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This is a special commodity which serves every bit an expansion for Affiliate xiii – The Amber Temple. As described in folio 191, each of the amber vaults contains 1 or more amber sarcophagi. Inside each sarcophagus a sliver of pure evil is trapped. This is the vestige of a expressionless god; what remains of an entity of pure evil. They are still somewhat sentient and volition interact with PCs telepathically if they touch the sarcophagi. The intention of this part of the module is to seduce players with promises of ability that can come with a high price.

Worst case scenario, the player might lose command of his PC or set him in a way to death while roleplaying whatever acquired personality traits. The book specifies the name of the entity and gift it offers. As a DM you're supposed to roleplay these entities; however it is really of import not to reveal the important information. Yous have to depict the gift and its benefits and maybe foreshadow the price, merely never in game terms. You should non use any game terms when doing this, and then the player will not know what he's getting into.

I added three examples in the Amber Temple chapter. But this will be my definitive game aid for the Bister Vaults / Dark Gifts section of the module. Each entry specifies the name of the entity and gift, the folio and temple location in the CoS book and a read-aloud text which is the dark shard talking to the PC. Each of these entries will depict the gift's abilities and some volition as well foreshadow the event of accepting the gift.

Dark gift of Fekre, Queen of Poxes
Location X33a
Page 191
Benefit.- Contamination spell three times.
Event.- Beneficiary reeks of filth. (permanent)

"My name is Fekre, Queen of Poxes. I bid you to accept my gift. It is ane of great power. Yous will be known equally 1 who controls health and disease at your command. Your name will reek of ability."

Dark gift of Zrin-Hala, the Howling Tempest
Location X33a
Folio 192
Benefit.- Lightning Commodities spell 3 times.
Result.- Ane side of the casher's face sags and loses all feeling. (permanent)

"My proper noun is Zrin-Hala, the Howling Tempest. Do you recollect you can withstand the true ability of storms? Because that'south what I can offer y'all. A proper name for yourself as a storm, at least while you can survive."

Dark gift of Sykane, the Soul Hungerer
Location X33a
Folio 192
Do good.- Raise Dead spell three times.
Consequence.- As soon every bit this dark souvenir is received, the casher's eyes glow a sickly yellow until the night gift vanishes. Also this trait "If I assistance someone, I expect payment in return." (permanent)

"How-do-you-do traveller, you stand before Sykane, the Soul Hungerer. I offer you lot complete control over death. A great power information technology is, but it has a price. And whenever you use it you'll besides collect the price to be paid."

Nighttime gift of Savnok the Inscrutible
Location X33b
Folio 192
Benefit.- Mind Blank spell for one twelvemonth.
Consequence.- The casher's optics melt abroad upon receiving this dark gift, leaving empty sockets that can withal see. (permanent)

"I am Savnok the Inscrutible. You tin can hear me but because I'chiliad letting you, no 1 can always read or disrupt my mind. And this power tin exist yours too, if you have it."

Night gift of Tarakamedes, the Grave Wyrm
Location X33b
Page 192
Do good.- The beneficiary of this nighttime gift grows skeletal wings and gains a flying speed of fifty anxiety.
Effect.- The beneficiary of this night gift must swallow bones or grave dirt to survive. At dawn, if the brute has not eaten at least 1 pound of bones or grave clay in the past 24 hours, it dies. (permanent)

"I am Tarakamedes, the Grave Wyrm, I offering you a gift of dark power. With it, the sky will be yours and you lot will find no limit."

Dark souvenir of Shami-Amourae the Lady of Delights
Location X33b
Folio 192
Benefit.- Suggestion spell 3 times.
Consequence.- Actress finger in each mitt and this trait: "I can't get enough pleasance. I desire others to create beauty for me at all times." (permanent)

"Ah, a pretty traveller from far lands. When I roamed the world like yous, all desires were inside my reach. My very give-and-take was enough to collect annihilation or anyone I wished. Do y'all wish to be as persuasive every bit I used to be?"

Dark souvenir of Drizlash, the Nine-Eyed Spider
Location X33c
Folio 192
Benefit.- This dark souvenir allows its casher to climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability bank check.
Consequence.- The beneficiary of this dark souvenir grows an actress eye somewhere on its body. The eye is blind and ever open. (permanent)

"A mortal like you is always express to the footing, practice you wish to expend your horizons to walls and ceilings. Spiders can do that, why tin can't you so? Their ability is here to take. You but have to reach for it."

Night gift of Dahlver-Nar, He of the Many Teeth
Location X33c
Page 192
Benefit.- Car-Reincarnate spell three times.
Consequence.- The beneficiary of this dark souvenir loses all of its teeth until information technology reincarnates for the third and final fourth dimension.

"How many lives have you lived? Oh, I see… I tin experience your lifeline. It'south the just ane, and there volition exist no more for you. Unless you accept this souvenir, that is. I tin offer you a sample of immortality."

Night gift of Zantras, the Kingmaker
Location X33c
Folio 192
Do good.- This dark gift increases the beneficiary's Charisma by.4, up to a maximum of 22.
Consequence.- The beneficiary of this dark gift gains the following flaw: "I won't accept no for an answer." (permanent)

"I am known as Zantras, the Kingmaker. They named me such because I hold the ability to requite you the influence and aura of a male monarch. I can experience it'd practice yous well. Only if you accept, never once more volition you give up yourself to others. Your will shall supersede anyone else's."

Night souvenir of Delban, the Star of Water ice and Hate
Location X33d
Page 193
Do good.- Cone of Cold spell vii times and benefits of Ring of Warmth.
Upshot.- The casher of this dark souvenir gains the post-obit flaw: "Fire terrifies me." (permanent)

"Is that torchlight? Get that away from me and nosotros tin talk… Don't y'all dare again approach Delban, the Star of Ice and Hate with fire in your easily, disrespectful mortal. Now how does the ability to freeze your enemies sound? Information technology's yours if y'all desire it."

Dark gift of Khirad, the Star of Secrets
Location X33d
Page 192
Benefit.- Scrying spell 3 times
Consequence.- The casher's voice becomes a low whisper, and its smile becomes cruel and evil. (permanent)

"I am the Star of Secrets and no information shall be hidden from me. Or from you if you accept this bargain. Do you crave to know all that which lies beyond your mortal perspectives. It's all here."

Dark gift of Yrrga, the Heart of Shadows
Location X33e
Page 193
Do good.- Truesight sixty ft. for thirty days.
Result.- The optics of the beneficiary become starry voids until the dark gift vanishes. The casher of this dark souvenir also gains the following flaw: "I believe that all life is pointless and look forrard to decease when information technology finally comes." (permanent)

"I am known every bit Yrrga, the Centre of Shadows. You would practise well by accepting the gift I offer. No secret will ever escape you. All knowledge volition be in your grasp. Life is pointless and then in that location's no fourth dimension to waste material searching for its secrets."

Dark gift of Smashing Taar Haak, the Five-Headed Destroyer
Location X33e
Page 193
Benefit.- This dark souvenir grants its casher the benefit of a Belt Of Fire Giant Force. (x days)
Outcome.- The beneficiary of this dark souvenir the following flaw: "I like to swell others and make them feel weak and inferior." (permanent)

"You lot want to be strong, huh? I am the Great Taar Haak, the Five-Headed Destroyer. Weak equally you are you'll never scare an insect. I offer you lot the strength of burn. Fire ! You volition so show your friends how stronger you are!"

Dark gift of Yog the Invincible
Location X33e
Page 193
Benefit.- This dark gift increases the beneficiary's hit bespeak maximum past 30. (10 days)
Consequence.- Oily blackness fur covers the beneficiary'south confront and body. (permanent)

"Interesting… hmmm… your face looks and so clean and shaven. You lot appear healthy but I offer you the resilience of Yog the invisible. Without it yous're just a swine. You sure need this blessing if you lot are to succeed."

Night gift of Norganas, the Finger of Oblivion
Location X33f
Page 193
Benefit.- Finger of Death spell iii times.
Consequence.- This dark gift turns the beneficiary's blood pitch black and viscid, like tar. (permanent)

"A curious fluid claret is, don't yous recall? It flows ruby merely it tin can easily bring death, I say it ought to be black. My gifts confers y'all the ability to make this judgment. All you have to do is accept it, and y'all will have to power the guess anyone in your fashion. That's how I got to be known equally Norganas, the Finger of Oblivion."

Dark gift of Vaund the Evasive
Location X33f
Folio 193
Do good.- This dark gift grants its casher the benefits of an Amulet Of Proof Against Detection And Location and a Band Of Evasion. (x days)
Upshot.- The casher of this nighttime gift becomes twitchy and nervous, and as well gains the following flaw: "I can't requite a straight reply to any question put to me." (permanent)

"I can't believe you lot establish me, Vaund the Evasive. I must swiftly return to my bister cell, but get-go, would you lot like to take my gift? None shall ever detect y'all thereafter. Or I could answer a question for you, I promise not to answer truthfully…."

Night gift of Seriach, the Hell Hound Whisperer
Location X33f
Page 193
Benefit.- Summon two hellhounds.
Event.- Sulfurous smoke issues from the casher'south pores whenever he or she speaks Infernal.

"I am Seriach, the Hell Hound Whisperer. I have a special affinity for those foul beasts. Come across, they come to me when I so wish it. If y'all take this gift I can share them with you, for as long as you take care of them"

The Main Bister Vaults

The Bister Vault features the three master sarcophagi. These agree the nearly sought of powers. This is actually where Strahd himself got his powers from. It's the same case with Exethanter. While the vampire and lichdom gifts do not accept firsthand benefits, until the conditions are met, I communication you to allow whatsoever PC make the deal with the dark god. The PC would immediately go the personality trait that comes with it. Which really suffices for roleplaying purposes. A PC volition never be a lich in this game since it requires a level 17^th spellcaster, but a PC might be able to run into the vampire conditions and become a vampire. If that is the case, you lot should plan this situation with the player before hand, since his PC will abandon game when this happens.

Dark souvenir of the Vampyr
Location X42
Page 196
Benefit.- Casher becomes a vampire under the DM's command.
Upshot.- After receiving the dark gift, the beneficiary gains the following flaw: "I am surrounded by hidden enemies that seek to destroy me. I can't trust anyone."

"So you lot come up here seeking the aboriginal power source which brought Count Strahd Von Zarovich to where he stands. It is curious you are that interested in acquiring what he has. Are you trying to fight burn down with fire? You lot must know this gift is non costless to have, like so many others in this place. No, in that location is a price. The price is claret, flowing red and fresh from a recent kill.

But not just whatever blood. It must be the blood of one who loves or reveres y'all, slain by your hand. If yous drink that blood the deal is sealed. Or else…   your own blood shall suffice, as long as you're slain by mean enemies. Only then shall yous accomplish the celebrity of immortality."

Dark gift of Tenebrous
Location X42
Page 196
Do good.- Become a lich under the DM's control.
Consequence.- The beneficiary of this nighttime gift gains the following flaw: "All I care about is acquiring new magic and arcane noesis."

"I will exclusively converse with sentient beings educated in the arts of magic. Nothing else interests me more, and you should feel the aforementioned. There's not enough time in a life time to unravel all the secrets hiding in the weave… What'due south that? I tin can hear your thoughts, did you lot know? I tin can hear your complaining, yous'll never exist able to know and learn everything. You are mortal and shall never know all arcane secrets. But at that place is a way to abandon mortaldom and advance. A style to accomplish immortality. A hole-and-corner fashion to hide one's soul abroad from the body in order to protect it.

I can feel your knowledge of magic is very far from achieving this goal, you are not useful to me. But I feel potential. I'll give you the surreptitious, the arcane recipe. The rest is all on y'all, perhaps some day you'll come up back and thank me, but similar Exethanter did. Practice you accept?"

Dark gift of Zhudun, the Corpse Star
Location X42
Page 196
Do good.- Resurrection spell once. No limitation with time dead.
Outcome.- The beneficiary of this night souvenir takes on a corpselike advent and is easily mistaken for an undead.

"Yous're searching for power, I know. Just similar many others you lot come up seeking the ability over life and death. I am Zhudun, the Corpse Star. I am the master of decease. Still very few know there is a price. Death is a veil which surrounds the soul, if yous desire to have it abroad, y'all have to wearable information technology yourself. That's how I ended upward here, only I can still share a little of that ability with you. Just enough for you to make one very important decision."

Brand certain y'all follow the residual of this Curse of Strahd DM Guide

Yous can at present buy the full guide at DM's guild. Information technology's formatted in a single PDF document. The PDF has clickable index and it's got bookmarks ! A printer friendly version is likewise included.

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