Village of Barovia

The party gets caught behind a dark encroaching mist that pushes them toward a creepy broken down, and nearly abandoned town. They run into a pair of children that say they need help. There is a monster in their basement and they are afraid to go back in there. The party helps and ends up realizing that the house is haunted and the "kids" were the ghosts of children that died there. They kill the monster in the basement and run out of the house just before it collapses. Strahd is waiting for them outside. He welcomes them to Barovia and disappears.

They meet Ireena, the burgomaster's daughter who has been bitten by Strahd twice and agree to help her and her brother Ismark travel West to Krezk where Ireena can be safely out of Strahd's reach, but first they must bury their dead father.

At the church they find that the priest has gone insane because his son has been a vampire for almost a year after attacking Strahd's castle with other villagers. He keeps his son locked in the basement of the church. Song casts Calm Emotions on him and in his moment of clarity he asks the party to put his son out of his misery, which they do.

They also met an old hag in town that was selling drugged pies to villagers in exchange for their children. Tychus Thorn Whips the hag and she begs them to let her go in exchange for information. They oblige as long as she releases the child she was carrying in a sack, which she does. She gives them important insights into Strahd, Barovia, and the people that reside there.