Session 10 report

General Summary

Enter the ravens

The players ask the bartender why they were being tested and are told that she wanted to know how strong they are and if they should be let into the keepers of the feather.

After talking with the bartender the party decided that a tactful retreat would be the best course of action.

The wereravens flew in and shielded the party members with their wings, blocking the needles being fired from the needle blights. Under heavy fire they managed to escape. The wereravens escorted them for some time before the bartender told the players she would see them in Vallaki and they flew off.

Tail between their legs, the Quill was worried about the fact that they had not retrieved the wine, but Fassi reassured everybody that she could dazzle everyone with her beautiful singing. The players began to head back to Vallaki

Tracking

While passing the tower, the players decided to track the horse tracks Esmerelda left earlier.

They successfully found that trail and followed the tracks to Vallaki. On their way they found Papusza's headless corpse and Quill dragged it into the bushes.

They continued to follow the hoof prints which lead to the gates at Vallaki, but then continued to the south and around Vallaki. Fassi decided to head back to the tavern early. They found that the track continued east, and decided not to follow them for now and to rest at the tavern.

The Tavern

Quill entered the tavern first and found Ricatavio.

The rest of the party sat nearby and Fassi had already gone to bed. Having amazing dreams about singing for a large crowd.

Quill came to find that Rictavio had made a contract for them. They were to perform in Ricatvio's show as the following. Kriz and Quill as the beatboxing bandits, Markadoo as the shapeshifting freak. Fassi as the magnificent songbird and Finally Ricatavio would perform the grand finale.

The contract stated, Kriz, Quill and Markadoo would get five gold and Fassi would get ten. The party argued that it should be equal so Rick offered that they all get five. After some negotiation they settled on everyone earning six.

He told them that the show would be at noon tommorow. Quill pulled out her own quill and signed it along with the other party members.

The Wachter brothers

As the players were finishing up their discussion they were interrupted by two men who made their way over, pushing another patron to the side and were excited to see such interesting looking travelers and asked if they have any good stories.

Quill tells them about the zombie dance at the G. Tser Pool Encampment , embellishing a little about how much she contributed. They love it. Markadoo tells the story Mclairy, his spider friend and they wince as he describes the way he was squashed, though they also enjoy this story. Quill pats him on the back. They look around wide eyed at the rest of the party and Fassi invites them to the carnival. They find out the audience will mainly be vistani and they pass as they are not fans. One offers to get Quill a drink but she declines and suggests they buy it for Rick because he seemed a little upset about the interruption.

Kriz asks why they don't like the Vistani and they state that the Vistani are thieves and spies of Strahd. With that they go back to their table while letting the party know that they always look forward to hearing a good story.

Sealing the deal

The players continue talking with Rick. They say he is a bit rude for being upset about the interruption and he explains that the two are annoying drunkards and are the sons of Lady Wachter, a prominent figure in Vallaki. He had also heard that she runs a book club which peaked Quill's interest. He tells her she lives in the Wachterhaus and marks her mansion on the map and said if Quill wanted to know more about the book club it would be best to talk to her directly. Quill is super excited and goes off to join the brothers again.

Kriz continues the conversation about the contract and find out the show will go for around an hour. On asking if Rick would be free afterwards, Rick responds that it depends on how the show goes. If the show goes well he would be around if not he might need some alone time.

Story time

Quill in her excitement runs over to the Wachter brothers, pushing the patron that was pushed earlier, spiking her with one of the needles that are sticking out of Quill. The patron leaves the tavern in a huff. Quill joins the Wachter brothers at the table. She talks to them about what kinds of stories they like, their mother and the book club.

They mention they like fictional stories and if she wants to know more about the book club it is best to go and talk to their mother. They tell Quill a story and Quill gets even more intrigued. They let her know that they like stories where others die instead of them so they can learn how to survive. Cautionary tales. They told her that they frequent the tavern and it would be the best place to find them. Quill tells them she is currently living in the Tarvern and they think that is so cool. On asking where they live they sadly reply that they live with their mother but living in the tavern would be a dream come true.

They let her know that they love stories and will pay her 1 gold every time she tells them an awesome story.

Keepers of the feather

Markadoo quietly asks the bartender about the Keepers and she points him to the back room.

There Kriz and Markadoo discuss the keepers of the feather with a man named Urwin. Urwin tells him that they weren't very tactical fighters but had shown that they were loyal to the keepers as they were willing to put themselves in great danger to help them out. He warned that they must never tell anyone about them.

He told them that that they are a spy network of wereravens and admits while not as cool as being a werewolf, being a wereraven has its benefits. He told them that they had managed to spread a rumour that ravens should never be harmed and that no one suspects an innocent raven.

Markadoo asks about Gertruda (Mad Mary's daughter). Urwin admits that he knows of her but doesn't have any recent news but will ask around.

He asks if druids have the power to control the needle blights and if killing the druids would stop the needle blights. Urwin isn't sure but tells the party that the druids are quite insane and he believes someone had to have put them up to taking over the winery. He said he has intel that one of them has an interesting staff that he might be using to control the needle blights but he can't be certain.

He tells them that the druids came from Yester hill to the south of the winery and on asking Urwin agrees that the party probably shouldn't go there to investigate yet as if they can't take on a few druids they wouldn't want to mess with their whole camp. He said they are quite insane and he thinks someone must have put them up to attacking the winery.

Quill enters and Urwin calls out to one of his children to come and help Quill remove the needles.

Markadoo asks if he can be turned into a were raven but Urwin informs him he wouldn't feel comfortable transforming him as he did know him well.

They come up with a plan that they will be escorted past the needle blights by a group of wereravens who can get them into the winery. They aren't certain what is in there but it is their best bet on getting in. Quill asks if there is a staff that can control wolves but Urwin doesn't think so. They call it a plan.

Urwin says they can sleep at the tavern for free as members of the Keepers of the Feather. Markadoo makes a salve to ease the pain of the other party members and they sleep.

The big show

The party meet Rictavio between the Vallaki Vistani camp and the Town of Vallaki, where he has set up a big ring and has his carnival wagon parked. A crowd of Vistani has gathered. He discusses the show plan with the party and everywhere prepares to perform while Heehoo lugs around equipment. Rictavio is very hush hush about his part of the show but tells the party it will be quite a spectacle and tells them to stay back and not worry as everything will be fine.

Rictavio introduces the beatboxing bandits and Kriz and Quill start beatboxing, Quill's beatboxing isn't great but it is overpowered by Kriz's magnificent beatboxing.

Rictavio then introduces the shape shifting freak. Markadoo transforms into a cow and the crowd cheers, he then transforms into a member of the crowd and the crowd loves it, he turns into a cow again and then goes invisible before walking out of the ring and the crowd loses it. Rictavio cautions that Markadoo might want to transform back before the finale.

Rictavio introduces Fassi the magnificent song bird and Fassi sings a beautiful song: In a world of vibrant hues, a songbird takes flight, A creature of grace, a symphony of delight. Its feathers, a tapestry of colors divine, A masterpiece woven by nature's design.

She then takes a swig of a potion and opens her mouth shooting rainbows into the sky. The crowd loves it.

Fassi bows over and over before letting the crowd know that they are all now Fassi Fanatics.

After she leaves Rictavio enters the stage and talks about the big finale. The crowd are at this stage on the edge of their seats. Rictavio walks over to his wagon and exclaims "BEHOLD" before opening the doors of the wagon and unleashing an armored sabre tooth tiger on the crowd. The party is confused and unsure of what is happening but decides to not intervene as the tiger tears the crowd apart. Fassi looks on in horror as her new fans are ripped limb from limb. Heehoo asks why this is happening and Rictavio tells them that the vistani are evil and spies of Strahd. The party discusses this with Rictavio as the crowd screams and tries to escape to no avail. Markadoo communicates with the tiger to ask if it is enjoying itself to which it replies "fuck yeah dude, these guys are shit cunts".

Heehoo tries to dig a little and asks him "Who are you really". Rictavio insists that he is a carnival owner. Heehoo asks if he wants to take down Strahd and he insists that he is just trying to run his show. Heehoo asks if they can borrow the tiger but Rictavio insists that he couldn't part with Kitty. He then mentions Madame Eva which quickly gains his interest. They discuss her card readings and he drops his visage and tells them to meet him at the tower. All while this is happening Rictavio is walking around with a wolf paw and stamping it in the blood. He smiles and explains "no one will suspect that this was a sabre tooth tiger attack".

The party travel with him back to Vallaki where he stores his wagon in the stockyard.

Barovian pie 3

As they walk around town they come across the old lady with the pie cart again.

Markadoo no longer feels the need to eat the pies but Fassi is really wants one. Heehoo tries to hold her back but she is too strong. She grabs it and Heehoo tries to smack it out of her hand but she dodges and shoves the pie into her mouth while handing the lady a gold coin. The old lady smiles and lets the party know she is happy they are enjoying the pies. When offered the rest of the party decide they don't want anymore.

The Party continue on out of Vallaki.

The black Carriage

A little after the party leave Vallaki a black carriage pulled by black horses showed up.

A tall slender man with brown skin and pointed ears stepped out and invited the party to have dinner with Strahd.

The party were promised that no harm would come to them on their way to the castle or at the dinner as they are Strahd's guests. The dinner is to be held at 6pm the next day.

They found out the man's name is Rahadin and that he would be there at 4pm sharp to collect them.

Rick is not invited.

The tower

Rictavio examines the remains of an explosion outside the tower and tried to figure out what was happening but the party insisted they knew nothing. He continued into the tower and found the remains of a wolf and deduced by the blood splatter that it must have pissed off one of the golems and been punched in the head. He also identified that it was a werewolf. The party insist they had not left the door open.

As he and the party rode up the lift Quill and Heehoo climbed the chains.

When they got to the top Heehoo asked how he knew it was a werewolf and Rick told him that it took a trained eye to spot the subtle differences. He went on to introduce himself as Rudolf Van Richten and almost seemed offended that the party didn't know him. He elaborated that he was a monster hunter and the party asked if he knew Esmerelda.

He seemed shocked that she was there and went on to explain that she was his apprentice. He had to sit down and re-gather himself once the party explained that she had gotten into a fight with Strahd and was on the run. He asked where she was and the party told him about tracking her and that she was denied access to Vallaki.

Van Richten told the party that Strahd is to be his magnum opus. That a long time ago a vistani sold his son to a vampire who turned him into a vampire spawn. He found the vistani camp and asked them where his son was. He spared them because they had given him information on the whereabouts of his son. Esmeralda (a member of that vistani tribe) saw this act of compassion which later lead her to seek out Van Richten and become his apprentice.

Van Richten found his son in the Vampire's castle where his son begged him to end his suffering. So Van Richten had to kill his own son. The vampire then killed Van Richten's wife for revenge. This is why Van Richten thrives to destroy all that is evil.

He admits that he finds it hard to trust anyone and doesn't want to let anyone get too close as he fears anyone who gets close will die. This lead to him separating from Esmerelda two years ago. He is getting older and Strahd is to be his final trophy, he figures Esmerelda must of caught wind of this and has secretly followed him to Barovia to help.

He is distraught to hear that her caravan and equipment had been destroyed. He told the party that they should find out all they can at the dinner with Strahd tomorrow because it is very hard to gain intel on him. The party also mentioned the Tome in the windmill and admitted they didn't have much intel on what is actually there.

They did not mention the Keepers of the feather.

Markadoo asked about the head and Van Richten demonstrated that it is the head of a vistani and he could taunt it using speak with dead. He put the head back in the chest.

Van Richten told them he was going out to try to find out what happened to Esmerelda and that he would otherwise be at the tavern if they wanted to re-group. He asked that they keep his identity very secret.

It came from the bushes

On their way back to Vallaki the party hears a gurgling noise and out of the bushes comes a headless zombie. The players can tell it was Papusza by the clothes it is wearing.

Quill wasting no time, runs in and stabs him in disgust before kicking him back into the forest. Heehoo set the corpse on fire and the party watched it until it was completely burned.

Tavern, sweet Tavern

The party returns to the Vallaki tavern. As they enter one of the Wachter brothers waves at Quill.

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We tell Kody his mic is too quiet so he screams into it and goes quiet.

We deduce that he broke his mic.

He fixes it and comes back talking quietly, we tell him he is quiet again and he informs us he knows but he pissed him mum off by screaming at 11:30 at night.

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Quill joins the Wachter brothers to tell them a story about an entertainer that released a "bear" on an audience because "he wasn't happy with the applause he was getting". The brothers love it and slide her a gold.

The rest of the party realises they never received payment for their performances and make a note to get it. They then talk with Urwin and tell him that they plan on leaving at just before sun up tomorrow for the Winery. Urwin informs them that his network has spotted Gertuda in castle Ravenloft and that she has been seen walking around freely.

The party plan on doing the winery and being back in time to get a ride with Rahadin to have dinner with Strahd.

They then go to bed.

Report Date

17 Jul 2023