Ravenloft Game Log - Session 12
Into the marsh...
Night and day blur together as our PCs stalwartly continue on their mission. First, their rest is disturbed by the reawakening of the vampiric spawn that they had so recently slain. Upon investigation, these undead creatures reform their bodies from mist, but they can be paralyzed with a wooden stake through the heart, and destroyed once this is done by decapitation. This accomplished, they gain a few hours rest before setting out for the Ivlis Marsh. Along the way they are regaled by Rickard's tales of the terrible creature that lives in the swamp, waiting to prey on foolish interlopers.
Arriving at the marsh, they realize two problems. The first is that travel will be difficult for those with armor, nigh unto impossible while wearing full platemail. The second is that they still need a witch to perform the ritual at the Swamp Fane, and it is decided that getting her now would be prudent. Thus, the party heads back to the village to seek out Mad Mary. At the outskirts of town, they notice someone spying on them from the bushes. It proves to be Bildrath, the mercantile owner, whose tale of merely visiting the Vishtani rings false. Believing him to be a spy, the party escorts him back to town to see if they can learn anything from Patch, Bildrath's employee and ward. Ireena and Ismark wait with Heironymus at the edge of town to avoid being seek by anyone else.
Patch is happy to speak with the party. The giant Barovian is a bit slow, but well-meaning. He believes that Bildrath was searching for Gertrude, who has been missing for some time. Patch appears to be sweet on the girl, and concerned about her. He also tells the group that a "man in black" visited last night and spoke with Bildrath, paying him some money for an unspecified service.
For their second visit, they find Mad Mary at home amongst her knitting. She is very unwilling to discuss anything that smacks of witchcraft with the party, and refuses to do evil, even if it is to rescue her daughter. However, she reluctantly admits that she is able to see through the Barovian mists. She will help the party with her sight, so long as they do not ask her to do anything "wrong."
By the time the party returns to the marsh, it is late in the afternoon. Mary's sight proves to be helpful indeed, as she can not only see through the mist, but seems to have an uncanny sense for how to walk safely through the marsh. She tells the party that there are people living here, but they will not come out until dark. Indeed, it is just sunset when the party is attacked by a bloodmote cloud, a swarm of undead insects. Weapons are useless against them, but they are quickly dispersed by the channeling of divine power and arcane fire.
The next visitor is a creature that flies overhead in the mist. Zidara's morningstar reveals it to be undead, but none of the party get a look at this bird-like creature with a human voice. She taunts the party and tries to get them to attack her. She says that she works for Inka who is waiting for them in the marsh, and she also mentions Mikhail, the ghoulish caretaker of the cemetery. Since her taunts produce no immediate attack, she begins to sing an eerie, compelling song and several of the party follow her out into the mists, heedless of their friend's cries to stop. Instead, they must be bodily forced to remain, with Niccolo shaking off the effect just in time to avoid walking into quicksand. Damaged by the party's spells, the creature flees into the night...
Night and day blur together as our PCs stalwartly continue on their mission. First, their rest is disturbed by the reawakening of the vampiric spawn that they had so recently slain. Upon investigation, these undead creatures reform their bodies from mist, but they can be paralyzed with a wooden stake through the heart, and destroyed once this is done by decapitation. This accomplished, they gain a few hours rest before setting out for the Ivlis Marsh. Along the way they are regaled by Rickard's tales of the terrible creature that lives in the swamp, waiting to prey on foolish interlopers.
Arriving at the marsh, they realize two problems. The first is that travel will be difficult for those with armor, nigh unto impossible while wearing full platemail. The second is that they still need a witch to perform the ritual at the Swamp Fane, and it is decided that getting her now would be prudent. Thus, the party heads back to the village to seek out Mad Mary. At the outskirts of town, they notice someone spying on them from the bushes. It proves to be Bildrath, the mercantile owner, whose tale of merely visiting the Vishtani rings false. Believing him to be a spy, the party escorts him back to town to see if they can learn anything from Patch, Bildrath's employee and ward. Ireena and Ismark wait with Heironymus at the edge of town to avoid being seek by anyone else.
Patch is happy to speak with the party. The giant Barovian is a bit slow, but well-meaning. He believes that Bildrath was searching for Gertrude, who has been missing for some time. Patch appears to be sweet on the girl, and concerned about her. He also tells the group that a "man in black" visited last night and spoke with Bildrath, paying him some money for an unspecified service.
For their second visit, they find Mad Mary at home amongst her knitting. She is very unwilling to discuss anything that smacks of witchcraft with the party, and refuses to do evil, even if it is to rescue her daughter. However, she reluctantly admits that she is able to see through the Barovian mists. She will help the party with her sight, so long as they do not ask her to do anything "wrong."
By the time the party returns to the marsh, it is late in the afternoon. Mary's sight proves to be helpful indeed, as she can not only see through the mist, but seems to have an uncanny sense for how to walk safely through the marsh. She tells the party that there are people living here, but they will not come out until dark. Indeed, it is just sunset when the party is attacked by a bloodmote cloud, a swarm of undead insects. Weapons are useless against them, but they are quickly dispersed by the channeling of divine power and arcane fire.
The next visitor is a creature that flies overhead in the mist. Zidara's morningstar reveals it to be undead, but none of the party get a look at this bird-like creature with a human voice. She taunts the party and tries to get them to attack her. She says that she works for Inka who is waiting for them in the marsh, and she also mentions Mikhail, the ghoulish caretaker of the cemetery. Since her taunts produce no immediate attack, she begins to sing an eerie, compelling song and several of the party follow her out into the mists, heedless of their friend's cries to stop. Instead, they must be bodily forced to remain, with Niccolo shaking off the effect just in time to avoid walking into quicksand. Damaged by the party's spells, the creature flees into the night...