Session 16: The Tower

General Summary

Ambush at the Crossroads

Crossing the mist-draped Luna River Bridge, the party arrived at a quiet fork in the road. Szoldar, their wolf-hunter guide, narrowed his eyes at the brush.

“These saplings weren’t here last week. And scarecrows don’t plant themselves.”

His warning came just in time—four twig blights and two animated scarecrows erupted from the roadside foliage. The party was ready. Fire and magic flashed, steel gleamed, and within moments, the foes were reduced to smoking cinders and ash.

Arrival at the Tower

From the crossroads, the party pressed northwest through the forest for nearly an hour before emerging at the shores of Lake Baratok. There, standing sentinel over the waters, was the tower of Khazan.

Feeling the weight of the day, the party made camp just across the road from the tower. Their sleep passed undisturbed, the stillness of the lake a rare reprieve from Barovia’s constant dread.

The Tower of Khazan

Come morning, the group approached the 80-foot tower, its roof still intact, with arrow slits and window boxes on every level. As they neared its iron door, they felt a sudden drain in their magical abilities—the tower radiated an antimagic field, rendering spells inert within its grasp.

Above the iron door was a single word: Khazan. In its center, a blank red waxen seal. As they drew close, eight runic buttons emerged from the surface—symbols of the eight schools of magic. Raya knocked. Charity pressed the signet ring to the seal. Both were shocked by magical energy.

It was Billy who pieced it together. He matched the lines on the platinum ring to the runes on the door. When pressed in the correct sequence, the door unlocked with a low rumble, granting access at last.

First Floor – The Clay Sentinels

“The flagstone floor is strewn with debris, and a few old crates stand near the east wall. A torn curtain to the south partially obscures the vestibule. A 5-foot-square indentation in the center of the floor contains four taut chains stretching upward, manned by four silent clay statues.”

The four clay golems didn’t attack. They simply operated the tower’s elevator, slowly lifting or lowering the wooden platform between floors at the party’s command. The empty crates were long since looted.

Second Floor – Rotten Floorboards

“Dust and cobwebs choke the air in this room. The wood beneath your boots creaks ominously, portions of the floor already collapsed. Chains dangle from the ceiling and disappear into the shaft below.”

The floor groaned under every step. Each panel could support only 150 pounds—a misstep could send a traveler crashing down 20 feet into the entrance hall. The party moved cautiously, their weight carefully spaced.

Third Floor – Signs of Sorrow

“Mildew slicks the walls. The northwest side of the tower is collapsed, and the floor rots beneath your feet. Amid the decay sits a small, crumbling crib—long forgotten.”

The crib, its frame half-rotted, was the final remnant of Khazan’s infant child, who perished with his mother during childbirth—just two years after Barovia became trapped in the Mists. A silent tragedy, still echoing in the timbers.

Fourth Floor – Secrets in the Tower

“Unlike the lower levels, this room bears signs of life. A cozy bed, a desk, a roaring stove, and a well-used chair offer comfort amidst the mildew and mold. A standing suit of plate armor guards the room.”

The players thoroughly searched the chamber, discovering:

A silvered dagger wrapped in a child’s beaded bracelet and a Tarokka card—The Hooded One, symbol of mystery and hidden identities.
A burned page from Van Richten’s journal and a sketched sign of Rictavio’s Carnival of Wonders, buried in the ashes of the stove.

The handwriting matched that of the werewolf manuscript found earlier—clearly another trail leading back to Rudolph van Richten.

Outside, something odd caught their attention—a patch of bright yellow lily pads bobbing on the lake’s surface. A dive into the water revealed ceramic paint pots, two stained yellow, one white—the same distinct yellow used on Rictavio’s carnival.

The Wagon Outside – A Trap Laid by a Hunter

Drawn by curiosity—and the possible connection to Arabelle or the platinum ring—the party investigated the brightly painted wagon parked near the tower.

“Beneath layers of mud, the wagon gleams with fresh purple paint and gold trim. A trio of signs hang across the back door: ‘Keep out!’, ‘Property of Ezmerelda d’Avenir’, and ‘Trespassers will be incinerated.’”

Ignoring the warning signs, Billy opened the rear door… and triggered both traps.

He miraculously dodged the silvered net, rolling a natural 20.
The alchemist’s fire, however, struck him full-on, engulfing him in flame and dealing massive damage.
Billy jumped into the lake to stop the flames.

Inside the wagon, the party uncovered Ezmerelda’s belongings—and a wealth of gear clearly meant for monster hunting:

Weapons, silvered bolts, travel gear, kits, and a spell scroll of remove curse.
A Tarokka deck, a map of Barovia, and more pages confirming Ezmerelda’s connection to Van Richten.

Clues outside revealed that a second wagon had parked there recently and traveled east toward Vallaki. Paint splatters in a hollow off the road confirmed that someone had been working with yellow and white paint the same day the party had first arrived in town—Rictavio's trail.

Return Journey – Hunted by Wolves

As the party began the journey back to Vallaki, two humanoids, hiding in plain sight, watched from the woods. Disguised as simple trappers, they stepped onto the trail just as the mists deepened.

“Who goes there?” came the call. A large man in a tattered gray cloak leaned on a spear, his shaggy hair and amber eyes just visible through the mist.
“I am Zsolt. This is Mathilda. Trappers, from Krezk.”

Szoldar, narrowing his eyes, whispered:

“I don’t know those names.”

The pair claimed the roads were dangerous and offered to travel together. Whether trusted or not, Zsolt shared a tale:

“They say a ghost stalks these woods—a Vistana woman with an iron leg and a thirst for blood. Her cloak is patchwork, her blade wicked, and her eyes burn like embers.”
“She cuts down travelers in the night, one by one.”

When the story ended, Zsolt grinned and asked the party whether they carried good steel to protect themselves. But the party revealed no silvered weapons, prompting a shift.

“You seem mighty,” Zsolt sneered, “but you’ve forgotten something.”
“We wolves... hunt in packs.”

In a blur of motion, Zsolt and Mathilda transformed into their hybrid wolf forms—fangs bared, claws extended.

Campaign

Curse of Strahd Reloaded

Protagonists