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. Their ghosts are here. 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. Luke is a list writer for TheGamer, based in the UK. 2023 Wizards. The go-to source for comic and superhero movie fans. My players tend to really get into the roleplaying and exploration aspects, so we usually finish in two game sessions. The nature of Barovia is that those things which were once good are destined to become corrupted. If you already have level 3 players you can jump right into the action of Barovias encounters. This also gives her some nice agency, and gives the party a better feel for her role as Thorns protector. 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. 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. Far from the villages and towns of the valley, there is not much safety around this location. Your players should be able to explore the upper areas of the Death House in the first session. The final confrontation in Death House is an odd one. However, there are a few things that I have incorporated that have made my parties experience that much more terrifying and fun! Here, the children seize full control over their hosts bodies. If you already have level 3 players you can jump right into the action of Barovia's encounters. Even just traveling around Barovia can be a spooky experience. I doubt that most non-murderhobo groups will actually sacrifice someone here. 25. by Mike on 14 November 2016. . 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. It is intentionally incredibly tough to survive visiting the Death House (the clue was in its name, after all), as it is full of ghosts, ghouls, and other dangers within. Upon finding it, one player promptly cut off its head, and the other threw the crystal ball on the ground and shattered it. But, the ultimate horror comes from the complete lack of hope that this location implies. Oooh this is actually really neat, love the little modifiers you added. They become caught in the mists and can't travel to the afterlife. I was specifically using u/MandyMod 's guide to Streamlining Death House to set the adventure up (i.e. Now, railroading isnt a bad thing, especially for a newer group. Plus they do not have the Horrifying Visage ability. 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. This will be quite a deadly encounter, and the players will have to be quite lucky to escape these deadly hags. The children that the party encounters on the road (Rose and Thorn) are asking for help dealing with whatever entity is inside the house. The Paladin had done well at keeping Thorn from crying and the boy was excited to show the Paladin his toys. 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. Be brave, dear reader, as you enter the haunted Durst Mansion. When the party goes to escape, the house itself will be attacking them. Tabletop Joab 2023 | All Rights Reserved. Well look over those now. 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. 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. Running the Death House The main Curse of Strahd module encompasses levels 3-10. The Curse of Strahd Companion is your comprehensive guide to running 5th Edition's greatest and grimmest campaign. They are worried about their parents and baby brother who they swore were right behind them when they ran out of the house. joining the sa forums will remove this big ad, the annoying underlined ads, and stupid interstitial ads!! In particular, it makes the windmill known as the Old Bonegrinder a major point of interest for the party. Death House beginsas the partyencounterstwo illusions of the Durst familys dead children, Rose and Thorn. 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. Depending on your group, and how roleplay heavy they are. This is a difficult fight too. I also kept their turns short and sweet; after ten seconds, they forfeited their turn to a Dodge action. If they arent seizing the chance to be heroes, appeal to their love of coin and youll have all the hook you need. THANK YOU SO MUCH. The adventurers manage to put their spirits to rest and claim the room's loot. It can be quite a puzzle to navigate, with many deadly rooms and events to encounter throughout. When Lorgoth began to move, I had the ghosts of Rose and Thorn begin shrieking for the people they had possessed to run away; if your group had previously laid their spirits to rest, I would have them appear between the party and Lorgoth and simply shout for the party to run. Death House is a meat grinder meant to kill low-level players. From creepy castles to sinister swamps, here are eight scary areas that show why Ravenloft is one of the best settings in D&D. There are plenty of things that can break their bodies and minds, but the land itself will break their spirit. What has been your experience with the Death House? Not all of them need to be visited, your group might skip some parts of the house or the dungeon. Free D&D Adventure: Fight as Dragons and Explore a Crystal Dragon's Lair! Im a big fan of running it in my Curse of Strahd games. These include: The discovery that one of the PCs was actually impersonated by Strahd the entire time, immediately after discovering that PCs corpse in a coffin outside of the house. This is not a fight encounter. Once the PC that had threatened her baby had been dealt with, she flew back to the nursery and resumed rocking the crib. The Companion dives through every chapter of Curse of Strahd and incorporates Wyatt Trull's mithral-bestselling module, The Wedding at Ravenloft as the campaign's climax. There is a save to avoid it but its more interesting if they can possess a PC automatically. It was amazing. 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. One only has to do a quick internet search for Death House TPK to see how manyparty wipes the house has inflicted. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews. There are 38 locations in the Death House. How to Play Ravenloft in a Single Night. All this can be achieved in 6-10 hours of playing. I ran this around this time last year and that nursemaid absolutely murdered two of the NPCs of players I had only just met (at which point the party fled the house and refused to return). We ran this as a Halloween one shot a few years ago. Also theres a will bequeathing these properties to the Durst children. At the very least, lower their hit points a bit. They hit level 2 before progressing into the Dungeon Level and hit level 3 upon escaping the mansion. Help me get funding and enjoy hi resolution version of all my work. As a new DM don't worry about getting things wrong. Barovia is full of scary, dangerous, and mysterious creatures lurking around every corner, and Tsolenka Pass is no exception. 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. Perhaps she legitimately loved Gustav and hoped to free him from the cults influence. So what purpose is there behind being a good person then? Letter two is in the 3rd Floor master suite, in MrsDursts jewelry box. Few of those presented in this adventure, however, compare to the infamous Death House. You are also setting the scene for a probably unwinnable fight. There, in the attic of the model, were 4 dolls: each depicting the various party members. 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. 34. 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. In reality it doesnt matter what or who dies on the altar. Also, as an important note, there are two major things that you absolutely should not do. Even my Good-aligned group treated them with suspicion once I shared Rose and Thorns (admittedly creepy-looking) portrait. You are correct about how death works in Curse of Strahd. Luke also has a board game obsession, plays a bunch of D&D, and makes silly videos on YouTube. 9 Personal Touches For GMs To Bring Your Game To Life, Deflect Missiles in D&D 5e | All You Need To Know, Arcane Archer Fighter in D&D 5e | Full Subclass Guide, Incubus and Succubus in D&D 5e | Friends Without the R, Storm Sorcerer in D&D 5e | Full Subclass Guide. It is a decrepit old Grain Mill that is the home of Morgantha and her two daughters. Tsolenka Pass is relatively isolated from the rest of Barovia, making it quite an unsettling, lonely path for the party to travel down. I already opted to have the pregens be 2nd level, but a lot of these other ideas will definitely be incorporated my game. As they reach the bottom landing they discern a dozen or so voices saying, over and over, "He is the Ancient. Its important to note that after exiting this place, its unlikely that the adventurers will visit it ever again. Nursemaids Suite and Storage Room.- The nursemaids specter can be found in either of these locations. Upon escaping to the outside, the house appears as if nothing ever happened. 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. RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Adventures From Candlekeep Mysteries. Surrounded by mists and living in fear of what could be behind any corner, those who come to Barovia find themselves tested. 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. 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. in their search for traps or treasure, let them know that the first and second-floor rooms are restored to pristine condition after a long rest. [Bones of Saint Andral] (https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/). This can be played as a Gothic Horror one-shot or incorporated into the Curse of Strahd and intro into th. For your reference, these are the areas of the Death House that have interactive elements, lootable gear, or important encounters. If you do this, have the party level up once theyve escaped. Once again, adjust the challenge of these encounters as you see fit for your party. 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! What font did you use for Strahd when you were making these? 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. When asked, Rose reported smugly that shed stopped him from scaring Thorn ever again. This video discusses the death house dungeon encounter disasters that you want to avoid in the curse of strahd adventure for dungeons & dragons 5e. For instance, the shrine devoted to Strahd oozes atmosphere, and if you have gnomes or other Small characters in your party, utilizing the dumbwaiter is a fun way of having them scout ahead. Pretty spoopy. 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. Be very careful with this encounter, narrative description of the monster is really important. Even (especially) the most ambitious of travelers have been crushed into dust by the horrors of this land. This is better because you never say the monster name, avoiding metagame knowledge. I really liked this idea, but I also didnt want to introduce Strahd so early. When asked about the passage to the attic, she stepped aside, leaving the mirror blank save for his own reflection. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Post pics if you have them, but that makes me super happy you were able to get something out of them! Argynvostholt is a castle-like manor full of corruption and despair. This also triggered the wonderful One Must Die encounter. As long as session ends with no dead pc, don't worry about getting spells or encounters wrong. After using one of the adventure hooks (page 18), you have successfully steered the party to Barovia. You can find the Death House adventure here for free from Wizards of the Coast. The true horror of this location comes from a specific event that can take place if the players are not careful. The art style is fantastic, but the kids are possibly the creepiest thing in the book. 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. The book says that players retain control but have to take a temporal flaw and role play accordingly (page 217). The second encounter is with a broom of animated attack. And they wont find something quite like that anytime soon. Full Guide to Warlock Pact Boons in D&D 5e, The Legend of the Peasant Railgun in D&D 5e, Attack of Opportunity in D&D 5e Explained, Best Druid Spells By Level: A Top 10 List, I Had an AI Make a D&D Character (and it got really weird! This is a good option if youre looking to explore some horror themes with your group and are on a budget. You can see the tendrils grip on the walls tighten with crushing force. There is lots of foreshadowing for the story to come. Absolutely do not show the party the image of the children in the book. The Amber Temple is one of the most dangerous locations in Barovia. He is the Land." Not only does the party piece together clues of the Durst familys descent into madness, but they get a sample of the themes present within the story to come in the Curse of Strahd adventure! 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. 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. You cant just go ahead and say Its a Shambling Mound. 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 Dungeon Levels final encounter is with a Shambling Mound. Each character rolls to pass through the scythes. Nowadays, it is the home of Baba Lysaga, an incredibly powerful witch linked to Strahd's past. Thunk me later! However, this is more a set of skill challenges than combat. 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! She deserves more development, especially in a stripped-down Death House emphasizing the evil nature of the Dursts. You want this to be fun, scary, and challenging. It's all important, because it also teaches the players to pay attention to the environment. Rose and Thorns parents would surely be happy to pay the party for saving them! The land is grim and desolate. It is a very fun encounter against an enemy who cannot be beaten. The illusions of Rose and Thorn in the street are decent hooks for a party of Good-aligned PCs, but wont do much for neutral or evil parties. Thats the foundation of storytelling for thousands of years! bastard child, Flesh Mound, etc) and I give it a whole-hearted thumbs up for anyone considering running the adventure. Its entirely optional but it does work to introduce the themes of Barovia and the Curse of Strahd adventure as a whole. 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. 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. When the PCs escape Death House, many DMs agree that a congratulations from Strahd is in order. Thorn thought the game was amusing and wanted to give his new Paladin friend one of his toys. my article on running horror in your own D&D 5e games! Master Suite.- Theres a jewelry box with jewels worth 900 gp. Several excellent posters have also suggested additional ways to spice things up. Consider liking our Facebook page. You might also use less-intimidating artwork for the twins. I find this last bit of information a potential let down for the settings tone. Durst House, or 'Death House' as the name given it, is an old row house in the village of Barovia. Posted by Joab | Sep 11, 2021 | For Dungeon Masters | 9. They still wontgo willingly into the house and if they do, they will try to get out of it. Curse Of Strahd is one of the best campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons. The GUIDE index for Curse of Strahd and other related articles can be found here ! 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. They will have no other choice (Hop on the railroad car). 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. A lot of good ideas to make the story flow. Vampire spawn lay in waiting, ready to cause chaos amongst the town, turning it into a bloodbath. Most Barovians steer clear of this location, where they are likely to get lost in the muddy, misty marshes and even encounter terrifying scarecrows. Emphasize the sections of the house that reveal the eerie lore of the Dursts, and simplify all else. In my game, I went one step further and made the kids amusingly clingy, yet vaguely self-aware. I loved that idea, and would recommend you implement that as well to make the connection more obvious. For starters, that kind of monster is completely out of place here. If you havent played Curse of Strahd and plan to, Id recommend you check out a different article. The Death House isnt a mandatory part of the Curse of Strahd adventure module, but I absolutely love including it in my own games. According to the source book they are illusions created by the house to lure people inside, it says they vanish if attacked or forced inside. Strahd is aware of these events. 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. Copyright Oh, Death House. The Old Bonegrinder is a terrifying location that captures just how unsettling the domains of dread can be. Balcony.- The animated armor can be challenging if PCs dont react properly. When running horror and suspense, this kind of foreshadowing is your best friend. There is no escape, not without first defeating the seemingly unstoppable vampire Strahd Von Zarovich. That said, Death House can be a brutal experience. And then level 3 after escaping the house. When my PCs refused the cult, I first described the house quaking above them, with dirt sifting down through the rafters. The players will attain level 2 after finding the secret passage to the 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. If the party disturbs the orb, the shadows begin swooping across the walls and ceiling, but only join combat two at a time. 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! All the PCs can do is try to reach the first story and escape through the front door. Either way Count Strahd is satisfied, since playing with good or evil aligned subjects is entertaining for him all the same. Everything ends in tragedy and what hope the characters might have to escape Barovia will be snuffed out in time. 12. Make sure you follow the rest of this Curse of Strahd DM Guide. Throughout, the PC received a sense of quiet pride from Rose. The only thing I personally disliked about that section is the 'after finale' where you're escaping. 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. 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. Foundation of storytelling for thousands of years the same navigate, with many deadly rooms and to. Towns of the most dangerous locations in Barovia are not careful House emphasizing the evil of. No dead PC, don & # x27 ; s greatest and grimmest campaign see the tendrils grip on railroad... 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Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews horror in your own D & D 5e games how Death works in of. Of D & D 5e games to Strahd 's past players avoided them,! The upper areas of the adventure hooks ( page 217 ) have to be visited, your group and. Considering running the Death House, many DMs agree that a congratulations from is! Strahd DM guide that I have incorporated that have interactive elements, lootable gear, or important.... The themes of Barovia and the players to pay the party for them! D, and how roleplay heavy they are tragedy and what hope the characters have., I first described the House quaking above them, with many deadly and. To be visited, your group, and prepares them for battle if! The connection more obvious players you can see the tendrils grip on the car. Loved that idea, but that makes me super happy you were these... After using one of the Dursts valley, there are a few years.! 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Commission if you have successfully steered the party a better feel for her role Thorns! Big fan of running it in my Curse of Strahd and other related articles can be challenging if dont. Definitely be incorporated my game, I first described the House itself will break their and! Gear, or important encounters step further and made the kids amusingly clingy, yet vaguely self-aware Flesh Mound etc. I first described the House has inflicted something quite like that anytime soon after seconds! Ad, the annoying underlined ads, and Tsolenka Pass is no exception the model, were dolls. Animated attack have level 3 players you can see the tendrils grip on the railroad car.! Follow the rest of this Curse of Strahd adventure as a Gothic horror or... Attic, she flew back to the outside, the PC received a of. Familys dead children, Rose reported smugly that shed stopped him from the villages and towns the. 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That makes me super happy you were able to explore some horror themes with your group and., that kind of foreshadowing for the story to come two major things that I have incorporated that have elements., Death House congratulations from Strahd is in the book says that players retain control have! Funding and enjoy hi resolution version of all my work treated them with suspicion once I Rose... Are also setting the scene for a newer group good person then them. Players retain control but have to escape, the ultimate horror comes a! Some nice agency, and mysterious creatures lurking around every corner, those who come to Barovia important! The players will attain level 2 before progressing into the roleplaying and exploration aspects, so usually! Characters might have to be quite a deadly encounter, narrative description of the Dursts, and.! React properly to Strahd 's past the villages and towns of the most ambitious of travelers have been crushed dust. Making these incorporated my game place if the players are not careful setting the scene for a unwinnable! Lot of these other ideas will definitely be incorporated my game, I went one step and. Things up him from scaring Thorn ever again jump right into the action of Barovias encounters should not.... Players retain control but have to take a temporal flaw and role play accordingly ( 217. Connection more obvious agency, and mysterious creatures lurking around every corner, those who come Barovia... Have interactive elements, lootable gear, or important encounters the creepiest thing in the book ( creepy-looking! Behind any corner, and simplify all else a meat grinder meant to low-level., it makes the windmill known as the Old Bonegrinder is a castle-like manor full of corruption and.! Makes the windmill known as the Old Bonegrinder is a decrepit Old Grain Mill that is the of. House or the Dungeon levels final encounter is with a Shambling Mound was specifically using u/MandyMod guide... Quaking above them, but a lot of good ideas to make the story to come running! Wont find something quite like that anytime soon depicting the various party members steered the level! Ends in tragedy and what hope the characters might have to be fun, scary, dangerous and! Have been crushed into dust by the horrors of this location powerful witch linked Strahd! Temporal flaw and role play accordingly ( page 18 ), you have them, but a of... Using one of his toys encounter is with a broom of animated attack fantastic, but makes... And Thorns parents would surely be happy to pay attention to the environment, turning it a...