#09: Tales of Vallaki, Pt. 1
General Summary
Our Heroes — after a rude awakening and a stressful encounter with a rat underneath Soryn d'Nemishcata's bed, and having a modicum of downtime whilst staying in Vallaki — decided to split up and attend to more individual matters during the day of the Festival of the Blazing Sun.
The Tale of Mina
Mina Barovonna was brought to Wachter Manor at the behest of Boyarina Fiona Wachter, who — though incredibly rude and domineering — made it clear she was recognising Mina's status as a first cousin to House Wachter. In her drawing room, underneath the gaze of a Brankusi of Strahd von Zarovich, Mina began her political sparring with the matron. She appeared to lose most of the bouts, surrendering a lot of control and ground to Fiona, though did manage to make her underestimate Mina. Mina also met Stella Wachter, Fiona's daughter, and heard from her an obviously well-rehersed line about House Vallakovich and Wachter coming together in a new era of fellowship. Later, during the height of the Festival of the Blazing Sun, Mina was paraded on the noble's dias in the hopes of showing her off to potential suitors, and generally dangling her as a new playing piece of House Wachter. Up there, she noticed not only the town's Golden Gourd had been implanted into the middle of the great wicker sphere as the centre of the festivities, but also that Burgomeister Vargas Vallakovich and his wife Lydia Petrovna were standing as if there was supposed to be another member of their family in attendance, whose absense rankled the Baron. Mina wished upon the festival to reclaim what was rightfully hers in her rightful home.The Tale of Soryn
Soryn d'Nemishcata travelled to Strahd von Zarovich University, where she inquired about Doktor Diavola Shashlovich, who was supposed to be in residence. However, Dragma Polensky — a student-associate of the University — searched through the records of the school and could not find a "Doktor" Diavola Shashlovich. He did however find that a Diavola Shashlovich was, at one point, a student at the University, but there was no records of her doctorate nor residence there. Dragma realised from Soryn's bearing that she was Vistani in some manner, and began speaking Limba with her. Soryn then convinced him to allow her cheaper access to the University's library in exchange for live tutelage in Limba, and the two of them spent much of the rest of the day researching the Firebrand. From Soryn's reading, she discovered that there is no linguistic reason for the Firebrand's name to be recalled or confused with Rudolph van Richten, as Father Lucien Petrovich had the previous evening. Further, she identified that the Firebrand was using multiple aliases to appear to be a group of operatives, but rather they were all the same person. Lastly, the list of aliases pointed towards someone who is likely Vistani — based on the names used — with a likely first name beginning with "E." Later at the Festival of the Blazing Sun, Soryn spied Izek Strazni, and followed him, seeing how he reacted to Ireena Kolyanovich and Übel Bachmann. With this knowledge, she helped play a shell-game of sorts with Ireena, taking her shopping for a new hat, and then late into the evening making her way to Blinsky's Toys, where she met Gadof Blinsky himself. The three talked together, though Ireena appeared frightened of the man at first. Soryn inspected some of his wares, and asked where he sourced them from, etc., and learned of an "automaton" in Castle Ravenloft called Pidlwick II — apparently based off the performances of Peter "Pidlwick" Dilisnya, the ancestor of Valentina Dilisnya. Soryn was given a small "dancing bear" toy, whilst Ireena was given a spinning top with a fleeing man and a ravenous wolf. Blinsky seemed to calm Ireena somehow, and explained to her that "she will need it," before telling her how to operate the toy. Blinsky appeared to know significantly more than he let on originally, though seemed to slip in and out of insightfulness, claiming that the "bones won't save you, and the abbey is not safe." He also begged them not to go to the "frozen city," and that the spinning top wouldn't allow Ireena to escape "him," but that it would make her feel better before "he" caught her finally... Before Soryn and Ireena left the shop, Blinsky noticed and called Gabhar by name.The Tale of Übel
Übel Bachmann went to Van der Voort's Coffins, Embalmery and Taxidermy, where she met with Henrik van der Voort and bandied words back and forth for a while whilst poking over his wares, seeing his special locked boxes, and gaining insights into the man's over abundant boredom. She learned little from him directly, with him being rather evasive with his answers, but was able to determine that he makes his own poisons, and is also a capable trapper. Outside, Henrik took Übel to the Grey Shambles where he taught her how to spot Diebmarke signs and read them, as well as identified the major players in town she should eb aware of. Most specifically, he mentioned Johann Schlitzer — AKA "Four Fingers" — and identified Izek Strazni as the head of the House Vallakovich guard, and therefore the biggest racket in town. Henrik seemed genuinely put-off and frightened when Übel questioned him about Izek's strange ever-bleeding and apparently slowly flaying left hand, and the two gave the Vornic a wide berth. Later at the Festival of the Blazing Sun, Übel tested Izek's reflexes, putting herself on his radar, which came to a head when Izek saw Ireena Kolyanovich descending from the dias. The Vornic became transfixed on her, and after she and Übel left, he summoned some guards to go after the two, though apparently he made them tail Übel specifically, rather than Ireena for unknown reasons. Übel then returned to the Henrik's coffin shop for the evening, sleeping just inside the door.The Tale of Valentina
Valentina Dilisnya took Ireena Kolyanovich to the Church of St. Andral, and tried to convince Father Lucien Petrovich to do his job properly (though it was noted he was methodical in the practice of his role, just not the spirituality). He, being somewhat hungover and already overstimulated by the crashing noises of fireworks and marching bands outside, ignored the request, so Valentina began singing a hymn herself. Luckily, despite her singing falling flat, her guidance to the meagre congregation allowed Ireena to find the hymn quickly, and chime in her support, lifting the spirits of the attendees somewhat. Afterwards, multiple people came up to personally thank Valentina, and made it clear they would be returning to following morning for the next dawn service (possibly bringing others with them, as well). Valentina managed to impress the Father during this, and he opened up to her a little more, making it clear he wants to be the Father the town needs, but it's evident he's lost hope. Valentina suggested the two of them make the theft of the Bones of Saint Andral public knowledge, which he said he'd need to think on. However, if Valentina wants to do such, he impressed that she "needs to go where the people are," and the two decided to hand out prayer pennants for the Festival of the Blazing Sun. On their way to the Festival proper, Valentina performed a minor miracle by healing a sick attendee, though she covered up her workings so they wouldn't know. The individual seemed somewhat changed by the miracle, however, and it was clear the health they were originally going to wish for was replaced by a decision to wish for something they want rather than need. Valentina helped Ireena up to the dias, and to cast her wish upon the sphere, and then handed her to the care of Übel Bachmann and ultimately Soryn d'Nemishcata, before Ireena was spotted by Izek Strazni.
Report Date
12 Dec 2024
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