Death House

The structure known as "Death House" was the family estate of the Durst family. Once used as a home, Death House has since been turned into a dimensional portal to Baroiva. This was one of the ways Strahd Von Zarovich and The Vistani used to lure adventurers into the Plane of Dread. In AoR 597, the Saviours of Barovia entered Barovia via this path.

Description

Death House was a large building, sporting three stories and an attic. Beneath the house laid a two level basement, filled with catacombs and dungeons. Surrounding the house was a low metal fence, making for a fair sized courtyard outside the structure. Death House also displayed the ability to alter it's appearance. The exterior and first level of the interior looked well kept, though as the house was further explored the illusions would fall away, revealing itself as a dilapidated haunted mansion.

History

The Durst Family

Originally located within Barovia Village, Death House served as the mansion for the Durst Family. The Dursts were known servants of Strahd and viewed him as their dark god, even creating a religion and cult centered around the vampire. This pleased Strahd, who allowed them to operate in Barovia.
Later, the Durst family would capture and kill an adventuring party, of which Strahd was interested in meeting. In retribution, Strahd killed the Durst family and their cult followers. Now empty, the Durst home began to display horrifying ghostly apparitions to the townsfolk of Barovia. The combination of dark magic and death within seemed to curse the abandoned building, making it seem almost sentient in nature. Fearing the dark nature of the house, the townsfolk of Barovia burnt it to the ground.

Portal to Barovia

Death House would not disappear so easily, as it's cursed past gave it new life. It soon reappeared in the Svalich Woods, where it displayed the ability to bridge the gap between Barovia and the The Mortal Plane. The Vistani would begin to utilize this method for capturing unsuspecting adventurers from Naneth.

Capture of the Saviours

In AoR 597, Death House was used to capture and transport an adventuring group into Barovia. This group would later become known as the Saviours of Barovia. Tricked by Vindril, one of the Vistani, the group was trapped while searching the Pinetrost Woods for werewolves. Quickly falling under siege from a pack of dire wolves, the group happened upon a strange house in a forest clearing. They reluctantly entered, having no other option for safety.
Once inside, the group uncovered the ghosts of the Durst children, and were possessed by their spirits. The group eventually laid their remains to rest in the catacombs, ending the possession. While exploring, the group uncovered much of the Durst family story and were led to the basement by ghostly chanting; "He is the Ancient, He is the Land". Fighting through several undead, the Saviours made it to a ritual chamber, where leftover spirits from the cult began to summon a creature. A shambling mound appeared, formed of bones, blood and flesh. This was Lorgoth the Decayer, a creature bent on adding the Saviours to his own mass.
Fleeing through the house, the group was treated to more visions of the Durst family, many of them now murdered or dead. Now on the top floor, the party leapt from the highest balcony, though the house had created an illusion of a great drop. Trusting their instincts, the party landed in the grass below, free from the horrors inside the house. Though upon leaving the estate, it was obvious to the group that they no longer walked the Pinetrost's spruces and pines. They now found themselves in a temperate forest, the Svalich Woods of Barovia.

Basic Information

Type: Residence, Dimensional Portal
Location: Undetermined, Barovia Village (Formerly)
Inhabitants: The Durst Family (Formerly), Ghosts, Ghouls, Lorgoth the Decayer,