22 Mirtul 1377 DR
Our third day since leaving Baldur’s Gate and dawn came warm and pleasing for our travels toward Waterdeep. About mid-day we caught up to a caravan of wagons with colorful awnings and we decided to camp with them. They claim they are Vistani and travel many places. They’ve also offered the sanctuary of their camp tonight which we’ve accepted. I may write more later but right now I go to join the feast they’ve laid out for “their good friends” as they call us.
23 Mirtul 1377 DR
I write this as the eastern sky filters sun down to our now empty camp. When we woke today, a fog surrounded us and our friends, the Vistani, were nowhere to be found. This place is unsettling and doesn’t look at all like the Fields of the Dead where we made camp last night. Instead we are surrounded by pine trees and there is a small road ahead of us that I swear was not there before.
23 Mirtul 1377 DR - Still
It must be late afternoon by now, but the fog still surrounds us. Agrapha wants to wait until the fog clears before we travel or we might get more lost. Tu’vosh wanted to press forward, but Agrapha wouldn’t hear of it. So now, we sit huddled around a cold dark camp as our pile of wood refuses to catch and worse, we are starting to hear long bone-chilling howls in the distance.
25 Mirtul 1377 DR
I’m guessing that I’ve got the date right. Who knows. This place is downright hostile toward us. Gimpizzle was lost to a pack of wolves yesterday? Or was it this morning? The accursed sun hides behind the every flowing clouds.
We finally started traveling along the path and came to two huge iron gates that swung open as we approached and then clanged behind us as we entered. I swear it was like a coffin lid closing down upon us and that sound still echoes within my ears.
Day 6
I just can’t keep track of dates anymore, so I’m not even going to try. We are all so tired and have been through so much. I’m beginning to think Gimpizzle was lucky to have died so early. Regardless, yesterday as light faded from the land the fog came rushing against us forcing us toward a small hamlet and then to a single house where two children cried that a monster was in their house. HA!! The house WAS the monster and they were not children but haunted specters. But Agrapha wouldn’t hear of it. He always has to be the hero so in we went. It seemed like your standard ‘haunted house’ at first with creepy wallpaper and the occasional creature gone wild, but then we made it to the attic where we found the bones of the children and fought a specter. But once we made it down the basement, well that’s when the real horrors came out. I can still hear Wystle’s cries as that huge shambling mound of rubbish smothered him.
Day 9
We left the village of Barovia behind in search of an inn at a place called Vallaki. The townsfolk were extremely tight lipped and made it clear our presence was not welcome. And that’s fine. Staying there beneath that huge imposing castle would’ve driven me mad. What is ahead might be horrible too, but at least it won’t be in the shadow of a castle that sucks the very light out of the town.
Day 11
This land of Barovia defies everything I know to be true! Even death follows different rules here. Because Gimpizzle came to us as we approached the gates of Vallak! She was imploring us to come back toward Barovia. Well I say it was Gimpizzle, but that creature was not my friend and even Agrapha was smart enough to not trust her.
Day 18
I’ve never seen a more accursed land than this Barovia.The Burgomaster in Vallaki is at best delusional and his festivals are draining the life from his residents. When we left Vallaki, we spent time with a group of Vistani and bought potions to help us slip through the mist. I hope they work. I miss the Sword Coast. It seemed the Vistani were guarding a group of condemned elves. Why? The best we could determine is that a dark lady stands above all in this land and she ordered these Vistani to control the mourning elf leader who bitterly misses his deceased sister.
Day 22
No place within this land is safe! Last night, we were camped outside a derelict tower on the edges of Lake Baratok when several creatures that were half-man and half-wolf attacked. Graybeard fell beneath their claws and was taken from us as they chanted prayers to their night mother. The rest of us, oh how few of us that remain, fled to the village Krezk, but before we made it to the old abbey, we were attacked by our fallen companions. Agrapha fell beneath little Gimpizzle and we know now that falling to a creature like that means you become one. So I’m sure it won’t be long until Agrapha, strongest among us, will be hunting us. I miss the thick walls of Neverwinter and fear that I will soon join my companions in eternal damna
