D&D 5e Curse of Strahd

Game Master Benjen Harris

As Del goes thru the door to position himself behind Ash, he glances out the window.

What does he see?

Out the window you can see the lower balcony and the same grey mist that surrounds the house.

Ash Perception Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

You don't hear anything at that door Ash. Would you like to open it?

Splitz whispers, Go ahead Ash, open it.

Ash stands for a moment, as if steeling himself, but then he realizes that he's been looking at the wrong page on the PbP and quickly springs to action, shouldering open the door, shield at the ready.

Craig...lol!

lol!!

This room contains a bricked-up window flanked by two dusty, wood-framed beds sized for children. Closer to the door is a toy chest with windmills painted on its sides and a dollhouse that’s a perfect replica of the dreary edifice in which you stand. These furnishings are draped in cobwebs. Lying in the middle of the floor are two small skeletons wearing tattered but familiar clothing. The smaller of the two cradles a stuffed doll that you also recognize.

Ghosts! They were ghosts...how sad. I wonder how they died?

He looks to the Del, for some clerical insight. As he looks around the room.

Investigation: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Unfortunately you don't find anything specific Splitz.

Ash is initially stunned by the sight of the child sized corpses. Even in their skeletal state, the horror of infanticide washes through him. Who…or what could have done this evil act? He murmurs as he looks about the room for general clues but also for an idea of why this happened (ie positions of the bodies, possible methods, motives, etc).

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Insight: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Del examines the room with a deep sigh, visibly shaken by what he sees.

religion: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

I forgot to mention this room was locked from the outside.

The skeletal children hold their arms across where their stomachs used to be. Based on the fact that the door of this room was locked you would assume the children starved to death.

Other than discerning that you don't find anything else in this room.

Del, struggling to control his emotions after what he sees, stumbles into the hallway and proceeds as fast as he can to move to the next room. Not looking too clearly, he opens the door to the right and steps in, just wanting to be done with this building. He can't bring himself to call it a home.

Before rushing out the door in sheer sadness and anger Del does notices that the dollhouse clearly has a basement.

This web-filled room contains a slender bed, a nightstand, a rocking chair, an empty wardrobe, and a small iron stove.

Akeldama! Ash cries out as Del rushes from the room. Stay by my side, brother! At all times. You promised! He continues to call as he charges heedlessly after Del, following him to the other room. Coming up behind Del, Ash places a hand on his shoulder and, not unkindly, pulls him back and puts himself in front, scanning the room. What have you stumbled upon here brother? Next time, allow me to maintain the vanguard Ash mutters over his shoulder.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Brother, I'm fine. We must clear this floor so we can continue to clear the evil from this building. Did you notice the dollhouse had a basement? Quickly, lets clear this floor so we can see where we missed access to the basement. Baron! Check the door opposite if you will.

No creepy spiders in the web filled room?

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Del will check out the bed, nightstand and iron stove for clues or any hidden objects.

You find nothing in this room.

Is anything in this place real I wonder? Should we put these remains to peace?
Diaz says while looking in on the skeletons. He will then stack up on the door with the brothers.

Maybe after we clear the home of evil. Then, maybe, we can bury them with honor, or create a pyre. I don't know how these people honor their dead.

Okay. no problem. The Baron heads through the door opposite the cobweb room.

Ash turns slightly to look at Diaz as he follows the Baron. Good thinking, Tiefling. We shall bring peace to the dead, if that is even possible in these lands. At the very least, we can take appropriate measures to ensure the dead do not rise again. Well done, Mr Pam. Ash begins to make a movement as though he is going to clap Diaz on the shoulder, but hesitates. He shakes his head nearly imperceptibly before dropping his arm and moving after the Baron.

This dusty chamber is packed with old furniture (chairs, coat racks, standing mirrors, dress mannequins, and the like), all draped in dusty white sheets. On the right side of the room is an iron stove and a large wooden box also covered in a white sheet sits next to it.

Ash pauses at the door to survey, then, looking over his shoulder to Del to ensure his brother remains behind him, he moves past the Baron and investigates the box and stove.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Knowing his brother will be annoyed with him, Del slips past to get his own view of the room.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Come on Diaz, let's check this room out., he says, drawing him by his shoulder to go with him, if he will.

I moved us according to what you said and what I hope Diaz and I will do but feel free to adjust if you don't want to be where I am.

Diaz follows Del but keeps a wary eye on the mannequins

Del you notice a small amount of dried blood by the trunk next to the furnace.

Diaz, is that blood by the trunk? I bet someone fell and hit their head on it. What do you think is in the chest?

With that, Del moves up to the chest, wary but curious, still with shield and mace at the ready.

If nothing tries to kill me I'll look to see if the chest is locked. What skill check do you use to open locks?

Fast Hands
Starting at 3rd level, you can use the bonus action granted by your Cunning Action to make a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check, use your thieves’ tools to disarm a trap or open a lock, or take the Use an Object action.

So, the only one who can open a lock is a rogue using fast hands? As a dexterity check?

Anyone can make the Dexterity (slight of hands) check. Add your proficiency bonus if proficient in that skill and use thieves tools if proficient with those. The Fast Hands ability just allows the rogue to do it as a bonus action (ie a little faster).

What Craig said is exactly correct. Anyone can try to pick a lock but unless you have proficiency in thieves tools its just a flat Dexterity check.

Luckily this box is not locked and upon opening it you see a humanoid figure stuffed within the box wrapped in a white bed sheet that is stained in multiple spots with red.

Blood? I Think you are right. Do we really want to open…. Nevermind
Ready eldritch blast for if the body moves.

Blood? I think you are right. Do we want to open… never mind
Ready eldritch blast if the body moves

Diaz, give me a sec while I pull it out. Don't blast me if you can help it.

With that, Del pulls the unfortunate body out for inspection wondering who would have killed the person and stuffed him in the chest. He'll unwrap him to get a better inspection.

We haven't seen anyone alive in this place, have we?

medicine check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

ps. thanks for the explanation on opening locks. Same thing for disarming a trap? Anyone can do it and it's a dexterity check but the rogue can do it better with proficiency in lock picks and faster with fast hands?

The Baron hangs out in the doorway as another body is revealed.

Macabre, this place is, in spades.

It appears the corpse is that of a woman who was killed via many stab wounds.

Is that her name? Macabre? But yes we will need spades and shovels I am afraid Diaz says not thinking clearly as he stares at the body. but why is body intact and bloody and the children were skeletons?

is her body

I was thinking the same thing my friend. This is the first real body we've found. Let's finish examining this room and then this floor, maybe her murderer is here or maybe lurking in the basement.

Is this a fresh dead body, or old? Is she young, like could be the mother of the kids skeletons we saw?

Its definitely not fresh, the blood is old and and the corpse is almost mummified in a way.

Ok, if this might be the old body of the mom, someone still killed her and stuffed her in this box. We need to still be looking. Let's fan out and check the rest of this room and that balcony and then we have one more door we passed, then off to find that basement we noted on the model.

Check the rest of room and balcony then move to the final door and listen then open after inspecting the lock.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

With a natural twenty you don't find anything else in this room. But what you do notice is that specific section of the house circle on the map has been solid on each floor with no room inhabiting that space, curious.

Noticing that part of the floor plan as being odd, Del will point it out to the group. We’ll want to check the sides for secret doors, tapping to see if we notice a hollow spot. If nothing than we can for sure check each floor going down from here.

Upon the revelation that there is a consistent void spot on each floor, Splitz steps out into the hall and starts and examining the wall.

Investigate: 1d20 ⇒ 7

With a sneer of disgust at the evil exuding from this place, Ash watches silently as the baron and Del investigate the chest and the withered corpse inside.

When Del points out the odd architectural void, Ash exclaims: By Eldath's sweet breath! Del, you continue to amaze me with your attention to detail. You always were the scholar. Now, if we can just figure out what is going on. Ash then helps investigate the void spot.

Investigation: 1d20 ⇒ 20

If nothing found, Ash will invite the rest of the party to the final unopened door before listening and then opening it.

Perception at the door: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Woot

Wow! Them Mourningstone boys just keep rolling rocks!

The wall is strange, its hollow and a room of some kind is definitely beyond. But you can't find a door, one should be there but it just isn't. As if something supernatural is just keeping it from existing.

You hear nothing at the final door. Opening it you see a dust-choked room containing a slender bed, a nightstand, a small iron stove, a writing desk with a stool, an empty wardrobe, and a rocking chair. A smiling doll in a lacy yellow dress sits in the northern window box, cobwebs draping it like a wedding veil.

Del comes up behind his brother to look into the final room. You see that doll? Totally creepy, I don't think I want to go in there. This place is messed up!

I do think we're missing something on that hidden room. Think their might be a magical word that would open the door? Anything you think we've missed, a word or an expression that we could say?

Diaz look in the room and on seeing the doll: yeah, no and snaps his whip sending an eldridge blast at the doll before it can kill them all.
attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 101d10 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 pushing doll back 10 feet as well if that hits

The doll falls to the ground and part of its face cracks off.

Anticlimatic but satisfying. Where to now? shall we blast out where we think the hidden room is or would there be a better way?

If we’ve looked at the attic level all 3 sides for secret doors, let’s move down level by level to the ground floor, looking for an opening. We’ll be vigilant for attacks as we go down.

I will go ahead and tell you to save time, you examine all the walls of that area on each floor thoroughly but find no door. You probably missed something else in the house, think of rooms you didn't thoroughly check.