Gustav and Elizabeth Durst

Status: Unknown — children say they went to the basement to contain a monster; have not been seen since

Known Information

The family whose townhouse the party entered. Their portrait hangs above the fireplace in the master bedroom: a man and woman with two smiling children (Rose and Thorn) and a swaddled baby. The mother appears to regard the baby with "a hint of scorn."

Per the will found in the hidden study, they have bequeathed the house and windmill to Rosavalda and Thornbolt Durst. Their wills suggest awareness that they might die.

Strahd's letter to someone in the house references an altar and a dungeon — both activities the Dursts appear to have been engaged in. Whether the letter was addressed to Gustav specifically is unknown.

Their stillborn son — named Walter — is mentioned in the letter from Strahd ("sired a stillborn son, cursed by darkness"). In Session 2, the ghost children confirmed that their mother "did not like Walter" and that he is the monster in the basement. The connection to the nursery specter remains unconfirmed.

Relationships

• Children: Rose and Thorn
• Location: Death House (last known: basement)

Notable Moments

• Session 1: Mentioned by children; portrait found in master bedroom; will and correspondence found in hidden study
• Session 2: Ghost children confirmed Walter is the basement monster; Elizabeth appears to have rejected her son
• Session 3: Emerged as ghasts when Celeste opened the foot locker in their bedchamber; Elizabeth attacked Celeste (bit her shoulder for 10 piercing damage and poisoned her); Gustav attacked Brother Moro (resisted stench). Elizabeth was killed by Celeste via Eldritch Blast. Gustav was killed by Brother Moro, who took his head off with a critical hit using the silvered short sword. Their coffins in the crypt were already empty.