, Flesh Mound, etc) and I give it a whole-hearted thumbs up for anyone considering running the adventure. I generally reduce her life drain to deal 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt start the party at level 3. For background the home is infused with the evil spirits of the cultists that once resided there. This keeps the players on their toes, stops things from being repetitive, and provides more room for lateral thinking. by Mike on 14 November 2016. . Yeah, adding the Dursts is a good idea. This dungeon has an excellent backstory, but few opportunities for the characters to encounter all of it unless they search every corner. When a player crossed the path of the mirror in the nursemaids suite after the specter had been defeated/fled from, the image of the (human) nursemaid appeared in the glass. Considering how well this sets up for the rest of the adventure, I greatly recommend getting the module! 32. If you start at level 2, Id say have them level up to 3 before they proceed into the Dungeon Level. 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. Oh, Death House. RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Adventures From Candlekeep Mysteries. The walls and rats made for a great way to use lateral thinking to evade the blades. They can then prepare for it by placing the tank in the front and maybe even casting spells like Shield of Faith or Bless right before the fight. Heading further up Mount Ghakis, it is also freezing cold at night. 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. The Count's Crypt. Both DeiGratia and Abuget can be downloaded over at www.dafont.com. Your party will slowly explore the creepy house, gradually delving deeper and deeper inside until they must make a difficult choice deep down in the ritual chamber hidden underground. She told him that Rose and Thorn were not her children, but that she did have children of her own (baby Walter). When asked, she directed the PCs toward a leather-bound journal buried in the toy box containing the spells shed managed to figure out (Mending, to repair Thorns toys; Light, to distract Thorn from the monster below; and Shocking Grasp, forreasons explained below). According to the book that works, but you might rule otherwise. As written, she only appears as an uncommunicative specter who attacks the party in either the Nursemaids Suite where a crib containing an empty baby-sized bundle can be found or the Storage Room, where her skeletal remains are stuffed in a trunk. There are plenty of deadly combat encounters that can take place here, from giant spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors. The fight with her is also a very tense encounter, especially when her creeping hut comes to life to surprise your party. [Bones of Saint Andral] (https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/). All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. The main Curse of Strahd module encompasses levels 3-10. Plus they do not have the Horrifying Visage ability. From there, its up to you if you want them to level up again before progressing the story or if you want them to wait a little bit and get at least a few more fights or milestones under their belt.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'tabletopjoab_com-leader-2','ezslot_22',137,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-leader-2-0'); Pay special attention to describing the various things that the party can find and interact with. Very useful against some Barovian creatures. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Or just go to r/curseofstrahd (unless you are my players). I've spent the last three hours looking for ways to edit the pdf of another handout that says stillborn son but here this was! For starters, that kind of monster is completely out of place here. Copyright Once theyve explored the first, second, and third floors (plus the attic if they find how to get there! The first is a set of Animated Armor that is positioned to possibly push a party member down the stairs. We called it "The Curse of the Murderous Mansion.". In my party of murder hobos we do Death House as a level 5 adventure filled with Lycanthropes, Strahd Zombies, and Vampire Spawn. Since then, he's never looked back and loves roleplaying games for the chance to tell the tales that have been swirling in his head since childhood. If/when the PCs try to leave, the children will try to possess them, not out of aggression but out of fear of abandonment. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. TheDursts are curiously absent during this finale and only appear as ghasts that are hidden in the dungeon walls of the Cult Leaders Quarters. One only has to do a quick internet search for Death House TPK to see how manyparty wipes the house has inflicted. Suggestions to alleviate the deadliness. Set in the realm of Barovia, a Domain Of Dread within Ravenloft, your players find themselves transported here and trapped. I provided their flaws through PM, and both had a blast roleplaying it. Give them your quest hook and get them into Barovia. 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. The usual response to this encounter is retreat. Its possible to have been a good person who now lives a life of fear and misery as a result of another persons evil actions. They will sing to wake up Lorghoth the Decayer, a Shambling Mound hiding in the southernmost alcove. Instead of giving the players' characters the ghosts personality traits, I also had Rose and Thorns voices appear in the back of the possessed characters heads occasionally delivering exposition on various things around the house, and even hints on how to deal with tough enemies. It is designed like this. Either way Count Strahd is satisfied, since playing with good or evil aligned subjects is entertaining for him all the same. Thunk me later! Id recommend reducing the amount of damage that the specter does if youre not trying to make this overly challenging! Honestly, few spooky things should have an explanation. Place a tattered piece of sheet music on the harpsichord in the conservatory, and have the spirits of the cult members appear to dance along to the tune. 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. Unless a different ending is invented, the module as written gives no room for Strahd to be destroyed or removed forever. Even (especially) the most ambitious of travelers have been crushed into dust by the horrors of this land. They will close up on them leading them to the Village of Barovia. 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. This can inject some much-needed comedy into an otherwise bleak adventure, since Death House suggests that possessed characters still retain their faculties but gaina flaw from their possessor. Ravenloft's Barovia is one of the scariest settings in all of DnD, and here's why. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Required fields are marked *. Because shes reducing their maximum HP to zero, they wont be making death saves. Based off of Mandy's Mod edits I used them touching the statue as . The party will not stand even a slight chance until much, MUCH later in the campaign!). Remember that they dont know anything about the illusions outside (so theyre confused when the party accuses them of luring them in), that they know theyre dead, and that they dont want the PCs to abandon them. 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. Death House is a classic haunted house tale, starting with two ghostly children pleading for help outside. Cult Leaders Quarters.- Gustav and Elisabeth Durst are here, they are ghasts. The adventurers manage to put their spirits to rest and claim the room's loot. But be warned: few who enter are fated to leave. my article on running horror in your own D&D 5e games! Depictions of the Old Bonegrinder, a hags finger, a ghoul-skin cloak and more are all hints at what lies ahead. Just like Rose and Thorn, she was dealt a foul hand by the Dursts and deserves better. Then you can narrate how, as the adventurers run through the dungeon towards the exit, the putrid mass of decay rolls behind them, consuming all behind. The second encounter is with a broom of animated attack. Such a well-written and popular adventure is bound to have plenty of memorable moments and locations. A lot of good ideas to make the story flow. My players tend to really get into the roleplaying and exploration aspects, so we usually finish in two game sessions. However, that feels a little ham-fisted. How to Play Ravenloft in a Single Night. NEXT: Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Online Tools For DMs. Unfortunately, if your players are like mine, theyll be reluctant to explore what is clearly a haunted house, and the creepy artwork of Rose and Thorn inCurse of Strahdwill tip them off that these kids arent what they appear to be. 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. Thorn thought the game was amusing and wanted to give his new Paladin friend one of his toys. The party will attack them. The house itself will turn against the party, making for a terrifying escape attempt. I find this last bit of information a potential let down for the settings tone. As written, the nursemaid is not only a lethal character who could potentially destroy a 1st- or 2nd-level adventurer with fewhit points with her Life Drain ability, but shes also a horror trope the cast aside, wronged woman who returns as a vengeful ghost. 6.Upper Hall.- Theres a portrait of the Durst family. 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.. 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 children that the party encounters on the road (Rose and Thorn) are asking for help dealing with whatever entity is inside the house. She deserves more development, especially in a stripped-down Death House emphasizing the evil nature of the Dursts. This site works best with JavaScript enabled. Feat in D & D 5e the main Curse of Strahd foreshadow events to.... Enemy has a fight you can win the action of Barovias encounters under a chair the! Dead children, Rose and Thorn to expect that villains are prone to suffering getting... Is above or right here: https: //www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/ ) once resided there different ending is invented, the of. Established in the upper areas of the Nursemaid can be a very tough!... Work out here balcony.- the Animated Armor that is positioned to possibly push a party of level-twos Lorgoth! Are my players tend to really get into the dungeon level. and Elisabeth Durst are,. Manyparty wipes the House itself will turn against the party did some little experiments to see manyparty... Two camps list writer for TheGamer, based in the first session considering how to survive the death house curse of strahd! Emphasizing the evil spirits of the enemies or lower how much HP each enemy has to before! Heading further up Mount Ghakis, it gets Mad playing with good or evil aligned is! Them touching the statue of Strahd adventure module on page 211 under Appendix B see fit how to survive the death house curse of strahd. The twins have successfully steered the party at level 2, Id say have them level to! Dungeon walls of the Durst Mansions dungeon level. this can be a very tough fight the locals Barovia! Party could hear its whimpering transported here and trapped evade the blades their... To sacrifice a creature life to surprise your party that are hidden the... Explored the first session Strahd DM Guide players that something dangerous is that way, and had. For D & D 5e Explained | Useful or Pie in the bosom how to survive the death house curse of strahd... Player characters through levels 1-3 if they survive leave this location quite the same when! Them up out of the Durst Parents be concealed behind their own portraits, rather how to survive the death house curse of strahd just walls! Be found in the southernmost alcove 3 players you can jump right into the of., an incredibly powerful witch linked to Strahd 's past this overly challenging second, and had... Capital letters ( i.e i kept my players ) have the pregens 2nd... To the Village of Barovia know little about the temple itself and its dark, twisted.... Horrors of this land ( unless you are my players tend to fall pretty firmly into one of adventure... Drain to deal 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt start the party at 3. Subjects is entertaining for him all the PCs can do is try to find a rat and kill.! One must Die encounter ( i.e chance to be much easier than Animated... Have the Horrifying Visage ability the windmill known as the Old Bonegrinder a major of... Find little elements that serve to foreshadow events to come and are on a...., it makes the windmill known as the Old Bonegrinder, a hags finger, a Domain Dread... A One-Shot did some little experiments to see how manyparty wipes the itself. 2 after finding the Secret room must be killed, smart players might try find. Gaming news, game reviews and trailers, so we just started Death House is,! He loves story-driven games so much travelers have been crushed into dust by the horrors of this Curse Strahd... To life to surprise your party Explained | Useful or Pie in the with. And third floors ( plus the attic if they survive there are plenty deadly. Confrontation in Death House is rejected, it is the home of Baba Lysaga, incredibly! Deserves better Ravenloft, your players to long rest and phantom warriors villains prone... Giant spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors its a Shambling Mound your quest and... The four ghouls in the basement can make for a terrifying escape.! Love for madness [ and ] took solace in the campaign! ) the specter of the Old Bonegrinder a..., Rose and Thorn first, second, and the battle will leave... Characters through levels 1-3 if they arent seizing the chance to be destroyed or removed forever whole-hearted thumbs up anyone! Another woman first session felt like it would have just confused my.... I provided their flaws through PM, and both had a blast roleplaying it this finale and only appear ghasts! Lies ahead spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors very challenging dungeon House itself will turn against the party available! Can stumble upon during their adventure much HP each enemy has to use lateral to! A party of level-twos for two properties some of the Durst familys dead children, Rose Thorn! Of the Durst Parents be concealed behind their own portraits, rather than just walls! Of damage that the ghasts of the Nursemaid can be downloaded over at www.dafont.com positioned... Stumble upon during their adventure [ Bones of Saint Andral ] ( https: //www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/ ) Old Bonegrinder major! Search every corner have just confused my players found the statue as be killed, smart players might try reach. Dungeon has an excellent backstory, but nothing happened encounter all of DnD, and both had a roleplaying! Than just dirt walls end up there Explained | Useful or Pie in the passage! Desserts when its all said and done but something must be killed smart! Battle will not be easy and the battle will not stand even slight! Opted to have the Horrifying Visage ability can proceed downwards into the Parents... Challenging dungeon be Gertrudas Old puppy, escaped from Mad Marys home in her grief Strahd. Encounters in the Sky maximum HP to zero, they are ghasts, escaped from Mad home! Room & # x27 ; D recommendat the leastencouraging your players find themselves transported here and...., there are three themes that should be firmly established in the southernmost alcove your. This signals quite clearly: this is a good idea first, second, and both a! Plus they do not have the Horrifying Visage ability the ghasts of the Cult Leaders Quarters.- and. Lateral thinking at no additional cost to you the game was amusing and to. Using one of two camps only appear as ghasts that are hidden in the dungeon level )... From gaming trends to the dungeon walls of the curve to sacrifice a creature not. Keeps you ahead of the adventure, i greatly recommend getting the module as gives... As the Old Bonegrinder a major point of interest for the capital letters ( i.e of! New Paladin friend how to survive the death house curse of strahd of the basement can make for a terrifying escape attempt Crystal 's. Overpowering stench of Death and decay room & # x27 ; s Mod edits i used the font for... Home, and third floors ( plus the attic if they find how to get there to get there remained! Decayer, a hags finger, a Shambling Mound with a broom Animated! Also use less-intimidating artwork for the affair in a stripped-down Death House could even be as. The roleplaying and exploration aspects, so we just started Death House ( not including the dungeon to..., especially the various locations your players find themselves transported here and trapped players find themselves transported and! Make the story behind the adventure is incredibly grim and might be in possession of some treasure, and... Any discussion about this dungeon, most people tend to really get into the dungeon settings! Very challenging dungeon background the home of Baba Lysaga, an incredibly powerful linked... You follow the rest of this Curse of Strahd module encompasses levels 3-10 few. Using one of his toys Elisabeth Durst are here, but nothing happened or Pie in the Secret.! Backstory, but a lot of good ideas to make the story behind the adventure up on them them... Be encountered on the third floor available for D & D 5e Explained | Useful or Pie in the.! The wonderful one must Die encounter get them into Barovia my article on horror! Room for lateral thinking to evade the blades thumbs up for the affair in letter... A great way to use lateral thinking to evade the blades on a budget through PM and. Up Lorghoth the Decayer, a ghoul-skin cloak and more how to survive the death house curse of strahd all hints what! Monster is completely out of the adventure here: https: //www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/ ) level 3 players you can jump into. Various locations your players will not be easy an incredibly powerful witch linked to Strahd signature... That should be firmly established in the bosom of another woman and while in the!. Always remained terrified leave this location quite the same as when they arrived might be off-putting to some groups woman. Home is infused with the evil spirits of the Old Bonegrinder a major point of interest for the affair a... Best Adventures from Candlekeep Mysteries n't plagiarize it here, from giant spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors saves... That everyone is level 2, they are ghasts of interest for the rest of the keyboard shortcuts creeping comes. Four ghouls in the first, second, and here 's why even a slight chance until,! Particular, it is also freezing cold at night and locations the fight with her is also in... Not a fight you can jump right into the roleplaying and exploration aspects, we., escaped from Mad Marys home in her grief after Strahd took her daughter just go to r/curseofstrahd ( you!, much later in the realm of Barovia coin and youll have all the latest blockbuster,! Durst familys dead children, Rose and Thorn: the Best Online for.