Under raging storm clouds, a lone figure stand silhouetted against the ancient walls of Castle Ravenloft. The vampire Count Strahd von Zorovich stares down a sheer cliff at the village below. A cold, bitter wind spins dead leaves about him, billowing his cape in the darkness.

Lightning splits the clouds overhead, casting stark white light across him. Strahd turns to the sky, revealing the angular muscles of his face and hands. He has a look of power - and of madness. His once handsome face is contorted by tragedy darker than the night itself.

Rumbling thunder pounds the castle spires. The wind's howling increases as Strahd turns his gaze back to the village. Far below, yet not beyond his ken, a part of adventurers has just entered his domain. Strahd's face form a twisted smile as his dark plan unfolds. He knew they were coming, and he knows why they have come - all according to his plan. He, the master of Ravenloft, will attend to them.

Another lightning flash rips through the darknes, its thunder echoing through the castle's towers. But Strahd is gone. Only the howling of the wind - or perhaps a lone wolf - fills the midnight air. The master of Ravenloft is having guests for dinner. And you are invited.

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Curse of a Strahd is a D&D 5e game of the gothic horror genre. It is a retelling of the classic module Ravenloft.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:48, Sat 06 Aug 2022.

Character Creation
Do NOT submit a character sheet in your RTJ. Just fill in the RTJ template I have created. Thanks.

Starting level: 3rd.

Ability Scores: 4d6, reroll 1s, drop lowest.

Player Resources: I'm open to pretty much anything from WotC. Just double check with me before you commit to working on your character sheet.

Starting Wealth/Equipment: Normal starting stuff plus 250GP to buy any extra stuff you may need.

Variant Humans and feats will be allowed.

Please use the Personality Traits, Ideals, Bonds and Flaws presented in the PHB. Customized backgrounds are allowed so long as you follow the formula presented in the PHB.

When you have finished your character, PM me for review.

House Rules
HP: Players get max HP until 3rd level. After that, you can choose to take average or roll.

ASI/Feats: Your first ASI is both ASI and Feat. After that, it's one or the other.

The extra class features from Tasha's is in effect. If you don't have access to that and would like to know what you get, I'll let you know.

Spellcasting: I ignore the spellcasting limitation rule. If you want to burn through your spell slots, go right ahead.

Potions & Actions: Drinking a potion is a Bonus Action. Administering a potion (such as giving an unconscious PC a Potion of Healing) is an Action.

Death Saves: Death Saves are to be done as secret rolls and posted as a Private Line. While I don't care if you OOCly discuss HP, Death Saves are one thing I believe shouldn't be common knowledge. Characters proficient in Medicine can do a DC 10 Medicine (Intelligence or Wisdom) check as an Action to determine a character's pass/fail status. For those not proficient, the DC is 15.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:22, Wed 06 July 2022.

Spoken word is to be in color. Doesn't matter what color, just pick one and stick with it. If people complain the color is hard to read, please be kind and pick another.

Internal dialogue is to be in italics.

Telepathic dialogue is to be done with private lines.

Impassioned or otherwise exclaimed speech is to be in bold, ALL CAPS, or Large...and color.

When leaving one thread to head to another, please include a closing tag. Such as:
-->Exiting to [insert mission name]

Be thoughtful in your writing. Do your best to describe what your character is doing, what feelings their facial expressions convey, how they stand, how they attack, etc. I'm not asking for a novella as a post, but please refrain from one or two sentence replies.

I consider myself a pretty laid back guy. I've been a gamer for so long, and tabletop is one of my favorite forms. I'm a very RAW kind of DM, however, I'm also very much about whatever enhances the story, too. Some see that as contradictory, however, I don't feel that's so. Basically, I'm all for what favors ROLE playing over ROLL playing.

I've been at RPOL a good while and I've seen a lot of games die to lack of posting. Of course, that's mainly due to different levels of player commitment as well as RL providing its own difficulties. I will NEVER fault someone for RL getting in the way. Gods know it's happened to me plenty of times. That aside, I expect players to post regularly. In a perfect world, everyone would be able to post at least daily. As it is, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for a post at least every other day or at least twice a week. I don't expect a lot of activity on the weekends. If you can post, great.

Also, I am not a DM that holds your hand. If you're learning the system, I will do everything in my power to help explain things. However, you are responsible for your character. The password is Birdperson. I present the scene, it's up to you to follow through with it. The story is there, and there is plenty of story. I expect players to drive themselves. Basically, I expect players to be proactive. If all you do is just react to what I present, you are going to wind up getting bored and probably leave.

Lastly, I have an open door policy. I believe in 100% transparency (except when it comes to my rolls). Please come to me with any questions or concerns about anything with the game. While I feel I should never have to explain myself or my actions, I will not hesitate to do so if a player has an issue with the way something went down.

HAUNTED ONE

You are haunted by something so terrible that you dare not speak of it. You've tried to bury it and run away from it, to no avail. Whatever this thing is that haunts you can't be slain with a sword or banished with a spell. It might come to you as a shadow on the wall, a blood-curdling nightmare, a memory that refuses to die, or a demonic whisper in the dark. The burden has taken its toll, isolating you from most people and making you question your sanity. You must find a way to overcome it before it destroys you.

Skill Proficiencies: Choose one of Arcana, Investigation, Religion or Survival
Languages: Choose one exotic language (Abyssal, Celestial, Deep Speech, Draconic, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan or Undercommon)
Equipment: Monster hunter's pack (a chest, a crowbar, a hammer, three wooden stakes, a holy symbol, a flask of holy water, a set of manacles, a steel mirror, a flask of oil, a tinderbox and 3 torches), one trinket of special significance


Feature: Heart of Darkness
Those who look into your eyes can see that you have face unimaginable horror and that you are no stranger to darkness. Though they might fear you, commoners will extend you every courtesy and do their utmost to help you. Unless you have shown yourself to be a danger to them, they will even take up arms to fight alongside you, should you find yourself facing an enemy alone.

Harrowing Event
Prior to becoming an adventurer, your path in life was defined by one dark moment, one fateful decision, or one tragedy. Now you feel a darkness threatening to consume you, and you fear there may be no hope of escape. Choose a harrowing even that haunts you, or roll one on the Harrowing Event table.

Harrowing Event

Personality Traits
[1] I don't run from evil. Evil runs from me.
[2] I like to read and memorize poetry. It keeps me calm and brings me fleeting moments of happiness.
[3] I spend money freely and live life to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow I might die.
[4] I live for the thrill of the hunt.
[5] I don't talk about the thing that torments me. I'd rather not burden other with my curse.
[6] I expect danger around every corner.
[7] I refuse to become a victim, and I will not allow others to be victimized.
[8] I put no trust in divine beings.

Ideals
[1] I try to help those in need, no matter the personal cost.
[2] I'll stop the spirits that haunt me or die trying.
[3] I kill monsters to make the world a safer place, and to exorcise my own demons.
[4] I have a dark calling that pus me above the law.
[5] I like to know my enemy's capabilities and weaknesses before rushing into battle.
[6] I'm a monster that destroys other monsters, and anything else that gets in my way.

Bonds
[1] I keep my thoughts and discoveries in a journal. My journal is my legacy.
[2] I would sacrifice my life and my soul to protect the innocent.
[3] My torment drove away the person I love. I strive to win back the love I've lost.
[4] A terrible guilt consumes me. I hope that I can find redemption through my actions.
[5] There's evil in me, I can feel it. It must never be set free.
[6] I have a child to protect. I must make the world a safer place for them.

Flaws
[1] I have certain rituals that I must follow every day. I can never break them.
[2] I assume the worst in people.
[3] I feel no compassion for the dead. They're the lucky ones.
[4] I have an addiction.
[5] I am a purveyor of doom and gloom who lies in a world without hope.
[6] I talk to spirits that no one else can see.