Curse of Strahd: A Tale of Gothic Horror |2024 PHB|
A mysterious people beckon you to Barovia, a cursed land shrouded in mist, where an undying lord rules unbridled and no soul escapes unscathed.
$25.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Sunday - 7:00 PM UTC
Feb 15 / Session 51
Session Duration / 3 hours
4 / 6 Seats Filled
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Schedule
Meet your party members
4/6
About the adventure
A story of Gothic horror... 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 party of adventurers has just entered his domain. Strahd's face forms 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 darkness, 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... Gather your party and venture into the Domain of the First Vampire in the land of Barovia. In Barovia, the night is a curse. With the dying of the light, wicked souls slip from the darkened spires of Castle Ravenloft to work the will of an immortal overlord. The howls of wolves and shrieks of raven swarms echo through the dismal valleys and oppressive forests. In isolated communities, superstitious villagers find the brightness in their lives smothered by dread of their aloof overlord, his baleful servants, and ancient evils that fester unopposed. All the domain’s residents know to fear the Mists and the long Barovian nights, as through them the Devil Strahd watches and reaches to claim whatever he desires. Will you take up arms and finally vanquish the Darklord and free the residents of the domain of dread from their endlessly repeating cycle of torment, or will you join the thousand fallen who are cursed to venture the land eternally? 🧛The campaign runs from level 1 to level 12. 🧛Homebrew additions to the campaign such as monsters and magical items will add new exciting elements for you to explore and experience. 🧛A curated playlist, sound effects and music that matches the ambiance to enhance every session and encounter. 🧛We will be using the 2024 5e D&D ruleset and all existing and upcoming official WoTC material for this ruleset (Player’s Handbook (2024), Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn, Eberron: Forge of the Artificer) Join now! Can't wait to meet you and start telling a wonderfully horrific story alongside you.
Game style
Combat Heavy
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Rules as Written (RaW)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(26)
3 years on StartPlaying
205 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Knows the Rules
Average response time: 4 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hi there, adventurer! I’m Ina, a Dungeon Master with over 8 years of experience weaving stories, running thrilling encounters, and building unforgettable worlds. I’ve led everything from fast-paced one-shots to a three-year Neverwinter campaign, and I currently run several ongoing adventures on StartPlaying, including Curse of Strahd, Out of the Abyss, and stories set in the world of Exandria. At my table, you’ll find a welcoming, inclusive environment where roleplay, exploration, and combat each get their chance to shine. I love adding personal touches to published modules, designing unique homebrew items, and tailoring each campaign so that every player feels like a vital part of the story. I draw inspiration from Critical Role and Dimension 20 and iconic fantasy series like LOTR. I enjoy blending drama, humor, and high-stakes adventure so that our sessions feel alive, character-driven, and memorable. My goal is to create a space where players can laugh, roleplay, fight epic battles, and tell stories together that they’ll remember long after the story ends. If you’re looking for a DM who balances narrative depth with fun and flexibility, I’d love to welcome you to the table. ⚔️Grab your dice and join the adventure!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Characters creation will happen before our first session. I will run a session 0 with the players to make sure everyone is comfortable, answer any outstanding questions and ensure that everyone has their character ready with backstories concluded before session 1. 🪦 For your Ability Scores, we use the Point Buy system or Standard Array. 🪦You have access to all classes, subclasses, races, feats, backgrounds, and spells in the 2024 Players Handbook, Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn, Eberron: Forge of the Artificer. You also have access to the subclasses, classes, transformations, and spells in Grim Hollow Player’s Guide (2024 and The Crooked Moon Part One: Player Options(2024). 🪦Once you have created your character, including the backstory, I will review it with you once more on a one-to-one call that will last anywhere between 15 – 30 minutes to incorporate your character into the world, make any necessary amendments, and iron out any final details before session 0.
The party is currently at level 9. We will be using the new 2024 Players Handbook which will be shared with all of you on D&D Beyond. The current party composition is: Oath of Devotion Paladin, Celestial Patron Warlock, School of Abjuration Wizard and an Archfey Warlock. The party has made its way to Krezk to learn more about the Abbot, who is rumored to be a powerful Celestial. Meanwhile, back in Vallaki, Ireena and Ismark are getting ready for a masquerade ball at Castle Ravenloft. Beginners are welcome!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
You will need a Discord Account, a D&D Beyond and a Roll20 account. A decent mic, headset, and computer are also required. Please read the character creation rules on the campaign page or Discord page, where they will also be listed. If you have any questions during the character creation process, do not hesitate to contact me on Discord.
What Ina brings to the table
As a DM I will be sharing the link of the campaign on D&D Beyond providing access to all the content and materials needed to create and play your characters. Roll20 an accessible VTT with dynamic lighting and useful tools for both players and DM. I will provide a curated playlist, sound effects and music that matches the ambiance to enhance every session and encounter. The combat encounters are challenging and fun. There is always room for the Rule of Cool in my games.
Homebrew rules
🕸️ Death Saving throws happen privately. 🕸️ Helping and providing an advantage towards a skill check for another pc requires you to have proficiency in the relevant skill. 🕸️ Skill and Ability check failures: After each failure, each additional attempt increases the DC for that skill check.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Headphones
Internet
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Ina creates a safe table
I will be sending you the Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist in order to establish our lines and veils and ensure a safe environment for everyone. The safety tools will also be available in Roll20 for you to use should the need arise. We will also have a session 0 to discuss our lines and veils, answer any outstanding questions about the campaign, and establish whether you have any pre-existing connections.
Content warnings
Safety tools used