A castle located near a crossroads, where Strahd von Zarovich resides. The gates have been seen to open on their own, and a black carriage has been seen outside of it. Every night, the dead of Barovia pilgrimage to the castle from the church in Barovia.

We found a father and son dead inside the gates of the castle and returned them to St Andral's for burial.

Tatyana threw herself off of the walls of Ravenloft and was never found. Strahd himself sleeps below the castle, presumably in the crypt, where he has sealed off the walls of the stairs so that none may disturb him.

The tombs of Sergei, Ravenovia, and King Barov, as well as the lost remains of Argynvost, are located here.

Gates At the gates we were met by two large wolves sitting on either side of the road, which followed a distance behind us as we walked. Guarding the decrepit drawbridge which spans a 50 foot wide and 1,000 foot deep cavern are two large stone turrets, broken from years of exposure. Across it is a rotting wooden portcullis over the entry tunnel to the castle, with ornate doors flanked by torches in iron sconces below it.

Entrance In the entrance of the castle are four dragon statues, their eyes flickering in the torchlight. A second set of doors lead to a grand hall supported by four columns. Eight stone gargoyles line the rim of the ceiling, while cracked and faded frescoes decorate the walls. To the south and east are bronze double doors; to the north a wide staircase. An elf named Rahadin greeted us here.

Through the doors to the south is a vaulted hall with an arched hallway ending in a spiral staircase going up and down on its eastern side, and double doors to the west leading to a dining hall.

Dining Hall In the hall are enormous crystal chandeliers and pillars of stone against marble walls. A long, heavy table covered in white satin cloth stands in the middle of the room. Delicate china, fine silver, and crystal goblets adorn it. A massive organ flanked by mirrors stands on the west wall. Scratch marks on the floor indicate that it can be moved; behind it lies a door to an outer defensive room with arrow slits through which the castle courtyard is visible. Mirrors of various sizes lean against the wall. To the west, it opens into a larger octagonal room with a high domed ceiling. To the east, it leads to a long, narrow corridor filled with cobwebs, ending in a spiral staircase that leads up and down. Up the stairs, a door leads to the top of the walls around 90 feet high.

Middle Tower A stone battlement approximately 270 feet tall. A hatch in the floor of the tower leads down into a room with a bed fitted with restraints. At its foot lies an iron chest bearing the von Zarovich family crest. Inside of it Gale found an ornate golden crown. Down the stairs is a large, pulsating crystal heart suspended in the air. At its core we found the third Gem of Life. Further down the stairs is an exit to the 10 foot wide walkway that encircles the keep and an exit to the northwest side. In the wall of the tower is a seam, which exposes a hidden door when pushed.

The ground floor of the tower is decorated with a mosaic and contains another set of stairs in the center, leading downward. Nellshan said that they made her feel uncomfortable. Leading out of the room is an entrance to a hallway. Like the room behind the organ, it is a long corridor filled with cobwebs, leading to an octagonal room with a high domed ceiling to the west and an outpost for archers overlooking the courtyard to the south.

Middle Tower Hidden Room The seam in the wall leads to a small cupboard with a ladder going upwards. Another seam in the wall in the upper room leads to a room with dirt-caked windows and a broken bed frame. A staircase going downwards is on the north wall. In the middle of one wall stands a coffin-shaped wardrobe with fey creatures painted upon its black door. It does not appear to be magical. A pale white dress flew out of it and began to dance around the room when Gale opened it; in the two mirrors of the room we could see flashes of different women. It crumpled to the ground when touched.

Down the stairs is a 20 by 40 foot room with a door in the south wall. It leads to a room with a dust-covered table, upon which sits an ancient book along with ink and a quill. The book reads, "Please register for your own convenience and that of your next of kin." There is a descending staircase flanked by mail-wearing skeletons assembled with wire framing and hung on pegs, and a door leading outside.

Chapel Bellerand shaped a 5 foot hole into the chapel wall. Light shines through the broken and boarded stained glass windows and bats flutter at the top of the 90 foot high domed ceiling. Two dark shapes slump in tall chairs on the balcony along the west wall. Near the east wall is an altar lit by a shaft of light and carved with angelic figures intertwined with grape vines. A corpse in a fur-lined black cloak and chain mail suit is draped over it. We found the Mace of Terror, the icon of Ravenloft, and the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind here.

Category: Places