The Curse of Strahd

Session 2: Durst Manor

As told by Helios Winston

  • The girl is obviously older than the boy. 
  • The boy has not spoken and clutches a doll.
  • Utztec asks the girl about the monster and their parents. They have never seen the monster. Last they saw, their parents were trying to hold the monster at bay. The girl asks us to go help and Utztec overhears them mention a baby, Walter, still in the manor.
  • The boy tugs on Helios’ Robe as Helios has had his eyes closed and asks if he is going to help. As the sister drags the boy away with the doll dragging eerily behind, Helios swears the doll’s head is moving and keeps eye contact with Helios. Helios is scared and pees a little
  • Utztec opens the portico door 
  • Helios grasps Utztec’s hammer and casts “Light”. 
  • Helios immediately notices the light isn’t as vibrant as it should be. The house is not dilapidated or dirty on the inside as it is on the outside. The group doesn’t hear the screaming that they thought they would be hearing.
  • The group decides to go upstairs first to find baby walter. They notice an oil painting with the family. The Husband holding a baby with the wife looking at the baby with disdain and disgust.
  • UTztec checks a couple rooms. Helios notices that the art isn’t what it appears
  • Utztec and helios notice a hidden door disguised as a bookshelf. Revealing another room of books. Also a chest with a human skeleton that was dead from a trap. A letter is grasped in its hand. Utztec grabs the letter.
  • Helios recognizes the seal but can’t quite place it. Utztec opens the letter and reads aloud. The letter was written by a Strahd Von Zarovich
  • After investigating the ballroom and the hearth, they head up another floor. 
  • The third floor, similar in layout, but unkept and dusty. The wall starts to peel off and attack utztec.
  • Combat starts! A statue, resembling the man from the paintings, peels away from the wall, covered in webs and attacks.
  • The group destroys the monster and moves forward, down the hall, through another set of double doors.
  • Helios finds and opens a jewelry box:
    • Jewelry box – silver with gold filigree
    • 3 gold rings
    • Thin platinum necklace with topaz pendant
    • Bottom of the box marked with windmill & Durst name
  • In the next room, there is a figure sitting on the bed, looking out the window. Utztec gets closer. The skeleton-like creature silently talks to each member of the party. She gets angry with frustration when no one understands her.
  • NOTE: Rose and Thorn are the two children’s names
  • We went back to the first floor. Much is the same except the fireplace is lit.
  • Going through more rooms, we found locked cabinets and 20 rations from the kitchen
  • The walls have been decorated through the house with skulls and snakes. Some are decorated with woods and wolves. Very dark in nature.
  • The figure from upstairs shows herself and turns and heads back upstairs, almost beckoning us to follow. We follow her.
  • We go back to the third floor where the temperature drops. The woman stops and points at the wall.
  • We open the hidden door to unveil old wooden steps, leading up. Very cold here.