Saviours of Barovia
"It may not be soon, not days, not months, not years, but I will return. I will return and I will hunt you down. I will make you suffer for what you've done. You will all serve me before your end, of which I will continually deny you." - Strahd Von Zarovich, his last words to the Saviours of Barovia before they banished him from the halls of Ravenloft.
The Saviours of Barovia was an adventuring party that operated within the region of Barovia, a Plane of Dread under the control of Kelemvor. Formed in AoR 597, the Saviours operated for approximately 4 weeks of time, before completing their task of defeating Strahd Von Zarovich and escaping from Barovia. The group disbanded upon exiting Barovia, and currently remain disbanded.
Splitting of the Saviours
With Rahadin in tow, the Saviours began to scour Ravenloft, looking for Strahd. They moved methodically through the castle, but continually headed towards the Ravenloft overlook, the setting of the final confrontation as foretold by Madame Eva. As they progressed, the group began to argue, specifically with Tylus, on the best way to approach Strahd and the overlook. As they argued, Shamruuc used it as an opportunity to tell the rest of the party of Tylus' sins within Vallaki, actions that Tylus quickly admitted to and tried to rationalize. With trust between Tylus and the remaining Saviours at an all time low, the party split, with the rogue deciding to search Strahd's library and head to the overlook via the castle battlements. The rest of the party did not follow, leaving Tylus alone in Ravenloft and ripe for Strahd's intervention.
Sure enough, Strahd did not miss his chance with the lone Tylus, appearing to him in the dining room. Strahd quickly demonstrated his power over Tylus, showing the rogue that he could be easily dealt with, should he decide it. But instead of killing Tylus, he posed a question instead, playing on the anger and hate Tylus currently felt towards his former allies. Strahd asked Tylus to join with him, promising him power and eternal life in Barovia. Tylus, with no way out and feeling betrayed by his friends, accepted Strahd's offer. Strahd then left Tylus, satisfied that he had sewn discord in the group, confident that his new plaything would betray his allies.
The Final Battle
Reunited outside Ravenloft, the group approached the overlook, and found Strahd waiting for them. Strahd began a speech, prepared for the Saviours themselves. Strahd praised them for how they'd delivered Tatyana to him and entertained him over the past three weeks. Alas, battle was looming and Strahd finally obliged, calling Argynvost to his aid, evening the odds. But before the group could attack, Tylus revealed his true intentions, striking out at Sarge, kicking off combat. So it was that the final battle between Strahd Von Zarovich and the Saviours of Barovia began.
Immediately, Sarge, Norgold and Ezmerelda began to key on Strahd himself. The wielder of the Sunsword, the Cleric of Torm and the young vampire hunter contested the will of the Strahd, all while taking shots from Tylus, who quickly danced in and out of Ravenloft's shadow. Meanwhile, Shamruuc and Tanka battled against Argynvost, though Tanka's rage was so great against Tylus, that he could barely keep himself from chasing down the rogue. Shamruuc, seeing the perfect moment for some extra muscle, polymorphed in a mammoth and locked down combat with the dragon, giving Tanka the opening to pursue Tylus. Shamruuc successfully slew the beast, then turned his attention towards Strahd, who was still occupied with Sarge and Norgold.
The battle quickly turned against Tylus and Strahd, as the vampire lord quickly weakened without the Heart of Ravenloft and continued attacks from the Sunsword. Norgold, seeing that Sarge likely had Strahd defeated, turned his efforts towards Tylus, hitting the rogue with a Hold Person spell. This slowed Tylus just enough for Tanka to catch him, and knocked him to the ground with a powerful swing from his axe. With Tylus defeated, the party turned towards Strahd, finishing him off with a strike from the Sunsword. Strahd let out a moan of anguish, his physical form dissipating into the wind. Knowing they'd need to finish him off in his coffin, the group moved to enter the catacombs. Though first, they'd need to deal with Tylus.
Exile of Tylus; Destruction of Strahd
After the battle, Norgold quickly brought Tylus back from the brink of death, returning him to life, so the group could question him. Now awake and defeated, Tylus still showed little regret for his own actions, instead blaming the group for betraying him. It was clear that Sarge and Tanka had made up their minds, and prepared to execute him on the spot. But before they could land a blow, Ezmerelda chimed in, suggesting that while Tylus seemed unapologetic for his actions, that perhaps he was under the control or will of Strahd and by killing him, would be Strahd's final blow against the group. Shamruuc echoed these words, as he'd rather not see his closest friend killed. Sarge finally agreed, though he promised to Tylus that if ever he saw his face again, he would kill him. With that, Sarge exiled Tylus from the Saviours of Barovia, letting him free into the Barovia night.
With Tylus dealt with, the group hurried to Strahd's coffin, where they indeed found his physical form resting within. Together, they plunged a wooden stake deep into Strahd's chest, instantly killing the Master of Barovia. Ravenloft itself began to shake and roll, the sounds of stones falling from the foundation echoed throughout the castle. Strahd's will and magical power was being purged from Ravenloft and Barovia itself. The deed was done, a the group began to leave the castle. Though as they turned from the coffin, they became submerged in a strange magical darkness. From the darkness came a voice, disembodied and floating within thier minds. It was soon clear that this was Kelemvor; the Lord of the Void and patron of Shamruuc.
As the group realized whom they had been brought before, Kelemvor revealed himself, alongside the dark demons of the The Amber Temple. He spoke with authority over the demons, and revealed that Barovia had been created by himself as a Plane of Dread within The Void. It was created as a personal prison for Strahd Von Zarovich who had spurned Kelemvor by accepting the gift of vampirism, effectively keeping his soul from Kelemvor for all time. In response to this, Kelemvor placed Barovia in the Void, trapping Strahd's soul for eternity as punishment. Kelemvor expressed appreciation for the destruction of Strahd, as his takeover of the dread plane had been left unchecked for too long. However, Kelemvor also explained that Strahd could never truly be destroyed, as even in death, he would eventually reincarnate back into Barovia, perhaps becoming as powerful as ever. Regardless, as a reward, Kelemvor would allow the group to pass through the mists of Barovia, able to once again enter Atmora and The Mortal Plane.
Aftermath
Traveling back through the castle, the group happened upon the bedroom of Tatyana, where the witnessed a grisly sight. Ismark had been ripped apart, his body mangled and left to rot at the bedside. On the bed laid Ireena, cold and dead, two fang marks in her neck. Strahd had succeeded in killing Ireena, though he had failed to bury her before he died, effectively ruining the vampire transformation process. Luckily, Shamruuc had been more empowered with magic from the Amber Temple, and the warlock was able to return both Ismark and Ireena to life. Finally safe from Strahd's clutches, Ismark intended to lead Ireena back to Barovia Village, where they may once again begin to run the village, as their father had once done. But before they could leave, Sarge asked them to travel to Krezk, where he knew Sergei would be waiting to see Ireena. He gifted Ismark with the Sunsword for the journey. Ismark and Ireena would begin to head towards Krezk, also meeting up with Tylus upon the road. Tylus would lead them the rest of the way, eventually reuniting Tatyana and the Sunsword with Sergei.
Before leaving Ravenloft, Norgold would attempt to summon an aspect of Torm, and successfully did so inside the grand entrance to Ravenloft. The aspect of Torm blessed Norgold, returning some of the dwarf's lost memories to him.
Founding
Arrival in Krysset; Entry to Barovia
Before they were known as the Saviours of Barovia, the group was merely a collection of adventurers and mercenaries that happened to apply for the same job posting; a hunting party with the goal of locating and destroying dark creatures in the northwest region of Atmora. Meeting in the holy city of Krysset, the original members joined together with a Paladin from the The Uhara Sanctum. This man was named Vindril and he was to lead the hunt, taking the party into the Pinetrost Woods to find these creatures. Now in the Pinetrost, the party quickly found abnormal tracks, consistent with their prey; werewolves. Led by Tanka Barbearian, the party followed these tracks, following them all the way to the source; a pack of angry, white dire wolves. These wolves presented a great challenge, far beyond what the party had been ready for. Such were the number of these beasts, that they sent the party into a retreat, led by Vindril through the trees and a mysterious, ever encroaching mist. The party entered a clearing in the middle of the woods, the wolves close behind. In the clearing stood a beautiful white house, complete with iron fencing and well kept gardens. Vindril shepherded the group inside, while the mists grew ever closer. As Tylus Symshade entered the house last, Vindril slammed the door shut, locking the party inside. Sneering with delight, Vindril bid the party farewell and disappeared into the fog. The group found themselves in what was dubbed Death House, a interdimensional portal that would lead the group into Barovia.History
Death House
The party entered Death House, with it transforming into a dilapidated, trap ridden structure before their very eyes. The party searched for a way to escape, though staying away from the windows and doors, of which were now covered by the deadly mists. Heading to the upper levels, the party encountered the ghosts of two small children who claimed they were from a place named Barovia Village. The ghosts inhabited the party, directing them towards the basement. Now in the bottom level, the party discovered catacombs and tombs, including the tombs of the ghostly children. The party led the ghosts directly to their resting spots, successfully sending the children's souls back to The Void. The Cult and Escape from Death House As the group continued through the basement they began to notice the presence of a slow and deliberate chant coming from even further below. Finding another staircase, the party descended into a hidden passage, now clearly able to decipher the message behind the chants; "He is the Ancient, He is the Land". They continued towards the chanting, now entering a large room with a sacrificial tablet, surrounded by a raised balcony. On the balcony stood the figures of several cultists, continuing to chant, now directing the party to appease them via sacrifice. Seeing no other way out, Colborn Sergeant cut his own hand, dousing the tablet in blood. Unhappy with a sacrifice without death, the chanting grew to a uproar, chanting the name "Lorgoth". Before the party could act further, a writhing mass of flesh and guts erupted from the wall, making it's way towards the nearest group members. The party began to flee, as this shambling mound of flesh pursued them through the catacombs. As they ran, Death House seemed to awaken, sending traps and illusions to hold the party up. Making their way into the upper levels once more, the group found themselves on the balcony of the upmost floor. Behind them, Death House had completely awoke, sending all manner of beasts towards the stalled party. Looking down from the balcony, the house seemed to be standing upon the edge of a massive cliff, another illusion created by the house itself. Trusting their instincts, each member of the party jumped from the balcony, indeed falling only 20ft to the wet grass below. With the mists now receding, the group lit the house on fire before fleeing down a convenient dirt path, leading away from the property.Barovia Village
Entering the Village Immediately upon leaving Death House, it was obvious to the party that they had left behind the coniferous trees of the Pinetrost. Now they found themselves in a temperate forest, dotted by massive and intimidating maple and oak trees. Quickly they advanced down the road, leaving the now burning Death House behind. Traveling only a few hours down the road, the party came face to face with an enormous wall and gate, decorated with images of a man in brilliant armor. Most of the wall was overgrown with vegetation, yet stood almost 60ft high. Upon approach, the large metal gate in the center of the wall swung open, beckoning the group to pass through it's threshold. Seeing the same mists encroaching once more, the party had little choice and passed through the gate, continuing down the dirt path. Several more hours passed, before the group found themselves looking out over a grass filled valley. At the far end of the valley laid a small village and above that; a castle sitting atop a cliffside, shrouded in mist and darkness. This was the group's first glimpse of Ravenloft. The party continued through the grass fields towards the village, now hurried by the sounds of wolves trailing behind. They had now entered Barovia Village, clamoring onto it's wet and grimy cobblestone. Right away the group strode towards the nearest inn, a sad and pathetic looking establishment; The Blood O the Vine. Inside they met Ismark Kolyana, a young man with a proposition. Ismark explained that such an adventuring party may be able to help his sister Ireena, as she was in need of an escort to a nearby city. Ismark remarked that his sister was the target of a Higher Vampire's sick interest. This vampire's name was known as Strahd Von Zarovich, the Master of Ravenloft and the Ancient of the Land. The party agreed, and Ismark instructed the group to meet him at his father's estate when they were ready. A Mysterious Stranger Upon leaving the Inn, the group spied an odd looking woman, frail and old, lurking around the dark streets of the village. One by one she made her way up to the hovels dotting the villages streets. The party watched as she demanded the children of each household come with her, with the parents easily complying to her request. In exchange, the woman provided the parents with a delicious looking cupcake, of which they greedily wolfed down. The party intercepted the woman, demanding to what was happening. The woman, even more horrible looking up close, explained that these children were now hers to do as she pleased, as they had been bought and paid for. She offered the group some of these cupcakes, which she described as 'Dream Pastries". The group refused and drove her away, keeping the children with them, and delivering them back to their homes. Before leaving, the group spied the woman disappearing into a puff of fog, seemingly disappearing into thin air. The group then proceeded onwards to Ismark's manor. The Long Night Now at the manor, the group met with Ireena, Ismark and the newly departed Kolyan, the sibling's father. Once again Ismark asked for help, asking the group to travel to the nearby church to ask permission to bury their father on the grounds. The group arrived at the church, speaking with Father Donavich and successfully acquired the rights to bury Kolyan. Before leaving, the group headed into the basement of the church, inspecting the source of strage noises they had heard. Inside was a man named Doru, now turned into a vampire spawn. Doru was Father's Donavich's son, and he pleaded with the party to leave him be. The group complied and departed, returning to Ismark with good news. During the night, the siblings manor was attacked by all manner of beasts, including wolves, zombies, ghouls, and other undead creatures. The group helped to fend these creatures off, successfully beating them back until morning. During the invasion, some members of the group swore they had spotted a mysterious figure lurking just beyond the reach of the light. Ismark noted that this may have been Strahd himself. Heading to Vallaki The following morning saw the group bury Kolyan with Ismark and Ireena present to say goodbye to their father. The party now discussed the best course of travel to Vallaki, the settlement where Ireena needed to head. The group decided to use the river, and would need to construct a raft for the journey. Tylus and Tanka spoke to the local general store, though they were unable and unwilling to help outsiders. Instead, the duo stole the store's wagon, using it to transport debris from Ismark's manor, with which they'd use to build a raft down by the nearby river. The group successfully built a sturdy raft, enough for all occupants to safely float upon. Everyone stepped aboard, and the party was off towards Vallaki.Tsar Pool; Madame Eva's Reading
Return of Vindril On the journey to Vallaki, the group passed by a large encampment on the river. As it was getting dark, the party decided to stop for a bit of a rest before heading further. In this encampment were many caravans, wagons and tents, all brightly coloured and surrounding a massive bonfire. Dozens of people danced about the camp, each of them dressed in colourful silk cloth. As the group arrived, they were invited to sit beside the fire and were treated to food and drink. This was The Vistani a traveling band of people and elves that inhabited Barovia. As they group settled, they were treated to a surprising sight. Before their eyes, Vindril, now dressed in the same colourful dress of the Vistani, strode up to great them. The group was incensed, reaching for their weapons and demanding to know why he had locked them in Death House. Before they could move to engage Vindril, the rest of the camp took up arms to defend, causing the group to realize that Vindril was allied with the Vistani themselves. Vindril apologized for the trick he had played, and noted that he had very little choice in the matter. He directed them towards a large tent on the outskirts of the camp, explaining that they should meet with Madame Eva before doing anything rash. Madame Eva and the Reading of the Cards Inside the tent some of the group members met with Madame Eva, while the others kept a close eye on their raft and Vindril himself. Madame Eva was a strange older woman, though she spoke directly and with an air of wisdom. She claimed to work for fate itself, and explained that the group was brought to Barovia for a reason, and that she may be able to decipher that reason with a fortune reading. The group agreed and submitted to a reading with a Tarokka Deck. Madame Eva explained that to leave Barovia, the group would need to earn it through the will of Strahd Von Zarovich, or possibly by his destruction. Continuing the reading, Madame Eva was able to give vague hints on the location of powerful tools or artifacts the group could use to achieve their goal. These items were known as The Sunsword, The Tome of Strahd and the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind. Before the group left, Shamruuc asked for information on his wife's killer, another Higher Vampire. Madame Eva admitted that fate had not revealed this to her. The group readied themselves to leave the camp as soon as possible, jumping aboard the raft and pushing off. Now on the river, Shamruuc and Tylus could barely contain the anger they had for Vindril. Driven for revenge, Shamruuc fired a spell at Vindril, though it missed it's target. In response, the Vistani camp unleased a flurry of arrows, almost killing the party before they luckily drifted out of range. Only one night had gone by in Barovia, and the group had already made powerful enemies.Old Bonegrinder
Now on the proper road to Vallaki, the party passed by an enormous windmill, standing alone in a clearing surrounded by trees. The group sensed great magical power coming from within, and chose to quickly investigate. Tylus quietly slipped inside, the smell of death and decay instantly invading his senses. Mixed with these terrible smells, was the hint of baked goods, and upon investigation, Tylus located what looked to be a large oven within the windmill. Creeping further upstairs, Tylus came upon a horrid sight, several small children locked inside iron cages. Tylus quickly released them, while the rest of the group escorted them away. Before leaving, Tylus heard another voice coming from further up the windmill, though he chose to flee rather than investigate. The group quickly deduced that Old Bonegrinder seemed to be the home of the hag-like creature they had interacted within Barovia Village. The group quickly left the area, though promised to return once they felt ready. Later, upon returning to Old Bonegrinder, the group simply lit the structure on fire, driving out the occupants within. Three Night Hags emerged from within; Morgantha and her coven. Possibly caught off-guard, the Hags engaged the group in battle. Though it was a tough battle, it seemed as though fate was on the Saviour's side as they handily defeated the Hags, making sure to hunt down and kill even the ones that fled. After the battle, the group admired their work and prepared to leave the area. But before they left, Strahd Von Zarovich himself appeared nearby. Strahd began to toy with the group, noting that he was quite disappointed that Morgantha and the coven were killed, as their antics often amused him. Not wanting to back down, Shamruuc approached Strahd, intending to unleash a hurtful spell in the vampire's direction. Strahd, still quite amused, absorbed the damage and instantly healed. He then took Shamruuc by the throat, suffocating the warlock, and dropping his body to the ground. Strahd remarked that perhaps he had found a new group to entertain him, and allowed the party to save Shamruuc's life before finally departing.Vallaki
The Search for the Bones The party finally arrived in Vallaki, a city that would eventually come to be shaped directly by the hands of the Saviours. Arriving near dark, the group headed directly to the Blue Water Inn and were introduced to Urwin Martikov, the owner of the establishment and secret member of the Keepers of the Feather. The group acquired rooms at the inn, making it their home base while they operated in Vallaki. During the first day in Vallaki the group visited the Church of Saint Andral, meeting Father Lucian Petrovich whom had a proposition for the party. He confided that the Bones of Saint Andral had been stolen from within the church, an item that acted as a protective ward over the city, keeping the minions of Strahd at bay. Father Petrovich pleaded with the group to help locate the bones, for without them, the city was at great risk. The group agreed, and based off some intel from the Father, began their search in the marketplace of Vallaki. While at the marketplace, they group located a witness from the church and successfully acquired the location of the stolen bones; the coffin makers shop. Also while in the market, Tanka became smitten with the idea of robbing the general warehouse, an idea that Tylus also bought into. During that night Tanka and Tylus would rob the house of the store owner, stealing the key to the shop. However, things took a turn for the worst and Tanka ended up murdering the shopkeeper in an attempt to acquire the keys. Tanka became wanted in Vallaki, and would need to lay low in the Blue Water Inn for the time being. The group headed to the coffin maker's shop searching for the bones within. Upon successfully locating them, the group also uncovered a hive of vampire spawn, clearly smuggled into the city by way of the coffins. The party engaged in a bloody battle, and almost lost Tylus when he became trapped in a wooden crate with a spawn. However, the party emerged in victory, though it was a very close call. In revenge, the party slew the owner of the coffin maker shop, though he pleaded innocence, explaining that he had been charmed by Strahd himself to smuggle in the spawn and steal the scared bones. It mattered little to the party, who ensured he paid with his own blood. Upon leaving the shop the party was confronted by the city guard, drawn over to the shop by the sounds of combat. Most of the group successfully escaped with the bones, while Colborn Sergeant and Shamruuc distracted the guards, getting themselves arrested in the process. Wanted While the rest of the party delivered the bones back to Saint Andral, Sarge and Shamruuc were led to the manor of Baron Vargas Vallakovich for questioning. Hot on the trail behind them was Tylus, intent on setting his friends free. The two were brought up to the Baron for questioning, who seemed less than thrilled with their answers, choosing not to believe the tail about vampires and the bones, though he would send some guards to investigate the coffin maker's shop. In the meantime, Shamruuc and Sarge would be held as prisoners, until the Baron could straighten everything out. Though he would never get the chance, as Shamruuc escaped his bonds, climbing out the side window. Tylus, upon seeing Shamruuc escape, began raining arrows down upon the stationed guards, killing several of them in the process. Sarge, sensing that the situated had fully deteriorated, also escaped his bonds and left the manor, reluctantly killing several guards on his way out. Unfortunately as Shamruuc headed back inside the manor to recover his belongings, he met Izek Strazni, the captain of the Vallaki guard. Izek proved too powerful for Shamruuc, and instantly killed the warlock. Shamruuc's body was dumped in a ditch behind the manor, as the rest of the party fled the area. Luckily for Shamruuc, his god Kelemvor had not yet finished with him and offered Shamruuc the chance to return to life. Shamruuc accepted and was resurrected. Fleeing back to the Blue Water Inn, the party was intent on leaving the city as soon as possible. They quickly collected their gear, though it was not fast enough. Izek had arrived at the inn, and had come to arrest or kill the group. The entire inn was soon the site of a battleground between Izek, the Baron's men and the group. Shamruuc, just recently acquiring the Fireball spell from Kelemvor, unleashed it inside the inn, severely burning the bottom floor and vaporizing several guards. Izek, now quite injured due to the blast, engaged with Tanka, one on one; a fight that the barbarian would win quite easily. With their captain dead, and numbers severely depleted from the night's events, the remaining town guards fell back to the Baron's manor, intending to protect him at all costs. Furthermore, during these events, Tylus committed a great crime, spurned by the actions of the Baron and the town guard. As the party regrouped at the Blue Water Inn, Tylus snuck towards the Church of Saint Andral. He broke into the basement of the building, retrieving the bones from their resting place. In an act of pure anger, Tylus burnt the bones, ending the protective ward over the church and city. Strahd's minions would now be free to enter the city, a fate Vallaki deserved, according to Tylus. Lady Wacther Due to killing off a portion of the town guard, the group felt uncontested for the time being and decided to stay in the city. Of course most of the civilian population was now terrified of the group, seeing them as merely a dangerous band of mercenaries that had quickly cut through the town defenses. This new dynamic led to an interesting opportunity in the form of a woman named Fiona Wachter. Fiona quickly met with the group, inviting them to her estate in the city. Inside she attempted to strike a bargain with the group, promising free reign of the city for the capture of the Baron and his family. Fiona would take over management of the local government, and bring order back to the city. Seeing this as an opportunity to clean their slates, the group accepted Fiona's request. The group headed back to the Baron's manor, driving off the rest of the horrified town guard. The searched the building up and down, though they found no trace of the Baron, who had seemingly already fled. In the attic, the group encountered a door covered with a magical ward. After activating the ward and suffering some minor damage, the party broke in, finding the Baron's son, Victor Vallakovich, inside. Victor was mostly unimpressed and unafraid of the group, instead focusing on his teleportation circle, a spell he had been trying to perfect. Victor explained that his family was distant from him, and may have fled the manor without him. The group took Victor, as they attempted to cut the Baron off before he fled the city. On the outskirts of Vallaki, the party caught up to the Baron, who was hiding out in a nearby dilapidated shack, still guarded by some loyal followers. The group quickly disposed of the protection, capturing Vargas and Lydia. Leading them back into the city, the group delivered the Baron, his wife and his son to Fiona. Thanking them, Fiona quickly moved to secure the city, which she succeeded in doing so. Fiona had clearly been planning this take-over for some time. Feeling indifferent about the state of Vallaki, the group eventually left, heading out into Barovia to continue their other goals. Though Vallaki had greatly suffered from the groups actions thus far, they had been successful in the original goal; delivering Ismark and Ireena to the city. Destruction of Saint Andral Later, upon returning to Vallaki, the group found the city in a state of celebration. It seemed that Fiona had gone ahead and began running one of the Baron's silly festivals, possibly in an attempt to further embarrass him in front of the populace. However, during this festival, Fiona planned to execute the Baron and his family, solidifying her rule over the area. The group arrived just in time to see the family led up onto a wooden stage in the middle of the town square, the headsman lurking nearby. Surprised that Lady Wacther would condemn even Victor to death, Sarge charged forward, demanding the release of at least the child. Fiona thanked Sarge and the group for their service to the Watcher family and Strahd Von Zarovich, revealing that she was in league with the Master of Ravenloft. Fiona agreed to release Victor, citing it as the one favor she would allow the party. Victor was released into the Saviour's company, who would later drop him off at the The Wizard of Wines. With the ceremony now fully underway, the group watched as Fiona's headsman executed the Baron and his wife. This was to the horror of Father Petrovich, the brother of Lydia, the Baron's wife. As the deed was done, a sudden piercing shriek echoed throughout the city. Gliding low over the city, was Strahd himself, seated atop an undead dragon; Argynvost. With the protective ward over the city destroyed, Strahd was free to enter, bringing his mount with him. The townspeople fled in horror, with a great deal of them headind towards Saint Andral church for shelter. The group also fled to the church, where they met Ismark and Ireena inside. The group listened to the screams of Vallaki from inside the church, as Strahd strafed the city with his dragon, wrecking havoc with Argynvost's breath. Strahd soon arrived at the church itself, landing the dragon outside and stepping into the doorway. Father Lucian Petrovich faced him at the threshold, citing that the power of the church would not allow the foul creature to pass. Strahd then demonstrated his power as the Ancient of Barovia, simply stepping across the threshold of the holy site. Before the group could react, Strahd tore Father Petrovich apart, ripping out his throat and killing him instantly. Strahd then doomed the majority of the civilians within the church, as he raised undead from the graveyard outside, creating a kill-zone for any that tried to flee outside. Before the attack was over, dozens of innocent lives had been lost. With Father Petrovich dead and the townsfolk running outside to their deaths, Strahd now turned his attention to the group, and engaged them in combat, though he again toyed with them. Argynvost now entered the church as well, sending Sarge and Tanka to the entrance fending him off from entering further. During the battle, Tylus became the subject of Strahd's attention, possibly because of his actions that allowed this attac to happen in the first place. Tylus attempted to flee from Strahd grasp, but was captured nontheless. Taking great pleasure from this encounter, Strahd asked Tylus if he wished to become a vampire spawn, a creature devoted and controlled by Strahd's every whim. Tylus refused, though Strahd made the attempt anyway, plunging his fangs into Tylus' neck. Fate was on Tylus' side that day, as Strahd's bite failed to kill the rogue. Annoyed, Strahd moved to finish Tylus off anyway, but was intercepted by Ireena, who in a bid to save the group, the civilians and Vallaki itself, offered her life to Strahd. Very pleased with Ireena's actions, Strahd accepted, taking Ireena from the church and departing atop Argynvost, all while Ismark shouted is dismay. Ireena had been lost and Ismark blamed the group for allowing it to happen. In a blind fit of rage and sadness, he left the church, telling the group to never again speak with him. The group decided to leave the city as well, seeing as how they had been responsible for turning it over to Fiona, one of Strahd's allies. Before leaving, the group checked up on Urwin Martikov who they had learned was actually a wereraven and a member of the Keepers of the Feather. The group had allied themselves with the Keepers, and wished to confirm Urwin's survival. The Heist The group later returned to Vallaki, though they did so under the guise of Vistani members, allies of Fiona Wacther. They had been tasked with recovering a wedding dress from within Fiona's estate, a strange task that was necessary for the resurrection of Norgold Dragonsbane, the group's cleric that had previously lost his life. Shamruuc took the lead on the heist, polymorphing himself into a house fly, and scouting the mansion. Shamruuc located the dress, and sent an invisible and flying Tylus in to recover it. The job was almost botched on several occasions, but in the end, the group succeeded. During this visit to Vallaki, the group noted that the city had been taken over by Fiona's personal guard force; cultists adorned in dark robes, armed with magic and heavy weapons. Life in Vallaki had become even more awful, a fact that the group felt responsible for. The Death of a Keeper Once again, the party returned to Vallaki, though with very different objective. Urwin Martikov had been outed as an enemy of Strahd, a fact that led to his capture and imprisonment by Fiona. Urwin's son had also been captured, leading the rest of the Martikovs to flee the city, arrving at the The Wizard of Wines to plead with Davian Martikov, Urwin's father, for help. Davian agreed, though he had been distant with his son for awhile, he was desperate to get him back now that Urwin's life was in peril. The group agreed to help, with Sarge taking the lead on a mission to the old Baron's manor, where Urwin was being held. While Sarge attempted the rescue, Tylus headed towards Fiona's estate, intending to assassinate her. Both of these missions would fail before the night was over. Sarge successfully cut his way to the Baron's manor, fending off attacks from Fiona's guard force that had clearly been given orders to kill members of the Saviours on sight. Now at the manor, Sarge descended into the basement, finding Urwin and his son shackled to the stone walls. Unfortunately, Urwin had already been killed, tortured to death in front of his son. Sarge released the son, recovered Urwin's body and made his way out of of the city. This news would devastate Davian and the entire organization of the Keepers. Tylus would also fail his mission, though through no fault of his own. As he infiltrated the Wacther mansion, he found Fiona missing. Upon torturing a guard for information, he learned that Fiona had left for Ravenloft, certainly putting her out of reach for the time being.The Wizard of the Wines
Infestation Before reaching the famed winery, the group was intercepted by a shadowy group; The Keepers of the Feather. They alerted the group to an infestation within their establishment, and lacking the manpower to deal with it themselves, asked the group to deal with it themselves. The party agreed, and broke from the trees surrounding the fields of the winery, heading towards the lone standing structure in the center. Tylus took the lead, quietly sneaking through the brambles of dead vines, easily reaching the winery itself without issue. Though this proved to be a trap, as the fields erupted in cursed tree blights, small stick-like creatures that charged straight for Tylus. Seeing he was greatly outnumbered, Tylus made for the roof, attempting to shake the creatures off his trail, though it was no use. Tylus fought dozens of the creatures off, though eventually fell to their sheer numbers. Luckily for him, his distraction of the creatures had allowed the rest of the group to move in quickly, providing him with back-up. Norgold arrived just in time, healing Tylus before more damage could be done. The group quickly finished off the tree blights, cleaning up most of them as they fled the building. The group then entered the winery itself, clearing the structure room by room. Inside they found overgrown vines and plants, all sentient and violent, though they proved little challenge for the group. Upon entering the final room Sarge discovered the source of plant-based minions; an Arch-Druid hiding within the rafters. Surrounded by martial warriors, the druid stood little chance in such close quarters. Death of a Cleric The druid fought against Sarge and Tanka within the winery, though the spellcaster was quickly losing the battle. Attempting to flee, the druid dropped into the storage area of the winery, polymorphing into a mammoth as it landed. Now an enormous beast, the druid exploded out from the winery, putting it in a direct line with Norgold Dragonsbane. Standing between the beast and it's escape, Norgold held his ground, even as the beast charged. Unfortunately, Torm's magic would help Norgold little in this situation, as the mammoth quickly overpowered him, goring him with it's tusks and knocking him to the ground. With Norgold prone, the mammoth was free to trample him, an attack that would break the dwarf's body, leaving him bloodied and unconscious in the dirt. However, Norgold's sacrifice was all the party needed, as Sarge and Tylus would manage to reach the beast before it fled. Together with the rest of the group, they downed the mammoth, forcing it to change back into the druid. In one more desperate attempt to flee, the druid polymorphed once again, taking the form of a vulture and soaring into the air. The attempt was quickly foiled, as a projectile from the group would kill the vulture's form, sending a now human druid, careening back to the ground. With the druid dead, the group hurried to Norgold's side, hopeful to save the cleric's life. But as they arrived, it was obvious that they had been too late. Norgold had already passed, his body a mess that only the most skilled healers may have had a chance to recover. With heavy hearts, the group buried Norgold in the field of the winery. The Gems Upon clearing out the winery, the group learned several things from the Keepers of the Feather. The Keepers were a secret group of wereravens, and had dedicated themselves to opposing Strahd's rule over Barovia where they could, all while still trying to remain secret in an attempt to protect their families. The group was led by a man named Davian Martikov, the father of Urwin Martikov, the barkeep at the Blue Water Inn. The Wizard of the Wines was their home, serving as a legitimate business front to make money, and a secret hideaway for wereraven members. As they seemed to be enemies of Strahd, the group instantly connected with them, becoming close allies. Because of this, Davian would share another secret with the Saviours. Throughout the years, the winery had become successful because of the three magical gems. These gems had been blessed upon the land in the early days, in an attempt from Eldath to keep the ravaged land of Barovia prosperous in the face of war. These gems eventually found their way into the possession of Davian's ancestors, whom buried them within the fields of the winery. This transformed the fields into a prosperous land, yielding huge numbers of incredible crop. This made the Wizard of the Wines product into the most sought after wine in the area. All this business provided the coin needed for the Keepers of the Feather to continue fighting Strahd's influence. However, in recent months, one by one, the gems had gone missing. Davian trusted this tale with the Saviours, and asked for help in retrieving the gems. He suspected that minions of Strahd, including barbarians and druids from Yesterhill and a mysterious being from Berez had conspired to steal the gems. The group agreed to help the Keepers, and would look for these gems, providing it would help them continue the fight against Strahd. Returning to the Winery The group would treat the Wizard of the Wines as something of a home-base during their travels in Barovia, and returned to it several times over the three week span in Barovia. In fact, the Saviours would bring several children to the winery, using it as a safe haven for these kids that had their lives ruined by Strahd's machinations. In exchange for all the help the Saviours had provided them, the Keepers agreed to watch over these children, whom would someday surely join the fight against Strahd themselves. Later, the group returned to the winery to recover the body of Norgold Dragonsbane, as they had found a route to his resurrection. In addition to this, the halfling known as Wellby Tealeaf would also stay on the winery grounds, calling it home after his time with the Saviours of Barovia.The Amber Temple
The Dark Powers The Saviours of Barovia headed to a place high in the mountains, now aided by a new member named Wellby Tealeaf in place of the deceased Norgold Dragonsbane. It was in the The Amber Temple that the group hoped to locate a weapon that would be essential to defeating Strahd; The Sunsword. After dealing with several enemies on the path to the temple, the group arrived, entering it's dark and treacherous halls. Inside, the party would deal with the presence of dozens of flameskulls, the remnants of an ancient wizard order. In addition to the skulls, the group would encounter an Arcanaloth, a small foxlike creatures capably of casting spells. They contended with the creature, successfully causing it to flee and abandons it's prize; the Sunsword. Now free to wander deeper within the depths of the temple, the group encountered many tombs, emblazoned in amber. Each of these tombs displayed a name written in Abyssal, the language of Demons. Sarge was the first to investigate these tombs, placing a hand upon one of them. Instantly, a voice of dread filled Sarge's mind, beseeching him to "Accept my Gift". Sarge pulled his hand back, cursing the owner of the other worldly voice. Seeing this, Shamruuc would also place his hand upon a tomb, also gaining the request to accept a mysterious gift. Unlike Sarge, Shamruuc agreed, letting a demonic presence from within the tomb flood into his body. Shamruuc was granted great power from this, though in exchange, his body was horribly disfigured. The rest of the group was horrified at Shamruuc's actions, particularly Sarge, whom had experience with demonic possessions and dark powers from his time in The Inquisition . As the party continued to explore, Shamruuc would continue to accept dark gifts from these demonic presences, further disfiguring his body into an abomination. Even Tylus would give into these dark gifts, as he saw it as a way to draw his own power closer to that of Strahd's. However, unbeknownst to the two carriers, accepting these gifts had now permanently trapped their souls within Barovia Exethanter and the Portal to Ravenloft Later, the group discovered the true inhabitant of the Amber Temple, a Lich named Exethanter. His mind now lost to the ages, the group helped Exethanter by casting a restoration spell over him, restoring many of his lost memories. His memory restored, Exethanter recounted what he remembered of the temple's history. He himself had been the leader of an ancient wizard order, undertook with the responsibility of watching over several dark powers from the Age of Fire. As time passed, more and more of the wizards fell victim to these powers, with Exethanter himself falling prey to the power of Lichdom, an opportunity for power that he could not pass up. By the time the Saviours of Barovia arrived at the Amber Temple, the wizard order was reduced to flameskulls, with Exethanter acting as the overseer of the temple, guiding visitors to accept dark powers as he once did. With Exethanter guiding them, the party uncovered a secret library within the depths of the temple. Inside they found more dark powers, including the tomb of the demon Vampyr. This was the very place that Strahd had once obtained his vampiric abilities, guided by Exethanter to do so. Also included in this library; a portal to Ravenloft. The party would use this portal to enter Ravenloft for the first time, though they would face a groups of demons named the Fire Chain Gang, a group tasked with protecting the portal. To activate the portal, the Saviours needed to complete a ritual, during which the Fire Chains would attack. Luckily, the group was able to ward them off, allowing Shamruuc the time to complete the ritual to Ravenloft.Krezk
The Village of Krezk and Sergei's Pool During the Saviours' travels through Barovia, they would visit the small village of Krezk several times. Though it seemed quite small and insignificant, Krezk would be of the upmost importance during the events that led to Strahd's downfall. On the Saviours' first visit, they witnessed the birth of a child, though were surprised to hear it described as a "hollow"; a body born without a soul or spirit, apparently quite a common phenomenon in Barovia. They also learned of the tragedy surrounding the Krezkova family, and the lose of their young son. Also during the first visit to Krezk, Sarge was led to a small pool in the back of the village, drawn by the sentient weapon he now wielded; The Sunsword. At this pool he found a small shrine to Torm hidden amongst a small pond and a ruined gazebo. As he stepped towards the pond, dipping his hand into the water, the Sunsword flew from his grasp, disappearing into the pool in a flash of light. Now emerging from the pool, wielding the Sunsword, was Sergei, the brother of Strahd, long dead and in a ghostly form. He questioned the actions and objectives of the group, and finally agreed to let Sarge wield his old weapon. Sergei had but one request, rescue Ireena from the clutches of Strahd, as he revealed her true identity as the reincarnated soul of Tatyana, his former love and the object of Strahd's sick obsession. The group agreed to free Ireena, and attempt to return her to Sergei. The Abbot of Saint Markovia Also located in Krezk was the Abbey of Saint Markovia, a mysterious building, now abandoned and feared by the townsfolks. From within Krezk, one would hear horrible sounds coming from the Abbey, such as the screaming and moaning of animals. The townsfolk knew of only one inhabitant of the Abbey, a mysterious figure they called The Abbot. This figure was rumored to be an entity of great power, though Krezk inhabitants rarely interreacted directly with him. It was the Krezkova family that bid the group visit the Abbey and The Abbot. They hoped that perhaps The Abbot would be able to resurrect their son, though they didn't dare enter the Abbey grounds themselves to ask. So it was that the Saviours entered the Abbey of Saint Markovia. Once inside, the group found little more than a house of horrors. The inhabitants of the Abbey were animalistic beings, humanoid figures with different animal body parts. They all displayed at least basic communication and problem solving skills, though it was clear they could not act on their own volition. They were called Mongrelfolk, the beastial remains of the Bellview Family, the old caretakers of the Abbey. This creatures remained caretakers, though they were now led by The Abbot, the figure that now ran the Abbey grounds. Inside the Abbey, the group finally met this Abbot, who appeared as a strange cleric-like human, though it was obvious that he was much more than that, and possibly not human at all. In reality, though the group never uncovered this, The Abbot was a fallen Deva, an angel of Torm. The Abbot had entered Barovia long ago with good intentions, but had long been driven mad by Strahd and his quest to turn the vampire lord to Torm's light. Seeing the Abbot as a figure of great power, the group requested that he resurrect the Krezkova boy, and asked what the payment for such a task may be. To the surprise of the party, the Abbot revealed a Flesh Golem named Vasilka. This creature was The Abbot's sick creation, something he had made with the intention of presenting to Strahd as a bride. To do this, The Abbot still required a wedding dress. So it was that The Abbot agreed to resurrect the Krezkova boy, and provide two more miracles in payment for the procurement of a white gown. The Saviours were thoroughly disturbed, though they accepted the quest, seeing it as an opportunity to perhaps resurrect Norgold Dragonsbane at the same time. Eventually the group returned, wedding gown in hand. With the payment received, The Abbot now asked for the three miracles the group would like completed. First. the Abbot resurrected the Krezkova boy, returning him to life. It worked, though the boy seemed distant and cold, perhaps not completely whole after returning from the dead. Secondly, Shamruuc, with permission from the party, requested that The Abbot remove Shamruuc's wife's spirit from within his staff. Shamruuc wished to see his wife's spirit shepherded away, delivered to the afterlife where her spirit could finally rest. The Abbot agreed, and Shamruuc watched as his wife's spirit was finally lost to him, freeing him from the responsibility of seeing her resurrected. Thirdly, the party had returned with the corpse of Norgold Dragonsbane, now thoroughly ruined by a week's time underground and a rather unorthodox removal from the grave. The Abbot agreed to this final wish, and returned Norgold to life through a violent ritual. Norgold was once more alive, though his memory had been further affected by the resurrection, giving him severe bouts with memory loss at the most inopportune moments. Also within the Abbey, was a vampire hunter by the name of Ezmerelda d'Avenir. She had found rest in the Abbey's walls, and was not put off by the appearance and sounds of the Mongrelfolk. Ezmerelda would eventually join the Saviours of Barovia, specifically on their 2nd foray into Ravenloft, where she would help them battle Strahd himself. Sergei's Ascension Later, Tylus would return to Krezk after the defeat of Strahd and his own subsequent banishment from the Saviours of Barovia. He would lead Ismark and Ireena to the pool within Krezk, where he knew Sergei would be waiting. Upon Ireena's arrival, the spirit of Sergei leapt from the pool, inviting the spirit of Tatyana to join him in peace. It was here that Ismark watched his sister step into the pool and transform into a woman that greatly resembled Ireena, though he knew it was not. Together, Sergei and Tatyana's spirits ascended from the pool, disappearing into the air of Barovia, apparently bound for Empyrean together.Berez
Baba Lysaga The group headed towards Berez, a ruined settlement set deep into the swamps of south Barovia. It was here that the Saviours hoped to find the 2nd lost gem from the Wizard of the Wines. Led by a member of the Keepers named Perrin Galanodel, the group ventured deep into the swamp, uncovered creatures and ghosts within the haunted ruins. While crossing a large river, the group witnessed a large drag trail, reminiscent of a large beast or moving structure. Following this trail led them straight to a massive oak tree, hollowed out from the inside to resemble some type of home. Once again, Tylus headed towards the objective by himself, scouting out what laid ahead. As he approached the tree, a door swung open from within it's truck, revealing a barely clothed elven woman. The elf invited Tylus inside, and he obliged, though he knew this was likely a trap. Inside the tree, Tylus spied the makings of a typical witches hut, walls of potions, ingredients and a bubbling cauldron. Most odd however, was the presence of a child's cradle in the center of the room, inside it lay a baby, sleeping peacefully. It was then that Tylus spotted the gem, lodged in the wood beneath the cradle. The elven woman continued to talk with Tylus, inviting him to eat, drink and rest with her. At the moment that Tylus deemed right, he leapt for the child, wanting to protect the baby, and recover the gem at the same instant. However, the elf seemed to read his thoughts, revealing herself as a horrible hag-like creature, as soon as Tylus leapt into action. Wrapping his arms around the child, Tylus' grip fell through, revealing the kid as merely an illusion. At the same moment the elf, now revealed as Baba Lysaga, hit Tylus with a paralyzing spell, sending him plummeting to the ground. Baba Lysaga then activated her witches hut, turning the oak into a giant sentient tree, bent on following it's master's will. Unable to move, Tylus was kicked from the top of the tree, landing into the swampy muck below. The remaining Saviours surged into battle, desperate to slay this tree and Baba Lysaga. It was a horribly tough fight, as none of the Saviours found themselves able to stand against the combined might of Baba Lysaga and her awakened hut. One by one, members of the group fell unconscious into the dirt. Unfortunately for Perrin, his body was devoured by a swarm of black flies, commanded by Bab Lysaga and hungry for flesh. The same fate was shared by Shamruuc, though due to his dark powers, he was resurrected and reappeared only a few moments later. Because of Perrin's sacrifice, Sarge was allowed the time to distract the tree, giving Norgold time to pull Tylus' paralyzed body to safety. Norgold used his remaining time to shake Tylus free of his state, allowing the mostly uninjured rogue to return to battle. Now free of the spell, Tylus managed to drive Baba Lysaga away, with the strange witch disappearing into the fog of Berez. Together with Sarge, the two remaining Saviours slew the awakened tree, staving off death and recovering the 2nd gem for the Keepers of the Feather.Yesterhill
Defeating the Druids Upon the defeat of the Arch-Druid at the Wizard of the Wines, the group headed to Yesterhill, the rumored location of an evil band of druids, and the location of one of the magical gems. Upon arriving, the Saviours spied a massive hill, dotted with shallow graves ascending to the peak like a path. At the top of the hill sat a large dead tree, ominously looking over the valley. Carefully creeping their way to the top, the Saviours found an odd looking ritual circle, drawn into the dirt surrounding the top of the hill. In the trunk of the dead tree laid a large wood cutting axe, and deeper within the tree, the green glow of a gem. The party removed the axe, though found it dangerous to the touch. Shamruuc, Tanka and Tylus all found themselves unable to wield it, for when they swung the weapon, thrones protruded from within to spike their hands. However, this was not the case for Sarge and Norgold, whom were able to wield the axe normally. This led to the group to believe that the axe could only be used by those with more of a lawful disposition. After the axe was removed, the group was also able to retrieve the gem, easily removing it from the trunk. However, in doing so, it caused a band of barbarians and druids to rise from within the surrounding tombs and engage the party in battle. Yesterhill's forces were no match for the Saviours, with many of the barbarians falling by Tanka's hand, a barbarian of the Bear Totem himself. The group finished off the remainders of the druids and returned to the The Wizard of Wines with the gem, which they promptly presented to Davian Martikov. Later, Tylus would run a solo mission to Yesterhill, intent on burning down the tree on the top of the slope, hoping that it would discourage any further attacks against the winery. While there, Tylus witnessed Strahd Von Zarovich visit the hill, landing at the top with Argynvost. Strahd looked intent on a meeting, though when no druids arrived, he departed the area, flying to areas unknown. This led the party to believe that Strahd had been in direct contact with the druid circle, and that he perhaps had been instructing them to attack the Wizard of the Wines.Ravenloft
The First Visit The group first entered Ravenloft by way of the The Amber Temple, activating a portal that would lead into the castles dungeons. Now inside Ravenloft, the party explored the deep and dark expanses of the castle, hoping that Strahd himself would not be alerted to their presence. During their exploration, the Saviours would contest with all manner of beasts, ghosts, and other undead, all while uncovering the mysteries of Ravenloft itself. Most notably, the group would uncover the resting places of Strahd's parents, King Barov Von Zarovich and Queen Ravenovia Von Zarovich. Nearby to the tomb of his parents, laid Strahd's very own tomb. It was here that the party knew they'd need to finally destroy Strahd once and for all. In addition to these discoveries, the group would also uncover many hidden passages and trails through the belly of Ravenloft, marking them out should they ever need to return. While the rest of the group continued to explore the catacombs, Tylus and Shamruuc decided to ascend one of the many towers of Ravenloft, and took to the dark skies above the castle. They scouted the area quite well, with Tylus especially getting a clear layout of Ravenloft's grounds. As they continued, Shamruuc decided to land on the overlook of Ravenloft, getting a view of most of Barovia. It was here that the duo met Strahd once again, with the vampire lord beginning to toy with the two separated Saviours. Seeking to drive a wedge between Shamruuc and Tylus, Strahd revealed Tylus' actions in Vallaki; the burning of the Bones of Saint Andral. Strahd thanked Tylus for doing so, as it had given Strahd the ability to slaughter dozens of unruly townsfolk and murder Father Lucian Petrovich in his own church. Thoroughly shocked, Shamruuc questioned Tylus, who did not lie about his actions, though he wished for Shamruuc to keep them secret from Sarge and Norgold. The Heart of Ravenloft While ascending one of Ravenloft's many towering structures, the group stumbled upon an incredible, if not horrifying, sight. A large, beating and bloodied heart, levitating within the walls of Ravenloft's largest watchtower. It was the size of a loaded caravan, or perhaps a large beast such as an elephant, and it simply hung in the air, slowly dripping blood down through the tower's center. To the Saviours, this looked like an important piece of Ravenloft's infrastructure, and they quickly made the decision to destroy it. However, in doing so, they knew they'd attract undue attention to themselves. Even still, it was a chance they took as they began to chop at the floating organ. As soon as the first blow was struck, blood began spewing from the wound and the tower began to tremble. Halberds and swords that had been lining the tower walls sprung to life, attacking the group as sentient weapons. As they continued to chop away at the heart and defend themselves from the tower, hordes of vampire spawn stormed the tower, attacking the party and defending the heart at all costs. Soon enough the heart fell, the final blow showering the entirety of the tower with blood. The group's focus turned to escape, and they quickly made for the teleportation circle they had initially arrived it. The group quickly passed through the teleportation circle, finding themselves safe outside Ravenloft. Unbeknownst to the group at the time, the destruction of the heart had greatly weakened Strahd, who had used a connection to the magical organ for quick healing while in battle. Destroying the heart would prove devastating to Strahd during the final confrontation between himself and the Saviours of Barovia. The 2nd Visit; Strahd's Wedding The Saviours of Barovia, now ready for a final confrontation with Strahd, happened upon a stroke of possible good luck in the form of an invitation into Ravenloft itself. Strahd had invited the group to his forthcoming wedding to Ireena, a clear attempt to embarrass the group that had formerly failed to protect her. The group agreed to attend, though they knew the invitation was certainly a trap. It mattered little, as the Saviours felt more than ready to face the Master of Barovia, no matter the terms of engagement. So the group traveled to Ravenloft and entered through the front gates. Upon arriving at the doors to the grand hall, the group met Rahadin, Strahd's 2nd in command and long-time friend. Rahadin bade the Saviours to turn over their weapons, a request met with anger by Tanka. Combat almost began at the front gate, though the group was able to cool Tanka, convincing him to turn over his weapons. Now inside the great hall, the Saviours awaited the beginning of the wedding, and lingered with the other party guests. Some of these guests were surprising to see, such as members of the Keepers of the Feather. Other guests were less suprising, such as Fiona Wachter and scores of Vistani, including Vindril. It was clear that Strahd intended to gather all his enemies in once place, likely wanting to destroy them all in one fell stroke. During this time, the group made plans to keep their allies safe in the event of combat. While these plans were made, other members of the group snuck away, finding a secret passage inside Ravenloft's kitchen that led to the catacombs below. It was here that the group found their confiscated weapons, simply dumped into the murky water of Ravenloft's sewers. With the group's weapons reclaimed and their allies safe, the Saviours were ready to attack. But before they could act, Sarge was summoned to the bedroom of the bride, apparently by Ireena herself. Followed by an invisible Tylus, Sarge obliged the request, and was led by Rahadin to the bedroom. Inside, a suspiciously joyful Ireena asked Sarge to walk her down the aisle and to stand beside her at the alter. Sarge agreed, knowing that this would get him within striking distance of Strahd himself. As Sarge turned to leave, Ireena embraced him in a hug, bringing herself close to Sarge's ear. Quietly, just out of earshot to Rahadin, Ireena told Sarge to kill her, as she'd rather die than be wed to Strahd. Sarge nodded, and whispered that he would not let Strahd go through with the ceremony, though he would try to save her before ending her life. The Ceremony The wedding was now ready to begin, and the Saviours took their seats within Ravenloft's cathedral. They had been seated strategically, spread out and situated beside enemies. Before entering, Tylus managed to sneak away, finding his way to the balcony overlooking the alter. From here Tylus planned to provide over-watch for Sarge, who would be standing only mere inches from Strahd. Finally the procession began, and the wedding party took their places at the front of the church. Another cruel joke awaited in the form of the minister; Father Donavich. The priest would be forced to perform the wedding of the vampire that had doomed his son to life as a spawn. Sarge then led Ireena to the alter, taking his place beside her, opposite of Strahd himself. Sarge felt The Sunsword blaze hot in it's scabbard, hungry to strike at the vampire. The ceremony progressed quickly, heading toward the finale of the final kiss. It was briefly interrupted, as The Abbot of Saint Markovia appeared in the cathedral to reject the marriage, claiming to Strahd that Vasilka, The Abbot's Flesh Golem, would be a better match for the Lord of Ravenloft. Strahd quickly rejected the notion and sent The Abbot away, the Deva devastated by his latest failure. The time finally arrived, and Strahd leaned in to kiss his new bride. Seeing his chance, Tylus let an arrow loose at Strahd himself, drawing the vampire's attention while Sarge unleashed the Sunsword, cleaving down into Strahd, dealing huge amounts of damage. With that, chaos erupted in the chapel. Strahd's minions and enemies clashed together, fighting to the death in the cathedral of Ravenloft. During the skirmish, the Saviours of Barovia were able to exact revenge upon Vindril and killed the Vistani leader before he could escape. Also during the fight, the group wore down and captured Rahadin, intending to use him as leverage against Strahd. Though the group was successful in killing many of Strahd's allies, they failed to save Ireena, who once again was taken by Strahd, who himself had disappeared into the walls of his castle. Upon finishing off the remaining combatants in the church, the Saviours reentered the great hall, where they saw many of their allies under threat from Ravenloft Gargoyles, who had descended from the ceiling to do Strahd's bidding. The group defeated the stone creatures, and led the survivors to a hideout in the kitchen, where they were to await the group's return. Escape from the castle itself was currently impossible, as Argynvost patrolled the skies above Ravenloft, killing any that attempted to flee. Also present in Ravenloft was Ismark, who had attended in a final bid to save his sister from Strahd's clutches. Ismark pleaded with the group to help him search for Ireena, but was refused, as the group was preoccupied with finding and destroying Strahd. Ismark headed off into Ravenloft alone, a move that would lead to his death.Disbanding of the Saviours
With Strahd defeated, the group was free to leave Barovia and return to thier former lives. The remaining Saviours traveled to the edge of the mists, and one by one, passed through. Sarge, Tanka and Norgold found themselves standing amongst the jagged rocks of The Teeth, where Tanka bid the group farewell and disappeared into the mountains. Sarge and Norgold began to travel back towards Greenfield, Sarge's hometown. As for Shamruuc and Tylus, they found that they could not pass through the mists, as accepting dark powers from the Amber Temple had now damned them to an eternity within Barovia. Instead, Shamruuc and Tylus took very different paths, though both would lay down roots in Barovia. Shamruuc returned to the Amber Temple, eager to learn from Exethanter and perhaps uncover the secret to lichdom for himself. Tylus returned to Vallaki and the surrounding area, intent on making up for his past sins. At some point, Tylus established a hunting guild near to the city and rekindled a relationship with Ezmerelda d'Avenir. Upon finding out about Sarge's past posting within The Inquisition , Norgold left Greenfield, heading north and eventually establishing Northcross Temple; a house of healing and a safe place for non-humans in Atmora. Norgold would occasionally be joined by Tanka, who accepted the position of Head Gatekeeper at the temple.
Basic Information
Type: Adventuring Party Base of Operations: Barovia Gods/Deities: Torm, Kelemvor Goals:- Defeat Strahd Von Zarovich
- Escape from Barovia
- Return the Three Gems to The Keepers of the Feather
History
Formed: AoR 597 Disbanded: AoR 597Membership
Total Members: 6 Notable Members:- Colborn Sergeant
- Norgold Dragonsbane (Resurrected)
- Tanka Barbearian (Part-Time)
- Shamruuc
- Tylus Symshade (Former Member)
- Wellby Tealeaf (Part-Time)
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