Chapter 2

## Fortunes of Barovia

The party delivered the burgomaster's body to the church priest, **Donavich**. The screams beneath their feet never relenting. The characters gathered round in the cemetery as the burgomaster was laid to rest, all except **Nebrix** and **Tess**, who investigated a trapdoor in one of the rooms of the church. After several failed attempts and gaining the attention of the rest of the party, the trapdoor was eventually opened. Bracing themselves, the party descended into the depths below.

Walls of light slipped through the floor boards above as the dark basement before them hid the unknown. In the corner of the damp empty room was the dark outline of a hunched young man, who exclaimed for the food he was being denied. Assessing the situation, the party decided the best course of action was to retreat. However, as **Pallas**, the last party member to make his exit, was about to climb the ladder, the hunched man, with lightning quick speed attempted to jump him. Pallas, extending a hand, uttered the single word **grovel** incapacitated the creature, who fell to his knees in despair, as Pallas made his exit.

Deciding to leave this town as quick as logically possible, the party spent the rest of the night at Nebrix's house and left early morning with the Vistani caravan, now accompanied also by **Ireena** and **Ismark**. On route to the **Tser Pool Encampment** the party passed a gallows at a crossroads and just as they were turning the corner, leaving it behind them, **Dankin** appeared to see himself hanging lifeless by the rotted rope.

Finally, the party arrived at the Vistani encampment. Left to their own devices for a time, Dankin immediately climbed a tree to think about all he'd seen, Nebrix and Tess indulged in the Vistani food, Marsden tried to find out more about the mysterious Madam of the camp while Pallas & Menowin sat by the fire and listened to **a story epic about the fight between a wizard and the dark lord himself**. Eventually, **Menowin** was given the signal from Stanimir to introduce the party to **Madam Eva**. What unfolded was a dissection of each character torn down to their essence by Eva, each given their own message of advice.

The attention switched to **Menowin** as Eva instructed him to give a card reading the one of the party members, Nebrix. Menowin revealed the **location of three objects**, that together would help release Nebrix on his quest. He also revealed the location of someone who would **greatly aid him in his quest**. Finally he revealed the **location of Strahd** himself. He warned that these readings were not certain and that the more times he did a reading, the more muddled things might become. Armed with this new knowledge, Menowin went to say his goodbyes to his friends around camp, while Pallas and Marsden made preparations for their upcoming journey. However, inside of Madam Eva's tent, Nebrix felt the cold ice rise through his chest as a voice broke from within him, warning of the pressure of time on upcoming events. Stunned, he didn't notice **Dankin** question Madam Eva's relation to Strahd, in which Eva responded with volition, attacking Dankin past actions.

Regrouping, the party set out for **Vallaki** on their newly named horses, still accompanied by Ireena and Ismark. They crossed a bridge covered by the water mist of the waterfall, but they emerged on the opposite side, with the horse of Menowin and Dankin missing it's riders. In a dark unknown cave, Dankin found himself hitting the ground hard, knocked unconscious. Marsden, looking up, found himself coming face to face with Strahd himself.