Chapter 9 explores the Tsolenka Pass, which hugs the side of Mount Ghakis.
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. — Strahd von Zarovichin I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire
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.
MAP 9.1: TSOLENKA PASS (AREA T)VIEW PLAYER VERSION
Tsolenka Pass PC Map
Tsolenka Pass DM Map
T1. Gatehouse Portcullis
T2. Demon Statues
T3. Curtain of Green Flame
T4. Guard Tower, Ground Floor
T5. Guard Tower, Upper Floor
T6. Guard Tower Rooftop
T7. Western Arch
T8. Stone Bridge
T9. Eastern Arch
You can use one or both of the following events as the characters make their way along Tsolenka Pass.
