Page 208 - Curse of Strahd_Neat
P. 208
EPILOGUE
TRAHD IS A DEADLY CHALLENGE FOR THE
characters. If they confront the vampire too "Master!" says a voice from behind you. An elf with
soon, without the benefit of magic items such dusky brown skin and long black hair, his face a mask of
as the Holy Symbol of Raven kind and the terror, looks on what you have wrought and screams.
Sunsword, they will likely perish. Charac
ters can improve their chances of survival
by exploring the land of Barovia, defeating Rahadin has served Strahd's family for hundreds of
lesser evils, and gaining allies, magic items, and levels years and doesn't take his master's defeat well. The dusk
of experience. elf chamberlain draws his scimitar and tries to avenge
The outcome of the final showdown between Strahd Strahd. Grief-stricken, he can't be reasoned with.
and the characters determines how the adventure ends.
SERGEI AND lREENA
STRAHD PREVAILS This optional scene can be used after Strahd has been
Once he is done toying with the characters, Strahd sets defeated. It assumes that Ireena Kolyana survived the
out to defeat them utterly, having concluded that none adventure and hasn't yet been reunited with Sergei.
of them is worthy to replace him as the lord of Barovia. On the morning after Strahd's demise, the characters
He won't be satisfied until all the characters are dead or feel drawn to Castle Ravenloft's overlook (area K6), and
turned into his vampire spawn consorts. there they witness the following scene.
If Strahd prevails, he seals the characters in the cata
combs (chapter 4, area K84, crypt 23) and instructs his Thick clouds fill the sky. Through the chilly morning
servants to hide all their magic items. mists, the land of Barovia is visible far below. There is
With the characters out of the way, Strahd shifts his
attention back to making Ireena Kolyana his bride. If peacefulness here. Rest has come to the valley for the
she is still alive and within his grasp, Ireena is turned first time anyone can remember.
into a vampire spawn and sealed in her crypt beneath A light flashes behind you. Wheeling around, you see
Castle Ravenloft. a stately man-a being of flesh and blood-in shining
armor and a flapping cape. His countenance shows great
STRAHD DIES strength of will, yet the forcefulness of his presence is
When Strahd is reduced to O hit points, he turns to mist tempered by his calm, sad eyes. His features are those of
and retreats to his coffin (see the Misty Escape feature Strahd, yet subtly different.
in the vampire stat block). The vampire must be in his His voice is calm and peaceful. "My name is Sergei
resting place to be utterly destroyed.
If the characters finish off Strahd in his coffin, read: von Zarovich." He turns to lreena. "Tatyana, the time is
at hand to rest. Come, my love and wife." He stretches
forth his hand.
Strahd can't hide his surprise as death takes him into the lreena Kolyana's questioning eyes suddenly open with
black abyss. Surprise turns to rage, and the Pillarstone recognition and knowledge. Forgotten memories rush
of Ravenloft trembles with fury, shaking dust from the back to her. "Sergei!" she cries, springing to him with the
ceiling of the vampire's tomb. The shudders abate as grace of a doe. They embrace.
Strahd's burning hatred melts away, replaced at last with lreena turns to you and says, "I am lreena Kolyana, but
relief. The dark orbs of his eyes wither and sink into his in my past I was Sergei's beloved Tatyana. Through these
skull as his corpse deteriorates before you. In.a matter many centuries we have played out the tragedy of our
of moments, only bones, dust, and noble garb remain.
Strahd von Zarovich, the dark lord of Barovia, is dead lives. Now, with our deepest gratitude to you, that trag
edy is over. It is time for joy to begin again."
and gone.
Shimmering light surrounds lreena and Sergei. Hand
in hand, they walk east toward the edge of the overlook.
Their feet do not touch the ground as they tread a path
R A HADIN'S REVENGE
beyond this mortal world. Their invisible road takes them
If Strahd dies but Rahadin yet lives, the dusk elf cham beyond the eastern precipice, their glow illuminating and
berlain appears moments.after Strahd's demise. When
that occurs, read: thinning the clouds above Barovia. The clouds suddenly
break open, letting shafts of glorious sunlight flood
through. In the valley below, the strange fog dissolves.
Barovia is free once more.
EPILOGUE
