Page 163 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

A few sections of dirt road have survived, and these Strahd refuses to let Burgomaster Ulrich's spirit find
places are not difficult terrain. The marsh, however, is rest because of what he did to poor Marina. The ghost
difficult terrain. Whenever the characters take a short or recounts Marina's sad tale if prompted. Only by con­
long rest in the marsh, even if they barricade themselves vincing Ulrich that Marina has been reborn in the form
in a ruined building, they are accosted by ld4 swarms of Ireena Kolyana can the characters put the tortured
of hungry flies (use the swarm of insects [wasps) stat spirit to rest. The ghost must see Ireena in the flesh,
block in the Monster Manual). The swarms don't trouble and it can't travel beyond the confines of the crum-
characters in areas U3 or US. bled mansion.
Ulrich's ghost is neutral good. It attacks if threatened
MARSH SCARECROWS or if the characters begin searching the ruined mansion
Seven scarecrows stand guard in the marsh. They ap­ for treasure. If the ghost is reduced to O hit points, it re­
pear to be ordinary, nonmagical scarecrows stuffed with forms after 24 hours. The characters receive experience
raven feathers until one or more of them are attacked, points for the ghost only if they lay Ulrich's spirit to rest,
until Baba Lysaga commands them to attack, or until not if they defeat the ghost in combat.
someone activates the howling skulls that surround FORTUNES OF RAVENLOFT
Baba Lysaga's goat pen (see area U2).
If your card reading reveals that a treasure is hidden in
Berez, Ulrich's ghost points the characters to the trea­
AREAS OF BEREZ sure's true location, saying these words as it fades away:
The following areas correspond to labels on the map of
Berez on page 164.
I "Travel west. Two hundred paces from the mansion lies a I
Ul. ABANDONED COTTAGES monument to my folly and the treasure you seek."

Characters who follow Ulrich's directions end up
As you approach this cluster of ruined cottages sepa­ at area US.
rated by low stone walls, you see a short stretch of dirt
road that has remained intact. CELLAR
Buried under rubble inside the mansion is a stone
staircase that leads down to an intact cellar. A single
The cottages contain rotted furnishings and nothing of character can clear the rubble in 4 hours, and multiple
value. The walls that separate the cottages are 3 feet tall characters working together can reduce the time pro­
and easily scaled or circumvented. portionately. The cellar is a 30-foot-square room with
mortared stone walls, a 10-foot-high ceiling supported
U2. ULRICH MANSION by wooden beams, and a floor submerged under 3
inches of stagnant water. The cellar contains two dozen
empty, rotted casks from the Wizard of Wines winery.
Toward the south end of the village lie the remains of a Each cask is labeled Champagne du le Stomp.
mansion built on higher ground. It has been reduced to
piles of stone and rotting timber. Empty, arched windows GARDEN
stare at you. South of the ruin, an untamed garden runs The garden behind the ruined mansion has run wild.
Hidden behind tall weeds and thorny vines are nude
rampant, surrounded by broken walls that are no longer sculptures of handsome men and beautiful women, as
able to contain it. East of the ruin, someone has erected well as carved stone benches.
a crude wooden fence, forming a circular yard in which Four giant poisonous snakes attack characters who
several goats are penned. Surmounting the fence posts venture more than 10 feet inside the garden.
are human skulls.
GOAT PEN
Baba Lysaga captures goats and uses their blo_od in her
The ruined mansion is littered with the rotted remains rituals of longevity. Nine goats areJrappetl behind this
of furniture and decor. Th� last burgci�aster qf Berez, fence. Fifty human s){ull� are mounted on Jhe tops of the .
.
Lazlo Ulrich, haunts the ruin a'.'i;aghost. Ifth��harac­ fence posts, spaced 10 feet apart:: . ·' · · · ·
ters search the rnan,sion, tl)e ghcisl'.·appears before them: There is no gate in the fehc�.·and Baba Lysaga'�ses:
- ;_,· . ,\' ,' t . . : � her flying skull (see area 't:J3) to.tnter an.d)e_ave'.th:e pen.
If the characters try to set the' gollt!l'fre� by'dismantling
A ghost takes shape in the fog, assuming the form of a or damaging part of the fe�c.e, the;s�ulls atop t):ie fence
_
giant of a man, his features mutilated and his entrails posts begin howling and corttinue.: to h.owHor 1 minute.
hanging out like frayed ropes. Despite its intimidating The racket attracts Baba Lysaga; -Who arrives in her fly­
presence, the apparition has a cringing light in its eyes. ing skull on initiative count 20 in 2 rounds. The howling
"Why do you invade my home? Begone, I beseech you!" skulls also attracHhe seven scarecrows in the marsh
(see "Marsh Siarecrows" .above). Roll initiative once for
all the scareoi:;9ws,- ..
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CHAPTER 10 I THE RUINS OF BEREZ
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