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Session 31 – 2021-08-07

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Session Summary

We completed our trip down the river to a place where we could come ashore near Argynvosthold. We used material from the raft to build a sort of skid or travoy. Zanfyr transformed into a horse to pull the items up the hill. Dain and Snoggly assisted with pulling and balancing. Once we reached the castle, we were greeted by Vladimir Horngaard and 6 or so of his spiritual warriors. Vladimir told us that we were not to bring the skull into the keep. Then told us to leave it and let him dispose of it. He did not want Strahd to be allowed escape his eternal punishment. We continued to try to convince Horngaard that he should assist us, that the good of the land was more important then his need to see Strahd punished. As Vladimir Horngaard got more angry with us, a new person joined the conversation. It was commander Gwilym who joined us.

Gwilym challenged Commander Horngaard with doing the task he was assigned to do. He must restore Argynvost, or the skull of Argynvost, and his bones, to the temple within the keep. This is where it belongs, where it will once again shine as a beacon across the land. Again, Commander Horngaard did not want this to happen and ordered Gwilym to stop his persistence in challenging him. He ordered us again, to leave the skull and leave this place. Commander Gwilym again challenged him and this time weapons were drawn, and a battle begun. At first we weren't sure if the spirits we're going to join the battle but convinced they might we took positions to be to repel any enemy. Spells were cast to make it harder for the enemy to hit us. Horngaard drew first blood when he turned to strike Dain. Many in the party targeted Vladimir while the rest prepared for the spirits to attack.

All of the spirits began taking on a physical form with one, charging Kyana and others, moving to positions to attack. Since most of the party was focused on Vladimir, he went down pretty fast. Once he was down Dain removed the sword and moved it across the battlefield so should he rise he would be weaponless. The rest of the spirits attacked and the party went through one round of battles before Commander Gwilym was able to order them to stop. As they stopped they returned to there non-corporeal state. Both groups separated, Snoggly convinced Commander Gwilym to help return the skull to it's rightful place. We then moved the skull to the temple room. Once it entered it began to glow. As we set it down in the center of the room, it began to hover and slowly rise. As it rose, it got brighter and brighter until eventually it reached its new home.

As it was climbing, we heard heavy footsteps outside the door. Eventually Vladimir rounded the corner and was immediately taken by the vision of the skull rising, and of the light of hope that it shone. When it reached it's a summit light was released from the tower and spread across the land lighting the corners the edges with a light similar to the sun. With that light, a new sense of hope spread and the depression or somber feeling, at least for a time, seem to ease. The people of Vallaki and Kresk seemed, even happy, at times.

Vladimir turn to the group and thanked them for returning the skull, he now saw that it was good and right. He and his spirits also, over a short period of time, became whole. They lost the look of rot, death, and decay from their form and once again appeared whole and almost living, as their polished armor reflected the light of hope. Vladimir then told us that the keep is now ours to take care of and to protect, giving Dain the sword. He and his group of merry men slowly faded away moving on to wherever it is that those serving the Morninglord and Argynvost spend their eternity.

We discussed what comes next. For now, we need to return the Gem to the Wizard of Wines winery setting another wrong, right. The we will head to Kresk to seek out someone to manage the clean up and reconstruction of Argynvosthold. We are not wealthy, but we’ll do what we can with what we have.

After disposing of the giant spiders in the front of the keep, we completed a long rest and then headed off to the Wizard of wines winery to return the lost Gem. it was an uneventful trip and though it had been a while since we set out on this journey, they were thrilled to see us and elated to get their hands on the gem again. Between that and the light that now bathes the land, the change in personalities made it almost seem, normal? No, not quite normal but it wasn't quite so gloomy a place anymore. Some of the despair they had felt over the last 400 years seemed to lessen a little. In their hearts, there was a flicker of hope.

The only discussions as to what to do next, it was mentioned that we need to hire someone to look after the keep and start the processes of restoring it. Also, while in Kresk, we should check in ewith the Abbott to see how his visit with Strahd went, how was his present received? Dain mentioned that with the light returned to the keep, he would like to return to the platform to see what impact it had on the mists, and the Guiltias tree. I thinks we should consider destroying it next.

We also leveled up. (Yay us!)