Curse of Strahd: Blood is Life | Stable Group | Level 9
Dungeons & Dragons 5e | Campaign
About the adventure
"I am Strahd von Zarovich, Lord of Barovia and Master of Ravenloft. Though you shall wish otherwise, you now have my full, complete attention." 🍷 Quintessential gothic horror. 🍷 Active, powerful, antagonizing vampire lord. 🍷 Vivid, animated maps, supported by curated music and ambience. 🍷 Distinct NPCs, pushing their own agendas. All brought to life with detailed and beautiful art as well as personalized tokens. 🍷 Tactical & challenging combat employing automated spells and abilities with cool visual & sound effects. 🍷 A tense, adrenaline-fueled experience that will create memories to last a lifetime. Welcome to Ravenloft! Originally created by the amazing Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman for their Halloween home one-shot, Strahd von Zarovich and Castle Ravenloft have evolved into an extensive, inspiring setting that spans hundreds of books, as well as other media. Deep, immersive storytelling, chilling horror and a plethora of emotions. Choices that matter in a character driven sandbox style campaign. It has been my favorite for years and I am excited to share it with you! This incarnation of Curse of Strahd is considered to be the best published adventure for D&D 5e, designed to take you on a journey in the forsaken land of Barovia. Finding yourselves trapped in a world made of mists, monsters and unnamed horrors, you must struggle, not only to survive, but to keep the light within you alive. And maybe, just maybe, spread that flicker of hope to the residents of this cursed land and transform it, forever. We will be using 34 Point Buy and begin with a free feat. Your journey will begin at level 1 and end, hopefully in triumph, at level 12.
Game style
Rules as Written (RaW)
Games that are ran “Rules as Written” emphasize realism and stick to the letter of the rules, allowing players to explore creative solutions while still operating under a consistent rule set. Players have the ability to utilize the rules in creative ways to create awesome characters and moments in the game.
Rule of Cool (RoC)
“Rule of Cool” emphasizes creative story beats over sticking to a system’s rules as written. Players have the ability to push the limits of the rules or even break core rule mechanics at times if the Game Master thinks it is interesting, fun, or cool enough.
Roleplay Heavy
“Roleplay Heavy” games place the focus on the story, the characters, and the world they live within, and tend to lean hard into the various roleplaying elements of the game. These games will frequently find the party talking with NPCs, exploring the personal elements of their backstories, or even having emotional moments around the camp fire.
Weekly. Currently exploring Vallaki. Party: Paladin / Barbarian / Fighter / Wizard / Cleric
5.0
(79)
3 years on StartPlaying
574 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Knows the Rules, Visual Aid
Game Master Reviews (79)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Knows the Rules
Visual Aid
Jessica
Played 64 sessions
Themis is a great DM who constantly works with players on concepts that they want to incorporate into their player stories and the game as a whole. Themis is always easy to talk to and will work with you on what you want to accomplish. When you play with him the party is very much the heroes of the story.
Wouter
Played 6 sessions
I've only played a handful of sessions with Zahariel, but each one was a joy, and smooth sailing. 10/10 dnd experience!
Sean
Played 25 sessions
Themis knows his stuff, and is such an easy person to get along with. You can tell he has a true love for the game and wants to see you succeed. He guides his players through the mechanics with patience and his enthusiasm for the game is infectious. Would certainly recommend to anyone looking for a well rounded and thought out RPG experience!
Michael Clayton
Played 1 sessions
once again, i had a lot of fun and enjoyable game.
ruby road
Played 9 sessions
I am a brand new player and the gm has provided so much information and resources so I never feel like I'm out of the loop in regards to game rules, dnd lore or basic functions like rolling. We also end every session with 'stars and wishes', where each of us say something we liked that session and something we hope for in future sessions. It's a really lovely way to end each session and it definitely makes it feel like we are all listened to and are also able to make a wholesome connection with the other players.
Felisha
Played 10 sessions
He always comes to the table prepared for anything our group has thrown at him. He also makes sure to include everyone and lets no one feel left out.
Additional details
How to prepare
Microphone, in a relatively quiet environment is required. A decent PC and internet connection as well. Webcam is optional but highly preferred. It enhances communication significantly. You will be needing an account on D&D Beyond and Discord. (Both free) I will be providing access to a Discord server with detailed guides on all aspects of gameplay. Reading them is OPTIONAL, we will have time to go through everything together, during play. Please contact me in discord after you sign up to add you to the server or use the link provided in the prep material.
What I provide
Everything you will need for character creation on D&D Beyond Foundry VTT with automated Spells, Features, Animated Maps, Dynamic Lighting and Ambience. A relaxed, safe and inclusive environment where you can have fun. Deep knowledge of the game and the drive to make all of your ideas (crazy or not) into reality. Each player will receive a custom animated token for their character (after 4 sessions) as well as a free session if you commission art for your character (after 8 sessions).
Gameplay details
This campaign leans heavily on roleplaying, while also containing intense and challenging combat encounters and exploration / survival. You will wander in the forsaken valley of Barovia, face the horrors lurking within, all under the piercing gaze of it's master. The focus will be on creating an immersive, engaging story centered around the player characters' choices. We will fine tune the details according to player preference during session zero. Speaking of session zero, we will be having one to discuss expectations and safety. While this game veers towards horror we will talk about lines, veils and limits to ensure it still remains a safe space without making anyone feel uncomfortable. CAUTION! Curse of Strahd is a horror campaign in its core! Do expect to encounter mature themes, including ableism, alcoholism, animal cruelty, body horror, cannibalism, child abuse, drug addiction, gaslighting, genocide, incest, kidnapping, mental illness, mind control, murder, necrophilia, racism, sexism, sexual assault, suicide, suicide ideation, and torture. For our safety tools, we will be using the X,N,O card system inside Foundry VTT. Should the above not prove enough, I'm always available for any concerns. The sessions will be weekly, online over Foundry, Discord and using D&D Beyond. We will be using milestones for leveling. We will be taking a 10 minute break at an appropriate point close to the middle of the session. There will be a zero tolerance policy on bullying, sexual harassment, racism, hate speech and prejudice. Those who do not abide by these standards will be kicked with no refund.
Content warnings
• Alcoholism
• Animal abuse
• Body Horror
• Child Abuse
• Drugs (addiction, use, withdrawal)
• Hostages
• Kidnapping
• Memory Erasing
• Mind alteration
• Murder
Safety tools used
• Breaks
• Lines and Veils
• Open Door
• Session 0
• Stars and Wishes
• X, N, and O Cards
How will character creation work
There will be a session zero which will include character creation, so no stress if you need any help with it. This will ensure a coherent party for a more harmonious game. Players who wish to have a headstart will have access to the entirety of the allowed character options on D&D Beyond, along with a detailed guide on how to do so. Characters will be finalized during session 0, so you can change your mind or tweak your character up to the last second before we play. Pregenerated characters will be available on request.
Players can expect
Combat / Tactics
Low
Roleplay
High
Puzzles
Low
Experience level
Intermediate
Platforms used
• Discord
• Foundry VTT
• D&D Beyond
More upcoming games
$25.00
/ Session
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Details
Weekly / Friday - 7:00 PM UTC
Mar 21 / Session 74
3-3 Hour duration
4 / 6 Seats filled
Schedule
Requirements
Experience required: Intermediate
Age: 18+