Session 4: No Knock Policy

Drinks at Blood on the Vine

After the party finished off the pitcher of wine Ismark bought for them, Sylvar brought out the champagne from the Death House and was shocked to see it had aged hundreds of years. Thinking back to the invitation and the weatherworn statue in the village, Sylvar realized that the Death House must have been trapping adventurers for over 300 years, probably closer to 400. Wanting to learn more about Ismark and his suspicious glances towards a table of three flamboyantly dressed women, the party approached and introduced themselves. The women invited the party to share a drink with them and explained they are Vistani, a nomadic tribe of people who Strahd allows to pass through the mists. Mirabel, Alenka, and Sorvia told the party a brief story of how centuries ago their ancestors aided Strahd while he was still human. Horace struggled to understand why anyone would choose to be here, but Mirabel said there were deep roots in Barovia, a culture of hospitality to the needy... And the opportunity to sell goods from the outside to Barovian customers. There are three major settlements in Barovia. The Village, where the party is now, as well as Vallaki and Krezk. Vallaki is governed by Burgomaster Vargas Vallakovich, and Krezk's Burgomaster is named Dmitri Krezkov. Mirabel and her friends weren't around for the siege and just came into the village to gather information and drink wine. Having done the former, they were now indulging in the latter. The Vistani shared some of the gossip they had picked up, saying that Ismark was derided as 'Lesser' because he convinced the Villagers to stay and defend their homes. The Villagers blame Ismark and the Vistani agree, they think more people should have fled to Vallaki or Krezk. When Cedric asked, Sorvia said that Strahd was the only person who had the time and knowledge to really study the Mists of Barovia. Alenka had heard of a group of people in Vallaki who worship a god of mist but that's all she knew. When Cedric asked about the Durst Mill the Vistani reacted in shock and fear. They refered to the Durst Mill as "Old Bonegrinder" and warned the players to stay away.  They finished their drinks and invited the party to visit them at the Tsar Pool Encampment and have their fortunes read by a Vistana seer called Madam Eva.

Night in another Spooky Mansion

Cedric found himself slightly under-equipped for new life in a haunted valley, so the group headed out to Bildrath's Mercentile. Bildrath wasn't incredibly helpful, but the party did outfit Cedric with some travel neccessities. Making their way to Ismark's house, the party was taken aback at the level of destruction on the streets of village. Windows were all boarded up, and there were marks of ill omen where-ever they looked. Once they arrived at the Burgomaster's mansion at the edge of town, Cedric cast message to alert Ismark to their arrival. Ismark shortly appeared and invited them inside. The mansion was in a disheveled state with it's formerly regal furniture worn down and threadbare. Adding to the state of unrest was the open coffin with the remains of Ismark's father, Koylan Indirovich. Ismark apologized for the state of things and brought the party into the sitting room. There he asked a favor of the players. His sister, Ireena Koylana, had drawn the attention of Strahd and had been bitten twice. As he begged for the party to take her away from the Village, Ireena came into the room. She was not pleased to hear her brother trying to send her away behind her back, but she acquiesced to Ismarks concerns. Ireena told the party that she was trained in fencing, and would be able to open doors that might be closed to the party as outsiders. The party agreed (as long as Ireena didn't slow them down), and had a sparse meal of rabbit stew before going to bed with the usual watch. Cedric tested a new way to use his shadows, and Sylvar connected with the Weave as they cast their first spell.... and fell asleep.
Through some powerful magic, everyone was drawn into a shared dream, including Sylvar who normally would be immune to such magics. Inside the dream, a hunched figure who identified herself as the same Madam Eva the Vistani mentioned, told the party that... "the lord of this land knows that you have tresspassed into his domain, and he has set you in his sights. He is a creature of eternal hunger, and he will not rest until he has claimed your souls. But there is yet hope. I have been blessed with the gift of foresight, and I can see the twisting path that lie ahead. Seek me, in my tent at Tser Pool, so that I may read the cards for you and decipher the strands of fate. Together, we may yet escape this darkness."

Vampire in the Basement

Everyone was quite un-settled by Madam Eva's words. Ireena's provision for leaving the Village was to see her father buried, so the party accompanied Ismark and Ireena to the Barovian Church. Ismark was surprised to see the destroyed state of the church, as he thought Strahd's forces had avoided it. Father Donavich was exhausted and unkempt, praying day and night for the soul of his son Doru. It was Doru who had attacked the church, or as Donavich put it... An undead husk wearing his son's face. Donavich had given Doru his holy symbol of the Morninglord before his son had set off for Castle Ravenloft. When Doru failed to return, Donavich feared the worst... and was correct. When the siege begain, Doru tricked his father into letting him, destroyed the church, and was tricked himself when Donavich lured and locked him in the Undercroft. Donavich could not sanctify Koylan's remains without his holy symbol and asked the party to retrieve it. The party descended into the apparently empty undercroft and heard a horse whisper coming from above. "You've come to kill me, haven't you?" Doru climbed down from the ceiling of the undercroft with no apparent violence in his eyes. Doru said he wanted to prove that he could best his vampiric urges. Cedric was unable to provide blood for the test and Sylvar and Horace were more likely to attack Doru than shed blood for him, so Ireena stepped forward and cut herself. Doru tensed, praying to the Morninglord and invoking his beloved Gertruda's name. With that as his support, Doru was able to pass his test. He happily handed over the holy symbol and asked if the adventurers had heard of a man named Rudolph van Richten. Van Richten was known as a famous monster hunter before disapearing 30 years ago. Doru revealed that "Alanik", the strange friend who joined him in the attack on Castle Ravenloft, was in fact the legendary monster hunter. A while ago, Doru witnessed "Alanik Ray" defend some children from an undead dire wolf when his hat of disguise fell off, revealing him to be van Richten. Doru convinced van Richten to join him in attacking Strahd while he slept. But even with his assistence, the assault would be doomed. Doru doesn't know what happened to "Alanik" but asked the players to keep an eye out for him. He's difficult to find, as van Richten makes use of his Hat of Disguise and Ring of Mind Shielding to avoid detection. As thanks for their mercy, Doru gave the party the location of a hidden cache of supplies and weapons that van Richten stashed. (in a hollow underneath a tall ancient oak tree just before the River Ivlis crossroads.) The party left Doru to plan his new diet of animal blood and gave Donavich back his holy symbol. Donavich was overjoyed to hear that there might yet be a future with his son and agreed to conduct Kolyan's funeral. After Kolyan was buried, a group of bats exited the church, headed towards Castle Ravenloft. In a suprising moment of lucidity, Donavich remarked that was a bad omen and bid the players to quickly leave the Village.