Session 15 - Curse of Strahd

After waving goodbye to Selmak, the party are relaxing reflecting on their adventures to date when, the townmaster approaches them. Duchess Morwen of Daggerford has sent word that she would very much like to host a dinner party in honor of the deeds of the brave heroes who have helped her old friend Gundren. 

The party agree and travel by road where on the way they are greeted by Barlumins cousin Baromar, a monk who has dedicated his life to the monastery and learning martial arts. Baromar sends word that Selmak is in trouble and Barlumin decides to head off to attempt to save him. Baromar has nothing better to do so decides to join the party. 

Arriving in Daggorford the team head to the inn where they order mead and pork ribs which had been smoked for around 10 hours so far. After eating and drinking for some time, a messenger arrives to tell the party that the lady eagerly awaits their arrival, they wrap up and head to the manor, where the Lady greets them. They are shown to their rooms and told the manor is at their disposal. Pallas and Baromar head to the library to read up on the history of the fishing industry of Daggorford. Gnarvick heads to his room to clean up and rest then sneaks his way around the mansion. Snowball explores and finds a music room with many instruments which look relatively unused. Grimdur heads to the kitchens and demands food where he faces off with a mean kitchen mistress who shoos him out as she is not preparing a meal for now, its for dinner time which will be shortly.

Shortly the dinner bell rings and the party head to dinner, Gnarvick arrives first, Grimdur still has his axe strapped to his back which takes small chunks out of the furniture every time he moves. Pallas still smells like a week on the road, and casts Prestidigitation to clean the road scum off himself. A group of the Ladys advisors sit down and shortly after the Lady enters the room. She makes a small speech thanking them for their service to Gundren and thanks them for making the trip to Daggorford. She sits and almost immediately a swarm of servants enter the room with bowls of spicy tomato soup which is amazingly good.  As the finish the soup, and a full sized fish is bought out and served for them, the lady sighs deeply and says "friends, I don't want you to feel I bought you here on a false premise, but I have an ask of your amazing skills. There is a group camped outside the town who when they arrived were of little bother to anyone, but of late they have started harassing the farmers and merchants entering town, they demand money and goods in exchange for passage, I sent my guards to run them off yesterday but the Guards returned with nothing but the highest praise for the visitors, I fear they may have been charmed. I will of course compensate you, how does 100 Gold each sound. "

The party agree to head out there the following morning. And after a lovely evening ending with brandy in the smoking room, they retire. Arising early the next morning and finding a small package of breakfast outside their rooms, they eat and head out.

The exit the town gates and notice several guards on the walls with constant watch on the camp. As they approach Gnarvick and Pallas decide to hang back after spotting a jovial man with what looks like a spellbook and a component pouch strapped to his belt. The rest of the party approach the camp where everyone looks to have been drinking all night. The man with the spellbook spots the party and says "Friends we have been waiting for you, please come join us. I am Stanamir" they sit with him and he says "where are the rest of your party?" they are on guard at this point but continue the discussion. 

They ask Stanamir to move on that he has offended the lady and needs to leave. Stanamir laughs and says "We will move on aye, the Lady needs not worry, but first let me tell you a story" He takes a mouthful of wine and spits it in the fire. 

He tells a story of a lord of his lands who as his power grew so did his tynarry, how his people were sad and oppressed and how they have need of a group of adventurers such as the ones here to rid his lands of the blight that is this lord. 

He asks if they will join him, and they agree to help after collecting their gold from the Duchess. They head back and get the gold, the Duchess is disappointed that Snowball is leaving as she really wanted to spend some time with him learning to play the organ. 

They head back to the camp and find the wagons packed ready to depart. Gnarvick and Grimdur squeeze into the cargo wagon. Baromar sits up with Stanamir who attempts to teach him a dice game, but Baromar isn't interested in gambling, so they drink. Snowball decides to burden one of the horses by sitting on it for the trip then falls back with Pallas who is travelling by foot behind the caravan. 

A couple of days in the weather turns strange. Fog rolls in during mid afternoon. None of the Vistani seem overly panicked about it so the party are not too worried. Grimdur heads to the front Wagon and drinks with Stanamir. 

They arrive in Barovia, where Stanamir tells them they will head to Madam Eva, she foretold their coming and has all the answers they seek. The party arrive and there are about 14 Vistani drinking solemnly around a fire. They point to the biggest tent and advise the party that is where Madam Eva is. 

They enter the tent and a very old lady cackles "Friends my cards foretold your coming, I welcome you here, let me read your future for you"

 She lays out Cards in the following pattern

then turns them over one by one

Card	Eva's Explanation of the card.	Drawn card	Eva's Words after turning the card
1. Tome of Strahd	This card tells of History. Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy.	Paladin	“I see a sleeping Prince, a servant of light and the brother of darkness. The treasure lies with him”
2. Holy Symbol of Ravenkind	This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope.	Myrmidon	“Look for a den of wolves in the hills overlooking a mountain lake. The treasure belongs to mother night”
3. The Sunsword	This card is a card of power and strength. It tells of a weapon of vengeance A sword of sunlight	Thief	“What you seek lies at the crossroads of life and death, among the buried dead”
4. Strahd’s Enemy	This card sheds light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness	Executioner	“Seek out the brother of the devil’s bride. They call him “the lesser” but he has a powerful soul”
5. Strahd’s Location	Your enemy is a creature of darkness, whose powers are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him.	Horseman	“He lurks in the one place to which he must return - A place of death”

The party are left scratching their heads a little at what all this means, and head back out to the campfire where they try to ask the Vistani. They get little information from them, but one of them says let me tell you a story. He retells a tale of a wizard who did battle with Lord Strahd which ultimately cost him his life. Stanamir is Glaring at the younger Vistani who seems to have said something he shouldn't have. The party are feeling a distinct frostiness from the Vistani since their reading from Madam Eva. This seems to get even frostier as the group discuss Pallas' prior exploits killing vampires. 

They decide to head into the Village Barovia, and find a tavern. They enter to see three Vistani deep in whispered conversation and a single patron sitting alone drinking. They approach him and he smiles widely, pays for their drinks and introduces himself as Ismark, he orders food and as the barmaid brings the drinks out, he tips her, she says "thanks Lesser" He explains that he has been seen as the lesser version of his father his whole life. 

He invites them back to his Manor as he has a strong need for protection of his sister. He leaves them and says its probably not best to be seen together. 

The Party arrive at the Manor, and see that all the windows are boarded up. There are scratch marks on the boards, they are able to determine these were made by Zombies and Ghouls. 

They approach the house and......

See you next week!!!