After a desperate battle with the Strigoi released upon the town of Vallaki, our heroes faced the unpleasant task of telling Lady Wachter that one of her maids had been killed brutally outside the house by one of the creatures...
Our dramatis personae:
Ser Adon de Rouge 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
Ser Alys de Adon-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.
also featuring:
Ireena Kolyana (a human warrior, daughter of the Burgomaster of Barovia, Twice-Bitten reincarnation of Strahd's unrequited love, Tatyana) - upgraded as a sidekick.
with :
Alexei the Vistana (a young human expert, sent to pay off his debt to the party by his Vistani elders after they rescued Arabelle from certain death when Alexei lost her in town. A late teenager who is so taken by Ireena and the excitement of the adventure that he's forgotten he planned to be sulky and surly for his 13 moon exile) - upgraded as a sidekick.
All characters are presently 6th level, including the sidekicks.
4th December 8pm
Lady Wachter moved towards the door where Ser Adon stood, with Gaddock, Ser Alys and Kelwarin behind. Ser Adon's eyes were drawn to the woman behind her, the demure yet revealing red silk and lace night dress catching his attention as he caught the eyes of Lady Anastrasya. Like deep pools they drew him in and he became aware of his breathing and heart beat, and an overwhelming feeling of warmth and attraction started to flood him, right up to the point where he remembered the sharp kick his wife had given him the last time he'd gone moon-eyed over this woman who they suspected may well be a vampire. Concentration returning, Adon explained the bad news. Lady Fiona took it calmly, then called for another servant to aid the maid that had fainted.
It was clear that the news of the Strigoi and Vampires loose in town was news to the noblewoman, but less so for her friend. It was also clear that there was more between them than Lady Wachter would publicly admit. Ser Adon said that they were going to rest up and hunt the vampires, and that the occupants of the Wachterhaus should stay and safe until morning. Both women encouraged them to do so, wishing them well. Anastrasya effortlessly closed the heavy brass bound door and the locks clicked home.
The party headed to the Blue Water Inn to recover, with Ser Alys breaking off to go and check if Ireena and Alexei were in the Burgomaster's house they'd seized from Baron Vargas. At the Blue Water Inn, trade was brisk, and Kel had the pleasure of seeing Ireena in conversation with Rictavio. Adon talked to Danika, and was taken into the kitchen where his wounds were treated, warming broth served and a herbal beer drunk to aid recuperation. Gaddock checked the room out and started to relax. Kel started to fill in Ireena and Rictavio on what had happened, all the while enjoying the charm of Ireena's company and the ambience of what felt like a sanctuary. The fire roared, with sparks rising into the skies from the chimney.
Had you followed those sparks up, you would have caught a glimpse of the moon trying to come through the light clouds, a cold winter moon casting a clear silver light which mingled with the building fog on the streets below. Out of that fog came the sound of a scream that was cut short, a life snuffed out by a predator stalking the streets. Walking west towards the Church of St Andrew, Father Lucien took his sister home, the carnival having failed to lift her spirits which had been broken by the death of her husband, the Burgomaster Baron Vargas. He started, sure that something was watching him, just at the edge of his vision. They hurried on.
Kel's reverie and conversation was interrupted when a young man bumped into him. It was Kurt, Lady Wachter's soon. Drunk, definitely worse for wear, he and his brother were trying to have some fun at the expense of Kel and Rictavio. It was obviously also a misguided attempt to charm Ireena. Kurt kept on asking them to come and join them at their table; it was the right place for the daughter of the Burgomaster of the Village of Barovia to be, with the only nobility remaining in the town. Something passed between Kel and Ireena and they held hands. Kel and Rictavio managed to deter the two young fools, with Nikolai drawing his brother away with whispered words. As they slipped out, Ser Alys arrived with the disturbing news that Alexei was nowhere to be seen. Ireena said he'd gone to check in on his family.
The party decided to go out to hunt vampires but initially to make sure that the Wachter brothers got home as they were worse for wear. They quickly realised that they hadn't gone home or even to the Carnival, but to another location to the east. Tracking them, after about ten minutes walk in the thickening fog, they found themselves in a stockyard with a Vistani style wagon pulled up, labelled Rictavio's Carnival of Wonder.
Meanwhile, towards the Church, Father Lucien was certain he was being hunted. He tried to hurry but carefully, not showing his fear and trying to get his sister moving as well. A figure came out of the mists, clawed hands and sharp teeth. They walked faster, only to realise that another figure was looming ahead.
Back at the stockyard, the Wachter Boys were trying to break into the wagon. Rocking it and trying to force the lock. From inside, there was a roar. Something was definitely inside! The boys looked nervous, and were startled when Ser Adon arrived to tell them to go home. He tried to intimidate them; Nikolai was scared by the fierce half-orc and took off. Kurt looked more afraid but his will broke thanks to the clever use of a message spell by Kelwarin. Combined with the knight's threat, it was enough to make him break and run, perhaps soiling himself in his drunken state.
Whatever was in the wagon roared again, but our heroes decided that that was Rictavio's business and started on their hunt to find the vampires. Heading back into town, Ser Adon took point, generally taunting the vampires he expected were hiding in the mists.
Near the Church of St Andrew, the creature moved forward towards Father Lucien and his sister. He backed towards a wall, trying to protect her. The creatures advanced, hissing. Lucien could see blood stains around their mouths and on their clothes. The vampires had clearly already killed. As despair started to rise, another figure ran in beside him, drawing a blade. It was the Vistani, Alexei, heading back into town having met his mother. He bravely put himself between the priest and his sister, determined to protect them.
The road opened to a wider part with a fountain, beside which Ser Adon could see the horrific sight of a vampire drinking the blood of Kurt Wachter. As he approached, the creature shuddered and threw Kurt into the fountain, drained and lifeless. Battle was swiftly joined, with our heroes prevailing. The creature was forced to turn and run, climbing onto a roof and them dissolving into bats, lost in the fog. But before it changed fall, it issued a blood-curdling cry. This echoed out across the town and valley.
At the Church, the cry was faint but clear. The creatures stopped their advance on the hapless priest and the brave Vistani. Moving unnaturally, they climbed onto the roof then called back. They started to run and there was a sudden sound of the flapping of wings and they were gone.
Checking out Kurt, Ser Adon realised he was dead. He also realised that there were more creatures coming. Soon, battle was joined and a desperate fight ensued. Although they were rested, the party was nowhere near full capability. Kel struggled to succeed with his spells, his witch bolts being drawn towards a lightning conductor on a nearby roof. Ser Alys was grabbed by one of the creatures which started to drain her blood. She fought on. The battle slowly turned in favour of our heroes; one-by-one, they destroyed the vampires.
As they cornered the final one, there was a flurry of wings and they were horrified to see Count Strahd himself appearing. He erupted from a storm of bats, and casually grabbed the vampire which was pulling itself up Ireena's rapier. Ripping it's head off, he destroyed it before apologising and explaining that this should not have happened, it wasn't planned. He reminded the party that his invitation to dinner at Castle Ravenloft still stood; they were welcome to join him, and apologised once more. He was gone almost abruptly as he came.
The party gathered Kurt's body and started to head to the Church of St Andral, thinking about how they'd break the news to his mother.
GM Notes:
The fighting continued, Kel and Ireena's romance continues to blossom.
The vampire spawn went properly tactical, but the party smartly focused their attacks on a single target at a time which overcame much of the regeneration damage.
There are signs that perhaps Strahd's grip on power is not quite absolute, but what does that really mean? Was he just kill stealing?
Does Lady Wachter know the nature of her 'friend'? How will she react to the news of her boy's death.
The other need will be for the players to decide what to do next, ideally before the next session!
1) Catch up with Jeny Greengrass as planned.
2) Investigate the ruined mansion
3) Investigate Old Berez
4) Follow up the Amber Temple that Roscoe Tosscobble had set off too.
5) Take up Count Strahd on his dinner invite.
Tom, Ser Alys' player is away for two weeks, which I'd missed out on.
16 March 2022
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