Credits Assault on Castle

Project Oversight: Trevor Armstrong Ravenloft

Author: Wyatt Trull Assault on Castle Ravenloft is a three-hour one-shot
Editor: Jason Price flashback adventure designed for a party of approximately
Layout: Dan Salvucci four 5th-level adventurers. The players will witness the
Artists: Bob Greyvenstein, Dean Spencer history of Barovia itself from the eyes of their very own
Cartography: Sir Grognard knights of the Order of the Silver Dragon, who died fighting
the deathly tyranny of Strahd von Zarovich nearly four
On the Cover centuries ago. Ultimately, the players either flee when this
army is defeated, or push forward to strike back at Strahd—
All is silent in Castle Ravenloft on the eve before a battle with who then promptly murders them all in a flash of horrific
the Order of the Silver Dragon. gore.
To run this adventure, you will require the Curse of Strahd
module, chiefly for the statistics of Strahd von Zarovich and
Rahadin, and for further information regarding characters
featured in this adventure, such as Vladimir Horngaard.

Table Of Contents
Adventure Summary...................pg.3
Dramatis Locis.........................pg.4
Dramatis Personae....................pg.4
Prologue.................................pg.7
Act I: Enemies at the Gate.........pg.10
Act II: Unto the Breach............pg.12
Act III: Knightfall...................pg.14
Epilogue.................................pg.16

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Adventure Summary
In this flashback adventure, the players will create chivalrous
knights. As lieutenants of Vladimir Horngaard, they shall
march on Castle Ravenloft to end the Devil Strahd, only to
fail against his new and deathly powers. Ultimately, they will
learn that Argynvost was himself a silver dragon, that he was
butchered by Strahd, and that his skull now languishes in the
bowels of Castle Ravenloft. The adventure is divided into
three acts and includes a prologue:
The Prologue is conducted in the stunning headquarters
of Argynvostholt, beginning at the War Table. As
lieutenants of the Order, the player characters are present
as Lord Argynvost, Vladimir Horngaard, and Sir Godfrey
discuss their plans after an arriving messenger has
revealed that Strahd's forces are in disarray.
Act I begins along the Old Svalich Road as a foul mist
creeps in—the first signs that Barovia has been delivered
into the clutches of the Dark Powers by Strahd's
damnation. The party is sent to secure the drawbridge and
meet Katarina (who will later adopt the pseudonym
"Madam Eva") outside the gates, where a massacre has
occurred.
Act II is the first (and last) victory for the Order of the
Silver Dragon, as the knights breach the gates and storm
the courtyard. Strahd's soldiers are led by Rahadin; the
archmage Khazan appears to conjure a storm, forcing
Argynvost to assume his draconic form. However,
Argynvost is wounded in the exchange. When Strahd
himself emerges, exercising his powers as both a wizard
and vampire, Vladimir Horngaard calls a retreat.
Act III sees the party holding the line against Strahd's
newly risen undead soldiers. When Godfrey is cut down,
they have the opportunity to pursue the Devil into Castle
Ravenloft where they will go out in a blaze of glory.
The Assault...
Assault on Castle Ravenloft takes place just before the Order
of the Silver Dragon's last stand at Argynvostholt—
specifically on the day of Sergei von Zarovich's wedding,
when Strahd became a vampire. Hearing news of a massacre
at Castle Ravenloft, the Order seized this opportunity to
march upon the castle. This assault, however, is doomed.
Argynvost is wounded in an exchange with the archmage
Khazan and Strahd raises the dead—his soldiers and the
Order's—as ghouls. With Argynvost wounded and their
forces outnumbered by the undead, Vladimir Horngaard calls
a retreat.
This adventure rewrites only three aspects of the official
Curse of Strahd lore:
Construction on Castle Ravenloft finished before Strahd
defeated the Order of the Silver Dragon; the archmage
Khazan used wizardry to hasten the castle's construction
on the ruins of the ancient fortress Castle Ravenloft was
built upon.
Strahd became a vampire before defeating the Order of
the Silver Dragon.
Sir Godfrey Gwilym might die at Castle Ravenloft (still
within Horngaard's sight) instead of at Argynvostholt.
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Dramatis Locis
This adventure features the following areas, each described
in Curse of Strahd:
Argynvostholt
The adventure begins at Argynvostholt, the headquarters of
the Order of the Silver Dragon. Per this adventure,
Argynvost's magic cloaks the manor-fortress from both
ordinary and magical sight. Familiarize yourself with Areas
Q1, Q3 (if you wish to showcase portraits of Argynvost and
busts of Vladimir Horngaard and Sir Godfrey Gwilym), and
Area Q36 in Chapter 7 of Curse of Strahd.
Castle Ravenloft
Much of the adventure takes place at Castle Ravenloft. Act I
takes place outside Castle Ravenloft, at the Gatehouse, which
is illustrated in Map 2 of this module. Act II takes place in the
Castle's front courtyard (Area K1 in Curse of Strahd), which
is illustrated in Map 3 of this module. Familiarize yourself
with Areas K3, K7, K8, K14, and K15 in Chapter 4 of Curse of
Strahd for Act III, when the adventurers enter the castle
proper.
Dramatis Personae
This adventure features the following characters:
Argynvost
A silver dragon in disguise, Argynvost founded the Order of
the Silver Dragon to fight for justice and keep the evils of the
Amber Temple out of the hands of those that might dare
wake them. He has maintained his mortal facade for years,
revealing it only to his most trusted companions, namely Sir
Godfrey and Lord Vladimir Horngaard. Ordinarily, a silver
dragon should have no difficulty triumphing over Strahd and
his armies, but Argynvost is old and wounded.
His masquerade—hid behind these long years—is a
double-edged sword, for while the dragon has been spared
the pains of flight, so too has his wing muscles atrophied. He
has not taken his true form in years, and fears doing so even
now against Strahd's army.
During Act II, Argynvost must reveal his true nature to
confront the wizard Khazan. When Strahd arrives, the
dragon is already weakened, allowing the Devil to strike him
down by spellcraft.
4
Argynvost's fall, coupled with Strahd raising his fallen
soldiers as undead, is enough to convince Vladimir
Horngaard to call a retreat.
Statistics. Though Argynvost is an adult silver dragon,
his statistics are irrelevant; his part in the adventure is
completely cinematic.
Gralmore Nimblenobs
The "Wizard Ordinaire," Gralmore is a LE human mage
destined to be buried in the catacombs of Castle Ravenloft.
He fights at Rahadin's side in Act II.
Khazan
Khazan is a CE human archmage that has accompanied
Strahd to Barovia and overseen the construction of Castle
Ravenloft. Aware of the terrible power available in the Amber
Temple, Khazan now calls this valley home. He constructed a
tower for himself at Lake Baratok, which he teleports to if
defeated in battle. Like Strahd, Khazan will turn to the
vestiges of the Dark Power to achieve immortality—only to
later fail at demilichdom and become dust. By the time
players play Curse of Strahd, Khazan has already faded into
legend.
During Act II, Khazan conjures a fierce storm from the
spires of Castle Ravenloft, forcing Argynvost to shed his
mortal form and ascend to the heavens to confront the
wizard.
Statistics. Khazan's statistics are irrelevant; his part in the
adventure is completely cinematic.
Madam Eva
Madam Eva is Strahd's secret half-sister, described in
Appendix D of Curse of Strahd. As noted there, Eva was
present at Sergei and Tatyana's wedding, working as a maid
in Castle Ravenloft. When the massacre began, she fled the
castle with other servants. Thus, she can be met by the party
as they ride up to Castle Ravenloft. She identifies herself as
Katarina, her true name, and wears a distinct, silver raven-
shaped locket containing a portrait of King Barov, her father.
If you run Curse of Strahd with the same players, point out
this locket when the players meet Madam Eva four centuries
later.
Rahadin
The dusk elf Rahadin is a warrior, a traitor, the adopted
brother of Strahd, and the chamberlain of Castle Ravenloft.
Few creatures in this land are as vile and sadistic as Rahadin,
who is destined to later genocide his own people once
Barovia is sealed away from the outside world.
The player characters face Rahadin in Act II and are
familiar with his crimes—betraying his own kingdom, feeding
its vulnerabilities to the late King Barov, and slaughtering
countless innocents in Strahd's dark crusade. Knowing the
evil that festers in Rahadin's black heart, the Dark Powers
will not allow him to die; if he is slain, these vile forces safely
teleport him to the Amber Temple.
Statistics. Rahadin's statistics are described in Curse of
Strahd Appendix D.
Sir Godfrey Gwilym
The paladin Sir Godfrey Gwilym is the best of the Order of
the Silver Dragon—kind, fair, forgiving, and wholly dedicated
to eradicating true evil. The open lover of Lord Vladimir
Horngaard, he does not abuse his position or relationship
with the Order's second-in-command. His exploits and his
compassion are legendary—making it all the more tragic that
he is the first to die at Strahd's hand in this adventure. As
described in Curse of Strahd, his death ignites the very
hatred Vladimir uses to wrench his fellow knights back from
the afterlife.
Statistics. Sir Godfrey has the statistics of a knight with
the Spellcasting feature described below. However, his role in
this adventure is entirely cinematic. Other than offering some
healing to the player characters (see the Augmenting
Difficulty sidebar in Act II), his true abilities do not come into
play, and the Dungeon Master does not run him in combat.
Spellcasting. Sir Godfrey is a 16th-level spellcaster. His
spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit
with spell attacks). He has the following paladin spells
prepared:
1st level (4 slots): command, divine favor, thunderous smite
2nd level (3 slots): branding smite, magic weapon
3rd level (3 slots): blinding smite, dispel magic
4th level (2 slots): staggering smite
Sir Leonid Krushkin
A LE human champion, Leonid Krushkin is a faithful servant
of Strahd who fights at Rahadin's side in Act II. His
descendant, Yevgeny Krushkin, can be met by the players at
the Blue Water Inn of Vallaki in Curse of Strahd.
Strahd
Strahd von Zarovich is the son of the late King Barov. He
served his father as a general and continued his wars after
Barov's death. On the eve of this adventure, Strahd became a
vampire, murdered his brother Sergei, and chased his
unrequited beloved, Tatyana, to her doom. Ambushed by
treasonous guards (led by Leo Dilisnya, whose bones will one
day be held by Lady Wachter in Vallaki), Strahd was peppered
with arrows but still did not die. He fell upon his guards,
slaughtering them, drinking deep of their blood, before
retreating to shelter from the daylight (many suspect he went
to his study, but in truth, he has gone to his crypt below in
Castle Ravenloft to rest).
Now a vampire and empowered by the Dark Powers,
Strahd arrives in Act III to raise the dead as ghouls, snuffing
out the Order's victory. He attempts to slay Sir Godfrey.
Statistics. See Curse of Strahd Appendix D for Strahd's
statistics, which you will need for Act III of this adventure.
Vladimir Horngaard
Vladimir Horngaard is the second-in-command of the Order
of the Silver Dragon. He is a strong, bearded knight whose
exploits have inspired many tales of valor. He is kind but
pragmatic, dogmatic in his duties, and straight to the point.
He wields a +2 greatsword whose pommel is shaped like
draconic wings.
When the Order is inevitably defeated, it is his hatred and
grief that rips the knights from the afterlife, returning them to
the world as revenants.
Statistics. An ally, Vladimir's role in this adventure is
completely cinematic and his statistics are of no concern to
the Dungeon Master. He does not fight the player characters,
nor does he factor into the battle with the enemy. See Curse
of Strahd Appendix D for his statistics.
Preserving History
Many of the characters met in this flashback adventure are not
yet destined to die. These characters cannot be slain by any
means:
Khazan (who warded himself with a contingency spell to
teleport him safely back to his tower if reduced to 0 hit
points).
Madam Eva (who will flee at the first sign of danger).
Rahadin (whom the Dark Powers teleport away to the
Amber Temple).
Strahd (whose powers as a wizard and newly-forged
vampire can triumph over anything the Order of the Silver
Dragon or the players hurl at him).
5
 The Players & Their
Knights
The players assume the roles of newly-minted officers of the
Order of the Silver Dragon.
Recommended Ancestries
The Order of the Silver Dragon was comprised almost
entirely of humans; however, having defended dusk elf
refugees, it's likely that the Order's ranks included some
elves. Dusk elves are treated as wood elves.
Additionally, given Lord Argynvost's secret identity as a
silver dragon, there is ample opportunity for a player
character to play a silver dragonborn, being the heir or
descendant of Argynvost, in which case they might deserve to
know Argynvost's secret.
Recommended Classes
The Order was historically comprised of valiant knights. It is
recommended the players make fighters or paladins. War is a
grim business that also attracts rogues and hospitallers like
clerics. As Strahd's armies swept across the land, his soldiers
no doubt disenfranchised the mountainfolk of the Balinok
Mountains; the Order might be keen to utilize a barbarian or
ranger for the missions at hand today. Further, the dusk elves
were practitioners of arcane magic; for the same reason a
dusk elf might join the Order, so too would a dusk elf wizard
be appropriate.
It is important to note that the player characters are
officers, knights, and ordained with the title of "Sir" or
"Dame" to reflect this prestige. Nothing stipulates that the
character must be a fighter or paladin or other "knightly"
class.
6
Knowledge
As veterans of the Order, the player characters know the
following facts:
The Order is dedicated to protecting the innocent and
upholding chivalry. It has clashed against Strahd von
Zarovich, whose bloody crusade has left thousands dead.
The Order has sent refugees of this war to shelter in this
secluded valley. Many of the refugees are of dusk elven
ancestry.
The Order is commanded by Lord Argynvost, who
founded the Order. Lord Vladimir Horngaard is his
second-in-command. Vladimir's lover, Sir Godfrey, is a
paladin and considered the greatest of the Order—the
fairest, the most compassionate, and the most dedicated
to saving lives and scoring justice.
The Order has been headquartered in this valley for well
over a century, but only now has Strahd pushed this close.
Strahd von Zarovich is the son of the late King Barov, who
waged several wars on his neighbors, including the dusk
elf kingdoms. Strahd served as a general in these wars
and now rules in his father's stead.
Strahd is a formidable warrior and a wizard, capable of
fearsome spellcraft.
Strahd is served by Rahadin, a sadistic dusk elf exile. For
betraying his own people's secrets to King Barov, Rahadin
was adopted as an honorary Zarovich. He serves as
Strahd's chamberlain and right hand.
Strahd has a younger brother, Sergei von Zarovich, a
young priest with clean hands in this entire war—or as
clean as one can be without condoning their
warmongering family. He is marrying a peasant woman
today. The many sycophants of Strahd's court are in
attendance.
Strahd lairs in Castle Ravenloft, which is built upon the
ruins of an ancient fortress. The construction of the castle
was considerably hastened by the magicks of Archmage
Khazan, who conjured hewn stone and defied gravity to
assist the workers.
As junior officers, however, there are some secrets the
player characters do not know:
Argynvost is a dragon in mortal disguise (this is a secret
known only to the highest members of the Order, such as
Sir Godfrey and Vladimir Horngaard).
The Amber Temple's existence—only Horngaard, and
Godfrey, know that Argynvost founded the Order's
headquarters here to keep close watch on the Amber
Temple and ensure none dare exploit the evil forces
therein.
Prologue
I
n the Prologue, the players are introduced to the
Order of the Silver Dragon and one another before
being summoned by Lord Argynvost through Sir
Godfrey Gwilym. It is a crisp autumn day plagued by
mists yet to be dispelled by the sharp winds. To begin
the adventure, read the following text:
You stand at the brink of annihilation. As knights of the Order
of the Silver Dragon it is your sworn duty to defend the
innocent from the deprivations of the wicked—from the
deprivations of the Devil Strahd von Zarovich, first of his
name, the warmonger, the scourge of these lands. It is behind
the Order's shield that the many victims of his wars shelter. It
is under the Order's banner that this valley still stands free.
And it is by the Order's fist, the Devil Strahd shall soon face
justice.
In this secluded valley, the Order wages its desperate war
against the Devil Strahd's tyranny. As lieutenants, you have
seen your share of battle and heartbreak. You have bled for
justice. You have suffered for freedom. You have stood tall
when all the world is against you and said "No more," to its
sadism. Now on this crisp, foggy autumn day, you stand ready
and eager to deliver the innocent from evil. A rumor has
spread among your fellow knights that a new strategy is being
debated by the commanders, and as newly minted officers,
you are soon to be summoned by Lord Argynvost and his
second, Lord Vladimir Horngaard.
The autumnal wind blows from the south, from the summits
of Mount Ghakis, cold and sharp but not strong enough to
dispel the mist that clings to the ground today. You have all
been afforded a moment of respite before being summoned
to the War Table. The manor-fortress of Argynvostholt is well-
tended and well-fortified, kept hidden from the Devil Strahd by
diligent sentries and clean magicks. From here, you can see
the Statue of the Dragon, your Order's icon, proud and
imperious upon the manor lawn.
Have the players introduce their characters, each a knight
afforded the title of "Sir," at a minimum. As new officers, they
have much to prove. Men-at-arms might pass by the party as
they introduce themselves, but no other distractions (sans the
Statue of the Dragon below) present themselves.
Knightly Mementos. The players unknowingly have the
opportunity to seed Curse of Strahd with easter eggs. Have
each player describe something notable about their
character: a distinct weapon, the heraldry of their shield, a
war trophy, a gift from a grateful refugee, et cetera. When the
players encounter the revenants or explore Castle Ravenloft
in Curse of Strahd, they might come across these mementos.
Consider having players roll on the Knightly Mementos table
for inspiration.
Knightly Mementos
d6 Memento
1 A bright or bloodstained scarf knitted by a distant
lover.
2 A tattered banner stolen from the corpse of one of
the Devil Strahd's lieutenants.
3 A cloak of gryphondown.
4 A pendant of a silver dragon that is always cool to
the touch—the same gothic trinket that a player
might roll for in Curse of Strahd.
5 A silver dragon scale given by Lord Argynvostholt
for meritorious valor.
6 An emerald-and-gold bracelet given as thanks by
Patrina Velikovna, a dusk elf refugee found outside
Vallaki in four centuries.
The Statue of the Dragon
The party has little time to explore the grounds of
Argynvostholt except for the immaculate grounds. Their
attention is led to the Dragon Statue (Area Q1) on the map,
thereby laying the foundation for later lament by the players.
By when their adventurers encounter this same statue during
Curse of Strahd, it will be cracked, covered in moss, and as
impotent as the Order itself. It is an icon of the Order's glory
and will be a monument to the Order's shame.
If the party approaches the marble-carved statue, read the
following:
You know that it is through this
statue much of Argynvostholt's
magic is channeled. Twice have you
seen it freeze probing spies with
blasts of frigid magic. And through
its grandeur, the manor is hidden
from eyes both physical and magical.
It is the icon of the Order's glory, the
symbol of its cause, one that many
knights on the eve of battle or heels
of defeat look to for inspiration.
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 In the Hall of the Dragon History Shall Be Made
Sir Godfrey arrives to summon the party to the Audience In Area Q36, Lord Argynvost holds court with his senior
Hall, to be briefed on Lord Argynvost's bold new plan. Read officers, including Lord Vladimir Horngaard, who is pouring
the following: over a map of the valley and Castle Ravenloft, while a
messenger recounts the conflict raging inside Castle
"There you are. Come quickly, for war is afoot—perhaps the
Ravenloft. Once the party arrives, read the following:
end of the war," a familiar voice calls out to you—the voice of
The Hall of the Order teems with officers and aides. The walls
the paladin Sir Godfrey Gwilym, your commander, a man slow
are adorned with weapons and shields. At the war table, Lord
to anger and quick to action. At his side is a longsword whose
Vladimir Horngaard and his advisors stand before a map of the
pommel is carved in the shape of draconic wings. As a paladin,
valley, the Devil's strongholds marked with daggers. Upon his
Godfrey's healing and presence is in high demand, yet he has
throne, Lord Argynvost sits regal and silver in his venerable
always managed to be present to guide his officers in times of
age, his face creased with years of laughter, but there is no
hardship. The knight is of average height, with long-flowing
mirth in his eyes today as he listens to a frenzied messenger:
locks of blonde hair.
"It is far worse, my lord. Lord Sergei, brother to the Devil
himself, is dead, as is his bride. We know not whether he is a
Warm Memories. Ask the players if their characters have mere victim of this internecine revolt or the spark, but the
had any personal experiences with Sir Godfrey, rolling on the
Memories of Godfrey table for inspiration, if needed. castle guard has torn itself to pieces. Chamberlain Rahadin has
hanged a handful of traitors from the battlements, but the
Memories of Godfrey conflict has yet to cease. That is all we have learned since our
d6 Memory spies in the castle went quiet."
1 Touring a field hospital of refugees, as Godfrey Argynvost is long to respond, cupping his chin. "Thank you,
healed the sick and infirm with his paladin my knight. This news is both ill and good, perhaps a culling of
abilities.
the disloyal, perhaps a trap into which we are about to set foot
2 Holding the line alongside Godfrey against in. But we shall set foot. The Devil is at his weakest, and we
Strahd's forces in a burning village as innocents
fled into the woods. stand but a stone's throw away. I dare say, there shall not be
another opportunity to slay the lion in his den and do away
3 Enjoying drink, dance, and music with Vistani
travelers during winter, when both armies were with his evil once and for all. My knights, my friends, rally your
forced to hold position while supply lines caught companies, for tonight we ride. Tonight we make history."
up. The Vistani had much to trade and more to The audience hall erupts into cheers as knights galore
share.
shout, "For the Order! For Argynvost!"
4 Long nights studying maps and battle plans with
Godfrey as the candles burned low.
5 Playing dragonchess with Godfrey when Strahd's
forces surprised the camp. Godfrey still says that
you two must finish that game someday soon.
6 Stumbling upon Godfrey and his lover Vladimir as
they toured the gardens of an estate the Order
saved from Strahd's forces.

To the Lord. Godfrey leads the party through the manor,

up to the third floor (Area Q36, the Dragon's Audience Hall).
As he ascends the stairs, he explains the situation to the
party. Read the following:
Mounting the staircases with the vigor of a much younger
man, Sir Godfrey looks back over his shoulder to say, "News
arrives from the east. The Devil Strahd's forces are in disarray.
We suspect a coup, for the castle guards are at war with
themselves. Rahadin, may the gods strike that butcher down,
has been cracking down last night, and Strahd himself is
nowhere to be seen. Never has a better opportunity to storm
the gates presented itself."

8
Pride of the Order
Once the fanfare ceases, Sir Godfrey brings the party to
Vladimir Horngaard to receive their orders. They are to ride
at once, scouting ahead for the Order as the knights march
on Castle Ravenloft. Read the following:
As the knights move to rally their troops, Sir Godfrey leads you
to the war table where Lord Vladimir Horngaard, second only
to the Lord himself, leans over the war table, studying a map of
Castle Ravenloft's exterior. He is a true brute of a man, broad
and strong, with an air of wisdom about him earned only
through years of war. You have heard many tales of Vladimir
Horngaard, the myth, the legend, a man whose valor on the
field of battle and compassion in the field hospitals has no
equal.
Sir Godfrey stands to attention and says, "My lord."
At the sight of Godfrey, Vladimir's scowl twists into a smile.
"My love."
The knights break into grins. "This foul mist has come from
nowhere. Did the seers not say today's weather would prove
fair?"
Vladimir shakes his head. "Welcome it as cover for our
forces. The gods are afoot, and I will take every blessing, no
matter how far." He looks you all over. "Are these the new
officers?"
"Aye," says Godfrey, "and may they have the honor of
introducing themselves."

Allow the players to introduce their characters to Vladimir

Horngaard. If a player has indicated some merit, some
victory, some impressive tale of valor their character has
achieved, have Vladimir mention it, noting how proud he is to
see fresh blood in the Order and that his legacy and Lord
Argynvost's legacy is also theirs to share. When these
introductions are over, Vladimir issues his orders. Read the
following:
Lord Vladimir looks you over, his smile warm and his eyes
alight. "My friends, you have the honor of being the tip of the
spear. While the Order musters its forces, you shall take to the
road and scout ahead. Castle Ravenloft is protected by a
yawning chasm, and its drawbridge is likely to be raised, but so
long as we can secure a foothold victory is inevitable. The
Order," Vladimir says proudly, "is patient and long-lived, and
from many hands we forge great deeds. If we cannot secure
the castle tonight, we will starve the Devil out. Scout ahead,
secure the exterior, and if the bridge is lowered, assist
innocents fleeing the carnage."

9
 Act I: Enemies at the Gate
T
he party have their orders: to secure the
drawbridge for the Order of the Silver Dragon
before reinforcements arrive. Astride
warhorses, they come upon the Gates of
Ravenloft, which are divided into three areas:
the gatehouse on the western cliff, the
drawbridge that spans the divide, and the gate
towers on the eastern cliff, which control the drawbridge.
Loyalist guards are attempting to close the gates and raise
the bridge by the time adventurers arrive. First, however, the
party meets a lone survivor of the last band of servants that
attempted to flee the castle.
10
Maid in Barovia
Along the Old Svalich Road (freshly paved at this time in
Barovia's history), the party encounters a human woman
fleeing Castle Ravenloft—a bloodied maid in servant's attire.
This maid is none other than Madam Eva, the secret half-
sister of Strahd who is destined to strike a covenant with
Mother Night and live on in Barovia to tell the fortune of
doomed adventurers. As she approaches, read the following:
As the Sun dips low on the horizon, the dusk closes in, giving
the skies a hazy, golden glow. Castle Ravenloft lies just to the
east, where night is soon to fall. Heavy, frantic footfalls echo
out from the cloying mists, coming straight to you—an
individual fleeing the castle.
Though she will later adopt the pseudonym "Madam Eva,"
the maid introduces herself by her true name, Katarina, and
she is clearly relieved when knights of the infamous Order of
the Silver Dragon appear in her time of need. Read the
following:
You spot a young woman rushing down the road, hiking up her
dress to keep speed. She is dressed in servant's attire, but the
uniform is torn and bloodied. A silver locket flashes from
'round her neck in the dying sunlight. Seeing you, she shouts,
"Help! You, knights, dragonboys! By Mother Night, help me!"
Katarina is hysterical. She begs the party for a horse, so she
might ride away from the carnage at the castle. With a
successful DC 13 Charisma (Persuasion) check, a character
can calm Katarina down and extract an account of the
massacre. She explains that Strahd, in his jealousy, slew his
own brother Sergei and declared Tatyana to be his bride—
but Tatyana flung herself from the battlements rather than be
taken by "that devil." A treacherous castle guard named Leo
Dilisnya seized the opportunity to assassinate Strahd,
peppering him with arrows. Strahd, however, survived and
ordered his vicious chamberlain, Rahadin to cull the traitors
and root out fellow conspirators in the wedding party. The
entire affair has devolved into a massacre. Most servants and
guests are dead, and Strahd has not been seen since he
retreated into his study to have his wounds tended to. The
loyalists tentatively hold the gatehouse, loosing arrows at all
those who attempt to leave. Katarina is the sole survivor of a
group that made a break for it.
Katarina intends to go into hiding, lest Rahadin—"that
cur"—decides she too is a traitor deserving of the noose. If
given a horse, she intends to ride out from "this accursed
valley."
At the Gates
As the party rides up to the gates of Ravenloft, read the
following:

In the dying light of day, Castle Ravenloft stands wicked and

regal, its spires arrogantly scraping the heavens. The lair is
perched upon a cliff and protected by a vast chasm. From
intelligence reports, you know that the gatehouse is always
manned with six sentinels; and the gate towers beyond the
chasm that control the drawbridge are likely to be manned as
well. The ground before the gatehouse is littered with corpses.
From that pile, a man pulls himself loose from the cadavers
and makes a break for the treeline—only to be felled by an
arrow shot from an archer on the battlements above.
And as you watch, you notice the gates are closing—slowly
being pulled shut by two guards. This here represents your
great challenge: to secure entry into Ravenloft for the Order of
Having breached the gatehouse, the party must now
the Silver Dragon. As the Sun weakens in the west, its lights contend with the drawbridge, which is already being raised.
blinding to the castle defenders, now is the time to earn for The knights must fling themselves across the divide by
yourself glory and justice for the living and the dead. You have making a DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check. A character has
but one chance to breach the gate before the doors are pulled advantage on this check if they ride their warhorse up to the
shut. edge and leap from the saddle. If the character fails, they
grab the edge of the drawbridge and lose an important object
of the DM's choosing, such as their shield, weapon, or
The Gatehouse memento.
Having just vanquished traitors and butchering innocents,
loyalist castle guards are attempting to close the gate. The The Gate Towers
party has several challenges to face: Each of the two Gate Towers host a mechanism that controls
Two guards on the ground are closing the gate. If the the drawbridge. These mechanisms must be used in unison
party immediately attacks, they deprive the guards the and are guarded by two veterans apiece, each of whom fight
chance to close the gate. to the death.
The battlements are manned by six scouts, all of whom
benefit from half-cover and loose arrows at the party as
they approach. They do not descend the battlements.
The forefront of the gates are trapped. When intruders
first approach the gate, a scout above uses his reaction to
pull a lever, releasing burning pitch. Creatures within 10
feet of the gateway must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity
saving throw or take 11 (2d10) fire damage. A creature
that fails its saving throws continues to take 3 fire damage
at the start of its turns until it or another creature within 5
feet uses an action to scrape the burning pitch off their
body.
The Drawbridge
Clearing the gatehouse, you find the drawbridge already being
raised! "Faster" someone on the far side shouts! "Faster, you
curs, faster!" The winches controlling the drawbridge screech
and whine as the distance you must leap grows and grows.

11
 Act II: Unto the Breach
S
hortly after securing the drawbridge, loyalist
castle guards (twelve guards and six veterans)
swarm the courtyard of Ravenloft, led by
Rahadin, the mage Gralmore Nimblenobs (the
"Wizard Ordinaire" destined to be buried in the
catacombs of Ravenloft), and Sir Leonid
Krushkin, a champion (and ancestor of Yevgeni
Krushkin, a wolf hunter that can be met in Vallaki four
centuries from now). Additionally, four scouts stand on the
battlements, ready to loose arrows. Unless the party attacks,
these soldiers are mere setpieces—reinforcements to
dissuade the players from attacking Rahadin outright. Once
the Order of the Silver Dragon arrives, they contend with the
soldiers, leaving you, the Dungeon Master, with only Rahadin,
Gralmore, and Krushkin to roleplay and control, with
occasional complications imposed by the soldiers (and the
archmage Khazan), as described below.
Rahadin, unaware that the party are intruders and not
traitorous guards, is intent on waiting them out and parlaying
in the meantime. Ultimately, however, Rahadin orders his
men to storm the towers—but before they may act, the Order
of the Silver Dragon arrives in full force, its knights riding
across the drawbridge and into the castle courtyard where a
battle erupts. As the tide turns for the Order, the human
archmage Khazan appears on the battlements high above
(Area K57), and conjures a storm. As bolts of lightning stab
the earth and annihilate both Strahd's soldiers and the
Order's, Argynvost sheds his mortal facade and takes to the
skies to deal with this meddlesome wizard.
Rahadin's Ultimatum
Read the following when Rahadin emerges from Castle
Ravenloft:
More than once have the guards attempted to repel you from
the towers, to seize the mechanisms to control the
drawbridge. Rebuffed, the guards now congregate outside,
behind cover, ready to loose javelins and arrows. But as the
sunlight wanes, a murmur is taken up amongst the guards, and
soon arrives an elf—Rahadin, the chamberlain of Ravenloft,
the dusk elf that sold out his kingdom to Strahd's father years
ago, a kinslayer responsible for genocide.
Rahadin calls out, "Your efforts are for naught. Your
insurrection has failed. Leo Dilisnya is long dead, and our Lord
Strahd prevails. Come forth now, and you shall face a swift and
honorable death."
Rahadin mistakes the party for traitorous guards. To stall for
time, the party can attempt to deceive Rahadin, contesting a
Charisma (Deception) check against his Wisdom (Insight)
check. On a failure, Rahadin instead ascertains that they are
knights of the Order, and mocks them for such a foolish
quest, claiming that once Strahd has snuffed the flames of
insurrection, so too shall he extinguish the "Order of Fools
Errant."
12
Attacking Rahadin without reinforcements is a fool's
errand. Not only must the party contend with Rahadin, a
famous fighter in his own right, but also with a wizard and
warrior, along with the many soldiers at his side.
The Dragon Arrives
At the most dramatic opportunity, knights of the Order storm
Castle Ravenloft, riding over the drawbridge. Read the
following, which assumes the party have eyes on Rahadin:
Rahadin calls out once more, "I tire of this charade. Blood is
cheap in this land, and yours downright worthless." The elf
turns to a true brute of a knight nearby and orders, "Sir
Krushkin, seize these towers."
In a brusque voice, this Sir Krushkin answers, "Aye,
chamberlain! Soldiers, to arms!"
And just as the soldiers advance, a clarion call is heard—the
sharp, piercing horn of Vladimir Horngaard himself. Shouts
leap out among the soldiers before the world succumbs to
thunder of hooves, steel, and howls of "For the Order!"
Running the Battle. The knights handle Strahd's soldiers,
leaving Rahadin, Sir Krushkin, and Gralmore Nimblenobs to
the party. The numbers on both sides do not matter for the
sake of this battle, but Strahd's garrison proves nearly
endless, whereas the Order makes up for its inferior
numbers with superior skill and morale. For the purposes of
this battle, the only statistics you must concern yourself with
are Rahadin's, Sir Leonid Krushkin's (a champion), and
Gralmore Nimblenobs' (a mage). All other non-player
characters, from Khazan to Argynvost himself, are setpieces.
Allies. During the battle, note the valor of other knights of
the Order:
Lord Argynvost, secretly relying on his draconic gifts,
gracefully cuts through enemies with ease.
Sir Godfrey, a paladin, smites his foes with righteous
indignation.
Lord Vladimir Horngaard blows his signature horn to
rally his forces and cuts through the tide with his
enchanted greatsword. He shouts out to Rahadin, "Call
forth your master, dog, for today he faces the sum of its
crimes!" (to which Rahadin icily replies, "The Count is
indisposed, but I will deliver your message—with your
head at his feet."
Preserving History. Sir Leonid Krushkin and Gralmore
Nimblenobs fall in battle easily enough, but Rahadin—who is
alive during Curse of Strahd and therefore must survive—is
spirited away by the Dark Powers upon reaching 0 hit points.
Recognizing the elf as another monster with a part to play in
the newly damned realm of Barovia, these forces cloud
Rahadin with a shadowy mist, teleporting him to the Amber
Temple, far, far away.
 Stormbolts. The storm Khazan conjures releases several
Augmenting Difficulty bolts of explosive lightning, one of which strikes the heart of
the adventurers' ranks. Choose a point; each creature within
If the battle is proving too easy (or too difficult) for the party, 5 feet of that point must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving
consider adding these elements to the fray once, each, during throw. A creature takes 3d10 lightning damage on a failed
The Dragon Arrives or The Tide Turns: save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If the
The mass of bodies the party must wade through to reach
adventurers are too scattered about, ensure that at least a
their foes counts as difficult terrain for this turn.
quarter of them are subjected to this saving throw.
On initiative count 20 (losing ties), a scout on the
battlements looses an arrow at an adventurer (+4 to hit,
1d6+2 piercing damage on a hit).
When Rahadin, Krushkin, or Gralmore targeted by a melee
attack, a guard intervenes (using its reaction to move up to
30 feet toward that target), taking the attack instead, and
dying in the process.
If an adventurer falls in battle, Sir Godfrey restores 30 hit
points to the character with a paladin's iconic Lay on
Hands ability.
Vladimir Horngaard blows his legendary horn, rallying the
Order. The adventurers each gain a 1d6 that they may use
for an attack roll, saving throw, or ability check during the
encounter.

The Tide Turns

After two rounds, or immediately after either Rahadin, Sir
Leonid Krushkin, or Gralmore are defeated, the Order rallies
and begins to triumph over Strahd's forces—only for the
archmage Khazan to emerge from a nearby spire and The bolts continue to fall, exploding with hatred and light. In
conjure a vicious storm. The wizard is on the battlements of the chaos, Vladimir Horngaard turns to Lord Argynvost and
Area K57, 190 feet above the courtyard. As previously shouts, "My lord! You must!"
mentioned in Dramatis Personae, Khazan's statistics are Lord Argynvost grimaces, as if swallowing an ugly truth.
irrelevant for this encounter. "Very well!" he begrudgingly thunders—and in that moment,
Read the following: the Lord of the Order sheds his mortal facade. Where once a
man stood now rages a dragon of silver scales, its sudden
Just as the tide turns for the Order, its prowess proving far
growth sending soldiers flying. The enemy shouts in alarm,
greater than the Devil Strahd's superior numbers, a shout—
loosing javelins and arrows, but Argynvost takes wing, his
amplified by magic—booms out from the battlements above:
gullet full of frost.
"Your grip on this valley wanes, dragons!"
The Order and its enemies are dumbfounded—clearly only
It is Archwizard Khazan himself, not a minion of the Devil,
the High Command knew of Argynvost's secret nature. From
but an ally nonetheless that seeks to plunder this valley.
here, so far below, you see the ancient scars along his belly.
Already the bastard has made for himself a personal tower at
You see the lagging beat of his wings. The dragon is long since
Lake Baratok. From the battlements on high, the wizard
crippled, wounded by battles long ago. No wonder Argynvost
continues to shout, "Did you truly think you could hide the
has masqueraded as a man for so long.
Amber Temple from the world forever? I have labored too long
As the dragon ascends, Khazan's storm stabs out, scorching
on this castle to see it fall to the likes of you!" the wizard
the dragon's glittering scales black! You hear Argynvost roar in
shouts—before incanting in a fell voice that harkens the winds
pain—but not before dousing the wizard in an avalanche of
into knives and conjures an unnatural storm high above the
frost!
castle courtyard. Like tridents of hate hurled from the heavens,
several bolts of green lightning crash down, blasting your
soldiers and Strahd's soldiers alike!
Argynvost blasts Khazan with frigid breath, but the wizard
teleports away, removing himself from the battle entirely.
Unused to flight, and still pained by his old injuries,
Argynvost plummets from the sky, semi-conscious, and
assuming his mortal facade on the way down. Have the
adventurers make a Dexterity saving throw; the character
with the highest result catches Argynvost, now a human,
before he crashes to the courtyard.

13
 Act III: Knightfall
V
ictorious, the Order rounds up the Strahd's
surviving soldiers while Godfrey and
Horngaard tend to Argynvost, agonizing over
his wounds. Those that throw down their
arms and pledge themselves to peace are
spared. A third of Strahd's soldiers prove loyal
to the end and continue to fight; the knights
find no issue in cutting them down. Give the adventurers a
moment to converse with their leaders and reconcile with the
startling truth that Argynvost is a dragon.
While Godfrey wields his holy powers to heal Argynvost (to
no avail), he remarks that he feels cut off from "the Divine," as
if a death shroud now covers the world. Horngaard declares
to his troops that the battle has been won but at a terrible
price, and the war continues now in the bowels of Castle
Ravenloft—and as night finally falls, the keep doors swing
open, and Strahd himself emerges from the darkness as a
new vampire. Through a spell of necromancy empowered by
the Dark Powers, Strahd raises the dead—both his and the
Order's soldiers—as undead ghouls. Read the following:
As the Sun at last disappears beyond the horizon, cloaking the
valley in darkness, the Order of the Silver Dragon marches to
the great doors of Strahd's demesne, Lords Horngaard leading
the host, with you and Sir Godfrey close behind. Corpses litter
the courtyard and the firelight flickers in the growing night as
a chill wind comes down from the south.
Horngaard shouts, "Come forth, Devil! Your days are at an end!
Reckoning has come at last!"
At first, there is naught but silence. And then the great
doors of Castle Ravenloft swing open of their own accord,
driven forth by magic. Out from the gloom walks Count Strahd
von Zarovich himself, pale and raven-haired, his collar
bloodied, his robes torn, arrows deep in his chest. Such
wounds seem not to trouble him.
"A reckoning, indeed," Strahd murmurs, his voice sharp as
glass. He surveys the battlefield, noting the many dead, and
shakes his head. "Such a waste of life. A prodigal effort."
Horngaard sneers, "You are to stand trial for your crimes,
Zarovich. Kneel before the Dragon and you will find mercy."
Strahd scowls. "I kneel to none, Horngaard. The only mercy
you will find here is death." Strahd gesticulates, casting a spell.
His hand becomes wreathed with shadowy fire that leaps out,
leaving dark embers burning in the many corpses littering the
courtyard. At first, there was silence. And then the first corpse
stands. Then the next, and the next. As the dead rise, enslaved
to the will of Strahd von Zarovich, the courtyard comes alive
with ghoulish cries of laughter and red hunger.
14
Retreat!
In a sudden turn, the Order is routed. The dead surround the
knights and even attack Strahd's still living and loyal soldiers.
With Argynvost wounded and the dead rising, Vladimir calls a
retreat. Godfrey elects to hold the line, tasking the
adventurers with standing at his side. Horngaard retreats to
the far side of the drawbridge, carrying Argynvost, whilst
Godfrey holds the line at the drawbridge, tasking the
adventurers with standing at his side.
Rather than treating this as a battle, treat it as an
impromptu skill challenge as the undead hurl themselves at
the party and Strahd snaps off spells. The goal is to accrue
three successes before accruing three failures—a best of five
with narrative consequences. The DC starts at 12 and
increases by 1 for every sequential ability check. Consider
these options:
A Strength (Athletics) check to hold the line against the
ghouls. On a failure, ghouls slip past their ranks to
harangue the knights and soldiers, slaying about twenty
percent.
A Charisma (Persuasion) check to rally any nearby
frightened defenders to hold the line with Godfrey and the
party. On a failure, another twenty percent of the Order
will fall.
As Strahd prepares to cast a spell of gust of wind, a
character may make an Intelligence (Arcana) check to
identify the spell and hold fast. On a success, the
characters have advantage on their Strength saving throw
against the spell.
A Wisdom (Religion) check to identify Strahd as a
vampire and urging Godfrey, as a paladin, to break ranks
to attack him.
A Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to slip through the ranks of
living and undead to access the Gate Towers and force the
drawbridge up—saving the Order but dooming Godfrey
and the party.
Godfrey's Death
Furious, Godfrey charges Strahd, his blade gleaming with
holy zeal. He casts thunderous smite on Strahd, dealing 2d6
radiant damage and eliciting a thunderclap that echoes out
across Castle Ravenloft. Strahd casts the blight spell on
Godfrey in turn, reducing him to 0 hit points.
"Enough!" shouts Sir Godfrey. The paladin breaks ranks and
storms Strahd, cutting through ghouls, his blade aglow with
holy zeal. Strahd has little time to react before Godfrey's blade
falls, smiting the Devil. The light is blinding, the thunder
deafening.
You regain your sight just in time to see Strahd weave a
spell, lashing out at Godfrey with a burst of necrotic energy
that even from this distance causes your skin to crawl and
your soul to shiver. In the distance, you hear Vladimir
Horngaard shout out, "No!" but he is too far to come to his
lover's aid—but you aren't.
Have the adventurers and Strahd roll initiative. On Strahd's
turn, he slays Godfrey unless the adventurers reduce him to
100 hit points or fewer or somehow separate him from
Godfrey. At the end of the round, Strahd blows back the
adventurers with a burst of force and calmly retreats into the
castle. The undead swarm the remaining soldiers, forcing a
retreat. If Godfrey was slain, Vladimir cradles his corpse and
lets the dead swarm over him. If Godfrey was spared,
Vladimir drags him out with the last soldiers. Even if healed,
Godfrey cannot assist in the battle. Either he or Vladimir tell
the adventurers, "Justice now falls to you."

Vengeance
With the Order routed and Godfrey dead, vengeance falls to
the adventurers. If they choose to, they may pursue Strahd
into Castle Ravenloft, where he awaits them in the chapel
(Area K15). Strahd's brother Sergei, murdered on his
wedding day, lies broken over the altar.
Into the depths of Ravenloft dare you go, the halls silent and
crimson. Bodies litter the floor—servants, guests, guards. The
torches flicker, their light somehow greasy and discomforting
as the darkness closes in. At the far end of the great hall, past
rows of statues, the chapel doors lie open. And standing there
before the altar is the lone figure of Strahd von Zarovich, alone
and defenseless.

Strahd can hear the adventurers approach and cannot be
surprised, but he does not harangue them. Ever dramatic, the
vampire is eager for an audience as he monologues about his
brother and his new reign.
The chapel is a bloodbath. Guests lie butchered in the pews.
The priest is in three pieces along the floor, torn apart by
magic or some inhuman strength. And with a start, you realize
the dead man prostrated upon the altar is none other than
Sergei von Zarovich, Strahd's younger brother, the groom-to-
be. Blood trickles from his neck, dark and arterial.
"I did love him, you know," Strahd intones, his back to you.
"Always was it he and I against the world. Sergei… Sergei… he
always lived in my shadow, but as the war years and the killing
years grew too long, I found myself living in his. The shadow of
his youth. He did not deserve her—I did. I won the peace that
his marriage would now enjoy, the prosperity to which their
children would be born—I won it! Tatyana was to be mine, and
yet she chose him, the altar boy!"
Strahd turns around to face you, and in the dying firelight,
you can see his eyes are blood-red, that his teeth are now
fangs, and many arrows in his chest—he has died but yet lives
on. There is but one name for a creature as foul as this: a
vampire.
Strahd offers a fanged smile. "The Order claimed this the
land of the free, but no longer—this land is mine and not even
Death can take it from me. I will live forever. In time, I will be
the Ancient. In time, I will be the Land. Have at thee, 'heroes.'"

Roll initiative. Strahd offers no mercy in the battle; any who

flee are swiftly chased down and murdered. At your
discretion, however, Strahd lets the last survivor escape
Castle Ravenloft to tell this grisly tale to the Order of the
Silver Dragon.

15
 Epilogue

T
he adventurers are cut down by Strahd or later
meet their end at Argynvostholt. They do not,
however, stay dead for long—for Vladimir
Horngaard's stark hatred for Strahd rips the
souls of his fellow knights from the afterlife,
returning them as revenants. Read the
following text:

In the darkness you roam, lost to the black

mists of Death for time incalculable. And
after eons of this aimless wandering, you
feel a tug—a pull, a yearning for
vengeance. In the darkness of Death now
burns a red flame, a flame of hatred, urging
you forward, urging you out from the
clawing mists, to return to the world of the
living, to take up your sword and shield
once more to smite the Devil Strahd von
Zarovich.
You wake with dead eyes and rotten
hands and a mind clouded with hate—but
you wake nonetheless, not living, not dead,
but thirsting for vengeance. You are in
Argynvostholt, clad in rusted armor. The
others are there—your brethren, all corpse
knights too, even Sir Godfrey Gwilym. Only
Lord Argynvost is absent. Vladimir
Horngaard, now a corpse, offers you a
wolfish grin from the Dragon's Throne.
"Our watch is not yet over, my faithful
knights, not until the Devil Strahd faces
justice. The Order prevails. The Order
persists. The Order lives."
Vladimir Horngaard rips upward, drawing
his greatsword. "Vengeance!" he shouts.
"VENGEANCE!" shouts the Order of the
Silver Dragon.

16