Dinner Pt 1

Strazni left without much of a fight once the battle with the vampires were said and done, all told. He demanded we meet him at the Baron's home immediately and left. We decided to crack the sealed letter open for some insight on what was going on and Strahd's intentions, and gained more than we bargained for. Somehow predicting this would all go down, the letter was addressed to us, and it was an invitation to Castle Ravenloft, to dinner, with Strahd himself. I was, of course, immediately skeptical about the whole thing. Had he known, and allowed these events to unfold? Did he let his bride and several lieutenants go to their deaths at our hand? It was.. certainly disturbing. We were also given direction to go to speak to Lady Wachter, or we decided to go their ourselves, given we were already supposed to have met with her this night, and we already knew she was in league with The Devil. We had little choice, we felt, and it actually seemed a better plan than to go see the Baron and Izek Strazni right now.
 
With the brief reprieve we were given as we went to Lady Wachter's, I finally gave Marushka a symbol of my gratitude for her unending vigilance in keeping me alive during these times. It was a black broach emblazoned with a red rose, encircled with white gems and silver leaves, all on a silver chain. It was the closest thing I'd seen since I've been here that I felt could even come close to apologizing to her, and possibly letting her know how I felt. She accepted it, and smiled, but I'm not sure she actually liked it. Can't blame her, I suppose. This may not have really been the best time, all things considered, what with everything that's going on. It's fine. I hope she likes it.
 
We decided to pay one last visit to the church before going to Lady Wachter's home, just to do some last minute follow ups, I suppose. I don't remember much of the reason, or what happened there, to be perfectly honest. My mind was... elsewhere. For.. someone's peace of mind, I gave a donation of gold to the Bishop in exchange for him removing the curse of the necklace I wore, as well as staying silent about some information about Seigfried and Roy. He obliged, and the necklace fell from my neck, no longer choking me, and now devoid of all magic. I felt distracted as we left, but I felt that there was little else to be done there for now. The others may have had further business or intentions, but I know them not.
 
We made our way to Lady Wachter's estate without incident, and indeed the guards were awaiting our arrival. Not unlike the last time I was here, The Baron Vargas Vallakovich's men were keeping eyes on the place. As soon as we were permitted entry, the two exchanged a word and one left. It doesn't take a genius to know they were reporting to the Baron. As we entered the Wachterhouse proper, we saw a score of men suiting up and preparing for battle. Somehow our timetable had been skewed, or perhaps, something else was afoot. While Ana Strahza had told us that the attack was planned for the day of the planned festival just days from now, these men were preparing for a battle to be waged this very night. They were dressed in black, stylized in the exact same fashion as we now wore: like Strahd's forces. We were led to Lady Wachter who saw us in her.. study? At least in more than an evening gown as she graced my presence with last time. She seemed to be standing before a seeing orb, watching. It all now made sense how she knew things she should not have known. She'd been watching us all along through this, perhaps even guiding us since we arrived. She spoke of her allegiance to Strahd, citing how he rules justly from his castle, and it was Vargas Vallakovich who was ruining this city - the last surviving city in Barovia.
 
I had to admit, she was making some sensible points. At her firm suggestion, she convinced us to leave the city tonight, and go meet Strahd as his letter instructed. Yet another show of power about things she should not know. Behind her enscribed on the floor was a teleportation circle, which she said would take us to the Black Carriage outside of town. Hadn't that been decimated by Moira's Boatcart? Had not it's driver's head been smashed in just the day before? There were many questions, but truthfully, after what we'd all been through, I don't think any of us cared to deal with all the men downstairs to disagree with her, nor the potential retaliation from Strazni and The Baron's men. We stepped into the circle and was whisked away to the outskirts of Vallaki, the carriage next to us in sight. It had been repaired, somehow, at some point, and I could still detect the presence of the invisible undead horses that pulled it. Its door opened as if inviting us in, and after some brief discussion amongst ourselves, we got in.
 
What we expected could be a full day's journey, if not longer, took what seemed to be only minutes. A half hour or so, at best. We found during the trip that the carriage could also fly, as it quickly left the shackles of gravity behind and took to the sky. The journey was fairly swift as we cut our way through the night air and up the mountain to where Castle Ravenloft sat tall and solitary, watching over all of Barovia below it. While it was my first time flying in such a manner, I must say.. I rather liked the feeling. It was an exhilaration to be sure, and I'd never experienced its like. When the carriage landed, the door opened and we all exited, soon to be greeted by the dead. Normally, not an unexpected thing, given in whom's company we now were, but this was beyond even that. Rahadin greeted us at large doors of the Castle, beckoning us inside. Closer inspection actually revealed the dark elf to be our ally Kasimir, taking over Rahadin's role. It would seem that in a short time the elf took on Rahadin's guise and make his way into Strahd's inner sanctum. This is good. This would be helpful. We must be careful not to blow his cover, which I'm extremely afraid of happening, given my current companions.
 
We were led to a large dinning hall, with servants bringing in luxurious-looking foods and drink of all kinds. We sat, and I took the opposite end of the table from the elaborate and ornate throne that took the other end. Our host himself appeared from a coalescing cloud of mist that wafted in from doors in the back of the room, and he joined us at his table. Conversation began, and many of us partook of his food and drink. Whether or not the great vampire noticed, (I'm sure he did) I did not partake of the feast our host had laid out before us. Amidst all the peacocking and questions, Strahd actually asked of us a request. A job to do, for him. It seemed like a circle of druids were performing dark magic and planned on destroying the Wizard of Wines winery, and Strahd was enlisting our help to stop them. Odd, considering Strahd himself should have the power to end their plans. Moreover, we'd mostly agreed to help the winery when we first heard of their plight at the Blue Water Inn, so as odd as it was, we agreed, though with some caveats. I think a few of the others spoke up, I don't quite remember, but I took the opportunity to ask for a boon from Strahd for the work; safe passage from now on through the Mist. He said only that we would speak later.
 
Wrapping up the night, Strahd bade up stay the night, and ensured no harm would come to us so long as we followed the rules of his home. Through a window in the Dining Hall, I could see Vallaki in flames in the distance. It was not a place I cared return to just yet. It had been a long enough day already. Our host departed, and "Rahadin" returned, escorting us to our chambers for the night. The two ladies were taken to a room to share much to my dismay, and Errki and Oswald were given a room to share. Which left me and Bryndon to share the last room, just the two of us since... However, before we could enter, "Rahadin" put his arm across the frame, blocking our way forward, and very ominously instructed us to follow him. This is going to be a long night....