Vallaki
11th Moon, 735
When the cold rain stopped it was a welcome relief to the adventurers as they approached the town of Vallaki sometime after nightfall.
Earlier in the day, the adventurers had made their way to the old windmill after seeing the ghost of a young girl who pleaded for their help. But after speaking to a young girl inside the windmill who was reluctant to offer any information, and Edmont relating how he thought he heard the voice of a small child inside after he snuck in, the group voted to leave the windmill and head to Vallaki before it got too late.
On the way, along the Svalich Road, the adventurers ran into ten zombies feasting on the remains of two people and a horse. Rather than fight the zombies, the group lured the zombies away from the corpses. Using his minor illusion cantrip, Edmont lured the zombies deeper into the forest and away from the road and the corpses.
After searching the bodies of a human man and a woman and two sacks tied to the dead horse, the group discerned from the personal belongings and little coins they carried, that the two were possibly moving from the village of Barovia to Vallaki.
When the group arrived at Vallaki after nightfall, they passed a half-dozen pikes with wolves' heads impaled on the ground flanking the road outside the gates. Two guards named Dimitri and Krakov stood behind closed and locked iron gates. They told the group they would have to wait until morning the next day to enter the town. The guards said because of the dangers the night brought, like the countless wolves and dire wolves, the town's burgomaster had ordered the town's three gates be locked every sunset and were to remain locked until dawn.
Edmont once again saved the day when he convinced Dimitri and Krakov to let them all in by offering two bottles of Purple Grapemash
No. 3 he had acquired from the Vistani camp they stayed at the night before. Edmont even gave each of them a gold coin to show his appreciation.
Dimitri and Krakov were extremely grateful when offered the bottles of wine and the gold coins. They both admitted that they had not had wine in quite some time since the town ran out of wine. It seemed a shipment of wine from the winery, Wizard of Wines, had not arrived as expected. With the Festival of the Blazing Sun expected to begin in three days, the town was in dire need of wine.
When asked about the festival, Krakov said the burgomaster, Baron Vargas Vallakovich, had decreed that the Festival of the Blazing Sun would be held in the town square in three days. The previous festival, which the burgomaster called the Wolf's Head Jamboree, was less than a week ago. Dimitri added that Vallaki had been celebrating festival after festival on a weekly basis for the past several years. It was perhaps a way to bolster the spirits of the townsfolk who feared living under the constant threat of Strahd.
Upon hearing this, Ismark wondered how safe his half-sister, Ireena, would be living in Vallaki.
The adventurers thanked the two guards, and after being given some more helpful information about the town, the adventurers followed Vallaki Street to the Blue Water Inn where they were told the innkeeper, Urwin Martikov, could offer them comfortable lodgings and good food.
Both guards suggested they try Urwin's deliciously prepared wolf steaks. The steaks especially paired well with a fine bottle of Red Dragon Crush which, unfortunately, the town was completely out of.
Session played on January 31, 2020
Plot type
Chapter
Parent Plot
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