I'm working on a single game Ravenloft adventure for my group next week. I wanted to post it here and get people's take on it. Please post any suggestions, thoughts, or ways to make it more "Ravenlofty".
Thanks!
One Night In Ravenloft
A 4e One-Shot Adventure
by Michael E. Shea
Introduction
Death stands ahead. As the bloated white moon rises, so rises the fears that, once you enter Castle Ravenloft, you will never leave again.
You defeated the zombie hordes that attacked the town of Barovia. You hunted and cut down the three hags that held the valley in a dark grasp. You recovered the mighty artifacts; the Sun Sword and the Holy Symbol of Ravenloft. Yet now you face the castle itself and wonder if you should ever have traveled here at all.
The wind howls through the valley underneath your feet as you step across the shaky wooden bridge leading to the ancient castle Ravenloft. Long has your journey been and many adventures have led you to this dark castle, but you feel in your bones that you have seen nothing yet compared to the horrors that lay within.
Black clouds tear across the bloated white moon as you cross the bridge of rotted wood. You stare down through the cracks at a drop a thousand feet below. A cold chill runs through you when you realize you may face a better death down among the jagged rocks than within the dark keep ahead.
The Courtyard
You open the iron-bound doors, sending the hinges screaming, and reveal a large courtyard, long undisturbed. As you step within, shadows shift from the walls and the night wind grows ever colder as the shadows solidify into horror and madness.
3x Battle Wights (1200), 2x Flameskulls (350)
Castle Ravenloft
With the guardians of the courtyard behind you, you enter the inner halls of Castle Ravenloft. All around you you feel the walls closing in, choking the air in your throat and reaching for the blood in your veins. Strahd permeates this place, the very castle itself stands against you.
As you explore the halls of Castle Ravenloft, horrors unfold all around you. Swarms of bats threaten to tear at your skin, infestations of rats slice into you with tiny jagged teeth. Walls close in, squeezing the life from your lungs. All around you, the spectres of the dead laugh at you and whisper of your demise by Strahd's own hand.
You realize that you must use every skill at your disposal to survive within these halls.
Skill Challenge: 7 successes or 3 failures.
Base DC: 14 - no assists
Full Success: Each member of the party recovers one healing surge.
Failure: Lose 1 healing surge per person per failure. On three failures, the party loses a healing surge. No player may lose more than 2.
Skills: Characters may use physical skills to avoid the physical attacks including bats, rats, specter attacks, and crushing walls. Characters may use knowledge checks to navigate the proper halls or learn more history of the halls. They may use diplomacy, bluff, or intimidate against the specters.
The Coven
Deep in the cellars of the castle you feel a deep hum. The air smells of rot and sulphur. Sweat stands out on your clammy skin. A red light leads you further into the vaults below the castle. It is then that you enter the vault of the Coven.
You thought them slain. You cut them down with your own swords and spells. Yet here they stand, laughing at you. They each stand around a pentagram carved into the stone. Within the demonic circle stands a terrible beast of the abyss. You see death within the black orbs of its unholy eyes.
Madam Eva, the eldest of the three hangs, speaks a single dark word and the demon is released.
2x Bog Hags 1000, Howling Hag 300, Mezzodemon 350
The Crypt
Buried deep beneath the keep of Ravenloft, this arched ceiling sags over squat crypts, forming these catacombs. A thick fog clings to the floor at knee height. Cobwebs hang limp in the musty air. Thick dust has settled over everything, filling the crypts' engravings, making it difficult to make out the names of those buried.
The sarcophagus of Strahd's true love sits on a dais at the far end of the room. The floor of this keep is of turned black earth. Strahd has had many wives over the centuries, many concubines, and as the first hand rips from the unhallowed earth, you realize it is here that they sleep, and here that they awaken.
On the dais, a mist flows from the cracks of the sarcophagus. It forms into Ivaniva. She wails her lament and you feel your souls begin to shatter.
Wailing Ghost (Elite), 12x Vampire Bloodhunter
Strahd's Tomb
Deep within the catacombs of the castle you discover Strahd's crypt. A massive stone sarcophagus sits on a raised platform. A circle of blue-glowing runes surrounds the tomb. You feel dark power seeping from the sarcophagus, the source of Strahd's power. Only with the careful use of your skills can you rid Strahd of the power of his tomb.
Skill Challenge: 5 Successes, 3 Losses
Base DC: 14
Success: Strahd's sarcophagus is destroyed. Each member gains one action point and one healing surge each.
Failure: Strahd's sarcophagus explodes with dark magic. Lose one healing surge per failure. Should every member fail, Strahd becomes aware of the invasion and is prepared for their attack.
Skills: Arcane, Acrobatics, Athletics, Endurance, Heal, Religion
With Strahd's tomb defiled, you sense his grip on this area has loosened. The shadows seem to flutter out of sight and no beasts dare lay eyes or hand upon you. You feel this is a safe place to rest and further, you feel that you will need to do so if you dare to face Strahd himself. Strahd's Sanctum
With his crypt destroyed and the holy weapons in hand, you feel a surge as you travel through the upper reaches of the castle. You see the fleeting images of vampires and wraiths fleeing from your sight. You feel the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind pushing back the darkness of this place. Even the very walls seem to push back from your presence as though the entire castle wishes to avoid touching you.
Yet your surge of power flees when you enter the chamber and behold the master of Ravenloft himself.
Count Strahd Von Zarovich stands tall beside a fountain of blood. His eyes blaze and he smiles at you. You only begin to grasp the concept that you look upon an ageless being beyond mortal understanding.
Should the party have failed in the skill challenge: Surging with the power of his improperly defiled tomb, Strahd attacks with horrifying speed.
Should the party have succeeded in sanctifying Strahd's tomb: Though powerful, you sense your defilement of his tomb has weakened the Vampire lord.
Count Strahd Von Zarovich
11th level Warlock Vampire
init +12 speed 5
hp 565 bloodied 282 surge 141
ac 25 fort 25 ref 22 will 27
23 perception 21 insight
+5 saving throw
2 action points
(M): Strahd's Chilling Touch: +10 vs AC; 1d8+5 and the target is weakened; save ends
(R) Strahd's Violet Blast: Range 10, standard; +15 vs Reflex; 3d6+5 damage
Strahd's Aura: Any creature beginning its turn adjacent to Strahd takes 5 necrotic damage.
Dominating Gaze: Minor; +15 vs Will; target creature is dominated; save ends; aftereffect; target is dazed; save end. Recharge 5,6
Rat Swarm: Move action, recharge 5,6; shift 5 through opponents and attack: +13 vs Fort; 3d8+5 damage and target is immobilized until end of Strahd's next turn.
Frightful Presence: Standard; Burst 5; +15 vs Will; Target is stunned until the end of Strahd's next turn. Once per encounter.
Howl of the Wolf: Standard; Close Blast 5; +15 vs Fort; 3d8+5 psychic damage and push the target 2 squares and immobilized; save ends. Once per encounter.
Bloodied Howl: Immediate when bloodied. Close Blast 5; +15 vs Fort; 3d8+5 necrotic damage and push the target 2 squares and immobilized; save ends.
Batswarm: Standard, burst 2 within 10, +15 vs Fortitude; 3d8+5 necrotic and target is blinded until the end of its next turn. Once per encounter.
Blood Drain: Standard; Requires Combat Advantage; Recharges when adjacent enemy becomes bloodied; +10 vs AC; 4d10+5 damage and target is weakened and Strahd gains 50 hit points.
Only as your last blow lands, as his body crumples under your onslaught, does Strahd realize the truth. You have defiled his crypt. You have recovered the holy relics and used them against him. You have destroyed the coven of witches who served him. And now you have killed he who cannot be killed.
As you watch, Strahd sinks to his knees, and looks to the stars above.
"Ivaniva, I am sorry."
Count Strahd Von Zarovich, vampire lord of Ravenloft, closes his eyes and dies.
A column of thousands of bats flow from every window and door of the castle. Strahd's minions flee into the night.
The castle grows quiet. A single solitary wolf howl, a final farewell to the master of the dark keep, echos off of the hills of Barovia. The curse of Castle Ravenloft is at an end.
Thanks!
One Night In Ravenloft
A 4e One-Shot Adventure
by Michael E. Shea
Introduction
Death stands ahead. As the bloated white moon rises, so rises the fears that, once you enter Castle Ravenloft, you will never leave again.
You defeated the zombie hordes that attacked the town of Barovia. You hunted and cut down the three hags that held the valley in a dark grasp. You recovered the mighty artifacts; the Sun Sword and the Holy Symbol of Ravenloft. Yet now you face the castle itself and wonder if you should ever have traveled here at all.
The wind howls through the valley underneath your feet as you step across the shaky wooden bridge leading to the ancient castle Ravenloft. Long has your journey been and many adventures have led you to this dark castle, but you feel in your bones that you have seen nothing yet compared to the horrors that lay within.
Black clouds tear across the bloated white moon as you cross the bridge of rotted wood. You stare down through the cracks at a drop a thousand feet below. A cold chill runs through you when you realize you may face a better death down among the jagged rocks than within the dark keep ahead.
The Courtyard
You open the iron-bound doors, sending the hinges screaming, and reveal a large courtyard, long undisturbed. As you step within, shadows shift from the walls and the night wind grows ever colder as the shadows solidify into horror and madness.
3x Battle Wights (1200), 2x Flameskulls (350)
Castle Ravenloft
With the guardians of the courtyard behind you, you enter the inner halls of Castle Ravenloft. All around you you feel the walls closing in, choking the air in your throat and reaching for the blood in your veins. Strahd permeates this place, the very castle itself stands against you.
As you explore the halls of Castle Ravenloft, horrors unfold all around you. Swarms of bats threaten to tear at your skin, infestations of rats slice into you with tiny jagged teeth. Walls close in, squeezing the life from your lungs. All around you, the spectres of the dead laugh at you and whisper of your demise by Strahd's own hand.
You realize that you must use every skill at your disposal to survive within these halls.
Skill Challenge: 7 successes or 3 failures.
Base DC: 14 - no assists
Full Success: Each member of the party recovers one healing surge.
Failure: Lose 1 healing surge per person per failure. On three failures, the party loses a healing surge. No player may lose more than 2.
Skills: Characters may use physical skills to avoid the physical attacks including bats, rats, specter attacks, and crushing walls. Characters may use knowledge checks to navigate the proper halls or learn more history of the halls. They may use diplomacy, bluff, or intimidate against the specters.
The Coven
Deep in the cellars of the castle you feel a deep hum. The air smells of rot and sulphur. Sweat stands out on your clammy skin. A red light leads you further into the vaults below the castle. It is then that you enter the vault of the Coven.
You thought them slain. You cut them down with your own swords and spells. Yet here they stand, laughing at you. They each stand around a pentagram carved into the stone. Within the demonic circle stands a terrible beast of the abyss. You see death within the black orbs of its unholy eyes.
Madam Eva, the eldest of the three hangs, speaks a single dark word and the demon is released.
2x Bog Hags 1000, Howling Hag 300, Mezzodemon 350
The Crypt
Buried deep beneath the keep of Ravenloft, this arched ceiling sags over squat crypts, forming these catacombs. A thick fog clings to the floor at knee height. Cobwebs hang limp in the musty air. Thick dust has settled over everything, filling the crypts' engravings, making it difficult to make out the names of those buried.
The sarcophagus of Strahd's true love sits on a dais at the far end of the room. The floor of this keep is of turned black earth. Strahd has had many wives over the centuries, many concubines, and as the first hand rips from the unhallowed earth, you realize it is here that they sleep, and here that they awaken.
On the dais, a mist flows from the cracks of the sarcophagus. It forms into Ivaniva. She wails her lament and you feel your souls begin to shatter.
Wailing Ghost (Elite), 12x Vampire Bloodhunter
Strahd's Tomb
Deep within the catacombs of the castle you discover Strahd's crypt. A massive stone sarcophagus sits on a raised platform. A circle of blue-glowing runes surrounds the tomb. You feel dark power seeping from the sarcophagus, the source of Strahd's power. Only with the careful use of your skills can you rid Strahd of the power of his tomb.
Skill Challenge: 5 Successes, 3 Losses
Base DC: 14
Success: Strahd's sarcophagus is destroyed. Each member gains one action point and one healing surge each.
Failure: Strahd's sarcophagus explodes with dark magic. Lose one healing surge per failure. Should every member fail, Strahd becomes aware of the invasion and is prepared for their attack.
Skills: Arcane, Acrobatics, Athletics, Endurance, Heal, Religion
With Strahd's tomb defiled, you sense his grip on this area has loosened. The shadows seem to flutter out of sight and no beasts dare lay eyes or hand upon you. You feel this is a safe place to rest and further, you feel that you will need to do so if you dare to face Strahd himself. Strahd's Sanctum
With his crypt destroyed and the holy weapons in hand, you feel a surge as you travel through the upper reaches of the castle. You see the fleeting images of vampires and wraiths fleeing from your sight. You feel the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind pushing back the darkness of this place. Even the very walls seem to push back from your presence as though the entire castle wishes to avoid touching you.
Yet your surge of power flees when you enter the chamber and behold the master of Ravenloft himself.
Count Strahd Von Zarovich stands tall beside a fountain of blood. His eyes blaze and he smiles at you. You only begin to grasp the concept that you look upon an ageless being beyond mortal understanding.
Should the party have failed in the skill challenge: Surging with the power of his improperly defiled tomb, Strahd attacks with horrifying speed.
Should the party have succeeded in sanctifying Strahd's tomb: Though powerful, you sense your defilement of his tomb has weakened the Vampire lord.
Count Strahd Von Zarovich
11th level Warlock Vampire
init +12 speed 5
hp 565 bloodied 282 surge 141
ac 25 fort 25 ref 22 will 27
23 perception 21 insight
+5 saving throw
2 action points
(M): Strahd's Chilling Touch: +10 vs AC; 1d8+5 and the target is weakened; save ends
(R) Strahd's Violet Blast: Range 10, standard; +15 vs Reflex; 3d6+5 damage
Strahd's Aura: Any creature beginning its turn adjacent to Strahd takes 5 necrotic damage.
Dominating Gaze: Minor; +15 vs Will; target creature is dominated; save ends; aftereffect; target is dazed; save end. Recharge 5,6
Rat Swarm: Move action, recharge 5,6; shift 5 through opponents and attack: +13 vs Fort; 3d8+5 damage and target is immobilized until end of Strahd's next turn.
Frightful Presence: Standard; Burst 5; +15 vs Will; Target is stunned until the end of Strahd's next turn. Once per encounter.
Howl of the Wolf: Standard; Close Blast 5; +15 vs Fort; 3d8+5 psychic damage and push the target 2 squares and immobilized; save ends. Once per encounter.
Bloodied Howl: Immediate when bloodied. Close Blast 5; +15 vs Fort; 3d8+5 necrotic damage and push the target 2 squares and immobilized; save ends.
Batswarm: Standard, burst 2 within 10, +15 vs Fortitude; 3d8+5 necrotic and target is blinded until the end of its next turn. Once per encounter.
Blood Drain: Standard; Requires Combat Advantage; Recharges when adjacent enemy becomes bloodied; +10 vs AC; 4d10+5 damage and target is weakened and Strahd gains 50 hit points.
Only as your last blow lands, as his body crumples under your onslaught, does Strahd realize the truth. You have defiled his crypt. You have recovered the holy relics and used them against him. You have destroyed the coven of witches who served him. And now you have killed he who cannot be killed.
As you watch, Strahd sinks to his knees, and looks to the stars above.
"Ivaniva, I am sorry."
Count Strahd Von Zarovich, vampire lord of Ravenloft, closes his eyes and dies.
A column of thousands of bats flow from every window and door of the castle. Strahd's minions flee into the night.
The castle grows quiet. A single solitary wolf howl, a final farewell to the master of the dark keep, echos off of the hills of Barovia. The curse of Castle Ravenloft is at an end.
