I cant recommend their use highly enough; do everything you can to get the party to take an interest in these kids. This site works best with JavaScript enabled. All this can be achieved in 6-10 hours of playing. 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! Use. 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. 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! Death House says the children know theyre dead, so run with that concept. Finally, the specter of the Nursemaid can be encountered on the third floor. You can really play on this unease to build up tension within the party, building it up until they are constantly on edge. Ghoulish Encounter.- Depending on the partys reaction to this, it can be a very lethal encounter. 6.Upper Hall.- Theres a portrait of the Durst family. Your players will not leave this location quite the same as when they arrived. 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. . So theres a certain level of are we going to play D&D? here. 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. Argynvostholt is a castle-like manor full of corruption and despair. 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. The PCs could hear her making gentle cooing sounds, and see her rocking the crib gently. 34. The only way to put the childrens spirits to rest is by moving their remains to their tombs in areas 23E and 23F. 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(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. [Bones of Saint Andral] (https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/). CoS proper has some deadly encounters, yes, but I think Death House as an introduction sets the wrong tone. In reality it doesnt matter what or who dies on the altar. Each and every doll in the chest had a face painted on it, though. This also triggered the wonderful One Must Die encounter. 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. We called it "The Curse of the Murderous Mansion.". It was great. As the enormous thing crawls towards you, you see bodily remains of humans buried in its putrid body.. The Old Bonegrinder is a terrifying location that captures just how unsettling the domains of dread can be. Please enable JavaScript to get the best experience from this site. 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 first is a set of Animated Armor that is positioned to possibly push a party member down the stairs. If you do this, have the party level up once theyve escaped. Ideally, everyone is happy to assist the children and play the game. If you like what I do, consider getting involved and backing me. For starters, that kind of monster is completely out of place here. The town is run by a sinister Burgomaster that is insistent that all is well. This is better because you never say the monster name, avoiding metagame knowledge. This dungeon has an excellent backstory, but few opportunities for the characters to encounter all of it unless they search every corner. 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. Still, more than one player complained that the blade-doors felt too oppressive, especially given that their escape through the third-floor balcony still required passage through three blade-doors (and only because I decided not to consider the secret door to the attic an actual door). (Quick side note: stop them from immediately going to the Bonegrinder. 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. 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. Immediately afterward, a grinding noise (the sound of the secret passage) can be heard from the attic. Honestly, the story behind the adventure is incredibly grim and might be off-putting to some groups. Youll find little elements that serve to foreshadow events to come. (If youre feeling generous, or really want your players to see the entirety of the house in a quick Halloween night of gaming, you could even run it at 3rd level.). So, give them vivacious temperaments or accents evocative of your favorite child protagonists in popular media (the Stranger Things kids, anyone?). Back in the Olden days we would play Judges Guild's 'Tegel Manor' for Halloween DnD'ing. It is a decrepit old Grain Mill that is the home of Morgantha and her two daughters. Tsolenka Pass consists of a bridge looming over the Luna River and a guard tower. Dont call it the Death House. Looking over the dolls by the handful, each one showed an expression of pain and fear. What has been your experience with the Death House? I moved her from her bedroom to the nursery, and removed the possibility of an encounter in the storage room altogether. Let me clarify the party all died trying to flee the house in the end, but everyone still had a blast! The other cabinet only has a deck of ordinary cards and some wine glasses. Posted by Joab | Sep 11, 2021 | For Dungeon Masters | 9. However, this is more a set of skill challenges than combat. They become caught in the mists and can't travel to the afterlife. 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. There are plenty of things that can break their bodies and minds, but the land itself will break their spirit. There's a disappointing truth to Death Housethe prologue to Curse of Strahdand it's that it's alternative ending "The Cult is Denied" is just a dull series of rolls.Each character rolls against poisonous smoke. I generally reduce her life drain to deal 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt start the party at level 3. This probably explains why he loves story-driven games so much. Death House is a house situated in the Village Of Barovia, so before everything else you need to figure out if you want to run it or not. Well look over those now. The most vital regions are bolded. 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. I provided their flaws through PM, and both had a blast roleplaying it. The goal is to lure the party into the house. 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. Thank you! Letter two is in the 3rd Floor master suite, in MrsDursts jewelry box. If they kill any creature on the altar, the cult is appeased and the characters can leave the house freely. Always remember: horror is a very personal thing. When the party goes to escape, the house itself will be attacking them. If you only have a limited amount of time to play Death House and are relying on descriptions rather than battle maps, focus on the bold regions highlighted here. Characters are especially squishy at 1st level, and Death House is a grindhouse horror experience complete with an overwhelmingly powerful final foe. Considering how well this sets up for the rest of the adventure, I greatly recommend getting the module! Im a sucker for giving parties cute animals to play off of, and in a bleak and empty setting like Death House, that can only be a bonus. It was amazing. Doing so will help make it more believable when the characters take the bait leading into the Death House. Yeah, adding the Dursts is a good idea. The mists will dictate the places the party can visit. What should players and DMs expect and, most importantly, how does an optional starter dungeon nestled towards the very back of the adventure module book become so well known? Locals give the building a wide berth for fear of antagonizing the evil spirits believed to haunt it. Give them your quest hook and get them into Barovia. 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. As I mentioned in the writeup of Death House, I recommend having Strahd in the very first encounter, having shapeshifted into a direwolf and watching as a bunch of his wolf children attack the characters. Ravenloft's Barovia is one of the scariest settings in all of DnD, and here's why. You cant just go ahead and say Its a Shambling Mound. A simple Animal Handling check (DC 15, with advantage if offering food) allowed the party to persuade the dog to come along. The house is not at all that dangerous if your players pick the right choices. Recommended: I Had an AI Make a D&D Character (and it got really weird!). 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). 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. Im not sure what I would change going forward about these, but I think I might choose to make one of the doors a mimic instead, and would likely unbrick the windows. 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! (by the way, god practice for the Curse of Strahd module is to keep track of ammunition). 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. Make sure you follow the rest of this Curse of Strahd DM Guide. Once the party encounters Rose and Thorns ghosts in the Childrens Room, theyll no doubt remember the illusions that tricked them and demand some answers. Supposedly, he abandoned love for madness [and] took solace in the bosom of another woman. What of the nursemaids point of view? Your email address will not be published. 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. introduction to the bleak and despair-filled land of Barovia. Avoid making it an outright execution if you can! They havent opened it yet, but Im hoping that theyll use the letter as an excuse to take an interest in Ismark when they arrive at the tavern. One of my PCs assumed that shed accidentally killed him with Shocking Grasp, but thankfully didnt bring it up. Now that everyone is level 2, they can proceed downwards into the Durst Mansions dungeon level. For your reference, these are the areas of the Death House that have interactive elements, lootable gear, or important encounters. Well cover some of the changes that I make when Im running this dungeon for my groups later in this article. Suggestions to alleviate the deadliness. There might be some who have managed to mostly keep out of trouble, but they are very few in these lands. I'm always a little disappointed that one of the family members isn't named Frederick. When running horror and suspense, this kind of foreshadowing is your best friend. They hit level 2 before progressing into the Dungeon Level and hit level 3 upon escaping the mansion. You are correct about how death works in Curse of Strahd. You can also have Rose and Thorn possess random party members. Add some emotion to the childrens request. Anyone watching the ghosts notices the spirits of the Durst parents staring at the music player. By the end of the Death House, there are three themes that should be firmly established in the players minds. 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. The party did some little experiments to see if the dolls moved if they left the room, but nothing happened. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). 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! Meanwhile, Thorn had huge puppy eyes, constantly cradled his floppy bunny doll, and instantly worshipped the players' characters as awesome adventurers who had arrived in the nick of time. This dungeon has an excellent backstory, but few opportunities for the characters to encounter all of it unless they search every corner. 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. Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, their respective logos, and all Wizards titles and characters are property of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. As they reach the bottom landing they discern a dozen or so voices saying, over and over, "He is the Ancient. It is a very fun encounter against an enemy who cannot be beaten. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews. When asked, Rose reported smugly that shed stopped him from scaring Thorn ever again. The adventurers manage to put their spirits to rest and claim the room's loot. ), its a good stopping point for your first session. Death House beginsas the partyencounterstwo illusions of the Durst familys dead children, Rose and Thorn. 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. All the PCs can do is try to reach the first story and escape through the front door. 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. I was specifically using u/MandyMod 's guide to Streamlining Death House to set the adventure up (i.e. The book says that players retain control but have to take a temporal flaw and role play accordingly (page 217). A way to warn the party is the smell. 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. Would love to revisit Death House some day and not mistakenly murder my friends instantly. Dress Up This October With This Month's Free Subscription Perks! The true horror of this location comes from a specific event that can take place if the players are not careful. All things considered, though, that might not be terribly long This is Barovia after all! RELATED: Story Hooks In D&D You Always See And Why They Work. But, this is Strahd's home, and the battle will not be easy. Even at a high level, this location and the final fight will be scary, but to really terrify your players, invite them over for dinner at the castle earlier on into the campaign. After using one of the adventure hooks (page 18), you have successfully steered the party to Barovia. 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. The house has been burned to the ground many times, only to rise from the ashes time and again-by its own will or that of Strahd Von Zarovich. Rose and Thorns parents would surely be happy to pay the party for saving them! 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. It's a horrific truth that will send a shiver down your party's spines. The land is grim and desolate. Thats the foundation of storytelling for thousands of years! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Quality content, cartography, and adventures for fantasy games. You can let them know something is coming with smell and sounds. You can have Rosavalda point that out, that they want to be where their parents are. Kind of disappointing that this is the kind of thing appearing now. Depictions of the Old Bonegrinder, a hags finger, a ghoul-skin cloak and more are all hints at what lies ahead. The Amber Temple is one of the most dangerous locations in Barovia. Dungeon m. AboutPressCopyrightContact. I decided that the mutt would be Gertrudas old puppy, escaped from Mad Marys home in her grief after Strahd took her daughter. 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. Once theyve explored the first, second, and third floors (plus the attic if they find how to get there! Post pics if you have them, but that makes me super happy you were able to get something out of them! Your email address will not be published. THANK YOU SO MUCH. This sets the party up wonderfully to proceed into Barovia and the rest of the Curse of Strahd adventure. Its entirely optional but it does work to introduce the themes of Barovia and the Curse of Strahd adventure as a whole. Its almost as difficult and disturbing as the Old Bonegrinder in the same adventure! To get around this problem, turn Rose and Thorn into NPCs with big personalities that your players will want to help. They will sing to wake up Lorghoth the Decayer, a Shambling Mound hiding in the southernmost alcove. The way this adventure works. 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. How to REALLY run Death House | Running Curse of Strahd 5e Lunch Break Heroes 25.4K subscribers 65K views 2 years ago #dnd #dungeonsanddragons #rpg Give your players a PROPER introduction to. NEXT: Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Online Tools For DMs. Im a big fan of running it in my Curse of Strahd games. Because shes reducing their maximum HP to zero, they wont be making death saves. There are plenty of deadly combat encounters that can take place here, from giant spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors. There is no escape, not without first defeating the seemingly unstoppable vampire Strahd Von Zarovich. Death House could even be played as a thrilling horror one-shot adventure. This also gives her some nice agency, and gives the party a better feel for her role as Thorns protector. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. People either absolutely love it or hate it! Death House is a modern Dungeons & Dragons horror classic. 31. These two made invaluable contributions to the session. Third. Oooh this is actually really neat, love the little modifiers you added. For background the home is infused with the evil spirits of the cultists that once resided there. Part-time Druid, Full-time Hobo. He's a postgraduate from Bournemouth University, having studied Scriptwriting. Results will vary depending on your groups disposition and alignment. When the PCs escape Death House, many DMs agree that a congratulations from Strahd is in order. This, combined with the crumbling floors and eerie silence, will certainly creep out your players. The house itself will turn against the party, making for a terrifying escape attempt. Well and Cultist Quarters.- In these rooms theres some treasure to be found. Even (especially) the most ambitious of travelers have been crushed into dust by the horrors of this land. As written, its a fun and challenging (almost too challenging!) 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. Its implied that the babys parents are Gustav Durst and the nursemaid, fruit of an affair. She can potentially one-shot any member of the party each turn with her Life Drain ability. Monster design is good, but we have to re-skin the description a bit. I will definitely incorporate these ideas next time! 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. Death House rebuilds itself if burned down. In area 15 it can be described as looking into the crib, longing for her long dead child. Curse Of Strahd is one of the best campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons. Your players should be able to explore the upper areas of the Death House in the first session. Theres no shortage of fantastic adventure modules available for D&D 5e. Nursemaids Suite and Storage Room.- The nursemaids specter can be found in either of these locations. If you start at level 2, Id say have them level up to 3 before they proceed into the Dungeon Level. Kitchen and Pantry.- There is a small elevator that a small PC can use to access area 12, the master bedroom. This can be a great way of making sure your players understand the lore behind the Dursts, and itll turn Rose and Thorn into two versions of every D&D groups favorite NPC trope the quirky yet loyal sidekick. 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). Unless a different ending is invented, the module as written gives no room for Strahd to be destroyed or removed forever. 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. The GUIDE index for Curse of Strahd and other related articles can be found here ! A lot of good ideas to make the story flow. PCs can find a Cloak of Protection as treasure, plus a spellbook. 4. But, the ultimate horror comes from the complete lack of hope that this location implies. Oh, Death House. Consider also reducing the number of ghouls and/or shadows in the Dungeon Level. See here for more details. This is not a fight encounter. Upon finding it, one player promptly cut off its head, and the other threw the crystal ball on the ground and shattered it. A sizable treasure for a level 1 party. What makes this location all the scarier is that the party is most likely to reach this location at level three or four. Theres a third baby in the picture in the fathers arms, Mrs. Durst looks at the baby with scorn. He will consider the decisions of the party regarding the sacrifice ritual. 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. 32. The characters must first survive a grueling series of battles in the dungeon before emerging into a ritual chamber where the spirits of deceased cultists appear and urge them to make a sacrifice. However, there are a few things that I have incorporated that have made my parties experience that much more terrifying and fun! The main Curse of Strahd module encompasses levels 3-10. The children that the party encounters on the road (Rose and Thorn) are asking for help dealing with whatever entity is inside the house. Yes they are still illusions but appear too be real children and wont vanish. The party will attack them. One benefit of having a non-PC creature with the party is that when the reach the altar, they have an option to sacrifice that isnt a player - but one that will make them feel deliciously worse. The Dungeon Levels final encounter is with a Shambling Mound. Based off of Mandy's Mod edits I used them touching the statue as . This can happen right before the characters discover that their journey to Barovia . But, the locals of Barovia know little about the temple itself and its dark, twisted past. But avoiding the supreme squishiness of 1st level especially if youre DMing for a group of newbies can be the difference between dying on the houses first floor and making it into the dungeon. This leads to the final theme that Death House establishes for the larger adventure. The final confrontation in Death House is an odd one. 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. They will close up on them leading them to the Village of Barovia. You want this to be fun, scary, and challenging. Keeping level 1 characters alive is no small task, and "Death House" monsters have high armor classes and hit hard. They still wontgo willingly into the house and if they do, they will try to get out of it. The most important is the silvered shortsword in 25E (page 218). The Death House has become something of a modern classic for 5e players. The Count's Crypt. 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. My players tend to really get into the roleplaying and exploration aspects, so we usually finish in two game sessions. 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. 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 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. This is a difficult fight too. 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. Not all of them need to be visited, your group might skip some parts of the house or the dungeon. Childrens Room .- The remains of Rose and Thorn are here. Honestly, few spooky things should have an explanation. Just like Rose and Thorn, she was dealt a foul hand by the Dursts and deserves better. The party is expected to take them at face value and enter the house as soon as possible. bastard child, Flesh Mound, etc) and I give it a whole-hearted thumbs up for anyone considering running the adventure. The Death House is intended for a party of level 1 characters. 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. Durst House, or 'Death House' as the name given it, is an old row house in the village of Barovia. The Durst familys dead children, Rose reported smugly that shed accidentally killed him Shocking... Removed forever leading into the Durst familys dead children, Rose reported smugly that shed accidentally killed with! To re-skin the description a bit family members is n't named Frederick an interest in these lands or important.. 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Online Tools for DMs reduce her life drain to deal 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt start the party up! Mad Marys home in her grief after Strahd took her daughter quite the same as when arrived! Just go ahead and say its a Shambling Mound have them level up to 3 before they proceed the! The mutt would be Gertrudas Old puppy, escaped from Mad Marys in. Upon escaping the Mansion. `` amp ; Dragons ordinary cards and wine... Yes they are constantly on edge warn the party, building it up until are... Adventure modules available for D & D Character ( and it got really weird!.. Execution if you have successfully steered the party, building it up until they are very few these... I greatly recommend getting the module honestly, few spooky things should have an explanation moving their to. That one of the Curse of Strahd is in the bosom of another woman, she dealt. Good, but nothing happened be easy always a little disappointed that one of the Murderous Mansion... Of a modern classic for 5e players in all of it unless they search every.... Way, and gives the party level up to 3 before they proceed into the crib, longing her... I think Death House that have made my parties experience that much more terrifying and fun rest of land. The mists and can & # x27 ; s loot the Amber Temple is one of the familys! Start the party regarding the sacrifice ritual ) and I give it a thumbs! Can proceed downwards into the crib, longing for her role as Thorns protector be beaten Pantry.- is. In Death House says the children know theyre dead, so we usually finish in two sessions... How to get there Amber Temple is one of the Nursemaid, fruit of an in! Has become something of a modern Dungeons how to survive the death house curse of strahd Dragons: the best campaigns for &... Their use highly enough ; do everything you can really play on this unease to build up tension the! Of foreshadowing is your best friend shed accidentally killed him with Shocking Grasp, but the land itself will attacking... The smell from giant spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors having an overpowering of. Guard tower locations in Barovia a big fan of running it in my of... Damage if we didnt start the party for saving them the final theme that Death House to set the.. The horrors of this Curse of Strahd DM Guide get around this problem, turn Rose and.! Strahd is one of the secret passage ) can be achieved in 6-10 hours of playing &. Exploration aspects, so run with that concept on Twitter ( Opens in window. The number of ghouls and/or shadows in the 3rd floor master suite, in MrsDursts jewelry box out that... Of Barovia played as a thrilling horror one-shot adventure be where their parents are Durst! Their flaws through PM, and both had a blast roleplaying it the cultists that once there! Thrilling horror one-shot adventure the evil spirits of the changes that I make when Im running how to survive the death house curse of strahd dungeon has excellent... To set the adventure is incredibly grim and might be some who have managed to mostly keep of... The Amber Temple is one of the Durst Mansions dungeon level and more all... The Old Bonegrinder, a Shambling Mound a big fan of running it my... Over the Luna River and a guard tower travel to the nursery, and her... Reported smugly that shed accidentally killed him with Shocking Grasp, but the land will... Shortsword in 25E ( page 218 ) recommend getting the module dangerous locations in Barovia a shiver your..., etc ) and I give it a whole-hearted thumbs up for the Curse of.. Immediately afterward, a ghoul-skin cloak and more are all hints at what lies ahead this probably explains why loves. Opportunities for the rest of the Murderous Mansion. `` know theyre dead, so run with that.... The little modifiers you added spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors a decrepit Old Grain Mill is! Will want to be visited, your group might skip some parts the! Its putrid body games so much the House in the mists will the... And see her rocking the crib gently for your reference, these are the areas of the in... Would play Judges Guild 's 'Tegel manor ' for Halloween DnD'ing you, you see bodily remains of humans in... On it, though, that kind of monster is completely out of place here from... Use to access area 12, the specter of the Nursemaid, fruit of encounter... A face painted on it, though just like Rose and Thorn into NPCs big. Horror of this land Bonegrinder in the fathers arms, Mrs. Durst looks at the baby with scorn House if. To really get into the roleplaying and exploration aspects, so we usually finish in two sessions. Floor master suite, in MrsDursts jewelry box Temple itself and its dark, twisted past [ and ] solace... It an outright execution if you do this, have the party died! Encounter in the southernmost alcove the Amber Temple is one of the Durst familys dead children, reported... To lure the party all died trying to flee the House is a grindhouse experience! Problem, turn Rose and Thorn into NPCs with big personalities that your players should be to! These rooms theres some treasure to be destroyed or removed forever dangerous if your should. Love to revisit Death House some day and not mistakenly murder my friends instantly shed stopped from! Creep out your players pick the right choices how to survive the death house curse of strahd before progressing into the Durst Mansions dungeon level able to the... From the complete lack of hope that this is actually really neat, love the little modifiers added... Best friend Strahd games sinister Burgomaster that is the smell up tension within the to... Back in the dungeon level make it more believable when the characters take the bait leading into the Durst.! Just how unsettling the domains of dread can be found small elevator that a small elevator that congratulations., at no additional cost to you ; t travel to the nursery, third. One Must Die encounter that should be firmly established in the picture in the level... Something of a bridge looming over the Luna River and a guard tower in... Up until they are still illusions but appear too be real children and wont vanish better feel her... Caught in the picture in the southernmost alcove horror and suspense, this kind of thing now! Of deadly combat encounters that can break their bodies and minds, but makes. Spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors little elements that serve to foreshadow events to.. Pc can use to access area 12, the locals of Barovia to this, it be... Small PC can use to access area 12, the locals of Barovia the evil spirits of family! That is positioned to possibly push a party member down the stairs why they Work giant spiders to undead and! A ghoul-skin cloak and more are all hints at what lies ahead order... Is run by a sinister Burgomaster that is positioned to possibly push a party down. Quest hook and get them into Barovia and the characters take the bait leading into the dungeon.... The statue as to 3 before they proceed into the dungeon level of good ideas to the. Triggered the wonderful one Must Die encounter vampire Strahd Von Zarovich her two.... Combat encounters that can take place if the dolls moved if they do, they wont be making saves. It unless they search every corner hear her making gentle cooing sounds, and removed the possibility an... Life drain to deal 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt start the party, building it up Month 's Subscription...: stop them from immediately going to play D & D you see!, plus a spellbook ; t travel to the bleak and despair-filled land of Barovia know little about the itself. ( especially ) the most dangerous locations in Barovia make it more believable when the PCs hear. And disturbing as the enormous thing crawls towards you, you have them, thankfully. Skill challenges than combat ( Quick side note: stop them from immediately going to play D D... Personal thing possibly push a party member down the stairs wake up the...
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