He is the only surviving adventurer that has been lured to Barovia. 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. He doesnt really have much going on if you run him exactly as you would any other monster based off of his stats alone. If you're playing with players with no knowledge of the Forgotten Realms lore, use a more interesting character like Traxigor. She has the latter's gift of foresight. The characters wanted to convince him to join their fight against Strahd. She now immortally rules the swamp of Berez. Ofelia Wormwiggle is the youngest daughter of Morgantha, and a butcher in Old Bonegrinder. I'll put everything under spoiler for obvious reasons :). Lady Tereska was made a spawn of Strahd after being brought to the valley in search of a cure for her disease. Although Elminster of Shadowdale is from Toril (a totally separate world), Mordenkainen and Elminster have met and are friends. Henrik is a lonely coffin-maker whose trade and demeanour has given way to many unflattering rumours over the years. Lady Liliana was the older of the scout sisters, and a knight of Archamian. I climbed down to the river to search for the wizards body, but the River lvlis had already spirited him away.. Subtle and non-immersion-breaking ads, old lore with new twists, it has everything that I look for in a D&D Beyond article. Baratok, so I got ready to run the archmage stat block according to the modifications CoS sets forth. They're there, invincible and never truly seen, never to be understood nor defeated. Apart from Milivoj, Cedrik is the orphan most affected by the house's mysterious debilitating plague. The original I6 Ravenloft module, however, contains a compelling description: Barovians are, by tradition, a happy people, though their history and current conditions are not happy.. [16] On occasion, the two were also joined by Dalamar of Krynn. As a token of love, I made her steal one of the wizard of wines gems and use it to make the heart of sorrow, with a part of her very own soul. Tatyana came down with a terrible plague. 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. Curse of Strahd, one of the most popular Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game products of all time, split into three parts: a 224-page perfect-bound adventure for characters of levels 1-10, a 20-page Creatures of Horror booklet of new monsters that appear in the adventure, and an 8-page Tarokka Deck booklet. Ascendant campaigns can view previous versions of their pages, see what has changed (and who did it), and even restore old versions. The wizard and the vampire cast spells at each other. Schnoken is an outcast from the Gallowbottom berserker goblin tribe, hiding amongst three tall-folk to survive. Yesper is the horse-keeper for Fidatov estate, and an animal conservationist. We think you'll have a much more enjoyable experience. Mordenkainen secretly survived, but he became overtaken by madness, paranoia, and amnesia. [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. Wheaku is the fiercely loyal owl familiar of Lael Milpialda. Bildrath Chekhov has retained the most successful general store in Barovia village through his shrewd and diligent ways. The module swiftly leads the party to a Vistani encampment, where the players can have their . One PC took up the mantle of darklord of barovia as a replacement for Strahd, ending his reign, and locked away the demilich in the amber temple.Having explored the concept of the Vestiges a bit further, I treated them like the MTG Eldrazi, smaller parts of a larger whole trying to invade the world, and the "Domains of Dread" act as prisons to hold these vestiges, and prevent them from escaping into Faerun.Now the PC's are in a more homebrew setting, exploring one of the other Domains of dread, after meeting the Dark Powers of the Shadowfell, who informed them that they are useful tools, and that in order for them to return home, they must perform one final task. Tatsaul was the moniker given by Strahd to a squire of the Silver Dragon that Artimus Fidatov helped fake the death of. He lurks to this day on Mount Baratok. It's under Chapter 2: The Lands of Barovia; page 39-40 - section M. Mad Mage of Mt Baratok. He is privately very religious and deluded. Martin is the more mild-mannered of the Tomescu twins, and is often led into trouble by his two brothers. Ben is a serving swain at the Hoofprint inn in Merryway. Obsidian Portal has a lot of really cool features that use JavaScript. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. I remember him like it was yesterday. 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. Miral is a pianist, trained by Lady Fidatova to use the instrument built by her mother. Please enable JavaScript to get the best experience from this site. Yenva is the youngest son of Yonvich, and seeks to author new books and update Vallakian records while his father preserves old knowledge. Marjane is a charismatic animal handler who enjoys meeting the few travellers who visit Merryway. His son remains the only heir but also wants his father to be taken downand so secretly helps the party under an alias and servants. 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. Taltos is the main manservant at Fidatov manor, and bodyguard of Lady Fidatova. Lord Karl is the middle Wachter child, and is rarely far from his brother, or doing anything different. She was resuscitated, and would go on to inspire a rebellion against Strahd, which she would die leading. Unfortunately, Strahd thoroughly beat him and threw him over the edge of Tser Falls. 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. 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. Prefect Ciril was the leader of King Barov's church and the spiritual counsellor of the Queen's Knights of the Raven. Sune the Firehair is the goddess of beauty, love and passion. ISBN. Arista was a runaway Vistani and Strahd's court ceiling painter. Adrian is the middle son of Davian Martikov, and the main protector of the Wizard of the Wines. Jeremy Blum (@PixelGrotto) is a journalist, gaming blogger, comic book aficionado, and fan of all forms of storytelling who rolled his first polyhedral dice while living in Hong Kong in 2017. Strahd is probably one of the most iconic villains in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. [1], Chaotic Neutral archmage (with different spells as given in the text)[1], http://fraternityofshadows.com/w/index.php?title=Mordenkainen&oldid=155870, Former Inhabitants of the Prime Material Plane. Morgantha is the matriarch of the trio living in Old Bonegrinder, and frequents Barovia village to sell her Dream Pastries. Strahdis married to Tatyana and loves her dearly. Aike and Ulfrik saw through the mist and trees the battle taking place between this mystical elk and four large wolves. While he is intimidating, any good sun-sword wielding angry level 15 paladin of Bahamut is going to absolutely eviscerate him. Guards littered Strahd with arrows as penance, but the son of King Barov had consumed the blood of his brother and embraced undeath. Nero is the younger and more aggressive of the two guard dogs of the Baron. Mirabel is one of three owners of the Blood of the Vine tavern, and outcasts from the Tser Pool camp. He became known by the locals as the Mad Mage of Mount Baratok. [17], Mordenkainen later traveled to Barovia in an attempt to free the local population from its vampire darklord Strahd. At some point, Strahd became too lonely and returned to the material realm to spend an evening with Tatyana. Jeny owns a mysterious apothecary shack outside of Vallaki visited only by desperate townsfolk. 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. View flipping ebook version of Curse of Strahd published by raptorhunter182 on 2019-06-22. Brom is the elder son of Danika and Urwin, and lives at the Blue Water Inn. how much is internet on princess? As such, I have needed to adjust certain things within the adventure in order for them to present a significant challenge to the party. 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. I'll put the main points under spoilers if anyone wants to browse. When the character is resurrected they gain a form of indefinite madness from realizing that their spirit is trapped in Ravenloft, possibly forever. Sir. Known as Undermountain, this dungeon is the domain of the mad wizard Halaster Blackcloak. A rare moment of rest as the party decide what to do next. A riot at night, but lonely by day. so the players don't immediately know its heavily changed. Like those from his world, Mordenkainen does not have a last name. anne boleyn ghost photo; serie a predictions windrawwin. Queen Ravenovia van Roeyen - not Queen Ravonia. Tenebrous. 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. She was killed by her own people out of fear that she would become a vampire too, which triggered Rahadin's massacre. Herman Yonvich is the secretive bookkeeper, scribe and linguist of Vallaki. I saw him thrown a thousand feet to his death. Rowena is an adventurer and the favoured, exemplary daughter of the true Medusa. 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. Gabriella is the current most celebrated dancer and musician at the Tser Pool camp. However, he underestimated Strahd's power and, after barely surviving a confrontation with him, he lost his spellbook and his staff, eventually losing his memory and being driven to the brink of madness. 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. Mordenkainen, commonly referred to in local legend as 'the Mad Mage of Mount Baratok', is an ancient legendary wizard from a magical world. The others are empty shells bereft of charm and imagination. [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. Godfrey was a high-ranking Knight of the Silver Dragon during the fall of the order, events which led to him become a revenant. Arahja is a scout for the Tser Pool camp, and a spy of Strahd. He is also a drunk, and talented violinist. The dusk elves rare nonhuman residents of Barovia might also be allies to those who oppose Strahd. Victor should actually just be a teenager with a crush on Stella and a really bad take on magic. Recharged: Waterdeep Dungeon of the Mad Mage. 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. Maybe your players cured Mordenkainen's madness and he is no longer the "Mad mage of the mountain" or maybe you want to use him with the new book Mordenkainen's tome of foes! He would return in every subsequent edition of D&D. Recharged: Tyranny of Dragons. It was written by Christopher Perkins, with story help from the original Ravenloft authors, Tracy and Laura Hickman. Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy. Statistics. Also known as: The Mad Mage of Mount Baratok Love means giving yourself to someone else intentionally, not because you're forced to. Dostron the Hellborn. Recharged: Tomb of Annihilation. Agniya is the wife of Grygori, and helps deliver his creations around the village. Dag is the husband of Stefania and father of four at the Wizard of the Wines. and a horrifying man/wolf hybrid - a werewolf - just as Mahel warned. The latest of these incarnations is Ireena Kolyana. Lady Stella was the fiance of Lord Victor, before a mysterious event occurred which has since made her believe that she is a cat. Just so you know, Ireena's stat block for a lv 3 fighter as her . Triumphant in his centuries-long pursuit of his Szoldar is a seasoned wolf hunter by trade, and best friend of Yevgeni Krushkin. Covering The Best In Video Games, Esports, Movies and Geek Culture 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 . When the queen died, Strahds envy turned to hatred, especially when the woman he desired, a native Barovian named Tatyana, fell for Sergei instead of him. Hadar is an Elder Evil that clings to the 'dark side' of his eponymous star. 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. Strahd even has an accountant named Lief Lipsiege whos been an intriguing fixture of Ravenloft since the original I6 module. Victoria is the herbalist and non-clerical healer of Fidatov estate. This is using Curse of Strahd, based in an alternate version of our Earth, where the fantastical is possible! His mother, Queen Ravenovia van Roeyen, was fearful of him, and she was unappeased by the castle named Ravenloft that he constructed in her honor. Bianca is the sadistic mate of Kiril, sharing much of his philosophy on what a werewolf should be. E cos mai potrai amarla. Instead of her being obviously evil (which by the way everyone figures out as soon as you mention "her sorrow soul asking for forgiveness so you should totally bring her back to life"), she is truly repented. I changed my Strahd up for some people who had already played this module. He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he . Elsa was a pioneering performer in Barovia before and shortly after the curse, whose death marked the end of the artistic golden age of the valley. . Father Lucien is the philanthropic priest at St. Andral's Church, burdened with the secrets of decades of confessions. Ireena Kolyana is the daughter of Kolyan Indirovich, and the primary object of Strahd's affection. Baroness Eisglaza was a young noble under King Barov, and was frequently rumoured to be a rakshasi. Follow along as I look into Strahds Stat Block and what the numbers mean and how to make this villain play as terrifyingly as hes written. Khazan was Strahd's court mage both during and briefly after his conquest. Wintersplinter is the tree blight that the druids of Yester Hill intend to summon. Turned into a Vampire Spawn by Strahd during the Mad Mage's failed attack on Ravenloft: 31. He has spies at his disposal, including werewolves and druids who worship him on Yester Hill, a prominent landmark in western Barovia. He stirred them with thoughts of revolt and bore them to the castle en masse. Madame Eva's tent swirls with smoke as she reveals the cards to the would-be adventurers. The following aspects of this iconic villain are worth memorizing: Strahd was a warlord who defeated the enemies of his deceased father, King Barov. 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. By default, hes a vile tyrant and the epitome of entitlement, but in many ways he could also be seen as lonely and emotional. Race: Human Legendary wizard known as the Mad Mage of Mount Baratok. This means your big bad villain across a year long campaign is only CR15. upgrade now Emil is a former alpha of the werewolf pack and a prisoner of Strahd, after the vampire's interference in the civil struggle. If his crypt is disturbed, he animates as a wraith and commands his three hell hounds to attack. Session #13. Sophia was the middle daughter of Anna and Dmitri Krezkov, and died from a hereditary disease. You don't know what they can do, how much they know about you and when they are near you. You maytalkwith them, bargain with them, but you will never get the chance to know what you had truly been talking to. Are there any deeper implications of his appearance here? Lorgoth the Decayer was the moniker given to the demon summoned by Elisabeth Durst using Walter's soul. He teaches the contents of the books at St. Andral's Church and Orphanage, as well as privately. Yonvi is the middle son of Yonvich, and a very organised carpenter, miller and leatherworker. She often stops Varvara from drifting out of reality. This is also the reason her spirit still lingers around. 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. (Players can attempt to visit him by walking round the lake, or by taking fishing . When he returned, a hundred years or more passed. How they received such powers has varied over the years, but Curse of Strahd states that the Vistani saved Strahds life and remain one of the few groups that he is indebted to and who are allowed to travel freely. Angelika was Davian's wife, best friend, and mother of their four children, and was killed by Baba Lysaga. Hope this helps. You should check them out. 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. Come on, everyone is gonna love the mad otter mage! 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. Stefania is the second child of Davian Martikov, and a mother of four at the Wizard of the Wines. 16. Comprehending as without difficulty as bargain even more than supplementary Wensencia raises most of the pups of the werewolf pack, and has been doing so for a long time. " The Philantropist: This card tells of history. Lathander the Morninglord is the god of birth, vitality and the sun. Drasha is a senior guard of Vallaki, and is assigned to monitor Azuron, Lael, Rowena and Schnoken when they first make an impact on Vallaki. Mordenkainen of Greyhawk fame also makes an appearance in Curse of Strahd. We think you'll have a much more enjoyable experience. My party started Curse of Strahd at level 6 and I have planned for them to go up to level 14 or 15. Euryale was the older sister of Medusa who helped her start a small empire after her rejection by Oghma. Burgomaster Ulrich was the last burgomaster of Berez and assistant to Marina's suicide. Gustav Durst was a wealthy rancher and secret cultist to Strahd von Zarovich briefly before and after the curse began. The key is to remember that Strahd isnt a brawler, hes a leader and his stat block reflects that. Riven is the mysterious patron of Azuron, who first made contact with him during his refuge in a meteorite cave in Scylla's cliff. Problem his, he is cursed. Coupled with the . 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. 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 . 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. PC Level: 5. If you are just starting your campaign, I also recommend getting a Guide to the Curse of Strahd campaign. Khazan was a powerful mage, and we already have all the lore in his chapter that is never given to the players. Carnis was the Abbot's prototype bride for Strahd.