# The Sixth card; Strahds Motivation

If desired, the DM may choose or draw a 6th card from the High deck to give Strahd a more specific motivation for the adventure. While Strahd will still work towards the goals listed on page 10 of the adventure, these motivations can help give you a clearer idea of how you would like to play Strahd and what his primary focus is.

Here are some example ideas for this reading. You may choose to let the players discover the 6th card, or leave it a secret only for yourself.

These are just ideas I think would be interesting to explore in Curse of Strahd. Some are not thematic to the adventure as written, but depending on your view of Strahd and gothic horror themes, they may provide inspiration for you.

### The Ghost
*The devil seeks souls not for himself, but to appease the hunger lurking in the darkness.*
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Strahd is purposefully drawing living beings from outside Barovia into the demiplane so that their souls can be devoured by the Dark Powers (and their blood is more nourishing for himself and his offspring).

He knows that, if left unchecked, the Dark Powers will eventually devour every soul in Barovia, including Tatanya.

### The Innocent
*Strahd seeks to control the innocent one who escaped his grasp so long ago.*
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Strahd wishes to make Ireena Kolyana his bride and turn her into a vampire.  Secretly, he knows that this is a way to protect her soul from being devoured by the dark powers.

### The Marionette
*You must be careful not to be ensnared by the puppet masters strings.*
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Strahd plans to cast a ritual that will allow him to inhabit the mind and body of a player while still remaining in control of his own body. He reasons that this will be a way to circumvent his prison; his puppet can escape Barovia while he remains behind in Castle Ravenloft, experiencing the outside world through the players body.

Choose a player at random or decide who Strahd would take the most interest in.  You can make up your own details of the ritual but it could involve collecting physical samples or mementos from the player. If Strahd wins, the ritual can be completed.

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### The Darklord
*The enemy of my enemy is my friend.*
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Strahd is seeking champions strong enough to aid him in the defeat of the dark powers so that he may at least die permanently, if not escape his bonds. If this card is drawn assume that Strahd is well aware of all the facets of his prison and simply wants to escape no matter what.
Once the players are powerful enough, Strahd will approach them under the guise of a peace treaty. As a lawful evil creature, he will be fair with the players, offering an alliance to defeat a greater evil, perhaps with the understanding that once the dark powers are defeated he will become their enemy once more.

### The Mists
*The devil seeks the last true lights of Barovia, so that they may guide his way home through the mist.*
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Strahd seeks the three magic gems from the Wizard of Wines.  He plans to attempt a ritual that will break through the misty barrier at Yester Hill and actually allow him to reach his homeland and escape the prison. You can decide if this is actually possible, or if it is just a further trick of the Dark Powers.

### The Executioner
*The devil will see his enemies hanged once and for all.*
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Strahd seeks to capture and kill Van Richten and anyone who allies with him.

### The Broken One
*The darklord looks for secrets, lots in a mind that is shattered beyond repair.*
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Strahd, aware of the Abbot's experiments with bodies, rightfully reasons that the Abbot also knows the secrets of transferring souls between bodies. He seeks to master this technique for his own ends.

### The Tempter
*The devil will be disguised as everything you ever wished for.*
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Strahd seeks to turn the party (or at least a specific player) to his side, promising them what they wish for most.

### The Beast
*The darklord seeks to add the claw and fangs of ferocious beasts to his cause.*
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Strahd seeks to dominate the werewolf clan, turning them into useful agents for his cause.

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### The Donjon
*Beware the prisoner, he would have you take his place.*
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Strahd seeks to find another creature who might take his place in Barovia. The DM can decide if the dark powers would ever consider such a deal with Strahd.

### The Raven
*The devil looks to the skies to find his next servent.*
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Strahd wishes to bring the were-ravens under his control, or destroy them utterly.

### The Seer
*The devil wishes for a third eye.*
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Strahd has decided to turn Madam Eva and use her powers of divination to tighten his control over Barovia.

### The Artifact
*There are tools that can destroy the devil. Seek them out before they are destroyed.*
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Strahd is searching for the Sunsword and the Holy Symbol of Ravenloft. If he finds them first, he will attempt to destroy them.

### The Horseman
*Perhaps even the devil may seek out the ultimate escape from this mortal coil.*
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Strahd wishes to escape Barovia once and for all; by dying. Perhaps he will attempt to find a replacement, or some other way to