Ravenloft Game Log - Session 16
I had a lot of trouble sleeping last night, and I'm still getting over being sick, so I'm a little hazy about what happened in the game last night. I seem to recall something about the party defeating Count Strahd in half a round of combat???
Ablaze with new found power and determination following their victory over the dire wolf pack, the party rushes to the Vishtani camp. Reaching the ford in the Ivlis River, they see a disturbing amount of smoke rising from the area of the camp. Niccolo searches warily for traps and finds a sigil on a rock in the ford, similar to that used by Strahd in his attack on the Burgomeister's residence. Unable to remove the sigil, the group quickly creates another river crossing by felling a dead tree further downstream. As they make their way through the forest, they spot yet another trap, this time a floating magical eye sent to spy on intruders. Niccolo draws his bow instantly and pins the eye to a tree, destroying it. Finally, at the outskirts of camp, they see a Vishtani waiting at their watchpost. However, instead of a greeting, the man instantly attempts to flee back to camp. Sensing that something is wrong, Rikard halts his flight with a spell which entangles him in the undergrowth.
Having thwarted three obstacles, the party decides that surprise and haste is their best weapon. Bursting into the camp, they find that the Vishtani have indeed been attacked. And standing in the center of camp is none other than Count von Zarovich himself, along with his seneschal. They appear to be in conversation with Madam Eva, who appears greatly displeased at the slaughter of some of her followers.
Rikard and Heironymus waste no time, but charge in with weapons drawn. Two swords glow with the power of the Creator, and two blades strike true! As he charges, Heironymus calls to Thorne to strike without hesitation. Merely a second after the two attack Strahd, the area is enveloped in flames from Thorne's spell! Devastated by the onslaught, Strahd's body is turns to mist and rises into the air toward the castle. Zidara's holy magic strikes his ghostlike form as it disappears into the mist. Lucien, the Count's seneschal, surrenders to the party, apparently aghast at their attack upon his leige.
Madam Eva explains that while she supports the group against Strahd, she is under the effects of a curse which does not allow her to act directly against him. After seeing to the survivors of the camp, she reveals that she, herself, is guardian of the Forest Fane, as she hauls her wagon to the side, revealing the magic circle. Control of this fane grants Strahd the ability to avoid almost all magical scrying. It is therefore decided that Ireena might be best to undergo the ritual, since Strahd is able to spy easily upon her. After agreeing that she will not destroy the forest, having a new perspective following the recent battle, Ireena steps into the circle with Madam Eva. The ritual is short, as Madam Eva traverses the symbols with assurance. But at the center, she reveals the nature of her curse: she is to guard the Fane, never to allow it to come into the control of another, and never to take its power for herself, lest her children and all their progeny suffer the consequences. She apologizes to Ireena, for the friendship she bears to her mother, and destroys the circle, freeing the power of the forest and breaking its ancient contract with man. Gazing into Ireena's eyes, Madam Eva imparts some hidden knowledge, and then takes the form of a tree, standing in the center of the ruined circle.
Ireena, stunned and shaken, believes that she has been given knowledge of certain prophecies of the old seeress. Collecting Madam Eva's cards from the wagon, she is able to reveal several foretellings concerning Strahd, the Sunsword, and the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind.
Knowing that the next fane awaits, the party heads for the village. They enter in a funeral procession for Mary Bodescu and gather the villagers in the church. Zidara tells them that it was Mary's sacrifice that allowed the relic of the church, lost for so long, to be restored to its rightful place. Mary is given full funeral rites and buried in the village cemetery, with one of Heironymus' longswords to mark her grave. During the service, Zidara also counsels the villagers against the condemnation of witches, while Niccolo watches the audience carefully for possible aid in their next ritual...
The group then meets up with Ismark at the tavern where he has, once again, been drinking heavily. Ireena amazes the locals by telling Ismark that the adventurers have confronted and defeated the master of Barovia himself! She calls upon them to give whatever aid they can to the party, and it is hastily offered. With only a few hours of daylight remaining, the group hurries to find a witch, to gather wine, and to make for Lysaga Hill to take the power of another fane from Strahd's iron grasp.
Ablaze with new found power and determination following their victory over the dire wolf pack, the party rushes to the Vishtani camp. Reaching the ford in the Ivlis River, they see a disturbing amount of smoke rising from the area of the camp. Niccolo searches warily for traps and finds a sigil on a rock in the ford, similar to that used by Strahd in his attack on the Burgomeister's residence. Unable to remove the sigil, the group quickly creates another river crossing by felling a dead tree further downstream. As they make their way through the forest, they spot yet another trap, this time a floating magical eye sent to spy on intruders. Niccolo draws his bow instantly and pins the eye to a tree, destroying it. Finally, at the outskirts of camp, they see a Vishtani waiting at their watchpost. However, instead of a greeting, the man instantly attempts to flee back to camp. Sensing that something is wrong, Rikard halts his flight with a spell which entangles him in the undergrowth.
Having thwarted three obstacles, the party decides that surprise and haste is their best weapon. Bursting into the camp, they find that the Vishtani have indeed been attacked. And standing in the center of camp is none other than Count von Zarovich himself, along with his seneschal. They appear to be in conversation with Madam Eva, who appears greatly displeased at the slaughter of some of her followers.
Rikard and Heironymus waste no time, but charge in with weapons drawn. Two swords glow with the power of the Creator, and two blades strike true! As he charges, Heironymus calls to Thorne to strike without hesitation. Merely a second after the two attack Strahd, the area is enveloped in flames from Thorne's spell! Devastated by the onslaught, Strahd's body is turns to mist and rises into the air toward the castle. Zidara's holy magic strikes his ghostlike form as it disappears into the mist. Lucien, the Count's seneschal, surrenders to the party, apparently aghast at their attack upon his leige.
Madam Eva explains that while she supports the group against Strahd, she is under the effects of a curse which does not allow her to act directly against him. After seeing to the survivors of the camp, she reveals that she, herself, is guardian of the Forest Fane, as she hauls her wagon to the side, revealing the magic circle. Control of this fane grants Strahd the ability to avoid almost all magical scrying. It is therefore decided that Ireena might be best to undergo the ritual, since Strahd is able to spy easily upon her. After agreeing that she will not destroy the forest, having a new perspective following the recent battle, Ireena steps into the circle with Madam Eva. The ritual is short, as Madam Eva traverses the symbols with assurance. But at the center, she reveals the nature of her curse: she is to guard the Fane, never to allow it to come into the control of another, and never to take its power for herself, lest her children and all their progeny suffer the consequences. She apologizes to Ireena, for the friendship she bears to her mother, and destroys the circle, freeing the power of the forest and breaking its ancient contract with man. Gazing into Ireena's eyes, Madam Eva imparts some hidden knowledge, and then takes the form of a tree, standing in the center of the ruined circle.
Ireena, stunned and shaken, believes that she has been given knowledge of certain prophecies of the old seeress. Collecting Madam Eva's cards from the wagon, she is able to reveal several foretellings concerning Strahd, the Sunsword, and the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind.
Knowing that the next fane awaits, the party heads for the village. They enter in a funeral procession for Mary Bodescu and gather the villagers in the church. Zidara tells them that it was Mary's sacrifice that allowed the relic of the church, lost for so long, to be restored to its rightful place. Mary is given full funeral rites and buried in the village cemetery, with one of Heironymus' longswords to mark her grave. During the service, Zidara also counsels the villagers against the condemnation of witches, while Niccolo watches the audience carefully for possible aid in their next ritual...
The group then meets up with Ismark at the tavern where he has, once again, been drinking heavily. Ireena amazes the locals by telling Ismark that the adventurers have confronted and defeated the master of Barovia himself! She calls upon them to give whatever aid they can to the party, and it is hastily offered. With only a few hours of daylight remaining, the group hurries to find a witch, to gather wine, and to make for Lysaga Hill to take the power of another fane from Strahd's iron grasp.