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dreadreflection-if · 2 years

Text

It always ends the same.

A glimmer of hope (𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙚) snuffed out before they can reach it. A promise of absolution (𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚) broken once more.

They rage at the world around them. At the prison they can never escape, hemmed in by mist and shadow. At the shackles of fate that bind them, constricting around their throat - their eyes - their hands; coiling (𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧) until the fight is squeezed out of them completely. Without anger to fuel them, they are forced to submit - forced to acknowledge the feelings they had buried long ago.

Disappointment. (𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣?)

Frustration. (𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨?)

Despair. (𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡?)

Spirit shattered, they are made a puppet of destiny once again.

And as they scour the Mists and the jails trapped within - searching for that glimmer that ever eludes them - they wonder how long a puppet can last before it 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙨 altogether.

Far beyond, in a place unknowable, the Dark Powers smile as they pull the strings they have nurtured for millennia.

(𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙮𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙬.)

A Dread Reflection is an upcoming 18+ horror interactive fiction game based in the D&D setting of Ravenloft. The game is currently in early development and is being made with Twine.

Content warnings for the game include: graphic violence, blood, injury, mental illness, body horror, psychological horror, kidnapping, death, strong language, and optional suggestive content. More warnings may be added as development progresses. Please read at your own discretion.

DEMO (TBA)

It was supposed to be the happiest day of your life. With a new ring on your hand and your childhood friend by your side, your future was supposed to be spent in comfort and married bliss.

A shame the only thing adorning your hands that day was a stain of red you weren’t sure would ever wash off.

Forced to flee into the dangerous Mists to escape a horrible fate, you stumble into Vhage Agency with nothing but the clothes on your back and a life in shambles. Whether out of pity or desperation, Vera Vhage makes you an offer: join her detective agency and become her eyes and ears within Ravenloft.

With no other choice, you agree and begin your investigative training in earnest.

You’re not sure what you expected to happen when you finally became a certified investigator months later. It certainly wasn’t the arrival of a suspicious letter at the agency's doorstep, promising answers to the burning questions you had about your past. Answers you would get only if you proved yourself to the mysterious sender.

With letter in hand, you set off determined to find out more about that fateful day. Whether you burn for revenge or wish to put your ghosts to rest, what you must do next is clear:

Seven cases. (𝙎𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙨.) Stop them before it’s too late.

Fully customizable MC - including gender, pronouns, physical appearance, personality, sexuality, and some background elements.

Choose your stats and select from several classes and skills to craft the perfect investigator. Are you dexterous and perceptive enough to find what you need while sneaking in the shadows? Perhaps your natural charisma can persuade those around you to divulge their worst secrets? Maybe the gifts (curses) you have gained can help you (crush everyone in your way)?

Make rolls to see just how well you succeed at your chosen actions - or how spectacularly you fail. Not to worry, though: failure isn’t always the end. It may lead to new outcomes and opportunities you weren’t expecting.

Meet a cast of nine companions for you to befriend or romance (or betray). Will you claw past their walls and find a place in their hearts? (Will you drag them into the darkness with you?)

Solve all seven cases detailed in the letter and find out the truth of your past. Remember, though - Ravenloft is not a gentle place. You may find more in your investigations than you bargained for.

(Repeat the cycle. Break the cycle. 𝙄𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚.)

The Broken One

F/M/NB - Romanceable by all MCs

You watch as they run into the distance, the fog of the moors swirling around them like a loving embrace. Their own embrace still lingers on your cooling skin - the memory of it warm and comforting and painful. It conjures other memories in your mind, filling you with nostalgia and longing. Taunting you with the life you took for granted until now. Our Guardian in the Mists, you pray as the last air in your lungs passes the smile on your lips. Protect and guide them on their way now that I cannot. You know this is dangerous, to yearn and mourn so deeply while you lay upon the ground. While the red puddle underneath you spreads and your skin goes from cooling to cold. Everyone in Mordent is told from childhood what happens when you cling too desperately to a life that is no longer yours. Those unlucky enough even witness it firsthand. But despite the risk, you do not look away - even as the fog grows thicker and their figure blurs in the mist. Even as the blur grows stronger from the tears you do not allow yourself to shed.

Your tears and smile remain even after your soul departs.

introduction / playlist / tag

The Ghost

F - Romanceable by all MCs

As the last notes of your lute drift across the Crystal Club, you cannot help but tense with anticipation. The cheers of the audience bring a dazzling smile to your lips, and you take a practiced bow as their applause reverberates within the room. Straightening, you sweep your eyes across the crowd and scan the faces there. Instinctively, you search for a face you always hope you will see. Consciously, you search for a face you always pray you will not. Finding neither, you sigh both in relief and disappointment as you reluctantly leave the safety of the stage to maneuver through the venue. Praise and invitations to drink shower down upon you as you go, but you wave them away with a quip and a smile. Tonight you are restless, your skin burning and itching with something you can’t quite name - your soul howling with something you don’t quite want to. Finally reaching the chill night air, you breathe in deeply and turn your head to the night sky to watch the full moon shining past the clouds.

In the shadows of the cave behind you, a sharp smirk widens as even sharper claws glint in the moonlight.

introduction / playlist / tag

The Mists

M - Romanceable by all MCs

With a sigh, you unceremoniously drop the tome you have urgently studied throughout the night. It was supposedly a long lost relic from the hidden libraries of Scholomance - or so the traveling peddler hawking it had claimed. You knew it was a scam even before your coins entered her palms, but continuous disappointments such as this have made you grow desperate in your search. Some have called you foolish to hunt so fervently for knowledge you are unsure exists. On days where the hellish shadow of your past clings less tightly to your mind, you can even swallow your pride and acknowledge the truth in their words. But as you watch tendrils of fog pool at the windows of the caravan you travel in - the Mists surrounding you almost seeming to push against the glass - you know this cannot deter you. You would rather be a fool one thousand times over than return to what you were before. You will find the knowledge you seek and escape this wretched existence.

Even if you must destroy the world around you to do so.

introduction / playlist / tag

The Marionette

NB - Romanceable by all MCs

Walking the streets of Ludendorf at night has always been your favorite pastime. The quiet stillness of the desolate roads is a balm to your anxious mind, and the smog-covered snow drifting from the sky adds a sense of peace to the city. Here, there is no judgement or prejudice: the snow does not care whose skin it falls upon. It does not care where that skin has been - or who that skin used to belong to. A shame the same cannot be said for people. Their fearful gazes and hurled insults replay in your mind if you can even call it your own, and your hands shake from these recollections as you stare at the snow falling upon them. In a rare moment of selfishness, you decide to drink in this peace while you can. You know from prior experience that as soon as the man you carry over your shoulder awakens, this calm will be shattered immediately. He will look at you with that same gaze and scream those same insults as soon as he sees what hides underneath your hood.

The dead flesh haphazardly stitched together is a sight straight out of his worst nightmares, after all.

introduction / playlist / tag

The Executioner

F/M/NB - Romanceable by all MCs

The wooden door in front of you creaks as it eases open, and you wince slightly as every eye in the tavern swivels towards you. Straightening your posture, you steadily approach the counter across the room. The clanking of your sabatons is the only sound echoing in the silence that now permeates the air. You are used to the glares burning into your back and the contempt you can feel within them, which is why your smile does not falter when the owner informs you there are no vacancies left for the night. Though you may have defended the town from a zombie swarm mere hours ago, a Knight of the Shadows is never welcomed by those they protect. You feel your left hand twitch as it subtly inches to your blade, a pressure beginning to build in your temples. The voice that appears in your mind is both familiar and unwelcome, and it gives a shrill cackle as you ignore the hex it viciously chants. Clenching your twitching hand into a fist, you stride out into the night and resolve to continue on to the next town in need of help.

Maybe there you will finally find the one you swore your oath to all those years ago - someone you will actually be happy to defend.

introduction / playlist / tag

The Beast

F - Romanceable by f!MCs and nb!MCs

As you feel your fist connect with the jaw of the woman before you, you do not even try to stop the feral grin that splits your lips at the sound of snapping bones. Your opponent stumbles back with a hiss, clutching at her lower face as she bares her teeth in a snarl. Before she can recuperate, however, you are on her once again: your clawed hands digging into her temples as she is lifted off the ground, desperately thrashing. You had expected more of a challenge from a member of the notorious Kargatane when you found this woman sniffing around the camp during your nightly patrol, but so far she has been nothing but a disappointment. Thankfully, you can make this woman give you more than a subpar fight. Squeezing her head even tighter, you feel her anger and terror flow into you, ebbing the hunger that is ever present. You drink these feelings in until you are satiated, then crush her body to you in one sudden movement. Roughly yanking her head to the side, your smile widens as you lean in closer.

The woman cannot even scream before a flash of your fangs silences her forever.

introduction / playlist / tag

The Seer

M - Romanceable by m!MCs and nb!MCs

Just like every other night, you dream. Disjointed and often blurry scenarios flood your mind at a rapid rate, each one demanding to be seen - to be heard - to be remembered. Try as you might, you are powerless to ignore them as they play out before you. You look into probably the past and see a child running through the woods, an unknown horror doggedly pursuing them. You look into the maybe future and witness a family torn asunder as the thing that now wears their father’s face preys upon their fears. Time itself distorts to show you these visions, assaulting your senses with realities both false and true until you can barely tell what is the past future truth. Just like every other night, you wake disoriented and nauseous with a scream silenced by ancient magic choking your throat. Shaking, you cover your mouth and wonder what accursed fool would call something like this a gift: even more than the magic that silences your tongue, this power feels like a curse meant to cause perpetual suffering.

Once more, like every other night, you soundlessly weep in a present you want no part of.

introduction / playlist / tag

The Donjon

NB - Romanceable by all MCs

Obscured by mist and shadow, you lurk underneath the canopy of the dense forest and survey the city it borders. A slight wind blows at the fog that envelops you, causing it to swirl and shift into strange shapes. The absence of any sound save the wind’s soft howling only adds to the eerie atmosphere of your surroundings, but you pay it no mind. As an investigator, you are used to environments like this, allowing you to focus on your task. It was only a few days ago that a cryptic letter arrived at your door, foretelling the reappearance of a semicentennial crime spree that none had solved before. At first you dismissed it as an exaggeration, but after poring over the periodicals and papers at your disposal you scrounged up enough clues to prove it was true. Solving this when others could not would finally give you what you always desired: indisputable proof that you have surpassed your instructors and become the best in the field. Almost immediately, you set off to the location detailed in the letter - a city of lies and betrayal.

Here, the greatest case of your career is about to begin. Here, you will prove yourself once and for all.

introduction / playlist / tag

The Tempter

NB - Romanceable by all MCs

Seated on a pew in the Great Cathedral, you cannot help but smile at the beautiful sight before you. The light shining through the stained glass windows creates a dazzling array of colors that reflect on the church floor - each one painting a mosaic onto the pale stone below. Within the kaleidoscope made by the grandest window sits a young man in priestly garments and shackles, flanked by figures in dark robes with grim expressions. The man rocks and babbles as the inquisitors stare down at him, the few coherent thoughts left in his mind forced out into the open by psychic coercion. He speaks of a figure with blood-red lips and haunting eyes who appeared in his time of need. He raves about his home, a far-off hamlet at the edge of this domain - set ablaze with no survivors. A necessary tragedy to combat the evil he saw in his neighbors’ hearts - or so the figure claimed. Madness swirls in the priest’s eyes as he is dragged off to the cellars below - eyes that widen when they land on your figure sitting in the light.

With a smirk of your red lips, you saunter out of the cathedral to the sounds of his howls and cries - ready to search for the next mind to corrupt.

introduction / playlist / tag

Vera Vhage

F - Mentor and owner of Vhage Agency

As mysterious as she is intelligent, Vera remains an enigma even months after your first meeting. She says little about herself, and any questions about her past are waved away with a shrug and a smile. If you want to get closer to your puzzling mentor, you’ll have to put all your training to the test. Will your deductive skills be good enough to unveil the secrets she hides? Or will she forever be hidden behind smoke and mirrors?

introduction / tag (coming soon)

???

??? - ???

You sense it in your moments of solitude on the road: a piercing gaze that sends icy chills down your spine. It bores into you, pinning you in place. Every aspect of yourself feels like it is on display for this stranger - even your very soul. However, try as you might, you can never spot the perpetrator when the scrutiny finally ends. They seem to fade away like mist as soon as you return their attention. Who is this elusive figure that follows your every move - and are you better off not knowing?

introduction / tag (coming soon)

#interactive fiction #interactive novel #twine #if wip #twine wip #cyoa #no demo #ravenloft #intro post #dread reflection #dread reflection if

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thetalesofno-one · 19 days

Text

Curse of Strahd, Act I: Pt. 2, Ch. I -Blood On The Vine-

D&D Campaign Retelling Part 2/? Chapter 1/5 ~4.6k words Content Warnings: Curse of Strahd typical content, Read at own risk

Summary The cobbled and ruined streets of a village have been reached, but the place our unfortunate souls soon learn is called Barovia is far from a safe haven. And every sought answer steals away their hopes like a clever thief playing a cruel trick. There is no relief for weary travelers so far from home and far worse things stalk the dark in these lands. Read Previous Chapters also available on AO3

Notes Welcome to Part 2 of Act 1! So glad you came back with us into the mists! Or if you've stumbled onto our tale for the first time, we're glad to have you. This story is a long one, but you'll be a bit lost if you start here. Best to read the previous chapters in "Part 1 -Into The Mists-" before carrying on I suppose I should spell it out here now that we've reached a rhythm of sorts. This story is broken down into Acts, Parts, then Chapters. Each Act will roughly be a book's length and each Part like a scene holding its Chapters nestled within. Breaking up the stories like this gives me the time needed to actually be a player in this campaign before translating it all into this one day magnificent campaign retelling. Every Chapter is posted biweekly Every Part has a short month or so long break at its end before the next one starts. We're still early in the game to be worrying about Acts, but for now, we hope you'll enjoy journeying along beside us with every step we take into the misty lands of Barovia. It is a long and winding tale, so bring a good pair of walking shoes and watch out for things with sharp teeth.

Faint light stretches long golden fingers out into the darkness through a prison of planked windows. Thin cracks of golden thread along darkened wood. A shallow pool of warmth spills out beneath the tightly closed doors of the Blood on the Vine in a quiet promise of shelter from the world of shadow.

It is a wonder they did not miss it. Perhaps they would have if the lovely raven with the blue-tipped wings had not danced upon the sign. Roshan turns toward the silent ruins knelt around them in broken defeat, eyes traveling swift as sparrows, seeking the signs of life where it may hide now that he knows it lingers.

From the vantage of the town’s heart, a few more buildings bear the faint golden thread of carefully concealed light. The town is broken and bent low beneath the darkness of the land, but it is not abandoned nor dead. Roshan takes gladness in the sight, a warm sun upon the stone of his heart. Though it hides, the light prevails. And one day, the sun will shine bright upon these lands. It is a promise. When the light of his god broke through the storm, he knew it.

He is meant to be here.

“We can start in this tavern,” Roshan smiles, “But I wish to ask questions of the locals as well.”

Evie trudges past him, her voice weary, “Your funeral, old man.”

“We should know what has happened here, no?”

“We don’t have to do anything, that’s just what they want you to think.”

“Who is ‘they’?”

The young woman sighs loudly, “They, old man. Like…” it takes her a moment to find the words, her hand sweeping out as though the empty streets will hold her answers, “Like them, you know? Patriarchy, big governments, the royal they.”

Roshan feels her words slip through his mind like sand through fingers and though he tries to grasp her meaning, it escapes and catches in the wind. Emet’s cold eyes slide over his skin like ice as he struggles. He does not think the man means anything by the look, it is simply what it feels like to be under his pale scrutiny. Perhaps that is why the very tall elf does not make friends so easily. Roshan wonders if Emet knows what the young woman is saying. If he knows what a ‘Pay-tree-arc-ee’ is. Roshan’s common is only so so and this is a word that he has never heard.

When he finally asks, Evie is more than happy to bring a coliseum’s worth of words and points, fully laid out as though she has spent a great deal of time arguing this subject in the high places of law. Roshan listens with interest and learns a lot more about the structures of power in the greater lands, the ones he could only dream of when his roots were still small in the sands of Calimshan.

Though he does not understand everything she says, Evie speaks with such passion it brings a smile to Roshan’s face. By his guess, Evie looks as though she may be in her mid-twenties, not much younger than him though their years have aged them quite differently. One as wine, the other as leather. Roshan enjoys her fire and some of her points are rather insightful, for he knows well that wisdom does not come with age, but knowledge and experience. And though her words hold crystals of wisdom, these same words betray that she has lived a life with little experience to age her.

A blessing, were this a kinder world.

Some of Evie’s points are more complaint without answer. That is no shame, for it is how every great rebellion starts. Injustice begins as unsatisfied murmurs without solution and as long as the flames are tended, answers will grow in the embers. She holds the fires of youth seeing injustice everywhere. Raging against it. Seeking fights to change a world she doesn’t yet feel she’s been allowed to take part in. Shouting in ears that do not hear and making arguments with the air. And only the drive of unfocused passion without answer. Not yet, at least. Answers will always grow the longer the passion is fueled.

Roshan remembers being the same once and hides a light smile so Evie does not think he is ‘patronizing’ her—a new word he now knows. Let her rage. Passion turns to knowledge and knowledge to wisdom. And if she manages to keep her flames until the end, maybe she’ll be able to change things after all. Someone has to. Why not her?

Though it seems not everyone is enjoying the young woman’s fiery speech as much as his weathered heart is. Evrrot rolls his eyes as Evie goes on and pushes through the tavern doors with a very rough shove. Someone should really teach devil boy some manners.

Though their entrance is one that would normally scare those within, the patrons likely heard them coming long before the doors swung open with Evie’s fiery words. Several sets of eyes meet theirs with the wariness of a people who have learned that strangeness breeds trouble and strangers carry it with them. If they had been any quieter outside the doors, Roshan expects they would have all jumped at the sight of this weary group stepping through their darkened doors. But a tiredness of the soul sits heavily on the patrons’ eyes. The hopelessness of people who would let a blade cut them down without a fight so long as it is done quickly.

Evie’s fired discussion of the patriarchy embers out on its own, silence begetting silence as though the atmosphere itself demands the hush. She withdraws, her head sinking into her rising shoulders like a tortoise trying to hide within its shell as she tugs her hood up, concealing the faint point of her half-elven ears.

All within are of human blood, like him. No dwarf seated among a wall of empty pints, no elf sipping her wine in appreciation, nor gnome, or half orc, or any other of the myriad races that make Faerûn a melting pot of culture and life. Roshan cannot help but feel for the others, their kind even further out of place in this land. Trespassers carried in by the fog.

Long worn finery fills the tavern, its decadence faded to a shade of shabby that can only come from heavy use and the neglect born of a place meant to be lived in and not admired. Handsome carved chairs with scraped legs sit around finely crafted tables, their surfaces worn almost entirely of polish in places. Tapestry like those Roshan has only ever seen the rich merchants buy hang like well worn rugs on the scarred wood and stone walls. The threads are faded and moth eaten, carrying the memory of its faded beauty. Further trinkets and trophies decorate the walls, all coated in a heavy hand of dust. An iron chandelier covered almost entirely in half melted wax flickers with a dozen candles above their heads and a dozen more melted to nothing, the blackened iron wheel beginning to rust beneath its waxy coat. A large stone fireplace fills the large open room with barely enough warmth to chase away the bitter cold, but it is enough.

The tavern sits half barren.

A barkeep with ragged dark hair and tanned skin almost as dark as Roshan’s looks up from his work as he sets a new bottle of spirits on the counter. His eyes seem to look past all of them rather than at them, as though they are little more than visiting spirits in the dark. At one of the tables, three colorful ladies dressed as vibrantly as desert flowers in their skirts and jewelry huddle a bit closer at their arrival. They whisper amongst themselves with mildly curious eyes, the cards in their hands all but forgotten.

A few more spare individuals are scattered about the place—all human. Many pick at a plate or bowl of food with the hollowness of someone who has lost their tongue. The careless shoveling of what is placed before them, so long as it fills their bellies. There is no savoring of flavor, or enjoyment of taste upon their grim faces. It is as though all they eat is ash.

Roshan keeps to Evie’s side behind Emet—the very tall elf makes for a good obstruction—stepping ahead of her to block the vision of the three colorful women still weaving their baskets of gossip. Their eyes are not filled with mischief or merriment, however. Rather the careful study of prey at the watering hole wondering if today the lion will eat them.

Emet ducks through the doors behind Evrrot, long silver hair spilling over his shoulder in a brilliant cascade. Roshan didn’t realize quite how tall the young elf was until this moment. When they were in the forest, it wasn’t quite so obvious standing among the indeterminate heights of trees and bushes. Seeing him now, however—towering among standard sized objects like tables and chairs, ducking through a door that Roshan’s head can touch only if he jumps beneath it—it is much harder to overlook. How does the man find anything to fit him?

They all linger back by the door in the waiting silence, both sides judging the intention of the other in that hesitancy. Emet scans the room before him carefully as though anyone here would be a threat to a giant like him. And Evrrot’s eyes go to the ceilings and walls like he is measuring the room before his gaze cuts sharply to the sad little blaze in the hearth. His eyes linger there a moment, whatever threat he seeks not found.

One individual catches Roshan’s eye.

All within the tavern either look through them with hollow gazes, lose interest and go back to their card games, or failed to notice their arrival entirely, lost wholly in a world all their own. Only one keeps his attention rapt on the newcomers with unhidden interest.

The man sits perched on the edge of his seat, one hand on the table as though about to stand though he doesn’t yet leave his seat. A field of faded golden hair spills over the man’s shoulders, those stained-wood eyes of his openly staring at them, wide with interest beneath a heavy brow. A squared face covered in light stubble and broad shoulders beneath a dark shirt, the hard edges of the man could be considered handsome.

Evrrot seems not to notice the unblinking attention of the stranger. It is as if all the rest of the world has drifted away from him at the siren song of a warm meal and a good drink and the tiefling makes a beeline for the bar.

He sets a heavy hand on the counter, “Your largest ale and a plate of hot food for a weary traveler.”

The barkeep continues his listless scrubbing of an already clean glass with unfocused eyes. So withdrawn within himself the rest of the world may as well be a dream from which he cannot wake. The man barely registers the devil-horned man in front of him until Evrrot raps the counter with his knuckle a few times. This does not bring the dazed man back, nor snap him into focus, but there is a brief moment where the barkeep makes eye contact long enough to realize someone is placing an order. Even as he fetches the drink and begins to prepare the food, the man merely drifts about his business as though already a ghost in his own life. Nothing breaks the thousand yard stare.

Roshan wishes he did not recognize that hollowness, but he has seen it far too often in far too many eyes. Worn it himself. He has seen it in the old as they clutch their partner’s still body. He has seen it in daughters torn away from their homes with golden chains, wedding veils worn like funeral cloth. He has seen it in children rattling the bars of iron cages too small for their growing bones. Whatever happened here claimed this man’s soul and left his life to wither slowly.

A living death.

Loss.

A piece of yourself carved out and stolen with nothing left to fill the void. A beloved, a pet, a way of life, a dream, a home. Anything can be lost if enough heart is given to it. And the price of love is always loss. If one is lucky, they will reap many years of comfort and joy and love before loss takes its due. But there is no amount of wealth or riches or power in all the world that can pay the cost. The price of love can only be bought in sorrow.

Roshan wonders what mosaic of this man’s heart was stolen to leave him so shattered.

It is then the staring young man finally gathers his courage and stands to his feet. With an unsure hand raised, he speaks from across the tavern.

“Forgive me for presuming, but you must be new in town, yes? Please, let me buy your drinks.”

The man—likely in his late twenties—quickly moves to the bar to intercept payment of Evrrot’s drink.

An unfamiliar accent marks his voice, one that bears heavy as a dwarf’s hammer in certain places and rolls smoothly over others like a baker kneading dough. It is the same accent as the barkeep when he finally speaks to acknowledge the request and likely the same as everyone within this town.

Evrrot gives the young man an appraising look as he pays for the tiefling’s drink, one that Roshan is worried means he will abuse the generosity as greatly as he can. Roshan will have to keep an eye on that devil boy.

“Greetings, my name is Ismark,” he looks to each of them in turn, “I can see that you are visitors to this town. It it a pleasure to have you.”

“Not the Ismark from the statue?” Evie asks bluntly.

Ismark’s eyes fall slightly with a faint mirthless smile, “Ah, no…not the statue. That is my great grandfather.”

“Sorry about that, I have no idea what fucking year it is.”

Ismark blinks at the directness and Emet seems to wince at Evie’s churlish words and he puts half a step between them as if that would somehow disassociate him from them.

“You’ll think that makes no sense,” Evie continues.

Ismark shakes his head, “That tends to be the case for—I hate to presume, but outsiders, yes?”

“Is it that obvious?”

He looks them up and down with a kind smile, “It is rather obvious.”

Evrrot gives the man a cutting glance and Ismark gestures to the rest of the crowd.

“We do not get many people who look like you.”

It is not hard to see the exoticness of their arrival. Outsider is a good word for it. Where the locals are entirely human of pale complexion in a style of dress Roshan has never seen the likes of, the tiefling’s deep red skin and large black horns curling back over his head with his slicked hair—tail no longer swishing angrily like a waspish serpent now that a cold drink is in his hands and the scent of food is in the air—stands out greatly in the contrast.

Evrrot shrugs and goes back to his drink.

Evie pulls her cloak tighter, shifting her shoulder to make herself even smaller.

“Well, we don’t usually get many visitors at all…” Ismark adds sheepishly.

Despite the claimed rarity of guests, especially outsiders, most of the other patrons have returned to their sullen business. A few glances continue to find their way, though however rare the event of outsiders is, the spectacle is barely interesting enough to drag most out of their own solemn conversation or quiet descent into the bottom of another drink. Only the table of colorful ladies finish off their drinks, pack up their cards, and set out into the ever gloom beyond the cold doors.

Ismark gestures to the empty table he had haunted before rising to greet them, “Please, come sit down. Perhaps I can offer you some drinks and food.” He hesitates a moment as though unsure of his next words before steeling himself, “Perhaps I can enlighten you on what is going on…”

Emet studies the man with sharp narrowed eyes as though expecting some swindle or sly craft to be in play. Eager conmen have a terrible habit of flocking to newcomers unwisened to their tricks like flies drawn to honey. But Roshan only senses sympathy in those eyes. As if Ismark is looking at people meant to be pitied. Emet seems to sense the same and Roshan notes how the tired moon elf tenses with the realization, a second wind of alertness overpowering his exhaustion.

There is trouble here.

All the better then to learn of it.

“I will take a drink,” Roshan says as he heads for the bar, briefly brushing past Emet’s large frame in the cramped entryway. The moon elf flinches away from his touch as though it is a hot iron pressed into his skin. Cold violence briefly darkens his eyes before it flickers away as though never there. Roshan watches his broad back with great confusion as the man slinks away toward the table as though wanting to blend in, though his great height eliminates any chance of that. He supposes it must be a force of habit then. Dragging one of the end chairs out and away, Emet seats himself with a careful distance between his seat and the others, somehow managing to do so without it looking strange or deliberate.

“I’ll take one as well, but I want to get it myself,” Evie says as she moves past, her heavy platform boots sounding all the more heavy and loud as they pound across the wooden flooring in this quiet place.

The young woman gives Ismark a challenging look that threatens the use of knives should she attempt to drug her. Why are both of these elves so violent?

“That is well,” Ismark nods toward the lifeless barkeep. Roshan hopes that means he is picking up their tab and not some unspoken signal for future trouble.

“What might I offer you to eat?” Ismark asks.

“Whatever’s hot,” Evrrot barks.

“What are you offering?” Evie asks blandly.

“Whatever is your favourite,” Roshan smiles.

“My favorite?” Ismark repeats, clearly not having expected the question, “We don’t have much here. Rabbit stew perhaps?”

“That is perfect.”

“Done.” Evrrot adds.

Evie grimaces at the suggestion, “I’m not sure I can stomach meat right now. We saw a very dead horse earlier.”

Roshan shakes his head in disappointment, “You do not like the dead horse, but say nothing of the dead man.”

“I’ve seen dead people before, old man,” Evie bites back defensively, “That horse was something new.”

Roshan looks on the young half-elf with pity which only seems to infuriate her further. But he cannot help the worry in his eyes that such a young person sees no value in life and those who have lived it. Perhaps it is unkind or hypocritical, but it feels an even greater shame that of the deaths they have witnessed, it is the man who affects her the least. A man who must have been loved by someone Every part that defined him—the things he liked, the skills he learned, the people he made smile, the difference he made with his presence—now stripped away until he became little more than an object on their path. A leaf in the mud.

It is a great sorrow that Roshan did not do more to give him a respectful passing.

“Speaking of dead people,” Evrrot says callously as he leans against the counter, staring at the barkeep filling their drinks, “Barkeep over there looks like he’s seen a ghost. That what he’s always like?”

Ismark studies the hollow man to see if he’s heard—he’s certainly close enough to have—but the man is miles away.

“You must forgive him. He’s been through…a lot. We all have. I’m sure you have many question, please ask away and I will try to enlighten as best I can. But let us sit, first.” He gestures again to the table Emet now haunts, “I will get your drinks.”

“And I will help,” Roshan offers.

Ismark nods appreciably as Evie gives him a look that demands he better watch for any funny play with her drink. She leaves with Evrrot for the table and Roshan watches again the empty man behind the bar.

The barkeep continues to wipe down the same mug he’s been cleaning since their arrival, his gaze hollow and miles away. Ismark waits patiently, that same look of pity in his eyes—or perhaps it is guilt—before the empty man is drawn back to the now by Ismark’s gentle patience just long enough to take and begin fulfilling the orders. He goes about his business with a rhythmic efficiency as though every step is so well practiced and known, he does not need to be present to complete them. And somewhere along the path, he drifts away again. Even as drinks are served and the food set to cook, he never misses a step.

The barkeep’s hands tremble as Roshan’s glass is set down last.

Roshan marks the symbol of Lathander’s sun across the man’s chest when he hands him his drink, bowing his head in blessing, “May the Morning Lord bless you, my friend. Thank you for this drink.”

The barkeep stares blankly at him a moment, but the drowning man does not come to surface before he turns away and goes about fixing the meals atop the stove. Sorrow fills Roshan’s heart.

Ismark gives Roshan a curious look as he collect the other drinks, but says nothing. The two of them deliver the cold beverages to the table and the barkeep returns to cleaning the same pristine glass, staring off into a place only he can see.

The table is a communal affair, one of those makeshift accommodations for larger groups where the table itself is marginally larger than any of the others, but the quantity of chairs all squeezed tightly around it, arm to arm, make it a “group” setting. Once they all squeeze in, it is only Emet who has managed not to sit quite literally shoulder to shoulder with everyone else.

Roshan takes the seat beside him and throws up a hand, “Eh! Do you have boundary issues?”

He cuts his eyes over sharply, “Merely staying safe.”

“I respect that,” Evie comments as she wipes a trail of beer foam off her dark tinted lips. She takes the other seat beside Emet and wiggles herself comfortably in the space he’s created for himself. She drags her seat a little further from Evrrot on her other side, but she lacks the height advantage of Emet and so is forced to scoot back to the table in defeat. She sets her drink down protectively close and settles a hand over the brim whenever she is not taking a sip.

The holy man waves them both off, muttering to himself in his mother tongue about the strange elves and their emotional damage. The confused looks confirm the others do not understand him and he is glad of it. They should not hear such words from a holy man.

Evrrot does not seem to care one way or another about the proximity of the seating. It would seem four of the drinks in Ismark’s hands are his, the devil boy having taken full advantage of the man’s generosity. Both hands full, he hooks a foot around the chair between Ismark and Roshan and swings himself into it. The glasses clatter loudly on the table. It is a wonder how he did not spill any of the drink. Their host winces at the sound and casts an apologetic look to the oblivious barkeep.

Devil boy downs half a glass before wiping the foam from his mouth with a satisfied sigh.

“So how far away is this place from the nearest city or port? I wanna get out of here as soon as possible and get back to my business.”

“We were in Daggerford, if that helps,” Roshan offers.

“Daggerford?” Ismark shakes his head, “I do not know the name. And as for cities and ports…there, uh, are none. The closest thing you will find to a city is Vallaki which lies several hours west of here. But there are no ports in this land.”

“Huh…” Evrrot stares at the man over the rim of his next drink as if deciding if this is some strange joke.

Evie’s brows furrow, “How do people get anywhere then?”

“Well,” Ismark answers uncomfortably, “usually we walk or go on horseback. The land is rather small.”

“And if I want to go somewhere else not in this country?” Evie presses, her voice growing tense.

Ismark looks like a small willow that has been yelled at all its life and now bows eternally along the ground rather than reaching for the heavens.

“Forgive me, this is never easy,” he answers apologetically, “It’s always the hardest part. I will need to elaborate on the exact circumstances you find yourselves in. You see, this land isn’t quite like your own. You are in—”

The twin tavern doors burst open with a violent crack as the doors slam harshly against the walls, swallowing up Ismark’s next word. A rush of cold wind gusts in like an unseen wave, flickering every flame in the room. Evrrot’s eyes snap warily to the hearth. The bitter atmosphere grows all the colder and a huddled figure rushes through the door, barely stopping in time to keep from toppling over a table. Emet’s hand reaches for the haft of that strange broken glaive on his hip and the others too half stand from their seats, ready for trouble.

The middle aged woman dressed in little more than grey rags pants heavily as she catches herself with a shaking hand on the table nearest the door. The other tightly clutches the ends of a decorative scarf cowled over her head, wild unkempt dark hair spilling out from beneath the old scarf. Fretful widened eyes, blotchy and stained with tears, search the crowd with desperation before settling like a sigh on Ismark.

“Burgomaster Kolyanovich!” Her every word shakes and catches in her throat, “I apologize for interrupting you and your guests,” she takes a trembling step forward looking as though about to crumble, “But I need your help!”

“Mary!” Ismark, already half risen from his seat, abandons it entirely and takes her shaking withered hand. What little strength carried her this far gives out in that moment and Ismark swiftly catches her, settling her into the nearest seat where one of the ash eaters watches with some concern.

“I am not yet burgomaster,” Ismark chides gently, but the rest of what he is about to say dies in his throat as the matronly woman snatches his hands, knuckles white and trembling violently, and looks up at this burgomaster with a desperation that sets a chill along Roshan’s spine.

“What do you need?” Deadly seriousness fills Ismark’s voice as though whatever she asks, he will do all he can to give it.

Mary swallows hard and sways a moment as though about to faint, but not before she speaks her message.

“It’s Gertruda. I think she’s gone to the castle!”

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hikarinokusari · 8 months

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Not me the DM drawing things that doesn't happen nor will happen this way nor will happen at all when I'm supposed to draw the dinner scene since my players were invited to Ravenloft nearly one year ago.

And not the energy to polish anything. I might come around them and polish. One day. When I'll draw the dinner scene. And the comic I'm supposed to draw for a year as well.

Anyway.

Rahadin's drawing background (c) i really couldn't trace back the artist but it's not mine.

Various references of kabedon used for the Khal / Vasili drawing.

I apologize for the brainworms and how I take your character without you knowing to put brainworms on canvas. Thank you @xyanmajor for putting up with my nonsense.

#my art #sketches #dnd oc #somehow rahadin who sees the ship and still says nope even though this ship has been discussed beforehand so he should say yes but well.#somehow me shipping vasili and khal #SOMEHOW HE BITES HIM IN THIS FAKE SCENARIO OF MINE #vasili von holtz #who is different from canon's so I made him different than strahd with a moustache ... still he's strahd-coded #SOMEHOW HE LIKES TO BITE #Kudos to anyone who can read my scrappy writing #kudos to anyone who manages to spot that I shamelessly took quotes from the various novels of ravenloft for the first 2 drawings #at some point on the road V will canonically bite Khal I s2g #khal is a brat #khal corvara #we got two brats on the road #the rp scenes are either they're drunk either they're bratty either they're flirting either they're oblivious to each other's tries of #asserting friendship and somehow I still don't know how they decided to be friends so fast #I will polish those one day I swear and learn lighting/background at some point #i realized midway I would never have the skills to draw a background or polish anything so welp #later I will tho ... in 8 years ... maybe. I'll just keep on doodling nonsense and shippy things that do not happen.#But I WILL BITE THIS VISTANA. I SWEAR I WILL BITE HIM IN KREZK IF I MUST.#Not the poor krezkite we meet on the road being the thirdwheel of their weird relationship and failure courting #I have to prepare a scene where I'll learn player to dance the barovian traditionnal dances #I'm pretty sure it will end up charged in homoerotic tension again because I see dance like a battlefield and so does this damn Vasili ...#well at least they won't be covered in blood so it's less homoerotic. At least I hope they won't be covered in blood but who knows.#i'm practicing nose drawing but I don't manage to draw noses correctly #i don't even know why I'm posting these lmfao #curse of strahd #rahadin #hnk dms curse of strahd

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haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted · 2 years

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Ravenloft - Dance of the Dead Cover Art by Clyde Caldwell

#Dungeons and Dragons #Dungeons & Dragons #D&D #Ravenloft #Dance of the Dead #Covers #Cover Art #Novel Covers #Clyde Caldwell #Fantasy #Art #Wizards of the Coast

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the-worlds-between-pages · 1 year

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Dungeons & Dragons Ravenloft-- Orphan of Agony Isle by: Casey Lily

Published by: IDW Comics I really liked this. I was super excited to read it because I grew up with my dad playing D&D with me. And honestly, I’m trying to get my baby sibling into it (I’m almost there, wish me luck). What really drew me in was the art. I saw it and was pulled in and it’s one of the many comics I’ve come to love because the art and story meld perfectly. Now the story was very…

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#4 stars #Casey Lily #D&D #Dungeons and Dragons #four stars #graphic novel #Ravenloft

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oldschoolfrp · 8 months

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Knight of the Black Rose -- Clyde Caldwell cover art for James Lowder's 1991 novel that transports Lord Soth from Dragonlance's Krynn to Ravenloft's Demiplane of Dread

#D&D #Dungeons & Dragons #Clyde Caldwell #Lord Soth #Ravenloft #Dragonlance #Krynn #death knight #dnd #dungeon #sword #Dungeons and Dragons #TSR #1990s

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utilitycaster · 1 year

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OGL misconceptions

Since I am still seeing a lot of misinformation out there, I figured I'd do a fact check post. Note that I do not personally have a copy of the leaked draft; some resources are given at the end of the post. See also the 2000 OGL v1.0a here. This is noncomprehensive, is only touching on some of the things I've seen most commonly in the tags [sidebar: the only tag I check regularly is the Critical Role tag, and much of what I've seen on Tumblr is coming from people spamming that tag for general D&D content that only tangentially mentions CR, so...stop doing that.] Finally, this is based on what is a draft, and there are quite possibly going to be updates to the final document. I would also assume that the January 13th effective date will be changed based on the release date of the finalized OGL.

Free fan content is not affected. That is covered by the Fan Content Policy. Your personal homebrew or the weird-ass build you saw on Reddit or the item you saw in a post last week are all fine.

Actual play shows should be largely unaffected, and only merchandise containing WoTC IP would be. (NOTE: original posting of this post had a typo of "affected" for "unaffected"; check your reblogs) Shows like Critical Role, NADDPod, and D20 all use homebrew settings, so that's also unaffected (as is any Exandrian content that was published in the Explorer's Guide and Call of the Netherdeep; that is CR's IP that WoTC has license to use). A show might be affected if they've set the game in a WoTC licensed setting or with a WoTC module (eg: Eberron, Ravenloft), but most of the shows that do that are put out by WoTC anyway. Critical Role and TAZ have, notably, already avoided using copyrighted terms for deities, races, etc. in published non-WoTC works (this is why Melora is exclusively the Wildmother in the Tal'Dorei guides, because "Melora" is WoTC IP, but the idea of a nature goddess is obviously not; this is also why Cree in the Nine Eyes is referred to as catfolk and not a tabaxi, or why Phandalin's name in the TAZ graphic novels is changed to Haverdale). The only reason why a show might need to switch game systems would be if they use a system that is not D&D but is based on D&D's SRD and which will be subject to the OGL changes. Most Pathfinder shows I'm aware of use the Pathfinder SRD (ie, free), and SW5e as used in Starstruck Odyssey is also free. This also only affects the future of those shows.

VTTs (Virtual Tabletop Tools) may be affected, but most of their core features aren't. Battle maps and virtual dice rollers are not WoTC IP. Incorporating the mechanics of D&D into the VTT is, but that would mean actively having a character sheet or monster statblock available within the VTT. You could still just have a dice roller that prompts you for a modifier (which is how I always personally used Foundry). D&D Beyond will not be affected, since it is owned by WoTC. Additionally, many VTTs already have existing agreements specifically with WoTC that will take precedence over the OGL, which is a catch-all for companies that do not have specific licensing agreements. See the WoTC/D&D Beyond blog post here.

Only creators making over $750,000 specifically on material licensed under the OGL will be subject to royalties, and only on income in excess of $750,000. This means that if you put something up on DMs Guild and make $500, you are fine and owe nothing. If you make $749,999, you owe nothing. If you make $750,100, you owe the 25% royalty only on the $100 you are making above $750,000. WoTC predicts under two dozen companies will actually be affected by this at this time; they are all fairly big names within the D&D content arena such as Paizo, Darrington Press (CR's imprint), Hit Point Press, Green Ronin, Kobold Press, etc. Royalties also are said to begin in 2024, so companies have a year to decide what to do.

Now for the editorializing part:

Paizo is specifically in the crosshairs and anyone telling you to switch to it is either misinformed at best, or does not have your best interests at heart. Paizo is the main target here. The others are publishing material that serve as supplements to the core WoTC products, but do not replace them. For example: if you have either of the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting books, you will note that they do not have stats for the races mentioned, nor the core class information. If you want to play a Cobalt Soul Monk, you still need the PHB in addition to the Tal'Dorei setting books. On some level, this is almost certainly due to Paizo being like "look! we're like D&D but we're not! switch to us!" And, understandably, WoTC is saying "hey, you took our SRD game engine and are now our largest competitor", which is also almost certainly why this is overriding the OGL 1.0a under which Pathfinder was originally created. I am not saying not to switch to a different TTRPG if you want to! You should always feel free to switch to a different TTRPG if D&D is not meeting your needs! I am saying that Pathfinder is probably your absolute worst bet in terms of things likely to be affected by the OGL, and anyone telling you to switch to it is telling you to jump from an ocean liner into a slightly smaller ship heading straight for a waterfall solely because the ocean liner stopped serving bottomless brunch.

People throwing this to actual play shows do not know what they are talking about and are just trying to start shit. Self-explanatory; why should Dimension 20 or whatever put out a statement on an unofficial leaked draft that minimally affects them.

Bad faith is common and everpresent. As discussed extensively on this blog in scattered bitchy shitposts, there are a lot of people who hate D&D/WoTC, or Critical Role, or other popular actual play shows. Sometimes their reasons are valid and sometimes their reasons are stupid. It doesn't really matter though; what matters is that their minds are made up and they will be telling you to switch game systems/stop listening or watching pretty much regardless of what the companies do. If you want to switch or stop listening, that's fine! But, as mentioned, I remember a few months ago someone arguing that you should switch from D&D because they were obviously going to start licensing NFTs for profitability reasons, and now the OGL specifically prohibits that. There's a lot being pulled out of thin air to make spurious arguments. In general, it is helpful to ask yourself "is this person recommending a game because they genuinely believe it will improve my life and better fit my individual tastes and needs? Or are they just being a dick about D&D or this specific actual play show and don't give a shit about my happiness, just as long as I'm not playing the game/watching the show that they, an internet stranger with bad vibes to boot, do not personally like."

YouTubers are trying to get views, and that is usually their primary goal. Also self-explanatory. If you're trusting the same people who decided that Silvery Barbs would ruin D&D which had also already been ruined by the chronomancy class, the fact that some sorcerers get more spells than other sorcerers, the fact that healing word exists... to tell you that this has ruined D&D? I don't think I can help you.

Several of the things people are freaking out about are either standard boilerplate now, or were in the original OGL. OGL 1.0a reserves the right to terminate the license with 30 days notice as well (item 13); stating that material you make via an open license can be used freely by the owner of that IP is fairly standard legal practice.

Sources:

OGL v1.0a

WOTC Fan Content Policy

Gizmodo/io9 coverage

D&D Beyond/OneD&D blog post

Screenrant coverage

#d&d #this is rebloggable but I will be blocking clownery as always.#long post

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ivandilisnya · 1 year

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What's this? After all this mockery, did @darklordazalin make a booty call with...A PRAM?

#darklords #ravenloft #ravenloft novels #tower of doom #tumblrloft

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vintagerpg · 4 months

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One of the things I dearly love about Role Aids is its willingness to repurpose art from previously published fantasy novels. Fez III: Angry Wizard (1984) represents the lofty pinnacle of this practice by using David B. Mattingly’s cover painting from Barbara Hambly’s novel The Time of the Dark (1982), which is possibly the best painting of a wizard ever put to canvas. The interiors, by Susanna Griffin, are less grand, but truly, not everything in the sky can be the sun.

So, last time, the players helped bind Mephistopheles into a thousand years of servitude to Fez, mostly in order for the time traveling wizard to find out the location of a blue diamond that looms large in a prophecy. Nevermind that they players already used the blue diamond to fulfill the prophecy and defeat the dragon Scarsnout in the first module — time travel has no patience for your pathetic embrace of linearity.

Instead of the old amnesia trick, this time the pre-generated characters are sent 300 years into the future and turned into monsters at the start of the game. In order to get back to normal, they have to find the diamond and somehow get back to Fez. The initial part of the adventure concerns navigating the massive, puzzle- and monster -filled pyramid. Free from that, the players must find the diamond in a town beset by plague. Once a number of puzzles are figured out and the gem retrieved, the robot Warrior can be found in the caverns under the town, at which point he’ll teleport the group back to Fez.

This one is more straightforward than the last and I can’t tell if its for better or worse. I should mention that these are all expanded tournament modules, so while they do have more developed plots, they are still all over the place by design. I am not coming in hoping for Castle Ravenloft, but I do kind of prefer the more formal riddling of the previous module.

That’s enough Fez for now. We’ll look at the second Fez trilogy, which charts the fallout from the first, next month.

#roleplaying game #tabletop rpg #dungeons & dragons #rpg #d&d #ttrpg #Role Aids #Fez

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pigeon-princess · 10 months

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If you've ever wanted to know about our Curse of Strahd campaign this is a summary of everything so far. We have been playing for over a year so it's a very long read!

We are about halfway through the campaign so there are still a few major plot points and important NPCs that we have not encountered yet so please no spoilers in any tags, questions or responses!

Our campaign has a few added homebrew elements, extended lore from the novels and some NPCs that have been added/changed by our DM so some things will vary from the source book!

Disclaimers: Spoilers below the cut for major Curse of Strahd plot points in Vallaki, Argynvostholt, Dinner at Ravenloft, Wizard of Wines and more.

Our party members:

Benoit - Tiefling Druid (Circle of Stars)

Silas Shaw - Human Wizard (Order of Scribes)

Lucius “Thornhill”- Aasimar Paladin (Oath of devotion) (+ his golden retriever summoned familiar called Dog)

Benoit was looking for a way into Barovia Valley to search for his missing mentor who was looking into the situation happening with the Dusk Elves.

Lucius, a paladin with a sordid past, was following a mysterious letter from a “Kolyan Indirovich” who apparently needed help to save the love of his life.

Silas was desperately trying to get out of the city after escaping his abusive mother who kept him sick and locked in their dilapidated home, while also hoping to get any information about his absent wizard father.

ENTERING BAROVIA

The party started their journey at the Elfsong Tavern in Balder’s Gate.

The unlikely group of three made their way into Barovia Valley, following the road until they were quickly lost in the mists.

While camping on the first night, Silas had a very vivid dream of being trapped back in his house. He had lost the ability to walk again and had to crawl through a pool of blood to rescue his father’s spellbook that had been cast into the fire.

On the road, the party discovered the body of a dead man. His pockets contained another version of Kolyan’s letter (seemingly the real one) detailing a vampire attack on his daughter Ireena Kolyana.

The group arrived in Barovia Village where they met Ismark at the Blood of the Vine Tavern. Discovering that his father Kolyan (The Burgomaster of Barovia Village) had recently died, drunk and distressed, Ismark further explained the attacks from Strahd von Zarovich (A vampire and the dark lord of Barovia Valley) on his sister Ireena.

The party agreed to help Ismark bury his father and assist in finding a safer place for Ireena to stay.

While staying in the Burgomaster’s house. Luci experienced a dream in a beautiful church, where a faceless man stood in the flames of a burning pyre. The figure invited Luci to come and sit with him.

The group assisted Ireena and Ismark in getting their father’s coffin to the local church and there they met Father Donovich. After hearing screaming from the floor beneath, Ismark attempted to force his way into the cellar and Donovich started to grapple him. Silas cast levitate on Father Donovich, sending him high into the rafters of the church. The group discovered Doru in the basement, Donovich’s son who had been turned into a vampire spawn.

With the horrible condition Doru was in the party decided that a mercy killing was the only solution. The party locked a crying Donovich in a spare room and sent Ismark and Ireena outside. Silas firmly stayed upstairs while Luci and Benoit went down to put Doru out of his misery.

Doru fought back, making an escape for the stairs and scaring the absolute shit out of Silas who then cast fireball for the first time. This completely annihilated Doru. His burning corpse tumbled down the stairs and landed right at Lucius’s feet, a vivid memory of the burning man from his dream resurfacing.

In a solemn mood, the party burned what remained of Kolyan and Doru in the graveyard.

A supernatural mist surrounded the party and large wolves began to attack. Combat commenced and after the fight, the party got their first glance of Strahd. He appeared on horseback from a distance before turning and leaving.

OLD BONEGRINDER

The group decided to head towards Vallaki, in hopes that the Church of St Andral would be consecrated ground where Ireena would be safe from Strahd.

The party encountered a woman selling “Dream Pies” to soulless people. They saw a couple give their child to the woman in exchange for pies and the little girl was thrown into a sack.

Lucius insisted that the party needed to intervene and much to Silas’s annoyance, they followed the woman towards the mill known as Old Bonegrinder.

Just outside of Old Bonegrinder, the party discovered their first megalith and saw that the shrine was desecrated with teeth. A very large raven flew over and was clearly trying to communicate something about the teeth to the party.

The group stormed into Old Bonegrinder and began combat with two hags, the third one apparently still out.

During combat the party realised that one of the Hags had turned herself into Ismark, shoving the real Ismark into the oven.

After dragging Ismark out of the oven and saving him by mere seconds, the party managed to make it out alive as the entire Bonegrinder burnt to the ground. Luckily saving the little girl in the process.

Running over from the megalith, the raven turned into a person and the party met Falkon Targolov for the first time. A wereraven and relative of the Martikov family. He said he was planning to take down the hags himself and that he worked for a group called the Keepers of the Feather.

VALLAKI

The group agreed to meet with Falkon later at the Bluewater Inn and before long, finally arrived in Vallaki.

They made a very quick beeline to the Church of St Andral, but were surprised by the four fresh gravestones out front that listed everyone's names, excluding Ireena.

As soon as Luci’s familiar was able to cross the threshold of the church, being a demonic creature, Luci could immediately sense that the church was not consecrated.

Lucius spoke with Father Lucien Petrovich, inquiring about the graves and asking if he could take in the little girl with the other orphans at the church.

Father Lucien explained that the graves were recently commissioned and he would look into the records. Sensing that Luci was a man of god, he admitted that the bones of St Andral that usually kept the church consecrated had been stolen.

Silas attempted to have a conversation with a boy called Milivoj who was digging the graves and completely embarrassed himself.

While heading to the inn, the group walked past the Burgomaster's mansion and saw a bright pink flash of energy from the attic. Silas recognised the flash as a spell going off and was immediately intrigued.

Outside the inn the party saw a colourful caravan with "Rictavio's Carnival of Wonders" painted on the side. Silas attempted to look inside but bailed when he heard a growl from behind the bars.

The party met the owners of the Bluewater Inn, Urwin and Danika Martikov and their sons - all wereravens like Falkon.

Falkon arrived soon after looking battered, carrying an ancient looking book. He had apparently defeated the last hag by himself.

Falkon took them up to his room in the cramped attic called the Raven Loft. Silas asked hesitantly, “Do you… pay to live here?” And Falkon said “No.” To which Silas replied, “Good.”

Benoit helped translate the parts of the book that were in druidic. They learnt about the history of the valley, including the Delmorians and the Fanes.

Falkon asked the party for assistance with the druids who had taken over the Wizard of Wines.

Later that night, the party met Karl and Nikolai Wachter and played a game of cards with them, learning more about the political situation in Vallaki, the Burgomaster��s family and the constant festivals.

That night Benoit had a dream of the Gulthias tree burning and spoke with a ghostly dusk elf woman called Petrina.

The following morning the party met the owner of the caravan, Rictavio. He told them he had a monkey but gave it to Blinksy the toymaker.

BURGOMASTER'S ATTIC

On the way back to the church of St Andral, Silas begged the party to peek in the attic at the Burgomaster’s mansion. Through various means of levitating and flying the party broke into the top floor.

The door on the far end had a ward that electrocuted Luci when he went to knock.

Inside the party found a workshop belonging to the baronet, Viktor Vallakovich. After snooping around and admiring the skeleton cats, the party discovered a faulty teleportation circle. It was only when Luci tried to destroy the circle with a dagger that Viktor revealed himself from his invisibility spell and attempted to stop him.

He immediately said he would have us all arrested for breaking in since he was the Burgomaster’s son. The party had a long and tense conversation with him, discussing his experiments to find a way out of Barovia. He talked about exploding a few of his maids in the process and the treatment of his once promised fiancee, Stella Wachter, who he modified her memory into believing she was a cat. He mentioned important books and information at Wachterhaus (The Wachter family’s home) that he believed would be useful.

Silas was ecstatic about meeting another wizard for the first time; the party was less enthusiastic.

At the church, Luci and Benoit found a fish hook near where the bones had been stolen from. The party learnt that Milivoj was the one who took the bones and that would usually help a fisherman called Bluuto out on Lake Zarovich.

LAKE ZAROVICH

Travelling to the Lake, the party stopped by the Vistani camp There they found out about the missing 7 year old oracle, Arabelle.

The party spoke briefly with Kassimir the dusk elf, Benoit mentioning the dreams with Petrina and learnt that she was once Kassimir’s sister and engaged to Strahd. He asked for assistance with ancient knowledge at the Amber Temple.

At the lake the party managed to stop Bluuto attempting to sacrifice Arabelle to the lake by throwing her overboard in a sack.

Silas levitated him and in his dying breaths he said “The feast…two days” before biting his tongue and dying. Great.

After bringing Arabelle home safely, she gave the part Tarokka readings which mentioned a tome of ancient knowledge, a sword of sunlight and an artefact of protection.

FESTIVAL OF THE BLAZING SUN

The party returned to Vallaki before the festival of the blazing sun.

That night Silas received a dream where he spoke directly to Strahd - Strahd gave Silas the ability to finally open his fathers spellbook. Scared of the party’s reaction, Silas decided not to tell anyone about it.

Shortly after the dream, Silas snuck out at 3am to go over to the Burgomasters mansion. He levitated up to Viktor’s bedroom and asked if he would be interested in sharing spells. It was only when Silas mentioned his father's spell book that Viktor took an interest.

The next day was the festival of the blazing sun. The party attended the bizarre display hosted by Vargus the Burgomaster and a very sad band.

From the crowd Silas tried to get Viktor’s attention on the podium. Viktor did a spinning motion with his finger telling Silas to spin in a circle, which he did immediately to Viktor's amusement. Luci hurriedly told Silas to cut it out.

It started to rain as the guards failed to light the wicker sun, and when one guard started to laugh, Vargus ordered him to be killed.

Before the party could intervene they quickly discovered that the Wachter brothers had released a sabertooth tiger into the streets, one that was apparently in Rictavio’s caravan.

After a lot of running around, rescuing an injured Nikolai and herding the creature out of town, they managed to get the tiger back into the caravan.

Rictavio told them he would be leaving, before giving a very stern talking to Silas where his poor deception revealed he had spoken with Strahd. Rictavio promptly removed a tracking spell that Strahd had put on Silas’s spellbook.

WACHTERHAUS + LORD VASILI

Taking advantage of the fact that Nikolai had gotten hurt, the party went over to Wachterhaus to check on him while also snooping around. Silas got his arm stuck in the fence while trying to get inside.

Karl informed them that his mother currently had a guest staying over called Lord Vasili von Holz.

After meeting Vasili who was surprised to find the entire party snooping around the small library, he invited them all to have dinner with him.

The party had a pleasant evening with Lady Wachter and Vasili, hearing all about Lady Wachter’s dissatisfaction with the current leader of Vallaki.

The next day the party discovered that Silas's spellbook could directly copy the contents of other books within a 8-10 ft radius. This included important documents from Wachterhaus and all of Luci’s personal diary which Silas had been reading secretly every night.

Reading his father's book, Silas also found out that his father was Otto (Inventor of Otto's Irresistible Dance), a famous wizard and bard who was close friends of Mordenkainen. Silas was utterly humiliated that his father was a Bard Wizard but was more gutted to realise that Otto had died 2 years prior at the hands of Vecna.

THE FEAST

With no new leads on the missing bones, the party went on a search through Vallaki. Silas decided to attach his spellbook to Falkon in raven form so he could fly around and look for any clues with a detect magic spell.

Finding a strong source of magic, the party very aggressively barged into the coffin maker's shop at the edge of town. Once again terrorising and killing an elderly man as he ran through Benoit's Spike Groth spell.

Not only did the party manage to find the bones, but also an entire shop filled with vampire spawn.

An intense combat ensued where the party was completely swarmed. Silas managed to dimension door out with Ismark while Luci jumped from the second floor skewering a vampire spawn and crushing it with the weight of his armour.

The city fell into complete chaos with buildings on fire and citizens being killed by vampires left and right. This was “The Feast” that Bluuto had mentioned.

The party ran into Vasili who was protecting a group of children from two vampire spawn. With his help the party managed to get to the Church of St Andral just in time to meet Anastrasya, a full blooded vampire and one of Strahd’s wives.

She killed Father Lucien in front of the party and then turned her attention to Vasili where she called him “Dear” and exposed him as Strahd Von Zarovich in disguise. (We all screamed at the table)

To protect the party, Luci handed over the bones to Strahd and in return he promised to clean up Anastrasya’s mess.

Due to a poor perception check from Luci and many bad rolls in the future, Luci continues to see Strahd in his handsome Vasili form throughout the campaign.

The party facing the aftermath of The Feast

LEAVING VALLAKI

Safely back at the Bluewater Inn, Luci had a dream where he spoke with Strahd in the church of St Andral. Strahd handed the ownership of the church over to Luci and asked him to fix it up.

Silas insisted that the party should allow Viktor to travel with them, saying "I need to bring him along to teach me more spells." And Ismark replied snarkily "Oh yeah? He's going to teach you spells? How is he going to teach you? Is he going to teach you orally? with tongue?!" And Silas flew into a complete fit of rage and embarrassment.

The party investigated Wachterhaus again, finding the long dead body of Lady Wachter's husband hidden in their bedroom but also finding the Tome of Strahd in a box of bones.

The party told Karl and Nikolai about the body and encouraged them to get out of town and head to Kresk.

In the chaos that followed, the party made plans to leave town as soon as possible, with their sights set on Argynvostholt where Luci’s tarokka reading spoke of a sword of sunlight.

With a revolt happening against the Burgomaster, Silas told Viktor to meet them at the Bluewater Inn. He waited for Viktor like a nervous war wife while Luci and Ismark went to look at Luci’s new church. On the way there they saw Lady Wachter leading a mob against the Burgomaster and his wife and allowed them to carry on. While the Burgomaster’s Mansion was set on fire, Luci and Ismark continued to clean up the church and had a heart to heart conversation.

Falkon dragged Viktor into the inn by the scruff of his collar and with no home left to return to, Silas invited Viktor to travel with them. He very quickly agreed to tag along. The party were mostly outraged but Luci firmly said "Make your choices, Silas."

That night Strahd talked with Luci again in his dreams, this time by a lake from Luci’s hometown. The following morning Luci woke up with an invitation for the entire party to a dinner at Castle Ravenloft scheduled in the next few days. Ireena adamantly insisted that she wanted to go to give Strahd a piece of her mind.

Silas was becoming increasingly jealous that Strahd was now only contacting Luci.

The party found a scroll of resurrection that was left by Rictavio. The scroll was given to Ireena to hold onto.

THE ROAD TO ARGYNVOSTHOLT

With a huge travelling party consisting of Falkon, Viktor, Ismark, Ireena, Luci, Benoit and Silas, the group grabbed new winter clothes, got their weapons silvered and bought horses from the Vistani for their trip up the mountain.

Just off the main road out of Vallaki, Luci, Ismark and Benoit stumbled on a body strung up between two trees, yellow flowers and fungi growing from his chest with druidic writing written across the stones.

When a storm started to get too strong, the group found shelter in an abandoned cabin.

The party took some time to read Strahd’s tome (We are using the interactive tome) learning about his childhood and the battle of Argynvostholt. They learnt about his right hand Rahadin the dusk elf and his best friend Alek Guilym who looked not exactly the same but very similar to Luci. They found information about his brother Sergei, the sun sword that he wielded and Tatyana, a woman identical to Ireena.

Within the tome, Benoit had a very important conversation with a woman called Lysaga who he quickly realised was still alive from hundreds of years ago and was very aware that she was communicating through a book.

Silas asked Viktor if he would form a wizard alliance with him.

On the way up the side of the mountain, the group met a Vistani man called Arrigal, who told them he was looking for a horse thief called Esmerelda - The party learnt that Esmerelda is a vampire hunter and was once a student of Van Richten. (Silas's favourite author and famous monster hunter)

Inside Argynvostholt the group stole a bunch of stuff from Godfrey Guilym’s room and absolutely decimated some revenants in an overkill combat (This incredible combat involved Luci’s insanely strong addon damage, a moonbeam spell revealing Falkon’s true form and a double fireball spell from Silas and Viktor.)

In one of the hallways, the party saw a line of marble busts. For a moment one appeared as Benoit's decapitated head. Benoit called Strahd pathetic for trying to scare him. They realised that Strahd harbours a lot of resentment as he is unable to contact Benoit through dreams like he can with the rest of the party.

Speaking with the revenant of Godfrey (And sheepishly returning his stolen property), he let us know that the revenant of Vladimir Horngaard was the one who had the sun sword.

The party had an absolutely agonising (and incredible) combat against Vladimir. Luci was caught in close quarters and was pinned to the ground, having his head smashed against the ground over and over by Vladimir, leaving him dead.

Once Vladimir was defeated and the sun sword obtained, Ireena used the scroll of resurrection to bring Luci back to life (He now has a fear of fire). Ismark being unable to stop Vladimir in the fight took Luci's death very personally.

The party returned back to Arrigal’s campsite in silence, getting a short sleep in before they were expected to be picked up for their dinner at Castle Ravenloft.

Strahd’s black carriage arrived and the party gave the tome to Falkon for safe-keeping and agreed to meet back up again at the Wizard of Wines.

Although he was not invited, Viktor decided that he was also going to attend the dinner and faced the realisation that he was no longer the Burgomaster's son.

DINNER WITH STRAHD

The exhausted party arrived at the gates of Castle Ravenloft and were met by Rahadin. Just being within his "deathly choir" aura took a bunch of hit points off Silas.

They met Strahd at the grand staircase, Luci still completely covered in his own blood.

Strahd was unimpressed by their attire and with Viktor being an uninvited guest. He informed them he had already selected new clothes for them to wear and that Rahadin would escort them to the guest wing.

When Silas hesitated to follow Rahadin up the stairs, the deathly choir got louder, making Silas collapse on the stairs.

In the guest wing they met Escher, Strahd's newest consort. They had already heard a lot about Escher from Falkon as they were dating before Escher decided to leave and turn into a vampire.

The party in their dinner outfits

After changing into new clothes, Escher refused to take the group downstairs.

When the party arrived in the dining hall by themselves, Strahd had very purposefully arranged the seating plan. Ireena on his left and Luci directly on his right.

Silas’s jealousy of Strahd's attention towards Luci was starting to boil over at this point.

At the table they met the other brides, Ludmilla and Anastrasya again - they were informed that Volenta was currently out.

After directing Ireena to sit, Strahd said “This seat is for Ireena’s brother.” And when Ismark went to sit, Strahd instructed “No, no. not you.” and made him sit one seat over.

As the dinner started, a new person entered the room, a bodyguard working for Strahd called Izek. He was very confused when Strahd told him to dine with us. The party discovered that Izek was Ireena’s real biological brother who she believed had died when they were children.

The very awkward dinner continued.

Benoit started up a charming conversation with Ludmilla. Since she wanted to discuss some more sensitive topics, Ludmilla stood and told Strahd very boldly she would be getting more wine from downstairs with Benoit. Strahd watched in silent fury as they left the room.

After Luci accidentally mentioned that he had died earlier that day, Strahd stood from the table and politely asked if Luci would join him for a walk since he had something to show him.

Luci turned to Silas as he stood and said “I’ll just be a few minutes” and Silas replied with the most sarcastic and acidic “Sure.”

With Benoit and Luci both gone from the table, completely filled with rage and jealousy, Silas grabbed a wine bottle and began to drink heavily.

PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS

Strahd had a very intimate conversation with Luci, taking him to his study and showing him the brand new red and black platemail armour that he had commissioned specifically for him.

Luci bashfully replied saying “Red is not really my colour.” Strahd smiled and said, “Well that’s not true, you looked beautiful in red when you arrived here.” referring to when Luci arrived covered in blood. Strahd casually offered Luci the idea of companionship and the opportunity to do good work in Barovia, and Luci hesitated leaving the answer vague but not turning down the offer down completely.

Benoit downstairs in the wine cellar saw the dead body of Milivoj and a number of others strung up in the basement, blood being drained from their bodies and into wine barrels.

He took note but continued his conversation with Ludmilla, asking her what she would do if Strahd was no longer in the picture and organised to meet up with her in the library after dinner to discuss further.

Drunk Silas started to pick fights with Ismark, asking if everyone was going to let Luci get away with this.

Silas demanded that Izek take him and Viktor to look at Strahd’s Library.

In the library Viktor started to hunt through books while Silas had a really pleasant and sobering conversation with Izek. Learning that he seemed to be a very kind hearted man in a difficult situation. He even asked “What's a wizard?” to Silas’s absolute surprise and horror.

Silas offered to lend some of his books to Izek, asked about his job and if there was a chance he’d be able to travel with them for a short time,with the hope he could speak properly with Ireena.

After Viktor found castle floor plans, Silas attempted a high five but since neither of them had ever done one before, they ended up just touching their palms together for a weird amount of time before both awkwardly shrugging it off.

Benoit, Ludmilla, Luci and Strahd arrived back to realise three people were no longer at the table.

As the library trio were about to leave, Izek opened the door to reveal Strahd standing in the hallway.

Izek immediately took the fall for Silas and lied saying that he offered to take them to the Library. Strahd told Izek and Viktor to leave and Viktor left Silas behind without even a second glance.

Strahd offered Silas the role of his successor and Silas's response was extremely sceptical. Strahd also mentioned that apparently the famous monster hunter Van Richten wants to kill Silas since he has Strahd's Tome. Silas is Van Richten's biggest fan and was extremely concerned and confused about this information.

The party all returned to the table. Luci asked Ismark if he was doing alright, and Ismark looked at Luci baffled saying "Why is it when something bad happens to you, you're always asking me if I'm alright? You're the one who just died."

Silas started an argument that Luci's death was more traumatic for him because he had to watch it happen.

After dinner Strahd decided to give a tour of the castle, leaving Viktor alone at the table with the brides.

As they were leaving the dining room Strahd pulled Benoit aside and threatened him saying “Conspire with my wife again and I’ll have you killed.” Benoit stared him down defiantly said “Ok. Sure.”

During the tour, out of spite Benoit revealed to everyone that he had found Milivoj dead and strung up in the wine cellar. Strahd furiously decided that the tour was over and that Izek would escort the party to their rooms for the night.

AFTER DINNER CHAOS

The post dinner conversations were very tense, the party sharing what Strahd had said to them. While Viktor was away the party raised concerns about his lack of participation in the fight that led to Luci’s death, to which Silas was very defensive.

Benoit went to talk privately with Ludmilla in the Library. He learnt more about the Druids at Yester Hill and the location of his mentor. Benoit very casually asked if she'd let him stay the night with her and having already endeared himself, she gave him a once over and nodded calmly allowing him to follow her to her room. (We all started to cheer for Benoit at the table!)

Luci decided to go and speak with Strahd alone to confront him about the all lies he had told him in his numerous dreams. When Luci showed up to Strahd's bedchambers, Escher was immediately kicked out by Strahd.

Strahd spoke with Luci, skillfully turning around every lie and positioning himself as lonely and sympathetic, endearing himself to Luci even more. At one point Strahd cast modify memory on Luci in order to make sure Luci believed him, spinning the story that the others were simply just jealous of him. Strahd offered a hand to Luci again, asking him to stay the night. Luci agreed and slept with Strahd.

When Silas found out that Luci had gone to Strahd and wasn’t coming back for the night, he sent Luci the angriest sending spell saying “You’re an idiot, a fucking traitor and a waste of a perfectly good resurrection scroll.” Silas got no reply.

After speaking with Ireena and Ismark about the state of the party, Silas numbly sat with Viktor in a spare bedroom. Silas ripped into Viktor questioning him about leaving Silas alone with Strahd. He reminded Viktor that without Silas, he would be abandoned by the party immediately so if he wanted to stay he needed to think of someone besides himself.

Viktor apologised and after some more conversations he admitted that he had witnessed his parents being stoned to death and that maybe he wasn’t completely alright after Vallaki.

They had a heart to heart, Silas telling him about his own situation with his abusive mother and Viktor telling Silas he was an idiot for believing that Van Richten wanted to kill him.

They spent the remainder of the evening studying together.

THE NEXT MORNING

Benoit and Luci sheepishly returned to the guest wing the following morning, walking into the room where Ismark, Ireena, Silas and Viktor sat waiting for them.

Silas completely flew off the handle at both of them, Benoit also getting berated but not nearly as severely as Luci.

Luci tried to explain the situation, sharing his belief that perhaps Strahd wasn’t as bad as everyone painted him as but was quickly and harshly scorned by Silas. Further pushing what Strahd had said about everyone being against Luci into his mind and dividing the party.

Luci informed everyone that Strahd had granted Izek a short leave for him to travel with us.

Silas discovered that he was unable to contact Falkon through sending spell and was worried something had happened to him and the tome.

To the surprise of everyone except for Silas, Ismark announced that he and Ireena would actually be going back to Barovia Village for a short time for their own safety. They wished the party luck and said that perhaps they would reconvene in Kresk.

With the absence of Ireena and Ismark and the weighty understanding of why they had left, the atmosphere in the carriage ride back was horrendous and more arguments insued.

Luci swore that he would never do anything to put Ireena in danger and before Silas could argue back, Viktor interrupted saying “No. No Silas, he’s right…he’d fuck anyone to protect Ireena!” which made Silas laugh harder than he ever has in his life, while Luci and Benoit sat in heated silence.

Art of Falkon and Izek by our incredible DM - @oneirotect

WIZARD OF WINES

The carriage dropped them off at the outskirts of the Wizard of Wines. The new, strange party were united in their goal of hopefully finding and recovering Falkon and Strahd's Tome.

Luci donned his incredible new armour to the absolute horror of Silas. Luci's old armour was destroyed in the combat with Vladimir so he argued back that its better than no armour at all.

Travelling off the path and following another large raven, the party met the remainder of the Martikov Family who own the winery.

After explaining the situation, Falkon's uncle Elvir guessed that Falkon had decided to do a quick detour and deal with a hag in Berez.

Elvir invited himself along and only a few hours later mentioned that he couldn't fight but that the party could protect him.

The party made their way into the swamp to rescue Falkon.

This is where we last left off in game and if you have made it this far, thank you so much for reading such a long breakdown of our campaign! If you have any questions feel free to ask and again thank you so much for showing interest and support for our game, it means so much to all of us!

#dnd #Curse of Strahd #ravenloft #strahd #Dnd campaign #dnd character #Silas Shaw #Silas #Benoit #Luci #Lucius Thornhill #dungeons and dragons #dnd art #A MEDAL FOR ANYONE WHO READS THE ENTIRE THING ITS 5K I THINK #I tried to keep is brief but so much has happened #I HOPE YOU ENJOY!

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