Episode 8: For Here the Lover and Killer Are Mingled

This episode guest-stars Jason Carl (@vampiresnvino) as Strahd von Zarovich.

**Act I.**

Inside the visiting diplomat’s quarters, as Fen checks that the house is secure, Nahara and Uriah have a moment to talk alone. Nahara tells Uriah more details of her meeting with Azalin Rex, now that Horstman is not there to eavesdrop. Uriah asks if she was “whisked away” the same way he was during the bodytaker plant battle, and she says yes. Nahara says Azalin knew things about her life even she couldn’t remember. Uriah warns Nahara to be on her guard with Azalin. Nahara says Azalin told her about another ruler named Strahd who has an interest in her. Uriah knows the name Strahd and fears they’re in over their heads. Nahara says Azalin offered her protection from Strahd in return for her pledge to serve Azalin. Nahara says she felt indebted to Azalin for saving Uriah. He says that’s kind, but he hopes her feelings of loyalty to him haven’t led her down a dark path. If so, he promises to walk it with her. Azalin hinted that if Nahara helps him, he’ll help her recall her past. Uriah says if anyone could do that it would be Azalin Rex. Nahara asks if Uriah trusts him, and Uriah says he trusts Azalin only to use those who serve him as he would disposable tools; that’s why he warned her to be on her guard. Nahara asks if Uriah thinks Azalin is true to his word, and he says he thinks so.

Stewart warns Nahara that Fen is returning. Uriah asks Fen what she knows of Strahd. She’s heard his name whispered among the dhampir. His rivalry with Azalin is legendary. When she asks Uriah why he’s asking, he can’t think of a lie and throws to Nahara, who says she heard the name in passing. Fen is suspicious and asks what’s going on, so Nahara tells Fen Strahd is looking for her. Fen says that’s not good, which makes Nahara worry she’s in danger. Fen wonders if Nahara’s past is tied to Barovia. Uriah reminds them of the immediate danger of the new moon tomorrow night. Fen wonders if she can negotiate with the undead hordes, and Uriah doubts it. He worries about the others, and wonders if there’s a way for them to check on them without going out and looking for them.

A talon knocks on the door requesting aid with the plague that’s running through the lower wards. Uriah agrees to come help. When the talon notices there are only three of them, Uriah lies and says he sent the others to the market for him. The talon leaves to find Desmond, Tatyana, and Valentine, and Uriah worries they’re going to get caught. Nahara telepathically asks Stewart to check in with Valentine, but doesn’t share this with Fen or Uriah.

**Act II.**

Freyja, Desmond, Tatyana, and Valentine continue to play-act so the other talons aren’t suspicious of the three outsiders coming into the central ward of the city. Freyja says perhaps she can place them at strategic points in the city to assist in its defense tomorrow night. While Vjorn and the other talons proceed into Vladeska’s mansion, Freyja leads the others away, ostensibly to see how best they can assist tomorrow night. Desmond asks Freyja what the undead armies’ tactics have been, and she answers that it’s always different. He asks what they tried most recently, and Freyja says they attacked from the north, east, and west. Desmond says then they should prepare to be attacked from the south. Freyja says she will introduce them to Falkovnia’s alternative leadership, but she doesn’t think there’s anything they can do about Vladeska before the next wave. Tatyana theorizes that the zombies are being sent to attack by someone else in the Mists.

Tregrum tells Valentine she missed something, but it’ll tell her in a moment. First it tells her Nahara is checking in to see if Valentine is okay, and to let her know the three of them are being escorted to assist with the plague. Valentine tells Tregrum to let her know if Fen, Nahara, and Uriah get too far away. Then Tregrum shows her a robed figure high above on the wall, watching them. It says the unchecked chaos soon to erupt in Falkovnia could be advantageous to them. If Vladeska is deposed, the vacuum of leadership will be exploitable, and it trusts Valentine to do what she always does.

In the bastion ward, the guard returns for Fen, Nahara, and Uriah. He couldn’t find the others, but he says they’re needed urgently in the lower wards. Uriah is ready to go, but Fen and Nahara are worried about him getting the plague. He says they don’t have to come with him, but Fen says she and Nahara won’t get the plague. They are led through the city, which is bustling with preparations for the siege tomorrow night. Stewart reports to Nahara that Valentine is well and their mission is proceeding as planned. Nahara tells Fen and Uriah that the others are well, wherever they are.

In the outer wards, the wails of the dying on the walls and the signs of devastation from the last siege are everywhere. Uriah asks about the plague symptoms and their escort says fever is followed by a terrible stench. He recommends they cover their mouths and noses, and ties a scarf around his own. Fen and Uriah do, but Nahara does not.

**Act III.**

Desmond, Tatyana, and Valentine see the talons setting up resupply stations along their path in preparation for tomorrow night. Freyja introduces them to Haegen, a veteran talon who wears a bandolier full of daggers and armor meant for mobility more than protection. Haegen is in charge of the choke point leading to the bastion ward, a strategic position in the battle ahead. Freyja takes over so Haegen can speak privately with Desmond, Tatyana, and Valentine.

Haegen takes them to a nearby building and talks around the subject, because if they’re heard it’s a capital offense. He asks if Vladeska falls, could the next ruler of Lekar count on Darkon for support? Valentine says that could be arranged if he thinks he could achieve peace and order, and asks what his plan is. Haegen says Vladeska always fights on the front lines, and should she be separated from the talons tomorrow night, she may not survive. Valentine asks who will take her seat if Vladeska falls. Haegen says Horstman and others will try to reestablish order, but he thinks he can show the people the wisdom of doing things differently. When Valentine asks if Haegen will use democracy or force, he doesn’t know what democracy is but says bloodshed may be necessary to properly motivate the people.

Tatyana asks him why kill more people with an undead plague coming? What would he do differently from Vladeska? Haegen has no interest in continuing the impaling, and Tatyana recommends fighting pits instead. He says perhaps Darkon could help run such pits in the city after Vladeska is deposed. Tatyana says they have to survive the siege first. Haegen asks Desmond if he thinks this is insubordinate talk in a time of war. Desmond says it’s common to question leadership in circumstances like these. Haegen invites the six of them to fight here with him tomorrow night and see what can be done. Valentine promises they will all keep his secret. Freyja knocks on the door and lets them know the other three Darkonians are headed this way. Haegen promises them that they’ll see Falkovnia’s true might tomorrow.

**Act IV.**

Seeing that Fen, Uriah, and their escort have scarves tied over their noses and mouths, Desmond does the same, and Tatyana uses her Unending Breath ability as they join their companions. As they approach what’s left of the river ward, it’s easy to see how badly it was decimated in the last attack. The stench of death gets worse the further in they go. Tatyana asks Nahara if she can smell, and Nahara says she doesn’t breathe. Tatyana proudly announces that she doesn’t either–right now. Nahara noticed and tells Tatyana she’s impressed. But the smell is so bad, it’s even creeping into the nostrils of those who don’t breathe. It’s worse than any battlefield Fen has seen. Johann, their guide, pulls out a second scarf and pours cologne on it before tying it over the first. He says the city doesn’t have enough room for everyone, so some of the common people were forced to reoccupy the river ward after the last siege ended, and some illness has taken hold in the squalor.

As they walk, Uriah prays to Ezra for Detect Poison and Disease. It allows him to detect at least six sick people within 30 feet, and feel the source further into the slums of the river district. Uriah leads the group toward the source of the contagion, and Tatyana says he owes them a favour now, because the smell is so bad. A man stumbles out of a nearby house, coughing and asking for a doctor. Before Uriah can examine him, the man vomits blueish purple bile, and everyone rolls constitution saves. Desmond and Uriah take poison damage, and the two of them plus Fen are now infected with zombie plague. This means if they die before being cured of the plague, they will rise as mindless undead.

The man who infected them falls down and gets back up wrong. Fen takes on her second form and cuts the man’s head off with the sword Isolde gave her. Nearby homes begin leaking gas from the sick within. Seeing Uriah has taken damage, Johann suggests they leave. He flanks them so they can get away. Six zombies shamble out into the street, and further back, a zombie plague spreader appears. Uriah cures his own wounds as he backs away, and encourages the others to follow as Johann takes on the zombies. He knows from his grave cleric training that the plague spreader virus will stay active in their blood for 24 hours.

When Nahara takes on her Form of Dread, Tregrum remarks to Valentine that it understands why everyone is so interested in her. Tregrum promises not to let Valentine die here, and she asks if they should stay or go. It says it’s not one for heroism, but points out that if these zombies got loose in the city, they would be doomed.

Nahara casts Witchbolt on the plague spreader, blowing a hole in it, and making the smell worse. Stewart asks if he should intervene, and Nahara says she won’t stop him. Valentine casts a Firebolt at the plague spreader. Desmond fires his longbow at the plague spreader, but it keeps moving toward them. Tatyana casts Levitate on it, and the plague spreader floats 20 feet into the air, becoming agitated. Stewart fires a Mind Blast that destroys the remaining zombies on the ground but also kills Johann, who rises as a zombie. Uriah tells him they’re very sorry. Fen attacks Johann, but he uses his sword to attack her in return, knocking Fen unconscious.

Tatyana rages, which ends her Levitate spell, and the plague spreader comes crashing down, very nearly missing her. It’s starting to swell with plague gases, almost ready to release them. Uriah casts Spare the Dying on Fen. Nahara casts a Witchbolt at Johann, and both he and the plague spreader are afraid of her dread form, unable to come closer. Nahara laughs wickedly.

Valentine dashes forward to drag Fen to safety, but she’s hit by Johann for major damage, bleeding all over her dress, and left with 1 hp. Desmond fires another arrow at the plague spreader, and Tatyana attacks Johann with her axe. Stewart casts Chill Touch on the plague spreader, but necrotic damage does not hurt it, and Stewart is mad.

From behind them, they hear a woman yelling to a group of talons to attack, and they fire arrows which take down Johann and the plague spreader. As they move forward to burn the bodies in the street, the party comes face to face with Vladeska Drakov. She is complimenting them for fighting valiantly when Vladeska’s eyes fall on Nahara, and she shouts that this cannot be, she cannot be here.

**V.**

Nahara asks what Vladeska means, and Azalin speaks up in her mind, telling Nahara that Vladeska is the one who killed her. Nahara thinks of her portrait and remembers Vladeska attacking her city. The last thing she remembers hearing is Vladeska telling her soldiers to show them what happens to angels. Recalling this, Nahara reacts to Vladeska as negatively as Vladeska reacted to her. While Uriah greets Vladeska on behalf of his king, trying to smooth things over, Nahara asks Stewart to kill her. Stewart says he could, but they would be outnumbered by her guards and Valentine might be harmed, which is unacceptable. Nahara asks Azalin what she should do, and he points out that Vladeska fears her, and she must play this carefully and take her revenge in time.

Vladeska asks Uriah if Azalin has sent this spectre to torment her on the eve of battle. Nahara says torment implies guilt, and Vladeska draws her sword, demanding they be taken into custody despite Uriah’s best efforts to be diplomatic. Horstman tries to say this is just a misunderstanding and they will go with Vladeska to discuss the matter, not as prisoners. Nahara uses intimidation to get the talons to lower their weapons, and it gives them pause. Horstman says they must follow Vladeska before there is bloodshed, but advocates for them as emissaries and warriors here to help defend Lekar. Vladeska agrees they will be escorted as guests.

As she leaves, Valentine telepathically asks Vladeska who Nahara is. Her mind is a whirl of rage and fear, which is an alien feeling to Vladeska. She shuts Valentine out of her mind, but not before Valentine gleans that when Vladeska killed Nahara in her former life was when everything went wrong for Vladeska.

Horstman asks the party to calm down and promises them dinner with the were soldiers tonight if they do so. As Valentine drags Fen along, some of her blood has dripped into Fen’s mouth. It’s like nothing she’s ever tasted, and Fen instinctively wants more. When she tries following the blood up Valentine’s arm to get more, Valentine bonks her in the forehead. Valentine is offended Fen would repay her in such a way for saving her, and Fen apologizes. She wipes Valentine’s blood off of her face and saves the bandana for later. Valentine refuses to accept Fen’s apology.

Uriah tells Horstman he thinks he can come up with a cure for the plague but he needs access to a laboratory and certain herbs. Some clerics with red talons instead of holy symbols approach them and heal the party. Uriah shares his insights about the plague with them and Horstman as they walk. When Uriah asks what deity the clerics serve, they say they serve Falkovnia. Valentine notes they don’t need a deity to be a cult. When they enter the innermost ward of the city, they see the undead have never gotten this far. They enter Vladeska’s throne room which is set up like a military command chamber. A large table holds a map and shows where Vladeska has deployed troops. Tatyana can see from the strategies on the map that Vladeska is a tactical genius. Desmond notes all of her contingency plans will result in heavy casualties. Vladeska is trying, but she has only bad choices left. Each time the undead come, she loses a chunk of the city and can’t make it up. Desmond signals Valentine to open a telepathic link and tells her this information, asking her to pass it on to the others. Nahara is pleased with Vladeska’s failure and doesn’t care what happens to the city. Tatyana asks if she should behead Vladeska, but Valentine says there’s already a plan to kill her, so let the insurgents do it. Tatyana tells Valentine to just give her the word if she changes her mind. There is some confusion about what the word is. Uriah wants to stay and help the innocents in the city, but Valentine suggests they find the Carnival scouts and leave before the city falls. Uriah asks Valentine to tell the others he doesn’t want to abandon the people of Lekar in their time of need. Valentine says she will, but doesn't. Fen is in her feelings because Valentine didn’t accept her apology, and Valentine is pleased because that’s what she wanted.

Vladeska enters and says she’s not a woman who apologizes or has to explain herself but perhaps they can begin their negotiations again. Nahara says that’s wise, otherwise she might become a woman who has to account for her actions. Scared Nahara will blow the mission, Uriah asks to speak with Vladeska alone. Vladeska knows he’s looking for the Carnival people. She suspected they were spies, and they’re scheduled for impalement in the morning. Uriah leaves with Vladeska to plead for them in private, and as they go, Nahara says this is an act of benevolence. Vladeska clenches her fists but does not reply.

Valentine can see Horstman looks worried, making the mental calculations. Tatyana asks that the soldiers drink and make merry with them the night before the battle. He says the talons’ heads must remain clear, but he asks for food and wine to be brought for the party. Tatyana demonstrates some drunken fighting moves for the talons who are not convinced.

Uriah follows Vladeska into a room hung with tapestry souvenirs from all of the lands she has conquered, lands that are no more. Uriah says as a gesture of good will from Darkon, he will cure the plague in return for her releasing the Carnival scouts into his custody. Vladeska makes another request of the party: that they stay and assist in the defense of Lekar tomorrow night. Uriah says he will, but he can’t speak for the others. Vladeska shakes his hand and says she hopes Uriah can convince them, otherwise she’ll impale them all tomorrow morning.

**Epilogue:**

As Fen continues to consider Valentine’s blood, she gets a feeling similar to when Jander Sunstar contacted her, only this time she finds herself face to face with Strahd von Zarovich. She’s surprised he knows who she is. Strahd says it’s wise to take an interest in those whom Sunstar approaches. Fen greets him politely and asks what she can do for him. Strahd is pleased and asks how she finds her state of being neither living nor dead. Fen says it usually doesn’t bother her, but it’s a challenge traveling with a cleric. He asks if it troubles her to be in the company of the living, and she says no, besides, Uriah owes her a blood debt. Strahd asks how she thinks he will taste, and Fen says more bitter than one might expect for such a quiet, pious man. Strahd asks if she has plans to slake her thirst on her other companions. Fen says no, not unless things become dire, but she’s tempted to taste Desmond’s strength. Strahd says the savage fury in his blood would be invigorating. Fen says she wouldn’t drink from Desmond without his consent. Strahd says that choice is most important. Fen admits that if she could choose, she would be either a vampire or a human. Strahd agrees that it’s unpleasant to be in between, and asks if she would accept such an offer if she were to be given it.

Fen says she would think hard first, because she knows everything has a price. She makes the mistake of addressing him as baron, and Strahd takes offense. He says he will speak to her again later, after she’s learned proper manners and forms of address. Fen begs his forgiveness. Strahd tells her to consider his offer for next time, and of course there will be a price. But he refuses to discuss it further now. As Strahd leaves Fen on the eve of battle with a life altering proposition to consider, B. Dave tells us it’s a good place for us to stop.

**Previous Episode:** 7 - Don't Praise the Day Before the Evening

**Next Episode:** 9 - Only Lasting Death

Back to Summaries