Curse of Strahd Reloaded Update: Into the Werewolf Den

This is the seventh 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.

Version 2.0.5 of Reloaded went live last week, including Arc K: The Stolen Gem and Arc L: The Fallen Abbey. I've since begun work on Arc M: The Den of Wolves in earnest. I currently hope to have the (pre-Heist portion of) the Arc finished by Christmas, and (the pre-Heist portion of) Arc N: Argnyvost's Beacon completed by the New Year.

Since my last update, I've:

• added a new campfire scene allowing the players to swap stories with Ezmerelda before assaulting the werewolf den in Arc K,
• added an option for Ezmerelda to use clairvoyance to perform reconnaissance before assaulting the werewolf den,
• reworked the underground spring in the wolf den, and
• revised the encounter with Skennis in the wolf den

Here's a sneak preview of Ezmerelda's campfire tales and the encounter with Skennis:

Campfire Tales

The Black Terror. Ezmerelda tells the story of her missing leg as follows:

"It was a year after I'd parted ways with Dr. Van Richten, and I felt as though no monster could challenge me. That's when I heard whispers of a beast known as the Black Terror—a werewolf that was the bane of several villages skirting the forests of Darkon. I vowed to track it and put an end to its reign of terror.

"It took many nights of investigation and research, but I finally caught sight of the beast at the edge of a shadowed swamp, its fangs stained red with the blood of its latest meal. My heart raced as I watched it slip into the mists—no ordinary fog, but the veil that shrouds the worlds themselves—and I knew that if I failed to pursue it, I might be forced to begin my hunt anew.

"In my arrogance, I thought I could handle whatever lay beyond. I was a Vistani—a born wanderer of the Mists—and a student of Rudolph van Richten himself. I plunged ahead ahead without a second thought—and the Black Terror ambushed me, springing from the gloom with claws and teeth. He tore off my leg below the knee, my bright blood staining his charcoal hide.

"In that moment, I knew I would die, alone and powerless—until Dmitri and Anna emerged from the woods, cold silver flashing in their hands. The werewolf fled, and the Krezkovs brought me back to their home, where they nursed me back to health. When I recovered, they took me to Vallaki and commissioned the local toymaker, a brilliant man called Blinsky, to craft me a new leg. To this day, this leg reminds me of the importance of caution—and the dangers of unchecked zeal."

When her story ends, Ezmerelda gazes into the flames. "I owe the Krezkovs a debt I can never repay," she says softly. "But finding Ilya and returning him home, safe and sound—that would be a start."

Ezmerelda isn’t sure whether the Black Terror still lingers in Barovia. “I very nearly hope he does,” she says, a wry smile on her lips. Her grip tightens around her silvered handaxe. “I have a gift I’d like to give him.”

Skennis's Fire

This area is largely as described in Z3. Wolf Den (p. 203). However, add the following text to the end of the area’s description:

An old, scrawny wolf lies curled up by the fire, its head turned away from you.

The wolf is Skennis, an old, blind werewolf with 36 hit points in wolf form. No other wolves are in this cave.

Skennis was the leader of the werewolf pack until Emil succeeded him five years ago. Skennis’s health has deteriorated in his old age, however, claiming his sight and much of his mobility. Unable to hunt, Skennis relied on the rest of the pack for food—until Kiril claimed power three months ago.

Since then, Kiril has kept Skennis confined to the den, and forbidden the other werewolves from feeding him (and any other “weak” wolves), still jealous and resentful of Skennis’s selection of Emil to succeed him instead of Kiril. A few sympathetic pack members continue to slip Skennis enough scraps to keep him alive, but it’s unclear whether Skennis’s bitterness, spite, and small shreds of hope will allow him to cling to life much longer.

If a player approaches or inspects the wolf, read:

The wolf's breaths are shallow and slow, sending small puffs of steam into the chilly air. Its dull, grey fur is matted and dirty, and its ribs are visible beneath its thin hide.

Skennis is not asleep, only dozing. The players must succeed on a group DC 14 Dexterity (Stealth) check to pass without alerting him. If the group check fails, read:

The old wolf's head snaps upwards, revealing three swollen cuts that slice across its cheek, their edges crusted with dried blood. Its eyes, milky white and unseeing, stare blankly ahead as its nostrils flare, its scarred ears twitching rapidly as it sniffs the cold air. Its ears flatten against its skull, and it releases a low, cautious growl.

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, feel free to drop them in the comments.

I look forward to bringing you future updates.

Cheers,
Dragna