...Fuck.

After waking the next day after losing our friends once again, we were greeted by the very brief sight of Strahd von Zarovich disappearing into a cloud of mist while Elaine continues to keep watch. Of course we all began to berate her and demand an explanation for Strahd's appearance, to which she replied in her now-normal monotone voice, that she had made an agreement with him in exchange for help in returning her brother. Again, hard to even be surprised by this from anyone here. Unable to do anything about this for now, we continued northward to the Vistani camp which we left days ago. I'm still rather upset at the fact that we were so close to our objective only to turn around and leave it.
 
As we made the Vistani camp, luckily still there, we noticed there was a commotion going on and Oswald rode up to see what was going on, Elaine shortly thereafter. I stayed behind with Marushka to keep her safe should something out of the ordinary happen. I would say 'strange', but so much strange shit happens in this place, that could be anything. I made it to the gate entrance but hung to the side, just peeking around the corner to see what was happening. It quickly became obvious what was going on. Izek Strazni stood holding a Vistani guard by the throat in his large, demonic hand. Several bodies lay behind him, most of which were beyond saving. Hearing Oswald trying to talk her brother down, Marushka steps from behind me and enters the camp. The large man finally releases the guard and begins making his way towards Marushka. The Vistani guards move to get in his way, but I bade them in their native tongue to stand down, and let us handle him. They complied, and let him through, and I gave them instruction to take care of their wounded/dead.
 
After some minutes, Oswald realizes that Izek's anger is getting to be too much, and casts Calm Emotions on him. Surprisingly, he becomes far more calm and actually open to conversation. He mentions a grotto to the north by the edge of Lake Zarovich that he and Marushka used to hide in as children and that they would be safe their. His plan was to reach the place by leading her through Vallaki, taken as it is by Strahd's forces. Strategically being quiet for this whole interaction, for my own safety as well as others', I finally decided to speak up and present a far safer plan to everyone gathered. I point out to everyone that the safer route would be to take the river north to Lake Zarovich and not go through the city. Strazni said we had no boat, but with the most innocent plea from Marushka I'd ever seen, and a plainative request to him of "please", he said there were boats at the docks of Vallaki. With everyone in agreement, Strazni agreed to go get a boat for us by himself, and left to do so.
 
As we collected ourselves and decided to settle down for the night, Marushka and I we all took separate wagons to sleep in, mostly in case Strazni decided to show himself before we awoke. The night went by mostly uneventful, and I woke well rested the next morning. I spent some time healing the wounded, teaching more people how to cast Cure Wounds and Goodberry. After some time, I decided to go shopping, to see what wares I could barter from the Vistani. Marushka accompanied me, which was nice. Just casually sharing some time and doing something as simple as shopping.
 
It wasn't too long before Bryndon and Eerika reappeared, having survived their time in Lysaga's hut. We gathered and began to share our information with each other, telling all what we know about the Fanes, the dagger Lysaga gave Bryndon to kill the Heart of Ravenloft, the truth about Adrostos' deal with Lysaga, and everything else. At some point Bryndon brought up tieflings again, calling them "the cursed ones", and it made Marushka get up and leave. I followed after her a moment later, pausing only to wonder if Bryndon was doing this on purpose at this point. After we talked, and discussed dealing with Strazni when he returned, we told the Vistani to leave the camp, gather everything and everyone they could, and regroup with Madam Eva's caravan. Oddly enough, they left remarkably soon, leaving only their few overturned wagons used as "walls", for lack of a better word.
 
As we were waiting around the camp, waiting for Strazni to return with the boat, I noticed that all the sounds of nature had stopped suddenly, and an eerie quiet settled over the area. Nothing good ever came from the sound of nature going quiet. Suddenly, a portal opened up in the sky, and Izek Strazni's head came soaring out of it and rolled across the ground in the middle of the camp. Before we could even comprehend what had occured, the devil himself, Strahd von Zarovich, appeared from the portal. Angry that "we" had ignored our agreements with him, and were intentionally keeping Ireena from him, he had grown tired of us and decided to deal with us directly. We engaged in battle, fruitless as it may have been.
 
Having read his tactics in his diary, I immediately began to taunt the man, trying to ensure that he does not try and separate Marushka from the rest of us behind a Wall of Force and kill her. Our new friends quickly showed their worth as the fight with Strahd began. Eerika actually managed to grapple the vampire, and Adrostos smote him with a devestatingly powerful blow. Marushka joined in and caught him with a casting of Faerie Fire, making him easier for us all to deal with. He turned and gave Marushka a look in response, and I could tell she had been charmed.
 
Oddly, Strahd's portal had remained open, and "Rahadin" appeared, fully equiped and ready for battle. At first I thought he looked ready to battle us to keep up his guise, but instead he removed his helmet and proclaimed that's Strahd's ability to scry wasn't as infallible as the vampire might believe. Kasimir revealed himself to Strahd finally. Throwing his cape wide, he answered a question I had been wondering since we discovered he had been masquerading around Strahd as his life-long adversary: how he had been avoiding Strahd's scry. Clutched in his hand, gasping for air as it had no body below it's throat, was the reanimated head of Rahadin himself, to which the dusk elf tossed to Strahd's feet before charging his "master".
 
Strahd roared in rage at this betrayal, or maybe genuinely upset that he'd lost his long-time servant. Hard to tell. However with the damage we'd dealt him so far, he decided to recover some. Before He turned to mist and appeared next to Marushka, who was still near me, he uttered a single word and Adrostos began howling in pain. Turning back to Marushka, he put an arm around her, and she was as putty in his arms, immediately leaning to give him access to her neck. (The biggest indication that she had been charmed, if you ask me.) He bit into her flesh and begin to drink, but I did not allow him to take his fill. I struck him across his face with my whip, causing him to pull away before he could drink of her much. In retaliation, he drew a whip of his own, much to my surprise. The weapon possessed a visible black aura, and the evil that emanated from it was palpable.
 
As if personally insulted by my attack, he attacked me in return with his whip, and followed up by slashing me across the face with his claws. I don't think I'd ever experienced such a pain before. His claws sunk deep into my skin, tearing my flesh with ease as they passed through, from my temple down to my chin. Part of my lip remained flapping away from my face, even as I tried to hold myself together and continue the fight. As we laid into the vampire further, he decided to flee, though a lucky blow managed to cause him to drop his whip. He turned into mist once more and vanished just as fast as he had arrived.
 
As we recovered ourselves, I tried to put my face back on as much as I could before casting a cure spell on myself, though it had little effect of repair the damage: it simply dulled the pain. I believe I heard Oswald exclaim about Piddlewick having returned, perhaps sneaking out with Kasimir? Who knows. We didn't tarry long in this place. Kasimir began leading us westward, into the mist. Before any of us could even interject, his armor glowed and the mist parted around us, allowing us safe passage through it. Interesting. This means that an enchantment exists that could allow any to safely pass through the mist. No telling what kind of requirements such an enchantment could require, however...
 
We ran until we were completely out of breath and stamina, and decided to camp for the night. I remember not what the others talked about, as Marushka had approached me and started stitching up my face with what few materials we had with us. It's sure to leave even more scars on my face. While I never saw myself as vain, I did consider myself lucky for being born with a handsome face. But now.. God, I dare not even gaze into a mirror or see my reflection. Marushka did not seem to be put off by my visage as she stitched me back together, but.. she may have been doing so for my sake. I don't know. I wanted to be next to her as we slept that night, but something stopped me. Fear, I wager. Whatever it was, I'll have to get over it soon. When we wake in the 'morrow, we continue our trek to Krezk, and I'll need to be focused for whatever we encounter on the way. Who knows what dangers lie in wait within the Mist?