Ravenloft Game Log - Session 14
The party faces Count Strahd von Zarovich, and survives! For now...
In the Ivlis Marsh, the party regathers on the shores of the Swamp Fane. Yves-Michel and Heironymus return, without the body of the Drowned Lady, and say little of where they have been. In the meantime, the rest of the group has discovered that the necklace of bones worn by the guardian does, indeed, appear to bear the Tooth of St. Bodgen, the relic of the village church.
At nightfall, Inka, the ghoul appears, ready to fulfill her part of the bargain. She tells the party that when they have taken the Swamp Fane's power, Strahd will know immediately. But if they use that power to control the undead, they may be able to distract him long enough to escape and take the other two fanes. A discussion of who should take the fane's power arises. Zidara and Thorne find the idea of meddling with necromantic forces distasteful. Yves-Michel has no ties to this country, and does not seem to desire them. Ireena is proposed as a candidate. She is willing to take the power of the Fane, but she warns that she is doing so only to fight Strahd. She states that she will drain the Ivlis Marsh to dust if it will help her achieve her vengeance. As this unsettling thought lingers, Rikard goes aside to pray to the Creator for guidance.
The rest of the party attempt to advise Mad Mary, who is terrified both of the ritual and of the idea of facing Strahd. Although she believes that it will mean her death to help them, she agrees to do so with the reassurances that this act may help her to atone for her past wrongdoing.
Rikard returns and states that he will present himself as a candidate to take the Fane, as it should be a person who will protect both the people and the land of Barovia, as he has sworn to do. He and Mad Mary begin the ritual. The magical circle becomes a maze of symbols, but Rikard unerringly traces a path among them to arrive at the center. Once there, Mary goes into a trance and, speaking the words of the ritual, places the bone necklace around Rikard's neck. The undead have gathered on the shores, and now turn to him as their master!
Only a precious few seconds now remain before the party's actions are discovered. Mad Mary sinks to her knees in prayer, and the others ready their spells and weapons. Ireena gives the ring that was concealing her location back to Niccolo, and seconds later, the Count himself appears, hovering in the air well above the circle. He is enraged at the usurpation of his power and the betrayal of Ireena. Rikard uses the power of the Fane to awaken the bones scattered upon the island into a cloud of dark power, which takes the form of a dragon and attacks Strahd. He responds with devastating magical attacks which burn down upon the party. However, with this distraction, they are able to gather their wounded and flee into the marsh. Sadly, Mad Mary is left behind, destroyed by Strahd's magic only seconds after her final confession...
In the Ivlis Marsh, the party regathers on the shores of the Swamp Fane. Yves-Michel and Heironymus return, without the body of the Drowned Lady, and say little of where they have been. In the meantime, the rest of the group has discovered that the necklace of bones worn by the guardian does, indeed, appear to bear the Tooth of St. Bodgen, the relic of the village church.
At nightfall, Inka, the ghoul appears, ready to fulfill her part of the bargain. She tells the party that when they have taken the Swamp Fane's power, Strahd will know immediately. But if they use that power to control the undead, they may be able to distract him long enough to escape and take the other two fanes. A discussion of who should take the fane's power arises. Zidara and Thorne find the idea of meddling with necromantic forces distasteful. Yves-Michel has no ties to this country, and does not seem to desire them. Ireena is proposed as a candidate. She is willing to take the power of the Fane, but she warns that she is doing so only to fight Strahd. She states that she will drain the Ivlis Marsh to dust if it will help her achieve her vengeance. As this unsettling thought lingers, Rikard goes aside to pray to the Creator for guidance.
The rest of the party attempt to advise Mad Mary, who is terrified both of the ritual and of the idea of facing Strahd. Although she believes that it will mean her death to help them, she agrees to do so with the reassurances that this act may help her to atone for her past wrongdoing.
Rikard returns and states that he will present himself as a candidate to take the Fane, as it should be a person who will protect both the people and the land of Barovia, as he has sworn to do. He and Mad Mary begin the ritual. The magical circle becomes a maze of symbols, but Rikard unerringly traces a path among them to arrive at the center. Once there, Mary goes into a trance and, speaking the words of the ritual, places the bone necklace around Rikard's neck. The undead have gathered on the shores, and now turn to him as their master!
Only a precious few seconds now remain before the party's actions are discovered. Mad Mary sinks to her knees in prayer, and the others ready their spells and weapons. Ireena gives the ring that was concealing her location back to Niccolo, and seconds later, the Count himself appears, hovering in the air well above the circle. He is enraged at the usurpation of his power and the betrayal of Ireena. Rikard uses the power of the Fane to awaken the bones scattered upon the island into a cloud of dark power, which takes the form of a dragon and attacks Strahd. He responds with devastating magical attacks which burn down upon the party. However, with this distraction, they are able to gather their wounded and flee into the marsh. Sadly, Mad Mary is left behind, destroyed by Strahd's magic only seconds after her final confession...