Page 243 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

When Strahd became a vampire, Vladimir and his Charitable Collectors. Wereravens like to collect
revenants should have gone to their eternal rest. But shiny trinkets and precious baubles. They are fond of
Strahd's deeds were so heinous that Barovia and the sharing their wealth with those in need and, in their
knight's spirits became trapped behind curtains of mist. humanoid forms, modestly give money to charity. They
Blinded by Hatred. Vladimir hates Strahd but doesn't take steps to keep magic items out of evil hands by
want to see the vampire given his final rest. Vladimir stashing them in secret hiding places.
wants Strahd to suffer forever for the deaths of Godfrey Characters as Wereravens. The Monster Manual has
and Argynvost, the destruction of their order, and all the rules for characters afflicted with lycanthropy. The fol­
other crimes of which the vampire is guilty. Vladimir lowing text applies to wereraven characters specifically.
believes that all of Barovia has been swept into hell, and A character cursed with wereraven lycanthropy gains
he wants to make sure that Strahd stays trapped in it a Dexterity of 15 if his or her score isn't already higher.
forever. It angers Vladimir that he and his fellow knights Attack and damage rolls for the wereraven's bite are
are also trapped, but in Vladimir's mind, such is the based on whichever is higher of the character's Strength
price of keeping the vampire confined. Even his love for and Dexterity. The bite of a wereraven in raven form
Godfrey is now just a dim memory shrouded by his hate. deals 1 piercing damage (no ability modifier applies to
Were Vladimir to let go of his hatred, his spirit would this damage) and carries the curse of lycanthropy; see
find peace and could remember the warmth of love. the "Player Characters as Lycanthropes" sidebar in the
Were Strahd to be defeated, even temporarily, the mists lycanthropes entry in the Monster Manual for details.
surrounding Barovia would fade, allowing the spirits of
Vladimir and his knights to enter the afterlife. Neverthe­
less, Vladimir would rather savor Strahd's torment than WERERAVEN
bring peace to his fallen order or peace to the land of Medium humanoid (human, shapechanger), lawful good
Barovia. Gone are the days of honor and valor. Armor Class 12
Statistics. Vladimir Horngaard has the statistics of a . Hit Points 31 (7d8)
revenant with the following modifications: Speed 30 ft. (fly 50 ft. in raven and hybrid forms)
Vladimir's alignment is lawful evil.
His Armor Class is 17 (half plate). STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
He has 192 hit points. 10 (+O) 15 (+2) 11 (+O) 13 (+l) 15 (+2) 14 (+2)
He speaks Common and Draconic.
, Vladimir wields a +2 greatsword with a hilt sculpted Skills Insight +4, Perception +6
Damage Immunities bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from
to resemble silver dragon wings and a pommel shaped nonmagical attacks not made with silvered weapons
like a silver dragon's head clutching a black opal be­ ' Senses passive Perception 16
tween its teeth. As an action, he can make two attacks Languages Common (can't speak in raven form)
with the sword (+9 to hit). It deals 20 (4d6 + 6) slash­ Challenge 2 (450 XP)
ing damage on a hit. Against Strahd, Vladimir deals
an extra 14 (4d6) slashing damage with the weapon.
, Vladimir has a challenge rating of 7 (2,900 XP). Shapechanger. The wereraven can use its action to polymorph
into a raven-humanoid hybrid or into a raven, or back into its
human form. Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in
VLADIMIR HORNGAARD'S TRAITS each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't trans­
Ideal. "Vengeance is all I have left." formed. It reverts to its human form if it dies.
Bond. "I have sworn oaths of allegiance to the Order Mimicry. The wereraven can mimic simple sounds it has heard,
of the Silver Dragon. Broken though the order may be, such as a person whispering, a baby crying, or an animal
my allegiance never dies." . chittering. A creature that hears the sounds can tell they are
Flaw. "Destroying Strahd would end the vampire's imitations with a successful DC 10 Wisdom (Insight) check.
torment, and that is something I will never allow."
ACTIONS
WERE RAVEN Multiattack (Human or Hybrid Form Only). The wereraven
Wereravens are secretive and extraordinarily cautious makes two weapon attacks, one of which can be with its
lycanthropes that trust one a�other but are wary of just hand crossbow.
about everyone else. Although �killed,at bl�nding into · 1 Beak (Raven or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4
society, they keep mostiit.o':tlxe�selv�sr respect local · to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: l piercing damage in raven
laws, and strive to'do gC>qc(�h'e.n,i}�r�b'�sible/ ...•. · j form, or 4 (ld4 + 2) piercing damage in hybrid form. If the
l°
·
In their human-anfhy.titic fdr/ns, we�etavenkJ�vor . . target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution !. •
.
light weapons . They Jre reluctarti to make bhe �h�cks.in ; saving throw or be cursed with wereraven lycanthropy. L
t
,' raven form for fear of spreading their c·urse tosth��e who . I
; don't deserve it qr who would abuse it. ( Shortsword (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon
: .. .... ·.·, . . A.Kindness ofWereravens. Wererav:eris refer to their Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1 d6 + 2) pierc­
.
·• '\· · ,:'. · Jightly knit groups as kindnesses. A kindness of were- ing damage.
·
:· · ravens usually numbers between seven and twelve indi­ Hand Crossbow (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Ranged
'-viduals. Not surprisingly, wereravens get along weli with Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 r
ravens and often hide in plain sight among them. (ld6 + 2) piercing damage.
APPENDJX D I MONSTERS AND NPCS

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