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“Keep it safe, and when you do, all the people that love you will be close.” -Alistair to Lionel

Key Developments and Revelations

• Remaining members of the Copper Covenant discuss Sanctuarys vision

• Gabriel trains Lionel in the courtyard when Ferwin comes to visit

• Ferwin gives the party a rundown on what happened in the ‘old world’ before the Merging

• Thena accepts Gabrielles offer

• Aurelius tells us about his past with the Ferrymen

• The party then leave to get the missing map fragment from Luca Moretti

• Unable to convince Moretti the party attacks and barely make it out of the mansion alive due to Ferwin’s help

• The missing fragment is collected, together with some other interesting items before the party returns home

• Kazemi has returned and brought new faces along with him

Full Session Notes (Sari)

Rydel, Alistair and Sanctuary talk about what Sanctuary has seen from casting Legendlore on Kani’s earrings. None of them recognize the beach or the floating islands in the mysterious forest, but realize that the Tiefling has to have some kind of connection to Kani for her to appear in the vision.

In the meantime, Lionel, wearing clumsily put together armor that doesn’t fit him at all, a shield and a training sword, went to find Gabrielle training outside of the mansion. Alistair also tagged along but kept his distance as Lionel and Gabrielle talk.

Lionel asks Gabrielle to train him, as he doesn’t want to be a liability to the party any longer. Gabrielle is reluctant at first, tells him that he wasn’t meant to be a fighter and asks him for his reasons. They talk a little bit about the people they lost and that the memories Lionel has left of his father are not enough to help him in his grief. Gabrielle then agrees to train him.

Ferwin shortly after joins Alistair in watching the both of them train. As soon as Lionel gets used to the attacks a little bit, Gabrielle picks up the pace, aiming to have Lionel stumble and fall.

Ferwin comments about Lionel looking very much like his father to Alistair then walks closer and puts a hand on Lionels shoulder to ask him if he wants to be like his father. Lionel confused is unable to answer and Ferwin continues to walk inside the mansion and join the others at the bar.

Lionel looks after him and asks Gabrielle who he was, but doesn’t seem to recognize the name Ferwin Venturi.

Gabrielle instead asks him again why he wants to become stronger and after Lionel tells him that Morric has written in his letter that he should protect his sister, Gabrielle asks him to remember that. Lionel should fight to protect those he cares for, not to harm people. He then sends him inside to clean up.

As Lionel walks Gabrielle stops him again and thanks his for returning and for being alive.

At the door Alistair, who has been watching the training and took part in the lesson, catches up to Lionel. He gives him a cape, embroided with the constellation Morric has mentioned in his letter to him. Alistair says that now he can always carry them around with him wherever he goes.

At the bar Ferwin has chatted with the present members and taken a bottle of rancid old disgusting vile alcohol Sanctuary has offered him. He shares part of his motivation to take down the Silent Serpents with them, revealing that before Aurelius he was Oberon’s champion and carried the same mark because of it. He doesn’t enjoy being controlled by anyone though, so he hid and employed us to help him get rid of the Zahedi family. Now that the mark is gone he is a free man again, so he quit his job. Gabrielle would still be able to have someone transport Morric’s body back home if he wants to do that.

Ferwin also says that he owes the party a favor for their help in the case.

Further he asks about Soren’s kids and what the party plans to do with them. He then shares what has happened in the ‘old world’ before the Merging and what kind of role he has played in the events. Ferwin says that Soren, same as him, has betrayed his home and the Band of Lions leading to the death of his distant family with the only survivor being Alessander. This is why he is not surprised to hear of Soren’s assassination, just that it didn’t happen sooner. The investigation about the coup against the Adairn family has also been halted as it had lead nowhere, but Ferwin says that Asger the ‘big brute’ might still be able to take in and look after Soren’s children if the party decides to not want them with them any longer.

Gabrielle says he promised Thena to be by their side for whatever she wants to do now, so until she took a decision he will not decide for them. Ferwin gets up to leave after telling Gabrielle that Lionel’s path will probably get the kid killed.

After Ferwin left the mansion, Alistair asks for a quick history lesson about the Merging. It comes up that Alistair has seen Eclipse before and tells the party that that was the sword he was killed with. He gives a description of the man that did it as well but no one recognizes him from any history lessons or records of wielders of Eclipse.

Alistair says that his family had a lot of influence in the fey court and while there has been threats to his family due to his parents wanting to build a connection to the material plane, it never got to be violent until the assassination attempt. He is unsure if any of it is connected and he doesn’t remember for how long he has been dead. All he remembers is waking up two years ago.

Shortly after this conversation, Lavender and Gabrielle go to talk to Thena in her room. When they ask her what she wants to do, she accepts Gabrielles offer of his oath and Lavender promises to stay with them as well. They hug, Thena admitting that she knows that there might be an official ceremony for this but she’d rather hug them. She then says that she wants revenge, but will not leave until Lionel is ready to be without her, even if it takes years.

Gabrielle tells her that he will send Morric’s body back home and if she and Lionel want to say their goodbyes it should be soon.

Meanwhile, Aurelius has woken up and joined the remaining members of the Copper Phoenix downstairs. Rydel tells him about how everyone met and when he mentions the Ferrymen, Aurelius also shares his past with them. He says that Bekvon has been something like a family to him so hearing of his death upsets him. When they also tell him of their murder of Captain Otto it is different, as he says that Otto should have suffered more before he died.

Rydel and Aurelius also talk about their father, and while Rydel doesn’t want to prioritize finding him, Aurelius says that he wants to talk to him and that he should pay for abandoning the both of them.

Next day, the party prepares to leave for Luca Morettis mansion. Gabrielle prepares everything for Morric’s return home before he joins them at the mansion.

The party attempts to convince Moretti to hand over his piece of the map and after a lot of back and forth and altought Alistair charming efforts, Moretti leave the party frustrated. Moretti makes it clear that should a trade be up for discussion the items he wants in his collection need to have a story of legendary proportions, otherwise he wouldn’t be interested.

He denies them entry and as he walks away Gabrielle runs forward to attack him and triggers the defense mechanism of the mansion. All 6 mechanical guardians inside the entrance hall and the metal guard with three arms called ‘The warrior’ engage in battle.

Sanctuary sends a plea for help to Ferwin who laughs out loud in response. The battle is harsh and probably would have cost some of them their lifes if Ferwin didn’t show up in the last minute and easily takes out the remaining guards.

Rydel beats Moretti but instead of killing him he offers him his life for trade. In exchange they get the missing part of the map and walk out of the mansion unharmed and without his as an enemy. Moretti didn’t have another chance but to accept.

He leads Rydel, Syphax and Gabrielle into his hidden vaults with an interesting gun that has the initials E.F. carved in it and a Raven mask. On another table they find soulstones, which Gabrielle scoops into the bag while Rydel takes the map and Sanctuary copies the other two maps in display. When asked about the origins of the soulstones Moretti tells the party about them being found in a ruin in Regnum Aurelia aand that they are remnants of an ancient civilization that is worshipped as gods by the people of Regnum Aurelia.

The party takes a further look at Moretti’s collection but don’t take anything else from him. They leave together with Ferwin who tells them that he’s grateful for the opportunity to clear out his debt to them not even a day after he offered.

p.s. Syphax eats a soulstone and gets big.

DATE: 29/10/2023

In-game Date Start: 18th of Hallowtide, 959 A.D.

In-game Date Finish: 18th of Hallowtide, 959 A.D.

Players Present

• Jeremy (Lavender/Alistair)

• Oskar (Resona/Myxi)

• Rasmus (Rydel)

• Sari (Gabrielle)

• Sydney (Sanctuary)

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

• Luca Moretti

• Ferwin Venturi

• Arwen Kazemi

Wall of Shame

• Jerm - 3 min

• Sari - 8 min

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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:

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