# The Fanes of Barovia
The Fanes are ancient sacred sites dedicated to three goddess that predate Strahd or even the Zarovich line. The goddesses, though now absent, left behind their sacred sites with remnants of their magic. Over the years, Strahd desecrated these sites, removing sacred runestones and tying the power of the sites to himself. He scattered the runestones throughout Barovia and allowed evil creatures to move in to desecrate the Fanes further. The Fanes empower Strahd, and if your party wishes to defeat him, they'll have to purify the Fanes.
<BR>
### Strahd's Powers

Strahd is empowered by the Fanes. Over the course of a year, he desecrated each Fane, removing the stones and allowing the guardians to take hold. The power bestowed to him by each Fane is specific.

The Forest Fane gives Strahd the gift of both stealth and knowledge. While benefitting from the Forest Fane, Strahd is under the benefits of a *nondetection* spell. Additionally, whenever someone says his name, he can cast *scry* on that person without expending a spell slot and without material components. Depending on your game, this may lead to a great deal of superstition in Barovia, where all NPCs refuse to call Strahd anything but "The Devil." The benefits of the Forest Fane add 1 to Strahd's CR.

The Swamp Fane gives Strahd the strength of the swamp. While he is connected to the Swamp Fane, Strahd gains resistance to fire, cold, lightning, thunder, and acid damage. This makes Strahd very powerful, and adds 1 to his CR.

The Mountain Fane gives Strahd protection of the mountain. While he is connected to the Mountain Fane, Strahd has an armor of force on him at all times. It provides +6 to his AC, and protects against incorporeal attacks as well as while he is in mist form. This adds +1 to his CR.
<br><BR><BR><BR>
>##### A Three-Step Process
> Purifying the Fanes is a process with three steps.
> <br><br>
>**Step 1.** Find the runestone and place it into the Fane. This immediately, but not permanently, purifies the Fane. It does not break Strahd's connection to it.
> <br><br>
>**Step 2.** Defeat or destroy the guardian of the Fane. This prevents further desecration.
> <br><br>
>**Step 3.** Perform the purification ritual specific to the Fane. This breaks Strahd's connection to the Fane, and in combination with the other steps, prevents it from being immediately re-desecrated.



### Additional Artifacts for the Tarokka Reading

If you wish to add the Fanes to your Curse of Strahd game, the best way to introduce them is to make the runestones be artifacts whose location is drawn for using the tarokka reading. This can be done by Madam Eva or Esmeralda. See Introducing the Fanes Late in Optional Ideas for more information on introducing the Fanes.

The cards should be arranged as shown below, with cards 1-3 being the Fane cards, and cards 4-8 being the ones from the base module. The Fane cards should be drawn from the lower tarokka deck.
<br><br>

<img 
  src='https://i.imgur.com/BkSR5hX.png' 
  style='width:300px;mix-blend-mode:darken' />
<br><BR>
Have your tarokka reader say, before flipping any of the Fane cards:
<div class='descriptive'>
The Devil is powered by three corrupted sacred sites of ancient Barovia. Their runestones were taken, and must be returned with offerings if He is to be defeated. They were lost centuries ago. These three cards will guide you to them.
</div>


**Card 1:** The Forest Runestone
<div class='descriptive'>
This card is a card of knowledge and secrecy. Use it to find the runestone of the Forest Fane.
</div>

**Card 2:** The Swamp Runestone
<div class='descriptive'>
This card represents that which gives Strahd strength. It will lead you to the runestone of the Swamp Fane.
</div>

**Card 3:** The Mountain Runestone

<div class='descriptive'>
This card shows the location of the runestone of the Mountain Fane. It grants Strahd unholy protection.
</div>


<div class='pageNumber'>1</div>
<div class='footnote'>The Fanes of Barovia by morisian</div>


\page


## Forest Fane

The Huntress was a true neutral goddess worshipped by druids and hunters that inhabited the valley of Barovia in the millenia before Strahd's arrival. They would offer her the greatest beasts they could catch as sacrifices upon her Fane. As her followers died out and her existence was forgotten, her power dwindled until she was as a mortal, and died a mortal death. As a dead god, her power is weak, but the largest pieces of it linger in her most holy site, the Forest Fane.

### Forest Fane Description

The Forest Fane is located outside Old Bonegrinder.

<div class='descriptive'>
Ravens circle above a small circle of waist-high stones. They might have been square once, but time has worn away the edges, and moss has grown on them. Drawing closer, you see runes etched on the stones, and one of the stones has a hollow in its center. A rotting stench assaults your nose, and you see that a raven is pecking at a half-rotten dream pastry lying in the center of the stones.
</div>

When the runestone is placed in the Fane, prior to the purification ritual, the runes all glow green. After the ritual, all glowing stops.

### Forest Fane Runestone
When not held, the Forest Runestone looks like this:
<div class='descriptive'>
This smooth stone is about the size of your palm. One side is covered in runes, while the other is blank.
</div>

When held:
<div class='descriptive'>
The runes begin to glow green, and glowing green words appear on the blank side:

*The Huntress no longer here stalks prey.*

*To return her power from the fiend,*

*A mighty predator you must slay,*

*Upon her Fane, skinned and cleaned.*
</div>

This suggests the purification ritual, as noted below.

Additionally, the runestone is a magic item that does not require attunement.

#### Forest Runestone
*Wondrous item, unique*

When held, the user can cast *druidcraft* at will, and *plant growth* once per day. Wisdom is the spellcasting ability for these spells.

### Forest Fane Guardian

Morgantha is the guardian of the Forest Fane. She has been dumping children remains in the Fane, desecrating it further with each body. To purify the Forest Fane properly, she must be killed.
 <br><BR>
### Forest Fane Purifcation Ritual

As suggested by the poem on the runestone, the purification ritual for the Forest Fane requires the players to find, capture or lure, kill, skin, and clean an apex predator on the Fane. For this, many creatures are appropriate: wolves, direwolves, humans, hags, werewolves, etc. Let your players be creative, it only needs to be an apex predator.

## Swamp Fane

The Weaver is a spider-like, neutral good goddess associated with fate. While she was not worshipped by any group in particular, the people of the valley believed her to be similar to other fate gods and goddesses, in that worshipping her would bring them good fortune. Offerings given to her included a combination of honey, milk, and berries being spread on her Fane, to attract flies that she would consume. This did not last, however, as worship of the Weaver faded and her power dwindled. To preserve herself, she entered a hibernation-like state. Her presence is no longer felt in Barovia aside from her Fane, the Swamp Fane.

### Swamp Fane Description

The Swamp Fane is located in Berez and is made of tall stone menhirs. There is already a text box introducing it, but you should also mention that it is covered in runes and there is a small hollow where the runestone can go.

When the runestone is placed in the Fane, prior to the purification ritual, the runes all glow blue. After the ritual, all glowing stops.

### Swamp Fane Runestone
When not held, the Swamp Runestone looks like this:
<div class='descriptive'>
This smooth stone is about the size of your palm. One side is covered in runes, while the other is blank.
</div>

When held:
<div class='descriptive'>
The runes begin to glow blue, and glowing blue words appear on the blank side:

*The Weaver of fate spins no more.*

*To steal power from your adversary,*

*Present the payment of yore:*

*Honey and milk, fruit and berry.*
</div>

This suggests the purification ritual, as noted below.

Additionally, the runestone is a magic item that does not require attunement.

#### Swamp Runestone
*Wondrous item, unique*

When held, the user can cast *druidcraft* at will, and *tidal wave* once per day. Wisdom is the spellcasting ability for these spells.

<div class='pageNumber'>2</div>
<div class='footnote'>The Fanes of Barovia by morisian</div>


\page


### Swamp Fane Guardian

The guardian of the Swamp Fane is Baba Lysaga. She has been dumping the remnants of her blood-bath rituals in the Fane, profaning it with dark magic. To fully purify the Fane, she must be defeated.



### Swamp Fane Purification Ritual

As stated in the poem on the runestone, the purification ritual for the Swamp Fane involves pouring milk, honey, and berries on the Fane. Due to the scarcity in Barovia, this may require trading with the Vistani or milking one of Baba Lysaga's goats, or even traveling to the Winery to get berries. Let your players be creative.

## Mountain Fane

The Seeker is the most vicious of the Barovian valley goddesses. Associated with Mount Ghakis, the neutral evil Seeker was known to send violent storms through the valley if she was not appeased with ritual sacrifice. She required one human a year to be sacrificed to her. Early in his arrival in the valley, Argynvost battled the Seeker and managed to seal her in the Amber Temple. She resides in the south sarcophagus in the Vault of Shalx (Area X33a), under the name Zrin-Hala, the Howling Storm. Though imprisoned, her power can still be felt in her Fane, the Mountain Fane.

### Mountain Fane Description

The Mountain Fane is located at Yester Hill and is made of boulders. There is already a text box introducing it, but you should also mention that it is covered in runes and there is a small hollow where the runestone can go.

Note that the lightning storm is caused by the Fane, and will stop once the Fane is purified.

When the runestone is placed in the Fane, prior to the purification ritual, the runes all glow purple. After the ritual, all glowing stops.

### Mountain Fane Runestone
When not held, the Forest Runestone looks like this:
<div class='descriptive'>
This smooth stone is about the size of your palm. One side is covered in runes, while the other is blank.
</div>

When held:
<div class='descriptive'>
The runes begin to glow purple, and glowing purple words appear on the blank side:

*The Seeker slumbers in her prison.*

*To take her power there is a price,*

*To vanquish evil long arisen,*

*She demands a willing sacrifice.*
</div>

This suggests the purification ritual, as noted below.

Additionally, the runestone is a magic item that does not require attunement.
<BR><BR>
#### Mountain Runestone
*Wondrous item, unique*

When held, the user can cast *druidcraft* at will, and *call lightning* once per day. Wisdom is the spellcasting ability for these spells.


### Mountain Fane Guardian

The guardian of the Mountain Fane is the Gulthias Tree. Its roots have reached the Fane and have been pumping evil energy into it. In order to successfully purify the Mountain Fane, the Gulthias Tree must be destroyed.

### Mountain Fane Purification Ritual

This is the most brutal purification ritual. The Seeker demands a willing, humanoid sacrifice to end the connection to Strahd. A willing sacrifice cannot be under the effect of any enchantment spell. If your players try to make that work, the ritual fails. If you wanted to, you could have an NPC offer to be the sacrifice, but it's much more fun if you make the players decide to sacrifice their own character. Whoever is sacrificed cannot be brought back by any magical means aside from Zhudun the Corpse Star's gift. Remember, let your players be creative, and remember that choosing not to purify this Fane (or any Fane) is an option.

<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
## Breaking Strahd's Connection
When breaking Strahd's connection to the Fanes, I find it more interesting if he isn't fully aware that the connection is broken at first. When the Forest Fane connection is broken, he will at first assume that no one is using his name, which is why he hasn't been scrying for free. When the Swamp Fane connection is broken, he won't be aware of it until he takes damage from a type he used to be resistant to. When the Mountain Fane connection is broken, he won't be aware of it until a hit lands that wouldn't have before. This could lead to some epic moments where Strahd is legitimately surprised to have taken damage from the PCs.

Of course, once Strahd realizes the PCs have been breaking his connection to the Fanes, he will try to stop them.

<div class='pageNumber'>3</div>
<div class='footnote'>The Fanes of Barovia by morisian</div>


\page


>##### Optional Ideas
>Here are some options that you could choose to use alongside the Fanes in your campaign.

>**A Higher Level Adventure.** If you want more of a challenge, you could run Curse of Strahd from level 1 to level 20. To do so, I recommend using the CR 27 Real Devil Strahd available on DMs' Guild. If you choose to do this, use the Fane purifications as milestones for milestone leveling.

>**Stealing the Devil's Power.** If you are running Curse of Strahd to level 20 and you are concerned about your players dying, you could choose to have an apparition of a druidic priestess appear after purifying each Fane. The priestess could offer the benefits the Fane was previously offering to Strahd to a single player. *Be careful* when doing this, as while *nondetection* just frustrates Strahd and *scry* probably won't come up often, the resistances and +6 to AC will make your players very strong.

>**Corruption Rules.** If you want to use the Corruption rules by Matt Mercer (available on DMs' Guild), use the desecrated Fanes as corrupted sites. I also used the Amber Temple as a corrupted site.

>**Introducing the Fanes Late.** If your campaign has already passed Madam Eva (or Esmeralda's) tarokka reading and you want to introduce the Fanes, it is simple to have Esmeralda say to the players, "I heard something once, that Strahd is powered by ancient druidic sites. I can try to do a reading, to see what we can do to take that power away from him." Then have Esmeralda do a reading with just the Fane cards.

#### Credits:

The benefits the Fanes provide Strahd were taken from the CR 27 Real Devil Strahd statblock available on DMs' Guild (though I recommend buying it, there's a lot more than a few Fane benefits in that pdf). Ideas about the goddesses and purification rituals were taken from [this reddit post](https://www.reddit.com/r/CurseofStrahd/comments/8ryr9b/revisions_for_running_curse_of_strahd_the_fanes/) on adding the Fanes to Barovia. Obviously, Curse of Strahd belongs to the Wizards of the Coast. If I have violated any copyrights or intellectual property, please tell me and I will remove or change the parts that are in violation.

The additions of the magic items, poems, descriptions for the tarokka reading, and fleshing out of the goddesses is my work, intended for the DMs of Curse of Strahd and Ravenloft facebook group and the r/CurseofStrahd subreddit. I am [u/morisian](https://www.reddit.com/user/morisian/).

<div class='pageNumber'>1</div>
<div class='footnote'>The Fanes of Barovia by morisian</div>