THE VINES OF WRATH

Save the Wizard of Wines from a Blight invasion

in this mini-game add-on for the Curse of Strahd

Contents
Introduction 3
Starting the Game 4
Phase One: The Killing Fields 6
Phase Two: Root and Vine 10
Phase Three: The Wine Press 17
Option: Late Harvest 22
Finale: In Vino Veritas 24
Denouement: A Rare Vintage 27
The Wine List 28
Appendix A: Game Maps 29
Appendix B: Game Icons 31
Appendix C: Monsters 34

Credits
Created by: Jefferson Chalmers u/SwimmingOk4643
Adapted Vineyard Map Source: Menacro
Wizard of Wines Map Source: u/Chaouleon
Template Design: u/Kaiburr_Kath-Hound
Cover and Interior Art: Bing AI

The contents of this document is unofficial

Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy.
Not approved / endorsed by Wizards.
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards
of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
 Wither on the Vine
he party’s introduction to the
t
Wizard of Wines takes the form of a
defensive siege in which they must
withstand the attack of waves of Blights
and their Druid masters. While an
overwhelming swarm of creatures
descending upon the embattled
defenders should, in theory, make for an
exciting battle, the reality is often disappointing.
Although great in number, Blights are low-intelligence
creatures, incapable of tactics beyond the instinctual.
Assuming they are guided by their Druid overseers -
although the module mentions nothing of the sort - the
DM could decide to play them with a semblance of
strategy. But even in this instance, it is a simple enough
matter to barricade oneself indoors and bombard the
enemy with devastating area-of-effect attacks. With the
party safely ensconced behind stone walls the fragile
Blight hordes amount to little more than kindling.
To avoid this scenario, “The Vines of Wrath” reimagines
the encounter’s mechanics, employing a gamified
approach to deliver the thrill of the few against the many
without the monotony of a battle of attrition.
Changes to the Source Material
This addendum makes significant changes to the source
material in the interest of both improved game mechanics
and story logic. Creature stat blocks have been changed, new
monsters are introduced, and parts of the story have been
altered from the original.
Should the DM prefer to hew closer to the original module,
alternatives that are in keeping with the letter of the
adventure are included where possible.
Red, Red Wine
The primary objective of The Vines of Wrath is to save
the Wizard of Wines from its Blight infestation while
doing as little damage to the fragile fields and ancient
winery as possible. It is a gauntlet that will challenge
players’ ability to conserve resources for when they
really need them and test their hardiness in the face of
waves of threats without a moment between to rest.
How much the DM reveals of the challenge ahead is up
to them.
I N T RODUC T ION
3
The game is run in the four phases listed below, with an
optional addendum to the fourth phase that tasks
players with the rescue of trapped NPCs. Although the
DM may choose not to run this part of the game, it is
recommended in order to create more meaningful
stakes and as a breadcrumb to guide the party to the
Druid conclave at Yester Hill.
Meet the Martikovs: Introduces the party to the
Martikovs and explains the situation, challenges, and
limitations for the party in the following phases.
The Killing Field: Sees the party fight their way
through a field of Blights, defeat the Blight Druid
mini-boss and retrieve the Gulthias Staff.
Root and Vine: Challenges the party to overcome the
power of the Gulthias Staff, get safely past the Wine
Blight and gain entry to the Winery.
The Wine Press: Pits the exhausted party against the
remaining horde of Blights in defense of the Winery.
Late Harvest: (optional) Rescue Dag Martikov and
his children from the clutches of the Gulthais
Cultists.
All phases are played in sequence and the successful
completion of each step is required to begin the next.
Although few of the individual phases are deadly in
themselves, the sheer number of obstacles and the
inability of the party to take a long or short rest, ensures
that The Vines of Wrath presents players with a
challenging gauntlet that will test character endurance.
It is important that the game be grueling but survivable.
To achieve this, the DM should ensure that the difficulty
is adjusted appropriately for their players.
Should the DM decide to adhere to the events inside the
winery as written in the source material, it is advised to
end the mini-game after the Killing Field.
Optional Rules
Throughout this mini-game, boxes like this one
will suggest optional rules. These are offered to
allow the DM to adjust the difficulty of the
encounter, either providing additional challenges
for those with a greater taste for danger or taking
things a bit easier on less experienced parties.
Meet the Martikovs
omewhere to the south of the raven
s
River, the Old Svalich Road gives up its
pretense of cobblestone civility and recalls
its rutted, muddy ancient self. Although
Barovia’s great vein here narrows capillary
thin, its nurturing blood still flows. To your
right, the forest makes way for fertile
plains, dotted with the ruins of farms
forgotten. Ahead, a wooden signpost points, insisting to
all who pass the hardly credible possibility of a
“Vineyard” to the West.
Following, more improbable signs of life: fences tracing
gentle paths, dutifully mended wherever the wood had
lost its battle to the rain. Ahead, the road continues
toward the shadow of a great house rising above a long
field of tangled vines. But before you can follow the path
to its promise, a sudden bird cry breaks the silence and
your heart skips. Looking to your left for the source, you
see only a group of people gathered on a hill overlooking
the Vineyard.
As you approach, one of the pack waves, breaks off and
scrambles down the hill to meet you. A tall, thin man
with a sharp nose under a grey hood reaches you and
breathlessly stammers, “I am Adrian Martikov. If you
come seeking wine, you should turn back. If you come
with good heart and strong steel, we could use your
help.” As he presses his hand into yours, a thin rivulet of
blood runs down his wrist, staining your sleeve. “I am
sorry… Please, follow me and I will tell you all.”
Setting the Scene
If the DM is going to run the optional Late Harvest
phase, then Dag Tomescu, Martin, Viggo and Yolanda
will be in the winery and not present on the hilltop for
the introduction as described in the source material. If
not, acquaint players with all NPCs as per the module’s
instructions.
In either case, read the following text to the players:
The spread of blood on the makeshift bandages that hide the
face and hands of the elder Martikovs speak to the ferocity of
a battle lost. Stephania’s arm hangs limp at her side like a
bird’s broken wing, Elvir’s face swollen and barely human,
but worst of all Davian, the family Patriarch, who though less
visibly scarred than his family, bears the full weight of the
desecration of his beloved vineyard. He sits silently, alone,
and makes no sound.
Although they will heal from their wounds, the
Martikovs are clearly in no condition to fight further. If
the party is aware of their true lycanthrope nature, the
DM should stress that the severity of the wounds means
that recovery will take time. Even if the party offers
healing magic, the loss of the vineyard has broken their
spirit and they are at a loss to act. Wereraven or not,
they are desperately in need of the party’s help.
Read the following text to the party:
Adrian points a ragged finger at the fields in the distance.
“There, in the middle of our vineyard. Can you see that foul
light?” As if in answer, you see the fog ahead slowly pulse a
sickly green. “That’s their leader. She’s devilishly powerful.
Wields some sort of magic that allows her to control
Blights.”
“I’m not certain, but I think the staff she holds might have
something to do with it. It looks like it’s rooted to the
ground… and to her… It’s causing some sort of damage to
the fields… the grapes have become over-ripe and the land
around it looks, well… wrong… I’m sorry, I wish I could
explain better.”
“Be careful”, he warns “she’s not alone.”
Adrian will entreat the party to intercede, offering them
a reward of gold or wine if they can help recover what
has been lost. Other than that, he’s unable to add much.
He can describe the Twig, Needle, and Vine Blights’
appearance, but can’t give much insight into what they
are capable of. Unlike their Vallaki kin, the Martikovs at
the Wizard of Wines are not experienced fighters and
were disoriented by the suddenness and ferocity of the
attack.
If the party ascents to Adrian’s request, Davian will
speak for the first time, his voice trembling with fear,
begging the party to take care not to harm the vines. He
will plead with them, pressing until he extracts a
promise that no one will use spells that harm their
harvest. The desecration of the field has left the vines
dry and brittle and Davian fears a stray spark might
destroy his vineyard forever.
M E E T T H E M A RT I KOVS
4
 Option: Late Harvest
If the DM decides to run the optional fifth phase
of the encounter, follow Adrian’s description text
from the proceeding page with the following:
“Vineyard be damned! My children are trapped in
that house!” Stephania shouts as Adrian casts his
eyes to the ground, belatedly ashamed of his
misplaced priorities.

Pulling her son Claudiu in front and wrapping her

one good arm around him protectively, she
continues “My husband and three of my children are
prisoners in the winery. Thank the Morninglord my
dear Claudiu was able to escape before the vines
closed off every exit. I tried to get in… I tore at the
horrid things, but they kept growing back… Every
wall, door, and window is covered in them…

I don’t think they’re alone in there. Why else trap

them inside? Please, please help us, my family is in
danger, I’m sure of it!”

If asked, Claudiu will tell the party that when he

last saw them, his father had hidden his brothers
in empty barrels in the Barrel Storage (W4)
room, and then left to retrieve his sister Yolanda
from the Master Bedroom (W17).
What happened after that, Claudiu is uncertain.
His father, Dag, sent him to warn his mother and
he was fortunate to escape from a window before
everything sealed shut.
Events and dialogue for the Late Harvest option
are collected in The Wine Press: Late Harvest.

Other Plot Points

Regardless of the options selected, the DM may manage
the introduction of other plot points, such as the loss of
the magic gems, the estrangement of Urwin, and the
possible revelation of the Keepers of the Feather as per
the source material.

M E E T T H E M A RT I KOVS
5
The Killing Field: Set Up
he vineyard is surrounded by an
t
impassible wall of trees, webbed
together with regenerating vines and a
thick carpet of brambles. The only
entrance to the field is the single path at
the far left of the game map. To begin
the game, position players at the head of
the road, just outside of the tree line.
From this vantage, players can see the Blight Druid and
the winery in the distance.
The dirt path winds its way through a field of tangled vines.
Although clearly once tended with great care, a corruption
has since taken hold and the plants produce a blackened,
fetid fruit. A strong smell of alcohol fills the air. At the center
of the devastation stands a single druid wielding a crooked
staff from which pulses a sickly green light. Behind her, the
winery, wrapped tight in a weave of sharp thorns, from which
no door or window peeks through.
The game begins as soon as the first player passes the
edge of the vine garden (marked “S” on the game map).
Once this happens, the DM should read the text below
and set up the board for play. As the Blights are
possessed of Blindsight, no attempt at stealth or
invisibility will prevent this or fool the enemy.
One step past an invisible threshold and the vineyard seems
to burst with life. Not the welcoming, gentle green and red
of ripening grapes, but a sudden violence of twisted branch
and cutting thorn, a mockery of Spring. The loam of each
field births a host of thorny abominations; monstrous
Blights dragging themselves slowly across the wounded
earth with sharp claw and terrible purpose.
What You Will Need
Everything that you need to run the mini-game is either
included within this add-on or available as part of your
typical D&D session.
Game Map: Found in Appendix A: Game Maps, or a
dry-erasable 40x20 gridded map.
Game Icons: Twig Blight, Needle Blight, Vine Blight
and Ravaged Vine icons are included in Appendix B
to be printed and cut out.
Dice: 4-6 d8 and 1d4; excluding dice for combat.
Miniatures: or tokens to represent player characters
and the Blight Druid
Setting Up
The Map
To set the game up for play, either use the included map
or set up a 40x20 grid on an erasable one. If the DM
decides to use a homebrewed map, ensure that it is
longer than it is wide and that the players begin at the
opposite end of the field from the winery.
The Icons
The icons can be found on the page titled Appendix B:
Game Icons. Print the page, cut out the icons, and
collect them into separate envelopes. One each for Twig
Blights, Needle and Vine Blights, and the last for
Ravaged Vines.
Setting Game Difficulty
The challenge level of the mini-game can be set to
accommodate the degree of difficulty the DM wants the
players to face. With the exception of including optional
content, this is done by setting the initial number of
Twig Blights on the game board.
The chart immediately following recommends difficulty
levels for a standardized group of 4-6 players. The first
column indicates the number of different Twig Blight
colors to place in each group. The second shows how
many Blights, in total, will be placed on the game board
as a result. Instructions for placement appear in the
Preparing the Board section on the next page.
Should the DM prefer a more tailored game - to better
suit party composition, for example - it is possible to
tweak any of these numbers. It is worth noting,
however, that the greater the number of Blights on the
map, the more complicated the game will be to manage.
Setting Game Difficulty
Difficulty Colors per Group Total on Map
Easy 4 88
Challenging 5 110
Difficult 6 132
Regardless of chosen difficulty, all the pages from
Appendix B: Game Icons should be printed, cut and
stored.
T H E K I L L I NG F I E L D : SE T U P
6
 Game Icons
The Killing Field utilizes four different icons, one of
which is separated into six individual colors. Three of
the icons represent the different types of Blights the
party will face, while the last is placed should an errant
Wizard find themselves unable to resist casting Fireball.
Twig Blight icons come with six background
colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and
violet. They are more nuisance than threat, but
their number, unpredictable movement, and ability to
trap opponents make them an obstacle best avoided.
Needle Blight is the product of two Twig
Blights. Although substantially hardier than
their parents, the Needle Blights are less of a
danger for the damage they inflict than their Briars
which can slow player movement to a crawl.
Vine Blight is the most dangerous of all the
beasts in the vineyard. They are durable, can
reduce movement over a wide area, and their
vine limbs both damage and grapple opponents.
Ravaged Vines are the stuff of Davian
Martikov’s nightmares. Careless use of
damaging area-of-effect spells or items can
harm the tender vines and destroy Barovia’s sole
remaining source of happiness.
The complete game mechanics explaining the usage of
the icons follow in the How to Play section following.
It is important to note that the Blights, an unnatural
product of an ancient vineyard, have been altered from
their official entries. The adjusted Stat Blocks are found
in Appendix C: Monsters.
T H E K I L L I NG F I E L D : SE T U P
7
Preparing the Board
After you have selected the difficulty level desired, it’s
time to plant some Blights!
The game map is divided into 12 individual plots, with
one near the center of the map disfigured by corruption.
To begin with, place the miniature or icon of the Blight
Druid in a square lying within the corrupted area. The
players are able to see this figure even before the
Blights themselves appear.
Once a player has crossed the threshold and the game
has begun, organize the Twig Blights in separate rows
according to color. If you are using four colors per
group, return the blue and violet Twig Blights to the
envelope, if five, only discard the violet.
Place two rows of Blights in each plot of land with the
exception of the one the Blight Druid occupies. Each
row should contain one of each color of Blight, placed
from left to right or top to bottom in the following order:
red, orange, yellow, green, and (if using), blue and violet.
Ensure that no Blight groups overlap nor cross over the
treeline border.
A vine plot on a board set for Challenging difficulty
might look similar to the example below:
When the last Twig Blight has been placed, the board is
ready to play.
On the side of the map, arrange three piles: one each for
Needle Blights, Vine Blights and Ravaged Vines. Keep
an envelope ready for discards or, if you are using the
Sprout Like Weeds option, set aside an empty space
near the board.
The Killing Field: How to Play
he party’s objective is to slay the Starting with the red Twig Blights, roll
t
Blight Druid and capture her Gulthias
Staff , a task complicated by the horde of
bloodthirsty Blights that lie between the
players and their quarry. To make
matters worse, Gulthias’s evil
benediction gives her the power to twist
and pervert nature to her own ends.
While the Blights themselves are a meager threat,
should two become entangled, they splice and
germinate a creature of greater power. Each beast thus
spawned presents an ever greater challenge to the
party, a situation that, if allowed to grow out of control,
can swiftly overwhelm.
Starting Off
Party Actions
After the Blights initially appear on the map, if any
players have yet to take their turn, they may do so.
Initiative and Turn Order
Players go first in whichever order they decide,
following which the Blight Druid may choose to either
take a turn or wait until the Blights have moved.
Movement always proceeds in the following order:
Players > Blight Druid (option) > Twig Blights > Needle
Blights > Vine Blights > Blight Druid (if action held).
If the Blood on the Vine option was selected and the
Blight Druid is capable of Legendary Actions, those
actions may be taken at the end of a player’s turn.
Running the Blights
Stat Blocks for all Monsters can be found in Appendix
C: Monsters
Twig Blights
After players have completed their turns, and assuming
the Blight Druid has delayed hers, it is time to
determine Twig Blights movement. Rather than move
under the control of the DM, Twig Blights move 5 feet in
a random direction decided by the roll of a 1d8.
1d8 and move them all in the direction
indicated by the diagram to the left. A
roll of 1 indicates Blights move one
square North, a roll of 5, one square
South, a roll of 8, one square to the
Northwest, and so forth. An easy way to remember the
pattern of movement is that odd numbers move North,
East, South, and West while even numbers move
between the points of the compass.
If any Twig Blight comes to occupy the same space as
another Twig Blight as a result of this move, remove
both from the map and replace them with a Needle
Blight. If you are using the Sprout Like Weeds option,
place the Twig Blights in a temporary discard pile for
later return to the map. Otherwise, place the discarded
Twig Blights back in their envelope.
Repeat the steps for each color of Twig Blight in the
order in which they were placed: red, orange, yellow,
green, blue, and violet until all have moved from their
starting point. It is helpful for the players to assist the
DM here, particularly in the early rounds.
Should a Twig Blight move into a player’s space, the
character will automatically take 3 (1d4+1) piercing
damage, may become entangled in Brambles and be
unable to move on their next turn. As long as the player
remains entangled, the Blight will not move, and the
player will take an additional 3 (1d4+1) piercing damage
on each of their turns, until they break free on a
successful DC 10 Strength check or else kill the Blight.
If a second Twig Blight should move into the same
space as a player while they are under the effect of
Brambles, the two will combine into a Needle Blight and
the tangle will be broken. However, the player will
instead suffer the effects of the Needle Blight’s Briars
ability (as described in the Needle Blight section that
follows).
If a Twig Blight lands on a space occupied by a Needle
Blight, together they form a Vine Blight, which will be
discussed at length in its own section following. A Twig
Blight that lands in a space occupied by a Vine Blight is
unable to move and remains instead in the position it
was in before the roll.
Any Twig Blight within 5 feet of a hostile creature will
use its turn to make a Claw attack.
T H E K I L L I NG F I E L D : HOW TO PL AY
8
 Needle Blights
Needle Blights are formed from the combination of two
Twig Blights.
Unlike the other Blights, the Needle Blight has no
movement speed and is Rooted in the position where it
spawned.
Although unable to move, the Needle Blight may use its
Thorns attack on any one hostile creature within 30
feet. If it hits a creature of large or smaller size, the
target takes 6 (2d4+1) piercing damage and is affected
by Briars, painful burrs that cause it an additional 6
(2d4+1) piercing damage for each 10 feet of movement
it makes until the effect is removed.
The effect will disappear if either an action is spent to
remove the burrs or the target receives any magical
healing.
Example: Briars
Agar is struck by two Needle Blights. He takes 12 piercing
damage 2x(2d4+1) and is affected by Briars. Rather than
spend a round to remove the burrs, on his turn Agar moves
10 ft and takes an additional 6 piercing damage (2d4+1). On
the following turn, he receives cure wounds and the effect is
removed.
Alvina is struck by a Needle Blight. She takes 6 piercing
damage (2d4+1) and is affected by Briars. On her turn, she
uses an action to remove the burrs and subsequently moves
without taking damage.
If a Twig Blight lands on a space occupied by a Needle
Blight, together they form a Vine Blight.
T H E K I L L I NG F I E L D : HOW TO PL AY
9
Vine Blights
A Vine Blight is formed when a Twig Blight lands on a
square occupied by a Needle Blight.
The Vine Blight is significantly more dangerous than its
Blight cousins. Although it lumbers along at a
movement speed of a mere 10 feet per turn, it does so
of its own volition in the direction it chooses.
As an attack action, the Vine Blight is able to Constrict
its victim to cause both 9 (2d6+2) bludgeoning damage
and, upon a successful hit, grapple them unless they
succeed against a DC 12 Athletics or Acrobatics skill
check to escape. Until the grapple ends, the target is
restrained and takes an additional 9 (2d6+2)
bludgeoning damage from the crushing force of
constriction each turn.
Additionally, the ground within a 15 foot radius
centered on the Vine Blight sprouts Entangling Vines
that grasp at any non-plant creature, rendering the area
difficult terrain for the duration. In addition, each
creature of the Blight’s choice in that area when the
plants appear must succeed on a DC 12 Strength check
to free itself or another entangled creature within reach
or else be restrained. When the Vine Blight moves, the
area affected moves with it and Entangling Vines left
outside of its 15 foot radius immediately wither and die,
leaving the abandoned space in its previous state and
releasing any restrained creatures within it.
The Blight Druid’s Gulthias Staff allows Vine Blights to
act with an Intelligence that makes them capable of
tactical decision making and the DM should play them
accordingly. If, for example, one has successfully
grappled a player, it may choose to use its movement to
carry them within range of a nearby Blight or to an area
affected by Spike Growth.
Option: Sprout Like Weeds
Any Twig Blight removed from play for any
reason other than its destruction by players,
returns to any unoccupied space in a cultivated
field of the DM’s choosing other than the one
which it previously occupied.
The Blight Druid
When the party defeats the Blight Druid and claims her
staff, The Killing Field is over; however, with an entire
field of plant creatures at her disposal and possessed of
formidable powers herself, doing so is no small task.
Option: Blood on the Vine
The Blight Druid is possessed of three
Legendary Abilities which she may use any time
after a player’s turn. These abilities are
described on her Stat Block in Appendix C:
Monsters.
Playing the Blight Druid
The Blight Druid begins her turn after the players move,
and unless directly threatened, will use it to ensure the
party’s journey through the fields is as harrowing as
possible. Her objective is to keep them from moving
faster than a crawl so that the Blights have the
opportunity to wear them down as much as possible
before they reach her position.
The Blight Druid will almost always use her first
combat turn to cast Plant Growth, causing the space
between her and the party to become overgrown with
thick vines, reducing player movement by 75%. Unless
this effect is dispelled, she will only use future spell slots
to cast Spike Growth.
Option: Wine Trip
If the party lacks abilities allowing them to
counter Plant Growth, movement may become
so difficult as to leave the encounter a dull slog
rather than challenging fun. In this case, the DM
may choose to substitute the effect of the spell
with the following:
Any movement within the area of effect results in
a 25% chance per 10 ft moved of tripping and
falling prone. The player should roll a 1d4 for
each 10 ft increment moved. On a roll of 1, they
fall prone and are unable to take any additional
actions or movement on that turn.
As long as the party remains out of range for Thorn
Whip, the Blight Druid will tap into the power of the
Gulthais Staff to Summon Blights. This ability allows
her to sprout a Twig Blight from any square in the
vineyard, and she will use it to create the most
formidable Blight possible given circumstances.
If players are within range of a Needle Blight, she will
summon a Twig Blight under it, so that it merges into a
Vine Blight. If only Twig Blights are nearby, she will
choose one of them to create a Needle Blight.
A summoning that does not result in a stronger Blight is
her least preferred option, so if none are within range of
the party, she will instead hold her turn, allow the
Blights to move, and take advantage of the new
situation. If no better options are available, the Blight
Druid will summon a Twig Blight in the space occupied
by players that appear to have lower Strength.
When players are close enough to engage the Blight
Druid, she will begin to cast Spike Growth in
combination with Thorn Whip, pushing players back
where their movement is restricted and in range of her
Blight minions. As her Mistress of Plants ability allows
her to move without impediment, she will try to stay
mobile within the corrupted field where she began the
game, using her minions for cover.
Should she move from the corrupted plot, her power
over the Blights will diminish. All Twig Blights will
cease to move and Vine Blights will no longer benefit
from the intelligence-enhancing abilities of the Gulthias
Staff. Her mastery over the Blights will return once she
re-enters the corrupted space.
T H E K I L L I NG F I E L D : HOW TO PL AY
10
 Ravaged Vines The following example illustrates how the devastation a
overzealous Fireball spell (20-foot sphere) might look
If the party decides to ignore Davian’s plea in favor of on the map.
quickly dealing with an overwhelming horde of Blights,
they may cause devastation to the delicate vineyard.
When this happens, the DM should place Ravaged Vine
icons on the affected area.
Although not an exhaustive list, spells that will certainly
destroy the vines, those that are safe to use, and
examples of effects that may or may not cause harm
depending on the care taken, follow. For those not
listed, the DM should decide on a case-by-case basis
into which category a spell or effect belongs. In general,
spells that bombard an area with missiles, fire, ice, or
such-like; as well as those that significantly disturb soil
or plant life will result in Ravaged Vines.
Option: Crush and Burn
Examples of Damaging Attacks:
Call Lightning, Cloudkill, Cone of Cold, As Twig Blights are vulnerable to flame and
AOE Effect:
Conjure Volley, Fireball, Flame Sphere, Hunger of combust easily, any use of fire damage spells on
Hadar, Ice Storm, Sleet Storm, Storm Sphere, them has a strong likelihood to catch and spread
Thunderwave, Tidal Wave to the vines.
Soil / Plant Effect: Destructive Wave, Erupting Earth, If any Twig Blight is hit by an effect that causes
Wither and Bloom fire damage, roll a 1d20 and compare the result
to the number of Twig Blights hit. If the result is
Examples of Benign Attacks: higher, no Ravaged Vines should be placed, if the
Confusion, Darkness, Entangle, Fear, same or lower, place a number of icons equal to
AOE Effect:
Fog Cloud, Shatter, Slow, Spike Growth, Stinking the result where the Blights used to be.
Cloud, Thunderclap, Web
Soil / Plant Effect: Plant Growth, Speak with Plants
Each cultivated field is roughly 6x10 feet, comprising an
average of 60 map squares. At the end of the Root &
Vine phase, the DM should total the number of Ravaged
Examples for DM Judgement Call:
AOE Effect: Aganazaar’s Scorcher, Breath Weapons, Vines, divide the result by 60, and check against the
Burning Hands, Bursting Arrow, Conjure Barrage, table below to determine the damage wrought by the
Infestation, Insect Plague, Lightning Bolt fighting:
Soil / Plant Effect: Earth Tremor, Gust of Wind,
Mold Earth, Warding Wind
Damage to Cultivated Plots
If the DM determines that the effort has caused damage, % of Ravaged Vines Plot Damage Production Value
a number of Ravaged Vines equal in shape and breadth 1-25% Minor Full
to the area of the spell effect should be placed on the 26-60% Considerable Half
map. Ravaged Vines are only placed on map squares 61-100% Complete Loss None
inside of the cultivated plots and not on grassland,
footpaths, stone walls, or buildings. In addition, the field
where the Blight Druid begins her turn is already
marked with corruption and can not be further harmed.

T H E K I L L I NG F I E L D : HOW TO PL AY
11
The Killing Field: Rewards
he less devastation the players

t
Champagne du le Stomp Reserve
inflict on the vineyard, the sooner the
Wizard of Wines can resume full Wondrous item, Very Rare

production, the more barrels of wine can One of a handful of bottles left over from the Wizard
be spared, and the greater the gratitude of Wines first harvest. Although the champagne has
Davian will show to the party. by now undoubtedly lost its effervescence, the taste is
There are at least three parties in the unimportant. This is the rarest of collectors items and
Curse of Strahd who send the players out seeking to
only a savage would dare uncork such a treasure!
replenish their diminishing stocks of wine: the Blue For non-oenophiles seeking only practical value, the
Water Inn, the Vallaki Vistani Camp, and the bottle may be traded to any noble in the land,
Burgomeister of Krezk. Depending on the confidence including Strahd von Zarovich himself, in exchange
Davian has that he’ll be able to meet future demand, he for the granting of one boon.
will provide sufficient wine for the party to take to each
of these destinations. The more powerful the noble, the less can be
demanded. The DM should determine what the
The Wizard of Wines ordinarily has 12 plots under noble in question would consider fair exchange for
constant production. One is a complete loss due to the such a prize.
Blight Druid’s corruption. For the remaining 11, the DM
should calculate their capacity using the Damage to
Cultivated Plots table on the previous page. Each plot
that suffered only minor damage is equal to 1
productive field, each one that has considerable is worth
0.5 and each complete loss is worth 0. Add up the value
and compare it to the table below to determine the
number of shipments immediately available to the party.
Wizard of Wines Production
Productive Fields Shipments Available
0-2 No Shipments
3-6 One Shipment
7-9 Two Shipments
10-11 Three Shipments

If the party manages to clear the Blights from the

vineyard while causing only minor damage to the fields,
Davian will reward them additionally with an
exceptionally rare bottle of Champagne du le Stomp
Reserve, a vintage bottled from the Martikov’s first
grape harvest.

T H E K I L L I NG F I E L D : R E WA R DS
12
 Root & Vine
nce the party has dispatched the
o
Blight Druid and claimed the Gulthias
Staff, they still need to find a way to get
through the tangle of vines strangling
the winery. Unfortunately for the
players, the staff does not surrender
itself so readily.
The DM should read the following description to the
first to touch the Gulthais Staff after the Druid has been
dispatched:
As you extend your hand to grab the gnarled staff, the
terrible recognition that its thorny tendrils are reaching out
to grasp yours in return shocks you. You instinctively pull
back, but not quickly enough to avoid its grasp. The vines
that once bound the mistress to her weapon now envelop
you, wrapping your limbs in thick brambles, expanding
towards your neck and chest, its roots already burrowing
their way into your flesh.
The Druid matron startles to brief life, reaching out for the
staff even as it pulls its deep roots from her exhausted
frame. For a second, the vines loosen their grip on you, as
an instinctual loyalty to its mistress takes over.
But there is far more life left in you and the staff has already
made its choice…
Even a cursory investigation of the staff reveals that it is
alive and that its tendrils seek to completely envelop its
bearer. Detect Magic reveals a corrupted aura of druidic
magic around the staff, a successful DC 20 Arcana
check reveals it to hail from Faerûn. Its magic can not
be dispelled, nor will remove curse effect it.
The only way to destroy the staff while its roots are
embedded in a creature is to kill the host. Any damage
done to the staff is done directly to the bearer. The only
way to remove the roots is to separate them from direct
contact with the ground.
The heavy stone floors of the winery will break the
bond. But the Gulthias Staff won’t make it easy for its
bearer to get there…
RO OT & V I N E
13
The Gulthias Staff
The staff, hewn from the branches of the Gulthias Tree
is no simple magic item. It is alive, potent, and
irredeemably evil.
Although the staff may share a character’s alignment,
this is not a weapon anyone should covet. It has a mind
of its own and enough dark power at its command to
ensure that the staff wields the creature holding it
rather than the reverse. Anyone foolish enough to
believe that they can master it will soon discover, to
their mortal cost, the nature of its vampiric origins.
The Gulthias Staff has one aim: the defilement and
corruption of Barovia’s soil and the propagation of
Gulthias Trees. To that end, it will sink roots into the
earth, poisoning the land it comes in contact with,
draining it of life, and leaving it infertile and forever
barren. It also has the power, through its bearer, to raise
Blights from the plant life it has polluted to help it fulfill
its terrible purpose.
To channel its power, the staff requires a living
humanoid host - it will not bond with the undead,
constructs, or animals. It is enough to touch it while in
contact with the soil where it may root for the parasitic
plant to burrow its way under the flesh, merging itself
with the host and feeding from its life-blood. The end
result of this process is inevitably fatal; first, to the mind
of the creature whose will it saps, then to the body upon
whose essence it draws.
To be bonded to the staff, even for a moment, is enough
to get a sense of this. Although it does not communicate
with its host, they feel its intent… and as a result, they
can learn much of its character, its powers, and its
weakness. Anyone who has felt the staff’s roots spread
under their skin can learn any or all of the following by
succeeding on the corresponding Nature check:
(DC 10) One of sufficient will may use the staff may
control the Blights.
(DC 15) The staff wants to remain in contact with the
earth and needs a living host to do it. It will fight to
stay connected to both.
(DC 20) The staff cannot be destroyed by means
short of its complete annihilation. A broken staff will
reform in time.
(DC 30) Repeated use of the staff will enthrall the
bearer and they will not willingly surrender it.
As there are other Gulthais Staves in the Curse of
Strahd, it is recommended either to refer to this one as
The Gulthias Blight Staff or preferably, to any of its
cousins as a Lesser Gulthias Staff
Getting to the Winery
As long as the bearer of the Gulthias Staff is in contact
with the earth, the roots will grow, eventually
insinuating themselves throughout the body. If they
stand in place, eventually the tendrils will completely
penetrate them and they will become petrified. This
condition can not be removed through any magical
means short of a wish spell.
If the player moves while holding the staff, it tries to
root them to the earth. To resist, for each 5 feet of
movement, the bearer must either pass a DC 20 Nature
skill check, using willpower to command the staff, or a
DC 20 Athletics skill check to pull up roots with each
step. On the first failure, movement speed is reduced by
half, and on the second they become petrified.
The staff cannot be thrown nor can the affected player
be levitated off the ground, as the roots embedded in the
carrier will not release their deep hold on their body nor
the earth.
Shadow Step, Teleport, and the like leave the staff in
place, but sever the roots, which remain inside the
player causing 7d8 piercing damage. Should a character
attempt this while in possession of the staff, they will
feel the roots tighten under their skin, and a DC 10
Insight check will warn of serious harm and allow the
opportunity to rethink.
So long as it remains in contact with the earth, the
Gulthias Staff is indifferent to who possesses it. Should
another attempt to seize it or should the carrier try to
pass on their burden, both parties should roll a DC 10
Nature check. If either succeeds, the staff attaches itself
instead to the receiver. If the previous bearer was
petrified, that condition will fade by the start of their
next turn. Additionally, they will recover 50% of their
maximum speed and return to full movement at the
start of their following turn. The staff may thusly be
passed from person to person and gradually be moved
to the safety of the winery.
Example: Moving the Gulthias Staff
Agar, a Barbarian with 40 foot movement speed, picks up the
staff and makes for the winery. He fails his first Athletics
check and his speed drops to 20 feet. He succeeds on the
next two checks and moves 10 feet before failing on the next
and becoming petrified.
Alvina, who has a 30 foot movement speed, attempts to take
the staff from Agar. Agar fails, but Alvina passes a DC 10
Nature check, gaining possession of the staff. She succeeds
on her next two Nature checks and moves 10 feet before
failing the next two.
After two turns, Agar has recovered full movement and is
now beside Alvina. She successfully passes the staff to him
and he continues his trek.
Terror of the Terroir
In a last-ditch attempt to stop the party from reaching
the winery, the Gulthias Staff will splice all remaining
Twig Blights together into a single, monstrous terror:
the Wine Blight.
Once the bearer of the staff passes the Westernmost
end of the last cultivated field before the vineyard, read
the following text aloud:
Without warning, the land around you heaves and quakes.
From every corner of the vast field, the Blights plaguing the
vineyard retreat back into the earth. The danger, it seems, is
past. All that remains are the final few steps to the winery.
Then suddenly, the ground shakes once more, but this time,
it births a new terror. You watch, petrified, as hordes of
Blights erupt from the field in front of you, scrambling over
each other like ants on carrion. As they climb and clatter
impossibly high, something new and dreadful grows…
branches entwine, ossifying into a thick skeletal frame, vines
twist and wrap around each other forming arboreal muscle,
and thorns sprout and grow into long scythelike talons.
As the beast ascends, now towering above the winery
rooftop, its limbs bear a rotten fruit. Grapes overripe with
corrupted juice burst, stifling the air with a thick red haze.
You breathe in, involuntarily, feel light-headed and swoon.
The Wine Blight will appear from the ground in front of
the winery building, with the upper-left-hand corner of
the icon placed on the square with the wheelbarrow.
Anyone occupying that space will be thrown back 30
feet and take 3d6 bludgeoning damage or half that if
they succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw.
Anyone else in a 30-foot radius of the creature, other
than one holding the Gulthias Staff, must succeed on a
DC 25 Constitution saving throw or else be compelled
to retreat to the nearest empty space outside of the area.
The staff bearer, upon a failed save, must move only as
far as their condition allows.
RO OT & V I N E
14
 The Wine Blight
Setting Hit Points
The Wine Blight is a construct of all the blighted
vegetation of the field. As it is the primary threat for the
next several game phases, it needs enough Hit Points to
both survive and present a challenge.
In the first phase of the game, the party should aim to
get past, rather than kill the Wine Blight. In the second
phase, the beast will have a fixed amount of damage it
will take. In the final phase, the players will have their
opportunity to deal with the Blight once and for all.
Assuming a party of 4-6 5th level players will do an
average of 10 damage per round per individual and that
the Blight will require 100 Hit Points for the first part of
The Wine Press, the Wine Blight will need somewhere
between 400-600 health to start the game with.
The DM should feel free to adjust that suggestion
according to the capability and number of their players
with the goal of a three phase trial in mind.
Playing the Wine Blight
The Gulthias Staff has created the gargantuan Blight for
the sole purpose of preventing its bearer from crossing
the winery threshold. If not hindered in its task, it will
attack whoever holds the staff until they are dead.
Fortunately for the party, as with the Twig Blights, the
Wine Blight is constructed from the over-ripe grapes of
the vineyard, and as such, shares their befuddled
nature. The Wine Blight can be distracted from its
purpose by a sufficiently powerful attack made against
it. Of course, that comes at the price of its attention
focusing on the one who dealt the blow…
As with the previous phase, the players take their moves
first in whatever order they choose. Only when they
have finished their turns does the Wine Blight strike.
The Stat Block for the Wine Blight can be found in
Appendix C: Monsters.
Creating a Distraction
With a range of 30 feet, the Wine Blight’s reach is
formidable and the damage it can do to a petrified staff
bearer is deadly, fortunately, the beast can be distracted
by damage dealt by other creatures within its area of
blindsight.
If the party deals at least a total of one Hit Dice (d10) of
damage for each attacker to the Blight before its turn, it
will attack the player that hit it last rather than the
bearer of the staff, as long as that player is in its range.
RO OT & V I N E
15
Example: Distracting the Wine Blight
Phoenix, Yenner, and Scarlet distract the Wine Blight while
Agar and Alvina flee with the staff.
Phoenix scorches the Blight for 13 damage, attracting its
attention, but since she likely wouldn’t survive the counter-
attack if hit, Scarlet jumps in. Unfortunately, her rapier scores
a glancing blow and the beast only loses 5 HP. Since two
players have attacked the Blight, they are 2 HP short of
distracting it from the paralyzed staff bearer.
Luckily Yenner is able to blast the creature for 15 damage, for
a total of 33, three more than the necessary 30 to distract
(3d10). With no one else left to attack it, the giant turns its
attention to Yenner…
If a player out of the Wine Blight’s blindsight range hits
it, the damage caused counts toward the total, but it will
not be lured away from the staff carrier by a creature too
far away to sense.
The DM should also note that the Wine Blight’s Branch
Smash causes damage in a 30-foot line from itself to the
target, so everything in between is also in danger of
being struck.
Option: Four & Twenty Blackbirds
Now that the Martikovs have had time to recover,
they’re not going to stand by idly while the party
is in danger.
If the party is unaware of the Wereraven’s true
nature, and one of their number is struck by what
would have been a fatal blow, a flock of ravens
will seemingly come out of nowhere and swarm
the Wine Blight, distracting it and preventing the
attack from landing.
If the party has the trust of the Keepers of the
Feather, they may call upon the ravens once
every three rounds of combat to force a missed
attack, but must decide to do so before the Wine
Blight begins its turn.
Wine Must Breathe
The bursting of the sour grapes that envelop the Wine
Blight fills a 30-foot square around it with Fermentation
Miasma, an overpowering vapor that causes inebriation
to any living, breathing creature that spends time within
it. One round spent inside the area is enough to make
anyone tipsy, and more time spent breathing the
intoxicating fumes has an even stronger effect. Luckily,
moving outside of the area to take in fresh air is enough
to clear the head and return to normal.
For each turn a creature begins within the vapor, they
must succeed on a Constitution saving throw of
increasing difficulty or gain one level of inebriation. For
each additional failed save thereafter, they gain another
level up to a maximum of five, at which point they fall
unconscious.
If, at any time, they begin their turn outside of the
Fermentation Miasma, they lose all levels of inebriation
and become sober. A lesser restoration spell has a
similar effect.
Erratic Movement
An inebriated creature gains erratic movement. When
they move, for each level of inebriation up to five, roll a
1d10. On a roll of 1, they move 5 feet to the North, on a
roll of 4, they move 5 feet Southeast. On a roll of 9-10,
they move in whichever direction they choose. The
scheme of movement is similar to the Twig Blights in
Running the Blights.
Even if the player opts to move no further, they must
spend all erratic movement during their turn or else
instead choose to fall prone.
Example: Erratic Movement
Yenner has two levels of inebriation, giving her 3d10 erratic
movement. She wants to move 30 feet to the West to clear the
miasma. She moves 15 feet and then decides to use her
erratic movement.
She rolls a 1, which takes her directly North. She uses the
second and rolls a 3, which would take her East, opposite her
goal. Instead, she chooses to fall prone and continue the
attempt in her next turn.
Inebriation Effects
A creature suffering from inebriation gains the following
conditions at each level:
Tipsy (Level 1): -1 penalty to all attacks and to spell
save DC; +1 to armor class; 1d10 erratic movement
Drunk (Level 2): -3 penalty to all attacks and to spell
save DC; +2 to armor class; 3d10 erratic movement
Soused (Level 3): -5 penalty to all attacks and to spell
save DC; +3 to armor class; 5d10 erratic movement
Wasted (Level 4): incapacitated; -5 to armor class; all
movement is erratic.
Passed Out (Level 5): unconcious
On the first turn, a creature spends inside the
Fermentation Miasma, they must succeed on a DC 10
Constitution saving throw or else gain one level of
inebriation. For each additional turn spent inside, the
DC increases by 5, until they either fall unconscious or
become sober.
Anyone holding the Gulthias Staff or immune to poison
is not subject to Fermentation Miasma and loses any
levels of inebriation previously gained.
Entering the Winery
If the player holding the staff comes within five feet of
the walls of the winery and is not petrified, they can
command it to force the engulfing vines to retreat on a
successful DC 10 Nature check.
Once the party has entered the building, the next phase
begins.
RO OT & V I N E
16
 The Wine Press
nce the staff bearer has
o
crossed the threshold, they are free of
its invasive roots and can move and act
normally. Of course, this doesn’t mean
that the Gulthias Staff is resigned to its
destruction. It continues to use all the
means at its disposal to free itself from
its new, uncooperative master,
including causing the complete destruction of the
winery and everyone trapped inside.
As long as there are party members still outside the
building, the Wine Blight attacks them rather than
focusing its attention on those inside. Once all party
members are within, read the following aloud:
As you cross the threshold and the last roots of the Gulthias
Staff are wrenched out of the ground, you feel its tendrils
retreat from your tender flesh. Surprisingly there is no pain
or wound, only the dull throb of loss. Something that was
briefly a part of you is gone, but somewhere inside its
presence lingers.
Circumstance leaves no time for reflection as the heavy oak
door behind you smashes into splinters, burst open by thick
ligneous roots. From every corner of the winery echoes the
sound of wood and stone surrendering to the irresistible
insistence of the Wine Blight’s assault.
As you cast about in panic for something, anything to block
the entryway, you feel a sudden shiver of foreboding. Looking
back towards the field you just escaped, you see hordes of
blights clambering over the massive roots, following its path
straight into the winery, right to you.
Option: Late Harvest
Events and dialogue for the Late Harvest option
which occur at this point are collected in The
Wine Press: Late Harvest under the section
titled Defending the Winery
T H E W I N E P R E SS
17
Defending the Winery
The Wine Blight’s roots have broken through the front
and side entrances, allowing a flood of Blights access to
assault the building. There are four access points that
the party must seal in order to safely move about. They
are marked on the map of the Winery’s 1st floor in
Appendix A: Game Maps. Until these locations are
barricaded, Blights will continue to pour through and
will eventually overwhelm the players.
Blight Assault
Combat begins immediately after the description has
been read. As with previous phases, the players start the
round and the Blights follow. As before, the players can
take turns in whichever order they choose.
First, the DM should place Invading Roots at
the locations indicated near the entryways.
These are the appendages of the Wine Blight
which the party must first destroy in order to block
ingress. The Stat Block for the Invading Roots can be
found in Appendix C: Monsters
Next, starting from the Western-most side entrance (E1
on the labeled map) roll a 1d10 and place the type and
number of Blights indicated on the following table in the
nearest open squares. Once positioned, repeat the
process for E2, E3 and finally, E4.
Invading Blights
1d10 Blights
1-2 No Blights
3-6 1d8 Twig Blights
7-9 1d4 Needle Blights
10 1 Vine Blight
The winery is not a particularly large area, so if are a
great number of Blights are gathered, either have new
ones appear just outside the door or consider the A
Single Twig Breaks option that follows.
The Blights that enter the winery are no longer in
connection with the vineyard and, as a result, lose both
their additional passive abilities - Brambles, Briars and
Entangling Vines - and their movement restrictions -
Sour Grapes and Rooted.
 Option: A Single Twig Breaks
The Twig Blights, from having merged to form
the Wine Blight, have gained the ability to join
into more formidable Branch Blights.
A Branch Blight shares a stat block with a Twig
Blight but adds each Twig Blight’s Hit Points
and damage dice to its own for every additional
merged Twig Blight up to a maximum of four.
Thus, a Branch Blight composed of three Twig
Blights would have 12 (4 HP x 3) Hit Points and
deal 7 (3d4+1) damage.
To distinguish between the levels of Branch
Blight, use the colors in the same order as they
moved in Running the Blights to represent each
size: red for single Twig Blights, orange, yellow,
and green respectively as they become stronger.
The process of placing new Blights repeats at the start
of each round. Blights will no longer appear at an
entrance that has been sealed.
Barricading the Building
The doors to the winery may only be closed off when the
Invading Roots that block the way have been severed.
If the party manages to reduce the root’s Hit Points to
zero, it will retreat back into the earth and the door may
be sealed shut. Until then, it will strike the nearest
hostile creature with its Root Slam attack.
Once the path has been cleared, the doors may be
sealed by moving empty barrels taken from the Barrel
Storage (W4) area, breaking them apart, and using the
wood and nails to barricade the open portal.
A player may carry as many barrels as their Strength
modifier with a minimum of one. A character with a +2
Strength may carry two empty barrels, while one with a
-1 may still carry one. Salvaging a barrel and using the
pieces to seal the entry requires an action.
When all four entryways have been sealed and
remaining Blights have been dealt with, the first floor
will be secure.
The DM should subtract all damage done to the
Invading Roots from the Wine Blight’s total health in
preparation for the next phase.
Option: Late Harvest
Events and dialogue for the Late Harvest option
which occur at this point are collected in The
Wine Press: Late Harvest under the section
titled Boys in a Barrel
The Gulthias Staff
The staff, although loathe to aid the party, is still
capable of powerful magic, and a player with a strong
enough will may force it to serve its new master.
If the bearer succeeds on a DC 10 Nature skill check,
the Blights - with the notable exception of the Wine
Blight and its Invading Roots - will react as if under the
effect of a Channel Divinity: Turn Undead effect, fleeing
as far from the staff bearer as possible. To maintain this
effect, the staff bearer must succeed on the Nature
check each round.
On a successful DC 15 Nature skill check, the staff
bearer may command any one Blight it chooses - with
the same exceptions as above - to do their bidding as
per the Dominate Monster spell for one round.
Unbeknownst to them, when the bearer commands the
Gulthias Staff in this way, the item begins to embed the
roots of dependence in its owner’s mind. The DM
should secretly keep track of the number of times the
staff has been called upon (whether successfully or not)
throughout this and the following phase of the mini-
game. Eventually, when the time comes to destroy the
staff, this total will be significant.
If the player rolls a Natural 20 while commanding the
Gulthias Staff, the DM may hint as to its addictive
nature, pointing out how its continual use makes the
bearer feel pleasure that they long to experience again.
T H E W I N E P R E SS
18
 Other Plot Points
In the source material, the Fermentation Room (W9 pg.176) includes an encounter with several Twig Blights and a
Druid failing to surreptitiously poison a vat of wine. To allow for a more fluid gameplay it is recommended either to
exclude this encounter or to return to it when the Vines of Wrath mini-game has reached its conclusion.
The DM may choose instead, for example, to allow the party to discover a mysterious broken vial near one of the vats,
giving them impetus to investigate for tampering. Or else, the Druid and its Blight retinue might have waited to do
their evil deed outside the Glassblower’s Workshop (W10) and will sneak in when the party leaves to defend the
upstairs from the Wine Blight.
This last option has the benefit of introducing a motive for the previously inscrutable action: the poisoner is simply
getting revenge on the Martikovs and their helpers for the death of the Blight Druid.

T H E W I N E P R E SS
19
The Siege of the Winery
Once the ground floor has been successfully defended
and the entrances sealed, the Wine Blight will make its
last desperate attempt to save the Gulthias Staff by
collapsing the building and killing all inside.
After the last door has been barricaded and the invading
Blights have been dealt with, read the following passage
to the players:
For the briefest second, there is silence as the last of the
invading Blights is dispatched. You breathe easier, although
your tired muscles use the respite to remind you with pangs
of sharp pain that they need rest.
Then, without warning, the whole building shakes, loose
dust falls from the ceiling as a fine rain. A sound like a
thunderclap, but much nearer, rattles your teeth.
You realize the booming noise is coming from upstairs.
Then, your fatigue-addled mind unwillingly reaches the
precarious conclusion: the Wine Blight intends to bring the
building crashing down on your head.
If you are playing the Late Harvest option, add the
following dialogue:
“Martin!” Stephania shouts in anguish, “He’ll be killed!
There’s no time, follow me!
The Collapsing Building
The Wine Blight, in an attempt to bring the building
down on top of the party, is smashing the tiled roof with
its crushing blows. If left uninterrupted, it will eventually
decimate the 2nd floor and the resulting destruction will
completely collapse the winery.
There are six rooms at the front end of the building. The
roof of each of these can withstand 100 Hit Points of
damage before collapsing, or roughly, three direct
attacks from the Wine Blight. The beast will attack once
per round after the players have taken their turns.
The creature’s decision of which room to attack is based
on the following criteria, ranked in order of importance:
1. The room closest to the bearer of the Gulthias Staff
2. The room with the greatest number of occupants
3. A room chosen at random (1d6)
If the staff remains on the 1st floor or is otherwise out of
reach, selection will begin with the second point on the
list. If the Gulthias Staff has been destroyed or is no
longer on the same plane of existence as the Wine
Blight, the behemoth will gain the Enraged condition
and attack once before the party has moved, then again
following.
Anyone who is inside a room whose roof collapses takes
20 (4d10) bludgeoning damage from the cave-in or half
that on a successful Dexterity saving throw and
becomes trapped in the rubble. A character who is
trapped may extricate themselves on a successful DC
15 Athletics skill check. A room with a collapsed roof is
considered rough terrain.
When all six 2nd-floor rooms have been destroyed, the
front of the building will collapse, dealing 40 (8d20)
damage to anyone inside, causing them to become
trapped, and exposing everyone in the rear of the
building to direct attack.
The Wine Blight will continue to attack the winery until
either the staff bearer and their companions within its
blindsight have been killed or it has itself been
destroyed.
Option: Late Harvest
Events and dialogue for the Late Harvest option
which occur at this point are collected in The
Wine Press: Late Harvest under Martin is
Missing
Killing the Wine Blight
For the party to end the siege, they must finally put
dispatch the Wine Blight. Its health, having been
whittled down by the distracting attacks in the vineyard
and the damage done on the 1st-floor to its roots, should
leave its destruction a formidable, but achievable task.
Ranged attacks may be made from the shattered
windows, but no more than two players may attack from
one window at a time. Melee fighters may either
descend from the Loading Winch (W16) or leap from
the second floor. Anyone choosing the latter path must
succeed on a DC 10 Acrobatics skill check or take 1d10
bludgeoning damage from the fall.
T H E W I N E P R E SS
20

Option: A Kindness of Ravens
If the party is unaware that the Martikovs are
lycanthropes, the first Wine Blight attack that
would reduce an occupied room to zero Hit
Points, is interrupted by a mysterious swarm of
ravens, who cause it to hit a random room
instead.
If the party is aware of the secret, they may
instruct the Wereravens to confuse the Wine
Blight into hitting a room of their choice once
every three rounds.
Once the Wine Blight has been reduced to zero Hit
Points the Wizard of Wines is safe, the gauntlet is over
and the only task remaining for the players is to decide
what to do with the Gulthias Staff and collect their
rewards from the grateful Martikovs.
This conclusion is covered in the section In Vino Veritas
that follows the next chapter.
T H E W I N E P R E SS
21
The Gulthias Staff
Once again, the Gulthias Staff may be forced against its
will into aiding the party, but at the price of its greater
bond with its wielder.
If the bearer succeeds on a DC 15 Nature skill check,
the Wine Blight be compelled to avoid damaging the
room closest to the staff bearer and will instead advance
to the second point of selection. Commanding the staff
in this way costs an action and the skill check must be
repeated on each turn for the effect to continue.
The staff will also remove the effects of the Gulthias
Cultist’s Sap of Gulthias from a target of the bearers
choice on a succesful DC 10 Nature check (Late
Harvest option).
As before, the DM should note the number of times the
Gulthias Staff’s magic has been used.
Other Plot Points
In the source material, both the Printing Press (W20
pg.179) and the Loading Winch (W16 pg.178) list
encounters with Druids and their Blight servants.
If you are running the optional Late Harvest, then we
recommend ignoring these confrontations. If you are
not, then their inclusion will add a degree of
incremental difficulty to the Wine Blight’s siege.
The DM is free to decide, although, for the purposes of
narrative consistency, we recommend excluding the
Druid’s vainglorious boast in praise of his Lesser
Gulthias Staff: “Nature bows to my every whim, for I
have the vampire’s staff!” unless you wish to introduce a
bit of comic relief.
Late Harvest
Defending the Winery
If you do not want to reveal the Martikov’s most guarded
secret, add the following dialogue:
Suddenly, from behind the giant cedar vats appear familiar
faces. Stephania and Claudiu, having recovered amazingly
well from their injury, race towards you.
If the players are aware the Martikovs are Wereravens,
use the following dialogue instead:
Suddenly, from out of the chaos of grey and green, two jet-
black birds deftly maneuver their way past the stream of
Blights and alight beside you. Reverting to their human
forms, Stephania and Claudiu rush towards you to help
reinforce the door.
Following either variant read:
“We need to keep them out!” Stephania shouts, “It looks like
they’ve broken through all the doors. You push them back,
and we’ll go get the boys. Once they’re safe, we can use the
empties in the barrel room to seal them shut!”
Boys in a Barrel
Stephania, having found him hiding in an empty barrel,
returns to tell the party that while Viggo is safe, their
other boy Martin left his hiding place to fetch his
favorite Blinsky toy and never returned.
Viggo also told her that there were strangers searching
the winery, wearing robes and carrying weapons. She
will need the party’s help to save her son.
First, though, she will aid in sealing the doors. If the
party can clear an area of the Invading Roots and any
nearby Blights, Stephania will manage to move the
barrel and seal the door shut without further aid.
Once all the entrances are barricaded, Stephania will
escort the party up to the 2nd-floor bedroom where she
believes Martin to be hiding.
If asked about the whereabouts of Viggo or Claudiu, she
informs the party that the elder brother is taking his
younger sibling back to the hill and that she’s confident
that they’ll be well.
Martin is Missing
Stephania will lead the party up the Spiral Staircase
(W11) to the westernmost Sleeping Quarters (W19),
where she expects Martin to be.
Instead, the party encounters a Gulthias Cultist, caught
while searching for the boy.
Once the room is clear, Stephania will search and,
finding the toy missing, will surmise that Martin must
be hiding elsewhere.
In fact, he is hiding in a pantry in the Kitchen & Dining
Room (W18) where the party will interrupt two more
Gulthias Cultists who also search for the child.
Once the cultists are dead and her son has been found,
Stephania will escort him out the back entryway,
returning to the party mere moments later.
From there, she will lead the party to the Master
Bedroom (W17) where her husband Dag has just
recovered from a knockout blow. His assailant has fled
with their daughter, Yolanda, through the open secret
door to the East.
Read the following text to the party:
“Oooh, my head…” complains a wirey man, black hair
matted with blood, as he wakes up. Noticing Stephania’s
concern you conclude that this must be her husband, Dag.
His eyes immediately open wide, remembering something.
Although bloodied and battered and looking a frightful sight,
Dag takes no notice of you, instead leaping to his feet and
rushing to an empty cradle. “She’s gone!”, he calls to
Stephania, who appears at his side.
He points to a door in the Eastern wall, once concealed, now
in splinters, that opens to a space beyond. “He took her that
way. I think they’re going downstairs.”
Dag will immediately run out the door and turn to the
right. If the party moves to follow, Stephania extends an
arm to stop them.
“No. You’ve got to stop that creature before it tears down
the winery. If the building collapses on top of us, it won’t
matter if we find Yolanda.”
“Dag and I will take care of this, just find us when you’re
done here.” she insists as she turns to follow her husband.
L AT E H A RV E ST
22
 A Tragic Waste of Good Wine
When the party has dealt with the Wine Blight and the
dangers of the siege have passed, they will hear the
sounds of battle echoing through the building. If they
follow the disturbance, they will find that it comes from
the Wine Cellar (W14).
By the time the players enter the cellar, the din will have
died down and only the tense, hushed voices of a nearby
stand-off will be heard.
The cellar feels unnaturally cold, so much so, that a thin
sheet of mist covers the floor and wraps itself around two
tall wooden wine racks.
In between the racks, in the center of the room, the mist is at
its thickest, cold billowing out of an open door that leads to
rough, stone-hewn walls and further, into darkness. Beyond
come the echoes of voices in tense negotiation… a stand-off.
For a second, you catch sight of something behind the rack,
magnified in the dusty bottles of wine… which suddenly,
explode in a razor hail of red and glass.
The encounter with the Druid and their thunderwave
assault (W14 pg.178) is in keeping with the story and
we recommend including it as written, with the possible
exception of the superfluous Twig Blights. If the DM
wants to up the challenge, consider adding a few
Gulthias Cultists instead.
The Cellar Standoff
When the party proceeds into the Brown Mold Cave
(W15), read the following:
What little light the wine cellar affords poorly illuminates the
entrance to what appears to be a roughly carved passageway
leading down into the dark.
The cold here is almost unbearable, as bone-biting as the
Mountains of Krezk. On the walls a thin patina of dark
brown mold. Ahead, shouting, amplified by the narrow
corridor to a pitch that sounds almost like the insistent
cawing of a livid crow.
As per the source material, the mold will not react to
players’ presence unless they insist on getting too close.
L AT E H A RV E ST
23
Given that this is near the finale of the gauntlet and it’s
likely that many characters will be at the limits of their
endurance, it’s recommended to either allow the players
a passive Perception to intuit the danger or modify the
mold to cause damage on touch rather than proximity.
When the party makes their way to the cave mouth, read
the following:
Here, in the heart of ice, a mother and father bargain for the
life of their infant child. Opposite them, with a bundled
blanket in one hand and a dagger in the other, a Gulthias
Druid, threatening murder.
You look towards Stephania, she nods and silently mouths
the words you’ve already understood. “He has her.”
Seeing you for the first time, the Druid signals over his
shoulder to an ally hidden in the dark.
The Druid is accompanied by two Vine Blights, who
answer to his commands.
If the party takes any hostile action that the Druid can
react to, he will sacrifice the child. He is not paying
attention to the Vine Blight, however, which can be
controlled by the wielder of the Gulthias Staff on a
successful DC 15 Nature skill check.
Once Yolanda is safe, the gauntlet is over and all that
remains is for the party to decide what to do with the
Gulthias Staff and to collect their rewards from the
Martikovs.
Additional Monsters
The stat blocks for the Gulthias Cultist and the Gulthias Druid
are found in Appendix C: Monsters.
Other Plot Points
While Late Harvest diverges significantly from the
source material, it is still possible to include original
plot points within the action.
The party may overhear the Druid in the cellar offering
to exchange Yolanda’s life for the third gem, unaware it
was lost long ago. They may allude to the coming of
Wintersplinter as revenge for the death of the Blight
Druid. They may let slip an ominous threat about
poisoned wine…
The DM is encouraged to tailor these encounters and
interactions to fit their game.
In Vino Veritas
he threat to the wizard of wines
t
now passed, the party has earned a well-
deserved rest over a bottle of fine wine.
But the matter of the staff still stands. It
is clearly a thing of evil, but such power
in the hands of the good and righteous…
that may shake even the spires of
Ravenloft.
Davian, as humbled and grateful to the party as he is for
their great deeds, nevertheless preaches caution.
“I can see it in your faces,” Davian says quietly, steady hand
on your shoulder as he pours you a glass of wine.
“It has magic that might even give the Master of Ravenloft
himself pause. But I have lived long, and seen many things
and I can tell you that power corrupts even the purest souls.
It is not worth the cost of yours.”
The other Martikovs may have different opinions,
depending on the DM’s desires, but ultimately, the
decision on what to do with the Gulthias Staff falls to
the players.
Destroying the Staff
The only way to destroy the blasphemous fragment of
the Gulthias Tree is to reduce it to ashes, for if even the
smallest sliver survives, it will be the seed for a new
corruption. Fortunately, the winery has a furnace in the
Glassblower’s Workshop (W10) capable of generating
such intense heat.
The staff’s roots dig deeper than the merely physical
and having once wielded the powerful weapon, its
master will be loathe to condemn it to the fire.
To rid oneself of the staff, the bearer must succeed on a
Wisdom saving throw or else be unwilling to either
surrender or destroy it. If they had not used the staff’s
power since entering the winery, the DC to beat is 15.
For each use of the staff thereafter, however, the
difficulty class increases by one, up to a maximum of 30.
Should the bearer fail the saving throw, they will go so
far as to fight or flee anyone who threatens to do the
staff harm. For the consequences of letting them
escape, see the section Keeping the Staff which follows.
If the Gulthias Staff is destroyed, read the following text:
An acrid stench accompanies the thick black smoke that fills
the small room, the smell of something foul and unnatural
burning. You feel your eyes well with tears, but you realize
it’s not from the fumes. You are remembering something.
Not something in your lifetime, but something deep in the
grain of the burning wood.
You close your eyes and try to focus on the vision. Then you
see it. A vast underground stream runs red through the
Barovian soil. It branches off, individual capillaries carrying
the blood of the land through forest, swamp, and plain.
Ahead, something penetrates the thick skin of the earth,
needle roots digging deep, piercing the fragile vessels,
injecting them with a polluted black bile. As you follow the
trail to the surface, the land swells with pestilence. You find a
hill, now a pustule of yellow ichor, where there was once
green life.
And from its crest grows a twisted, blackened tree, a parody
of nature, an unholy blight germinating decay and death. You
hear voices chanting.
You open your eyes again. The staff is now ash. The smoke
has cleared. The air smells fresher than it has since you got
here. But the memory lingers.
T H E G U LT H I A S STA F F
24
 Keeping the Staff Secret Staff Attunement
If, against all advice, the party chooses to keep the Save Fails Effect Insight / Medicine
Gulthias Staff, there will be consequences. Although it 1 Deep Sleep DC 30
can be used in service of good, eventually its evil will 5 Twig Blight Companion DC 25
overwhelm even the most strong-willed. 10 Barkskin DC 20

Although the staff requires attunement, the player will 15 Movement Reduction DC 15

find that there is no obvious way in which this can be 20 Cosmetic Changes DC 10

done. However, after the first long or short rest taken 25 Rooted DC 5

with it in one’s possession, they will find that while

sleeping, they have somehow achieved attunement and
may command the staff’s magic.
Thereafter, before each long rest, the bearer of the staff
must succeed on a DC 5 Nature check to successfully
command the staff for the next day. The DM should
make sure to see or ask about the result of the roll.
What the player does not know is that, as they sleep, the
staff is quietly and unobtrusively extending its roots into
the bearer’s body. For each Nature skill check rolled to
control the staff, the DM should secretly check the
result against an initial DC 10 Constitution saving throw
and note any failures.
Each failure of the secret saving throw thereafter raises
the subsequent DC of the next attempt by 1. This only
applies to the hidden check, the DC 5 Nature roll to
control the staff does not change.
Over time, the effects of the staff’s insidious takeover
will become apparent. The DM should not volunteer to
explain what is happening but allow the player an
Insight or Medicine check to understand for themselves.
Consult the Secret Staff Attunement table for effects
and required checks.
From the first attunement, the staff bearer will not
willingly surrender the staff. Use the rules from In Vino
Veritas: Destroying the Staff and substitute that DC
with the one used for the secret saving throw.
Option: Corked
The DM may decide that upon the final defeat of
the Wine Blight, the Gulthias Staff reverts to a
Lesser Gulthias Staff with the properties of the
item in the source material (CoS pg.221).
T H E G U LT H I A S STA F F
25
Effects
Deep Sleep
The staff bearer will not awaken while the staff is
spreading its roots during a long or short rest. If the
party should be interrupted, the player will be the last to
awaken as the roots retreat back to the staff.
The attunement is very subtle and one would have to be
watching the victim carefully and continuously to notice.
Twig Blight Companion
The staff bearer gains a
Twig Blight (MM pg.32) as a
familiar. While the Blight is not hostile to the player’s
companions, it will not follow their orders unless
commanded to do so by its master.
If the Blight is killed, it regrows after a long rest.
Barkskin
The staff bearer gains Barkskin as per the 2nd-level
transmutation spell. The effect is permanent and can
not be removed except by destruction of the staff.
Movement Reduction
The staff bearer begins to feel physically slower and
loses 10 feet of movement in combat. Outside of
combat, they are not capable of moving faster than a
normal travel pace unless mounted.
Cosmetic Changes
The physical transformation of the staff bearer becomes
undeniable. Their hair takes on the color and texture of
sickly vines, their finger and toenails become wooden
and long, twisted toward the ground, their barkskin
becomes thick and begins to shed, and their eyes take
on the polish of mahogany.
Rooted
The staff has completely taken over its bearer. They are
more plant than person. Their legs have fused to
become a solid trunk, their toes are roots that sink deep
into the ground, their arms branches, and their hair,
blackened leaves. Only the bare outline of the face is
visible on the trunk.
The staff bearer has become completely petrified and
within a week will transform into a Tree Blight (CoS
pg.230). At this point, nothing short of a Wish spell can
save them.
Gulthias Staff
Staff, Weapon, Legendary (requires attunement)
Simple Weapon, Melee Weapon
4 lbs
Hewn from the wood of the Gulthias Tree, the staff
is an object of unspeakable evil. Any non-evil
characters will feel discomfort in its presence and
those that are evil aligned with a Wisdom under 12
will feel compelled to possess it.
The staff can be wielded as a magic quarterstaff that
grants a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls.
Additionally, the bearer of the staff may use its other
magical properties for 24 hours on a successful DC 5
Nature skill check made before each long or short rest.

Master of Blights. The bearer may use the charges of

the Gulthias Staff to summon Blights under their
command. The staff has 10 charges that renew after
each long rest and may be expended according to the
following:
1d8 Twig Blights (1 charge)
1d4 Needle Blights (2 charges)
1 Vine Blight (5 charges)
The Blights will remain with their master until
destroyed or until the next long or short rest
Entangling Roots The bearer of the staff may cast
the 1st-level conjuration spell Entangle three times
per day (spell save DC 15).
Master of Plants. While attuned to the staff, Blights,
and other evil plant creatures will not regard you as
hostile unless you harm them. Additionally, you may
ignore the effects of Entangle.
T H E G U LT H I A S STA F F
26
 A Rare Vintage
hether or not the party decides
w
to keep the Gulthias Staff, the Martikovs
are grateful for their intervention and
celebrate the party’s victory with a
marvelous feast and fine wines from
Davian’s private stock.
This is a time to commend the players
for their endurance and to have the plot-forwarding
dialogue with the Martikovs that would be out of place
on the hilltop where it all started.
A Bottle Between Friends
As the wine flows, even the gruff patriarch of the
Martikov clan begins to open up. Depending on how
successful the party has been at avoiding damage to the
vineyard and the winery, the DM should consider using
the opportunity to allow for secrets to be revealed in a
narratively appropriate context.
Among the potential revelations from loosened tongues:
The Missing Gems: Adrian drunkenly laments that
all that effort might be for naught anyway, leading to
the truth about the stolen gems and their likely
whereabouts.
The Third Gem: As Davian rewards the party with
the bottle of Champagne du le Stomp Reserve, he
reminisces about the days when the Chardonnay
grapes were ripe and full in the fields and recalls the
gem that gave them life.
The Estranged Brother: Dag casually inquires about
his brother-in-law in Vallaki and gets a stern look
from Stephania. But when she notices that Davian is
paying misty-eyed attention…
The Keepers: Claudiu excitedly tells of how he
swooped in, grabbed his little brother Viggo by the
tailfeathers, and saved him from the Wine Blight.
The talk and laughter become deafening silence as
everyone slowly turns their heads to Davian, who
considering a moment, nods assent…
Wine Deliveries: Adrian and Elvir begin calculating
how many barrels they have left and working out
how they can fulfill their obligations.
A R A R E V I N TAGE
27
Stephania insists on assaulting Yester
Yester Hill:
Hill while they are weakened, recounting the
previous battle and what they witnessed.
The Wizard of Wines: Davian reminisces about the
first harvest, the state of the fields left by the
Krezkovs, and the patronage of Strahd von Zarovich.
Raise a Glass
Whether or not the party has earned the Bottle of
Champagne du le Stomp Reserve for their care in
preserving the valuable fields in their battle with the
Blight Druid, Davian has a special gift that he begs the
players to accept:
Corkscrew of Good Health
Wondrous item, Very Rare
An ornate ivory-handled corkscrew carved with the
symbol of a raven. Purportedly, a gift from the archmage
Khazan to the Martikov family on their first pressing
centuries ago.
When the phrase “To Your Health” is spoken and the
corkscrew is used to open a bottle of red wine, the wine
assumes the characteristics of a Potion of Healing with
five uses. For each use, the drinker gains 2d4+2 Hit
Points, but also a cumulative -1 to Dexterity and +1 to
Charisma skill checks for each failed DC 10
Constitution saving throw. The effect lasts for one hour.
When the phrase “Cheers” is spoken and the corkscrew
is used to open a bottle of white wine, the wine acts as a
1st-level enchantment cantrip Friends with five uses. A
DC 10 concentration check must be passed each turn to
maintain the effect, with the difficulty increasing by DC
5 for each drink taken.
When the phrase “In Vino Veritas” is spoken and the
corkscrew is used to open a bottle of champagne, the
drink has a 20% chance to work as a 4th-level
Divination spell. The bottle contains five uses, and for
each additional person who has a glass, the chances of
one of them having a question answered increases by
20%. Following a vision, the person who had it suffers a
hangover giving them disadvantage to Constitution
saving throws until a long rest is taken.
Once a bottle is opened, it must be consumed within the
next hour or it reverts to its former, non-magical state.
The Wine List
ince your local wine shop is

s
unlikely to carry a bottle of Red Dragon Red Wine Menu
Crush, if you decide to accompany the
Vines of Wrath with a rare vintage, here are Phase One: The Killing Fields
some recommendations for each phase of Character: Surprising, Unexpected
the game courtesy of u/jonnielaw on the Lambrusco from Emilia-Romagna, Italy
r/wines forum.
Phase Two: Root & Vine
Don’t forget that as you play, both the wine and the Character: Strong, Slow
player need to breathe… Valpolicella Ripasso from Italy
Phase Three: The Wine Press
White Wine Menu Character: Intense, Thrilling
Super Tuscan from Tuscany, Italy
Phase One: The Killing Fields
Character: Surprising, Unexpected Apres-Bataille
Jongieux from the Savoie region of France Character: Celebratory, Effervencent
Gruet Brut Rose From New Mexico
Phase Two: Root & Vine
Character: Strong, Slow
Chablis or Pouilly Fusse from France Mixed Menu
Phase Three: The Wine Press Phase One: The Killing Fields
Character: Intense, Thrilling Character: Surprising, Unexpected
Alsatian Gewurtztraminer Pinot Grigio Ramato
Apres-Bataille Phase Two: Root & Vine
Character: Celebratory, Effervencent Character: Strong, Slow
Gruet Brut Rose From New Mexico Dry Riesling from the Rhine Valley, Germany
Phase Three: The Wine Press
Character: Intense, Thrilling
Monastrell from Central Spain
Apres-Bataille
Character: Celebratory, Effervencent
Gruet Brut Rose From New Mexico

T H E W I N E L IST
28
Appendix A: Game Maps
Wizard of Wines - Vineyard

Wizard of Wines - Winery 1st Floor

Appendix A: Game Maps
Wizard of Wines - Winery 2nd Floor

Wizard of Wines - Wine Cellar & Brown Mold Cave

Appendix B: Game Icons
Twig Blights & Vine Blight
Appendix B: Game Icons
Twig Blights, Ravaged Vines & the Wine Blight
Appendix B: Game Icons
Needle Blights & Ravaged Vines
Appendix C: Monsters
Twig Blight - Sour Grapes Needle Blight - Rooted
Small Plant, Neutral Evil Medium Plant, Neutral Evil

Armor Class 13 (natural armor) Armor Class 12 (natural armor)

Hit Points 4 (1d6+1) Hit Points 11 (2d8+2)
Speed 5 ft. Speed 0 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
6 (-2) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) 4 (-3) 8 (-1) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 4 (-3) 8 (-1) 3 (-4)

Damage Vulnerabilities fire Condition Immunities blinded, deafened

Condition Immunities blinded, deafened
Senses Blindsight 30 ft, Passive Perception 9
Languages understands Common but can’t speak
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
Fruit of the Vine. As long as the Blight is in contact with the soil
of the Vineyard, it has the passive abilities below.
Sour Grapes. Sprouted from fermenting grape vines, the Twig
Blight can only move 5ft in a random direction.
Brambles. If a Twig Blight occupies the same space as a large or
smaller creature, the Blight’s Claw attack automatically hits and
the creature is grappled unless it succeeds on a DC 10 Strength
saving throw.
Senses Blindsight 60 ft, Passive Perception 9
Languages understands Common but can’t speak
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Fruit of the Vine. As long as the Blight is in contact with the soil
of the Vineyard, it has the passive abilities below.
Rooted. The Needle Blight sprouted from the grafting of two
Twig Blights and is rooted to the ground, unable to move.
Briars. A creature of large or smaller size is stuck by painful
thorns that cause an additional 6 (2d4+1) piercing damage for
each 10 ft of movement it makes until the effect is removed.
The effect may be removed by expending an action to take
them out or by any magical healing.

A ctions A ctions
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target. Thorns. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 30 ft, one target.
Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage Hit: 6 (2d4 + 1) piercing damage, and any creature hit gains
Briars
Appendix C: Monsters
Vine Blight - Grape
Medium Plant, Neutral Evil

Armor Class 12 (natural armor)

Hit Points 26 (4d8+4)
Speed 10 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

15 (+2) 8 (-1) 14 (+2) 5 (-3) 10 (+0) 3 (-4)

Condition Immunities blinded, deafened

Senses Blindsight 60 ft, Passive Perception 10
Languages understands Common but can’t speak
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

Fruit of the Vine. As long as the Blight is in contact with the soil
of the Vineyard, it has the passive ability below.

Entangling Vines Grasping grape vines sprout in a 15-foot

radius centered on the Blight, withering away when it moves
out of range. For the duration, that area is difficult terrain for
non-plant creatures. In addition, each creature of the blight’s
choice in that area when the vines appear must succeed on a
DC 12 Strength check to free itself or another entangled
creature within reach.

A ctions
Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 10 ft, one
target. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage, and a large or
smaller target is grappled (escape DC 12). Until the grapple
ends, the target is restrained and takes an additional 9 (2d6+2)
bludgeoning damage from the constricting vine. Once the
Blight has a creature grappled, it can not constrict another
target.
Appendix C: Monsters
Blight Druid Gulthias Staff. As long as the Blight Druid holds the Gulthias
Medium Humanoid (Human), Chaotic Evil Staff, any Blight with an Intelligence of 5 or more within a 240 ft
radius reacts instinctively to her will, enabling them to act as if
Armor Class 16 (natural) their Intelligence were equal to her own and fight accordingly.
Hit Points 130 (20d8+60)
Speed 30ft. A ctions
Thorn Whip. Melee Spell Attack: +6 to hit, reach 60 ft, one target.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Hit: 7 piercing damage, and if the target is large or smaller, it
10 (+0) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 11 (+0)
can be moved up to 10 feet in any direction from its position
when hit.
Saving Throws Constitution +5, Wisdom +6
Skills Nature +3, Perception +6 Summon Blight. As long as the Blight Druid holds the Gulthias
Senses Blindsight 30 ft, Darkvision 60 ft, Passive Perception 16 Staff, she may cause a Twig Blight to spawn anywhere within a
Languages Common, Sylvan 240 ft radius of her, including in spaces occupied by hostile
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP) Proficiency +3 creatures or other Blights.

Innate Spellcasting. The Blight Druid can cast the following
spells requiring no material components. Wisdom is her
spellcasting ability (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell
attacks).
at will: druidcraft, thorn whip (5th-level)
3/day: plant growth, spike growth
Plant Hybrid. The Blight Druid has advantage on saving throws
against effects that cause blindness and deafness.
One of Us. All plant life will clear a path where the Blight Druid
walks, as a result, she cannot have her movement speed
reduced by plants (either magical or nonmagical) and is
immune to any damage they would deal.
L egendary A ctions (O ption *)
As long as she holds the Gulthais Staff, the Blight Druid can
take 3 legendary actions from the options below. Only one
legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of
another creature’s turn. The Blight Druid regains spent
legendary actions at the start of her turn.
Thorn Whip. The Blight Druid casts thorn whip
Move. The Blight Druid moves up to its speed without
provoking opportunity attacks
Summon Blight. The Blight Druid causes a Twig Blight to
spawn anywhere within a 240 ft radius.

(*) Legendary Actions are available should the DM choose to use the Blood on the Vine option.
Appendix C: Monsters
Wine Blight Invading Roots
Huge Plant, Neutral Evil Medium Plant, Neutral Evil

Armor Class 14 (natural) Armor Class 14 (natural armor)

Hit Points Variable (8d10+Varies) Hit Points 25 (4d8+3)
Speed 0 ft. Speed 10 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
18 (+4) 8 (-1) 18 (+4) 5 (-3) 10 (+0) 3 (-4) 18 (+4) 8 (-1) 18 (+4) 5 (-3) 10 (+0) 3 (-4)

Condition Immunities blinded, deafened Condition Immunities blinded, deafened

Senses Blindsight 30 ft, Passive Perception 10
Languages understands Common but can’t speak
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Grafted. The Wine Blight is the construct of several Blights
grafted together. It’s Hit Points are a product of the total.
Senses Blindsight 60 ft, Passive Perception 10
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Roots of the Blight. The roots share their health with the Wine
Blight. When they are damaged, the Wine Blight loses an equal
number of Hit Points..

Staff Spawn. The Wine Blight ignores the damage resistance

effects of a creature petrified by the Gulthias Staff.
Siege Monster. The Blight deals double damage to objects and
structures.
Fermentation Miasma. Any creature that starts its turn within 30
feet of the Blight must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving
throw or gain one level of Inebriation. For each level gained, the
save DC increases by 5 and the following effects apply:
A ctions
Root Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 10 ft, one
target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and a large or
smaller target will be tossed up to 10 feet in any direction from
its position when hit unless a successful DC 10 Strength saving
throw is made.

Tipsy (Level 1): -1 penalty to all attacks and to spell save DC;
+1 to armor class; 1d10 erratic movement
Drunk (Level 2): -3 penalty to all attacks and to spell save DC;
+2 to armor class; 3d10 erratic movement
Soused (Level 3): -5 penalty to all attacks and to spell save DC;
+3 to armor class; 5d10 erratic movement
Wasted (Level 4): incapacitated; -5 to armor class; all
movement is erratic.
Passed Out (Level 5): unconcious

A ctions
Enraged. If the Gulthias Staff has been destroyed or is not on
the same plane of existence, the Wine Blight will make two
Branch Smash with each attack action.

Branch Smash. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 30 ft, all

targets in a 30 ft line from self. Hit: 20 (4d8+4) bludgeoning
damage.
Appendix C: Monsters
Gulthias Cultist Gulthias Druid
Medium Humanoid, Lawful Evil Medium Humanoid, Lawful Evil

Armor Class 13 (leather armor) Armor Class 12 (hide armor)

Hit Points 15 (3d8+2) Hit Points 24 (4d8+8)
Speed 30 ft. Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
11 (+0) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 13 (+1) 15(+2) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 12 (+1)

Saving Throws Contitution +4, Charisma +4 Skills Nature +5, Survival +5

Skills Nature +3, Persuasion +5
Senses Passive Perception 13
Languages Common
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Dark Devotion. The fanatic has advantage on saving throws
against being charmed or frightened.
Sap of Gulthias. The fanatic has dipped their blade in the sap of
the Gulthias tree. Anyone wounded by it must succeed on a DC
10 Constitution saving throw or else lose 1/3rd of their
movement speed each round as Gulthias roots start to grow
within their flesh. Once all movement speed is lost, the target
becomes Paralyzed. The condition may be removed by a lesser
restoration spell.
A ctions
Multiattack. The fanatic makes two melee attacks
Senses Passive Perception 15
Languages Common, Sylvan
Challenge 3 (700 XP) Proficiency +2
Spellcasting. The Druid is a 4th-level spellcaster, it’s spellcasting
ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13, +5 to Hit).
Cantrips: Druidcraft, Thorn Whip, Shillelagah
1st-Level (4 slots): Cure Wounds, Fog Cloud, Thunderwave
2nd-Level (3 slots): Barkskin, Wither and Bloom
A ctions
Shillelagah. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft, one
target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) bludgeoning damage. This attack counts
as magical for purposes of overcoming resistance.

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft or

range 20/60 ft, one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage,
and the target is poisoned with the Sap of Gulthias.
 Sour Grapes
A dirt path winds its way through a field of tangled
vines. Although clearly once tended with great care,
a corruption has since taken hold and the plants
produce a blackened, fetid fruit. At the center of the
devastation stands a single druid wielding a crooked
staff from which pulses a sickly green light. Behind
her, the winery, wrapped tight in a weave of sharp
thorns, from which no door or window can be seen.

One step past an invisible threshold and the

vineyard seems to burst with life. Not the
welcoming, gentle green and red of ripening grapes,
but a sudden violence of twisted branch and cutting
thorn, a mockery of Spring. The loam of each field
births a host of wooden abominations, dragging
themselves across the wounded earth toward you
with sharp claws…

The Vines of Wrath reimagines the opening siege

battle at the Wizard of Wines, employing a gamified
approach to deliver the thrill of the few against the
many without the monotony of a battle of attrition.

For use with the fifth edition

Curse of Strahd.