Blaidd Laurent
Doctor Blaidd Laurent
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Slim/Athletic, Tall.
Body Features
Several scars from combat over his body, not visible when clothed.
Facial Features
Scar over the bridge of his nose that extends underneath his left eye.
Scar over his top lip on his right side, which is damaged due to injury.
'Beauty spot' under his right eye.
Apparel & Accessories
ALWAYS formal or semi-formal style. Never casual.
ALWAYS has his pocket watch with him.
Doctor Blaidd Laurent is a cold and painfully blunt man who very much prefers to do things alone. He is incredibly slow to trust, always keeping people at arm’s length and acting highly possessive of his belongings.
View Character Profile
Alignment
Chaotic Evil
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Lord of Kamaraska
Doctor
Age
39
Birthplace
Kamaraska
Children
Current Residence
Kamaraska
Gender
Male
Eyes
Red
Hair
Black/Grey
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Mid pale
Height
7 ft
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Journal Entry IX
I know more about Sabine's secret life now. This place... it feels as if she is everywhere. If the tower wasn't so decrepit, perhaps I would find comfort here...
Somehow, I saw her. I touched the book and she appeared to me... As beautiful as the day I lost her... She can be saved. Xy naqq zubx txy.
How, I don't know. The vampire, Jackdaw, seems to know a lot about the tower and the magic within it. Perhaps he can help.
Even if he can't, I will do everything I can to get her back.
Being with her again... Is worth everything.
Dtx niyqw... usw kiyx.
Journal Entry VIII
The mysteries and subsequent questions keep piling up. It's this place- There's something about it that makes everything so unclear... Perhaps it's the mists.
Regardless, we found out about Cedar's bizarre past with the Blue Water Inn's bard, Rictavio. They were close friends, apparently, though Cedar has forgotten everything.
It seems odd that a bard would partner with such a large creature as a travelling companion, but that's just a thought.
Rictavio expressed his wishes to unleash the mutant tiger on to the Vistani camp. He considers all of the Vistani 'evil', despite proof that there are Vistani who are not followers of Strahd. He couldn't be swayed to consider an alternative. He maintains that the tiger poses no threat to anyone other than Vistani.
According to Rictavio, his father had a connection to Sabine. I would have liked to have asked him some questions, but apparently he has lost his memory. He will be of little use if he doesn't remember anything...
When we finally got to the Wizard's Tower, Cedar found a letter that had been written by Sabine for Danika regarding the operation of the tower and its floors.
...Seeing her handwriting again feels so surreal. The letter was written almost as if she was still...
Ztx nuz dtxyx. Ztx pxxqz zi lqizx rod... iod ip yxult...
... Dtaz az diydoyioz.
I digress.
The tower floors were rotten, barely able to hold half of my weight on the worst affected floor. Lysette fell through the third floor, thankfully I was able to grab her before she hurt herself. Unfortunately I lost my balance.
Faced with a lethal drop, I somehow turned into a raven to save my life. I don't know how or why. Memories tell me it had something to do with Sabine...
Likx rule di kx. Jqxuzx.
The puzzles in this place left us with even more questions. Who is Exethanter? What is this locked book and whose soul resides within it? Is it... her? I can only guess. How do we find out? Can we help her?
Xy nusd di nuex oj pyik ntudxbxy saftdkuyx dtaz jqulx az.
Destiny Foretold
The party met up again at the camp just outside of the Village of Barovia. Cedar and Lysette were suckered into a group tarot reading for us. Something about the fortune-teller refusing to tell their fortunes separately or something... I'm cautious with people like that, you can't trust what they say. As I suspected, the reading was vague. Most of it was about our 'battle' against Strahd. I will record the reading here, in the bizarre chance that it might be worth something later on.
'Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy.' The master of stars "Wizard"
'A Powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol for great hope.' Two of coins "Philanthropist"
'Power and Strength. It tells of a weapon of vengeance- a sword of sunlight.' Nine of Stars "Counjourer"
'Sheds light on the one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness.' Queen of Spades "Mists"
'Your enemy is a creature of darkness, whose powers are beyond mortality. That which you seek is hidden in his womb- the devil's lair. This card will lead you to him.' King of Spades "Dark Lord"
It wasn't all a wasted endeavour though; the fortune-teller told us that there is a woman in Berez called Baba Lesaga, She has a daughter who is capable of communing with spirits.
Ishmark and Ireena came back to Vallaki with us, in the hopes that it will be safer for Ireena there. Apparently, we need to keep an eye on her and protect her. The fortune-teller would not tell us why.
Back in Vallaki, the group of us needed to decide where to investigate further. Despite my obvious bias to go to the Amber Temple first, I have been advised not too due to the danger it poses, I have some suggestions.
My letter mentioned the Wizard's Tower and coupled with the new clue we got from Urwin's ravens, I feel that it may be time for us to have a look at it.
There is a mill in Barovia that we had the intention to look at, but never did. It was mentioned in Cedar's letter, so it may be useful for something.
Alternatively, there are some locations in Vallaki that we haven't explored yet. It might be useful to go to these places and see what is happening there. We may find something.
As a group, we decided to ask about the Burgomaster, then visit the Stockyard.
Urwin was too busy, but on our way out of the Inn, we were flagged down by Bray. While he didn't know much about the Burgomaster that we hadn't already heard before, he did have word of a rumour that has been going around. Female employees of the Burgomaster are mysteriously going missing. Notably, the women all look like Ireena. There's something about this woman that we don't know and I feel like we've painted a huge target on our backs for removing her from the village.
I paid Bray to get him and his brother to keep an eye on Ireena and Ishmark... That kid really is adorable... He said that I remind him of his father before the Inn got busy. Ironic, I always wanted to be a father...
When we left the Inn, we went to have a look at the Arasek Stockyard.
On the South side, there is an old wagon with the words 'Ricktavio's carnival of wonders' written on the side. Within it, we heard the sounds of an animal growling. Deciding that it would be better to wait for the bard to open it himself, we instead moved on to the warehouse.
An elderly couple sell various goods in the warehouse, however, their prices are extortionate. I don't think it's worth buying anything from them at present.
When the bard returned, we watched as he fed two wolf steaks to what looked like a mutant sabretooth tiger. He spoke to it, saying that 'it won't be long'... What does that mean? Is Ireena in danger? Have I put Brom and Bray in danger too?
Village of Barovia
Xaethriell is dead.
He was being controlled by Strahd, who merely lifted a finger to watch the other vampire die. Is this a show of power, or did Strahd just have that much power over Xaethriell? Regardless, he took the body, leaving us all to face what had just happened.
Another thing that bothered me about the exchange was the fact that Strahd mentioned to Cedar about a 'deal'. The deal was apparently revenge. Revenge against a woman by the name of 'Zinnia' who had apparently killed Cedar's entire clan. Strahd had asked for us to work with him as exchange. A bizarre deal, in my opinion.
While we were at the Blue Water Inn, a raven delivered an odd coded message. He said that it had come from the wizard's tower, from the front of a magical door we have been advised not to touch. Working out the code, we found the word 'KHAZAN'. What does this mean? I feel that it may have something to do with the tower itself, and I must investigate further.
While we were there, we had to decide on a Martikov to accompany us to the village. Adrien ended up being the one who would come with us, hopefully his companionship is useful.
The Village of Barovia itself was deathly quiet. Its inhabitants appear emotionless, at least, the ones we saw.
The group asked around for anyone who recognised the name 'Tatyana'. Unfortunately not even locals recognised her. We resigned to the tavern, hoping that someone in there would know more.
In there, we met the son and daughter of the recently deceased burgomaster- Ishmark and Ireena.
Ireena has been targeted by Strahd, brainwashing her and controlling her, similarly to the incidents we saw in St. Andrals Church.
Now that the bones of Andral have been returned to the ground in Vallaki, it should be a safe place against Strahd. We offered to take her back with us and protect her.
In the meantime, Ishmark and Ireena expressed their wish to bury their father before leaving. The group offered their help, carrying the coffin down to the church.
The father at the church here was hiding his son, who had been turned some years ago. Despite his wishes for us not to harm him, his son has been starved of blood for as long as he has been a vampire. Of course, bringing a group of living people into his domain would end badly. The group was attacked, Mordecai was left worse for wear as he was the first to approach.
It was when the vampire attacked Lysette that I felt I had to take action to protect us. I took initiative and killed the boy.
Lysette isn't happy about the decision. I personally couldn't care less what she thinks. Protecting the lives of my allies is more important than the life of a diseased stranger.
Besides, it had been only her and Mordecai who swore not to harm him. I was not under such a restriction and I thus have no regrets.
The bones of Andral
After the events of the day, I am not sure that I can trust Xaethriell. I was an idiot to let my guard down around him... Regardless, he will have to answer to all of us- Finding out that Strahd is his Uncle is something I wasn't prepared for.
Regardless, we uncovered a lot of information surrounding the church in Vallaki. Most notably, we learned of its secret. The town of Vallaki has been protected from the minions of Strahd with the bones of Andral, the namesake of the St Andral church. Despite their importance, they have remained open to those who would steal them- Of course, they would make a good amount of gold on the market.
Ultimately, however, they were not stolen for profit.
It made sense that Strahd would want the only barrier, other than the city walls, protecting Vallaki from his minions to be removed.
Even in the short time that the bones were missing from its grave, creatures under Strahd's command had started to encroach into Vallaki. We were made aware of the possibility that six were living in the first floor of the coffin-maker's shop, a further three attacked us in the graveyard of the church. How many more have made their way in? Should we be concerned for the citizens of Vallaki that a potential total of 9 creatures under Strahd's command are now amongst them?
... I need to protect Sabine's family. Danika, Urwin... I would never forgive myself should anything befall them while Danika is injured.
'Yang'
How am I supposed to speak of what happened today?
There's no way any sane man could contemplate the reality of a situation like this.
Sabine might be... alive? How? I felt her life leave her body that day, buried her...
If she is alive, why didn't she come home? ... I can hardly bare to think about it.
... How could any good mother order the desecration of her daughter's remains?
Who is the master? How was Sabine involved with this... thing?
And why didn't Danika tell me about her sooner? Sabine was her twin sister...
It doesn't matter now. I've wasted precious time; I must go to her, somehow, wherever she is. I will find her.
---
As for Danika, we found her in Krezk, with her mother. She is gravely injured, silver had pierced her flesh... Now that she's coming back to Vallaki with us, I will keep a watchful eye on her.
I don't know any other medical professionals around here, so I will be the one who notes her progress. She will be safe with me.
Keepers of the Feather
We were asked to fetch a delivery of coffee for Urwin and Danika from a local farm. Urwin advised us not to mention his name, instead using the moniker ‘The Keepers of the Feather’ from the way my letter was signed by Danika. It turns out that there would be much more waiting for us at this place.
On arrival, Xaethriell and I were targeted from the group, threatened with death by a handful of strangers. It would be revealed to us only moments later that this was the group that called themselves the Keepers of the Feather. Martikovs, all of them; Urwin’s brothers, sisters-in-law and nephews, all hiding out at this camp in a clearing.
We learned that the farm was in disarray, with dead crops and the very real threat of famine looming, all because of some crystals that apparently accelerate growth. They had been stolen, apparently by the hags of Berez, but Devain Martikov placed the blame almost completely on his son’s shoulders.
Urwin was on watch that night when he was visited by Danika, and while his attention was elsewhere, the crystals were stolen.
Devain mentioned a woman named ‘Yang’, saying that Urwin would have been better with her than Danika.
Who was she? It wasn’t something I was concerned about, even before it turned out that she had passed on somehow.
Returning with the delivery, we were eager to discuss our findings with Danika and Urwin. However, once we mentioned the crystals and Urwin spoke of Danika’s sister, she fled.
I need to find her, she could be in grave danger.
Vallaki
I've come to the realisation that it is in my best interest to remain in good stead with the strange group I have now found myself a part of.
We had gathered information about the area, choosing to investigate the strange camp outside of Vallaki first. That endeavour was cut short by guards, who were insistent that no one would be able to pass. We found out from two 'tour guides' (Brothers named Yevgeni and Szoldar) that the camp is home to the Vistani, Strahd's loyalists, according to the locals. Without a way of getting through, we moved on to our second destination.
St. Andral's Church would prove to be more useful, at least, it provided more information about the sort of people on both sides of this.
St. Andral's church is run by Father Lucian, leading worship in a deity known as 'The Morning Lord'. Despite how devout the town seems to be, the church is filthy. The only part of the place that is cleaned, perhaps even slightly, is around a marble statue of their deity. It differs from the figures that line the church walls, however- this one has wings.
The church has a strange relationship with the dead, or rather, those who come back from death. It is at the point where the church will check the bodies of the deceased that lie in their graveyard, making sure that they haven't risen. In relation to that strange practice, we found that there is a force that protects the building from the undead, though the item remains a secret. I feel as if it has something to do with that marble statue. Why else would it be the only thing that these people clean?
Zikxdtasf asdyafoxw kx uriod dtx nug dtud cuxdtyaxqq yxuldxw di rxasf qxd asdi dtx ltoylt... Tin tx nuz zi aszazdxsd di rx asbadxw rxpiyx tx nioqw zi kolt uz jod u piid as dtx wiiy.
ad doysz iod dtud Xy nuz yaftd- cuxdtyaxqq az u bukjayx.
Xy waw ntud usg kus nadt u ryuas nioqw- lispyisd tak. Ntxs tx lispaykxw kg zozjalaisz, nx zdyole u wxuq. Tx nioqw jyibawx kx nadt dtx aspiykudais as taz qxddxy, zikxdtasf dtud kug txqj kx as kg ins xswxubioyz. As xcltusfx, Xy exxj taz dyox awxsdadg u zxlyxd...
Xy yxkuas luodaioz. Ztioqw dtx sxxw uyazx, Xy naqq ryxue ioy wxuq di zoad kgzxqp.
We would return to the inn, many questions for Danika to assist with. We spoke privately, Sabine came up again, but something new came to light. Danika is emotionally attached to Sabine somehow. Seeing that, it was as if things fit into place. While I still have questions... Something became very clear to me.
Kg txuyd az zi xkjdg dtud ad gxuysz piy dtizx Xy lioqw sid jizzarqg tubx. Wusaeu yxkaswz kx zi kolt ip zurasx dtud ad toydz. Kg hxuqiozg az wxbxqijasf dxspiqw xbxyg kikxsd Xy zjxsw nadt txy... Rod Xy'k sid nti ztx wxzxybxz.
I must stay focused, lest I be caught off-guard by this bizarre place.
Unusual Space
I woke from slumber in a bizarrely large bird nest... I don't recall how I got there.
Once I reached the ground, I made my way towards a village that I had seen from the higher vantage point, along a dirt path. On the way there, I had plenty of time to ponder my location. I didn't recognise any of it, even the scents were strange. What was particularly notable was the amount of mist, it covered everything, except the village that I eventually got to the outskirts of. Somehow, the walls resisted the mist, almost as if it bounced off of it.
At the gates, I met four others. Not one to give away too much at once, I listened to the conversations happening in front of me. I will endeavour to remember these names; they have obviously come to this place with a similar purpose.
Mordecai, Tiefling Male
Lysette, Female
Xaethriell, Male
Cedar, Bugbear Male
Xy wis'd qaex dtx nug dtaz rofrxuy ztinxw oj. U luyyaufx joqqxw rg zexqxduq zdxxwz... Ad'z rxgisw osozouq. Dtx idtxyz xcjyxzzxw dtxay wazrxqaxp dtud zolt u 'puayg duqx lyxudoyx' lioqw xcazd, ap isqg dtxg esxn.
A dark-haired woman by the name of Danika Martikov met us. She said something about the bugbear being the only one 'they' had wanted to summon, and that I was one who had been 'intercepted'. I would find out later what exactly that meant. She took us to her tavern in the village, she and her husband (Irwin Martikov) own 'The Blue Water Inn', running it with their two sons; Bray and Brom.
This place, Barovia, is some kind of parallel universe- our souls have been bought here, not our bodies. It all seems rather ridiculous to me.
Waking up in a birds nest, meeting up with the most bizarre group of humanoids, in a place that isn't real.
Wusaeu doysz iod di rx kolt kiyx... asdxyxzdasf dtus Xy payzd dtioftd. Ztx az kiyx dtus kxxdz dtx xgx, di jod ad zakjqg.
ztx esxn zurasx...
Xy nuz zi zlxjdaluq ud payzd, zdorriys usw osnaqqasf di fi is dtaz 'uwbxsdoyx' piy u nikus Xy tuw sxbxy kxd rxpiyx. Dtx kikxsd ztx lispawxw as kx, diqw kx uriod zurasx... Wusaeu tuw kg niyw dtud Xy nioqw txqj txy.
rod wxzjadx xbxygdtasf ztx esxn, ztx zugz dtud ztx waw sid esin ip kx rxpiyx. Xy naqq tubx di pasw iod kiyx.
Recurring Nightmare
As most evenings go, this one was wrought with nightmares.
Ravens.
Swarms of them, beckoning me, their talons reaching and tearing into flesh. Then it happens again, She appears- The white raven. Her light shines brighter than anything a man could describe, breaking the darkness of black plumage. She reveals her true form to me... and my heart burns with sorrow. I try to reach out to her but the attempt is futile- she's too far away. I call out to her and she can't hear me...
Between us, a fox lunges for me, I watch helplessly as it tears my aching heart from my chest. He scampers to her, she takes it from his slavering jaws and walks away. No matter how hard I try to make her, she doesn't return.
I woke suddenly, sweating. Catching my breath, I took a cigarette and my lighter to the balcony, allowing the cool evening breeze to bring me back to the present.
It has been years since Sabine died...
Why does my heart curse me like this every damned night??
Xbxyg saftd az uqnugz dtx zukx. Saftdkuyxz usw juaspoq yxkaswxyz. Dtx rxuzd qoyez, ad naqq ziis rx dakx piy ad di pxxw ufuas.
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