Session 5: So the Curse Might be Lifted
General Summary
Session 5 opened with the party laying the remains of Rose, Thorn, Walter, and Klara to rest in the graveyard behind Nymeria’s cathedral. The atmosphere was somber as the mist thickened around the party, and a sense of finality settled over the resting souls of the Durst family.
After the burial, the party ventured up the hill to finally meet Nymeria, the angel made of stone who had called them to this place. As they approached, they were greeted by a haunting scene: Nymeria, partially obscured by shadow, clutched the hilt of a sword buried deep into the earth, her mournful visage surrounded by ghostly flowers.
Nymeria spoke in poetic verse, her words heavy with the sorrow of Barovia’s curse and the hope of liberation. She explained her tragic fate—how she had denied Strahd access to the Endless Paths beneath the village, only to be cursed by Strahd’s Red Bride, trapping her in stone. The party learned that the only way to free her and lift the curse was to rebuild the village and restore it to its former glory.
Additionally, Nymeria revealed that defeating Strahd would require the party to find three powerful artifacts: The Tome of Strahd, the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, and the Sunsword. She directed the party to seek a man named Ismark in the village of Barovia for help in locating these relics.
As the conversation concluded, the night brought a new challenge. Under the light of the full moon, Hader, cursed with lycanthropy, transformed into a werewolf after running out of Moon Tears, the potion that had kept his curse at bay. The party confronted him at the village well, but their conversation was interrupted by a sudden attack from a hook horror that crawled out of the well.
In an intense battle, Hader, in his werewolf form, fought alongside the party to slay the hook horror. Hader’s wolf side recognized the party’s strength, and a mutual pact was formed between them. After the battle, Hader left the group to go hunting, while the party sought refuge in the abandoned inn for the night.
That night, Dorian experienced a vivid dream. In the dream, he was transported to a dimly lit library, where he met a masked figure calling himself The Librarian. The man offered Dorian a pact with The Raven Queen, promising him warlock powers to help defeat Strahd and remove another Dark Lord from the Shadowfell. Dorian accepted the pact, and upon waking, found himself imbued with the powers of a warlock, marking a significant turning point in his personal journey.
After the burial, the party ventured up the hill to finally meet Nymeria, the angel made of stone who had called them to this place. As they approached, they were greeted by a haunting scene: Nymeria, partially obscured by shadow, clutched the hilt of a sword buried deep into the earth, her mournful visage surrounded by ghostly flowers.
Nymeria spoke in poetic verse, her words heavy with the sorrow of Barovia’s curse and the hope of liberation. She explained her tragic fate—how she had denied Strahd access to the Endless Paths beneath the village, only to be cursed by Strahd’s Red Bride, trapping her in stone. The party learned that the only way to free her and lift the curse was to rebuild the village and restore it to its former glory.
Additionally, Nymeria revealed that defeating Strahd would require the party to find three powerful artifacts: The Tome of Strahd, the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, and the Sunsword. She directed the party to seek a man named Ismark in the village of Barovia for help in locating these relics.
As the conversation concluded, the night brought a new challenge. Under the light of the full moon, Hader, cursed with lycanthropy, transformed into a werewolf after running out of Moon Tears, the potion that had kept his curse at bay. The party confronted him at the village well, but their conversation was interrupted by a sudden attack from a hook horror that crawled out of the well.
In an intense battle, Hader, in his werewolf form, fought alongside the party to slay the hook horror. Hader’s wolf side recognized the party’s strength, and a mutual pact was formed between them. After the battle, Hader left the group to go hunting, while the party sought refuge in the abandoned inn for the night.
That night, Dorian experienced a vivid dream. In the dream, he was transported to a dimly lit library, where he met a masked figure calling himself The Librarian. The man offered Dorian a pact with The Raven Queen, promising him warlock powers to help defeat Strahd and remove another Dark Lord from the Shadowfell. Dorian accepted the pact, and upon waking, found himself imbued with the powers of a warlock, marking a significant turning point in his personal journey.
Report Date
24 May 2025