Candle & Crow Presents: Curse of Strahd | D&D 5.5e
The mists have claimed you. Welcome to Barovia, where the Devil watches, and every choice carries a price.
$25.00
/ Session
Details
2 players following this game
Weekly / Thursday - 11:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–3.5 hours
0 / 6 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
The mists have closed behind you, and the road home is gone. Drawn into the cursed valley of Barovia, you find yourself trapped in a land ruled by the immortal vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich. Beneath the shadow of Castle Ravenloft, villages cling to fading hope, ancient secrets lie buried in forgotten places, and every path leads deeper into darkness. To survive, you will need courage, wit, and allies you can trust...if such people still exist in Barovia. This is a character-driven gothic horror campaign that emphasizes roleplay, meaningful choices, and lasting consequences. Your backstory, relationships, and decisions will shape the story as much as any battle. Barovia is a living world that reacts to your actions, remembers your victories, and punishes your mistakes. Combat is present and often deadly, but encounters are chosen to serve the narrative rather than fill space. Every conflict should reveal something, advance the story, or force difficult decisions. Players can expect a premium Foundry VTT experience featuring curated maps, immersive handouts, dedicated Discord support, detailed session recaps, and a collaborative Session 0 designed to help build characters that feel connected to both the world and each other. Whether you're new to Curse of Strahd or returning to Barovia for another journey into the mists, you'll find a table that values strong character roleplay, meaningful storytelling, and memorable moments of triumph, tragedy, and terror. The darkness of Barovia is patient. The question is not whether you will meet it, but what kind of person you will be when you do.
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Dungeon Crawl
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: World Builder, Storytelling, Knows the Rules
About me
I've been playing tabletop roleplaying games in one form or another since the late 1990s. I'm a former professional actor and hold a degree in Creative Writing with a focus on worldbuilding and fiction. Storytelling has always been at the center of what I do, both at and away from the table. I believe tabletop games are at their best when they create experiences unique to the people playing them. No two groups are ever the same, and I enjoy discovering what makes each table come alive. While my games tend to lean toward immersive roleplay, character development, and meaningful choices, I've had just as much fun running classic dungeon crawls, chaotic goblin adventures, and everything in between. My greatest passion is dark fantasy and horror. In addition to Dungeons & Dragons, Call of Cthulhu is one of my most-played systems, and I enjoy stories filled with mystery, tension, and difficult decisions. Through Candle & Crow, my goal is to create memorable tabletop experiences built around strong preparation, immersive presentation, and collaborative storytelling. Whether you're a brand-new player or a seasoned veteran, my table is a welcoming place for anyone with an open mind and an open heart. I believe a great campaign begins with a great Session 0, clear communication, and a shared commitment to building a story together.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
D&D 5.5e ruleset (2024). Any officially licensed material is available for consideration. Characters will begin at level 1 and built in Foundry VTT. A free Session 0 will be provided to build characters and get players acclimated to the Foundry interface.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
A microphone and headphones will be required, camera is optional, but heavily encouraged. A free Discord account, and I host my Foundry games on The Forge, so a free account will be required. A link will be provided in my Discord server.
What Matt | Candle & Crow brings to the table
I pride my games on a high level of immersion and technical streamlining. While not combat lite, my games tend to have combat encounters that drive the narrative forward. The combat can be deadly at times, but this is an immersion, narrative, and RP focused experience. -Foundry VTT integration with dozens of modules enabled for further immersion and ease of use. -A curated music and sound effect library for ambience. -With a professional stage background, you can enjoy (or cringe) at some truly unique character voices. -Professional Maps from DM Andy, The MAD Cartographer, and more. -Animated backgrounds and handouts from JamesRPG art and Caleb Is Drawing. -High quality handouts that include art for NPCs, monsters, locations, letters, etc.
Homebrew rules
Homebrew rules will be decided by the group as a whole in Session 0. Any homebrew considerations will be discussed during session 0.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Headphones
Platforms used
Safety
How Matt | Candle & Crow creates a safe table
Lines and Veils, as well as any other off limit and uncomfortable topics will be set on a per party basis and a document will be drafted during session 0 that the players can always reference in discord. I maintain an open and private line of communication for any player that needs to discuss any topics they feel uncomfortable with. Content & Themes Curse of Strahd is a gothic horror campaign featuring themes of undeath, corruption, manipulation, cults, isolation, tragedy, psychological horror, and more. Player safety is important to me, and I use safety tools and a Session 0 discussion to establish lines and veils. However, some themes are fundamental to the adventure and cannot be removed entirely. If you're unsure whether this campaign is a good fit for your comfort level, please reach out before joining.
Content warnings
Safety tools used