DEATH HOUSE

Credits
Lead Designer: Christopher Perkins
Creative Consultants: Tracy and Laura Hickman
Designers: Adam Lee, Richard Whitters, Jeremy Crawford
Managing Editor: Jeremy Crawford
Editor: Kim Mohan
Editorial Assistance: Scott Fitzgerald Gray
D&D Lead Designers: Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford

Art Director: Kate Irwin

Additional Art Direction: Shauna Narciso, Richard Whitters
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Eric Belisle, Zoltan Boros, Jedd Chevrier, Daarken, Lake Hurwitz,
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Rey, Chris Seaman, Richard Whitters, Kieran Yanner
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Gershman, John Feil, Trevor Kidd, Christopher Lindsay, Shelly
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Nathan Stewart, Greg Tito

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Death House
You can run Curse of Strahd for 1st-level characters riage arrived at Death House soon thereafter, and from
with the help of this optional mini-adventure, which is out of its black heart stepped the vampire himself. The
designed to advance characters to 3rd level. Players cultists tried to impress Strahd. In response, he slaugh-
creating 1st-level characters can use the haunted one tered them for slaying his playthings. Centuries later,
character background in appendix A, or they can pick the cultists’ spirits haunt the dungeons under the house.
backgrounds from the Player’s Handbook as normal. The building itself, it seems, is unwilling to let the cult
Before the characters can explore the haunted town- be forgotten.
house known as Death House, you need to guide them
to the village of Barovia. The “Creeping Fog” adventure
hook in chapter 1 works best, as it introduces few dis-
Rose and Thorn
The characters are pulled into Strahd’s domain by the
tractions. Once the characters arrive in Strahd’s do-
mists of Ravenloft. Forced to follow a lonely road (area
main, steer them to the village. For the duration of this
A), they eventually arrive at the village of Barovia (area
introductory adventure, any attempt by the characters to
E). Once they reach the village, read:
explore other locations in Strahd’s domain causes the
mists of Ravenloft to block their path.
The gravel road leads to a village, its tall houses dark as
Level Advancement tombstones. Nestled among these solemn dwellings
In this mini-adventure, the characters gain levels by ac- are a handful of closed-up shops. Even the tavern is
o pl s n spe oals ra er an sla n on-
shut tight.
sters. These milestones are as follows:
A soft whimpering draws your eye toward a pair of
• Characters who gain access to the secret stairs in the at-
tic (area 21) advance to 2nd level. The stairs appear only children standing in the middle of an otherwise life-
under certain circumstances. less street.
• Characters advance to 3rd level once they escape from
the house (see the “Endings” section).
The children are ten-year-old Rosavalda (“Rose”) and

History her seven-year-old brother, Thornboldt (“Thorn”). Thorn

is weeping and clutching a stuffed doll. Rose is trying to
Death House is the name given to an old row house in hush the boy.
the village of Barovia (area E7 on the village map). The If the characters approach the children or call out to
house has been burned to the ground many times, only them, add the following:
to rise from the ashes time and again—by its own will or
that of Strahd. Locals give the building a wide berth for
fear of antagonizing the evil spirits believed to haunt it. After shushing the boy, the girl turns to you and says,
The wealthy family that built the house practiced the “There’s a monster in our house!” She then points to
dark arts. Through seduction and indoctrination, they a tall brick row house that has seen better days. Its
expanded their cult to include a small yet nefarious cir- windows are dark. It has a gated portico on the ground
cle of friends. When word got out, the rest of the village oor an e rus a e s sl l a ar e ouses on
turned a blind eye to the house and the nightly debauch-
either side are abandoned, their windows and doors
eries happening within it.
The cult tried to summon malevolent extraplanar enti- boarded up.
ties with no success. The cultists also preyed on visitors,
sacrificed them in bizarre rituals, and hosted morbid
Characters who question the children learn the follow-
banquets to feast on their corpses. When nothing came
ing information:
of these ritualized murders, the cultists’ activities be-
came thinly disguised excuses to indulge their lurid fan- • The children don’t know what the “monster” looks
tasies. The ranks of the cult thinned as members began like, but they’ve heard its terrible howls.
to lose interest in the debacle. • Their parents (Gustav and Elisabeth Durst) keep the
Then Strahd von Zarovich arrived. monster trapped in the basement.
The cultists regarded Strahd as a messiah sent to • There’s a baby (Walter) in the third-floor nursery. (Un-
them by the Dark Powers. Drawn to Strahd like moths true, but the children believe it.)
to a flame, they pledged their devotion for a promise of Rose and Thorn say that they won’t go back in the
immortality, but Strahd turned them away, deeming the house until they know the monster is gone. They can
cult and its leaders unworthy of his attention. The cult- be convinced to wait in the portico (area 1A) while the
ists withdrew to Death House in despair. characters search the house. Although they appear to be
The cult’s habit of trapping and devouring wayward flesh-and-blood children, Rose and Thorn are actually
visitors proved to be its downfall. On one occasion, the illusions created by the house to lure the characters in-
cult snared a band of adventurers whom Strahd had side. The children don’t know that they’re illusions but
lured to his domain to be his playthings. A black car- vanish if attacked or forced into the house.

APPENDIX B | Death House

3
 The children died of starvation centuries ago after
their insane parents locked them in the attic and forgot
Death House’s Features
about them. They were too young and innocent to under- Death House is aware of its surroundings and all creatures
within it. Its goal is to continue the work of the cult by
stand that their parents were guilty of heinous crimes.
luring visitors to their doom. Various important features of
Their parents told them stories about a monster in the the house are summarized here.
basement to keep the children from going down to the The house has four stories (including the attic), with two
dungeon level. The “terrible howls” they heard were ac- al on es on e r oor one a n e ron o e
tually the screams of the cult’s victims. house, the other facing the back. The house has wooden
oors rou ou an all n o s a e n es a allo
them to swing outward.
e roo s on e rs an se on oors are ree o us
an s ns o a e e oor oar s an all panels are ell
oiled, the drapes and wallpaper haven’t faded, and the
urn ure loo s ne o effor as een a e o preser e
e on en s o e r oor or e a ese areas are
dusty and drafty, everything within them is old and draped
Rosavalda n o e s an e oor oar s roan un er oo
“Rose” Durst e l n s ar n e oor e rs oor as
Thornboldt oo e l n s e se on oor as oo
“Thorn” Durst e l n s e r oor as oo e l n s an e
attic has 13-foot-high ceilings.
None of the rooms in the house are lit when the charac-
ters arrive, although most areas contain working oil lamps
or repla es
Characters can burn the house to the ground if they
want, but any destruction to the house is temporary.
After 1d10 days, the house begins to repair itself. Ashes
sweep together to form blackened timbers, which then
turn back into a sturdy wooden frame around which walls
begin to materialize. Destroyed furnishings are likewise
repaired. It takes 2d6 hours for the house to complete its
resurrection. Items taken from the house aren’t replaced,
nor are undead that are destroyed. The dungeon level
isn’t considered part of the house and can’t repair itself in
this fashion.

windmill on a red field), flanked by framed portraits of

stony-faced aristocrats (long-dead members of the Durst
family). Mahogany-framed double doors leading from
the foyer to the main hall (area 2A) are set with panes of
stained glass.
The Mists
2. Main Hall
Characters who remain outside the house can see the
mists close in around them, swallowing up the rest of A wide hall (area 2A) runs the width of the house, with
the village. As more buildings disappear into the mists, a black marble fireplace at one end and a sweeping,
the characters are left with little choice but to seek ref- red marble staircase at the other. Mounted on the wall
uge in the house. The mists stop short of entering the above the fireplace is a longsword (nonmagical) with
house but engulf anyone outside (see chapter 2, “The a windmill cameo worked into the hilt. The wood-pan-
Lands of Barovia,” for information on the mists’ effect). eled walls are ornately sculpted with images of vines,
flowers, nymphs, and satyrs. Characters who search the
Areas of the House walls for secret doors or otherwise inspect the panel-
ing can, with a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Perception)
The following areas correspond to labels on the map of check, see serpents and skulls inconspicuously woven
the house on page 216. into the wall designs. The decorative paneling follows
the staircase as it circles upward to the second floor.
1. Entrance A cloakroom (area 2B) has several black cloaks
A wrought-iron gate with hinges on one side and a lock hanging from hooks on the walls. A top hat sits on a
on the other fills the archway of a stone portico (area high shelf.

3. Den of Wolves
1A). The gate is unlocked, and its rusty hinges shriek
when the gate is opened. Oil lamps hang from the por-
tico ceiling by chains, flanking a set of oaken doors that This oak-paneled room looks like a hunter’s den.
open into a grand foyer (area 1B). Mounted above the fireplace is a stag’s head, and po-
Hanging on the south wall of the foyer is a shield sitioned around the outskirts of the room are three
emblazoned with a coat-of-arms (a stylized golden stuffed wolves.

APPENDIX B | Death House

4
 Two padded chairs draped in animal furs face the The silverware tarnishes, the crystal cracks, the
hearth, with an oak table between them supporting portrait fades, and the tapestry rots if removed from
a cask of wine, two carved wooden goblets, a pipe the house.
rack, and a candelabrum. A chandelier hangs above a
cloth-covered table surrounded by four chairs. 6. Upper Hall
Two cabinets stand against the walls. The east cabinet Unlit oil lamps are mounted on the walls of this elegant
sports a lock that can be picked with thieves’ tools and hall. Hanging above the mantelpiece is a wood-framed
a successful DC 15 Dexterity check. It holds a heavy portrait of the Durst family: Gustav and Elisabeth Durst
crossbow, a light crossbow, a hand crossbow, and 20 with their two smiling children, Rose and Thorn. Cra-
bolts for each weapon. The north cabinet is unlocked dled in the father’s arms is a swaddled baby, which the
and holds a small box containing a deck of playing cards mother regards with a hint of scorn.
and an assortment of wine glasses. Standing suits of armor flank wooden doors in the
Trapdoor east and west walls. Each suit of armor clutches a spear
and has a visored helm shaped like a wolf’s head. The
A trapdoor is hidden in the southwest corner of the
doors are carved with dancing youths, although close
floor. It can’t be detected or opened until the characters
inspection and a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Perception)
approach it from the underside (see area 32). Until then,
check reveals that the youths aren’t really dancing but
Death House supernaturally hides the trapdoor.
fighting off swarms of bats.
4. Kitchen and Pantry The red marble staircase that started on the first floor
continues its upward spiral to area 11. A cold draft can
The kitchen (area 4A) is tidy, with dishware, cookware, be felt coming down the steps.
and utensils neatly placed on shelves. A worktable has
a cutting board and rolling pin atop it. A stone, dome- 7. Servants’ Room
shaped oven stands near the east wall, its bent iron
An undecorated bedroom (area 7A) contains a pair of
stovepipe connecting to a hole in the ceiling. Behind
beds with straw-stuffed mattresses. At the foot of each
the stove and to the left is a thin door leading to a well-
bed is an empty footlocker. Tidy servants’ uniforms
stocked pantry (area 4B). All the food in the pantry ap-
hang from hooks in the adjoining closet (area 7B).
pears fresh but tastes bland.

Dumbwaiter Dumbwaiter
A dumbwaiter in the corner of the west wall has a button
Behind a small door in the southwest corner of the
on the wall next to it. Pressing the button rings the tiny
kitchen is a dumbwaiter—a 2-foot-wide stone shaft con-
bell in area 4A.
taining a wooden elevator box attached to a simple rope-
and-pulley mechanism that must be operated manually.
The shaft connects to areas 7A (the servants’ quarters)
8. Library
and 12A (the master bedroom). Hanging on the wall The master of the house used to spend many hours here
next to the dumbwaiter is a tiny brass bell attached by before his descent into madness.
wires to buttons in those other areas.
A Small character can squeeze into the elevator box
Red velvet drapes cover the windows of this room. An
with a successful DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check.
The dumbwaiter’s rope-and-pulley mechanism can sup- exquisite mahogany desk and a matching high-back chair
port 200 pounds of weight before breaking. a e e en ran e an e repla e a o e an s
a framed picture of a windmill perched atop a rocky
5. Dining Room ra ua e n orners o e roo are o o ers uffe
The centerpiece of this wood-paneled dining room is chairs. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line the south wall.
a carved mahogany table surrounded by eight high- A rolling wooden ladder allows one to more easily reach
backed chairs with sculpted armrests and cushioned the high shelves.
seats. A crystal chandelier hangs above the table, which
is covered with resplendent silverware and crystal-
ware polished to a dazzling shine. Mounted above the The desk has several items resting atop it: an oil lamp,
marble fireplace is a mahogany-framed painting of an a jar of ink, a quill pen, a tinderbox, and a letter kit
alpine vale. containing a red wax candle, four blank sheets of parch-
The wall paneling is carved with elegant images of ment, and a wooden seal bearing the Durst family’s in-
deer among the trees. Characters who search the walls signia (a windmill). The desk drawer is empty except for
for secret doors or otherwise inspect the paneling can, an iron key, which unlocks the door to area 20.
with a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Perception) check, The bookshelves hold hundreds of tomes covering a
see twisted faces carved into the tree trunks and wolves range of topics including history, warfare, and alchemy.
lurking amid the carved foliage. There are also several shelves containing first-edition
Red silk drapes cover the windows, and a tapestry collected works of poetry and fiction. The books rot and
depicting hunting dogs and horse-mounted aristocrats fall apart if taken from the house.
chasing after a wolf hangs from an iron rod bolted to the
south wall.

APPENDIX B | Death House

5
 Secret Door hanging from the ceiling. Upholstered chairs line the
A secret door behind one bookshelf can be unlocked walls, and stained-glass wall hangings depict beau-
and swung open by pulling on a switch disguised to look tiful men, women, and children singing and playing
like a red-covered book with a blank spine. A character instruments.
inspecting the bookshelf spots the fake book with a suc- A harpsichord with a bench rests in the northwest
cessful DC 13 Wisdom (Perception) check. Unless the corner. Near the fireplace is a large standing harp. Ala-
secret door is propped open, springs in the hinges cause baster figurines of well-dressed dancers adorn the man-
it to close on its own. Beyond the secret door lies area 9. telpiece. Close inspection of them reveals that several
are carvings of well-dressed skeletons.
9. Secret Room
This secret room contains bookshelves packed with
11. Balcony
tomes describing fiend-summoning rituals and the nec- Characters who climb the red marble staircase to its full
romantic rituals of a cult called the Priests of Osybus. height come to a dusty balcony with a suit of black plate
The rituals are bogus, which any character can ascer- armor standing against one wall, draped in cobwebs.
tain after studying the books for 1 hour and succeeding This suit of animated armor attacks as soon as it takes
on a DC 12 Intelligence (Arcana) check. damage or a character approaches within 5 feet of it. It
A heavy wooden chest with clawed iron feet stands fights until destroyed.
against the south wall, its lid half-closed. Sticking out Oil lamps are mounted on the oak-paneled walls,
of the chest is a skeleton in leather armor. Close inspec- which are carved with woodland scenes of trees, falling
tion reveals that the skeleton belongs to a human who leaves, and tiny critters. Characters who search the
triggered a poisoned dart trap. Three darts are stuck in walls for secret doors or otherwise inspect the panel-
the dead adventurer’s armor and ribcage. The dart-firing ing can, with a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Perception)
mechanism inside the chest no longer functions. check, notice tiny corpses hanging from the trees and
Clutched in the skeleton’s left hand is a letter bearing worms bursting up from the ground.
the seal of Strahd von Zarovich, which the adventurer
tried to remove from the chest. Written in flowing script, Secret Door
the letter reads as follows: A secret door in the west wall can be found with a suc-
cessful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check. It pushes
My most pathetic servant, open easily to reveal a cobweb-filled wooden staircase
I am not a messiah sent to you by the Dark Powers leading up to the attic.
of this land. I have not come to lead you on a path to
immortality. However many souls you have bled on your 12. Master Suite
hidden altar, however many visitors you have tortured
in your dungeon, know that you are not the ones who The double doors to this room have dusty panes of
brought me to this beautiful land. You are but worms stained glass set into them. Designs in the glass resem-
writhing in my earth. ble windmills.
You say that you are cursed, your fortunes spent. You The dusty, cobweb-filled master bedroom (area 12A)
abandoned love for madness, took solace in the bosom has burgundy drapes covering the windows. Furnish-
of another woman, and sired a stillborn son. Cursed by ings include a four-poster bed with embroidered cur-
darkness? Of that I have no doubt. Save you from your tains and tattered gossamer veils, a matching pair of
wretchedness? I think not. I much prefer you as you are. empty wardrobes, a vanity with a wood-framed mirror
and jewelry box (see “Treasure”), and a padded chair. A
Your dread lord and master, rotting tiger-skin rug lies on the floor in front of the fire-
Strahd von Zarovich place, which has a dust-covered portrait of Gustav and
Elisabeth Durst hanging above it. A web-filled parlor in
Treasure the southwest corner contains a table and two chairs.
The chest contains three blank books with black leather Resting on the dusty tablecloth is an empty porcelain
covers (worth 25 gp each), three spell scrolls (bless, bowl and a matching jug.
protection from poison, and spiritual weapon), the deed A door facing the foot of the bed has a full-length mir-
to the house, the deed to a windmill, and a signed will. ror mounted on it. The door opens to reveal an empty,
The windmill referred to in the second deed is situated dust-choked closet (area 12B). A door in the parlor leads
in the mountains east of Vallaki (see chapter 6, “Old to an outside balcony (area 12C).
Bonegrinder”). The will is signed by Gustav and Elisa-
beth Durst and bequeathes the house, the windmill, and
Dumbwaiter
all other family property to Rosavalda and Thornboldt A dumbwaiter in the corner of the west wall has a button
Durst in the event of their parents’ deaths. The books, on the wall next to it. Pressing the button rings the tiny
scrolls, deeds, and will age markedly if taken from the bell in area 4A.
house but remain intact. Treasure
10. Conservatory The jewelry box on the vanity is made of silver with gold
filigree (worth 75 gp). It contains three gold rings (worth
Gossamer drapes cover the windows of this elegantly 25 gp each) and a thin platinum necklace with a topaz
appointed hall, which has a brass-plated chandelier pendant (worth 750 gp).

APPENDIX B | Death House

6
13. Bathroom 17. Spare Bedroom
This dark room contains a wooden tub with clawed feet, This dust-choked room contains a slender bed, a night-
a small iron stove with a kettle resting atop it, and a bar- stand, a small iron stove, a writing desk with a stool, an
rel under a spigot in the east wall. A cistern on the roof empty wardrobe, and a rocking chair. A smiling doll in a
used to collect rainwater, which was borne down a pipe lacy yellow dress sits in the northern window box, cob-
to the spigot; however, the plumbing no longer works. webs draping it like a wedding veil.

14. Storage Room 18. Storage Room

Dusty shelves line the walls of this room. A few of the This dusty chamber is packed with old furniture (chairs,
shelves have folded sheets, blankets, and old bars of coat racks, standing mirrors, dress mannequins, and
soap on them. A cobweb-covered broom of animated the like), all draped in dusty white sheets. Near an iron
attack (see appendix D) leans against the far wall; it at- stove, underneath one of the sheets, is an unlocked
tacks any creature approaching within 5 feet of it. wooden trunk containing the skeletal remains of the
family’s nursemaid, wrapped in a tattered bedsheet
15. Nursemaid’s Suite stained with dry blood. A character inspecting the re-
Dust and cobwebs shroud an elegantly appointed bed- mains and succeeding on a DC 14 Wisdom (Medicine)
room (area 15A) and an adjoining nursery (area 15B). check can verify that the woman was stabbed to death
Double doors set with panes of stained glass pull open by multiple knife wounds.
to reveal a balcony (area 15C) overlooking the front of If the characters disturb the remains, the nursemaid’s
the house. specter appears and attacks unless it was previously
The bedroom once belonged to the family’s nurse- defeated in area 15.
maid. The master of the house and the nursemaid had
Secret Door
an affair, which led to the birth of a stillborn baby named
A secret door in the east wall appears only when certain
Walter. The cult slew the nursemaid shortly thereafter.
conditions are met; see area 21 for more information.
Unless the characters already defeated it in area 18, the
nursemaid’s spirit haunts the bedroom as a specter.
The specter manifests and attacks when a character
19. Spare Bedroom
opens the door to the nursery. The specter resembles a This web-filled room contains a slender bed, a night-
terrified, skeletally thin young woman; it can’t speak or stand, a rocking chair, an empty wardrobe, and a small
be reasoned with. iron stove.
The bedroom contains a large bed, two end tables,
and an empty wardrobe. Mounted on the wall next to the 20. Children’s Room
wardrobe is a full-length mirror with an ornate wooden The door to this room is locked from the outside (see
frame carved to look like ivy and berries. Characters area 16 for details).
who search the wall for secret doors or otherwise in-
spect the mirror can, with a successful DC 12 Wisdom
(Perception) check, notice eyeballs among the berries. s roo on a ns a r e up n o an e o
The wall behind the mirror has a secret door in it (see dusty, wood-framed beds sized for children. Closer to the
“Secret Door” below). door is a toy chest with windmills painted on its sides
The nursery contains a crib covered with a hanging and a dollhouse that’s a perfect replica of the dreary ed-
black shroud. When characters part the shroud, they
e n ou s an ese urn s n s are rape n
see a tightly wrapped, baby-sized bundle lying in the
crib. Characters who unwrap the blanket find nothing o e s n n e le o e oor are o s all
inside it. skeletons wearing tattered but familiar clothing. The
s aller o e o ra les a s uffe oll a ou also
Secret Door recognize.
A secret door behind the mirror can be found with a
successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check. It pushes
open easily to reveal a cobweb-filled wooden staircase The Durst children, Rose and Thorn, were neglected
leading up to the attic. by their parents and locked in this room until they
starved to death. Their small skeletons lie in the middle
16. Attic Hall of the floor, plain as day, wearing tattered clothing that
This bare hall is choked with dust and cobwebs. the characters recognize as belonging to the children.
Thorn’s skeleton cradles the boy’s stuffed doll.
Locked Door The toy chest contains an assortment of stuffed an-
The door to area 20 is held shut with a padlock. Its key imals and toys. Characters who search the dollhouse
is kept in the library (area 8), but the lock can also be and succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check
picked with thieves’ tools and a successful DC 15 Dex- find all of the house’s secret doors, including one in the
terity check. attic that leads to a spiral staircase (a miniature replica
of area 21).

APPENDIX B | Death House

7
 APPENDIX B | Death House
8
Rose and Thorn Dungeon Features
If either the dollhouse or the chest is disturbed, the The dungeon level underneath Death House is carved
ghosts of Rose and Thorn appear in the middle of the out of earth, clay, and rock. The tunnels are 4 feet wide by
room. Use the ghost statistics in the Monster Manual, 7 feet high with timber braces at 5-foot intervals. Rooms
with the following modifications: are ee all an suppor e oo en pos s
ross ea s e onl e ep on s area as a
• The ghosts are Small and lawful good. 16-foot-high ceiling supported by stone pillars. Characters
• They have 35 (10d6) hit points each. without darkvision must provide their own light sources,
• They lack the Horrifying Visage action. as the dungeon is unlit.
• They speak Common and have a challenge rating of As the characters explore the dungeon, they see cen-
3 (700 XP). ur es ol u an oo pr n s n e ear en oor lea n
every which way.
The children don’t like it when the characters disturb
their toys, but they fight only in self-defense. Unlike the • The characters find the replica secret door in the attic
illusions outside the house, these children know that of the dollhouse (area 20).
they’re dead. If asked how they died, Rose and Thorn
explain that their parents locked them in the attic to Once the house wills the secret door into existence,
protect them from “the monster in the basement,” and characters find it automatically if they search the wall
that they died from hunger. If asked how one gets to (no ability check required). Characters who descend the
the basement, Rose points to the dollhouse and says, spiral staircase end up in area 22.
“There’s a secret door in the attic.” Characters who then
search the dollhouse for secret doors gain advantage on 22. Dungeon Level Access
their Wisdom (Perception) checks to find them. The wooden spiral staircase from the attic ends here.
The children fear abandonment. If one or more char- A narrow tunnel stretches southward before branching
acters try to leave, the ghost-children attempt to possess east and west.
them. If one of the ghosts possesses a character, allow
the player to retain control of the character, but assign Ghostly Chanting
the character one of the following flaws: From the moment they arrive in the dungeon, the
characters can hear an eerie, incessant chant echoing
• A character possessed by Rose gains the following
throughout. It’s impossible to gauge where the sound is
flaw: “I like being in charge and get angry when other
coming from until the characters reach area 26 or 29.
people tell me what to do.”
They can’t discern its words until they reach area 35.
• A character possessed by Thorn gains the following
flaw: “I’m scared of everything, including my own
shadow, and weep with despair when things don’t
23. Family Crypts
go my way.” Several crypts have been hewn from the earth. Each
crypt is sealed with a stone slab unless noted otherwise.
A character possessed by the ghost of Rose or Thorn Removing a slab from its fitting requires a successful
won’t willingly leave Death House or the dungeon be- DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check; using a crowbar or
low it. Both ghosts can be intimidated into leaving their the like grants advantage on the check.
hosts with a successful DC 11 Charisma (Intimidation)
check made as an action. 23A. Empty Crypt
A ghost reduced to 0 hit points can reform at dawn The blank stone slab meant to seal this crypt leans
the next day. The only way to put the children’s spirits to against a nearby wall. The crypt is empty.
rest is to put their skeletal remains in their tombs (areas
23E and 23F). The children don’t know this, however. 23B. Walter’s Crypt
The stone slab meant to seal this crypt leans against
Development a nearby wall. Etched into it is the name Walter Durst.
If the party lays the children’s spirits to rest, each The crypt is empty.
character gains inspiration (see “Inspiration” in chap-
ter 4, “Personality and Background,” of the Player’s 23C. Gustav’s Crypt
Handbook). The stone slab is etched with the name Gustav Durst.
The chamber beyond contains an empty coffin atop a
21. Secret Stairs stone bier.
A narrow spiral staircase made of creaky wood is con-
tained within a 5-foot-wide shaft of mortared stone that
23D. Elisabeth’s Crypt
The stone slab is etched with the name Elisabeth Durst.
starts in the attic and descends 50 feet to the dungeon
The crypt contains a stone bier with an empty coffin
level, passing through the lower levels of the house as
atop it. A swarm of insects (centipedes) boils out of the
it makes its descent. Thick cobwebs fill the shaft and
back wall and attacks if the coffin is disturbed.
reduce visibility in the staircase to 5 feet.
The secret door and shaft don’t exist until the house 23E. Rose’s Crypt
reveals them, which can happen in one of two ways: The stone slab is etched with the name Rosavalda
• The characters find Strahd’s letter in the secret room Durst. The chamber beyond contains an empty coffin on
behind the library (area 9). a stone bier.

APPENDIX B | Death House

9
 If Rose’s skeletal remains (see area 20) are placed in 27. Dining Hall
the coffin, the child’s ghost finds peace and disappears
forever. A character possessed by Rose’s ghost when This room contains a plain wooden table flanked by long
this occurs is no longer possessed (see also the “Devel- benches. Moldy humanoid bones lie strewn on the dirt
opment” section in area 20). floor—the remains of the cult’s vile banquets.
In the middle of the south wall is a darkened alcove
23F. Thorn’s Crypt (area 28). Characters who approach within 5 feet of the
The stone slab is etched with the name Thornboldt alcove provoke the creature that lurks there.
Durst. The chamber beyond contains an empty coffin on
a stone bier. 28. Larder
If Thorn’s skeletal remains (see area 20) are placed in This alcove contains a grick that slithers out to attack
the coffin, the child’s ghost finds peace and disappears the first character it sees within 5 feet of it. Any charac-
forever. A character possessed by Thorn’s ghost when ter with a passive Wisdom (Perception) score under 12
this occurs is no longer possessed (see also the “Devel- is surprised by it. The alcove is otherwise empty.
opment” section in area 20).
29. Ghoulish Encounter
24. Cult Initiates’ Quarters The ghostly chanting heard throughout the dungeon is
A wooden table and four chairs stand at the east end noticeably louder to the north. When one or more char-
of this room. To the west are four alcoves containing acters reach the midpoint of the four-way tunnel inter-
moldy straw pallets. section, four ghouls (former cultists) rise up out of the
ground in the spaces marked X on the map and attack.
25. Well and Cultist Quarters The ghouls fight until destroyed.
A 4-foot-diameter well shaft with a 3-foot-high stone
lip descends 30 feet to a water-filled cistern. A wooden 30. Stairs Down
bucket hangs from a rope-and-pulley mechanism bolted It’s obvious to any character standing at the top of this
to the crossbeams above the well. 20-foot-long staircase that the ghostly chants originate
Five side rooms once served as quarters for senior from somewhere below. Characters who descend the
cultists. Each contains a wood-framed bed with a moldy stairs and follow the hall beyond arrive in area 35.
straw mattress and a wooden chest to hold personal
belongings. Each chest is secured with a rusty iron pad- 31. Darklord’s Shrine
lock that can be picked with thieves’ tools and a success-
ful DC 15 Dexterity check.
This room is festooned with moldy skeletons that hang
Treasure from rusty shackles against the walls. A wide alcove in
In addition to some worthless personal effects, each
the south wall contains a painted wooden statue carved
chest contains one or more valuable items.
in the likeness of a gaunt, pale-faced man wearing a vo-
25A. This room’s chest contains 11 gp and 60 sp in a
luminous black cloak, his pale left hand resting on the
pouch made of human skin.
25B. This room’s chest contains three moss agates head of a wolf that stands next to him. In his right hand,
(worth 10 gp each) in a folded piece of black cloth. he holds a smoky-gray crystal orb.
25C. This room’s chest contains a black leather eye- The room has exits in the west and north walls. Chant-
patch with a carnelian (worth 50 gp) sewn into it. ing can be heard coming from the west.
25D. This room’s chest contains an ivory hairbrush with
silver bristles (worth 25 gp).
25E. This room’s chest contains a silvered shortsword The statue depicts Strahd, to whom the cultists made
(worth 110 gp). sacrifices in the vain hope that he might reveal his dark-
est secrets to them. If the characters touch the statue or
26. Hidden Spiked Pit take the crystal orb from Strahd’s hand, five shadows
The ghostly chanting heard throughout the dungeon form around the statue and attack them. The shadows
gets discernibly louder as one heads west along this (the spirits of former cultists) pursue those who flee be-
tunnel. A successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check yond the room’s confines.
reveals an absence of footprints. Characters searching The skeletons on the wall are harmless decor.
the floor for traps find a 5-foot-long, 10-foot-deep pit
hidden under several rotted wooden planks, all hidden
Concealed Door
Characters searching the room for secret doors find a
under a thin layer of dirt. The pit has sharpened wooden
concealed door in the middle of the east wall with a suc-
spikes at the bottom. The first character to step on the
cessful DC 10 Wisdom (Perception) check. It’s basically
cover falls through, landing prone and taking 3 (1d6)
an ordinary (albeit rotted) wooden door hidden under a
bludgeoning damage from the fall plus 11 (2d10) pierc-
layer of clay. The door pulls open to reveal a stone stair-
ing damage from the spikes.
case that climbs 10 feet to a landing (area 32).

APPENDIX B | Death House

10
Treasure The cult amassed several “relics” that it used in its
The crystal orb is worth 25 gp. It can be used as an ar- rituals. These worthless items are stored in thirteen
cane focus but is not magical. niches along the walls:

32. Hidden Trapdoor • A small, mummified, yellow hand with sharp claws (a
goblin’s hand) on a loop of rope
The staircase ends at a landing with a 6-foot-high ceil- • A knife carved from a human bone
ing of close-fitting planks with a wooden trapdoor set • A dagger with a rat’s skull set into the pommel
into it. The trapdoor is bolted shut from this side and • An 8-inch-diameter varnished orb made from a
can be pushed open to reveal the den (area 3) above. nothic’s eye
• An aspergillum carved from bone
Development • A folded cloak made from stitched ghoul skin
Once the trapdoor has been found and opened, it re- • A desiccated frog lashed to a stick (could be mistaken
mains available to characters as a way into and out of for a wand of polymorph)
the dungeon level. • A bag full of bat guano
• A hag’s severed finger
33. Cult Leaders’ Den • A 6-inch-tall wooden figurine of a mummy, its arms
The door in the southwest corner is a mimic in disguise. crossed over its chest
Any creature that touches the door becomes adhered to • An iron pendant adorned with a devil’s face
the creature, whereupon the mimic attacks. The mimic • The shrunken, shriveled head of a halfling
also attacks if its takes any damage. • A small wooden coffer containing a dire wolf’s with-
A chandelier is suspended above a table in the middle ered tongue
of the room. Two high-backed chairs flank the table, The southernmost tunnel slopes down at a 20-degree
which has an empty clay jug and two clay flagons atop angle into murky water and ends at a rusty portcullis
it. Iron candlesticks stand in two corners, their candles (area 37).
long since melted away.
36. Prison
34. Cult Leaders’ Quarters The cultists shackled prisoners to the back walls of
This room contains a large wood-framed bed with a alcoves here. The prisoners are long gone (their bones
rotted feather mattress, a wardrobe containing several litter the floor in area 27), but the rusty shackles remain.
old robes, a pair of iron candlesticks, and an open crate
containing thirty torches and a leather sack with fifteen Secret Door
candles inside it. At the foot of the bed is an unlocked A secret door in the south wall can be found with a
wooden footlocker containing some gear and magic successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check and pulls
items (see “Treasure” below). open to reveal area 38 beyond.
Two ghasts (Gustav and Elisabeth Durst) are hidden
in cavities behind the earthen walls, marked X on the Treasure
map; they burst forth and attack if someone removes Hanging on the back wall of the cell marked X on the
one or more items from the footlocker. The ghasts wear map is a human skeleton clad in a tattered black robe.
tattered black robes. The skeleton belongs to a cult member who questioned
the cult’s blind devotion to Strahd. Characters who
Treasure search the skeleton find a gold ring (worth 25 gp) on one
Characters searching the footlocker find a folded cloak of its bony fingers.
of protection, a small wooden coffer (unlocked) con-
taining four potions of healing, a chain shirt, a mess 37. Portcullis
kit, a flask of alchemist’s fire, a bullseye lantern, a set This tunnel is blocked by a rusty iron portcullis that can
of thieves’ tools, and a spellbook with a yellow leather be forcibly lifted with a successful DC 20 Strength (Ath-
cover containing the following wizard spells: letics) check. Otherwise, the portcullis can be raised or
1st level: disguise self, identify, mage armor, magic mis- lowered by turning a wooden wheel half-embedded in
sile, protection from evil and good the east wall of area 38. (The wheel is beyond the reach
2nd level: darkvision, hold person, invisibility, of someone east of the portcullis.) The floor around the
magic weapon portcullis is submerged under 2 feet of murky water.
These items were taken from adventurers who were
drawn into Barovia, captured, and killed by the cult.
38. Ritual Chamber
The cult used to perform rituals in this sunken room.
35. Reliquary The chanting heard throughout the dungeon originates
here, yet when the characters arrive, the dungeon falls
The ghostly chant emanating from area 38 fills this
silent as the chanting mysteriously stops.
room. Characters can discern a dozen or so voices say-
ing, over and over, “He is the Ancient. He is the Land.”

APPENDIX B | Death House

11
 of the sacrifice, and Death House now does nothing to
The chanting stops as you peer into this forty-foot-square hinder the characters (see “Endings” below).
room. The smooth masonry walls provide excellent If the characters leave the dais without making the
acoustics. Featureless stone pillars support the ceiling, sacrifice, the cultists’ chant changes: “Lorghoth the
and a breach in the west wall leads to a dark cave heaped Decayer, we awaken thee!” This chant rouses the sham-
bling mound and prompts it to attack. It pursues prey
re use ur a er o ers os o e oor a rs
beyond the room but won’t leave the dungeon. It can
lead up to dry stone ledges that hug the walls. In the move through tunnels without squeezing and completely
middle of the room, more stairs rise to form an octago- fills its space. At the start of the shambling mound’s first
nal dais that also rises above the water. Rusty chains with turn, the chant changes again: “The end comes! Death,
shackles dangle from the ceiling directly above a stone be praised!” If the shambling mound dies, the chanting
altar mounted on the dais. The altar is carved with hid- stops and the apparitions vanish forever.
eous depictions of grasping ghouls and is stained with
dry blood.
Endings
The mists of Ravenloft continue to surround Death
House until the characters stand atop the dais and
The water is 2 feet deep. The ledges and central dais are either appease or defy the cultists. Strahd is satisfied
5 feet high (3 feet higher than the water’s surface), and either way, prompting the mists to recede.
the chamber’s ceiling is 16 feet high (11 feet above the
dais and ledges). The chains dangling from the ceiling The Cult Is Appeased
are 8 feet long; the cultists would shackle prisoners to
Death House harbors no ill will toward a party willing
the chains, dangle them above the altar, cut them open
to sacrifice a life to appease the cult. Once the sacrifice
with knives, and allow the altar to be bathed in blood.
is made, the characters are free to go. Upon emerging
Half embedded in the east wall is a wooden wheel
from the house, the characters advance to 3rd level.
connected to hidden chains and mechanisms. A charac-
ter can use an action to turn the wheel, raising or lower-
ing the nearby portcullis (see area 37).
The Cult Is Denied
The hole in the west wall leads to a naturally formed If the characters deny the cult its sacrifice and either
alcove. The half-submerged pile of refuse that fills it is a destroy the shambling mound or escape from it, Death
shambling mound, which the cultists dubbed Lorghoth House attacks them as they try to leave. When they re-
the Decayer. It is asleep but awakens if attacked or if the turn upstairs, they must roll initiative as they discover
characters summon the cultists but refuse to complete several architectural changes:
their ritual (see “One Must Die!” below). A character • All the windows are bricked up; the bricked-up win-
standing next to the mound can discern its true nature dows and the outer walls are impervious to the party’s
with a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Nature) check. weapon attacks and damage-dealing spells.
• All the doors are gone, replaced by slashing scythe-
“One Must Die!” blades. A character must succeed on a DC 15 Dexter-
If any character climbs to the top of the dais, read: ity (Acrobatics) check to pass through a blade-trapped
doorway unscathed. A character who spends 1 minute
The chanting rises once more as thirteen dark appari- studying the blades in a particular doorway can try to
take advantage of a momentary gap in their repeating
tions appear on the ledges overlooking the room. Each
movements and make a DC 15 Intelligence check
one rese les a la ro e ure ol n a or u instead. Failing either check, a character takes 2d10
e or s re s la an see s o ra l no slashing damage but manages to pass through the
Where you’d expect to see faces are voids. doorway. Any creature pushed through a doorway
“One must die!” they chant, over and over. “One must must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or
die! One must die!” take the damage. The blades can’t be disarmed.
• Every room that contains a fireplace, an oven, or a
stove is filled with poisonous black smoke. The room
The apparitions are harmless figments that can’t be is heavily obscured, and any creature that starts its
damaged, turned, or dispelled. turn in the smoke must succeed on a DC 10 Constitu-
Characters on the dais when the cultists appear must tion saving throw or take 1d10 poison damage.
sacrifice a creature on the altar or face the cult’s wrath; • The interior walls become rotted and brittle. Each
characters can ascertain what must be done with a 5-foot-section has AC 5 and 5 hit points, and can
successful DC 11 Intelligence (Religion) or Wisdom also be destroyed with a successful DC 10 Strength
(Insight) check. To count as a sacrifice, a creature must (Athletics) check. Each 5-foot section of wall that’s
die on the altar. The apparitions don’t care what kind of destroyed causes a swarm of rats to pour out and at-
creature is sacrificed, and they aren’t fooled by illusions. tack. The swarm won’t leave the house.
If the characters make the sacrifice, the cultists fade Keep track of initiative as the characters make their
away, but their tireless chant of “He is the Ancient. He is way through the house. Once they escape, they advance
the Land,” echoes again in the dungeon. Strahd is aware to 3rd level, and the house does no more to harm them.

APPENDIX B | Death House

12