22 - 9/26 : Glimpse of Eternity

With six mysterious gates before them, the group investigated by walking through to see what lie beyond. While most of the party found themselves suspended in time before eventually being returned out the portal from which they came, Fabian found himself face to face with a vampire.
With some deduction, the party assumed this to be one of the aspects of the seven deadly sins, personified version of Morrigan's Evil. The first was Adriana Norman, and she desired the magical ability of Fabian once they exited this realm. Should the offer be refused, she would strive to strike the Sorcerer down. Fabian staunchly refused, and sent a firebolt through the vampire. To Fabians surprise, the vampire faded away without a fight.
The next chamber, one of six seen on the lower level, held a similar room as the first. While the remainder of the group simply exited the way they came, Fabian came face to face with yet another fearsome vampire. Rosalyn Weddall wished something simple, blood. Let her feast and the emblem would be hers, but when refused, she became ravenous and betrayed her gluttony. Similarly to the first room, the vampire vowed vengeance but disappeared with a simple firebolt, vowing her vengeance as she escaped in a cloud of mist.
Fearing another vampire, the group entered the third chamber with caution. Rebecca Elizabetha demanded Wixley offer something of value, but was quickly shut down with an arrow through the heart without heading to the creatures demand. Once again, the vampire simply faded into nothing.
The fourth room was for Judge, as he faced off against the lovely Ophelia Oshea. The vampire knew she could not possibly match Judge in martial combat, in an attempt to flatter the stoic warrior. But, she offered something else: A night with the one he loved. Standing before him stood his wife Lucinda, but Judge declared that his wife lived once, but no more, and he would not be swayed by the vile temptations of the vampire. Judge pulled his weapon, and struck the vampire down, gaining the Sigil of Lust and another key.
Continuing on, Qiao was given the opportunity to face the next aspect. Another vampire sat near the Sigil, seemingly bored and uninterested in Qiao. Seeing an opportunity to avoid conflict, Qiao simply took it and exited the room before she could respond, gaining the group the Emblem of Sloth.
Finally the last of the six chambers was for Qiao, Nora Dinan stood tall, and demanded to know why Qiao insulted the vampire with her presence. Unwilling to barter or serve the vampire, the vampire struck but with a swift kick was struck down. As she faded into mist, the last emblem was finally gained.
With all six emblems gained, the group placed them into the outstretched statues hands and the way beyond was revealed. Upon passing through the precipice, the room dimmed and the group found themselves in a room with six of aspects of sin in their way. Only sloth was not found, and each possessed unique powers as the battle began.
While the vampires possessed supernatural strength and a plethora of powers, the group had long ago learned to fight the ferocious creatures of the night and one by one they fell. As they did, each faded into oblivion with ominous cries...
"I am eternal"
"I will... return"
"Gehenna awaits me"
"I taste....Divinity"
"My ascension... is nigh"
Though uncertain of the meaning it unnerved the group, but the fight continued until each foe was struck down. With the vampires slain, the way forward was revealed as an empty chasm with a single bridge leading out onto a landing.
Ahead sat a pedestal with the final emblem firmly set on top, the one of the true form of Morrigan. The Emblem of Wrath. As the group grabbed hold, a vision of Morrigan appeared behind them. She began:
"It is clear that you will not join me nor accept the power and eternal dominion I can offer. But I am generous, and I give you one last choice. An opportunity to leave this place once and for all. Take it, and you will hear no more from me. Fight on, and you will suffer."
A set of portals was given to the group, one leading to the outskirts of Castle Ravenloft, to the final fight and conflict against the Devil herself. The other appeared to be the coast by the Plains of Mayfarrow. An exit, a way out of these cursed realms... to no longer have to fight against her or her minions again. The group thought it perhaps a trick, but it mattered not. They would not be swayed by her words and would end her once and for all. With resolve and fervor in their hearts, the group set forth through the portal and found themselves in the shadow of Castle Ravenloft.

Calm Before the Storm

Through the portal the party found themselves in front of a surprised group of Barovians. Dmitri, Vladimir, Corax and Van Richten had gathered together the citizens of Barovia and formed an unlikely alliance. They had gathered the largest host the realm had seen and had marched on Castle Ravenloft, only awaiting the groups orders to strike. With them their, the battle could soon commence.

Dmitri Krezkov

The mayor of Krezk told the group of his nervousness, but how resolute he was to see Morrigan removed from these lands for good. He told of the Barovians, how they loved the group and hailed them as the heroes who would finally free them from the shadow of the vampire and her evil once and for all. He told of the other allies, and that him and Van Richten would aid in the battle plans. The Ravens would keep the skies clear and help from above, as well as try to discover the whereabouts of Ismark. Vladimir and his revenants would be the shock troops and handle the worst that Morrigan can throw at them. And the Barovians would raise their arms and engage all the undead they could
The party was to breach the walls, enter the castle and end the vampire once and for all. It would be dangerous, and time would be of the essence. Should they fail, the forces of good would be repelled and Morrigans wrath would envelop this land for good. With the plan laid, the group rested in preparation for the coming battle.

Atrocities of Evil

In the morning the army marched on the castle. Up the road stood the foreboding castle, and along the road was a gruesome site. A sea of graves littered the land, and gruesome warnings stood erected on the side of the road. Many citizens of Barovia saw friends and family displayed by the cursed one as a warning to all who would march on her domain.
Robin appeared to the group, and issued a curse upon any foolish enough to march on HER domain. With a rumble, a gigantic colossus emerged from the ground! Made up of thousands of corpses and gravestones, the fearsome creature slowly marched on the party.
Though gigantic, it attacked using its own creatures and began to wear thin. Many blows were dealt, sending chunks out of it until it remained little more than a fragile husk of bodies. With one final blow, it finally fell, and the final march on the gates of Ravenloft began.

Portraits

Wixley - The small halfling fights with bow and is an expert in dealing with undeath. She has abhors cities and civilization and is much more comfortable in the wilds. Her signature ability is to use spirit bats to knock back her enemies.

Fabian - A powerful sorcerer overflowing with magic, the aasimar sorcerer brings a potent suite of spells to the table to take down all foes.

Judge - The stoic worshipper of Muir, his combat expertise and righteousness leads the group to glory against all evil assailants who would dare challenge the group. During the trip to Argynvostholt, Judge revealed that he was none-other than Hanfred Vel, a famous Paladin of Muir. He had a great burden on his soul, and had returned to put a stop to the the tragedy that he believes set in motion.

Qiao Tai - An astral monk from the distant realms of the Xha'en Hegemony, she has traveled far and found herself in the lands of Barovia. After resting at the Church of Solanus, she heard the commotion in the graveyard and quickly rushed to the groups defense to fight off Morrigan's undead. She now joins their group in the crusade against the vampire. In a recent fight against Morrigan, her right arm was obliterated by Morrigans necrotic magic!

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Ireena Kolyana - The adopted sister of Ismark, she has been bitten twice by Morrigan and fears for her life. Morrigan has offered Ireena to join her numerous times, but she continues to refuse. She has discovered an affinity for fire and learned to control it, gaining fire spells. Later in her desperation to help her friends, she discovered she now had the ability to heal. Her druidic powers continues to increase and she has become a beloved companion of the group.

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Adriana Norman - Aspect of Envy

Iona Lillian - Aspect of Sloth

Nora Dinan - Aspect of Pride

Ophelia Oshea - Aspect of Lust

Rebecca Elizabetha - Aspect of Greed

Rosalyn Weddall - Aspect of Gluttony

Dmitri Krezkov - The Burgomaster of Krezk, he had just lost his daughter and was still in a state of mourning. After offering their support, he was willing to return the favor should the abbey be investigated. He was concerned for the Bishop, and had heard screaming coming from the hill for many nights. He has rallied the people of Barovia to the partys cause, and now leads the march on Castle Ravenloft.

Doctor Rudolph Van Richten - The famous monster hunter had come to Barovia to destroy Morrigan, but realized quickly how terrible his foe was. He has gathered as much information as he can, and has been biding his time until an opportunity arrived to strike. He has helped plan the assault on Castle Ravenloft and will fight to his last to see Morrigan slain.

Corax - She was first seen bartending at the Blue Water Inn where Qiao offered to help her cook food. While initially taken aback, she agreed and got to know Qiao. Once she got more comfortable, Corax revealed she knew that the party had come from the east, and revealed it was in fact herself that had tailed the group. She has told the group that her family are wereravens, and given some shelter and useful information about the town. She now leads the Wereravens on the assault on Castle Ravenloft.

Vladimir Horngaard - The leader of the Knights of the Silver Dragon, Vladimir is a revenant who is cursed to forever remain in Barovia. He believes it his burden to prevent Morrigan from ever escaping, that those inside are doomed and that this is Morrigans hell that she must endure. Judge, in revealing his own fated past, was able to convince the knight to stand aside and not obstruct their work in stopping Morrigan. He has led his revenants in the march on Castle Ravenloft.

Morrigan - The devil herself and curse upon the lands of Barovia. She has confronted the party once at the Village of Barovia and her minions have been a constant thorn in the parties side. She set in motion the events at Vallaki, appeared before the group on the return from Argynvostholt. Most recently has appeared at the ruins of Berez, where she tried to ward the party away from a statue of a moth woman that bore a striking resemblance to Ireena. Morrigan has consistently tried to recruit the party to her evil deeds and seeks out Ireena, though for what purpose is unknown. While she remains an incredibly powerful force, the parties improving martial prowess is beginning to challenge her might.