Curse of Strahd Session 18 Finale
Freedom and a Finale
General Summary
Rexdra, 20th of Mid-Ardent, 1736
The party awakens from a dream depicting Strahd killing Sergei on his wedding day. A black aura seeps all throughout the castle as they try figuring out where Strahd could be. Eventually, they hear sounds of Spud and Rudolph van Richten chasing down the vampire. follow the trail into the chapel of the castle all while Clovis utilized a detect creature spell. The party didn't see the vampire but Clovis taunting the vampire out of hiding only drew the Dreadlord into action.
"We know you're hiding in here! Come out," Clovis hollered into the space.
"But do you know they are hiding in here as well?"
Up above are four of those strange crystalline bats that then swoop down to attack.
After a tense fight, Clovis managed to finish off Strahd in two powerful strikes, sending the vampire into his mist form, hurling him down to his resting place in the catacombs. The party pursued diligently. Down there, they found their friends locked up in Sergei's crypt and freed them. Once inside, the party grabbed onto a stake together that Van Richten provided and plunged it into Strahd's chest.
Strahd can’t hide his surprise as death takes him into the black abyss. Surprise turns to rage, and the Pillarstone of Ravenloft trembles with fury, shaking dust from the ceiling of the vampire’s tomb. The shudders abate as Strahd’s burning hatred melts away, replaced at last with relief. The dark orbs of his eyes wither and sink into his skull as his corpse deteriorates before you. In a matter of moments, only bones, dust, and noble garb remain. Strahd von Zarovich, the dark lord of Barovia, is dead and gone.
The party then made their way upstairs, curious about what may happen next.
From above in the sky, an angelic choir rings out: Sanctus!
The fog over Ravenloft and all of Barovia begins to evaporate as glimmers of light break through. In a desperate attempt to delay the inevitable, two of those hulking figures made of black aura attempt to seal their failing barrier. Scathers scatter helplessly as divine radiance melts them away. With one final push, the fog that loomed over Ravenloft is no more!
Breaking through the clouds unfiltered by blighted skies are beams of sunlight. From those pores come celestials of heavenly beauty scourging away undead malignancy. Packs of wolves turn into hunting dogs, flurries of bats become flocks of birds, and swarms of flies scatter into beautiful butterflies.
To the east, you can finally see beyond the fields of fog. Freedom and hope floods your mind as whatever doubts you had of it are finally gone. Each and every one of you, now free from this dreaded curse. You made it. You finally made it.
All throughout the valley, cheers and applause can be heard down in the little village below. Countless figures parade freely through the streets. No more worries of undead creatures, no vampires to stalk their families, and gone are the days of hiding away.
To become one with the Barovians or to move on from these lands that finally have a chance to heal? What next is to come is all up to you.
Epilogue
- Rudolph van Richten goes into retirement from monster hunting.
- The Vistani make a mass exodus from Barovia, fearing persecution as collaborators with Strahd.
- Aloysius and Ezmeralda make their way home from that dreaded place, sealing a future between them.
- Tastarn renounces his pact with Fabulus and signs on as a Reaper for Tabith.
- Clovis stays behind in Castle Ravenloft, readying himself if it is ever possible for Strahd to return.
- Antonin heads back home in Valencia, disappointed that his boys stay behind.
- Spud continues his personal search of his master.
- Ismark the Lesser becomes appointed as the Burgomaster of the Village of Barovia.
Rewards Granted
- Freedom from Barovia
Missions/Quests Completed
- Defeated Strahd
Character(s) interacted with
- Strahd von Zarovich
- Rudolph Van Richten
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