Session 21 report

General Summary

What next?

The party discuss killing Izek or following Madame Eva's fortunes.
They want to find somewhere where children once cried and sickness and madness are bred.
They ask Rictavio if he knows of such a place, he isn't sure. He says it sounds like a medical facility.
Markadoo thinks it could be in the village of Barovia.
Kriz reasons that they should then focus on finding Ireena.
Kriz asks Rictavio if he has seen Ireena and Rick says that he did not see Ireena, he was out retrieving the body of Ezmerelda.
He cremated her to ensure she did not turn in to a vampire spawn. Vampire spawn can be created by the vampire biting a victim and then burying it.
She had been dumped outside Strahd's castle, he didn't notice anything of note because he was in a rush.
Kriz asks if he's after revenge. Rick informs him that his sole purpose for being there in the first place is to eliminate Strahd.
He is to be Ricks last and greatest trophy. He reasons that following madame Eva's advice is the best path forward.
Kriz makes sure that he isn't going to lone wolf it and try to kill Strahd in a rage.
They converse and in summary:
Kriz conveys that Strahd doesn't know about the artifacts.
Stahd knows about the winery seed they got because he met them at the winery as they were leaving yester hill.
Rick conveys the druids worship Strahd and that the druids are quite insane. They do not seem to have a leader.
Rick mentions it's curious that they have had so many plots lately. First attacking the winery, then erecting a statue with the seed.
Kriz informs Rick about the big gnarled tree surrounded by blights that bled.
They concur that the try might have something to do with the blights.
Kriz isn't sure if the tree had anything to do with the statue though.
Rick worries that they may have been trying to summon something large but is relieved to hear that they retrieved the seed.
Kriz informs him that it's at the winery but realises it might not be safe.
Rick worries that if it's been taken once it could be taken again.
He puts forward that he doesn't know why they want the seed so bad but that they probably don't want to find out.
He thinks they should secure the winery or dispose of the tree.
He is also curious as to if someone is commanding the druids as usually they are happy just being anarchistic and running wild.
Kriz reasons that Strahd could be instructing them.
Fassi mentioned that Strahd did not seem too upset that they had killed a bunch of druids.
Rick says Strahd would have made it clear if he was upset so likely was not commanding them. Though he could just not be showing his cards as he is quite the skilled tactition.
Kriz asks Rick if he knows how to kill the bleeding tree. Rick isn't familiar with it, but is sure they could come up with a plan.
The party ask about Rick's thoughts on Izek, he mentions that he doesn't have many thoughts on him. He seems to be keeping the place in order and that Rick doesn't have any particular problem with him at the moment. Fassi fills him in on the fact that they want to dispose of Izek.
Rick tells them that in these lands you must pick your battles. He will not stop them but he has no reason to participate.
With that Rick lets the party know he is tired and heads off.

Getting the point across

The party discuss how they might figure out if the spear they got is cursed.
Unfortunately they can't think of anyone icky to try it on.
Kriz puts forward that Lady Wachter might know about it. Fassi agrees.
They realise they are not super prepared for the festival but decide to ignore that for now though Fassi is very excited about it.
"alright then, a bit of light murder and then off to singing practice".
With that they head to Lady Wachter's.
Along the way they question whether or not they should brush the spear on a passer by but decide against it.
Fassi and Kriz agree that they are sure one of Lady Wachter's accolytes would find being killed by a cursed spear a "cool" way to die.
At the wachterhouse a servant lets the party in and leads them to the loungeroom where Lady Wachter is sitting.
Lady Wachter acknowledges that Fassi, Quill and Kriz have brought a new member. Markadoo informs her that he was sick and didn't want to spread what he had. She agrees that he looks ill. Markadoo informs her that he is fine now and she quickly changes the subject.
Fassi tells her that the party is in a rush but asks if she knows anything about the spear and holds it out before placing it on the table in front of Lady Wachter.
LW: "Why do you bring me a spear, is this a gift?"
Fassi informs her that they are concerned it is cursed is wondering if LW knows anything about it.
LW asks how the Izek situation is going.
Fassi says the spear is to do with that and that they are hoping that the spear might aid them. She says that they may strike tomorrow or tonight.
Lady Wachter warns her that there will be many eyes at the festival and that if they are going to do anything they should either do it tonight or delay it. She warns that they don't need to take unessacery risks.
Fassi says she would like to aid LW ASAP and thinks the spear can do it. She says if it is cursed, maybe they can get him to hold it.
LW calls out to one of her servants who quickly appears. She asks the servant to polish the spear as it appears to be dirty and covered in blood.
The servant picks up the spear and starts polishing it. LW shrugs at the party. Fassi snatches it and is pissed off. "Who puts an object in a spot such as we found it in and DOESN'T curse it?". Quill takes it. The servant leaves the room.
Quill sits on the couch and inspects it. LW asks Quill to make sure that she does not point the tip in her direction. Quill apologises and points it towards Fassi.
Kriz asks if she can help at all with Izek, LW assures him that if she could have, she would have gotten rid of him a long time ago.
Kriz asks why it is so difficult to get rid of him. LW says she has some political power but no physical means and he is in too good with the Burgomaster.
Fassi tells LW to listen out for the screams. LW tells her that she should be discrete but if the screams are his and not hers it will be music to her ears. The whole party leaves except Quill who is too busy concentrating on the spear to see that her party has left. LW doesn't care that Quill has stayed behind and continues to drink her wine. Quill soon realises that the party has left and runs out of the house.
Quill thinks that someone in the party analyses the spear for a while they might uncover something. The party discuss who should use it and the possiblity of selling it.
Kriz points out that the spear did whisper to them and that they had picked up necromantic energy coming from it. The party remember that Fassi is the one that the spear reached out to and so Quill gives Fassi the spear. Fassi taps it before putting it up to her ear "hello, hello?".
"caress it" suggests Quill a little too excitedly.
After a time Quill points out that spears usually need a bit of "oomph" from the wielder. Fassi stubbernly tries to fly with it and finds it to be quite heavy. Quill suggests that she should try the spear out to see if it is the right fit for her.
Fassi aims for a berry bush and throws the spear. She hits the bush. The party agrees that she can hone her skills and she has enough raw talent to keep it. Fassi is very excited.
The party discuss what to do next and remember that they were meant to talk to Ireena. They think Izek knows something about her whereabouts and discuss whether tey should torture him for information.
Fassi puts forward that her ability to charm him has much improved. Quill puts forward that her last attempt to charm him didn't go over well and maybe they should think on it some more.
They realise that they aren't sure what to do with Ireena once they have her but decide they will cross that bridge when they get to it.
The party decide that tonight they will do a little bit of killing and a little bit of torturing under the cover of night.
After talking themselves into a frenzy about how they are going to dispatch of Izek they have a moment of clarity and realise they don't know where he is. Kill goes up to Lady Wachter's window and knocks on it, as Lady Wachter looks up, Quill opens the window and jumps in. LW is bemused.
Quill asks her if she knows where Izek hangs out.
She lets Quill know that the guards will generally know where he is, he could be out patroling but he does reside at the burgomaster's mansion.
"Ok thanks" says Quill as she runs back across the room and jumps out the window.
LW raises her glass to Quill.
One of LWs servents goes over to the window and closes it with a smile.
The party reason that their best bet is to ask a guard.

Where's Izek?

The party walk for a while, while discussing how they want to be rid of the Burgomaster for the sheer fact that his son is a dick. As they chat a guard rounds the corner.
Quill "Everyone smile". The party all smile.
Quill "what a lovely day". The guard smiles at her and continues walking.
Kriz asks the guard where Izek is and the guard asks why he wants to know.
Kriz puts forward that they just need Izek's assistance. The guard asks if he can be of assistance.
Quill tells him that it's top secret and complements him. She fails to persuade him.
Fassi sees this and casts charm person on the guard.
The guard realises that fassi looks very familiar and that they must have had a good conversation in the tavern or something.
The guard is happy to see her again.
Fassi tells him they are on a super secret mission.
The guard asks what it is.
Fassi: "I can't tell you silly goose".
Guard "Far be it for me to interfere with the jig master and his friends".
The guard informs them that Izek is at the burgomaster's mansion after having seen to it that the festival is set up.
He confirms that he will be there for the rest of the night.
Fassi asks if he can bring him out of the Burgomaster's mansion and the guard agrees.
Fassi discuss this with the party.
Quill "Fassi, I think he's sweet on you".
Fassi "Yes, yes, everyone's sweet on Fassi.
Fassi returns to the guard she convinces him to convince Izek to meet them in a dilapidated part of the town.
Guard "Ok so i'll tell him to meet you in the dilapidated part of town for the super secret meeting that you all know about".
Fassi "Actually tell him the warhorse is wondering around there."
The guard agrees and heads off, noting that it was so good to catch up with an old friend.
Fassi adds on a request that the guard gather a bunch of flowers at the edge of the forest.
She mentions that they are staying at the pub if he ever wants to have a drink or two.
The party soon realise that maybe they shouldn't have told him where they are staying.

Down town

After swinging past the blue water inn and picking up Kriz's horse the party go down town.
The party position themselves in some alleys and do their best to hide and Kriz tells his horse to go out in the open.
Fassi does a quick fly around the area to check. There doesn't appear to be any guards. A bunch of the house windows are loosely boarded up. A couple of the houses have zombies in them. She takes a position on the roof of a house.
Izek enters the area and starts to walk towards Kriz's horse. Suddenly Markadoo rips a massive fart that echos through the streets.
Markadoo turns himself into a war horse.
Izek continues down the alley in his direction.
Quill darts down to hide nearby.
Izek walks in the direction of the fart noise and rounds the corner to see another war horse. He is confused. After stopping for a moment to think he grabs some nearby rope and starts tying it into a lasso. Markadoo starts walking away. Izek completes the Lasso and starts walking towards him.
Meanwhile Kriz is in some adjacent crates and Fassi and Quill are on some nearby rooftops looking down. As Izek passes Fassi casts charm person. Izek continues down the alley uneffected. Quill pulls out her dagger and throws it at him while Kriz pops out and shoots at him with his crossbow.
The dagger lodges in the back of his neck as Kriz's crossbow bolt flies true and sticks in his shoulder.
Izek growls and flexs.
Quill flips off the roof and stabs him with her rapier (Side note: Quill got two crits in a row with attacks agains Izek WTF, good job though).
Quill then runs away up a roof.
Izek raises his arm in the air and goes to shoot off some fire into the sky. Fassi tries to counter spell it but fails.
Izek then climbs up on to the roof after Quill and pulls out a big ass axe. He swings it into Quill.
He pulls it back and swings again, hitting her again.
Markadoo transforms out of a horse then paralyses Izek.
Kriz climbs up onto the roof and whacks him with his mace. The mace smiles are blood drips from it's mouth.
Kriz swings again but it misses.
Fassi asks Izek where he sent Ireena. Fassi then realises he is paralysed.
Quill attacks him but misses despite him being paralysed. She stays. Jks she runs away.
Kriz hits Izek in the knees. Izek collapses and tumbles off the roof.
The party start to freak out as Izek had set off a flare.

What do we do, what do we do?!?

The party think of what to do about their predicament.
Kriz suggests that they can ride off on his horse as Quill retrieves the dagger out of Izek's neck.
The party puts Izek up on the horse and Quill puts her cloak over him to hide him. Kriz climbs on to the horse with him.
Fassi flys up to observe what is happening around them and sees many guards converging on their location.
Fassi can't see a way to exit town with no guards.
The party change plans and Kriz lifts Izek back off the horse. The party head into a back alley and try to make their way out of the city.
Kriz sends his horse off to distract the guards converging from the west. Some guards split off but a number are still coming. There is a full force coming from the east and three from the south.
The party head south trying to stealth through the alleys.
The south guards notice the party and ask Kriz what he is carrying.
Kriz tells them it is a wolf.
The guards ask to see it.
Kriz manages to convince them he is carrying a wolf and that they are fleeing a fight that happened up north.
The guards are suspicious but leave the party to it.
The party continue south and out of the town.
They head into the forest to interrogate Izek.
As they discuss what to do next Fassi feels uneasy. She hears some howling in the distance.
They decide to leave the town and go to the tower.

Tower torture

Kriz senses that his horse is in a scuffle. The guards in the city reign it in.
The party start to worry as surely the guards will figure out that they caused they disturbance.
They reason that the guard that they charmed earlier will surely report them.
Quill spots a bundle up in a tree. It's medium and black but she doesn't care about it as it isn't shiney.
Fassi flies up and collects it. She notices it looks like a were raven cloak.
The make it to the tower.
They enter the tower and take the elevator up.
The party notice a pair of legs standing there with no upper body. The top half of the body has ripped off. They don't appear to be dead. Wearing a cute skirt and humanoid.
The party leave it for now.
Kriz goes back down and keeps watch.
Quill ties Izek to a stove.
Quill wakes him up with a slap. Izek wakes up and scowls.
Quill: where's Ireena?
Izek: What are you talking about? I already told you she left the town with a couple of guards.
Markadoo: we know you're lying.
Markadoo turns the stove on.
Izek: you want to play that game huh?
Markadoo starts to push Izek's face towards the stove.
Izek opens his hand up and shoots flame out, setting the floor on fire.
The legs catch on fire.
Quill hold a dagger to Izek's neck and asks where Ireena is.
Izek isn't intimidated and his big fire arm breaks free.
Quill stabs him in the neck and asks him again as the fire spreads.
Izek admits that Ireena is locked in his room.
Markadoo: this is for being a sick fuck. He then cuts off Izeks head with a sickle.
The rest of the party tries to put out the fire as a section of the floor collapses, causes the weird legs to crash through the floor.
Izek's half charred body is now headless slumped against the stove.
Quill retrieves the remains of her rope.
Kriz takes Izek's axe and keys and 50 gold.
Fassi flies down to see how the legs are doing. She sees they have crashed down all the way to the bottom floor.
The skirt is pretty burned but the legs are in a state where they could be healed. Fassi uses cure wounds on them and returns them to the top level.
The party hears something big coming.

Gifts

The party hear something big outside approaching the tower. The remain inside the tower.
It stops outside the front door. The party remain inside.
It begins lumbering off. The party waits until they can no longer hear the foot steps.
The party discuss if they should head back to town and are curious about if the legs can help them which Fassi dubs "Van Richten's weird sex robot".
Quill: how can we convince them that we did not cause Izek's disappearance? Or do we care if Lady Wachter is going to take over the town?
Kriz: yeah and while she does that we can go get Ireena.
Quill: and we have obtained a pair of legs so it's a good day!
Kriz: so how are we going to deliver this head to Lady Wachter? Are we going to drop it down the chimney?
Quill: sure, just let's make sure the fireplace isn't on, or Fassi can just fly past the window and chuck it in.
As the party leave they find a pile of presents, presumably left by whatever was lumbering past.
The party opens them.
Markadoo gets a yo yo with a cow on it that moos when he uses it.
Quill gets gets a disco ball, she sits on the ground hugging it.
Fassi gets a lipstick that she can change to any colour.
Kriz gets a copy of play dwarf.
The party wishes they had looked out of the tower to see who or what left the gifts.

Report Date

06 Feb 2024