Session 3: Barovia

General Summary

Escaping Death House

The party had emerged from the Death House and are confronted by a mysterious man. A tall, dark figure roughly in his 40s converses with the group. His jet-black hair is kept swept back from his face, resulting in a prominent brown and widow’s peak, and his dark, liquid eyes have an intensity that can make even the strongest man nervous. He dresses in exquisite finery, albeit in a somewhat outdated style, though his only adornments are a tasteful ruby-and-gold necklace and a gold signet ring. His physique is lean but muscular, and looks to be an inch or two more than six feet. Before long, Maveith's corpse drops from the roof of the Death House. The stranger talks, almost rhetorically, before summoning the fog surrounding the town. He conjures the life-essence of Maveith from the fog and asks what she would do with a second chance at life. Accepting her answer, Maveith is restored to life, but appears to be deaf from the experience.

The Blood of the Vine Tavern

Beaten and broken, the party look for a place to rest after their experiences. They stumble into Blood of the Vine Tavern looking for respite. They talk with the barman, and the three owners who suggest visiting Madam Eva to have their fortunes read, they say she should also be able to help Maveith. Afterwards the party retire to their singular room with the exception of Heiman who opts to sleep alone and one-by-one sleep takes them. During the night Damakos experiences a strange dream and awakens with a tome comprised of ice in front of him. Despite the warm surroundings the ice shows no sign of melting. Everyone in the room was woken by this event as all surroundings were flash-frozen before slowly thawing in the midday heat. Chi was nowhere to be seen Descending the tavern stairs, the company are greeted again by Arik and a strange man. Yenavor converses with both before taking a table with the gentleman calling over her compatriots. The man introduced himself as Ismark Kolyanovich and asked for the groups aid escorting his sister to Vallaki. The party agreed and left the tavern, heading for the burgomasters mansion.

The Death of the Burgomaster

The party arrive at the Burgomasters mansion and are greeted by a torrid sight. A weary-looking mansion squats behind a rusting iron fence. The iron gates are twisted and torn. The right gate lies cast aside, while the left swings lazily in the wind. The stuttering squeal and clang of the gate repeats with mindless precision. Weeds choke the grounds and press with menace upon the house itself. Yet, against the walls, the growth has been tramped down to create a path all about the domain. Heavy claw markings have stripped the once-beautiful finish of the walls. Great black marks tell of the fires that have assailed the mansion. Not a pane nor a shard of glass stands in any window. All the windows are barred with planks, each one marked with stains of evil omen. The party see Ireena Kolyana waiting inside. Heiman discerns the house has been assaulted by wolfs, dire wolfs, and bares scratch marks created by human nails. Inside; the interior of the mansion is well furnished, yet the fixtures show signs of great wear. Noticeable oddities are the boarded-up windows and the presence of holy symbols in every room. The burgomaster is in a side drawing room on the floor-lying in a simple wooden coffin surrounded by wilting flowers and a faint odor of decay. Ireena refuses to leave her father unburied, and so the siblings ask the party for aid once more, in burying Kolyan Indirovich

The Funeral

The party assist Ismark taking his father to the church for burial. There they meet Donavich who hurriedly ushers them to the graveyard for the funeral service. Yenavor remains behind to thoroughly search the church, in doing so she hears several screams emanating from beneath the church. The funeral occurs near dusk, father Donavich prays to the Morning Lord and to Mother Night, asking them deliver Kolyan to his resting place and protect his children. After the service Ismark offers his home to the party, suggesting they set off for Vallaki first thing in the morning. He states provisions can be purchased from Bildrath's Mercenary if required.

Rewards Granted

Two Potions of Healing
37gp 27sp 87cp
8 Holy Symbols
A Map of Barovia
A Tinderbox
Hymns to the Dawn (Book)
The Blade of Truth (Book)
Several Springs of Wild Alliaria (flowering herb)