Castle Ravenloft 1

## Summary

People begin to file into the Blue Water Inn. This includes Emil Toranescu of the werewolves and Donavich from the Village of Barovia. Talice Tewin makes sure her iron golem, Baymax, is working and stores a spell known as dominate beast inside it. Warwick Windbow asks Donavich what he knows but all he knows is that something in Strahd's castle was protecting him. Salem Perdurabo compares this to a lich's soul in a phylactery. Jade Roderika begins making a crude map of the castle with Salem's tools. She guesses that his study, kitchen, or catacombs is where his power source would be. She tasks Salem and Talice with checking out the study while Sorin Firewing notes the two basement floors. Jade suggests going to the study, kitchen or catacombs to find Strahd's weakness. She suggests flooding the catacombs to take out the undead army in the catacombs, but Warwick and Krik shut down the idea. Talice suggests that the party goes in the back door while the main force goes in the front door and even try to convince the abbot of Krezk but Warwick shoots her down.

Jade then suggests using the alcohol ewyr to make molotov cocktails, but Warwick warns her that those could be a double-edged sword. Salem comes up with another idea for the wine to use a makeshift flamethrower (produce flame). It doesn't produce much fire but it's something as a last-ditch effort. Krik wonders about the iron door that Warwick called on and suggests making it a shield for Baymax. Warwick is for the idea and leaves to take it to the blacksmith. Sorin suggests that everyone else should prepare as well and Jade goes with Salem to check for more interesting tactics. Warwick turns to Jade to ask about allies, specifically if Ireena Kolyana and Ismark the Lesser would join them. Jade is against those two joining specifically but Sorin says there's no harm in asking. Jade volunteers to ask her.

Talice goes to the local infirmary to help make 8 potions and teaches others how to make them (specifically Warwick). Jade meets up with Ismark who mentions that Ireena does want to come with them much to his protest. Jade agrees with him but also wants to fight Strahd to make sure no one is afraid. She also doesn't want anyone to be a coward like she was for most of her life. She also flirts with him despite having a chance with Edmund Edmer. Ismark says he's coming too and tries to lighten the mood with a song. They go talk with Ireena who's ready to head out. Meanwhile Salem manages to get tips on how to fireproof the wine bottles from the local apothecary.

As Warwick tries to make potions, he talks with Talice about how Strahd is like a chess master. He mentions how sorry he is that his sister killed her mother, so he offers to give her an advantage in the upcoming battle. He mentions it would likely cost them himself and an innocent they barely met. Warwick reveals that he accepted the gift of the vampire at the Amber Temple and that he's willing to kill someone innocent then be killed by his sister to become a vampire. Talice is conflicted but decides to let the chips fall where they may. Warwick reveals that he won't tell anyone else till the fight with Strahd.

Warwick then heads for Mad Mary's house using one of the patches on his cloak to call on the horse (he names it Midnight) to get to the Village of Barovia. About halfway there he runs into Madame Eva who calls him out on him killing people for the contract. She also relates on sending several adventurers to try and kill Strahd. She tells Warwick that they found all three treasures that could stop Strahd along with Donavich, the broken one. She gives the last card, the artifact, to him.

As Sorin keeps looking over the crudely drawn map of Castle Ravenloft, Salem rendezvous with Jade happy with his flame-proof bottles. Salem notes that even if they win, Salem doesn't want to go back as he no longer has his morality. He wants Jade to kill him if he uses a trump card he has and she can come up with a story that led to his death. Jade thinks about it and eventually agrees while hoping not to make that toast.

Everyone comes together that evening with their time well spent along with a forlorn Warwick. Talice hands out healing potions along with one for Ezmeralda D'Avenir. Warwick decides to take Krik to the magic items shop to shop for him. Talice begins making goodberry gels as Salem gives her the druid staff from the winery.

As the sun sets, Warwick takes Krik to the magical items store. Unfortunately it triggers a fireball trap that Warwick dodges but hits Warwick dead on. Warwick quickly glances at the shelves as another trap goes off. As the rest of the party rests up, Talice and Jade hear screams and explosions while thinking the pair who left are doing something dumb again. After dealing with a second fireball trap, Krik returns to the bar and Warwick soon joins him. Krik is upset while Warwick is happy to have broken into a magic shop while only stealing a single dagger. Jade mentions that Talice cannot call her the most irresponsible after that.

Talice attunes to the staff while Salem studies the dagger. He notes that it can remove poisons when cutting the skin. Warwick attunes to it as Krik spends the night in the woods because of his werewolf tendencies. The next morning, a lot more people have come in from the Village of Barovia and Krezk. The party asks for tips on killing vampires and Krik gets the idea to make some stakes on the way to the castle. They also think about going in the back way while the party enters through the front. Donavich and Ezmeralda decide to join the pincer group.

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