Session 12.5: The Brides of Strahd Report
General Summary
Thiala Galanodel and Moth step through the portal that is opened by The Price of Beauty. On the other side they find a path leading to Eternal Rest Resort, a place of rest and relaxation for Strahd's inner circle.
The Eternal Rest is an exclusive location, only known by Count Strahd and his inner circle. Saeth, a cambion male, runs the resort for Strahd's first bride Anastrasya Karelova. Saeth greeted Thiala and Moth and introduced them to the services offered by the resort staff. While this first visit is free, a gift from Ana and Strahd, the normal prices are as follows:
Pricing
Saeth also pointed out that the nearby tower and cherry tree grove are off limits. The tower is Ana's private property and the grove is protected by a dangerous creature. After a meal, a massage, and a long soak in the hot springs, Thiala and Moth retired to their room for the night.
It's about two in the morning when Thiala hears the faint sound of women talking coming from the common room. Unable to sleep and deciding to investigate, she slides on the short silk guest robe. A small smile of contentment crosses her face as she realizes the armholes and sleeves big enough to accommodate her current four-armed form. She stands in front of the full length mirror checking herself momentarily before leaving her room and her apprentice in a deep sleep.
Entering the common room Thiala finds the source of the three female voices. Ludmilla and Volenta (Strahd's second and third brides respectively, met earlier after the Battle of Yester Hill) sit on the couch sharing a naked, tattooed human male between them. From the tattoos on his skin, he must be one of the Yester Folk, a leftover from the day's battle. Volenta's dire wolf curled up at her feet (Thiala, in her new form and her true sight, can now see Morty is actually a Hell Hound).
The third woman could only be Anastrasya Karelova, Strahd's first bride, sitting in one of the two armchairs facing the fireplace, a young barovian woman with dark hair resting her head in Ana's lap, puncture marks visible on the young woman's neck.
Ana takes the opportunity to interrogate Thiala about her motives and the motives of Aukan "Gravetender" Katho-Olavi and DARK JADE CLOUD, her intimidating demeanor pressing in on Thiala making her reveal as much information as possible. Satisfied with Thiala's answers and finished with thier meal, Ana and the other brides move to leave the common room and indulge in other persuits. Ludmilla, Strahd's 2nd bride, invited Thiala to join her for her usual workout in the side garden, which Thiala accepted.
Ludmilla's workout is a tough one but Thiala manages to keep up with her in squats and jump rope. Thiala was also able to defeat the Awakened Tree, (named Woody) in Tug-of-War. Ludmilla then challenged Thiala to a sparing match with practice swords. The bout lasted over a minute before Thiala was knocked unconscious. Ludmilla's skills and undead fortitude more than a match for Thiala who couldn't use offensive spells.
After the workout Thiala joins Ana, Volenta, and Ludmilla in the hot springs bath where they talk further. The three brides share their origins with Thiala and the four women talk about their future desires until dawn. Afterwards, Ana and Ludmilla retire to the tower, while Volenta, wanting to do some research on the new information she received about the reborn Ireena, heads back to Castle Ravenloft. Thiala retires to her room, indulging in some pleasure with Moth before starting the day.
Over breakfast Thiala met Gertruda, Mad Mary's daughter, who remembers nothing from the night before where she was Ana's meal. She tells Thiala that she ran away from home when she was betrothed to Parriwimple Cantemir, she met to go to Vallaki but she met Vasilli along the way and he gave her a room at the castle, left as a gift for Countess Anastrasya Karelova. She is in love with life in the castle and looks forward to becoming a vampire so she can live there forever.
Breakfast and some relaxation by the warm fire was followed by getting their hair and nails done so they could all look proper for going back to the castle. Ana and Ludmilla then arrived and escorted them back down the path to the brazier portal. Thiala learned that the book's portal is one way and that the brazier portal to the castle or flying are the only other ways out.
Stepping through the portal Thiala got her first look at Castle Ravenloft. From the Brazier Room they took the right hand door and went up the spiral stair past a massive tapestry of Strahd's father leading some famous battle long forgotten. Continuing up and further still they came out into the Study where Strahd and Volentta are deep in their own projects and give Thiala greetings and allow her to look through the library and borrow what she wished.
Thiala could have spent forever in that room and probably wouldn't have left were it not for Ana's prompting. Strahd wasn't lying about the impressiveness of his collection. Thiala decided on getting the records of Ivlis but those items were being kept by the accountant Lief Lipsiege in his office one floor down. Thanking Strahd for his hospitality Thiala, escorted by Ana, went through the counts meeting chamber down a spiral stair one floor to the accountant office.
Able to locate the records for Ivlis amongst the towering stacks upon stacks of records, Ana continued to escort Thiala out of the castle. Down another floor the staircase let out into the Guests' hall, then north to the Great Entry, then out the great doors and into the main courtyard where they part ways with Ana. Crossing the drawbridge and out Thiala and Moth get their first look back at the massive 360 foot tall structure, and how little of it they'd actually seen.
Thiala and Moth descended the mountain path to the Durst Windmill, finding it still early in the day and Parriwimple Cantemir hard at work. Thiala decides to continue past the windmill and head up the hill and show Moth the shrine of Keres. Continued in Session 12.6: The Desires of Keres.Character(s) interacted with
Related Reports
Notes
Meanwhile back at Castle Ravenloft...
Ana moves silently back up the south stair into the count's dining hall where she takes her place to the right of the head of the table, joining Ludmilla, Radavan, Volenta, and her beloved Count at the head of the table. "So my brides, what is your assessment?" Strahd asks looking to his first bride.
"She's as you said my lord, very special indeed. The daughter of a Dark Power will be a powerful ally, she just needs the proper motivation to fully come over to realization that we are on the same side. I think furthering the rift between her and the church could seal the deal. Her desire for knowledge can also be used to keep her coming back to us. Her desire to build something for the witches in Ivlis is also admirable, she agreed to have a spawn live among them."
Strahd nods to his first and turns to his second. "Ludmilla?"
"She's strong, held out longer than any mortal I've faced in a while, she'll only become stronger once she gets use to her new form and gets a second sword in her hands. With your permission I'd like to gift her something from my collection and help her train."
"Granted, but nothing too powerful, let's not appear to be a charity," Strahd chides, "I know you'll make her work for it but try not to damage her in the process. Our new Sheriff will be taking care of the little werewolf problem in Barovia and she will likely join them. You should join in the fun. Convince her to use her new form as much as possible. Extend our acceptance for what she has become. I will write her a letter that you can take to her."
"I do as you command my husband."
"Volenta?"
"We now know she was holding back on Yester. Her new form will not only make her a stronger fighter, but a faster and more powerful spellcaster. In theory she could out match any one of us in a one on one fight. Her aura is like nothing I've ever seen. She's more powerful than Baba Lysaga for sure. Her little "Moth" is a curious one too, I think they have some sort of life link. Thiala will join us, she just needs time and continued incentive."
"This Ireena concerns me more, she will be difficult to kill, and throwing our troops at her will be a pointless waste. What we feared from the Abbot, we now have in Ireena. The Vistana south of Vallaki may be able to help us, I will take Morty tonight and visit this new child leader of theirs. I don't trust Madam Eva, her desires get in the way of a proper reading."
"I agree," Strahd says with a wave of his hand, "This Ireena threat needs to be dealt with. Be sure to take the materials they requested for their help with our Gregori problem. I had hoped he would embrace the dark powers also, but alas he wasn't strong enough. Have the Vistana send a couple of their people to the Abbey looking to join their order and take some scrolls of dispel magic for them as well. If it comes to an assault, they can lower the protections from the inside. However, setting Thiala and Ireena against each other will be our best option. Let us not forget we still need to play the long game. Once I upgrade the heart we can return to our standard operations and the search for the grand mysteries of the domains."
"My dear Ana, I seem to have almost forgotten a task for you. I think it's time you put the new burgomaster of Vallaki in her rightful place. Make sure that recent events haven't gone to her head. Her family has always been loyal, so I don't see there being any issues. Take the carriage, Vasilli would normally accompany you but I need to continue working on the heart."
"I understand husband. Disappointed, but I understand. I hope we can enjoy some time together when I return?"
"We'll see. Now, I must get back to my work and you all have tasks to prepare for. Dismissed."
With that the Count and his brides exit the room. Radavan, having been completely ignored and forgotten, sighs and then goes back to his usual rounds of the castle.
Thiala Galanodel
Wizard 9
Fighter 3
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