Curse of Strahd

DIFFICULTY CLASS RANGES

SECRET DCs

Never reveal exact DCsDifficulty Class: The target number a player must meet or exceed on a d20 roll to succeed at a task. for checks or saves. Instead, inform players if a task is easy, moderate, hard, etc.

Rather than flat bonuses, use proficiency diceInstead of a fixed bonus, roll a die (d4-d12 based on level) adding to checks. This adds variability to skilled actions. (d4-d12 based on level) to add volatility to skill checks.

PROFICIENCY DICE:

Rather than flat bonuses, use proficiency dice (d4-d12 based on level) to add volatility to skill checks.

STRAHD'S GAZE ℹ️When Strahd is scrying on the party

When Strahd is watching through magical means or spies:

• Disadvantage on Perception checks to notice hidden threats
• Subtle changes in environment (shadows move oddly, reflections show someone behind you)
• Animal behavior changes (ravens watch intently, wolves avoid the area)

ADVANCED SANITY SYSTEM (OPTIONAL)

Track Sanity Points (SP) starting at 10 + WIS modifier. Lose SP when encountering horrors. At 0 SP, gain indefinite madness.

SANITY LOSS:

RECOVERY:

After short restA period of downtime (at least 1 hour) where characters tend wounds and regain some resources., attempt WIS save to end despair. Calm emotions2nd-level spell: Suppresses strong emotions or removes frightened/charmed conditions., lesser/greater restorationLesser: 2nd-level, ends conditions like paralyzed or poisoned. Greater: 5th-level, reduces exhaustion or removes curses. remove despair.

• Regain 1 SP after a safe long rest
• Greater Restoration restores all SP
• Calm Emotions restores 1d4 SP

REST MECHANICS

SHORT REST:

• Roll only 1 Hit Die + CON modifier

LONG REST (UNSECURED):

• Roll remaining Hit Dice + CON modifier
• Regain 1 Hit Die
• Prepare spells

LONG REST (SECURED):

• Regain all hit points
• Regain half Hit Dice
• Prepare spells

EXHAUSTION:

Gain 1 level every 12 hours without long rest

HOPE POINTS ℹ️Counterbalance to despair mechanics

Players can earn Hope Points through:

• Helping NPCs (1 point)
• Defeating major threats (1-3 points)
• Discovering comforting truths (1 point)

Spend Hope Points to:

• Reroll a failed save (1 point)
• Remove 1 level of exhaustion (2 points)
• End despair effects (3 points)

PERSONALIZED TORMENT

Strahd tailors his psychological attacks based on character backgrounds and classes:

CLASS-SPECIFIC TORMENTS:

GASLIGHTING TECHNIQUES

Strahd makes players question their reality:

GASLIGHTING METHODS:

1. False Memories: NPCs recall events differently than players
2. Changing Environments: Subtle shifts in room layouts or decorations
3. Time Distortion: Players lose/gain time unexpectedly
4. Doppelgängers: NPCs claim they saw a PC somewhere else
5. Fabricated Evidence: Letters or items appear with false information

STRAHD'S MESSAGES (d6): Roll

1. "I tasted your fear last night." PC wakes with two puncture wounds but no HP loss.
2. Blood-written note: "Your [loved one] begged for mercy. They lied." (No proof this happened)
3. Dream of dinner: Strahd toasts the PC while their party lies dead at the table.
4. Animal messenger: A raven drops a lock of hair matching a PC's style.
5. Mirror writing: "Your reflection blinks. You don't." (Lasts 1d4 days)
6. Personal jab: References a backstory detail Strahd shouldn't know... yet.

Usage: Roll when players rest or enter key locations. Never more than 1/day.

STRAHD'S CHESSBOARD

Strahd manipulates players by:

• Seeding Mistrust: Forged letters "from allies" with false warnings.
• False Safety: Lets players "overhear" his plans (50% are traps).
• Petty Cruelty: Burns down a shelter after they upgrade it.
• Gifts with Hooks: Magic items that report their location.
• Divide and Conquer: Spreads rumors to turn NPCs against PCs.
• False Hope: Allows small victories before crushing them.

Rule: Never more than 1 major manipulation per 2 sessions.

STRAHD'S ROMANCE TACTICS ℹ️For campaigns involving Ireena/Tatyana

1. Chivalrous Acts: Appears to rescue NPCs from danger
2. Gifts: Leaves rare books, fine wines, or sentimental items
3. Poetic Flattery: Compliments in iambic pentameter
4. Jealousy: Shows displeasure when PC interacts with others
5. Isolation: Separates target from allies "for their safety"

PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE TRACKER

Track Strahd's psychological attacks on each PC:

ESCALATION PHASES:

1. Observation: Strahd learns fears and weaknesses (scrying, spies)
2. Testing: Minor torments to gauge reactions (1-2 sessions)
3. Targeted Attacks: Personalizes torments based on reactions (3-5 sessions)
4. Breaking Point: Major psychological assault (after significant progress)
5. Offering Dark Gift: Presents "solution" to their torment

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS TABLE (d8): Roll

1. Paranoia: Disadvantage on Insight checks
2. Hypervigilance: Advantage on Perception, disadvantage on Concentration
3. Emotional Numbing: Disadvantage on Persuasion, advantage on Intimidation
4. Flashbacks: Chance to freeze in combat (DC 15 WIS save)
5. Insomnia: Long rests only count as short rests
6. Substance Abuse: Seeks escape in alcohol/drugs (disadvantage on DEX)
7. Self-Harm: Takes 1d4 damage when stressed (voluntary)
8. Dissociation: Occasionally unresponsive (DM controls for brief periods)

FEAR:

When confronting overwhelming threats, a failed WIS save causes the frightened condition for 1 minute.

HORROR:

When experiencing something horrific, a failed CHA saveCharisma saving throws represent resistance to effects that would force a change in personality or challenge your sense of self. results in madnessMadness can be short-term (1d10 minutes), long-term (1d10 hours), or indefinite until cured by magic or rest..

Examples: Seeing a mangled body, witnessing a creature devouring a human, learning a terrible truth, watching a horrible death.

EXPANDED MADNESS TABLES

SHORT-TERM MADNESS (d10): Roll

1. Incorrigible Flirt: Must compliment everyone excessively
2. Nervous Laughter: Can't stop giggling inappropriately
3. Selective Mutism: Can only whisper for 1d10 minutes
4. Paranoia: Convinced someone is watching (might be true)
5. Flashbacks: Relives traumatic event (disadvantage on next check)
6. Hyperactivity: Can't stop moving/talking (disadvantage on Stealth)
7. Catatonia: Stares blankly for 1d10 minutes
8. Phobia: Develops temporary fear of something nearby
9. Echolalia: Repeats last words heard (disadvantage on social checks)
10. Synesthesia: Experiences crossed senses ("I can taste the color red")

LONG-TERM MADNESS (d10): Roll

1. Phantom Pain: Random limbs hurt (disadvantage on physical checks 1/day)
2. Face Blindness: Can't recognize friends (Wisdom check to identify)
3. Time Skips: Loses minutes/hours with no memory
4. Compulsive Ritual: Must perform specific action when stressed
5. Emotional Inversion: Laughs at sad things, cries at happy things
6. Doppelgänger Fear: Convinced someone has been replaced
7. Blood Fascination: Compelled to touch/stare at blood
8. Mirror Phobia: Can't look at reflections without panic
9. Sleepwalker: Acts out dreams with no memory
10. Psychic Echo: Hears thoughts of nearby creatures occasionally

INDEFINITE MADNESS (d10): Roll

1. Split Personality: Alternate identity emerges under stress
2. Reality Fracture: Sees ghosts of possible futures/pasts
3. Corpse Empathy: Believes dead bodies are just "resting"
4. Vampiric Delusion: Convinced they're becoming a vampire
5. Strahd Worship: Develops twisted admiration for the Count
6. Body Dysmorphia: Convinced body parts aren't theirs
7. Pica: Craves eating non-food items (dirt, bones, etc.)
8. Savior Complex: Believes they alone can redeem Strahd
9. Death Seeker: Takes increasingly reckless risks
10. Living Nightmare: Can't distinguish dreams from reality

MADNESS RECOVERY:

• Short-term: Ends after 1d10 minutes
• Long-term: Save ends after 1d10 hours
• Indefinite: Requires Greater Restoration or quest resolution

PHYSICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF FEAR

When failing fear saves by 5+:

PHYSICAL EFFECTS (d8): Roll

1. Hair Whitening: Patch of hair turns white permanently
2. Nervous Tic: Eye twitch, lip biting, etc.
3. Cold Sweat: Permanently clammy hands
4. Facial Spasm: Occasional uncontrollable grimace
5. Voice Crack: Voice breaks when stressed
6. Tremors: Hands shake during fine motor tasks
7. Scarring: Psychosomatic wounds appear
8. Aging: Visibly look older from stress

FEAR-BASED FLAWS (d6): Roll

1. "I can't sleep without a light source"
2. "I must check corners for hidden threats"
3. "I refuse to be the last one in a group"
4. "I compulsively count objects when nervous"
5. "I can't enter a room without weapons drawn"
6. "I hear whispers in the wind"

TRIGGERS:

Make a WIS save when:

• Taking rest in unsecured location
• Waking after losing a party member
• Suffering lingering injury
• Seeing madness in a party member
• Encountering major setback
• Failing important objective
• Witnessing Strahd's power firsthand

EFFECTS:

1. Apathy - Disadvantage on death saves and initiative. Flaw: "I don't believe I can make a difference."
2. Dread - Disadvantage on all saving throws. Flaw: "I'm convinced this place will kill me."
3. Insanity - Disadvantage on INT/WIS/CHA checks & saves. Flaw: "I can't tell what's real anymore."
4. Paranoia - Disadvantage on Insight. Flaw: "I trust no one, not even my allies."
5. Nihilism - Disadvantage on Persuasion. Flaw: "Nothing we do matters anyway."

RECOVERY:

• After short rest, attempt WIS save to end despair
• Calm emotions, lesser/greater restoration remove despair
• 3 Hope Points can remove despair
• Major victory over Strahd's forces removes all despair

DESPAIR ESCALATION:

For each consecutive day with despair:

1. Day 1: Disadvantage on one type of roll
2. Day 3: Disadvantage expands to related rolls
3. Day 5: Physical symptoms appear (tremors, etc.)
4. Day 7+: Risk of indefinite madness

HOPE RESTORATION ACTIONS:

• Protecting innocents: 1d4 Hope Points to party
• Discovering Strahd's weakness: 1d6 Hope Points
• Major victory: 1d8 Hope Points
• Finding a safe haven: 1d4 Hope Points

SUFFOCATION:

• Hold Breath: 1 + CON mod minutes (min. 30 sec). Struggling in Barovia's choking fog or Strahd's grasp.
• Choking: +1 Exhaustion level/turn until air is restored. Vampire spawn dragging victims underwater.
• Barovian Examples: Swamps of Berez, crypts beneath Castle Ravenloft, Strahd’s telekinetic strangulation.

BURNING:

• On Fire: 1d4 fire damage/start of turn until doused. Flames spread unnaturally fast in Barovia.
• Dousing: Action to roll prone + DC 10 DEX check. Panicked flailing rarely helps.
• Barovian Examples: Burning windmill in Vallaki, oil traps in the Amber Temple, Wall of Fire from Strahd’s spells.

POISONOUS MISTS:

• Inhaled Toxins: CON save DC 12 or take 1d6 poison damage and become Poisoned for 1 hour. The land itself rejects the living.
• Barovian Examples: Death House’s basement, the swamps near Argynvostholt, Strahd’s cursed vineyards.

FALLING:

• Damage: 1d6 per 10 ft. (max 20d6). Prone if damage taken. Ravenloft’s heights are unforgiving.
• Liquid Landing: Reaction DC 15 STR/DEX save to halve damage. The River Ivlis is cold and treacherous.
• Barovian Examples: Ravenloft’s crumbling towers, elevator traps in the castle, the broken bridge to Tsolenka Pass.

IMPROVISED DAMAGE:

• Burning Coals: 5 (1d10) fire. Baba Lysaga’s hearth or the Amber Temple’s braziers.
• Vat of Acid: 22 (4d10) acid. The Abbot’s "experiments" or alchemical mishaps.
• Crushed by Rubble: 55 (10d10) bludgeoning. Strahd collapsing a tunnel or animated statues.
• Barovian Examples: Falling chandeliers in Ravenloft’s dining hall, animated furniture in Death House.

CURSED TERRAIN:

• Bloodthorn Vines: 2d6 piercing damage per 5 ft. moved through. The land hungers for blood.
• Haunted Ground: WIS save DC 13 or be Frightened. Whispers of the dead rise from the soil.
• Barovian Examples: The Svalich Woods, the graveyard of Barovia Village, the ruins of Berez.

ACTIONS IN COMBAT:

• Grapple: STR/DEX vs. DC 8+PB+STR. Target must be ≤1 size larger. Useful for vampire spawn dragging victims into shadows.
• Shove: Push 5 ft. or knock Prone (same DC). Knock foes into Barovian pitfalls or off Ravenloft’s bridges.
• Ready: Prepare action/spell (requires Concentration). Ambush Strahd’s minions from behind cover.
• Hide: DC 15 Stealth (must be obscured). Grants Invisible. Barovia’s fog and ruins provide ample hiding spots.
• Disengage: Avoid opportunity attacks. Essential for fleeing werewolves or swarms of bats.
• Dodge: Enemies have Disadv. on attacks vs you. Survive Strahd’s multiattacks.

COVER:

• ½ Cover: +2 AC/DEX saves (tables, low walls). Barovian tavern brawls or cemetery tombstones.
• ¾ Cover: +5 AC/DEX saves (arrow slits, dense fog). Ravenloft’s arrow loops or mist-shrouded trees.
• Total Cover: Cannot be targeted (fully behind wall). Peeking from behind castle pillars.

UNDEAD TRAITS:

• Turn Undead: Wis save or flee for 1 min (Cleric feature). Zombies and ghosts recoil from holy symbols.
• Sunlight Hypersensitivity: Disadv. on attacks/checks in sunlight. Strahd’s spawn burn in the (rare) Barovian sun.
• Regeneration: Some undead heal unless hit by radiant/fire. Strahd laughs as wounds close in the gloom.

CONDITION QUICK REFERENCE:

• Restrained: Speed 0, Disadv. on attacks/DEX saves. Webs in Berez or Strahd’s telekinesis.
• Invisible: Adv. on attacks, Disadv. vs. attacks. Strahd’s favorite trick—strike from nowhere.
• Frightened: Disadv. on checks/attacks; can’t move closer. Strahd’s aura or a ghost’s terrifying visage.
• Charmed: Can’t harm the charmer, who has Adv. on social checks. Strahd’s hypnotic gaze or a vampire’s seduction.
• Poisoned: Disadv. on attacks/checks. Hag brews or swamp gases.
• Exhaustion: Cumulative penalties (death at Level 6). Barovia’s oppressive dread wears you down.

STRAHD-SPECIFIC TACTICS:

• Hit-and-Run: Use Invisibility + Grapple (via minions). Strahd toys with prey before striking.
• Environmental Kills: Shove PCs off cliffs (falling damage). The castle’s heights are deadly.
• Charm: Target isolated PCs (Disadv. on saves in darkness). Divide the party, then feast.
• Lair Actions: Animate objects, seal doors, or summon mist. Ravenloft itself obeys Strahd’s will.
• Regeneration: Heals 20 HP/round unless in sunlight. Holy water and radiant spells are key.

BAROVIAN HAZARDS:

• Misty Escape: Strahd turns to mist when reduced to 0 HP. He reforms in his coffin—destroy it to kill him.
• Soul Drain: Shadows/Wraiths reduce STR score. Victims become hollow shells.
• Haunted Terrain: Animated vines, grasping hands. The land itself hungers.

NIGHTMARE MECHANICS

If below 50% HPWhen current hit points are less than half your maximum hit points. or exhaustedExhaustion has 6 levels with cumulative effects, from disadvantage on ability checks to death. before a long rest, make WIS save or gain nightmare effect and only restore half HP normally recovered.

SHARED NIGHTMARES:

When multiple party members fail saves:

• They experience the same nightmare together
• Can interact with each other in the dream
• Damage taken is psychic (1d6 per "death" in dream)
• Solving the nightmare's puzzle grants full rest benefits

WEAPONIZING NIGHTMARES:

Characters can attempt to:

1. Lucid Dreaming: WIS check to control aspects of nightmare
2. Nightmare Fuel: Channel terror into attacks (+1d6 psychic damage next day)
3. Prophetic Visions: INT check to gain clues from nightmares
4. Dream Walking: Visit other creatures' dreams with CHA save

NIGHTMARE CONSEQUENCES

Failed saves vs nightmares cause lingering effects:

WAKING EFFECTS (d8): Roll

1. Exhaustion: Gain 1 level that can't be removed until next sunset
2. Phantom Pain: Random limb hurts (-5ft speed or disadvantage with that limb)
3. Dream Leakage: Objects from dream appear in inventory
4. Nightmare Mark: Physical change matching dream (scar, white streak in hair)
5. Echoes: Occasionally hear nightmare sounds while awake
6. Sleep Fear: Next long rest requires CON save or only short rest benefits
7. Empathic Dread: Nearby allies have disadvantage on next fear save
8. Reality Warp: Minor detail from dream changes in real world

NIGHTMARE ITEMS (d6): Roll

Objects that appear after nightmares:

1. Black Rose: Crumbles to dust at sunset
2. Child's Drawing: Depicts a future tragedy
3. Broken Mirror: Shows reflections doing things you didn't do
4. Bloody Bandage: Always damp with fresh blood
5. Old Key: Fits a lock somewhere in Barovia
6. Music Box: Plays a haunting lullaby when opened

NIGHTMARE TABLE (d20): Roll

1. Pursued by Wolves: You're running through endless woods as a pack of wolves closes in, their hot breath on your neck.
2. Family Slayer: You murder your own family members one by one, waking just as your blade strikes the last.
3. Torture Chamber: Your loved ones torture you for hours with rusty implements, their faces twisted in glee.
4. Sleep Paralysis: Demons sit on your chest, carving symbols into your flesh while you can't move or scream.
5. Zombie Transformation: You're devoured by zombies piece by piece, then wake up feeling your body still changing.
6. Body Horror: Your teeth keep growing uncontrollably, piercing through your cheeks and lips.
7. Insect Infestation: Your skin crawls with insects that burrow into your flesh, laying eggs beneath.
8. Buried Alive: You wake in a coffin underground, pounding on the lid as dirt fills your mouth.
9. Doppelgänger: An exact double of you murders your companions while they beg you for help.
10. Endless Falling: You plunge endlessly through fog, seeing shadowy figures watching your descent.
11. Feast of Flesh: You're served a delicious meal that turns out to be human flesh - and you keep eating.
12. Drowning in Blood: You're submerged in a lake of blood that fills your lungs with each gasp.
13. Skin Peeling: Your skin begins sloughing off in sheets, revealing muscle beneath.
14. Eyes Everywhere: Eyes open all over your body, all weeping black tears.
15. Clockwork Heart: Your heart is replaced with a ticking clock that slows... and stops.
16. Mirror Self: Your reflection steps out of the mirror and strangles you.
17. Vampire Bride: Strahd turns you into a spawn, forcing you to hunt your own party.
18. Living Doll: You shrink to doll size while spiders carry you to their web.
19. Eternal Funeral: You attend your own funeral daily, watching your corpse decay over time.
20. The Dark Gift: A shadowy entity offers you great power in exchange for your soul - and you accept.

SOLVING NIGHTMARES

Shared nightmares can be solved cooperatively:

NIGHTMARE SOLUTIONS (d6): Roll

1. Confrontation: Face the nightmare's source directly
2. Acceptance: Embrace the horror to dispel its power
3. Symbolic Act: Perform an action that "breaks the dream logic"
4. Sacrifice: Give up something important to escape
5. Awakening Another: Find and wake another party member in the dream
6. Reality Anchor: Focus on a real-world memory or object

NIGHTMARE REWARDS:

Solving nightmares grants:

• Full rest benefits despite initial failure
• 1d4 temporary hit points from adrenaline
• Clues about Barovia's secrets
• Resistance to psychic damage for 24 hours
• 1 Hope Point per participant

STRAHD'S NIGHTMARE INTRUSION:

When rolling for nightmares, on a 1:

• Strahd appears in the nightmare
• He offers cryptic advice or temptations
• May plant false memories or suggestions
• Characters remember these encounters vividly

CORRUPTION MECHANICS

Track Corruption Points (CP) when characters:

• Use dark powers or forbidden magic
• Accept Strahd's gifts or deals
• Commit evil acts "for the greater good"
• Spend extended time in corrupted areas
• Fail saves against supernatural corruption

CORRUPTION EFFECTS:

PHYSICAL CORRUPTION

At 3, 6, and 9 CP, roll for physical changes:

CORRUPTION MANIFESTATIONS (d12): Roll

1. Eyes: Pupils become slitted or solid black
2. Skin: Pale with visible veins or patchy scales
3. Teeth: Sharpen slightly, gums darken
4. Hands: Nails darken and harden into claws
5. Shadow: Moves independently occasionally
6. Voice: Gains a subtle echo or hiss
7. Hair: Streaks of white or black appear
8. Reflection: Sometimes shows a twisted version
9. Temperature: Body runs colder than normal
10. Scarring: Mysterious scars appear overnight
11. Blood: Darker and thicker than normal
12. Scent: Carry a faint odor of earth and copper

DARK GIFTS

At 10+ CP, dark powers offer gifts:

DARK GIFTS TABLE (d8): Roll

1. Vampiric Hunger: Heal 1d6 HP when you deal killing blow to living humanoid. Lose 1 max HP/day until you feed.
2. Shadow Pact: Gain Misty Step 1/day. Each use turns your eyes blacker permanently.
3. Hag's Deal: Advantage on INT saves. Your laughter occasionally sounds like a hag's cackle.
4. Werewolf's Fury: +2 damage to melee attacks. Moonlight reveals your eyes glow amber.
5. Ghostly Whispers: Understand all languages. Hear distant sobbing when alone.
6. Strahd's Favor: +1 to CHA saves. Your shadow sometimes moves independently.
7. Lich's Knowledge: +1 to spell DCs. Your skin becomes unnaturally cold.
8. Revenant's Purpose: Return to life 1/day at 1 HP if killed. Your wounds never fully heal.

GIFT CONSEQUENCES:

• Each gift adds 1d4 CP immediately
• Additional gifts add +1 CP per existing gift
• At 15 CP, risk losing control to dark powers
• At 20 CP, transformation into monster begins

REDEMPTION

Ways to reduce Corruption Points:

REDEMPTION ACTS:

• Selfless Sacrifice: Lose 1d4 CP (risk life for others)
• Holy Ritual: Lose 1 CP (requires holy site and offering)
• Rejecting Power: Lose 2 CP (refuse dark gift when offered)
• Atonement Quest: Lose all CP (major story achievement)

REDEMPTION CONSEQUENCES:

• Physical changes fade slowly
• Dark powers may retaliate
• Strahd takes special notice
• Some abilities may be lost

FINAL CORRUPTION:

At 20 CP, the character:

1. Becomes an NPC under DM control
2. Transforms into appropriate monster
3. Gains final dark gift before turning
4. May return as a villain later

WEATHER MECHANICS

Roll weather 1d3 times per day (morning/afternoon/evening):

WEATHER TABLE (d20): Roll

Roll	Weather	Effects
1-5	Thick Fog	Disadvantage on Perception, -20ft visibility
6-8	Light Rain	Everything damp, fires harder to light
9-10	Heavy Rain	Disadvantage on hearing Perception, -10ft movement
11-12	Thunderstorm	Disadvantage on Concentration, animals skittish
13	Blood Rain	1d4 psychic damage per hour exposed, stains everything
14	Ash Fall	Air fills with choking ash (CON save or cough)
15	Unnatural Stillness	No wind, sounds carry farther, uneasy feeling
16	Bone-chilling Cold	CON save each hour or gain 1 level of exhaustion
17	Wailing Wind	Hear whispers in the wind (WIS save or frightened)
18	Strange Eclipse	Sun/moon turns red, spells cast at -1 level
19	Shadow Storm	Darkness spell effect in random 30ft areas
20	Strahd's Wrath	Roll twice and combine effects

WEATHER INTERACTIONS

Special weather effects:

MAGICAL WEATHER EFFECTS:

• Blood Rain: Can be collected for necromantic rituals
• Ash Fall: May contain fragments of past victims
• Wailing Wind: Sometimes carries actual voices
• Shadow Storm: Shadows may detach and move independently

STRAHD'S MOOD:

Weather reflects Strahd's emotional state:

WEATHER MAGIC:

Control Weather spells in Barovia:

• DC increases by 5
• Lasts half as long
• 10% chance Strahd counters it
• May attract his attention

EXHAUSTION LEVELS:

Level	d20 Test Penalty	Speed Reduction	Barovian Effects
1	-2	-5 ft.	Whispers of the Land: Disadv. on Perception to hear Strahd’s spies.
2	-4	-10 ft.	Mists Close In: -5 passive Perception; shadows seem to move.
3	-6	-15 ft.	Bone-deep Fatigue: Disadv. on saves vs. Charm/Frighten.
4	-8	-20 ft.	Hollow Eyes: NPCs react with fear (Disadv. on Persuasion).
5	-10	-25 ft.	Death’s Shadow: Strahd gains Adv. on attack rolls vs. you.
6	Death		The Dark Powers Claim You: Rises as a zombie/spawn at dusk.

HOW DO YOU BECOME EXHAUSTED?

• Starvation: 5+ days without food (+1 level/day).
• Dehydration: 1 day without water (+1 level/day).
• Forced March: Traveling >8 hours/day (DC 10 CON save or +1 level).
• Barovian Mists: Spending a night outdoors (no shelter).
• Strahd’s Curse: Failed save vs. Nightmare Haunting (see Dream Pastry addiction).

RECOVERY:

• Long Rest: -1 level (if eating/drinking).
• Greater Restoration: Removes all levels.
• Abbot’s Blessing: Rare boon (costs a Dark Gift).
• Hope Points: 3 points remove 1 level.

BAROVIAN TWISTS:

• Strahd’s Game: At Exhaustion 3+, he may offer "aid" (with strings attached).
• Vistani "Help": Their cures might add Madness (DMG p.259).
• Dark Powers: At death, offer resurrection—with a price.

BAROVIAN MEALS (QUESTIONABLE FOOD)

Item	Normal Cost	Barovian Cost	Notes
Moldy Bread (loaf)	2 cp	1 sp	Disadvantage on CON save vs. disease
Rat Meat (chunk)	3 sp	8 sp	DC 12 CON save or poisoned for 1 hour
Water (pitcher)	Free	5 cp	50% chance tainted (see Despair)
"Wine" (vinegar)	2 sp	1 gp	No intoxication, tastes like despair
Hag's Stew (bowl)	—	2 gp	Cursed: -1d4 max HP until Remove Curse
Vistani Provisions	Modest (1 sp)	5 gp	Safe, but sold only to allies

Prices double in Vallaki during festivals or shortages.

EDIBLE BUT DREARY FARE

Item	Cost	Description
Gruel	3 cp	Thin oat porridge that sticks to the ribs like paste
Hardtack	1 cp each	Rock-hard biscuits that taste vaguely of dust
Root Soup	5 cp	Mud-colored broth with floating turnip chunks
Salt Pork	2 sp	Over-salted meat that leaves you desperately thirsty
Barley Bread	4 cp	Dense loaf with visible husks, lasts weeks without molding
Pickled Eggs	3 cp each	Rubbery whites with sulfurous yolks floating in brine
Dried Apples	1 sp/handful	Leathery slices that taste like sweetened bark
Goat Cheese	8 sp/wheel	Pungent rounds that crumble like chalk

"Festival prices" in Vallaki add +1d4 cp to all items.

TAVERN ATMOSPHERES

Location	Atmosphere	Notable Patrons
Blood of the Vine (Barovia)	Oppressive silence broken by occasional sobbing	Drunken mourners, Ismark nursing ale
Blue Water Inn (Vallaki)	Forced merriment with strained laughter	Wereravens in disguise, Rictavio at the bar
Krezk's Empty Barrel	Paranoid whispers behind raised tankards	Off-duty guards, Abbot's mongrelfolk
Vistani Camp	Raucous music covering tense negotiations	Spy masters, fortune tellers, Strahd's informants
Bonegrinder "Tavern"	Sweet smells masking underlying rot	Hags pretending to be grandmothers
St. Andral's Orphanage	Eerily cheerful children's singing	Empty chairs that creak on their own
Old Svalich Road Camp	Nervous travelers jumping at owl hoots	Werewolf spies, desperate merchants
Ravenloft's Cellar	Chill air carrying phantom banquet sounds	Strahd's brides, ghostly servants
Berez's Ruined Pub	Moldy tables with fresh wine stains	Swamp creatures, Baba Lysaga's spies
Tsolenka Pass Outpost	Howling wind drowning out conversation	Frozen corpses propped in chairs

LODGING & CONSEQUENCES

Location	Cost/Night	Risks
Abandoned Shack	Free	1d4 Shadows attack at midnight
Blood of the Vine Tavern	1 gp	Strahd's spies report your location
Vallaki Burgomaster's Guest Room	10 gp	Forced to attend festival or arrested
Vistani Camp	2 gp + favor	Dreams of Strahd's mocking laughter
Ravenloft Dungeon	—	You are the meal

STARVATION RULES (BAROVIA)

• Half Rations: DC 12 CON save or gain Despair.
• 3 Days Without Food: Exhaustion level each day.
• Eating "Questionable" Food: Roll on Madness table.

REMOVE CURSE

REMOVE CURSE DC TABLE:

• Most CursesMagical afflictions that typically require Remove Curse or similar magic to eliminate. - DC 15
• Vistani Curses - DC 16-20
• LycanthropyThe affliction of being a werecreature. In Barovia, it's particularly difficult to cure. - DC 30

SPECIAL RULE:

Spellcaster must make ability check with spellcasting ability. On natural 1, suffer 1d12 psychic damage and can't cast remove curse until after a long rest.

LIVING CURSES (d6): Roll

1. Wandering Wound: 1d4 damage appears daily on body. Heals normally.
2. Hungry Shadow: Consumes light sources 2x faster within 10ft.
3. Echoing Scream: Critical fails cause distant screaming (attracts monsters).
4. Blood Ink: Any writing appears written in blood after 1 hour.
5. Reverse Aging: Lose/gain 1 year visibly each dawn. No mechanical effect.
6. Door Whisperer: All doors creak open slightly when unattended.

Rules: Apply when Remove Curse fails by 5+. Curses grow stronger weekly until broken.

REVENANT RESURRECTION

When a character dies, their soul may enter a humanoid corpse 1d20 hours later (DM's choice).

REVENANT TRAITS:

• Type: Undead (Medium or Small)
• Darkvision: 60 feet
• Languages: Add Abyssal
• Resistances: Resist necrotic, vulnerable to radiant
• Regeneration: Bonus action to regain HP equal to proficiency die (recharge on short rest)
• Turn Immunity: Immune to effects that turn undead
• Vengeful Tracker: Know location of creature responsible for death
• Unsightly: Disadvantage on Persuasion/Animal Handling/Performance, advantage on Intimidation
• Death: At 0 HP, die permanently and become DM-controlled ghost

VISTANI CURSES

Vistani can curse those who wrong them (WIS saveWisdom saving throws represent resistance to mental influence and effects that would cloud your judgement or perception., DC = 8 + prof + CHA). Removing curses deals psychic backlashPsychic damage represents mental trauma and typically can't be reduced by armor. (1d6-5d6 depending on severity).

Examples: Prevent fine motor skills, cosmetic changes, item disappearance, vulnerability to damage type, disadvantage on ability checks, end attunement, blindness/deafness.

EVIL EYE:

10ft range, duplicates animal friendship, charm person, or hold person (CHA-based save DC). On save, Vistana blinded until end of next turn.

RANDOM ENCOUNTERS

CHECK FREQUENCY:

Every 30 minutes on roads/wilderness (maximum 2 per 12 hours)

• Road: Encounter on d20 roll of 18+
• Wilderness: Encounter on d20 roll of 15+

DAYTIME ENCOUNTERS (d12 + d8):

Roll	Encounter
2	3d6 commoners fleeing something	Roll
3	1d6 scouts from Vallaki	Roll
4	Hunting trap (DC 15 Perception to spot)
5	Fresh grave with disturbed earth
6	False trail leading to ambush
7	1d4 + 1 Vistani bandits	Roll
8	Skeletal rider on nightmare steed
9	Strange trinket in road (roll on trinket table)
10	Hidden bundle containing 1d4 severed fingers	Roll
11	1d4 swarm of ravens (50%) or 1 wereraven (50%)	Roll
12	1d6 dire wolves stalking prey	Roll
13	3d6 wolves howling in distance	Roll
14	1d4 berserkers covered in blood	Roll
15	Corpse with face frozen in terror
16	1d6 werewolves in human form	Roll
17	1 druid with 2d6 twig blights	Roll
18	2d4 needle blights disguised as shrubs	Roll
19	1d6 scarecrows that turn to watch you pass	Roll
20	1 revenant seeking vengeance

NIGHTTIME ENCOUNTERS (d12 + d8):

Roll	Encounter
2	1 ghost of a murdered child
3	Hunting trap baited with rotting meat
4	Grave being dug by shadowy figures
5	Cursed trinket that whispers
6	Corpse that sits up as you pass
7	Hidden bundle containing a still-beating heart
8	Skeletal rider dragging chains
9	1d8 swarm of bats that circle ominously	Roll
10	1d6 dire wolves with glowing red eyes	Roll
11	3d6 wolves that howl your name	Roll
12	1d4 berserkers in bloodstained robes	Roll
13	1 druid and 2d6 twig blights that mimic screams	Roll
14	2d4 needle blights that drip sap like blood	Roll
15	1d6 werewolves in wolf form	Roll
16	3d6 zombies in funeral attire	Roll
17	1d6 scarecrows that move when not observed	Roll
18	1d8 Strahd zombies with personalized torment	Roll
19	1 will-o'-wisp leading to danger
20	1 revenant with unfinished business

ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTIONS