Previous Session Summary
The party ventured into the depths beneath Durst Manor, guided by an eerie chant echoing through the carved-out catacombs. The horrors deepened as they stumbled upon a macabre dining area, littered with human remains and sinister carving implements.
Their journey led them to a temple-like chamber, where chained skeletons faced a statue of a pale, handsome man holding a corrupted orb. Ninzara, sensing the orb’s connection to nature despite its taint, took it with the intention of purifying it.
Deeper still, the chanting grew clearer: “He is ancient, he is the land.” The party entered a room filled with bizarre and unsettling items, ranging from vials of blood to severed body parts and mystical objects. After collecting these, they found themselves trapped in a final chamber where ghostly figures appeared, demanding a sacrifice.
The situation escalated as a monstrous mass of corpses, led by Mrs. Durst, rose from a pit of putrid water. The party fought desperately, ultimately defeating the abomination. As the house began to collapse around them, they fled, barely escaping as Durst Manor imploded into nothingness.
Outside, Sister Margaret performed a solemn burial for the Durst children. Their spirits appeared one last time to express gratitude before fading away, leaving behind only an amber necklace. However, the peace was short-lived as Rose’s spirit was heard crying out in distress, hinting that their ordeal might not be truly over.
Entering Barovia
Shortly after fading away Rose returns to the party. She explains that she is unable to pass on. She can feel that her body has be buried and that her soul wishes to rest but it cannot leave. However, Throne’s soul does not return and Rose cannot sense it nearby. Rose says she will stay close to the party but cannot enter the mortal realm for long.
Ninzara tries to leave and return home but is accosted by the fog, coughing and feeling sick. Soon the cries of wolves can be heard in the distance but approaching quickly. The party runs up the road, the wolves gaining but still lost in the fog. The party passed a large iron gate the slammed behind them the wolves broke the fog, snarling but not approaching.
Along a muddy road Dimitri noticed a small trail off to the side, the smell of death lingering. The followed to road to find the body of a man, clutching a compass. The man died from exhaustion. The trail leads to a tree with an arrow and 13 tallies carved into it. The compass follows the trail, the arrow suddenly moving the following the arrow on the tree. The party followed the trail for some time before finding the body of a dead horse, also dead from exhaustion. The party finally comes upon a tree with a carving of a man on a horse with the saying.
“THE HORSEMAN RIDES.”
“THE SEER SPOKE TRUE.”
Following the trail the party returns to the main road, completing an impossible loop through the fog. The party decides to leave the mystery and head down the road further.
The Besieged Village
The party finds a small village in the shadow of a castle perched atop a cliff a sheer stone. They are approached by a man who introduces himself as Ismark Kolyanavich. He asks for help repairing the towns barricade as he explains that the party is in the Village of Barovia. That 3 months ago, the priest son Doru, lead a revolt against their Lord, Strahd Von Zarovich. The king had been silent for nearly 100 years, Doru assumed he was slumbering or even dead. However, the revolt only awoke Strahd from his sleep. No villagers returned. A few days later a dark skinned elf enter the town declaring that Strahd would destroy the village for their treason in 90 days.
Many of the village’s inhabitants took the warning and fled the the nearby town of Vallaki, however, Ismark gave a speech before the townspeople and convinced some to stay and defend their home. The town was fortified and 90 days later the undead assaulted the city. For the past 6 days the city has been attacked.
Ismark took the players to the Blood on the Vine tavern to discuss whatever questions they had for him. He explained that they are in Barovia, a place ruled by an eternal king named Strahd. Outsiders are rare but occasionally enter their lands, however, much like the natives they find themselves trapped by the fog. The only ones capable of leaving are the Vistani.
While in the bar Ismark is interrupted by a disgruntled man named Bildrath, who blames Ismark for the death of his sister and her husband. He wished to leave Barovia but his sibling was convinced to stay and fight. She and her husband died the first night of the attacks. Sister Margaret consoled the man.
Ask the bar quieted again the door flung open. A woman named Mary stormed but to Ismark and said that her daughter Gertruda had ran from home. Stealing the families horse and rode to Castle Ravenloft to confront Strahd for killing her betrothed Doru.
The party offered to help find Gertruda but Ismark said he would send a few hunters to look for her. The roads are crawling with undead and you need to navigate by hunting trails, something that natives are far more capable of. He asked the party for help defending the town, explaining that the dead are coming whether they help or not.
The Father
Sister Margaret Lilywhite and Dimitri headed to see the town’s local holy man, Father Donavich. His son Doru awoke Strahd and many blamed his son for the towns current situation. Donavich has not left his church since the siege had started. Sister Margaret confronted Donavich about not helping those in need. However, Donavich had lost his faith. He was unsure about the path he has chosen and the power of The Morning Lord. Sister Margaret scolding the Father before storming out of the church, however she could not help but feel something deeper was troubling the Father.
The Burgomaster
The party then headed to see Ismark’s father and sister. However, a crowd had gathered outside the residence calling for Ireena so be killed. The Burgomaster called the crowd mad and delusional. The party scared away the crowd and were welcomed into the Burgomaster’s home for lunch with him and his daughter Ireena. Koylan explained that there was a superstition against redheads, which Ireena is.
Dimitri asked the Burgomaster about the letter to his wife. Koylan explained that he had sent no such letter, even showing that the handwriting was not his. However, he did finish dinner by writing a formal letter of introduction for the party. Explaining that it could help break the ice with any governmental figure in Barovia.
Ireena gave the party a collection of fire bottles to help defend the town this evening before sending the party on their way. The group met at the east gate to see Bildrath and his sister’s now orphan son Parriwimple standing ready. The cries of the undead are heard as the clouds cover the moon and a dense fog rolls out from the surrounding forest.