DONAVICH

Once Donavich was a man of the cloth. A man of faith. Medium humanoid (human), lawful good
And now? Now he's been reduced to a broken shell of a
man tormented by the hungry screams of his vampire son Armor Class 10
and the doubts raging in his head. How can the Hit Points ___/9 (2d8)
Morninglord allow such darkness to reign unchecked? Speed 30 ft.
After all his years of devotion, he wonders, how can
Donavich be punished so cruelly without respite? STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Shadow of Yesteryear. Never in centuries had the 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 11 (+0)
village of Barovia seen such an uproar. Men and women
had come together to rage against the devil Strahd's Skills Medicine +4, Religion +2
tyranny. Together, armed with faith and decades of Senses passive Perception 10
discontent, they would march on Castle Ravenloft and see Languages Common
Strahd's reign to a grisly end. Or so they thought. Challenge 1/4 (50XP)
What the rebels—and the mysterious wizard that
whipped these peasants into a frenzy—hoped to happen Spellcasting. Donavich is a 1st level spellcaster. His
spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit
became a cruel joke. The revolt was doomed from the
with spell attacks). He has the following cleric spells
outset. So too was Donavich's twenty-year old son, Doru,
prepared:
who was one of the many to march on the castle.
Doru though? He's dead, but not gone. The devil has
Cantrips (at will): light, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
given the boy the gift of vampirism, and now he howls for
1st level (3 slots): bless, cure wounds, sanctuary
blood from the undercroft of Donavich's church.
Whispers. Doubt, frankly, is killing Donavich. Until ACTIONS
Doru is dead, Donavich cannot quiet the voices that Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
question the point of his faith or taunt him over his failures Hit: 2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage.
as a father. Every decision Donavich makes is haunted by
this hopelessness. He prays for his son's salvation, for Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Donavich can grant
clarity, for hope, but can hear nothing but Doru's howls. inspiration to one player character that he can see.
Yearning for Faith. There's a hole in Donavich's heart.
A hunger. He needs to know whether his god has truly
forsaken this land. He needs to know it like a child needs DONAVICH'S STATISTICS
to know a mother's love. Throughout these dreary days,
There are two options for running Donavich:
Donavich is searching for any sign that hope still burns
beyond the overcast skies. That it's possible Barovia can Default. Donavich, by fault, has the statistics of an
one day shine. acolyte with a whopping 9 hit points.
Alternate. At your discretion, Donavich can attain the
DONAVICH'S TRAITS statistics of a priest.
Ideal. "My son's soul deserves rest... and justice."
Bond. "Kolyan Indirovich was a good man; I owe it to FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
him to wisely counsel his children and see them safely to • Donavich is aware of Kolyan's secret: that Ireena isn't
a place other than this dismal village." his natural daughter; that Kolyan found her at the edge of
Flaw. "How can the Morninglord allow this?" the Svalich Woods as a little girl with no memories.
• Should St. Andral's Feast occur with Donavich present
THE BROKEN ONE (see "Special Events" Ch. 5), the man will either fly into
"I see a man of faith whose sanity hangs by a thread. He a rage at Strahd—casting guiding bolt—or see his faith
has lost someone close to him." utterly destroyed along with the church.
• Donavich is unaware of the horrors that have befallen
Fate has decreed Donavich, this shell of a man, shall stand the Abbey of Saint Markovia. Once the truth has been
with the adventurers against the devil Strahd. revealed, he would likely act with horror and disgust,
Finding Donavich. Donavich resides in the remnants possibly declaring the Abbot a heretic to the
of the village of Barovia's church (E5, Ch. 3). Morninglord's ways. The Abbot is sure to take that poorly.
Recruitment. Only if Doru is dead and buried will
Donavich finally find the strength to abandon his church,
burying there too the guilt of letting his son getting
himself killed.
CURSE OF STRAHD: DESTINED ALLIES
"There is one destined to stand with you against the FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
shadow, but of their ultimate fate, not even I can tell,"
Each character has a section with suggestions and
- Madam Eva
minutiae for the character's interactions with other
NPCs or plot points in the story. Should, for example,
FOREWORD Arabelle be told of her relation to Madam Eva—and
This supplement is intended to make your life easier Madam Eva's relation to Strahd as his half-sister—
for tracking the ally destined to join the adventurers and that information reach Strahd, it's suggested that
in their fight against the shadow of Strahd von he seize her to groom into an heir the Dark Powers
Zarovich. would accept as a substitute.

LORE. STATISTICS
Where characters lacked lore before, it's been To save you from having to scrounge around the
expanded upon. Every character has had their ideals, Monster Manual or flip through Curse of Strahd,
bonds, and flaws written. Now characters like Sir each character's statistics block has been created,
Klutz, who has the scantest background written (less personalized to them. The inspiration action they
than three sentences or so), has been fleshed out as gain as a destined ally of the adventurers is included.
an uber-patriot of King Barov.
Characters that already had entries in Curse of ALTERNATIVE STATBLOCKS
Strahd's Appendix D: Monsters and NPCs have not Let's be frank. Several characters are useless, while
simply been copied or regurgitated but been others are titans of power and skill. Take Arabelle for
supplemented with new information where possible. instance: what aid is a seven-year-old going to be
against a vampire?
Destined Allies provides alternative statistics for
TAROKKA READINGS these weaker characters that you can use at your
The cards know all, and now so do you. The reading discretion. Both a character's default and alternative
done by Madam Eva is included, along with the statistics are included.
quote, and describes how the adventurers can recruit What Destined Allies does not do is nerf any allies*
them to their cause. for it's the designers' intent that there be a difference
When in doubt, refer to Chapter 1: Into the Mists. in power. Fate is fickle, and even the smallest
creature might hold the key to salvation.
PLOT HOOKS & PERSONAL QUESTS *see Sir Godfrey Gwilym
Most characters have had personal quests and plot CREDIT
hooks tied to preexisting objectives and quests in the The statistic blocks used in this supplement were
game. An example is Parriwimple, the simpleton of made by Matt Norton in his "Excel Statblock
the village of Barovia: the adventurers can reunite Monster Template" product on DMs Guild with
him with estranged father in Vallaki. minor modifications to font and spacing. Go show
him some love.

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©2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont,
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BY WYATT TRULL
ARABELLE
On the dark waters of Lake Zarovich, Bluto Krogarov Small humanoid (human), lawful neutral
pulls another swig and cracks a grin to himself. The fish'll
come out in droves. He's got a lucky charm, after all. He Armor Class 10
looks down to the lumpy sack in the ribs of his boat. Above Hit Points ___/2 (1d8)
the distant din of howling wolves, he can her the child Speed 25 ft.
whispering to herself. She's calm. Says it'll be all right.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Says her saviors on their way—just you wait.
10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
Bluto Krogarov, Vallaki's favorite drunk, has kidnapped
Arabelle, thinking that the Vistani are lucky. That a Senses passive Perception 10
sacrifice will bring forth fish. Bluto's right on one Languages Common
account: Arabelle's lucky all right. Fate has sent Strahd's Challenge 0 (10 XP)
newest playthings to save the girl from a watery grave.
Beyond Her Peers. Despite being all of seven years old, ACTIONS
this Vistana child acts with authentic maturity. Alas,
there's an air of arrogance about her, inspired not by her Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5
father, but her uncle Arrigal. Though she's impressed with ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4 + 0) piercing
herself, she is also impressed with her saviors. Nothing damage.
can compare, in her mind, to these haggard adventurers
and ne'er-do-wells. Nothing ever will. Curse (Recharges after a Long Rest). Arabelle targets one
Drudgery. Arabelle loathes living on the outskirts of creature that she can see within 30 feet of her. The target
must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw or be cursed.
Vallaki. She's fascinated by the baron's weekly festivals,
While cursed, the target has disadvantage on ability checks
and burns with outrage that Vistani are forbidden to even
and saving throws tied to one ability score of Arrigal's choice.
enter Vallaki—a fact she won't stop complaining about.
The curse lasts until ended with a greater restoration spell, a
Intoxicated by the promise of adventure, Arabelle wants
remove curse spell, or similar magic. When the curse ends,
nothing more than to escape this drudgery and explore Arabelle takes 3d6 psychic damage.
Barovia.
Child of Destiny. Arabelle will command a great Evil Eye (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). Arabelle
destiny, if she can live long enough. The blood of King targets one creature that she can see within 10 feet of her
Barov himself, of Madam Eva, slumbers in Arabelle's and casts one of the following spells on the target (save DC
veins, and the gift of prescience is sure to manifest one 10), requiring neither somatic nor material components to do
day, thanks to Eva's pact with Mother Night—and not so: animal friendship, charm person, or hold person . If the
even that oracle can tell what future might come to pass. target succeeds on the initial saving throw, Arabelle is
Perhaps one day, if all the Fates, those wretched crones, blinded until the end of her next turn. Once a target succeeds
agree, Arabelle will sit on the throne of Barovia… but by on a saving throw against this effect, it is immune to the Evil
then, will the curse of Strahd endure? Eye power of all Vistani for 24 hours.

ARABELLE'S TRAITS Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Arabelle can grant
Ideal. "There's wonder in the world if you want it." inspiration to one player character she can see.
Bond. "Daddy's a drunk, but I know he loves me."
Flaw. "I'm destined for greatness."

THE TEMPTER ARABELLE'S STATISTICS

"I see a child—a Vistana. You must hurry, for her fate Arabelle, all of seven, suffers from a sickness called
hangs in the balance. Find her at the lake! "being useless." At your discretion, you can use the
alternative statblock provided.
Fate has decreed Arabelle instrumental in defeating the Default. Arabelle has the statistics of a Vistana
devil Strahd, though nobody can understand why. commoner with 2 hit points.
Finding Arabelle. Kidnapped by Bluto Krogarov, Alternative. Arabelle has the statistics of a 3rd level
Arabelle can be found at Lake Zarovich (Area L, Ch. 2). Divination wizard.
Recruitment. If saved, Arabelle is happy to join the
adventurers—not realizing how insanely irresponsible it FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
is to bring a child into combat. However, if she's returned • Should Madam Eva meet Arabelle, she might remark on
to her father, Luvash (N9, Ch. 2), he refuses to let her her destiny, further inflating the child's ego.
leave and for good reason.
• If Madam Eva were to reveal her connection to Arabelle,
as well as her true identity as Katarina, Strahd's half-
Small humanoid (human), lawful neutral
sister, and the news travels (not hard to imagine; Arabelle
will likely brag about it herself), then Strahd himself
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor )
would no doubt seize the child to groom into an heir that
Hit Points ___/14 (3d6)
the Dark Powers could accept as a replacement. Speed 25 ft.

ABDUCTION IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
With Luvash refusing to let Arabelle leave, the party is 8 (-1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 13 (+1)
faced with either facing the devil Strahd without their
destined ally or ripping away a daughter away from her Saving Throws Int +5, Wis +3
father. We already know their decision. Skills Arcana +5, Insight +3
You can use this short quest to facilitate the retrieval Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Common
(abduction, as every other sane person will see it) of
Challenge 0 (10 XP)
Arabelle, if the adventurers don't seize her immediately
and instead come back at night.
Portent (2/Day). Glimpses of the future press on Arabelle's
Revelry. The Vistani are celebrating as they always do:
mind. When she finishes a long rest, she can roll two d20s,
with wine. After a night of hard-drinking, all but six recording the numbers rolled. She can replace any attack roll,
Vistani bandits have passed out, and four of them are saving throw, or ability check made by her or creatures she can
heavily intoxicated (suffering the poisoned condition). see with one of these rolls, but only before the roll is made.
Luvash (a bandit captain) is drinking with them in Area Only one roll can be replaced in this way per turn. Each
N9C. Arrigal has left on his dark master's business. foretelling roll can be used only once.
Arabelle sleeps in Luvash's wagon (N9E), which is Spellcasting. Arabelle is a 3rd level spellcaster. Her
under lock and key. The golden-sun-hubcapped wagon spellcasting ability is Intelligence (DC 13, +5 to hit with spell
can be identified as Luvash's with a successful DC 12 attacks). She has the following wizard spells prepared:
Intelligence (Investigation) check, and the lock picked Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, message, shocking grasp
with a successful DC 14 Dexterity check made with 1st level (4 slots): burning hands, detect magic, mage
thieves' tools. Alexei, a Vistana bandit with 5 hit points, armor, protection from evil and good, shield
has been given a second chance and guards the door. 2nd level (2 slots): misty step
Loyal, Bruised. Alexei is still loyal to Luvash, despite ACTIONS
his punishment. He's exhausted and inattentive, and can
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft.
be lured away. He will fight but not to the death, and
or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4 + 0) piercing
eventually breaks down, begging the adventurers not to
damage.
take the girl lest he be killed for failing to keep her safe
again. He can be persuaded to accompany the party under Curse (Recharges after a Long Rest). Arabelle targets one
the excuse of watching over Arabelle; Alexei thinks this creature that she can see within 30 feet of her. The target must
is better than staying to face Luvash's wrath. succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw or be cursed. While
A Ruckus. If Alexei shouts or causes a commotion, cursed, the target has disadvantage on ability checks and
Luvash hears nearby and brings his bandits, bearing saving throws tied to one ability score of Arrigal's choice. The
weapons. He will fight to the death to save his child, curse lasts until ended with a greater restoration spell, a
unless beaten unconscious or persuaded otherwise (DC remove curse spell, or similar magic. When the curse ends,
20; only possible if Madam Eva is mentioned). Arabelle, Arabelle takes 3d6 psychic damage.
for her part, begs the adventurers to spare her father and
refuses to adventure with them if he's slain. Evil Eye (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). Arabelle
Consequences. Unless resolved amicably, Luvash puts targets one creature that she can see within 10 feet of her and
out a bounty of 100 gp on each adventurer's head. Even if casts one of the following spells on the target (save DC 10),
requiring neither somatic nor material components to do so:
Arabelle is taken quietly, he's smart enough to put two-
animal friendship, charm person, or hold person . If the target
and-two together if the adventurers previously expressed
succeeds on the initial saving throw, Arabelle is blinded until
interest in Arabelle. the end of her next turn. Once a target succeeds on a saving
Until Luvash is slain or appeased, whenever you roll the throw against this effect, it is immune to the Evil Eye power of
Vistani Bandits or Vistani Thugs random events (see Ch. all Vistani for 24 hours.
2 & 4) for Random Encounters, the number of Vistani are
doubled, and they carry letters describing this bounty. Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Arabelle can grant
There's a 50% chance Luvash is with them, distraught and inspiration to one player character she can see.
desperate. Nothing on this earth will stop him from saving
his child, and no price is too high.
ARRIGAL ARRIGAL'S TRAITS
A man of death and depravity, not much can stir Arrigal's Ideal. "Power exists to be taken."
black heart. Amongst the Vistani, Arrigal is infamous as Bond. "My brother and his brat are all I have but wine—
Strahd's unquestioning axeman. And why not? Why not and if I don't serve Strahd, he'll surely take them all
be on the winning side? he figures. away."
Man in the Shadow. Vistani clans are gerontocratic, Flaw. "There's more to this life, and I want it."
and Arrigal's clan buried their elders some years ago. Now
he and his brutish brother Luvash lead their people. Truly
THE HORSEMAN
though, power rests in Arrigal's hands; he's content to let "A man of death named Arrigal will forsake his dark lord
Luvash believe himself to be a leader, not a puppet. If only to serve your cause. Beware! He has a rotten soul."
his brother knew that the clan truly only heeded Arrigal. Finding Arrigal. Arrigal can be found at the Vistani
Family Man. For all the rot in his soul, Arrigal has but Camp outside Vallaki (N9, Ch. 5), as well as at
one redeeming quality: though he considers his brother a Argynvostholt (see "Special Events" Ch. 7) astride a dire
fool and his niece a brat, Arrigal loves them dearly. He's wolf as he chases after Ezmerelda d'Avenir. Both are
hardly capable of demonstrating or voicing these feelings startling introductions for the party; both demonstrate
with anything other than awkward affections whispered Arrigal's tolerance of violence.
to an unconscious Luvash or lessons taught to Arabelle. Recruitment. Believing that Fate has decreed he will
Alas, Arrigal considers these weaknesses and in his heart one day rule Barovia, the tarokka reading being the only
wonders whether he could sacrifice these two if the proof he needs, he will join the adventurers, while secretly
opportunity for power demanded it. nursing in his heart a lust for power at any cost.

ACTIONS
Medium humanoid (human), neutral evil Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 15
Armor Class 15 (studded leather) Constitution saving throw, taking 24 (7d6) poison damage on a
Hit Points ___/78 (12d8 + 24) failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Speed 30 ft.
Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7, range 80/320 ft., one
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage, and the target must make
11 (+0) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 24 (7d6) poison damage
on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +5
Skills Acrobatics +7, Deception +4, Perception +4, Stealth +11 Curse (Recharges after a Long Rest). Arrigal targets one creature
Damage Resistances poison that he can see within 30 feet of him. The target must succeed on a
Senses passive Perception 14 DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or be cursed. While cursed, the target
Languages Common, Elvish, Thieves' Cant has disadvantage on ability checks and saving throws tied to one
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP) ability score of Arrigal's choice. The curse lasts until ended with a
greater restoration spell, a remove curse spell, or similar magic.
Assassinate. During his first turn, Arrigal has advantage on When the curse ends, Arrigal takes 3d6 psychic damage.
attack rolls against any creature that hasn't taken a turn. Any
hit Arrigal scores against a surprised creature is a critical hit. Evil Eye (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest) . Arrigal targets one
Evasion. If Arrigal is subjected to an effect that allows him to creature that he can see within 10 feet of him and casts one of the
make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, he following spells on the target (save DC 12), requiring neither
instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, somatic nor material components to do so: animal friendship,
and only half damage if he fails. charm person, or hold person. If the target succeeds on the initial
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Arrigal deals an extra 13 (4d6) saving throw, Arrigal is blinded until the end of his next turn. Once
damage when he hits a target with a weapon attack and has a target succeeds on a saving throw against this effect, it is
advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 immune to the Evil Eye power of all Vistani for 24 hours.
feet of an ally of Arrigal that isn't incapacitated and he
doesn't have disadvantage on the attack roll. Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Arrigal can grant inspiration
to one player character he can see.
FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS ARRIGAL'S BETRAYAL
• Strahd is likely to believe that Arrigal, ever the loyal Believing himself the rightful and destined heir to
servant, is merely playing the part of the party's ally, just Barovia's throne, Arrigal betrays the adventurers once
to betray them later—setting up for a dramatic moment Strahd is dead. If the party is weak, and he has a
when Arrigal first attacks his former master. reasonable chance of succeeding, he attacks then and
• Once Arrigal has forsaken his dark lord, Strahd is likely there. If the party poses a threat, he bides his time, hoping
to pit brother against brother, or hold Arabelle hostage, that they all leave Barovia. If any characters stay he
forcing Arrigal to choose between his (illusion of) destiny assassinates them in the dead of night.
or his family.
• Arrigal has often visited Castle Ravenloft and can act as HAIL TO THE NEW KING
a guide while within. With Strahd defeated and victory within arm's reach,
Arrigal can suffer no rivals. He approaches the weakest
FAMILY IS FOREVER target and offers a handshake. Read:
Nothing can be enough to sate Arrigal's lust for power. There's silence. The long silence that comes after
Nothing. You can demonstrate that in this short event. tremendous victory against all odds. Outside the storm
Once Strahd learns of Arrigal's betrayal, the devil will unleashes one last cataclysmic shout and quiets down.
undoubtedly use Luvash and Arabelle as pawns in a vile In the quiet, Arrigal whispers, "We did it. By all the
scheme. gods, dead and live, we did it." He approaches you,
The prime time to launch this event is once the bearing the first smile you've ever seen on that man, and
characters have gathered either the Holy Symbol of offers his hand. "I never once believed in us," he
Ravenkind, or better yet, the Sunsword. It can feasibly confesses. "Never."
occur anywhere in Barovia, but recommended locations Whether or not the adventurer takes his hand, Arrigal
include Vallaki, van Richten's Tower, the tower at immediately pulls his blade to plunge into that character's
Tsolenka Pass, or the River Ivlis Crossroads (Areas N, V, stomach. Roll initiative. Assuming Arrigal's attacks hit,
T, and F, respectively). read the following, adjusting accordingly.
Strahd has set up gallows or made use of a preexisting Betrayal! Treacherous cur! Arrigal slides his blades into
structure such as a tower or rooftop. Arabelle and Luvash your gut and whispers, "The throne is mine. It was always
dangle precariously on the edge with nooses about their mine."
necks, and Strahd offers Arrigal an ultimatum. Read: AN EVE OF ASCENSION
A little girl weeps loudly while her father tries to comfort
Should any of the adventurers remain in Barovia, perhaps
her but he's drunk and death is staring both of them in the by the request of Ismark Kolyanovich to stay and purge
face. Luvash sways drunkenly, always threatening to send this land of evil, Arrigal bides his time. One night, when
himself to an early grave. a character is at their most vulnerable, Arrigal slips into
The devil Strahd calls out, "You can save them, Arrigal! their room at night to slit their throat.
One last chance is all I offer you, traitor! Bend your knee
You wake to cold steel at your throat—you try to cry out,
by bathing in the blood of these fools! Bring me what's
but there's a hand over your mouth! Your heart thunders,
mine."
and in the gloom, you find Arrigal's smile: the first smile
"You son of a bitch," Arrigal snarls. "Son of a bitch. you've ever seen on that treacherous cur. "It's destiny,
Gods curse you, Strahd!"
right?" he says before making that deadly cut.
With a smile, the devil replies, "They already have."
Even if the adventurer wakes with a blade at their throat,
Variants. At your discretion, Luvash and Arabelle are they would likely be surprised for a round—as an
already vampire spawn under a spell of disguise self; or
assassin, Arrigal has a +11 to Stealth and the Assassinate
Strahd is astride Beucephalus, his nightmare steed, with feature.
Arabelle and Luvash dangling from the saddle. Arrigal continues this black dance until all would-be
challengers or threats to his ascension have been
eliminated. What the reign of Arrigal over Barovia looks
like is up to you.
CLOVIN BELVIEW
A child of a legacy of leprosy and arrogance, Clovin Medium humanoid (mongrelfolk), neutral evil
Belview has been cursed to live a debauch life marred by
deformities. Long ago, the Belviews, those inbred lepers, Armor Class 11 (natural armor)
asked the mysterious Abbot to heal them. And he did. Hit Points ___/26 (4d8 + 8)
With his holy hands he did excise their tumors and flaws. Speed 20 ft.
Then they asked for more: the guile of a snake, wings to
fly. The Abbot… did what he thought was right, the self- STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
righteous fool. 12 (+1) 9 (-1) 15 (+2) 9 (-1) 10 (+0) 6 (-2)
Mongrel. Clovin is a two-headed mongrelfolk; his right
head bears the stubby horns of a goat while his left is half- Skills Deception +2, Perception +2, Stealth +3
formed, cherubic, and snake-tongued. It cannot produce Senses passive Perception 12
anything but hisses and awful noise. Crocodilian hide Languages Common
stretches across half its face. Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
The deformities don't stop there: Clovin's left hand ends
in a crab's claw and right foot is a bear's paw. Two-Headed. Clovin has advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
Manservant. Clovin is one the privileged few Belviews checks and on saving throws against being blinded, charmed,
that haven't been confined to those rooms of inbred deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious.
madness—something he's eternally grateful to the Abbot
for. While his brethren howl and accuse of him starving Mimicry. Clovin can mimic any sound he has heard, including
them, Clovin can wander this house of horrors unchained. voices. A creature that hears the sounds can tell they are
Musician. It's ironic that someone as hideous as Clovin imitations with a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Insight) check.
can produce something so beautiful as the music of his
viol. The music lulls his other head to sleep. Alas, Clovin ACTIONS
can only play while drunk… But he never needed much
of an excuse for that, did he? Multiattack. Clovin makes two attacks: one with his claw, and
Manic. All Belviews have a touch of madness, and one with his dagger.
Clovin is no different. He foolishly believes himself
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
sane—so long as he can finish a bottle of wine. And then
Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) bludgeoning damage, and the target is
the next, and the one after that. When there's no wine left,
grappled (escape DC 11). Clovin has only one claw, which can
Clovin becomes a desperate, whiny addict with not an
only grapple one target.
ounce of shame.

CLOVIN BELVIEW'S TRAITS Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5
ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing
Ideal. "Sanity is found at the bottom of the bottle!"
damage.
Bond. "The Abbot has done right by me, and I will serve
him until my dying breath."
Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Clovin can grant
Flaw. "My family are abominations that ought to be
inspiration to one player character he can see by playing his
scoured from this earth. I'd let them starve if I could."
viol.

THE MARIONETTE
"Look for a man of music, a man with two heads. He lives FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
in a place of great hunger and sorrow." • Clovin can go nowhere without attracting stares,
suspicion, and revolt… But perhaps the Vistani can look
Finding Clovin. Clovin resides at the Abbey of Saint past that when he busts out his viol.
Markovia in the village of Krezk (see Ch. 8). • Should he meet his relative, Cyrus Belview, Strahd's
Recruitment. Only if the Abbot is slain will Clovin manservant of Castle Ravenloft, Clovin is likely to react
leave the Abbey—and he'll be happy to do so. with disgust and hate.
• Rahadin, Strahd's chamberlain, would likely confuse
CLOVIN BELVIEW'S STATISTICS Clovin with Cyrus in the dimness of Castle Ravenloft,
Clovin has the statistics of a mongrelfolk with the two- snapping off orders with half a glance to the mongrel
headed feature. Given his crab claw, a grapple has been to nearby.
his claw attack; use it at your discretion. • If brought to the Wizards of the Wines winery, it's
possible Clovin will want to never, ever leave.
DAVIAN MARTIKOV
"And quoth the raven: I'm gonna mess you up." Medium humanoid (human, shapechanger), lawful good

Davian, patriarch of the Martikov family, has lived a long

Armor Class 12
and full life—well, as full as one can be in Barovia. Hit Points ___/31 (7d8)
Lifeblood of Barovia. The Martikovs have operated the Speed 30 ft. (fly 50 ft. in raven and hybrid forms)
Wizards of the Wines winery for nearly three centuries
now, thanks to a matrilineal marriage mishap with their STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
liege-lords, the Krezkovs. Yet the Martikovs don't make 10 (+0) 15 (+2) 11 (+0) 13 (+1) 15 (+2) 14 (+2)
wine for coin, oh no. They know that wine is the lifeblood
of Barovia; that without it, Barovians everywhere would Skills Insight +4, Perception +6
have nothing to drown their sorrows in but Lake Zarovich. Damage Immunities bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
And from this simple truth has born a mission: keeping from nonmagical attacks not made with silvered weapons
the valley from killing itself. Senses passive Perception 16
Family Curse. Somewhere between acquiring the Languages Common (can't speak in raven form)
winery and the dreadful present, the Martikovs became Challenge 2 (450 XP)
afflicted with wereraven lycanthropy. "How" is a well-
guarded secret, and "who" matters little to them. Already Shapechanger. Davian can his action to polymorph into a
drunk off their altruism, the Martikovs embraced their raven-humanoid hybrid or into a raven, or back into his human
curse and formed a secret society of wereravens: the form. His statistics, other than his size, are the same in each
form. Any equipment he's wearing or carrying isn't
Keepers of the Feather. Nobody thought to suggest a
transformed. He reverts to his human form if he dies.
better name, and it sort of just stuck.
Still, seeing their lycanthropy as a curse, and not a gift, Mimicry. Davian can mimic any sound he has heard, including
the Martikovs grew highly selective in whom their voices. A creature that hears the sounds can tell they are
children would marry, knowing that any offspring would imitations with a successful DC 10 Wisdom (Insight) check.
inherit the curse. As the family shrunk, critics considered
it a ploy to ensure no cadet branches could ever wrest ACTIONS
control of the winery away.
Since their formation, the Keepers of the Feather have Multiattack (Human or Hybrid Form Only). Davian makes two
collected Strahd's secrets and sought to help the poor weapon attacks, one of which can be with his hand crossbow.
playthings the devil has tricked or forced into Barovia.
Well aware of their (lack of) strength, the Keepers have Beak (Raven or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4
yet to stage a grand stand against the devil. to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage in raven
An Old, Done Man. Davian approaches his seventies, form, or 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage in hybrid form. If the
but his curse keeps him strong for his age. He's crotchety target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 10
and suspicious of others. Some would call him an ass. Constitution saving throw or be cursed with wereraven
Knowing that his time is coming, Davian seeks to end lycanthropy.
Strahd's tyranny once and for all. He's old, but he's got one
Shortsword (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon
last fight left in him—just you watch.
Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 +2)
DAVIAN MARTIKOV'S TRAITS piercing damage.
Ideal. "The Martikovs have a responsibility—nay, the
Hand Crossbow (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Ranged
privilege!—to keep this land alive and free."
Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5
Bond. "My family deserves to see a better tomorrow."
(1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Flaw. "I'm too old for all this nonsense."
Inspire. When in sight of Strahd, Davian can grant inspiration
THE RAVEN to one player character he can see.
"Find the leader of the feathered ones who live among the
vines. Though old, he has one more fight left in him."
Fate has decreed that the Martikov legacy will be more Recruitment. Seeing this as his sole chance to free his
than just about wine and spying. family from this eternal tournament, Davian readily
Finding Davian. Davian can be found escaping the agrees to join the party, but before they venture to Castle
carnage wrought by blights and druids at the Wizards of Ravenloft, Davian insists on reconciling with his son
the Wine winery with his family. (See Ch. 12). Urwin in Vallaki. (See N2, Ch. 5).
DAVIAN'S STATISTICS beneath Wachterhaus, guarded by her cult and her imp,
Majesto. Many Keepers of the Feather fled or were
Davian Martikov has the statistics of a wereraven. His purged by the cult. They've been watched at all hours and
immunity to nonmagical, nonsilvered attacks makes him dare not escape their chains by transforming. Not in front
a formidable fighter. of witnesses—even in this dire hour, the Martikovs will
At your discretion, you can modify lycanthropy to not risk betraying their family secret.
band-aid some oversights that are unexplained in the The Drunks. The Blue Water Inn lies abandoned. Much
Monster Manual: lycanthropic and vampiric attacks of its stock has been stolen; Nikolai and Karl Wachter can
bypass a lycanthrope's immunity to nonmagical, be found here drinking the last of the wine. If questioned,
nonsilvered attacks. they explain the situation. Both men are terrified of their
mother and dare not cross her unless persuaded with a
FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS successful DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check (and only
• Davian's family includes: if the adventurers can demonstrate their capabilities).
• Adrian, his eldest son, unmarried. Davian, for his part, refuses to leave Vallaki until his
• Urwin and his wife Danika Dorakova, and their two family has been freed.
children Brom and Bray, who manage the Blue Water Inn. Imprisoned. Wachterhaus has become a compound.
• Elvir, his youngest son, unmarried. Lady Wachter has seized control of the town guard, using
• Stefania, and her husband, Dag Tomescu, and their her cultists as lieutenants, captains, inspectors, and
four children: Claudiu, Martin, Viggo, and baby Yolanda. inquisitors. Her estate is staffed by a guard unit:
• Like most wereravens, Davian is loath to use • Two patrols circle the house: two guards and a mastiff
lycanthropic attacks for fear of spreading the curse. He each. One goes counterclockwise and vice versa.
prefers his shortsword (a family heirloom) and his hand • Two guards watch the front door, while a cultist
crossbow. oversees the servants in the kitchen.
• Barovian lore is fond of the phrase "The son of a wolf • Ernst Larnak, Wachter's spy patrols the grounds at his
so too is a wolf." Davian knows that if anyone that knows leisure; he has no special loyalty to Wachter and would
his identity were to see him transform into his raven or betray her if his life was endangered.
hybrid forms, it wouldn't take long for the entire valley to Urwin, Danika, and their two sons Brom and Bray have
suspect the curse of lycanthropy runs through the been imprisoned in the cult headquarters of Wachterhaus
Martikovs' veins—and Strahd, aware of the existence of a (Area N4T). They're guarded by Majesto, an imp, and
secret organization of wereravens determined to harry his four cult fanatics. Eight skeletons lie buried in the cellar
operations, would quickly eradicate them. Only if Davian outside the room (N4S) and attack anyone that don't utter
intends to leave no survivors does he shapeshift. the phrase "Let the dead remain at rest."
• If Davian accompanies the adventurers to the Ruins of Just Smile and Wave. If Nikolai and/or Karl Wachter
Berez or Yester Hill (chapters 10 and 14, respectively) join the party, they can beguile the guards so long as the
and learns that two of the three gems the vineyard owes adventurers are properly disguised or unrecognizable.
its vitality to are there, he won't leave without it. Knowing Only Ernst Larnak and the cultists suspect the two men of
that their quest to defeat Strahd might fail, he's desperate ulterior motives.
to preserve his family's wealth, influence, and cause as the Time of Day. If it's daytime, Wachter is in her den
sole producers of wine. (N4K) with two cult fanatics and a guard. If it's
nighttime, Wachter is in her bedroom (N4O), with two
FAMILY CHAINS cult fanatics stationed outside (N4L).
You can use this short quest to add a bit of drama to Aftermath. If Nikolai and Karl aided the Martikovs in
Davian's reconciliation with his son, Urwin. When the this venture, the family pronounces a new vow of
first "seed" responsible for the vineyard's vitality went friendship, especially if Lady Wachter is disposed of.
missing, he blamed Urwin, who was on watch that night. If the Martikovs are rescued but Wachter is not
Davian suspected he was instead with Danika. overthrown, the family finds a secluded spot, such as the
For this quest, Lady Wachter has seized control of graveyard, to shapeshift into the raven forms, after which
Vallaki, either in the aftermath of the unrest caused by St. they fly from this wretched place. The Martikovs call
Andral's Feast (see "Special Events" in Ch. 5), or by upon their liege lord, Baron Dmitri Krezkov, to accept his
finally placing her cultists in high enough positions to vassals into Krezk. A slave to custom, Krezkov accepts.
launch her coup.
Purge. Wachter conveniently saw enemies everywhere
she looked; several have been exiled or executed. The
Martikovs were imprisoned for dissent against Vallaki's
new baroness—but Wachter is unaware of their
lycanthropy. Still, all four have been bound and chained
DONAVICH
Once Donavich was a man of the cloth. A man of faith. Medium humanoid (human), lawful good
And now? Now he's been reduced to a broken shell of a
man tormented by the hungry screams of his vampire son Armor Class 10
and the doubts raging in his head. How can the Hit Points ___/9 (2d8)
Morninglord allow such darkness to reign unchecked? Speed 30 ft.
After all his years of devotion, he wonders, how can
Donavich be punished so cruelly without respite? STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Shadow of Yesteryear. Never in centuries had the 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 11 (+0)
village of Barovia seen such an uproar. Men and women
had come together to rage against the devil Strahd's Skills Medicine +4, Religion +2
tyranny. Together, armed with faith and decades of Senses passive Perception 10
discontent, they would march on Castle Ravenloft and see Languages Common
Strahd's reign to a grisly end. Or so they thought. Challenge 1/4 (50XP)
What the rebels—and the mysterious wizard that
whipped these peasants into a frenzy—hoped to happen Spellcasting. Donavich is a 1st level spellcaster. His
spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit
became a cruel joke. The revolt was doomed from the
with spell attacks). He has the following cleric spells
outset. So too was Donavich's twenty-year old son, Doru,
prepared:
who was one of the many to march on the castle.
Doru though? He's dead, but not gone. The devil has
Cantrips (at will): light, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
given the boy the gift of vampirism, and now he howls for
1st level (3 slots): bless, cure wounds, sanctuary
blood from the undercroft of Donavich's church.
Whispers. Doubt, frankly, is killing Donavich. Until ACTIONS
Doru is dead, Donavich cannot quiet the voices that Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
question the point of his faith or taunt him over his failures Hit: 2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage.
as a father. Every decision Donavich makes is haunted by
this hopelessness. He prays for his son's salvation, for Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Donavich can grant
clarity, for hope, but can hear nothing but Doru's howls. inspiration to one player character that he can see.
Yearning for Faith. There's a hole in Donavich's heart.
A hunger. He needs to know whether his god has truly
forsaken this land. He needs to know it like a child needs DONAVICH'S STATISTICS
to know a mother's love. Throughout these dreary days,
There are two options for running Donavich:
Donavich is searching for any sign that hope still burns
beyond the overcast skies. That it's possible Barovia can Default. Donavich, by fault, has the statistics of an
one day shine. acolyte with a whopping 9 hit points.
Alternate. At your discretion, Donavich can attain the
DONAVICH'S TRAITS statistics of a priest.
Ideal. "My son's soul deserves rest... and justice."
Bond. "Kolyan Indirovich was a good man; I owe it to FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
him to wisely counsel his children and see them safely to • Donavich is aware of Kolyan's secret: that Ireena isn't
a place other than this dismal village." his natural daughter; that Kolyan found her at the edge of
Flaw. "How can the Morninglord allow this?" the Svalich Woods as a little girl with no memories.
• Should St. Andral's Feast occur with Donavich present
THE BROKEN ONE (see "Special Events" Ch. 5), the man will either fly into
"I see a man of faith whose sanity hangs by a thread. He a rage at Strahd—casting guiding bolt—or see his faith
has lost someone close to him." utterly destroyed along with the church.
• Donavich is unaware of the horrors that have befallen
Fate has decreed Donavich, this shell of a man, shall stand the Abbey of Saint Markovia. Once the truth has been
with the adventurers against the devil Strahd. revealed, he would likely act with horror and disgust,
Finding Donavich. Donavich resides in the remnants possibly declaring the Abbot a heretic to the
of the village of Barovia's church (Ch. 3). Morninglord's ways. The Abbot is sure to take that poorly.
Recruitment. Only if Doru is dead and buried will
Donavich finally find the strength to abandon his church,
burying there too the guilt of letting his son getting
himself killed.
THE SHADOW'S ESCAPE
If the adventurers are intent on destroying Doru, Medium humanoid (human), lawful good
Donavich does his best to stop it—how can he not? It's his
son. Alas, Fate has decreed it necessary. Armor Class 13 (chain shirt)
By default, Donavich will not join the adventurers until Hit Points ___/27 (5d8 + 5)
Doru is slain. However, you can ignore that and use this Speed 30 ft.
short quest hook to provide motivation for Donavich to
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
leave his church. Read the following:
10 (+0) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 13 (+1)
The trapdoor slams against the floorboards—the
screaming from below quiets down. The stairs lead into
Skills Medicine +7, Persuasion +3, Religion +4
moldy darkness. Silence stretches. Candlelight slips in
Senses passive Perception 13
between the floorboards, but it's not enough. It could
Languages Common
never be enough to banish this darkness.
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
As your climb down the stairs, your footfalls like
thunder, you hear a small voice whisper, "Thank you,
father." Divine Eminence. As a bonus action, Donavich can expend a
Doru, climbing on the ceiling, attacks the least spell slot to cause his melee weapon attacks to magically deal
an extra 10 (3d6) radiant damage to a target on a hit. This
formidable-looking character. After he's taken half his hit
benefit lasts until the end of the turn. If he expends a spell slot
points in damage, Doru attempts to escape: either by the
of 2nd level or higher, the extra damage increases by 1d6 for
trapdoor, or, failing that, by breaking through the
each level above 1st.
floorboards (a DC 14 Strength check). What little blood
he's consumed now is enough to fuel his escape. Read: Spellcasting. Donavich is a 5th level spellcaster. His
The vampire has escaped! You come thundering up the spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit
stairs while cries of pain echo across the cold hall. with spell attacks). He has the following cleric spells prepared:
Bursting into the chapel with your weapons drawn, you
Cantrips (at will): light, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
see no one—until your eye is drawn to the rafters.
1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, guiding bolt, sanctuary
Donavich struggles from above, his choked cries wet
2nd level (3 slots): lesser restoration, spiritual weapon
and pained. Doru's got him by the neck!
3rd level (2 slots): dispel magic, spirit guardians
If the characters attack Doru, he lets Donavich go and
flees by climbing up into the bell tower and breaking
through one of the holes in the shingled roof. He then ACTIONS
proceeds to climb the Pillarstone of Ravenloft. If it's
daytime, the adventurers are shocked to see that the Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
sunlight has no effect on the vampire. Hit: 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage.
Donavich, for his part, realizes then he cannot wallow
in his church any longer; that he must find in him the Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Donavich can grant
power to destroy his son and save others from his inspiration to one player character that he can see.
predations. When the adventurers next leave the village,
read the following:
As you begin to quit this dismal place, taking the gravel
road west, you hear a shout. Out from the mists choking
the village shambles a bald man: Donavich.
"The Morninglord is mute," the priest says, when he
reaches you, dusting off his robe. "Dead, if the cynics are
to be believed… But so long as I carry the hope within me
that light can still chase away the dark, my god will live
on through my deeds and faith.
"My son is yet out there, friends. I cannot wallow in
guilt or pity while he hunts innocents. If you're to walk
from this place, I'll walk with you, warm with the fire of
hope. Shall we go?"
Ultimately, Doru wanders the halls of Castle Ravenloft
before returning to prey upon the village nights later.
Ismark sends letters to the other settlements, begging for
aid, but receives none. If Donavich receives this news, he
demands the party return with him to the village.
EZMERELDA D'AVENIR FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
A Vistana roams the mists with a mission: to find her old • Ezmerelda's wagon is brimming with supplies but it's
mentor, legendary vampire hunter Rudolph van Richten; trapped; she'd likely warn the adventurers. (See Ch. 11.)
and to pump a stake through Strahd's heart. • As described in "Special Events," Ch. 11, Ezmerelda
Hunter of Evil. Ezmerelda and van Richten's history is may have already made an attempt on Strahd's life. The
a complicated one. In short, her parents kidnapped his son vampire then gains a new goal: killing Ezmerelda.
and sold him to a vampire. Van Richten forced the
information of his son's whereabouts out of her parents REUNITED AND, BOY, IS IT BAD
and left. This mercy left such an impression on Ezmerelda O' woe be to Ezmerelda, who, after all these years apart
that she decided to dedicate her life to eradicating evil. has finally found her mentor again, this time with the
She abandoned her family at fifteen to seek out van maturity not to shatter their relationship again.
Richten, and surprisingly enough, he taught her many of You can use this short event to add tragedy to
his ways, seeing in her another weapon to fight the dark. Ezmerelda's story, and to remove van Richten from the
Their partnership was doomed, and the two split years board. It assumes that he still resides in Vallaki and that
later. Yet word has reached Ezmerelda that van Richten the adventurers haven't been banished from the town by
has come to Barovia to hunt Strahd—and she wants in. the baron or Lady Wachter.
Pride Cometh. Ezmerelda is far too self-righteous. She After meeting the adventurers, Ezmerelda leaves ("Best
believes herself to be infallible; that insidious pride not to draw the vampire's ire on all of us, no?") to go find
masquerades as hope and self-confidence. Her mistakes her mentor, van Richten. If the adventurers already
embolden her; she doesn't learn from them. She's suspect Rictavio, Ezmerelda investigates him. Better for
incapable. One of these days, Ezmerelda will bite off her to go by herself, rather than attract attention in a
more than she can chew at the cost of her life, perhaps group, she says. She correctly suspects that Strahd is
even her soul. spying her, but underestimates the limits of his scrying
spell, and leads Strahd's gaze straight to van Richten.
EZMERELDA'S TRAITS When the adventurers return to Vallaki, Ezmerelda
Ideal. "Evil that feeds on the innocent is the worst of all approaches them in the shadows. Read:
evils and must be destroyed." "I believe I've found him," Ezmerelda d'Avenir tells you.
Bond. "My mentor and teacher, Dr. Rudolph van The shadows drape her face like a cloak. "The carnival
Richten, is like a father to me." ringmaster, the half-elf: Rictavio. I see too much of my
Flaw. "I go where angels fear to read." mentor in his mannerisms. The way he speaks, walks. I'm
sure it's van Richten in disguise. Speak to him tonight but
THE MISTS tell him only that you've left something in his room at the
"A Vistana wanders this land alone, searching for her inn: me."
mentor. She does not stay in one place for long. Seek her That evening, as Ezmerelda and van Richten speak in his
out at Saint Markovia's abbey, near the mists." room (N2N), and the adventurers sit in the taproom
Sometimes Fate takes; sometimes it gives. What will this (N2C), they hear the thunder of hooves of the wind.
quest cost Ezmerelda? Strahd has come to eliminate two of his greatest foes.
Finding Ezmerelda. Ezmerelda can be found at the With a cloud of bats (2d4 swarms of bats) trailing
Abbey of Saint Markovia, van Richten's Tower, and behind him, Strahd is astride Beucephalus, his nightmare
Argynvostholt (Areas S19, Ch. 8; "Special Events" Ch. 7 steed. If the six vampire spawn in the Coffinmaker's
& 11). House (see N6, Ch. 5) still reside there, they burst free and
Recruitment. Ezmerelda already intends to slay Strahd, make their way to the Blue Water Inn. Read:
and may have already tried, depending on when she Something's coming. Like a cloud passing under the sun,
comes into your campaign. She abandons her plans to join darkness has fallen across the air of this place. An hour of
the adventurers. pure midnight that chases after dusk. You hear it on the
very wind: the thunder of hooves and know that doom has
EZMERELDA D'AVENIR'S STATISTICS marched from the east. From Castle Ravenloft.
Outside, confusion turns to cries of mass hysteria all
A Vistana, Ezmerelda has her own unique statistics, as
while that doom thunders ever closer. You race outside:
described in Appendix D.
dusk has fallen to night, and the black sky sparks with
Special Equipment. Ezmerelda meets the party with
flames. Clouds of bats pass under the moon and the devil
two potions of greater healing, six vials of holy water, and
himself is astride some nightmarish steed whose very
three wooden stakes.
hooves cause the wind to burst with flame.
 Because the Blue Water Inn is also the home of the Running from the Devil. There are only a few means
Martikovs, it counts as a threshold that forbids vampires of escaping the devil's wrath:
and vampire spawn from entering without permission. • Cutting a deal: one life to save all the others; van
Strahd stops at nothing, however, to force the adventurers Richten is willing to make this trade but Ezmerelda will
out. He'll torch the entire inn if he must, or resort to taking protest his sacrifice
hostages. Potential hostages include: • Holding out in a home until dawn
• Father Lucian, Yeska, or Millivoj (see N1), if the • Gravely wounding the devil
Bones of St. Andral were not recovered • Taking Victor Vallakovich's teleportation circle. At
• Heinrik van der Voort, the coffin maker (see N6) your discretion, the circle, while unable to escape
• Any number of innocents that have yet to escape into Barovia, can accidentally tap into Castle Ravenloft's
their homes teleportation network, as described in K78, Ch. 4. The
The Keepers of the Feather stay until the Martikovs can characters are snatched up and delivered to the Brazier
escape, and prefer to flee rather than fight. If they're Room and can teleport out or explore Castle Ravenloft.
forced to, they tackle the bats in their raven forms. Consequences. Strahd's attack causes mass hysteria
Rudolph van Richten, for his part, is prepared to make the that boils into civil unrest. Baron Vallakovich cannot
ultimate sacrifice to save the others, believing that if he control the mob, leading to his ruin as described in St.
does not, his curse will be their downfall—Ezmerelda, the Andral's Feast (see "Special Events" Ch. 5). If he's already
adventurers, and even the Keepers of the Feather. If given been ousted by Lady Wachter, she's capable of quelling
a choice, Strahd would prefer to slay van Richten, the unrest by claiming that the devil Strahd has shown
knowing him to be the greater threat and the sweeter prize. them great favor by personally purging Vallaki of traitors.

ACTIONS
Medium humanoid (human), chaotic good Multiattack. Ezmerelda makes three attacks: two with her +1 rapier
and one with her +1 handaxe or her silvered shortsword.
Armor Class 17 (+1 studded leather )
Hit Points ___/82 (11d8 + 33) +1 Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
Speed 30 ft. 9 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA +1 Handaxe. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
14 (+2) 19 (+4) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Saving Throws Wis +3 Silvered Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7, reach 5 ft., one target.
Skills Acrobatics +7, Arcana +6, Deception +9, Insight +3, Hit: 6 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Medicine +3, Perception +6, Performance +6, Sleight of
Hand +7, Stealth +7, Survival +6 Curse (Recharges after a Long Rest). Ezmerelda targets one creature
Senses passive Perception 16 that she can see within 30 feet of her. The target must succeed on a DC
Languages Common, Elvish 14 Wisdom saving throw or be cursed. While cursed, the target has
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP) vulnerability to one type of damage of her choice. The curse lasts until
ended with a greater restoration spell, a remove curse spell, or similar
Spellcasting. Ezmerelda is a 7th-level spellcaster. Her spell- magic. When the curse ends, Ezmerelda takes 3d6 psychic damage.
casting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with
spell attacks). She has the following wizard spells prepared: Evil Eye (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest) . Ezmerelda targets one
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, light, mage hand, creature that she can see within 10 feet of her and casts one of the
prestidigitation following spells on the target (save DC 14), requiring neither somatic
1st level (4 slots): protection from evil and good, magic nor material components to do so: animal friendship, charm person, or
missile, shield hold person . If the target succeeds on the initial saving throw,
2nd level (3 slots): darkvision, knock, mirror image Ezmerelda is blinded until the end of her next turn. Once a target
3rd level (3 slots): clairvoyance, lightning bolt, magic succeeds on a saving throw against this effect, it is immune to the Evil
circle Eye power of all Vistani for 24 hours.
4th level (3 slots): greater invisibility
Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Ezmerelda can grant inspiration
to one player character she can see.
IREENA KOLYANA
Ireena Kolyana: beloved of the devil and the focus of a Medium humanoid (human), lawful good
cosmic struggle between the Dark Powers and Strahd von
Zarovich. Armor Class 15 (breastplate)
Orphaned by Wolves. A secret known by few is that Hit Points ___/14 (2d8)
Ireena Kolyana is not the natural daughter of Kolyan Speed 30 ft.
Indirovich, burgomaster of the village of Barovia. He
instead found her as a little girl at the edge of the Svalich STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Woods, dirty and terrified, empty of memories. In truth, 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3)
Ireena's family hails from Vallaki; on one dreary
afternoon, Ireena's father and uncle took her and her Skills Deception +5, Insight +4, Persuasion +5
brother—the fiendish Izek Strazni—to fish on the shores Senses passive Perception 10
of Lake Zarovich. These were in the days before the Languages Common
Svalich Woods teemed with ravenous wolves, and Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
Ireena's father could never expect that his son would lose
an arm, and he a daughter. ACTIONS
Tatyana Reborn. Unbeknownst to her, Ireena is
Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Strahd's beloved Tatyana reborn. Time and again, the
target. Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage.
Dark Powers have reached into that black aether, fished
out Tatyana's soul, and flung it into an infant of Barovia.
Inspire. When in sight of Strahd, Ireena can grant inspiration
Time and again, they have provided Strahd the chase that
to one player character that she can see.
bleeds his shriveled heart. And every time, Strahd nears
claiming his beloved, the Dark Powers conspire to wrench
her away.
REACTIONS
Bride-to-Be. Strahd will stop at nothing to make Ireena Parry. Ireena adds 2 to her AC against one melee attack that
his. While the vampire would prefer a courtship, replete would hit her. To do so, she must see the attacker and be
with frequent tasting of the girl's, the gloves come off if wielding a melee weapon.
Ireena's life is endangered. She is Strahd's everything, and
if he fears he might lose his beloved Tatyana again, he
will do anything in his power to make her his. If
successful, he will drain her life's blood and damn her soul IREENA'S STATISTICS
to eternity as a vampire spawn. There are two options at your discretion.
Default. Ireena, by default, has the statistics of a noble
IREENA KOLYANA'S TRAITS with 14 hit points. Splendid, right?
Ideal. "Justice for my father!" Alternative. Ireena is a 3rd level Battle Master Fighter
Bond. "Ismark, that dumb bastard, the greatest armed with a rapier and true grit.
brother a sister could ask for, is all I have left."
Flaw. "I'm brash and quick to anger."
FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
THE INNOCENT • As a noble of Barovia, Ireena can secure an audience
"Evil's bride is the one you seek!" with Baron Vallakovich or Lady Wachter, or entrance into
Krezk. All three are sure to lavish her with courtesies and
That the devil's prey would rise up and slay him is the favors.
greatest irony that Fate can offer. • Both Baron Vallakovich and Wachter would seek
Finding Ireena. Ireena shelters in her father's home in Ireena's hand in marriage on behalf of their sons.
the village of Barovia (E4, Ch. 3). • Once Izek Strazni, the baron's henchman, spots Ireena,
Recruitment. After being tormented, charmed, and he does everything in his power to take her. For years, he's
bitten by the devil Strahd; after the death of her father, dreamed of this beautiful stranger, but doesn't know why.
Ireena hungers to rid herself of this shadow. She'll leave • The Abbot is sure to… object to Ireena's existence. Or
the village behind after her father is buried. Alas, it isn't surrender her to Strahd as part of his vain plan.
her that the adventurers have to worry about, but Ismark
Kolyanovich.
THE DEVIL PROPOSES
It's the subject of nearly every Curse of Strahd: is Strahd Medium humanoid (human), lawful good
successful in capturing Ireena Kolyana? When? How?
You can use this event to stage Strahd's capture of Armor Class 15 (breastplate)
Ireena. This assumes that she has traveled with the Hit Points ___/23 (3d10 + 3)
adventurers to Krezk, and follows a brief series of events: Speed 30 ft.
• The adventurers arrive to Krezk at dusk; with Ireena
present, she demands shelter as a noble of Barovia. A STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
slave to custom, Baron Krezkov accepts the party in 8 (-1) 16 (+3) 14 (+1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 13 (+1)
regardless if they have wine or not.
• That night, the Abbot visits the Krezkov's home to Saving Throws Str +1, Dex +5
resurrect Ilya, Krezkov's son (see the "Something Old" Skills History +3, Insight +2, Persuasion +3
event in Ch. 11). The Abbot leaves; if asked by the party Senses passive Perception 10
for an audience, he tells them to come tomorrow evening. Languages Common
Challenge 1 (25 XP)
• Krezk is a commune; every man, woman and child
does their part and Krezkov expects the adventurers to
Action Surge (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). On her
contribute for their lodgings last night by helping out with
turn, Ireena can take one additional action on top of her
chores. Ireena is exempt but she does her part anyway.
regular action and a possible bonus action.
After their work is over, dusk nears and Ireena is drawn
towards the Shrine of the White Sun (Area S4), sparking Maneuvers (4/Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). Ireena
the "Something Blue" special event. can expend a Maneuver charge to use any of the following:
• At your discretion, Strahd senses Ireena approaching • Disarming Attack. When Ireena hits with a weapon attack,
Sergei's spirit before she wades into the waters, striking she adds an extra4 (1d8) damage to her attack. The target
out in rage. Ireena is struck with 8d10 lightning damage must make a Strength saving throw. On a failure, the target
and killed instantly—forcing the adventurers to turn to the drops one item it's holding of Ireena's choice.
Abbot for her resurrection. • Maneuvering Attack. When Ireena hits with a weapon
• As dusk falls and the maddened howls of mongrelfolk attack, one ally of her choice that can see or hear her can use
ride the wind, the adventurers ascend to the Abbey of its reaction to move up to half its speed without provoking
Saint Markovia for an audience with the mysterious opportunity attacks from Ireena's target.
Abbot. The Abbot resurrects the girl but only for the • Riposte. When a creature misses Ireena with a melee attack,
promise of a wedding dress (as described in the she can use her reaction to make a weapon attack against it,
"Something Borrowed" special event), threatening to adding an extra 4 (1d8) damage on a hit.
execute her if the adventurers don't pay up in time.
• Strahd appears at the gates, preferably with a hostage, ACTIONS
and demands Ireena. He pretends that the ground is still
consecrated, that he cannot step foot into the Abbey… Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
And when he's done with his game, he enters with a smile. target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
If the characters flee to Area S13, Strahd breaks through
the stained glass, mocking them for their foolishness. Inspire. When in sight of Strahd, Ireena can grant inspiration
• The Abbot lifts no finger, presenting at first Vasilka to one player character that she can see.
for Strahd's review. The devil rejects this flesh golem and
attacks the adventurers; they've had their chance, and REACTIONS
Strahd will take what he's due.
Parry. Ireena adds 2 to her AC against one melee attack that
• Amidst the carnage, Ireena appears to save her friends
would hit her. To do so, she must see the attacker and be
at the cost of herself. Beaming, the devil gets down on one
wielding a melee weapon.
knee and proposes to Ireena Kolyana. Much to the
adventurers' horror she accepts. Strahd takes her from this
place in a veil of shadow, and escapes with his bride-to-
be on the back of his nightmare steed, Beucephalus.
ISMARK KOLYANOVICH
Ismark has wallowed in the shadow of his father all his Medium humanoid (human), lawful good
life, but his sword-arm is strong and his love for his family
undying. Armor Class 17 (splint)
Welcome to Barovia. Having lived his life in the Hit Points ___/58 (9d8 + 18)
village, Ismark has met dozens of adventurers lured into Speed 30 ft.
Barovia to become Strahd's playthings. He's long since
learned not to grow attached to these outsiders, knowing STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
full well their inevitable fate. His heart just can't take it 16 (+3) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 10 (+0)
anymore—but these panicked cattle deserve answers, and
it just seems to be Ismark's lot in life to let them know that Skills Athletics +5, Perception +2
doom is coming. The least he can do is buy them a drink. Senses passive Perception 12
Spies Everywhere. Barovians are a suspicious lot, and Languages Common
treat Vistani with great scrutiny. They even have a nursery Challenge 3 (700 XP)
rhyme for children: "Never Trust a Vistana." To
Barovians, it's just common sense. To Ismark, it's ACTIONS
personal. He sees all Vistani as accomplices to the grisly
end all outsiders march toward. Multiattack. Ismark makes two longsword attacks. If he has a
Shadow of Kolyan. The villagers call Ismark "the shortsword drawn, he can also make a shortsword attack.
lesser" for he's lived under his father's shadow all his life.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
The real joke is that that shadow's never stretched too far.
target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage, or 8 (1d10 + 3)
Despite being burgomaster, Kolyan Indirovich had little
slashing damage if used with two hands.
destiny to command. That's not to say that he didn't do his
best for the village, just that there's little one can do under
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
the shadow of Castle Ravenloft. Ismark yearns to escape
target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
this shadow, to better his people's lives, but fears he
can't—and because of that fear, he won't. Heavy Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range
Obsession. The devil Strahd has taken a sick fascination 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d10) piercing damage.
with Ismark's sister, Ireena. Twice now she's been
charmed and bitten. The devil's very minions have Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Ismark can grant
scratched and howled against the walls of his home. The inspiration to one player character that he can see.
stress of these constant onslaughts was too much for
Kolyan's heart, and now Ireena is all Ismark has left in this
world. He will do anything, kill anything, to protect her. ISMARK'S STATISTICS
Ismark has the statistics of a veteran. At your discretion,
ISMARK KOLYANOVICH'S TRAITS his longsword is silvered—an heirloom.
Ideal. "I must do right by my family and village."
Bond. "My love for Ireena burns brighter than any FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
flame, any sun, any star." • If it's revealed that Ireena and Ismark are not related, he
Flaw. "I'll always live under my father's shadow." doesn't care ("You'll always be my sister"). Nothing can
ever separate what they have.
THE EXECUTIONER • If Lady Wachter has her way, she'll betroth her mad
"Seek out the brother of the devil's bride. They call him daughter, Stella, to Ismark as a gambit to extend her
'the lesser' but he has a powerful soul." influence beyond Vallaki.
Fate has stolen Ismark's father and now offered revenge—
and Ismark "the lesser" is game.
Finding Ismark. Ismark can be found in the Blood of
the Vine Tavern or his home (E2 or E4, Ch. 3).
Recruitment. Only when he's confident Ireena is safe
will Ismark accompany the adventurers to Castle
Ravenloft. Donavich suggests the Abbey of Saint
Markovia, and, barring that, St. Andral's Church in
Vallaki. Alas, if Ireena is taken by Strahd, he'll have no
choice but to go, no?
KASIMIR VELIKOV
Broken and desperate, Kasimir Velikov's people—the Medium humanoid (dusk elf), neutral
dusk elves—stand at the brink of extinction.
Survivor. Kasimir has yet to know respite for centuries. Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor )
His people were early victims of King Barov's wars. Wars Hit Points ___/40 (9d8)
in which Strahd himself was both a soldier and later a Speed 35 ft.
general. The dusk elven kingdom was shattered; Kasimir
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
and his brethren sought refuge with the Vistani who bore
9 (-1) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
them to the valley that would one day be conquered in
Barov's name. Ironic, really.
Saving Throws Int +6, Wis +4
The Kinslayer. Kasimir harbors a black and hungering
Skills Arcana +6, History +6
hatred for but one man: Rahadin the Kinslayer. While it Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
was Strahd that gave the order of genocide—and Kasimir Languages Common, Elvish
himself who caused it—the axe that decapitated the dusk Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
elves' future was Rahadin von Zarovich himself, honorary
son of King Barov. Rahadin, a dusk elf exiled for refusing Special Equipment. Kasimir wears a ring of warmth as well as
to bend the knee to a corrupt dusk elf prince, fled to King a leather-bound spellbook containing the following spells:
Barov's court and surrendered to him all the dusk elves' arcane lock, comprehend languages, hold person, identify,
secrets: their defenses, their politics, and their locate object, nondetection, polymorph, protection from and
distractions. It was a bloodbath. evil and good, ray of frost, and wall of stone.
But Rahadin's betrayal of his kin did not stop there.
Fey Ancestry. Kasimir has advantage on saving throws against
Years later, when Kasimir led his people into stoning his
being charmed, and magic can't put him to sleep.
sister Patrina before she could join the devil in
matrimony, it was Rahadin who Strahd sent to exact Spellcasting. Kasimir is a 9th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting
punishment. To wreak genocide. With Strahd's forces to ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell
back him, Rahadin gleefully slaughtered all dusk elven attacks). He has the following wizard spells prepared:
women, condemning his very people to extinction. Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, light, mage hand, prestidigitation
A Brother's Redemption. Patrina yet whispers from 1st level (4 slots): detect magic, mage armor, magic missile,
beyond the grave to her treacherous brother, promising shield
2nd level (3 slots): misty step, suggestion
that in death she's learned the error of her ways.
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, fireball, fly
Redemption can be had, she whispers, for deep in the
4th level (3 slots): greater invisibility, ice storm
mountains lie the Amber Temple, an archive of tenebrous
5th level (1 slot): cone of cold
power, and the source of Strahd's vampirism. Patrina has
suggested the power to overturn death can be found there. ACTIONS
And to Kasimir? Perhaps in those depths he can find
redemption for himself and salvation for his people. Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.
or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing
KASIMIR'S TRAITS damage.
Ideal. "I failed my people and my sister, and now I
must atone or be damned." Inspire. When in sight of Strahd, Kasimir can grant inspiration
Bond. "I seek to return my long-dead sister, Patrina to to one player character that he can see.
life—at the cost of my own."
Flaw. "I believe my sister can be redeemed."
Recruitment. Kasimir will only join the party after a
THE SEER foray into the Amber Temple (Ch. 13) and they
successfully find a means to resurrect Patrina.
"Look for a dusk elf living among the Vistani. He has
suffered a great loss and is haunted by dark dreams. Help FUTURE, RELATIONS, INTERACTIONS
him, and he will help you in return."
• Kasimir has outlived nearly every individual in Barovia.
Fate has watched the extinction of Kasimir's people. The Only Strahd, Rahadin, and other mythic figures like Baba
hour of their rebirth—or sweet revenge—is at hand. Lysaga and Exanther (the lich of the Amber Temple) can
Finding Kasimir. Kasimir can be found at the Vistani claim peerage near his own. He has witnessed the fall of
Camp outside Vallaki (N9, Ch. 5). As the only elves in the Order of the Silver Dragon (and with it, hope); he has
the valley, it isn't hard for the adventurers to find out seen the tide of darkness sweep over this land.
where the dusk elves are.
 To just about any noble, he can remark on their Kasimir, while this battle rages, casts wall of stone
ancestors' efforts and gambols and exploits. He is the around himself and the entrance to Patrina's tomb. Unless
perfect storyteller to relay the pitiful history of Barovia— the adventurers can counter this, he successfully raises
alas, visiting the past only reminds him of his failures. Of Patrina. Read:
Patrina. Of the genocide. Stone grinds against stone as Kasimir grunts, shoving his
• Rahadin is Kasimir's sworn enemy. If nothing else, he'd weight against the slab until finally his footsteps recede.
like to see that kinslayer burned alive. Slowly. A short while later his voice cries out, "Come back to me,
sister! Come back from beyond your earthly grave!"
EXTINCTION DENIED Violet light fills the catacombs; thunder cracks as the
Should Kasimir succeed in acquiring his dark gift from veil between this world and the next is cracked open like
the Amber Temple (see "Special Events" in Ch. 13), he an egg, and a shrill voice calls back, "I LIVE!"
asks for the party's aid in reaching his sister's tomb. Patrina Velikovna, the devil's bride, has been reborn.
Failing that, he abandons the party once they invade Patrina is weakened from her time spent beyond the
Castle Ravenloft, knowing that Strahd's full attention will grave. She has the statistics of an archmage with no spells
be on the adventurers that dare to trespass in his domain. prepared. If Kasimir's guards yet live, he sends them to
Kasimir, you see, is desperate. He knows that tonight the Brazier Room (K78) to teleport back to Vallaki with
might be his last, and so long as he can resurrect Patrina Patrina. If his guards are dead, he demands the party
before the grisly end, he can perhaps save his people from accompany him back there.
extinction.
If the adventurers explore the catacombs (see Crypt 21,
K84, Ch. 4), they come across Kasimir with three dusk elf
guards. If Rahadin yet lives, he awaits in the darkness of
this place; read the following:
You rush through the catacombs as the ceiling pulsates
above with legion bats. "Over here!" Kasimir calls to his
men, leading further into the crypts. "Patrina's tomb—"
A voice thunders out from the dark: "This ends here,
elf!"
"Rahadin!" Kasimir shouts. "Stand aside, kinslayer! My
sister will live again! Our people will live again!"
"You vermin deserve extinction!" Rahadin shouts back
from the gloom. Then you hear it, riding the wind: the
faint wails of the countless souls Rahadin has culled from
this world.
Kasimir visibly tenses. His hands curl into fists and
arcane fire leaps from finger to finger. "After all these
years," he asks, "how can you still harbor such hate for
your own people?"
"My people abandoned me, Velikov! Threw me to the
wolves because I wouldn't bend the knee to your petty,
corrupt princeling."
"You bent over for King Barov quick enough."
"Enough of this," Rahadin snarls. Steel rasps against
scabbards, gleaming in your lamplight. "The End starts
today."
All around you, the floor begins to quiver with the
distant footfalls of plate on stone. In the passageways to
your left, your right, even behind you come dead men
bearing steel. Rahadin's boxed you in.
Rahadin's reinforcements include six wights, each
marching two abreast to block all exits, as well as a ghast
that climbs the ceiling. If you need to make the encounter
harder, replace the ghast with a vampire spawn or two.
The wights close ranks, working in tandem, to reduce the
battlefield into a slaughterhouse.
THE MAD MAGE
The Mad Mage that haunts Mount Baratok is none other Medium humanoid (human), chaotic neutral
than Mordenkainen of Oerth, a legendary adventurer and
shadow-leader of a powerful organization called the Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor )
Circle of Eight. He knows there are other worlds than Hit Points ___/99 (18d8 + 18)
these and has even walked upon them. Speed 30 ft.
The Shadow of Yesteryear. When the Mad Mage came
to Barovia, hoping to end the curse of Strahd, he rallied STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
the village of Barovia, and together they marched on 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 20 (+5) 15 (+2) 16 (+3)
Castle Ravenloft. The Mad Mage's magic was not enough
to save them, and many went to their graves cursing his Saving Throws Int +9, Wis +6
name and cause and wondering if they were but tools to Skills Arcana +13, History +13
an end. The battle was titanic. Strahd had not met his Damage Resistances damage from spells; nonmagical
match in centuries, but the vampire ultimately prevailed bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing (from stoneskin )
Senses passive Perception 11
and hurled the mage's broken body down the Tser Falls—
Languages Abyssal, Common, Elvish, Dwarvish, Infernal,
and though the mage survived, his mind had fallen prey
and Primordial
to the mists and in his madness, he now haunts Mount
Challenge 12 (2,300 XP)
Baratok to the north of Vallaki.
Suffer No Fools. The Mad Mage can be stubborn,
crotchety, and a pain to be around. He doesn't tolerate Magic Resistance. The Mad Mage has advantage on saving
fools or their ideas and speaks with an air of authority. He throws against spells and other magical effects.
is a seasoned adventurer, walker of many different Spellcasting. The Mad Mage is an 18th-level spellcaster. His
worlds, and a spellcaster of such great power that men and spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit
monsters shiver at the mention of his name. with spell attacks). He can cast disguise self and invisibility
Enforced Neutrality. Mordenkainen embraces a at will and has the following wizard spells prepared:
philosophy of enforced neutrality. Only a balance of Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, light, mage hand,
power can maintain peace and stability and sanity, and so prestidigitation, shocking grasp
when the scales turns to one side, Mordenkainen will act 1st level (4 slots): detect magic, mage armor, magic
in contrast. Just as he is historically a force of great good, missile, shield
so too has worked darker plots to maintain balance. 2nd level (3 slots): mirror image, misty step, web
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, fly, lightning bolt
THE MAD MAGE'S TRAITS 4th level (3 slots): Mordenkainen's faithful hound,
Ideal. "The scales must be balanced." polymorph, stoneskin
Bond. "Adventure is the pinnacle of life." 5th level (3 slots): Bigby's hand, cone of cold, scrying
Flaw. "No one knows better than me!" 6th level (1 slot): true seeing
7th level (1 slot): Mordenkainen's magnificent mansion
THE BROKEN ONE 8th level (1 slot): mind blank
9th level (1 slot): time stop
"Your greatest ally will be a wizard. His mind is broken,
but his spells are strong." ACTIONS
The Mad Mage may have failed once, Fate has offered
him another chance. Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5
Finding the Mad Mage. Vallakians are all familiar with ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing
"the Mad Mage" that haunts the northerly shores of Lake damage.
Zarovich (Area M, Ch. 2).
Inspire. When in sight of Strahd, the Mad Mage can grant
Recruitment. Curing the Mad Mage's mind is a task all
inspiration to one player character that he can see.
in itself. See "Madness of the Mage."

THE MAD MAGE'S STATISTICS

The Mad Mage has the statistics of an archmage with his
own unique spell list.
FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, STATISTICS If you're aiming for comedy, the Mad Mage has
written a note to himself and left it in his mansion it. It
• The Mad Mage, even after being cured of his madness, reads: "Get fruit of witch blossom tree from witches in
refuses to travel with the party until it's time to delve Ravenloft. Do not accept black deals or marriage
into the shadows of Castle Ravenloft. proposals."
• The Mad Mage's entrance to Castle Ravenloft can, and
should be, dramatic, perhaps appearing in a shower of SOMETHING BORROWED
light and sparks when the party reach Strahd's destined The Abbot of the Abbey of Saint Markovia has a deal to
location. make. See the "Something Borrowed" event in Ch. 8. If
• Mordenkainen will accompany the adventurers back to the party agrees to return to Krezk with a wedding dress,
their world if Strahd is defeated, if only not to disappoint the Abbot will cast greater restoration on the Mad
them. Mage.
MADNESS OF THE MAGE
By default, the only means to cure Mordenkainen of his
madness is to cast a greater restoration spell upon him
seven days after his mind blank spell has elapsed.
You can instead use these short quests to solve the
madness of the mage.

THE GIFT OF THE INSCRUTABLE ONE

Within the Amber Temple, the vestige of Savnok the
Inscrutable shivers in its amber prison. Visitors. Visitors
have come and again the vestige might have the chance
to influence the mortal world.
By default, Savnok's gift is the power to shield the
mind (via a mind blank spell which an extension of 1
year). At your discretion, the gift can also "reverse the
tides of madness."
If a character accepts this dark gift, they can cure
madness (as if they cast greater restoration) up to 3 times
after which the dark gift vanishes. The beneficiary's eyes
melt away upon receiving this dark gift, leaving empty
sockets that can still see.
To find out this information, Kasimir Velikov (see N9,
Ch. 5) or Madam Eva can suggest that this power can be
found in the Amber Temple's depths.

FRUIT OF THE WITCH BLOSSOM

The horrid witches that reside in Castle Ravenloft have a
wide assortment of reagents for their potions and
spellcraft—many of them useless or mundane—but one
stands out: the fruit of the witch blossom. It is a seed
that, when prepared correctly, can excise all ails of the
spirit or mind at the cost of the body.
The fruit, which is bitter and gnarled like a shriveled
head, has the effects of a greater restoration spell.
However, after consuming it, a creature suffers a -4 to
their Strength score for up to one month. It resists magic
that can reverse this, for the witch blossom itself is an
invention of magic.
The witch blossom can be found in the witches'
Element Room (K55, Ch. 4) of Castle Ravenloft.
Characters such as Madam Eva, Kasimir, or Davian
Martikov can offer this information.
NIKOLAI WACHTER
As if the cult in the basement and a deranged daughter Medium humanoid (human), lawful neutral
wasn't enough, Nikolai Wachter's been dead for three
years, kept perfectly preserved by his wife's nightly Armor Class 15 (breastplate)
castings of the gentle repose spell. Hit Points ___/9 (2d8)
O' Fiona. Nikolai and Fiona were betrothed at an early Speed 30 ft.
age, and by all the gods, their love was picturesque. Their
time together was spent their laughing, sparring, and STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
teasing. Through the good and the bad, Fiona adored her 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3)
husband, and together they bore three children: Nikolai,
Karl, and Stella. It was a happy marriage ending in typical Skills Deception +5, Insight +4, Persuasion +5
Barovian fashion: untimely, unfair death wrought by Senses passive Perception 10
something out of mortals' control: disease. Languages Common
Oh, Fiona. Nikolai's passing poisoned Fiona's heart, Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
and rotted her soul. The woman always had a penchant for
cruelty and callousness, and the loss of her love was just ACTIONS
the rain needed to let her evil bloom. Fiona's ambitions
Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
reign supreme: at her command are cultists ready to
target. Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage.
overthrow Baron Vallakovich when the time is right. A
devil dances in Nikolai's home, spurring on Fiona's
Inspire. When in sight of Strahd, Nikolai can grant
madness with unfettered dreams of power.
inspiration to one player character that he can see.
Should Nikolai return from death, he would be shocked
to find that the woman he married had already gone to the
REACTIONS
grave. That his sons are drunks. That his daughter has
gone mad. But what else could he expect out of Barovia? Parry. Nikolai adds 2 to his AC against one melee attack that
Loyal No More. The Wachters proved their loyalty to would hit him. To do so, he must see the attacker and be
Strahd long ago, starting with hunting down Leo Dilisnya, wielding a melee weapon.
one of the treacherous guards that filled Strahd with
crossbow bolts on the day of his brother Sergei's wedding.
Leo's bones even reside in Wachterhaus, forever denied a Finding Nikolai. A conversation with just about any
proper burial. Though the Wachters have enjoyed the noble can reveal that Nikolai is one of the only aristocrats
protection of Strahd for centuries, towards the end of his that have kicked it in the last few years. (See N4, Ch. 5).
life, Nikolai came to understand that the devil was a Recruitment. Nikolai must first be raised from death.
plague on this land, and that Barovians everywhere would See "Destined Rebirth" below.
choke in his shadow—a source of fierce debate between
Nikolai and his wife, Fiona. NIKOLAI WACHTER'S STATISTICS
Nikolai believes his return from the grave is destiny You have two options available for Nikolai's statistics:
itself calling upon him to rid Barovia of its darklord. Default. By default, Nikolai has the statistics of a noble
with a grand total of 9 hit points.
NIKOLAI WACHTER'S TRAITS Alternative. At your discretion, you can use a 3rd-level
Ideal. "Strahd von Zarovich must be stopped. My Battle Master fighter version of Nikolai.
family has laid with the devil for far too long. Only I can
redeem our dark past." FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
Bond. "My children are my pride and joy. Well, they're
my joy at least." • Just about everyone that knew Nikolai would likely react
Flaw. "I expect to be treated as a lord at all times." with shock and disgust and suspicion as he once again
walks amongst the living. Is Nikolai Wachter, whose
THE HORSEMAN family has close ties to the devil Strahd, they would
wonder, now a vampire spawn?
"I see a dead man of noble birth, guarded by his widow. • Rumors of Nikolai's "rebirth" would abound, with many
Return life to the dead man's corpse, and he will be your considering it just be a charlatan masquerading as him.
staunch ally." • Whenever Nikolai introduces himself to those that know
Death does not stop Fate. Nikolai Wachter is destined to of his family name and his fate, such as Burgomaster
stand with the adventurers against the shadow of Strahd. Dmitri Krezkov, they're likely to ask, "Wait. Aren't you
dead?"
DESTINED REBIRTH
By default, if Rictavio learns of their need for Nikolai, he Medium humanoid (human), lawful neutral
leaves a spell scroll of raise dead in their room at the inn.
Rather than that, you can use these short quest hooks as a Armor Class 15 (breastplate)
means resurrect Nikolai. Choose one of the following: Hit Points ___/23 (3d10 + 3)
Speed 30 ft.
FIFTEEN FOR ONE
The hags of Old Bonegrinder (see Ch. 6) have the means STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
to resurrect Nikolai, but at a cost. Morgantha and her 8 (-1) 16 (+3) 14 (+1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 13 (+1)
wretched offspring have long since been run out of
Vallaki by Izek Strazni, and business has been dry. Saving Throws Str +1, Dex +5
Morgantha's terms are simple: smuggle dream pastries Skills History +3, Insight +2, Persuasion +3
into town and infect fifteen innocents with that tyrannical Senses passive Perception 10
addiction. The hag still holds a grudge against Izek Languages Common
Strazni ("that devil-armed brute") for kicking her out of Challenge 1 (25 XP)
Vallaki, and so she demands that he be one of those
infected. Should the adventurers comply, Morgantha and Action Surge (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). On his
her ilk will perform a blasphemous ritual of resurrection. turn, Nikolai can take one additional action on top of his
Fifteen lives for one—sounds fair, right? regular action and a possible bonus action.
Consequences. Despite his rebirth, Nikolai has been
Maneuvers (4/Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). Nikolai
afflicted with resurrection madness (see "Alterations to
can expend a Maneuver charge to use any of the following:
Magic," Ch. 2). Having trailed beyond the mortal coil, he
• Disarming Attack. When Nikolai hits with a weapon attack,
now knows firsthand that the souls of accursed Barovia he adds an extra4 (1d8) damage to his attack. The target
can never escape. The truth has shattered his mind, must make a Strength saving throw. On a failure, the target
afflicting him with a form of indefinite madness drops one item it's holding of Nikolai's choice.
determined by rolling on the Indefinite Madness table in • Maneuvering Attack. When Nikolai hits with a weapon
chapter 8 of the Dungeon Master's Guide. attack, one ally of his choice that can see or hear him can use
Additionally, Izek's sudden addiction to dream pastries its reaction to move up to half its speed without provoking
severely diminishes his effectiveness as Baron opportunity attacks from Nikolai's target.
Vallakovich's enforcer, leading to civil unrest in Vallaki. • Riposte. When a creature misses Nikolai with a melee
Only Lady Wachter stands to gain from this development. attack, he can use his reaction to make a weapon attack
against it, adding an extra 4 (1d8) damage on a hit.
SOMETHING BORROWED
The Abbot of the Abbey of Saint Markovia has a deal to
make. See the "Something Borrowed" event in Ch. 8. If
ACTIONS
the party agrees to return to Krezk with a wedding dress, Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
the Abbot will cast raise dead on Nikolai. target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.

Inspire. When in sight of Strahd, Nikolai can grant

inspiration to one player character that he can see.

REACTIONS
Parry. Nikolai adds 2 to his AC against one melee attack that
would hit him To do so, he must see the attacker and be
wielding a melee weapon.
PARRIWIMPLE
The simpleton of the village of Barovia has a name that
Medium humanoid (human), lawful good
no one uses—Parpol Canemir.
Mother's Boy. Parpol is a sweet boy that dotes on his
Armor Class 16 (studded leather, shield)
mother, Anamel, when he's not working in his uncle
Hit Points ___/112 (15d8 + 45)
Bildrath's shop. Parpol has no siblings, and his
Speed 30 ft.
grandparents have long since passed. All he has left is his
mother and uncle, whom he would do anything for. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Father's Shame. Once Parpol's handicap became 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 6 (-2) 12 (+1) 15 (+2)
apparent, his father split for Vallaki (shouting "I won't
raise a simpleton" at Anamel while Parpol played outside; Saving Throws Str +7, Dex +5, Con +6
these words have stuck with the boy ever since). From Skills Athletics +10, Intimidation +5
time to time Parpol has asked his mother and uncle about Senses passive Perception 11
his father ("Where?" and "Why?") but both adults always Languages Common
steer the conversation elsewhere. Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Sweet but Simple. The boy has a big heart and bigger
arms, and he's been known to use them. Whenever
Brave. Parriwimple has advantage on saving throws against
Parriwimple sees violence committed by the strong
being frightened.
against the weak, the boy tends to gently use his strength
to disrupt the fight. He tolerates no bullies but offers no Brute. A melee weapon deals one extra damage die of its
violence. Bildrath has tried to nip this behavior in the bud damage when Parriwimple hits with it (included in the
to prevent trouble, but to no avail. attack).

PARRIWIMPLE'S TRAITS ACTIONS

Ideal. "Big people have to protect small people." Multiattack. Parriwimple makes three attacks or two ranged
Bond. "People have good in them somewhere." attacks.
Flaw. "Adults know best—like Uncle Bildrath!"
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.
THE INNOCENT or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing
"I see a young man with a kind heart. A mother's boy! He damage, or 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage if used with two
hands to make a melee attack.
is strong in body but weak in mind. Seek him out in the
village of Barovia!"
Shield Bash. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
It's an indictment of Fate's sick humor that a mentally creature. Hit: 9 (2d4 + 4) bludgeoning damage. If the target
challenged boy is the key to freeing an entire nation. is a Medium or smaller creature, it must succeed on a DC 15
Finding Parriwimple. Finding the boy is easy enough. Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Everyone in the village knows Parriwimple. One would
only need to ask for "the simpleton" to be pointed in the Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Parriwimple can grant
right direction. (See E1, Ch. 3.) inspiration to one player character he can see.
Recruitment. Parriwimple can be convinced simply by REACTIONS
telling him that Barovians need his help, or that Ireena
Parry. Parriwimple adds 3 to his AC against one melee attack
Kolyana has been captured. Bildrath refuses to let the boy
that would hit him. To do so, he must see the attacker and be
leave, however. Neither money nor argument can
wielding a melee weapon.
persuade Bildrath, forcing the party to approach the boy
when Parriwimple is alone, possibly at his mother's home.

PARRIWIMPLE'S STATISTICS BILDRATH'S GOODBYE

Parriwimple has the statistics of a gladiator but initially You can use this short event to resolve the tension with
lacks a shield to utilize his shield bash attack. Bildrath, as well as get Parriwimple a shield for his Shield
Bash attack.
For all his miserly greed, Bildrath truly loves his
nephew, and wants only for the boy to be safe. Alas, with
the party's successful efforts, Bildrath fears that to keep
the boy is to create a rift—and aye, there's guilt in it too
that Bildrath knows the boy can't achieve much in the
village except sweeping floors or chopping wood.
Read the following as the party are leaving the village: PARRIWIMPLE'S DEADBEAT DAD
As you approach the outskirts of the village, you hear a
shout: "Wait!" Bildrath, that miserable cur, comes riding You can run this short quest to reunite Parriwimple with
down the gravel road on a thin horse. He halts just before his estranged father in Vallaki. The identity can be
reaching your party in a cloud of dust. "If you're going to anyone, but Udo Lukovich is the suggested father.
take the boy," Bildrath says, "the least I can do is this." Udo Lukovich has been imprisoned for speaking out
He dismounts, and digs into the saddle bags, pulling out against Baron Vallakovich's weekly festivals. His mother,
a small buckler. He turns to Parriwimple and says, "You Willemina Rikalova, is distraught and prays at St.
take this, boy, and you never let go of it, hear?" Andral's Church for his freedom. If the party ask around
Before Parriwimple can even wrap his arm through the for Udo, they find uncomfortable silence until someone
strap, Bildrath throws his arms around his nephew, whispers to them the truth. Rumor has it that Udo is
holding on for quite a while. He turns to you, distrust and somewhere in the baron's mansion. (See N3, Ch. 5).
worry shining in his eyes, and says "Bring him back to Even if Parriwimple isn't told that this man is his father,
me, outsiders. Bring him back alive." he insists that the party does something about it ("The
A successful DC 12 Wisdom (Perception) check lets a strong don't get to bully the weak!").
character catch the glint of tears in Bildrath's eyes. The party can either parley with the baron, even for just
Before they leave, Bildrath hands one character a folded a meet-and-greet, or they can conspire to free Udo.
letter, and tells them to read it silently. The letter goes on Parley. There's two truths to face: that nothing's free,
to explain that Parriwimple should have the chance to and the baron's fragile ego has been wounded. Deeply
meet his father before "whatever happens" and that he paranoid and thin-skinned, he will not forgive Udo
resides in Vallaki. Lukovich. It's possible that, with a DC 15 Charisma
The identity of the father is up to you; change the name (Persuasion) check, that the baron will set the shoemaker
to whatever you see fit. It's suggested to use Udo free if Udo gives a full-throated endorsement of the
Lukovich, the shoemaker imprisoned by Baron festivals in the town square. The baron is just as likely to
Vallakovich. It incentivizes searching the burgomaster's renege on this promise.
mansion and placing the party at odds with Baron Breakout! Should the adventurers instead bust Udo out
Vallakovich. from his closet, they run afoul of the baron's temper.
When a character reads the letter, read: Baron Vallakovich orders his henchman, Izek Strazni, to
You unfold the letter. In shaky handwriting it reads: arrest them, seize their weapons, and exile them from
"Might the gods damn you for what you've done. What Vallaki.
you're about to do. Stealing a simple-minded boy to use The Wachter Angle. If Lady Fiona Wachter learns of
as a sacrificial lamb! And might the gods forgive me for the party's desire, she offers aid. She'd like nothing more
being so useless, so helpless to stop you. than to see the baron humiliated by staging a covert
It's clear this is what Parpol wants, and gods know he rescue. To invade the burgomaster's mansion and set free
won't find any better purpose in this dismal land. I won't a prisoner, then spirit him away, would demean
ever forgive you for luring him onto this fool's errand, but Vallakovich and show that his security is a joke. Worse,
it's what he wants, and I have to accept that. the baron is powerless to retaliate against her. Wachter
Before whatever's to happen happens, the boy ought to utilizes her spy, Ernst Larnak and members of her cult to
meet his father in Vallaki. He left when Parpol was six. get the job done.
He's a shoemaker by the name of Udo Lukovich. Regardless of how Udo Lukovich is freed, he knows he
Punch that bastard in the jaw for me." cannot stay in Vallaki, lest he run afoul of the baron again.
Alas, the truth is sad but dire: Udo Lukovich wallows in He quickly runs home, packs his bags, and grabs his
rusty chains, wondering if he'll see the dreary skies of mother and heads towards the village of Barovia.
Barovia ever again. Assuming he survives the trip, Bildrath finds and knocks
this deadbeat's lights out.
PIDLWICK II
All this clockwork man wants is to make someone laugh, Small construct, neutral evil
and, failing that, murder them.
Pidlwick I. Pidlwick II was modeled after Duchess Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Dorfniya Dilisnya's fool, the delightful Pidlwick. Strahd Hit Points ___/10 (3d6)
was never amused by the fool, but Tatyana and Sergei Speed 30 ft.
were. Hoping to curry Strahd's favor (after failing to win
his hand in marriage), Dilisnya had Fritz von Weerg, the STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
legendary and mad inventor, fashion a clockwork man for 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 8 (-1) 13 (+1) 10 (+0)
Strahd's family. Pidlwick himself trained the effigy but
failed. The clockwork man's efforts were too stiff and Skills Performance +2
awkward, and it never did manage to speak. Condition Immunities paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
A Clockwork Evil. Pidlwick II's continued failures Senses passive Perception 11
festered into discontent, and in its jealousy, Pidlwick II Languages understands Common but doesn't speak and
can't read or write
shoved its namesake down a flight of stairs, killing the
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
fool. A new hunger bloomed in Pidlwick II's metal guts:
inflicting pain. From time to time, Pidlwick II kills a guest
Ambusher. During the first round of combat, Pidlwick II has
staying at Castle Ravenloft by smothering them with a advantage on attacks rolls against any creature that hasn't
pillow in the dead of night. Strahd has since realized the had a turn yet.
toy's evil and is content to let it continue its discreet
killings.
ACTIONS

PIDLWICK II'S TRAITS Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage.
Ideal. "I wish I could make people happy."
Bond. "I would like to find someone—anyone—who
Dart. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one
isn't afraid of me and who enjoys my company."
target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Flaw. "When I'm upset, I do bad things."
Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Pidlwick II can grant
THE MARIONETTE inspiration to one player character he can see.
"What horror is this? I see a man made by a man. Ageless
and alone, it haunts the towers of the castle."
• If a character plays the harp in the Dining Hall of the
Fate has placed its trust not in man, but it's inventions. Count in Castle Ravenloft (K36, Ch. 4) and succeeds on
Finding Pidlwick II. The effigy can be found in the a DC 15 Charisma (Performance) check, they stir the
High Tower's peak of Castle Ravenloft (K59, Ch. 4). spirit of Pidlwick I, who explains that Pidlwick II pushed
Recruitment. Pidlwick II will follow the party if it's him down the stairs.
shown kindness. • If Pidlwick II is brought to Pidlwick I's tomb (Crypt 9,
K84, Ch. 4), the effigy refuses to enter.
PIDLWICK II'S STATISTICS
Pidlwick II's statistics are described in Appendix D. VON WEERG'S MASTERPIECE
Gadof Blinsky considers himself a student of Fritz von
FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS Weerg, the master inventor of old. If met in his shop in
• If any character is mean to Pidlwick II, it's quiet Vallaki, he asks the adventurers to investigate the
resentment grows until the characters are at the top of a clockwork man, von Weerg's "myasterpiece," and return
staircase. The effigy pushes a character, subjecting them him to him.
to a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, they If the adventurers encounter Pidlwick II and bring it to
tumble to the bottom of the staircase, taking 1d6 the toymaker, Blinsky falls in love with the effigy's
bludgeoning damage per 10 feet fallen. antics. He finds them utterly fascinating, and in his sick
• Pidlwick II knows Castle Ravenloft like the back of his sense of black humor, hilarious. The effigy will be
mechanical hand and can serve as a guide; however, delighted to know that finally—finally—there's someone
since he cannot speak, he may fail to properly warn it can entertain, and Pidlwick II's murderous urges come
characters of traps. to a quiet end.
RUDOLPH VAN RICHTEN
Dr. Rudolph van Richten has spent his life reliving Medium humanoid (human), lawful good
tragedy and acting as a vessel of vengeance for the
common man. Now in his old age, he has come to Barovia Armor Class 12 (leather armor)
to hunt the greatest vampire of all: Strahd von Zarovich. Hit Points ___/77 (14d8 + 14)
Beguiled. Once in days so long ago they feel like Speed 30 ft.
lifetimes, a trio of Vistani arrived at his door, one of them
gravely ill. Van Richten could not save the wretch and STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
promised anything of his if only they would leave in 9 (-1) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 18 (+4) 16 (+3)
peace. So, the Vistani stole his son, Erasmus.
The Reckoning. Erasmus was to be sold to a vampire Saving Throws Con +4, Wis +7
in need of a bedfellow. Van Richten, chasing after the Skills Arcana +9, Insight +7, Medicine 7+, Perception +7,
kidnappers, attracted the attention of undead, for dusk had Religion +6, Sleight of Hand +4
passed and the evening was rife with the creatures of Senses passive Perception 17
Languages Abyssal, Common, Elvish, Infernal
night. A horde began to follow van Richten; a ward had
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
been placed on him by the horde's master, a lich, so to
protect him. Van Richten led that hungering tide to the
Vistani caravan and in return for his son's whereabouts, Spellcasting. van Richten is a 9th-level spellcaster. His
he unleashed the undead. Men, women, children. All fell spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit
with spell attacks). He has the following clerics spells
to that scourge—and others wonder why van Richten
prepared:
cringes when the title of "hero" is lavished upon him.
Cantrips (at will): guidance, light, mending, thaumaturgy
The Lone Hunter. Van Richten works alone. As the
1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, detect evil and good,
undead washed over the Vistani caravan, a seer cursed
protection from evil and good, sanctuary
Van Richten. "Live you always among monsters," she
2nd level (3 slots): augury, lesser restoration, protection
cried, "and see everyone you love die beneath their
from poison
claws!" The vampiric descent of van Richten's son only 3rd level (3 slots): magic circle, remove curse, speak with
confirmed the proof of this curse, and the hunter has done dead
his best to avoid all attachments and companions ever 4th level (3 slots): death ward, freedom of movement
since. 5th level (1 slots): dispel evil and good

VAN RICHTEN'S TRAITS Undead Slayer. When van Richten hits an undead with a
Ideal. "Evil cannot go unchallenged." weapon attack, the undead takes an exrta 10 (3d6) damage of
the weapon's type.
Bond. "To protect those I love, I must keep them distant
and hidden from my enemies."
Flaw. "I am cursed. Thus, I will never know peace." ACTIONS
Multiattack. van Richten makes two attacks with his sword
THE ARTIFACT cane.
"Look for an entertaining man with a monkey. This man
is more than he seems." Sword Cane. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) bludgeoning damage (wooden cane)
Fate has pitted hunter of flesh against hunter of the night.
or piercing damage (silvered shortsword).
Finding van Richten. Posing as a half-elf bard by the
name of Rictavio, the party can find him at the Blue Water
Inspire. When in sight of Strahd, van Richten can grant
Inn of Vallaki (see N2, Ch. 5). inspiration to a player character that he can see.
Recruitment. Normally reluctant to join the adventurers
for fear of his curse, van Richten will shed his disguise if
told about the tarokka reading. He believes Fate has
brought him to this moment—and in his heart, he secretly FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
wonders if these adventurers are acceptable casualties of • If van Richten learns that his protege, Ezmerelda
his curse, if it means Strahd will be slain. d'Avenir is in Barovia, he does his best to avoid her. While
these adventurers might be acceptable casualties, he
VAN RICHTEN'S STATISTICS cannot bear in his heart the thought of her winding up
Van Richten's statistics are listed under his disguise, dead in this venture.
Rictavio, in Appendix D. • Van Richten has access to Khazan's Tower. Many of his
personal belongings are there.
• At Van Richten's disposal is a saber-toothed tiger trained • Any number of innocents that have yet to escape into
to hunt Vistani. their homes
The Keepers of the Feather stay until the Martikovs can
REUNITED AND, BOY, IS IT BAD escape, and prefer to flee rather than fight. If they're
It's as the Vistana said: doom has come to van Richten's forced to, they tackle the bats in their raven forms.
dearest friends. At long last, doom has come and it's Rudolph van Richten, for his part, is prepared to make the
taking Ezmerelda d'Avenir—his protege. His daughter. ultimate sacrifice to save the others, believing that if he
You can use this short event to add tragedy to van does not, his curse will be their downfall—Ezmerelda, the
Richten's story and remove Ezmerelda d'Avenir from the adventurers, and even the Keepers of the Feather. If given
board. It's assumed to occur in Vallaki and that the a choice, Strahd would prefer to slay van Richten,
adventurers haven't been banished from the town by the knowing him to be the greater threat and the sweeter prize.
baron or Lady Wachter. Running from the Devil. There are only a few means
Ezmerelda has finally tracked down her wayward of escaping the devil's wrath:
mentor but Strahd has been tracking her—something she • Cutting a deal: one life to save all the others; van
correctly suspects after having made an attempt on his life Richten is willing to make this trade but Ezmerelda will
in Castle Ravenloft—but underestimates the limits of his not allow it and takes attacks Strahd
scrying spell. She leads Strahd's gaze straight to van • Holding out in a home until dawn
Richten. • Gravely wounding the devil
When the adventurers are at the Blue Water Inn, read: • Taking Victor Vallakovich's teleportation circle. At
The door opens. Out from the rain drips a young woman your discretion, the circle, while unable to escape
dressed in bright colors—a Vistana. Rudolph van Richten Barovia, can accidentally tap into Castle Ravenloft's
freezes as the two lock eyes, the taproom pregnant with teleportation network, as described in K78, Ch. 4. The
silence. Suddenly the vampire hunter stands and walks up characters are snatched up and delivered to the Brazier
the stairs, his hand trailing the banister. The Vistana Room and can teleport out or explore Castle Ravenloft.
woman gives you a glance and follows. Consequences. Strahd's attack causes mass hysteria
Ezmerelda and van Richten speak quietly in his room that boils into civil unrest. Baron Vallakovich cannot
(N2N). If the adventurers follow, he does not turn them control the mob, leading to his ruin as described in St.
away and explains he and Ezmerelda's relationship. Later Andral's Feast (see "Special Events" Ch. 5). If he's already
they hear the thunder of hooves of the wind. Strahd has been ousted by Lady Wachter, she's capable of quelling
come to eliminate two of his greatest foes. the unrest by claiming that the devil Strahd has shown
With a cloud of bats (2d4 swarms of bats) trailing them great favor by personally purging Vallaki of traitors.
behind him, Strahd is astride Beucephalus, his nightmare
steed. If the six vampire spawn in the Coffinmaker's
House (see N6, Ch. 5) still reside there, they burst free and
make their way to the Blue Water Inn. Read:
Something's coming. Like a cloud passing under the sun,
darkness has fallen across the air of this place. An hour of
pure midnight that chases after dusk. You hear it on the
very wind: the thunder of hooves and know that doom has
marched from the east. From Castle Ravenloft.
Outside, confusion turns to cries of mass hysteria all
while that doom thunders ever closer. You race outside:
dusk has fallen to night, and the black sky sparks with
flames. Clouds of bats pass under the moon and the devil
himself is astride some nightmarish steed whose very
hooves cause the wind to burst with flame.
Because the Blue Water Inn is also the home of the
Martikovs, it counts as a threshold that forbids vampires
and vampire spawn from entering without permission.
Strahd stops at nothing, however, to force the adventurers
out. He'll torch the entire inn if he must, or resort to taking
hostages. Potential hostages include:
• Father Lucian, Yeska, or Millivoj (see N1), if the
Bones of St. Andral were not recovered
• Heinrik van der Voort, the coffin maker (see N6)
 Yet, after realizing Strahd now lived in his own personal
SIR GODFREY GWILYM hell, Vladimir has committed his knights to harrying
Once a man of honor and now a shade of the bitter past, Strahd's forces and disrupting any plans that might
Sir Godfrey Gwilym is chained to the mortal coil by provide the vampire solace or enjoyment. The knights are,
poisonous hate. effectively, chained here. Vladimir, blinded by his hate,
The Order. Before Strahd created Barovia and sealed it cannot see reason. Even his love for Godfrey has
off from the world, this valley was guarded by the valiant dwindled to a distant memory easily pushed aside by news
Order of the Silver Dragon. These knights accepted the of one of Strahd's schemes. Hatred burns in Godfrey's gut,
vast refugees of Strahd's wars—but the son of Barov but his is a cold flame that hungers for the man he loved
chased them to this valley and swept across it as a red tide. to just remember what they had and who they were.
Under the leadership of Vladimir Horngaard, Godfrey's
beloved, the Order fought valiantly, bravely, but SIR GODFREY GWILYM'S TRAITS
ultimately it fell. Godfrey himself was cut down by Strahd Ideal. "Honor in all things, even death."
before Vladimir's very eyes. Bond. "The Order of the Silver Dragon stood for truth,
Thy Beloved Blinded. So fierce was Vladimir justice, and compassion—tenets my beloved Vladimir has
Horngaard's hate that he wrenched his fellow knights' lost but can reclaim should Strahd von Zarovich be slain."
souls from that black aether to do battle once again as Flaw. "My hatred knows no bounds."
revenants.

Spellcasting. Sir Godfrey is a 16th-level spellcaster. his

spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 15). He has the
Medium undead (revenant), lawful evil
following paladin spells prepared:
1st level (4 slots): command, detect magic, divine favor,
Armor Class 13 (leather armor)
thunderous smite
Hit Points ___/136 (16d8 + 64)
2nd level (3 slots): aid, branding smite, magic weapon
Speed 30 ft.
3rd level (3 slots): blinding smite, dispel magic, remove curse
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 4th level (2 slots): aura of purity, staggering smite
18 (+4) 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 18 (+4) ACTIONS
Multiattack. Sir Godfrey makes two attacks with longsword.
Saving Throws Str +7, Con +7, Wis +6, Cha +7
Damage Resistances necrotic, psychic Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
Damage Immunities poison 15 (2d10 + 4) slashing damage. If the target is a creature against
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, which Godfrey has sworn vengeance, the target takes an extra 14
paralyzed, poisoned, stunned (4d6) slashing damage.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Common, Draconic Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +7, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) + 4) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature against which
Godfrey has sworn vengeance, the target takes an extra 14 (4d6)
Regeneration. Sir Godfrey regains 10 hit points at the start of bludgeoning damage. Instead of dealing damage, Godfrey can
his turn. If he takes fire or radiant damage, this trait doesn't grapple the target (escape DC 14) provided the target is Large or
function at the start of his next turn. His body is destroyed smaller.
only if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn't
regenerate. Vengeful Glare. Sir Godfrey targets one creature that he can see
Rejuvenation. When Sir Godfrey's body is destroyed, his soul within 30 feet of him and against which he has sworn vengeance.
lingers. After 24 hours, his soul inhabits and animates another The target must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure,
corpse within Barovia, and regains all his hit points. While his the target is paralyzed until he deals damage to it, or until the end
soul is bodiless, a wish spell can be used to force his soul to of his net turn. When the paralysis ends, the target is frightened of
go to the afterlife and not return. His new body is determined him for 1 minute. The frightened target can repeat the saving
randomly as described on pg. 130. throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if it can
Turn Immunity. Sir Godfrey is immune to effects that turn see Sir Godfrey, ending the frightened condition on itself on a
undead. success.

Vengeful Tracker. Sir Godfrey knows the distance to and

Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Sir Godfrey can grant
direction of Strahd von Zarovich, even if the two are different
inspiration to one player character he can see.
planes of existence. Should Strahd die, Godfrey knows.
THE GHOST SIR GODFREY'S STATISTICS
"I see a paladin of a fallen order of knights. He lingers Sir Godfrey has the statistics of a paladin revenant.
like a ghost in a dead dragon's lair." Because of his Vengeful Tracker feature, he always
knows when Strahd nears. Couple this with the extra 4d6
Time is but a wheel, and the hour of Godfrey's revenge
dealt per hit against Strahd, and his guaranteed dark
has come again.
rebirth 24 hours after being slain, Godfrey is undoubtedly
Finding Godfrey. Godfrey mires in Argynvost with his
the strongest ally of all, even surpassing the Mad Mage
fellow knights (see Q37, Ch. 7).
(who's at least mortal).
Recruitment. Godfrey is initially reluctant to desert his
At your discretion, you can use a version of Godfrey in
fellow knights, but if convinced that the honor of the
which his Vengeful Tracker is tied to Vladimir
Order can be restored (and a successful DC 15 Charisma
Horngaard, for it's by his hatred that the knights have
(Persuasion) check) he will come along. However, his
become revenants. Godfrey can no longer track Strahd or
decision provokes an armed conflict with his brethren.
deal an extra 4d6 damage per hit against him.

Spellcasting. Sir Godfrey is a 16th-level spellcaster. his

spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 15). He has the
Medium undead (revenant), lawful evil
following paladin spells prepared:
1st level (4 slots): command, detect magic, divine favor,
Armor Class 13 (leather armor)
thunderous smite
Hit Points ___/136 (16d8 + 64)
2nd level (3 slots): aid, branding smite, magic weapon
Speed 30 ft.
3rd level (3 slots): blinding smite, dispel magic, remove curse
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 4th level (2 slots): aura of purity, staggering smite
18 (+4) 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 18 (+4) ACTIONS
Multiattack. Sir Godfrey makes two attacks with longsword.
Saving Throws Str +7, Con +7, Wis +6, Cha +7
Damage Resistances necrotic, psychic Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
Damage Immunities poison 15 (2d10 + 4) slashing damage. If the target is a creature against
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, which Godfrey has sworn vengeance, the target takes an extra 14
paralyzed, poisoned, stunned (4d6) slashing damage.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages Common, Draconic Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +7, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) + 4) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature against which
Godfrey has sworn vengeance, the target takes an extra 14 (4d6)
Regeneration. Sir Godfrey regains 10 hit points at the start of bludgeoning damage. Instead of dealing damage, Godfrey can
his turn. If he takes fire or radiant damage, this trait doesn't grapple the target (escape DC 14) provided the target is Large or
function at the start of his next turn. His body is destroyed smaller.
only if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn't
regenerate. Vengeful Glare. Sir Godfrey targets one creature that he can see
Rejuvenation. When Sir Godfrey's body is destroyed, his soul within 30 feet of him and against which he has sworn vengeance.
lingers. After 24 hours, his soul inhabits and animates another The target must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure,
corpse within Barovia, and regains all his hit points. While his the target is paralyzed until he deals damage to it, or until the end
soul is bodiless, a wish spell can be used to force his soul to of his net turn. When the paralysis ends, the target is frightened of
go to the afterlife and not return. His new body is determined him for 1 minute. The frightened target can repeat the saving
randomly as described on pg. 130. throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if it can
Turn Immunity. Sir Godfrey is immune to effects that turn see Sir Godfrey, ending the frightened condition on itself on a
undead. success.

Vengeful Tracker. Sir Godfrey knows the distance to and

Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Sir Godfrey can grant
direction of his beloved, Vladimir Hoorngard—for it is his
inspiration to one player character he can see.
hatred that has brought back the Knights of the Order of the
Silver Dragon as revenants.
FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
• Godfrey is aware that Argynvost's spirit haunts the
mansion and that returning the dragon's skull to
Argynvost would redeem the knights of the order. He
insists on venturing into Castle Ravenloft to retrieve it.
• Godfrey would take great pleasure in gutting Rahadin,
who both started the crisis that created to the dusk elf
refugees taken in by the order and slaughtered them years
later.

THE DESERTER
The revenants of Argynvostholt will not tolerate desertion
of one's duties, nor freeing the devil Strahd by means of a
sword. Sir Godfrey must be captured and tried for his
crimes.
You can use this short event to underscore Vladimir's
fanaticism. Fanaticism that has scrubbed away all
memories of his Godfrey's love. There are several options
as to where to have this event occur, as described below.
Under no circumstances do the revenants kill Sir
Godfrey, knowing that his soul will just fly to another
corpse somewhere in Barovia. Instead, they aim to
dismember him, and haul his broken form back to
Argynvostholt. The revenants don't extend the same
courtesy to the adventurers and have no qualms with
killing them.

ON THE ROAD
While traveling, the adventurers come across a ruined
Vistani wagon. Corpses litter the road—Vistani, and
servants of Strahd. If the adventurers have a wagon of
their own, they cannot pass without clearing the roadside
underbrush or by moving the wagon.
When the adventurers pause to observe the wreckage or
make way, they hear the thunder of hooves coming their
way. The two revenants that have laid this trap emerge
from the brush, while another three revenants come
riding up on warhorse skeletons.

WITHIN LODGINGS
If the adventurers are staying in lodgings outside the walls
of Vallaki or Krezk—say a roadside inn, a waystation, or
the village of Barovia—the five revenants find the
adventurers at night and begin to swarm whatever
building it is. The knights are old tacticians and try to
cover every exit and enter by breaking down doors.

BEHIND WALLS
If the adventurers are staying within Krezk or Vallaki by
when the revenants find them, Vladimir orders a most
morbid ploy: dozens of revenants commit suicide so that
their souls find new hosts. By sheer luck, four revenants
have managed to cling to corpses in the graveyard of
whatever settlement the adventurers are in. They lack
armor and weapons, reducing their AC to 12, and make
use of their Fist attack.
SIR KLUTZ TRIPALOTSKY
"Why march? Why fight? Just fall on your sword, and Medium undead (phantom warrior), lawful good
they'll make you a knight" – Barovian proverb
Armor Class 16
Sir Klutz has been dead for almost four centuries now. He
Hit Points ___/45 (6d8 + 18)
fell on his sword well before Strahd became a vampire
Speed 30 ft.
and would be shocked to learn the truth.
Knight of the Realm. In life, nothing could satisfy Sir STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Klutz but the thrill of battle, the ceremonies of honor held 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 16 (+3) 8 (-1) 10 (+0) 15 (+2)
at court, and the knowledge that he stood as a standard-
bearer for the realm. Not even his wife, Catherine, could Skills Perception +2, Stealth +4
satisfy him—and when she left? Klutz continued on, Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
serving his dear king, Barov, no matter the cost. No cost from nonmagical attacks
was too high—or so Klutz thought. Damage Immunities cold, necrotic, poison
The War Years. After King Barov passed, Sir Klutz Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
heeded the call of his new liege, Strahd, without hesitation grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
or trepidation. Klutz saw much of Barov in Strahd, but Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common
none of the warmth: something that stuck with Klutz
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
throughout the years.
As Strahd's armies swept through Barovia, Klutz found
Ethereal Sight. Sir Klutz can see 60 feet into the Ethereal
himself confronted with two truths: not all kings are good
Plane while he is on the Material Plane, and vice versa.
men, and knighthood isn't all gallant pageantries.
Incorporeal Movement. Sir Klutz can move through other
Knighthood is bloody business.
creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. He takes
The Scar Untended. Sir Klutz spent four centuries with
5 (1d10) force damage if he ends his turn inside an object.
nothing to do but ponder his life some thousand times and
he can't help but look back with regret. Though he
Spectral Armor and Shield. Sir Klutz's AC accounts for his
cherished serving King Barov, his heart yearns for those spectral armor and shield.
years lost with Catherine. He knows he can't get that time
back, and, if told of what's happened to Barovia, he would ACTIONS
burn with hatred of Strahd; Strahd, who pissed away all
Multiattack. Sir Klutz makes two attacks with his spectral
that his father was and did. For Strahd to make a mockery
longsword.
of his family legacy enrages Sir Klutz, who sacrificed
everything for it. Spectral Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5
The Last Quest. Now freed from his prison, Sir Klutz ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) force damage.
has but one last task on this earth: to restore the honor of
King Barov by ridding this land of Strahd. Should he Etherealness. Sir Klutz enters the Ethereal Plane from the
triumph, Klutz can go to the hereafter at least believing Material Plane, or vice versa. He is visible on the Material Plane
those lost years were well spent. while he's in the Border Ethereal, and vice versa, yet he can't
affect or be affected by anything on the other plane.
SIR KLUTZ'S TRAITS
Ideal. "Knights of the realm are held to higher Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Sir Klutz can grant
standards, and rightly so." inspiration to one player character he can see.
Bond. "My sword for Barov! My king! My friend."
Flaw. "I'm the ass of every joke. I don't appreciate it." Recruitment. Eternally (pun intended) grateful for
being freed from his unearthly prison and dismayed at the
THE GHOST dishonor wrought on the Zarovich legacy by Strahd, Sir
"Stir the spirit of the clumsy knight whose crypt lies deep Klutz gladly joins the party.
within the castle."
Fate has decreed that the ghost of Sir Klutz, knight of the
SIR KLUTZ'S STATISTICS
realm, is instrumental in defeating Strahd. Sir Klutz has the statistics of a phantom warrior
Finding Sir Klutz. Deep in the Catacombs of Ravenloft (Appendix D, Curse of Strahd). Unlike other phantom
(pg. 91) lies the tomb of the most humiliated soldier of the warriors, his spirit does not dissipate after seven days but
crown: Sir Klutz. Should the sword be pulled from his after Strahd is reduced to 0 hit points.
body, his spirit will manifest and thank whomever freed
him.
FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS MY SWORD FOR BAROV
• If Sir Klutz finds himself in Audience Hall of Castle You can use this short event as a final goodbye for Sir
Ravenloft (Area K25), and no danger abounds, he sighs Klutz. His mission now complete, his time to pass has
and says, "I would give anything to see King Barov on finally come after so many centuries.
that throne." If Strahd is destroyed, Sir Klutz makes a break towards
• As a loyal knight of the realm, Sir Klutz is at odds with the Tomb of King Barov and Queen Ravenovia (K88).
the Knights of the Silver Dragon (in that he killed, like, a Read:
lot of them). Many, including Sir Godfrey and Vladimir As his very being fades into the aether, Sir Klutz throws
Horngaard, likely would remember him. At your himself before the Barov's coffin and cries, "It was worth
discretion, as a former minion of Strahd, Sir Klutz counts it, my king. All of it. The war years, the killing years, the
as a sworn enemy of the Argynvostholt revenants, and blood… Catherine. All of it to restore the honor of your
thus being eligible to be affected by their Vengeful Glare legacy."
feature and the extra damage from their attacks. Sir Klutz unsheathes his spectral longsword, laying it
• All wights in Castle Ravenloft (the remnants of Strahd's on his knee. Motes of his ethereal body crumble in
castle guards) know Sir Klutz. Even Strahd remembers handfuls. "My sword for you, Barov. Always for you. My
the fool, and remarks on his lack of… grace. king. My friend."
• If taken to the Lost Battlefield (see "Special Events" in Bowing one last time before his lord, the clumsy knight
the Ruins of Berez, Ch. 10), Sir Klutz can watch himself of the realm fades from being, crossing from this life to
battling the Order of the Silver Dragon. the next.

STIRRING THE SPIRIT

Delving into the Catacombs of Ravenloft can be a
harrowing journey that the party puts off for as long as
possible, depriving them of a much-needed ally and
screen-time for Sir Klutz. You can follow these
suggestions to provide a means to reaching the crypt.
Dining with the Count. The most straight forward way,
Strahd invites the party to dine at Castle Ravenloft (many
events trigger the invitation: thwarting St. Andral's Feast
(Ch. 5), joining forces with Ezmerelda d'Avenir (Ch. 11),
trying to use the cursed mirror in the Vallakovich manor
to kill Strahd (Ch. 5)). Strahd can extend the invitation at
any time for any reason. If the party accepts, their dinner
should devolve to horrid games played on them by the
devil as they flee towards the crypts to stir Sir Klutz's
spirit before ultimately escaping via the teleportation
network described in K78 (pg. 82).
Victor's Circle. Victor Vallakovich has been
desperately working on a teleportation circle spell in the
vain hope of escaping Barovia. At your discretion, you
can have it "malfunction" and accidentally cross into the
teleportation network of Castle Ravenloft (see K78, pg.
82).
Madness of the Mage. If the party confronts the Mad
Mage of Mount Baratok (see Area M, Ch. 2), he can hurl
them through a portal of his making. Castle Ravenloft's
teleportation network snatches up the characters,
delivering them to K78, the Brazier Room, in the
dungeons of the castle, and near the catacombs.
STELLA WACHTER
Stella: her father's dead but not gone; her brothers are Medium humanoid (human), chaotic good
deadbeat drunks; and her mother runs a cult in the
basement. Standard family unit, right there. Armor Class 10
Broken Betrothal. Stella has always been a pawn of her Hit Points ___/4 (1d8)
mother. A chit to be traded away, repayment kept in Speed 30 ft.
Fiona's back pocket. After her father's death, Fiona sought
to marry Stella to Victor Vallakovich, heir to the barony STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
of Vallaki (something Nikolai would never allow). Alas, 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
somewhere during negotiations and before the betrothal,
Stella's mind snapped. Baron Vallakovich called off the Senses passive Perception 10
arrangements; disgusted, Wachter locked her daughter up, Languages Common
letting her insanity rage. Challenge 0 (10 XP)
Reduced to Madness. Imprisoned both in body and
spirit, Stella's sanity has long since fled this world. Kept
under lock and key, there's but little hope for her without
ACTIONS
outside aid: her brothers stand idly by, and her mother is Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5
content with keeping Stella locked away forever. ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing
The Truth. Questions still abound as to how Stella's damage.
sanity shattered: was it the machinations of her mother's
blasphemous cult? Or did Victor Vallakovich, practicing Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Stella can grant
his suggestion spell, break her mind? Questions abound, inspiration to one player character she can see.
but Stella has no desire to answer them even for herself.
Whatever the truth is, she doesn't want to know.
Daddy's Little Hunter. Before his untimely demise and STELLA'S STATISTICS
Stella's madness, Nikolai the Elder delighted in taking his Two options are available for you.
daughter hunting—back before the Svalich Woods Default. Stella, by default, has the statistics of a
teemed with ravenous wolves. "A girl needs to know how commoner, effectively making her dead weight.
to notch a bolt and work a knife," he was fond of saying. Alternative. At your discretion, you can use a 3rd-level
Though it has been three years since their last foray, Mastermind rogue version of Stella.
Stella's fingers still remember the way of the crossbow.
Her eyes are sharp, her aim is true. All she needs is her FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
crossbow and the hunt is on. • If Stella's madness is cured, Baron Vallakovich suddenly
wants to reinstate the betrothal with his son, Victor. Stella
STELLA WACHTER'S TRAITS would rather wander the Svalich Woods at night than
Ideal. "There's a loving home for me out there spend one moment with that horrible boy.
somewhere, and I'll find it." • Keeping with the above, if Ismark Kolyanovich is
Bond. "My father loved me with all his heart, but my traveling with the party, he can fake a betrothal to prevent
mother doesn't have one." Vallakovich or Wachter using Stella as a pawn.
Flaw. "If someone's kind to me, I latch on, and I don't • Stella would make a wonderful bride for Strahd, if only
let go." to rip her away and reduce her to a vampire spawn to spite
the adventurers.
THE DONJON
"Find a girl driven to insanity, locked in the heart of her PANACEA TO MADNESS
dead father's house. Curing her madness is key to your Only a spell of greater restoration can restore Stella's
success." mind. However, few individuals in Barovia have the
In its sick humor, Fate has decreed that salvation lies in capability to cast such a spell.
the hands of a shattered young girl. You can instead use any of these small quest hooks to
Finding Stella. Stella's predicament is the talk of the restore Stella's madness. Alternatively, you can just settle
town. Some merely wonder why the Wachter girl hasn't for a cop-out and have Rictavio give the party a scroll of
been seen for so long. Others, like Baron Vallakovich and greater restoration, whether in person or secretly.
the Martikovs, know the grim truth. (See N4, Ch. 5.) Choose the quest hook you prefer from the suggestions
Recruitment. Stella is useless until her madness is cured below.
(though many say she's useless in general, but more on
that later!). See the "Panacea to Madness."
CONFRONTING THE TRUTH
Sometimes one must seize the bull by the horns. At your Medium human (humanoid), chaotic good
discretion, you can change the source of her madness
(Curse of Strahd explains that Victor Vallakovich "spoke Armor Class 14 (leather armor)
such unkind words to her that she went mad" and that Hit Points ___/21 (3d8 + 3)
implies he used suggestion on her). Choose whichever Speed 30 ft.
alternative source of madness you prefer and plan
accordingly: STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
The Cult. Stella stumbled across Fiona's cult operating 8 (-1) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) 14 (+2)
in the basement, and her imp, Majesto, tormented the girl
until the seeds of madness were planted. She mentions in Skills History +3, Persuasion +4, Sleight of Hand +5
her ravings the "truth in the basement." If brought there, Senses passive Perception 10
can reclaim her sanity by facing Majesto. Screeching, she Languages Common
snatches at the imp's neck, and squeezes until it's all Challenge 1 (200 XP)
squishy inside.
(Dead) Man of the House. Stella stumbled into her Cunning Action. On each of her turns, Stella can use a bonus
mother's room and found the perfectly preserved body of action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.
her father—two years after he was supposedly buried.
This horrific revelation broke the poor girl's mind; Lady Master of Tactics. As a bonus action, Stella can use the Help
Wachter shifted blame on Victor Vallakovich to avoid the action. When used in aiding an ally in attacking a creature,
suspicion of her sons, Nikolai and Karl, who would surely the target of that attack can be within 30 feet of her, rather
turn away from the bottle to take care of this matter. than within 5 feet, so long as the ally can see or hear her.

FIFTEEN FOR ONE Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Stella deals an additional 7 (2d6)
The hags of Old Bonegrinder (see Ch. 6) have the means damage when she hits a target with a weapon attack and has
to cure the girl of her madness, but only at a cost. advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5
Morgantha and her wretched offspring have long since feet of an ally of hers that isn't incapacitated and the spy
been run out of Vallaki by Izek Strazni, and business has doesn't have disadvantage on the attack roll.
run dry.
Morgantha's terms are simple: smuggle dream pastries ACTIONS
into town and infect fifteen innocents with that tyrannical
Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
addiction. The hag still holds a grudge against Izek
target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) piercing damage.
Strazni ("that devil-armed brute") for kicking her out of
Vallaki, and so she demands that he be one of those Hand Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range
infected. Should the adventurers comply, Morgantha and 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing damage.
her ilk will perform a ritual to imprison the girl's insanity
deep within her mind. Fifteen minds for one—sounds fair, Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, Stella can grant
right? inspiration to one player character she can see.
Consequences. Beyond the moral implications, the
chief consequence of this deal is that Stella's madness
threatens to bubble out whenever she sees, or hears the
name thereof, her mother or Victor Vallakovich. She must
make a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw or be afflicted with
short-term madness (see Ch. 8 of the Dungeon Master's
Guide). On a success, she her madness is chained for 24
hours. No further saving throws are needed in that time.
Additionally, Izek's sudden addiction to dream pastries
severely diminishes his effectiveness as Baron
Vallakovich's enforcer, leading to civil unrest in Vallaki.
Only Lady Wachter stands to gain from this development.

SOMETHING BORROWED
The Abbot of the Abbey of Saint Markovia has a deal to
make. See the "Something Borrowed" event in chapter 8.
If the party agrees to return to Krezk with a wedding
dress, the Abbot will cast greater restoration on Stella.
VASILKA
In his misguided pride, the Abbot—angel and servant of Medium construct (flesh golem), neutral
the wayward Morninglord—has committed himself to
hitching Strahd von Zarovich. Only the perfect bride will Armor Class 9
free the vampire, and this land, from his dark curse. Alas, Hit Points ___/93 (11d8 + 44)
only perfection can create perfection, and so it has fallen Speed 30 ft.
to the Abbot to sew together this unknown woman of
Strahd's undreamed dreams: Vasilka. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
From Many, One. The Abbot's wisdom spans 19 (+4) 9 (-1) 18 (+4) 6 (-2) 10 (+0) 5 (-3)
millennia, and he has more... eldritch means to craft a
flesh golem than mere mortal creators. Perhaps it was Damage Immunities lightning, poison; bludgeoning,
well-intended; perhaps it was to give the girl a voice or piercing and slashing from nonmagical weapons that
memories to draw upon. Perhaps in his swelling pride, the aren't adamantine.
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
Abbot can no longer catch his own mistakes, but
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
regardless, his magic has managed to bound together the
slivers of the wayward souls that once belonged to Senses darkvision 60ft., passive Perception 10
Languages understands Common but can't speak
Vasilka's parts. Women, children, men. Sewn together
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
now in flesh and in spirit, the Abbot has (accidentally?)
created a new being: seven separate maddened
consciousnesses, all that must do battle with the elemental Berserk. Whenever Vasilka starts her turn with 40 hit points
spirit infused in Vasilka's body. or fewer, roll a d6. On a 6, she goes berserk. On each of her
The Raging Storm. Every seam and stitch trembles. turns while berserk, Vasilka attacks the nearest creature she
Every muscle spasms, every shout or scream is one of can see. If no creature is near enough to move to and attack,
wounded outrage. To create a flesh golem, one must bind she attacks an object, with preference for an object smaller
an elemental spirit to the flesh: a spark of life with no than herself. Once she goes berserk, she continues to do so
memories or personalities that howls incoherently for the until she is destroyed or regains all her hit points.
injustice of its creation. There's a storm raging in Vasilka's If the Abbot, Vasilka's creator, is within 60 feet of her, she
graveyard of a body, oh yes: seven divided souls chased can try to calm it by speaking firmly and persuasively. She
by that wolf of a spirit. They can never know peace, and must be able to hear her creator, who must take an action to
neither can Vasilka. Her rage threatens to erupt at any make a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check. If the check
moment, and only the Abbot can calm her. succeeds, the she ceases being berserk. If she takes damage
Bride-to-Be. Once the Abbot has perfected Vasilka's while still at 40 hit points or fewer, she might go berserk
again.
etiquette and cultivated her mind, he intends to present her
to Strahd. These are fruitless tasks inspired by Strahd Aversion of Fire. If Vasilka takes fire damage, she has
himself so to corrupt this angel. Barring divine disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks until the end
intervention or eldritch magic, Vasilka will never be of her next turn.
capable of more than the reasoning of a young child. Her Immutable Form. Vasilka is immune to any spell or effect that
movements will always be stiff and awkward and would alter her form.
inhumane. She can never be perfect, and that fact has
Lightning Absorption. Whenever Valiska is subjected to
driven the Abbot mad. He's buried that heretical truth, but lightning damage, she takes no damage and instead regains a
already it has born bitter fruit. number of hit points equal to the lightning damage dealt.
VASILKA'S TRAITS Magic Resistance. Vasilka has advantage on saving throws
Ideal. "Perfection is within arm's reach." against spells and other magical effects.
Bond. "I just want to be accepted." Magic Weapons. Vasilka's weapon attacks are magical.
Flaw. "Sometimes I lose my temper."
ACTIONS
THE TEMPTER Multiattack. Vasilka makes two slam attacks.
"I hear a wedding bell, or perhaps a death knell. It calls
thee to a mountainside abbey, wherein you will find a Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
woman who is more than the sum of her parts." Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
It's ironic. The Abbot sought to set Strahd free with his
Inspire. When in sight of Strahd, Vasilka can grant
makeshift bride. Instead, she's going to murder him.
inspiration to one player character she can see, presumably
Finding Vasilka. Vasilka can be found at the Abbey of
by croaking or something.
Saint Markovia (S13, Ch. 8). No villagers know of her.
 Recruitment. The Abbot will only allow Vasilka to
leave once he's confident she's been perfected. That
requires, among other things, a wedding dress, etiquette,
and the grace to waltz. The Abbot, in his illusion of
wisdom, can be fooled into thinking the party means to
present her to Strahd early with a DC 20 Charisma
(Deception) check. The Abbot has no desire to battle the
vampire, believing that it's pointless. Should the Abbot
die, however, Vasilka can be goaded into following them
albeit without a creator to control her rage.

FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS

• Vasilka is terrified of fire.
• From a distance, Vasilka appears to be a pale, thin girl.
Characters within 5 feet of her can see the seams in her
flesh and react accordingly.
• If the Krezkovs meet Vasilka, whose body parts have
been stolen from Krezkite graves, they can put two-and-
two together and may banish the party from Krezk.

BURN THE BEAST!

You can use this short event to underscore the danger of
Vasilka's presence—both by her unquenchable rage, and
others' boiling fear.
Unless great pains are undertaken to shroud Vasilka
from prying eyes, rumors abound of "the stitched beast."
It doesn't take long for word to spread to the other
settlements; the Vistani, for their part, find a perverse
enjoyment in spreading the tale. Suspicion boils into fear
then into panic then into a desperate call for violence.
While the adventurers are traveling along the road,
they're met with a mob of 3d6 + 6 Barovian commoners
carrying clubs, torches and pitchforks (+2 to hit, 1d6
piercing damage). Read:
Out in the fog, torches burn like little islands of light.
Many torches carried by many men, all shouting, "Burn
the beast! Burn it!"
If the adventurers do not hide, the mob quickly finds
them. One man by the name of Kravus approaches. Read:
One voice thunders across the chorus of outrage: a thin,
elderly man with the voice of a baron. "Surrender the
beast, outsiders! It will only bring ruin to our land!"
Vasilka shrieks, cowering behind you, her stitched arms
up to shield from the fire that terrifies her so.
The mob can be talked down or intimidated (a DC 20 and
15 Charisma (Persuasion) and Charisma (Intimidation)
check, respectively). At the first sign of violence, or an
approaching flame, Vasilka attacks unless effected by a
calm emotions spell. She shows no mercy, and knows not
her strength, easily ripping off arms and tearing off heads.
As you can expect, the mob flees after the first few
dismemberments.
VICTOR VALLAKOVICH
Men would kill for privilege and prestige, for power, for Medium humanoid (human), neutral evil
a title—but Victor Vallakovich wants none of that. The
heir to the barony of Vallaki wants only to be free from Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor )
this doomed place. Hit Points ___/40 (9d8)
Miserable Mageling. Years ago, Victor came across an Speed 30 ft.
arcane tome in his father's library and studied it
ravenously. Every meal, every moment of respite the boy STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
had, Victor poured over the tome. His father oft remarked 9 (-1) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
that he should turn to more manly sports like hunting—
Vargas Vallakovich did love to purport himself as some Saving Throws Int +6, Wis +4
great hunter—furthering the rift silently growing between Skills Arcana +6, History +6
the two. Through devoted study, Victor painfully taught Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
himself magic and now—and the boy has used it to Languages Common, Elvish
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
commit unspeakable deeds in the name of escaping
Barovia.
Madness of Stella Wachter. A betrothal was arranged Special Equipment. Victor carries a leather-bound spellbook
between the baron and Lady Fiona Wachter. Victor was containing the following spells: animate dead, blight,
to wed Stella Wachter. The betrothal didn't last long; cloudkill, darkvision, glyph of warding, levitate, mending,
somehow Victor shattered Stella's mind—perhaps he remove curse, and thunderwave.
experimented on the poor girl with his suggestion spell
one too many times and cracked open her head like an Spellcasting. Victor is a 9th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting
eggshell. Whatever the instrument used, Victor is the ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell
source of Stella's insanity. Insanity that festers and rages attacks). He has the following wizard spells prepared:
under lock and key. Cantrips (at will): acid splash, fire bolt, light, mage hand
Murderer. It was for knowledge, Victor would tell 1st level (4 slots): detect magic, mage armor, magic
missile, shield
himself. For freedom from this dismal place. Armed with
2nd level (3 slots): misty step, suggestion
his suggestion spell, he forced two family servants (Lady
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, fireball, fly
Petrovna's lady-in-waiting and the butler) to test his
4th level (3 slots): greater invisibility, ice storm
teleportation circle. The poor, addled fools could never
5th level (1 slot): cone of cold
comprehend what would come next. Neither could Victor.
To his credit, the boy forced himself to watch as the two ACTIONS
crumbled to dust so as not to forget the price of failure.
The shred of himself still capable of empathy shivers with Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5
guilt—honestly—but has been buried under the need to ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing
escape this dismal land. damage.

VICTOR VALLAKOVICH'S TRAITS Inspire. When in sight of Strahd, Victor can grant inspiration
Ideal. "To Hell with Barovia. To hell with my parents' to one player character that he can see.
madness."
Bond. "Magic will set me free."
Flaw. "Life is so unfair to me." FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS
THE DONJON • If the baron learns that Ireena Kolyana has come to
Vallaki, he sets out to find her, hoping to betroth Victor
"Search for a troubled young man surrounded by wealth
to her, and extending his influence beyond Vallaki. Alas,
and madness. His home is his prison."
Strahd is sure to ruin such plans.
Victor wants nothing more than to escape doomed • If St. Andral's Feast occurs (see "Special Events," Ch. 5)
Barovia—killing the devil is surefire way to get out. and Lady Wachter seizes control of Vallaki, she might
Finding Victor. The mageling can be found in the spare Victor from his family's doom and forcibly marry
baron's mansion of Vallaki, moping and studying and him to Stella so as to finally tie the barony to her family.
avoiding his family (see N3, Ch. 5). Once Victor has gotten Stella with child, she intends to
Recruitment. Realizing this is his only true shot at kill him off. If the adventurers protest, Wachter claims,
escaping Barovia, Victor enthusiastically joins the party. "He broke my daughter's mind—this is justice. If you'd
like to leave here alive, it will be without him."
• The Amber Temple is Victor's Elysium. Desperate to
escape Barovia, he would like nothing more than to study
its stuffed shelves of lore, or search for a spirit that can
promise him a way out.

FLAWS AND FORTUNES

If you need to get the adventurers to Castle Ravenloft
quickly (and quietly), or any of the destinations of its
portal (the Abbey of Saint Markovia, the Amber Temple,
Tsolenka Pass, etc.) you can use this short quest. It's
recommended to use this in a time of great duress: say,
after St. Andral's Feast (if it occurs) and Lady Wachter
has whipped the commoners into a mob; or if Strahd
himself is bearing down on the adventurers in the streets
of Vallaki. Victor Vallakovich's teleportation circle
cannot escape Barovia indeed, but the young mage
accidentally taps into Castle Ravenloft's teleportation
network and it snatches up the adventurers.
Flaws. Victor activates the portal; the party piles in, one
at a time; Victor goes last. The adventurers find
themselves sprawled across the cold floor of the Brazier
Room of Castle Ravenloft (K78, Ch. 4). The flawed
teleportation has sapped their strength, and every bone
moans with pain. After the characters pick themselves up
and explore the room, Victor realizes they've wound up in
Castle Ravenloft. He begins the task of re-calibrating the
portal ("which could take an hour or two"), giving the
adventurers time to explore the castle, and possibly satisfy
several objectives they would've put off until later.
Fortunes. Several interesting locales lie nearby. The
catacombs of Ravenloft, teeming with peril and treasure,
is nearby. Emil Toranescu, the werewolf, rots in the
dungeon. Rahadin's office is up a flight of stairs, and
beyond that the skull of Argynvost.
The Chamberlain. When the adventurers return to the
Brazier Room, they find Rahadin strangling Victor,
demanding to know how the boy got here. The
adventurers can either fight or flee. Rahadin repays the
adventurers' trespassing with unchecked ferocity. If he's
seriously wounded, he casts misty step towards Western
Stair (K79), and retreats to his office (K72) to call for
reinforcements.
ZULEIKA TORANESCU
The night was red and rent when Zuleika was stolen from Medium humanoid (human, shapechanger), chaotic evil
her town of Daggerford. Mist choked the woods, and the
night thundered with cries of "Werewolves! Werewolves Armor Class 11 in humanoid form, 12 (natural armor) in
in the mists!" Zuleika and her mother Emilia happened to wolf or hybrid form
be on the wrong side when the gates slammed shut and Hit Points ___/58 (9d8 + 18)
the wolves descended. Emilia did her best to protect her Speed 30 ft. (40 ft. in wolf form)
child. She did her best and died for it, her trachea ripped
out and snapped up in the jaws of the werewolf STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
15 (+2) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 10 (+0)
Rakimov—an image that still haunts Zuleika's dreams.
Revenge Denied. Zuleika, like many other children, had
been rounded up and brought to Barovia where she was Skills Perception +4, Stealth +3
Damage Immunities bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
bitten and inducted into the pack. While at first, she
from nonmagical attacks not made with silvered weapons
loathed wolves, she eventually accepted the pack as her
Senses passive Perception 14
people. Only her scorn for Rakimov persisted. For years,
Languages Common (can't speak in wolf form)
Zuleika nursed her hate, but before she could grow old
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
enough and strong enough to challenge Rakimov, the
werewolf fell to a silvered bolt shot by a young wolf
Shapechanger. Zuleika can her action to polymorph into a
hunter by the name of Szoldar Szoldarovich. Zuleika, all
wolf-humanoid hybrid or into a wolf or back into her human
of fourteen at the time, considered hunting down Szoldar
form. Her statistics, other than her AC, are the same in each
for depriving her of her vengeance, but maturity softened
form. Any equipment she's wearing or carrying isn't
the indignation and she abandoned the idea.
transformed. She reverts to her human form if she dies.
Wife. Time passed. Zuleika grew older, and fell in love
with Emil Toranescu, a Barovian native and third- Keen Hearing and Smell. Zuleika has advantage on Wisdom
generation werewolf. They even wed while in their human (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
forms in Vallaki at St. Andral's Church. The sheep were ACTIONS
none the wiser that the wolves had walked in among them.
Widower. With Zuleika behind him, Emil rose to great Multiattack (Human or Hybrid Form Only). Zuleika makes
prominence among the pack—but it didn't take long for two attacks, one of with her bite and one with her claws or
Kiril Stoyanovich, that ambitious brute, to challenge the spear.
old packleader for dominance. The bout was short and
bloody. With his fur still wet with the blood of their Bite (Wolf or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4
overthrown alpha, Kiril ushered in a new reign of to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing
savagery. The pack would continue kidnapping children damage. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC
but with a grisly twist: the children taken would fight to 10 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with werewolf
the death and the sole victor would be bitten to ensure the lycanthropy.
"strength and purity" of the pack.
Emil argued for an end to this disgusting contest and Claws (Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
that the pack should instead bite every child. Kiril reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 +2) slashing damage.
however feared that a large pack would be too difficult to
control and feed. A schism divided the pack and Spear (Humanoid Form Only). Melee or Ranged Weapon
threatened to consume all. Kiril disappeared for several Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target.
days and returned from Castle Ravenloft with Strahd's Hit: 5 (1d6 +2) piercing damage, or 6 (1d8 +2 ) piercing
damage if used with two hands to make a melee attack.
dire wolves. The count was none too pleased with Emil's
dissent, and the werewolf has languished in the dungeons
Inspire. When in sight of Strahd, Zuleika can grant
of the castle ever since. None know whether Emil yet
inspiration to one player character she can see.
lives, but Zuleika has abandoned hope. She prays to
Mother Night for guidance but has yet to receive anything
but silence. THE BEAST
ZULEIKA TORANESCU'S TRAITS "A werewolf holds a secret hatred for your enemy. Use
Ideal. "This curse is the gift of utter freedom." her hatred to your advantage."
Bond. "Children should be protected from the horrors The Beast's rage will be instrumental to toppling the
of this world." devil Strahd's reign.
Flaw. "There's only two kinds of folk in this world: Finding Zuleika. Kiril has confined Zuleika to the
wolves and sheep." Werewolf Den (see Z7, Ch. 15).
 Recruitment. Only if the party promises to avenge Emil As the party descends the stairs read:
by killing Kiril will she join their quest. "This place reeks of death," Zuleika murmurers, her nose
twisted up. "Emil's scent hangs just below it. His body
FUTURE, INTERACTIONS, RELATIONS must be somewhere here."
• Zuleika can be cured of her lycanthropy with a greater Once the characters reach the dungeon hall, narrate the
restoration or remove curse spell but would kill any description for K73. Emil's cry of help throws Zuleika
character that tried it. She's lived her life as a wolf and into a frenzy; she happens to avoid the first teleportation
views her curse as a gift emblematic of freedom itself. To trap and advances towards the south Dungeon unless
end it would be to end her. persuaded or intimidated otherwise (a DC 18 ability
• While in Castle Ravenloft, Zuleika picks up Emil's scent check). Read:
and demands the party follow it. This leads them to the Zuleika's hackles raised, she shouts out, "Emil! EMIL!
Dungeons (see K75, Ch. 4). I'm here!" The werewolf's voice cracks with desperation.
• If both Kiril and Emil die, Zuleika establishes her She wades into the dark waters, all caution abandoned.
dominance over the werewolves and she severs all ties to "Emil!" she shouts. "Emil!" She shoves open a swollen
Strahd. Once the devil learns of this, all ordinary wolves door and slips from view.
leave the pack at his command. Sympathetic to the sheep If the adventurers follow, they might fall prey to the
and a victim of this very tradition, Zuleika ends the teleportation traps. Whenever they reach the South
kidnapping of children from the lands. Dungeon, read the following:
A weak voice cries out, "Zuleika! Turn away! The devil's
FOR BETTER OR WORSE laid a trap!" Before the woman can even consider this in
You can use this short quest for the reunification of her craze, the waters churn. In the darkness of this place,
Zuleika and her husband Emil. It assumes Strahd knows a figure in rusted armor shambles from a cell at the far end
Zuleika has joined the adventurers. of the hall and speaks a word so foul your heart trembles.
While within Castle Ravenloft, she picks up his scent Undead rise in the cells, grasping for fresh flesh: for you.
and knows it in her heart that he's truly alive—falling prey The wight knows that Emil and "the wolf woman" are
to Strahd's trap. It's only in the vampire's nature to exploit both impervious to the undead's attacks and directs the
his foes' sympathies, and he's laid a trap for Zuleika. zombies toward the adventurers instead.
Within the dungeon (K75) Emil Toranescu lies chained.
The scent of death and decay fills these halls—stronger
than usual. Hours ago, several wights and Cyrus Belview,
Strahd's manservant, led the undead from the Torture
Chamber (K76) where they now slumber under the water.
Emil suspects that it's another game to be played on him
by Strahd; that at some grisly point, they'll be led into his
cell and left there with but one thing to content
themselves: him.
In total, four Strahd zombies have been placed in Area
75 (cells H, D, F, & C). While submerged, they have
advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. A wight armed
with a silvered longsword lurks in cell B to control the
zombies until the trap is to be sprung.
Two Strahd zombies are in the North Dungeon (K74,
cell C and feeding on the corpse there) so that the unlucky
soul that steps on the first teleport trap in K73 is trapped
in a locked, dimly lit with two zombies. To open the cell
requires a DC 20 Dexterity check with thieves' tools,
made with disadvantage if the lockpicker is inside the cell.
Any shouts or noise they make can be heard throughout
the dungeon.