Chapter 9: Tsolenka Pass - Curse of Strahd

Chapter 9: Tsolenka Pass. Tsolenka Pass is a gravel road that hugs Mount Ghakis, climbing to great heights. The road starts at the Raven River crossroads (chapter 2, area R) and travels seven miles to a gatehouse (areas T1-T3) and a guard tower (areas T4-T6), as well as a stone bridge (areas T7-T9) that spans the Luna River. Wind and snow make the journey treacherous. Without some way to keep warm, characters who aren't dressed for cold weather suffer the effects of extreme cold at night (see "Weather" in chapter 5, "Adventure Environments," of the Dungeon Master's Guide). The road curved and climbed, making a lengthy switchback into this edge of Mount Ghakis. The air grew colder, not warmer, and patches of snow became more frequent until they were unbroken. Areas of the Pass The following areas correspond to labels on the map of the Tsolenka Pass below. These structures are made of tightly fitted stone and can't be scaled without the aid of magic or a climber's kit. T1. Gatehouse Portcullis When the characters approach from the west, read: The shelf of rock on which the mountain road clings grows narrow. To your left, the icy cliffs rise sharply toward dark, rolling clouds. To your right, the ground falls away into a sea of fog. Ahead, through the wind and snow, you see a high wall of black stone lined with spikes and topped by statues of demonic vultures with horned heads. Set in the center of the wall is a closed iron portcullis, behind which burns a curtain of green flame. On the other side of the dark wall, gripping the mountain's edge, is a guard tower of white stone topped by golden statues of mighty warriors. The gatehouse is 30 feet high. The adjoining walls are 20 feet high and lined with stone spikes. If the characters circumvent the gate by flying or climbing over it, the statues on the gatehouse (area T2) animate and attack. If the characters approach within 10 feet of the portcullis, it shrieks with the sound of metal on metal as it rises on its own...