Vallaki

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Vallaki Overview

Here’s the deal with Vallaki: It is huge. It not only contains a massive number of plot hooks, but is also the central location in Barovia, meaning that, once they reach level 3 or 4, it’s pretty likely that your PCs will spend a hefty amount of time here through levels 6 or 7. (reddit)

By that time, they’re liable to be sick of the politics and gloom, so make sure to throw them plenty of opportunities for day trips (e.g., Argynvostholt, Wizard of Wines, etc.) to keep them from feeling like they’re trapped. Of the three populated villages in Barovia, though, Vallaki is easily the most well-fleshed out, which means that you almost have to focus on it to make the plight of the Barovian people feel real. It’s a fine balance to walk, but there’s so much here that it’s definitely a fun one.

(reddit)

Town Gates

Once/If the Baron is overthrown, there will likely be a changing of the guard. Make sure they respond to the PCs appropriately, depending on which faction has seized power and how they feel about the PCs. Sneaking over Vallaki’s palisade wall can make for a great skill challenge - in my game, after seizing Ireena from the Church, Izek barred the PCs from re-entry, which led to a fantastic James Bond-style infiltration mission involving invisibility, a wolf corpse (to pad the spiked tips of the palisade), and an unhelpful Animated Dead zombie named Steve. (reddit)

Vallaki Lore

I’d recommend placing Rictavio on the side of the road as the PCs enter Vallaki. Mention briefly the puppet show run by the brightly-dressed man; it makes for an excellent contrast with the drab Barovians watching from the muddy cobblestones. (reddit)

If any PCs inquire about the Amber Temple or similarly exotic locations, have a resident point them toward the Dusk Elf encampment on the outside of town - Kasimir makes for an excellent guide, especially if one of your Tarokka treasures is located within the Temple. (reddit)

St. Andral’s Church

See my post on running the Bones & Feast of St. Andral.

Don't forget to make Father Lucian a super-likable NPC, by the way - while the book doesn't mention it explicitly, you can't go wrong by giving him some small-scale healing spells. The more hospitable he is to your PCs, the more it will hurt when you inevitably murder the fuck out of him. (reddit)

Blue Water Inn

I’ll point you over to /u/paintraina’s excellent post for notes on this.

Burgomaster’s Mansion

If the Baron learns that Ireena is in town, I personally enjoy the idea of him inviting the party over for tea. This makes for a nice counterbalance to Lady Wachter’s own dinner invitation, and offers an opportunity for the PCs to meet Victor briefly (as Vargas may want to look into setting him up with Ireena). This also does a great job of humanizing the Baroness (who will likely privately suggest to any women of the group that they take Ireena to Krezk instead, fearing the consequences of drawing Strahd’s attention to Father Lucian, her brother), and increases the probability of the PCs antagonizing the Baron, with humorous consequences. It’s also a great opportunity for Izek to encounter Ireena, if he hasn’t already, or for the Baron to ask the PCs to pick up a shipment from the Wizard of Wines, in exchange for a “place of honor” at the Festival. (reddit)

I highly recommend using /u/guildsbounty’s take on Victor Vallakovich, found here. They do a better job of presenting the idea than me, but the TL;DR is: (1) Victor is a powerful mage; (2) Victor has already killed two innocents in the name of research; (3) Victor’s company actively drove Stella mad; and (4) It’s rare that “cruel words” alone can drive a person’s mind to insanity. (reddit)

Wachterhaus

When running a political game, I find it helpful to keep track of how NPC schemes would unfold in the absence of the PCs. With that said, I highly recommend using /u/Vindicer's discussion of Lady Wachter’s plots and plans, found here. (reddit)

Lady Wachter herself is a bit of an odd character to run. The module seems to gently prod you toward her cult’s headquarters, but never really provides a reason to view the cult unfavorably. Speaking from personal experience (involving one extremely necessary retcon), I’d recommend against making these cultists actively antagonistic. Don’t make them bullies of the townsfolk, a la Phandelver’s Redbrand Ruffians. Don’t make them generic Death House “death sacrifice fanatics,” either. Instead, if you must bring them to the forefront, keep them (and Lady Wachter) the “book club” that they are. (reddit)

This is a great opportunity for an uncanny valley/strange bedfellows plot point, as it’s quite possible that these cultists eventually wind up fighting Izek and the Baron’s forces in an effort to defend Ireena (or at least seize power in Vallaki for themselves). Your players will also be driven crazy by the sheer weirdness of socializing and/or allying with people who worship Strahd and other devils, which I absolutely consider a perk. (reddit)

Coffin Maker’s Shop

The vampire spawn here are outright death for your party. This encounter can be a tricky balance of giving them enough information to keep them alive, but not so much that everything is made obvious. My advice: Carefully review exactly what Henrik knows, and then present it in a way that makes him appear the most sympathetic: (reddit)

Henrik knows that a well-dressed nobleman named “Vasili von Holtz” visited him and promised “good business” in exchange for his help. Henrik will likely conceal that he knew the consequences of this promise, and ask for aid in evading the wrath of the spawn upstairs (as he knows he can’t overpower the PCs, and knows the game is up). (reddit)

He almost certainly does not know that the vampires plan to attack during St. Andral’s Feast, but he might know that they’ve recently become more active. Henrik knows that the vampire spawn have some machination involving the Bones of St. Andral (as he’s the one that paid Millivoj to steal them), but he’s clueless otherwise. No matter what, he sticks to his story that he is a helpless victim, forced to commit an evil act by Strahd’s creatures. (reddit)

Blinsky Toys

Gadof Blinsky is a perfect, wonderful cinnamon roll, and one of the very few bright spots that your party will encounter in Barovia (which is ironic, considering his own macabre sense of fun). Your PCs will adore him, especially if you put a good bit of effort into his excellent accent. Don’t forget to include the Ireena Kolyana dolls, which make for an excellently Twilight Zone-ish bit of foreshadowing to Izek’s obsession. 10/10; would purchase toys from again. (reddit)

Town Square

If you wind up running some kind of coup or revolution, I highly recommend placing it here. I ran my own PCs through a session-long combat involving Izek, the town guard, masked cultists, concealed spellcasters, and a wrathful thunderstorm during the Festival of the Blazing Sun, and they had a blast. This big, open area lends itself well to hosting a number of props, important NPCs, and interesting combat options. If your PCs wind up participating in such a rebellion, that’s an excellent opportunity for a milestone, too (given how much of a thorn Izek has likely been in their side). (reddit)

Tyger, Tyger

If you’re also the kind of DM who likes to run skill challenges, a la 4th Edition, this is a great opportunity for it. PCs have the chance to use Stealth, Animal Handling, Nature, Athletics, Perception, Investigation, and any number of social checks to track that saber-tooth down, evade detection by the Baron’s forces, and help Rictavio lead the beast back to its wagon. It’s also a great opportunity to loop Rictavio into the story if he isn’t already the party’s ally, which is never a bad thing. Don’t forget that this is also an opportunity to have Rictavio point the PCs toward Van Richten’s Tower, which is a fun little area that is otherwise a ways off the beaten path. (reddit)

Lady Wachter’s Wish

To be honest, I’m not really a fan of the whole “Arrigal rides to Castle Ravenloft to inform Strahd” part of this event. Us CoS DMs tend to assume that Strahd is already able to locate Ireena easily enough (given his access to the Scrying spell), so it’s honestly rather pointless. I’d prefer to have some Vistani hunt or ambush the PCs on the road outside of town, culminating in them stealing some sort of valuable item from the PCs. Perhaps that item even makes its way into the hands of Lady Wachter, complicating the situation. Whatever you choose, just make sure to be careful before setting up Arrigal himself against the PCs - a CR 8 enemy ain’t nothing to sneeze at. (reddit)