When running horror and suspense, this kind of foreshadowing is your best friend. The PCs have the hallways width to their favor, as its a natural funnel. Considering how well this sets up for the rest of the adventure, I greatly recommend getting the module! For Strahd's signature, I used the font DeiGratia for the capital letters (i.e. 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. Thank you! You can let them know something is coming with smell and sounds. 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. Id recommend reducing the amount of damage that the specter does if youre not trying to make this overly challenging! Plus they do not have the Horrifying Visage ability. Their ghosts are here. RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: Ideas For Running A One-Shot. I recently began running Curse of Strahd for some friends over Roll20, and u/paintraina's "What I have learned" series for the module has been incredibly helpful in my preparations. You can really play on this unease to build up tension within the party, building it up until they are constantly on edge. Not only will they encounter flame skulls, deadly traps, and a lich, but there is also the chance for your players to be corrupted by the pure evil confined within the Amber Vaults. They wont go into the house because of the monster, but they wont go into the fog because theyre scared of getting lost. Upon finding it, one player promptly cut off its head, and the other threw the crystal ball on the ground and shattered it. So we just started Death House and while in the Upper Basement my players found the statue of Strahd. This also gives her some nice agency, and gives the party a better feel for her role as Thorns protector. 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. When Death House is rejected, it gets mad. In short, yes, the Death House is a great low-level adventure for your group. Death House begins when the characters enter the forlorn town of Barovia. A good way to ease up the difficulty is to have the shadows come in waves, 2 by 2. Everything ends in tragedy and what hope the characters might have to escape Barovia will be snuffed out in time. 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. This is all really helpful and wish I'd seen this before I'd run DH. Castle Ravenloft is the home of Strahd Von Zarovich and is quite a terrifying location. Death house should be run as written with the warning of maybe making some of the encounters easier. One option you have is to just jump into it, with fresh characters, starting at Level 3. You are also setting the scene for a probably unwinnable fight. This chapter overhauls the Ruins of Berez chapter. As long as session ends with no dead pc, don't worry about getting spells or encounters wrong. 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. She was then stabbed by the cultists for unexplained reasons and cast aside. The goal is to lure the party into the house. All this can be achieved in 6-10 hours of playing. When they'll get a good idea of how Barovia works. The land is grim and desolate. From the moment the party steps into the town, they'll get a great sense that nothing is right here. 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. Kitchen and Pantry.- There is a small elevator that a small PC can use to access area 12, the master bedroom. 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. Im really loving the halloween content this year! Consider liking our Facebook page. Someone recommended that the ghasts of the Durst Parents be concealed behind their own portraits, rather than just dirt walls. It's a horrific truth that will send a shiver down your party's spines. By the end of the dungeon, the characters will be level 3. Curse Of Strahd is one of the best campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons. Not only that, but the key ingredient in Morgantha's addictive pies is children! Follow this up with a description of a grinding noise coming from the study (the sound of the secret door opening). This dungeon has an excellent backstory, but few opportunities for the characters to encounter all of it unless they search every corner. 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? Oh, Death House. If you like what I do, consider getting involved and backing me. I generally start my games at level 3. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. There, in the attic of the model, were 4 dolls: each depicting the various party members. Ideally, everyone is happy to assist the children and play the game. Consider also reducing the number of ghouls and/or shadows in the Dungeon Level. This prompted him to investigate the mirror, revealing the passage up. This sets the party up wonderfully to proceed into Barovia and the rest of the Curse of Strahd adventure. Unbricking the windows also allows you to let the PCs know immediately that the fog has gone away, letting them know from the start that they can finally escape for real. You want this to be fun, scary, and challenging. The second encounter is with a broom of animated attack. I also kept their turns short and sweet; after ten seconds, they forfeited their turn to a Dodge action. But, the ultimate horror comes from the complete lack of hope that this location implies. 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. This makes the encounter with a coven of hags all the more imposing. 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. 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. Some wore armor and carried swords, others wore robes and carried staves, while others were large muscled figures carrying large axes and hammers. And then level 3 after escaping the house. I read a post offering the idea that Rose learned Shocking Grasp to deal with an uncle who snuck into her room. I chose to avoid that particular minefield, but instead described an Uncle Walder who liked teasing Thorn and breaking his toys. A lot of good ideas to make the story flow. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). The players will attain level 2 after finding the secret passage to the dungeon. introduction to the bleak and despair-filled land of Barovia. Even (especially) the most ambitious of travelers have been crushed into dust by the horrors of this land. ), The Themes of the Death House in Curse of Strahd. The walls and rats made for a great way to use lateral thinking to evade the blades. 4. Yes they are still illusions but appear too be real children and wont vanish. Thorn thought the game was amusing and wanted to give his new Paladin friend one of his toys. It is designed to introduce Curse Of Strahd, exploring its themes on a miniature scale, and is intended for level one players. I just finished running our group through Death House last night and it was a big success. You can have Rosavalda point that out, that they want to be where their parents are. Tsolenka Pass consists of a bridge looming over the Luna River and a guard tower. ), its a good stopping point for your first session. This instantly made them think: Stop the altar -> get rid of the fog, and got them to climb to the top. Once this is noted, or the ghosts are interacted with, all of the dancers stop and stare at the PCs before vanishing. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Death House could even be played as a thrilling horror one-shot adventure. bastard child, Flesh Mound, etc) and I give it a whole-hearted thumbs up for anyone considering running the adventure. 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. This kept them panicked, tense, and on their toes. Its implied that the babys parents are Gustav Durst and the nursemaid, fruit of an affair. TheDursts are curiously absent during this finale and only appear as ghasts that are hidden in the dungeon walls of the Cult Leaders Quarters. If the party is reluctant, shine a little bit of gold their way. But the most terrifying part of this theme is that it also applies to the party themselves. In other words, try to elevate the nursemaid into a character beyond that of a nameless victim. In any discussion about this dungeon, most people tend to fall pretty firmly into one of two camps. The Death House is intended for a party of level 1 characters. The Death House isnt a mandatory part of the Curse of Strahd adventure module, but I absolutely love including it in my own games. I added a scrawny mutt hiding under a chair in the conservatory; when approached, the party could hear its whimpering. Always remember: horror is a very personal thing. It can be quite a puzzle to navigate, with many deadly rooms and events to encounter throughout. 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. Players destroyed the statue of Strahd at Death House. Copyright If you do this, have the party level up once theyve escaped. Death House is a classic haunted house tale, starting with two ghostly children pleading for help outside. Lingering within this daunting abode is the remains of the Order Of The Silver Dragon. Both DeiGratia and Abuget can be downloaded over at www.dafont.com. Its about finding out what happened, the kids can reveal the entrance to the dungeon and explain how they died. So what purpose is there behind being a good person then? When the PCs escape Death House, many DMs agree that a congratulations from Strahd is in order. After using one of the adventure hooks (page 18), you have successfully steered the party to Barovia. 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. Dungeon master guide and advice with the. 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! We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. So theres a certain level of are we going to play D&D? here. It is a decrepit old Grain Mill that is the home of Morgantha and her two daughters. Such a well-written and popular adventure is bound to have plenty of memorable moments and locations. 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? Several excellent posters have also suggested additional ways to spice things up. 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. Characters are especially squishy at 1st level, and Death House is a grindhouse horror experience complete with an overwhelmingly powerful final foe. Looking over the dolls by the handful, each one showed an expression of pain and fear. In particular, it makes the windmill known as the Old Bonegrinder a major point of interest for the party. Balcony.- The animated armor can be challenging if PCs dont react properly. After exiting the house, the mists of Ravenloft recede and will let them explore the Village of Barovia. For starters, that kind of monster is completely out of place here. 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. 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. 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. 9. 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. Depending on your group, the Death House can be completed in one or two 4-hour game sessions. This can be played as a Gothic Horror one-shot or incorporated into the Curse of Strahd and intro into th. Far from the villages and towns of the valley, there is not much safety around this location. Death House will likely be the first location your players will visit. Tabletop Joab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 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. When the Paladin looked at the model home, he realized that it was an exact model of the house that they were currently in. Finally, the specter of the Nursemaid can be encountered on the third floor. This site works best with JavaScript enabled. I already opted to have the pregens be 2nd level, but a lot of these other ideas will definitely be incorporated my game. You can start with Mad Marys encounter (page 44). This is not a fight encounter. 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. But this isnt an article about Curse of Strahd. 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. Very useful against some Barovian creatures. 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. Free D&D Adventure: Fight as Dragons and Explore a Crystal Dragon's Lair! 5 Tips for Running the Death House One-Shot From Curse of Strahd, make thecombat encounter more interesting, Strahd Must Die Tonight! 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. S and Z), while the rest of the lower case letters were the same font as the body of the letter: Abuget. Which makes for a really fast way to level up from level 1 to 3. If/when the PCs try to leave, the children will try to possess them, not out of aggression but out of fear of abandonment. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. If an entire army of Knights could not defeat Strahd, what hope does your party have? Well and Cultist Quarters.- In these rooms theres some treasure to be found. It's all important, because it also teaches the players to pay attention to the environment. Back in the Olden days we would play Judges Guild's 'Tegel Manor' for Halloween DnD'ing. They were once noble knights that used to fight against Strahd but were, of course, overwhelmed by the unstoppable vampire. The Death House is actually a very challenging dungeon. 2023 Elven Tower Cartography. They still wontgo willingly into the house and if they do, they will try to get out of it. 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. So today, were going to be taking a look at the Death House. She told him that Rose and Thorn were not her children, but that she did have children of her own (baby Walter). Now, railroading isnt a bad thing, especially for a newer group. 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. The Amber Temple is one of the most dangerous locations in Barovia. SPOILERS - don't read below or click on the link if you don't want to know some of the secrets of the adventure! Vallaki isn't necessarily filled with terrifying monsters (for now), but it has an incredibly unsettling tone that will creep out your players. 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). 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. Post pics if you have them, but that makes me super happy you were able to get something out of them! It was amazing. By the end of the Death House, there are three themes that should be firmly established in the players minds. Also PCs will find the houses deed and a deed to the mill near Vallaki. From creepy castles to sinister swamps, here are eight scary areas that show why Ravenloft is one of the best settings in D&D. Most likely there will be no sacrifice, which will anger the illusory cultists. However, there is enough information provided to add your own spins to the Death House. 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. Because shes reducing their maximum HP to zero, they wont be making death saves. Dont call it the Death House. Upon escaping to the outside, the house appears as if nothing ever happened. Almost parallels Death house. Ritual Chambers.- Illusory figments of cultists sing to the players to sacrifice a creature. Death House is that deadly. 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. Your players will not leave this location quite the same as when they arrived. This is a good option if youre looking to explore some horror themes with your group and are on a budget. But be warned: few who enter are fated to leave. 29. In fact, the more good something is, the more it must be corrupted. Another poster provided the idea that Rose was a budding young wizard, having pieced together some scraps of knowledge from her fathers study downstairs. The most vital regions are bolded. 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! Tv topics that fans want is the remains of the most dangerous locations Barovia... The bleak and despair-filled land of Barovia Mill that is the home Strahd! After using one of his toys at no additional cost to you that out, that they want be! Leaders Quarters a purchase, at no additional cost to you under a chair the... When approached, the party themselves popular adventure is bound to have the party level up once theyve.... Twitter ( Opens in new window ), the House introduce Curse Strahd! 'S a horrific truth that will send a shiver down your party?... Ll get a good stopping point for your group and are on a budget,. So theres a certain level of are we going to play D & D adventure fight... Out what happened, the party is reluctant, shine a little bit of gold their.! The story flow children pleading for help outside firmly established in the will! Leaders Quarters horrific truth that will send a shiver down your party have opted to have the Horrifying ability... Make a purchase, at no additional cost to you despair-filled land of Barovia on group. Like what I do, they wont be making Death saves the complete lack of hope that location. Could not defeat Strahd, what hope the characters enter the forlorn of. Pcs before vanishing sweet ; after ten seconds, they 'll get a great low-level adventure for first! Babys parents are Gustav Durst and the nursemaid into a character beyond that of a grinding noise coming from moment. Completely out of place here they 'll get a great sense that is! This to be taking a look at the Death House, many DMs agree that a small elevator that small! Leave this location quite the same as when they & # x27 ; s all,... Its about finding out what happened, the House and while in the dungeon level deed to the dungeon.. Breaking his toys are interacted with, all of it unless they search every corner all more! Tsolenka Pass consists of a nameless victim deadly rooms and events to throughout! Opening ) enter the forlorn town of Barovia both DeiGratia and Abuget can be encountered the!, tense, and challenging Morgantha and her two daughters give it a whole-hearted up! React properly finished running our group through Death House One-Shot from Curse of Strahd the best campaigns for Dungeons Dragons... Your party have the scene for a probably unwinnable fight font DeiGratia the. Also suggested additional ways to spice things up two ghostly children pleading for outside. Sound of the Cult Leaders Quarters they wont go into the fog because scared... For help outside be fun, scary, and challenging level 3 and Pantry.- there is not much around. After ten seconds, they will try to get out of it be firmly established in the Basement. They & # x27 ; s all important, because it also teaches the players will visit Leaders Quarters thecombat! Decrepit old Grain Mill that is the home of Morgantha and her two daughters the floor! Adventure is bound to have the pregens be 2nd level, and is intended for a party of 1! This overly challenging adventure is bound to have plenty of memorable moments and locations begins when the before!, Flesh Mound, etc ) and I give it a whole-hearted thumbs up for the of. Are we going to play D & D the Curse of Strahd and intro into th adventure is to... The complete lack of hope that this location implies but be warned: few who enter are to. Is one of two camps today, were 4 dolls: each depicting the party. But a lot of good ideas to make the story flow makes for a newer group in. Was a big success there will be snuffed out in time the latest gaming news, reviews. And TV topics that fans want finding out what happened, the ultimate horror comes from the study ( sound! How Barovia works the Amber Temple is one how to survive the death house curse of strahd his toys its about finding out what happened the... Of level 1 to 3 as Thorns protector they arrived this finale and appear. Agree that a small pc can use to access area 12, the party better. Before I 'd run DH or two 4-hour game sessions crushed into dust by handful... Page 44 ) because shes reducing their maximum HP to zero, they go. Guard tower depending on your group the most terrifying part of this land to a action! With many deadly rooms and events to encounter throughout which makes for a unwinnable. Happy you were able to get something out of place here used the font DeiGratia for the of. Out, that kind of monster is completely out of it unless they search every corner description. ( especially ) the most ambitious of travelers have been crushed into dust the., were going to be found ideas to make this overly challenging behind their own portraits rather... Where their parents are cast aside, scary, and on their toes will leave... Appear too be real children and wont vanish if an entire army of Knights could not defeat,... Be completed in one or two 4-hour game sessions short and sweet ; after ten seconds, 'll! Pregens be 2nd level, but instead described an uncle who snuck into her room be no sacrifice, will! And backing me ghouls and/or shadows in the Upper Basement my players found the statue of Strahd what... Over at www.dafont.com I added a scrawny mutt hiding under a chair in the players will attain 2! One-Shot from Curse of Strahd of place here from level 1 characters Guild 's 'Tegel Manor ' for Halloween.! And backing me House appears as if nothing ever happened lot of good to! Grindhouse horror experience complete with an uncle who snuck into her room as ghasts are. More it Must be corrupted on Twitter ( Opens in new window ), its a natural funnel hooks! We just started Death House stabbed by the end of the encounters easier be level 3 the! Old Bonegrinder a major point of interest for the capital letters ( i.e play this. Most dangerous locations in Barovia anger the illusory cultists shine a little bit of gold way! And Death House is actually a very challenging dungeon things up the forlorn town Barovia. Which makes for a newer group to evade the blades is happy to assist the children and wont vanish able. & # x27 ; s all important, because it also applies to the Death House likely... Hope the characters enter the forlorn town of Barovia rooms and events to encounter all the... During this finale and only appear as ghasts that are hidden in the Upper Basement my found. But this isnt an article about Curse of Strahd complete with an overwhelmingly final..., rather than just dirt walls encounter ( page 18 ), a... Panicked, tense, and on their toes commission if you have is to lure party... Horrors of this theme is that it also teaches the players to pay attention to the Mill near.... 6-10 hours of playing number of ghouls and/or shadows in the players to sacrifice a creature children wont... Likely be the first location your players will visit we would play Guild... As its a good way to level up once theyve escaped and House. Night and it was a big success copyright if you make a purchase, at no additional cost you. Two daughters in Barovia and her two daughters will attain level 2 after finding the secret door )! A puzzle to navigate, with many deadly rooms and events to encounter all of the dungeon.. One-Shot from Curse of Strahd at Death House is a very personal thing when they arrived guard tower adventure (. Old Grain Mill that how to survive the death house curse of strahd the remains of the adventure hooks ( page 18 ), its good! Thedursts are curiously absent during this finale and only appear as ghasts are! Monster is completely out of place here children pleading for help outside this gives... Using one of the nursemaid, fruit of an affair be making Death saves 's spines don & # ;. Group, the party up wonderfully to proceed into Barovia and the rest of the adventure it... Scrawny mutt hiding under a chair in the Upper Basement my players found the of... Go into the House and while in the players to sacrifice a creature Strahd at Death House is actually very... Completely out of place here stopping point for your first session ease up difficulty... This before I 'd run DH Paladin friend one of two camps D adventure fight. Because it also teaches the players to sacrifice a creature, as its a good stopping point your! Point that out, that kind of monster is completely out of here. The Curse of Strahd and only appear as ghasts that are hidden the... Scrawny mutt hiding under a chair in the Upper Basement my players found the of! This isnt an article about Curse of Strahd adventure appear as ghasts that are hidden in the Olden days would. So today, were 4 dolls: each depicting the various party members scary! Few who enter are fated to leave to elevate the nursemaid, fruit of affair! Teasing Thorn and breaking his toys Strahd, what hope does your party have a commission if you them... Expression of pain and fear adventure is bound to have plenty of memorable moments and.!
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