Weary from a long day of fighting, losing Brankx and Claudiu, the long road back to Vallaki seems to stretch on and on.

At last you pull the wagon up to the gates, unawares of the eyes that have been watching you all along the road. The massive iron gates open without questions from the guards, and you finally unload yourselves at the Blue Moon Inn.

The night sky begins to rain and you hurry inside to sit by the fireplace.

Urvin has a scowl on his face as he brings over mugs of hot tea. "Took you all so long, I'm completely dried up. No wine. Did you get my wine?"

Davian and Dag both pull their hoods down from covering their heads.

Urvin stops dead in his speech, "Oh."

Davian explains what happened, that the druids took everyone, Claudiu is dead, about the strange statue he was sacrificed in...about Berez.

"We are not an army father, but I will send every man I can spare. You have our help."

---

You did bring the wine though, and that was the requirement for him to give you something special. If you remember what that was.

The druid, new to this group and (seemingly) this realm, looked around as the others spoke, the knoledge of the evil druids sat ill with her. Now more used to her new clothes and outfit, she walked around, looking at things with a tilted head, almost like she was seeing them for the first time.

She looked at Urvin. "I have recently come here, so i am new to the suituation, but given what has been told, i feel i must help. Druids that have turned from the path need to be rectified - and these friends of yours who fought against them, i will assist them for..."

She paused, looking at each. "...i guess, freeing me"

"Thank you for your help, Urvin. Yes, we retrieved the last wine from the Wizards, if you have some help I will show them to the casks."

The noblewoman graciously took care of business, but she was determined to be rewarded. "You said you had the symbol? We need it. It has kept you protected now it is no longer time to sit in Vallaki behind it's walls. We need the trinket, for we are taking the fight to Strahd."

To Karasha Lando raised his glass and said, "You are quite welcome if we did anything to free you.  However I think you, like many of us, may be here at the mechanations of the evil Strahd.  He is not only a vampire and tyrant over the land, but worse, a would be rapist, and an egotistical boar.  He brought several of us here for his amusement, but we won't bow to him."  He took Ireena's hand gently in response to her earlier statements, "With my lady Ireena's strength of heart we will triumph over him."  He looked over the group, and added in a more triumphant tone, "In fact, I say by the people here, he's already lost! he just doesn't know it yet!" To Urvin he said, "now let's see this symbol, and while we're at it let's have a glass of this wine we've been riding all over the countryside for."

Later while drinking the wine he made a solumn toast, "let us take a moment to remember those we lost.  I don't know  many who have suffered, but one in particular, to Brankx the dwarf, a grumpy son of a bitch, and true friend."

Karasha looks at the man and nodded. "I don't truly know why I am here or fully who I am...my memory is muddled. I remember some thing, like how to speak, and how to use my powers, but I don't know who I was or came to be here." as she frowned, the tips of her hair took an unusual hue of colour consisting of blues, greens and reds, mirroring her confusion. "....perhaps in time these will return."

She crossed her arms as she looked at them all. "As for this strahd, 5he fact he is a vampire would be enough for me. The druid order sees such undead as a unnatural breach to the circle of all things. If he is spreading misery to these people, then something must be done. You have my help"

With the wine, she furrows her brow and sniffs it, then takes a sip. "Grapes! how wonderful....and some spices." her expression changes to surprise and delight. She looks at lando as she speaks of the dwarf companion. "Brankx? why would such a friend be a son of a female canine? Was this dwarf also a dog?"

Lando chuckled, "he barked enough to be confused for a dog, that's for sure.  I'll miss him."

The druid had a confused look, but nodded. "I can't.....remember knowing any of the mountain folk personally, but know their reputation. from the sound of it he was true to his dwarves kin. if he was a dour as his kin, then I assume he was as loyal and trusting as them too."

She looked as Lando raised his glass and done the same. "May the spirit of your friend find peace wherever it roams "

As a few of Urvin's men unload the casks he brings you to a private part of the tavern to unlock a small chest. From it he reveals a holy symbol, a platinum amulet shaped like the sun, with a large crystal embedded in its center.


"The Holy Symbol of Ravenkind is a unique holy symbol sacred to the good-hearted faithful of Barovia. It predates the establishment of any church in Barovia. According to legend, it was delivered to a paladin named Lugdana by a giant raven—or an angel in the form of a giant raven. Lugdana used the holy symbol to root out and destroy nests of vampires until her death. The high priests of Ravenloft kept and wore the holy symbol after Lugdana's passing."

---

Congrats! You've got one of the treasures to help you fight strahd!

The holy symbol has 10 charges for the following properties. It regains 1d6 + 4 charges daily at dawn.

Hold Vampires. As an action, you can expend 1 charge and present the holy symbol to make it flare with holy power. Vampires and vampire spawn within 30 feet of the holy symbol when it flares must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a target is paralyzed for 1 minute. It can repeat the saving throw at the end of its turns to end the effect on itself.
Turn Undead. If you have the Turn Undead or the Turn the Unholy feature, you can expend 3 charges when you present the holy symbol while using that feature. When you do so, undead have disadvantage on their saving throws against the effect.
Sunlight. As an action, you can expend 5 charges while presenting the holy symbol to make it shed bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet. The light is sunlight and lasts for 10 minutes or until you end the effect (no action required).

Zrakrud eyed the amulet, his eyes wide in amazing of the beautiful platinum in it's sun shape "That is beautiful to behold. The riches of this realm continue to amaze me." If no one stops him, he picks up the amulet to look over its craftmanship examining it from each side.

Karasha looks at the amulet, admiring the craftsmanship and design. “Such beauty holds power, much lime the sun itself. Truely a worthy item indeed.” She stood back, being new to the group, but even from this distance, she sensed a power within it capable of helping the land

Skuldja practically collapsed in the wagon and then slept the whole way back, tired from all the hard fighting she did.

She nodded solemnly when Lando toasted to Brankx and had been hitting the wine hard. Then she takes notice in the pretty holy symbol, it is quite shiny and nice looking. She nods in agreement with Zrakrud and continues to stare at it while he handles it.

Davian and Urvin talk at length about the druids that kidnapped their family, killed Claudiu, and that they believe they should go to Berez to rescue the others.

Urvin is willing to send 6 of his wereravens to aid and accompany you, but he will not go himself because he fears for his own family and is either being a coward, or is a wise leader. Maybe both.

As you recuperate in the tavern a colorfully dressed half-elf bard who goes by the name Rictavio introduces himself to everyone present. "I admit, dear friends, I have no musical talent, but please allow me to entertain you with stories of far away places!"

Other than you, the other patrons of the bar are the 6 wereravens that currently look like normal men, who are playing poker, and two larger men that appear to be wolf hunters. The wolf hunters are Szoldar and Yevgeni, and they cheer for Rictavio to begin a story.

"I am glad that two of you at least are interested in my story. How about the rest of you? I can go back to my room if no one is interested."

Karasha watched as Davian and Urvin speak,a nd when the bard comes in, she smiles warmly. "Please tell a story half elf - i feel i have been out of touch and would know of the realms." The woman's eyes almost had a haunted look....she was interested in what he had to say, but she did not know if she was out of touch because of her loss of memory, or loss of time itself

Lando cheered on the bard, "please, tell a story to cheer the room!"

He talked to the bard after his performance.  Lando figured he would be a good source of history and local lore.  He wanted to know about the situation in Vallaki.  How was the Baron driven mad, and if there were a way to free the city of his control.  He also asked about Strahd's history.  It seemed he was forever chasing women who didn't respond to his advances.  Did all of his romances, if you could call them romances, end in tragedy?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:34, Thu 02 Dec 2021.

"Finally, a real audience." Rictavio says proudly when he sees that he has your attention. "Normally I share the backstory of this dark land and its dark lord, but tonight I feel the need to tell you a happier tale, one that took place in a place far far away."

"Believe it or not, out among the stars are other planets, and on some of those planets exist the technology to travel between the planets and stars. These ships that travel through space are called spelljammers. This entire dimension is under constant war, the empire being controlled by two very powerful and very evil warlocks. One of these warlocks was an apprentice of a good sorcerer.

"Are you all familiar with the concept of constructs? They are like men but made out of metal or wood. One of the warlocks had captured a princess, and it was up to two constructs to deliver a message to the sorcerer, pleading for him to rescue her. Well!" Rictavio claps his hands together and begins to concentrate on a minor illusion spell to show you a desert farmboy. He then imitates the whiny voice, "Uncle Owen, I don't wanna clean the droids. I wanna go to Tashii Station!"

You probably are familiar with the rest of the story, as Rictavio weaves the illusions to tell the tale of the farmboy as he joins "forces" with the sorcerer, a rogue, his bugbear companion, and and the two constructs, to rescue the princess.

It takes nearly half an hour for him to finish the story, and you feel like you have gained no resources in your fight against Strahd whatsoever.

Karasha listened to the tale, a neutral expression as she sat there. When he was done, the elf snorted and returned to her wine. "Such a fanciful tale - constructs, warlocks controlling multiple realms, spelljam ships. What does this help us."

The woman was a little upset - she hoped he would tell a tale of this land, or local lands. She had little memory of her own life - fragments of a forest, other elves, training as a druid. She hoped that some common tale may trigger a memory.

....but so far she had none

"Help you? Help you do what??? I told you I'm an entertainer. Maybe I helped you be entertained??? Heh. Tough crowd."

Rictavio smiles and does a slight bow, almost more mocking than grace. He gives Karasha a brief wink as he does this. Perhaps unnoticed by everyone else.

"Well thank you all, perhaps more tomorrow night. I think I'm going to hit the hay."

He then slowly goes upstairs.

Lando sipped his wine as Rictavio went upstairs, "well now, that was useless, but I suppose fancies are amusing."

He sought out Urvin later. His language was cryptic so not to draw the attention of hostile ears, "I'm curious about the state of Vallaki.  We met with the Barron earlier, and things didn't look, well let's say they could be better.  How are the city folk doing? and is there anything that can be done?"

Much of Rictavio's technical jargon, flew right over Skuldja's head, confusing her. However she quite enjoyed the tale and soon found herself quite cheered up from it. When it was over, she approached Karasha. "So you are a new friend? You seem all right, so far." She then gave her a big strong hug. "I promise not to let any giant birds fly away with you."

"I think I know why you are here and why we are all here. This is all a big game to Strahd. He brings people to his land to play with them. I figured it all out when I saw his ghost parade. Many warriors just like us of all types were in it. He must have thought it would be entertaining to have that big bird grab one of us. Maybe he locked you in that tree long ago." She then downed the current mug of ale she was on.

Karasha looked at Skuldja with a slightly confused look at the bird carrying her away comment. She had a way with animals, so she had no fear of that. As she hugs her, she has an aquard look, her arms by her side. "Uummm.....thanks"

Then when she spouted her theory, she shrugged. "I do not know how long I have been there....it may have been years but could have been decades. I have no memory of this land or even who I was before - I just know my name, my original home was the feywild and I have been trained in the druidic arts. This strahd, how I came here, even who I was when I got trapped, I do not know."

The honesty of her comments showed on her face, as well as her hair ends turning a deep purple. She looked at the table. "I remember one thing....a elven tale, what you would call a legend, of a powerful priestess of nature that fell in love with a human. They adventured together and one day their group came upon a evil necromancer. The fought was hard, and many if her friends, including her love were injured and cursed. It was said she called the gods themselves to spare her friends and save her love. But her God told her there was a price, which she paid. They were saved but the priestess was changed into a deer."

She absently gazed at her hands. "Was that tree a prison, or perhaps a cost for something I've ask Ed?"

Zrakrud had remained quiet as the Bard told his tale and the others spoke. His vision and thoughts ran over the platinum amulet and other wonders he has seen here. This land was rich without comparison to his own home yet fraught with even more danger it seems. "Perhaps, perhaps not. This land is full of many strange questions and people. Strahd offered us a way to get home, but the price was high."

"Hmmm, could be..." Skuldja thought over Karasha's story for a moment. "Deer meat is good to eat. I believe I once had something called trailed bologna. It was very good. My tribe stole it with some cheese and crackers too, and the three were divine combined."

Lando mentioned what Ireena had said earlier to Karasha, "They say that on the hill where we met, people could see their home realms.  It would suggest some kind of cross planar ability. And the dryad of the tree was fey herself; she might have had a link to the Feywilde that you crossed through.  But, that's only supposition on my part; I don't have the lore of planar travel to be sure."

Urvin tried to answer Lando as best he could, keeping his voice low, "That Rictavio is a strange one. Every day buys a raw steak. Gives me the creeps. Always pays his tab though. I've had my men follow him once, he's got a carnival wagon in the stockyard, so I guess he's a traveling entertainer, got trapped here by the mists just like you.

But eh, that's not what you asked is it? The Baron is quite insane, but he's the devil we know. There are other nobles vying for his power, Lady Wachter for instance. It would be far worse to have her in charge. She is not insane. At least our mad Baron can be reasoned with. Despite his useless festivals the guards keep their morale, gives them something to do I guess, and so our walls are safe from the creatures out there."

Meanwhile, Dag and Davian speak with the two wolf hunters. Finally they introduce them to you, "Friends, this is Szoldar and Yvengi, they have agreed to come with us to Berez to save our family. With Urvin's men that makes a dozen of us. I know we have asked much of you, but you will come help us won't you?"

Ireena shakes her head, "I'm sorry, Dag, but I must stay here. I cannot see Baba Lysaga. I fear her more than Strahd himself."

Zrakrud looked to Dag & Davian as they asked for help and back to Ireena "Who is this Baba Lysaga? If these druids are sacrificing children and possibly others, how can we not stop them?"

Karasha looked at Lando at the words of the man. "I don't think i was 'brought' here by fey magic - i know what transportation fells like....oir at least i think i do. No, this is different, almost like the dryad spirit had 'awakened' me, like i've been here asleep for a while."

The druid shrugged. "Maybe for some other time. For now, lets approach these druids."

Land nodded to Urvin, "I understand.  This is your city, and you know best how to live here."

He nodded in agreement with Zrakrud,"Of course we'll help. Welcome Szoldar, and Yvengi! glad to have you along!"

Lando chuckled, "I didn't think anything could frighten you, my Lady.  But it's for the best.  You should see your brother.  He's probably worried about you."

Lando shrugged at Karasha and took another drink.

Ireena shivers a bit, "Baba Lysaga is said to be Count Strahd's nursemaid, and responsible for the death of Strahd's true mother. While Strahd's immortality is linked to vampirism, Baba Lysaga has stayed alive through even worse means, those who believe it say that she has become the embodiment of Mother Night, the goddess of darkness in Barovia...I...I cannot face her. I must remain here. If you do fight her, be careful, very careful, of her tricks."

"I would say more stories to scare the children into bed. But in this place it seems more of those stories may be reality. But I still cannot let children be sacrificed." Zrakrud offers to Ireena. "Will you be safe here?"

The druid had little memories, but even she knew about the legend of mother night, or more the legend of an ancient archfey that was a queen of darkness - cruel and ruthless.

Karasha nodded at Ireena's words. She looked at Zrakrud. "Many legends are based in fact, especially in the human world. elven society is longer lived and hough we have our own legends, they have links to the past. There is an ancient elven power, what most call 'archfey' that is a queen of darkness. With how things are here, the Gloom and evil  I would almost think the same, though foe her grip to reach here would be scary indeed."

She sighed. "In saying that, there are older and darker evils out there. some ally with each other, some fight each other. because two battle doesn't mean one will be our ally."

"That old lady will be no match for my greatsword." Skuldja brandishes her great sword. "I also doubt that she will be able to trick me. I am like, very smart."

"I am certain I will be quite fine here. Ismark and I have plans to meet with the Baron here, tomorrow. They are...unwell in the mind, I hope that we can help them. When you return from Berez, come see me, I may need your help helping the Baron and his wife."

Zrakrud nods to Ireena, he had more to say after being painted up the last time he met the Baron, but felt better to not comment.