Ravenloft: Curse of Strahd 2nd Edition to DnD 5e

Chapter 1: Fortunes of Ravenloft

Recommended Levels: 1–2

As the adventurers traverse the mist-shrouded Svalich Woods, they stumble upon a Gypsy camp where the renowned seer Madam Eva awaits. By the flicker of torchlight and under swirling incense smoke, she deals the Fortunes of Ravenloft —a tarot reading that shapes Strahd’s motives and the party’s path:

• Strahd’s Ambition: Does he seek the Sunsword, a powerful relic, or is he hunting down someone close to the heroes?
• Sunsword Clue: Which part of the blade is hidden, and in which wing of Castle Ravenloft it resides?
• Secret Tomb Location: The precise crypt number where Sergei von Zarovich’s remains lie (often Crypt 40 ).
• Black Opal’s Counter: A magic item that can neutralize the sapphire of Strahd, concealed in a ruined manor.
• Strahd’s Fear: A secret weapon or ally that can truly threaten the vampire lord (e.g., a blessed stake, the Sunsword, or a holy ancestor’s blessing).

No dice are rolled to draw the cards—fate falls as it may. However, a player may attempt an Insight check (DC 15) to sense hidden subtleties in Madam Eva’s prophecy.

Chapter 2: Lands of Barovia

Recommended Levels: 2–3

Beyond the mountain pass, two black iron gates swing open of their own accord. A ragged letter sealed with the Burgomaster’s crest lies in the road:

“My adopted daughter, Ireena Kolyana, lies dying from the bite of a vampyr. None can save her but your courage. Bring her to the only holy haven in these cursed lands. Return when all hope is lost.”
— Kolyan Indirovich, Burgomaster of Barovia

A grayish mist clings to Barovia’s mountainsides. Any who attempt to cross beyond the valley’s bounds must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or begin to suffocate. Only a potion whispered by Madam Eva can suspend this effect—yet none aside from the seer know its location.

Random Encounters in Svalich Woods

Even daylit paths feel ominous: wary eyes emerge from the mist, and the heroes must press onward toward the lone village of Barovia.

Chapter 3: Village of Barovia

Recommended Levels: 3–4

Through a gloom-shrouded lane, the party arrives at a small settlement. Cracked cobblestones and boarded homes line a silent main square. Their path leads to Bildrath’s Mercantile.

Meeting Ismark

Inside the cramped shop, Ismark the Lesser kneels by a dusty counter. He pleads with the adventurers to escort his adopted sister, Ireena Kolyana, out of Strahd’s reach. Bite marks mar her neck; fear glistens in her eyes. He knows of only one safe haven: the ramshackle church at the village’s edge.

Key Locations & NPCs

Guided by Ismark’s desperation, the party must navigate haunted streets to deliver Ireena to the Church of Barovia before night descends.

Chapter 4: Burgomaster’s Mansion & Flight to the Church

Recommended Levels: 4–5

Ismark’s breath hitches as the party exits the mansion with Ireena in tow. Faint moans echo from the shadows. In moments, fate strikes.

Ambush at the Mansion

As Ireena steps onto the porch, 2–4 Strahd Zombies lurch from hidden niches. A quick Perception check (DC 12) may reveal their approach. The heroes must hold the shambling undead at bay while keeping Ireena sheltered—she cannot fight in her weakened state.

Chase Through the Village

No sooner are the zombies felled than a pack of 4–6 Worgs appears at the far end of the lane. The heroes become reluctant escorts, pressed to push through snarling jaws. A knocked‐over cart or misstep can cost precious seconds—each round spent delaying invites more wolves.

Sanctuary at the Church

Reaching the Church of Barovia(E7), the heavy wooden doors slam shut behind them. A faint glow of holy protection shimmers at the threshold: no undead can cross within 30 feet. Ireena collapses in relief as the heroes barricade the doors until dawn.

Chapter 5: The Gypsy Camp (Madam Eva’s Prophecy)

Recommended Levels: 5–6

With Ireena safe until sunrise, whispers of the heroes’ arrival reach the Gypsy Camp at Tser Pool. Under a blood-red moon, they find crimson lanterns dancing in the clearing.

Approach & Tension

The camp is ringed by wagons and guarded by wary Gypsies. A Stealth check (DC 13) can allow the heroes to slip past the guards and avoid conflict. If discovered, a brief skirmish with 2–4 Gypsy guards (use Spy stat blocks, CR 1/8) erupts until the commander deems it unwise to oppose.

Madam Eva’s Tent

Inside, incense coils around a low table of tarot cards. Madam Eva greets each hero by name, as though she’s known them lifetimes. She deals the Fortunes of Ravenloft again— revealing or confirming:

“Return to Castle Ravenloft soon,” Madam Eva intones. “Strahd’s eyes pierce the mists. Delay, and the hourglass empties.”

Chapter 6: Castle Ravenloft Exterior & Entry

Recommended Levels: 6–7

Lightning cracks overhead as the heroes stand before the yawning chasm that guards Castle Ravenloft. A narrow drawbridge creaks in the wind; towering battlements loom, crowned by spires that pierce storm clouds.

Drawbridge & Gatehouse

The drawbridge arches across a thousand-foot chasm. Each step across demands caution—a failed Dexterity saving throw (DC 13) sends the plank beneath a hero’s foot cracking into ruin. A fall into the abyss means instant death unless a Feather Fall or similar magic intervenes.

Entry Tunnel & Green Slime

Through massive oak gates, a low tunnel slants downward, damp and oppressive. Firmer steps reveal dripping globules of green slime poised above. A Dexterity check (DC 14) lets a hero avoid being coated. Failure means foul acid clings to armor and flesh—each round, 1d6 acid damage accrues until forcibly removed (1 Action to scrape away).

Encroaching Woods

Beyond the tunnel, warped oaks and twisted hedges crowd the courtyard. Each minute (60 feet of travel), the heroes must make a Wisdom (Perception) check (DC 11). On a failure, they stumble into one of:

Should Strahd choose, he may appear as a bat or swirling mist, testing the heroes’ resolve before vanishing toward the gatehouse.

Gatehouse Courtyard (K1–K2)

A high stone arch frames the gatehouse entrance. Gargoyles perch on crumbling towers, and torches reveal grotesque masonry. From within the gatehouse, a barely audible drip of water echoes.

Beyond the courtyard, a narrow stair spirals upward into the castle’s main keep. The heavy gates groan shut behind the heroes—there is no turning back.

Chapter 7: Castle Ravenloft – First Floor (Main Level)

Recommended Levels: 7–8

The spiraling stairs end in a vast, gothic entrance hall. Stained-glass windows depict the von Zarovich lineage amid swirling mist. Flickering torches cast long shadows across marble floors marred by scuffs of dried blood.

Entry Hall & Court of the Count (K1–K8)

The heroes step into the Entry Hall where ancestral statues watch silently. At the far end, the Court of the Count opens into a throne room crowned by Strahd’s dais. Animated suits of armor and gargoyles stand at guard.

Kitchen & Servants’ Quarters (K9–K15)

A narrow corridor leads to the kitchens, where iron pots hang above cold hearths. The Servants’ Quarters lie beyond—cots strewn with thin blankets, long since abandoned.

Beyond the servants’ wing, a spiral stair climbs to the upper floors. The air grows colder as the heroes ascend.

Chapter 8: Castle Ravenloft – Upper Floors

Recommended Levels: 8–9

The spiral staircase narrows as it ascends. Carved reliefs of von Zarovich ancestors line the walls, their stone eyes seeming to follow the heroes. The upper floors are a labyrinth of hallways leading to private chambers, libraries, and hidden alcoves.

Strahd’s Private Chambers (K22–K24)

At the apex of the first turret lies Strahd’s bedroom—a chamber draped in crimson silk and black velvet. A carved four-poster bed dominates one corner; a balcony overlooks the courtyard below.

Library & Study (K25–K28)

A narrow hallway leads to a lofty library. Floor-to-ceiling shelves groan under leather-bound tomes. A heavy oak desk stands beneath a stained-glass window.

Private Guest Chambers (K31–K35)

Along a decorated corridor, several guest chambers lie empty but for dusty furniture and cobwebs. One door bears a carved crest: “ Von Luskan.”

A final spiral stair descends toward a hidden hatch—leading deeper into the castle’s cold, unforgiving dungeon.

Chapter 9: Castle Ravenloft – Dungeon & Catacombs

Recommended Levels: 9–10

Beneath the grand chambers, a spiral stair leads down to a stout iron door. Beyond lies a labyrinth of damp corridors and numbered crypts—each concealing threats, secrets, or treasures.

Descent & Teleportation Alcoves (K85–K86)

The stair wends downward into darkness. At the bottom, two magic alcoves glow faintly—each keyed to specific crypts:

Hall of Crypts (Crypt 15–39)

A long corridor lined with numbered doors. Each crypt bears a nameplate and often conceals undead guardians or puzzles.

Should the heroes navigate these crypts, they will piece together lore about Strahd’s former loves, his tragic downfall, and the means to finally face him.

Chapter 10: Optional Ending & Aftermath

Recommended Levels: 10–11

If the heroes reach Strahd’s sanctum and face him at the height of Castle Ravenloft, the final confrontation determines Barovia’s fate. By wielding the Sunsword in direct sunlight and driving a Blessed Stake through his heart, Strahd’s regeneration fails, and he falls—his dust scattering at dawn.

Destroying Strahd

• Strahd fights as a 5e Vampire(MM 297). He regains 20 HP each round if above 0 HP, unless exposed to sunlight (takes 20 radiant damage) or running water.
• The Sunsword(a +3 longsword shedding bright light in a 30-ft radius) deals an extra 3d6 radiant damage to undead, bypassing regeneration. In sunlight, any strike that reduces Strahd to 0 HP stops his regeneration permanently.
• If Strahd falls, a final image of Tatyana’s spirit appears at his side as they ascend into dawn’s light, finally freed from their cursed cycle.

Epilogue

With Strahd’s demise, the gray mists lift. Castle Ravenloft trembles and collapses into the mountain. Barovia’s skies clear for the first time in centuries. The heroes stand amidst crumbling battlements as the sun pierces the gloom—Sergei’s spirit appears to thank them, and Ireena can finally begin anew.

Appendix: 5e-Style Conversion Notes

Skill Checks & Saves

• Insight (Fortunes): DC 15 to glean extra hints from Madam Eva’s reading.
• Perception (Crypt/Hall): DC 11–16 to notice traps, hidden doors, or spectral guardians.
• Constitution Saves:
  • Exiting Barovia’s Fog: DC 14 or begin to suffocate (1d6 poison per round outside). Return within 24 hours or die.
  • Banshee’s Keening: DC 16 or be paralyzed for 1 round.
  • Strahd’s Charm: DC 17 Wisdom to resist Charm Person.
• Dexterity Saves:
  • Drawbridge Collapse: DC 13 or fall (unless Feather Fall). Instant death from the fall.
  • Green Slime: DC 14 to avoid coating. If coated, 1d6 acid damage per round until removed by Action or Cure Wounds (3rd level).
• Wisdom Saves: DC 16 to avoid Glyph of Warding teleport (Rooms of Weeping) or be teleported to Crypt 86.

Random Encounter Tables

Each time the heroes travel 60 ft without rest in the castle, roll 1d6:

Magic Items & Relics

• Sunsword:+3 longsword, sheds bright light (30 ft radius), deals +3d6 radiant to undead. In sunlight, bypasses regeneration entirely.
• Holy Symbol of Barovia: Once per day, cast Protection from Evil and Good on bearer (self or ally) as if holding a holy relic.
• Potion of Greater Healing: Heals 4d4+4 HP when consumed.
• Necklace of Fireballs: 1 charge, cast as per 5e rules.
• Horn of Blasting: 3 charges; each use forces DC 14 Dex save or take 5d6 thunder (half on save).

Vampire (Strahd) Abilities

• Charm Person: DC 17 Wisdom save or charmed for 24 hours. If a target is charmed, friendly toward Strahd and views allies as enemies.
• Shapechanger: As a bonus action, transform into a bat or mist (MM rules). In bat or mist form, cannot attack but can move through narrow spaces or ambush later.
• Regeneration: Regains 20 HP at the start of his turn if he has at least 1 HP, unless he takes radiant damage or water touches him.
• Sunlight Hypersensitivity: If exposed to direct sunlight, takes 20 radiant damage at the start of his turn. If reduced to 0 HP, he dies instead of turning into Mist Form.

General Notes

• Use 5e monster stat blocks from the Monster Manual for all encounters: Zombies(CR 2), Worgs(CR 2), Animated Armor(CR 2), Rust Monster(CR 2), Spectre(CR 3), Banshee(CR 4), etc.
• Traps: Use 5e-style traps—typically a Dexterity save to avoid area effects, or Investigation to spot triggers.
• Encourage players to roleplay—striking bargains with spirits, reading cryptic inscriptions, and piecing together Strahd’s history as they delve deeper into Castle Ravenloft.