Beyond 1st Level

Castle Ravenloft opens its grand doors to The RAIN, offering warmth, food… and questions. A cordial host. A lavish meal. A house full of secrets. But in Barovia, even kindness feels like a trap. Can hospitality be trusted when offered by the devil himself? 

 The RAIN begin their climb to Castle Ravenloft, treading a path walked by countless adventurers—most never returned. Whispers haunt the road, and uneasy allies raise more questions than answers. Can Rawlin be trusted? What horrors wait along the castle’s looming paths? And is Strahd truly the devil they’ve been warned about… or something far worse? 

The RAIN step into the Vine’s Blessing Inn, knowing full well it’s a trap—but what choice do they have? With the eerie doll still in Mother Ireena’s clutches, the question isn’t if things will go wrong… It’s how. Will they sneak, steal, or fight their way out? And just how much longer can they survive Barovia’s twisted version of hospitality?

The RAIN delve into Barovia’s abandoned church and quickly learn that sanctuaries here are anything but safe. With the unsettling presence of Mother Ireena and a doll that holds more weight than it should, the shadows only grow deeper. What lies beneath the church? Why does the doll matter so much? And can a single natural 20 really unravel secrets not meant to be known… yet?

In this special episode, David (DM) is joined by The RAIN: Riku (Will), Airis (Cesar), Ishi (Kelley), and Nadia (Sam). They summarize and share their thoughts about the campaign and episodes 121 through 140?... of Beyond 1st Level. Use this episode to catch up and hang out with Beyond 1st Level.

Swept up by a cheerful crowd, The RAIN find themselves center stage before the entire village of Barovia. Their search leads them to the town’s eerie graveyard, but in a land ruled by dread, nothing is ever as it seems. Are they truly safe under the villagers' watchful eyes? What secrets sleep beneath the graves? And why is everyone smiling in a place built on sorrow? 

Of all the Domains, this was the one they feared most—and yet here The RAIN stand, in the shadow of Castle Ravenloft itself. Strahd has taken notice, and in Barovia, death is never swift... and mercy is just another game. Can The RAIN escape the Count’s grasp, or have they already lost the moment they stepped through the mist?

 The RAIN finally reach the Domains of Dread—but entering may be the worst decision they’ve ever made. As they drift through the mist toward an unknown fate, a new enemy strikes, one that challenges Ishi in ways no blade ever could. Can The RAIN survive without their fighter, and will Ishi’s mind survive the encounter? 

With a chance at freedom, Kleek seizes the moment and the RAIN dive into Baba Yaga’s hut to reclaim what was lost—Kleek’s Negative side. But facing the Beast is only the beginning. Will Baba Yaga tolerate intruders once more? Can the RAIN handle the horrors inside? And can Ishi endure the strain long enough for Kleek to return?

In the twisting depths, Ishi comes face to beak with Kleek—a long-lost companion of Soveliss, thought dead in the Negative Energy Plane. As old memories stir and strange tensions rise, questions take flight. Who is Kleek really, and how did he survive? What is Ishi’s Negative side… and is he now trapped in a realm far darker than he realizes?