21/02/2024
31st day of Rainmoot- 1st Day of Palesun1492
Mission: Kill Strahd von Zarovich. (After dinner of course, one must observe etiquette).
Campaign: Tales from the Bard
Location(s): Barovia, van Richten's Tower, Castle Ravenloft.
Present: Bernadette Greycastle, Dramos Ethrane, Niall Tharivol, Ragul-Nur, Roscoe Tosscoble, Moonwhisper, Bomber Longbeard. Ezmerelda, Rictovio, Father Danovich & Kasimir Velikov)
31st: (1 night until the full moon)
Ragul was able to gain a new prayer, Remove Curse. He healed himself of the Cursed Treasure curse. Throughout the remainder of this day they laid their plans.
Ragul would have full access to his prayers tomorrow, so too Rictovio. The plan being to cure the 4 bitten members, Moonwhisper, Dramos, Bernadette and Roscoe of the Werewolf Curse.
Rictovio would then cure 3 members of the 5 remaining Treasure Cursed, Moonwhisper, Roscoe and Dramos. Healing prayers would be cast to restore and heal all damage. Bernadette and Niall would still have the Treasure Curse but it was hoped this could be cured after another day.
Ezmerelda had gathered money from everyone and travelled to Vallaki to buy healing potions.
Ragul-Nur would carry the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind and Moonwhisper the Sun Sword. The potions of invulnerability were given to Moonwhisper, Niall, Bomber and Bernadette.
Ragul, Rictovio and Ezmerelda rested, the others had a trouble night.
1st: (Night of the full moon)
Prayers and spells cast, those that could took advantage of a long rest before the journey to Castle Ravenloft.
They took both wagons and left late afternoon after everyone had rested and all preparations were made good. As they passed Vallaki, Kasimir Velikov was standing by the road. Rictovio stopped and he got on the wagon. As they approached the winding road up to the castle, Father Danovich stood waiting for them, he got on board Ezmerelda's wagon. Eleven against the might of Castle Ravenloft.
The journey up the winding road was uneventful. Everyone was deep in their own thoughts.
Rictovio shouted into the wagon, entering the courtyard now.
The wagons stopped. The group exited the wagons and stood in a huddle.
A loud clang came from behind. Turning they could see the way out was now closed by a heavy portcullis.
A voice came from in front of them.
Voice: "My name is Rahadin, chamberlain to my Lord and Master".
Turning they saw a dusk Elf. from Kasimir a loud intake of breath could be heard. Niall forestalled him by placing his hand over Kasimir's as he reached for his sword. If Rahadin noticed Kasimir he did not let on.
Rahadin: "Welcome to Castle Ravenloft. Baron Strahd von Zarovich bids you all welcome and has asked that you join him and his other guests in the dining room. Please follow me".
Rahadin led them into a large, square entrance hallway, similar door to the entrance stood in front of them. They opened as Rahadin waved his hand. As the group followed the main entrance doors closed behind them.
In each corner, high overhead, stood statues of dragons. The main entrance led onto an expansive corridor. To their left an impressive, grand staircase disappeared into the darkness. The main part of this area was octagonal in shape and in pairs stood eight more gargoyle statues.
Another pair of doors stood opposite as Rahadin turned to his right and led the way down a long corridor. At the end off to the left they could just make out a spiral staircase, t their right another pair of doors and immediately opposite stood a suit of armour in a small alcove.
Rahadin indicated the pair of ornate doors and as if by magic they opened. They gazed in amazement at the very ornately decorated room. A long dinning table lay before them and at the far end, dominating the room was an organ, mounted on a raised dais and upon the walls behind it huge metallic pipes for the sound.
Rahadin bid them seat, he then went around the table and asked each member of the group to hand their weapons, shields and large packs over as thy would hinder them at dinner. The items were handed over but not to Rahadin, some invisible force held them above the ground at waist height and transported them over to respective tables behind the guests along each side wall. (Each guest basically had access to a dagger. Moonwhisper had hidden the hilt of the Sun Blade under his clothing, Ragul-Nur had done the same with the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind. Neither of them wanted to antagonise Strahd unnecessarily.
Rahadin then informed them his master, Strahd von Zarovich would join them shortly. It was some 20 minutes before Strahd entered with a beautiful young lady. She sat between Bernadette and ##, Strahd sat at the head of the table with the organ behind him. Strahd bid them all partake of wine and the good food he had to offer. Clapping his hands the doors opened and a young man came in. He did not look towards the guests but Danovich was taken aback, it was his son! They were served a white wine, Danovich downed his straight away and his glass refilled. Bomber just shrugged his shoulders and followed suit. They all noticed that Strahd and the lady were served wine from a different decanter. When poured they could see it was a thick, heavy liquid which was red in colour.
The doors suddenly opened and in walked another beautiful woman, it was Ireena. She bowed to Strahd and sat down at the other end of the table. The other woman present hissed out loud until a word from Strahd quietened her.
Pleasantries were passed, Strahd asked why they had come to Barovia, Niall asked how could they return home. Strahd informed them it was beyond his power to assist them directly. Questions were asked of the Vistani freedom to travel, Strahd informed them that they could because they had saved his life.
Dinner was served, but not by the young man. Each dish seemed to float through the air until it was placed on the long table for the guests to help themselves. The food was deliciously mouth watering. Small talk abounded. The other woman never once looked up from her empty plate. Questions were asked why Strahd and the two woman did not eat anything. Strahd informed them that food did nothing for them, only the special red wine they drank gave them sustenance.
The young man cleared away the empty dishes and on his third journey out of the entrance doors they heard a loud crash and growling. All heads turned in that direction Ireena hurried to stand next to Strahd. Rahadin ran and dropped a wooden beam across the doors to bar entrance to what was outside the room. He retreated next to Strahd. The group rushed for their equipment as loud banging could be heard outside the door as the cross beam of wood bulged inwards.
Bernadette: "They've gone, they're not here!"
Looking around the group could see they were alone. Strahd, Rahadin and the two woman were no longer in the room.
Moonwhisper: "Whatever comes through that door be ready to kill it!"
The doors burst open and 6 wolves rushed in, followed by 3 wolf creatures walking on hind legs, a fourth, larger wolf creature followed.
The wolves attacked first.
Niall, Moonwhisper, Bernadette and Bomber took the brunt of the wolf attack. Ragul moved in to support Moonwhisper and Niall. Roscoe dispatched a wolf as did Moonwhisper, Bernadette and Niall. Roscoe moved in to support Bernadette and Bomber but missed time his spear thrust and merely prodded the wolf with the blunt end, it drew a wry comment from Bernadette.
Bernadette: "Use the pointy end Roscoe.........you might do something more than make it angry!"
Dramos kept up a barrage of cantrip spells until Kasimir stepped into his laine of sight and took the full force of a fire bolt, the effect collapsed him to the floor. Father Danovich cast cure wounds on Kasimir and Moonwhisper giving them valuable aid when needed. The last of the wolves were dealt with as the now unmistakable Werewolves closed in to attack. Moonwhisper, Ragul and Niall faced off against the Werewolf Lord and another Werewolf as Bomber and Bernadette faced the other 2 Werewolves.
During the fight Bernadette and Niall were bitten! Dramos dispatched a werewolf with a carefully placed chilling touch spell and said to no one in particular:
Dramos: "I don't know why anyone was worried!"
Bernadette efficiently dealt with another Werewolf.
With the minor Werewolves were dispatched. Moonwhisper took 2 mighty blows from the Werewolf Lord as he slammed his clawed fists into the Paladin. Moonwhisper was feeling the effect of the blows but healed himself and struck down with all his might ending the Werewolf Lords part in the fight.
The group took stock. It was then they realised that van Richten and Ezmerelda too had disappeared. They were no longer in the room.
Players Notes:
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