Session 41

General Summary

Evening Discussion

Instead of going to bed, the party decided to head on over to the chieftain's tent in order to get some more information. Making their way over, the group saw many buff figures inside the tent adorned with strange pelts, bones, and antlers. Idris introduced himself and proclaimed their situation, as Sigrid thanked the group for saving her son, despite what happened to her wife. The chieftain remarked on how strange it has been that many groups recently have been moving up the mountain. A group came through here before looking for a guide through the pass through the mountain to the temple, and paid quite handsomely for it. Another man was seen lurking through the woods moving up the mountain, destroying all but one scout. Idris procured a scout to help with the remainder of the trek up the mountain, and the group was allowed to take anything they wished from the hoard of goods the previous group had granted as a gift in thanks. If they wished to know more about the temple, the elder has kept knowledge of it. He is most likely at the shrine.
After taking most if not all the loot that was offered to them, with Gio granting a blade as thanks in return, the group went out to find the elder. In a somewhat secluded cavern, an old man was seen tending to a set of four menhirs, each depicting a different symbol: a tree, a wolf head, an eye, and one that seemingly had a shield or a diamond on it. Asking the old man what he knew of the temple, he seemed very reluctant at first, discerning their intentions with the temple itself. While the tribe sends their young to stay a night out in the temple, and treasure hunters will probably try to find their way in, those seeking the temple risk stirring powers better left dormant. Despite this, the group (Mostly Idris) was able to talk him down, and gave information about what might lie within the temple grounds. Screaming and laughing skulls, a man with a fox head, constructs with eagle heads, and small, curious gangly creatures with a singular, massive eye. He warned the group not to trifle with the Dark Powers present there, sealed in amber. They are dupicitious in nature and offer false truths. The party began looking at each other worryingly. If the group is going, however, the man would like to see if they could find a small group of younglings that left up the mountain a few days ago. They have yet to return. Then, asking about the Fanes, the man told them that the tribes call them the Rozana. When The General arrived and their god abadoned them, many of the mountain folk remained in the valley to serve him as shadowsworn, showing him how to desecrate the fanes and control the lands themselves. The elder only knew of how to reconsecrate the mountain fane of the Hunter, granting the party a wolf jaw and telling them to visit a hovel beneath the great black tree on Yester Hill. The methodology of reconsecrating the other two fanes still active in Barovia remains a mystery to him, and if the Warden's shrine is even still around. Perhaps the temple has such knowledge. Before leaving, the party asked for the elder's name. His name is Elder Ormir.
Before bed, Ahrieya sent a few messages. One to Far, and another to Ayduin. Ayduin again expressed his desire for Ahrieya to stay away, and Far solumnly apologized to Gio in his message.

We're All Just Pawns

During the evening, disturbing dreams came to the party. Gio found his spine split open as it stood frozen like a chess piece as two large pale hands played a game of chess. A pale grey hand moved pieces such as Ayduin, Sena, and Rahadin, where a pale white hand moved Nova, Ahrieya, Idris, and Ariadne. Gio was then pushed beneath the board as his vision became engulfed by shadow.
Ahrieya found herself trapped in a web as a body fell to the ground. Multiple skittering legs revealed themselves to be from monstrous gold and black spiders, feeding on a red spirit like form that floated above the body, not unlike the knowledge Ahrieya was so keen on always collecting. The spiders then turned to Ahrieya hungerly, and though she swung at them to keep them away, a glob of venom landed on her leg and began to burn her body away, and her hands split into two pairs of hands.
Idris sat in darkness as a somber tuned played and pervaded the air. An old woman sat there, fingers bleeding from playing. As Idris approached, the mouth streched wide as Sena pushed her way out. Sena stood there, smiling with burning eyes with her tongue removed. Out of the shadows came a pale, withered elf; Ayduin. Burning eyes, the man took Sena's hand as the two hummed in unity, lending out a hand for Idris to join. Turning away, he saw the rest of his band smiling, looking over Idris. Idris gave Don his instrument, and implored them to play to get any idea of who was there. Only a solumn tune filled the empty void as Idris burned away.
Nova could hear footsteps in the darkness. Rahadin approached, menacing, looking to attack Nova as she cut him down once again. Then, Ariadne, eldritch blasts primed. Nova pleaded for her to stop, before Ariadne too was felled. Gio then approached, charging with weapon in hand, and reluctantly she swung, removing her friend from the void. Then, a small gnome man, looking to embrace her. While Nova refused, out of the shadows another copy of Nova came. Blocking the imposter's path, the two clashed as mouths began to split open across each of their bodies, consuming each other in a cacophany of savage crunches.
Ariadne could make out many eyes in the shadows staring at her. First, a skeletal figure with horns approached. Then, a massive twisted snake-like creature. Finally, a creature with multiple blank human faces, many of which shifting to look like the party and Zilyana. The entities kept grabbing at and pulling at different parts of her body, and despite Ariadne's best efforts to fight them off, did so to no avail as she could feel her skin and flesh splitting apart from the force.
Then they all woke up!

Almost

The party awoke from their horrid dreams, each of them explaining what they had seen. Gio exclaimed that they're all just pawns in these powers' game. Moving outside to try and get a straight answer from Vaund, Ahrieya saw as her hands split into two pairs. Communing with her dark power, Ahrieya got mostly uncertain from the questions she asked about who gave her those visions and if it was Vaund themselves. Moving back inside, Ahrieya claimed that what happened in her dream came true! Most of the group immediately panicked, especially Gio and Ariadne. Though, while what happened to them DID occur once they left their private sanctum, it seems like no one else could see it besides the party, and that they were real but also not real.
Meeting up with the scout Folkvar, the party began their trek up the mountain surprisingly easy with two experienced guides at the helm. Eventually, the group came across a massive pass caved into the side of the mountain. Once some troublesome green flames were removed, the party continued going until they came across a familiar figure guarding the bridge; Strahd on his flaming steed. Demanding they turn back, the figure stood imposing as the party debated what to do. Idris bravely decided he would turn around and continue to approach the figure. Upon reaching out to touch the figure, nothing seemed to be there. However, moving past the illusion triggered a loud noise which alerting a massive roc to look at the area. The party split and began to hide wherever they could, successfully evading the beast. As Gio examined the runes where the illusion was left, it was familiar to something his mother might do. Why would they do that?
Further ahead, the party could see a massive black goat atop the cliffside. Idris managed to lure the beast away by performing an immaculate goat call which seemed to attract it elsewhere, though a frustrated scream could be heard as they continued to journey forward, eventually reaching the mysterious temple atop the mountain.

Report Date

16 Sep 2023