Bath Imaginable

I always thought I’d see a TPK coming from pretty far away. I thought there’d be time for me to think things through and understand what a party wipe will mean for the ongoing campaign. Will the players even want to keep going? Are they going to be invested enough in the world, the NPCs, and those tasty secrets and clues to make new characters and start over?

During the 12th session of my *Ravenloft Campaign my players walked up to Baba Lysaga’s hut and confronted her face to face without much (any?) preparation.

Now, if you haven’t heard of Baba Lysaga that’s ok, the important thing to know is that my players had heard about Baba Lysaga. Virtually every single person they met in the misty valley of Barovia told them to stay as far away as possible, but the Priest (who could talk to animals and therefore understand the vivid cries of Baba’s captured ravens) insisted on being a hero.

Before I knew it, all three PCs were stun-locked by screaming scarecrows and devoured by a magic swarm of insects in less than two rounds.

It was surprising, memorable, and most importantly fun. Luckily, the amazing people I play with also thought it was fun (after an understandable period of shock and horror).

It really changed my perspective on what a TPK can mean for a campaign. I called it the “season finale” and got to work hyping my players up for Season 2.

Instead of turning to r/CurseofStrahd and asking how I can save my game, I looked inward and asked myself “what would make for the most interesting season premiere for the four of us as audience?”

Lifting the hook from The Count, the Castle, and the Curse our second season begins with three new characters waking up in the dungeons of Ravenloft. I wanted to lean on the player’s own fear of the castle and subvert their expectations of it as a “final level” by throwing them into its deepest recesses and watching them flail to get out. It was awesome.

Last night, my players returned to Baba Lysaga with new characters, allies, and a few more Level Ups than they had before. They heard stories about their fallen heroes, enough to give the new characters a believable reason to seek the same justice the players are after for themselves.

The players planned well, but the battle remained tense throughout. In the end, with no casualties, Baba Lysaga was destroyed and the Ruins of Berez will finally be able to rest.

“10/10.”
– Late Priest player