We rejoin our heroes as they walk back from the Vistani encampment to Vallaki, on the Old Svalich Road, flush with wine and the friendship of Lukash and Arrigal, having rescued young Arabelle from certain drowning by Bluto, the town drunk.
Our dramatis personae:
Ser Alys de Rouge of House Starbright (a half-orc Fighter with a soldier background, currently the leader of the town militia of Daggerford), played by Tom (Guvnor). Lawful Neutral. Imagine a slightly greener take on Grace Jones... Married to Ser Adon.
Ser Adon of House Starbright (a half-orc Paladin, from a knightly background, with two human retainers and a priest), played by Paul (dr_mitch). Lawful Good. Married to Ser Alys.
Kelwarin (Kel) (a half-elf Sorceror flush with the powers of wild magic, an outlander), played by Graham (First Age). Chaotic Good.
Gaddock Teeg (a halfling wizard and former prizefighter), played by Alex (Doggetay), Neutral Good
Roscoe Tosscobble (a halfling Cleric of Life, a follower of Diancecht, god of medicine and healing, former hermit and companion of Ser Adon), played by Jag (Jagusti). Lawful Good.
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| Heading back to Vallaki |
16th November (afternoon)
Slightly under the influence, the party started back down the hill and onto the Old Svalich Road, chatting and comparing notes about what they had learnt during their stay with the Vistani. Perhaps the most significant additional item that came to light was that Arabelle had the gift of the Sight and could read the Tarokka. Madame Eva discouraged her from doing it as she was so young, but the power was definitely with her, making her even more valuable and loved by her people.
The party kicked around what they needed to do next. Visit the Old Bonegrinder? Take the job to collect the wine from the Wizard of Wines? Travel to Krezk? Head to the Amber Temple to find a way to kill Count Strahd? Ser Adon advocated for the Mill, as with Gaddock's story it was possible that the old women - maybe hags - were taking children there and doing dire deeds. Ser Alys made a convincing argument for the Amber Temple. Undecided by the time they reached town, Gaddock headed out to an Apocathery at the edge of town run by Anya Trevali, a Vistani Remanio where he traded the two scrolls he had found in Graenseskov for one with a spell to identify magical items. He also spent much of the remaining funds that he had on the purchase of materials to allow him to transcribe the scroll.
The rest of the party went back to the Blue Water Inn, changed and headed to the Wachterhaus for afternoon tea with Lady Fiona. They committed a slight faux-pas by arriving about an hour early, which meant that the serving staff were in a quandary whether to serve hot tea or wine. In the end, they did both, accompanied by sandwiches with a thin slice of marrow garnished with wurst. In the background, the cook was heard to be complaining that there were no cucumbers in the market this morning... not even for ready money.
Ser Alys and Lady Fiona gently circled around each other, as the noblewoman tried to delicately sound out whether the party would aid her in resolving the governance of Vallaki. She seemed to be unhappy at the dissembling that the knight was doing when a carriage pulled up outside. Shortly after, the doorbell rang, and the butler welcomed in Lady Anastrasya Karelova, an old and dear fiend of Lady Wachter. She'd been her governess and tutor when she was younger. Beguilingly beautiful, and dressed in a delicate and distinctive red dress, Anastrasya just bubbled with charm.
She soon had Kelwarin hanging off her every word, and telling her of his adventures so far. Shortly after, Ser Adon was doing similar, looking at her and behaving in a way completely improper for a man who had been married for only two days. Or at least he was, right until Ser Alys kicked him extremely hard under the table. Ser Alys felt the draw of Anastrasya's charms but was cold to them. Roscoe was certain that she was looking straight through his disguise and found her completely beguiling.
Once Kel and Fagon (Roscoe) had finished proudly talking about their achievements and backgrounds like a pair of teenagers in front of an experienced beauty, the conversation moved back to Lady Fiona, who rapidly closed it down when the party refused - politely - to take direct action and instead advocated a social occasion and the establishment of a committee to advise Baron Vargas. Ser Adon seemed confident that the Baron would listen to sound advice. Lady Fiona, looking disappointed, made a pointed comment that Anastasya needed time to freshen up, and that it was delightful that they had come to see her. Anastrasya wistfully said goodbye to the visitors and said they should invite her to visit sometime because it'd be fun to catch up.
Leaving, the party talked to the Vistani and Dusk Elf crew members of the visitor's coach. The Vistani was cheerful, happily saying he'd guided her carriage though the mists and that she was a good mistress. The Dusk Elf seemed lost of all will and joy and implied that he'd served Anastrasya for years, perhaps since his family died.
All they really gleaned about Lady Fiona's visitor was that she was probably older than she looked, wasn't a vampire (she didn't trigger Ser Adon's detection of undead), and almost certainly had a charming nature. Kel and Roscoe would be embarrassed the next morning, and Adon was already in the dog house with his new wife. She'd asked them for a lot of information about their background, which they'd gushed with. She definitely had a strong friendship with Lady Fiona, but it didn't seem to be sexual or involve charm magic.
Back at the pub, they had some drinks and talked through options as evening fell. It was decided to go and scout out the Old Bonegrinder Mill to the east. It was an easy hike, and it would put Ser Adon's mind at rest.
17th November
The Martikovs made them a packed lunch and dinner, and the party set off the next morning around eight. About an hour into the journey, Ser Alys spotted a leather bag in a tree bole. She examined it and found a woman's clothing and some weapons. A discussion was had and they decided that it could be from a shapeshifter of some kind, so they left it in place. By the time they reached the turn in the road as it started to lift into the mountains, they realised that they were behind schedule, having taken perhaps twice as long at they expected to get here. They had a second breakfast, then headed up the edge of the incline. Ser Adon and Roscoe were struggling with pressure headaches, and Gaddock and Kelwarin had the edges of a similar feeling. Only Ser Alys was unaffected. They suspected that someone - or something - perhaps the land itself, was turning against them. But why now? The consensus was that they must be being seen as a threat.
Trudging up the track, Gaddock sent his owl ahead to look for Mountain Men (who'd attacked before) and also for any other dangers. The owl approached the old windmill but was mobbed by ravens, flying back to his master and safety. Reaching the rocky promontory, the party decided to scout the area out. The two knights hunkered down while Gaddock, Kel and Roscoe headed out to check out a stone circle of four ancient megaliths which they'd spied behind the mill. Moving quietly, they crossed around but Kel managed to turn his ankle in a rabbit hole. He stopped and became the link man while Gaddock and Roscoe checked out the stone circle.
The ancient moss-covered megaliths had carvings dedicated to the Morninglord cut into them. However, in the centre of the circle was a pile of teeth, possibly human, both small and large. There was a feeling of evil, reminding Roscoe of the sensation he had as he crossed past Castle Ravenloft. This wasn't a good place.
Checking out the Mill, they thought that the saw movement at the top floor, but whoever it was didn't see them. They completed a stealthy circle around the mill, and as they started to work out what to do next an older woman came out of the mill, tipping flour and pastry out. She turned, looked out towards the party and...
GM Notes: Upgrades this week as I added in the excellent Curse of Strahd soundtrack by Travis Savoie. I'd also custom modified Anastrasya. I loved the way that the players were trying to work out how she fitted in and what her powers were. The Lady Fiona decision will have repercussions, but they'll be a while. The characters have become noticed. This is not necessarily a good thing! I now have a fortnight to prepare the Mill, and integrate with the material that I'm adding from Mandy's Strahd Mod from r/curseofstrahd. Once we complete the Old Bonegrinder, we'll probably skip one or two sessions while I prepare for the next major areas of the campaign. That'll be Season 3.
24 February 2021
Curse of Strahd will return on 10th March 2021
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