The Scions of Strahd (Act Five)

## Session Fifty-Three (A): The Bird and the Bindings

In a dark and sinister Vallakian dungeon within Wachterhaus, Harsan finds himself bound and beaten, his body marked by torment. A strange and ominous bird named Ichabod speaks to him, its eerie presence confusing him. Determined to uncover the truth behind his torment, Harsan knows he must act swiftly. Despite Ichabod's claims of being a nature spirit summoned by the Wachter ancestors, Harsan senses deceit and feels driven by primal rage.

As Harsan attempts to break free, he discovers that samples of his own flesh were taken, making him vulnerable to scrying. Desperate for assistance, he seeks Ichabod's aid, who falsely promises to possess fey magic capable of helping him. Agreeing to do whatever it takes to escape, Harsan even contemplates murdering Lady Wachter if it secures Ichabod's freedom. In response, Ichabod grants him a freedom of movement spell.

Suddenly, sounds emerge from the south of the dungeon. Harsan pretends to be restrained, but his efforts are feeble. Spotting a pair of Lady Wachter's cultists approaching, they notice the spiritual weapon. A swift blow to Harsan knocks him unconscious. He awakens an hour later, now under the watchful eyes of two Barovian witches. Using his stealth, he heals himself with a lay on hands, but the witches continue their twisted experimentation, carving his flesh for their dark rituals.

With a burst of rage and determination, Harsan activates his aura of conquest, rendering the witches immobile and inflicting psychic damage upon them. He unleashes a flaming chaos bolt from his spiritual weapon, tearing through one witch's chest, and his aura alone causes the second witch's brain to explode.

Harsan breaks free and starts a prison break, his focus set on finding his weapons in Wachterhaus. As he confronts more cultists, he surprises and eviscerates them with his spiritual weapon. Despite an attempt to cast command to silence the cultists, they resist his magic and alert others, leading Harsan to break through a lower level door.

He encounters a disturbing scene—a ritual set up by the Wachters to sacrifice people to Strahd. He presses forward, ignoring the cruelty he witnesses, and finally reaches a door with a shocking sight—a zombie infused with his own red scales, resembling Victor Vallakovich, the man they tortured and experimented on. Harsan refrains from putting him out of his misery and inadvertently triggers a glyph of warding, blasting himself with lightning.

Harsan climbs to the second floor, fuelled by rage and confusion, determined to escape. He encounters a group of Barovian witches, who unleash rays of sickness upon him, but he remains untouched. Casting fear, Harsan projects images of himself armored and fearsome, paralyzing and damaging the witches. He dispatches them with brutal efficiency, wielding one of their corpses as a shield.

He proceeds to Lady Fiona's sons, who call for guards to restrain him. Harsan tries to reach out to Ashardalon for help but finds himself blocked, perhaps due to Strahd and Vampyr's influence. The guards ignore his pleas.

Just when all hope seems lost, Ichabod agrees to help Harsan with a 'signal,' provided he sacrifices the Wachters in a blood ritual. As Lady Wachter taunts him over his defeat, Ichabod triggers a hypnotic pattern, immobilizing everyone with an image of a massive raven.

Harsan casts hold person on Lady Wachter, paralyzing her. Seizing the opportunity, he advances on her, his hand gripping her neck tightly. In a horrifying display of violence, he rips her head off, blood spewing everywhere.

The mansions urns into a bloodbath as Harsan unleashes his fury on the guards and Lady Fiona's sons. Using whatever he can find as a weapon, he kills every last one of them. Ichabod reveals his true nature—a lower plane spirit seeking to escape. Harsan agrees to empower him in a dark ritual, aligning their fates with a shared goal of vengeance.

## Session Fifty-Three (B): The Count's Curse

Aastrid finds herself in Castle Ravenloft, under the constant threat of death if she doesn't forcefully secure Kasimir as Strahd's best man, filling Rahadin's void. The castle seems even more devoid of life than before, an ominous sign. Gargoyles, eight in total, watch her every move.

Exiting the castle, she's joined by Cyrus, who guides her through the courtyard. Aastrid can't shake the worry that Strahd might be scrying on her again. She steps onto the drawbridge, once sturdy but now showing signs of vulnerability. A board gives way, a stark reminder of Strahd's power.

Despite her intent to head south towards Tser Pool and Madame Eva for respite, Aastrid is suddenly overcome by Strahd's draconian geas. The psychic assault nearly shatters her mind, forcing her to focus solely on Kasimir. She turns towards the bridge, her attempt at defiance swiftly punished. Aastrid stumbles and tumbles into an open grave, alone and unseen.

Two agonizing hours later, she awakens with a single hit point, her mind throbbing with pain. Confused and on the brink of death, Aastrid's determination to reach the Vistani camp drives her forward. It's still daylight.

On her way, she follows a familiar path. A stone slab and crumbling steps catch her attention, their markings reminiscent of noble symbols she'd seen in the Tome of Strahd. Despite her curiosity, Aastrid decides against descending. She continues towards the gates outside Castle Barovia, which close behind her.

Further along, she spots six wolves hunting on the path. They no longer bear Strahd's control. Using a rope, Aastrid hauls herself up a tree, finding refuge twenty feet above. From this vantage point, she hurls magic missiles at the advancing wolves, shrouded by her Mask of the Wild.

The wolves, confused and aggressive, circle the tree. One, believing the tree is the source of attack, turns on its own pack. Chaos erupts as Aastrid uses her own manipulative magic to incite further discord among the wolves with her Enemies Abound spell.

Descending from the tree, Aastrid's scent attracts the confused wolves. She turns invisible and darts away, leaving four bewildered wolves behind. Through misdirection and distraction, she manages to evade them.

Nearing Vallaki, she encounters a grisly sight: a man hangs from a tree, surrounded by hunting traps meant for smaller prey. She frees him, claiming a crossbow, three silver, and a spinning top, a haunting reminder of Blinsky's creations.

Barely clinging to life, Aastrid reaches the Windmill on her way to Vallaki. Detecting a faint aura of transmutation magic, she investigates. The interior bears scars of her previous encounter, but she secures the door and ascends to find a moldy bed for a much-needed long rest.

Exhausted and battered, Aastrid's dreams offer no respite. In Elysium, she envisions her time in Barovia as a cruel nightmare, yet realizes she's invisible and intangible. Mist approaches, engulfing her before she can reach Jaime. She awakens in the burnt windmill, the nightmare persisting.

Exploring further, she locates the source of transmutation magic: Fitzak's sword, above the fireplace, devoid of sentience but hungering for something. With the sword in hand, Aastrid reclaims her magical longsword.

Sending a carefully worded message to Kasimir, she hopes to convey her true plight. However, the vagueness leaves him uncertain, potentially viewing her as Strahd's bride. Determined, Aastrid sets off for the Vistani encampment.

## Session Fifty-Four (A): The Dragonborn and the Dusk Elf

Harsan's heart races with urgency as he realizes the enormity of the bloodshed he has caused. He is determined not to harm innocent servants but will do so if it means fulfilling his dark pact with Ichabod. As he explores the mansion, he hears the sounds of cats on the upper floor. Although he tries to locate his armor, it remains out of reach within the mansion's thousand feet radius.

In the library, he spots three cats and notices a small key hanging from one of their collars. Despite the cat's attempts to claw at him, Harsan remains protected by his shield of faith and subdues it. Scanning the main parlor, he finds little of value except a longsword from one of the fallen guards.

Venturing into a secret room, Harsan discovers an iron chest. As he opens it, a needle shoots out, poisoning him. Inside, he finds various treasures, including silver and gold, a wooden pipe, and significant scrolls. Realizing Strahd's true identity as Simon, he learns that the vampire has been masquerading for some time.

Ichabod takes the valuable books from Harsan, reminding him to leave no witnesses. Harsan continues to search Wachter's office, finding letters of interest but hurrying through them. As he descends the stairwell, three cultists confront him, attacking with rays of sickness. Harsan falls unconscious.

Regaining consciousness, he finds himself muzzled and bound in the stocks at the center of Vallaki's town square, surrounded by a furious mob. The townspeople accuse him of being a demon summoned by the Vallakovich line for revenge, having slain Lady Wachter. Public execution seems imminent.

Desperate for help, Harsan reaches out to Ichabod, who promises him more power if he eliminates the witnesses. As the crowd jeers and hurls stones and tomatoes, Harsan breaks free from the bonds, summoning all his strength to cast Shield of Faith. He struggles to escape the chaotic city, aiming to find Kasimir at the Vistani camp for assistance.

Upon reaching the camp, Harsan encounters Galan and gains his trust by sharing the story of killing Rahadin, the dusk elves' killers. Galan is overwhelmed by emotions upon hearing the truth. Guided by Saveed and another dusk elf, Harsan makes his way to Kasimir, who appears weakened due to his pact with Zhudun and takes on an undead-like appearance.

Harsan convinces Kasimir to join him, intending to resist Strahd's control over Aastrid. To protect the dusk elves, Kasimir nonlethally attacks them, making it seem like he has betrayed them. The dragonborn and dusk elf hurry towards the old windmill to retrieve Fiztak's sword and begin gathering allies in their quest to defy Strahd.

## Session Fifty-Five (A): Chasing Comrades

Two survivors, bearing the dark powers' mark of Barovia, flee through the treacherous Svalich Woods outside the Vistani camp. Harsan moves swiftly, navigating through the brush while keeping his bearings. His senses lead him to a trail of blood, hinting at fresh danger. He considers looting a corpse but decides to focus on their escape instead. Kasimir lends him a dagger, and they set off towards the windmill, making themselves invisible with Greater Invisibility. The ghost of the Vistani camp and the shade of Ashardalon follow, providing an eerie presence.

As they pass the figure at the end of the blood trail, they encounter a vampire spawn feasting on a fresh corpse. Wisely, they avoid engaging and continue their journey.

The woods play tricks on their minds. Ants crawl from a tree, their faces resembling those of Harsan's friends, but he pushes past the unsettling illusions.

Harsan shares his desire to seek help from Rudolf Van Richten, the druids of the mountains, and the warriors of Argynvost to defeat Strahd. Kasimir suggests using an Amber Golem from the temple for their ritual against the vampire lord.

They traverse in seemingly endless circles, encountering silhouettes of Fey, Aastrid's hair, and mysterious movements in the distance. Exhausted, Harsan takes a much-needed long rest in the woods while Kasimir keeps watch.

When the background noise suddenly disappears, Kasimir signals for them to stop. An intense screeching and buzzing follow, almost deafening, before fading away. With Kasimir's guidance, they finally push through the woods and arrive at the Old Bonegrinder, the windmill.

Before reaching the windmill, Harsan and Kasimir visit the megaliths nearby, encountering zombies connected to Zhudun. The zombies attack on sight, and a fierce battle ensues. With Kasimir's cone of cold and Harsan's breath weapon, they manage to defeat the undead.

Harsan investigates the shrine beneath the megaliths and encounters a strange phenomenon, where the tapestry alternates between depicting the Huntress and images of a skeletal sacrifice. Confused, he reaches out to commune with the Fane, hearing two voices—possibly the Huntress and a skeletal Fey—thanking him for purifying the land and tasking him with destroying Strahd.

He learns that his friends have a boon to remain hidden from Strahd's scrying, and he desires to earn the same. The Fane informs him that he must take the boon from Aastrid, who currently serves Strahd. Harsan seeks counsel from Ichabod, who advises him that sacrificing people like Aastrid to become a dreadlord seems necessary, but he is not yet willing to do so.

Upon reaching the windmill, they discover Fitzak's sword missing and realize Aastrid has beaten them to it.

## Session Fifty-Six (A): The Revenants, Revisited

Kasimir and Harsan stand around the destroyed remnants of old bonegrinder. Fiztak’s sword is missing. He feels powerless without a weapon and armor. He thinks Aastrid was here and took the sword before he could get to it.

Kasimir receives a sending from Aastrid; he interprets it as her trying to trick them and split them up. He tells her to meet them at Krezk in three days' time, buying them from time. Harsan tries to strategize to find the time to take advantage of the blodo moon, when strahd leaves the castle--and realizes that the blood moon is TONIGHT.

Harsan reaches out to Ichabod. He says there’s a dragon skull in the Hall of Bones. His goal is to get that skull back to Argynvostholt. His hope is to get a basic understanding of where it is. Teleport the skull to Argynvostholt. Ichabod indicates he can go to Argynvostholt, see where to teleport the skull, and then get to the hall of bones to get the skull back. However, he needs Harsan to kill the final Wachter girl and the other eyewitnesses from Vallaki. He suggests Harsan take the soldiers of Argynvostholt to conquer the city of Vallaki by force, and then storm Castle Ravenloft.

Kasimir and Harsan confirm their commitment to ending Strahd, whatever it takes. They encounter heavy rains, see some of Baba Lysaga’s destroyed dolls in the Luna River, and encounter three barbarians (wild, caked in mud, they have axes) from Yester Hill. They escape from the berserkers as Kasimir casts Greater Invisibility on them. They dash down and around the berserkers, not wanting to expend more resources with the blood moon happening so soon. While they can smell and trace the footsteps of the protagonists, they clip Harsan with an axe, but he’s able to escape--just leaving blood spatter.

Harsan and Kasimir reach Argynvostholt. They see the mansion, the battlements, and the collapsed structure. When Ray was here before, maybe 33% of it had collapsed, now more of it seems to be falling apart. Kasimir reflects on how the land itself shifts over time, changing geography.

Harsan tries to find a way inside. He sees three spectral warriors from the outside and walks around and enters with Kasimir. He sees tarnished silver-plated gargoyles like dragon wyrmlings. He easily pulls the door open. The interior of the mausoleum is dark and dusty. He reads a verse in draconic--realizes the mausoleum is the place to reach the skull, summons Ichabod (startling Kasimir). He uses divine sense to find something, like Argynvost’s spirit, in the room--and realizes the undead creature he senses is Kasimir.

Harsan senses, in the main center of Argynvost, creatures shuffling within. He calls out to them, imploring them to aid him in his quest to rid the land of Strahd. The revenants deconstruct their internal barricades and suggest they have been waiting to finally do this. Kasimir follows.

The revenants introduce themselves. They’re losing their ability to speak. They want to be finally released from their bonds, but Ser Vladimir will not allow the skull to be retrieved--Vladimir doesn’t want the dragon to be restored, because it means the possible end of Strahd’s torment.

Harsan suggests there’s a way for them to rest without retrieving the skull themselves. Harsan can retrieve it himself. He says there are enemies in the town of Vallaki--in the house of the devil-worshiping Wachter family. He says he can’t enter Vallaki unhindered. By defeating the last remaining obstacles, he says he can finally put them to rest without them having to disobey Vladimir. He wants them to kill the witches and Stella with this undead army so he can get Ichabod to agree to teleport the dragon skull back (and wipe his ledger clean of favors).

The revenants lead him throughout the dragon-worshiping area. He feels that he’s tied to Ashardalon in achieving his true potential, and believes that he’s validated by his link--he and Ashardalon are true threats to Strahd.

They arrive at the upper floor and meet Vladimir. He looks far worse than before. Now, half of his face is gone, looks like he can’t support the weight of his armor. Harsan implores him to give him the men to kill devil worshippers in Vallaki and miraculously succeeds at persuading Vladimir that he, as a dragonborn, will be able to lay the knights to rest and continue Strahd’s torment for eternity. Vladimir kneels in supplication. Harsan, the conqueror, stands tall.

## Session Fifty-Eight: The Fall of Argynvost

Aastrid is in Argynvostholt, her heart heavy with fatigue. There, she encounters the shade of Zilveren, a kindly old dwarf revenant who offers her a gentle smile. By her side lies Arabelle, the young girl gravely hurt. Despite her need for rest, Aastrid knows she won't find it here.

Attempting to contact Harsan, Aastrid receives a stern message never to reach out again. She returns to the main hall, where she finds Vladimir, not in Godfrey's grip, but the two of them standing together, defending Argynvostholt from the approaching hordes of Strahd's undead army. A pair of revenants stands by their side, ever ready for battle.

Aastrid shares her story of multiple deaths and resurrections with the revenants, who offer their empathy and understanding.

Outside, Dawn and Mosaic watch Argynvostholt with a sense of impending doom as Strahd's relentless forces bear down upon the stronghold. Jeny advises them to use fire against the horde. From the window, Astrid sees Dawn and Mosaic, and Dawn sends her a message, making her aware of their presence.

Meanwhile, Harsan finds himself trapped in a Crypt, surrounded by seven Barovian witches. He senses a dark taint within himself, similar to Kasimir's condition. Strahd arrives, and they discuss Aastrid's slaying of Rahadin. Strahd appears dismissive of Ichabod, who had betrayed Harsan, informing Strahd of his failed rebellion in exchange for freedom. Strahd reveals his chilling plan: he'll allow each of his brides to hunt Harsan in turn. If he manages to survive all three, he'll become Strahd's consort.

Harsan questions Strahd about the promise he made to Astrid. Strahd inquires about Harsan's involvement in the Vistani's death, genuinely incensed by the atrocity.

As the battle ensues, Argynvostholt's fate seems sealed. Strahd's superior forces mercilessly tear apart the undying bastion of resistance. In the midst of the chaos, tragedy strikes, and Arabelle, the innocent child, is struck by falling debris, succumbing to her injuries.

Harsan, meanwhile, is being tortured by Strahd, who admits to his sadistic delight in toying with them all. Strahd's fury over the Vistani's demise adds to the nightmarish tableau of death and destruction. The once proud and defiant Argynvostholt falls, its glory and hope extinguished, as Strahd's chilling quest for dominance continues unabated.

## Memorable Quotations

### Quotations from Harsan Sessions

* **Harsan:** I have been unlawfully detained and I wish to leave.
* **Wachter Brothers:** Don’t believe the naked monster!
* **Harsan:** They’re running a cult here! There are blood rituals happening downstairs!
* **Wachter Brothers:** We don’t believe your lies!
* **Harsan:** Take me downstairs and you can see them for yourselves!
* **Guard:** Shut up, monster!

* **Harsan:** Ichabod, can’t you help me?
* **Ichabod:** If I help you right now, it’s gonna cause trouble with Lady Wachter! Her sons are right there!
* **Harsan:** I can’t fulfill my end of the bargain without my weapons or my health! If anybody can take you out of Barovia, it’s me!
* **Ichabod**: I--I can’t--this is such a big deal in the Feywild, to break a bargain, but--I can help you right now if you make a blood oath to kill Lady Wachter in the next minute. Then, I need you to sacrifice her in my name. That’ll complete the oath.
* **Harsan**: Okay. Is she here?
* **Ichabod**: I’ll get her here. Wait for my signal. Just close your eyes when it happens.

* **Wachter Boys:** I suppose, in the end, you’re not such a beastly monster after all!
* **Lady Wachter:** So disappointing, Harsan.
* **Harsan:** What do you need to know?
* **Lady Wachter:** I have all I need. Guards, thank you for subduing Harsan. This is a devil who’s been attempting to kill me for what I did to liberate Vallaki.
* **Harsan:** I bore no love for the Vallakovich line.
* **Lady Wachter:** Good gentlemen of Vallaki--you can’t believe devils.
* **Ichabod:** That's the signal!

**Harsan**: The line of Wachter ends TODAY.

* **Ichabod:** There can’t be any witnesses.
* **Harsan:** There won’t be.
* **Ichabod:** Alright, kid, you got it!

* **Ichabod:** You know, Harsan--can I call you Harsan? I’m going to call you Harsan--these planes--you can’t really leave them. When you're here, you’re stuck. But if the dreadlord of the place gets replaced, I can leave. So, I make you into the dreadlord of this place, and then I leave--Is that what you want?
* **Harsan:** That’s 100% what I want.
* **Ichabod:** I had a feeling.
* **Harsan:** But I don’t want to stop there. I intend to be the dreadlord of the plane--and wipe Strahd von Zarovich’s existence erased from this world. Why stop at Barovia?

* **Harsan:** Do you know how many people are left in the house?
* I**chabod:** Unless they ran out to tell people what happened, they’re probably still here.

* **Ichabod:** What do you have there?
* **Harsan:** A lot of letters. One of them proves Strahd is a man named Simon von Ivanov when he disguises himself.
* **Ichabod:** I’m mildly interested in that, I guess. Can I read it?
* **Harsan:** There’s also a book called the Grimoire of the Dark Powers.
* **Ichabod:** I’m interested in that! How about, as a payment for services rendered up ‘till this point, I review the letter and the book, and then get ‘em back to you?
* **Harsan:** Sure.
* **Ichabod:** Cool. Remember, no witnesses!

* **Ichabod:** You’ll have to take care of all of them.
* **Hasan:** You mean kill all of them?
* **Ichabod:** From your mouth to a bird’s ears.

**Witch:** This beast is not entitled to last words! But you, citizens of Vallaki! You will help it hear what it has taken from us!

* **Galan:** Harsan?
* **Harsan:** You remember me! I saved Arabelle.
* **Galan**: What happened?
* **Harsan:** Strahd captured my best friend--and--Lady Wachter caught me, and did experiments on me, and I killed her, she was trying to kill me--
* **Galan:** This is a precarious situation. Does anybody know you’re here?
* **Harsan:** The mob is after me. Tell the mob that I went to Krezk, seeking refuge with the Abbott. I need to see Kasimir.
* **Galan:** I think Luvash shouldn't hear this--Lady Wachter had normalize relations with the Vistani--
* **Harsan:** Aastrid and I managed to destroy Rahadin. I know from what Kasimir told me that he was no friend of yours--
* **Galan:** He murdered my sister and my mother--
* **Harsan:** We punished him for what he did to your people, and the crimes he committed in service to Strahd…
* **Galan:** I will take you to Kasimir.

* **Kasimir:** Aastrid has sent me a message.
* **Harsan**: She’s alive?
* **Kasimir:** I don't think so.
* **Harsan**: Why not?
* **Kasimir:** She told me that I had to be the best man at Strahd’s wedding in that bastard Rahadin’s place. I think she is being controlled by Strahd. She doesn’t sound like herself.
* **Harsan:** You have to help me find her and fix her.
* **Kasimir:** When she comes here, I expect she will threaten me with death if I don’t comply. And then she’ll kill me, because I will never comply.
* **Harsan:** I won’t let her.
* **Kasimir:** You don’t have the power to do anything about it.
* **Harsan**: If this is true…I have to put her down.

* **Kasimir**: If we leave this place, we’ll be hunted by Arrigal, by Strahd’s wives…and without allies.
* **Harsan:** If you think your people will die when she comes here, and you choose to stay, what good have you done? If you come with me, wouldn’t it be honorable to die fighting?
* **Kasimir:** It’s what I’ll do here. What difference does it matter where I die?

**Kasimir:** I have given my life. I have welcomed death. It flows in my veins.

**Kasimir:** Now it looks like I betrayed them. They won’t be punished for my sins.

* **Harsan:** Did you ever meet any of the Shield of Wings?
* **Kasimir:** None except the Shield.
* **Harsan:** One of the members who looked a lot like me--a tiefling--left his sword. They mounted it to their wall.

* **Harsan:** Can we do anything to lay this one to rest?
* **Kasimir:** Custom indicates he should be burned, but that would draw attention.
* **Harsan:** Then we’ll be on our way.

**Kasimir**: I will lay down my life to destroy Strahd. I know a sacrifice is required. The spirit must be free, the vessel must be bound, and two must become one.

* **Kasimir: I**t’s all an illusion. Nothing is real.
* **Harsan:** What did you see?
* **Kasimir:** Nothing. I’m fine.

* **Harsan:** Will those zombies attack?
* **Kasimir:** They feel like me.

**Kasimir:** Pitiful creatures. You will be cleansed in the fires of salvation. Come!

* **Kasimir:** If this continues, I will become one of them.
* **Harsan:** If what continues?
* **Kasimir:** I have done a very bad thing. I have let the dark powers control my heart. I did so to revive someone who should stay buried. If I turn into something like that, you must end me, as I ended those creatures.

* **Harsan:** I wasn’t able to kill those people. There were too many of them.
* **Ichabod:** It’s cool. I didn't give you a strict time frame on when they had to die.
* **Harsan:** Still has to be those people?
* **Ichabod:** Yup.
* **Harsan:** How?
* **Ichabod:** I have some ideas. Maybe you take over the land, set up a puppet government over there, take those people on trumped-up charges, and execute ‘em!
* **Harsan:** So I could do that once I’m the dreadlord?
* **Ichabod:** Seems like a classic move.

**Ichabod:** I could give you my general descretation tips, and you could shotgun it--you know, make a real desecration potpourri.

* **Kasimir:** It’s Aastrid.
* **Harsan:** What do you mean?
* **Kasimir:** She’s talking to me.
* **Harsan:** What’s she’s saying?
* **Kasimir:** She knows that we’re together. She says we need to be separated or we’ll all die.
* **Harsan:** Did she say why?
* **Kasimir**: Let me respond. I have deflected. I think she’s trying to trick us. I told her I’ll meet her at a safe, secure, neutral location three days hence--Krezk.

**Ichabod:** There are some complications. First, there’s the issue of an outstanding favor. I don’t like stacking favor after favor because I’m not the type of bird that likes to run a tab, y’see?

**Ichabod:** I’m not in the habit of dying here. I think that for me to die in Barovia would be an eternal hellscape and not even in the fun way.

**Ichabod:** If that’s your cup of tea--you know, gather an undead army to take over a city--that’s old school!

* **Harsan:** Kasimir, are you committed to defeating Strahd? To do whatever that takes to make that happen?
* **Kasimir:** I'm committed.
* **Harsan:** It’s good that we’re together. Let’s get moving.

**Kasimir:** I remember this place--in its prime. I don’t think it was in this part of the valley--things have moved around. This land itself--it shifts.

* **Ichabod:** Okay, got it! [Opens his eyes wide; scans the mausoleum 360 degrees as hellfire and binary code screams behind his eyeballs.]
* **Kasimir**: What the hell was that?
* **Harsan:** A friend.
* **Kasimir**: Like a familiar?
* **Harsan:** Something like that.
* **Kasimir**: Are you a mage?
* **Harsan:** You just need to know he’s a friend.
* **Kasimir**: Whatever it takes…

**Harsan:** We want to lay the remains of Argynvost to rest! We do not mean you any harm. We do not seek to be disrespectful. We just want to serve and support Argynvost, as you all do! Strahd desecrated your order the way he desecrated this land!

* **Revenant:** We don’t have much time left.
* **Harsan:** What do you mean?
* **Revenant: T**he weight of years presses upon us. The darkness threatens to take us.
* **Harsan:** We can’t let that happen.

**Revenant:** If you say these are the followers of the devil, he will surely allow us leave to bury them.

**Revenant:** Appearances mean nothing. Only our spirits give us purpose.

* **Vladimir**: Go away.
* **Revenant;** My lord, please hear him out.

* **Harsan:** Lord Vladimir. I know you have no interest in removing Strahd’s punishment. I agree with you. I think he should know nothing but pain and suffering for all eternity. I don’t think it’s true for you and your men. I know you’re suffering even more than before because of the endless terror he’s inflicted on you. Know that I intend to keep Strahd punished for all of time. But we wish to see Argynvvost restored. And to see devil worshippers in the town of Vallakii--scooped out my flesh, dragonflesh, stole my friend--to be stopped. I will lay you to rest by retrieving the skull of Argyvngost. I would never ask you to go against the oaths you swore. But help me defeat these evil people, and I will ensure that you are given the rest you have so earned.
* **Vladimir:** You must swear to me.
* **Harsan:** Name it.
* **Vladimir:** On everything you hold dear: the vampire must NEVER be laid to rest.
* **Harsan:** He will know nothing but torment for all of eternity.
* **Vladimir**: I have waited for one such as you.

### Quotations from Aastrid Sessions

* **Aastrid:** Cyrus, how long do you have to be with me?
* **Cyrus:** Until you leave. Then I don’t have to watch anymore.
* **Aastrid:** That’s nice. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the time off. Do you live here?
* **Cyrus:** Yes.
* **Aastrid:** Do you like it?
* **Cyrus:** Yes.
* **Aastrid:** It’s big. Nice.
* **Cyrus:** Yes.
* **Aastrid:** Do you spend a lot of time with Strahd?
* **Cyrus:** Lord Strahd.
* **Aastrid:** Right, Lord Strahd.
* **Cyrus**: You made him very mad. You and the dragon. Harsan.
* **Aastrid:** I forget about that dragon all the time.
* **Cyrus:** That dragon’s bad. Not good. He’s evil. He wants to burn it all. All of Barovia.
* **Aastrid:** He can’t do that. That’s a lot of people.

* **Aastrid:** It was lovely of you to walk me out. You really didn’t have to do that.
* **Cyrus:** I had to!
* **Aastrid:** It was polite either way.

**Aastrid:** I have an important message for you from our lord. I would like to meet you anywhere.

### Other Quotations

**Harsan:** Your hair and magic may change, but you’re still Ember. You put yourself first again. You made a deal with Strahd. Don't contact me again.

**Aastrid**: Great, Dawn’s picked up another stray.

* **Harsan:** I seem to have made you quite upset.
* **Strahd:** You did. Rahadin was like a brother to me.
* **Harsan:** Merely a brother?
* **Strahd:** Harsan, what are you implying?

**Strahd:** Everything I do now, I'll do with you in mind. You've earned that attention.

* **Strahd:** You’ll be my next bride.
* **Harsan:** I’m not the marrying type, I’m afraid.

* **Harsan:** I didn’t kill the Vistani. And I don't know why you don't know that.
* **Strahd:** If you didn’t kill the Vistani, who did?
* **Harsan:** YOU killed the last Vistani, you piece of shit.