Last Session Summary
- East Gate Siege:
- Characters named parriwimple and Bildrath prepare for an attack.
- Bildrath provides weapons and items to the players.
- Three waves of undead (zombies, ghouls, a wight, and a creature called an Undead Maw Master) attack a barricade.
- Western Barricade:
- A raven leads the group to another area under attack.
- Ismark Kolyanovich, a wounded defender, fights off undead.
- Rider’s Proclamation:
- After the battle, a rider arrives with undead forces.
- He reads a proclamation from Strahd Von Zarovich, declaring the town’s rebellion and offering mercy to those who surrender.
- Return to the Mansion:
The March of the Dead
In the middle of the night you notice a soft pale glow from outside looking out you notice that a long precession of ghostly figures march down the street. A slow but steady march leave the gates of the churchyard, through the city, and out the western gates. Ireena leans on a neighboring balcony watching the march. She knows the following information:
- The march happen every night and consists of the spirit of people who stood and fought against Strahd.
- The march leads up to Castle Ravenloft where the spirits cast themselves off the cliff and falling back into the graveyard.
- Many souls in the precession are Barovians from other villages, other outsides that died long ago. In her memory some that die do not end up in the pression. She is unsure why.
- She sighs heavily and remarks that Gertruda, Mary’s Daughter, did not see Doru in the march and believed him to be alive. However, Ireena tried to convince her that may not be true. Especially with Strahd’s return, nothing can be certain.
- Her father leads the back of the precession, its newest member
Something Left Behind
While observing the march the players have a chance to find a crumpled piece of paper in the corner of the room. It is covered with dust and seems to have been sitting here for some time. It is an page from “Van Richten’s Guide to Monster Hunting”
In some shadowed corners of the world, the vampire reigns as a fearsome predator. Beyond mere bloodlust, these creatures are cursed with a range of abilities and weaknesses that make them as enigmatic as they are terrifying.
Their bodies are resilient to mundane weapons, shrugging off blows that would fell most mortals and regenerating even grievous wounds in a matter of moments. They move with unnatural grace, their senses sharply attuned to the whispers of the night. But it is in their supernatural abilities that their true horror lies. They can bend the will of others to their own, ensnaring friend and foe with but a gaze and a whisper. They can shift form with the ease of thought, becoming bats, wolves, or even a sinister mist that creeps beneath doorways and through cracks. And those their fangs kill become vampire spawn—ravenous creatures with a vampire’s hunger for blood.
These creatures are not wholly invincible, however, possessing a tapestry of strengths woven with fatal weaknesses. Sunlight and running water can end their cursed existence, and wooden stakes through the heart will paralyze them as they sleep. They recoil from the sight of certain holy symbols, and cannot enter a residence without an invitation. They bear neither shadow nor reflection, and must return to their coffins, crypts, or graves to rest by day.
It is said that the bloodlust of these creatures is an unquenchable fire that burns within their undead hearts. The young and newly turned are slaves to this craving, often losing themselves in a frenzy at the mere scent of blood. But those who have walked the night for centuries, as well as those with indomitable focus and will, may learn to temper this fire. Those who do so possess the rare ability to conceal their monstrous nature, retracting and exposing their fangs at will—a sign that the monster within is held at bay, if only while the vampire allows.
To create a new vampire, a vampire must fully drain the blood of its victim without killing it—a torturous and careful process that can often take multiple nights. For some vampires, this process is a practical means of creating fresh and powerful thralls; for others, it presents a sadistic opportunity to slowly break their victim’s will. Some vampires in the latter camp may even appear as an intermittent predator in the night, haunting their target over days or weeks before finally ending their suffering.
The Argument
In the early morning the players are awoken by the siblings having an argument downstairs. If the party wants they can attempt to eavesdrop on the conversation.
Ireena’s voice, sharp with indignation, pierces the silence. “You have no right, Ismark. You can’t just decide to send me away, like I’m some kind of inconvenience! I’m Father’s child as much as you, and our people need me to rebuild. You need me too!”
Ismark’s reply is measured, though laced with an unmistakable note of worry. “The Devil has his sights set on you—and even if we don’t believe the legend about women with red hair, others might. Barovia just isn’t safe for you anymore.”
A snort of defiance echoes from the other side of the thin wooden partition. “I am no coward, Ismark, and I will not abandon our friends and neighbors in their hour of need.”
There’s a pause. “And what of Gertruda? She left in the middle of the night, taking their family’s only horse. We both know she rode to the castle to find Doru.”
Isabell lets out a sigh, “What are we to do then? Just abandon the people?”
Ismark seems to hesitate, his words slightly fumbled. “I’m not asking you to abandon them. But there are others who need your help. Think about our neighbors who fled for Vallaki. They need guidance, advocacy—and perhaps a leader to bring them home one day.”
There is a long pause. Ireena’s voice is low when she finally speaks—barely even audible. “I still don’t like it.”
Ismark’s response is quiet. “It’s your choice. I can’t take that away from you. But after losing Father, I can’t… I can’t bear the thought of losing you too.”
The silence that follows is palpable, weighted with unspoken emotions. Finally, Ireena’s voice breaks it, fragile and quiet. “I will go. If only for you. And only if we bury Father first—together.”
Morning at the Manor
After the argument the siblings begin to prepare breakfast, cooling off after the heated moments before. Ireena knocks on the door of the party and invites them to breakfast. The party has a simple spread of bread, meats and cheese. Both siblings looks solemn at the start of the breakfast. Ismark takes a breath before looking at the party
“Thank you, all of you for everything you have done for this village. I don’t know what would have happened last night had you not been here. However, we… I have another request for you. I am scared for Ireena in this Village, a vampire has entered our home and bitten her, the people of this town are screaming for her to be exiled. She is no longer safe her, and I feel that I and no one else here is able to protect her.”
Ireena chimes in and says “Also, many Barovians have fled to our neighbors and we have not heard from them in the past few weeks. They might need help and representation and eventually need help returning to their homes.”
- If you are planning on heading to north please stop and speak with Madam Eva, a Vistani woman at the Tsar Pool.
- Lastly can you head out to the church and speak to father Donavich and ask him to get ready for the burial of our father? We need to have preparations before the sun fully rises.
The Barovian Church
When approaching the church, Parriwimple will approach the party, his clothes still dirty and bloodied from the night before.
- Father Donavich used to be a kind and friendly man, always ready to share a word of wisdom or a warm crabapple pie with visitors.
- Ever since the siege started, however, Donavich shut himself inside the church and turned away visitors more often than not. When Parriwimple last saw him two days ago, Donavich looked like he hadn’t slept or bathed in almost a week.
- Father Donavich hasn’t worn his holy symbol (a bronze sunburst) since the rebellion, which Parriwimple considers odd. (Parriwimple always loved how the light would glint off of its surface, and adored hearing Donavich’s son, Doru, tell stories of how the sun once shone in Barovia.)
- Parriwimple misses Doru, who left to lead the rebellion against Strahd three months ago alongside the stranger, Alanik. (Parriwimple also misses Alanik’s pet monkey, which he loved to play with.) Despite his uncle telling him that Doru died at Castle Ravenloft, Parriwimple hopes that he somehow survived.
Entering the Church the players will find Father Donavich knelt before the alter praying
- The father will aid in burying Kolyan, but cannot sanctify the body. He gave his son his holy symbol before he left
- Six days ago, Donavich returned to the church after a night of battles to find a creature in the church wearing his holy symbol. Donavich was able to force it downstairs in the undercroft.
- Ever since Donavich has been unable to cast spells. Strahd and the creature has severed his connection to the Morning Lord.
- The faul creature is still in the undercroft, it wails at night using his son’s voice to torment him. He has been unable to sleep since.