Session 11: My Fair Barovia Report

General Summary

Our heroes split company to take care of their own interests for a few days.   The Shrine to Keres and The Village of Ivlis Thiala set out to explore her newly aquired lands, working her way first to the Durst Windmill. There she finds that Parriwimple Cantemir has been sent from Barovia to conduct the repairs to the windmill. She heads up the hill to the ancient standing stones to investigate the shrine to Keres that supposedly lies beneath.   The Morninglord's Faithful Gravetender spends the morning helping Father Lucian Petrovich with services and tending to those who died during the Festival of the Sun. He also accepts Stella Wachter as a sister of Krezk.   The Hunter and the Hunted Meanwhile, DARK JADE CLOUD goes to Lake Baratok to see if he can find signs of the werewolves he was sent to Barovia to find. When he arrives he finds lights on in Van Richten's tower and decides to pay the legendary monster hunter a visit. The two chat for a good while and find they are in Barovia to deal with the same Werewolf threat. Van Richten's investigations point to a shrine of The Wolf God that is supposedly on the other side of the lake, but Van Richten has yet to find the shrine. The other side of the lake is full of expertly placed false trails and hunter's traps. However, he hopes to have better luck closer to the full moon. DJ agrees to team up with Van Richten to hunt the werewolves.   On his way back to Vallaki he senses the presence of someone or something following him through the mists. Hiding in a tree and waiting he sees a barovian hunter, the symbol of Dusan on their forehead looking right at him as if the hunter could sesnse his presence. The hunter throws daggers but they stick into the tree trunk right next to DJs head. DJ retaliates firing two deadly shots from his Oath Bow, one penetrating the hunters heart and the second piercing the symbol of Dusan, killing the hunter.   DJ arrives in Vallaki without further incident and seeks out his friends, finding Gravetender and Stella on their way to the abbey. Hoping that the fortress abbey might be able to bring protection from anyone Dusan might be sending against him.   Hallowed Ground Abbot Gravetender, Sister Stella, and Sister Ireena begin their Hallow ritual to protect the abbey from evil and preventing the raising of the undead on Abbey Grounds while Dark Jade guards them.   The Passion of Keres Thiala meets and charms Valentina "Moth" Oronova, a young woman who was a member of Lady Wachters "Book Club". After a night of passion with Moth, Thiala headed to the Shrine of Keres and performed the ceremony dedicating her soul to Keres, gaining her final dark powers. When she returns to Vallaki, Moth professes her eternal love and dedication as Thiala's apprentice.   The Curse of Dusan DJ visits with Arrabella to figure out why people keep trying to kill him and finds that the dark power Dusan placed an innescapable curse upon him.   The Blessings of Mother Night DJ desperate to not have to confine himself to hallowed ground to avoid Dusan's curse, decides to take Arrabella's advice. He climbs to the mountain summit above the abbey. There under the moon and stars he uses a ritual to Mother Night, dedicating himself to her worship and requesting her protection. The goddess answers his prayer, removing Dusan's curse at the cost of his soul being hers forever.   Back at the Blue Water Inn Gravetender, DJ, and Thiala meet as planned and begin to plan an assualt on Yester Hill to recover the seed stolen from the winery.   A task that will have to wait until next time.

Missions/Quests Completed

Discovered and cleared the Shrine of Keres, Discovered Ivlis, Protected Abbey, Discovered and Removed the Curse of Dusan, Recruited Moth, Recruited Stella