Currently running Curse of Strahd - CoS - for the first time, my players are about half way through Death House and I'm thinking ahead about how to introduce Strahd and am hoping you might share how and when you did it?
I've done a bit of reading outside the actual Curse of Strahd book namely - Fleshing out Curse of Strahd Reddit and A Guide to Curse of Strahd by Sean McGovern from the DM's Guild and several others which have me thinking I should introduce Strahd early and repeatedly each time revealing some of his power...
Currently my thoughts are having him make an appearance at The Burgomeister Kolyan Indirovich's Burial charming all into supplication and doting on Ireena Kolyana consoling her on her tragic loss and generously announcing he will give her time to grieve before she must come and join him in Castle Ravenloft where he will take care of her...
Thanks for any replies thoughts, I'm particularly very interested to hear how/when you introduced Strahd in your adventure and how it went.
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“It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt, It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills, It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
I had strahd and his wife as bartenders. They both were using polymorph to hide a bit. Thing was that they really helped the players and built trust with them.
You can imagine what the players went through way the unveil.
You still have time to have him introduce himself before they meet Ireena. Any time anyone wanders away from the rest of the party is a good time to take them into the other room and introduce them to Strahd, who has a 24 hr charm. Then crazy nightmare stuff happens to everyone but the charmed one, just to mess with everyone's head.
If I ever run it again, I'm going to try having Strahd rescue the party from the hags in Bonegrinder and then see if he can manipulate the group into turning over Ireena by telling them that she's Tatyana's reincarnation, but she's lost her memories.
Avohei that must have been one epic unveil! did you place them in Blood on the Vine Barovia or a custom tavern? I'm thinking Blue Water Inn Vallaki would have some conflicts
TimCurtin I'm DM'ing for two players online and actual session time is quite limited so any private other room stuff I'd do as a PM between sessions, but I most definitely intend to ;) I've really been puzzling over the Strahd Ireena Tatyana thing Strahd could kidnap her easily and the book rather suggest that's Strahd's intention but leaves open what happens if he does... (unless I've missed something, which is very possible) all this and the side reading has me kind of thinking Strahd has whisked off Tatyana reincarnations before many many times and it's always gone horribly wrong most likely suicide... he wants the characters to conclude the best way to lift the curse is for Ireena/Tatyana to willingly join Strahd much like the The Abbot of Krezk, Strahd wants the characters to persuade Ireena/Tatyana that this will lift the curse... that's the direction I'm thinking Strahd's mind game manipulation would be going
It's not very thought through I know I'm still really puzzling for a good reason why Strahd doesn't just take what he wants
“It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt, It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills, It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
Don’t know if this is too late but when I introduced Strahd I bent the rules a little as the DM. So I had an illusion of him reach out into the material realm to assess the party after they had an encounter with one of his spawn who escaped the mists. When the party arrived in Barovia I wanted them to really hate him early on so he was wooing Ireena in the village of Barovia and attacked the party, and only stopped after the bard supplicated himself. He then gate crashed the late burgomaster’s funeral by raising him as a zombie for Ismark to kill again. Even without the Ireena plot line I’m pretty sure the party wanted to kill him by the time they left the village.
Honestly, when I first introduced Strahd he was standing in the mists 100' up the street from the Death house staring at the characters as they emerged. A dark forbidding figure staring at them as the mists that drove them into the death house are lifting revealing the rest of the village of Barovia. The figure steps around the corner and vanishes leaving no trace of his presence.
I had the party encounter Strahd several times as he prodded and tested them, obviously superior, keeping an eye on them, assessing them, waiting until they become an interesting challenge to alleviate his eternal boredom.
Feel free to adjust Strahd's spells. He learned them at the Amber Temple and the temple has every spell in the PHB available so Strahd can easily prepare something else. In one encounter I had a pack of werewolves attack the party about level 7. Would have been an easy encounter until Strahd smirked and upcast Banishment on the party taking out the barbarian and another low wisdom character. The wolves knocked the rest to zero hit points but left them alive - I had the party roll some death saves - they didn't know what was going on or whether it was a TPK until the Banished characters returned to find their team mates on the ground, not quite dead yet and both the wolves and Strahd gone. Strahd doesn't really want them dead, he wants them to be a decent challenge, and this encounter showed the party just how powerful and nasty Strahd could be.
However, by the time the party actually did go to the Castle (they were about level 11-12), I had to beef up Strahd to make him a challenge that the party wouldn't just walk over. Many of the magic items are very good at making undead easy to defeat - sunlight, protection from good and evil 30', vampire turning - Strahd loses very quickly to a higher level party with the specific items available in the module (though the general lack of magical weapons mitigates this a bit but most DMs will cave and give the players at least one or two useful magical weapons). I ended up increasing his hit points to maximum, having him recover the +2 greatsword and resort to wearing his animated armor, bumped his caster level and spell list, added a few vampire spawn, a vampire mage and some yesterhill druids as allies.
Strahd is very intelligent and developed a plan to mitigate many of the abilities of the party - when they met him in the foretold room he had druids hidden in the corners - two of them cast fog cloud, two silence, while he cast Tenser's transformation on himself and relied on the vampire mage for any backup magic - the lack of sight prevented the sunlight issue and the disadvantage on attack rolls due to the protection from good and evil was prevented by the advantage/disadvantage cancelling due to vision - he figured he would crush them as the great warrior of his past and honestly it was a good fight. The parties ally from the prophecy was Tatiana but they had freed her (by accident) so if the fight had gone badly she would have appeared in a spirit form that would have distracted Strahd. However, Tatiana did not need to put in an appearance.
Not too late by any means M3theston my group are still in the Death House though about to assault final level of the dungeon... we're rather slow I know but consistent and everyone had fun just a matter of busy people and real life commitments I'm afraid. OH MY M3theston talk about being a guest to your own funeral! Strahd raising the Burgomeister as a Zombie at his funeral, That's hilarious... well my rather pythonesque dark sick sense of humour finds it hilarious! and totally horrific, I might have to steal that my only concern is that I couldn't resist making it comical which maybe I shouldn't with a Strahd scene.
David42 yes I definitely would tailor Strahd's spell list and was also thinking of hinting at his malign presence after the Death House though not a full introduction as it were, I'm running the Death House as its own parasitic Demi Domain of Dread much like The House of Lament preying on travelers on the edges of Barovia, I thought this might give me the chance to show the ruined house to the players in Barovia and let them learn that long ago Strahd turned up and destroyed it and everyone in it, possibly sowing a bit of doubt that Strahd isn't all bad or possibly redeemable (one of the players characters is a Paladin of Redemption). David42 sounds like quite the epic showdown, I'm hoping over the campaign I'll get a better handle on Strahd so I can also make such a epic showdown as that.
Thanks again for your replies find it super interesting how you've run things wishing you all the best
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt, It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills, It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
I’m glad you like the idea of raising the late burgomaster. I think a bit of dark humour could work, at this point in the campaign Strahd wouldn’t see the party as a threat therefore he’d just be having fun.
I also tailored Strahd’s spells, partly because I didn’t want to kill the party and also to annoy them. So I swapped out for stuff like suggestion and sleep. I may also have taken counterspell to mess with the party. At the start of the campaign the party are like toys for Strahd
I'm planning to introduce his alter ego, Vasili Von Holtz, first. The party just escorted Ireena and Ismark to Vallaki, and still needs to see Madam Eva. They also just returned the bones of St Andral so they thwarted Strahd's plan for the feast of St Andral. They've gotten his attention. Ismark intends to assume his duties as Burgomaster, so he asks the party to travel together, since Barovia and the Tser Falls camp are in the same direction.
Between the Vistani camp and Barovia Village, they will come upon an overturned wagon, and an unconscious, well-dressed businessman. The horses nearby were eviscerated, but he seems to have blacked out and does not remember much of the incident.
The players are going to encounter him on the road, where he asks for an escort back to the Barovia Village. He is a merchant and accountant and has business with the Blood of the Vine Tavern. When the party get there, Ismark wants to visit his father's grave, only to find that all of the graves behind the church are empty, including the recently buried burgomaster. Doru and Donavich are already dead, so the church is deserted, and there's nobody to look after the cemetery so nobody knows the dead have risen in town.
Meanwhile, rumors are swirling around town about a mysterious illness that has been spreading. Average people are turning into vicious monsters (Strahd Zombies) and attacking each other. Eventually, if the party investigate enough, they will learn that all of this happened after the appearance of a well-dressed businessman.
If Ismark stays at the tavern with the party (even though he has a home in town) the party will find his severed head in the room after they wake up. If the party confronts Vasili, he applauds their resourcefulness. "You interrupted my plans in Vallaki. And you have stolen something of value to me (Ireena). There is nothing left for me in this village." *drops disguise and reveals himself as Strahd* "Soon, there will be nothing left, but death." He then changes shape into mist and leaves as a swarm of Strahd Zombies begin to close in on them.
If it starts to look like a TPK, they may be rescued by either Rictavio or a small group of wereravens.
Thats an interesting spin on things for the parties first in person introduction to Strahd Toranas and a hefty this is what you'll get if you mess with his plans in one. Can't help wondering about Ireena I guess she is in Vallaki at St Andral's when the party returns to the village of Barovia with Ismark?
I still haven't introduced Strahd to my group since I posted (much real life stuff) though they have just delivered the Burgermeisters body to the church and encountered Doru so one dawn away on how that goes... I've also been thinking of Ismark as the NPC that could die to show how dangerous and horrible Ravenloft is... problem is he's growing on me
thanks for reply Toranas do say how it went down if you have the time and inclination I'd certainly be interested to hear
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt, It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills, It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
Finally did my own Introducing Strahd and how did it go very well I think... was a whats app session which was kind of fitting as I wanted it to be a OP Strahd gets to play to the trembling crowd and act out this I'm really quite reasonable and just as much a victim in all this aspect of his duplicitous and highly manipulative nature...
So for those that are interested a redacted/edited run of the encounter
😈 Father Donavich leads you to a freshly dug grave and looks towards the East as dawns first light rises on Barovia...
😈 Praise the Morning Lord who bring'eth the light of the new day...
😈 As out of the fog and Drizzle steps a Tall Dark cloaked Figure...
😈 Wisdom SAVEING THROWS
😱 *at this point they all fail
😈 Ismark "N..."
Ireena "Mur..."
Father Donavich "P...P..P.Plea..."
🧛🏻♂️ Strahd von Zarovich "Please continue Father Donavich I am here to pay my respects to my loyal servant the Burgomeister Kolyan Indirovich, his passing is a great sadness on our beloved Barovia and it's people"
Father Donavich falteringly tries to continue offering pray to the morning lord in exchange for Kolyan Indirovich’s deliverance from Barovia... all the while Strahd stands still silent with his head respectfully somewhat bowed...
Father Donavich is a trembling mess he slowly falls to his knees Ismark and Ireena stand perfectly still and silent heads bowed
🧛🏻♂️ Strahd then stretches out his hand the wooden beams holding the coffin above the grave snap for a moment the coffin is suspended in the air and then slowly lowers into the grave... then he opens his hand and some dirt drifts up to it which he then throws into the grave... saying "Good bye old friend till next time"
Strahd goes up to Ismark who then also scatters dirt onto the grave "Ismark do what you feel is right your father taught you well the villagers disrespect is unforgivable it will be seen to, morn you fathers passing take your time and then you may take up the mantle of your fathers duties, no paper scamming worms machinations hold sway over the word and favour of I your lord" *1
🧛🏻♂️ Strahd then turns to you both " I must commend you for your aid to my servant the late Kolyan Indirovich that he be properly buried, we have not been formerly introduced I am Lord Strahd von Zarovich of Barovia. and you I understand are Aevo Vighu and Raphnael Raventree new guests to my land, I hope my peoples have shown you traditional Barovian welcome even in these dark times. Understand that Barovia is a cursed land with much darkness and that my Barovia is not tame.
🧛🏻♂️ Strahd finally turn to Ireena "Tat.. Ireena do not cry my dear... it will all pass it will all become clear to you, for now take your time my dear greave father as is our custom and I shall return to you in a weeks time so you may join me in Castle Ravenloft away from this sorrow to a new life together in splendour as it has always meant to be"
😈 What ever happend next is fuzzy.... but you now find yourselves in the Burgomeisters Kitchen surrounded by food and drink of a most ample wake...
😈 Aevo you have taken 19 dmg 9 of which has reduced your HP maximum
😈 Raphnael you have taken 16 dmg 8 of which has reduced your HP maximum
😈 You memory is fuzzy about what happened you recall the burial and you think Strahd was there... then you went back here... It seems its the next day... You no longer are under the influence that you were when I sent you a private message 😵💫😵💫😵💫
Ireena does not look well it seems Strahd bit her again... infact you think Strahd might have bitten you to.... you feel kinda weak to... or is it a hangover from this wake?
*1 I had sdded a little sub plot to village that Bildrath had scammed the deeds to the Burgomeisters Mansion and the title of Burgomeister for a fake Vistani mist potion that the late Kolyan Indirovich had in his dispair tried to get Ireena to use and when she refused had then given Dalvan Olensky the dead body the characters find with the real Kolyan Indirovich’s Letter with the hope that Dalvan Olensky might make it through the mist and warn the outside world
“It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt, It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills, It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
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Currently running Curse of Strahd - CoS - for the first time, my players are about half way through Death House and I'm thinking ahead about how to introduce Strahd and am hoping you might share how and when you did it?
I've done a bit of reading outside the actual Curse of Strahd book namely - Fleshing out Curse of Strahd Reddit and A Guide to Curse of Strahd by Sean McGovern from the DM's Guild and several others which have me thinking I should introduce Strahd early and repeatedly each time revealing some of his power...
Currently my thoughts are having him make an appearance at The Burgomeister Kolyan Indirovich's Burial charming all into supplication and doting on Ireena Kolyana consoling her on her tragic loss and generously announcing he will give her time to grieve before she must come and join him in Castle Ravenloft where he will take care of her...
Thanks for any replies thoughts, I'm particularly very interested to hear how/when you introduced Strahd in your adventure and how it went.
“It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt, It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills, It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
I had strahd and his wife as bartenders. They both were using polymorph to hide a bit. Thing was that they really helped the players and built trust with them.
You can imagine what the players went through way the unveil.
You still have time to have him introduce himself before they meet Ireena. Any time anyone wanders away from the rest of the party is a good time to take them into the other room and introduce them to Strahd, who has a 24 hr charm. Then crazy nightmare stuff happens to everyone but the charmed one, just to mess with everyone's head.
If I ever run it again, I'm going to try having Strahd rescue the party from the hags in Bonegrinder and then see if he can manipulate the group into turning over Ireena by telling them that she's Tatyana's reincarnation, but she's lost her memories.
Thanks for the replies Avohei and TimCurtin
Avohei that must have been one epic unveil! did you place them in Blood on the Vine Barovia or a custom tavern? I'm thinking Blue Water Inn Vallaki would have some conflicts
TimCurtin I'm DM'ing for two players online and actual session time is quite limited so any private other room stuff I'd do as a PM between sessions, but I most definitely intend to ;)
I've really been puzzling over the Strahd Ireena Tatyana thing Strahd could kidnap her easily and the book rather suggest that's Strahd's intention but leaves open what happens if he does... (unless I've missed something, which is very possible)
all this and the side reading has me kind of thinking Strahd has whisked off Tatyana reincarnations before many many times and it's always gone horribly wrong most likely suicide... he wants the characters to conclude the best way to lift the curse is for Ireena/Tatyana to willingly join Strahd much like the The Abbot of Krezk, Strahd wants the characters to persuade Ireena/Tatyana that this will lift the curse... that's the direction I'm thinking Strahd's mind game manipulation would be going
It's not very thought through I know I'm still really puzzling for a good reason why Strahd doesn't just take what he wants
“It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt, It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills, It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
Don’t know if this is too late but when I introduced Strahd I bent the rules a little as the DM. So I had an illusion of him reach out into the material realm to assess the party after they had an encounter with one of his spawn who escaped the mists. When the party arrived in Barovia I wanted them to really hate him early on so he was wooing Ireena in the village of Barovia and attacked the party, and only stopped after the bard supplicated himself. He then gate crashed the late burgomaster’s funeral by raising him as a zombie for Ismark to kill again. Even without the Ireena plot line I’m pretty sure the party wanted to kill him by the time they left the village.
Honestly, when I first introduced Strahd he was standing in the mists 100' up the street from the Death house staring at the characters as they emerged. A dark forbidding figure staring at them as the mists that drove them into the death house are lifting revealing the rest of the village of Barovia. The figure steps around the corner and vanishes leaving no trace of his presence.
I had the party encounter Strahd several times as he prodded and tested them, obviously superior, keeping an eye on them, assessing them, waiting until they become an interesting challenge to alleviate his eternal boredom.
Feel free to adjust Strahd's spells. He learned them at the Amber Temple and the temple has every spell in the PHB available so Strahd can easily prepare something else. In one encounter I had a pack of werewolves attack the party about level 7. Would have been an easy encounter until Strahd smirked and upcast Banishment on the party taking out the barbarian and another low wisdom character. The wolves knocked the rest to zero hit points but left them alive - I had the party roll some death saves - they didn't know what was going on or whether it was a TPK until the Banished characters returned to find their team mates on the ground, not quite dead yet and both the wolves and Strahd gone. Strahd doesn't really want them dead, he wants them to be a decent challenge, and this encounter showed the party just how powerful and nasty Strahd could be.
However, by the time the party actually did go to the Castle (they were about level 11-12), I had to beef up Strahd to make him a challenge that the party wouldn't just walk over. Many of the magic items are very good at making undead easy to defeat - sunlight, protection from good and evil 30', vampire turning - Strahd loses very quickly to a higher level party with the specific items available in the module (though the general lack of magical weapons mitigates this a bit but most DMs will cave and give the players at least one or two useful magical weapons). I ended up increasing his hit points to maximum, having him recover the +2 greatsword and resort to wearing his animated armor, bumped his caster level and spell list, added a few vampire spawn, a vampire mage and some yesterhill druids as allies.
Strahd is very intelligent and developed a plan to mitigate many of the abilities of the party - when they met him in the foretold room he had druids hidden in the corners - two of them cast fog cloud, two silence, while he cast Tenser's transformation on himself and relied on the vampire mage for any backup magic - the lack of sight prevented the sunlight issue and the disadvantage on attack rolls due to the protection from good and evil was prevented by the advantage/disadvantage cancelling due to vision - he figured he would crush them as the great warrior of his past and honestly it was a good fight. The parties ally from the prophecy was Tatiana but they had freed her (by accident) so if the fight had gone badly she would have appeared in a spirit form that would have distracted Strahd. However, Tatiana did not need to put in an appearance.
Thanks for the reply M3theston and David42
Not too late by any means M3theston my group are still in the Death House though about to assault final level of the dungeon... we're rather slow I know but consistent and everyone had fun just a matter of busy people and real life commitments I'm afraid.
OH MY M3theston talk about being a guest to your own funeral! Strahd raising the Burgomeister as a Zombie at his funeral, That's hilarious... well my rather pythonesque dark sick sense of humour finds it hilarious! and totally horrific, I might have to steal that my only concern is that I couldn't resist making it comical which maybe I shouldn't with a Strahd scene.
David42 yes I definitely would tailor Strahd's spell list and was also thinking of hinting at his malign presence after the Death House though not a full introduction as it were, I'm running the Death House as its own parasitic Demi Domain of Dread much like The House of Lament preying on travelers on the edges of Barovia, I thought this might give me the chance to show the ruined house to the players in Barovia and let them learn that long ago Strahd turned up and destroyed it and everyone in it, possibly sowing a bit of doubt that Strahd isn't all bad or possibly redeemable (one of the players characters is a Paladin of Redemption).
David42 sounds like quite the epic showdown, I'm hoping over the campaign I'll get a better handle on Strahd so I can also make such a epic showdown as that.
Thanks again for your replies find it super interesting how you've run things wishing you all the best
“It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt, It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills, It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
I’m glad you like the idea of raising the late burgomaster. I think a bit of dark humour could work, at this point in the campaign Strahd wouldn’t see the party as a threat therefore he’d just be having fun.
I also tailored Strahd’s spells, partly because I didn’t want to kill the party and also to annoy them. So I swapped out for stuff like suggestion and sleep. I may also have taken counterspell to mess with the party. At the start of the campaign the party are like toys for Strahd
I'm planning to introduce his alter ego, Vasili Von Holtz, first. The party just escorted Ireena and Ismark to Vallaki, and still needs to see Madam Eva. They also just returned the bones of St Andral so they thwarted Strahd's plan for the feast of St Andral. They've gotten his attention. Ismark intends to assume his duties as Burgomaster, so he asks the party to travel together, since Barovia and the Tser Falls camp are in the same direction.
Between the Vistani camp and Barovia Village, they will come upon an overturned wagon, and an unconscious, well-dressed businessman. The horses nearby were eviscerated, but he seems to have blacked out and does not remember much of the incident.
The players are going to encounter him on the road, where he asks for an escort back to the Barovia Village. He is a merchant and accountant and has business with the Blood of the Vine Tavern. When the party get there, Ismark wants to visit his father's grave, only to find that all of the graves behind the church are empty, including the recently buried burgomaster. Doru and Donavich are already dead, so the church is deserted, and there's nobody to look after the cemetery so nobody knows the dead have risen in town.
Meanwhile, rumors are swirling around town about a mysterious illness that has been spreading. Average people are turning into vicious monsters (Strahd Zombies) and attacking each other. Eventually, if the party investigate enough, they will learn that all of this happened after the appearance of a well-dressed businessman.
If Ismark stays at the tavern with the party (even though he has a home in town) the party will find his severed head in the room after they wake up.
If the party confronts Vasili, he applauds their resourcefulness.
"You interrupted my plans in Vallaki. And you have stolen something of value to me (Ireena). There is nothing left for me in this village."
*drops disguise and reveals himself as Strahd*
"Soon, there will be nothing left, but death." He then changes shape into mist and leaves as a swarm of Strahd Zombies begin to close in on them.
If it starts to look like a TPK, they may be rescued by either Rictavio or a small group of wereravens.
Thats an interesting spin on things for the parties first in person introduction to Strahd Toranas and a hefty this is what you'll get if you mess with his plans in one.
Can't help wondering about Ireena I guess she is in Vallaki at St Andral's when the party returns to the village of Barovia with Ismark?
I still haven't introduced Strahd to my group since I posted (much real life stuff) though they have just delivered the Burgermeisters body to the church and encountered Doru so one dawn away on how that goes...
I've also been thinking of Ismark as the NPC that could die to show how dangerous and horrible Ravenloft is... problem is he's growing on me
thanks for reply Toranas do say how it went down if you have the time and inclination I'd certainly be interested to hear
“It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt, It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills, It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
Finally did my own Introducing Strahd and how did it go very well I think... was a whats app session which was kind of fitting as I wanted it to be a OP Strahd gets to play to the trembling crowd and act out this I'm really quite reasonable and just as much a victim in all this aspect of his duplicitous and highly manipulative nature...
So for those that are interested a redacted/edited run of the encounter
😈 Father Donavich leads you to a freshly dug grave and looks towards the East as dawns first light rises on Barovia...
😈 Praise the Morning Lord who bring'eth the light of the new day...
😈 As out of the fog and Drizzle steps a Tall Dark cloaked Figure...
😈 Wisdom SAVEING THROWS
😱 *at this point they all fail
😈 Ismark "N..."
Ireena "Mur..."
Father Donavich "P...P..P.Plea..."
🧛🏻♂️ Strahd von Zarovich "Please continue Father Donavich I am here to pay my respects to my loyal servant the Burgomeister Kolyan Indirovich, his passing is a great sadness on our beloved Barovia and it's people"
Father Donavich falteringly tries to continue offering pray to the morning lord in exchange for Kolyan Indirovich’s deliverance from Barovia... all the while Strahd stands still silent with his head respectfully somewhat bowed...
Father Donavich is a trembling mess he slowly falls to his knees Ismark and Ireena stand perfectly still and silent heads bowed
🧛🏻♂️ Strahd then stretches out his hand the wooden beams holding the coffin above the grave snap for a moment the coffin is suspended in the air and then slowly lowers into the grave... then he opens his hand and some dirt drifts up to it which he then throws into the grave... saying "Good bye old friend till next time"
Strahd goes up to Ismark who then also scatters dirt onto the grave "Ismark do what you feel is right your father taught you well the villagers disrespect is unforgivable it will be seen to, morn you fathers passing take your time and then you may take up the mantle of your fathers duties, no paper scamming worms machinations hold sway over the word and favour of I your lord" *1
🧛🏻♂️ Strahd then turns to you both " I must commend you for your aid to my servant the late Kolyan Indirovich that he be properly buried, we have not been formerly introduced I am Lord Strahd von Zarovich of Barovia. and you I understand are Aevo Vighu and Raphnael Raventree new guests to my land, I hope my peoples have shown you traditional Barovian welcome even in these dark times. Understand that Barovia is a cursed land with much darkness and that my Barovia is not tame.
🧛🏻♂️ Strahd finally turn to Ireena "Tat.. Ireena do not cry my dear... it will all pass it will all become clear to you, for now take your time my dear greave father as is our custom and I shall return to you in a weeks time so you may join me in Castle Ravenloft away from this sorrow to a new life together in splendour as it has always meant to be"
😈 What ever happend next is fuzzy.... but you now find yourselves in the Burgomeisters Kitchen surrounded by food and drink of a most ample wake...
😈 Aevo you have taken 19 dmg 9 of which has reduced your HP maximum
😈 Raphnael you have taken 16 dmg 8 of which has reduced your HP maximum
😈 You memory is fuzzy about what happened you recall the burial and you think Strahd was there... then you went back here... It seems its the next day... You no longer are under the influence that you were when I sent you a private message 😵💫😵💫😵💫
Ireena does not look well it seems Strahd bit her again... infact you think Strahd might have bitten you to.... you feel kinda weak to... or is it a hangover from this wake?
*1 I had sdded a little sub plot to village that Bildrath had scammed the deeds to the Burgomeisters Mansion and the title of Burgomeister for a fake Vistani mist potion that the late Kolyan Indirovich had in his dispair tried to get Ireena to use and when she refused had then given Dalvan Olensky the dead body the characters find with the real Kolyan Indirovich’s Letter with the hope that Dalvan Olensky might make it through the mist and warn the outside world
“It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt, It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills, It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again