M2S13

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## The House of Wachter

The party comes to an agreement with Fiona Wachter. The conflict betewen Vallaki and Vistani reaches new levels of tension.

## Party Experience

### XP Gained

**+2000** (Exploration, Social, Milestone)

## Continuity

### Next session

**Session 13**

“
*There is no such thing as a good Barovian.*
”
— Arrigal, of the Vistani.
**The House of Wachter** was the 13th session of the Strahdborne campaign. In this session, the party came to an agreement to end the Baron's ineffective rule over Vallaki, and witnessed a rise in tension between the Vistani and the townsfolk.

## Summary

The party arrives at the Wachterhaus for the meal. The art on the walls reveals the family's ancient ties to the conquest of Barovia. Fiona Wachter, the matriarch of the distinguished family, soon greets the party. She explains that, though many adventurers pass about Vallaki every once in a while, none in her lifetime have dared stand up to the Baron as Aellun did at the festival.

Fiona reveals that Vargas is but the latest in a series of ineffective or tyrannical Vallakovich rulers. She believes their poor rulership is hereditary--as Victor, Vargas's son and heir, is already revealing signs of psychopathy.

The solution, as she proposes, is to end the Vallakovich dynasty. To this end, the party will have to put Izek, the faithful Vallakovich watch dog, out of the picture, and procure substantial evidence of treason far and above the Baron's ridiculous festivals to persuade Strahd to accept a new Baron. The party accepts, though not without serious reservations about Fiona's true intentions--as well as her seemingly cordial relationship with Strahd, who she refers to as an "inattentive landlord."

At this point, the party leaves the premises and travels to Vallaki's western gate to ascertain the source of commotion. A throng of Vistani, gathered at the gates, demands to be allowed into town to seek justice for Arabelle's death. They soon reach an impasse with Izek, who refuses to allow them entrance, and threatens violence should they not leave.

Most of the Vistani retreat at this point, seeing this is a battle they cannot win. However, Valeri, Arabelle's father, refuses, and is promptly murdered at the city gates.

The party returns both corpses to the Vistani. This generous deed is not unrewarded, as it allows for them an audience with brothers **Arrigal** and **Luvash**, the leaders of the troupe. Arrigal offers a deal--if the party will help deliver justice to the murderer, the Vistani can transport items from the outside world to them, or carry messages out.

The party promptly accepts. It now seems that plenty of objectives are congregating about the town of Vallaki. The next few days may well determine the future of the town.

## NPCs

* **Fiona Wachter**: A most interesting old woman, whose house claims ascent back to the ancient days of the conquest of Barovia. Though Fiona shares goals with the party--for example, ridding Vallaki of Vargas--the party has serious duobts about her seemingly cordial relationship with Strahd, and her ultimate plans for Vallaki.
* **Arabelle:** There are more questions than answers in the case of little Arabelle. What was a child doing in Barovia, when the Vistani explicitly claim they do not bring children to Barovia? And why would somebody kidnap and murder her? Can those at the orphanage help us get to the bottom of this dark case?
	+ It seems Arabelle disappeared a week ago, after the Wolf's Head Jamboree, and when her body was found it had been in Lake Zarovich for some time. It is possible Arabelle had been murdered even before the party even learned of the search for the missing child.
	+ The Vistani do not bring children to Barovia, by their own admission, save for Arabelle. When Alexei stumbles near revealing why, Arrigal promptly shuts him up.
* Alexei: A young lad, after learning of Arabelle's fate he revealed what he knew in the hopes it would lead to justice. Up to now, it has only led to lashes for him, and the death of the girl's father. Perhaps the party can soon right these wrongs.

## Quests

### New

* **No Dark Deed Goes Unpunished (Everyone):** Investigate the Orphanage and get to the bottom of Arabelle's murder.
* **Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution (Everyone):** Listen to what Fiona Wachter has to say. Persuade Izek to leave the Baron's side, OR assassinate Izek.

### Ongoing

* **Treasures of Yore (Everyone):** Recover the other two gems of the Wizard of Wines.
* **The Devil is in the Details (Everyone):** Investigate the strange Toy-Maker.
* **A Throw for the Ages (Everyone):** Suplex Strahd.
* **Under New Management (Everyone):** Investigate the coven of hags at Old Bonegrinder mill.

### The Deck of Fate

* **The Fount of Knowledge (Everyone):** Discover the source of knowledge below the guardian of a garden.
* **The Symbol of Hope (Everyone):** Claim the holy symbol by finding the tomb of a great wizard with a famous staff.
* **The Blade of Light (Everyone):** Wield the sunlight blade in the den of wolves near the moonlit lake.
* **The Shadow of Barovia (Everyone):** Defeat Strahd.
* **The Moon (Aellun):** Find the place filled with bones, for the clues you seek lie there.
* **The Headsman (Gromash):** Find the fortress within the fortress, which contains the treasure you seek.
* **The Phantom (Lo-thak):** Find the location of the one who gave birth to evil, for she is the key to your goals.
* **The Balance (Thalia):** Discover the whereabouts of that which you seek.

### Completed

* **With a Little Luck (Everyone):** Find Arabelle. Arabelle, murdered, possibly even before the party received the quest. leads to No Dark Deed Goes Unpunished.

## Appendix

Strahdborne Sessions
**Chapter 1: The Gates of Barovia**
 Session 1 · Session 2 · Session 3 · Session 4 · Session 5 · Session 6

 **Chapter 2: The Fall of Vallaki**
 Session 7 · Session 8 · Session 9 · Session 10 · Session 11 · Session 12 · **Session 13** · Session 14 · Session 15 · Session 16 · Session 17 · Session 18 · Session 19 ·

 **Chapter 3: The Muster at Krezk**
 Session 20 · Session 21 · Session 22 · Session 23 · Session 24 · Session 25 · Session 26 · Session 27 ·