Curse of Strahd Reloaded Update: Argynvostholt Complete

This is the ninth in a series of regular posts providing updates on my progress in drafting and editing the new Reloaded guide. You can find all previous posts here.

A brief update before we dive into the bigger stuff—Hotfix 2.0.5.5 is live on the Reloaded website. You can read about its details here.

After some hemming and hawing, I've also decided to try and move ahead with Version 2.0.6 this or next week. This version will include all of the pre-Heist content for Arc M: The Den of Wolves and Arc N: Argynvost's Beacon.

Speaking of which—the preliminary segment of Arc N: Argynvost's Beacon is complete. To be specific, since my last update, I've:

• designed a ghostly encounter in the knights' quarters in Argynvostholt
• added environmental clues and lore to Q37. Knights of the Order and Q38. Vladimir's Bedroom
• added a hidden cache to Argynvost's study, including new magic items and a letter from St. Andral
• moved Vladimir Horngaard from the Dragon's Audience Hall to the Beacon of Argynvostholt
• added a ghostly encounter involving the stained-glass windows of the upstairs gallery
• refined the siege of Argynvost's Beacon against the phantom warriors in the beacon turrets
• added a climactic encounter (and potential boss fight) with Vladimir Horngaard to the Beacon of Argynvostholt
• moved the dragon gargoyle's prophecy to the beacon, and designed a minor puzzle to unlock it

Here's a sneak preview of the cache in Argynvost's study, the haunting in the gallery, and the players' first meeting with Vladimir Horngaard:

Argynvost's Cache

Revise Argynvost’s journal page to read as follows:

My knights have fallen, and this land is lost. The armies of my enemy will not be stopped by sword or spell, claw or fang. Today I will die, not avenging those who have fallen, but defending that which I love—this valley, this home, and the ideals of the Order of the Silver Dragon.

The evil surrounds me. The time has come to throw off this guise and show these heathens my true fearsome form. Let it spark terror in their hearts! Let them tell their stories of dark triumph against the protector of the Balinok Mountains! Let Argynvost be remembered as a dragon of honor and valor.

I do not fear death. I have laid down my trappings beneath the tower's watchful gaze, so that others may carry my legacy in my stead. Though my body will die, my spirit will live on where the oath and fire of the Silver Dragon survive. Let it serve as a beacon of light against the darkness. Let it bring hope to a land wrought with despair.

Now, to battle!

A

If the players inspect the slashed picture, revise the first sentence of its description to read as follows:

The picture hangs askew in its place on the wall. It shows the mansion in better days, under clear winter skies with snow-capped mountains in the background.

The space behind the image of the chapel in the picture radiates three magical auras under the scrutiny of a detect magic spell. Two of the auras belong to the school of abjuration. (The third aura has no school of magic.)

Removing the picture from the wall reveals a hidden stone shelf containing a parchment scroll, a silver bracelet, a small block of white stone, a silver tablet, and a banner.  In addition, the silver hilt of a rapier is nestled against a small hole in the mortar at the back of the compartment, though the blade appears to be concealed within the wall.

The bracelet is carved to resemble a dragon biting its own tail, and is a bracelet of warding. The block of white stone, which bears the carving of a dragon’s head and is mounted on a leather cord, is an amulet of knight’s passage. The rapier, which has a silvered blade and a hilt carved with the images of tiny dragons, has the properties of a moon-touched rapier (Xanathar's Guide to Everything, p. 138)

Brother Marek

This area is largely as described in Q35. Upstairs Gallery (p. 138). However, add the following text to the end of this area’s description:

The left- and right-side windows depict two humans—an older man and a younger woman—kneeling in supplication, while the central window depicts a handsome male angel descending from the heavens between them. The man watches with reverent eyes as the angel bestows a small silver statuette upon the woman, whose eyes are closed in evident prayer. The statuette appears to glow with the same sunlight that encircles the angel’s head.

Any player who’s previously met the Abbot of the Abbey of Saint Markovia recognizes an uncanny resemblance between the Abbot and the figure in the central window. A player with a passive Wisdom (Insight) score of 15 or greater notices that the man’s gaze appears to be envious, rather than reverent.

If the players are accompanied by the pseudodragon spirit Zorya, Zorya breathes silver fire upon two ancient torches flanking the stained-glass windows, setting them alight with cold silver flames that bathe the room in a chill, ethereal light.

If the players read aloud a prayer from The Oath Celestial, the spirit of Brother Marek speaks to them through the stained-glass form of Saint Andral. Read:

The figure in the left stained-glass window begins to stir, hues of orange and azure tracing the lines of its form. The man’s arms raise, the glass of his fingers seeming to flex and twitch within the confines of the window. He slowly rises to his feet, his gaze turning to meet yours with a quiet, somber solemnity.

When the stained-glass man speaks, his voice is distant and echoing, and the window’s glass seems to rattle and tremble in resonance. “This husk is as cold as I recall,” he murmurs. “Why do you fill its broken halls with benedictions it forsook?”

Vladimir's Confrontation

The players must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity (Stealth) check to ascend the staircase without alerting Vladimir to their presence. If the players don’t approach stealthily, fail the Dexterity (Stealth) check, or approach the dragon gargoyle, Vladimir is alerted. Read:

The gauntleted hand tightens its grip around the greatsword’s hilt, and the knight’s deep, rasping voice pierces the silence. "Who goes there?" it commands. “Be warned—if you are thieves or assassins, know that you shall soon join your quarries in death.”

Vladimir aims to interrogate the players sufficiently to confirm their purpose and uncover any inconsistencies or holes in their story. Ultimately, the players can convince Vladimir that they are neither thieves nor assassins with a successful DC 14 Charisma (Deception or Persuasion) check, automatically succeeding on a Charisma (Persuasion) check if they truthfully inform Vladimir that they are investigating the stirrings of Argynvost’s spirit. On a failure, Vladimir warns them that they have one opportunity to flee the mansion before he slays them. If the players fail to plead their case or depart, Vladimir attacks.

If the players convince Vladimir that they are neither thieves nor assassins, Vladimir turns to face them. Read:

The terrible sound of scraping metal fills the air, and the knight turns to face you, revealing a pale-skinned corpse with burning red eyes in a sunken, skeletal face.

”Neither thieves nor assassins—and yet, you are here.” He narrows his eyes, and the blade of his greatsword glints dangerously. “Tell me, then, why the living have come to disturb the dead.”

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, as well as a changelog and Trello board of upcoming edits, can be found on the Patreon Bronze Masterpost.

Thank you for following and using this guide! If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to drop them in the comments.

I look forward to bringing you future updates.

Cheers,
Dragna