#guests of strahd

[tamvmat]

Henri the chicken - Curse of Strahd ~She is the Ancient

This little birb belongs to Ireena, and there is something a bit odd about her..

[wastrelwoods]

please for the love of god you have to stop leaving out gluetraps the gnomes are getting caught in them

[tantaliart]

what you need to know about my group’s ismark is that he is deeply abnormal in ways

tell me about your group’s ismark please I want to know

[vodka-and-ocs]

will’s dream outfit. and by dream outfit i mean what they ended up wearing in strahd’s dream dimension thing. they hated it

[elennare]

Hey High Rollers fandom, I'm back on my bullshit polls!

[starbvund]

(Strahd) 🎩

@shadovan gave Strahd a hat.

An odd gift. The Baron was more accustomed to coin, jewels, or anything else of value. What the people left at his front door to pay for the taxes he levied. But a hat? This was new. He put the top hat on his head. He turned to Rahadin. "How do I look? Elegant? Regal?"

Rahadin looked between his liege and Tareque. "My liege, the lich isn't a good judge of what is fashionable."

[luckyblackcatxiii]

So we met this really off putting guy and his intense bodyguard or something and maybe it's just me but he seems like a really awful person

But seriously: we finally met Strahd face to face--and Rahadin, so I'll have to get to figuring out his appearance too 👀--and overall it went fairly well, all things considered! Definitely left a bad taste in everyone's mouths, but that seems par the course for this guy

Design is not THE Fit™ aka Strahd's normal look, I went for a more outdoorsy appearance, something to be worn for when you're out riding around your domain of dread and harassing your citizens/new guests on the streets

[oldschoolfrp]

"The master of Castle Ravenloft is having guests for dinner. You are invited . . ." (Dana Knutson cover for AD&D 2e Ravenloft adventure RM4: House of Strahd, TSR, 1993) Tracy and Laura Hickman's classic Strahd adventure was expanded and updated for AD&D 2e by Bruce Nesmith. New variable goals for Strahd make the adventure more unpredictable, and optional updated statistics make Strahd a more powerful genius-level undead opponent.

[topbanana-art]

'The Dressmaker's Bride'

A Porcelain Warforged mannequin

-she was my guest party member in a 24 hour curse of strahd charity stream! -

[yandereheathen]

The Cost of Protection [Yandere elf guard x Fem Reader] 18+ Chapter #1

Based in Barovia (Curse of strahd, some dusk elf lore spoilers) Warnings: Non-con touching/kissing/ some violence, obsessive treatment, death threats necromancy?

Living in Barovia was hard enough; trying to do business in it is quite the other. Besides all of the ghosts, Undead creatures, and living under the tyranny of a centuries-old whiny vampire, everything was complicated. Still, you had your own set of struggles. Your Tavern was not necessarily famous, but it did good business. You had your regulars, Travelers who would sometimes come and try their hand at defeating the vampire lord Who you never saw again unless it was their Undead body, and some other travelers who were peddling wears pies, toys, weapons, anything that you could imagine then there was the common folk and Crafts People. Everyone was welcome in your Tavern. You offered a warm smile, a glass to drink, and whatever you could scratch up to cook that day; however, you had one unwelcome guest who changed your path forever.

 Maverick

 It wasn't uncommon that Dusk elves would come into your Tavern. They followed Vistani and often went through the cities of Barovia on a standard route, and more and more did you feel like you saw them integrating with the town, so seeing one dressed in a guard uniform was unusual but not unheard of. His long dark hair was braided up in leather twine, and his eyes were the standard golden color, but you did see a tiredness in them. He was only an inch or two shorter than you. After all, you were pretty tall for a human, but he was well-built and had hands that showed both work and strength. His smile and his voice were the things that stood out most. It had a ruggedness that you admitted caused a little heat in your cheeks the first time you spoke with him.

  Speaking of the first time, You remember clearly the first time he stopped by your Tavern. You treated him sweetly, flashed a smile, and put your arms down in front of him, looking up at him with innocent eyes leaning at the bar.

"Anything to drink, sir?"

You Tend to be flirty with everybody. It was basically in a bar person's job description. Still, you noticed that some visitors would give you an extra coin or became regulars if you gave them special treatment. However, his smile made you a little uneasy, almost excited. It was a smile that said he appreciated your treatment and wanted more, how much more you didn't quite understand that time. Did you know that that smile would lead to many other things? He just put your hand just under your cheek and, tilted his head, and said

"I think a beer or mash number 8 would be okay before I have to eat. I could live off your voice and those beautiful eyes forever.

 You just left thinking he was making some flirtatious joke, pulled his draft, and handed it to him. From what you've gathered, asking him simple questions about his life gave you non-committal answers or general mods. He was pretty new around town and it was just getting to know all of the local businesses, and he heard that you could get a good cup for cheap and that a cute shop girl was serving the drinks. You laughed again at his flirtatious joke, but you noticed that his eyes never left you from your lips to your shoulders, down your neck to your chest. Even to your backside, when you were turned around and helping other customers with their drinks, you didn't think much of it then. Still, it definitely left you a little unnerved.

 After that, he became one of your regulars. You knew his drink by heart, you knew what he liked to sit in at what time, and you learned exactly how to speak with him. Not too much, but he did enjoy hearing a little bit about your day. He wasn't much of a talker, but you don't mind, or you did not have the time. 

One night, a set of particularly Rowdy young men was causing ruckuses in your Tavern. You tried to compile them with free drinks and sweet words, but you needed more. It all came to a head when one of them tried to get handsy on you, and he was greeted with a sword to his neck. The man went still as Maverick whispered in his ear, pressing the dagger a little bit closer enough to cut into his neck. He looked at the other two men and said in his low, deep voice. 

"Oh, did you both want to be next? As much as I would joy putting all your heads on a platter and making it for the next stew, this one would not appreciate making a mess of her Tavern. How about all of us be nice to you all? Get the hell out of here before I make an example."

 They tried to avoid messing with a guard, let alone a dusk elf. There were rumors of them knowing dark magic. Magic rants to them after the travesty of their women being wiped out, dark magic that was taught to them by Rahadin, the right-hand Master of the lord of the world. The ability to raise the dead and control minds are abilities right from hell."

 They all scurried off. You were thankful, bowing to Maverick and taking his hand, promising free drinks for the rest of the night. Still, he took your hand and looked at you, his golden eyes hidden behind something mischievous, something lustful that weighed heavy on your heart. In your chest, you felt the heat rise up from your stomach.

"Darling, we can make a better arrangement. How would you like me to offer my protection?"

 You looked at him, confused, but still held his hand, your head tilted. 

"I would always be thankful, but isn't that what you usually do? I wouldn't want you to give me special treatment."

 "Oh well,"

 He takes your face and his hand. Squeezing your cheeks ever so slightly, 

"If you give me special treatment, I'll give you and your customers special treatment. After all, you wouldn't want anything to happen to you, your Tavern, or your customers, would you, darling?"

 He forces your eyes up to his and brings your lips closer. The rest of the Tavern, already daunted by the commotion, looks away. You simply nod in agreement, and he lets you go, patting your shoulder and laughing good-heartedly. 

"well, perfect, I think I'll take my first payment tonight."

 You panicked, thinking about how much she could get into the day, and said, 

"How much are you asking for? I've already offered you free drinks. I don't know what more I can do.-"

 He cuts you off, putting his finger to your lips. 

"Don't worry. You have everything that I could want to need."

 And he walks off.

 After closing, when all of the lights in the streets were out and the spirits were already roaming the streets, you clutched to your apron, putting up the last of the chairs. The candle lights were just barely about to go out. You counted up all of your money from the day, and while you made enough of an earning, you were very worried that he would not have enough to pay for this new extortion. You had heard stories of guards and heroes extorting young men and women for protection. You did not think it would happen to you that living in a place of cold and darkness was curse enough, but it looked like the fates had a little more for you. 

You almost didn't hear him come in as he stuck his hands around your waist and up your throat. You tried to yell out, but his hand covered your mouth, and he kissed just the side of your ear as you immediately felt yourself wanting to flee. Then he whispered in your ear, 

"Oh, now that's a pleasing darling. As much as I would have so much fun chasing you, I don't have the time tonight to have my cute little rabbit." 

He put his hands down your hip, lifted your dress, and ran his hand up your thigh as he kissed your jawline and neck. You stammered, still trying to get free. 

"You said you wanted payment. I'm really to pay. The draw is open. Take what you want. I don't care. Please, just don't hurt me."

 You cry through your struggles, but he just laughs, nipping where your neck and your shoulder mean, 

"Oh no, my little rabbit. As much as it delights me to hear you after having to endure hearing you simper over every man who can give you coin, I'm finally able to take the prize that is Rightfullymine after all that will be our deal."

 He lifts you up and plenty down on the closest table, the wood scratching into your shoulder, your head banging painfully on it. You cry out in pain. It is silenced by his mouth crashing into yours in a kiss. A rough kiss. He pins your hands down, holding his fingers In times with yours as his tongue searches into your open mouth, wrestling to pin it down. You see his golden eyes boring into yours like a beast unleashed. You stand there stunned, unable to move with his weight pushed against you. Even with your slight height Advantage, his trained muscle and sheer force can do nothing. 

He breaks apart, your lips bruised and your tongue hanging out of your mouth, a stream of saliva connecting both of your mouths. 

"Please, why are you doing this?"

 You manage to choke out as you feel him grinding into your lower half just underneath your dress. 

"Well, it's pretty simple, my cute little rabbit. I only joined the guard because I was bored, and I thought I could find some fun beating up the locals or helping young maidens. Still, I saw you, a bright Lily, and a swamp of muck to see simpering and pampering to everybody who entered your Tavern was so endearing I knew I needed to have you. I knew that you were mine, don't you understand? When elves mate, they mate for life, so that means."

He cried to you rougher you feel his hard cock rubbing into your own sex with a need want to be inside you. 

"You will be mine for the rest of your life. I will ensure that. If you don't want to be mine, it's pretty simple- you don't have to."

 You blink this as he lets you sit up, but he still stands between your legs.

"You mean you'll just let me go. You won't do anything?"

 You look at him, hoping that this is some weird pass, and you would know he would just leave you alone. But your hopes are soon crushed.

"oh no, my darling, if you say no," 

he moves in closer, and his sword falls at the back of your neck. 

"I will kill you and make sure you are raised as a zombie who has no free will and who is forced to do my bidding for the rest of your Undead life. Do you understand me, my cute little rabbit?"

 At that, you feel a heat emanating from his sword, a Blackness clouding around the edges of your eyes, and you know that his promise holds truth. Your body goes rigid and shakes, and tears silently stream down your eyes as he takes you in his arms, rubbing your back oddly comfortingly or trying to be with his sword. His other hand grips your bottom, pulling you closer as he snuggles into your neck, inhaling your scent.

"so you decide to make, my darling. Either I can have you here of your own free will, where I will love and protect you in this Tavern, or I will have the pleasure of seeing your beautiful blood dripping down your chest. I can have you as my perfect little Undead doll."

 "The choice is yours. You pretty little rabbit."

[calebisdrawing]

"Here three elegant couches surround an oval table made of black glass. All are set in front of a blazing hearth, above which hangs the portrait of a smirking nobleman sporting a broken nose and a tangle of hair graying at the temples. Several smaller portraits hang on the north wall."

"An ornate dining table stretches the length of this room, a crystal chandelier hanging above it imperiously. The silverware is tarnished, the dishes chipped, yet all are still quite elegant. Eight chairs, their backs adorned with sculpted elk horns, surround the table. Arched windows made of a latticework of iron and glass look out onto the small, fog-swept estate."

Another location interior for DMs and players of Curse of Strahd - the areas of Wachterhaus where Lady Fiona Wachter would most likely receive guests.

~

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[tamvmat]

My warlock of the undead , Savos Nevermind, scaring the bejeezus out of a couple guards who came to investigate the apartment our party was currently searching (after breaking in...)

Decided to go full haunted house on them, and the rest of the party went along with it 😅👌💀

[lambpaca]

im finally brave enough to post some art I've been making unrelated to any professional stuff- This is a batch of art from Act 1 of our Divorce of Strahd campaign that, after hoooly shit almost 3 years, we finally actually concluded.

@birdsaretoddlers was our incredible and batshit DM whose life we threatened regularly. Our party were all isekai'd into Barovia, the land in which Strahd Von Zarovich rules over. Our party was made up of a Half-Orc from an apocalyptic past, a pyrophobic Lizardfolk (with pants), an anime protagonist tiefling prince, a 7 foot tall barbarian Hatsune Miku, and her brother Boyfriend from Friday night Funkin. normally, a campaign can always go off the rails. this one got off the rails so bad that it was just easier to re-rail the train on a different track entirely

the funky extra characters i included are npcs or some guest characters that i just love dearly lol im gonna miss Everett. yeah we have his head in a bag but its not the same, u know?

[nevermoretoleave]

buddy, your second to last paragraph describes exactly how you, at your table, avoided the actual issue that i'm bringing up. if the player knows and is hype for that, that's absolutely fine. the player gave informed consent. that is not what i'm talking about.

like you said, knowing what you might see and consenting to that is important, and (I'm assuming) you gave them the opportunity to tap out if they didn't want that. idk what kind of safety tools you have in place at your table, but I'm assuming your player could have pulled the X card or a safeword or something along those lines if the revelation changed their mind. what i'm talking about is uninformed consent.

also, you don't know me. you don't know my traumas, nor am i going to disclose them, let alone in a public forum. but something that is very much public is the amount of ttrpg horror stories with similar scenarios. just bc my concern is misplaced on you (which it is! you did great by your players /gen), doesn't mean it is misplaced in general. like ngl if it keeps one player from having a bad experience at the table i think it's worth it.

hey uh, fellow curse of strahd DMs, you shouldn't need to be told this but don't let your players sleep with vasili or rictavio.

[cool-frog-hours]

Sketches made in anticipation of my party going to Castle Ravenloft for the first time. I’m gonna remake the og bc I dont like the compositing, but I like the energy of the characters in the first version. Close ups are: Strahd the yapper and an enamored Reed, Escher tormenting Gil, and Carmilla being a bad guest and Fitz going IN on some nondescript meat.

[syrips]

We all know that Strahd is posessive over Ireena because of the curse, but how posessive is he about someone else? Like, what's his natural possessiveness level?

oh, i am so glad i have sources for this!! AAH!! 🧡🧡

okay so. he is incredibly possessive, depending on the role he sees for ppl. even though he doesnt say it, his subjects are all his, and anything done against his subjects, he sees as an attack against him personally.

his whole line of 'i am the ancient, i am the land', is both a figurative and literal phrase of 'i am timeless, i am all'. he is saying, if 'you steal something, commit a crime, attack someone else, no matter what time or place, it is towards me, or my land, or my subjects/toys.'

and because of that, he is possessive to everyone, even if he doesnt act on it. if someone attacks his consorts, his allies, his guests, his subjects, his land, it doesnt matter. it is all his. barovia is his. barovia is him, and to defile what is his, without his will, is an attack against him.

if someone is against him, or something he has not claimed yet, he will be adamant about the challenge. it brings him entertainment/obsession to chase after that thrill.

if something/someone that he claims is his, tries to break away, he will also try to put them back into their assigned place

if someone is boring, it is not that they are not his, but rather, they provide no sustenance, no purpose for him, and he simply does not want to bother with their autonomy (or lack of)

in his mind, everything is his. and everything that is not, will soon become.