Mists Beyond Barovia: The Hollow Road—Beta—Free session 0

Creating your character

Character Creation Characters begin at **Level 3**. Characters may be created using official Dungeons & Dragons 5e material available through D&D Beyond. We'll discuss character concepts before play so that your character has a reason to be traveling when the Mists arrive. Standard Array or Point Buy may be used for ability scores. In addition to their normal starting equipment, each character begins with: • **2 Potions of Healing** • **1 common magic item of the player's choice**, subject to GM approval Characters should be willing to cooperate with an adventuring party and engage with the mystery. Gothic, supernatural, unusual, or morally complicated characters are welcome—you do not need to create a traditional hero. Character creation assistance is available for new or returning players.

Preparing for the session

You'll need: • A free Discord account for communication and voice chat • A free D&D Beyond account for your character sheet • Access to AboveVTT through a compatible browser • A working microphone and stable internet connection Before the first adventure session, please join the Ravaged Dragon Discord, review the game information and safety material, and have your character ready unless we've arranged to build your character together. No previous Ravenloft knowledge is necessary. Discord:https://discord.gg/qkmubSG77V DNDBeyond: https://www.dndbeyond.com/campaigns/join/81085232993379380

What Ravaged-Dragon brings to the table

I run character-focused games where your decisions matter and curiosity is rewarded. Expect atmospheric maps, ambient music, visual aids, NPC roleplay, exploration, mysteries, and encounters that can often be approached in more than one way. Combat is part of the adventure, but not every dangerous creature exists simply to be fought. I embrace creative solutions and the Rule of Cool when they fit the story and remain fair to the table. I want players investigating suspicious doors, talking to NPCs, making wonderfully questionable plans, and occasionally realizing that perhaps following the creepy road into the supernatural fog wasn't their finest decision. The mini-campaign is designed as a complete six-session story with a beginning, mystery, climax, and conclusion while offering a glimpse of a much larger world beyond the Mists.

Homebrew rules

House rules are kept intentionally light. Potions may be consumed as a bonus action. Creative actions and environmental interaction are encouraged, and unusual solutions may call for an appropriate ability check rather than being restricted to actions explicitly described in the rules. I use milestone advancement rather than XP. Additional situational rulings may occur during play, but they will be explained at the table and applied consistently.

How Ravaged-Dragon creates a safe table

Gothic horror works best when everyone at the table feels comfortable exploring frightening material together. Before play, we'll establish Lines and Veils and discuss the tone and expected content of the adventure. Players may privately contact me at any time if something needs to be avoided or adjusted. X, N, and O tools and an Open Door policy are available throughout play. Breaks are welcome whenever needed. We'll also use debriefing and Stars and Wishes to check in about what worked, what players enjoyed, and anything they would like handled differently. You never need to justify using a safety tool. The goal is for the characters to feel trapped in the Mists—not the players.