Vallaki
"Ahead, in the alpine valley, lay a sullen town encircled by a palisade. From the fields around town crept a fog pressing against this wall, as if looking for a way inside. A sturdy pair of gates was flanked by a half-dozen pikes, upon which were thrust wolves' heads."
- The Curse of Strahd: a Chronicle
"Come one, come all, to the greatest celebration of the year: THE WOLF's HEAD JAMBOREE! Attendance and children required. Pikes will be provided. ALL WILL BE WELL!"
- Poster, by Baron Vallakovich
History
Vallaki is the principal city of Barovia, though it is rather small by the standards of the outside world. It is a palisaded town near the shores of Lake Zarovich surrounded by the looming forest and hemmed in by the perpetual Barovian fog.
At first glance, Vallaki does not seem like such a bad place. The palisades and guards provide a sense of security, there are numerous merchants and craftsmen in town, and the townsfolk all seem happy. At least, until one looks a little more closely. On second glance, the smiles seem strained, the merchants impoverished, and the fortifications crumbling. Above all, the "festivals" the town is so known for are clearly a sham: the delusions of a madman. Every week, the Burgomaster puts on another festival, and the weary townsfolk march under drab pendants to the refrain "ALL WILL BE WELL!"
Vallaki continued in this fashion for several decades, ruled by the iron fist of Baron Vargas Vallakovich. Under his delusional rule, the townsfolk were forced at spear point to be as "happy" as possible in the misguided belief that joy and happiness would protect them against Strahd von Zarovich . For many years, this seemed to be the case. Until the arrival of a certain party of adventurers from the Empire, escorting Strahd's presumptive love, Irina.
The adventurers sought to restore the lost bones of St. Andral to their hiding place, consecrating the church against evil. But this act awoke a group of Strahd's vampire spawn who rampaged through the town. At the climax of the chase, the devil Strahd himself appeared, terrifying the populace.
With the Baron's illusion of safety broken, the town was ripe for revolution. The seemingly wise Lady Wachter managed to convince the party to refrain from interfering with her plans, if not aid her directly. At the Festival of the Blazing Sun, a revolt against the Baron began. Angry mobs of townsfolk took to the streets, looting and burning as Lady Wachter looked on with manic approval. Having to slaughter the mob to escape, the party left the town in ruins...
The Blue Water Inn:
The only inn in town is a sanctuary from evil. It is owned by Urwin and DanikaMartikov . Urwin is the son of Davian Martikov, the principal winemaker in Barovia, and is kind to a fault. Danika is much more practical, and is adept at gathering information. Rudolph van Richten stayed here for a time, as did the most recent party of adventurers to enter Barovia from the outside world.
- The Curse of Strahd: a Chronicle
"Come one, come all, to the greatest celebration of the year: THE WOLF's HEAD JAMBOREE! Attendance and children required. Pikes will be provided. ALL WILL BE WELL!"
- Poster, by Baron Vallakovich
History
Vallaki is the principal city of Barovia, though it is rather small by the standards of the outside world. It is a palisaded town near the shores of Lake Zarovich surrounded by the looming forest and hemmed in by the perpetual Barovian fog.
At first glance, Vallaki does not seem like such a bad place. The palisades and guards provide a sense of security, there are numerous merchants and craftsmen in town, and the townsfolk all seem happy. At least, until one looks a little more closely. On second glance, the smiles seem strained, the merchants impoverished, and the fortifications crumbling. Above all, the "festivals" the town is so known for are clearly a sham: the delusions of a madman. Every week, the Burgomaster puts on another festival, and the weary townsfolk march under drab pendants to the refrain "ALL WILL BE WELL!"
Vallaki continued in this fashion for several decades, ruled by the iron fist of Baron Vargas Vallakovich. Under his delusional rule, the townsfolk were forced at spear point to be as "happy" as possible in the misguided belief that joy and happiness would protect them against Strahd von Zarovich . For many years, this seemed to be the case. Until the arrival of a certain party of adventurers from the Empire, escorting Strahd's presumptive love, Irina.
The adventurers sought to restore the lost bones of St. Andral to their hiding place, consecrating the church against evil. But this act awoke a group of Strahd's vampire spawn who rampaged through the town. At the climax of the chase, the devil Strahd himself appeared, terrifying the populace.
With the Baron's illusion of safety broken, the town was ripe for revolution. The seemingly wise Lady Wachter managed to convince the party to refrain from interfering with her plans, if not aid her directly. At the Festival of the Blazing Sun, a revolt against the Baron began. Angry mobs of townsfolk took to the streets, looting and burning as Lady Wachter looked on with manic approval. Having to slaughter the mob to escape, the party left the town in ruins...
The Blue Water Inn:
The only inn in town is a sanctuary from evil. It is owned by Urwin and DanikaMartikov . Urwin is the son of Davian Martikov, the principal winemaker in Barovia, and is kind to a fault. Danika is much more practical, and is adept at gathering information. Rudolph van Richten stayed here for a time, as did the most recent party of adventurers to enter Barovia from the outside world.
by Jernau_M_Gurgeh
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