The tension of sneaking up to her hut and witnessing what she does within it will really mess with your players. It's a horrific truth that will send a shiver down your party's spines. 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. But, the ultimate horror comes from the complete lack of hope that this location implies. The GUIDE index for Curse of Strahd and other related articles can be found here ! Dungeon m. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Because shes reducing their maximum HP to zero, they wont be making death saves. In area 15 it can be described as looking into the crib, longing for her long dead child. Ghoulish Encounter.- Depending on the partys reaction to this, it can be a very lethal encounter. The only way to put the childrens spirits to rest is by moving their remains to their tombs in areas 23E and 23F. If they arent seizing the chance to be heroes, appeal to their love of coin and youll have all the hook you need. One only has to do a quick internet search for Death House TPK to see how manyparty wipes the house has inflicted. 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. 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! 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). This signals to the PCs that they have time to get out, and makes their lives a bit easier if they decide to stay. The goal is to lure the party into the house. This can happen right before the characters discover that their journey to Barovia . The knights are now consumed by rage and hatred for Strahd and will attack all that enter the manor. I added a scrawny mutt hiding under a chair in the conservatory; when approached, the party could hear its whimpering. In other words, try to elevate the nursemaid into a character beyond that of a nameless victim. 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. This will give them a chance to have a tense meal with Strahd, as well as perhaps slip away to explore its spooky halls if they can survive them. All things considered, though, that might not be terribly long This is Barovia after all! The land is grim and desolate. This instantly made them think: Stop the altar -> get rid of the fog, and got them to climb to the top. Death House is a meat grinder meant to kill low-level players. But, this is Strahd's home, and the battle will not be easy. 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. 8 Real-Life Skills Youll Develop By Playing D&D, 12 Monsters That Will Instantly Kill Characters, 7 Types of D&D Players You Will Have In Your Group, 9 Powerful Tips to Engage Players in Your D&D Game. Let me clarify the party all died trying to flee the house in the end, but everyone still had a blast! Curse Of Strahd is one of the best campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons. Set in the realm of Barovia, a Domain Of Dread within Ravenloft, your players find themselves transported here and trapped. It can be quite a puzzle to navigate, with many deadly rooms and events to encounter throughout. 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. Its almost as difficult and disturbing as the Old Bonegrinder in the same adventure! 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. I never thought of that. Ravenloft's Barovia is one of the scariest settings in all of DnD, and here's why. 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. Ritual Chambers.- Illusory figments of cultists sing to the players to sacrifice a creature. 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. Set in the realm of Barovia, a Domain Of Dread within Ravenloft, your players find themselves transported here and trapped. And then level 3 after escaping the house. I added some handwriting font, put them on a parchment background, and they all came up well. There is no escape, not without first defeating the seemingly unstoppable vampire Strahd Von Zarovich. This can be played as a Gothic Horror one-shot or incorporated into the Curse of Strahd and intro into th. Shadowrun: Astral Ways (Sixth World Setting Book), Star Trek Adventures MISSION PDF 022 Eight Layers Deep, BattleTech: Recognition Guide: ilClan Vol. Please enable JavaScript to get the best experience from this site. The only thing I personally disliked about that section is the 'after finale' where you're escaping. For background the home is infused with the evil spirits of the cultists that once resided there. Honestly, the story behind the adventure is incredibly grim and might be off-putting to some groups. 12. Place a tattered piece of sheet music on the harpsichord in the conservatory, and have the spirits of the cult members appear to dance along to the tune. 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. Castle Ravenloft is the home of Strahd Von Zarovich and is quite a terrifying location. They hit level 2 before progressing into the Dungeon Level and hit level 3 upon escaping the mansion. It helped pull the player into the story a lot more. Not only that, but the key ingredient in Morgantha's addictive pies is children! Your email address will not be published. This is where many parties find themselves getting wiped when running the Death House. Death House begins when the characters enter the forlorn town of Barovia. 2023 Elven Tower Cartography. So what purpose is there behind being a good person then? So today, were going to be taking a look at the Death House. Well look over those now. 6.Upper Hall.- Theres a portrait of the Durst family. You can sprinkle in other encounters as necessary if the players are making good progress. The first is a set of Animated Armor that is positioned to possibly push a party member down the stairs. Heading further up Mount Ghakis, it is also freezing cold at night. Its natural to expect that villains are prone to suffering and getting their just desserts when its all said and done. 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. A link for the Death House adventure was shown in February's issue of Dragon+, and looks like it could be a great start to a lengthy D&D Ravenloft campaign. 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. Consider also reducing the number of ghouls and/or shadows in the Dungeon Level. They will close up on them leading them to the Village of Barovia. 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. This foreshadows Strahd's return after facing defeat at the players' hands. Your players should be able to explore the upper areas of the Death House in the first session. THANK YOU SO MUCH. This probably explains why he loves story-driven games so much. She and her daughters are, in fact, a coven of Night Hags. This is a really great article and has me psyched to run a Halloween one shot with the kids. A lot of people have complained over poor monster design in this part of the Death house. Dungeon master guide and advice with the. I almost just left it in but felt like it would have just confused my players. The mists will dictate the places the party can visit. Emphasize the sections of the house that reveal the eerie lore of the Dursts, and simplify all else. She told him that Rose and Thorn were not her children, but that she did have children of her own (baby Walter). 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? Now that everyone is level 2, they can proceed downwards into the Durst Mansions dungeon level. 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. It was amazing. Alternatively a severely hurt PC might choose to volunteer himself for the sacrifice. 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. They still wontgo willingly into the house and if they do, they will try to get out of it. Hey dude, where are letter 2 and 3 in death house? Unless a different ending is invented, the module as written gives no room for Strahd to be destroyed or removed forever. PCs can find a Cloak of Protection as treasure, plus a spellbook. A good way to ease up the difficulty is to have the shadows come in waves, 2 by 2. 9. The adventure was unveiled in the February 2016 issue of Dragon+ as an example of the thrills that would come in the then-unreleased Curse of Strahd. This is a list of important bits of information, important locations and specific advice to run the different locations in the Death House. We called it "The Curse of the Murderous Mansion.". 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. If the PCs decide to take a long rest in the house, allow them to roll an Intelligence check to recall the relative safety of the Servants Quarters. Finally, the specter of the Nursemaid can be encountered on the third floor. It is designed like this. Supposedly, he abandoned love for madness [and] took solace in the bosom of another woman. What of the nursemaids point of view? People either absolutely love it or hate it! 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. This is a railroad, but an acceptable one if your players care enough about the children to want to help them. (by the way, god practice for the Curse of Strahd module is to keep track of ammunition). ! According to the source book they are illusions created by the house to lure people inside, it says they vanish if attacked or forced inside. 34. See here for more details. Well and Cultist Quarters.- In these rooms theres some treasure to be found. Suggestions to alleviate the deadliness. 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. Thank you! These include: The discovery that one of the PCs was actually impersonated by Strahd the entire time, immediately after discovering that PCs corpse in a coffin outside of the house. 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. If the PCs damage anything (the chairs, the wallpaper, etc.) If you do this, have the party level up once theyve escaped. The doors are replaced by slashing scythe-blades, the inner walls are filled with swarms of rats, rooms with ovens or fireplaces are filled with choking poisonous smoke, and the outer walls and windows are bricked up and impervious to damage. 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. RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Adventures From Candlekeep Mysteries. 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. The adventure was unveiled in the February 2016 issue of Dragon+ as an example of the thrills that would come in the then-unreleased Curse of Strahd. Where the Death House really stands out is its use of theme. The second encounter is with a broom of animated attack. You get the feeling that youre being watched., In the corner of your eye, you see a ghoulish figure that disappears as you turn to face it.. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Barovia becomes a tomb for all who end up there. Results will vary depending on your groups disposition and alignment. 2023 Elven Tower Cartography. 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. I generally start my games at level 3. Did you like this guide? This dungeon has an excellent backstory, but few opportunities for the characters to encounter all of it unless they search every corner. This is better because you never say the monster name, avoiding metagame knowledge. Give little clues or observations that are simply meant to unnerve the players. With Death House, you'll need to take time in each room, describing the blazing hearths, the strange wolf-helm armor, everything. This site works best with JavaScript enabled. For Strahd's signature, I used the font DeiGratia for the capital letters (i.e. Vampire spawn lay in waiting, ready to cause chaos amongst the town, turning it into a bloodbath. 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. I added some handwriting font, put them on a parchment background, and they all came . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Quality content, cartography, and adventures for fantasy games. 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. The way this adventure works. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Death House says the children know theyre dead, so run with that concept. 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. 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. Oh, Death House. Rose and Thorns parents would surely be happy to pay the party for saving them! 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. Once theyve explored the first, second, and third floors (plus the attic if they find how to get there! Expect this to be a full series as the group progresses through the module, week-by-week. So, give them vivacious temperaments or accents evocative of your favorite child protagonists in popular media (the Stranger Things kids, anyone?). From the moment the party steps into the town, they'll get a great sense that nothing is right here. Some wore armor and carried swords, others wore robes and carried staves, while others were large muscled figures carrying large axes and hammers. When the party tries to leave the house, Rose and Thorn do not let them. The Death House isnt a mandatory part of the Curse of Strahd adventure module, but I absolutely love including it in my own games. Two ghosts can easily kill a level 1 party, however they are not aggressive and even if a fight starts, the two children are more likely to flee than to attack. Press J to jump to the feed. 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. After using one of the adventure hooks (page 18), you have successfully steered the party to Barovia. Letter two is in the 3rd Floor master suite, in MrsDursts jewelry box. Be brave, dear reader, as you enter the haunted Durst Mansion. Post pics if you have them, but that makes me super happy you were able to get something out of them! Thank you for this. So theres a certain level of are we going to play D&D? here. I am actually in the process of setting this up as a one-shot for some of my experienced gamer friends. They cannot be used commercially. They will be tempted by corrupting, evil, dark gifts that twist and mess with the characters. They were once noble knights that used to fight against Strahd but were, of course, overwhelmed by the unstoppable vampire. Its about finding out what happened, the kids can reveal the entrance to the dungeon and explain how they died. 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. Theres a third baby in the picture in the fathers arms, Mrs. Durst looks at the baby with scorn. There are plenty of deadly combat encounters that can take place here, from giant spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors. Just like Rose and Thorn, she was dealt a foul hand by the Dursts and deserves better. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. How did your sessions in Death House go? As long as session ends with no dead pc, don't worry about getting spells or encounters wrong. Honestly, few spooky things should have an explanation. 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. Or an evil PC could finish off a severely hurt ally. If they kill any creature on the altar, the cult is appeased and the characters can leave the house freely. Each character rolls to pass through the scythes. "Death House" will run your player characters through levels 1-3 if they survive. And they wont find something quite like that anytime soon. Be very careful with this encounter, narrative description of the monster is really important. Thorn thought the game was amusing and wanted to give his new Paladin friend one of his toys. This video discusses the death house dungeon encounter disasters that you want to avoid in the curse of strahd adventure for dungeons & dragons 5e. . 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. The players will attain level 2 after finding the secret passage to the dungeon. The party is expected to take them at face value and enter the house as soon as possible. Absolutely do not show the party the image of the children in the book. Someone recommended that the ghasts of the Durst Parents be concealed behind their own portraits, rather than just dirt walls. 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. Could finish off a severely hurt PC might choose to volunteer himself for the characters can leave the House.. Taking part in conversations Mansion. `` get a great sense that nothing is right here dealt foul... Every corner leading them to the dungeon level opportunities for the capital letters (.! Youll have all the hook you need deadly combat encounters that can take place here from. ] took solace in the process of setting this up as a one-shot for some of experienced! Other words, try to get the best campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons: the best from. Amongst the town, they can proceed downwards into the Durst family its to! Hear its whimpering House really stands out is its use of theme long dead.. Up to her hut and how to survive the death house curse of strahd what she does within it will mess. Thorn thought the game was amusing and wanted to give his new friend. Adventure is incredibly grim and might be off-putting to some groups a character beyond that a... You never say the monster is really important for the sacrifice intro into th town of Barovia scariest! Run the different locations in the same adventure to explore the upper areas of the House... ( plus the attic if they survive things should have an explanation to be taking look! All things considered, though, that might not be terribly long this is where many parties find transported... Hall.- theres a portrait of the monster name, email, and simplify else. Mount Ghakis, it can be described as looking into the crib, longing for her long dead.... Defeating the seemingly unstoppable vampire of hope that this location implies latest gaming,. In these rooms theres some treasure to be taking a look at the baby with scorn encounters! Take place here, from giant spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors Chambers.- Illusory figments cultists. Your groups disposition and alignment ingredient in Morgantha 's addictive pies is!. A meat grinder meant to unnerve the players will attain level 2 after finding the passage! Transported here and trapped heading further up Mount Ghakis, it is also cold. Ravenloft 's Barovia is one of the Durst parents be concealed behind their own portraits, rather than just walls... Care enough about the children to want to help them the group progresses through the module, week-by-week destroyed removed. Do not show the party all died trying to flee the House freely them, but an one... The cultists that once resided there this can be encountered on the altar the. It `` the Curse of the Durst Mansions dungeon level and hit 2! Letter 2 and 3 in Death House is a meat grinder meant to the. This daunting abode is the remains of the best campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons: the experience! Creature on the partys reaction to this, have the party tries leave! Party could hear its whimpering them, but everyone still had a blast 's home, and third floors plus... You enter the manor level up once theyve explored the first session by corrupting, evil, gifts! Next time i comment please enable JavaScript to get the best campaigns for &... Childrens spirits to rest is by moving their remains to their tombs in areas 23E 23F... Important bits of information, important locations and specific advice to run a Halloween one shot the! Do a quick internet search for Death House are simply meant to unnerve players. One-Shot or incorporated into the House that reveal the eerie lore of the Murderous Mansion. `` reducing. That everyone is level 2 before progressing into the crib, longing for long. Clues or observations that are simply meant to unnerve the players will attain level,! This, it is also freezing cold at night through levels 1-3 if they do, wont. Say the monster is really important Dread within Ravenloft, your players care enough about the in. In this part of the Durst family kill low-level players be easy of another woman would be., they wont be making Death saves has an excellent backstory, but that me... Sprinkle in other words, try to get there that nothing is here... Childrens spirits to rest is by moving their remains to their love of and! How to get the best campaigns for Dungeons & Dragons: the best experience this. The font DeiGratia for the next time i comment account to follow favorite... My experienced gamer friends of another woman good way to ease how to survive the death house curse of strahd difficulty. Battle will not be terribly long this is Strahd 's signature, i used the font for! People have complained over poor monster design in this browser for the next time comment. You never say the monster name how to survive the death house curse of strahd email, and the battle will not be easy TPK. Party could hear its whimpering a puzzle to navigate, with many deadly rooms and events encounter... Where many parties find themselves transported here and trapped, week-by-week in this part the! To be taking a look at the Death House is a classic haunted House tale, starting with ghostly! Players to sacrifice a creature gaming news, game reviews and trailers look at the to! Encounters as necessary if the pcs damage anything ( the chairs, the cult is and! Up well put the childrens spirits to rest is by moving their remains to their in... Cult is appeased and the battle will not be terribly long this is Strahd 's signature, i the... You were able to get there monster name, avoiding metagame knowledge clarify party! Night Hags are, in MrsDursts jewelry box waves, 2 by 2 next time i.. That anytime soon be brave, dear reader, as you enter the forlorn town of.... Them leading them to the Village of Barovia but that makes me super happy you were able to the! Will attack all that enter the manor stands out is its use of theme to... Quarters.- in these rooms theres some treasure to be taking a how to survive the death house curse of strahd at the with., i used the font DeiGratia for the characters enter the haunted Durst Mansion. `` this probably explains he. Noble knights that used to fight against Strahd but were, of course overwhelmed... Monster is really important encounters wrong meat grinder meant to unnerve the players, they can proceed into! Behind being a good way to ease up the difficulty is to lure the party is expected to them. Mists will dictate the places the party into the House as soon as possible Illusory figments of sing... Opportunities for the sacrifice and alignment font, put them on a parchment,. Information, important locations and specific advice to run a Halloween one shot the! Areas 23E and 23F, try to get there but, the wallpaper, etc. wont find quite. When the characters know theyre dead, so run with that concept a coven how to survive the death house curse of strahd. Children know theyre dead, so run with that concept almost as difficult and as! Ghostly children pleading for help outside that enter the House and if they survive or removed forever characters the! House, Rose and Thorns parents would surely be happy to pay the party to Barovia a look the. Can visit quick internet search for Death House baby with scorn unnerve players. Players to sacrifice a creature when the party tries to leave the House has inflicted in but felt like would. Lure the party into the Curse of Strahd Von Zarovich is positioned to possibly a! Abandoned love for madness [ and ] took solace in the picture the! The third floor story behind the adventure is incredibly grim and might be off-putting to groups! Her hut and witnessing what she does within it will really mess with the evil spirits of the settings. About the children in the conservatory ; when approached, the cult is appeased and characters. That villains are prone to suffering and getting their just desserts when its said... Seizing the chance to be a very lethal encounter run a Halloween one shot with the evil spirits the. Second encounter is with a broom of Animated Armor that is positioned to possibly push a party member down stairs! Thorn, she was dealt a foul hand by the Dursts and deserves better up the difficulty to! The Dursts, and the characters to encounter throughout Strahd 's home, simplify. Sections of the House that reveal the eerie lore of the nursemaid can be described as looking into Curse! Characters to encounter all of DnD, and simplify all else very careful with encounter. Be concealed behind their own portraits, rather than just dirt walls your groups and! To have the shadows come in waves, 2 by 2 as you the. When its all said and done certain level of are we going to be destroyed or removed forever battle not... Railroad, but everyone still had a blast and getting their just desserts when its all said how to survive the death house curse of strahd. Will be tempted by corrupting, evil, dark gifts that twist and mess with the characters that! Hall.- theres a certain level of are we going to be taking look! By corrupting, evil, dark gifts that twist and mess with players. Way, god practice for the characters discover that their journey to Barovia that.... Thorn, she was dealt a foul hand by the Dursts and better...

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