Session 21 - Delivery Boys

Davian the leader of the winery crew thanks your for clearing the Druids and the tree. He instructs his boys to load up all 9 remaining casks of wine and with a sad heart tells you of a rift between his brother Urwin and him, where Urwin believes that Davian sold or traded one of the three magic gems that protected the vineyard with Strahd.  

He explains (much to the confusion of the team) that the vineyard operates and supplies wine with all of Barovia free of charge, the gems were in place to protect the lands from the curse that came with Strahds arrival.  

He explains that Baba Laysagya came with an army of scarecrows and took a gem, and that the remaining one was taken by the druids, if the party could track them down they could restore their ability to make wine which is the only source of joy in all of Barovia and restore hope to all the people. 

The party say they will think about it, and escort the wine deliveries, along the way Jamorin casts zone of truth on Davian and the party interrogate him try and discover more about Barovia, they ask him about his family and explains they were attacked by were ravens and have since all become were ravens too. They ask about what truely happens to the gems and Davian explains that the gem was lost due to Urwins incompetence. 

They ask him about Ireena and why Strahd is interested, and at this stage realize that Ismark is sitting next to him and is under the same spell, Ismark asks "why do you question a total stranger about my beloved sister?" They ask Ismark the same question and he explains that Strahd believes Ireena is the reincarnation of a long lost lover. 

Baroman asks Ismark what else does he know about his sister and he starts explaining about when she was young she loved only Blinkski toys and hated peas and sprouts but loved squash and.......they realized this question was far too open ended. 

Arriving at Krezk Davians boys unload three of the Barrels, the Burgomaster Dimitri embraces Davian with a very warm welcome, Davian explains about the gems and the mood turns sombre, the party discuss with Ismark what they would like from him while he remains with his sister, and asks that he visit the abbot to get any holy symbols he is able to have made blessed, Dimitri overhears talk of the abbot and explains that no one visits the abby any longer, something happened and its now sealed up, the random bell ringing and screams that come from that place indicate its cursed and should be avoided. 

The party look around the town and visit the shrine of the Morning Lord, they see Ismark drink from it and realize it has restorative properties so they refill their water skins. 

They get back on the road after saying goodbye to Ismark and Ireena and head to the village of Vallaki, they arrive to some excited guards who see the wine delivery and immediately open the gates. They notice high walls made from sturdy logs tied together and many wolf heads on pikes around the outside of the gates. 

They head to the blue water inn and drop off the barrels. the Party are greeted by the bar manager, who introduces himself as Urwin, he asks the party if they will be lodging there tonight and they say yes. 

They head out a road north of the town where there is a Vistiani camp and deliver the remaining three barrels, the Vistani are very happy to see the wine but are not very welcoming to the party. 

Heading back to town they notice a sagging sad looking mansion that basically hates itself for what it has become, Davian says thats the watcher mansion and makes a sign of protection on himself.

They get to the blue water inn and Davian and his boys tend to the horses, the party sit down to wine, ale and wolf steaks. After they eat and are a few wines in Urwin comes over to chat with them, they ask him about the Watcher house, and he says its a sad tale the lady of the house is rumored to want to take over the role of Burgomaster,  there are strange happenings around the place and it should have fallen down long ago, he tells them she lives with her sons and servants and that they should probably avoid that place.

He is sad about the wines and once the party explain that they took care of the Druids he offers them free food and drink for the evening, and asks hopefully if they will seek out the gems, explaining that his idiot brother traded one with Strahd but the others are truly going to be the savior of all people of Barovia.

They ask about other things in the town and he tells them of a church if they seek the blessing of holy symbols, Blinkski's toys, and the busiest man in Barovia the coffin maker.

The party ask about their safety in town and explain their night in the church, Urwin asks if that was their first night and explains that The Devil Strahd likes to greet his newcomers that way. 

Baroman explains they are considering finding the gems but so far there has not been much in the way of payment for their work, Urwin laughs and says if you expect to leave Barovia at the end of this with more than you came, best you just give up now. Strahd didn't bring you here to make you rich, he came to see if you are a worthy challenger to his survival.

They party decide to go and pay a visit to the Watcher house thinking that maybe the lady could help them in their quest to defeat Strahd. Arriving they knock on the door and the lady herslef comes out, "what do you want" she asks. Lady Fiona is a tall elf she looks very hard and has an air of inherent evil about her. 

Baroman asks, "fair lady we seek a way to defeat Strahd and we know of your quest for power in this village perhaps we could help you in exchange for some assistance of our own" She scoffs at him and says "Lord Strahd is the true power in this town, and starts to turn away. Gnarvick tries his hand " Fair Lady if you would......" she turns to him and very angrily says "Disgusting Gnome how dare you address me" and returns to the house. 

Gnarvick and Baroman scout out the ground floor assisted by Snowballs invisibility spell. The go around the house, peeping in windows to see some sleeping young ladies, someone eating at a table and a man standing by a fireplace deep in thought. There is a stairwell to the basement and listening at the door they hear chanting, like some kind of ritual is under way. 

Gnarvick climbs up to the second floor and checks the windows, he finds a library with an extraordinary number of cats, and a corpse in bed with two copper pieces covering his eyes. He appears freshly deceased. The party regroup at the front of the house and decide to head back to the Inn for the night.