One of Us Will Die Curse of Strahd Adventure Report 2: Once More Into The Mists

The journey begins with another set of adventurers. The shepherd woman, Marjorie (The Sinner played by Dandy), is in search of Morgwyn, the daughter she gave up to a hag many years ago. The farmgirl, Hope (The Seer played by Nyx), searches for her missing sister, Asha, leaving her husband and sister to reunite their family. She is haunted by recurring dreams of her sister in pain and one where she burns down their farm at the head of an undead army. Sabrione (The Scorned played by Mary), a former opera singer with vampirism searches for her ex-lover, Ivan who destroyed her vocal chords in an attempt to kill her. The party is led into Barovia by a Ser Rowan, a knight of Daggerford and cousin of Dahlia who seeks to return her lady to their family home.

They arrive at the gates of Barovia. A wave of nostalgia washes over them as Ser Rowan recites the password. She is immediately assailed by a surge of psychic energy when she manages to commune with the dragon, Argynvost, who assesses her worth as a knight. It takes all her willpower to remain conscious as he swears to take lady Dahlia home as well as protect his companions. The gates open and they cross over into the land of Barovia.

On the road, Marjorie meets and communicates with the crow that spoke to her daughter ten years ago before the Death House incident. It confirms that her daughter is alive but is immediately killed and eaten by the other crows (she was murdered) leaving her skeleton behind. She asks her dog, Kellam, to retrieve the corpse.

Along the way, their horse steps on a hunting trap, crippling it until it can be healed. Hope immediately assesses that the medicinal plants can be found in the forest after Morjorie calms it down. The two fieldworkers head into the forest to search along with Sabrione.

Rowan stays back at the wagon, her head still in pain from the encounter with Argynvost, on the road she meets Granny Morgantha who gives her a dream pastry for free. The two converse about the pastries. The old woman invites her to her bakery at the Old Bonegrinder just off the road to Vallaki. Rowan tastes the pastry herself before giving some to the horse who is able to finally rest despite the injury.

Hope, Sabrione and Marjorie encounter bandits in the forest. In the ensuing struggle, Marjorie and Sabrione are shot only to be saved by Hope who kills one bandit with a psychic blast to the brain. The second bandit sees her face and immediately runs off, on Hope’s order, in terror, calling her “My Lady”.

The trio continues their search until they arrive at a campfire where a traveler invites them to sit with him and share his meal. He notices the bullet wounds before introducing himself as an old war veteran who knows how to deal with such wounds. The stranger treats both Marjorie and Sabrione. The latter immediately recognizes him as a vampire lord, the worst of their kind, and not to be trusted or meddled with. Impressed with her quick dispatch of the bandits, the stranger finds himself rather impressed with Hope, recognizing her face just as the bandits did. When Hope questions him on the matter, he mentions that Asha is alive and well, also that she is his bride, introducing himself as Strahd von Zarovich. He heartily welcomes them all to Barovia, laughs and dematerializes into a swarm of bats before flying towards the castle but not before leaving his surgeon’s kit and the herbs they were looking for by the fire, which Hope picks up. Sabrione reveals what she knows about vampire lords to her companions and reiterates that people like Strahd von Zarovich are not to be trusted.

The party regroups at the cart and Hope restores the horse to working shape. The combination of the pain-relieving properties of the dream pastry and the medical supplies from Strahd give the horse exactly what he needs to keep going.

They stop by a river to drink. Marjorie and Kellam also partake of the old woman’s dream pastry. Rowan, despite her noble education, is not aware of a lord named Strahd von Zarovich so does not recognize him when she hears his name.

They arrive at the Town of Barovia, named the same as wider area also called Barovia. They discover many of its citizens live in fear and mistrust strangers which makes it difficult to ask for directions. The party follows the mournful sobs of Mad Mary to her townhouse. They knock on the door to find Walter, who the players (but not their characters) recognize as the child that was saved from death house ten years prior, on the other side of it. They ask if they can help his mother, which he reluctantly agrees to let them do after he remembers the story of the four strangers who saved him when he was a child. He almost doesn’t let Sabrione in, but she manages to convince him that she is just sick, and not a vampire.

They approach a sickly Mad Mary who informs them that her daughter, Gertruda, is missing. They had a fight, and she left home. She gives Marjorie Gertruda’s teddy bear to give to her with the message that she misses her and that she is sorry.

The party heads to the Blood of the Vine Tavern where they find the bandit who ran away sitting with a pair of Vistani. Sabrione and Hope, retributive, torment her further. Marjorie speaks to the tavernkeep who directs them to Ismark the Lesser, the current Burgomaster of the town and son of their recently deceased one. The man is drowning himself in alcohol due to a growing depression inside of him both stemming from having to live in his father’s shadow for most of his life, now more than ever and the trouble involving his sister.

When approached, the drunk tells the party is unfortunate for being too late as the man they came to see is dead. Upon seeing the letter, he realizes that his father never wrote the letter and that it is a forgery. He does however inform the party that his sister is indeed in danger and that he needs their help. Sabrione asks him if he’s familiar with Strahd von Zarovich which turns the man pale. He invites them to speak further at his mansion.

Upon arriving, he tells that that Strahd von Zarovich is a vampire and the lord of Barovia and has been for centuries. He informs them that he cannot be killed and that his grip on the land is harsh with no care for its people or their welfare. They live in constant fear of him and his minions. He also recognizes Hope as the spitting image of one of his brides. They learn that his sister Ireena has been pursued by Strahd relentlessly to the point that their house has been attacked by wolves, bandits and undead. When his father stood up to the vampire, he died of a heart attack. He requests that they escort Ireena to Vallaki where she will be safer.

Ireena enters, refusing to leave the village until they bury their father. They learn from her that Strahd’s obsession with her is intense, calling her Tatyana instead of her actual name, even assaulting her one evening. She fended him off, stabbing him in the heart with her sword. He only found the action amusing and declared that she would one day see the light. The party agrees to help them bury their father in return for room and board at the inn.

Upon arriving back at the inn, the two Vistani approach them and apologize for their cousins’ behavior in the woods. They also say that the woman sitting at their table has ‘forgiven’ them for exploding her husband’s brain. They inform them that Madam Eva, an important figure in their community, has requested their presence in her private room at the tavern.

The party settles into their room which is comfortable with food and drinks provided for all of them. Marjorie and Rowan discuss Daggerfall and the missing Lady Dahlia. A knock comes on the door to inform them that Madame Eva is ready to see them.

The old Vistani woman welcomes them in, calling them all by name. She is aware of all their reasons for coming to Barovia and informs them that the people they are looking for are indeed in this land to be found and perhaps saved. They are all served their favorite drinks, or rather what the madame believes are their favorite drinks, including fresh human blood for Sabrione. She shows Hope an image of her husband lonely from missing her. Much to her surprise, Hope demonstrates her powerful psychic abilities by reaching out to him through the crystal ball and soothing his dreams, literally filling them with “Hope”. The crone reveals to them that all paths that lead to their goals pass through a single individual, Strahd von Zarovich, that they cannot leave this realm with their loved ones or destroy their nemeses completely while he is alive.

Madame Eva asks each of the adventurers if they want their fortunes read with her tarroka cards. All refuse save for the knight, Rowan. When asked who is enemy is, Rowan declares that it is Strahd and the cards are laid out in the following fashion.

“This card tells of history. Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy.” The crone turns the card over. It is The Bishop What you seek lies in a pile of treasure, beyond a set of amber doors.”

Madame Eva moves to the top most card and touches it. “This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope.” She turns the card over. “The wizard. Interesting. Look for a wizard's tower on a lake. Let the wizard's name and servant guide you to that which you seek.”

“Now this one.” She said pointing to the card to the right most. ”This is a card of power and strength. It tells of a weapon of vengeance: a sword of sunlight. The conjurer. I see a dead village, drowned by a river, ruled by one who has brought great evil into the world.” Hope peers into the woman’s mind to see the exact vision and is provided more insight. Ruins in a marsh, and a wooden hut that walks on two legs.

Her hands glided down to the bottom most card. “This card sheds light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness. The Mists. A Vistana wanders this land alone, searching for her mentor. She does not stay in one place for long. Seek her out at Saint Markovia's abbey, near the mists.”

“And now… your enemy. Strahd von Zarovich is a creature of darkness, whose powers are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him! The Beast! The beast sits on his dark throne.” Hope receives another vision of Strahd looking defeated as the four close in on him in the throne room.

They are each given a bottle of the beverage that they drank and wished on their way. Before they leave, she reveals a camera obscura in her closet and requests that she take a photo of them. Initially mistrustful, the party agrees. The photo is taken and the whole party is shown smiling despite some of them not even smiling for the picture. She thanks them for indulging her.

Marjorie requests to see her other photos to which the crone pulls a very thick book off the shelf. As Marjorie flips through the pages she sees several other groups of adventurers with slightly different tarroka readings. Among them are what appear to be alternate universe versions of Laios Touden’s party, the Dongtreader crew, the Baldur’s Gate III gang, Frieren and Friends as well as the actual party of Asha, Ivan, Morgwyn and Dahlia, indicating that hundreds of adventurers had gone this way toward the same goal. A flash of lightning blinds the group and the candlefire burns out. When the room is once again lit, Madame Eva is gone leaving only their photo.

The session ends as Marjorie and Rowan see Morgwyn and Dahlia respectively in their dreams.

Reflection from the Director:

I’m really happy with how Strahd made his first contact as an old veteran. Perhaps it’s a glimpse of what the man once was before his heart turned cold and evil, but now all we see is a predator playing with his food. I’ll always remember being unable to resist switching to a rather Borat sounding “MY WAAAIFE” when he made that reveal about Asha. Thankfully, my party has a good sense of humor. Next session, I’d like to do more with the Scorned and Seer archetypes. I’ve definitely got some things planned out for them.