Session 21

General Summary

The Rabble Rages

As the party could hear the crowd begin to form in the northern sheep pen, they quickly decided splitting up would be the best course of action. Nova and Viggo remained behind to watch over and hide Luca, Idris and Ariadne moved towards the crowd in order to try and calm them down, and Ahrieya, Gio, and Ireena moved towards the burgomaster's home in order to assess the condition of Idris' band mates as well as ask the burgomaster for help.
As Idris and Ariadne strolled up on the crowd, they immediately tried to calm them by climbing onto come crates and speaking sense. Unfortunately, that didn't seem to appease the crowd. Turning towards more unconventional means, Idris asked Coryphian to allow him to play anything other than the somber tune, and while it wasn't what Idris usually played, Coryphian gave the tiefling some inspiration in the form of some funky fresh riffs. Not knowing how to respond, Ariadne took a moment to zhuzh up the performance by lighting up the area and giving a wonderful scat performance to go along with it. The crowd was enthralled, distracted from the current situation for a time, much to the burgomistress Anna's dismay. When the inspiration faded, Idris began to play the same somber tune, quickly stopping. The mob began to rouse themselves once again as Anna riled them up, blaming the situation on Luca and perhaps even Sin. Stones were thrown at Ariadne, and when Idris demanded to know how Anna was willing to solve the issue, the crowd heard a try of terror coming from the eastern part of town.
Meanwhile, Ahrieya, Gio, and Ireena made it back to the burgomaster's home. Gio told Isis to stay inside, and that the town is quite angry due to the loss of their livestock and might blame the party. He asked them to stay locked in their room until he returns. Moving into the burgomaster's bedroom, Gio found a blood knife used for butchery and a bloody apron, seemingly indicating Anna's guilt. When talking to the burgomater in his study, he claimed that Sin and Don left to go check on Idris. Ahrieya immediately sent Viggo to stop Sin and Don as Gio told Isis to stay inside locked doors, as the town might not be too happy with them at the moment.
At that time, Nova was sitting with Luca in a secluded part of the woods playing I spy. 
Viggo managed to catch the bandmates before they reached Idris. When Ahrieya explained the mob might be after them, they promptly turned tail and began moving back to the home. However, when the funky fresh strums and skatting could be heard, Sin needed much more convincing before turning around, frustrated that perhaps Idris DID replace them. However, on the way to the sheep pen, Ahrieya and Gio heard a terrible shriek coming from the northeast of the town.

Corrupted Son

As Gio, Idris, Ariadne, and Ahrieya followed the cry, they could hear wet crunching and horrid squelching from around the corner. They could also see multiple bodies of household pets littering the streets. Turning the corner, a horrible emaciated creature with a bulging stomach, a maw littered with sharp, moving teeth. However, the facial features on the creature seemed familiar to the party; those of the burgomaster's son Ilya. Tears streaming down their face, the twisted form of Ilya lunged at the party, begging for them to rid him of the pain his hunger gave him.
During the fight, each of the broken corpses returned to life, seemingly possessed by something, twisting their bodies into amalgamous forms. Ilya struck at Ahrieya, tearing a large chunk from her as Ariadne called down a beam of moonlight. The humanoid corpses lunged at Idris, piercing him with claws nearly bringing him down. Gio and Ahrieya played flip flop on who would maintain Ilya's focus while Ireena stuck at some of the smaller creatures. Meanwhile, Nova could hear the fighting, and started to sprint towards the raucous.
The fight looked grim, Idris getting knocked down before Nova showed up. Coryphian managed to jump start Idris, telling him that theres more to do, and the show is far from over. Unfortunately, a globule of acid managed to knock Idris, Gio, and Ireena unconscious. Ilya seemed to focus on those who had gotten healed. As the fight lingered on, Ahrieya, wanting to end the fight quickly, launched a fireball at Ilya, only managing to slightly singe the beast. However, both Gio and Ireena passed shortly after.
Gio found himself in an outside amphitheater overgrown with plant life. Moonlight gracing through the foliage, a pale skinned woman in a white dress beckoned Gio to join her at a chess table, each piece representing one of his friends or foes. The woman told Gio and he has a wonderful family, and asked him if he would like to continue protecting them. After Gio had affirmed that he would, the woman explained that there are so many tortured and lost souls in Barovia that she wishes to save, and that she needs someone to champion her cause. Gio might be able to help her. At that moment, Gio returned to life, bone plating surrounding his form as green vapor drifted off his body. In an instant, as the party was struggling to kill Ilya, Gio quickly struck the creature, and though intending for it to be non-lethal, cracked Ilya's spine in a single strike. When the body hit the floor, the party realized that Dimitri had fled, and Anna rushed towards Ilya's twisted form. When asked about it, she knew of his hunger, and simply thought that by feeding him it would eventually subside. What else could she do, it was her son after all. The party offered her the option to save face to take care of the town by claiming this was the monster killing the sheep, and that it took her son as well.

Damage Control

Ahrieya grabbed Ireena's body and flew towards the Abbey. Upon arrival, The Abbot was peering down towards the town. Ahrieya demanded that he bring back Ireena, though not the way he did it for Ilya. He stated he didn't know what would happen to the boy, as he was dead for quite some time. He warned her that something strange might happen. When he turned to look, he was intrigued to see that the spitting image of Tatyana was before him. Pleased he was so close to the original, he obliged on the condition that, by her own will, she return to The Abbot briefly. Lifting a hand over her chest, a mote of light could be seen floating about the room before it returned to Ireena's body, and though returned to life, remained unconcious.
Meanwhile, the party collected themselves and moved back to the home and Ahrieya flew back with Ireena. A loud bang could be heard coming from the burgomaster's home. When they arrived, Isis was banging on the burgomaster's door. Upon investigation, a smoking pistol and a shot through the head could be seen on Dimitri, though Ariadne was able to staunch the bleeding and stabilize him. Ahrieya put Ireena in her room, and amidst her magical silence, cried to herself until a soothing smoke enveloped her. The rest of the party convened downstairs, plopping an unconscious Idris on the couch. Idris then found himself on a familiar stage, with Coryphian praising Idris on his performance both to the people and in the fight. It seems he has a gift for him that he is SURE Idris will like. At that moment, he found himself concious once again as the party could hear the guards outside trying to stop someone from entering the burgomaster's home. Worried it might be a particular vampire, the party braced themselves as the door flung open, revealing a dark skinned woman in a pastel dress, demanding to know where Idris is. The band mates seemed pleased to see this woman as Idris cowered. Stomping towards him, trying to apologize, the woman knocked Idris out cold, and before darkness took him, he could see the face of the woman, as well as the robed void of Coryphian shooting finger guns at him.
What will the town do now without food as winter approaches?

Report Date

03 Feb 2023