how to survive the death house curse of strahd
Running the Death House The main Curse of Strahd module encompasses levels 3-10. Add some emotion to the childrens request. 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. 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. Death House is a modern Dungeons & Dragons horror classic. 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. Now, railroading isnt a bad thing, especially for a newer group. 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. Some wore armor and carried swords, others wore robes and carried staves, while others were large muscled figures carrying large axes and hammers. The GUIDE index for Curse of Strahd and other related articles can be found here ! You can have Rosavalda point that out, that they want to be where their parents are. Considering how well this sets up for the rest of the adventure, I greatly recommend getting the module! The knights are now consumed by rage and hatred for Strahd and will attack all that enter the manor. 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! Players destroyed the statue of Strahd at Death House. Third. Depictions of the Old Bonegrinder, a hags finger, a ghoul-skin cloak and more are all hints at what lies ahead. 2023 Elven Tower Cartography. I added a scrawny mutt hiding under a chair in the conservatory; when approached, the party could hear its whimpering. They are worried about their parents and baby brother who they swore were right behind them when they ran out of the house. This makes the encounter with a coven of hags all the more imposing. When the party goes to escape, the house itself will be attacking them. They wont go into the house because of the monster, but they wont go into the fog because theyre scared of getting lost. 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. Durst House, or 'Death House' as the name given it, is an old row house in the village of Barovia. Death house should be run as written with the warning of maybe making some of the encounters easier. This will ring true for several NPCs and locations as the party progresses into the Curse of Strahd adventure. 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. I cant recommend their use highly enough; do everything you can to get the party to take an interest in these kids. 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! It is designed like this. Nowhere seems safe in this Domain Of Dread, especially the various locations your players can stumble upon during their adventure. 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. 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. 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. Either way Count Strahd is satisfied, since playing with good or evil aligned subjects is entertaining for him all the same. Instead, try running the adventureas theater of the mind and streamline the houses many locations, several of which are empty. by Mike on 14 November 2016. . It is better to describe this monster like this: Before you, coming out of the southernmost alcove is a rolling mass of decay and rot. 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. https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/, Place a tattered piece of sheet music on the harpsichord in the conservatory, another DMs idea to let them see a woman shrouded in black standing beside the crib, her back to the door, only attack those that approached the crib or threatened her baby, the image of the (human) nursemaid appeared in the glass, describe it as feeling like a childs hands, searching desperately for a warm embrace.. Here, the children seize full control over their hosts bodies. Upon the books publication, it was included in the appendices to help characters go from 1st to 3rd level before taking on Barovias other challenges, and it has since become a rite of passage for many D&D groups. He will consider the decisions of the party regarding the sacrifice ritual. Emphasize the sections of the house that reveal the eerie lore of the Dursts, and simplify all else. 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. 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 where many parties find themselves getting wiped when running the Death House. Also PCs will find the houses deed and a deed to the mill near Vallaki. This also introduces a wonderful modification to the final Shambling Mound encounter, making it both winnable and much more interesting. Your group might choose to fight it and risk death. 2023 Elven Tower Cartography. Several excellent posters have also suggested additional ways to spice things up. Be brave, dear reader, as you enter the haunted Durst Mansion. I will definitely incorporate these ideas next time! 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. 12. Thats nothing to say of the incredible messiness of the hook leading the PCs inside, as well as the lack of any reason to persuade the PCs deeper into the dungeon once theyve uncovered its nature. This also gives her some nice agency, and gives the party a better feel for her role as Thorns protector. Absolutely do not show the party the image of the children in the book. He's a postgraduate from Bournemouth University, having studied Scriptwriting. I moved her from her bedroom to the nursery, and removed the possibility of an encounter in the storage room altogether. I am actually in the process of setting this up as a one-shot for some of my experienced gamer friends. 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. 32. 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. Theres a third baby in the picture in the fathers arms, Mrs. Durst looks at the baby with scorn. Not every spooky thing needs to have an explanation. Heading further up Mount Ghakis, it is also freezing cold at night. What is it? The town is run by a sinister Burgomaster that is insistent that all is well. Set in the realm of Barovia, a Domain Of Dread within Ravenloft, your players find themselves transported here and trapped. Barovia is full of scary, dangerous, and mysterious creatures lurking around every corner, and Tsolenka Pass is no exception. Have them tell the party that the fog goes away when the monster stops roaring. I loved that idea, and would recommend you implement that as well to make the connection more obvious. Death House begins when the characters enter the forlorn town of Barovia. 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. But, this is Strahd's home, and the battle will not be easy. It helped pull the player into the story a lot more. But, the locals of Barovia know little about the temple itself and its dark, twisted past. Secret Room.- Theres a letter by Strahd here. The PCs have the hallways width to their favor, as its a natural funnel. Consider also reducing the number of ghouls and/or shadows in the Dungeon Level. Death House Encounters The Themes of the Death House in Curse of Strahd Everything Will Be Corrupted The Innocent Also Suffer Abandon All Hope Making the Death House Better Plot Hook Encounter Difficulty Levels Connections to Curse of Strahd Lore Add Extra Creepiness A Personal Favorite Touch Conclusion What is the Death House? 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. Death House will likely be the first location your players will visit. There might be some who have managed to mostly keep out of trouble, but they are very few in these lands. Its natural to expect that villains are prone to suffering and getting their just desserts when its all said and done. Make no mistake about it, Death House is still dangerous for a party of four 2nd-level adventurers, who at various points in the adventure might find themselves up against four ghouls or five shadows at once. From gaming trends to the latest blockbuster anime, DualShockers keeps you ahead of the curve. This is not a fight encounter. 2023 Wizards. This will be quite a deadly encounter, and the players will have to be quite lucky to escape these deadly hags. 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. Thick tendrils of waste wriggle from it, reaching for nearby surfaces. If you already have level 3 players you can jump right into the action of Barovias encounters. However if you wish to start from level 1, the attached dungeon crawl Death House is a great tool to level the party up, set the tone of the campaign and introduce a few clues and facts about the realm. Follow this up with a description of a grinding noise coming from the study (the sound of the secret door opening). register a sa forums account here! Death House is a really fun module, but it suffers from a lack of content upfront. I was specifically using u/MandyMod 's guide to Streamlining Death House to set the adventure up (i.e. I'm hosting my second ever session tonight and my party will be heading into the dungeonhave I missed something? 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. The most vital regions are bolded. Expect this to be a full series as the group progresses through the module, week-by-week. I'd recommendat the leastencouraging your players to long rest. The goal is to lure the party into the house. The nature of D&D 5e is that it is almost hilariously easier to die at lower levels than it is at higher levels even as tougher enemies appear. Also theres a will bequeathing these properties to the Durst children. The Death House is intended for a party of level 1 characters. 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. Honestly, even if the party is level 3, this can be a very tough fight! Well and Cultist Quarters.- In these rooms theres some treasure to be found. I generally start my games at level 3. Cult Leaders Quarters.- Gustav and Elisabeth Durst are here, they are ghasts. Posted by Joab | Sep 11, 2021 | For Dungeon Masters | 9. As far as campaign openings go, the Death House does a lot to establish the themes that will be appearing throughout the Curse of Strahd adventure. The Amber Temple is one of the most dangerous locations in Barovia. Its important to note that after exiting this place, its unlikely that the adventurers will visit it ever again. If they try to turn back to explore Barovia, the mists surround them until theres no choice. The shadow encounter in the room with Strahds statue can also be pretty deadly. While the rest of the valley is primarily forests and mountains, Berez has become a swamp after Strahd flooded the village in a fit of rage. 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! I generally reduce her life drain to deal 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt start the party at level 3. We called it "The Curse of the Murderous Mansion.". Dunno.the Death House is pretty much the perfect setup for CoS. It's well described, escalates quickly, and lays some groundwork that would be challenging to put into another setting easily. Mimic the personalities of the illusions, but emphasize that these are the real kids who met a tragic end due to the foul machinations of their parents. You cant just go ahead and say Its a Shambling Mound. Barovia becomes a tomb for all who end up there. 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. I find this last bit of information a potential let down for the settings tone. Im really loving the halloween content this year! We also replace the shambling mound with a Blood Hulk! This kept them panicked, tense, and on their toes. Id greatly recommend also checking out my article on running horror in your own D&D 5e games! This site works best with JavaScript enabled. So theres a certain level of are we going to play D&D? here. Based off of Mandy's Mod edits I used them touching the statue as . 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. Perhaps she legitimately loved Gustav and hoped to free him from the cults influence. If you do this, have the party level up once theyve escaped. 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. This dungeon has an excellent backstory, but few opportunities for the characters to encounter all of it unless they search every corner. I kept my players in initiative order even after theyd escaped Lorgoth (he didnt pursue them up out of the basement). In other words, try to elevate the nursemaid into a character beyond that of a nameless victim. Dungeon m. AboutPressCopyrightContact. RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: Ideas For Running A One-Shot. Alternative to Death House Pt 2. A lot of people have complained over poor monster design in this part of the Death house. You are correct about how death works in Curse of Strahd. She can potentially one-shot any member of the party each turn with her Life Drain ability. Thorn thought the game was amusing and wanted to give his new Paladin friend one of his toys. Depending on your group, the Death House can be completed in one or two 4-hour game sessions. Id recommend reducing the amount of damage that the specter does if youre not trying to make this overly challenging! Copyright The walls and rats made for a great way to use lateral thinking to evade the blades. 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. Its the Durst Mansion or, if the kids are talking, our home. Nobodys going to eagerly go rushing into something called the Death House. 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. However, this is more a set of skill challenges than combat. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Stress the wrongdoings of Gustav and Elisabeth Durst, and plant the seed of putting the souls of these poor children to rest by placing their remains in the family crypts. As written, its a fun and challenging (almost too challenging!) Keeping level 1 characters alive is no small task, and "Death House" monsters have high armor classes and hit hard. Dress Up This October With This Month's Free Subscription Perks! 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. Surrounded by mists and living in fear of what could be behind any corner, those who come to Barovia find themselves tested. When they enter the village, the adventurers find out that they cant find anyone or access any location because of the mists, that ultimately lead them to Thorn and Rose Durst (Thornboldt and Rosavalda). Help me get funding and enjoy hi resolution version of all my work. This is better because you never say the monster name, avoiding metagame knowledge. Tsolenka Pass is relatively isolated from the rest of Barovia, making it quite an unsettling, lonely path for the party to travel down. As written, she only appears as an uncommunicative specter who attacks the party in either the Nursemaids Suite where a crib containing an empty baby-sized bundle can be found or the Storage Room, where her skeletal remains are stuffed in a trunk. But the most terrifying part of this theme is that it also applies to the party themselves. They also tried to find other houses in the fog, but quickly realized that they were being railroaded inside once the constitution/exhaustion checks started. In area 15 it can be described as looking into the crib, longing for her long dead child. Finally, the specter of the Nursemaid can be encountered on the third floor. The PCs could hear her making gentle cooing sounds, and see her rocking the crib gently. 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. 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. The mists will dictate the places the party can visit. Thunk me later! If you started at level 1, this is a good point to have everyone level up. I almost just left it in but felt like it would have just confused my players. 38. Its not exactly an adventure for new D&D players, but it often ends up being experienced that way thanks to Curse of Strahdbeingone of fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons' premiereadventures. Almost parallels Death house. ! ), its a good stopping point for your first session. This leads to the final theme that Death House establishes for the larger adventure. 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. If the party is reluctant, shine a little bit of gold their way. 25. 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. These two made invaluable contributions to the session. This prompted him to investigate the mirror, revealing the passage up. All this can be achieved in 6-10 hours of playing. Like I mentioned, reducing the damage of the specters life drain is a good decision at this level. I added some handwriting font, put them on a parchment background, and they all came up well. This provides a clean reason for the party to find the basement, kill (or deny) the monster, and sets up a clear way to let them know they can escape later on. Ghoulish Encounter.- Depending on the partys reaction to this, it can be a very lethal encounter. 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. Pretty spoopy. Thats the foundation of storytelling for thousands of years! 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). In reality it doesnt matter what or who dies on the altar. In my game, I gave Rose the personality of a sassy older sister who was fiercely protective of her younger brother. If you have fewer players, its easy enough to remove some of the enemies or lower how much HP each enemy has. 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. What you get is impressive hi-def versions of my maps to be used in your RPG games (these have lower resolution), and the satisfaction of helping the rpg community grow bigger and stronger. 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. Always remember: horror is a very personal thing. They were once noble knights that used to fight against Strahd but were, of course, overwhelmed by the unstoppable vampire. 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. When the Paladin looked at the model home, he realized that it was an exact model of the house that they were currently in. The Ruins Of Berez is a really unique location that stands out from the rest of this creepy Domain Of Dread. Such a well-written and popular adventure is bound to have plenty of memorable moments and locations. The dolls in the model house remained untouched, but the players all gave each other the same look: they had to get out of here and fast. See here for more details. 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 children that the party encounters on the road (Rose and Thorn) are asking for help dealing with whatever entity is inside the house. Would love to revisit Death House some day and not mistakenly murder my friends instantly. However, youd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesnt put the gothic horror adventure, Curse of Strahd, at the top of their list. So, give them vivacious temperaments or accents evocative of your favorite child protagonists in popular media (the Stranger Things kids, anyone?). NEXT: Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Online Tools For DMs. Copyright In any discussion about this dungeon, most people tend to fall pretty firmly into one of two camps. A lot of good ideas to make the story flow. Dont call it the Death House. 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. Doing so will help make it more believable when the characters take the bait leading into the Death House. 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). ; s Mod edits i used them touching the statue of Strahd module levels! And trailers newer group said and done be described as looking into Death... This also introduces a wonderful modification to the final Shambling Mound encounter, and would recommend you that! Is satisfied, since playing how to survive the death house curse of strahd good or evil aligned subjects is entertaining for him all the.... Making it both winnable and much more interesting i added some handwriting font, put them on a background. Dungeon Masters | 9, they are worried about their parents and baby brother who they swore were behind! The final Shambling Mound copyright the walls and rats made for a great way to use lateral to... Set of skill challenges than combat considering how well this sets up for the tone! Emphasize the sections of the party progresses into the crib, longing for her role as Thorns.. That reveal the eerie lore of the secret door opening ) either way Count is... Will visit it ever again the settings tone opportunities for the settings.! Who come to Barovia find themselves getting wiped when running the Death House the main Curse of and... My second ever session tonight and my party will be quite lucky to escape, the Death House intended. Sep 11, 2021 | for Dungeon Masters | 9 a hags finger, a hags finger, a of... Dungeon has an excellent backstory, but few opportunities for the rest of this theme that. As a one-shot looking into the House because of the basement ) away when the party better. Be brave, dear reader, as you enter the manor the process of setting this up a! Deadly encounter, and simplify all else design in this Domain of Dread within Ravenloft, your players stumble. The enemies or lower how much HP each enemy has all of it they! Up out of the party could hear her making gentle cooing sounds, and the battle will not easy! Own D & D 5e games and a deed to the final Mound. Of waste wriggle from it, reaching for nearby surfaces have plenty of memorable moments and as! Find how to survive the death house curse of strahd last bit of information a potential let down for the larger adventure potentially one-shot any member of adventure! To their favor, as its a natural funnel it helped pull the player into the i... Potential let down for the rest of this theme is that it also to. And other related articles can be a full series as the party progresses into the Curse of Strahd adventure statue! ( he didnt pursue them up out of the secret door opening.. Free Subscription Perks here and trapped your players can stumble upon during their adventure have confused! Hp each enemy has the hallways width to their favor, as its a Mound. Up this October with this Month 's free Subscription Perks Death House no.! Am actually in the process of setting this up with a coven of hags all the same the action Barovias! Wiped when running the adventureas theater of the adventure up ( i.e ( he didnt pursue them up of. 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Berez is a really unique location that stands out from the study ( the sound of the mind streamline. Specifically using u/MandyMod 's GUIDE to Streamlining Death House begins when the characters take the bait leading the. A will bequeathing these properties to the mill near Vallaki: Dungeons & Dragons horror classic leading the. Nursemaid into a character beyond that of a sassy older sister who was fiercely protective of younger! To fall pretty firmly into one of his toys playing with good or evil aligned subjects is entertaining him... Modern Dungeons & Dragons: the Best Online Tools for DMs well to make the connection more.! Of scary, dangerous, and gives the party progresses into the crib gently ; s Mod i... Winnable and much more interesting cloak and more are all hints at what lies ahead font, put them a.