Session 7: Into the City

General Summary

(Were)Wolf Fight

The wolves circled the party, but before they could attack, the swarms of ravens flew into battle in defense of the party. The melee was awash in blood and fur and feathers as the party fought off the lupine ambushers. With great courage and overwhelming valor the party managed to defeat the wolves, but their pack leader was no easy feat. Desperate to avenge its pack-mates, the wolf left savage wounds on both Horace and Sylvar, even managing to down the latter. But Sylvar would not be counted out so easily... Manifesting their desire to survive, Sylvar's hand grasped their silvered blade and decapitated the wolf with a rising attack. The wolf's head flew into the air, shifting its shape. When it landed, both the head and its body had reverted to their true form, that of a dirty young man bearing a fresh looking wound that none of the party had inflicted. Ireena remembered that Cedric had won a document on Werewolves back at the Tser Pool and suggested it be read aloud. (See "A Study of the Werewolf's Curse" for the document in its entirety) Cedric drew the conclusion that they had just killed a werewolf, and that Sylvar and Horace had possibly been infected with lycanthropy. Sylvar was eager to find a cure, while Horace seemed more interested in getting his jaws around some very rare meat. Unsure of what the future would hold for our two new potentially furry friends, the party continued on the road to Vallaki and a possible cure.

The Shadowed Town

Inside a valley watched over by dark, brooding mountains to the north and south, Vallaki is a "sullen mountain burg surrounded by a wooden palisade." As the party approached the walls of Vallaki, they could see tents and cookfires set up outside the walls. As Granny Morgantha said, the Barovian refugees were indeed camped outside the city of Vallaki. Unsure of why they had not been allowed in and not wanting to slow down the party, Ireena said she would meet back up with the party at the local inn after speaking to the refugees. The guards were not swayed by Cedric's arguement, possibly due to the late hour, and greedily increased the toll at the gate. The party was able to haggle it down somewhat and entered the walls of Vallaki.
There were very few people outside in the streets of Vallaki. The party investigated the Arasek Stockyard, apparently disturbing some kind of tiger inside of a wagon labelled "Rictavio's Carnival of Wonders". Eager to get out of the cold, the party made their way to the Blue Water Inn.

The Blue Water Inn

The party walked down the mostly empty main street that led to the Blue Water Inn. Once they got there, they ran into a scruffy looking man in a muddy but well made cloak. Of the few people the party had encountered, this man seemed the most interested in the party and their affairs. But he didn't linger long and didn't say a word. The Blue Water Inn was a warm, welcoming environment. The party was waited on by the husband and wife owner/operators Urwin Martikov and Danika Dorakova. They were friendly and happy to answer any questions the party had about Vallaki. (Once the dinner rush had died down, that is.) The party was happy to relax, enjoy some good food, and take in the local citizens.

A Parade of NPCs

The first to draw focus were the two wolf hunters, Szoldar Szoldarovich and Yevgeni Krushkin. They had just come back from hunting wolves in the Svalich Woods west of Vallaki, and were confident they would be able to fill the Inn's upcoming order of wolf steaks. They then proceeded to nurse their drinks for the rest of the night, unlike the next two patrons... Karl and Nikolai Wachter. A pair of brash young drunken louts who did not seem to care at all for the current leadership of Vallaki. Immediatly upon entering, Nikolai annouced "All is not well!" This declaration did not sit well with the other customers of the Blue Water Inn, and there was a hush that fell over the room until Karl clarifed that "at least, not until I've got a bellyfull of wine!". Danika greeted them, dryly asking if their mother knew what they had been up to. The brothers quickly deflected, saying what she doesn't know won't hurt her. Later, when asked, Urwin told the party that those two were the sons of a wealthy woman whose family has been in Vallaki for generations. Urwin urged the party not to follow the example of the Wachter brothers, stating that their public distaste for the Baron's festivals was only tolerated due to their mother's influence. And even then, that the brothers weren't foolish enough to bad mouth the festivals in front of the Baron's monstrous henchman, Izek Stranski. Shortly after the brothers Wachter arrived, a colorfully dressed bard entered the Inn headed upstairs. Karl and Nikolai called out to him saying "Carnival Man, tell us a story Carnival Man!". Rictavio stopped, bowed, and proceeded to tell the tale of a singing man eating plant.
After a lovely evening of food, conversation, and storytelling, Danika escorted the party up to their rooms. She also told them that if they wished to bathe, they could request a tub of hot water to be brought up to their rooms. Horace, Sylvar, and Ireena all had a lovely night of rest. Cedric, however, was haunted by nightmares of pastry.

NPC Profiles

• Martikov Family
• Szoldar and Yevgeni, Wolf Hunters
• Karl and Nikolai Wachter
• Rictavio

9th-10th of Octyavr

Report Date

24 Oct 2023

Active Quests

• Tarokka Reading
• Buy a Toy for Arabelle
• Deliver Ireena to Saint Andral's Church