15/08/2025 - 'Wandering West'

With Torbin and Vanroth busy with their Vistani training, Slate leaves the encampment to see the Dusk Elves living at the base of the hill. Approaching one of the Dusk Elves, the two bow to each other as they recognize each others heritage. Slate introduces himself as Theren Galanodel, his true name, and asks if he can speak with the leader of the Dusk Elves here. The elf directs Slate toward the home closest to the trail leading up the hill to the Vistani encampment, where Kasimir Velikov resides.

Heading toward the house, Slate sees Summer coming down the hill toward him. She saw him talking to the Elf and wanted to see what's going on. Telling Summer that he was going to visit their leader, Slate tells Summer she can tag along as long as she doesn't do anything to upset Kasimir.

She only promises to try.

Probably the closest Slates going to get...

The two head toward the house, only to be intercepted by two guards at the door. Slate asks to speak to Kasimir, a voice within the house calls out to the guard called Blackwing to allow Slate through. He is a hero after all.

A far older Dusk Elf greets Slate and Summer warmly, introducing himself as Kasimir Velikov. The Elf looks extremely rough: his face scarred and part of his body is covered in burns. One of his hands is mangled beyond the twos belief...

He offers the two guests food and drink, Slate turns it down but Summer accepts. Leaving Summer in an armchair with her snacks, Slate and Kasimir sit across from each other to talk. Kasimir comments that it is odd to see a Kobold travelling with other races. Back in his day, they were only seen as half-competent beasts. Looking to Summer, he asks what tribe she comes from. The Kobold seems puzzled: she grew up in a monastery with other Monks of all sorts of races. It's Kasimirs turn to be puzzled: seems the world he knew has gotten far more... progressive than he expected.

Turning back to Slate, Kasimir asks why he was owed the pleasure of the Rouges presence. Slate asks about what the old Elf had ever considered leaving Barovia, looking at the serene paintings on the wall of what Slate thinks is Barovia before Strahd. 

Kasimir doesn't think it is possible as much as he would like his people to leave this cursed land after what he did.

Kasimir tells Slate about the night he crossed Strahd and felt his wrath first hand. He had once served Strahd shortly after his rise to power, until Kasimir discovered that Strahd was courting his sister, Patrina. Learning that they were planning to wed and Strahd was starting to turn his sister into a Vampire, Kasimir took his sisters life to prevent it from happening. Strahds wrath swiftly followed: a fellow Dusk Elf gave the Dark Lord Kasimirs location, leading to Kasimir being tortured before his people. Then came the end of the Dusk Elves in Barovia, Strahd personally killing every single female Dusk Elf, halting the procreation of their race with those who remain.

Since then, the Dusk Elf males are left waiting for their line to end as they grow old and die...

Butting in to stop Summer remarking on the party knowing a female Elf, Slate asks what Kasimir knows of Madame Eva, the Vistani elder who read their cards a few days earlier. Slate tells him about the cards the party were shown and asks what the Dusk Elf can interoperate from them. 

Kasimir takes a moment before responding, asking Slate what his goals are.

Slate wants to leave Barovia. But Kasimir disagrees, Summer comments that she thinks that the best way out is through. And that there is one big thing they need to get through. 

Kasimir agrees, stating that the readings Slate explained suggest that the party would face Strahd rather than flee from him.

And if this is their fate to face the Dark Lord, he is willing to aid the party if they can do something for him as well. Patrinas body is buried inside of Castle Ravenloft, he wishes to find his sister and bring her back to life when the party make their move on the Castle. Slate and Summer agree.

Kasimir turns his attention back to the cards Slate described.

Enchanter, The Tome - Kasimir thinks it might have something to do with the Hag known as Baba Lysaga, within the Berez ruins that is now a bog after Strahd burned it down and flooded it with the nearby river. Baba Lysaga is rumored to have been blessed by Mother Night, the moon god that is the Morninglords counterpart, but the blessing had been corrupted when the mists encased Barovia. Apparently she had unintentionally assisted Strahd at times, but she currently roams those ruins. Either she has information that could help in the battle against Strahd, or possess an actual Tome that the party would need to retrieve from her.

Paladin, The Holy Symbol - Kasimir thinks this may be something that Strahds brother had possessed, maybe buried with him in his crypt within Ravenloft. The brother opposed Strahd when he was rising to power, killed in their battle.

Phlanthropist, The Sword - Kasimir thinks this is related to a sword forged of sunlight that Strahds brother had wielded. It might not be in the brothers krypt, but Kasimir thinks the description Eva stated as a place where sickness and madness are bred could be the Abbey in Krezk.

Broken One, The Ally - Kasimir thinks this might have something to do with the wizard that took on Strahd not too long ago. This comment has both Slate and Summer recalling the last time they met the wizard...

Executioner, Strahd - Sounds like the party will come face to face with Strahd in a final confronation. Potentially within Castle Ravenloft.

Kasimir suggests to them that it would be wise to look into other avenues as well, to see what else they can find on their travels.

Slate agrees, then changing the subject to ravens. They have been everywhere the party has gone and it certainly seems like they're being followed for a purpose. Do they work for Strahd? Kasimir tells them that he believes that the ravens dislike the undead, they probably don't serve Strahd.

Summer pipes in, asking how Kasimir plans to bring back his dead sister.

Kasimir tells the two that his sister comes to him in his dreams, talking of an amber temple in the mountains to the north. A dark place where Strahd had made his pact for power and his rise to it began from.

Kasimir wants the party to help him there when the time comes to face Strahd.

The two agree to this, thanking the old Elf for his time.

As Slate begins to leave, Kasimir offers some advice to the younger Elf. If he comes across a Dusk Elf in his travels called Rahadin, run from him or kill him. This is the Dusk Elf that led Strahd to Kasimir and his people, the now 'right hand' of Strahd.

Slate shakes the old mans hand, telling the Dusk Elf elder to not lose hope.

Heading back up to the Vistani encampment, the two discuss what their next move should be. Sounds like two of the cards pointed to things toward the west of Valliki, maybe that's the way to go?

Finding Torbin and Vanroth having returned to Fran and Abe, Slate and Summer join them for lunch with the Vistani.

During the lunch, Summer, Slate and Vanroth discuss with some Vistani about the road leading to the vinyard that makes the wine that everyone seems to want.

They learn about the road they need to take and some information about some of the other roads they'll pass on the way.

One is the Berez Ruins, which the party decide they want to avoid for now.

Next is the fortress of Argynvostholt, the former home of the Silver Dragon knights. During Strahds rise to power, the Dark Lord had slain the Silver Dragon in battle and now their bones rest within Ravenloft as well. Seems that Strahd likes to keep even his enemies close to home...

Then the fork that leads north to Krezk and the south that leads to the Wizards of the Wine vineyard.

Talking it over, the party decide that their best course of action would be to head straight for the vineyard and get wine to use as tokens for favors, then start finding the things related to the cards on their way back toward Valliki.

Abe, who looks a lot better after his good nights rest, asks if they should deal with his hag problem first. Slate thinks that the group could finish the vineyard stuff quickly enough to not need to take too many nights on the road before they deal with Morgathra. Abe agrees and the party decide to leave for the vineyard in the morning.

The next morning, the party say their farewells before taking the road to the west side of Valliki. They don't end up as close to the city as they thought they would, but they cross a bridge an come across a broken sign showing the directions toward Valliki, Berez and Krezk. As Summer and Vanroth fix the sign with Slate, the two notice bootprints heading along the path toward Berez. Not their problem right now, they need to go to the vineyard first.

Walking further, Slate notices that there are more ravens appearing on the trees the further they head west...

Abe notices a set of wheel tracks leading down a path north, toward another lake to the north. Not the way the party want to go, onwards!

The next turn they find heads south with a large stone statue that shows a depiction of a large dragon. This must be the path to Argynvostholt...

Finding themselves at a fork in the road with a sign pointing north to Krezk and south to the Wizard of the Wine vineyard, the party start down the south path until they come across another split in the road. One path has a broken wooden sign that Abe can make out the words 'Wizard _____ Wines' on it. There appear to be a lot of wheel tracks down that path, that must be the way!

They follow the tracks finding themselves approaching a stone bridge, covered in more ravens than the party had ever seen. When they reach the foot of the bridge, the ravens begin to fly off, making a flickering veil of black before the party. Seeing a raven transforming into a humanoid figure within the wall of ravens, Summer and Slate draw their weapons as they watch the old human man finish his transformation as the rest of the ravens fly off.

The old man stands before the party silently, waiting for the parties next move...

01/08/2025 - 'Scalps and Scars'

 The party arrives in the Vistani settlement where Arrabelle is from, the sounds of people in the woods behind them calling the young girls name. Walking into the camps clearing with the party, Arabelle runs ahead, calling out for her father. Somewhere between the camp wagons around the large tent atop the hill, a voice calls back and a man runs out to Arabelle. Hugging the young girl, the man looks at the strange group approaching them. Introducing himself as Arrigal, Arabelles uncle, he asks how the party came across his niece.

Slate explains the events that happened at Lake Zarovich and how Vanroth and Torbin had managed to rescue her. Summer mutters that she helped too, but Arrigal had already started leading the group up the hill toward the wagons where they can hear the sounds of a cracking whip. Getting closer, Arrigal calls out to Luvash to stop, his daughter is back!

The whipping stops and a large man steps into view from between the wagons with a whip in hand. Seeing Arabelle, Luvash rushes to her and picks her up in a big hug. Vanroth asks what the whip was for, Luvash was using it to whip the man that was supposed to be keeping an eye on Arabelle when she went missing.

Luvash leads the group between the wagons toward a campfire. Torbin sees Summer stop and turn toward a shirtless man leaning against a wagon with large lashes across his back, still bleeding. Seeing the kobold lick her lips, Torbin elbows her to snap Summer out of her stupor while Vanroth approached the man, offering him healing. The young man declines the Clerics offer, believing he deserved what he had received.

Luvash tells the man that he can go, ordering him and Arrigal to let the others to stop the search for Arabelle. With the two Vistani leaving, Luvash invites the party to his families tent. Entering inside, he comments about how odd it is to see a Kobold in Barovia. Summer comments bluntly that she's here to pay off her debt to the Stoker family, pointing to the tired Abe. The man raises an eyebrow, curious as to why a Stoker is in Barovia. Abe is surprised that someone in Barovia is aware of his family.

Turning to Torbin and Vanroth, Luvash tells them that he will discuss their rewards for his daughters saviors with the rest of his clan has returned to the camp.

Torbin comments on the red sash tied to Luvashs arm, saying he recalls the Vistani that had led them toward Barovia originally wore something similar in blue. Luvash confirms that that group works for Strahd,

As does his.

Seeing the party tense up, Luvash explains that they aren't against Strahd, but are willing to do things for him if asked. He does admit that they have lured adventurers from outside Barovia in before, just like how the party was led. He does state that for the group having helped his daughter, he would not tell Strahd anything about the party. He cannot guarantee that the others in his camp wouldn't say, but he says that at least himself, Arrigal and Arabelle won't say anything.

Arrigal arrives in the tent to tell the group that the clan has gathered near the camp. Exiting the tent with Luvash and Arabelle, the party find themselves swamped by the Vistani all eager to see Arabellles saviors. Luvash asks who of the Vistani has alcohol, one bringing forth two bottles of wine from Baldurs Gate, stating that the Blue Water Inn in Valliki had no wine left to sell. As if someone was supposed to get some for the Inn...

Hearing the Vistani mention being in Valliki, Abe recalls that Vistani were not allowed to go into Valliki. How did they get past the guards?

Standing on a table to talk over the crowd, Luvash asks his fellow Vistani if he can offer the Blood Rite to Torbin and Vanroth. The group seems to agree that he can and Luvash explains the Blood Rite to them.

The Blood Rite is a ceremony held at night where Luvash and the two saviors will cut their palms and let their blood mingle. Those who complete the Rite are then considered 'Glogoto', friend or ally of the Vistani. In another sense, they are honorary Vistani. As a Glogoto, they can potentially leave Barovia if they are accompanied by a Vistani of the clan they completed the Rite with.

Torbin and Vanroth both agree to take part of the Rite.

The crowd applauds and disperses, Luvash telling the group to follow him to a wagon. He wasn't going to let the party leave with just cut hands, he offers them several small chests sitting in pigeon holes for the party to choose between. Torbin chooses number 3, a long box that holds a large amount of copper coins and an ornate long sword. Abe and Slate examine the long sword, Slate curiously fiddling with the gem logded inside the swords hilt. Popping the gem out, he realizes that the gem has some sort of magical property to it. Seeing Abe struggling to wield the sword and not wanting to give Summer another weapon, Francesco and Torbin suggest that Vanroth uses the sword instead.

While scooping out the coins, Summer finds two healing potions that Abe and Slate both take one each.

With everything sorted out before midnight, Abe asked to use one of the wagons to sleep. Being led to a wagon and having the door closed behind him, the rest of the party joining in the festivities, Abe could finally rest in peace...

Abe dreams of a grand ball room, a familiar gathering he would attend with his father on occasion as celebrated guests. Walking around the large hall, he starts to notice that the musics tune is a little off beat. The fancy dress and coats looking more old and tattered as he pays more attention to them. Then it's the faces of his family, their details are slightly off putting and almost disturbing in a way he cannot describe. This dream was becoming a nightmare.

Turning to leave, Abe bumps into a large mirror that wasn't there before. He can see himself, but with a large top hat on his head. Reaching above his head, he cannot feel it. His fingers grasp at the air over his head, lowering further until he scratches into his head, yanking out a chunk of his scalp. Looking at the clump in his hand he stumbles forward and falls into the mirror, falling through where he expected the mirror to be and barely catching himself on the frame of the mirror. Hearing a crackling laughter, he pulls himself up to see a somewhat familiar face grinning down at him as she picks up the chunk of scalp.

Cackling down at him is Morgathra, the pie lady the party met in the town of Barovia. Or as he gathered after the visit to the durst windmill, a hag like her daughters. Her laugh grows louder to the point Abe suddenly bolts upright on the floor of the wagon, his head bloody and shattered mirror shards on the ground around him.

Stumbling out of the wagon, Abe sees Slate and Vanroth both sitting near the wagon with their magic items. The Cleric and Rogue at startled by Abes sudden appearance and... appearance.

He doesn't look like he's gotten any sleep, he looks far worse than before. And a chunk of his scalp is missing, held in the young rangers hand... Torbin notices Abe as well, keeing Summer busy with Francesco as he goes over to see what's happening. Abe tells them about his dream and seeing Morgathra, not understanding what any of it means. Once Slate explains to Vanroth about the hag Morgathra and her daughters, Vanroth proposes an explanation to Abes state:

This appears to be a form of revenge, Abe having been the one to strike the killing blow on one of her coven daughters. She's attempting wear down Abe with exhaustion before attempting to kill him when he least expects it. Though Vanroth suspects that this will take time before Abe is completely worn out, he suspects that if Morgathra is able to recomplete her coven, she could chip Abes energy down even faster. But how does she recomplete her coven? She'd need to use a girl as a sacrifice to bring her daughter back to the realm of the living...

Abe can't do anything with this information right now, he just needs sleep before he can worry about anything else! Torbin offers Abe some aid to get some sleep, grabbing Francesco for some magical assistance to help Abe get some more peaceful rest. Abe falls back to sleep in the wagon once more, Francesco keeping an eye on him while Torbin goes to perform the rite with Vanroth and Luvash.

Standing in a circle of Vistani, Torbin and Vanroth stand with Luvash. The Vistani leader holds a large ritual dagger toward the moon above, chanting as he slashes open his palm. Turning the blade to Torbin and Vanroth, he cuts their palms as well in the same manner. Putting the dagger away, Luvash produces a cloth that he uses to bind three hands together with his own hand squeezing down on the hands of the outsiders. Torbin grits his teeth as Vanroth barely manages to keep himself from trying to pull his hand free. After a few minutes of agonizing pain, Luvash cuts the cloth toi reveal the bloody hands. Torbin and Vanroths cut wound seems to have transformed into crest, similar to that of the Vistani around them.

Luvash steps back, telling the two that their initiation has begun and will be followed up on in the morning. The Vistani celebrate a little while longer before turning in for the night...

The next morning, while a better looking Abe had breakfast with the party and the Vistani, Torbin and Vanroth are taken aside to be taught by one of the Vistani elders. The old woman taught the two the ability to Detect Curses. The two take a little while to work it out, but they both seem to get it when the two of them find themselves looking at Summer.

Seeing their progression speed, the old Vistani starts to teach them each a curse. Torbin excelled at being able to cast the Stifling Curse while Vanroth learned to cast the Fumbling Curse.

Happy with their progress, the elder leads the two into her tent to show them a Vistani secret. Showing them two potion bottles, the two are asked to smell them. Torbin notices a familiar scent of a poison in one bottle, while the other appears to just be water with some coloring in it.

The secret: the Vistani claim to have a potion that allow people to walk through the fog out of Barovia. The people who buy this 'potion' would either walk into the fog and die within it from the poison or find themselves walking back into Barovia. If they didn't die, they usually assume that they did something wrong and will come back to buy another potion to try again in desperation. Eventually, they will drink the poison before they walk into the fog... To anyone who sees someone walk into the fog and not return, it looks like they escaped Barovia. Hence the word of mouth spreads around once more. A nice side hustle, isn't it?

While waiting for Torbin and Vanroth to finish their Vistani lessons, Slate finds himself looking toward the houses at the base of the hill. Those folks walking around down there aren't Vistani, they're Dusk Elves...