Page 158 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

CHAPTER 9: TSOLENKA PASS

SOLENKA PASS IS A GRAVEL ROAD THAT If the characters approach within 10 feet of the port­
hugs Mount Ghakis, climbing to great cullis, it shrieks with the sound of metal on metal as it
heights. The road starts at the Raven rises on its own. It stays open for 1 minute, then closes.
River crossroads (chapter 2, area R) and
travels seven miles to a gatehouse (areas T2. DEMON STATUES
Tl-T3) and a guard tower (areas T4-T6), These statues are actually two petrified vrocks. If they
as well as a stone bridge (areas T7-T9) are attacked, or if the characters bypass the gatehouse,
that spans the Luna River. Wind and snow make the the vrocks revert to flesh and attack, pursuing prey that
journey treacherous. Without some way to keep warm, flees and fighting until slain.
characters who aren't dressed for cold weather suffer
the effects of extreme cold at night (see "Weather" in T3. CURTAIN OF GREEN FLAME
chapter 5, "Adventure Environments," of the Dungeon
Master's Guide). A curtain of green flame fills the eastern archway of the
gatehouse. Any creature that enters the curtain for the
AREAS OF THE PASS first time on a turn or starts its turn in the green flame
takes 33 (6d10) fire damage.
The following areas correspond to labels on the map of A successful casting of dispel magic (DC 16) sup­
the Tsolenka Pass on page 158. These structures are presses the curtain for 1 minute. The curtain is also
made of tightly fitted stone and can't be scaled without suppressed within an antimagic field.
the aid of magic or a climber's kit.
T4. GUARD TOWER, GROUND FLOOR
Tl. GATEHOUSE PORTCULLIS The tower door is made of ironbound wood and barred
When the characters approach from the west, read: from within. A character can force open the door with a
successful DC 22 Strength (Athletics) check.
The shelf of rock on which the mountain road clings
grows narrow. To your left, the icy cliffs rise sharply
toward dark, rolling clouds. To your right, the ground
falls away into a sea of fog. Ahead, through the wind and
snow, you see a high wall of black stone lined with spikes
and topped by statues of demonic vultures with horned
heads. Set in the center of the wall is a closed iron port­
cullis, behind which burns a curtain of green flame.
On the other side of the dark wall, gripping the moun­
tain's edge, is a guard tower of white stone topped by
golden statues of mighty warriors.

The gatehouse is 30 feet high. The adjoining walls are
20 feet high and lined with stone spikes_ If the charac­
ters circumvent the gate by flying or climbing over it, the
statues on the gatehouse (area T2) animate and attack.

THE ROAD CURVED AND CLIMBED, MAKING
a lengthy switchback into this edge of Mount
Ghakis. The air grew colder, not warmer, and
patches of snow became more frequent until
, . · - : '. : ._ -Strahd van Zarovich
.
they were unbroken.
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