Page 32 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

Have each of the characters in the front rank of the them. The revenant would like nothing more than to
party's marching order make a DC 15 Wisdom (Sur­ kill Strahd, but it will not venture to Castle Ravenloft
vival) check. If one or more of them succeeds, read: unless it receives orders to do so from Vladimir. If the
characters ask the revenant to lead them to Horngaard
in Argynvostholt, it does so while avoiding contact with
You spot a wolf trap, its steel jaws caked with rust. Some­
Barovian settlements.
one has carefully hidden the trap under a thin layer of
SCARECROWS
pine needles and detritus.
If at least one character has a passive Wisdom (Percep­
tion) score of 11 or higher, read:
Barovian hunters and trappers set these traps hoping
to thin out the wolf population, but Strahd's wolves are
too clever to be caught in them. If none of the characters A scarecrow lurches into view. Its sackcloth eyes and ric­
in the front rank spots the hidden trap, one random tus are ripe with malevolence, and its gut is stuffed with
party member steps on it. Rules for the hunting trap dead ravens. It has long, rusted knives for claws.
are presented in chapter 5, "Equipment," of the Play­
er's Handbook.
If more than one scarecrow is present, the others are
NEEDLE BLIGHTS close by. If none of the characters has a passive Wisdom
(Perception) score of 11 or higher, the scarecrows catch
the party by surprise.
Hunched figures lurch through the mist, their gaunt bod-
l ] Baba Lysaga (see chapter 10, area U3) crafted these
ies covered in needles. scarecrows to hunt down and kill ravens and were­
ravens. The scarecrows are imbued with evil spirits and
delight in murdering anyone they encounter.
The woods crawl with needle blights that serve the evil
druids of Barovia. If the characters are moving quietly SKELETAL RIDER
and not carrying light sources, they can try to hide from
these blights.
Through the mist comes a skeletal warhorse and rider,
REVEN ANT
both clad in ruined chainmail. The skeletal rider holds up
a rusted lantern that sheds no light.
A figure walks alone with the stride and bearing of one
who knows no fear. Clad in rusty armor, it clutches a
The human skeleton and warhorse skeleton are all
gleaming longsword in its pale hand and looks ready that remain of a rider and mount, both of whom per­
for a fight. ished trying to escape through the fog that surrounds
Barovia. They are doomed to ride through the valley in
search of another way out, without hope of salvation.
From a distance, the revenant looks like a zombie and The skeletons ignore the characters unless attacked.
might be mistaken for such. A character within 30 If both the rider and its mount are destroyed, this en­
feet of the revenant who succeeds on a DC 10 Wisdom counter can't occur again. The destruction of one skele­
(Insight) check can see the intelligence and hate in its ton doesn't prevent future encounters with the other.
sunken eyes. The revenant is clad in tattered chain mail
that affords the same protection as leather armor. STRAHD ZOMBIES
The revenant was a knight of the Order of the Silver
Dragon, which was annihilated defending the valley
against Strahd's armies more than four centuries ago. Not even the cloying fog can hide the stench of death
The revenant no longer remembers its name and wan­ that descends upon you. Something evil approaches, its
ders the land in search of S.trahd's wolves and other footsteps betrayed by snapping twigs.
minions, slaying them on sight. If the characters attack
it, the revenant assumes they are in league with Strahd
and fights them until destroyed. If the characters are moving quietly and not carrying
As an action, the revenant can attack twice with its light sources, they can try to hide from the Strahd z�m­
longsword, wielding the weapon with both hands and bies. These undead soldiers once. served as guards in
dealing 15 (2d10 + 4) slashing damage on each hit. Castle Ravenloft. They fled the castle after Strahd be­
.. \ •. (::: .. ' '. · _'. �-'-:;:-;.?(:·-:� ;. .. ·
If the characters present the_mselves as enemies of came-a.vampire but couldn't avoid their master's wrath.
Strahd, the revenant urges them to travel to Argyn­ They still wear bits of tatter�d livei;-y ,: and they attack the·
vostholt (chapter 7) and convince Vladimir Horngaard, living -
, � � • ·
! )I:
.the leader of the Order,of the Silver Dragon, to help . _. _ , _ ..
,.. ;: .· ··�- .. '
.. .

CHAPTER 2 I THE LANDS OF BA.ROVIA