Session 7 ... Further Down the Rabbit Hole

The party is shaken, each of us trying to process the foretelling of Madame Eva.
 
Vegar, revitalised and returned to awareness, questions us about the mystic. His scepticism is obvious, but he cannot offer any rational explanation for what we have been told.
 
He decides to see for himself. He is a man with obvious secrets, haunted even.
 
Vegar's Reading

 
As we spend an evening relaxing, and enjoying some semblance of merriment with the Vistani, we learn the following:

• Time passes while we are in this realm, but it is not necessarily at the same pace


• The Vistani are free to leave, a boon granted by the Count




1. Some less scrupulous Vistani might try and sell passage out, but this is a lie




• The Vistani believe the following




1. Barovian's are simple and superstitious people


2. Strahd named his Castle after his beloved mother Queen Ravenovia


3. Strangers are not welcome at the castle




• Velakki can be reached either by the mountain road, or the river path

 
Eventually, feeling a bit more informed and not a bit safer, we settle down for the night. During the night Griff tosses and turns, once more disturbed by dreams and an old corrupted memory
. With the morning Griff finds the strange desire for more pies faded.
 
The night passes without incident. Only Kig noticed anything, when just before dawn, he heard a bird. Its heavy flapping wings heading north.
 
In the morning the Vistani provide food and water, while Tobias stocks up on wooden stakes!
 
Travelling along the River Path, the faster of the two routes, we arrive at a steep cliff and waterfall. It takes a combined effort to scale the cliff:

• Vegar plots the ascent


• Kig & Griff, using pure strength and agility, lead the way!


• Tobias shows his impairment as a lie, nimbly following behind


• I won't ever admit it, but I find myself impressed by my friends' abilities. The competitive streak flares with jealousy and I shout out a brash challenge, forcing myself to out do them in the climb

 
At the top of the cliff, we find a tall ruined tower. Climbing to the top Vegar is able to see more of the mist covered lands that we have found ourselves in. Barovia, Castle Ravenloft, and Velakki all lie within easy travel. Within the ruins of the tower Vegar finds a spyglass
.
 
With out travel to the village of Velakki resumed, Tobias notices something following us ... a pack of wolves! And with them their master, the master of this realm, Strahd von Zarovich!
 
The creature bites me! His speed and strength beyond anything I have ever encountered. And with that his pets attack ...
 
During the combat that follows Griff receives a wound to his right eye. In the end we once more emerge successful. Claiming the wolf pelts as a prize, we continue on.
 
The scene fades to darkness as we find ourselves approaching a windmill, a raven shrieking and calling out at our approach.