Page 139 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

Q31. EAST STAIRCASES Q36. DRAGON'S AUDIENCE HALL
A round-topped wooden door opens to reveal a spiral
staircase with narrow windows set into its walls. The
stair connects the third floor and the mansion's roof. The west wall of this fifty-foot-long, thirty-foot-wide audi­
ence hall has crumbled, leaving a gaping hole and a pile
Q32. RUINED BED CHAMBERS of rubble. Weapons and shields that once hung from the
These two rooms stand across from each other, sep­ walls have fallen to the floor and succumbed to rust. A
arated by a ruined corridor that abruptly ends to the large, wooden throne carved to resemble a dragon with
south of their doors. unfolding wings faces three tall windows to the west.
Slumped in the throne is a gaunt, armored figure with
Most of this chamber has collapsed. The wooden floor one gauntlet wrapped around the hilt of a greatsword.
is strewn with rubble and falls away into a foggy abyss to
the south. The roof overhead is jagged and broken. Vladimir Horngaard (see appendix D), commander of
the fallen Order of the Silver Dragon, is slumped in the
throne. If the beacon of Argynvostholt (see area Q53)
The floor here is 40 feet above of the floor of the ball­
room (area Q4). The roof is 20 feet overhead. has been lit, the corpse is lifeless, and characters can
plunder it freely (see "Treasure" below).
Q33. COLLAPSED CEILING If the beacon has not been lit, the body is serving as
a host for the revenant. If the characters approach it, it
says, "Go away." If they don't leave immediately, read:
The roof over this part of the mansion has collapsed,
creating a twenty-foot-diameter gaping hole with broken The creature's grip on the greatsword tightens. "If you
rafters bisecting it. Dark storm clouds roll across the sky have come to destroy me, know this: I perished defend­
overhead. The floor is piled with rocks, broken tiles, shat­ ing this land from evil over four centuries ago, and be­
tered beams, and other debris. Beneath the rubble lie a cause of my failure, I am forever doomed. If you destroy
sagging floor and puddles of rainwater. this body, my spirit will find a new corpse to inhabit, and
I will hunt you down. You cannot free me from my dam­
The ceiling here is 20 feet high, and the rubble is diffi­ nation, nor would I wish it.
cult terrain. "If you have come to free this land from the creature
Vladimir Horngaard (see area Q36) can hear visitors that feasts on the blood of the innocent, know this: There
climbing over the rubble and can't be surprised by them. is no monster I hate more than Strahd von Zarovich. He
Q34. RUINED BATHROOM slew Argynvost, broke the life of the knight I loved, and
destroyed the valiant order to which I devoted my life,
but Strahd has already died once. He can't be allowed to
This room has a tiled floor and an iron bathtub filled with die again. Instead, he must suffer eternally in a hell of his
debris from the collapsed roof. A torn curtain hangs in an own creation, from which he can never escape. Whatever
open doorway in the center of the east wall. can be done to bring him misery and unrest, I will do, but
I will destroy anyone who tries to end his torment."

Q35. UPSTAIRS GALLERY Vladimir fights in self-defense. He also rises from his
throne and attacks if the characters fail to heed his
warning and press him for help 'destroying Str_ahd.
This room has dark wood paneling on the walls that rises The first time Vladimir takes damage,_ si� phantom
to a height of three feet. Above the paneling, the walls are warriors (see appendix D) materialize ahd joi'n ,the fray,
painted with murals of religious figures performing holy coming to his defense. . . : : · ·
Hatred so clouds Vladimir's.mind that' he cari't re­
rites. In the center of the west wall is a tattered curtain member that Sir Godfrey (area Q37) was.,his beloved in
hanging in an open doorway. Three tall, slender stained­ life. If Sir Godfrey helps the char�eters arid 'faces Vlad-,
glass windows set into the opposite wall depict figures in imir, anguished recognition' shines in Vladimir's eyes,
white robes with orange sunrises behind their heads. yet only lighting the beacon can free him.'�-.

TREASURE
From north to south, the three stained-glass win­ Vladimir Horngaard wields a +2 greatsword.
dows portray Saint Andra!, the Morninglord, and Vladimir wears a platinum holy symbol of the Morn­
·
Saint Markovia. inglo_rd _(worth 250 gp) around his neck, underneath his
".:: .· · �alf piafe-armoF.

CHAPTER 7 I ARGYNVOSTHOLT