Page 11 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

Strahd has been the master of Ravenloft for centuries they exhibit great fortitude and defiance, his interest is
now. Since becoming a vampire, he has taken several piqued-even more so if the character displays uncom­
consorts-none as beloved as Tatyana, but each a per­ mon knowledge or beauty. Such a person might not be
son of beauty. All of them he turned into vampire spawn. worthy to succeed him, but the man or woman might
Although he feeds on the hapless souls of Barovia, they provide amusement to Strahd as a new possession.
provide little nourishment and no comfort. From time
to time, strangers from faraway lands are brought to his ROLEPLAYING 8TRAHD
domain, to play the vampire's game of cat-and-mouse. Strahd believes his soul is lost to evil. He feels neither
Strahd savors these moments, for though these strang­ pity nor remorse, neither love nor hate. He doesn't suffer
ers offer him no lands to conquer, they aren't so easily anguish or wallow in indignation. He believes, and has
destroyed and therefore provide a welcome diversion. always believed, that he is the master of his own fate.
Strahd believes that the key to his escaping Barovia When he was alive, Strahd could admit to letting his
lies in finding someone worthy to rule in his stead, but emotions get the better of him from time to time. Now,
his arrogance are so indomitable that no one is ever as a vampire, he is more monster than man, with barely
good enough in his eyes. He believes in his cold heart a hint of emotion left. He is above the concerns of the
that only a von Zarovich as great as he or his father living. The only event that occasionally haunts him is
could sway the Dark Powers to release him. the death of Tatyana, but his view of the past is bereft of
romance or regret. In his mind, her death couldn't have
STRAHn's GoALs been prevented, and what is done cannot be undone.
Strahd has the following goals in the adventure. In life, Strahd lived to conquer. In undeath, he con­
quers still-not realms, but people, driving good souls to
TURN !REENA KOLYANA become corrupt and destroying those who won't yield.
Strahd's unrequited love for Tatyana drove him to slay Characters who try to appeal to Strahd's humanity will
his brother, Sergei. Some time ago, Strahd glimpsed be gravely disappointed, because there is little humanity
the young woman Ireena Kolyana in the village of Baro­ left in him. If they ask Strahd why he's preying on Ireena
via and felt extreme deja vu. Ireena looked exactly like Kolyana, he tells them that Ireena's body is the host for
Tatyana! Strahd now believes that Ireena is the latest Tatyana's soul, and Tatyana's soul belongs to him.
reincarnation of Tatyana, and thus he seeks to claim her. Strahd can be seductive and subtle when he chooses
Strahd's evil courtship has led him to visit Ireena to be, especially if a person is clever or attractive. Men
twice. On both occasions, he charmed his way into her and women of beauty and cunning amuse Strahd for a
home-the house of her adopted father, the burgomas­ time-playthings to possess or discard as he desires.
ter of the village of Barovia-and drank her blood. He If he senses a lack of cohesion in a party of adven­
intends to kill Ireena during their next meeting and turn turers, he preys on that weakness and tries to drive a
her into his vampire spawn consort. wedge between the characters by promising to help
Chapter 3 gives details about Ireena and where to find one at the expense of another. If Strahd senses evil in
her in the village of Barovia. · a person, he cultivates that tendency by offering to turn
that character into a full-fledged vampire after helping
FIND RUDOLPH VAN RIGHTEN Strahd destroy the rest of the party. Ultimately, Strahd
Although he is usually focused on making Ireena Koly­ doesn't honor his promise, instead turning the character
ana his bride, Strahd has been distracted by reports into a vampire spawn under his control.
that a legendary vampire hunter named Rudolph van
Richten has come to Barovia. It takes more than one WHEN STRAHD ATTACKS
old man with a death wish to frighten Strahd; neverthe­
less, the vampire has his spies searching Barovia for Strahd isn't a villain who remains out of sight until the
van Richten. Strahd would like very much to meet the final scene. Far from it-he travels as he desires to any
old vampire hunter, lock him in the dungeons of Castle place in his realm or his castle, and (from his perspec­
Ravenloft, and slowly break his spirit. tive) the more often he encounters the characters, the
Chapter 5 describes the town ofVallaki, where van better. The.characters can and should meet him multi­
Richten currently resides incognito. ple times before the final encounter, which most likely
takes place in the location determined by the card read­
SEARCH FOR A SUCCESSOR O_R.GONSORJ · ing. His combat details are_;wailable,in appendix D.
Strahd can sense the a:rrival ofoew.bloodfo his·domain. When Strahd wants to terrprize the characters, he
.
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When newcomers enter Batq�i'ii; -�� �hfrts his attentio11 pays them a visit, either µntler· the cloa.k of night or be­
from Ireena Kolyana arid:van Ri��ten ·to his n'ew guests neath overcast skies duriqg the day. If they're indoors,
so that he can determine wh�ther a�y of them. isworthy he tries to charm or goad a chanir;t�r into.in�iting him
to be his successor or consort. (Eventually,_-he·decides inside (along with his vampire spaWn; if they are pres­
that none of them can replace him as master of Barovia, ent). Strahd and his minions never �uack Ireena.
but he doesn't arrive at this coriclusion immediately.) These encounters are meant to test the characters, not
. ·: Stra·hd pays close attention to adventurers who are kill them. After: a few rounds of toying with them, Strahd
charismatic and arrogant, like himself. He focuses his and his creatures withdraw. If the characters retreat,
attacks on them, to see how much they can withstand. Strahd is likely.to allow them to flee, savoring their fear
If they crumble easily, he loses interest in them. If and �elieving he has broken them.

CHAPTER 1 I JNTO THE MISTS
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