Curse of Strahd

A nascent force of darkness beckons! A motley crew of five disjointed personalities and backgrounds found themselves lost in the mist with their fates foretold by Madam Eva’s cards. What would their conjoined fortunes entail?

## Prelude

As you travel the roads of Faerûn, sometime in your journey, you met with a group of travelling folk that sincerely welcomes you around their fire to rest. One such person, will bore you to death with their travelling stories, but this old man have a different stories to tell. The man fills his mouth with wine, then spits into the fire. The flames turn from orange to green. As they dance and sway, a dark shape appears in the bonfire's core.

"We come from an ancient land whose name is long forgotten—a land of kings. Our enemies forced us from our homes, and now we wander the lost roads." The dark shape in the fire takes the form of a man being knocked from his horse, a spear piercing his side. The man continues. "One night, a wounded soldier staggered into our camp and collapsed. We nursed his terrible injury and quenched his thirst with wine. He survived. When we asked him who he was, he wouldn't say. All he wanted was to return home, but we were deep in the land of his enemies. We took him as one of our own and followed him back toward his homeland. His enemies hunted him. They said he was a prince, yet we didn't give him up, even when their assassins fell upon us like wolves." Deep in the bonfire, you see the dark figure standing with sword drawn, fighting off a host of shadowy shapes. "This man of royal blood fought to protect us, as we protected him. We bore him safely to his home, and he thanked us. He said, ‘I owe you my life. Stay as long as you wish, leave when you choose, and know that you will always be safe here.'" The figure in the dancing fire vanquishes its final foe, then disperses in a cloud of smoke and embers.

The man's face becomes a somber mask. "A curse has befallen our noble prince, turning him into a tyrant. We alone have the power to leave his domain. We've traveled far and wide to find heroes such as yourselves to end our dread lord's curse and put his troubled soul to rest. Our leader, she, knows all." As slowly as age ravages him, he turn his head to looks at you, close he is that you can see the dancing flame in his glisten eyes. "Will you return to Barovia with us and speak with her?"

## Story

### Introduction: Land of Mist

One perhaps wonder in demand on how the fate works, it works on mysterious way.
At the fireplace, the wood elf man who called himself Jesse sat with the man and his company, for some reason after seeing the fire dances, he joins him in their journeys. At the wayside Inn, a girl, Soyeon her name, tried to search for someone dear to her, and might be able to explain, of why she is here, she ran into the forest for him. At the town a group of mercenary gathers to hunt the disturbing reports of bipedal wolfs, among them a certain dragonborn, Ignavus the paladin, as they rampage into the forest, the party ambushed, the paladin run. In the port city of Adar, a guard Vash tried to commute to the city of Waterdeep, but the way is missed out and one that he dreaded the most come to visit. Mynah, the royal princess of Tarragon are searching for her sister, but her search desperate and constrained by time, his guard kill the horse under her and kill himself, she then run for her life. The five slowly accosted by the wolf and werewolf, meeting their fate together in the mist up until the caravan of Stanimir came along. Meeting each other, their purpose unknown their past sealed.

Meeting under the Vistani's protection, a group of people by the name of Etherio-Valashtarath, Mynah Tarragon, Soyeon, Ignavus, and Jesse Edenfall were brought together to Madam Eva's tent. Each of whom had faced their own challenges and keeping their own agendas, they seem to be searching and gauging. With reasons unknown, they were brought into Barovia though with divined fates their goals were made clear. fie card are drawn: The Conjurer, The Priest, The Paladin, The Executioner, The Raven. The group decides that they may need to go into the Village of Barovia to find Ismark Kolyanovich. It is unfortunate, however, as the said person that they are looking for is missing. The sister, Ireena Kolyana seemed to not want to talk to the group and insists them to find her brother Ismark Kolyanovich instead. Rumor has it that Ismark has been seen collecting hunters to rally somewhere.

Decide to search Ismark at the Durst mansion, they me with the kids ghost of Rosavalda and Thornboldt Durst, died mummified and haunted their room. Wreaking havoc of the mansion, Ismark is found at the basement but before waking up a monster the ghost kids scares, Ismark died in the process and ressurected. He is in a way to recruit anyone in town to revolt against the lord, but because the last year revolt has failed, his fallen into deaf ear. Once returned to the Burgomaster house, the party reports to Ireena about their success in retrieving Ismark. Thus everyone finally sees Ireena’s appearance, a red-haired beauty that has the Lord’s attention.

Though Ismark's true feelings towards this fact is not revealed yet, the arrangement of burying their father, Kolyan Indirovich. Going to the only church and is met by Father Donavich, he is an old, harried, and pudgy man who seem to serve alone at the church, and worshiper of Morning Lord. Helps with the funerary ritual, the party found that he has been keeping a vampiric son at the basement, 'donating' s congregation to feed his undead son. The moral choice was difficult at first, though the son, Doru, met a swift end by the party.

After a few day rest they decide to depart for Vallaki to escort Ireena and Ismark to safety. Opening the door, a man whose clad in red, fur decoration slung over his left shoulder, and long dark hair slicked back behind him accompanied by an elven attendant and a fiery horse spoke with a polite yet imperious tone, “May I come in?”

### Act I: The Prince of Darkness

Lord Strahd von Zarovich, Count Zarovich, Prince of darkness, Lord of the night, massacres of thousands and the warrior prince, has come to visit. Almost everyone seemingly enchanted by him, he seems to know all about te party, even the royal lineage of Mynah. Ireena is treated like a princess by Strahd, called as “mine”, “my love”, and “Tatyana” while Ireena is trembling with fear inside of her as she seated beside the Lord. A he left, he bite Ireena for the second time.

The party and Kolyans expedite their journey to Vallaki, chosing te mountain over the road near te castle, they are accosted by the unusual appearance of an undead dragon. After the deadly encounter, they open a bit with their peers, on how it was before they are united in this land. Nonetheless, they arrive at the gate of Vallaki.

With Ismark and Ireena’s explanations, the party enters the town and immediately goes to the Church of St.Andral. Yet when asked about safety, Father Lucian explains that the church doesn’t offer safety as their recent artifact, a set of human skeleton from the venerated Saint Andral, were stolen by someone. With the help of one of the altar boy, Yeska, the part pinpoint the whereabout of a shit shovelings stud named Milivoj, who did admit stole the bones at the behest of Hendrik van der Voort the coffin maker.

Questioning the coffin maker lack ground evidence, the party decide to infiltration and knocking out the host, to their horror, the bone are kept in the room full of vampire spawn. As battle go fierce, the room cleared with five spawn and all of them bruises, scratched and bleeding. They frame the coffin maker, and back to confirm their finding. To Father Lucian disappointment, it only half of the bones wile the others are still missing. Nonetheless, Ignavus, made decision to devote himself to serve the Morning Lord, the god tat was worship by the Barovians, he is elevated to priesthood and protector. In the other hand, Yeska, admit that he told Milivoj the password to the basement where the bones kept, he need money for his parents, and ring news that the coffin maker is going to be hanged.

The last act of the coffin maker is to jeer towards the party, as the sentence is bestowed by Baron Vargas Vallakilovich. with another lead from Millivoj, they visit the house of Lady Fiona Wachter the second most prominent person at Vallaki. Invited for tea the party buttering the host quite good so they are being seen to the sick husband who is dead, and her daughter who is mad and strapped in bed because she seemingly become a cat like. Lady Fiona believes that this was a curse bestowed by Victor Vallakovich, who was engaged to her daughter.

The party decide to back at later date and infiltrate, but it does not going well, they are trapped by an army of skeletons, Jesse and Vash almost peris, until saved by someone they met once, Anton. They got the other half of the bones and return it, the church now have protection against all undead, the ground all Hallow.

There will be festivities in about two days, so they decide to visit Lady Lydia Vallakovich, she hates the Wacther and trusting her husband rule over the city, the baron also put up a request to eliminate all Wachter. The party goes again to the dreaded Watchterhaus. There Lady Wacther are in ritual, and she transform into undead being, Soyeon kills her, and almost felling triumphant, they then again thwarting Wachter cultist attack at the church. Only the daughter, Satella Wachter, escape. The baron deman compleate victory, and the party chase to the south.

They meet ith the vistani at the south, led by two brothers Luvash and Arrigal, with Wacther chamberlain, Lanark under their protection. However, for some reason, Jesse cannot hear Arrigal's name, someone in his ear being called, brother. He too seems ingenuine with Soyeon mentioning that she is worthy of the Lord of the Land. Under dubious circumstances, they ill bent their hospitality if the party manage to find Luvash daughter Arabelle. They find her at the lake north of the town, being thrown in the water. She is saved, in agreement, the party get Satella and the body of Nikola Wacther, right in time for the festivals.

Festival of the blazing sun commence. The baron light up a wickers of sun and proclaim that ALL IS WELL to his people, right before he is assassinated. Lord Strahd come about riding his flaming steed and sending his minions to wrecks havocs upon the populace. The party help by the assassin, Ismark and Father Lucian defend the town. After they won, it is revealed that the assassin is Victor, Baron Vargas's on son has commit patricide.

### Interlude: The Shadow's Waiting

Arrabelle returned to the Vistanis, but tried to join the party in vain. They also visit the acting baron, Victor, he seemingly angered and calling blasphemy when the Morninglord are called Lathander. He did claim that the town has yet to stable and require the party to uphold the peace. The party returns and at night Soyeon tries to kill Mynah in her sleeps. Knocking her out, awaken she starts to speaks on her past and telling her backstories. Rictavio or Ricky for short, the bard who inhibit Blue Water Inn, the place that they stays, also he is a lover. He repudiate that the dagger Soyeon have is sealed in false magical aura that prevent it to be identified, but not from him, he revealed that it is indeed curse. The party are wary toward Soyeon for now.

### Act II: This Gods Forsaken Lands

The party decide to do a beer run for Blue Water Inn. They arrives at the winery full of druids and it's twisted creation. And the current owner are hiding at the tree line. He wanted the druids to be eliminated, and so does the party, the old man introduce himself as Davian Martikov, take a green gem from one of the druid. He and his family has been in hiding since the druid attacks. He derive the fertility of the vineyard from three green pinecone gems that was stolen, one of them in separate incident ten years ago. when time come, the party may be able to help the Martikov's but they depart with some wine left towrds Vallaki. At the road, Lord Strahd ask Soyeon for a deal, they make his plan fails, and now his turn, Soyeon accepts to come with him, untrusting of the party that have ostricise her, even Mynah who's voice the loud for her not to go does nothing. The party lies broken.

On the next morning the patry lost Ignavus, he run away. Demoralized the party visits Vistanis to ask about the Lord and the castle. They complies and getting a news of Ignavus's slain by the head honcho of the security suad Kiril. arrigal, brother, then telling a story of man to them. Meanwhile on the other side of the veil of mist, a small dragonborn asking about his lost brother. He depart where the the last placce is pointed beyond the veil of mist and forest. while a woman running at full speed in the darknes.she arrives at a winery where she almost killed by the defender after the fact, she surenders.

The party departs for winery once more, at the road, near a bride they meet with a small bronze dragonborn, Aagya, whomm looking for his brother. He joins for the paarty might know where he is. At the winery, they also meet Mrjn whom know Vash from the past. She seemingly running from the