Vallaki

**Vallaki** is a town in the land of Barovia, within the *Forgotten Realms Campaign* of Nat19. It was governed by Burgomaster Vargas Vallakovich, but his death left an opening for Fiona Wachter to take charge.

## History

When Vargas Vallakovich took control of the city, he saw fit to outlaw unhappiness of any kind, firmly believing that making the city a happier place would send its people to another, happier plane. He created festivals based around punishing those who were accused of spreading unhappiness.

## Role in Plot

The Curse of Strahd Party first ventured to Vallaki in order to find a safe place for Ireena to hide from Strahd. They found their way to the Blue Water Inn, where they met the Martikov family. While staying in the inn, they learned of various rumors of happenings both in and around the town. The party investigated these rumors while Ireena looked into taking shelter with the Church of Saint Andral.

After some time in town, Ireena did not return to the Blue Water Inn one night, leading the Curse of Strahd Party to look into her disappearance. They split up, with Ashley, Devin, and Xhantharykk pursuing a mysterious carriage to the local coffin maker's shop, and Hadrick, Jolyne, and Graiar questioning the captain of the town's guard, Izek Strazni.

Ashley, Devin, and Xhantharykk met with the driver of the mysterious carriage, Rahadin, as well as the carriage's owner, a man named Vasili von Holtz. Vasili offered to take the half-party to their friends in his carriage, and they agreed. However, the carriage stopped outside the Church of Saint Andral. Vasili then unleashed a fireball onto the church, destroying a large portion of the building and killing several of its inhabitants. He then revealed his true nature as the vampire lord Strahd von Zarovich as he sicced his vampire spawn upon the survivors of the blast.

He briefly questioned Ashley about the whereabouts of "[his] Tatyana." Assuming he was referring to Ireena though still unaware of her location, Ashley told him she was probably at the Burgomaster's estate as a guess. Before Strahd and Rahadin could depart, Devin and Xhantharykk attacked him, to little effect. Strahd then put a charm on Xhantharykk, telling him to "teach [Devin] a lesson."

Meanwhile, Hadrick, Jolyne and Graiar's questions got them little results with Izek and his two fellow guards. When asked if he knew where Ireena was, Izek responded in the negative, but Jolyne saw through his deception. Frustrated with their lack of progress, Jolyne let loose a lightning bolt at Izek, resulting in a brief fight in which the guard captain revealed he had taken Ireena and that no one would take her from him. Hadrick poisoned the beaten Izek with a magical concoction that make him laugh uncontrollably, and the three adventurers left to avoid the incoming guards.

After reuniting at the Church of Saint Andral, the Curse of Strahd Party burned the bodies from the incident to keep them from raising as undead, and questioned a guard about where Izek lives. The guard told them he lived at the Burgomaster's mansion, and they took off towards it to hopefully find Ireena.

They failed to find Ireena inside the mansion, though there were signs she had recently escaped from it. The Curse of Strahd Party prepared to leave as Strahd and Rahadin knocked at the front door. Hadrick convinced the others to leave while he stayed behind and lied to Strahd about the events that took place there. Hadrick attempted to get Vargas to aid him in his deception, but the cowardly Burgomaster refused. Hadrick then strangled Vargas to death as punishment for his cruelty to the people of Vallaki. Hadrick's attempt at deceiving Strahd, while well-acted, was seen straight through. Strahd allowed Hadrick to leave the mansion as he presumably questioned Vargas' wife Lydia.

After regrouping at the Blue Water Inn, locating Ireena, and knocking the charmed Xhantharykk unconscious, the Curse of Strahd Party decided to leave Vallaki with the aid of the Martikovs' horses.

Weeks later, Fiona Wachter, a supporter of Strahd, became the Burgomaster of Vallaki. While she did lift the cruel laws Vargas had put in place, she was secretly sacrificing people in Vallaki to a demon. This did not sit well with Strahd, and so the darklord placed a hit on her for his assassin Griff to carry out.

After the defeat of Strahd, the towns of Vallaki and Barovia appeared from out of the mist in the land of Faerûn, near the city of Waterdeep. After nearly a year, Waterdeep had made plans to assault the seemingly invading towns. In addition, many of the towns' people had abandoned them, and some even sold the deeds to their abodes to certain residents of Faerûn.

## Notable Locations

* **Blue Water Inn**: An inn run by the Martikov family.
* **Church of Saint Andral**: A church that was destroyed by Strahd von Zarovich.
* **Vargas Vallakovich's Mansion**: The mansion of former Burgomaster Vargas Vallakovich and his family.
* **Wachterhaus**: The home of Fiona Wachter, the temporary Burgomaster of Vallaki after Vargas Vallakovich's death.