Lazlo is a bookbinder on Fidatov estate, and has worked closely with Fidatova's family since he was young. Put that eldritch imagination to the test, and remember to tease your players with this iconic line:The master of Ravenloft is having guests for dinner and you are invited!. If you want your product removed from this list, just tell us and it will not be included. Since the dawn of Dungeons and Dragons, dungeon masters have been searching for the answer to a simple question. Keep this in mind when you portray Strahd. Turned into a Vampire Spawn by Strahd during the Mad Mage's failed attack on Ravenloft: 31. [4] He often traveled to Waterdeep with his friends for revelry in a city where he would not be recognized. You should check them out. The thing here is that vampires are obliged to do his bidding, so they can't love him. Lysaga went by a different name in her youth as Strahd's nursemaid. The Dreamsnarer is a gnome tinkerer in Merryway who made Arrigal's chiming watch. Felix is a child possessed, his demon draining the souls of the residents of St. Andral's Orphanage. Lancelot is Gertruda's dog and routinely searches for her on the Old Svalich Road and around Barovia village. Burgomistress Anna Krezkova is a mother who has endured the deaths of all of her children. This will save time for new users. Mordenkainen is a powerful wizard who rallied the population of Barovia to his side and led an attack against Castle Ravenloft approximately one year ago. If you're interested, I'll share a couple of details I reimagined when mastering this campaign for my friends. Legendary wizard known as the Mad Mage of Mount Baratok. Herman Yonvich is the secretive bookkeeper, scribe and linguist of Vallaki. Strahd based purely on his stat block is problematic to say the least. Marzena is the most paranoid of the Belview family, and considered the most at-risk of escaping the Abbey. It needed his brother blood to be eternalized, and filled his mind with greed and hatred in order for him to give up his humanity and seal the pact with blood. Spoilers for Curse of Strahd lurk ahead! Bildrath Chekhov has retained the most successful general store in Barovia village through his shrewd and diligent ways. Burgomaster Ulrich was the last burgomaster of Berez and assistant to Marina's suicide. Yolanda is the youngest member of the Martikov family at the Wizard of the Wines. Trixie is a fey whose death triggered her transformation into a spirit obsessed with thievery. Interested in flipbooks about Curse of Strahd? Martin is the more mild-mannered of the Tomescu twins, and is often led into trouble by his two brothers. It is ambiguous whether it was a mistake or a suicide. When he made his pact, the dark lords granted him an immortal name, making him an immortal undead, and the company of the ones he loved, by having them reincarnate each time in a person that won't love him." Danika is the tough but kind-hearted owner of the Blue Water Inn in Vallaki. Madame Eva's tent swirls with smoke as she reveals the cards to the would-be adventurers. JavaScript is currently disabled. Her work has largely been lost. I also like the idea of Sergej's murder being forced as well: when he received his curse, the curse moved his hand. Tessa is a mute but observant bookworm at St. Andral's Orphanage. Party of 6 level 8's against Strahd and Rahadin, place your bets because it's happening today! This could, and probably will, turn party members against each other or could potentially make them think one of them is a plant for the big man himself. Madalena is the no-nonsense senior maid at Wachterhaus and a close confidant of the book club. Like Strahd himself, locals cannot leave which means that aside from the occasional foreigner, Barovia is largely a closed ecosystem. Arista was a runaway Vistani and Strahd's court ceiling painter. Baratok is actually Mordenkainen who has gone mad. Captain Eriana is a mysterious adventuring pirate and captain of the Fundament, operating on waters south of Alfheim to east of Kvenland. Statistics. It is debated whether he was mad or an ambitious jester. Neferon of Gehenna is a plane-hopping mage that has settled as the obstinate guardian of the Amber Temple. Let us not forget The Knight of The Black Rose, Lord Soth and his conflict with Strahd. Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy. Tatyana was the fiance of Sergei von Zarovich, and is the only victim of Strahd's curse whose soul reincarnates perfectly. The Demogoron is the self-proclaimed Prince of Demons, and one of the most infamous demon lords. Also, how about another twist? Wensencia raises most of the pups of the werewolf pack, and has been doing so for a long time. Davian is the widower patriarch of the Martikov family, and the owner of the Wizard of the Wines Winery. Lady Isolde the Incredible was an antique trader and old associate of the Zarovich family. upgrade now Nero is the younger and more aggressive of the two guard dogs of the Baron. Taltos is the main manservant at Fidatov manor, and bodyguard of Lady Fidatova. The book enhances the original Curse of Strahd module, which you will still need. This page was last edited on 3 November 2020, at 14:03. Bianca is the sadistic mate of Kiril, sharing much of his philosophy on what a werewolf should be. Guards littered Strahd with arrows as penance, but the son of King Barov had consumed the blood of his brother and embraced undeath. He has spies at his disposal, including werewolves and druids who worship him on Yester Hill, a prominent landmark in western Barovia. She has since become a guard for the mongrelfolk. Get the newsletter. Triumphant in his centuries-long pursuit of his Jeny owns a mysterious apothecary shack outside of Vallaki visited only by desperate townsfolk. Whether youre a Dungeon Master guiding your party along this path for the first time or a grizzled veteran planning a return trip, have a gander at the following thought fodder: Van Richtens Guide to Ravenloftcontains rules for devising your own Domain of Dread, because while Barovia might be the most famous Domain, the greatest horrors arethe ones you create yourself. The Three-Faced King was a mysterious masked man who requested to be buried in the crypts of Ravenloft. New Account (or Log In) Hide my password. This isn't feasible right now, as the party has no means to cure the Mad . Stahd has become angry at his residents who will not keep him supplied with fresh and now abducts them - his focus on his work and anxiety over his own continued failures have made him completely callous to the situation of his villagers - he sees them bound to the oath of their ancestors to keep him supplied with blood. He stirred them with thoughts of revolt and bore them to the castle en masse. Hunt for Mage Tower; Strixhaven: The Magister's . Dead in Thay; Against the Giants; Tomb of Horrors; Tomb of Annihilation; 2018. Now, I am not intimately aware of the lore surrounding D&D 5e, and I know that he is a prominent figure over all. Arabelle is the only daughter of Luvash, and granddaughter of Madam Eva. 16. He may be chosen as Strahd's Enemy by the card reading of Madame Eva but will not otherwise accompany the party if healed. It was written by Christopher Perkins, with story help from the original Ravenloft authors, Tracy and Laura Hickman. Vistani legend tells that he came to this land a year ago and rallied an army to face off against Strahd, eventually being driven into River Ivlis over the Tser Falls to his supposed death. So from desire you'll always be tormented Perci dal desiderio sarai sempre tormentato, and to this place you'll always be cemented" E a questo luogo per sempre tu sarai legato.. Tarokka Reading. Prefect Ciril was the leader of King Barov's church and the spiritual counsellor of the Queen's Knights of the Raven. The following aspects of this iconic villain are worth memorizing: Strahd was a warlord who defeated the enemies of his deceased father, King Barov. The end doesn't have to be killing Strahd, it could be helping him with his mission. The latest of these incarnations is Ireena Kolyana. [2], By the Year of Twelve Warnings, 1494 DR,[note 2] Mordenkainen inhabited the Tower of Urm, a dwelling that he used as a vehicle to travel through the multiverse. Kelemvor the Deathmaiden, also known as the Raven Queen, is the goddess of death, judgement and time. In this article, we'll introduce you to the most important things to know before you begin your adventures in this dark land. Gender: Male Curse of Strahd - Mid-fantasy in an "Alt-Earth" setting. Queen Ravenovia van Roeyen - not Queen Ravonia. Glad I pre-ordered this book. One of the fun things I added to my Curse of Strahd was that Strahd had children with his brides various dhampirs and vampires that are all vying for his throne and trying to eliminate the party to prove themselves. He feels entitled to feast on the villagers because of their ancestors oath to him ages ago. Obsidian Portal has a lot of really cool features that use JavaScript. . The Mad Mage's paranoia resides in mansions created through his trademark spell high upon Mount Baratok. You can draw inspiration from films like Midsommar to emphasize the creepiness of suchcelebrations! I did see the warning, but I sincerely hope my PCs don't see this article, and spoil the plot. Patrina was a lover of Strahd, and consoled him after the death of Tatyana and his vampiric transformation. Catch it here! Equating these creatures as part of the forces of Strahd and this elk as a potential ally (and not just a normal animal . Some extra changes:These are not really crucial to the story, but they do improve Curse of Strahd a lot in my opinion.-Victor wasn't just mean to Stella so she got mad. Unfortunately, Strahd thoroughly beat him and threw him over the edge of Tser Falls. Ivah is Hedwig's confident best friend and lives at St. Andral's Orphanage. Ghosts of Saltmarsh; The Orrery of the Wanderer; Essentials Kit . - Content Not Found: escher the person you love you'll see certainly. Chief Gallowbottom is the leader of Schnoken's former tribe in the Lunar Woods. The wizard and the vampire cast spells at each other. It's like having a rewind button for your campaign. This is using Curse of Strahd, based in an alternate version of our Earth, where the fantastical is possible! He stirred them with thoughts of revolt and bore them to the castle en masse. Khazan's fate: this brings to the third major retcon I did. Home; Categories. After slaying them in a remote valley, Strahd was amazed by the regions beauty and dubbed the land Barovia. In your game, you can communicate this through the day-to-day habits and religious practices of Barovians. When running Strahd, I always recommend making the fight cover the entirety of the castle if possible. Yonvi is the middle son of Yonvich, and a very organised carpenter, miller and leatherworker. Savid is one of the younger dusk elves. The Mage's Rebellion Curse of Strahd: Library of Mystery Astrophel Astrophel . Thats all I have for you and please if you enjoyed this check out more of our content. [6], In the Year of the Scarlet Witch, 1491 DR, Mordenkainen, still suffering from bouts of madness, was in Waterdeep, where Storm Silverhand and Elminster were helping him to recover from them. Margaret was the nursemaid of the Durst family, and the mother of Walter Durst. King Dostron the Hellborn was the ruler of the valley long before Strahd conquest, and was the grandson of an illrigger of Avernus. His soul met Petrina's and they came up with a plan to bring Petrina back to unlife (thanks to the heart of sorrow which could act as a philactery), so that she could trick the rhyme and finally let Strahd marry his true love.That's it, actually. General Kroval "Mad Dog" Grislek. Piccolo is the newly beloved monkey companion of Blinsky, given to him by Rictavio. My players have gathered all the legendary items, completed a majority of the chapters and are currently level 8 (they will be level 9 when they fight Strahd). Madam Eva is the matriarch and oracle of the Vistani in Barovia, and one of the most widely respected people in the valley. Escher is the only surviving male consort of Strahd, and fights viciously to remain as such. At some point, Strahd became too lonely and returned to the material realm to spend an evening with Tatyana. Featured art image for Curse of Strahd Destined Ally Rankings credit to Wizards of the Coast's D&D 5e adventure book Curse of Strahd. Bram Stoker's Dracula and the anime adaptation of Castlevania are superb places to start. Sir. Kellen is a survivor of one of Kiril's ring of stone matches, ridden with guilt over it. Elvir is the youngest child of Davian Martikov, and the most aloof, which speaks to how much the family cares about their winery. Kiril is the controversial leader of the werewolf pack in Barovia, having seized command after the mysterious death of his rival, Emil Toranescu. He knows about the curse, and knows that the only way to end a curse is to contradict its rhyme so that it won't be true to itself. Imagine a valley surrounded by mist, with the suns rays barely visible beyond layers of murky clouds. Haliq is the loyal valet of the Lady Wachter, and her closest confidant regarding her book club. Feb 21st 2023. Grunts is a senior guard at Fidatov manor, nicknamed after his taciturnity. Generations of humans have gone by and no one remembers their ancestors were there willingly and they don't know they're in a pocket dimension. He lurks to this day on Mount Baratok. Strahd is probably one of the most iconic villains in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. Selne the Moonmatron is the goddess of prophecies, nomads and the moon. Exethanter is a blind lich, and the last survivor of the original Amber Circle. The eldest son of Yonvich, and the only one without a blood relation to him. With so many to choose from it can be . She blindly supports his tyranny for the sake of her sanity. Wheaku is the fiercely loyal owl familiar of Lael Milpialda. He stood exactly where youre standing. This is discussed in the Curse of Strahd book on page 24. He became known by the locals as the Mad Mage of Mount Baratok.". [1], Mordenkainen is a well-known adventurer on his home world and a member of the Circle of Eight. He broke his leg and lost his horse during the a search for Arabelle. Thornboldt Durst was the eldest son of the Durst family, and died as a casualty of his mother's final ritual. She was killed by her own people out of fear that she would become a vampire too, which triggered Rahadin's massacre. I remember him like it was yesterday. This is Barovia, the most famous horror setting of Dungeons & Dragons. Cyrus is a fearful, mad servant of Strahd, having formerly been the head servant at the Abbey of St. Markovia. Headmistress Claudia has stayed at St. Andral's Orphanage in Vallaki all of her life, now running it as tidily as she can. 1 / 2. Luca is, perhaps unfairly, considered the village idiot of Krezk. While he is intimidating, any good sun-sword wielding angry level 15 paladin of Bahamut is going to absolutely eviscerate him. Lady Ortensia was the sibling apprentice of Lady Liliana, and a knight of Archamian. Aike and Ulfrik saw through the mist and trees the battle taking place between this mystical elk and four large wolves. She was banished by Dr. Van Richten. . Their battle flew from the courtyards of Ravenloft to a precipice overlooking the falls. Dominik is the snappy and ambitious tailor of Krezk, having hired Szoldar Sr. to help him move there to escape the monotony of Vargon's festivals. Recharged: Waterdeep Dragon Heist. 1-10. If you want your players to experience horror, they should never really grasp them. JavaScript is currently disabled. Markovia had long considered Strahd a mad tyrant, . Oghma the Allknower is the goddes of knowledge, inspiration and invention. Rina is a talkative scavenger at the Tser Pool camp, assigned to searching for Tasha. Please note, this article will contain Curse of Strahd spoilers! Its impossible to talk about Barovia without discussing Strahd von Zarovich, who first made his appearance in 1983s famous I6 module Ravenloft. He is the sun god's final of many attempts to free Barovia from Strahd. He is also a drunk, and talented violinist. Indigo is a senior guard at Fidatov manor, nicknamed after her colour-blindness. Because the Mists of Barovia are undiscriminating in who they pull in, Dungeon Masters are free to inject some iconic and unusual allies into this Domain of Dread, from Elminster to Drizzt DoUrden. Pidlwick was the jester of Duchess Dorfniya who told him to work at Ravenloft in her will. King Barov was the ruler of the small Kingdom of Zarovich around where southern Agarthia is now. Yevgeni is a man of few words, and the hunting partner of Szoldar Szoldarovich. More from this Title's Contributors. To date there are 10 main campaigns you can choose from for your next D&D adventure: Tyranny of Dragons, Princes of the Apocalypse, Out of the Abyss, Curse of Strahd, Storm King's Thunder, Tomb of Annihilation, Dragon Heist , Dungeon of the Mad Mage, Descent Into Avernus , and Rime of the Frostmaiden. It was released in March 2016. Despite her recent misadventure, she believes that which his madness can be cured normally. Barovia is a demiplane bordered by the Mists, which act as living vapors that often seep out into the Material Plane to pull strangers within. Artank was a wine distiller and was famous for making most of his money from winning drinking contests. If Strahd is killed, the Dark Powers will resurrect him in a matter of months. Sasha is a reincarnation of Tatyana, and vampire spawn of Strahd. Adrian is the middle son of Davian Martikov, and the main protector of the Wizard of the Wines. The book includes 22 revised room descriptions which accurately reflect rooms visible to players. Franz is the artistic nephew of Skennis, former alpha of the werewolf pack. She acts more like an adult than a blank spell has a remaining duration of 3d6 hours, after child. Complete list of every named creature with an accociated statblock as written in the Curse of Strahd module. This is also the reason her spirit still lingers around. Natalie was the handmaiden of Saint Markovia during her rebellion, and is an ancestor of Baroness Lydia. Strahds subjects live in three major communities: Barovians are superstitious and distrustful, and Curse of Strahd states that only about one in 10 of them truly possess a soul. Prepared to run the Mad Mage ; The party had planned last session to find the Mad Mage of Mt. Strahd was envious of the love his mother showered on his brother, Sergei. He chased Tatyana until she flung herself from the spires of Castle Ravenloft to her death. The prophecy of Madam Eva referenced a wizard at the base of Mount Baratok. Margo is the younger Vaskroff sister, and believes that she 'took her sister's soul' when she was born. Strahds Stat Block: What The Numbers Mean. Archamian was the last of the eldritch titans, and the main adversary of the Oculords; whose aim to restore the Netheril almost resulted in a global war. Sporting 16 AC and 144hp, standard vampire resistances, vampire immunities, and his highest saves are +9. **Spoiler warning for the Curse of Strahd adventure module for D&D 5e**. Unfortunately, Strahd thoroughly beat him and threw him over the edge of Tser Falls. Larnak is the guileful spy and tactical advisor of Lady Wachter. Baroness Eisglaza was a young noble under King Barov, and was frequently rumoured to be a rakshasi. In Curse of Strahd. Strahds kingdom was spirited away to the Domains of Dread, and Strahd became an immortal ruler haunted by untouchable reincarnations of Tatyana. Father Donavich is the reclusive priest of Barovia village, who prays night and day for relief from his dark circumstance. Laura is the captive of Baba Lysaga and the secret to their symbiotic immortality. The baron of Vallaki also holds festivals to keep spirits up. Also known as: The Mad Mage of Mount Baratok E cos mai potrai amarla. Incentus was Lady Tereska's retainer and lover. On the day of Tatyana and Sergeis wedding, Strahd flew into a rage and murdered his brother. Emeric is the apprentice of Drasha, and wants to rise in the ranks to one day replace Izek as captain of the guard. Vladimir was the highest-ranking Knight of the Silver Dragon during the fall of the order. I purposedly put inside a play on words, withnever in lifemeaning thatin death he could actually love them. First published. [1], The Mad Mage's paranoia resides in mansions created through his trademark spell high upon Mount Baratok. If he Casts time stop, he'll be able to do it again after a long rest when his spell . Quasimodo is the moniker given by Vilnius to his quasit familiar. Recharged: Waterdeep Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Although Elminster of Shadowdale is from Toril (a totally separate world), Mordenkainen and Elminster have met and are friends. A few stood their ground and were never seen again. Vasilka is the Abbot's secret weapon to freeing Barovia from Strahd. They're there, invincible and never truly seen, never to be understood nor defeated. Marina was a noblewoman in Berez and reincarnation of Tatyana who was pressured into taking her own life by Burgomaster Ulrich. Agniya is the wife of Grygori, and helps deliver his creations around the village. Locals keep to themselves during the day and lock their doors at night, gripping holy symbols tight for protection against fearsome forces lurking in the fog. They journeyed to the valley in search of a miracle cure for Tereska, which ended in Incentus having to carry Tereska to Ravenloft. Grygori is one of many talented smiths in his ancestry, having still only inherited a fraction of the abilities of the man he believes worked simultaneously with Strahd and Artimus Fidatov. 2023 Wizards. Now, I am not intimately aware of the lore surrounding D&D 5e, and I know that he is a prominent figure over all. Duchess Dorfniya was a friend of Sergei and Tatyana, and frequent visitor to Barovia. Mordenkainen is presumed by the party to be the ally in the battle against darkness mentioned in the prophecy foretold by Madam Eva once his mind is restored by holy magic powerful enough to do so. Curse of Strahd; Storm King's Thunder; 2017. Curse of Strahd: Destined Allies - "There is one destined to stand with you against the shadow, but of their ultimate fate, not even I can tell," - Madam E . Love means giving yourself to someone else intentionally, not because you're forced to. Also, please, please, please don'tlet players interact too much with the Dark Powers. King Kavan, also known as the Blood Butcher of Balinok, was the leader of the united forest folk tribes between King Dostron and Strahd's reigns. Carnis was the Abbot's prototype bride for Strahd. and a horrifying man/wolf hybrid - a werewolf - just as Mahel warned. Miral is a pianist, trained by Lady Fidatova to use the instrument built by her mother. Augustus is the older and calmer of the two guard dogs of the Baron. Coupled with the . This site works best with JavaScript enabled. Azuron is a wandering warlock of a mysterious entity he has dubbed as 'Riven', which he presumes saved his life for a dark purpose. Danika Dorakova: p. 98 . So, reading ahead in the Curse of Strahd manual, I see that the players can learn that the Mad Mage of Mt. Ezekiel is a Prince of Agartha and a chosen of Lathander. Most villagers can't remember a time when she wasn't in business. Dinara is the best friend of Aziana and a guard of the Werewolf Den, being one of the only werewolves trained in hand-to-hand combat. [6], In addition to many scrolls and potions, Mordenkainen was known to possess a bag of holding, a set of bracers of defense, a crystal ball, a +1 dagger, an efreeti bottle, a wand of cold, a wand of fear, and three pearls of power. Old D&D lore, as outlined in Ravenloft sourcebooks such as second editions Realm of Terror, have established Strahd as the first Darklord. He lurks to this day on Mount Baratok. Ithink the first thing you can improve is to make it clear his obsession is part of his curse, and not his own nature. She is proud to have managed to revive one through her plea to the Abbot of Markovia. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midichlorians to create life. Yesper is the horse-keeper for Fidatov estate, and an animal conservationist.