Sample file THE WEDDING AT RAVENLOFT Triumphant in his centuries-long pursuit of his CHARACTERS beloved Tatyana, Strahd von Zarovich cannot help Several characters from throughout the campaign but gloat. Wedding invitations have been sent out attend the wedding, as described in the Guest List. across Barovia, and all are expected to witness this Given the authority Strahd wields over the valley, no unholy union. In his arrogance, he has invited the guest would willingly rebuke his invitation. Unless adventurers to his place of power to humiliate them slain or otherwise preoccupied, they will attend, one last time before draining Ireena Kolyana of her bearing gifts and smiling politely. life's blood and damning her soul for eternity. If a character is dead or indisposed in your Might the gods watch over these wayward souls. campaign, but is mentioned here, adapt. Some Might the strength of their sword-arms and the characters are versatile; others can be substituted. For courage of their hearts be enough to stand boldly example, if Father Lucian died in the St. Andral's against the devil's shadow—for here, in Barovia, all Feast event (see "Special Events," Ch. 5), then he can is not well. It can never be well so long as this valley still officiate the wedding as a vampire spawn if his and its people live under the curse of Strahd. body was never burned. Otherwise, Strahd forces Donavich to officiate, and if the man can't, a WELCOME TO THE WEDDING nondescript officiator takes his place. The Wedding at Ravenloft is a module balanced for a Bottom line: it's your game. Make it work to the party of four 9th-level adventurers and is intended story you've already started. as the opening salvo to the titanic conclusion of Curse of Strahd. FACTIONS True to Ravenloft's nature, the deck is stacked This is not a quiet affair, but a ceremony for all heavily against the adventurers—either they triumph nobles of the realm and loyalists of the devil Strahd. and live forevermore as heroes or join the legion In his arrogance, the vampire has brought friend and fools that fell before the devil's claws. They are foe alike here to gawk at his triumph. joined, however, by several allies, as described If a faction does not make sense for you, change it. below, to almost even the scales. You can also change the number of agents they have The adventure spans four acts, but can be to better fit your party's capabilities. interrupted at any time, advancing straight to the These factions include: fourth and final act: The Devil's Wedding Night. All Comrades. These individuals stand against the told, the entire wedding will last up five to seven devil and include Ismark Kolyanovich or Donavich. hours depending on how quickly your players can Cultists. Eager to demonstrate her ability to Strahd, act and whether they keep the peace until Act IV. as well as pilfer arcane secrets from his study, Fiona Wachter has brought four cult fanatics and three WEDDING OVERVIEW cultists, disguised as Vallakians. The Wedding at Ravenloft spans four acts: Dusk Elves. Kasimir Velikov has been invited as I. Greeting the Guests sees the adventurers yet another sleight against his people; he has brought arriving to Castle Ravenloft, swearing an oath to a retinue of three dusk elf guards. hospitality, and mingling with the guests. They also Innocents. These characters are noncombatants have the opportunity to sneak about the castle. that flee from carnage. Some, like the Wachter II. The Ceremony is the shortest act, featuring the brothers, can be elevated to Comrade or Loyalist wedding ceremony between the devil and his bride. status at your discretion. If he yet lives, the Abbot crashes the wedding to Keepers of the Feather. As nobles, the Martikovs object, offering his flesh golem, Vasilka, instead. have been invited to the wedding. Strahd is unaware III. The Reception is the calm before the storm. of their lycanthropic nature. They've stationed six Strahd enjoys his victory lap and, after leaving for his other wereraven agents and 2d4 ravens outside the marital Samplebed, has his minions betray the adventurers. castle walls to assist the adventurers.file Brom and Bray IV. The Devil's Wedding Night is a modular act Martikov only have 7 hit points each and are offering several side quests for the adventurers to considered Innocents. This faction is described as complete, up until they face Strahd at the location "Wereravens" on the Guest List and other sections. determined by their tarokka card reading. 1 INTRODUCTION Loyalists. These individuals include Rahadin, GUEST LIST vampire spawn, and other characters loyal to the NAME FACTION STATISTICS PG.1 devil Strahd. Adrian Martikov Wereravens LG wereraven 174 Vistani. Strahd has need of minions unafflicted by Anna Krezkova Innocents LG noble 155 sunlight or silver and has brought his Vistani Arabelle Innocents NE commoner 38 Arrigal Vistani NE assassin 121 servants. Led by Arrigal, these four Vistani thugs are Bray Martikov Innocents LG wereraven 98 the main instruments of Strahd's betrayal of the Brom Martikov Innocents LG wereraven 98 adventurers. Any number of additional Vistani thugs, Cult Fanatics (4) Cultists LE cult fanatic 115 bandits, or spies are at your disposal. Cultists* (3) Cultists LE cultist 115 Werewolves. The pack, led by Kiril Stoyanovich, Danika Dorakova Wereravens LG wereraven 98 attend the wedding as enforcers. These five Davian Martikov Wereravens LG wereraven 174 werewolves hide amongst the sheep in their human Dmitri Krezkov Innocents LG noble 145 Donavich Comrades LG acolyte 46 forms and roam the halls during Act I. Unless the Dusk Elves (3) Dusk Elves N guard 121 adventurers have previously met them, they're none Escher Loyalists NE vampire spawn 70 the wiser that the wolves have come to dine. Fiona Wachter Cultists LE priest 110 Heinrik van der Voort Innocents LE commoner 116 THE VAMPIRE HUNTERS Ismark Kolyanovich Comrades LG veteran 43 Both Rictavio and Ezmerelda d'Avenir can be Karl Wachter Innocents N noble 100 included in this adventure—they would no doubt like Kasimir Velikov Dusk Elf N mage 121 to capitalize on the devil's distraction. Neither, Kiril Stoyanovich Werewolves CE werewolf 201 however, have been invited unless they're the Krezkite Nobles (8) Innocents LN noble N/A Lief Lipsiege Innocents CE commoner 62 destined ally of the adventurers. Ezmerelda can be Lucian Petrovich Comrades LG priest 97 found stalking the castle via a Random Encounter. Luvash Vistani CE bandit captain 121 Given their importance in Curse of Strahd, it's Lydia Petrovna Innocents LG commoner 105 possible that Strahd has already found and slain Nikolai Wachter Innocents N noble 100 either of the two, in which case he would use them as Rahadin Loyalists LE (see appendix D) 237 added vampire spawn for the wedding. If Sasha Ivliskova Loyalists NE vampire spawn 89 Ezmerelda d'Avenir has been reduced to such a state, Urwin Martikov Wereravens LG wereraven 98 Vallakian Nobles* (5) Innocents LG noble N/A she serves as a bridesmaid to Ireena Kolyana. Vargas Vallakovich Innocents NE noble 105 The status of these two are left up to you; the Vistani Thugs (4) Vistani NE thug N/A module has been written assuming they're not Werewolves (4) Werewolves werewolf N/A present. 1 Found in Curse of Strahd 2 Invited to the reception, but not the ceremony THE GUISE OF GUEST RIGHT When the adventurers arrive, they're expected to THE FORTUNES OF RAVENLOFT swear to an oath of hospitality. They will offer no The adventurers' tarokka reading can affect this violence or disrespect to their host and his guests module in several ways. unless they've been attacked. ARTIFACTS In truth, this fragile peace is merely a ploy by If an artifact lies within the castle, the adventurers Strahd to ensure that things go as planned. Once ought to go searching for it during Acts I or III. Ireena has been married and slain, he intends to round up the adventurers to be her first meal come DESTINED ALLY the hour of her dark rebirth. With exception to a few characters, Strahd would invite the party's destined ally to the wedding as well, A NOTE ON LYCANTHROPY whether or not he knows that the character has sided Should any character succumb to lycanthropy, with the adventurers. inform them that the full moon is still days or weeks Characters that would not normally be invited and away—but Strahd is the Ancient. Strahd is the Land. must then find another means of entry include: In Act IV,Sample he reaches out to hurl the moon from its file • Clovin Belview • Sir Godfrey Gwilym lofty bed and into the Barovian sky so that in this • The Mad Mage • Sir Klutz Tripalotsky newfound bloodlust, these wolves turn their fangs • Pidlwick II • Vasilka and claws on those that once were friends. • Rictavio See Act IV for more information. INTRODUCTION 2 DESTINED SHOWDOWN • Were the Vallakoviches executed? Fate is a fickle thing. In regard to the adventurers' • Has Lady Wachter seized Vallaki? tarokka reading that determines where they will find • Was the Abbot met? Does he yet live? Does Vasilka? • Were the Keepers of the Feathers helped by the Strahd in the castle, you may need to bend the rules. adventurers in any way? Follow these guidelines. • Has Kasimir Velikov received his dark gift from the Before the Wedding. If the adventurers proceed Amber Temple? immediately to their destined showdown, they find • Has the werewolf pack been annihilated? Strahd there—but the vampire need not stay.