Session 04: Exploring Vallaki

General Summary

The Blue Water Inn

A Safe Haven

• The party arrives at The Blue Water Inn
• On a fence the symbol seen at Old Bonegrinder is carved.
• They are greeted by Danika Dorakova who takes their orders.
• Maisie notices the symbol carved on the bar, and orders an "Unkindness".
• Maisie sees that the bottle has a letter concealed behind the label.
• The letter invites the party to work with the Keepers of the Feather in the resistance against Strahd von Zarovich.
• They are based at this Inn and at The Wizard of Wines.
• The party infers that the ravens they kept seeing might have been watching them, and these guys could be like the Harpers.
• There is also a chance that this might be a family of wereravens.
• Maisie asks Danika some questions.
• What the party was told about Izek was true, but there's more to it.
• He had a younger sister that was presumably carried off by wolves in the same incident he lost his arm, his parents had killed themselves shortly after in their grief.
• His younger sister (who was three at the time) has red hair; which is considered an ill omen in Barovia as many with red hair often meet tragic ends.
• Maisie informs her of the comissions, with her and Danika quickly realising that Ireena Kolyana may be this lost sister.
• Izek seemingly does not remember Ireena, and Ireena does not remember her past.
• The party also speaks to two hunters, they don't learn much beyond that its uncredibly unwise to travel Barovia at night.
• Rooms purchased, the party makes their way to their beds (with some talk of dying Ireena's hair to hopefully conceal her better).

The Return of SpiderMaisie

• After her trance and while taking watch, Maisie notices movement coming from the Coffin Maker’s Shop at odd hours and decides to investigate.
• Skeleton Archer was also taking watch in his room but did not notice this.
• Maisie decides to go investigate, on her own.
• Wildshapped as a spider, Maisie makes her way into the building.
• Seeing nothing of note until, in a storage room, she finds 6 vampire spawn; who don't notice or care about her thanks to the wildshape!
• Testing fate further, Maisie makes her way into a bedroom. Where she sees signs of a hidden compartment.
• After stealthily dropping her wildshape, she grabs the two hidden sacks and makes her escape!
• Once a safe distance away, she opens the sacks.
• She finds the Bones the party were searching for AND some coins (she leaves some of these in the bar till).

The Party Explores

The Next Morning

• Maisie informs the party of her find while they enjoy a nice breakfast.
• Her and Madame H confirm the bones are genuine.
• Maisie takes the time to ask about her sister.
• Danika hasn't seen anyone matching that description but there is a chance another member of Keepers of the Feather has.
• Also advises that the Inn (and presumably the Village of Krezk) is low on wine.
• So the party could always use that as a means to gain access to Krezk.
• Also mentions the political situation in Vallaki is tense, but believes Baron Vargas Vallakovich is better than Lady Fiona Wachter.
• Party also talk to Rictavio.
• He is a Carnival Ringmaster from a distant land seeking beasts for his show.
• The party does mention the vampire spawns which peaks his intrest.
• He offers his assistance in dealing with all but one that he will personally keep.
• They all agree to meet back at the Inn at Noon, when the sun is at its highest.

The Bones Returned

• The party returns the bones to Lucian Petrovich who is beyond grateful.
• While the party doesn't know how they came to be in the Coffin Maker’s Shop, they will inform him ASAP.
• As a reward he gives the following...

A Disturbance at the Stockyard

• The party makes their way to Arasek Stockyard.
• Maisie and Garreak buy some goods.
• They also checkout a mysterious wagon in the stockyard.
• It belongs to Rictavioand they quickly realise that a beast is inside.
• Maisie learns that Rictavio is this master, but that this is not his name.
• Also the beast is trained to hunt vampire spawn and Vistani.

Session ended at 11:40am 16/9/735; 16th of Sintavr, 735