M2S11

## The Karadurak

The party defeats Wintersplinter and fells the Gulthias tree, ending the menace of blights on Barovia.

## Continuity

### Next session

Session 12

“
*-You say the creature is dead?
-Yes. You might even say it's been... splintered!*
”
— Thalia responds to the Martikovs.
**The Karadurak** was the 11th session of the Strahdborne campaign. In this session, the party defeated Wintersplinter and Arbrek acquired the ability to split the Everstone after felling the Gulthias tree, freeing Tuderick Frostbeard and pleasing his ancestors.

## Summary

The party faces off against Coldias and Wintersplinter. The druid immediately finds himself on the crosshairs from the party, and despite his significant abilities to heal (bolstered by Wintersplinter), he is eventually defeated through Aellun's keen marksmanship, and a notable bonk from Arbrek's spiritual hammer.

The death of Coldias leaves Wintersplinter alone--and unbuffed--for the remainder of the fight. Though the great tree downs several of the party members, the party overcomes a number of dangerous moments, opening up the creature's core, preventing it from movement by breaking its roots, and sundering its branches, the tree's final sword and shield.

It is the that Gromash, having been previously eaten by Wintersplinter, reaches towards the gemstone powering the great tree and rips it clean off the plant using nothing but his own teeth. This causes the great blight to finally crumble into lumber.

After this great victory, the Forest Folk run to the hills, run for their lives.

Guided by Arbrek, the party then advances to the Gulthias tree, where Arbrek converses with the soul of one of his dead ancestors. With that, he gains the resolve to cut down the fell tree, and all others of its ilk, pleasing his ancestors. Having freed Tuderick and slain the tree with assistance from the party, Arbrek has now obtained the power to rend the Karadurak as none have before him.

The party returns to the Wizard of the Wines, returning the gem and receiving payment, and eventually returns to Vallaki, where they are received with great joy, having returned to the people of the town their precious wine, their final comfort.

## Quests

### Ongoing

* **Treasures of Yore (Everyone):** Recover the other two gems of the Wizard of Wines.
* **Pyromaniacal (Everyone):** Attend the Blazing Sun Festival (one day remaining).
* **The Devil is in the Details (Everyone):** Investigate the strange Toy-Maker.
* **With a Little Luck (Everyone):** Find Arabelle.
* **A Throw for the Ages (Everyone):** Suplex Strahd.
* **With Friends Like These... (Lautrec):** Leverage your newfound position to accomplish your aims.
* **Under New Management (Everyone):** Investigate the coven of hags at Old Bonegrinder mill.

### The Deck of Fate

* **The Fount of Knowledge (Everyone):** Discover the source of knowledge below the guardian of a garden.
* **The Symbol of Hope (Everyone):** Claim the holy symbol by finding the tomb of a great wizard with a famous staff.
* **The Blade of Light (Everyone):** Wield the sunlight blade in the den of wolves near the moonlit lake.
* **The Ally of Righteousness (Everyone):** Identify your pivotal ally, the man in disguise.
* **The Shadow of Barovia (Everyone):** Defeat Strahd.
* **The Moon (Aellun):** Find the place filled with bones, for the clues you seek lie there.
* **The Headsman (Gromash):** Find the fortress within the fortress, which contains the treasure you seek.
* **The Phantom (Lo-thak):** Find the location of the one who gave birth to evil, for she is the key to your goals.
* **The Balance (Thalia):** Discover the whereabouts of that which you seek.

### Completed

* **The Man-Eating Salad (Everyone):** Destroy Wintersplinter.
* **The Everstone (Arbrek):** The power you seek lies within an evil tree, growing atop a hill of graves.

## Reflections

* **Example:** "Example"
* Thalia: "Well... I can safely say it's been a while since I was knocked out cold like that - maybe when we arrested Viscount Umberto and I failed to get the cuffs on him in time? Nonetheless, when I came too it was almost like I'd been woken from a nightmare. Suddenly we weren't at the mercy of the monstrous tree, it was at our mercy - we cut the branches, smashed the jaws, burned the roots, and with Lo-thak's help Gromash tore free of the core and retrieved the gem. Strahd claimed Coldias' staff - so much for only being interested in artificial marvels - but the forest folk fled before us, and once we chopped down the cursed tree the blights withered and died, so whatever power animated them is now gone. The vineyard is safe, and the wine will flow. Arbrek found what he had come seeking (I admit I don't fully understand how cutting down a cursed tree makes him a master craftsman, was he himself under a curse now lifted?) and his Tarokka card proclaims he has achieved his destiny. We still have a long and arduous road ahead of us, so much left to do. But for now, I hear the cheers and praise and allow myself a mad glimmer of hope. We can do this. We can defeat the horrors of Barovia. *We can win*."
* Aellun: "That was bloody, somehow bloodier even than I anticipated. Gromash, I don't know how you stood up to being damn near bit in two, but I sure hope your name will be repeated in your tribe's history for generations to come, and if they don't tell stories about you I'll make damn sure to tell enough for my side at least. That being said, we made it through, all of us. For how hard that tree spirit hit, it was surprisingly vulnerable, and we were able to shear it down to size. Come to think of it, that seems to be quite common in Barovia: the spirit and residue within the manor chewed through us, but went down to our mundane weapons the same as any mortal foe, and though Strahd's werewolves tore through carts, I split a few apart with a mere stone's throw. The truth in this land seems to be everything is 'all bite and no bark', no thick skin to shield from punishment. Maybe that is a consequence of living in the dog-eat-dog world of Lord Strahd - where everything is vicious, you must strike as hard and fast as you can to take out anything before it can retaliate. The more dangerous foes are those that can afford to hold back, like the hags and Lord Strahd himself. Of course, we aim to be the latter, if how we've held up is any indication, and it seems we are finally making steps in the right direction. Arbrek's card has made itself clear, and if we can make such discoveries for all of us - well, I still wouldn't bet against the old vampire, but our travels need not be so dire any longer. Granted, this all depends on how Lord Strahd intends to toy with us in the meantime, and I have yet to really define just how he saw us this fight."
* **Arbrek**: "I can feel the humming of the Karadurak. Now that the ancestors are satisfied, Ysenunde's gaze is upon me, and I will be able to complete the ritual. There will be a great amount of fame and glory brought to the Frostbeards now that I can become a master smith. However, there are still those other foul trees. My job is not done as long as those remain and Tuderik will not continue to grumble to the ancestors about my deeds until this task is finished. One tree has been felled and the rest will be sundered soon enough. With Tuderik's axe and Ysenunde's gaze in the forge, these trees will be felled in no time and Mzund's name will be cleared."

## Appendix

Strahdborne Sessions
**Chapter 1: The Gates of Barovia**
 Session 1 · Session 2 · Session 3 · Session 4 · Session 5 · Session 6

 **Chapter 2: The Fall of Vallaki**
 Session 7 · Session 8 · Session 9 · Session 10 · **Session 11** · Session 12 · Session 13 · Session 14 · Session 15 · Session 16 · Session 17 · Session 18 · Session 19 ·

 **Chapter 3: The Muster at Krezk**
 Session 20 · Session 21 · Session 22 · Session 23 · Session 24 · Session 25 · Session 26 · Session 27 ·