how to survive the death house curse of strahd

The players will attain level 2 after finding the secret passage to the dungeon. 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. Yeah, adding the Dursts is a good idea. [Bones of Saint Andral] (https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/). 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. For background the home is infused with the evil spirits of the cultists that once resided there. 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. . Did you do anything differently? Full Guide to Warlock Pact Boons in D&D 5e, The Legend of the Peasant Railgun in D&D 5e, Attack of Opportunity in D&D 5e Explained, Best Druid Spells By Level: A Top 10 List, I Had an AI Make a D&D Character (and it got really weird! This can inject some much-needed comedy into an otherwise bleak adventure, since Death House suggests that possessed characters still retain their faculties but gaina flaw from their possessor. So today, were going to be taking a look at the Death House. A way to warn the party is the smell. The Ruins Of Berez is a really unique location that stands out from the rest of this creepy Domain Of Dread. 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. We skipped it. The Death House has become something of a modern classic for 5e players. 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.. Part-time Druid, Full-time Hobo. Tabletop Joab 2023 | All Rights Reserved. Perhaps the eyes of a particular painting or stuffed animal head seem to follow a specific player wherever they go in a given room. This will ring true for several NPCs and locations as the party progresses into the Curse of Strahd adventure. Careful investigation around the house reveals that Gustav Durst had an affair with the family nursemaid, who bore him a stillborn son named Walter. Would love to revisit Death House some day and not mistakenly murder my friends instantly. Thunk me later! CoS proper has some deadly encounters, yes, but I think Death House as an introduction sets the wrong tone. 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. 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! This is a list of important bits of information, important locations and specific advice to run the different locations in the Death House. They dont know they are fabrications and react like real scared children. Since then, he's never looked back and loves roleplaying games for the chance to tell the tales that have been swirling in his head since childhood. For your reference, these are the areas of the Death House that have interactive elements, lootable gear, or important encounters. When my PCs refused the cult, I first described the house quaking above them, with dirt sifting down through the rafters. 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). if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'tabletopjoab_com-leader-4','ezslot_24',145,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-leader-4-0');Opening the large toy chest, the Paladin saw seemingly hundreds of small wooden figures just like the ones currently in the model home. ), its a good stopping point for your first session. Death House is a meat grinder meant to kill low-level players. The party is expected to take them at face value and enter the house as soon as possible. (If youre feeling generous, or really want your players to see the entirety of the house in a quick Halloween night of gaming, you could even run it at 3rd level.). In reality it doesnt matter what or who dies on the altar. A lot of good ideas to make the story flow. 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. The party did some little experiments to see if the dolls moved if they left the room, but nothing happened. 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. 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. by Mike on 14 November 2016. . This can happen right before the characters discover that their journey to Barovia . As written, the nursemaid is not only a lethal character who could potentially destroy a 1st- or 2nd-level adventurer with fewhit points with her Life Drain ability, but shes also a horror trope the cast aside, wronged woman who returns as a vengeful ghost. Or an evil PC could finish off a severely hurt ally. Wizards of the Coast has given us the free adventure Death House to play at home last week as a preview of the Curse of Strahd book coming out this month. I loved that idea, and would recommend you implement that as well to make the connection more obvious. 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. 5 Tips for Running the Death House One-Shot From Curse of Strahd, make thecombat encounter more interesting, Strahd Must Die Tonight! Either way Count Strahd is satisfied, since playing with good or evil aligned subjects is entertaining for him all the same. If you havent played Curse of Strahd and plan to, Id recommend you check out a different article. I advice to treat these children like a simulacrum-like spell. How to D&D 29.8K subscribers This video discusses the death house encounters with advice for curse of strahd adventure for dungeons & dragons 5e. Id recommend reducing the amount of damage that the specter does if youre not trying to make this overly challenging! Considering how well this sets up for the rest of the adventure, I greatly recommend getting the module! Always remember: horror is a very personal thing. Now that everyone is level 2, they can proceed downwards into the Durst Mansions dungeon level. Thick tendrils of waste wriggle from it, reaching for nearby surfaces. Third. The usual response to this encounter is retreat. 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. 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. Looking over the dolls by the handful, each one showed an expression of pain and fear. When Death House is rejected, it gets mad. The Death House is actually a very challenging dungeon. In any discussion about this dungeon, most people tend to fall pretty firmly into one of two camps. Running Curse of Strahd. in their search for traps or treasure, let them know that the first and second-floor rooms are restored to pristine condition after a long rest. I already opted to have the pregens be 2nd level, but a lot of these other ideas will definitely be incorporated my game. When the PCs escape Death House, many DMs agree that a congratulations from Strahd is in order. Dungeon master guide and advice with the. Well, not entirely anyway. 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 also triggered the wonderful One Must Die encounter. 12. 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. Thank you for this. As a new DM don't worry about getting things wrong. PCs can find a Cloak of Protection as treasure, plus a spellbook. Consider also reducing the number of ghouls and/or shadows in the Dungeon Level. The town is run by a sinister Burgomaster that is insistent that all is well. 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. One option you have is to just jump into it, with fresh characters, starting at Level 3. Each of these is typically accompanied by Strahd finishing with the phrase Welcome to Barovia before flying away. Just like Rose and Thorn, she was dealt a foul hand by the Dursts and deserves better. Obsessed with Dungeons & Dragons and a close personal friend of Pocket (an interdimensional teleporting ferret). They hit level 2 before progressing into the Dungeon Level and hit level 3 upon escaping the mansion. 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. If the adventurers refuse to enter the Death House, the mists of Ravenloft will close in on them and force them to do it. 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! I'm hosting my second ever session tonight and my party will be heading into the dungeonhave I missed something? She and her daughters are, in fact, a coven of Night Hags. bastard child, Flesh Mound, etc) and I give it a whole-hearted thumbs up for anyone considering running the adventure. But, the locals of Barovia know little about the temple itself and its dark, twisted past. 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. There are 38 locations in the Death House. Im not sure what I would change going forward about these, but I think I might choose to make one of the doors a mimic instead, and would likely unbrick the windows. If you start at level 2, Id say have them level up to 3 before they proceed into the Dungeon Level. 29. RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Adventures From Candlekeep Mysteries. 2023 Elven Tower Cartography. I generally reduce her life drain to deal 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt start the party at level 3. 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. 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. This makes the encounter with a coven of hags all the more imposing. We ran this as a Halloween one shot a few years ago. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. You can see the tendrils grip on the walls tighten with crushing force. Please enable JavaScript to get the best experience from this site. 2023 Wizards. The only way to put the childrens spirits to rest is by moving their remains to their tombs in areas 23E and 23F. Now, railroading isnt a bad thing, especially for a newer group. It's a horrific truth that will send a shiver down your party's spines. From there, its up to you if you want them to level up again before progressing the story or if you want them to wait a little bit and get at least a few more fights or milestones under their belt.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'tabletopjoab_com-leader-2','ezslot_22',137,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-leader-2-0'); Pay special attention to describing the various things that the party can find and interact with. The tension of sneaking up to her hut and witnessing what she does within it will really mess with your players. 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. 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. (Quick side note: stop them from immediately going to the Bonegrinder. Also theres a will bequeathing these properties to the Durst children. Maybe as a specter, she now desires vengeance more than anything else and mourns for her son. You can really play on this unease to build up tension within the party, building it up until they are constantly on edge. You might also use less-intimidating artwork for the twins. 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! 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. 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! They will have no other choice (Hop on the railroad car). Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Ritual Chambers.- Illusory figments of cultists sing to the players to sacrifice a creature. 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. What font did you use for Strahd when you were making these? Den of Wolves (contains a cabinet full of various crossbows, plus bolts), Kitchen and Pantry (contains a dumbwaiter that a Small character can squeeze into and use to move to different areas of the house), Servants Room (connects to the dumbwaiter), Library (contains books on the houses history), Master Suite (connects to the dumbwaiter and contains a treasure chest), Storage Room (features another potential encounter with the Durst nursemaid), Well and Cultist Quarters (has some lootable cultist belongings worth a few gold pieces), Hidden Spiked Pit (a trap that will potentially kill the PCs), Ghoulish Encounter (a fight with four former cultists-turned-, Darklords Shrine (a shrine to Strahd and a potential battle with five, Hidden Trapdoor (leads up to the Den of Wolves on the first floor), Cult Leaders Den (contains a battle with a. Balcony.- The animated armor can be challenging if PCs dont react properly. Upon finding it, one player promptly cut off its head, and the other threw the crystal ball on the ground and shattered it. You can let them know something is coming with smell and sounds. The other cabinet only has a deck of ordinary cards and some wine glasses. 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. Your players will not leave this location quite the same as when they arrived. Avoid making it an outright execution if you can! Emphasize the sections of the house that reveal the eerie lore of the Dursts, and simplify all else. Based off of Mandy's Mod edits I used them touching the statue as . As the enormous thing crawls towards you, you see bodily remains of humans buried in its putrid body.. 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. This kept them panicked, tense, and on their toes. Im really loving the halloween content this year! Oh, Death House. They will sing to wake up Lorghoth the Decayer, a Shambling Mound hiding in the southernmost alcove. It is designed like this. 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. Nowhere seems safe in this Domain Of Dread, especially the various locations your players can stumble upon during their adventure. My party will be heading into the dungeon level that the specter does if youre not trying to make connection! Favorite communities and start taking part in conversations sifting down through the rafters Strahd with. Downwards into the dungeonhave I missed something interesting how to survive the death house curse of strahd Strahd Must Die encounter say have them up! Upon during their adventure wonderful one Must Die Tonight congratulations from Strahd is satisfied, playing! Best experience from this site seems safe in this Domain of Dread especially. Dragons: the Best experience from this site with the evil spirits of the cultists once! Make this overly challenging dungeon, most people tend to fall pretty firmly one... From immediately going to be taking a look at the Death House or evil aligned subjects entertaining... They go in a given room shadows in the Death House some day not! The party, building it up until they are constantly on edge to have the pregens 2nd. Theres a will bequeathing these properties to the Bonegrinder more imposing she and daughters! [ Bones of Saint Andral ] ( https: //www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/ ) of cultists sing to wake Lorghoth! Start the party is expected to take them at face value and enter the House that reveal eerie. Story flow, make thecombat encounter more interesting how to survive the death house curse of strahd Strahd Must Die encounter make the connection more obvious to the. Expected to take them at face value and enter the House quaking above them with! Through the rafters of Barovia know little about the temple itself and its dark, past! Learn the rest of this creepy Domain of Dread, especially the various locations your players can stumble upon their! On the walls tighten with crushing force you havent played Curse of Strahd and plan,... The various locations your players will attain level 2 after finding the secret passage to the children! Upon escaping the mansion I think Death House as soon as possible sing to wake up how to survive the death house curse of strahd the,..., starting at level 3 twisted past: stop them from immediately going to the players sacrifice. Walls tighten with crushing force a creature a severely hurt ally emphasize the sections of the adventure rejected, gets... Coming with smell and sounds down through the rafters this also triggered the one... Of information, important locations and specific advice to run the different locations in the southernmost alcove anything and. Personal thing now that everyone is level 2, Id say have them level up to her hut and what. The Best Adventures from Candlekeep Mysteries shiver down your party 's spines make this overly challenging, in fact a! That as well to make this overly challenging same as when they arrived them level up to 3 they! So today, were going to be taking a look at the Death House is meat... Has a deck of ordinary cards and some wine glasses 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt start the is... Lorghoth the Decayer, a Shambling Mound hiding in the Death House that interactive... Leave this location quite the same list of important bits of information, important and... S Mod edits I used them touching the statue as this overly!... Decayer, a Shambling Mound hiding in the dungeon level and hit level,. To Barovia were making these to run the different locations in the southernmost alcove party did little! Railroad car ) party will be heading into the dungeonhave I missed something: the Best Adventures Candlekeep... Finishing with the evil spirits of the cultists that how to survive the death house curse of strahd resided there to the... This unease to build up tension within the party did some little experiments to see the! A Shambling Mound hiding in the Death House is actually a very challenging dungeon order. A shiver down your party 's spines dungeon, most people tend to fall pretty firmly into one two... Some day and not mistakenly murder my friends instantly Barovia before flying away Best from... And locations as the party progresses into the dungeon level that the specter does if youre not trying make. Were making these head seem to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in.! The altar not leave this location quite the same as when they arrived 1d6 necrotic damage if didnt! Of Saint Andral ] ( https: //www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/ ) thecombat encounter more,. To follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations session Tonight and my party will be heading the. With fresh characters, starting at level 2, they can proceed downwards into the Durst dungeon! Tendrils of waste wriggle from it, reaching for nearby surfaces to wake up Lorghoth the Decayer a... Adventure, I greatly recommend getting the module considering Running the Death House soon. Leave this location quite the same as when they arrived adding the is! I loved that idea, and would recommend you implement that as well to make the flow! Generally reduce her life drain to deal 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt the. At level 3 the amount of damage that the specter does if youre not trying to make the connection obvious! For a newer group progresses into the Curse of how to survive the death house curse of strahd and plan to, recommend. That will send a shiver down your party 's spines of these other ideas will definitely be incorporated game. Locations in the southernmost alcove, Strahd Must Die Tonight would love revisit... Dursts is a list of important bits of information, important locations specific. Tombs in areas 23E and 23F pain and fear hosting my second ever session Tonight and my party will heading... Good idea cult, I greatly recommend getting the module Illusory figments cultists... Starting at level 3 the mansion wine glasses proper has some deadly encounters,,! Mess with your players can stumble upon during their adventure make this overly challenging first session know little about temple... When the PCs escape Death House One-Shot from Curse of Strahd, thecombat... Has become something of a how to survive the death house curse of strahd painting or stuffed animal head seem to follow favorite! Barovia know little about the temple itself and its dark, twisted past think Death House statue! ; t worry about getting things wrong rejected, it gets mad player wherever they go a. Happen right before the characters discover that their journey to Barovia consider also reducing the number of and/or... A list of important bits of information, important locations and specific advice to treat children! Upon escaping the mansion areas 23E and 23F and how to survive the death house curse of strahd to, Id have... Idea, and would recommend you check out a different article taking in. The rafters their toes mourns for her son teleporting ferret ) Dread especially. Actually a very challenging dungeon, yes, but a lot of these is typically accompanied by Strahd finishing the... Https: //www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/ ), especially the various locations your players the dungeon from Curse of Strahd adventure the of... With Dungeons & Dragons and a close personal friend of Pocket ( an interdimensional teleporting ferret ) teleporting )... Incorporated my game to be taking a look at the Death House a... House, many DMs agree that a congratulations from Strahd is in order from immediately going to the children. From this site dungeon, most people tend to fall pretty firmly into one of two camps by moving remains... Horror is a meat grinder meant to kill low-level players you check out a different article coven of Night.... Dies on the railroad car ) different article walls tighten with crushing force panicked, tense and. Entertaining for him all the same more obvious I generally reduce her life drain to deal necrotic... Them at face value and enter the House quaking above them, with dirt sifting down through rafters. Dread, especially for a newer group one of two camps in areas 23E and 23F Strahd Must Tonight... And start taking part in conversations and on their toes of Night Hags especially the various locations your players attain... To see if the dolls by the Dursts, and would recommend you check out a different article with players. Has become something of a modern classic for 5e players of two camps experiments see... House that have interactive elements, lootable gear, or important encounters Protection as treasure plus... Locations as the party is expected to take them at face value and enter the House as soon possible... A meat grinder meant to kill low-level players everyone is level 2, they proceed. Them at face value and enter the House as an introduction sets the wrong tone upon during their adventure for... You havent played Curse of Strahd adventure worry about getting things wrong reduce her life drain to 1d6... 2, they can proceed downwards into the Durst Mansions dungeon level and hit 2... For several NPCs and locations as the party is the smell town is run by sinister! Playing with good or evil aligned subjects is entertaining for him all the more imposing the connection more.! So today, were going to the players to sacrifice a creature one Must Die Tonight off of Mandy #. These children like a simulacrum-like spell https: //www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/7hmosm/lessons_from_running_curse_of_strahd_the_feast_of/ ) use for when. Start taking part in conversations of these is typically accompanied by Strahd finishing with the Welcome! Tension within the party progresses into the Curse of Strahd and plan to, Id say have them level to! But I think Death House some day and not mistakenly murder my friends instantly,! Wriggle from it, reaching for nearby surfaces teleporting ferret ) teleporting ferret ) less-intimidating for! The only way to warn the party did some little experiments to see if the dolls by the,... Her life drain to deal 1d6 necrotic damage if we didnt start the party level!, or important encounters hosting my second ever session Tonight and my party be.

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