I’ve spent 2 weeks thinking about this post & am doing so with permission.

I DM a streamed Curse of Strahd game.
Last session a player put up an X card due to in-game events.
It taught me a lot and I want to share.

CW: A child gets hurt by a hag
Minor CoS spoilers

Storytime.

CoS as written has some issues with child endangerment and straight up kid killing that make it ABSOLUTELY VITAL to use safety tools in the game. Although every ttrpg needs them. We discussed these elements during Session 0 with intentions to change them as the story played out.

From the very beginning our game has had an open conversation about content and changes that have been made to ensure everyone playing is having fun. We do an on-air aftercare following each session to talk about what happened, what we wish happened, what we hope doesn’t happen.

Aftercare sessions are key to the stream and our goals for communal storytelling. Early in our campaign the party rescued Walter, the bastard child in Death House, and adopted him as their own. One player in particular declared him "My BOY!"

A few sessions ago the BOY was kidnapped. The party got a lead on where to find him and the adopted father went into rage mode focused 100% on retrieving the stolen child. As DM I saw this as an opportunity to introduce the dark forces of Barovia in a huge way.

Uther was offered a deal, “Take nothing but what is yours and your escape shall be guaranteed. Do anything more and you will be forced to stand on your own feet.” I presented the option to walk away without a fight, but at the cost of leaving behind children in danger.

He took the deal and convinced Ficus who caught up, to leave the other kids behind. This visibly upset Ficus (who was playing her character beautifully). The two witnessed a child in distress and Uther knew of 2 others above. Details of which are unimportant for this thread.

Due to the obvious danger the kids were in and the decision to not save them, a third player whose character had not yet caught up to the party sent me a DM to put up an X card.

I set up the situation.
I narrated the events.
Crossing that X is 100% on me.

After fully understanding and apologizing behind the scenes I shifted the narrative quickly away from that scene. When the rest of the party arrived at the windmill Uther and Ficus were walking out with news of Tobias (the BOY) just down the hill with Grammy Morga.

Although Ficus was ready to explain exactly what was happening (which 100% would have led to the rest of the party charging in to fight), it needed fixed immediately, not after a fight. The hags walked out with the child being hurt and the others found above in cages in tow.

They explained that they were ordered by their master to release all of them to you. Then the two hags commented on the party having made friends in high places. Danger to kids resolved, apologies made, we addressed it in aftercare and the story is only better for the change.

What I learned crossing an X line:
It requires IMMEDIATE action. No delay. No excuse.

It requires IMMEDIATE apology. Unintended hurt is still hurt.

It facilitates a better story because everyone is having more fun.

Always use and pay attention to safety tools.