I want to build some tension and mystery before they accually have a conversation with the man. You can do it! If Strahd can convince them to take out his two biggest enemies, that will certainly aid him and set up the party for a big fall. He pointed out how this showed how much he cared for her and how it was the boy's fault for looking at something that wasn't his.

After the group goes to the church to bury the burgomaster with Ireena, an angry mob of 30 villagers lead by Vasili claiming Ireena is now a Vampire. Strahd strode forward and confidently introduced himself, welcomed them to the land, and remarked at how capable they all looked! Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. This subreddit serves as a helpful place for anyone running the Curse of Strahd module for D&D 5e. STORY. For the funeral, the priest approaches with a hood, as is Barovian custom. Eventually, Ismark is hit by a 4th level blight attack, knocking him unconscious, and a fight breaks out where Strahd more toys with the heroes than anything else. Cus Strahd has no qualms about making his presence known.

My party's first official meeting with Strahd was... dramatic. Pointed at the inn and the wolves went in. The players didn't know what to do, so they let the situation unfold as he welcomed the players to Barovia, hugged Ireena and told the player who "owned" the death house to protect her.

As a reward, he gave the party three days to run and hide, after which time he would come for them. I had Strahd make his first appearance on the parties first night in Barovia, at Ismark and Ireena's Mansion. First to 3 hits wins. A self-proclaimed gaming master with a love for dogs, plants, and D&D.

My Player's First Encounter with Strahd.

But as soon as that happens the 4-6 dire worgs all attack the girl killing her. To get set up to start the campaign the DM should read through the book and familiarize themselves with the world and the characters within it. But not before warning Ireena about misplaced trust, and warning the players about putting Ireena in danger again. But I am capable of great mercy as well.

Another of the players is a homebrew alchemist/pokemon trainer and Strahd had offered to "help" her catch a zubat (which she totally did, there's a whole backstory to all that though). When my players were bleeding out in death house, one of my players who was still standing opened door to balcony to find him there.

Just as they were leaving the village of Barovia with Ireena, they came across a figure in the mist. At least twice. After a few more rounds, Morgantha got bloodied and disappeared. The party was definitely shy about it all, and you could tell that their gears were turning about what was going on. It'll be interesting to see who tries to get the powers, since most of them at this point seem like they'd do whatever it takes to take down Strahd. After dispatching most of the small wolves, one of the party members made a dash for the large wolf, which shifted into the more humanoid Strahd and promptly one shotted the character into unconsciousness. Then they started hearing people were afraid off him. The conversation was normal at first, mainly touching on some small talk topics of Barovia (it's still very early in the game so its small, but big news to the players, and frankly since it's coming from Strahd, who even knows if they should believe some or most of it). Players learned not to jump on teleporting circles. Players awoke to the sound of hooves (Ismark had offered his guest rooms), saw a bit of conversation between the two, then Strahd glanced at the windows before turning back to his carriage. It worked, but not before Morgantha let go. This is a point I'm really pressing on, with some of the characters getting visions of the potential powers they could have and getting messages to come visit the amber temple to receive them.

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So he'd make comments to each person referencing their biggest trauma in such a way that THAT character knew what he meant, and the other characters had no idea what it meant. Immediately after death house. Needless to say, he was dead, and Ireena was pale and weak and needed care. Next turn Strahd comes out with Ireena in his arms, (I actually had that picture on hand), introduces himself and thanks them for inviting him inside, despite being warned 3 times before. Strahd will, certainly, appear many times during the adventure, either to probe the characters, to scare them, or generally to play with them. About 8 sessions in, the party was at Bonegrinder, fighting a solitary hag and trying to save some children. Anyway. When HP wittled down, Rahadin/Arrigal strikes from hidden position in woods with poison arrow. Make them hate him, but make them powerless to do anything about it. Contrary to the book, he did not intervene in the ritual (party would have died if he did...they seriously underestimated the berserkers). I actually held Strahd off for a while until after the party had explored for a bit, they went straight from Barovia village to Krezk (completely bypassing Vallaki but hitting up Madam Eva's camp), then was turned away and went to Wizard of Wines and dealt with the threat there and back up to Krezk to deliver the wine (a portion, they had all agreed to split the remaining wine between all the towns) and Strahd was waiting for them on one of the crossroads back. She rolled a 21, and he called it "passable."
Suffice it to say, they finally have his attention. And it spooked them. Last thing, he says that some day he ought to invite them to sup at Ravenloft, as repayment. He should drop a Hypnotic Pattern on them, then have Rahadin and Arrigal attack from a range whoever is holding his spellbook first and whoever saved against his Hypnotic Pattern second. They immediately ran for the church to try to reconsecrate the grounds.... to find Strahd there, holding Father Lucian by the neck . It was not a particularly whizzbang encounter, but I liked it because the group was truly spooked, felt powerless, and were left wondering about his intentions. The Dark Idol. When they arrive to the church, they cannot find the vampire, but Ismark is suddenly attacked again by an invisible Strahd, who holds him aloft and threatens to kill him unless they bring Ireena out. Players got distracted negotiating with some NPC allies who'd accidentally outed themselves as werewolves (Actually ended up letting the weres leave with the kids, but that's another story) Took them a while to realize Ireena was missing. While waiting outside, the players hear the bell toll three times. Honestly, he hasn't done a whole lot of bad things to the party. How did you handle the first Strahd encounter and where? They were suspicious for a minute but invited him in because he had health potions. Ismark watched him until the dust settled, meanwhile PCs were arguing over whether he had sold them out (whoops...?) Curse of Strahd is a Dungeons and Dragon campaign for 3 to 7 player characters ran by a Dungeon Master, or DM for short. Letting the players RP, but if they attack the worgs defend but this encounter is meant to RP. Legendary Edition of Curse of Strahd: 17 Double Sided maps Every inch of Ravenloft in loving, horrifying detail Jewelry 60 Encounter Cards The Entire Module Custom DM Screen Bonus Encounters… My party's first official meeting with Strahd was... dramatic. PC's start finding their allies heads in sacks, especially in conspicuous places like the open road to their next destination, signed "S". At this point, Ireena should be watching, horrified. Steal Argynvost's skull and animate its body as a Dracolich/Dragon Skeleton before their eyes, leave them to fight it while he makes off with one of their artifacts or allies, knowing they can't do anything about it. The druid's Entangle kept her from running (not that it would have helped.) No one attacked or stepped forward as Strahd casually looked the person up and down - no hint of malice or trying to hurt her. TL;DR: First one he forces them to make a blood donation, second one he hangs the priest of the village and briefly impersonates him. We took a break there, then I had Rictavio run in a few rounds later (it was around the time he was feeding Drusilla so it made sense) and gave him Turn Undead to rescue them.

The party has to spend the next 2 rounds slapping the rogue as he kept failing Wis saves and continued to attack to Fighter. "You will come back to me again, Tatyana, and you will know you are coming home.". The book does recommend certain levels needed for a party to encounter certain events in the book, but again it is completely up to the DMs discretion. During the funeral, apply more and more of Strahd's voice/accent, saying worse and worse things about Kolyan, until finally he takes off the hood, revealing his pale white face, not at all the priest. Strahd turns to her, and says "My dearest Ireena, look what I have the power to do to those who wrong me. I was curious how and where you all introduced Strahd to your party. Bag pipes are already loud and depending on the person, a bit obnoxious when played correctly. After the grounds were re-consecrated, Strahd showed up at the very edge of the light...just a silhouette with red eyes...and bowed, like a fencer acknowledging a point. And although he will act civil and calm, the players know he can snap their necks with a twitch of his hand. Doors close. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the DnDBehindTheScreen community, Continue browsing in r/DnDBehindTheScreen. I am planning on crashing the burgomasters funeral (like many others). Inside the church, the mists have thickened so they don't see more than 30ft ahead.

Encounter 1: Party gets ambushed by zombies on the trail to Barovia Town. I wanted it to be very subtle, while also unnerve them. Encounter Strahd. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Near-dead spawn runs on a long hallway, party kills him, then take in the surroundings. It helped that Ismark had commented earlier that Strahd occasionally shows up in town and takes young girls. They search the windmill, then the surrounding area. Oehhh that’s definately a good one!

Around midnight after coming out of the bar talking to the Burgomaster's son they will see that girl being carted off by spirts towards the death house but because of twisting and turning through the town they lose track of her, at the same time the ghost march starts from the church. One of which was significantly larger but that hung back and was watching the fight.

The confusion was LOVELY. Imagine. He was sitting on a rock after the Tser Falls and simply asking for someone to walk with him. Von Holtz ran when the wolves showed up to ruin things, then Strahd appeared and made a half hearted grab at Ireena. One that I'm going to do.

Just finished session one, and my players just finished meeting with Madame Eva at the Tser Pool.

I wanted it to be very subtle, while also unnerve them. Let's player win. Be mindful that the first Strahd encounter will most likely set the players' conception of Strahd. and come morning the PCs asked what that was about.

But even charmed, she still cared for the party too much to abandon them. Probably on his second encounter with the group, Strahd lures the characters into a room or chamber of the castle with one of the effects below. He then road off in his carriage, the mist leaving with him.

Strahd appears. He doesn't return.

Amber is an Austin writer and gaming connoisseur.

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