Sunny Barovia

  4/26/2022 We returned to the Manse and got cleaned up.   Well, as cleaned up as we could with shared bathing water.   (Note to self, research ways to magically filter dirty water). We headed over to the Wachter house and were admitted by her sons.   Lady Ireena, of course, joined us.   Up to this point, we had only seen her wear every day, adventuring gear.   She was quite stunning in her formal clothing, looking every bit the Noble that she is. We were treated to a fine meal – better than anything we’ve had since entering these lands.   In the course of dinner, we learned that the Wachter’s have been in these lands for hundreds of years and had an understanding, if not alliance with Strahd and the von Zarovich lines.   She makes no mistake for her disdain for the Burgomaster and his festivals.   She feels Strahd rules these lands and, for now, chooses not to interfere in Vallaki. While the Burgomaster purports that it is his festival...

  4/19/2022 I spent the rest of the day with Kasimir, talking primarily of the Arcane.   It was refreshing to be exposed to someone with a very different perspective on things than my original instructors.   At one point he mentioned that when we were ready for the Amber Temple, we would want to make sure we had procured some good, cold-weather clothing and gear. He walked me back to the gates around 6 p.m.   He seems a good man, but deeply troubled.   His hate for Strahd runs deep.   Very deep.   I almost wonder if he hangs on just for the opportunity to revenge himself on Strahd. When I got back, I found my compatriots had not been idle.   Wolfram and Dasco had clearly been sparring, Laz was sweaty from some sort of gymnastic venture and Finn had that contented look he gets after long meditations. After eating, Finn took some time to mend the components a disassembled lock Muriel had brought by.   She promised to return and rebuild ...

 4/12/2022 We tied Bluto’s boat to our own and began rowing back to shore.   It’s interesting to me that often one doesn’t notice the absence of something until it returns.   It was that way with the mist.   It was a clear, starry night when we arrived at the lake.   But as we started back, the mist started rising from the water, and eventually blocked the sky.   It was as if the mist had parted just so we could see Bluto out on the lake. Finn managed to navigate us back to the shore.   As we approached, we saw three shapes that soon resolved themselves into Strahd, his horse and the horse’s groom.   No sooner had we touched the shore than Arabelle jumped out and ran to the vampire calling out, “Uncle!” Uncle? It was certainly odd to see this girl of 7 or 8 hugging the leg of this hated creature.   He thanked us for saving his niece and referred to her as a princess of the Vistani. Strahd intoned something quite poetic sounding about ...

4/5/2022 After dispatching the last of the wolves, we heard several people approaching.  We retreated back to the path and waited.  It was a group of 3 Vistani.  They went to one of the fallen wolves and urged Wolfram to come help.  At their urging, he used his abilities to partially heal the fallen wolf and it scampered off into the woods.  The Vistani thanked us, and all but ordered us back to the path. In a text book display of victim blaming, they told us if we hadn't wandered off the path, we wouldn't have a problem with the wolves.  They then agreed to escort us to their camp. Along the way, they explained their unique relationship with Strahd.  Strahd "controls" the wolves and other denizens that prowl Barovia.  Because of the ancient agreement, the Vistani can walk unmolested where others would be in mortal peril.  In exchange, they remain neutral, neither siding with or against Strahd in his business.  Healing the wolf was a way...

  Sessions 29, 30 & 31 3/8/2022 The shadow of the creature began moving.   We followed it downstairs to the office where it entered a locket sitting on the desk.   Using mage hand (Lord knows I didn’t want to touch it directly!) I closed the locket.   The locket itself had arcane designs across it, and Wolfram got a sense of “good” from it.   Lady Wachter, who apparently has some knowledge of this sort of thing, suggested that the demon must have been bound to the locket, and when the boy opened it up, it possessed him.   By closing it, we had re-imprisoned it. We went to Milivoj’s room and found he was now recovering.   Finn healed him a little further so we could question him about the bones of St. Andral.   He didn’t seem to know what we were talking about.   But upon further conversation, he had some memory gaps.   He did finally admit to vaguely remembering carrying a bundle past the Blue Water Inn, but doesn’t remember wh...