Curse Of Strahd

Our story starts in an old ruined chapel, most of the walls have crumbled and fallen into disrepair about 100 miles south is the city of Waterdeep. This chapel is used as a stop off point for many travelers and adventures on the road, there's not many taverns in the surrounding area. The old signs of previous camps are lying around, abandoned crates which now serve as stools for people to sit upon. A campfire was lit by someone as our adventures happen to be resting at the same stop as one another tonight. While they get to know one another a 5th turns up at the campsite he pulls up on a small cart, the wooden frame held together haphazardly with a single horse pulling the cart, he wears a brown leather jacket and a farmers cap, his face weathered by age, his name is Argal and he invites the players to read a letter he is carrying. He has been sent to bring people to Barovia to help with an ongoing issue. He doesn’t give or know all that much information but can take the players to Barovia.
The party follow a lesser tracked road that leads them through thick woodlands, as a fog starts to build, Argal stops the cart saying he can go no further; they will have to follow the path on their own.

Chapter 1: The Village of Barovia Part 1, Death House

“Tall shapes loom out of the dense fog that surrounds everything. The muddy ground underfoot gives way to slick, wet cobblestones. The tall shapes become recognizable as village dwellings. The windows of each house stare out from pools of blackness. No sound cut the silence except for mournful sobbing that echoes through the streets from a distance. The silence is ended by the whimpering of a young boy whose sister who doesn’t look much older is trying to calm the boy down, he is holding a teddy bear.”

After hushing the young boy the girl will tell them “there's a monster in the house” she points them towards a tall brick row house that has seen better days. Its windows are dark. It has a gated portico on the ground floor, and the rusty gate is slightly ajar. The houses on either side are abandoned, their windows and doors bored up.
The children don’t know what the monster is but they’ve heard it's terrible howls. Their Parents keep the monster trapped in the basement. There's a baby on the third floor.
The children won’t go back into the house until the monster is gone.

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Chapter 1: The Village Part 2, Ireena

The party will need to ask around for Burgomaster’s home while they do the Villagers will remark about how much they hate and fear Strahd. Once the party meet Ireena and earn her trust she will ask them to help bury her father who died after weeks of nightly attacks on their home, three days ago his heart gave out. If they met Ismark he will also be with the party during this. Ever since her father died the attacks stopped. If told about the note or Argal the siblings will remark the handwriting isn’t that of their fathers and they’ve never heard of Argal. The party will take the coffin to the chapel where The Burgomaster is laid to rest.
During the burial they will be visited by Rahadin who is there to pay his respects and warn Ireena wherever she goes Strahd will find her. Ireena will say “You were the ones who killed him”.

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Chapter 2: The Vistani

As you leave the village you hear a creaking noise behind you. Coming from the gallows. Where there was nothing behind now hangs a lifeless, grey body. The breeze turns the hanged figure slowly, so that it can fix its dead upon you.
The road gradually disappears and is replaced by a twisted muddy path through the trees. Deep ruts in the earth are evidence of the comings and goings of the wagons. Eventually leading to a camp. They are invited by the Vistani to meet Madam Eva.

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