Laura is the captive of Baba Lysaga and the secret to their symbiotic immortality. Vortico was a former highwayman travelling across Agarthia who hid in a Vistani wagon with the intention of stealing it. She often stops Varvara from drifting out of reality. If Strahd finds love he won't be tormented anymore by desire, and thus the curse will be broken. He would return in every subsequent edition of D&D. Strahd's Barovia: A Guide to D&D's Most Famous Horror Setting, Strahd: The First Darklord of the Domains of Dread, Barovia is a Melancholic Realm Encircled by the Mists, Fresh Variations of Horror in Olde Barovia, Playing With Dark Gifts, a Double-Edged Sword for Characters, Drift Off Into I'Cath: The Domain of Dreams, Journey to Har'Akir: A Desert Domain Where the Dead Never Rest. Myrtle is the daughter of the Kreivas, who loaned her in order to fund their dream addiction. Baroness Lydia Petrovna is the wife of Baron Vargas. Tenebrous is an aspect of Orcus' soul, and the first successful lich. He is the sun god's final of many attempts to free Barovia from Strahd. My Strahd is not exactly evil, he's just so focused on finding a cure for his wife that he's completely forgotten everything else. - Doru Dragomir (former ally) King Dostron the Hellborn was the ruler of the valley long before Strahd conquest, and was the grandson of an illrigger of Avernus. (This is false, but it is believed). Stefan was a counsellor to King Barov and was often involved in the Barov's preferred tactic of misleading information for the enemy about the state of the kingdom. Martin is the more mild-mannered of the Tomescu twins, and is often led into trouble by his two brothers. Baroness Eisglaza was a young noble under King Barov, and was frequently rumoured to be a rakshasi. Also known as: The Mad Mage of Mount Baratok Walter was the child of Gustav Durst and Margaret, and was killed by Elisabeth for her cult's final ritual. Curse of Strahd Level Guide. Strahd accepted vampirism willingly so he could live forever, then created a pocket dimension where time moves much more slowly - A hundred years in the realm is just a few hours on the material realm. Erik was acquired by Lady Isolde, and was an unidentified knight whose dying wish was to be dipped in melting gold. Emil is a former alpha of the werewolf pack and a prisoner of Strahd, after the vampire's interference in the civil struggle. He was discovered to still be alive, though living in the foothills of Mount Baratok, having driven himself insane with a mind blank spell to prevent any vampiric corruption. The following aspects of this iconic villain are worth memorizing: Strahd was a warlord who defeated the enemies of his deceased father, King Barov. So he studied in the amber temple a way to save Barovia, Tricking the dark lords into thinking he was just after immortality. Herman Yonvich is the secretive bookkeeper, scribe and linguist of Vallaki. I meant to put this in a different section. Prince Ariel was an inventor and infamous fatality at Castle Ravenloft, having leapt from its high tower to his death in an attempt to prove the functionality of his wingsuit. Yeska is a troubled orphan, and the adopted son and altar boy of Father Lucien. Rina is a talkative scavenger at the Tser Pool camp, assigned to searching for Tasha. [17], Mordenkainen later traveled to Barovia in an attempt to free the local population from its vampire darklord Strahd. Ghosts of Saltmarsh; The Orrery of the Wanderer; Essentials Kit . Lord Victor is the only son of Baron Vargas, and is resentful of his responsibilities and birthplace. Strahd shows himself multiple times throughout the campaign, standing ominiously and even interacting with the party directly several times. Gory Galen was a scholar and cleric of the Black Hand who believed that he could take the Icon of Ravenloft to use against Strahd. Giving way too much info out on the front page, imo. Old Svalich Road cuts through Barovia and has been trodden by many adventurers over the years. Since then this module has been a fan favorite for new and experienced players alike, and of course the main focus is our big bad evil guy Strahd von Zarovich himself. Unpacking the Madness. Giant Elk on Mt. To me, this translates as an ability to endure under harsh conditions for the folks who have souls, at least. Davian is the widower patriarch of the Martikov family, and the owner of the Wizard of the Wines Winery. 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. Sergei was the younger brother of Strahd, and a victim of fratricide that fulfilled Strahd's pact with the Vampyr. Azuron is a wandering warlock of a mysterious entity he has dubbed as 'Riven', which he presumes saved his life for a dark purpose. anne boleyn ghost photo; serie a predictions windrawwin. Lord Argynvost was the commanding founder of the Order of the Silver Dragon, and is widely considered to have been Strahd's greatest adversary during the latter's conquest. Zhudun, also known as the Corpse Child, is an Elder Evil whose followers claimed its powers of resurrection exceeded that of the gods. Old Katerina is a collector and trader in Krezk, who acts as an obscure charity shop owner. He occasionally visited Avernus to study the effects of the Nine Hells over the schools of magic and to ensure the balance of the universe. 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. Tatsaul was the moniker given by Strahd to a squire of the Silver Dragon that Artimus Fidatov helped fake the death of. He appears or is mentioned in several different Greyhawk and Dungeons and Dragons products. Victor has packed up a spellbook and a mysterious bejeweled book with a lock on it to take with him. Yesper is the horse-keeper for Fidatov estate, and an animal conservationist. She is sealed in the crypts of Ravenloft, with Strahd having long-since tired of her ingenuine love. Heres one of my favorites, and check the links below as well. Adventure - 5etools. A mighty wizard came to this land over a year ago. An overlooked miswriting on my part, perhaps caused by the ravens who have been chattering by my window sill all evening as if wishing to see what I am putting to paper. Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, their respective logos, and all Wizards titles and characters are property of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. -Strahd and Vampires. Hunt for Mage Tower; Strixhaven: The Magister's . Gustav Durst was a wealthy rancher and secret cultist to Strahd von Zarovich briefly before and after the curse began. It is ambiguous whether it was a mistake or a suicide. Lysaga went by a different name in her youth as Strahd's nursemaid. The latest of these incarnations is Ireena Kolyana. Covering The Best In Video Games, Esports, Movies and Geek Culture Volenta is Strahd's youngest active bride, and a former courtesan. He chased Tatyana until she flung herself from the spires of Castle Ravenloft to her death. Ireena Kolyana is the daughter of Kolyan Indirovich, and the primary object of Strahd's affection. no risk refund guarantee The defeat twisted him more than physically - he has died again and again trying to 'protect Strahd from the release that death would give him'. Also, how about another twist? Anastrasya is a former Vallakian noblewoman and consort of Strahd. Obsidian Portal has a lot of really cool features that use JavaScript. You should check them out. Count Strahd von Zarovich is a vampire and the dark lord of the valley of Barovia. - Count Strahd von Zarovich (enemy) Father Lucien is the philanthropic priest at St. Andral's Church, burdened with the secrets of decades of confessions. Tenebrous is an aspect of Orcus' soul, and the first successful lich. A very charismatic man, he was. Sir. mad mage; vistani "A mighty wizard came to this land over a year ago. 170. Strahdis married to Tatyana and loves her dearly. His paranoia renders him hostile to intruders, and his magical protections make it difficult for anyone to restore his sanity. Abuse this and bait foolhardy adventurers into traps and other horrors that could reside in the castle. Claudiu is the eldest son of Stefania and grandchild of Davian Martikov, and an aspiring swordsman, practicing on scarecrows. the person you love you'll see certainly. Headmistress Claudia has stayed at St. Andral's Orphanage in Vallaki all of her life, now running it as tidily as she can. This is just one of the solutions for you to be successful. Doru is the son of Father Donavich, and a former freedom fighter for the Mad Mage turned tortured spawn of Strahd. The end doesn't have to be killing Strahd, it could be helping him with his mission. 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. March 15, 2016. $32.40. By default, hes a vile tyrant and the epitome of entitlement, but in many ways he could also be seen as lonely and emotional. Marina was a noblewoman in Berez and reincarnation of Tatyana who was pressured into taking her own life by Burgomaster Ulrich. Bahamut the Platinum Dragon is the god of justice, wisdom and good dragons. [12], Although Mordenkainen resided primarily on Oerth, by at least the Year of the Shield, 1367 DR, his spells were not uncommon among spellbooks in Faern. He was trying to revive her dead pet cat, when his soul clinged to Stella's body. Jeremy Crawford, Laura Hickman, Tracy Hickman, Adam Lee, Christopher Perkins, Richard Whitters. Aziana is a childhood friend of Zuleika, and a guard of the Werewolf Den. Strong writing from Jeremy Blum with great organization and efficient summary; good example of enhanced supplementation from D&D Beyond. Vilnius is a nomad who suffers from a highly lethal and communicable disease, and struck a bargain with the Queen of Poxes to survive. The book enhances the original Curse of Strahd module, which you will still need. His wartime experiences caused him to grow cruel, however. Khazan was Strahd's court mage both during and briefly after his conquest. Mordenkainen, commonly referred to in local legend as the Mad Mage of Mount Baratok, is an ancient legendary wizard from a magical world. Elvir is the youngest child of Davian Martikov, and the most aloof, which speaks to how much the family cares about their winery. [4] He often traveled to Waterdeep with his friends for revelry in a city where he would not be recognized. Ezmerelda d'Avenir was the protg of Dr. Van Richten, and has become a formidable huntress in her own right, using more aggressive methods. Schnoken is an outcast from the Gallowbottom berserker goblin tribe, hiding amongst three tall-folk to survive. . His gravestone reads "Master of the Hunt". Mordenkainen's spells known in the Realms included: Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! A few stood their ground and were never seen again. [1], Mordenkainen is a well-known adventurer on his home world and a member of the Circle of Eight. However, my players assumed she was a towngirl who had been charmed. He kept a close-trimmed beard and wore grey, high-collared robes. I just finished CoS with my playgroup (I'm the DM) - and I made some changes to the way things played out, mostly because my players are very creative, and love to screw up Strahd's plans.I felt like the pacing was off with how open this campaign is, so I added an extra story hook about one of the vestiges in the amber temple breaking free. Parriwimple is the oafish enforcer at Bildrath's Mercantile, and the secret to its success in the valley. Despite being undead, Strahd is still a count who considers the Barovian populace his subjects. After all, if he had more spell slots of that level, he'd still be able to cast it. The others are empty shells bereft of charm and imagination. Augustus is the older and calmer of the two guard dogs of the Baron. The Mad Mage's paranoia resides in mansions created through his trademark spell high upon Mount Baratok. He is described as a mad mage who came to the valley to defeat its ruler but caught a case of amnesia in the process. Mordenkainen of Greyhawk fame also makes an appearance in Curse of Strahd. 2023 Wizards. Bethel is the owner of the Dusklight Supply Shop and a staunch believer in the protective power of the Baron's festivals. and thus you'll never love them. Gabriella is the current most celebrated dancer and musician at the Tser Pool camp. -A CR23 statblock of Mordenkainen with magic items and treasures! The most powerful of these was a knightly organization known as the Order of the Silver Dragon that was destroyed. Madalena is the no-nonsense senior maid at Wachterhaus and a close confidant of the book club. But the Keepers of the Feather, a family of wereravens hiding in Vallaki, remains a prominent group that opposes Strahd. St. Andral was a priest of Vallaki and the Morninglord, and became sainted after successfully protecting several of the fugitive guards of Ravenloft in his church's sanctuary until they died. A rare moment of rest as the party decide what to do next. You should check them out. I'll put the main points under spoilers if anyone wants to browse. Tatyana was the fiance of Sergei von Zarovich, and is the only victim of Strahd's curse whose soul reincarnates perfectly. This section contains canon info from officially published sources. Trixie is a fey whose death triggered her transformation into a spirit obsessed with thievery. JavaScript is currently disabled. Dead in Thay; Against the Giants; Tomb of Horrors; Tomb of Annihilation; 2018. Dag is the husband of Stefania and father of four at the Wizard of the Wines. Baron Metus was a vampire lord and the vampiric sire of Erasmus van Richten. Brom is the younger son of Danika and Urwin, and lives at the Blue Water Inn. Wilstrom is the son of the Bazhenovs, who succumbed to dream addiction, and loaned him in order to receive more. 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. The key is to remember that Strahd isnt a brawler, hes a leader and his stat block reflects that. She was killed after falling into a trap set up by the vampire. Arabelle is the only daughter of Luvash, and granddaughter of Madam Eva. Dr. Van Richten is a legendary huntsman and holy warrior whose vengeful career has spanned over twenty years. Complete list of every named creature with an accociated statblock as written in the Curse of Strahd module. Izek is Baron Vargas' infamously brutal protg and captain of the guard in Vallaki. The | Login | My Library | Wishlists; Cart. [18], Following the demise of the Circle of Eight at the hands of Vecna during the lich's first failed attempt at obtaining greater deity status, a grieving Mordenkainen was consoled by Elminster, as the wizards reflected on the fragility of their good deeds. Victor has agreed to travel with the players after Amari revealed that no one can leave Barovia, even by magical means, unless Strahd is killed. The baron of Vallaki also holds festivals to keep spirits up. But when the devil Strahd fell upon him, the wizards magic couldnt save him. General Krovala was a summoner and the leader of a mountain tribe that was defeated by Strahd in his early career. On the day of Tatyana and Sergeis wedding, Strahd flew into a rage and murdered his brother. Thats all I have for you and please if you enjoyed this check out more of our content. He doesnt really have much going on if you run him exactly as you would any other monster based off of his stats alone. Each kingdom is ruled by a tyrant who committed sins in life and was awarded the title of Darklord by otherworldly forces known only as the Dark Powers. Rictavio is a traveller from a distant land, and tries to lift the spirits of Vallakian townsfolk with small shows and stories. Although Elminster of Shadowdale is from Toril (a totally separate world), Mordenkainen and Elminster have met and are friends. I like the idea of him being a murderous egocentric, but when you say his story out loud, with him murdering his brother because he couldn't get Tatyana to love himand then being obsessed with the girl that keeps rejecting him My players called him a simp since the first session, and I couldn't really blame them. This is Barovia, the most famous horror setting of Dungeons & Dragons. He became known by the locals as the Mad Mage of Mount Baratok. Emeric is the apprentice of Drasha, and wants to rise in the ranks to one day replace Izek as captain of the guard. King Katsky the Bright was a self-proclaimed time-traveller whose territory proved one of the more difficult for Strahd to conquer. Medusa is a former champion of Oghma and infamous for beginning her own monster lineage. When the character is resurrected they gain a form of indefinite madness from realizing that their spirit is trapped in Ravenloft, possibly forever. So, reading ahead in the Curse of Strahd manual, I see that the players can learn that the Mad Mage of Mt. She became obsessed with him, even following his deadly conquests into Barovia after she became estranged from him. He also has the Regeneration ability which lets him turn fights into stalemates. 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. Dostron the Hellborn. This is why she acts like a cat, and also why there are skeleton cats in his room. Equating these creatures as part of the forces of Strahd and this elk as a potential ally (and not just a normal animal . Come on! He later joined their cause after being cured by an amulet to the Morninglord from the Order of the Silver Dragon, in order to avenge his son that was corrupted by Strahd. I remember him like it was yesterday. Burgomaster Ulrich was the last burgomaster of Berez and assistant to Marina's suicide. Feb 21st 2023. 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. I climbed down to the river to search for the wizards body, but the River lvlis had already spirited him away.. I changed my Strahd up for some people who had already played this module. The more resources the party spends chasing him and blowing up his minions the less they have to throw at him when he decides to sink his teeth in. Roaming Barovia: This adventure is wide open. Legendary wizard known as the Mad Mage of Mount Baratok. He is described as a "mad mage" who came to the valley to defeat its ruler but caught a case of amnesia in the process. . 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. Turned into a Vampire Spawn by Strahd during the Mad Mage's failed attack on Ravenloft: 31. Look to a place where sickness and madness are bred.