Curse of Strahd Reloaded Update - Neferon Reloaded

Following my last update, I've recently discovered a new method of writing that supercharges my speed when writing rough drafts: using a text editor that (1) only shows the last character I typed, and (2) doesn't let me backspace. With it, my current writing speed is around 2,000 words an hour, with automatic formatting/grammar fixers doing all the cleanup so I don't have to.

Assuming I can stick consistently to my schedule of five nights a week (which so far has been much easier and much more enjoyable using this new write-first-edit-later process), I estimate that I'll be able to write 10,000 words per week at a minimum (which would let me finish A Sword of Sunlight in record time). We'll see if I can stick to it, but I'm feeling optimistic so far!

Thus far, I've written just over 6,000 words for A Sword of Sunlight, which I estimate to be about 15% of the unedited total. If all goes well, I should be able to report at least an additional 10,000 words of content next week, bringing us to the 40% completion mark. Fingers crossed!

So what have I been working on since last week's update? I've:

• designed the players' entry into the temple, including conversations they can overhear via X1a. Narrow Fissure from the Mountain Folk inside

• added the recent history of the Mountain Folks' experiences at the temple

• redesigned the players' first encounter with Neferon into a social encounter

• added Neferon's recent history, including his recent accidental arrival to the Amber Temple and subsequent tangle with a death slaad swept into the Temple by the approaching Grand Conjunction

• added several bargains the players can strike with Neferon, as well as the (2e-inspired) mechanics for killing fiends in Barovia

You can read some excerpts of what I've written thus far below:

The Fissure

A player with a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 13 or greater hears voices echoing from the far side of the fissure. A successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check allows a player to discern the following conversation:

* A male voice says: "Diona, you can't seriously want to go after them." (This is Coryllus, one of the three Mountain Folk who accompanied Chief Diegia’s daughter, Diona, to the Amber Temple.)

* A female voice snaps back: "And what would we be if we abandoned them? They would go to any length to save us. We owe them nothing less.” (This is Diona.)

If the players make their presence known, Diona warily asks them to identify themselves and their purpose in visiting the Amber Temple. If reassured that the players are neither monsters nor power-seeking pilgrims, Diona hesitantly invites them to enter—though more warmly if they claim to know her family. (Diona and Coryllus must remain within the temple to complete Diona's rite of passage, and won’t leave the temple willingly.)

Neferon's Greeting

The first time the players approach the stairs descending to the [[#Nave]], the door to [[#T2e. West Garrison]], the closed double doors to [[#T2e. West Annex]], or the open double doors to [[#T2g. East Annex]], Neferon uses his teleport action to enter the [[#West Guard Post]] or [[#East Guard Post]], where he casts alter self to assume the form of Heinrich Stolt, as described in <span class="citation">X5a. God of Secrets (p. 184)</span>. Neferon then teleports back into [[#T2a. Entry Hall]]. When it does, read:

You hear the sound of footsteps echoing across the frozen floor behind you.

Provide the players a moment to respond. If none do, or if any call out to the source of the footprints, read:

Behind you stands an elderly, wizened man wearing a pale white robe. Numerous colorful patches mark the robe’s fabric, each one depicting a different object. He wears a pair of gold spectacles with pink crystal lenses atop the bridge of his nose, just above a long-white beard that descends past his chest.

”Good day,” he says cheerfully. “Might I ask why you are trespassing upon my property?"

Heinrich's Request

"Heinrich" is glad to allow the players to explore the Temple in exchange for "a small fee—a minor service, really." If the players express interest in doing so, "Heinrich" shares the following information:

* Ordinarily, the Amber Temple is isolated and quiet. However, last night, a creature arrived from another world by means of “some strange portal”: a slaad, of the plane of Limbo. ("A death slaad, to be precise," Heinrich remarks grimly, pushing his spectacles up his nose. "One of the most dangerous members of slaadkind.")

* "Heinrich" was, with some luck and the use of an ancient arcane lock mechanism, able to imprison the creature in the temple catacombs, which lie beneath the [[#Overlook]], at the southern end of the [[#Nave]]. However, he fears that the slaad may soon escape and wreak havoc across the temple—or Barovia.

* “Heinrich” is glad to allow the players to explore the temple if they descend into the catacombs and “remove” (i.e., kill) the death slaad for him.

As always, you can get full access to my in-progress drafts by joining the Patreon as a paid member. All working drafts and outlines for future arcs can be found on the Patreon Bronze Masterpost.

That's all I've got for this update! I look forward to bringing you more :)

Cheers,
Dragna

PS: I've been absolutely blown away by the positive response to last weekend's job posting. Thank you so much to everyone who has applied and/or voiced their support for the venture - it really means so much.