It's a Sith legend. He thought he could rally the people of Barovia against the devil Strahd. Baroness Eisglaza was a young noble under King Barov, and was frequently rumoured to be a rakshasi. Lord Karl is the middle Wachter child, and is rarely far from his brother, or doing anything different. Davian is the widower patriarch of the Martikov family, and the owner of the Wizard of the Wines Winery. And standing atop a balcony stemming from the tallest castle in the land is a vampire draped in a dark cloak, staring out at his realm and ruminating on his cyclical existence. Luca is, perhaps unfairly, considered the village idiot of Krezk. 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. Since his original showing in 1983 in the original Ravenloft, Strahd has instilled joy and fear in many dungeon masters and players alike. 2023 Wizards. 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. She has the latter's gift of foresight. curse of strahd mad mage stats +1 (760) 205-9936. Curse of Strahd: The Wedding At Ravenloft - The Wedding at Ravenloft has made it to Fantasy Grounds! Now, I am not intimately aware of the lore surrounding D&D 5e, and I know that he is a prominent figure over all. If you're playing with players with no knowledge of the Forgotten Realms lore, use a more interesting character like Traxigor. Luvash is the son of Madam Eva, and the de-facto leader of the Vistani in Barovia. Udo is the missing shoemaker of Vallaki, having led a small protest against the Baron at the Wolf Jamboree. Arik is the soulless bartender of the Blood of the Vine tavern. In Curse of Strahd. Come on! Talos the Stormbringer is the god of destruction, storms and rebellion. Gender: Male I saw him thrown a thousand feet to his death. Mordenkainen's spells known in the Realms included: Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! We think you'll have a much more enjoyable experience. If you're a new GM preparing to run Curse of Strahd, you'll need to know: your players can either start at third level, or they can run through the introductory adventure "Death House." Before "Death House" you'll likely want to run one of the initial adventure hooks: "Plea For Help," "Mysterious Visitors," "Werewolves in the . So, reading ahead in the Curse of Strahd manual, I see that the players can learn that the Mad Mage of Mt. [4], Mordenkainen had a hawk-like face, with a permanent frown that gave the appearance of alertness and almost anger, and a penetrating gaze. Wintersplinter is the tree blight that the druids of Yester Hill intend to summon. Bascal was an experimental and worldly chef who worked in King Barov's court. Recharged: Tomb of Annihilation. and a horrifying man/wolf hybrid - a werewolf - just as Mahel warned. This section contains canon info from officially published sources. This means your big bad villain across a year long campaign is only CR15. In Strahds case, his desire for a life with Ireena is something he can never realize. It's under Chapter 2: The Lands of Barovia; page 39-40 - section M. Mad Mage of Mt Baratok. We've already been saving your edits, so if you In 2016, Wizards of the Coast decided to update and modernize Ravenloft, releasing Curse of Strahd. Lady Isolde the Incredible was an antique trader and old associate of the Zarovich family. But while outsiders can enter the Domains of Dread if the Mists surrounding these lands permit them to, nearly all of the Darklords are trapped in their individual kingdoms. Taltos is the main manservant at Fidatov manor, and bodyguard of Lady Fidatova. 0. He has spies at his disposal, including werewolves and druids who worship him on Yester Hill, a prominent landmark in western Barovia. If his crypt is disturbed, he animates as a wraith and commands his three hell hounds to attack. If Strahd finds love he won't be tormented anymore by desire, and thus the curse will be broken. Klutz was the moniker given by Strahd to one of his disgraced knights that 'fell on his sword'. Gertruda is the runaway daughter of Mad Mary, and is infatuated with the idea of being a princess. Patrina was a lover of Strahd, and consoled him after the death of Tatyana and his vampiric transformation. With so many to choose from it can be . Strahds Stat Block: What The Numbers Mean. [17], Mordenkainen later traveled to Barovia in an attempt to free the local population from its vampire darklord Strahd. Tatyana came down with a terrible plague. The Demigod Arijani, from the Demiplane of Dread Sri Raji. 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. You can not kill Strahd in Curse of Strahd You cannot kill the Mad Mage in Dungeon of the Mad Mage You cannot kill the Frostmaiden in Rime of the Frostmaiden You cannot kill the Princes of the Apocalypse in Princes of the Apocalypse. 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. Volenta is Strahd's youngest active bride, and a former courtesan. 978-0786965984. The Vistani are traveling folk who can pass through the Mists and explore other Domains of Dread and even the planes beyond. She often stops Varvara from drifting out of reality. Previously, the birds had met the Mad Mage of Mt. The Mad Mage's mind connection to Strahd. Sasha is a reincarnation of Tatyana, and vampire spawn of Strahd. 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. Jeny owns a mysterious apothecary shack outside of Vallaki visited only by desperate townsfolk. upgrade now Bundles containing this product: Recharged [BUNDLE] $16.25. JavaScript is currently disabled. Emeric is the apprentice of Drasha, and wants to rise in the ranks to one day replace Izek as captain of the guard. Zuleika is the mate of Emil, and bides her time to avenge him and become the pack leader she believes he should have been. Gabriella is the current most celebrated dancer and musician at the Tser Pool camp. 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. Burgomaster Dmitri is the ruler of Krezk, whose family has kept the village isolated and safe for centuries. The way I put it is this (I originally wrote this in italian, since it's my own language): "Forever you will live, and in eternity Vivrai per sempre, e nelleternit. Lectrum is a junior guard at Fidatov manor, nicknamed after his love of trade. [15], Mordenkainen was a good friend of Elminster Aumar; the two met on numerous occasions at Ed Greenwood's house on Earth to exchange news from each other's worlds, as well as spells and lore. Parriwimple is the oafish enforcer at Bildrath's Mercantile, and the secret to its success in the valley. Baratok, so I got ready to run the archmage stat block according to the modifications CoS sets forth. Imagine a valley surrounded by mist, with the suns rays barely visible beyond layers of murky clouds. Artimus was an eccentric genius architect responsible for the construction of Fidatov Manor, Baratok Tower and Castle Ravenloft. Strahd didnt make it this far because he has great spells or a really cool big sword, he made it here because he understood how to turn every fight in his favor (although fireball probably did help). Spoilers for Curse of Strahd lurk ahead! 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!. . Escher is the only surviving male consort of Strahd, and fights viciously to remain as such. 16 Feb 2023 14:45:41 Rahadin is Strahd's chamberlain, bodyguard, and only true friend. Kasimir is the sorrowful leader of the remaining dusk elves of Barovia, driven by his guilt over how he doomed them to a thousand-year genocide. Lady Liliana was the older of the scout sisters, and a knight of Archamian. It was written by Christopher Perkins, with story help from the original Ravenloft authors, Tracy and Laura Hickman. 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 . Strahd no longer returns to the material realm, even for short visits, because of how bad Tatyana's condition is, so he can't get new willing volunteers. The dusk elves rare nonhuman residents of Barovia might also be allies to those who oppose Strahd. Khazan found out about the curse, and how the plane had been taken over by the dark lords. Bethel is the owner of the Dusklight Supply Shop and a staunch believer in the protective power of the Baron's festivals. Baratok is actually Mordenkainen who has gone mad. Grunts is a senior guard at Fidatov manor, nicknamed after his taciturnity. Prepared to run the Mad Mage ; The party had planned last session to find the Mad Mage of Mt. Curse of Strahd begins with an optional one-shot called Death House, a three-floor dungeon that lets players explore while advancing their characters from first to third level.DMs and players can decide whether or not to start with it, but either way, players will enter Barovia proper at level three. Possibly because of his simple outlook, he has a remarkable way with animals. [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. . Thornboldt Durst was the eldest son of the Durst family, and died as a casualty of his mother's final ritual. Get the newsletter. Wilstrom is the son of the Bazhenovs, who succumbed to dream addiction, and loaned him in order to receive more. When the character is resurrected they gain a form of indefinite madness from realizing that their spirit is trapped in Ravenloft, possibly forever. 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. Admiral Sedrik became infamous in Barov's land for assembling a naval force in the landlocked country. [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. The key is to remember that Strahd isnt a brawler, hes a leader and his stat block reflects that. 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). 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. Strahd has a special lair action that allows him to pass through walls and floors in Ravenloft as though they arent even there. [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. Leonid was a duellist during Strahd's conquest, famous for his stature and his flawless combat record. The book includes 22 revised room descriptions which accurately reflect rooms visible to players. She was resuscitated, and would go on to inspire a rebellion against Strahd, which she would die leading. I was never a fan of horror but my players, they are always up for a good jump, I was working on a homebrew monster yesterday that doesn't really fit here but with the right description it can be a wonderful tool to not only scare players but the characters as well (frightful presence dc 21) I posted it and named it the Red Dragarasque (bad name I know) but the only problem is getting the gods angry at the pc's which I wrote as the only way to have it merge into such a horrific creature. The Grey Sisters were a coven of hags cursed by Oghma to share a single eye and tooth between them. Ivan was a dogsled racer who won his fortunes by mastering and even chartering risky tracks, until he was allegedly sabotaged by a rival. Abuse this and bait foolhardy adventurers into traps and other horrors that could reside in the castle. [13], His toenails appeared to be a venerated item in some places.[19]. She is his loyal horse and wagon puller. This means your big bad villain across a year long campaign is . Margo is the younger Vaskroff sister, and believes that she 'took her sister's soul' when she was born. Mordenkainen is a power wizard NPC from the outlander world of Oerth (the world of the Greyhawk campaign setting) and the in-game creator of a number of different famous spells from the Player's Handbook such as Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion. Tenebrous is an aspect of Orcus' soul, and the first successful lich. They work really well when you don't know anything about their nature. Yep, thats pretty underwhelming at first glance, but Strahds strength doesnt lie in the numbers and dice rolls, it lies in his tactics. Yenva is the youngest son of Yonvich, and seeks to author new books and update Vallakian records while his father preserves old knowledge. View flipping ebook version of Curse of Strahd published by raptorhunter182 on 2019-06-22. His . Augustus is the older and calmer of the two guard dogs of the Baron. Lolth the Spider Queen is the goddess of drow, spiders and assassination. Madame Eva's tent swirls with smoke as she reveals the cards to the would-be adventurers. Kelemvor the Deathmaiden, also known as the Raven Queen, is the goddess of death, judgement and time. Strahd is as much a prisoner of Barovia as he is its master. Lady Fiona Wachter is the matriarch of the second most powerful family in Vallaki. This means two things: first, the Abbot is right. 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. So, reading ahead in the Curse of Strahd manual, I see that the players can learn that the Mad Mage of Mt. He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he . Sir. A rare moment of rest as the party decide what to do next. Interested in flipbooks about Curse of Strahd? Side note, this isn't really discussing DM's Guild Content -- maybe it's a better topic for the Story & Lore section of the forum. One could easily play Madam Eva as the grand mastermind behind all that happens in Barovia, manipulating both the players and the vampire himself for a benevolent cause. After slaying them in a remote valley, Strahd was amazed by the regions beauty and dubbed the land Barovia. Earl Felwinter was the ruler of Felwinter Isle and a victim of Captain Eriana's satiation of Scylla. Equating these creatures as part of the forces of Strahd and this elk as a potential ally (and not just a normal animal . They associate its image and power with that of Strahd, the Land. The Mad Mage of Mount Baratok. Burgomaster Ulrich was the last burgomaster of Berez and assistant to Marina's suicide. He is the only surviving adventurer that has been lured to Barovia. Hedwig is Ivah's talkative best friend and lives at St. Andral's Orphanage. " The Philantropist: This card tells of history. He often has to collaborate with the Baroness whenever there is a costume festival that needs preparation. She will also attend the dinner. Mordenkainen with his staff. Indigo is a senior guard at Fidatov manor, nicknamed after her colour-blindness. 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. Dostron the Hellborn. She is proud to have managed to revive one through her plea to the Abbot of Markovia. Cyrus is a fearful, mad servant of Strahd, having formerly been the head servant at the Abbey of St. Markovia. Schnoken is an outcast from the Gallowbottom berserker goblin tribe, hiding amongst three tall-folk to survive. Obsidian Portal has a lot of really cool features that use JavaScript. Lady Stella was the fiance of Lord Victor, before a mysterious event occurred which has since made her believe that she is a cat. 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.. He may be chosen as Strahd's Enemy by the card reading of Madame Eva but will not otherwise accompany the party if healed. The others are empty shells bereft of charm and imagination. Curses NEEDto rhyme. Once prepared, you don't lose it unless you decide to prepare something different. [12], While imprisoned in Barovia, his hair and beard were both long, black and peppered with grey streaks. She was killed by her own people out of fear that she would become a vampire too, which triggered Rahadin's massacre. Well, I cant answer that question, but I can give you some tips on how to run my favorite villain of all time. I will endeavor to not disrespect Barovia's dowager queen in the future. Dhavit is the endlessly busy chef at Wachterhaus. E cos mai potrai amarla. Please enable JavaScript to get the best experience from this site. The Vampyr is a mysterious entity that first spread the secret of vampirism and is responsible for Strahd's curse. Feb 21st 2023. 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. Now, I am not intimately aware of the lore surrounding D&D 5e, and I know that he is a prominent figure over all. Also, how about another twist? Dead in Thay; Against the Giants; Tomb of Horrors; Tomb of Annihilation; 2018. [6], He later changed his hairstyle, favoring a bald head and a trimmed goatee, but lost none of his penetrating stare. The following aspects of this iconic villain are worth memorizing: Strahd was a warlord who defeated the enemies of his deceased father, King Barov. But when the devil Strahd fell upon him, the wizards magic couldnt save him. Hans was an orphan from Vallaki that sacrificed himself at the Ring of Stone in order to save his best friend Kellen. Old Katerina is a collector and trader in Krezk, who acts as an obscure charity shop owner. The Mad Mage. $32.40. Arabelle is the only daughter of Luvash, and granddaughter of Madam Eva. [13], Typically stubborn and one who did not suffer fools gladly, Mordenkainen could be difficult even with his friends. Like Strahd himself, locals cannot leave which means that aside from the occasional foreigner, Barovia is largely a closed ecosystem. This isn't feasible right now, as the party has no means to cure the Mad . Its impossible to talk about Barovia without discussing Strahd von Zarovich, who first made his appearance in 1983s famous I6 module Ravenloft. All humanoid statblocks are human unless otherwise specified. The PC's rallied together to recapture the vestige (in a very ghostbusters way), and returned it to the amber temple.One of the PC's (A wizard) picked up the staff in the temple, and was given the flaw that they desire power above all else.Then she proceeded to take every single dark gift offered to her, without the other players realizing. Despite being undead, Strahd is still a count who considers the Barovian populace his subjects. His voice was deep and melodic. Details about the challenges of converting 2D maps to 3D. Sir. . In your game, you can communicate this through the day-to-day habits and religious practices of Barovians. He thought he could rally the people of Barovia against the devil Strahd. Angelika was Davian's wife, best friend, and mother of their four children, and was killed by Baba Lysaga. Vladimir was the highest-ranking Knight of the Silver Dragon during the fall of the order. Chauntea the Earthmother is the goddess of agriculture, growth and care. The late father of Szoldarovich; he laid the path for his son, and thankfully not a grandson. Scylla is a mysterious and powerful sea serpent that sits atop its eponymous cliff on a coastal Kven island. Erasmus was the son of Dr. Van Richten turned vampire spawn of Baron Metus. He appears or is mentioned in several different Greyhawk and Dungeons and Dragons products. I chock his appearance up to cameo more than anything -- at best he's a potential ally who can help the party fight Strahd (who still must be defeated using the necessary artifacts), otherwise he's just a nod to Gary Gygax and the world ofGreyhawk. A small comment regarding vampires: you could argue that he could just turn someone into a vampire so that he has an undead lover. Strahd based purely on his stat block is problematic to say the least. The Mage's Rebellion Curse of Strahd: Library of Mystery Astrophel Astrophel . There are segments of Barovian society that resist Strahds rule. His gravestone reads "Master of the Hunt". Heres one of my favorites, and check the links below as well. Khazan's fate: this brings to the third major retcon I did. Peruse nuanced portrayals of Dracula in film as inspiration for Strahd. Strong writing from Jeremy Blum with great organization and efficient summary; good example of enhanced supplementation from D&D Beyond. Mordenkainen, commonly referred to in local legend as the Mad Mage of Mount Baratok, is an ancient legendary wizard from a magical world. Tenebrous is an aspect of Orcus' soul, and the first successful lich. Arrigal is Luvash's roguish younger brother and second-in-command of the greater Vistani camp. This site works best with JavaScript enabled. Keep in mind Strahd is also a 9th-level caster and wont hesitate to befuddle and confuse players with a well-placed fireball through a fog cloud or even magically control them with his charm action. He was trying to revive her dead pet cat, when his soul clinged to Stella's body. Captain Eriana is a mysterious adventuring pirate and captain of the Fundament, operating on waters south of Alfheim to east of Kvenland. Anastrasya is a former Vallakian noblewoman and consort of Strahd. My party started Curse of Strahd at level 6 and I have planned for them to go up to level 14 or 15. Vasilka is the Abbot's secret weapon to freeing Barovia from Strahd. King Barov was the ruler of the small Kingdom of Zarovich around where southern Agarthia is now. First published. Helga is the melancholic and enigmatic maid at Ravenloft. 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.
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