#Every subsequent time she went to Ravenloft was on a bargain. | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

vanhelsingapologist · 9 months ago

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Strahdposting (with possible spoilers so tread lightly)

One of the worst things about Strahd in our campaign is that he's not overtly forced anyone to do anything. His underlings have, sure, but never him. He just waits for us to eliminate our options all on our own, and then presents us with his way. And of course, his way is the easiest. He'll even make it easier. We keep falling into the pit because he ensures we dig it ourselves.

We're almost past the point where he wants to bargain with us and I'm nervous about what happens when he stops being the devil we know and becomes something else altogether.

The recent reveal that there were other parties before ours has been so shattering for us, I think, because it made us all realize that our party is an amusement until it is an inconvenience, and then we'll be insects in the garden that have overstayed our welcome. And then he'll start with the force.

#even when Demetria was kidnapped #we only SAY kidnapped because Volenta did it and Strahd got to play hero about the whole thing #Every subsequent time she went to Ravenloft was on a bargain.#we're so past the wining and dining phase that it's unreal #but he'd convinced a party member to turn traitor and is moving in on another because he knows we work better being coaxed #barovia is so so scary and you know what? vampire castle supreme seems real nice sometimes.#in terms of power i was specifically thinking of when he found out we resurrected leo and collected him after 3 business days #he only used force after we acted first #and then was all “look what you made me do.”#good fucking god #and obviously #it's control while maintaining the illusion of culpability on our part. but it works. oh... does it work.#i know some DMs have him being very traditionally forceful and i think that's a great interpretation #because the first strahd game i was in leaned heavy into that #but i think our strahd in this game uses vampire-as-seduction in an extraordinarily cool way.#i had the same DM for both and i think this version is some fine fine work.#curse of strahd spoilers #cos: the sorority

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