For the First Time

**"For the First Time"** is the eleventh episode of *From Barovia With Love*, airing on October 18th, 2022.

The session was DMed by TanisJr93 and hosted on his channel on Twitch.

## Summary

*...continued from session ten*
The party wakes on the outskirts of the Dusk Elf colony and joins Kasimir for breakfast, and Shayne recalls the mention of "a wounded elf" and a "sword of sunlight" from Madame Eva's Tarokka Card Reading; the group acquires cold weather gear to prepare for the journey to the Amber Temple, and Lily notices Kasimir packing a bladeless hilt into his bags.

The party sets out, eventually reaching a crossroads with a collapsed signpost; Kasimir suggests heading southeast until they reach the river, but they are unable to proceed as they are approached by a broad-shouldered man in dark armor leading two cloaked, chained figures. The man accuses Shayne of being a murderer and a coward, swearing revenge against him before disengaging the collars on his two companions, and the party attacks: Avi casts *Eldritch Blast*s, Vive summons his *Spiritual Weapon*, Lily ignites it with a *Moonbeam*, Draven attacks with his greatsword, and Semyaza attacks with a crossbow, while Shayne casts *Blur* on himself and places his *Hexblade's Curse* on the man.

The cloaked figures reveal themselves to be bonded vampires which deal psychic damage with their Twisting Screams, and the man attacks Shayne with a black greatsword, landing a single blow. Shayne retaliates by delivering a devastating *Shocking Grasp*, and the party assaults the vampires as they continue unleashing their Twisting Screams, briefly knocking Lilly unconscious. The man breaks through the group and strikes Shayne with a blow that renders him unconscious before driving his sword through the Changeling's chest and into the ground, leaving him once again on the very brink of death; Vive heals the warlock, after which the man attacks the satyr, nearly killing the cleric as well.

Shayne summons his pact weapon and slashes open the man's throat before Lilly wildshapes for the first time in her life into a ferocious direwolf and attacks, ripping the man's throat out and killing him; Kasimir then destroys one vampire with a *magic missile*, and Semyaza kills the other with a devastating crossbow attack. In the aftermath of the battle, Shayne examines the man and recognizes his features, realizing that he is Walter Durst, the son of Caroline and Gustav Durst; Semyaza searches Walter's body, claiming his sword, a signet ring bearing a windmill, a pouch containing wooden carvings of people, and a small black gem worth 612 gold.

Lilly is unable to shift back to her Genasi form, and Vive discovers a chain in her teeth with a red stone; Kasimir *identifies* the gem as a Ruby of Health, which he gives to Shayne. Van Richten fully decapitates Walter to prevent his corpse from being raised as undead, and the group rests to recover from the encounter; not long after, Strahd von Zarovich appears again, congratulating them on their victory and admitting that he suggested to Walter that Shayne had killed the Dursts. He then communicates telepathically with Lilly, commending her for transforming and helping her to shift back to her natural form; he also tells the party that they are heading away from his castle, and Vive admits that they don't know when the wedding is before formally accepting Strahd's invitation.

Strahd agrees to set a date, and tells Avi that a few of her old friends will be attending.

*continued in session twelve...*
## Notes

* Draven was played by DM TanisJr93 for the session due to FloodedBasement being unable to play.