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Session 13: A Loud Battlecry

Main

“Ahh, so that’s what shape the world is.”

  • Resona, looking at a globe

Key Developments and Revelations

  • The main happenings the party want to keep tabs on or remember

Full Session Notes

The party starts off by unceremoniously teleporting into Sorens office/meeting room, and landing in various interesting ways. As everyone is trying to get a sense of where they are, Soren who was just drinking some tea, asks who we are and how we ended up teleporting into his office.

This sparks a very all over the place introduction and explanation of what happened. Where no one in the party knows what route to take the conversation in. Gabrielle wants to interrogate Soren more than answering questions. Morric being fairly open to giving the story of how we ended up there, Lavender seemed to back Morric on this. Resona stayed mostly quiet, clearly uncomfortable, only really speaking to get something clarified. And Honey was her usual self being wary, eager and energetic.

After the small meeting/introductions Soren told the party that we could stay for a bit and that we would be given some guest rooms to sleep in, or take a bed in the beariks if things got too cramped. As everyone started to settle into their rooms and get some time. Gabrielle and Honey decided to go explore the castle we found ourselves in. Finding a small library with a globus on display, both Gabrielle and Honey agreed that the globus was wrong and that the material plane was flat, and then drawing the conclusion that all the different planes are just laierd untop of each other like a sandwich. Continuing through the library they opened a door that led to a small study room where they found an old man Kewin, and two young women Thena and Ava who ended up being Sorens daughters. Gabrielle then started asking the old professor/“wizard?” about the parasitic plants that seemed to have infested Albar.

Finishing up there they Honey and Gabrielle continued thru the castle were they ended up in the main dining hall, were they found Soren and his wife. Gabrielle then decided to antagonize Soren and hit on his wife right in front of his face. After this they continued exploring for a bit with Gabrielle trying to convince Honey that it would be ok to try and sneak into a locked room. not being able to, they decided to head back to their rooms. On why they cross path’s with Morric who just wanted to have a word with Soren. Morric then finds out that Gabrielle tried to flirt with Sorens wife and insulted him to his face. This lead Morric to instantly seek Soren out to apologize for his brother.

Later Morric would go out into the courtyard to find the berrics he was going to sleep in. While doing so he met a few of the Soldiers that were under Sorens crest. talking a bit with them it was decided that they would spar a bit to get their mind off things and to have some fun. Morric was winning fairly easily to begin with but then Lavender decided to cast enlarge on his opponent and the fight turns more even but Morric still coming out on top. Seeing Morric spar led to Honey also wanting to spar, but before they could start a young boy came flying down into the courtyard riding a Griffon. This boy ended up being Sorens only son and was quite astatic at Honey being able to turn into a bear.

After some time sparing/playing in the courtyard a servant ucard every one inside as the food was now ready. Taking our seats we all ate. Some enjoying it more than others. Gabrielle who was sitting alone ended up befriending one of the hired soldiers that was sitting close to him. Finding common ground in the dislike of their company and the people around, ending the conversation with a promise to meet each other in Gabrielles room.

After the dinner Soren asked Morric to gather everyone so they could talk more about what was going to happen and a further and better explanation on what had happened so far. Ending up with us getting hired to help defend against some goliath raiders that have been attacking smaller villages and towns.

DATE: 08/08/2023

In-game Date Start:

In-game Date Finish:

Players Present

  • Jeremy (Lavender)

  • Oskar (Resona)

  • Rasmus (Morric)

  • Sari (Gabrielle)

  • Sydney (Honey)

Subbed Characters

  • X played X / Everyone was present.

Completed Quests

  • Link to completed quests

Obtained Quests

  • Link to quests picked up this session

Locations Visited

  • List of Locations

Important NPCs Interacted With

  • Soren Adairn

  • Alesander Valdam

  • Kewin

  • Lionel Adairn

  • Cael Dane

  • Ava “Adairn”

  • Ramiro

Wall of Shame

  • Jeremy (3 min)

  • Oskar (4 min)

  • Sari (26 min) fell down stairs cuz dumb

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Example

“We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto!”

Key Developments and Revelations

  • After resting with the caravan, woke up in a strange land, full of eerieness, malice and fog.

  • On finding a path and following it, they come to the Gates of Barovia.

  • Here the party meets Strahd Von Zarovich for the first time. He insinuates that he knows everyone in the party except for Sunny.

  • They follow the path, see a group of buildings, then beyond that a larger village overlooked by cliffs and a castle on it.

  • Making their way to the group of buildings, the fog seems to follow them, and Kronkus & Sunny get lost in it momentarily, with their being some time dilation happening whilst in there.

  • Making it to the hamlet, they find all but one of the buildings empty and dark. Two children rush to them, saying there’s a monster in their house, and that their parents are keeping it at bay in the basement, and their baby brother is upstairs.

  • The party move into the house, finding that this seems to belong to the Durst family. Moving into a main room, they hear the sounds of a party from beyond a nearby door.

  • Opening the door, all lights in the house go out, no people are in the room beyond. The front door and gate close and lock on their own. A wolf growls from somewhere in the dark.

Last Time, in Barovia…

Arrival in Barovia

  • The party joined the caravan heading out of Daggerford. Each one joined for a different reason, and none knew the others.

  • On the first night, the caravan rested early, having been delayed from its set off by a latecomer to the caravan.
    The latecomer, Marko, had setup a campfire with food and drink, and one by one offered, convinced or cajoled the party to join him at his fire.

  • The night was spent with everyone learning little bits about the other, drinking, eating, and being merry. Late, Marko crawled under his wagon for sleep, and invited the party to rest by his warm fire, which they did.

  • When they awoke, they were not in the same place. The wagon, Marko, even the caravan itself was gone. No tracks or signs of movement in the immediate surroundings. It was if they had been picked up and placed here.

  • All of their possessions were gone as well, bar a few items that were kept close to them while they rested.

  • Taking stock of this new land, they found it eerie, almost dripping with maliciousness. There is a thick fog, swirling as if with a life of its own. The trees seem different, twisted, gnarled and unnatural. The sun, while present, seems to have trouble penetrating cloud and fog, and does not give much light or warmth.

  • While the party is taking stock of their situation, Kronkus finds that the long-silent voices have started whispering to him again.

  • Sunny reached out to the Triple-Fish God, and found his connection was muted, but there was a new, strong core in that feeling that’s never been there before, almost certainly connected to the Triple-Fish God.

  • Moving around, they find a rutted path leading east/west. Westward leads into a thick wall of shifting fog, east has the fog thinning. They head east for a few hours.

Meeting Strahd

  • Ahead, the forest slightly parts, and they come to a huge stone wall, with a large metal gate in the middle. Out of the front of it, a pack of wolves are tearing strips off a very dead body.

  • Sunny casts Thunderwave above the wolves, in an effort to scare them. They reel back for an instant before they turn to face the party, almost undaunted by the noise. A larger wolf then snarls and pads towards the party, teeth bared.

  • As the large wolf lunges to attack, his is called to heel by a voice. A man appears at the top of the wall, who effortlessly walks down the side of the wall as if were normal, flat ground. As he gets to the ground and walks through the wolves, they let him pass. He also passes the large wolf, ruffling its fur.

  • Walking up to the party, he introduces himself as Strahd Von Zarovich, ruler of Barovia, and welcomes them to his land. He acknowledges them as the latest batch of adventurers to be brought here, more pawns in the game.

  • He looks at each member of the party, including the still hidden Wilfyr, attempting to meet their gaze. Those that do, feel drawn into that gaze, with the world around them starting to spin away. There is only Strahd. Strahd doesn’t hold them in this gaze for long.

  • He speaks briefly to each member of the party. His speech infers that he knows each of the party members to some degree, or about their past. Except Sunny. Sunny seems to be the enigma to Strahd.

  • He warns the party that they will find no rest or success in his lands, that it obeys his command. He also warns them to not meddle in his affairs, and that if they do not, then their stay won’t be unpleasant.

  • With that, he turns and strides away towards the gates, swirling his cloak around him and turns into a cloud of bats that then flies through the bars and off into the air beyond. As Strahd leaves, the wolf pack dissipates,into the forest.

  • Inspecting the dead body in the road, they find it horrifically mauled. On closer inspection, they find a crumpled, partially torn Kolyan Indirovich’s Letter that Wilfyr takes.

  • The party then pushes open the gates, and walk through. The gates closes and locks behind them. Beyond is more forest.

Finding Shelter

  • After a little while, the path comes to the top a rise, giving the party a clear view of a Barovian Basin of sorts. In the far distance can be seen a town. Next to that are some cliffs, with an ominous castle at its heights, overlooking the town. About halfway to this town, there seems to be a small group of houses. Seeing signs of civilisation, the party heads down the path into the valley beyond.

  • As they’re walking, they notice that the wall of fog is forming up thicker and thicker behind them. Its almost like its keeping pace with them, slowing down and speeding up when they do. Kronkus & Sunny attempt to interact with the fog and walk back into it.

  • They lose all visibility, and cannot hear, touch or see each other. They try to leave the way they came, but cannot get out, only walk into more fog. After 10 minutes, both of them exit the fog from exactly the same place that they entered into it. To the rest of the party, they have been waiting for them for an hour.

  • Continuing on, the rutted road finally gives way to gravel and stone, as they draw closer to the hamlet of houses. The houses are dark, boarded up, and there are no signs of life. Except one.

  • As the party moves between the buildings, the sound of a child sobbing draws their eyes, and they see a small boy and a slightly older girl walk towards them.

  • They are wailing, and after being frightened by Kronkus’ approach (due to his unnatural visage) cry that there is a monster in the house, pointing to the lit up house.

  • Most of the party dash into the house, while the kids say that their parents are in there, keeping the monster trapped in the basement. They also say their baby brother is still stuck up in his nursery. Sunny tries to convince the kids to come with the party into the house, but they refuse, growing more and more scared of going back inside the house.

  • All but Kronkus move into the foyer finding family portraits across the walls, labelled as the Dursts. Kronkus remains outside to try and convince the children to come with them, but they run off. He turns and joins the party in the house.

  • As they all step into a large main room, the sounds of a party can be heard coming from another room, from beyond a nearby door. Arkemon retrieves the longsword from above the mantlepiece, and goes back and retrieves the heraldic shield from the foyer.

  • Wilfyr finds a door on the opposite side of the room to where the party noises were coming from, and as he approached, heard the growls of wolves coming from beyond it.

  • Arkemon warns against opening that door, and instead opens the door that should lead to the party they can hear. As he opens the door, the sounds stop. There is no people in the room beyond. All the torches, fireplaces and candles in the house go out as the party is plunged into darkness.

  • Behind them, the gate and door into the entrance to the house close on their own, and lock. And another wolf growls in the distance.

DATE: 13/04/2021

In-game Date Start:

In-game Date Finish:

Players Present

  • Adam (Milo)

  • Alex (Arkemon)

  • Ben (Elgin)

  • Chad (Sunny)

  • Russ (Delta)

  • Stephen (Wilfyr)

Subbed Characters

  • Everyone was present for this session.

Completed Quests

  • No completed quests

Obtained Quests

  • Leave This Land

Places Experienced

  • Gates of Barovia

  • Barovian Basin

  • Durst Manor

Important NPCs Interacted With

  • Strahd Von Zarovich

  • Rose Durst

  • Thorn Durst

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Memorable Quotes

The best quotes of the Session:

“Did you know that the earth is actually flat?” -Gabrielle

“That makes sense, so all the planes can stack on top of each other. That’s how the tree just goes through all of them.” -Honey

“Soren’s gonna torture you.” -Morric

“You won’t let that happen. You love me too much.” -Gabrielle

”…” -Morric

“Right?” -Gabrielle

”…” -Morric

“We’re not part of a highstanding noble family anymore.” -Morric

“We never were.” -Gabrielle

“You are still behaving like you are.” -Morric

“You can’t do my kind of sparring.” -Lavender

“What’s that?” -

“The cheating kind.” -Morric

“Ahh, so that’s what shape the world is.”-Resona, looking at a globe