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strahd-von-asthmavich · 4 years

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Thrown Stones - Mod Strahd’s Curse of Strahd Campaign [Session 4]

Mod Escher here to tell the tale of what happened in Mod Strahd’s amazing campaign! It was a real treat to experience on Twitch

Here, we will begin by doing a little role call!

Astrid Morana - Blood Hunter (4) Order of the Lycan With the “heart of a beast,” infused within her, Astrid is on a mission to look for her mentor, after receiving a letter that she needed to leave. Her heart is set on finding her.

Cydrah Morana - Cleric (4) Grave Domain A vengeful angel, Cydrah was brought back from death to seek the person that killed them. She knows that she will die once more when she completes her mission, but for now, she does all she can within her group while on her way.

Seraphim Crisan - Sorcerer (4) Shadow Origin Seraphim is a young lord in Vallaki. They were outcasted but wishes to restore order despite being cast in shadows. They are the only one in the group native to Barovia.

Thuinn - Rogue (4) Scout Originally working in the Black Market, Thuinn is skilled in thievery. He was set on the path to Barovia after getting a tip for a valuable treasure within a fortress of gloom - The Icon of Ravenloft. He is set on finding it, doing whatever it takes and not paying any mind to anyone finding his actions questionable.

Varsha - Bard (4) College of Eloquence Varsha is a Satyr, and she was always within the company of friends and family in her homeland. After having dreams that slowly led her to the mists, she takes her skills and her instruments with her to help her on her journey to restore order to the nature in Barovia.

Here’s their story under the cut!

Last time they left off, the party had just helped with the funeral of the Burgomaster of the Village of Barovia. They were set to leave and head to the Tser Pool Encampment, and they brought Ireena with them so that she can have her reading as well. Their goal is to also help safely deliver her to Vallaki, where her betrothed, Vasili, will soon be waiting for her.

While Ireena went to have her fortune reading with Madam Eva alone, the party was left to their devices as they were told a tale about the history of Barovia; a Vistani’s Tale, if you will. The tale went as follows:

This place was not always this closed off from the rest of the world. Centuries ago, there was an ancient Prince. He came to this land and fought many battles, turning this valley into what is known today as Barovia. He was hated by many, who preferred the lazier lords who had been lax in their rule and taxation.

We Vistani, however, had a special relation to the Prince. When he was injured and left to die on the battlefield, we took him in, treated his wounds and called him Giogoto. He was the first that we considered true family, and he repaid us in kind, allowing us freedom to move through his lands so long as he reigned.

The Prince became the Lord of the land, maintaining order from the Eastern territories of the Village to the Western outskirts of Krezk. But he was growing older. He called for his family to come to him, and through this came the answer from his youngest brother. This young man was described to have a smile that radiated like the sun.

Just when the Lord thought all was lost, he met a beautiful woman with fiery auburn hair; a true treasure. He loved her with all his heart. But she was taken from him. His brother, in his youthful cunning, took the woman as his own before the Lord had a chance. Enraged, the Lord attempted to take back what rightfully was his, but not without consequences.

A coup had been staged during the brother and bride’s wedding day. The brother was slain, and the Lord was inflicted with a dark curse. And this curse spread throughout the land. The Lord became a dictator, and almost no one was safe from his wrath.

Well, save us Vistani, of course.

After the story was told, Astrid found out through one of the Vistani that Muliha, her mentor, was a Vistana. She and her sister, Ezmerelda, were last seen about a week earlier.

Soon, Madam Eva was ready to see them. They all were brought into the tent, where she collected her missing cards that the players had on their person. Through these cards, each were given their own individual readings.

For Cydrah Her card was Avenger.

“Vengeance is a dish often served cold. Your family has been wronged, and your sights are set upon justice. The one you seek is searching as well, though for remnants left behind. You will find him amongst ruins entrenched in fenland.”

For Astrid Her card was Illusionist.

“You search for someone dear to you, yes? A teacher who has helped you reign the feral beast within. You are close, my dear. Help is often found in the strangest places. Look for an entertaining man with a monkey. This man is more than he seems.”

For Thuinn His card was Priest.

“Your quest takes you after an item of great value, does it not? An item of legendary importance. You will find what you seek at a bloody altar, surrounded by darkness.”

For Varsha Her card was Shepherd.

“The Devil is the ancient, and so has become the Land. You must restore the holy places of the elder Three, whose whispers are as wind and those tears are as dew. Look to the misted hill, the drowned spirits, and the lonely mill. The stones will tell you how best to save their matrons. And listen to the raven’s cry.”

Seraphim Their card was Paladin.

“Your people cast you out, forced you to flee because of your darkness. The shadow over this land has grown as dark as a Devil’s heart. It is your hand that will return sunlight to its halls - if the darkness does not swallow you up in its maw. When this comes about, sunlight will shine into your own soul, as well.”

After telling them their fortunes, Madam Eva helped guide their way further by telling them what they need to do to help lift the curse and to find their enemy. Five cards were read to all of them:

Their first card was to tell them that they needed a treasure where knowledge of the ancient is stored within, to help them better understand their enemy. This card was 9 of Swords - Torturer.

“There is a town where all is not well. There, you will find a house of corruption, and within, a young man driven to desperation out of love.”

Their second card was to tell them that they needed a treasure that was a holy symbol of great hope. This card was 8 of Glyphs - Bishop.

“What you seek lies in a pile of treasure beyond a set of amber doors.”

The third card was to tell them that they needed a sword of sunlight to help light the way; a weapon of vengeance. This card was the card Astrid brought with her: 7 of Stars - Illusionist.

“The treasure lies in a place of prestige above roaring flames, nestled beneath verdant hills. Look for it in the home of a man who is not all he seems.”

The fourth card was to tell them of an ally that would greatly help them against darkness. This card was from the High Deck - Marionette.

“Locked within a gilded cage, a man made by a man sings of his despair. To gain his aide, you must first free him.”

The fifth and final card told them of their enemy and where to find him. This was also from the High Deck - Beast.

“Upon a dark throne sits a beast defiled by darkness.”

After their fortune, Madam Eva assures Cydrah that Arzo, the dog that they found at Death House, is indeed a good boy. Astrid spoke with Madam Eva alone to ask her further about where Muliha was. She was only able to give her limited information. Varsha tried to get more information as well, in which Madam Eva told her that she should not worry about her family being harmed, and that she was going to find many prospects when it came to relationships. The latter worried Varsha a little bit.

Cydrah and Astrid also were able to have a moment alone to talk to each other. There, Cydrah explained her nature and the situation she was in. She explained to Astrid that after she completed what she was avenged to do, she would permanently die.

Seraphim meanwhile fed Arzo with some of their rations, giving him attention as the others regrouped. After a few moments discussing their next course of action, they all decide to head straight to Vallaki from the Tser Pool Encampment.

They decide to take the shortcut the Vistani suggested to them - a cliff 1,000 feet in elevation. Thuinn was able to use his grappling hook and 100 feet of hemp rope to help with climbing, Astrid joining him as well. Varsha and Seraphim, however, were having difficulty climbing. Cydrah helped them with this by showing her true form, a pair of angelic wings. She was able to transport the two of them up to the top, with Astrid showing some stubbornness when Cydrah offered her assistance.

They were able to have a good view of Tser Falls from where they were, and they crossed the bridge to eventually come across another set of gates, similar to the ones they passed through when on their way to Barovia.

Before they could cross through these gates, however, they were bombarded by a cloud of mist. After standing too long, Astrid notes rather painfully that her blood was being syphoned within the mist. All of them soon continued to experience this pain altogether, before finally they all ran through the gates.

Hurting, they all continued their travel together through a dark forest. Varsha and Ireena were on Vasili’s horse together, since neither of them could see in the darkness. They soon encountered a peddler that looked like a jester, pushing a card lined with silvered weapons. He offered them his services for either trade or to buy them with gold. Thuinn decided to buy a silvered dagger from him, which costed 102 gp. He paid for it, but upon closer inspection, Cydrah notices first that the “silvered” weapon was not silver at all. Astrid soon realized that none of the weapons the peddler carried were silver.

Varsha cast Dissonant Voices, which started to scare the peddler off. Taking offense to having his money basically stolen, Thuinn set out to attack the peddler but soon found he wasn’t taking any damage from his arrows. Thuinn and Astrid chased him down as he ran. They were lured in, soon surrounded by four werewolves. The peddler seems to be one, as well.

One of the werewolves, bites Thuinn, infecting him through its bite. Astrid shows her hybrid form - a weretiger. She attacks one of the other werewolves, but they all soon find that all of them quickly leave after Thuinn had been bitten. Seraphim assured them that they knew someone near Vallaki that could take away the curse for a price, so they hurry to get into town before it was too late.

They got to the Gates of Vallaki, where the guards stationed there gave them a set of rules they needed to follow: Never mention the Devil’s true name; They needed to give their true identities and their inventories before entering; Don’t cause any trouble; Attendance at the Festival of the Blazing Sun is required by visitors, but not preparations. One of the guards soon pointed them to the direction of the Blue Water Inn.

Astrid tries to see if he can sense that Gertruda, the missing girl, was in Vallaki. She was then told of an orphanage within the town; an easy place to start looking.

When they arrived at the Blue Water Inn, they met the owner, Danika Martikov, and a young man playing a lyre. When they entered, the man began to sing:

Dark ruby eyes,

Calling me to bed,

Blotting out my skies,

And painting my life red.

In their depths, all consuming,

I felt my fear melt away.

Pity me for assuming

His courtship would stay.

Eternity stretched before me,

I only searched for silence.

My damnation giving me

No expectation of solace.

To find mortality would be best,

Else I prefer a stake to my chest.

Varsha decides to go up to the bard, and it turns out that they both appreciate each other’s talents. The bard introduced himself as Escher. They bonded, while Astrid stared rather suspiciously at the man. She sensed that something was not right about them, and she had the sense she did in the Death House when interacting with the undead children that lived there.

Cydrah tried to see if she can sense that he was undead, but she didn’t find anything.

Despite being bombarded by two beautiful women, Escher felt confident enough to sing again. He sang a different song, which quite a few people in the party notices that the song... kind of seems like it’s about them:

Oh I’ll tell you a tale of travellers five,

Who one day shall fin’ly arrive.

Hand in hand with a vampire’s bride,

Walking tenderly side by side.

A woman of white with the heart of a beast,

Walking from the mist in the east.

Searching for her master’s hand,

Walking tenderly in this land.

A lady of godliness so beloved,

Leaving her lovely home up above.

Come to avenge her family dear,

Walking tenderly with us here.

A Lord of this land within which we live,

Trying to quell the shadows within.

They will rid this land of its plight,

Walking tenderly in the light.

Fey of art with a heart of gold,

Kindred soul to the ladies of old.

Three pleas for help as rushed as a kiss,

Walking tenderly through the mist.

Thief in the night, a master of stealth,

Job done so naturally, shown in wealth.

To find treasure in a fortress of Gloom,

Walking tenderly to his Doom.

The tale of the travellers you’ve now heard,

From a little singing bird.

They shall stare death in his face,

Fighting viciously for this place.

Varsha takes exception that the song is very familiar. She tries to talk to Escher, but he seems rather nervous around this group of people when he realizes that his dreams were a lot truer to reality than he thought.

Also after the song, Thuinn pick-pocketed a drunk pair of brothers, taking five gold from them.

Varsha offers to show Escher her poetry, and he decides to show her his. They go upstairs, after Astrid had purchased beds for them to stay the night. They sit together, and Varsha takes a good look at Escher’s poems. There are red stains all over them, in which Escher apologizes for the “wine stains.” These stains weren’t wine at all.

When confronted, Escher is fearful, especially when Varsha almost says the name of the Devil himself. He tries to drive her away and wanted to be left alone, but Varsha assured him that they could help him. She asks if they can see each other later that night, and Escher agrees.

That night, most of the party heads to bed, except for Varsha and Astrid. Escher almost seemed like he was too stressed to perform, but he soon regained his confidence and was able to entertain with Varsha for a couple hours.

Outside, Astrid encounters the same drunken brothers that Thuinn pick-pocketed, who then tried to harass her. Astrid intimidated them with such anger that it scared them off, and she needed time to calm down and quell the beast side of her.

After the two bards performed, Escher offers to take Varsha up to his room where he stayed. He insisted that the Martikovs were kind to him and let him stay there. However, his room was up in an attic, his bed roll surrounded by piles of straw. With him was parchment and a quill pen, but he also had an interesting looking dagger.

While up there, Escher explains to Varsha what happened to him - that he was from Vallaki and his family had all perished during a plague. He also said that it wasn’t just blonde women that had to fear the Dark Lord. That was why he was a vampire. He was the first man that was wed to the Dark Lord, but seeing the situation he was in, it’s implied that he fled to Vallaki. Varsha insists to him that they were going to help him and eventually kill the vampire that did this to him. Escher finds that notion rather amusing, but he agrees to help.

The dagger that he carries is said to be a “wedding gift” with sentimental value, and Varsha offers him her extra rapier to keep so that he had a weapon that carried less weight to it. He greatly appreciates the offer, insisting that she was the only person that was nice to him besides the Martikovs.

The session ends with all the party going to bed for the night, Escher left to his own devices.

#mod strahd #curse of strahd #thrown stones cos

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