# The Gate of Krezk > From the Curse of Strahd game wiki (it covers the whole game, spoilers included): https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-gate-of-krezk.html. Unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy, not approved or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast. > [!infobox] > ![quest the gate of krezk](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/quest-the-gate-of-krezk.webp) > **Type:** Side quest > **Region:** [Krezk](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/regions/krezk.md) ยท level 7 > **Given by:** [Krezk Watchman](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/krezk-watchman.md) > **Starts at:** [Krezk](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/krezk.md) ## Summary Krezk keeps its gate shut to strangers. It opens for a reason, and the burgomaster decides what a reason is. ## Walkthrough ### Getting the quest Take the Old Svalich Road west from Vallaki to [Krezk](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/krezk.md) (5 hours; Krezk is on the travel map from the start). The road ends at a stone wall three men high with one shut gate. The [Krezk Watchman](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/krezk-watchman.md) stands outside it and stops you as soon as you come near, at any hour. The quest only shows in the journal once you're turned away (**Refused**). Give him a good reason on the first try and it goes straight to **Opened**. ![loc krezk 1](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/loc-krezk-1.webp) If you arrive at night while the gate is shut, wolves come up the road behind you before you reach him: a [Werewolf](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/werewolf.md), 3 [Dire Wolf](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/dire-wolf.md) and 2 [Wolf](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/wolf.md) at level 7, or a werewolf, 2 dire wolves and a wolf below that. Kill the werewolf first: it's the one that hits hardest, and the wolves all fight better while a packmate stands next to you. Winning gives you a reason of your own (below). ### Step by step 1. **Pick a reason.** Every good reason brings [Dmitri Krezkov](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/dmitri-krezkov.md), the burgomaster, out through the wicket, and he opens the gate a body's width. These work without a roll: - *"This is Ireena Kolyana..."*, if [Ireena Kolyana](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/ireena-kolyana.md) travels with you. Her father once sent Krezk salt, and Dmitri also offers her refuge behind his wall. - *"The Abbot of St. Markovia sent us. He vouches for us."*, once [The Abbot](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/the-abbot.md) has vouched for you (see step 2). - *"Your wine comes from the Wizard of Wines... We know why it stopped."*, if you've heard about the missing wine from the Martikovs at [The Blue Water Inn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-blue-water-inn.md) or from [Arik](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/arik.md) in the Village of Barovia. - *"We walked up beside the Martikovs' cart. The first wine of the year is yours."*, if you told [Davian Martikov](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/davian-martikov.md) to send his first cart of wine to Krezk ([The Wizard of Wines](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-wizard-of-wines.md)). The watchman shouts for the gate, and Dmitri comes out at a run and puts his hand on the first barrel. This takes the place of the wine option above, and counts as the wine reason. - *"We just cleared the wolves off your doorstep."*, after you've won the night fight at the gate. - *"I'm a priest..."*, if there's a [Cleric](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/characters/classes/cleric.md) in the party. Dmitri's son is dying, which also starts [The Burgomaster's Son](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-burgomasters-son.md). Two reasons need a roll: - *Persuasion DC 14*, "Everyone in this valley needs someone to open a door." One try only. - *Intimidation DC 16*, "Open it, or we'll find out how good your wall really is." It works, but Dmitri stays cold toward you and won't take Ireena in later (Godrick -1, Kip -1). If it fails, an arrow lands at your feet, the watch stops believing sweet words (the Persuasion option disappears), and the Intimidation option is gone too. 2. **No reason? Go up the mountain.** Ask *"Is there anywhere up here that does take strangers?"*. The quest moves to **Refused**, and the watchman points you to the switchback track that starts by the cairn, outside the wall. Climb it to [The Abbey of St. Markovia](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-abbey-of-st-markovia.md), find the Abbot in his church, and ask *"Krezk won't open its gate to us."* (or agree to find his bride a dress, and he offers anyway). Come back down and give the watchman the Abbot's name. 3. **The gate opens** (**Opened**). Dmitri tells you his house is the big one past the well. If Vallaki has a new ruler and you helped put them there, he mentions it. While you're at the gate: the cairn by the track (*History DC 13*) points you to a [Ring of Warmth](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/magic-items.md#ring-of-warmth) hidden under it (search DC 14), and a [Sentinel Shield](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/magic-items.md#sentinel-shield) lies under the watch's woodpile just inside the wall (search DC 14). ### Choices and endings The quest always ends at **Opened**, and the game remembers which reason you gave: - **Ireena's name** gets Ireena a roof: Dmitri offers to let her stay in Krezk. - **The Abbot's word** is Dmitri's least favourite. He opens the gate, but says that if the Abbot vouches for you, you're either harmless or the Abbot's. - **The wolves, the wine (or the Martikovs' cart) and the priest** each earn a warmer welcome. - **Threats** (*Cowed*) leave Dmitri curt every time you visit, and if you later ask whether Ireena could find refuge in Krezk, he refuses. From now on, *"Heard anything interesting?"* to the watchman is Krezk's rumour mill. It starts [Lighter Than It Should Be](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/lighter-than-it-should-be.md), [Clovin's Audience](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/clovins-audience.md), The Burgomaster's Son, [The Wizard of Wines](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-wizard-of-wines.md) and [The Pack in the Hills](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-pack-in-the-hills.md), and later tells you how things ended. He only says the wine has stopped while it still has: once the Martikovs' press runs again he drops it, and if you sent their first cart here he tells you instead that it's in the shrine cellar and half the town has found a reason to go up and pray. ### If you're stuck - **The Abbot's option at the gate only appears after he has vouched for you.** You don't need the gate open to reach the abbey: the track starts outside the wall. - **Persuasion and Intimidation are one-shot.** If both fail, the Abbot is the reliable way in. So is the Martikovs' first cart, if you send it here once their press runs again. ## Rewards **What your companions think** - **Godrick Pendlebrook:** -1 you threatened your way through Krezk's gate - **Kip Smudgewick:** -1 you threatened your way through Krezk's gate ## Journal > [!quote]- Every journal entry and hint > **Refused**: Krezk's gate stays shut to strangers. The watchman said it opens only for a reason, and that the Abbot of St. Markovia, up the switchback track from the gate, takes in anyone. The burgomaster listens to what the Abbot says about people, much as he hates to. > *Hint:* Talk the watchman at Krezk's gate round, or climb the switchback to the Abbey of St. Markovia and ask the Abbot to vouch for you. > > **Opened** (the end: success): Dmitri Krezkov, the burgomaster, opened Krezk's gate to us. We are guests behind the last wall on the road. ## Related - **People:** [Krezk Watchman](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/krezk-watchman.md), [Dmitri Krezkov](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/dmitri-krezkov.md) - **Places:** [Krezk](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/krezk.md) - **More in Krezk:** [Clovin's Audience](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/clovins-audience.md), [Lighter Than It Should Be](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/lighter-than-it-should-be.md), [The Burgomaster's Son](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-burgomasters-son.md), [The One-Horned Billy](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-one-horned-billy.md), [The Pack's Runt](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-packs-runt.md), [The Pool of the White Sun](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-pool-of-the-white-sun.md), [The Waystone](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-waystone.md)