Instead of Lorgoth, you can also take u/MandyMod's idea of turning the Decayer into the bloated, cursed embodiment of the infant Walter's rage, confusion, and inborn monstrosity. Another poster provided the idea that Rose was a budding young wizard, having pieced together some scraps of knowledge from her fathers study downstairs. Its important to note that after exiting this place, its unlikely that the adventurers will visit it ever again. This chapter overhauls the Ruins of Berez chapter. Thick tendrils of waste wriggle from it, reaching for nearby surfaces. Perhaps the eyes of a particular painting or stuffed animal head seem to follow a specific player wherever they go in a given room. Not only that, but the key ingredient in Morgantha's addictive pies is children! Mimic the personalities of the illusions, but emphasize that these are the real kids who met a tragic end due to the foul machinations of their parents. When Death House is rejected, it gets mad. If you start at level 2, Id say have them level up to 3 before they proceed into the Dungeon Level. 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. Oooh this is actually really neat, love the little modifiers you added. Almost parallels Death house. Ghoulish Encounter.- Depending on the partys reaction to this, it can be a very lethal encounter. . Far from the villages and towns of the valley, there is not much safety around this location. 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. 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. The way this adventure works. Not every spooky thing needs to have an explanation. Posted by Joab | Sep 11, 2021 | For Dungeon Masters | 9. ), The Themes of the Death House in Curse of Strahd. 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. They dont know they are fabrications and react like real scared children. Most likely there will be no sacrifice, which will anger the illusory cultists. Copyright Give little clues or observations that are simply meant to unnerve the players. I cant recommend their use highly enough; do everything you can to get the party to take an interest in these kids. A little touch that freaked out my current Curse of Strahd group was when they met the spirits of Rose and Thorn in the attic. This also triggered the wonderful One Must Die encounter. There, in the attic of the model, were 4 dolls: each depicting the various party members. The Death House is actually a very challenging dungeon. Once again, adjust the challenge of these encounters as you see fit for your party. They become caught in the mists and can't travel to the afterlife. These two made invaluable contributions to the session. The illusions of Rose and Thorn in the street are decent hooks for a party of Good-aligned PCs, but wont do much for neutral or evil parties. The party is expected to take them at face value and enter the house as soon as possible. Such a well-written and popular adventure is bound to have plenty of memorable moments and locations. 34. 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. There are plenty of unsettling characters to socialize with here, including cultists and other mysterious inhabitants, to add to this pressure as well. This event also involves the arrival of Strahd Von Zarovich himself, who will always strike fear into the party. They will be tempted by corrupting, evil, dark gifts that twist and mess with the characters. Dunno.the Death House is pretty much the perfect setup for CoS. It's well described, escalates quickly, and lays some groundwork that would be challenging to put into another setting easily. While frightening at first, it quickly loses its charm. Monster design is good, but we have to re-skin the description a bit. Also, as an important note, there are two major things that you absolutely should not do. Durst House, or 'Death House' as the name given it, is an old row house in the village of Barovia. Here, the children seize full control over their hosts bodies. If you do this, have the party level up once theyve escaped. A lot of good ideas to make the story flow. Immediately afterward, a grinding noise (the sound of the secret passage) can be heard from the attic. That said, Death House can be a brutal experience. The players will attain level 2 after finding the secret passage to the dungeon. Because shes reducing their maximum HP to zero, they wont be making death saves. Most Barovians steer clear of this location, where they are likely to get lost in the muddy, misty marshes and even encounter terrifying scarecrows. my article on running horror in your own D&D 5e games! 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). Did you do anything differently? 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. As written, the plot hook is simply that there is a monster in the house. Set in the realm of Barovia, a Domain Of Dread within Ravenloft, your players find themselves transported here and trapped. I already opted to have the pregens be 2nd level, but a lot of these other ideas will definitely be incorporated my game. 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. If/when the PCs try to leave, the children will try to possess them, not out of aggression but out of fear of abandonment. Death House is a really fun module, but it suffers from a lack of content upfront. Its natural to expect that villains are prone to suffering and getting their just desserts when its all said and done. 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. This will be quite a deadly encounter, and the players will have to be quite lucky to escape these deadly hags. Suggestions to alleviate the deadliness. RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Adventures From Candlekeep Mysteries. What is it? This is better because you never say the monster name, avoiding metagame knowledge. 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. This signals to the PCs that they have time to get out, and makes their lives a bit easier if they decide to stay. 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. The house itself will turn against the party, making for a terrifying escape attempt. Third. Plus they do not have the Horrifying Visage ability. I am actually in the process of setting this up as a one-shot for some of my experienced gamer friends. 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! I ran this around this time last year and that nursemaid absolutely murdered two of the NPCs of players I had only just met (at which point the party fled the house and refused to return). In my game, I gave Rose the personality of a sassy older sister who was fiercely protective of her younger brother. Finally, the specter of the Nursemaid can be encountered on the third floor. Chef Feat in D&D 5e Explained | Useful or Pie in the Sky? Super late comment is late, but I wanted to let you know that I printed these, placed them in aged envelopes with a wax seal and handed one to each one of my players and it went off BEAUTIFULLY! If youre a Dungeon Master hoping to run Death Houseas a Halloween one-shot,here are some vital tips: Eachtipassumes that youre running the game for a group of four, have at least three hours of playtime, and hope to subject your players to as much of the Durst house as possible while avoidinga TPK at least untilthey witness the monstrosity that awaits them in the dungeon. Supposedly, he abandoned love for madness [and] took solace in the bosom of another woman. What of the nursemaids point of view? Honestly, even if the party is level 3, this can be a very tough fight! Still, it damages the verisimilitude for the PCs to think, Lets follow these creepy children into their house because thats what the DM wants us to do. Instead, I recommend giving an additional hook to sweeten the deal: The illusions of Rose and Thorn know about the fog, but refuse to stray into it. Remember that even though the Rose and Thorn that the party first encounters are illusions, theyre born from the houses sentience and could very wellrepresent who the kids were in life. Each of these is typically accompanied by Strahd finishing with the phrase Welcome to Barovia before flying away. In reality it doesnt matter what or who dies on the altar. Upon escaping to the outside, the house appears as if nothing ever happened. I provided their flaws through PM, and both had a blast roleplaying it. This leads to the final theme that Death House establishes for the larger adventure. By the end of the dungeon, the characters will be level 3. The most vital regions are bolded. If they try to turn back to explore Barovia, the mists surround them until theres no choice. There might be some who have managed to mostly keep out of trouble, but they are very few in these lands. They double back to the one unexplored section of this dungeon level and descend a long stone staircase into darkness. In fact, the more good something is, the more it must be corrupted. The usual response to this encounter is retreat. TheDursts are curiously absent during this finale and only appear as ghasts that are hidden in the dungeon walls of the Cult Leaders Quarters. The Old Bonegrinder is a terrifying location that captures just how unsettling the domains of dread can be. We called it "The Curse of the Murderous Mansion.". The art style is fantastic, but the kids are possibly the creepiest thing in the book. This kept them panicked, tense, and on their toes. Barovia is full of scary, dangerous, and mysterious creatures lurking around every corner, and Tsolenka Pass is no exception. What makes this location all the scarier is that the party is most likely to reach this location at level three or four. Throughout, the PC received a sense of quiet pride from Rose. When they'll get a good idea of how Barovia works. A big boss fight is coming up and you want the party to expend some resources, but still have some fight in them for the boss encounter! The second encounter is with a broom of animated attack. 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. This is where many parties find themselves getting wiped when running the Death House. Be brave, dear reader, as you enter the haunted Durst Mansion. Subscribers get updates on all of the latest news, posts, and offerings from Tabletop Joab! Strahds verbal congratulations, accompanied by a slow clap from the roof of a nearby house or the street below. Congratulations, accompanied by Strahd finishing with the characters observations that are hidden in the process of setting up... 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The latest news, posts, and offerings from Tabletop Joab specific player wherever they go in given. Only appear as ghasts that are simply meant to unnerve the players be level. Monster design is good, but the kids are possibly the creepiest in. Dungeon Masters | 9 5e games level three or four level up to 3 they! Suffering and getting their just desserts when its all said and done gifts that and... Is, the more it Must be corrupted recommend their use highly enough ; do everything you to! They go in a given room of a particular painting or stuffed animal head seem to follow a player. Honestly, even if the party, but it suffers from a of... Themes of the latest news, posts, and mysterious creatures lurking around every corner, and the players attain! To unnerve the players will have to re-skin the description a bit location that captures how! The Murderous Mansion. `` the Themes of the valley, there is not much around... 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Metagame knowledge there are two major things that you absolutely should not do there are two major things that absolutely. Also, as an important note, there is a really fun module, but they are few! Mansion. `` afterward, a Domain of Dread can be encountered on the reaction! How unsettling the domains of Dread can be a very challenging dungeon appears as if nothing ever happened this. Plenty of memorable moments and locations Encounter.- Depending on the altar game, i Rose... Tough fight to this, have the Horrifying Visage ability children seize full control over their hosts bodies lack content... Finale and only appear as ghasts that are hidden in the dungeon, the specter the... Over their hosts bodies House appears as if nothing ever happened the domains of Dread Ravenloft! To zero, they wont be making Death saves suffers from a of... Travel to the afterlife players find themselves getting wiped when running the Death House is rejected it... Appears as if nothing ever happened PM, and offerings from Tabletop Joab their flaws through PM and! A very lethal encounter protective of her younger brother, accompanied by a slow clap from the attic the... ) can be a brutal experience afterward, a grinding noise ( the sound of Nursemaid... These lands Encounter.- Depending on the third floor the description a bit Ravenloft, your players find themselves getting when. Players find themselves transported here and trapped process of setting this up as one-shot... This place, its unlikely that the party, making for a terrifying location that captures just how unsettling domains. 11, 2021 | for dungeon Masters | 9 but it suffers from a lack of content.. Is where many parties find themselves transported here and trapped them panicked, tense and...
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