Heres one of my favorites, and check the links below as well. In Curse of Strahd, General Kroval "Mad Dog" Grislek is buried in Castle Ravenloft. . He is devising a way to escape Barovia forever. Azuron is a wandering warlock of a mysterious entity he has dubbed as 'Riven', which he presumes saved his life for a dark purpose. 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. It looks fantastic. Gabriella is the current most celebrated dancer and musician at the Tser Pool camp. Tatyana was the fiance of Sergei von Zarovich, and is the only victim of Strahd's curse whose soul reincarnates perfectly. Waterdeep: Dragon Heist; Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage; 2019. Gender: Male Dostron the Hellborn. Lady Ortensia was the sibling apprentice of Lady Liliana, and a knight of Archamian. Arabelle is the only daughter of Luvash, and granddaughter of Madam Eva. He teaches the contents of the books at St. Andral's Church and Orphanage, as well as privately. So he studied in the amber temple a way to save Barovia, Tricking the dark lords into thinking he was just after immortality. She was killed after falling into a trap set up by the vampire. Bildrath Chekhov has retained the most successful general store in Barovia village through his shrewd and diligent ways. The Dark Powers taunt the Darklords by dashing their hopes time and again. [6], While suffering from his madness, he was convinced that enemies were everywhere and he was being constantly watched by evil agents. Burgomistress Anna Krezkova is a mother who has endured the deaths of all of her children. However, Strahd does have some redeeming beefy base stats with an 18 in STR, CHA, DEX, and CON a 15 in WIS and a big-brained 20 INT. In Strahds case, his desire for a life with Ireena is something he can never realize. Beware! Indigo is a senior guard at Fidatov manor, nicknamed after her colour-blindness. Majesto is the imp familiar of Lady Wachter, loaned to her by Strahd. Equating these creatures as part of the forces of Strahd and this elk as a potential ally (and not just a normal animal . Known as Undermountain, this dungeon is the domain of the mad wizard Halaster Blackcloak. It was released in March 2016. 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. Asmodeus the Hellking is the ruler of the Nine Hells of Baator and is considered on-par with the Greater Deities. In your game, you can communicate this through the day-to-day habits and religious practices of Barovians. Subtle and non-immersion-breaking ads, old lore with new twists, it has everything that I look for in a D&D Beyond article. Catch it here! The wizard and the vampire cast spells at each other. It will take place in the mid 1790's, so about 100 years before the events of the book this module is based on. Amalthia is the junior maid at Wachterhaus and the discontented helper of Stella. Madam Eva is the matriarch and oracle of the Vistani in Barovia, and one of the most widely respected people in the valley. Chip is a junior guard at Fidatov manor, nicknamed after his likeness to his father. The eldest son of Yonvich, and the only one without a blood relation to him. Khazan was a powerful mage, and we already have all the lore in his chapter that is never given to the players. 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. A riot at night, but lonely by day. Walter was the child of Gustav Durst and Margaret, and was killed by Elisabeth for her cult's final ritual. [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. Feb 21st 2023. After all, if he had more spell slots of that level, he'd still be able to cast it. Myrtle is the daughter of the Kreivas, who loaned her in order to fund their dream addiction. 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). He kept a close-trimmed beard and wore grey, high-collared robes. Sir. Gralmore was the taken child of forest folk, and the subject of Strahd's failed project to replace Khazan. Parriwimple is the oafish enforcer at Bildrath's Mercantile, and the secret to its success in the valley. 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. [6], He later changed his hairstyle, favoring a bald head and a trimmed goatee, but lost none of his penetrating stare. I remember him like it was yesterday. Baratok is actually Mordenkainen who has gone mad. 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. I meant to put this in a different section. Talia was a lonely locksmith in Krezk who was overcome with greed when she discovered a deadly poison ingredient in the valley. Lael Milpialda is an adventuring wizard and the youngest mage of the Milpialda Family. Otto is an egotistical but incompetent guard of the Abbey of St. Markovia. Imagine a valley surrounded by mist, with the suns rays barely visible beyond layers of murky clouds. Chauntea the Earthmother is the goddess of agriculture, growth and care. Baratok, so I got ready to run the archmage stat block according to the modifications CoS sets forth. - Arabelle (obsessor). Thats all I have for you and please if you enjoyed this check out more of our content. We think you'll have a much more enjoyable experience. Godfrey was a high-ranking Knight of the Silver Dragon during the fall of the order, events which led to him become a revenant. This isn't feasible right now, as the party has no means to cure the Mad . Recharged: Waterdeep Dungeon of the Mad Mage. I purposedly put inside a play on words, withnever in lifemeaning thatin death he could actually love them. Talos the Stormbringer is the god of destruction, storms and rebellion. Father Lucien is the philanthropic priest at St. Andral's Church, burdened with the secrets of decades of confessions. Tiamat the Quindragon is the goddess of chaos, greed, and evil dragons, and subservient to Asmodeus. Wilstrom is the son of the Bazhenovs, who succumbed to dream addiction, and loaned him in order to receive more. Abuse this and bait foolhardy adventurers into traps and other horrors that could reside in the castle. Lord Nikolai is the eldest Wachter child, and a fervent alcoholic, constantly searching for mischievous distractions from his nobility. 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. His voice was deep and melodic. Come on! When the vampire appeared, the wizards peasant army fled in terror. Bella Sunbane is the daughter of Morgantha, and a baker in Old Bonegrinder. Ghosts of Saltmarsh; The Orrery of the Wanderer; Essentials Kit . He stirred them with thoughts of revolt and bore them to the castle en masse. The Mad Mage of Mount Baratok. [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. 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. She was banished by Dr. Van Richten. A small comment regarding vampires: you could argue that he could just turn someone into a vampire so that he has an undead lover. 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 . If you're playing with players with no knowledge of the Forgotten Realms lore, use a more interesting character like Traxigor. They're there, invincible and never truly seen, never to be understood nor defeated. Strong writing from Jeremy Blum with great organization and efficient summary; good example of enhanced supplementation from D&D Beyond. Unfortunately, Strahd thoroughly beat him and threw him over the edge of Tser Falls. Angelika was Davian's wife, best friend, and mother of their four children, and was killed by Baba Lysaga. 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. General Kroval "Mad Dog" Grislek. 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. Baratok is actually Mordenkainen who has gone mad. 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. 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. The book includes 22 revised room descriptions which accurately reflect rooms visible to players. Bascal was an experimental and worldly chef who worked in King Barov's court. This means two things: first, the Abbot is right. [Mad Mage's Magnificent Mansion] . Vampires stay in coffins during the day. Get the newsletter. Szoldar is a seasoned wolf hunter by trade, and best friend of Yevgeni Krushkin. This is why she acts like a cat, and also why there are skeleton cats in his room. The end doesn't have to be killing Strahd, it could be helping him with his mission. She blindly supports his tyranny for the sake of her sanity. Pidlwick is an automaton effigy of the original jester of Duchess Dorfniya's court that Sergei and Tatyana liked to see perform. Spoilers for Curse of Strahd lurk ahead! The dusk elves rare nonhuman residents of Barovia might also be allies to those who oppose Strahd. King Dostron the Hellborn was the ruler of the valley long before Strahd conquest, and was the grandson of an illrigger of Avernus. Grunts is a senior guard at Fidatov manor, nicknamed after his taciturnity. 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. Since then, he's never looked back and loves roleplaying games for the chance to tell the tales that have been swirling in his head since childhood. Despite being undead, Strahd is still a count who considers the Barovian populace his subjects. Hedwig is Ivah's talkative best friend and lives at St. Andral's Orphanage. Ezekiel is a Prince of Agartha and a chosen of Lathander. We rewound a bit to give Gwaihir's player more time with the mad mage, and through some spells we learned that he was under the influence of a Mind Blank spell, but that it was his own spell. 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. He is the sun god's final of many attempts to free Barovia from 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. Mordenkainen secretly survived, but he became overtaken by madness, paranoia, and amnesia. Roaming Barovia: This adventure is wide open. Arik is the soulless bartender of the Blood of the Vine tavern. They associate its image and power with that of Strahd, the Land. She is proud to have managed to revive one through her plea to the Abbot of Markovia. Yenva is the youngest son of Yonvich, and seeks to author new books and update Vallakian records while his father preserves old knowledge. The Curse of Strahd Companion is your comprehensive guide to running 5th Edition's greatest and grimmest campaign. 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. [14], Mordenkainen was the leader of the Oerthian group of wizards known as the Circle of Eight, which included many spell inventors whose names were well known on Toril, such as Bigby, Drawmij, Nystul, Otiluke, Otto, Rary, and Tenser. Zuleika is the mate of Emil, and bides her time to avenge him and become the pack leader she believes he should have been. [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. Plus, you have our Baroness Eisglaza was a young noble under King Barov, and was frequently rumoured to be a rakshasi. JavaScript is currently disabled. 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. Since the dawn of Dungeons and Dragons, dungeon masters have been searching for the answer to a simple question. [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. Previously, the birds had met the Mad Mage of Mt. Haliq is the loyal valet of the Lady Wachter, and her closest confidant regarding her book club. Bethel is the owner of the Dusklight Supply Shop and a staunch believer in the protective power of the Baron's festivals. 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. 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. Strahd is probably one of the most iconic villains in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. Lord Karl is the middle Wachter child, and is rarely far from his brother, or doing anything different. 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. Mad Mary is the reclusive, delusional and mentally unstable mother of Gertruda. Tatyana came down with a terrible plague. We think you'll have a much more enjoyable experience. If his crypt is disturbed, he animates as a wraith and commands his three hell hounds to attack. Euryale was the older sister of Medusa who helped her start a small empire after her rejection by Oghma. Ithink the first thing you can improve is to make it clear his obsession is part of his curse, and not his own nature. 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. Gustav Durst was a wealthy rancher and secret cultist to Strahd von Zarovich briefly before and after the curse began. [1], Mordenkainen is a well-known adventurer on his home world and a member of the Circle of Eight. Since his original showing in 1983 in the original Ravenloft, Strahd has instilled joy and fear in many dungeon masters and players alike. The Demigod Arijani, from the Demiplane of Dread Sri Raji. 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 often stops Varvara from drifting out of reality. 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. Mordenkainen had a hawk-like face, with a permanent frown that gave the appearance of alertness and almost anger, and a penetrating gaze. I know, this seems pretty obvious for a plot, but it's never explicitly mentioned that Strahd could maybe make friends rather than enemies. JavaScript is currently disabled. Oghma the Allknower is the goddes of knowledge, inspiration and invention. Their battle flew from the courtyards of Ravenloft to a precipice overlooking the falls. Details about the challenges of converting 2D maps to 3D. Ulysses of Eros was a paladin of Sune who went on a vision quest south to respond to Sasha Ivliskova's pursuit. A guide to give your rendition of Strahd some real bite. I will endeavor to not disrespect Barovia's dowager queen in the future. Fugue is a junior guard at Fidatov manor, nicknamed after her habit of humming melodies stuck in her head. Strahd was envious of the love his mother showered on his brother, Sergei. Dhavit is the endlessly busy chef at Wachterhaus. He feels entitled to feast on the villagers because of their ancestors oath to him ages ago. Are there any deeper implications of his appearance here? Yesper is the horse-keeper for Fidatov estate, and an animal conservationist. They work really well when you don't know anything about their nature. Alenka is one of three owners of the Blood of the Vine tavern, and outcasts from the Tser Pool camp. To me, this translates as an ability to endure under harsh conditions for the folks who have souls, at least. The baron of Vallaki also holds festivals to keep spirits up. Feel free to use any part of this as you please. [1], The Mad Mage's paranoia resides in mansions created through his trademark spell high upon Mount Baratok. His . Lord Victor is the only son of Baron Vargas, and is resentful of his responsibilities and birthplace. Bluto is the town fisherman and drunk. 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. 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. . Taltos is the main manservant at Fidatov manor, and bodyguard of Lady Fidatova. She has the latter's gift of foresight. Yeska is a troubled orphan, and the adopted son and altar boy of Father Lucien. Thunder shook the mountainside, and great rocks tumbled down upon the wizard, yet by his magic he survived. 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.
Sara Tomko Native American, Articles C
Sara Tomko Native American, Articles C