Running The Amber Temple | Running Curse of Strahd 5e

[@TiagoHackbarth]

This message sounds eerily similar to the Long-term nuclear warning: "...This place is not a place of honor... no highly esteemed deed is commemorated here... nothing valued is here. What is here was dangerous and repulsive to us. This message is a warning about danger..."

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Completely intentional

[@paulcoy9060]

I'm thinking of running Exethanter as Tim Conway's "Old Man" character from the Carol Burnett Show.

[@paulcoy9060]

"I have this book, it's Strahd's. He wrote his life's story in it. Feel this cover, it's 100% ... koala."

[@orly444]

"5. You forget your party members’ names easily and frequently." Jokes on you, my player characters already do that.

[@davidm5746]

I am finally here! I remember like 6 months ago I was following ur wizard of wines vid... and boy oh boy did things get sand boxxy since then. The last thing they did was the Abbey of St Markovia. Long story short I stole the sunsword from the party some time ago (During dinner with the devil) and they've been without it until now. And upon The Abbot's dying breath, he revealed that the sword was sent down Tsolenka pass but died before much more could be revealed. They have no idea what's coming.

[@CrossWritesStories]

I used the Tome of Strahd. Had to rewrite it and it mentions the Amber Temple, Baba Yaga, the druids and berserkers, as well the Order of The Silver Dragon. A few pages were taken by Van Ritchen the parts of the temple leading to why Strahd has been looking for him. I kinda use the Tome as a way of tying everything together and why it's so important to Strahd. This is just what I did. Now my players are looking to undo the pacts that made Strahd the Ancient and Land.

[@Joe-uz5fu]

This video was not only your best so far (imho), you really stuck the landing. The "Can you handle that?" Got me hyped for my players to get to the amber temple. Thanks for all you do

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Thank you! That's my favorite ending so far as well.

[@JeanMichelAbrassart]

Same here! Loved it!

[@jorgfegg6545]

Heard reference to the Vampyr stuff in other videos and thought: nah, one big bad guy is enough... but now I'm sold. Question: What's an appropriate miniature for the Aspect of Vampyr? I haven't found one that feels appropriate.

[@razorchuckles]

This campaign just leveled up to OH MY GOD when I realized how cool the ritual at the end would be to imprison Vampyr!

[@beric5124]

You have been indispensable for my CoS campaign. Your takes and approaches on this module are amazing. I have been taking so much, thank you!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

I'm so glad that I could be of service!

[@savageantelope3306]

agreed though

[@gustavopiazzza]

Best CoS channel ever!

[@magiv4205]

The transformation of that poor girl was something straight out of Dark Souls and I love it

[@TheDungeonCoach]

You are the single best resource for D&D modules on the internet! I usually run homebrew entirely... but you have single handedly made me want to dive into these! Your knowledge on these are SUPER impressive! And that ending line! I wanna play!!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Thank you very much! I'm a fan of that final line as well.

[@danielvangool1461]

I replaced Jakarion with my rogues father. He was spying on Strahd on behalf of another dark lord (the rogues mother, a homebrew made using Van Richtens guide). The rogue was devastated, since their relationship was strained. However, since he's a Phantom Rogue, I had his grief bring the ghost of his father back. Now he's an annoying poltergeist, with sitcom level bickering with his son. Fun times, and a bit of levity to contrast the dark mood of the Amber temple😁

[@theartproject]

Love this: "If you seek honor or power, turn back for these walls hold naught but doom. In many rooms below the darkness shelters a timeless evil. The danger is an infection of malevolent divinity. Our arrogance and folly forged this place into our prison. Leave now before our damnation becomes yours."

[@betterbirds]

It reminds me of the messages they planned to write on long-term nuclear waste sarcophagi/storage sites, super cool

[@gonzalocalleja2906]

I love the background music!! :)

[@wuzillah]

Pure gold! I wanted to remove the Barbarians because it made no sense considering I forgot to have them alerted by the 5 or 6 fire balls during the Arcanoloth encounter lol My players decided to long rest in the Barbarian room after searching the floor and securing it. I was going to have my players encounter returning Barbarians that night but instead I'm using your vision quest idea, one of my players has the blood spear so this will be awesome.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Lemme know how it goes!

[@redhead7d7]

I've made the dead wizard and Vilnius hired hands of Kassimer. He had sent them a few weeks back to scout out the area with promise of magical scrolls. He assumed they were both dead since they never returned. My group are in the middle of the temple currently. Kassimer is about to get his dark gift, and I'm pretty excited. I did wish I had left out the random group of people in that first room, but the party just tried to wipe them out anyways. Great video! I have gotten some great ideas thus far.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Glad it could help!

[@betci90]

i was so scared to run the amber temple, now im really psyched and cant wait! thank you SO SO much!!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

You're so welcome!

[@killermann232]

I’m about to end my first campaign and start a second with CoS after reading all 20 ravenloft books and you have made me so excited about my second campaign

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Oh goodness, all 20? I've only read the two that focused on Strahd. Which were your favorites?

[@mikeymcchoas3511]

If you are doing a Zoom campaign, would love to join. Also read all the books and have just about every product.

[@vasheskaaronsar1568]

Entering the Ember Temple: Cleric: (TN alignment, knowledge domain) Wooowe! So much knowledge! Iraina: (LE alignment) ... But I am happier than ever before, 'cause I'm a grown man in a candy store (c) Rest of the party: *nervous* Guess who's helped out the lich and chatted with him a lot? Your tips extremely interesting, and I kinda inspired from this. :3

[@cwinship]

Teenagers having to be locked in the same place for an extended period of time and with a declining mental state? HAH! That could NEVER happen-

[@MrDavidKord]

I feel like that could be a campaign in and of itself

[@andersschmich8600]

One of my PCs is effectively serving Drizlash, he's going to be in for a very interesting surprise here...

[@steveclarkreborn]

Absolutely astounding take on it. One of my players asked me about the Amber Temple after seeing the All Things DnD video that features it, and I honestly had no idea how I was going to run it. I do now lmao. Thank you all so much for putting these videos out there, they mean a lot to amateur DMs like myself

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Not a problem! Thank you for watching!

[@Immersion-rpg]

Really epic material mate. Loved that hammer and chisel!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Thank you very much!

[@justinjette1473]

I have been a DM for 25 years but would love to be a player at your table. Excellent stuff.

[@MatthewCampbell765]

Binding Ritual to defeat Vampyr: "First you do this. Then this, stop on your right foot! Don't forget it!"

[@dinohuntr851]

Holy crap! I love your changes. I am prepping for our first CoS campaign, and you are a bastion of wonderful ideas. I absolutely cannot wait for the Amber Temple!

[@pipofernandez8272]

You have been a great trove of information on CoS as a new DM running it for my first game, has been a learning experience as I go on but your channel, MandyMod and DragnaCarta have been such a huge help! Thank you so much!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

I’m glad we could help, Pipo!

[@nimrodnj]

My party just finished The Amber Temple. I went over many of the changes you assembled, after the fact, post session and you have all of our hats off. Thank you so much for all your efforts. Be well and keep up all the good work.

[@TheEldritchGoth]

The group that I ran Curse of Strahd with was from Faerûn, so I decided to tie in Barovian lore with Faerûnian lore. The Amber Temple in my campaign was actually built by dwarf wizards that worshipped the Dwarven god of secrets, Dumathoin. This fit very thematically well seeing as the temple was built in the side of a mountain and Dumathoin is a Dwarven god. Plus, I made Exethanter a friendly dwarf lich with some guidelines from MandyMod. I think I might run the temple with these changes the next time I run that module, as this seems very interesting indeed!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

I'm glad I could help--shame my video didn't catch your eye sooner!

[@ErickSixto]

Loved the carvings on the walls and the frontdoor! Thanks for the additional info. I also hated the things in CoS that make no sense or where not foreshadow.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Thank you for watching!

[@calmsoundsforyou]

I can't thank you enough for your amazing videos, they make my CoS Campaign so much better!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Happy to help!

[@nestorskip9410]

This guide is under appreciated. Thank you so much for this input!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

You're welcome! Feel free to share it and help the guide spread in popularity!

[@kapete4447]

These videos are invaluable for my Strahd campaign! Thank you very much for these! Absolutely brimming with great information and changes that add so much to the module!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Not a problem, Blue! I'm glad the videos can help!

[@madmadame1508]

Pro-Tip: If you have Roll20, the Jukebox has an amazing audioclip of a woman turning into a werewolf, if you stop it before the clearly mammalian growls start, it's perfect for the transformation.

[@madmadame1508]

I also opted to change the flame skulls and spectres into Sorrowsworn creatures The Lonely, The Angry, The Wretched, and The Lost. This felt more thematically appropriate that the wizards became these creatures instead.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Great idea!

[@PJPantelis]

I've watched all the videos in the lead up to this part of the campaign and this is your finest work yet. +1 Patreon subscriber here!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Thank you so much for your support!

[@MrJackMTama]

Excellent video man! I've been running CoS with your videos guiding me and as inspiration and have my players eating out of my hand! (And at least one of them, Strahd's hand..) Couldn't have done it without you.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Thank you so much, Jack! I'm glad I could help.

[@TMcR92]

I’m anxiously waiting for my party to make it to the Amber Temple. I appreciate every one of your videos, but this one was especially spot on 😁

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Amber Temple was so much fun! You're gonna have a blast.

[@stevenstone307]

My party all just hit level 8. They were so ready. They finally made it to the Amber Temple, they just completed all their Tarroka items! First round of combat with the Arcanoloth, it level 8 chain lightnings them, almost killing them all. Second round I should have level 6 chain lightning'd but that would have downed 2 characters, so I fireball instead. By the 3rd round I realise that this is only heading to a TPK as this very low magic party is really struggling to deduce where this enemy is, their stealth isn't working thanks to the Arcanaloth's huge blindsight, so I have him leave the statue just to give my party a chance. I even had him offer them to leave offerings or leave the place first! Now they no longer feel so strong lol. The Arcanaloth is a crazy encounter!

[@JoeFlamenco]

I’m an old school dungeon master and so I placed an old school enemy of Strahd in one of the amber sarcophagi. Lord Soth the Death Knight. Instead of freeing the others, the players can free Lord Soth and he will actually join in and fight Strahd. In canon Soth is long gone from here, but I felt like bringing back a nostalgia experience for my players. I never actually name him as Soth, either, just as the Knight of Roses since his armor is covered in engraved roses. The lich has been trying to siphon off his power for hundreds of years to moderate success, so he can be downplayed in power level if I need to scale him back. Anyways, I did all of your changes here, but also added Lord Soth. Fun times :)

[@TrippyTheShroom]

Soth and Strahd actually fought in an old DnD novel didnt they?

[@JoeFlamenco]

@@TrippyTheShroom Yep, he did. That was kind of an offshoot story that became a Demi plane of dread known as Nedragaard.

[@robertjones2900]

This was fantastic! My party went to the amber temple earlier in the campaign, but were woefully under prepared. They're gearing up to return soon, and these twists will be fantastic! You mention talking about players becoming Champions. Which video is that in? I think it's an idea that could play very well, but I'll need to start introducing the idea soon.

[@VuvuzelaTM]

My players just burried Vilneas on the Feakers chambler using stone shape. He mannage to free the entity, but they lost all the interaction! Soo sad!

[@adsonchaves]

Oops!

[@berigorsuch3220]

This series is great man, and thanks for the shout out to mandymod and dragoncarta on reddit, between the three of you I feel like I’m going to be able to run a much better campaign

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Glad we could help! Definitely be sure to join us in Reddit or the Discord server.

[@Winterheart786]

Really enjoying these man, keep them going!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Will do!

[@equals111]

How do you run the Vampyr encounter? What kind of attacks/stats/and legendary actions would he have?

[@EnnuiElpis]

You know, just a thought, but maybe you could add a second level to player characters becoming a champion of one of the vestiges (this would apply to Strahd as well). In the Tomb of Annihilation adventure players can allow themselves to become vessels for one of the 9 dead gods of the city of Omu. Perhaps you could port the rules for that if the characters are willing to go one step further than just accepting the gift of one of the vestiges and want to actually become a vessel of one of them. The character would likely have to accept an alignment change to do this, but it might be interesting, and you could even have Strahd allow Vampyr to possess him during the final battle. Maybe that would be too high fantasy for the horror atmosphere the adventure is going for, but it might be an option if you want to try it.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

That's a fantastic idea!

[@dimofamo]

Yay for you! I'm going to run my 4th CoS campaign in a row, just because of you.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Fourth?! Holy crap, maybe you should be making these videos! 😝

[@dimofamo]

@@LunchBreakHeroes I somehow fell in love with the setting and feel. None of the other official campaigns seem to be nearly as evocative and striking as this.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

@@dimofamo I can definitely get behind that sentiment. I'm big into dark fantasy and gothic horror, so Ravenloft really speaks to me. It'd be great to have the opportunity to delve into the other domains at some point in the future.

[@KaineVillante]

Had a player that was a warlock be a champion too then he dropped out after two sessions sadly. The broken Sarcophagus for my headcannon was a shard of one of the dead gods that made up the dark powers. So now for all my sessions it is cannon that Anarchis the everchanging now resides on Limbo freed by a player character from Strahds relm. And yes the way I see it the dark powers though sometimes pull heroes to defeat Strahd. I prefer the plot that Strahd has trapped them out of hatred of what they did to him. I treat each separate crypt as one being broken into pieces. The command word was the dead God each Sarcophagus is a shard taken sentience. I love your storytelling for the lead in to the temple though it adds a lot to the story. Thank you. I am jealous of your voice!!!

[@scruffynerfherder3354]

Loved it. Saved it. Liked it. Subbed just from this video.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Woot woot!

[@xanderroberson2029]

Your videos are damn amazing! Do you have any videos expanding on the kavani? Id love for the party to find the spear and team up with the kavani to defeat strahd, maybe even add some potential extra allies?

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

No, sorry!

[@grannyp7060]

totally didn't use huge details from this in a homebrew game i wrote or anything...

[@SellingSadness]

this is amazing!. Thank you very mutch for this!. If i may ask what kind of stat block you use for Vampyr?

[@dascientist8443]

You could use a nightwalker, or I'm sure there's an appropriate custom stat block available with the write up for the guide.

[@Crozierization]

Dude. I subscribed to your Paterson after watching this episode (at the $1/month leave so pls hold your applause lol) I had NO IDEA that you produced written versions of your module section re-writes. Dude. They’re so good. You should mention that content in your videos. I’d have started giving you money earlier if I knew that content was available.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you like the writeup. I only started recently because enough people asked. I should definitely make a bigger fuss about them. I'm still debating on whether they should stay patron only, be publicly available, or on DMsGuild as well.

[@Crozierization]

Once you get through interpreting the entire campaign, you could combine all of them, and have an entire book designed to supplement CoS

[@Crozierization]

Are you going to go back and add written versions for Barovia village, death house, and campaign overview?

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

I'm working on the Tarokka Deck adventure hook right now, actually. I do plan to move on to the other ones, moving forward in time. Given the Death House video's near 100% reliance on MandyMod's material, I don't think it would be ethical of me to write that up in my own guide. So that one will either be left out, or I'll need to come up with something a bit more original.

[@Crozierization]

Lunch Break Heroes I hear that. Or talk to her, and slap her name in the credits as a collaborator? Either way, a complete and comprehensive, published, 1-stop campaign upgrade guide - where all of the various additions to vanilla have been worked to make sure they’re consistent with each other - would be tight asf. Before I started following your work I was struggling through all the million little mods found on the Reddit. And, like, some of them don’t work well with others, and such. You can’t just use every modification idea or it would be too much. Your edit takes a nice path. Adds a certain special something as far as being a twisted, degenerate, and morally complex.

[@woesandwhimsofanimar3948]

As a DM about to run Cos these videos have been amazing thanks so much!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

You're welcome!

[@cantandwont6636]

for me my players want to go there currently, found out about it through buster telling of exhanter and during the dinner looking for books for this

[@savageantelope3306]

my characters just wondered up thereafter finding treasure in tsolenka pass, without kasimir even though he's their ally

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Doopty doopty doo.... Just lookin' around... Oh, what's this? An ancient temple dedicated to the imprisonment and study of pure evil? SWEET!

[@TheEldritchGoth]

It always felt strange to me that Argynvost spent years looking for this place but everybody else just sort of knows about it

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Eh, I'd say that hardly anyone knows it's there. Strahd, obviously. Kasimir, as well. Beyond them, I think only the Abbott really knows where it's at. Van Richten and Ez might have a guess, but that's really all.

[@nizarfakhreifakh172]

The hags also know about it

[@baronkimble5378]

Thank you KZbin algo, subbed

[@firelordsinger9666]

This inspires me to do simular videos dude keep it up🤘🤘🤘

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Bring it on! 😁

[@firelordsinger9666]

@@LunchBreakHeroes Argynvostholt next?!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Maybe! Depends on the votes of the patrons.

[@gregman5575]

Do you have plans for another campaign?

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Running one now!

[@benhurmussulini529]

Hey, thank you for the video. What do you think about using the Dungeon of the Mad Mage as the Amber Temple map generation to make the players spend 4 days inside it?

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

I suppose you could do that. There's nothing inherently special about the Amber Temple's map--one could hypothetically move everything that's in the temple to one of the many levels of DMM.

[@mikeymcchoas3511]

Have to say you have an amazing voice.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Thank you!

[@eclairz9275]

Have you by any chance studied Matthew Colville and Matthew Mercer’s speech patterns? You seem to have a wonderful amalgamation of the two.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

I have not. I've watched them, to be sure, but never studied their vocal patterns. This is just my OG voice, yo.

[@eclairz9275]

Ah, well it's enthralling!

[@Titan360]

You know, one thing that I don't like about 5e is the change in the lich's backstory. Demiliches are supposed to be epic monsters much stronger than liches, and their soul devouring was not upkeep, it was the only reason that the demilich's consciousness ever bothers to return from the astral plane. Soul eating in general feels like its going for cheap, unearned EDGE, but then nobody does anything with it. Also, I think that it kind of messes up your scene here. Think about it: Exethanter is talking about how Vampyr has been eating souls (and, in Curse of Strahd, people with real souls are kind of a rare commodity), and that is part of why the stakes are so high. But, the idea that Exethanter has been munching on souls to maintain his lichdom kind of steals a little bit of that thunder. I mean, don't YOU think so? It can't be that he needed souls to maintain his sanity, because you can (greater) restore that with a spell....

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Perhaps he hasn't been munching on souls, and that's part of his problem.

[@Naustrawarlock]

Nice, Thank for this video, my player are starting the final? part of CoS and Amber temple should be in 4 -5 sessions

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Good luck to you!

[@bunnybarbarian]

Looking back on these videos and I had an idea to drop a lil breadcrumb trail there SO during the Feast of St. Andrel (Players completely disregarded the bones quest and thought it was just religious superstition) I had Anastrasya kidnap Ireena and I was trying to think of a place to bring her So I thought why not have that be where she brings ireena. Not into the amber temple but the church above like you had described I dont want them going in j u s t yet but I want them to know its there and think to go back later Im considering having some form of vision showing their deaths if they enter unequipped or another form of deterrence to make them leave, but later know where it was and revisit when the time was right. Still working this out and have a few sessions till they make it there so I am thinking that over :P

[@Dan_Duran]

Got a doubt: if replacing vampur, what DPower put in his amber sarcophagus?

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

I personally left it empty. That way, there was at least one amber sarchophagi that the party could use to bind Vampyr back into the Amber Temple.

[@darkstareng]

These are really good ideas

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Glad you like them!

[@pierrehurley]

Awesome vid are you gonna do Arganvostol.

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Depends on the will of the patrons!

[@Kajiyaification]

the staff that changed alignment killed two people in the temple and lead to 2 users accepting multiply gifts, the pcs died in a struggle of who gets more power

[@wargriz8213]

One of my party is a cleric to Kelemvor, aka a death god that hates undeath. By all rights she should want to destroy a lich on sight, doubly if he is handy capped

[@nickbrown638]

Welcome to the amber temple of fear and hunger.

[@DoblyTufnell]

Another great video guys.. Just one thing needs changing on your Ritual to re trap Vampyr.. Its says that the Bones and the Blood are consumed in the ritual. The blood is ok. But the bones of a Saint? Where did the wizards who did this ritual get fresh 'saint bones' every time the trapped one of the many gods and such in amber? MUCH better like this... The bones just need to be present. The wizards had a set (or two) of bones they used for this ritual. They were kept in boxes in that room now guarded by a golem (where the battle bot use to be). When Strahd came here to free Vampyr he took the bones.. What he did with them is up to the DM. If the DM wants. The Lich may just know (if his memory is jogged by the players) about the bones. He may know who's bones they were. He may know Strahd took them. NOW, the party has to borrow bones. From the Church in Valaki? From a grave at the Abbey? This adds so much potential to go wrong. What is the party looses the bones? :)

[@havilar3095]

Humm I have been toying with the idea of geting Arabelle to the temple some how. If she the party essential NPC easy. Or some other means. Simply to be drawn in by Vampyer. Becuse he since that Strahd may fall. Not like he has fallen be for. But That maybe this time hr falls for good. Depending on if the PC. Figuer out how to do so with out him coming back. As he is the champion of vampyer. And So tied to the land and cures to all way be brought back!... But diving he might not come back this time he need a new champion just like strad want an shire to the throne so he can escape he cures. Not that any is good enough to tack his place. This sea tgat the hostage chapter is gone is good but maybe. I'll twerk it my self! That only part of him is escaped and the longer s trahd is inpower the more of him that escapes. And may be use states physical from for his own. But with the possibility that maybe hi might fall. He needs a new champion. And will tempt Arabelle to Mack the s am or simpler deal with him. Maybe con binding here to free the land. Some on must all way be on the throne. To control the cures! So if strad is removed he would would come back and no is saved. But if she tack the throne. And Strahd is defeated he won't come back and she can be the one to save every one... This idea work even better if she is the essential NPC! Tacking your idea here and having may be apart of vampyer escaped. The party can learn to reseal he back in the amber. To do that they need some one related to Strahd to seal the ritual. As it was Strahd who in part realised him. So this why when the ritual is being cast ether Arabelle will die or madam ava. And it may seem Strauss hold over the land with him seals a way! And maybe the party can use the same trick on Strahd. If the get him in his coffen. This time with out tgat acttuly sacrifice. As Strahd as powerful as he is is not a god. Or as power full as the one who guess him. Eather way the cures on Barovia remains. But with the dark lid Strahd locked a way. In amber in in coffin him self! And since som one need to be on the thrown. To control the cures Arabelle. May have to tack up that postion... If she has mad a deal with vampyer. That land may be safe for a time befro she gives in to the cures if not. She may sit o. The drown keeping the darkness a way a strhard lock away. Who may one day break free. And tack back what his. Or escape Barovia cuse some eals has tackin his throne. And his cures. And his dark ness can be freed upon the world. Or he is for ever draped and spelled away. If no one tacks the throne. The Strahd is sure to return. If Arabelle tack may she will be come the new threat and dark lord... Witch is mad all the more likely if she mack a deal with vampyer! Maybe she can hold the cures and contain to her self and the castle just maybe. The land is free! At a cost a horrible cost. Now this idea of mine works well if she is the key essential NPC! May still work of she not. But it the idea of been thinking of! What do you all think!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

All hail Darklord Arabelle!

[@orgixvi3]

I picture Vampyr as looking like an incredibly morbidly obese vampire, sitting on an amber throne. When Strahd feeds, the victim's soul is devoured by Vampyr, thus the increasing population of people born without souls. Is this because there are fewer souls to recycle, or a cruel joke by the Dark Powers? What will happen when there are no souls left in Barovia? Vampyr was once very fancily dressed but has long since outgrown his tiny clothes. He has a permanent, Joker-like smile with long, thin fangs. His eyes are always wide, so you can plainly see his pale yellow sclera and blood red iris. His skin is a sickly grey, with dark veins visible underneath. He is also just caked in blood, from his mouth splattered down across his massive stomach.

[@jdquimpo]

Hi! How would you reconcile Exethanter as discussed in this chapter with the Exethanter that you discussed in the Van Richten's Tower chapter? I like replacing Khazan with Exethanter, but I feel like it takes away a lot of the Amber Temple's history in making Exethanter Strahd's archmage instead of the archmage of the Amber Temple. If Exethanter began as Strahd's archmage, then how would that affect the origins of the Temple and its descent into madness?

[@BeaDSM]

What's the other Amber Temple video of yours you referenced?

[@EdHaigh]

I’m so mad I found this only after my players got to the temple last night.

[@HungryHungryShoggoth]

So, what would the stat block for Vampyr look like?

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

I'll have something on the near future based off the Night Walker stat block.

[@HungryHungryShoggoth]

@@LunchBreakHeroes awesome, I love your takes on CoS in particular, I'm DMing it right now and I've already utilized some of your tweaks to great effect. Cant wait to see what more you come up with!

[@wontez]

Any news on the Vampyr stat block? my players are on their way to Amber Temple now and I'm thanking my lucky stars I found this video before they arrived. If not dont worry, ill use the Night Walker stat block but all of your videos & ideas are pure gold and I am curious to see what stats you used.

[@AAron-gr3jk]

great stuff

[@Александр-ц8к3о]

I wanna steal your brain) its so bright

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

I’m still using it. Most days.

[@Nexsusthepro]

I feel like some of this wasn't proof read: "We're gonna get rid of the barbarians because why are they there?" um, it's a trial for the tribes of the slavich woods to come of age it says so in the book..

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

That’s not what the book says. That’s what our guide says. The book says this: “The gladiator, Helwa, uses this room as a shelter while hunting in the mountains. She and her berserkers know nothing about the temple’s history or purpose.”

[@areyou3229]

Why do the gypsies/ viscanie (sure not right spelling) never feature in your campaigns?

[@gmsilveraide]

Sir pls can you make a video about where to put sunblade and tome of strahd better?

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

I'll make a note of it for a future script! I like the idea that the Sunblade is either protected by Vladimir (can't let someone get a hold of it and kill Strahd), or within the Amber Temple's treasury (hidden by Khazan when he failed to destroy it). For the Tome, I like the idea that Strahd has left it out in the world as a part of his game with the adventurers. At the end it contains a ciphered note to the effect of, "Congratulations, adventurers, you've solved my puzzle. What I tell you here is true, for I have no reason to lie. But know that I am watching you, and the only reason you have this book is because I will it. I am Strahd von Zarovich, lord of this land; and this is *my* game." As far as its placement, it could be within either Lady Wachter's hidden trunk, the Baron's attic (forgotten heirloom passed down and tucked away), or among the Vistani if you're playing them as evil agents of Strahd.

[@gmsilveraide]

@@LunchBreakHeroes thank you so much sir!...

[@gmsilveraide]

And also one more thing: what is the stat block of vampyr? Is there a possible monster in the manuals?

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

@@gmsilveraide I recommend starting with the Nightwalker from Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. I plan to craft something for when I do a video on Castle Ravenloft, but that't not in the works quite yet.

[@gmsilveraide]

@@LunchBreakHeroes thank you so much sir! Still waiting for more videos 😀

[@lukadebank2430]

For the binding ritual what is vampyr's true name? Is it just vampyr?

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

I plan to call him Vampyr: Lord of Blood.

[@securit7590]

This is freaking amazing. I just posted about this on /r/cos. I will delete it now. Thank you

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

No problem,! I'm glad I could help!

[@liondovegm]

I came here by searching Castle Amber and Curse of Strahd. Curse of Strahd is very similar to Castle Amber

[@jackhartford521]

That point has been circulating around dungeons and dragons for quite a long time! I love castle Amber and I’m trying to think of ways to hook them together somehow. Or some sort of cameo or some thing. I’m currently running curse of Strahd. I thought about giving one of my players, my brother who has run me through Castle Amber multiple times, a remade version of the sword of Sylaire. He’s a gnome rogue so I thought about giving him a short sword from Stephen Amber and I would call it Sylaires Sting.

[@john-lenin]

And the last carving ends with •Aaaarrrg...”

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

You know it

[@juliangines6764]

Well if he /said/ "ARRRGH", he's not going to carve it he's going to say "Aarrrggh".

[@garrusmandolin1362]

why ten rounds?

[@DanGanado]

You're so cool

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

D'awww, thank you

[@victordec1326]

uu que lasrtima que no esta en español, igual te doy un like!!

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

Gracias! Tú está muy amable!

[@firelordsinger9666]

Niceeeee

[@MarcosHGahn]

SUBTITULOS !!!!!!

[@bunnybarbarian]

666th like. very fitting i'd say

[@mattm9434]

My guy. Sarcophagi is plural. Every time you say a sarcophagi, you deal 1d10 psychic damage. pls stop

[@LunchBreakHeroes]

A sarcophagi. … Now roll a death save. And thank you.