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Session Summary

We have a lengthy discussion with Ezmerelda. It focused on Rudolph van Richten and helping him, but it also drifted back to a discussion about the Abbott and his golem creation Vasilka. It seemed crazy to us that he expected that this might work. That Vasilka might somehow satiate his appetite for love, Tatyana. None of us thought this would work. When focused back on the task at hand, the card reading came up. Ezmerelda was very interested in what was revealed so we went over everything with her. Some things were clearer now.

The first card speaks of a place where sickness and madness are bred, and here we are, in a virtual asylum. She pointed out the books scattered aro9und the room and we searched them for clues. Snoggly found, what we later identified as, the Tome of Strahd. A magical mook but also a book of history. It tells the story of Strahd, Sergei (his brother), and Tatyana.

Tatyana was betrothed to Sergei but Strahd loved her and wanted her. She didn’t love Strahd and saw him as old. She loved life and being young. She loved the much younger Sergei. On their wedding day, Strahd killed Sergei and tried to win over Tatyana but she fled from him. The chase ended with her throwing herself from the walls of Castle Ravenloft. He searched but never found her body. He has been searching ever since. Sometimes feeling close to her but never finding her.

The castle guard tried to kill him, firing many arrows into him, but as he put it, there is little can hurt him now. Only the sunlight, and his brothers sword of sunlight. A stake can hold him from moving but it won’t kill him. This books magic also extends to the one attuned to it. I give advantage to history and lore checks on anything to do with Barovia. It also imparts a +1 to AC and a +1 to saves when defending against Strahd. Dain is set to attune to it.

In discussing the other cards, we find the eight of glyphs mentions of the sword belonging to Sergei, the Sword of Sunlight. It tells us its location is within the Amber Vault. That is, as Ezmerelda put it, in the Banilok Mountains to the south and center of Barovia.

There is also a Holy Symbol mentioned that is within a dragon’s house. Ezmerelda mentions that the only dragon she knew of, was the dragon Argynvost. Argynvost was a silver dragon that Strahd’s army killed when he first came to this land. We must find his home.

The fourth card sparked some debate about who this Marionette is. We went back and forth between Pete and the Abbott. Ezmerelda didn’t have any readied lore to help with this. Perhaps it will become clearer as we progress.

When we searched more of second floor of the building we were in, Rinn opened the door to an old hospital area with beds lining the walls, and another door to an operating room. He was shocked to see Doru, a vampire spawn, crouched over the body of Kyana on the operating table, she was ripped open and he was pulling out body parts and eating them. He faced Rinn with a growl and when Rinn backed up and called for help, he went right back to eating. Haldar put two arrows through him but they only seemed to pass through him. It’s an illusion. Zanfyr, not knowing this yet, charged into the room and jump onto the table, only to see the illusion dissipate. Rinn checked the next room, the Morgue and found a ceiling that had collapsed and a Raven sitting on the table. As he approached the raven, it flew to the rafters.

We discussed what to do next. Adrian was going to continue with the wine delivery, and work to get the winery delivering on a regular basis again. We’ll have to put off finding the gem until later. We would, instead proceed to the tower to find Rudolph. We hope he’ll join our reindeer games. I couldn’t resist. We just need him to use his Red Nose to light our way to victory over Strahd. All joking aside, we hop to join him and possibly assist with the destruction of Strahd.

We went back to the manor to ask about a blacksmith to assist us with getting our weapons silverfied, or dipped in silver, to make them more potent against the kinds of creatures as seem to be finding in this land. He pointed is to the Strum House and Gregori the not that great blacksmith. Dimirti told us his father was a good blacksmith but Gregori, not so much. When we spoke to Gregori about dipping our weapons in silver, he hushed us and told us that there is very little silver around anymore. It has been banned as currency and confiscated when seen. We paid him well for the rushed order overnight and Rinn even fetched him some of the wine just delivered to the town.

We went back to the manor where we enjoyed dinner and a little bit of a show from Ilya. I think we may be seeing a little of his dark gift showing through. As he ate, he ate very quickly, devouring the food almost whole. There was also a noticeable growl like sounds coming from him as he ate. Haldar tried to sense for his favored enemy about but this land, it is so overwhelming dark that finding them was easy, but pinpointing anything would be harder.

That’s where we left off.

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Session Details

We start off with a discussion about Ezmerelda’s leg, Misty using it as a scratching post, how it was lost, and how it was probably good that she didn’t let the Abbott help her with it. In questioning the Abbott issue, it’s pointed out that he doesn’t necessarily see it as a bad thing, so much as a gift from the Morning Lord, for this is what happens when he uses the power gifted him by Lathander. It must be what Lathander wants. There is more discussion about how the Abbott is necessary as a caretaker for those he houses at the Abby. Without him, these creatures would be roaming around the city below and that would be a real problem.

Dain brought up the idea of the healing and the long life that the Abbott has, as being the dark gift that he received after dying some time ago. People don’t naturally live this long. Perhaps he was given long life but for the purpose of spending the rest of his existence caring for these mutations that he will be cursed with creating. It would seem as if the land gave a gift that it realized was too strong, so it balanced it with a curse to provide some sort of symmetry. Ezmerelda mentions that at one time, this ability was controllable. People would come to him wanting wings to extra good eyesight, and when he healed them, he could infuse the healing with these specific traits. Now it is more random and may happen against his will.

With everyone feeling that Strahd will likely kill the Abbott over the gift of the golem, Vasilka, Dain suggests that it may not be possible to kill the Abbott. Maybe neither of them can die. That would also be symmetry, one evil and destructive immortal and one good but also destructive immortal. Immortality would also explain the Abbot’s thinking with regards to Vasilka. When you live forever, your idea of good and evil would probably begin to blur. Though the golem is abhorrent to us, to him it is simply parts, assembled, to create a product that might appease, and ease, the evil that is Strahd.

We went back over Madam Eva’s card reading, Session 6.

She then pulls over the first card and places it on the table. “The two of coins, The Philanthropist! This cards tells of history, knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy. For this, look to a place where sickness and madness are bred. Where children once cried the treasure still lies.”.

She flips over another card! “The one of blades! The Avenger! This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection. A holy symbol of great hope! This treasure lies in a dragon's house. In hands once clean but now corrupted.”.

She flips over the third card! “The card of power and strength that tells of a weapon of vengeance, a sword of sunlight. The eight of glyphs! What you seek lies on a pile of treasure, beyond a set of amber doors.”

From the high deck she draws a card saying, “A card that will shed light on one who could help you greatly in the battle against darkness. The Marionette! What horror is this? I see a man, made by a man, ageless and alone!”

“And your last card, your enemy, is a creature of darkness whose powers are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him. The Darklord! He lurks in depths of darkness in the one place to which he must return!”.

The second card, Ezmerelda suggests might have something to do with Argynvost. Argynvost was a silver dragon, killed by Strahd’s army when he first came to this land. The ruins of Argynvost’s home may be where a “holy symbol of great hope” lies.

The third card, Speaks of a magical weapon, sword of sunlight. She tells us of the Sun Sword, it was Sergei’s sword. Sergei was Strahd’s brother the card suggests that it lies in the Amber Vault.

The forth card, the Marionette, someone to help us. Suggests Pete or The Abbott but neither are alone. Still not sure what that means.

Back to the first card, she says that she hasn’t had a chance to look through all of the piles of books in this room but that this once was a library. It was renowned as a great library. We offered to go through the books to see what we can find. She also talks about the other rooms behind us, operating room and medical area. We don’t know what is below. Maybe if we can get Cloven or the Abbott to go with us, we could search the area but Pete won’t let us search it without one of them.

We searched this room and out of all the books, Snoggly found one that was a leather bound book with a broken seal. It has a “Z” on it. It seems to exude power. Snoggly examines the book and casts detect magic on it. The book and part of Ezmerelda’s armor and weapons radiate magic. Identify tells us there is an enchantment on the book. As snoggly opens the book and reads it, we hear a voice in our heads, an ancient sounding, male, Romanian voice, the voice of Strahd.

The Tome of Strahd is played here. In summary, it spoke of his love for Tatyana, who was in love with Sergei, his younger brother. Though Strahd loved her, she only saw him as old, the older brother. Strahd made a pact with death. On the day of the wedding, he killed Sergei. On that day, the pact was sealed in blood. Tatyana fled from him when she saw him next. She didn’t understand, the must understand the pact I made for her. I pursued her. Then I watched as she flung herself from the walls of Ravenloft. She fell a thousand feet through the mists. No trace of her was ever found. Not even I, know her fate. The guards attacked him but he didn’t die. He didn’t live either. I am now undead. I am now Vampire. I still lust for life and youth, and I curse the living that took them from me. Even the sun is against me now and it is the sun’s light I fear most. But, little else can harm me now. Even a stake in the heart can’t kill me though it holds me from movement. Sergei’s sword, that cursed sword, I must dispose of that tool. I fear it and hate it almost as much as the sun. I have often hunted for Tatyana, and have even felt her al most within my grasp, but she escapes. I know reside far below Ravenloft. I live among the dead and sleep beneath the very stones of this castle.

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The Tome of Strahd

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I am the Ancient.

I am the Land.

My beginnings are lost in the darkness of the past.

I was the Warrior. I was good. And just.

I thundered across the land like the wrath of a Just god, but the war years and the killing years wore down my soul as the wind wears stone into sand.

All goodness slipped from my life. I found my youth and strength gone, and all I had left after the glory of conquest… was death. My army settled in the valley of Barovia and took power over the people. In the name of a Just god. But with none of a god’s grace or justice.

I called for my family, long unseated from their ancient thrones, and brought them here to settle in the castle Ravenloft, which was my creation. With them came a younger brother of mine, Sergei. He was handsome and youthful and I hated him for both.

More a Jester…

Ψ 18 24 9 26 6 1 4 20

11 22 2 15 21 7 14 23 12

25 18 10 5 13 16 19 3 8

From the families of the valley, one spirit shone about all others. A rare beauty, who was called Perfection, Joy, and Treasure. Her name - I scarce can put ink to parchment to blaspheme it - her name was Tatyana. And I longed for her.

I loved her with all my heart. I was infatuated with her for her youth. I craved her for her joy. But she spurned me! ME! “Old One” was my name to her.

But her name to Sergei was “betrothed” and “beloved” - Her heart went to Sergei. And here, I, in my waning glory am called “elder” and “brother” by them.

The date was set. The world crumbled before me.

With words she called me Old One but when I looked into her eyes they reflected another name. Death. It was the death of the aged that she saw in me. She loved her youth and enjoyed it. But I had squandered mine; drowned my years with blood and conquest. Provided a magnificent castle and life for them, yet I held an empty heart.

The death she saw in me turned her from me. And so I came to hate death, the very idea. My hate is very strong. I would not be called that so soon. I made a pact with Death; Powers of the Dark. A pact of blood. On the day of their wedding, I slaughtered Sergei, my brother. My own flesh and blood. This sealed my pact with that blood, spilled across the stone of Ravenloft.

I found Tatyana weeping. She hid in the garden east of the Chapel. She fled from me. She would not let me explain, and a great anger swelled within me. She had to understand. The pact – it was made for her! I pursued her. Finally, with despair etched on her face, she flung herself from the walls of Ravenloft. I watched. I saw as everything…I even watched her fell from my grasp forever. Forever? I do not accept that.

It was a thousand feet through the mists. No trace of her was ever found.

But of the murder I brought on my own brother I would soon be brought to pay the price. Not so easily would I give recompense. My own guards pierced me through with dozens of arrows to my soul. Through and through I was pinioned but I did not die. Nor, however, did I live. I became undead. I became Forever.

I have studied much since then. Vampyr is my new name. Title. I still lust for life and youth, and I curse the living that took them from me. Even the sun is against me. It is the sun and its light I fear, for little else harms me now. Even a plank of wood through my heart would not kill me. Though those archers are long dead now their weapons are but playthings to me. A sturdy stake would hold me from movement but that is nothing.

The accursed sword brought by my brother, however, the treacherous Sergei - how I hated that blade that shimmered like the sun. Little buoys me as much as having had it destroyed.

I have often hunted for you, Tatyana. I have even felt you within my grasp, but you escape. You taunt me! Teases me! What will it take to bend your love to me? I wish not to subject you to the force I have with so many others. Yet… if I must…

I now reside in Ravenloft. I live among the dead and sleep beneath the very stones of this hollow castle of despair. I shall seal shut the walls of the stairs, that none may disturb me. The way the walls of Barovia are sealed by the mists.

My castle. My valley. My kingdom. My land.

I am Strahd.

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Interesting, he can’t be killed by a stake in the heart, only held in place. Only the Sun can kill him now. It’s unclear if the Sword of Sergei will kill him, but for now, it scares him, so it is still something we seek.

Rinn moved to the door in the rear of the room and checked the door for traps. Ezmerelda let us know it isn’t trapped. Rinn opened the door and moved into the next room. This is part of the old hospital. In the main room, there are beds, line up in two neat rows but the bedding is rotting. There are two doors along the south wall, one with a sign that reads, operating room and the other a sign calling it the morgue.

Opening the door to the operating room, he saw a blood-stained table in the room and on the table the eviscerated corpse of Kyana, and croutched over her body, feasting on her entrails, is Doru, the Vampire Spawn of Barovia. He turns and faces Rinn and growls at him. Rinn shouts, “Vampire in here!”, to warn the others. As he backs away, Doru goes back to eating. Haldar enters the main room and rapidly fires two arrows through the door at Doru. They appear to go straight through it.

Zanfyr casts protection from good and evil and shape shifts into a Dire Wolf. He rushs into the room and leaps onto the table and the illusion evaporates as he slides off the table. Ezmerelda enters the room and tells us that she has been in the room before and never had such an experience. She turns back to Kyana and looks at her and asks how she feels. She feels fine. Ezmerelda walks around the room, looking around. She suggests that the dark powers seem to be interested in Kyana, or possibly the whole group. Rinn suggests that the pact that Kyana made to come back, might leave her tied to Amber Temple. That spawned a question to Ezmerelda about whether or not she knew anything about the Amber Temple.

Ezmerelda tells us that long ago, a secret society of good, aligned wizards built the Amber Temple in the Balinok Mountains more than two thousand years ago. It precedes Strahd. The needed a vault to hold evil vestiges and remnants of dead malevolent entities they had captured, and the hoard of knowledge they had amassed. The dedicated the temple to a god of secrets that they trusted to keep it hidden from the rest of the world until the end of time. Unfortunately, even the will of the gods couldn’t keep the secret of its location from those seeking it. The evil forces, held within, eventually corrupted the wizards, turning them against one another. Exathanter went there to learn the ways of Lichdom. She has never been there.

Thinking back through the readings, it said the Sword of Sunlight lies in a pile of treasure in the Amber Temple. She tells us the temple is in the Balinok Mountains which is the large mountain area in the south center of Barovia. Kyana started asking about Tatyana and where she had come from. I don’t know who told us this, but we learned that she was from Barovia, pre-mists, and is of the Federovna, family. She was born in 333 and died in 351.

Kyana was trying to determine if anyone, alive today, would know what Tatyana looked like. Would the Abbott know what Tatyana looked like. Is he trying to make the golem look like her? Ezmerelda said that there are still people alive today that would have met Tatyana. Possibly, the Abbott may have been around then. He claims that he is possibly older that Strahd. It was suggested that Elves live a very long life and that includes the dusk elves of Barovia. The dusk elves live among the Vistani.

Ezmerelda is shown the Tome, especially the part that appears to be a cypher wheel along with some numbers. She doesn’t seem to know what it is either. She suggests that Rudolph might be able to help us figure out that. We keep looking for the code, but it doesn’t seem to fit anything yet.

Rinn moved to the next door, it’s not locked, he opens it. Standing on a table is a raven, it just looks at me and doesn’t move. In the corner, there is a hole in the roof where the tile has fallen. Rinn walks up to the Raven and as he does, the bird flies up to the hole in the ceiling and looks back down at him. Rinn looks around and doesn’t see anything else. He leaves the room.

We discuss taking the time to do an identify on the tome. We slid off into a lengthy discussion about Dark Shadows, and then Debbie started telling us about her drug induced hallucinations when she was still a child.

Rinn completes the Identify spell and learns that the book is called the Tome oof Strahd. If you attune to it, you gain advantage on checks involving Barovian history or lore, you gain a +1 to your armor class and any saving throws when defending against Strahd Von Zarovich. It was suggested that Dain attune to it and carry that now.

In discussing what’s next for us, The wine needs to be delivered to Vallaki. There is another issue in Vallaki having to do with Urwin and Danika Martikov. There is the issue of the werewolf, There is the second missing gem from the winery. Adrian said he could complete the wine deliveries and work to get things back to normal. When we went through the list of things to do, and mentioned the werewolf in town, Whiteclaw, it sparked some conversation with Ezmerelda about it getting in or being a citizen and not being checked as they come and go.

We sank back into more discussion about Strahd and Vasilka and if the Abbott passing her off as actually being Tatyana or just trying to make someone that Strahd can love. Then we decided to spend another night here and leave for the tower in the morning. Adrian is going to the tavern to try to recruit some employees to assist in delivery of the wine. Ezmerelda is going to wait here and meet us in the morning.

We headed back to the Burgomaster’s home. When we get there, we ask Dimitri about what he knows about the Abby and what the Abbott is doing up there. We explain the mongrel folk but he knew about that. He didn’t know about the golems. We told him there are two of them, one is a guard. He knew about Pete but didn’t know he was a construct. The female golem is a different story. He knew nothing about that. We also told him that he wanted Kyana’s face for it which shocked him. Then we told him that Strahd was coming in about a week to view this creation. We asked if he knew about the dark gift and the resurrection of his son. He knew of it. We asked about a weapons shop in town. The Strum House is a blacksmith run by Gregori now. His father was a good blacksmith. Gregori is not that good. We got directions from him and left for the Strum House.

We met Gregori, very blah individual. He spotted us as being adventurers right of. Wandered how we got into town. We told him we helped deliver the wine. Suddenly, his mood changed. There was a little excitement in his voice and demeanor. He tried to leave to go get some wine but we finally got him to stop and listen to what we needed. We need our weapons dipped in silver, or silverfied if you will. He tried to get us to quiet down some. People don’t talk about that sort of thing. It’s actually not used as currency in the realm and if it’s seen, its usually confiscated. He asked what we wanted tipped. We told him and gave him the solver necessary to do it. We paid him well and Rinn even fetched him some wine to drink while he works. Zanfyr buys a bow and arrows. For 10 gold each, we convinced him to get it done overnight. He also learned about whiskey from Snoggly.

We went back to the manor house and joined the Krezkov’s for dinner. Dain and Kyana notice that though Ilya seems fairly normal, he seems to have a veracious appetite. He seems devour the food very quickly. Dimitri tries to get him to slow down a little but that had no effect. The sounds Ilya made, while eating, we more like that of a dog, ripping into his meal. Haldar attempts to sense for his favored enemies within 5 miles, undead, and it returns mostly a since of shadow. As if he sensed shadows about. He senses that from the direction of the Abby, from the woodlands surrounding Kresk but not from the town proper. It’s not very strong.