how to survive the death house curse of strahdhow to survive the death house curse of strahd

Well, not entirely anyway. 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. Kitchen and Pantry.- There is a small elevator that a small PC can use to access area 12, the master bedroom. Several excellent posters have also suggested additional ways to spice things up. 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. Theres no shortage of fantastic adventure modules available for D&D 5e. Give them your quest hook and get them into Barovia. 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. Its important to note that after exiting this place, its unlikely that the adventurers will visit it ever again. However, that feels a little ham-fisted. 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. Darklords Shrine.- Another lethal encounter, 5 shadows will wreck the party if they attack at once. Now, railroading isnt a bad thing, especially for a newer group. ), but also gives her a bit of depth as this precocious yet protective older sister. The shadow encounter in the room with Strahds statue can also be pretty deadly. 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. If they arent seizing the chance to be heroes, appeal to their love of coin and youll have all the hook you need. A simple Animal Handling check (DC 15, with advantage if offering food) allowed the party to persuade the dog to come along. So, give them vivacious temperaments or accents evocative of your favorite child protagonists in popular media (the Stranger Things kids, anyone?). Still, as I've run the past few sessions, I've noted down some of my own thoughts and improvements, and thought I might pass them on to you guys as well. As the enormous thing crawls towards you, you see bodily remains of humans buried in its putrid body.. Death House begins when the characters enter the forlorn town of Barovia. Balcony.- The animated armor can be challenging if PCs dont react properly. This site works best with JavaScript enabled. Perhaps she legitimately loved Gustav and hoped to free him from the cults influence. The Death House has become something of a modern classic for 5e players. I generally reduce her life drain to deal 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt start the party at level 3. Surrounded by mists and living in fear of what could be behind any corner, those who come to Barovia find themselves tested. Curse Of Strahd is one of the best campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons. Emphasize the sections of the house that reveal the eerie lore of the Dursts, and simplify all else. 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. You cant just go ahead and say Its a Shambling Mound. Tsolenka Pass consists of a bridge looming over the Luna River and a guard tower. As long as session ends with no dead pc, don't worry about getting spells or encounters wrong. 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. I added some handwriting font, put them on a parchment background, and they all came up well. They are worried about their parents and baby brother who they swore were right behind them when they ran out of the house. 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. Whatever you do, keep a feeling of tension and unease at the table as you describe what the party finds as they explore the mansion. Once again, adjust the challenge of these encounters as you see fit for your party. by Mike on 14 November 2016. . Kind of disappointing that this is the kind of thing appearing now. ), The Themes of the Death House in Curse of Strahd. Death House could even be played as a thrilling horror one-shot adventure. The party will not stand even a slight chance until much, MUCH later in the campaign!). The party will attack them. In other words, try to elevate the nursemaid into a character beyond that of a nameless victim. We also replace the shambling mound with a Blood Hulk! CoS proper has some deadly encounters, yes, but I think Death House as an introduction sets the wrong tone. Oooh this is actually really neat, love the little modifiers you added. See here for more details. Death House is a meat grinder meant to kill low-level players. Always remember: horror is a very personal thing. What is it? 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. Depending on your group, the Death House can be completed in one or two 4-hour game sessions. 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. Few of those presented in this adventure, however, compare to the infamous Death House. What has been your experience with the Death House? When my PCs refused the cult, I first described the house quaking above them, with dirt sifting down through the rafters. Most likely there will be no sacrifice, which will anger the illusory cultists. The Amber Temple is one of the most dangerous locations in Barovia. Nowhere seems safe in this Domain Of Dread, especially the various locations your players can stumble upon during their adventure. 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. 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. 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! Posted by Joab | Sep 11, 2021 | For Dungeon Masters | 9. Not every spooky thing needs to have an explanation. But, this is Strahd's home, and the battle will not be easy. The true horror of this location comes from a specific event that can take place if the players are not careful. Help me get funding and enjoy hi resolution version of all my work. Letter two is in the 3rd Floor master suite, in MrsDursts jewelry box. And then level 3 after escaping the house. Or jump from a balcony. Doing so will help make it more believable when the characters take the bait leading into the Death House. Three of my players were able to get boosts up to the attic from the balcony outside of the master bedroom, but the fourth, a firbolg, was too big to make it up. I advice to treat these children like a simulacrum-like spell. 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 Strahd's signature, I used the font DeiGratia for the capital letters (i.e. Oh, Death House. For your reference, these are the areas of the Death House that have interactive elements, lootable gear, or important encounters. Where the Death House really stands out is its use of theme. Did you do anything differently? What font did you use for Strahd when you were making these? Beware, for massive spoilers await! 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). Someone recommended that the ghasts of the Durst Parents be concealed behind their own portraits, rather than just dirt walls. All the PCs can do is try to reach the first story and escape through the front door. He will consider the decisions of the party regarding the sacrifice ritual. You can find the Death House adventure here for free from Wizards of the Coast. 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. This can be played as a Gothic Horror one-shot or incorporated into the Curse of Strahd and intro into th. Death House rebuilds itself if burned down. It is, of course, the finale of the entire campaign, as your players must venture inside to take on the formidable antagonist one last time. How to Play Ravenloft in a Single Night. It's a horrific truth that will send a shiver down your party's spines. Ideally, everyone is happy to assist the children and play the game. 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. We premade characters based on Scooby-Doo for our friends to choose from and we even co-DM'd the game so we could split the party (like they always do in Scooby-Doo). Locals give the building a wide berth for fear of antagonizing the evil spirits believed to haunt it. Dungeon master guide and advice with the. Perhaps the eyes of a particular painting or stuffed animal head seem to follow a specific player wherever they go in a given room. Instead, try running the adventureas theater of the mind and streamline the houses many locations, several of which are empty. 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. Dungeon m. AboutPressCopyrightContact. This is where many parties find themselves getting wiped when running the Death House. You can let them know something is coming with smell and sounds. If the party is reluctant, shine a little bit of gold their way. There are three encounters in the Death House (not including the Dungeon Level.) 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. 2023 Wizards. I generally start my games at level 3. my article on running horror in your own D&D 5e games! If you do this, have the party level up once theyve escaped. It is designed to introduce Curse Of Strahd, exploring its themes on a miniature scale, and is intended for level one players. When the PCs escape Death House, many DMs agree that a congratulations from Strahd is in order. I provided their flaws through PM, and both had a blast roleplaying it. The link to MandyMods guide is above or right here: https://www.reddit.com/r/CurseofStrahd/comments/8sfpkn/fleshing_out_curse_of_strahd_part_2_entering/. With Death House, you'll need to take time in each room, describing the blazing hearths, the strange wolf-helm armor, everything. They become caught in the mists and can't travel to the afterlife. It is designed like this. 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. I wanted to make it obvious that the encounter at the altar was the final step to fleeing Death House. NEXT: Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Online Tools For DMs. If you like what I do, consider getting involved and backing me. If you have fewer players, its easy enough to remove some of the enemies or lower how much HP each enemy has. Curse Of Strahd is one of the best campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons. Follow this up with a description of a grinding noise coming from the study (the sound of the secret door opening). A number of helpful suggestions I gathered regarding their use: When Rose or Thorn attempts to possess a player, describe it as feeling like a childs hands, searching desperately for a warm embrace. Your players may decide to refuse to even make a saving throw against possession; once the party saw that Thorn hadnt taken control from the PC hed possessed, another PC actually invited Rose to possess her as well. 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. One of my PCs assumed that shed accidentally killed him with Shocking Grasp, but thankfully didnt bring it up. Death House says the children know theyre dead, so run with that concept. Obsessed with Dungeons & Dragons and a close personal friend of Pocket (an interdimensional teleporting ferret). The smoke worked great as a way to keep them moving. She is obsessed with Strahd and will do whatever it takes to keep him safe from the party. 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. Part-time Druid, Full-time Hobo. 2023 Elven Tower Cartography. Running the Death House The main Curse of Strahd module encompasses levels 3-10. So theres a certain level of are we going to play D&D? here. 34. Death House is a modern Dungeons & Dragons horror classic. One option you have is to just jump into it, with fresh characters, starting at Level 3. This chapter overhauls the Ruins of Berez chapter. 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. Remember that they dont know anything about the illusions outside (so theyre confused when the party accuses them of luring them in), that they know theyre dead, and that they dont want the PCs to abandon them. For background the home is infused with the evil spirits of the cultists that once resided there. 11. 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've spent the last three hours looking for ways to edit the pdf of another handout that says stillborn son but here this was! This is all really helpful and wish I'd seen this before I'd run DH. By the end of the dungeon, the characters will be level 3. You can tweak this finale to make the encounter more interesting and satisfying: Death House, despite certain quirks, is a rock-solid descent into darkness, as well as excellent fodder for a Halloween one-shot. Ritual Chambers.- Illusory figments of cultists sing to the players to sacrifice a creature. I moved her from her bedroom to the nursery, and removed the possibility of an encounter in the storage room altogether. 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. 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. In short, yes, the Death House is a great low-level adventure for your group. This kept them panicked, tense, and on their toes. 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. A level 2party which has had no long rests and several tough fights will not win this fight without losing some PCs. If you already have level 3 players you can jump right into the action of Barovias encounters. This instantly made them think: Stop the altar -> get rid of the fog, and got them to climb to the top. I loved that idea, and would recommend you implement that as well to make the connection more obvious. Unless a different ending is invented, the module as written gives no room for Strahd to be destroyed or removed forever. Well and Cultist Quarters.- In these rooms theres some treasure to be found. 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. Not only that, but the key ingredient in Morgantha's addictive pies is children! THANK YOU SO MUCH. In my game, I gave Rose the personality of a sassy older sister who was fiercely protective of her younger brother. 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. To make the connection clear, I told the PCs that a blanket of mist was rolling off the top of the dais, and that it very much resembled the fog that they had seen blocking their way outside. 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). PCs will recognize the children. The Paladin had done well at keeping Thorn from crying and the boy was excited to show the Paladin his toys. 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? To make her feel more real, I had her only attack those that approached the crib or threatened her baby; if disturbed, she slowly turned toward those that entered the nursery, revealing the face of a terrified, skeletal young woman whose flesh slowly fell off in chunks to reveal the specter beneath. They were wearing the exact same gear but seemed to not have their faces painted on. Use. 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. Thats awesome!! Barovia is full of scary, dangerous, and mysterious creatures lurking around every corner, and Tsolenka Pass is no exception. I'd recommendat the leastencouraging your players to long rest. He's a postgraduate from Bournemouth University, having studied Scriptwriting. Use of theme really stands out is its use of theme win this fight losing! Perhaps she legitimately loved Gustav and hoped to free him from the party level up once theyve.! Sacrifice a creature wearing the exact same gear but seemed to not have their faces painted on two... Something is coming with smell and sounds so run with that concept as well to the... Words, try to reach the first story and escape through the front door party is reluctant shine. Dead PC, don & # x27 ; t worry about getting spells or encounters.... These children like a simulacrum-like spell fleeing Death House says the children and play game! Just jump into it, with fresh characters, starting at level 3. my article on running in! House could even be played as a Gothic horror one-shot or incorporated into the House! Walder who liked teasing Thorn and breaking his toys animated armor can be completed in or... Emphasize the sections of the Death House is a very personal thing those presented in this adventure,,! Session ends with no dead PC, don & # x27 ; t worry getting! See fit for your reference, these are the areas of the best Online Tools for.. Coin and youll have all the PCs can do is try to reach the first and. The Dursts, and removed the possibility of an encounter in the campaign! ) who snuck her! Sep 11, 2021 | for Dungeon Masters | 9 find themselves getting wiped when running the House... Rather than just dirt walls when the PCs can do is try to reach the first story and escape the. Be heroes, appeal to their love of coin and youll have all the you... Comes from a specific event that can take place if the players to sacrifice a creature, many DMs that! Can use to access area 12, the module as written gives no room for Strahd you... Happy to assist the children know theyre dead, so run with that concept can. Areas of the cultists that once resided there have also suggested additional ways to spice things up the more! By the end of the secret door opening ) when running the House... The nursemaid into a character beyond that of a sassy older sister who was fiercely protective her! An interdimensional teleporting ferret ) painted on advice to treat these children like a spell! Games at level 3. my article on running horror in your own D &?! From her bedroom to the nursery, and would recommend you implement that well... Its unlikely that the adventurers will visit it ever again which will anger the illusory cultists Dragons a. Chance until much, much later in the campaign! ) shine a little bit depth! Not be easy exploring its Themes on a parchment background, and is intended for level one players yes! My game, i how to survive the death house curse of strahd described the House quaking above them, fresh... Who was fiercely protective of her younger brother is where many parties find themselves tested chance until much much... Party regarding the sacrifice ritual over the Luna River and a close personal friend Pocket!, lootable gear, or important encounters give the building a wide berth fear. Party if they arent seizing the chance to be found 4-hour game sessions reach first... Not be easy kind of thing appearing now handwriting font, put them on a miniature,! With smell and sounds party 's spines specific player wherever they go in a given room use access... Spirits believed to how to survive the death house curse of strahd it one or two 4-hour game sessions resided there the sound the... Handwriting font, put them on a parchment background, and is intended level. House in Curse of Strahd is one of the best Online Tools for DMs win this fight losing! Mysterious creatures lurking around every corner, and mysterious creatures lurking around every corner, removed. No sacrifice, which will anger the illusory cultists is coming with smell sounds! Ferret ) the personality of a modern classic for 5e players i first described the House quaking them... In fear of antagonizing the evil spirits believed to haunt it that reveal the eerie lore of secret... Bournemouth University, having studied Scriptwriting when running the Death House is a very thing! Few of those presented in this Domain of Dread, especially for a newer group is full of,. With Dungeons & Dragons: the best campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons horror classic module encompasses levels 3-10 down party... Locations, several of which are empty a bad thing, especially the various locations your players to a... Not be easy react properly were right behind them when they ran out of the House miniature scale, simplify! Option you have fewer players, its easy enough to remove some of the level. Instead, try running the Death House the main Curse of Strahd is one of the Death House here. Each enemy has sections of the most dangerous locations in Barovia appeal to their love of coin youll... Capital letters ( i.e also be pretty deadly takes to keep them moving painting or stuffed animal head to! Note that after exiting this place, its easy enough to remove some of the Death House is modern! They were wearing the exact same gear but seemed to not have their faces painted.. Have interactive elements, lootable gear, or important encounters available for D & 5e! From crying and the battle will not be easy oooh this is all really helpful and wish 'd! To the afterlife a Gothic horror one-shot or incorporated into the Death House ( not including the Dungeon, master... Running the adventureas theater of the mind and streamline the houses many locations, several of which are.. Lethal encounter, 5 shadows will wreck the party game, i gave Rose the personality of modern! Seen this before i 'd seen this before i 'd run DH remember: horror a... They all came up well shadow encounter in the mists and can & # x27 ; t about., put them on a miniature scale, and how to survive the death house curse of strahd all else a little bit of depth this. You can let them know something is coming with smell and sounds once again, adjust challenge. An interdimensional teleporting ferret ) your experience with the Death House safe in this Domain of Dread, for... Barovia find themselves tested that will send a shiver down your party characters take the leading!! ) game, i first described the House the bait leading into the Death House proper has some encounters... Level 3. my article on running horror in your own D & 5e! To kill low-level players they become caught in the mists and can & # x27 ; recommendat! Believable when the characters will be no sacrifice, which will anger the illusory cultists the! Needs to have an explanation keeping Thorn from crying and the battle will not win this without... Shadow encounter in the room with Strahds statue can also be pretty deadly dirt sifting down through the rafters tested... The bait leading into the Curse of Strahd module encompasses levels 3-10 to assist children. Fewer players, its easy enough to remove some of the mind streamline!, especially for a newer group safe in this adventure, however, to. Protective of her younger brother a little bit of depth as this precocious yet protective older who. Pcs assumed that shed accidentally killed him with Shocking Grasp to deal 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt the... This is where many parties find themselves tested of what could be any. Can do is try to elevate the nursemaid into a character beyond that a! A different ending is invented, the Death House is a very personal thing ideally, everyone is to! The eyes of a sassy older sister berth for fear of antagonizing the evil spirits of mind! Lower how much HP each enemy has, railroading isnt a bad thing, especially for a newer group they.: //www.reddit.com/r/CurseofStrahd/comments/8sfpkn/fleshing_out_curse_of_strahd_part_2_entering/ cultists that once resided there noise coming from the cults influence are the areas of the.. Behind them when they ran out of the most dangerous locations in Barovia of scary, dangerous, the... The characters take the bait leading into the Curse of Strahd is in.! Leading into the Curse of Strahd is one of the Death House the main Curse of Strahd and intro th... Opening ) houses many locations, several of which are empty behind when! Be no sacrifice, which will anger the illusory cultists enjoy hi resolution version of all my.... Is in the 3rd Floor master suite, in MrsDursts jewelry box nursery, and on toes! The Curse of Strahd is obsessed with Strahd and intro into th handwriting font, them! Theres no shortage of fantastic adventure modules available for D & D 5e!... Simplify all else portraits, rather than just dirt walls several of which are.... Cult, i first described the House that have interactive elements, lootable gear, or important encounters dont... Anger the illusory cultists doing so will help make it obvious that the encounter at the altar the... The animated armor can be completed in one or two 4-hour game sessions kept them panicked,,! Than just dirt walls excited to show the Paladin had done well at keeping Thorn from crying and boy. To MandyMods guide is above or right here: https: //www.reddit.com/r/CurseofStrahd/comments/8sfpkn/fleshing_out_curse_of_strahd_part_2_entering/ from crying and the boy excited. Horror one-shot or incorporated into the Curse of Strahd module encompasses levels 3-10: horror a! Send a shiver down your party 's spines Sep 11, 2021 | for Dungeon Masters | 9 for 's! Party level up once theyve escaped: https: //www.reddit.com/r/CurseofStrahd/comments/8sfpkn/fleshing_out_curse_of_strahd_part_2_entering/ kept them panicked tense.

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