Session 7 - Vallaki and Vasili

The party finishes up lunch in the Blue Water Inn, and plots their next moves as Gorgo sits outside the town gates pondering if his friends are coming to help him or not. A few hours go by and Grogo has decided he has had enough and eats one of the pastries he got from granny. Going to watch the fisherman on Lake Zarovich Gorgo gets sleepy and rests his eyes in the tree line as night begins to set in. Back in the Blue Water Inn the party still hasn't come up with a plan of action. While discussing whether to leave Vallaki or stick around to see the festival, two seedy, rough looking men walk in. Covered in wolf skins they buy some wine and take their seats. The party keep an eye on them before Ryden breaks the ice. The men are wolf hunters Szoldar Szoldarovich and Yevgeni Krushkin. The hunters handy work can be seen hanging as trophies on the walls of the Inn. Ryden smooth talks and drinks his way to a small friendship as the hunters tell them if they need any help around Vallaki to come see them. They just don't travel outside the walls at night as its too dangerous.


Sleeping outside the walls Gorgo is awoken by the sounds of someone calling for help. Groggy he leaps to his feet as he finally makes out what is going on. A well dressed man is being chased by several wolves. Gorgo defends the man as he successfully defeats the wolves. Thankful for Gorgo's help the stranger, Vasili von Holtz tells him he can spend the night at his house inside Vallaki instead of out in the cold and peril of the Svalich woods. Vasili takes Gorgo to his merchants stall at the docks in the stockyard and gives him a reward for his service, a finely crafted greataxe and a tricorner hat to help hide his eyes. Vasili then takes Gorgo to his home but before they go inside Vasili informs Gorgo that he has some business with two hunters at the Blue Water Inn if he would like to accompany him.


The party at the Inn has retired for the evening, deciding that in the morning they will check on Ireena at the church to see how she feels about staying or going. Emrys Lailoken and Falovar have a dick measuring contest before and Falovar wins. Ryden and Bull set about discussing the next day and solidify the plan. Meanwhile, an hour or so later Gorgo and Vasili arrive and find the wolf hunters finishing up their wine. Vasili asks Gorgo to produce the severed wolf's head he took from the battle and show the hunters. Szoldar is impressed with Vasili and Gorgo and offers to buy them around. Vasili doesn't drink but Gorgo is thirsty enough to finish both glasses. The hunters revel a bit with Gorgo and Vasili before departing. Vasili is on his was out when the rest of the party discover where the ruckus is coming from. Emrys and Ryden are surprised to see Gorgo inside the Inn. Vasili is happy that Gorgo is reunited with his companions and tells them to stop by tomorrow at his merchants stall. Emrys offers his room with Falovar as a place for Gorgo to sleep tonight. Emrys asks Gorgo a very important question and loses for a second time. Emrys uses the quiet to try and figure out where the ravens seems to be getting in and look to see which room is rented long term.


In the morning the party eats breakfast as the children of the bartender run amuck. Emrys still after any information on the long time renter gets his questions answered as the bard they saw the previous day wanders out of his room and up to the bar where he plops down a sack of coin and begins to leave. He recognizes the party and is glad that the fresh faces are still here. He tells the party about the time he slayed 3 dragons without ever drawing his steal. Using just his wits alone the man, Rictavio, spins a wild tale of fantasy and intrigue. Emrys isn't quiet so sure he's telling the whole truth. After breakfast Gorgo leads the party to the northern gates when Bull balks about leaving, so the party double back to the Church of St. Andral to check in with Ireena. She says that this might be as good as place as any and isn't sure it's worth the risk of traveling to Kresk. The party says they will be back to check in daily as they now decide yet again to double back to the northern gate to check out Vasili's stall. At first they can't seem to find Vasili, asking around other vendors note that he isn't here often and his goods are never locked up. Trying to figure out what the next step is Vasili emerges from inside the warehouse with a few sacks. He is leaving and heading back home. He lives just outside of Barovia and is no longer interested in trying to sell his wares and offers the party choice of what he has. Emrys and Falovar collect 2 quivers with 20 arrows each. Bull collects a longsword sporting a winged motif, while Ryden takes a set of older plate armor. Red with a yellow design featuring wings. Vasili tells them these are items he has had a long time and doesn't want to transport them back home. He plans of dividing up the rest between the other merchants and collects what he wants to take with him and jumps on a waiting carriage to take him home. The party is thankful for the gifts and for having Gorgo back with them.