# The Grey Mare > From the Curse of Strahd game wiki (it covers the whole game, spoilers included): https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-grey-mare.html. Unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy, not approved or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast. > [!infobox] > ![quest the grey mare](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/quest-the-grey-mare.webp) > **Type:** Side quest > **Region:** [The Old Svalich Road](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/regions/the-old-svalich-road.md) · level 4 > **Given by:** [Radu](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/radu.md) > **Starts at:** [Tser Pool Encampment](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/tser-pool-encampment.md) > **Rewards:** [Rod of the Pact Keeper, +1](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/magic-items.md#rod-of-the-pact-keeper-1), 120 gp ## Summary The black carriage that drives itself stopped by Radu's horse pen, and left a purse on the gatepost. Now his best mare is tied at the crossroads, waiting for midnight. ## Walkthrough ### Getting the quest At the [Tser Pool Encampment](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/tser-pool-encampment.md), ask [Zora](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/zora.md) "Heard anything interesting?". She tells you the driverless black carriage stopped by Radu's pen and left a purse, and that tonight Radu walked his grey mare down toward the crossroads and came back without her. That starts the quest. Then talk to [Radu](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/radu.md), the horse-master by the pen (any hour). He now has the option "Zora says you walked your grey to the crossroads tonight." If you reach the crossroads first and find the mare tied there, examining her also starts the quest, but then you skip Radu's side of the story. ### Step by step 1. **Ask Radu why.** He admits he sold her. You get **one** try at the truth, with either **Insight DC 14** ("It isn't the money, is it?") or **Persuasion DC 13** ("Why did you really sell her?"); a failure is final, and you don't get to try the other. On a success he tells you the voice in the carriage promised that Nicu would ride home if the grey went to the crossroads. If you've already seen the gallows at the crossroads, or told Stanimir about Nicu, you can then tell Radu what that promise was worth. None of this is needed to finish the quest; it only changes what he says at the end. Either way he tells you she's tied at the milestone on the east side of the crossroads, her name is Steaua, and she hates priests. 2. **Go to [The River Ivlis Crossroads](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-river-ivlis-crossroads.md)** and examine "A mare tied to the milestone". She's being turned into one of the castle's black horses, with a fresh brand smoking on her flank. There's no real deadline: the carriage only comes when you choose to wait for it or when you break the brand. ![loc svalich crossroads overview](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/loc-svalich-crossroads-overview.webp) 3. **Calm her.** Any one of these works: - **Animal Handling DC 14**, one try only. **If it fails she turns black on the spot** and can't be saved. - A Ranger or a Druid in the party calms her with no roll. - [Animal Friendship](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/spells/level-1-spells.md#animal-friendship). - [Speak with Animals](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/spells/level-1-spells.md#speak-with-animals): she also tells you about a hole behind the milestone, which reveals a [Wand of Web](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/magic-items.md#wand-of-web) for you to pick up. 4. **Break the brand.** Once she's calm: - [Remove Curse](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/spells/level-3-spells.md#remove-curse) or [Protection from Evil and Good](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/spells/level-1-spells.md#protection-from-evil-and-good) works with no roll. - Pour a flask of [Holy Water](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/equipment.md#holy-water) over it (uses up one flask). - **Religion DC 15**, one try only. Remember she hates priests: **if it fails, she turns black.** The safe order is spells or holy water first and the rolls only as a last resort. When the brand breaks she bolts home, and the carriage arrives early. 5. **Fight the carriage's escort.** Whether you saved her or chose "Wait here for the carriage", the black carriage comes and its escort attacks: - Level 5+: the Lead Horse ([Nightmare](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/nightmare.md)), two [Wights](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/wight.md), three [Specters](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/specter.md) and four [Zombies](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/zombie.md). - Level 4: the Lead Horse, one Wight, two Specters, four Zombies. - Below 4: the Lead Horse (only 50 HP), two Specters, three Zombies. - If Steaua wasn't saved she fights for the carriage as a second nightmare (also 50 HP below level 4). The nightmares are immune to fire and kick with burning hooves. The specters resist weapon damage and most elements and their touch lowers your maximum hit points, so radiant, force and psychic damage are what to use on them; radiant also stops the zombies from getting back up. 6. **Go back to Radu** at the camp. ### Choices and endings Radu pays the same either way: **120 gp** of the castle's gold and a [Rod of the Pact Keeper, +1](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/magic-items.md#rod-of-the-pact-keeper-1). Breaking the brand earns Thistle +2, Godrick +1 and Liriel +1 when you do it. Beating the escort adds 1 point to Strahd's attention. - **Steaua saved (home):** she's back in the pen, and Radu asks whose she is now. - *Radu's* ("Never sell her again"): Godrick +1, Thistle +2. - *Luminita's*: [Luminita](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/luminita.md) becomes friendly toward you; Thistle +2, Liriel +1, Wren +1. - **Steaua lost (mourned):** you had to put her down in the fight. Radu ties a black ribbon to the gate. ### If you're stuck - **Radu just talks about his horses?** You need Zora's rumour first. - **Both one-try rolls can lose the horse.** If you have no Ranger, Druid or calming spell, bring Holy Water or someone with Remove Curse or Protection from Evil and Good, so that at most one roll is riding on luck. - The grey horse in the camp's pen is gone while she's sold; it comes back only if you save her. ## Rewards - [Rod of the Pact Keeper, +1](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/magic-items.md#rod-of-the-pact-keeper-1) - 120 gp **What your companions think** - **Godrick Pendlebrook:** +1 you brought Steaua home to Radu; +1 you broke the castle's brand on a stolen horse - **Thistle:** +2 you brought Steaua home to Radu; +2 you gave Steaua to Luminita, who loved her best; +2 you broke the castle's brand on a stolen horse - **Liriel Dawnsong:** +1 you gave Steaua to Luminita, who loved her best; +1 you broke the castle's brand on a stolen horse - **Wren Featherfoot:** +1 you gave Steaua to Luminita, who loved her best ## Fights - *The black horse in the traces stamps once, and the empty harness beside it swings. Pale shapes slide out of…*, in [The River Ivlis Crossroads](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-river-ivlis-crossroads.md): [Nightmare](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/nightmare.md), [Wight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/wight.md), [Specter](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/specter.md), [Zombie](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/zombie.md). Scales with your level. > [!example]- By party level (the first line your party fits is the fight you get) > - **[The River Ivlis Crossroads](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-river-ivlis-crossroads.md)**, when mare saved and level ≥ 5: The Lead Horse ([Nightmare](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/nightmare.md)), The Footman ([Wight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/wight.md)), The Second Footman ([Wight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/wight.md)), 3 × [Specter](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/specter.md), 4 × [Zombie](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/zombie.md) (2900 XP) > - **[The River Ivlis Crossroads](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-river-ivlis-crossroads.md)**, when not mare saved and level ≥ 5: The Lead Horse ([Nightmare](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/nightmare.md)), The Footman ([Wight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/wight.md)), The Second Footman ([Wight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/wight.md)), 3 × [Specter](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/specter.md), 4 × [Zombie](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/zombie.md), Steaua ([Nightmare](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/nightmare.md)) (3600 XP) > - **[The River Ivlis Crossroads](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-river-ivlis-crossroads.md)**, when mare saved and level ≥ 4: The Lead Horse ([Nightmare](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/nightmare.md)), The Footman ([Wight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/wight.md)), 2 × [Specter](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/specter.md), 4 × [Zombie](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/zombie.md) (2000 XP) > - **[The River Ivlis Crossroads](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-river-ivlis-crossroads.md)**, when not mare saved and level ≥ 4: The Lead Horse ([Nightmare](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/nightmare.md)), The Footman ([Wight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/wight.md)), 2 × [Specter](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/specter.md), 4 × [Zombie](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/zombie.md), Steaua ([Nightmare](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/nightmare.md)) (2700 XP) > - **[The River Ivlis Crossroads](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-river-ivlis-crossroads.md)**, when mare saved: The Lead Horse ([Nightmare](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/nightmare.md)), 2 × [Specter](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/specter.md), 3 × [Zombie](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/zombie.md) (1250 XP) > - **[The River Ivlis Crossroads](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-river-ivlis-crossroads.md)**, when not mare saved: The Lead Horse ([Nightmare](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/nightmare.md)), 2 × [Specter](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/specter.md), 3 × [Zombie](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/zombie.md), Steaua ([Nightmare](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/nightmare.md)) (1950 XP) ## Journal > [!quote]- Every journal entry and hint > **Rumored**: Zora, who counts everyone who passes the Tser Pool camp, says the black carriage that drives itself stopped by Radu's pen two nights ago. In the morning there was a purse on the gatepost. Tonight Radu walked his grey mare down the road toward the crossroads and came back without her. > *Hint:* Ask Radu the horse-master at the Tser Pool camp about his grey mare. > > **Asked**: Radu sold his grey mare, Steaua, to the black carriage. She's tied at the old milestone on the east side of the Ivlis crossroads, and the carriage fetches her at midnight. The castle's horses are black all through: it takes a horse and finishes it. > *Hint:* Go to the milestone on the east side of the River Ivlis crossroads before midnight and find Steaua. > > **Bargain**: It wasn't the money. A voice from the carriage told Radu that if the grey went to the crossroads tonight, Nicu would ride home tomorrow. Nicu went to Vallaki to sell a mare four days ago and hasn't come back. > *Hint:* Go to the milestone on the east side of the River Ivlis crossroads before midnight and break the castle's hold on Steaua. > > **Saved**: We broke the castle's brand on Steaua's flank, and she bolted for home grey all through. The carriage came for her early, as if it knew. > *Hint:* Stay at the crossroads milestone and deal with the carriage's escort when it comes. > > **Lost**: Too late. Steaua is black from muzzle to tail now, with coals for eyes, and she waits at the milestone for her new master. > *Hint:* Wait at the crossroads milestone for the carriage at midnight. > > **Carriage Beaten**: The carriage came up the castle road with one black horse in the traces and an empty harness beside it. Its escort is broken, and it went back up the castle road with nothing in the empty harness. > *Hint:* Radu keeps the horses at the Tser Pool camp, west of the crossroads on the Old Svalich Road. Tell him what happened. > > **Home** (the end: success): Steaua is back in the pen at Tser Pool, grey and cross and eating everything. Whoever owns her now, nobody will be selling her to anyone again. > > **Mourned** (the end: success): We told Radu what the castle made of his mare. He tied a black ribbon to the pen gate and would not say anything else. > [!abstract]- Every skill check in its conversations > - Insight DC 14: It isn't the money, is it? > - Persuasion DC 13: Why did you really sell her, Radu? > - Animal Handling DC 14: Calm her before anything else. (one try) > - Religion DC 15: (Press a holy symbol to the brand and pray.) (one try) ## Related - **People:** [Radu](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/radu.md), [Luminita](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/luminita.md), [Zora](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/zora.md) - **Places:** [Tser Pool Encampment](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/tser-pool-encampment.md), [The River Ivlis Crossroads](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-river-ivlis-crossroads.md) - **More in The Old Svalich Road:** [Called by Name](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/called-by-name.md), [The Count's Huntsman](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-counts-huntsman.md), [The Dancing Bear](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-dancing-bear.md), [The Hanged Man at the Crossroads](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-hanged-man-at-the-crossroads.md), [The Lantern in the Roadhouse](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-lantern-in-the-roadhouse.md), [The Spiders' Gully](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-spiders-gully.md), [The Tinker's Wagon](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-tinkers-wagon.md)