<spoilers>Curse of Strahd

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Re: <spoilers>Curse of Strahd

Post by Tundrra »

SESSION 10:

Wizard of Wines:
  • You searched the winery for the crystals but didn’t find them.
  • Upon going back upstairs you met with Davian Martikov, who immediately set his sons on delivering wine to the Blue Water Inn in Vallaki, at your request.
  • You informed him of the poisoned fermentation vat.
  • He said that DeLuna’s vision described Yester Hill, the home of Barovia’s evil druids.
  • You took a short rest, before traveling there.
Yester Hill:
  • Upon arriving you heard that the chanting from tundrra's vision, was still happening at the top of the hill. DeLuna translated the Druidic chanting as “Wintersplinter” repeated over and over.
  • A voice reached out to Malaquena, bidding her to retrieve its spear and rule the mountains.
  • The party started up the hill, and saw that a man in black and red velvet clothing was riding a Nightmare in a circle around the top of the hill. He did not notice you.
  • The party headed toward where the voice was pulling Malaquena, and unearthed a grave with a magic spear.  The Blood Spear gives its wielder 2d6 temporary hit points whenever it lands a killing blow. Additionally, as the chosen wielder it is a +2 spear for Malaquena.
  • The party headed around the back of the hill, toward the Gulthias tree. This time they couldn’t avoid the mans gaze and they saw that it was Strahd von Zarovich, lord of Barovia.
  • Strahd positioned himself in the entry way of the stone ring, while Edmond and Eddison circled back to go around to the opening on the other side.
  • DeLuna retrieved the axe from his vision, Tree Bane, from the side of the Gulthias tree. Tree Bane is a magical Battle Axe that does an extra 1d8 to plants or plant creatures. And while it isn’t a + weapon, it is magical for the purpose of bypassing resistances.
  • Tybolt coated the Gulthias tree with a flask of oil and DeLuna lit it up, which caused Strahd to issue a warning and approach.
  • Strahd’s Nightmare took off toward the sky, and Strahd put a fog cloud in the druid circle on the summit of the hill.
  • After DeLuna challenged Strahd for corrupting the druids of this land, Strahd said that they were his to do with as he pleased and started casting a spell.
  • The druids managed to complete their ritual, and a 30-foot tall tree blight burst from the wooden effigy in the druid circle, this blight was “Wintersplinter.”
  • When the druid ritual was completed, Strahd killed four of the druids with a fireball.
  • Wintersplinter grasped Edmond and beat him to a pulp. At which point Strahd invited you to his home for dinner, and started to leave, along with the remaining druids.
  • Eddison climbed the tree blight, and saw that in its mouth was a green crystal the size of a pinecone. DeLuna surmised that this is what allowed the creature to animate.
  • Eddison ended up grappled by the tree as well, but managed to get loose.
  • Malaquena shot Edmond out of the blight’s grasp and Eddison dived into its mouth to grab the green crystal.
  • The blight, being stupid, reached in and grasped Eddison again, upon pulling him out and severing its connection to the crystal, it ceased to animate and collapsed.
Wizard of Wines
  • You returned the crystal to the Wizard of Wines and took a short rest.
Vallaki
  • You headed back to Vallaki, but missed your dinner with Lady Fiona Wachter.
  • Urwin gave you free room and board for the next two weeks for getting the wine to flow again.
  • Eddison regaled the patrons of the inn with his tale of being eaten by a tree.
  • Upon waking next session the group will be level 5.
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Re: <spoilers>Curse of Strahd

Post by Tundrra »

SESSION 11

Trying to kill time in the morning.
  • You picked up 10 silvered arrows for Malaquena from the blacksmith.
  • You dropped off a gift bottle of wine for Lady Fiona Watcher, somebody from her family will reach out to you for a meeting.
  • Given that you had time to kill, you started to investigate the missing town drunk, Bluto, a fisherman.
  • You headed out the north gate to Lake Zarovich
Lake Zarovich
  • upon reaching the dock you saw a boat in the middle of the lake, and several empty small boats at the dock.
  • You made your way toward the boat, where you also saw a large Elk on the other side of the lake, on a small spur without trees. It bolted back into the woods and seemed to change shape as it reached the tree line.
  • As you approached Bluto, you saw he took no notice of you, but you saw that there was something else in his boat, struggling in a sack.
  • When you got close enough, the jingle of Edmond’s armor startled him and he started to push the bag into the lake.
  • Eddison quickly shot him through the hand, but the shot killed him, and as he fell forward with the bag, his boat tipped enough for both Bluto and the bag to roll into the water, you heard a scream from a young girl as this happened.
  • Tybolt raced to grab the bag. He couldn’t lift it into the boat, but he managed to stop it sinking.
  • DeLuna cast water walk on everybody.
  • Edmond was charmed by a beautiful woman in the lake, and tried to take the bag from Tybolt, but Tybolt resisted him.
  • Eddison sliced the bag open and a young girl fell out into the boat, while Tybolt tossed the bag into the water.
  • Tybolt launched into attack mode and attacked the lady in the lake.
  • The rest of the party joined in while Edmond offered her healing, but in the end she was felled by DeLuna’s moon beam.
  • The young girl told you she was a Vistana named Arabelle and led you back to her encampment.
Vistana Encampment
  • When you arrived her father, Luvash, was whipping the man, Alexi, who was supposed to be watching Arabelle.
  • Alexi refused help and healing, accepting his punishment.
  • Luvash, overjoyed at the return of his daughter offered you two items from his treasure wagon.
  • You selected a rug (worth 750 gp, if you can find a buyer that rich here), and a chest of 1200 EP.
  • Upon unrolling the rug, an animatronic doll popped out and started following your orders. It could answer questions with three basic gestures: Yes, No, and I Dunno.
  • You moved down from the Vistani encampment to a house built into the hilli side and were directed inside.
  • Inside you met Kasimir Velikov, the elder of this clan of Dusk Elves. They are unlike any other elves you’ve seen. Their skin is ashy-gray to black like a Drow, but their hair is jet black.
  • Kasimir told you the story of how Strahd had taken a liking to his sister and wanted to make her his bride, but before he could she died. Strahd killed every female Dusk Elf for this, and permanently defaced Kasimir by cutting his ears off.
  • Kasimir also told you that this band of Vistani have given up their old ways and seem to just be cruel opportunists.
  • Kasimir also told you that Arabelle has great untapped power in her blood, and he hopes she grows up to be like the other Vistani, not the clan here.
Vallaki
  • You headed back into town and talked to Blinksy about the doll, which Eddison named Chucky.
  • He told you that while the doll is a construct, nobody knows how von Weerg brought them to life. Whether it is pure machinery, or if magic was involved.
  • He also told you that each of these von Weerg creatures was programmed for a specific purpose.
  • There were no notes or information in the house left by von Weerg, so you headed to the cemetery at the church to investigate his grave.
  • Upon introducing Ireena to the doll, its mouth open and a dart launched into her neck, putting her to sleep.
  • After Edmond woke her up, the doll shot at her again but missed, and Edmond led her inside.
  • After a series of questions, you determined that Chucky’s programmed “purpose” is to assassinate Ireena, and that von Weerg entered this programming.
  • von Weerg died nearly 700 years ago, and Ireena is 24.
  • DeLuna searched the grave in badger form, but didn’t find anything useful.
  • After that you went back to the inn to take a short rest before the festival of the blazing sun in a couple hours.
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Re: <spoilers>Curse of Strahd

Post by Tundrra »

SESSION 12


Festival of the Blazing Sun
  • You made your way to the festival grounds in the town square.
  • A sad parade of children and adults passed you, the adults carrying a gigantic wicker sun.
  • The Burgomaster let out his familiar "All Will Be Well", when the skies broke open with a downpour, and before he could like the wicker sun his torch went out.
  • One of the town guards laughed at this, leaving the townspeople and other guards aghast.
  • DeLuna lights the wicker sun to the cheers of the crowd, but the burgomaster had the laughing guard arrested.
  • It looked like the Burgomaster was going to drag the man through the streets behind his horse, but the party intervened and a tense standoff ensued.
  • While everybody was distracted, Tybolt robbed the Burgomaster.
Tyger, Tyger
  • Behind the festival you heard two screams.
  • You left the burgomaster behind and headed toward the apparent danger. You saw two men fleeing the area of the stockyard, toward the town center. You recognize them as the sons of Lady Fiona Wachter, who you met on your first night in Vallaki when Tybolt robbed them.
  • You made your way to the stockyard, and Tybolt was able to track the path of beast that seemed to have been let loose from Rictavio’s carnival wagon.
  • The back doors of the wagon were open, with the lock opened as well.
  • Approaching the Tiger, you saw Rictavio gather his horse, hitch it to his wagon and prepare to leave.
  • DeLuna talked to the tiger, and it was looking for its master, and a means of escape from the town. It didn’t seem to mean anybody any harm.
  • You led the tiger back to Ricavio’s wagon, and when he tried to relock it, you found that the lock had broken.
  • Izek and the guards were approaching (with the Wachter’s in tow), and Rictavio took off with his wagon. He told you, you could find him at the old Wizard’s tower to the west of Vallaki near lake Baratok.
  • Izek questioned you about what was happening, and Tybolt feigned ignorance, but DeLuna blew that cover a couple seconds later with his complete inability to lie.
  • Edmond dropped a zone of truth, and after a threat from Izek, the Wachter’s admitted that they knew some kind of creature was in Rictavio’s wagon, and they were tormenting it.
  • Under the zone of truth, each brother admitted that the other was an idiot.
  • Between seeming to help Rictavio leave town, and standing up to the Burgomaster, Izek informed you that you’ve worn out your welcome in Vallaki and expects you to leave in the morning.
Wachterhaus
  • You paid a visit to Lady Wachter, whom only Tybolt had met, to discuss her offer.
  • She is aware here idiot suns have been arrested, but her man, Ernst, will take care of that.
  • She was very interested in Eddison’s new friend, the construct “Chucky.”
  • She wants the Burgomaster replaced, as he is unfit to lead the town with his moronic festivals and forced happiness.
  • The only path to replacement that she sees is his death.
  • You were not willing to kill him, but she believes that in time you’ll come to her way of thinking.
  • She left at that point.
Mount Baratok
  • In the morning you set out across Lake Zarovich with water walking horses, to Mount Baratok in search of the mad wizard from your card reading.
  • When you found him, he started to cast a spell, calling you servants of the devil.
  • DeLuna and Edmond failed to convince him that you were on the same side, and Malik counterspelled the Wizard’s spell, which Malik knew to be Cone of Cold.
  • Malik convinced the Wizard you were on the same side, but could see clearly that the Wizard had gone barmy.
  • DeLuna tried to restore his mind with one of your two remaining scrolls of Greater Restoration, but the scroll burned up in his hands.
  • The Wizard said it wouldn’t have worked anyway, as he had mind-blanked himself. Malik was able to determine that this would wear off in 8 hours, and the Wizard agreed not to reapply it.
  • You followed him to his home. He walked up to a sheer rock-face in the mountain, and a door appeared. Through the door was a magnificently appointed mansion.
  • You questioned the wizard, but all you got was inane babble, and you didn’t find anything particularly useful (or valuable) in his extra-dimensional mansion.
  • When his mind blank expired, DeLuna gave him your last remaining scroll of Greater Restoration, and the Wizard freed his own mind of madness.
  • His mind broke when he lost his battle with Strahd, and was cast down the ravine at the draw-bridge. When he lost his spellbook and staff.
  • You suspect that some of his madness was from before then, and it is still with him.
  • He let you know that this place, Barovia, does not exist on any world any of you could name.  It was ripped by the “Dark Powers” into the Demiplanes of Dread, which exist within the Shadowfel.
  • The wizard asked if you knew his friend Elminster, and he introduced himself as Mordenkainen.
  • Malik knew that Mordenkainen was the founder of the Circle of Eight, and protector of Castle Greyhawk on the world of Oerth.
  • Mordenkainen was cast here when Rary and Robilar betrayed the Circle of Eight, killing most of the other members and flinging him here to Barovia.
  • He explained that there is no way to leave the Demiplanes of Dread without the permission of that Demiplane’s master. So you would either have to convince Strahd to let you leave, or kill him so there is no master.
  • He agreed to search Castle Ravenloft for you, to find where the cards say your final battle with Strahd will be.
  • Meeting Mordenkainen may be the first good thing that has happened to you in Barovia.
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Re: <spoilers>Curse of Strahd

Post by Tundrra »

SESSION 13
September 13: Chapter 7, “Now What”
(Baiz, Kermit, Roxanne, Talolan, Tundrra, Zelldeb)

The Road
  • You bid farewell to Mordenkainen as he left to gather intel about your enemy.
  • You headed back across the lake and started making you way west. Heading for the tower to meet Rictavio.
  • Along the way you met a Revenant, Thuringwethil (new player Zelldeb), and over time decided not to kill eachother.
  • The Revenant is a member of the Order of the Silver Dragon, and he wants to rescue the souls of his former order.
  • You headed to the Orders HQ, the “haunted mansion” you’ve heard about, called Argynvostholt.
Argynvostholt
  • The silver dragon Argynvost formed the order.
  • you triggered a trap at the front entrance, but the magic that powered the trap had waned with time. What should have been a “Cone of Cold” was just a cool breeze.
  • Upon searching you discovered that the collapsed southern towers of the mansion are filled with giant spiders.
  • In the main foyer, you found a knocked over marble bust, Edmond identified it as your new revenant friend.
  • You searched the main floor and found a chapel where three revenants seemed to be holding a service to the Morning Lord, you chose not to disturb them.
  • You also discovered a magical fireplace where a flaming dragon emerged and bade you rescue his followers. Your revenant friend told you this was an image of Argynvost.
  • You didn’t find much on the first floor, the place seemed to be completely looted or rotted away.
  • On the second floor, you found Edmond’s severed head on a pedestal.
  • Also on the second floor you encountered a smoke mephit, and also triggered a trap.
  • A wall of stone split the party and blocked a hallway, but your new revenant friend dispelled it, and Edmond’s undead turning sent away half of the Spectral Warriors that were attacking you after triggering the trap.
  • You found four potions of invulnerability.
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Re: <spoilers>Curse of Strahd

Post by Tundrra »

SESSION 14
(Baiz, Kermit, Nimm, Talolan, Tundrra, Zelldeb)

Argynostholt
  • You headed up to the third floor of the mansion, where you quickly met 5 more Revenants.
  • One of these Revenants was Sir Godfrey Gwilym, second in command of the revenants of the Order of the Silver Dragon.
  • He was prepared to take you to their leader, Vladimir Horngaard until he saw that Thuringwethil was with you, and he pulled you into a side room.
  • When discussing your group and travels, Thurning detected that a tapestry in this room was magical, but damaged. He mended the tapistry with a Mending spell, and the image of the silver dragon Argynvost appeared in the room.
  • The spectral dragon bade you return his soldiers to the light, by returning his skull to its rightful place in the crypt.
  • When the tapestry was repaired, it shown the mansion in all its former glory, with the high tower shining like a beacon against the darkness.
  • Godfrey was awestruck by the display, and told you the history of the order.
  • The order's main purpose was to guarding the Amber Temple and containing the evil magics within.
  • Eventually he took you to Vladimir, when he discovered why you were in Argynvostholt, but he wouldn't permit Thuring to go with you as that would guarantee combat.
  • Vladimir threatened you as you entered the room, but softened (slightly) when he saw his second in command, and mortal lover, Sir Godfrey.
  • Vladimir doesn't want Strahd destroyed, he wants him to suffer forever in this prison of his own making, but he is intrigued by the dragon image you saw.
  • He agreed to give you the hilt of a sword, that Edmond immediately felt was powerfully magical, on the condition that you use it to restore Argynvost's skull, but not destroy Strahd.
  • -At this point you had another conversation with Sir Godfrey, and you left the Mansion.
  • On you way out a Vistana rider approached the house with a horse and cart. He unhitched the cart next to the statue of Argynvost, peed on the statue, got on his horse and left.
  • As you approached the cart, you saw that it carried a coffin in the back, and that coffin had Eddison's name embossed on its face.
  • Eddison opened the cart to a harmless swarm of bats and found a note on the cart.
  • The note was sealed with the wax seal of Castle Ravenloft.
  • The note was an invitation to dinner at the castle penned in Strahd's hand. It said you would not be attacked on your way to the castle.
Wizard's Tower
  • After you left Argynvostholt with your new cart, you headed toward the Wizard's tower where Rictavio said he'd meet you.
  • On your way you saw on unmarked grave. Edmond said a prayer to the soul within.
  • Upon approaching the tower you saw a barrel topped Vistani wagon out front.
  • You couldn't look inside the wagon, but while you were trying DeLuna tried to open the door of the Wizard's tower.
  • The Tower was enveloped in lightning, and DeLuna and Edmond both took heaps of damage. DeLuna was rendered unconscious.
  • Two minutes later the lightning sputtered and abated.
  • Tybolt investigated the wagon and found that the back door was trapped. He couldn't find another entrance.
  • Edmond saw markings on the door. He deciphered that they were a puzzle to open the door.
  • Upon entering the tower you saw four clay golems holding on to chains that stretched up to the ceiling and back down to the platform.
  • You rode this elevator to the top floor where you discovered in inactive suit of animated armor, a chest with a severed head and lavender flowers, and a burned up journal in the stove.
  • The journal told the story of an unnamed monster hunter whose son was killed by a Vampire.
  • You decided to take a rest. Edmond had fitfull dreams, calling out the name Valandras.
  • On his watch, Eddison heard a rider coming up the causeway. Your vision wasn't enough to see the rider, but you heard him/her enter the wagon at the base of the tower.
  • Then he/she entered the tower and tried to use the elevator, which you had rigged to stay in place at the top of the tower.
  • Eddison snaked down 50 feet of rope and listened to the person (clearly a woman) swearing at the elevator.
  • She exited the tower, and entered the wagon from underneath.
  • During this, Edmond attuned to the sword hilt and discovered it was a Sunsword.
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Re: <spoilers>Curse of Strahd

Post by Tundrra »

SESSION 15
(Roxanne, Baiz, zelldeb, tundrra, talolan, Kermit)
Van Richten’s Tower
  • Edmond continued to have fitful dreams of Valandras (his angelic guide), but he didn’t remember their content upon waking.
  • Tybolt descended the tower on a rope to reset the elevator.
  • While attempting to head back outside he was told to stop by a woman, and he retreated into the tower.
  • He hid behind a golem as the door opened, and he heard an invisible person walking around.
  • Eventually, she came up behind him and held a knife to his back as DeLuna and Edmond descended the elevator.
  • When they reached the floor, Thurning threw the animated armor down the shaft, where it exploded on impact and quickly reformed.
  • Eventually everybody settled down, and you talked with this woman in the top level of the tower.
  • Her name is Ezmerelda D’Avenir, and while she is a Vistana, she is also a Vampire hunter, and was unimpressed with your trust of the Vistani you’ve met so far.
  • She’s searching Barovia for her master, the famed Vampire hunter Rudolf von Richten. She knows he’s still alive, because she was in Castle Ravenloft scouting and heard conversations of Strahd hunting for von Richten.
  • She is heading toward Krekz, and would not accompany you to the Werewolf cave, as she was caught in the castle, and is now being hunted by Strahd’s forces.
  • She did say that there was a power struggle in the Werewolf pack, and that the leader Kuril aligned the pack with Strahd only recently to end that struggle.
  • His adversary for leadership, Emil, is currently locked in Castle Ravenloft’s dungeons.
Werewolf Cave
  • Upon reaching the cave, Edmond realized that he could feel the presence of his angelic guide again, and that his guide may actually be in Barovia.
  • You headed to the werewolf cave and wrecked 5 Werewolves and 9 Wolves.
  • DeLuna was bitten, which you all saw. He feels fire in his veins, which he has not said outloud.
  • Edmond cast Lesser Restoration on him, to no effect.
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Re: <spoilers>Curse of Strahd

Post by Tundrra »

SESSION 16
(Baiz, Nimm, Talolan, Tundrra, Zelldeb, Kermit)

"Of Gods and Wolves"

Werewolf Cave
  • You started to search the cave, and Tybolt found a valuable flute and some gems.
  • Further searching revealed a curtain of human flesh blocking a staircase going up.
  • You also found a shrine depicted a wolf headed woman. Around the shrine were 6 cages containing 8 children, including Carp Alderleaf.
  • Zuleika Toranescu, the werewolf guarding that cave, made no effort to stop you taking the children. She told you several things 1) the pack was out on their daily hunt, 2) her mate Emil challenged the pack leader Kuril, for leadership, and was taken and killed by Strahd, 3) The shrine was to Mother Night.
  • Thuring cast Detect Magic, revealing a magic coat, and rapier in the treasure pile. He also detected a presence in the treasure pile.
  • Tybolt and Thuring took the rapier and coat respectively, and Tybolt and Edmond took the rest of the treasure for their trouble.
  • Carp led DeLuna outside and showed him the circle where the werewolves forced their captives to fight in tournaments, to the death. The “winners” were then turned. Carp admitted that he’s killed 14 other children.
  • He wanted DeLuna to kill him, but DeLuna refused and convinced him to follow the party.
  • You gathered the children and left, but not before telling Zuleika that her husband was still alive, in the dungeons of Castle Ravenloft.
Wizards Tower
  • You took a short rest, upon which Thuring identified his coat as a Coat of Vines, and Tybolt identified his rapier as a Shifter Binding Blade.
Krezk
  • You headed to Krezk and were allowed in the town, but the wife of the Burgomaster refused to let you stay after Edmond indicated that the children might be Lycanthropes.
  • Edmond felt himself being pulled toward the Abbey.
Abbey of St Markovia
  • You headed to the abby where you met two Mongrelfolk who let you pass and told you to watch yourself.
  • In the courtyard you heard screams coming from some closets lining it, they were a mix of human and animal sounds.
  • You also saw that the “guards” manning the towers were simple scarecrows, and were not a threat.
  • Upon opening the doors of the chapel ethereal music poured into the courtyard and calmed the screaming.
  • You met The Abbot, and Vasilka, a woman who didn’t talk to or react to you at all.
  • The Abbot examined the children, and cured Carp of his lycanthrope.
  • He agreed to help DeLuna with his for the price of 1000 gp, but after much haggling, a quest offer, and him getting bored of you, he agreed to do it for the censer that Tybolt took from the werewolves treasure pile, worth 750 gp.
  • You heard a noise upstairs and went to investigate. You found a crying and praying Ezmerelda by a table covered in a cloth.
  • She revealed what was under the cloth, which had so broken her heart and you saw a Deva flying dead on the table.
  • Edmond knew this Deva to be Valandras, his guide. He flew into a rage and started to head downstairs towards the Abbot, Vasilka, and the children, with his weapon drawn.
  • The party managed to calm him down.
  • Upon going downstairs the Abbot admitted to killing the Deva for standing in the way of his plans.
  • The Abbot revealed that he was a Deva himself, sent to Barovia 100 years ago to rid the people of the Curse of Strahd. The Abbot has determined that the only cure is to soften Strahd’s heart, to that end he has fashioned Vasilka, a flesh golem of supreme beauty to be Strahd’s bride.
  • Valandras stood against this and was overcome by the might of the mongrelfolk and the Abbot.
  • The Abbot still wants you to acquire a wedding dress for Vasilka. He will offer you three castings of Raise Dead and Greater Restoration for it.
Krezk
  • You returned to Krekz and the people there agreed to watch the children. Ezmerelda is currently traveling with you.
  • Thuring, Tybolt and Edmond were unable to take a long rest at the end of the night. From sundown to sunrise their waking and sleeping thoughts were plagued by wolves and werewolves preying on them.
Other Knowledge Gained:
  • You believe the only people you’ve seen who might have a suitable dress are the Baron & Baroness of Vallaki. Possibly Lady Fiona Wachter as well.
  • Tybolt believes that part of Valandras’ body is inside of Vasilka the beautiful flesh golem.
  • Thuring believes that the soul of Valandras may not have been able to escape the mists of Barovia upon its death. It should have returned to the Celestial Plane.
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Re: <spoilers>Curse of Strahd

Post by Tundrra »

SESSION 17
October 11, Chapter 10: What Dreams May Come
(Talolan, Roxy, Baiz, Zelldeb, Tundrra)

Krezk
  • Thuring had a vision during his mediation and gained no benefit of his meditation. The vision was a memory of the fall of the Order of the Silver Dragon, corrupted with wolves and werewolves, and voice telling him “There is no rest under the moon for thieves.”
  • DeLuna helped the Burgomistress deliver a baby. She pricked the baby on the foot with a pin and bandaged it up.
  • The baby didn’t cry, she says that the baby doesn’t have a soul, and that only 1 in 10 Barovians has a soul.
  • Her belief that the people you meet without emotions, who give short, 1-2 word answers are all soulless shells kept alive by Strahd’s will.
  • Going through your memory, you met several people under than description: the bartender in Barovia Village, the coffin maker in Vallaki, one of the wolf hunters in Vallaki.
  • Her husband thinks she’s nuts, and that people are just depressed and live in a depressing place.
  • You learned that their last remaining child died of illness.
  • Tybolt had a nightmare involving himself as some kind of overlord and conquerer in Vallaki. He hanged the Burgomaster, Burgomistress, Priest of St Andral’s Church, and Lady Fiona Wachter. An army of werewolves seemed loyal too him. He could tell that he didn’t want to take these actions after a voice told him “There is no rest under the moon for thieves.” Three other voices urged him to hang the captives. In the end Strahd offered Tybolt his throne and bit him.
  • In the morning the Burgomaster set out to do some logging, in idle chatter he mentioned recent grave robbing in town, and told you where to find the Shrine of the White Sun.
  • You headed to the shrine, which was a Gazebo on perfectly clear pool of water. There was a statue of the Morning Lord facing east.
  • DeLuna had never seen water so clean and clear, none of you had.
  • Tybolt evaluated the Gazebo and found that the only reason the wind hadn’t knocked it down was the town’s walls and trees acting as a wind break. It was in dire shape.
  • Thuring noticed a book 1/2 buried under the gazebo, but found no way to retrieve it without destroying the Gazebo.
  • Thuring started to mend the gazebo’s support beams while DeLuna transformed into a badger to retrieve the book from underneath. Which they did successfully.
  • Thuring mended several of the beams and joists.
  • The book is the Tome of Strahd, Strahd’s personal journal, and seemingly and old spell book as well.
  • You learned in the book how Strahd sealed his dark pact (by killing his brother), and that after the Castle guard killed him he arose as a Vampire, locking himself in the depths of the Castle.
  • You also learned that his descent was caused by his love for a woman, Tatiana, who fell from the castle trying to escape Strahd after he killed his brother Sergei.
  • You learned that Strahd fears and hates the sun, but more than the sun, he fears and hates Sergei’s sword.
  • The book contained 5 new spells, which are automatically added to the spell lists of anybody who can cast them:
    1) Bloodstone’s Frightful Joining (Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) where your soul can invade the body of an undead creature.
    2) Curse of the Gypsies (Bard, Cleric, Druid) where you can curse a creature with three powerful effects.
    3) Rain of Terror (Cleric, Druid) where you can summon a terrifying rain storm to frighten your foes, and friends.
    4) Strahd’s Baneful Attractor (Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) which can cause single-target HP effecting spells to redirect toward the target creature.
    5) Wraithform (Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) where you can become a ghost-like figure to pass by undead unharmed and unnoticed.
Vistani Camp/Dust Elf Village
  • You left town to visit Kasimir Velikov at the Dusk Elf village, to find a cure for the curse that seems to be effecting Tybolt, Edmond and Thuring.
  • When you enter Kasimir’s hut a Vistani rider takes off on horse back, he had been watching you.
  • Kasimir reveals that he is a wizard, and can remove the curses from you, but you must agree to go to the Amber Temple with him, soon.
  • Kasimir needs to take a rest to change out his spells, and starts to study his spellbook.
  • Thuring stays with him and is able to successfully complete his meditation.
  • He has another vision. This time of crawling up out of the dirty with 18 of his Order comrades, risen as Revenants. They went around to the front of the mansion and attacked Strahd’s soldiers who were butchering the remains of the dragon Argyvonst. They killed the soldiers, but more arrived and cut the Revenants down. This was Thuring’s 2nd death.
  • DeLuna and Tybolt left during this mediation and reentered Vallaki.
  • They met with Ireena and told her of their needs, she called the priest, who called for his sister, the burgomistress.
  • She didn’t want to part with her dress, but she seemed enamored with the idea of The Abbot needing it, and curing Strahd by making him happy and calming his raged seemed like an odd, but worthwhile attempt to her. So she brought you her wedding dress.
  • They did not venture any further into Vallaki, lest they meet up with the Burgomaster or Izek.
  • They returned to the Dust elf Village, and Kasimir cured everybody’s curses.
  • Kasimir agreed to send one of his scouts to The Abbot with the wedding dress. I hope he makes it.
Tsolenka Pass
  • You gathered your horses and cart, as well as blankets and coats provided by Kasimir, for the treck up Tsolenka Pass and into the mountains.
  • You climbed upward and it started to get very cold. Thuring was not bothered by this weather.
  • Eventually you came to a gate with 20’ high walls and a 10’ high doorway filled with Green Flame.
  • After several attempts by both Thuring and DeLuna, eventually you were able to suppress the flame for a minute and pass through the gate.
  • You decided to rest for the night in the guard tower on the other side.
  • You have now rested three nights since receiving the invitation from Strahd.
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Re: <spoilers>Curse of Strahd

Post by Tundrra »

SESSION 18
October 18: What does the inside of a dusk elf look like?
(talolan, Kermit, zelldeb, baiz, tundrra)

Tsolenka Pass
  • You had an untroubled night of sleep without nightmares. Even the Hags left Tybolt alone.
  • You crossed a bridge over the Luna river, where a silent image of Strahd stood as a warning.
Amber Temple
  • You built an igloo in a mountain cove to keep your horses and cart.
  • You entered the temple and found a dead wizard in a guard post with no doors.
  • Searching the top level of the temple, you found an old ruined barracks with a secret door to the guard post, and took the dead wizard’s magic wand.
  • You also found another secret room that looked like an old scroll and/or map storage room. Everything had been destroyed by age except two scrolls of Greater Restoration.
  • There is a whole in the floor where Tybolt saw a few Flameskulls.
  • You headed north, seeing more of the Temple, including a statue in the middle of a wizard, its head was covered in utter darkness that you couldn’t see through with your dark vision.
  • You found a classroom. Upon investigating you found a mage with a quasit familiar hiding behind the slate chalkboard. He was quite terrified, and malnourished.
  • You learned his name was Vilnius and that he came to the temple with his master, and now he can’t leave for fear of freezing to death in the mountains.
  • He’s also afraid of the Amber Golem that patrols the halls of the upper level.
  • You learned that the Amber that lines the walls has a magic dampening effect, and the Golem is likewise effected.
  • You learned and/or remembered, that this temple was built by an order of good wizards, to lock away forbidden knowledge.
  • You decided to bait and trick the Amber Golem into falling down the hole in the floor.
  • Your plan was… ok? You didn’t disguise the hole at all, even though you talked about ways to disguise it.
  • You did not follow your plan.
  • You lined up in the SE room, and Tybolt baited the golem.
  • He set a ball bearing trap in the door way, knocking the golem down, which prevented several readied actions from triggering.
  • Eventually when the Golem came into range, Tybolt, Thuring and Edmond all blasted it, Edmond using Thunderous Smite, which alerted the Flameskulls to your presence, as well as a group of mountain folk barbarians.
  • The Flameskulls started throwing fireballs, both at the party and at the barbarians, killing a barbarian’s Dire Wolf, and a Giant Goat conjured by DeLuna.
  • The fighting continued, and eventually the Barbarians ran away, losing only their dire wolf. Those of you that could see them counted 6 barbarians, with one clearly bigger and stronger than the rest.
  • You hacked away at the Flameskulls, but know they will rise again unless disposed of properly.
  • The Amber Golem smashed Kasimir to bits, and he is currently unconscious and bleeding out.
    You decided to bait and trick the Amber Golem into falling down the hole in the floor.
    Talolan wrote:Your plan was… ok?
    -You didn’t disguise the hole at all, even though you talked about ways to disguise it.
    -You did not follow your plan.
    That is basically every D&D party ever.
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Re: <spoilers>Curse of Strahd

Post by Tundrra »

SESSION 19 Oct 25th 2017
(Roxanne, Baiz, Kermit, Talolan, Tundrra, Zelldeb)

Amber Temple
  • the group finished off the floating skulls and golem, with no help from Vilnius who ran off when combat finished.
  • Unable to raise the Kasimer from the dead he was tucked away in a secret passage for safe keeping.
  • Baiz explored a hole in the floor and received the power of stink hand.
  • eventually the rest of the group went down the hole and found 2 additional skulls who spoke to them and gave Edmond and baiz another gift.
  • Edmond received the ability to raise dead 3 times and Baiz the ability to shoot lighting from his hand...unfortunately it melted half his face.
  • Edmond raised Kasimer back from the grave, however lifted his magic ring before hand, pally thief? Life has its costs.
  • The group made its way further north through the Amber Temple and coming to the back of a central large room with a statue.
  • Darkness covered the head of the statue which Thuring Dispelled.
  • With nothing out of the ordinary to be seen, most of the group headed further north....except Deluna
  • Noticing a chamber within the statue, Deluna jump on to the statue to take a peek....BLAM... and is knocked unconscious.
  • Thuring and Baiz noticing the sleeping half elf, jump to his aid.
  • Combat ensues, feather falls fly, silence covers all and the casting library demon escapes.
  • During the pursuit the way is blocked by a collapsing balcony.
  • Eventually we regroup and cut our losses and continue further into the temple, ending the night with a group of ghouls in the next room with more gifts to be handed out...but at what cost?
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