u/InkborneSeer

Strahd von Zarovich was a count, a prince, a soldier, and a conqueror. After the death of his father, King Barov, Strahd waged long, bloody wars against his family’s enemies. He and his army cornered the last of them in a remote mountain valley before slaying them all.

The idyllic valley nestled in the Balinok Mountains was a slice of heaven to those who knew of its existence before Strahd’s arrival. The serenity of the place was forever shattered when Strahd led a bloody crusade that ended here with the slaughter of thousands. Struck by the scenic beauty of his most recent conquest and eager to escape the shadow of his father’s legacy, Strahd made the valley his home and named it Barovia after the late King Barov.

The dark silhouette of Castle Ravenloft looms over the village from its perch atop a thousand foot high column of rock known as the Pillarstone of Ravenloft. Barovians were once a happy people, but they have been terrorized for centuries by the one they call “the devil Strahd.”

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To a party of seasoned adventurers such as yourselves, what you see is but another dull tavern in another dull town in some nameless province. It is merely another pause between the challenges of true adventuring! However, outside the tavern, a fog lies over the town this evening. The damp, cobbled pavement glistens as the lights of street lanterns dance across the slick stones. The fog chills the bones and unsettles the soul of anyone outside. Yet inside these tavern walls, the food is hearty and the ale is crisp and frothy. A fire blazes in the hearth, and the tavern is alive with the rumbling voices of country folk.

Suddenly, the tavern door swings open, and a hush falls over the room. Framed by the lamp lit fog, a figure strides through the doorway. His heavy, booted footfalls and the jingle of his coins shatter the silence. His brightly colored clothes are draped in loose folds about him, and his hat hangs askew, hiding his eyes in shadow. Without hesitation, he walks up to your table and stands proudly in a wide stance with folded arms.

In an accented voice, he says, “I ‘ave been sent to you… to deliver zis message, if you are… creatures of ‘onor, you will come to my master’s aid at first light. It is not… advisable to travel the Svalich Woods by night.” He pulls from his tunic a sealed letter, addressed to all of you in beautiful, flowing script. He drops the letter on the table. “Take the west road from ‘ere, some five hours march down through the Svalich Woods. There you will find my master, in Barovia.”

Amid the silent stares of the patrons, the mysterious figure strides to the bar and says to the wary barkeep, “Fill the glasses, one and all. Their throats are obviously parched.” He drops a purse heavy with gold on the bar. With that, he leaves.

The babble of tavern voices resumes, though somewhat subdued. The letter lies before you, its seal bearing a crest you do not recognize...

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We’re looking for a group of brave (or perhaps doomed) adventurers to step into the shadows of Curse of Strahd, a gothic horror campaign steeped in tragedy, dread, and difficult choices. This is not a lighthearted romp through the woods. This is a slow burning descent into darkness where your choices matter… and your survival is never guaranteed.

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Schedule
Sundays at 4 PM HST / 7 PM MST / 10pm EDT / 12pm AEST
Session 0 will be: July 19th
⚠️The DM does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so please be mindful when converting time zones. ⚠️

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About the DM
Chernz (she/her), early 30s, based in Hawaii.
She’s been DMing for about two years and is currently running four tables (yes, she thrives in chaos :p). Her games lean into character driven storytelling and meaningful consequences with some fun combat! (Roughly 60% RP / 40% combat).

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Platform & Rules
• Platform: Roll20
• Module: Curse of Strahd (purchased and shared by the DM)
• Ruleset: 2014 5e rules
• Style: Roughly 60% RP / 40% combat, adjustable based on group preference
• Session length: 3ish hours
•Homebrew is OK per DM approval.(No artificers and/or warforged as the setting seems a bit far fetched for them)
•Absolutely NO AI. (This goes for both the DM and players.)

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Player Spots
1/5 filled. We do prefer an older group, as most of us are in our 30s, but this is not a hard requirement. Maturity and enthusiasm matters more than age.

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Tone & Content Warnings
Curse of Strahd is a horror module and includes heavy themes. This is a world where actions carry weight. Death is not the goal… but it is a very real possibility. Please come prepared with a backup character and please review these trigger warnings carefully before applying.

Major Themes Include:
>!• Extreme violence and torture!<
>!• Body horror (including medical horror)!<
>!• Abuse (romantic and familial)!<
>!• Cannibalism!<
>!• References to sexual violence!<
>!• Suicide!<
>!• Violence toward children!<
>!• Incest!<

Additional Considerations:
>!• Ableism!<
>!• Cultural stereotypes!<
>!• Class disparity!<
>!• Graphic torture!<

This table will prioritize player safety and comfort, but the setting itself is intentionally dark. Please keep that in mind, as we will be running the game as written.

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Applying
Here is the Google Form to fill out. This is not first come, first serve. We’re looking for players who fit the tone, vibe, and group dynamic. Applications will remain open until Friday, July 10th. Bring your creativity, your emotional damage, and maybe a backup character sheet or two! ;] We will be holding vibe checks on the 12th and 13th. (I can absolutely work with your schedule if those days don't work!)

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Final Note
Please do not comment on this post just to say you’ve submitted your form. It creates unnecessary notifications and clutters the thread for everyone. If you have an actual question that hasn’t already been answered, by all means, comment!

Just to be clear, I am not the DM. I’ve volunteered to help find a few more players to round out the table. That said, I’m excited to see what kind of shenanigans we end up with once the party is assembled.

Good luck, adventurers!