Main

“I haven’t been her for a long time. I’m not sure I know how to miss her.” - Matheo

Key Developments and Revelations

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

Full Session Notes (Rasmus)

After combat has died down, the Ascillians start executing the Naearisians that are still alive. We ask if they don’t wanna question them, but they say that they don’t care for anything they say. The Ascillians spare one, as he is nobility, and they can ransom him instead. Afterwards, the leader of the Ascillians goes outside, and Cassandra follows, asking about what happened back at the valley. The conversation turns slightly hostile after the soldier insults the Durnspire troops, which is where Cassandra was once stationed. He asks about Cassandra as well, and she reveals that she pissed off a higher up. The soldier asks for her name, and Cassandra gives him a name, Dawn Riverside. The soldier introduces himself as Zevran, and asks where we came from, before inviting us to accompany them to their garrison. Cassandra signs to the group that she’ll go by Dawn now. Afterwards, Zara calls everyone for a group talk. We quickly just talk about Matheo having killed a person, and Cassandra just picking a side for the group, but the conversation never gets much bigger. Cassandra and Belaern also have a little laugh about her hypocrisy about charging into battle, like she told him not to. As they finish their conversations, the Ascillians are ready to move, and we head out. As we camp, Cassandra and the Ascillian soldiers just talk a bit about where they’re from, and their service in Ascil. They joke around a bit, and Cassandra clearly starts feeling more relaxed, back among Ascillians. The group and the Ascillians just talk a bit about Ascil and the surrounding nations, Ascilian values and such.

During the night, on Matheo’s watch, he gives the prisoner his dagger while pretending to feed him. As Zevran and Killian wake up for the fourth watch, they realize the prisoner is gone, and Zevran beats up Raskel for failing his duties. Belaern casts a Zone of Truth to find out if either of the two on watch were lying, and it becomes apparent that Matheo had a hand in the escape. In the morning, Matheo goes to try and explain to Cassandra, who brushes off his attempt at explanation. As they leave, Belaern also asks Matheo to bring up the rear with him. The two of them have a little talk where Belaern asks Matheo to explain himself and his feelings on everything, like killing the guy yesterday, Raskel taking his punishment and such. Matheo also asks Belaern for how he deals with all of this, guilt and such for killing, with Belaern basically saying the end justifies the means - they’re doing this to save people in the end. They end it by questioning each other why they stay with the group - with Belaern not trusting them, and Matheo feeling disgusted by what they do. Belaern argues that he trusts them, as long as they’re working towards the same goal. Matheo doesn’t really know, but it’s safe for him to keep moving and it’s a way to stay hidden. He doesn’t elaborate on this.

A few hours later, we get to Velryn’s March, where we “set up camp” and say our goodbyes to Zevran’s group. We go to the Iron Flask, an inn in the area, built into the iron mine that used to be the centerpiece of the town. The innkeeper tells us a bit about the surrounding area, and when we ask him about potential work, he says we should ask the local Primaris, Primaris Rethe Braelen. As we talk and drink, Cassandra gets really drunk, but Belaern casts Lesser Restoration on her. As she gets up, she has a noticeable limp, but says she doesn’t know why it happens, but Belaern senses that it’s a lie. He doesn’t question her yet however, and the group heads to meet the Primaris.

The Primaris says the town itself needs resources from the nearby towns, but they won’t share before certain issues have been dealt with, which is where we come in. In Fallowmere, there’s a refugee crisis that needs to be organized, so the refugees can go further into Ascillian territory. In Winden Hollow, Sister Noelle Vasra of their Monastery has asked for help to determine the source of blue tinted magic staining the walls and corrupting the ground. And in Darswood, nearly a dozen lumber workers have gone missing and then been found dead with runes carved into their bodies. While we discuss what to do, Belaern notices that while the map on the table has no markers on it, it has faint lines drawn on it. There’s one heading from Nemorak down to Darethane. There’s also one from Zherovai to the Thaecea Alliance. Finally, there’s one from Korvalien up to Sunveth. In the end, we decide to head to Darswood in the morning, after sleeping at the inn. Belaern has a talk with Cassandra, where he tells her about the map, and asks about her limp, which she reveals nothing new about. Killian and Matheo also talk, where Matheo reveals that he’s actually a woman, and is using the name and looks of Matheo to stay hidden.

DATE: 27/07/2025

In-game Date Start: 16th of Hallowtide, 988 A.D

In-game Date Finish: 17th of Hallowtide, 988 A.D

Players Present

• Jeremy (Killian)

• Oskar (Cassandra)

• Rasmus (Belaern)

• Sari (Matheo)

• Sydney (Zara)

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

• List of NPCs

Wall of Shame

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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:

“I don’t feel guilt because I believe that the end justifies the end. We’re doing this to save people.” - Belaern

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“I haven’t been her for a long time. I’m not sure I know how to miss her.” - Matheo

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