Give the party a chance to rest and level up (if they started at level 1) before they work their way to the Dungeon Level.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'tabletopjoab_com-leader-1','ezslot_12',135,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-leader-1-0'); In the Dungeon Level, the party will encounter a Grick and several undead. They will close up on them leading them to the Village of Barovia. They hit level 2 before progressing into the Dungeon Level and hit level 3 upon escaping the mansion. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). The Amber Temple is one of the most dangerous locations in Barovia. They will be tempted by corrupting, evil, dark gifts that twist and mess with the characters. The usual response to this encounter is retreat. Ritual Chambers.- Illusory figments of cultists sing to the players to sacrifice a creature. You can sprinkle in other encounters as necessary if the players are making good progress. Death House beginsas the partyencounterstwo illusions of the Durst familys dead children, Rose and Thorn. However, there are a few things that I have incorporated that have made my parties experience that much more terrifying and fun! Whether you decide to follow these tips to the letter or put your own alternate spin on Curse of Strahd'sintro adventure, theres no doubt that your gaming friends are in for a good evening of gothic fun as long as the dreaded throes of this house of horrors dont consume them first. And they wont find something quite like that anytime soon. The first is a set of Animated Armor that is positioned to possibly push a party member down the stairs. When asked about the passage to the attic, she stepped aside, leaving the mirror blank save for his own reflection. 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. 29. Shadowrun: Astral Ways (Sixth World Setting Book), Star Trek Adventures MISSION PDF 022 Eight Layers Deep, BattleTech: Recognition Guide: ilClan Vol. Some wore armor and carried swords, others wore robes and carried staves, while others were large muscled figures carrying large axes and hammers. The smoke worked great as a way to keep them moving. The second encounter is with a broom of animated attack. It is a decrepit old Grain Mill that is the home of Morgantha and her two daughters. That said, Death House can be a brutal experience. A way to warn the party is the smell. Or just go to r/curseofstrahd (unless you are my players). They double back to the one unexplored section of this dungeon level and descend a long stone staircase into darkness. Im really loving the halloween content this year! ), but also gives her a bit of depth as this precocious yet protective older sister. She can potentially one-shot any member of the party each turn with her Life Drain ability. I wanted to make it obvious that the encounter at the altar was the final step to fleeing Death House. Death House is a modern Dungeons & Dragons horror classic. Consider also reducing the number of ghouls and/or shadows in the Dungeon Level. 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. 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. Im a big fan of running it in my Curse of Strahd games. 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. 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.. Free D&D Adventure: Fight as Dragons and Explore a Crystal Dragon's Lair! After meeting the illusions of two children, and learning there is a monster in the house, the characters are forced in by the choking mists. Ending the Cycle. 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). The most important is the silvered shortsword in 25E (page 218). There are plenty of deadly combat encounters that can take place here, from giant spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors. They cannot be used commercially. 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. Alternative to Death House Pt 2. The best was when the team with Scooby, Velma, Shaggy and Fred ended up down stairs and came across a table covered in a Thanksgiving dinner and the turkey was a mimic. This will give them a chance to have a tense meal with Strahd, as well as perhaps slip away to explore its spooky halls if they can survive them. I kept my players in initiative order even after theyd escaped Lorgoth (he didnt pursue them up out of the basement). 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. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. They were once noble knights that used to fight against Strahd but were, of course, overwhelmed by the unstoppable vampire. This event also involves the arrival of Strahd Von Zarovich himself, who will always strike fear into the party. Oh, Death House. Tsolenka Pass consists of a bridge looming over the Luna River and a guard tower. 6.Upper Hall.- Theres a portrait of the Durst family. 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. Its entirely optional but it does work to introduce the themes of Barovia and the Curse of Strahd adventure as a whole. This is fine if you want to lead into Curse of Strahd, but for one-shot purposes, running the adventure with everyone at 2nd level can keep the party from getting wrecked too soon. If they kill any creature on the altar, the cult is appeased and the characters can leave the house freely. They will sing to wake up Lorghoth the Decayer, a Shambling Mound hiding in the southernmost alcove. 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. 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. You want this to be fun, scary, and challenging. Monster design is good, but we have to re-skin the description a bit. The Dungeon Levels final encounter is with a Shambling Mound. Barovia is full of scary, dangerous, and mysterious creatures lurking around every corner, and Tsolenka Pass is no exception. Set in the realm of Barovia, a Domain Of Dread within Ravenloft, your players find themselves transported here and trapped. You will be sure to terrify your party with this location, especially when they hear that horrible shriek of that feathered fiend and have nowhere to run. joining the sa forums will remove this big ad, the annoying underlined ads, and stupid interstitial ads!! Did you like this guide? 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. She mimicked the PCs movements perfectly, save for her eyes, which always remained terrified. 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/. The goal is to lure the party into the house. 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. Beware, for massive spoilers await! 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. For background the home is infused with the evil spirits of the cultists that once resided there. Once again, adjust the challenge of these encounters as you see fit for your party. So today, were going to be taking a look at the Death House. This will ring true for several NPCs and locations as the party progresses into the Curse of Strahd adventure. The Death House is intended for a party of level 1 characters. This is a railroad, but an acceptable one if your players care enough about the children to want to help them. The party is expected to take them at face value and enter the house as soon as possible. introduction to the bleak and despair-filled land of Barovia. One only has to do a quick internet search for Death House TPK to see how manyparty wipes the house has inflicted. If the party disturbs the orb, the shadows begin swooping across the walls and ceiling, but only join combat two at a time. Her remains are in area 18, she was brutally killed, possibly a move by Elisabeth Durst. This foreshadows Strahd's return after facing defeat at the players' hands. This signals to the PCs that they have time to get out, and makes their lives a bit easier if they decide to stay. 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. When running horror and suspense, this kind of foreshadowing is your best friend. The other cabinet only has a deck of ordinary cards and some wine glasses. Depending on your group, the Death House can be completed in one or two 4-hour game sessions. 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! If/when the PCs try to leave, the children will try to possess them, not out of aggression but out of fear of abandonment. But be warned: few who enter are fated to leave. This is not a fight encounter. Follow this up with a description of a grinding noise coming from the study (the sound of the secret door opening). NEXT: Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Online Tools For DMs. This fight should prove to be much easier than the Animated Armor. 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! The shadow encounter in the room with Strahds statue can also be pretty deadly. Even just traveling around Barovia can be a spooky experience. 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. This is better because you never say the monster name, avoiding metagame knowledge. This signals quite clearly: This is not a fight you can win. Nowhere seems safe in this Domain Of Dread, especially the various locations your players can stumble upon during their adventure. As they reach the bottom landing they discern a dozen or so voices saying, over and over, "He is the Ancient. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Maybe as a specter, she now desires vengeance more than anything else and mourns for her son. Dungeon master guide and advice with the. Honestly, few spooky things should have an explanation. The Death House has become something of a modern classic for 5e players. Honestly, the story behind the adventure is incredibly grim and might be off-putting to some groups. He will consider the decisions of the party regarding the sacrifice ritual. If you start at level 2, Id say have them level up to 3 before they proceed into the Dungeon Level. However, youd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesnt put the gothic horror adventure, Curse of Strahd, at the top of their list. The most vital regions are bolded. 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. All the maps in this website are registered under the Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial CC BY-NC. The Paladin had done well at keeping Thorn from crying and the boy was excited to show the Paladin his toys. Where the Death House really stands out is its use of theme. Press J to jump to the feed. These two made invaluable contributions to the session. CoS proper has some deadly encounters, yes, but I think Death House as an introduction sets the wrong tone. Required fields are marked *. RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: Ideas For Running A One-Shot. Chef Feat in D&D 5e Explained | Useful or Pie in the Sky? Its the Durst Mansion or, if the kids are talking, our home. Nobodys going to eagerly go rushing into something called the Death House. We also replace the shambling mound with a Blood Hulk! This will be quite a deadly encounter, and the players will have to be quite lucky to escape these deadly hags. Just like Rose and Thorn, she was dealt a foul hand by the Dursts and deserves better. 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. 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. Well and Cultist Quarters.- In these rooms theres some treasure to be found. How to Play Ravenloft in a Single Night. 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. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. 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. In particular, it makes the windmill known as the Old Bonegrinder a major point of interest for the party. You can also have Rose and Thorn possess random party members. The party will not stand even a slight chance until much, MUCH later in the campaign!). I'm always a little disappointed that one of the family members isn't named Frederick. bastard child, Flesh Mound, etc) and I give it a whole-hearted thumbs up for anyone considering running the adventure. A sizable treasure for a level 1 party. By the end of the Death House, there are three themes that should be firmly established in the players minds. 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