The Gang Visits Krezk

Mega Chad of the Celestial Planes

DAY 17 The Gang traveled back to Yester Hill. They dispatched the Berserkers and Druids there. They spotted a nifty axe plunged into the Gulthias Tree. Moss communed with the tree. They left.

On their return trip, they came upon a pair of Vistani. They shared some wine. The pair said they were from a Vistani Camp just outside of Vallaki. Arrigal is their leader. The same Arrigal that delivered the fake letter to the Gang waaay back in the first session.

DAY 18: The Gang help the Martikov family finish bottling the wine.

DAY 19: The Gang delivered the wine to Krezk and they were allowed entry into the small town. Krezk is a small communal society where currency is meaningless. Labor and resources are shared as needed.

Krezk Lore

• Villagers never leave out of fear of wolves and werewolves

• The Abbey is named after Saint Markovia; a priestess who took a stand vs Strahd. She and her cohorts were besieged. They eventually died of starvation.

• A person known only as the Abbot arrived 100 years ago.

• He is rarely seen in the village.

• The abbey bell tolls at odd times. Maniacal laughter and howls can be heard.

• Some Krezkans believe he is Strahd and don’t mess with him

  
  

As the Burgermeister is doling out rations of wine, the Abbot appears. He’s a handsome young man who has a tranquil aura of calmness about him. He invites the Gang to the Abbey for dinner that evening.

DAY 19 (afternoon): A representative of Strahd who calls himself Rahidan arrived at the gates of Krezk inquiring about the adventurers. He asked for Moss and Smugly by name, but only had a description of the other four adventurers. Rahidan is a Dusk Elf, a species of Elf native to Barovia.

One of the Gang talked with the Dusk Elf outside the gates. Although the conversation itself was polite, it was marred by the aura of disembodied screams that seemed to surround Rahidan. The screams of dying men, women, and children could be heard. The voices seemed distant and muffled, but I’m sure anyone hearing those screams would find them disconcerting.

Anyway, the Elf handed one of the party this letter:

Dearest Stalwart Adventurers,

To the new members, welcome to Barovia. I’m sure your cohorts have informed you of your current predicament. I would just like to reiterate our agreement of nonviolence. This pact extends to new members as well.

I applaud your efforts in Vallaki. Lady Wachter did not stand a chance; then again, few unarmed women stand a chance against an arrow to the back of the head.

I must say that you have a far more subtle hand than the previous bunch. There’s a fine line between boldness and foolishness, and those fools crossed far over it. My condolences, Smugly and Moss, on your losses.

The reason I am writing to you is to extend an invitation to dinner and to spend an evening in my home, Castle Ravenloft. My assistant, Chef Cyrus Belview, will be happy to accompany you after dinner to explore the castle, if you desire.   

I am prepared to welcome you anytime in the next 3 days.

Strahd

Rahidan informed the party that Strahd would be “deeply disappointed if they refused the invitation.” It seemed like the word ‘disappointed’ was an understatement.

He also told the party that there would be a stagecoach waiting for them at the crossroads east of Vallaki.

DAY 19 (before sunset): The Gang make their way up to the Abbey as the light dies. At the gatehouse, they are met by two mongrel-folk guards. Although insane, they are harmless and escort the group to the Abbey courtyard. They tell the Gang to stay put while they fetch the Abbot.

In the courtyard there are dozens of mongrel-folks. These pitiful creatures are insane and feral; a potential danger to themselves and others. All of them are locked away or chained down.

The pair of Mongrel guards return and escort the Gang into the Abbey Dining Room where the Abbot is waiting with a tall red hair woman. They have dinner and a long conversation:

• The Abbot describes himself as a “Celestial.” A being from the outer planes.

• He was drawn to this Dread Domain because of his pity for Strahd.

• He believes that the Dread Domain is a prison for Strahd. His Jailor is a Dark Power that consumes the souls of the Domain’s inhabitants.

• The Abbot believes that if the Vampire can find something that he truly loves, then he’ll be set free.

• The tall red hair woman is actually a creation of the Abbot and intended to be Strahd’s bride. It has a striking resemblance to Ireena, although its flesh is scarred and stitched together.

• The Abbot offers a free Raise Dead spell to anyone who can provide a proper wedding gown.

• The Mongrel folk are the remains of the Markovians that fought Strahd. The Abbot is doing everything he can to care for them.

THE ABBEY LIBRARY

The Gang found a slim book describing the Amber Temple. Who wrote it and when it was written is unknown.

Preface to the book:

If you seek honor or power, turn back

For these walls hold naught but doom.

In many vessels below, the darkness shelters a timeless evil

The danger is an infection of a malevolent enemy.

Our arrogance and folly forged this place into our prison.

Leave now, before our damnation becomes yours.

·       The Amber temple was created to trap powerful dark beings.

·       A forgotten Order of Wizards, long before Strahd, created the Temple for this purpose.

·       This is the place where Strahd communed with the Dark Powers and made his pact to become a vampire. The Dark Powers made him ruler of the land. The Land was torn from the world and placed in a pocket dimension, i.e. a Dread Domain.

·       “The Pact was sealed on Strahd’s brother’s wedding day. Strahd killed his brother, drank his blood, and pursued his brother’s bride through Castle Ravenloft declaring his everlasting love for her. The bride, named Tatyana, threw herself from the castle walls in horror of what Strahd had done.”

DAY 19 (evening): The Gang, escorted by the Mongrel Clovis, explored the gardens to the north. The party suspected that the Sun Sword would be here based on the prophecy of Madam Eva, specifically hidden in a scarcrow.

Sure enough, Elyrion found a sword pommel. Unfortunately, 7 Wights erupted from the ground when the rogue took possession of the pommel. This became a drawn-out fight because Sleeps turned 3 of the Wights with his divine magic. The Gang had to chase them down on the west side of the hill before the creatures disturbed the good folk of Krezk.

The Sun Sword Pommel is speaking telepathically to Elyrion and urging him west “towards the pond.”