The Tenth Reading - Shasti

The scene is unfamiliar to Shasti, but from Rowan’s descriptions it seems to be Strahd’s study. It is a very comfortable room with a big fireplace with a large picture of Strahd above it. There’s also a picture of Tatianna hanging on a wall. Lots of books and objects. Away from the desk is a sofa and chairs which looks more comfortable. There are no windows to the outside.

Minala is with Strahd. She is dressed much more simply and they are sat across from each other, engaged in a negotiation. Shasti seems to be Strahd’s attendant/advisor.

Through the knowledge in the tome, Shasti knows the paintings are enchanted. Stone gargoyles to either side of the fireplace are enchanted. All three doors have enchantments on them. Only those who accompany Strahd can enter this room.

Minala is offering Strahd a way to remove a thorn in his side; the Roshana. Action must be taken to prevent them becoming a serious danger to him. Strahd is engaged, interested, and curious, but trying to keep a poker face up.

After some back and forth, a deal is made. Minala offers him a way to betray the Roshana at their weakest moment and desecrate their fonts of power. It’s a week until Midsummer and this is the chance to strike. Normally the Summer Court would stand guard during this time but Barovia is sealed and this is not possible. In exchange, Minala asks for a part of the valley as her own, the bones of Argynvost, and a pledge of safety/protection for herself and one other person.

Minala eventually admits she needs the protection for her unborn child, as the Roshana will kill it once discovered.

There are things that can be done at the sacred places to make them inaccessible. Minala will show Strahd how to do them; taking the followers of the Roshana and killing them in unpleasant ways at the sites before finally binding their spirits at the fonts.

The picture fades and changes. Shasti sees the rituals taking place at the fanes.

At the Weaver’s fane, she sees gore. There are dismembered bodies and signs of torture across the fane. Markings have been scraped away and defaced. Strahd is present with others. This is the aftermath of the rituals.

Bodies are being dragged into deliberate patterns. Once again, Shasti seems to be an advisor. Strahd says the business isn’t pleasant but almost done. Asks if anything else should be considered. Shasti asks how they will stop others from trying to cleanse the fanes. Strahd says the spirits will protect the fanes from magic or those with the ritual tools.

Shasti asks what kind of power people would need to overcome these defences. Strahd says any serious attempt to cleanse the fane will be dealt with by a latest wave of spirits. Gestures to what could be an ogre or giant and implies it will do what lesser spirits cannot.

An unhappy priest tells them it’s called a Boneclaw. It will appear after a minute or so. Due to the magical field, no one from outside can harm the spirits within. Once people leave the field, the spirits will not pursue them.

Being undead, any that fall will rise again in time, so there is no end to the onslaught. A cleric might cause problems for the undead. No matter how many spirits are put down, more will appear.

Without the Roshana or Argynvost, there’s no one to oppose him.

The scene changes again, this time to a Seeker’s fane.

There’s carnage here, too, but the bodies look like druids. As with the Weaver fane, spirits are being bound to fane. There’s no sign of them using the physical remains of the druids, however.

At this fane, the powerful spirits of the druids are being bound. They will be thought-compelled to use their powers to stop people attempting to complete the Seeker’s rite. Magic and nature effects would most likely be used.

Shasti asks about who might rise up against them. Strahd thinks he’s destroyed most if not all followers of the Roshana. There may be some in the mountains but he has granted that domain to Minala.