Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DoveArrow 10-11-07, 06:21 PM	Expedition to Castle Ravenloft is a fantastic adventure, and if you're running it as a mini campaign, I imagine that it has a fantastic conclusion. However what if you plan to run it as a one, or two session adventure and the players never fully defeat Strahd? How can you make the conclusion more interesting to the players? One way I've come up with is to add in a new magical item, called the Soulheart Talisman. Strahd has created the Dayheart and the Hellheart Locket. However, in order to channel the power of the Dayheart into himself, he needs to bind a willing creature to him using the Soulheart Talisman. Strahd has chosen Ireena to be this creature. Instead of using his dominate ability against her, he has been preparing her to be bound to him through the talisman. Because of this preparation, Ireena is inexorably drawn to the talisman and Strahd. If the PCs are able to destroy the talisman, Ireena is released from Strahd's power, and the PCs are able to escort her to safety. If not, Strahd will eventually complete the ceremony and be able to draw upon the power of the Dayheart. In their final encounter with Strahd, the PCs find that he is prepared to complete the final ritual to bind Ireena to him. If Ireena is with the PCs, she is drawn towards Strahd. If not, she is already in the room. If Ireena is one of the PCs, Strahd calls upon her, and she begins to attack the party as an ally of Strahd. Regardless of the situation, as Ireena approaches Strahd, the Soulheart Talisman glows a brighter and brighter red, all the while pulsing like a beating heart. If Ireena is within 5 feet of Strahd, the PCs might even see whisps of her soul's energy being pulled from her body into the talisman. If the PCs destroy the talisman, Strahd's control over Ireena is broken. As a result, if the PCs are able to survive their encounter with Strahd, Ireena thanks them and lets them know that they have made it possible for her to finally leave the cursed village of Barovia. I'm curious to know if anyone else has come up with different ways to conclude the game that make the ending a little more satisfying. Let me know.
mearrin69 10-11-07, 07:21 PM	No nifty conclusions yet in my game - still thinking of how to wrap it up, though that'll largely depend on what the PCs do between now and then. I do like your idea, though. Very nice. M