Session 32

General Summary

Lakeside Delivery

The party quickly got their things together and made up their mind. We're gonna go to the lake north of Vallaki to drop off Idris' band mates with Flameo, then they're gonna check out Vallaki and try to find the child responsible for meddling in affairs he shouldn't. Pairing everybody up, the party set off. When they arrived on the path close to where it starts to bend up towards the tower, Gio and Diem began to notice many ravens perched in the trees watching them as they rode towards Vallaki. Nova took a moment to talk with a blue-tipped feathered raven, explaining why it was watching them. They wanted to make sure you have a relatively safe trip, and informed the party that there was a large gathering of red-eyed wolves ahead of them on the road. Gio also asked if the people at the winery were doing alright, to which the bird responded with an affirmative nod.
Coming up with a plan, the group landed on Idris using his band new flashy move where he can make a duplicate of himself to play music to try and draw them off. As viscous amber goo dripped from his eyes, a copy of Idris manifested itself and spoke to the tiefling. Great, it talks too. Go play a song and distract the wolves, then run off into the woods to draw them away. Simple enough, and the copy moved ahead. Gee, I hope it doesn't feel pain, and I REALLY hope its not shared pain - the party thinks to themselves as Gio and Diem hear muffled screams off in the distance after skillfully managing to evade the wolf pack.
Coming up on Vallaki, Gio felt Sergei riding a spectral horse made of light next to him. He remarked about his brother, how Gio felt about him, and what Strahd has done to Barovia in his absence. Sergei asked if this was something Gio was used to - being all heroic and whatnot for the sake of it. Perhaps your intentions aren't quite that per-se, but regardless that is the end goal that will be accomplished if you are to succeed. Feeling ill once again, Sergei left, leaving Gio on his horse with Nova and Don.
Moving towards the lake, Idris took his band and rowed out to the middle of the lake. Asking for Flameo to let him know when he should send them down, it took but a moment for a whirlpool to open as Idris and Diem, along with the band, plunged below. As they awoke, Toby was waiting there for them, handing the band mates keys for the rooms they'll be staying in. Actually, this place rocks! Idris told the band to maybe try and convince Coryphian that there are more interesting forms of music other than classical. With that, the two found themselves face first on the shore of the lake once again.

Find the Kid

Outside Vallaki, the party determined that it may not be that easy to get inside in a way that wont force them to take part in the festival they were planning. Since they were quite positive the child they were looking for would be in the orphanage, Idris and Diem were going to teleport there while the rest of the group tried their way walking in. Moving up to the gates, Gio, Nova, and Ariadne were stopped. It took the guards a moment, but flipping through some papers, recognized each of the party members there. When asked about the two missing companions, Nova explained that they're simply dead.
Teleporting into the orphanage, Diem struggled to compose herself around so much blood, as the children were awe struck by the presence of the two. Meeting up with the rest of the party, the group went to talk to Milovaj. He knows not of the name Vaund, nor has been meddling in anything strange or magical as of late. Ariadne quickly checked for anything magical in the room, finding that old locket that possessed Felix, before taking it and putting it in their bag of holding. When asked if there were any other people who might strike themselves as "children messing in powers they shouldn't," Milovaj explained that two people might be involved in that. He would be surprised if one of Lady Wachter's children dabbled in anything like that, there are an awful lot of rumors about that family. However, the burgomaster's son Victor has even worse rumors about him, and tends to mess with things he shouldn't. 
Figuring they have a way into the Wachterhaus, the party began to move forth before Idris had a realization. Vaund said a boy right? Lady Wachter has two sons, but he wouldn't consider them to be boys. Shit, its definitely the burgomaster's son isn't it...
Moving towards the burgomaster's home. The party devised another plan. Once again, Diem and Idris would infiltrate the attic of the home while Gio, Nova, and Ariadne would walk inside to try and get more information and meet the two in the attic. Ariadne knocked on the door and asked for Izek, and a few moments later had an awkward reunion with her half brother. Talking about the situation, things have slowly gotten better, and the Vistani have been healing in their own way. Could you tell us anything about Victor. He is very much a troubled boy, flashes of purple light coming from the attic, and the awful things he apparently did to his bride to be. I could try to bring you to him, or at the very least remove the guards for a moment if you wish to speak with him. That would be fantastic.
MEANWHILE Diem and Idris turned invisible and climbed up to the attic. Opening a window and peering in, they saw a dusty attic with a multitude of old boxes and furniture. They then saw at the end of the room a door which said "ALL IS NOT WELL" with a skull carved into the wood. With a little bit of leverage, Idris and Diem managed to kick the door open only to have the skull glow and explode. Hiding invisibly on the ceiling, the rest of the party rushed upstairs with Izek and the guard to figure out what was going on. Finding no one in the room, Izek said he was going to go talk with the burgomaster about the situation, and took the guard with him. Investigating the room, Diem heard a heartbeat in the corner, though not seeing anything. Gio felt multiple shoves trying to push him in the right direction, as Idris loudly proclaimed that they should look around. 
Diem them dropped onto the invisible boy, with the rest of the party dogpiling on. The boy relented, and turned visible once more, revealing and edgy kid frustrated he was being crushed. Idris IMMEDIATELY did not appreciate his tone. Taking his book and looking through it, it seems he was trying to create a teleportation circle. Although, Diem noticed it probably would have crushed him and sent him to a random place the way he created it. When Idris asked what he did to his bride to be, the boy smiled when he stated he tested the circle on her with one of his cats. Even more pissed, Idris threatened the boy, asking him if he knew what true madness was. That seemed to shut him up really well.
Upon completing the circle, a black void opened up, silent. One by one, after throwing Victor in first, the party jumped in.

Domain of Domains

The party came to in front of a door. Three riddles alongside three different locked rings. First delivered a bit of fire, then a bit of charming, and finally a vampiric touch, the door opened for them and allowed them trough.
Within a blackened void, the party heard a voice alongside skittering. Why are you here? Do you really wish to bring her back? Or do you feel as though outside forces are making you do so? Idris and Ariadne tried to convince them that they truly wished to bring her back, before a massive golden mask revealed itself as the party began to be grasped by shadowy claws and sink beneath the inky black void.
We shall see...

Report Date

07 May 2023