Curse of Strahd — She Is the Ancient | Mondays 7 pm EST | Beginner Friendly!

About the adventure

You think you know the story of Strahd von Zarovich... but do you really? Under raging storm clouds, the vampire Countess Strahd von Zarovich stands silhouetted against the ancient walls of Castle Ravenloft. Rumbling thunder pounds the castle spires. The wind’s howling increases as she turns her gaze down toward the village of Barovia. Far below, yet not beyond her keen eyesight, a party of adventurers has just entered her domain. Strahd’s face forms the barest hint of a smile as her dark plan unfolds. She knew they were coming, and she knows why they came—all according to her plan. A lightning flash rips through the darkness, but Strahd is gone. Only the howling of the wind fills the midnight air. The master of Castle Ravenloft is having guests for dinner. And you are invited. More than just a "genderbent version" of the classic, this adventure redesigns several major characters, including Strahd herself, but also with an original origin story, brand new relationships between characters, and thoughtful approaches to replace some of the sexism, ableism, and racism present in the original module. In this adventure, you can expect to: - Explore the dark, mysterious, and mist-choked realm of Barovia - Search for a way home while avoiding the minions and schemes of a tyrannical vampire overlord - Battle undead, rare monsters and malevolent forces that seek to make you a permanent resident - Meet strange characters and rescue victims in a foreboding setting - Track down powerful artifacts, make allies, and uncover ancient truths that will help you stop Strahd BONUS CONTENT, not included in the original module, from award-winning creators such as Beth the Bard, LunchBreakHeroes and MandyMod. This adds more intricate storylines, new and reimagined NPCs and quests, more unique creatures and treasures, and even greater stakes in a race to save the realm. Play with an expert professional voice actor and Dungeon Master who has run Curse of Strahd to completion three times with exciting new content at every turn! Using the milestone leveling system, you start at Level 1 and will advance to Level 11 by the campaign's conclusion. Your character and their backstory will play an important role in the way the story plays out, fully integrated into the major events that transpire. Beginner, veteran, and LGBTQ+ - friendly. As a professional DM and voice actor with several years' experience and dozens of 5-star reviews, this campaign promises to be an immersive, epic story with an equally balanced focus on roleplay, exploration, and combat. We play on Foundry VTT (a free-to-use platform) for the utmost immersive experience, including ambient music, sound effects, inspiring art, special effects, and beautifully-crafted maps, all to enhance our collective story-telling. We'll use Discord separately to host our video and voice call. Further details will be sent once you reserve your seat! *Image credit to Yorsy Hernandez (https://yorsyh.artstation.com/)

Additional Details

How to prepare

• Please have a working webcam, microphone, and headphones (to reduce ambient noise or feedback). • A decent Internet connection is highly recommended. • For your Internet browser, I recommend Google Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

What I provide

• 15 years of professional acting/voice acting experience - expect a Critical Role-esque experience! • Over 12 years of Dungeons & Dragons and other TTRPG experience, about half of that as a Dungeon Master. • 3 years of professional DMing on other platforms. • An intimate knowledge of D&D 5e, Foundry software, and the adventure itself. • A friendly, easy-going nature and a safe, encouraging environment. • An unbridled passion for storytelling and gaming. • A full suite of immersive materials for the game, including beautiful, colorful maps, ambient music and soundscapes, inspiring artwork, handouts, and more. • The 5-star reviews of dozens of satisfied, long-time players on other platforms.

Gameplay details

Players can expect an equal balance of the three pillars of D&D: exploration, roleplay, and combat. I tend to run games with more emphasis on story and fun than strict rules, but will encourage rules-as-written where possible. I also operate on the rule of cool; if it's particularly epic but doesn't quite match RAW, go for it anyway! Session 0 will cover themes of the campaign, a tutorial of Foundry, and help building your characters.

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

Aftercare
Breaks
Debriefing
Lines and Veils
Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist
Session 0
Stars and Wishes
X, N, and O Cards

How will character creation work

• Detailed info about character creation will be emailed to you once you sign up, but includes most official races and classes! • You'll also have the option to select one of twelve pre-made Level 1 characters, all tied to the story of the adventure. • We'll have a session 0 to introduce ourselves and discuss characters, themes, learn to use Foundry, etc. • Preference will be given to characters who are thematically tied to the adventure and encourage cooperation and roleplay at the table!

Players can expect

• Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
• Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
• If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.