Chapter 15: November the 23rd Report

General Summary

On a paradoxically timeworn paper, it does not seem to have come from this world:

THE CHAMPION OF LIGHT (Herald? Will workshop with Producer)

EXT. BAROVIAN MOUNTAINSIDE - CAVE ENTRANCE - LATER

Vorthos stands in silhouette against the distant setting sun. The camera pans around to over Vorthos' shoulder. Warren, Ocarin, and Charlemagne walk through a bright magical doorway, the bright light overexposes Vorthos' profile, casting his face in conflicting colors, red:dusk:darkness;blue:magic:light. Vorthos scowls and sighs before turning toward the light, reluctant. Vorthos passes through the barrier, fade out.

INT. CASTLE RAVENLOFT - LIMINAL HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Vorthos suddenly finds himself in a strange hallway. Fancy stained-glass, scary statues. Vorthos is alone.

VORTHOS

This is not my world.

Disapointed!

Camera circles around Vorthos, Patrina enters from behind.

PATRINA

(Breathlessly, desperate) I've been watching you, Vorthos, ~~Champion~~ ~~Herald~~ Champion of Light. I've wanted you since the moment I saw you through my little spiders. You are the Chosen One the prophecy foretold - the only one who can save us all!

Vorthos takes Patrina by the waist. Patrina leans up for a kiss. Vorthos scowls and kisses Patrina.

VORTHOS

Yeah, babe. I'll do it. I am almost all outta gum.

PATRINA

I knew you would, its why you're known as the Hero of All Time! Wait for me, Vorthos!

INT. MORDENKAINEN'S MAGIC MANSION - FOYER - INSTANTLY

Vorthos suddenly finds himself returned to his ~~servants~~ ~~friends~~ companions. Ocarin, Warren, and Charlemagne are speaking with Mordenkainen. In a show of opulent power, Mordenkainen uses ~~enslaved house elves~~ magical unseen servants to shave.

MORDENKAINEN

The Darklord Evil von Pyre is unkillable, he has impervious orb of vitality that he uses to heal himself and if don't trick him into breaking his pact with the Dark Powers he might not be beatable.

VORTHOS

Permission to leave the mansion, Mord.

MORDENKAINEN

For what purpose, Captain?

VORTHOS

To give the Darklord back his bomb.

Vorthos turns away and starts walking back out of the mansion. Ocarin, Charlemagne, and Warren fall in line behind him.

EXT. VILLAGE OF VALLAKI - FLY-OVER ESTABLISHING SHOT

The Village of Vallaki is up in smoke, villagers cry and scream. A stark straight line is carved into the mud down Vallaki's main street. Someone -or someTHING- has come through and left behind a wake of destruction.

EXT. VILLAGE OF VALLAKI - STEET - LATER

Vorthos and co. arrive to the scene and help injured villagers up, directing them to offscreen support.

CHARLEMAGE (British)

Vorthos, we need to help these people, something terrible has happened.

Vorthos looks off into the distance. He knows what caused this. His twisted, amalgamated crew. Vorthos clenches his fist. The Darklord Evil von Pyre will pay for this. Ireena Kolyana arrives.

IREENA

Vorthos! I am so glad to see you, ya bastard. We were attacked by a tank of man. Seven feet tall, and all muscle and armor. We had almost no defense and all it said while it tossed us aside like tissue paper was your name - like a curse. What's worse... [pauses] my brother's not answering my letters!

Vorthos sees the dilemma, travel to the Village of Barovia to check on Ismark, or chase after his crew. The weight of the choice is apparent on his face. Vorthos scowls. But before he can commit, Warren walks up and throws his muscular hand on Vorthos' shoulder and turns him around.

WARREN

You can't turn your back on family, even when they don't answer their mail. All I know is, what's real is family. And when family's got a problem, we deal with it together.

Warren holds out his open hand for a Predator Handshake. Vorthos knows his brother-in-arms is right, he can't let Ireena's brother suffer if there's something he can do about it. Vorthos takes Warrens handshake and the two muscular men flex, their rippling biceps glisten with sweat against the burning backdrop.

VORTHOS

You're gods-damn right.

Ocarin cheers as the group turns eastward, toward Barovia.

EXT. VILLAGE OF BAROVIA - ESTABLISHING SHOT THROUGH THE WOODS - MUCH LATER

Vorthos and his ~~followers~~ gang clear the trees of the Svalich Woods. The Village in the distance.

OCARIN

Strange. Vorthos, normally a village would have smoke rising from its chimneys, but I can't see any sign of life from this distance. I hope we're not too late!

Vorthos leads the group over the Ilvis River bridge, toward the town.

EXT. VILLAGE OF BAROVIA - STREET - FOLLOWING VORTHOS AND CO.

The people of the village seem to follow their daily habits like normal. A few seem just the slightest bit strange.

CHARLEMAGE

This is giving me the creeps, Vorthos. These people seem so close to normal, but there's all these plants everywhere. Even as a ~~dryad~~ druid, I have a bad feeling about this. It's not the mission. It's something else... something elusive.

VORTHOS

Don't worry Charlemage, the negotiations will be short. Ocarin, announce our arrival!

OCARIN

Right away, sir! (Loudly) Hear ye, hear ye! Might I now present to all of you weary souls, the great, magnificent, powerful, Vorthos, Chosen of Fate, Champion of Light, Savior of All Time, Hero of Men and Women!

A crowd gathers and whispers pass over the village. Suddenly, Ismark emerges from the Blood on the Vine Tavern and greets Vorthos.

ISMARK

Vorthos, is so good to see you - Whaddaya hear? Whaddaya say?

Vorthos is leery of Ismark's mannerisms. Something is wrong. Vorthos tries to maintain a veneer of trust to his old friend.

VORTHOS

I find I gotta be the sad clown: laughing on the outside, crying on the inside.

ISMARK

(Laughing) You're always cracking me up, Vorthos. Actually, we do have something you can help with - a monster in the monster that hunts us from the rooftops, the village calls for a hero.

VORTHOS

And I shall answer!

Vorthos and co. leave the crowd and watch over the rooftops. After a beat Vorthos spots a dark figure leaping from building to building. Vorthos takes to action, leaping up onto the rooftops and chasing after the cowled man. ACTION SEQUENCE. Vorthos catches the figure, only to realize who it was: Doru Donavich, the vampire he thought he had slain in the village's church so long ago.

DORU

Curse you, Vorthos, I would have escaped if it weren't for you!

VORTHOS

Some motherfuckers are always trying to iceskate uphill.

DORU

Wait, before you kill me, the people of the village - they've been taken somehow, changed. The evil Hags that you hunted before took advantage of the magic pastries that you dumped into the well to take over the village. Then they started replacing the people. I helped my dad and some of the villagers escape and hide away. They want to leave the village, help them escape and I will help you defeat the hags!

VORTHOS

You've got a deal.

EXT. VILLAGE OF BAROVIA - OUTSKIRTS - LATER IN THE NIGHT

Vorthos and co. are escorting a crowd of surviving villagers through the night. They travel south toward the Ilvis River bridge through the fields just outside of the town. Vorthos and co. use hushed tones and handsigns to communicate. The night is quite, too quiet. Vorthos signals the group to stop. Silence. A high pitched ringing plays, too quiet to hear at first, but slowly louder and louder. BAM. A figure is stood tall in the distant field for one moment and in a blink is gone again. Vorthos looks side to side, hunting. Nothing. The villagers begin to panic, their labored breaths fill out the sound. BUM. Another figure: there and gone. Closer. Again: closer! Closer!

VORTHOS

Run!!

The villager begin to flock toward the bridge, the creatures swarm - magical vines lash out of the earth to grab villagers and Vorthos alike. But he is too fast, his swords drawn and flash, Vorthos sends out a flurry of attack faster than the speed of light, cutting down the creatures: the taken villagers.

CHARLEMAGNE

You. Shall. Not. Pass!!!

Charlemagne slams her staff to the ground and a terrifying wall of fire erupts out of the ground, destroying dozens of podling villagers.

WARREN

You wanna see how I got these scars?

Warren transforms into his spectral werewolf form and leaps from podling to podling, ripping out their throats and taring them into pieces.

OCARIN

Do you know what happens when a podling is struck by music? The same thing that happens to everything else!

Ocarin uses his enchanted flute to call awesome power and sends waves of psychic energy out to ravage the podlings. All the while, the escaping villager run to safety across the bridge. Vorthos and co. stand for a moment in the wake of their destructive powers.

VORTHOS

Hasta la vista, baby.

Fade to black.

Campaign

A Tale of Blood & Shadow Campaign

Protagonists

Warren Peace

None Swiftstride (Acolyte)
Monk 7

52 / 52 HP

STR
9

DEX
18

CON
15

INT
14

WIS
18

CHA
14

Charlemagne

None Shadar-kai (Hermit)
Druid 7

66 / 66 HP

STR
13

DEX
15

CON
18

INT
17

WIS
20

CHA
12

Vorthos D'Artagnan

None Changeling (Pirate)
Rogue 7

45 / 45 HP

STR
9

DEX
19

CON
13

INT
12

WIS
12

CHA
16

Ocarin Stonehollow

None Reborn (Haunted One)
Bard 7

52 / 52 HP

STR
12

DEX
13

CON
15

INT
18

WIS
16

CHA
20

Report Date

23 Nov 2024