Bound by Blood - A Curse of Strahd Campaign

Creating your character

We’ll handle character creation before Session One, so when the campaign starts, everyone already feels connected to their character and the story. We’ll begin with a Session Zero where we talk through tone, boundaries, safety tools, and the kind of horror we want to explore together. After that, we’ll finish up character details either in chat or with a quick one-on-one—whatever works best for you. The campaign starts at Level 1 and will progress through Level 10. Ability scores are built using Point Buy or Standard Array (your choice). Hit points are maximum at each level, giving characters a bit more durability. All official D&D 5e content is welcome. Unearthed Arcana and homebrew are absolutely okay to bring to the table—I just ask that you run them by me first so we can make sure everything fits the tone and plays nicely with the group. A core element of Bound by Blood is that every character has a personal tie to Barovia, but how that connection is handled is completely up to you. You can: -Come in with a connection already in mind -Leave it entirely in my hands to reveal during play -Or build it collaboratively with me during Session Zero or a one-on-one chat These ties don’t have to be fully formed. Examples might include: A recurring dream about a place you’ve never been A family curse or old story that never quite made sense A bloodline that seems tied to something dark or forgotten A feeling that you’ve lived — or died — here before A name, face, or title that Barovians recognize but you don’t You don’t need a long written backstory. A strong character concept, a few personal hooks, and a willingness to engage with the story is more than enough. Part of the fun is discovering who your character used to be as the campaign unfolds. Character sheets will be created and managed through a shared D&D Beyond campaign link, which I’ll provide once the group is set. If you enjoy character-driven stories, slow-burn horror, and the idea of your past slowly catching up with you… this campaign is built for you.

Preparing for the session

Before the first session, there are just a few simple things to set up so we can jump straight into play: Discord – This is where we’ll handle voice chat, scheduling, announcements, and between-session communication. D&D Beyond – I’ll send out a campaign link for character creation and management. You’ll build your character there and keep your sheet updated throughout the campaign. Owlbear Rodeo – We’ll use Owlbear for maps, positioning, and visual aids during sessions. No account is required. That’s it! No complicated setups. As long as you have a stable internet connection, a working mic, and access to the links I provide, you’ll be good to go. If you run into any tech issues or have questions before we start, I’m always happy to help get things sorted so game night stays stress-free.

What Skyybunny brings to the table

I aim to create an immersive, story-forward experience where atmosphere and character come first. You can expect stunning maps, custom handouts, and carefully chosen ambient music to bring Barovia to life and keep the tension high. Visuals and sound are a big part of how I set mood—quiet dread, rising panic, and those moments where everything goes still before something goes wrong. My GM style leans strongly toward the Rule of Cool. If you have a creative idea that fits the story and the moment, I’m inclined to find a way to make it work rather than shut it down with strict rules lawyering. That said, choices matter, and consequences are real—especially in this campaign setting. Combat in this campaign is intense and meaningful. Curse of Strahd has a reputation for being deadly, and I don’t shy away from that. Fights are designed to feel dangerous, cinematic, and high-stakes, with real consequences if plans go wrong. Victory feels earned, survival feels tense, and sometimes retreat is the smartest option. Above all, my goal is to run a game that feels immersive, emotionally grounded, and fair. I want you to feel supported as a player, challenged as a character, and fully invested in the story we’re telling together.

Homebrew rules

Homebrew Rules: These homebrew rules apply to all of my campaigns and are designed to keep the game cinematic, tense, and fun without bogging things down. Potions: -Drinking a potion yourself is a bonus action -Feeding a potion to someone else is a full action -If you take a full action to drink a potion, you regain maximum healing Critical Hits: -On a critical hit, damage is maximum dice + rolled dice -Crits are meant to feel impactful and dangerous—on both sides Death Saves: -Death saving throws are rolled privately between the player and the DM -This keeps tension high and prevents accidental metagaming The One-Time Level-Up: -Each player gets one (SINGLE. UNO. ONE.) level-up they can apply at any time, for any reason -You choose when to use it -Once it’s used, it’s gone forever -Use it wisely Inspiration: -Whoever can give a recap of the previous session earns Inspiration -This can rotate—no pressure if you’re not the recap person! Initiative Twist: -Rolling a natural 20 on initiative lets you choose turn order positioning for yourself among the party Carry Weight: -I don’t track carry weight unless things get silly -Be reasonable (no, you cannot fit four swords in your pocket) Spell Components & Ammunition: -I don’t track spell components or ammunition (unless it is a specific type) Desperate Casting: -You may cast a spell using a spell slot you have access to but have already expended -Doing so deals 1d12 necrotic damage per spell level (this damage cannot be reduced) -You also gain levels of exhaustion equal to the spell’s level, up to 6th-level spells -This is dangerous, dramatic, and very much a last resort

How Skyybunny creates a safe table

Your comfort and safety at the table are extremely important to me, especially in a campaign that explores darker themes like Curse of Strahd. I make sure every player knows what they’re agreeing to—and that they always have a way to pause or step back if something isn’t sitting right. Before the campaign begins, I send each player a private consent sheet where you can clearly mark your hard lines, soft limits, and preferences. This information is kept confidential and is used to shape the game so that horror stays fun and consensual, not uncomfortable. We also run a Session Zero where we talk through tone, themes, expectations, and boundaries as a group. This is a space to ask questions, flag concerns, and make sure everyone is on the same page before we ever roll dice. During play, we use a simple color system: Yellow (sent privately via message) means “we’re getting close to a limit—please move away from this topic soon.” Red (sent privately via message) means “stop immediately—we need to pause and address this now.” No explanations are required in the moment. We’ll shift or stop as needed, and check in afterward. Outside of sessions, I have an open-door policy. If something comes up, before or after a game, you’re always welcome to reach out to me privately. Aftercare and check-ins are part of how I run games—I want everyone to leave the table feeling safe, respected, and heard. Dark stories work best when everyone feels secure. That’s the kind of table I aim to create.