C2S1: A Grand Old Start (write-up)

General Summary

The Old Svalich Road

Passed through the gates. In the dark light they noticed only a singular, large moon - got freaked as they have always known Miro and Eerye, which are a different size.
Saw the skeletal rider far ahead. A trinket, a little black book, fell from his horse as he moves into the trees and disappears. Torinn picked it up.
Carric Liadon scouted through the woods next to the road and found a bundle of clothes belonging to wereraven: an imperial blue shirt wrapped in a dark cloak. Thee black feathers were stuck in the inside of the shirt. There was a trinket and treasure inside.
Wolves start howling. The party retreated to the road and five direwolves stalked out of the woods. Tao used speak with animals. Wolves were surprised by this ability and warned him to "stay out of our woods". Carric stated he would scout the land and return to them shortly. Transforms into a wolf and disappears. Spends time with the Wolves of Barovia.
A raven (Muriel Vinshaw) appears in the trees cawing and follows the party for a while. Started swooping across the road ahead of them, as if to block the way. Comes lower and lower until stops and hops on the road in front of them, as a warning. Tao used speak with animals and Muriel squarked "Danger!" before they hear groans out of the mists and see shifting shambling shapes.

Strahd Encounter 1

Encounter: 4 Zombies, and 1 Strahd Zombie
Towards the end of the battle, a black carriage comes down the road. Rahadin was driving it. Tao strode forward to place himself between the party and the carriage. A passenger emerges - Strahd von Zarovich. Tao looked into the the carriage and saw, in the dark shadows, one of Strahd's consorts wearing a skull mask (Valenta Popofsky, pg 94>Treasure). Tao blew her a kiss and caused her to shift uncomfortably.
Divine sense: Senlin cast and sensed an evil figure in Rahadin whose presence was dwarfed by the "black void of evil" emanating from Strahd.
A white lantern on the carriage that caused Strahd to cast a long shadow which moved in impossible ways and grew monstrous. Torinn's shadow moved independently from him and moved to the front (toward the light!), doffed an imaginary cap and bowed to Strahd. Torinn shouted "who are you" to Strahd and was ignored completely (inconsequential). Strahd heard the request from Tao and responded that he was the lord of these lands, and that after the party had had a chance to settle in then he would invite them to dinner at the Castle.
Strahd tried to charm Senlin, who Strahd instantly saw as a possible successor. Senlin shook it off with a Natural 20. He strode up to him and lifted a long pale inger to his chin, lifting it one way then the other, before pondering "perhaps you are the one", then released the hold and headed back to the carriage.
Strahd gave the group a single warning about Ireena: "She is mine!" (Tao again saw Valenta shift uncomfortably in the carriage). The black carriage rode away and almost immediately vanished into the fog, as if it was never there.
Tao tried to hit Torinn's shadow with his axe, but being non-magical this did not do damage. Once the axe is awakened by Neskull, he will be able to do this.

Village of Barovia

The group enters the village and spots a group of four men speaking. Three grey-clad barovians disappear down the street as @Dragomir Belasco approaches and introduces the party to town. Asking him for information, Dragomir looks around and invites the party back to his house to speak in privacy. The party briefly meet Dragomir's adopted son, Alek, and hear his story from Dragomir.
Dragomir shares Barovian beliefs about Barovia and Strahd von Zarovich. Dragomir tells the party to feel free to explore town. May want to help Ismark with his wolf problems, but watch his sister – she is cursed. Tao proclaims that he has come to save the land and that he is a God. Torinn slyly applies perfume of bewitching and backs up his Barbarian companion. Dragomir believes them and says he will help how he can but Strahd must never know - Dragomir must protect his family.

Rewards Granted

Trinket: A little black book that records your dreams, and yours alone, when you sleep. Torinn picked up, first page read “Year 735, 28 Snow Moon”, Pages contained details of a dream narrated in 2nd person, which faded before their eyes. Instructions in the front cover in looped, delicate writing read ‘never let a dream pass unwritten, for only the unwritten makes a dream’ [This will be useful further along if the heroes have "prophetic dreams"]. After holding, Torinn's name slowly appeared in looped writing on the first page. Senlin grabbed the book and after around 15 seconds the name in the black book switched to his.
Charlatan's Die
Chill Touch scroll
Glyph of Warding scroll

Missions/Quests Completed

Made it to the Village of Barovia

Character(s) interacted with

Dragomir Belasco
Strahd von Zarovich
Valenta Popofsky
Muriel Vinshaw

Time
Days: 1st Raven Moon
Time: morning - mid-afternoon
Weather
Cold and foggy
Mist averaging 30 ft vision

Campaign

Curse of Strahd

Protagonists

Report Date

08 Jan 2018

Primary Location

Barovia

Secondary Location

Village of Barovia