A Prophecy Unfulfilled

Sleeps, Tabaxi, Monk/Cleric, Neutral Good [Harper Faction]

Moss, Human, Druid, Lawful Evil

Elyrion, Elf, Rogue, Neutral Good [Harper Faction]

Smugly, Dragonborn, Monk/Sorcerer, Neutral

Mamol, Dwarf Cleric, Neutral Good [Harper Faction]

Not Present: Grant, Shapeshifter Ranger, Neutral Good [Harper Faction]

Previously…

The Gang had just helped Emil the Werewolf reclaim his leadership role in the clan. They made a deal with Emil to have two of his packmates (Bob and Daryl) work as servants for Bildrath at his shop in Barovia Village. In exchange for this manual labor, Bildrath would allow his nephew, Parriwimple (Parri), to leave with the party. The Gang then went to Ravenloft Castle to have dinner with Strahd with Parri, their prophesied Ally to defeat Strahd according to Madame Eva’s divination.

The Gang had dinner with Strahd and were given a tour of the castle by Cyrus. They finished the tour in Escher’s Room high in the castle and fed the vampire a pig. Escher then telepathically messaged Mamol that he wanted to speak privately to the Gang.

DAY 29, K49 The Lounge

It was getting late in the evening for Moss, Mamol, Sleeps, Elyrion, Smugly, and Parri. Mamol nodded to Escher, signaling his agreement to meet with him later. With nothing further to do, Cyrus escorted the Gang back down the South Tower Stairs (K21). They left The Entry (K7), passed through the courtyards (K1/K2/K3), and entered the Servants’ Entrance (K23) on the north side of Ravenloft. Cyrus said goodnight then went down the stairs. The Gang went up the stairs where they were to spend the night (K34).

K34 Servants’ Upper Floor

The Gang returned to their room where the animated dress was still dancing. Smugly touched the dress and it collapsed to the floor, which ruined the fun and pissed off everyone. Thanks Smugly.

Elyrion searched for secret doors but found nothing.

Mamol told everyone what Escher said to him, and they discussed what they were going to do next:

Sleeps was going to hang out here and study the legendary magic item that he just acquired. (See bottom page for item write-up)

Moss was going to sleep.

Elyrion, Sleeps, Mamol, and Parri were going to sneak back into the castle and visit Escher. The quartet retraced their steps and arrived at Escher’s room without incident.

K49 The Lounge

After confirming that the Gang was not being trailed by rats or other spies of Strahd, Escher invited them into his room. They had a long discussion:

• Escher believes that Strahd will kill him or do something worse, like imprison him forever.

• He, and every other Vampire Spawn in Barovia, is a thrall of Strahd, meaning that he must do whatever Strahd commands. Even ending himself if so commanded.

• Escher wants to ally himself with the PCs, giving them any info they need to end Strahd, on the condition that they set him free.

• The power flow chart of Castle Ravenloft goes like this: Strahd> Chosen Spawn> Vampire Spawn> Wights> Ghouls> Zombies> Lost Humans.

• There’s a secret door in their sleeping quarters. It leads to a heavily guarded stairway that leads to the “heart of Strahd.” Highly recommend that you destroy the heart before you face Strahd in the final battle.

• Smugly: Where’s the treasure room? In the Rooms of Weeping (3^rd floor), go to the Study, look to the east and you’ll see a large fireplace, in the back of the fireplace is a secret door. Go through the secret door and you will find treasure. This is a false treasure room. Look to the east for another secret door. Go through the door and down a hallway leading east to the double doors. Go through those doors. You will now be in the Belfry, the place where they rang the church bell back in the day. In the northern part of that room is the last secret door. Go through the last secret door and you are now in Strahd’s true Treasure Room. Caveat, his treasure is held in an impenetrable magical vault, and I don’t know the password. I don’t think anyone does, except Strahd of course.

• You should expect Volenta to ambush you with the Hags and Vampire Spawn once the Pact has ended.

• Fun fact: Vampires can’t get erections. You need blood circulation for that.  

Elyrion, Mamol, Smugly, and Parri returned to their room without incident.

K34 Servants’ Upper Floor

Elyrion  found the secret door in the back of the wardrobe in their room. The door opened to reveal a ladder going up, judging by the cobwebs and dust, it hadn’t been used in ages. He closed the door and explored no further.

Morning arrived and Sleeps was attuned to his relic.

They were roused by Cyrus who led them back to the Dining Hall. Screams could be heard as they walked through the Entry (K7).

DAY 30, K7 The Dining Hall

The gang entered upon a grisly scene. Escher’s torso and head lay on the dining room table. The screams came from what remained of Escher. All four of his limbs lay stacked next to him. Strahd was busy cauterizing Escher’s final limb with holy water. He soaked the water with a cotton swap attached to a short iron rod, careful not to touch the water himself. The holy water was applied from a bottle with Father Lucian’s insignia on it.

Strahd: “Well that’s about it. The Pact will end after the Black Carriage carries you past the drawbridge.” He turned to Cyrus. “Bring a cart and store Escher in one of the crypts.” Escher screamed. The Gang left.

K1 The Front Courtyard

Strahd waved from the Entry and followed as the Black Carriage drove off. Crossing the bridge, the group saw him fly up and land atop the curtain wall, while vampire spawns crawled down its exterior.

Passed the Drawbridge

The carriage unexpectedly made a U-turn after crossing the bridge, stopped, and opened its doors, prompting the gang to exit. They watched as the Spawns scrambled underneath the bridge and, judging by the sounds coming from underneath the drawbridge, the vampires were swiftly closing the distance between them. Strahd landed softly on the ground in the courtyard and did his edgelord slow-walk back into Castle Ravenloft.

Apparently, the Pact had ended, and the Gang readied themselves against the six vampire spawns. The sounds of the undeads’ hands and knees hitting the underside of the drawbridge grew louder and Elyrion expanded the Radiant sunlight of his Sun Sword to maximum effect. The Gang then made a tactical mistake that would prove deadly, they moved forward onto the drawbridge.

The six spawns popped up along the sides of the bridge and attacked the Gang. Their sudden appearance didn’t surprise the PCs, but their subsequent actions did. The undead tried to grapple with their opponents and fall off the bridge, taking their victim with them into a thousand-foot drop below.

Regardless of their surprise tactics, the spawns were not long for this world. The combination of magical fists and weaponry, along with the Sun Sword’s sunlight, ensured things would end quickly. Unfortunately for Parri and Sleeps, they both were held tightly as the laughing vampires did their death drop.

Moss saved Sleeps with some creative use of the Earthbind spell. Tentacles of magical energy extended from his hand, surrounded Sleeps and the Spawn holding him, and drew the pair to the drawbridge like some sort of tractor beam. Meanwhile, the Spawn sunk his fangs into Sleeps. The Gang made mincemeat of the spawn when it reached the bridge.

Parri, however, wasn’t so fortunate. His terrified screams could be heard over the laughing vampire spawn as he plunged into the darkness below, then there was silence. The Gang quickly traveled away from the area, then proceeded south to the Village of Barovia.

Bildrath's Mercantile, Village of Barovia

The Gang arrived at the doorstep of Bildrath’s Mercantile in Barovia Village several hours later. Smugly was chosen for the unenviable task of telling Bildrath that his nephew was dead. The merchant took the news with few words and a clenched jaw.

“If we can get our werewolves back now?”

“Your wha…?” Smugly’s obtuse question put Bildrath at a loss.    

“The two werewolves? Hello? We lent them to you in exchange for your nephew?”

“We never told him that they were werewolves,” mumbled Mamol.

“…oh…”

“They’re werewolves?! Get. out. Get out! GET OUT! AND NEVER COME BACK!”

The Gang left Barovia Village with Bob and Daryl, split paths with them at the northern crossroads, and returned to the Wizard of Wines.  

Coming up next session…

They decided on what to do next after they arrived at the Winery. They discussed the Amber Temple, Argynvostholt, Berez, and Yester Hill. They reduced those choices to either Amber Temple or Yester Hill  with Sleeps being the deciding vote. He flipped a coin. It came up Yester Hill.

So the Gang has decided to take down the Gulthias Tree at Yester Hill. As a reminder, the Gulthias was responsible for creating some kind of evil treant a couple of weeks ago. It is feared that the Druids will try to summon another one. Destroying the Gulthias will prevent that.

DAY 31, Wizard of Wines

Sleeps consulted the Relic for guidance regarding the Gulthias Tree, which granted him an Augury of Weal with a chance for Woe.

ICON OF RAVENLOFT (Sleeps attunement)

The Icon of Ravenloft is a 12-inch-tall statuette made of the purest silver, weighing 10 pounds. It depicts a cleric kneeling in supplication.

While within 30 feet of the icon, a creature is under the effect of a protection from evil and good spell against fiends and undead. Only a creature attuned to the icon can use its other properties.

Augury. You can use an action to cast an augury spell from the icon, with no material components required. Once used, this property can't be used again until the next dawn.

Bane of the Undead. You can use the icon as a holy symbol while using the Turn Undead or Turn the Unholy feature. If you do so, increase the save DC by 2.

Cure Wounds. While holding the icon, you can take an action to heal one creature that you can see within 30 feet of you. The target regains 3d8 + 3 hit points, unless it is an undead, a construct, or a fiend. Once used, this property can't be used again until the next dawn.