Session 44

General Summary

Shadows Stalking

The party, recouperating after the fight with the undead Rahadin, were met by the scout that accompanied them to the temple. Perhaps a swift retreat down the mountain might be prudent? Before leaving, Gio wanted to take a quick pit stop to try and gather the bodies of the younglings that were sent from the village.
Each member of the party felt a change moving down the mountain. Physical features, imposed emotions, and watchful eyes. Suddenly, everything returned to normal, and the party proceeded towards Tsolenka Pass. Avoiding the Roc once again, and noting a black blip off in the distance. Though without much issue, the party made it back down to the village.
Inside, most of the party transitioned into the tent to rest. Idris and Nova both got something to eat, while Idris made a PMP for Ariadne. Out in the open air of the celebratory pyre, the pair could see the pale wolf-like creature impaled on pikes.
Ahrieya took Kasimir to the side to ask what had happened to him. I thought you were looking for the the book detailing the ritual? The amber was a contingency plan, in order to bring my sister back from the dead should I be able to retrieve her. How long can someone be dead for you to bring them back? A couple centuries it seems, it might be a one-time thing as well. Meanwhile, Nova tried to coax the mouths out from her hands.
In the middle of the night, Gio found himself looking over Ariadne's body. Wouldn't it be a shape to see the curse of years take her and watch her body wither away? Fighting the urge to enact mercy on Ariadne, Gio pushed the intrusive thoughts back into his head.

Witch Fane First?

After briefly taking a moment to explain what had happened to the chieftain of the mountain folk, the party decided to move back down towards the swamp in order to offer up the the witch's heart to the Weaver. Ahrieya sent a message to Niza, asking how she was, if she has retrieved the heart, and if there have been any new developments. In response, the heart has been hidden away under her bed, she did miss conversations with the group, and she has been particularly exhausted from poor sleep. Interesting, as Idris has been getting exhaustion vibes from Isis back in Krezk.
Nothing seemed to bother them moving back down the mountain as the party found themselves pulling along the younger Battlehands on their magic carpet. Meanwhile, Ahrieya took some time to decode Strahd's tome.
Making it to Niza's hut very late in the evening, she explained that she has been getting nightmares about being hunted, along with an uncomfortable feeling coming from the moon. Ariadne has been feeling something similar as well. It would be nice if she would not stay alone tonight.
The rest of the party began to take over some of the delapidated homes in the swamp. Idris charmed some crawdads for a gumbo, and Nova tried to help, only to have her hand-mouths consume them mid-catch. Ahrieya had a brief discussion with Vaund as to how they would aquire the fey hair, as well as the details of fey lineage dynamics.
Gio had a heart to heart with the sword hilt he found in the temple. 'Dennis' appeared next to him, trying to explain that he doesn't want to hurt him, and simply wants to help. 'Dennis' asked if Gio has any regrets as of late. He doesn't regret what he did, but does regret that he had to do it.
Later, Gio found himself sleeping next to his birth family, awaking suddenly in the night looming over his sister Zarah. Struggling to keep his hand off his blade's hilt, he implored Par'Thallia to chill out before moving on and sleeping alone.
In the morning, the party brought the heart over to the swamp fane. Upon presenting the heart, time stopped and began to fly backwards. Scenes were presented: the desecration of the fane, Strahd standing with a very lovestuck Ireena outside Berez, a rushing river crushing the town, and finally, Baba Lysaga herself. A pale hand, not her oown, burst from her chest and grabbed the heart before emerging from the old crone and taking a bite. Suddently, they found themselves back at present day, though felt not as many eyes watching them.

Birds and Their Secrets

As the party woke up, Ahrieya tried to have Niza join them on the road. Niza claimed that she was very close to fixing her current condition, but would like for them to stay in touch. 
On the road, the party came across a multitude of ravens watching them on the road. Nova approached one to speak, having it speak back to tell them to try and visit the vineyard as soon as they can. Since it was on the way to the mountain fane on Yester Hill, they figured they would stop there first to rest before moving on.
Without a single issue on the road, the party managed to find their way to the vineyard by the end of the day. Davian was there to greet them, stating that rooms have been prepared for them. As most people were moved around and began to go to sleep, Ariadne was caught by Adrian and asked if she could follow him as he brought it downstairs.
Inside the wine cellar of the vineyard, Ariadne found the entire Martikov family together around the raven idol. The Martikovs told Ariadne that they are part of an organization known as The Keepers of the Feather, an association of wereravens in Barovia who seek to undermine Strahd. They have aligned themselves with adventurers in the past, though it had never worked out. They noted the group's success, and in particular Ariadne's signs of her mother's strength and power. Now, they believe you are truly her child, and that they fear the lycanthropic community in Barovia has fallen under the thumb of Prince Orin Rua, otherwise known as Dark Moon. The werewolves have been hunting game all over the valley, as well as assaulting Krezk. The keepers have been disposing of the issue the best they can at the moment. Strahd seems otherwise preoccupied, not paying particular attention to the goings on. If Ariadne and the party would like to journey into the den and into Redinella's realm in order to prevent Orin from taking over Redinella's domain.
In the morning, the party came down to eat some food as Stephania Martikov talked with the party. Vallaki had a change of leadership, the lycanthropes have been having minor cosmetic changes to their feathers/fur, and the den itself remains as ruthless as ever. 

The Mountain Fane

Moving towards Yester Hill, Nova found that the forest itself moved out of the way as she presented her jawbone given to her by the elder from the mountain folk village. As Nova's black veins urged her up the hill, bodies were pinned onto the stone menhirs placed moving up the hill. Though, these bodies seem less naturally tended to compared to the bodies littered on the ground, not unlike the foes the party had slain during their last time on the hill.
Moving towards the Gulthias Tree, massive fibrous and fleshing pods could be seen with bodies trying to crawl out. Cracking them open, undead creatures crawled out, all from far away locations such as the Village of Barovia. Slaying them and presenting the jawbone once more, the party could easily find an opening beneath the tree.
As the party crawled down, they found themselves in a dirt tunnel, eiirie, cold, and moist. Grubs could be found on bodies left in the tunnels, large mosquito-like creatures exsanguinating bodies, and upon finding a way deeper into the tunnel, found massive centipede like creatures with burning blood. Though the fight was rough, most of the difficulty came from the burning blood the creatures possessed. 
Moving deeper into the tunnel, the party found themselves separated within crushing darkness. Idris suddenly found himself approaching Victor, looking over tomes and books. Talking with Idris, Victor has spotty memory as to why he is here and what happened to him, though Idris gets the idea that he might be dead. Victor seemed somewhat excited, he may have found a way to fix Stella's condition. Idris expressed that he would like to see that one day, before moving on. He then found his mother playing the same somber tune. Upon approach, she was very happy to see Idris, happy that he took after her looks when grown. When asked if she knew about Coryphian, she expressed that while she did know, she was hoping to contain it so that it never spread from her. Though, she still believes his father is somewhere out there. Worried he messed up and wouldn't be able to stop him, Invidia stated that she knows he will be able to find a way to fix everything.
Ahrieya found herself at a table with both of her parents discussing a hypothesis, and upon her approach, immediately turned to face her, happy to see her. Scared and missing her parents, they both said that they missed her as well as her brother. Worried she wont be able to figure out how to fix him, they both told her that if anyone could figure it out, it wouold be her. Ahrieya then found herself in a garden, joined by Haeva and Cadiel. Confused as to why they are there, they explained that someone came into Candlekeep, and there was a lot of burning. Ahrieya expressed how unfair this is, but the two explained that there was nothing she could have done if he was as strong as she thinks he is. No need to dwell on it, and they still cared for her.
Gio found himself outside a pen of sheep. Ilya could be seen tending and playing with the sheep as he approached. Ilya claimed that he no longer feels hungry anymore, no more pain as well. He asked if Gio has any regrets, and again he stated that he does. Ilya asked how his parents are, and Gio stated they are now doing very well. As the scene shifts, Gio now stood at an overlook looking at Vallaki. The previous burgomaster could be seen looking at his town, frustrated with what happened. The man expressed his frustration in the chaos and evil that the party had brought to Barovia, and more specifically Vallaki. In a moment, he grasped at Gio's collar and held him over the cliff. Gio managed to get himsellf free as the spirit left, leaving him at the overlook alone.
Ariadne found herself in front of a table littered with toys; Blinsky Originals. Behind the table was Blinsky himself, happy to see his favorite customer. He asked how she was doing, if she still brought smiles with her to everyone. He then went on saying that Izek, despite his weird obsession, was always coming from a place of endearment. After a brief exchange between puppet Strahd and puppet Esther, Blinsky bestowed upon Ariadne a small doll of Izek to give him in return. The scene shifted, and Ariadne then found herself in a field of golden flowers, slowly approaching her father, Radirel. He explained that yes, her mother did kill him, though she was not herself. She kept a lot from him, but it always pained her to delve into it. Something changed about her, like something took control or affected her. Though, she always felt comfort with the moon.
Nova found him in a blizzard before the chieftain of her tribe, as well as Koom'a approaching her. The chieftain regarded her strength, worthy of the tribe and perhaps even lead it one day. Koom'a expressed how badly he has missed her these years. Nova expressed her regret in what happened to the tribe, and that something else has wormed their way into Nova's mind. Something more primal and furious compared to the bear god's usual stoic strength. Upon bestowing the golden pelt to Nova, the pair moved back towards the village in the distace before she found herself in a cave. A figure stood at the end of the cave. Upon approach, Nova found that this person was Rahadin. Mocking him, Nova was told that were it not for her tribe's refusal to relinquish information to him, nothing would have happened to the tribe. Did you ever wonder why he came to the tribe? It was in order to claim the vine, the blackened vein that embedded itself into Nova. He doesn't know how it escaped Barovia or who brought it to Nova, but now that she has brought it back to its source, is very interested in what will happen next. The pair left in opposite directions as Nova rubbed Rahadin's cut jaw in delight.
Deeper into the fane we go.

Report Date

28 Oct 2023