Session 03 — Teeth of the House

Trapped within a living manor that punishes escape attempts, the party descends into nightmare—guided by ghostly children toward a basement crypt where a ghast of immense malevolence awaits. In the darkness below, mercy and survival blur into one desperate choice.

Pre-Session Recap

After the harrowing werewolf encounter in the Misty Forest, the party discovered themselves trapped in a manor that called itself Death House. The previous session concluded with the Iron Maiden test where Strahd appeared to bind Aleric with an oath. The party now awakens in the attic, wounded and disoriented, only to find that escape is not an option—the manor has become their prison.

Session Summary

Opening

The party awakens in the attic after their traumatic encounter with the Iron Maiden, Aleric freshly bound by an oath of service to Strahd. They decide to explore downward, seeking a safer location to rest, but their attempt to escape via a balcony reveals the house's true nature: when they collectively decide to stay, black smoke materializes and traps them, the void beyond the balcony confirming their imprisonment. The manor has become a sentient antagonist, actively preventing departure while remaining hospitable to exploration.

The party discovers a jewelry box containing a necklace and three gold rings, which they distribute among themselves. Most critically, they locate two child spirits trapped in a nursery—the same Durst siblings who lured them to the manor. The children are locked in, unable to escape, and they plead with the party to bring their bones downstairs for proper burial. The children hint at a secret passage to the basement and warn of "the monster downstairs," but the party's attempts to investigate a music box trigger possession attempts by the spirits. The encounter is marked by emotional weight and party discord, as some members must flee while others are momentarily abandoned upstairs.

Middle

The party descends to the basement crypt and finds themselves in a chamber of funerary horror. Three corpse-like figures stand arranged on a dais in poses of judgment, chanting continuously: "He is the Lamb. He is the Savior. He is the light. He is the change. He is his nation. He is the King." Near the dais, they discover items of supernatural significance: a cloak bearing the symbol of ghouls, a wooden stake made partially of human bone, an orb of unknown purpose, and a goblet.

As they proceed deeper into the crypt, a massive, grotesque undead creature emerges from the darkness—a ghast of terrible power, already bearing signs of previous battle. The creature is nearly 40 feet distant when combat is joined.

Closing

The battle with the ghast is brutal and desperate. Ria is dropped to 0 HP twice, accumulating critical death saves. Aleric faces difficult tactical decisions with depleted spell slots and dwindling resources. Daisy fights with raw desperation, dealing the final blow that kills the creature. The party collapses in exhaustion, declaring they will rest in the crypt and absolutely will not explore any further into Death House's remaining mysteries. They perform a grim fist-bump celebration, treating their survival as a Pyrrhic victory in a house that seems designed to grind them down piece by piece.

Key Events

• The Balcony Trap — The party attempts to escape via balcony; the house manifests black smoke and void to prevent departure
• The Durst Children — Two ghost children trapped in a nursery plead for their bones to be brought downstairs; possession attempts follow a music box trap
• The Crypt of Judgment — The party discovers the chamber with three chanting corpse-figures and items of supernatural significance
• The Ghast Battle — A massive undead creature emerges from the crypt darkness; the party barely survives, with Ria dropped to 0 HP twice

Decisions Made

NPCs Encountered

Locations Visited

Combat & Encounters

Combat Breakdown — The Ghast of the Crypt

Phase 1: The Emergence

• Party discovers three corpse-like figures arranged on a dais in poses of judgment, continuously chanting: "He is the Lamb. He is the Savior. He is the light. He is the change. He is his nation. He is the King."
• Near the dais are items of supernatural significance: cloak bearing ghouls' symbol, wooden stake made partially of human bone, orb of unknown purpose, goblet of uncertain use
• As party proceeds deeper into crypt, a massive, grotesque undead creature emerges from the darkness approximately 40 feet away
• Creature is already bearing signs of previous battle (appears bloodied/weakened)
• Combat is joined

Phase 2: The Opening Exchange

• Aleric holds his action, declaring he will attack if creature comes within range
• Daisy attacks with ranged attacks
• Ria moves to engage
• Creature closes distance quickly
• Aleric uses Divine Spite (likely Divine Favor or similar ability adding radiant damage) to boost weapon attack
• Party notes that radiant damage seems particularly effective, dealing visible extra damage
• Creature strikes back with ferocity

Phase 3: The Crisis — Ria in Peril

• Ria is bitten or struck by ghast and drops to 0 HP; must begin making death saves
• Aleric faces critical decision: out of smites and spell slots depleted
• Considers holding monster with help action to give Daisy advantage on attacks, but requires grapple check
• Eventually decides to attack directly, hoping Daisy can finish creature before Ria fails three death saves
• Daisy, bloodied and desperate, attacks with bludgeoning weapons (noted as ghast's fragility)
• Daisy rolls well and continues attacking
• Party discusses whether cantrips like Spare the Dying might help stabilize Ria at range
• Ria brought back up by healing but drops again when ghast attacks
• Accumulates multiple failed death saves
• Tension escalates: if party doesn't kill ghast this turn, Ria dies permanently
• With Ria down, Aleric and Daisy won't be able to hold creature long

Phase 4: The Final Desperate Turn

• On crucial turn, Ria/Narua rolls well and lands powerful blow
• Daisy fights with pure desperation ("HIT THE FUCKING THING!")
• Daisy delivers final blow that kills the ghast
• Creature collapses
• Party falls to ground in exhaustion and relief

Outcome: Ghast killed after desperate combat with Ria nearly dying twice; party survives with significant resource expenditure and emotional trauma; declares they will rest in crypt and absolutely will not venture deeper into Death House

Loot & Rewards

Memorable Moments

"Okay, we're resting and we're not going to any of your fucking other rooms, okay?"

— Party, after defeating the ghast

• The Haunting Chant — The three corpse-figures in the crypt continuously chant "He is the Lamb. He is the Savior..." creating an atmosphere of supernatural dread
• Aleric's Emotional Conflict — The party leader expresses deep concern for the trapped children, torn between his oath to Strahd and his compulsion to help innocents
• Ria's Defiant Escape — When faced with possession attempts at the music box, Ria flees screaming "Hello, my baby! Hello, my darling! Hello, my ragtime gal!" referencing the music box tune
• Daisy's Comfort — Before abandoning the nursery, Daisy sits with a child spirit and builds a small castle out of blocks to comfort them

Plot Threads

Threads Opened

• Death House's Sentience — The manor actively imprisons occupants and manifests as a living antagonist; its nature and purpose remain mysterious
• The Durst Children's Bones — The spirits requested burial "downstairs" but did not specify the exact location; this obligation remains unresolved
• The Chanting Corpses — Three figures in the crypt chamber chant continuously; their identity and purpose are unknown

Threads Advanced

• Aleric's Oath to Strahd — Continues to weigh on the party; Aleric's internal crisis about what he swore remains a source of tension

Threads Unresolved

• What is the true nature and purpose of Death House?
• Who are the three corpses in the crypt chamber?
• Where should the Durst children's bones be taken for proper burial?
• What do the necklace and gold rings' magical properties (if any) truly represent?
• How many more rooms and chambers exist within Death House?

PC Highlights

GM Notes