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. Both DeiGratia and Abuget can be downloaded over at www.dafont.com. Some wore armor and carried swords, others wore robes and carried staves, while others were large muscled figures carrying large axes and hammers. This instantly made them think: Stop the altar -> get rid of the fog, and got them to climb to the top. From the moment the party steps into the town, they'll get a great sense that nothing is right here. The book says that players retain control but have to take a temporal flaw and role play accordingly (page 217). 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! 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. Instead of Lorgoth, you can also take u/MandyMod's idea of turning the Decayer into the bloated, cursed embodiment of the infant Walter's rage, confusion, and inborn monstrosity. I added some handwriting font, put them on a parchment background, and they all came up well. 4. Heading further up Mount Ghakis, it is also freezing cold at night. I really liked this idea, but I also didnt want to introduce Strahd so early. 32. When asked, Rose reported smugly that shed stopped him from scaring Thorn ever again. Also theres a will bequeathing these properties to the Durst children. Add some emotion to the childrens request. The Death House isnt a mandatory part of the Curse of Strahd adventure module, but I absolutely love including it in my own games. Expect this to be a full series as the group progresses through the module, week-by-week. If an entire army of Knights could not defeat Strahd, what hope does your party have? You are correct about how death works in Curse of Strahd. Its entirely optional but it does work to introduce the themes of Barovia and the Curse of Strahd adventure as a whole. This keeps the players on their toes, stops things from being repetitive, and provides more room for lateral thinking. So theres a certain level of are we going to play D&D? here. . RELATED: Story Hooks In D&D You Always See And Why They Work. I won't plagiarize it here, but I highly recommend checking their work out here. 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. A big boss fight is coming up and you want the party to expend some resources, but still have some fight in them for the boss encounter! Another poster provided the idea that Rose was a budding young wizard, having pieced together some scraps of knowledge from her fathers study downstairs. Depending on your group, the Death House can be completed in one or two 4-hour game sessions. As they reach the bottom landing they discern a dozen or so voices saying, over and over, "He is the Ancient. The Amber Temple is one of the most dangerous locations in Barovia. Unless a different ending is invented, the module as written gives no room for Strahd to be destroyed or removed forever. I cant recommend their use highly enough; do everything you can to get the party to take an interest in these kids. It is also included in the Curse of Strahd adventure module on page 211 under Appendix B. Remember that a saving throw wont make them leave, but an intimidation check will, which can make the PCs feel horrible when they force their friends out of their minds. 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. This probably explains why he loves story-driven games so much. With Death House, you'll need to take time in each room, describing the blazing hearths, the strange wolf-helm armor, everything. She deserves more development, especially in a stripped-down Death House emphasizing the evil nature of the Dursts. Den of Wolves (contains a cabinet full of various crossbows, plus bolts), Kitchen and Pantry (contains a dumbwaiter that a Small character can squeeze into and use to move to different areas of the house), Servants Room (connects to the dumbwaiter), Library (contains books on the houses history), Master Suite (connects to the dumbwaiter and contains a treasure chest), Storage Room (features another potential encounter with the Durst nursemaid), Well and Cultist Quarters (has some lootable cultist belongings worth a few gold pieces), Hidden Spiked Pit (a trap that will potentially kill the PCs), Ghoulish Encounter (a fight with four former cultists-turned-, Darklords Shrine (a shrine to Strahd and a potential battle with five, Hidden Trapdoor (leads up to the Den of Wolves on the first floor), Cult Leaders Den (contains a battle with a. Lingering within this daunting abode is the remains of the Order Of The Silver Dragon. 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). Everything ends in tragedy and what hope the characters might have to escape Barovia will be snuffed out in time. [Bones of Saint Andral] (https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/). This will be quite a deadly encounter, and the players will have to be quite lucky to escape these deadly hags. The most important is the silvered shortsword in 25E (page 218). 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. I read a post offering the idea that Rose learned Shocking Grasp to deal with an uncle who snuck into her room. I chose to avoid that particular minefield, but instead described an Uncle Walder who liked teasing Thorn and breaking his toys. Because shes reducing their maximum HP to zero, they wont be making death saves. 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. Even (especially) the most ambitious of travelers have been crushed into dust by the horrors of this land. You might also use less-intimidating artwork for the twins. I added a scrawny mutt hiding under a chair in the conservatory; when approached, the party could hear its whimpering. ), The Themes of the Death House in Curse of Strahd. How did your sessions in Death House go? Results will vary depending on your groups disposition and alignment. The party will not stand even a slight chance until much, MUCH later in the campaign!). There might be some who have managed to mostly keep out of trouble, but they are very few in these lands. 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. Dungeon master guide and advice with the. 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. After exiting the house, the mists of Ravenloft recede and will let them explore the Village of Barovia. The usual response to this encounter is retreat. Created by the house to lure in victims, the illusions drop vague hints about a monster in the basement and the sins of their parents. 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. 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. Recommended: I Had an AI Make a D&D Character (and it got really weird!). You can start with Mad Marys encounter (page 44). I find this last bit of information a potential let down for the settings tone. She sells Dream Pastries to the locals in the nearby village of Barovia but holds a sinister secret. Two ghosts can easily kill a level 1 party, however they are not aggressive and even if a fight starts, the two children are more likely to flee than to attack. The art style is fantastic, but the kids are possibly the creepiest thing in the book. Beware, for massive spoilers await! As written, the plot hook is simply that there is a monster in the house. Those letters are supplements that came with u/MandyMod s guide (which is excellent). Give little clues or observations that are simply meant to unnerve the players. 8 Real-Life Skills Youll Develop By Playing D&D, 12 Monsters That Will Instantly Kill Characters, 7 Types of D&D Players You Will Have In Your Group, 9 Powerful Tips to Engage Players in Your D&D Game. You can have Rosavalda point that out, that they want to be where their parents are. Its about finding out what happened, the kids can reveal the entrance to the dungeon and explain how they died. Most likely there will be no sacrifice, which will anger the illusory cultists. A lot of good ideas to make the story flow. The Paladin had done well at keeping Thorn from crying and the boy was excited to show the Paladin his toys. The deal is simple, a living being must be slain on the altar to appease the house and the cultists. They will sing to wake up Lorghoth the Decayer, a Shambling Mound hiding in the southernmost alcove. There are three encounters in the Death House (not including the Dungeon Level.) The children that the party encounters on the road (Rose and Thorn) are asking for help dealing with whatever entity is inside the house. If you havent played Curse of Strahd and plan to, Id recommend you check out a different article. by Mike on 14 November 2016. . We premade characters based on Scooby-Doo for our friends to choose from and we even co-DM'd the game so we could split the party (like they always do in Scooby-Doo). Well look over those now. 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. Now that everyone is level 2, they can proceed downwards into the Durst Mansions dungeon level. Players destroyed the statue of Strahd at Death House. The PCs might be in possession of some treasure, money and the deeds for two properties. We called it "The Curse of the Murderous Mansion.". 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. She was then stabbed by the cultists for unexplained reasons and cast aside. PCs can find a Cloak of Protection as treasure, plus a spellbook. Oh, Death House. 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. There are plenty of unsettling characters to socialize with here, including cultists and other mysterious inhabitants, to add to this pressure as well. The way this adventure works. This kept them panicked, tense, and on their toes. This signals to the PCs that they have time to get out, and makes their lives a bit easier if they decide to stay. They may come to Barovia expecting to be heroes, but the things that they will do and sacrifice for the sake of their own survival throughout the adventure will haunt them for the rest of their lives. You can see the tendrils grip on the walls tighten with crushing force. So today, were going to be taking a look at the Death House. You can let them know something is coming with smell and sounds. 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. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews. Did you do anything differently? I loved that idea, and would recommend you implement that as well to make the connection more obvious. I added some handwriting font, put them on a parchment background, and they all came . After using one of the adventure hooks (page 18), you have successfully steered the party to Barovia. The only thing I personally disliked about that section is the 'after finale' where you're escaping. While frightening at first, it quickly loses its charm. 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.. Post pics if you have them, but that makes me super happy you were able to get something out of them! Would love your thoughts, please comment. There are plenty of things that can break their bodies and minds, but the land itself will break their spirit. We skipped it. Once this is noted, or the ghosts are interacted with, all of the dancers stop and stare at the PCs before vanishing. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. If you like what I do, consider getting involved and backing me. 12. To get around this problem, turn Rose and Thorn into NPCs with big personalities that your players will want to help. If you started at level 1, this is a good point to have everyone level up. I never thought of that. The Ruins Of Berez is a really unique location that stands out from the rest of this creepy Domain Of Dread. 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 starved to death after their parents locked them in their room. Jeremy Blum (@PixelGrotto) is a journalist, gaming blogger, comic book aficionado, and fan of all forms of storytelling who rolled his first polyhedral dice while living in Hong Kong in 2017. Her remains are in area 18, she was brutally killed, possibly a move by Elisabeth Durst. How to Play Ravenloft in a Single Night. 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. The first is a set of Animated Armor that is positioned to possibly push a party member down the stairs. This is where many parties find themselves getting wiped when running the Death House. What has been your experience with the Death House? Dont call it the Death House. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'tabletopjoab_com-leader-3','ezslot_23',152,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-leader-3-0');This is a dungeon that doesnt pull punches and makes for quite the introduction to the land of Barovia! 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. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. 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! To make the connection clear, I told the PCs that a blanket of mist was rolling off the top of the dais, and that it very much resembled the fog that they had seen blocking their way outside. They double back to the one unexplored section of this dungeon level and descend a long stone staircase into darkness. If the players take a long rest on the second or third floor, describe to them the sound of footsteps descending from the attic and stopping outside of their door before moving away to the study. Consider liking our Facebook page. Its the Durst Mansion or, if the kids are talking, our home. Nobodys going to eagerly go rushing into something called the Death House. (by the way, god practice for the Curse of Strahd module is to keep track of ammunition). 20. Ghoulish Encounter.- Depending on the partys reaction to this, it can be a very lethal encounter. However, there is enough information provided to add your own spins to the Death House. I provided their flaws through PM, and both had a blast roleplaying it. If the PCs comply and a living being is killed off on the altar, the house is appeased and they will be able to leave peacefully and level up. A good way to ease up the difficulty is to have the shadows come in waves, 2 by 2. The Old Bonegrinder is a terrifying location that captures just how unsettling the domains of dread can be. This video discusses the death house dungeon encounter disasters that you want to avoid in the curse of strahd adventure for dungeons & dragons 5e. Not all of them need to be visited, your group might skip some parts of the house or the dungeon. In fact, the more good something is, the more it must be corrupted. This prompted him to investigate the mirror, revealing the passage up. 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. 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. If you start at level 2, Id say have them level up to 3 before they proceed into the Dungeon Level. 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. If they arent seizing the chance to be heroes, appeal to their love of coin and youll have all the hook you need. Your players will likely take Rose and Thorns request at face value, and using these encounters can cause them to realize that theyre in a ghost house too soon. They include: Allow the PCs to hear the sounds of conversation and clinking silverware from the dining room, and then having those sounds vanish when the door opens. Since I've warned you already about spoilers, I'll state it up front: to avoid the house turning against the PCs, a creature has to die at the sanctum in the basement. 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. 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. Copyright But be warned: few who enter are fated to leave. Tsolenka Pass consists of a bridge looming over the Luna River and a guard tower. She can potentially one-shot any member of the party each turn with her Life Drain ability. Looking over the dolls by the handful, each one showed an expression of pain and fear. When the party goes to escape, the house itself will be attacking them. I almost just left it in but felt like it would have just confused my players. Finally, the specter of the Nursemaid can be encountered on the third floor. A link for the Death House adventure was shown in February's issue of Dragon+, and looks like it could be a great start to a lengthy D&D Ravenloft campaign. 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. Each and every doll in the chest had a face painted on it, though. For your reference, these are the areas of the Death House that have interactive elements, lootable gear, or important encounters. 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