For an explanation of the calendar used, see [[Calendar of Harptos]]. See [[Re Strahd|Re: Strahd]] for more information on the campaign. While the campaign truly began on 5/6/1494, the party members were under the impression that it was 2/18/1491. ## 6 Mirtul 1494 ### Arriving in "Barovia" [[Francis Adelir]] is partially resurrected by a mysterious benefactor named [[Firan Zal'Honan]] after being killed by a vampire. Firan, as Francis's warlock patron, promises to restore Francis fully back to life if he completes a mysterious job in [[Barovia]]. He is sent with a gazer familiar named [[Skelly]] to aid with his quest. Francis learns that Firan dislikes [[Strashka Relvaunder|Strahd von Zarovich]], the land's ruler. Transported to Barovia by a Vistana, the carriage crashes, and the Vistana dies. [[Notte von Zarovich|Notte Boritsi]], a magus and newly-made Geppettin from [[Darkon]], leaves home to start over but is caught in a storm. [[Yves Kolyanovich|Yves Carrion]], fleeing the execution of his parents (who were found to have secured their wealth via a deal with a hag), prays to [[Ezra]] and leaps over the walls of [[Port-a-Lucine]] in [[Dementlieu]], falling right into the water. [[Gallagher Love]], a pirate from the [[Sea of Sorrows]], is attacked by [[Pietra van Riese]] and begins to drown. The four have a shared vision of a forest-city hybrid, featuring a theater with a play titled "Re: Strahd." They then fall unconscious. ### Buried alive The group wakes up buried alive in separate coffins, emerging to find themselves in the ruins of [[Immol Village]] right outside the [[Keep of the Scarlet Cross]]. [[Petre Teodorus]], a blind, silver-haired, masked figure explains that he thought they were dead, as bodies are often dumped in the area. He apologizes and offers them shelter at the Keep. ### The Keep, mistwalking, and Firan's instructions Petre reveals he inherited the Keep and studied it's history. Yves recognizes the religious symbols in the Keep as representing Kanchelsis/Mastraacht, a vampiric deity, but neither Yves nor Petre shares this with the group. Being a mistwalker, Gallagher attempts to leave for [[Mordent]] with Notte and Yves – Francis declines the invitation – but a powerful force, possibly Strahd, stops her. Petre informs them that only the Vistani can leave of their own volition. The party exchanges names and backgrounds. Francis jokes about Gallagher's name, frustrating her. Francis communicates with Firan, who appears as a red mist silhouette. Firan instructs him to locate a red-haired individual in [[Barovia Village (Scaena)]], emphasizing manipulation over violence. Gallagher intentionally eavesdrops; however, everyone else also overhears, thanks to Firan's booming voice. Gallagher questions Francis about her job, but Francis doesn't have much information to give her. ### Plans and rest Plans are made to travel to Barovia Village the next day. Notte rests in the study and Yves sleeps near Gallagher, with Francis and Gallagher taking opposite sides of the Keep. Gallagher casts Mage Armor on herself before sleeping. ## 7 Mirtul 1494 ### Morning at the Keep of the Scarlet Cross Petre Teodorus wakes the party and prepares a fairly substantial breakfast. The group share details about their unexpected arrivals in the domain. Petre directs the group toward Barovia Village and offers the Keep as future refuge. ### Journey to Barovia Village The party encounters a corpse, on which is a letter from Kolyan Indirovich, the Burgomaster of Barovia Village. The letter details that Indirovich's adopted daughter, [[Ireena von Zarovich|Ireena Kolyana]], is being pursued by a vampire and pleads for the reader to seal off the evil of Barovia from the rest of the world. ### The fortunes The group also discovers five skeletons of various species, one of which holds tarokka cards. Gallagher and Notte fear a curse, but Francis grabs the cards before Gallagher has time to prepare the spell Detect Magic. After Francis gathers the cards, they glow faintly. A voice echoes through the air, relaying cryptic fortunes based on each card: > The One of Stars > This card tells of history. Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy.  Go to a place of dizzying heights, where the stone itself is alive! > The Six of Swords > This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope. Find the Mad Dog's crypt. The treasure lies within, beneath blackened bones. > The Two of Glyphs > This is a card of power and strength. It tells of a weapon of vengeance: a sword of sunlight. I see a garden dusted with snow, watched over by a scarecrow with a sackcloth grin. Look not to the garden but to the guardian. > The Executioner > This card sheds light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness. Seek out [[Ismark Kolyanovich (Scaena)|the brother of the devil's bride]]. They call him "the lesser," but he has a powerful soul. > The Seer > Your enemy is a creature of darkness, whose powers are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him! He waits for you in [[Castle Ravenloft (Scaena)|a place of wisdom, warmth, and despair]]. Great secrets are there. The skeletons crumble to dust after the voice finishes speaking. On the wind, Firan tells Francis to pay attention to the cards. When Francis admits to the others that these cards are tied to his job, they become more distrustful. In an attempt to build trust, Francis reveals that he is looking for someone with red hair and that he was killed by a vampire. ### Arrival in Barovia Village The group arrives at the [[Blood of the Vine (Scaena)|Blood of the Vine Tavern]], finding a group of Vistani and the Burgomaster's son, Ismark Kolyanovich. Gallagher and Notte attempt to bribe the Vistani into helping them leave Barovia, but they are brushed off. After introductions, they give Ismark the letter penned by his father. Ismark confirms that his sister, Ireena, is being hunted by a vampire. He also shares that his father has recently died. He suggests that they talk further at [[Burgomaster's Mansion (Barovia Village (Scaena))|his home]]. ### Discussing Strahd von Zarovich with Ismark the Lesser At Ismark's home, they find the dead burgomaster rotting in a coffin surrounded by wilting flowers. Ismark expresses that no one in town has been willing to help take the body to the [[Barovia Village Church (Scaena)|church]] for burial. Ismark reveals to the party that the vampire who is after Ireena is the lord of the land, Strahd von Zarovich, who lives in Castle Ravenloft. He also shares that: * Strahd has been haunting Barovia for centuries. * Strahd is the final authority on who comes and goes from Barovia, though the Vistani are able to freely travel to and from the land. * Ismark wishes to take Ireena to the town of [[Vallaki (Scaena)|Vallaki]], where he believes she will be safer from Strahd. The party learns that Ismark is derisively called "the lesser" by his fellow villagers, which indicates that he is the ally as specified in the tarokka card. Francis warmly declares that they were fated to meet and help each other. The party agrees to help Ismark take his father's corpse to the church. They also agree to help escort Ireena to Vallaki, hoping that it will lead to a way out of Barovia. While they are talking, Francis occasionally flirts with Ismark, though Ismark largely fails to catch on. ### Meeting Ireena Ismark introduces the party to Ireena, who is locked away in her room. Francis immediately feels an inexplicable familiarity with Ireena, recalling visions of sunlight and ravens in a grand mirror. Ireena seems stunned as well, but quickly recovers. Notte greets her formally, which Ireena finds odd but charming. Ireena is excited to learn that Gallagher is a pirate. Gallagher also reveals that she is a wizard in training. Before leaving, Francis and Ireena share a word in private despite Notte and Gallagher's distrust of the situation. Francis confesses to Ireena that: * He was killed by a vampire and revived by Firan Zal'Honan before being sent to Barovia on a job. * Ireena is somehow connected to his job. * His patron seems staunchly opposed to Strahd. Ireena, despite her surprise, finds herself strangely comfortable around Francis. Notte helps Ireena pack. They bond about growing up in isolation, and Notte – like Francis – offers Ireena her friendship. While they are packing, Gallagher and Yves share an awkward conversation wherein Gallagher learns that Yves's worship of Ezra is a recent development. ### Burying the burgomaster The party transports Kolyan Indirovich in his coffin to the church, Ireena and Ismark in tow. As they enter, a voice from below cries out in hunger. They soon learn that the voice belongs to [[Father Donavich (Scaena)|Father Donavich's]] son, who was transformed into a vampire spawn after participating in an unsuccessful rebellion against Strahd lead by an [[Minsc|unnamed adventurer]] who is now rumored to be somewhere in the mountains. Francis offers to put Father Donavich's son out of his misery, but Donavich is resolute in his hope for a divine cure. Father Donavich conducts the funeral for Kolyan Indirovich. Ismark cries; Ireena stays strong. Father Donavich recommends that, if the party is seeking safety, they should travel to Vallaki or [[Abbey of Saint Markovia (Scaena)|the abbey]] in the town of [[Krezk (Scaena)|Krezk]]. While Ismark and Ireena are speaking with Father Donavich, the party is approached outside by a mysterious man who introduces himself as Vasili von Holtz. The man is able to tell that they are not from Barovia. Throughout the conversation, he seems to take a special interest in Francis. When questioned, Vasili reveals that he cannot leave Barovia, indicating that only Vistani can come and go freely. He expresses familiarity with Notte's noble family name, Boritsi. He also indicates that a church of his faith is nearby. Later – after Vasili has departed – Gallagher asks Ismark and Ireena if they know of a Vasili von Holtz. They reveal that they have never heard the name. ### Farewell to Petre and disguising Ireena While Ismark is buying supplies at [[Bildrath's Mercantile (Scaena)|Bildrath's Mercantile]], Petre, who has traveled from the Keep, approaches the party. Petre presents them with a bright red candle set]. He explains that, when lit in a ritual, the candles will allow them to travel to and from the Keep of the Scarlet Cross. Yves asks which god Petre serves. Petre reveals that he worships Fenmarel Mestarine, the elven god of outcasts and isolationists. This answer reassures Yves, who was worried due to the vampiric nature of the Keep's iconography. Gallagher inquires if Petre gets any regulars at the Keep. Petre mentions a man who sometimes stands on the hill looking longingly at the church but never comes in, possibly due to a phobia or to being a vampire. Gallagher and Francis, both reasonably convinced that this man is actually Strahd von Zarovich, advise Petre not to invite him in. The group expresses their appreciation to Petre before Petre departs. Notte asks Ireena if she has met Petre before. Ireena answers that she hasn't, but says that she admires his mask and expresses a desire for one. Notte points out that a mask could aid in disguising her. After a long time, Ismark emerges from the store, having bought maps, water, an entire wheel of cheese, and a luxurious new scarf, which Francis promptly wraps around Ireena's head to cover her hair and part of her face. When Ismark complains, Notte states that he can have the scarf back once they get Ireena a mask. Gallagher suggests that Ireena come up with alias. Ireena has one prepared: Mathilda Konstantinova. Notte calls the name lovely. ### Road to Vallaki Francis, Skelly, Notte, Yves, Gallagher, Ismark, and Ireena start on the road to Vallaki, aiming to find sanctuary and a way out of the country. As they are walking, Notte offers to train Ireena in martial combat, an offer which Ireena enthusiastically accepts. Early on in their journey, the party is met with disturbing sights such as a body hanging form gallows and the mauled corpse of a child. At a crossroads, the party – despite knowing that some of the Vistani work for Strahd – takes the north path leading through the [[Tser Pool Caravan Camp (Scaena)|Tser Pool Vistani Camp]] due to Ireena's desire to meet people. They meet a group of Vistani, led by [[Magda Corvara (Scaena)|Magda Corvara]], who invite them all to sit and drink. Magda, laughing all the while, tells a story about a charismatic Torillian adventurer who rallied people to fight Strahd but was ultimately struck by lightning and thrown off a cliff by the vampire. It is clear that this is the same rebellion that Father Donavich spoke of. Francis mentions to Magda that they are headed to Vallaki. This causes Notte and Gallagher distress, as they feel that it's unwise to announce their destination to the strangers. Magda alludes to their probable death. When prompted by Notte, Magda mentions dangers on the road ahead, including bandits, were-creatures, wolves, and malicious scarecrows. The party leaves the camp. Hours later, the come across another crossroads. They choose the path towards Vallaki, avoiding the road to Castle Ravenloft. Further down the road, the party meets [[Yegor Baburin|a revenant]] who – once he learns that the party opposes Strahd – recommends they travel to [[Argynvostholt (Scaena)|Argynvostholt]] and speak to [[Vladimir Horngaard (Scaena)|Sir Horngaard]], the now-despondent leader of his order of knights. ### Arrival in Vallaki After about six hours of travel, the group reaches Vallaki in the late afternoon. Though Francis is scrutinized for his undead appearance, [[Lazlo Lazarescu (Scaena)|the guard]] at the town gates lets them in, though not before unsuccessfully attempting to extort gold from the party. ### Meeting Rictavio and Danika The party travels to the local [[Blue Water Inn (Scaena)|Blue Water Inn]]. Among the patrons are a [[Danika Dorakova (Scaena)|tall, well-dressed woman]] tending the bar, two boisterous noble brothers, a pair of old, grim hunters, and a colorful half-elf bard - later revealed to be named [[Maria Adelir|Rictavio]] - who is animatedly telling a story to a barely attentive patron. Intrigued by the bard, Francis approaches him while the others talk to the barkeep. Rictavio invites Francis to sit down for a drink. The ensuing conversation is flirty, with Rictavio taking an interest in Skelly and Francis's business in Vallaki, which Francis isn't able to reveal much about. Rictavio claims to be a storyteller and traveler from Mordent. He denies ever having been to Darkon. The rest of the party squabbles over room arrangements. Throughout the conversation, it becomes clear that Ismark distrusts Notte, Gallagher distrusts Francis's job, and Yves distrusts them all. The settle on room arrangements: * Ireena and Notte * Ismark, Francis, and Skelly * Gallagher * Yves Danika, the barkeep, advises that they leave Vallaki as soon as possible. She cites the burgomaster and his armored muscle as dangers. However, she is unable to name a place that would be safer than Vallaki. After getting the room keys from Danika, the rest of the group reunites with Francis, who is deep in conversation with Rictavio. Upon prompting, the rest of the party introduces themselves to Rictavio; Notte, Ireena, and Ismark all give fake names. Rictavio indicates that he hasn't tried to leave Barovia yet and expresses his intention to form a circus troupe. Though Gallagher can tell that he isn't telling the full truth about things, she doesn't challenge him immediately. Rictavio pries for information about the party member's origins and their business in Barovia. Notte and Yves are evasive, though Rictavio guesses that they are from Darkon and Dementlieu respectively. Ireena expresses a desire to join Rictavio's circus troupe, which Notte advises against. Rictavio and Francis agree to have more drinks later. Ismark seems jealous. Rictavio excuses himself to go feed his horse. The party disperses. Gallagher follows Rictavio to the stables and confronts him about his lack of honesty. When Rictavio sticks to his story, Gallagher changes tactics, instead fishing for information about Barovia itself. Rictavio maintains that he knows very little, even when Gallagher makes it clear that she is asking for his help. ### Bonding & strange encounters Notte and Ireena sit at a table with two seats. Ismark tries to sit with them, but Ireena tells him to sit elsewhere. Ismark tells them not to talk about anything that they wouldn't want him to hear before sitting at a table in earshot. Notte is put off by Ismark's distrust in her, but expresses that he is looking out for Ireena when Ireena apologizes on his behalf. Ireena and Notte quietly bond over being transgender, with Notte admitting that she became a puppet to resist her family's expectations of her. The each compliment the other's hair. Notte mentions her family name – Boritsi – and tells Ireena that her family is initially from [[Borca]]. Meanwhile, Francis has gone outside, where she passes by a [[Ezmerelda d'Avenir|heavily bandaged individual]] walking toward the inn. When Francis makes a remark about her outfit, she cites "religious reasons" for her choice of dress. Firan reveals that he can speak to Francis in her head. Francis presses Firan about his plans for Ireena. Firan states that he has no intention to harm her or to make Francis harm her, but that Barovia is a dangerous place. Francis states that he likes and trusts Ireena and wants to ensure her safety. Firan asks Francis if he has met anyone worth noting. Francis mentions the mummy-like individual, Strahd-in-disguise, and Rictavio, who has a shop in Mordent but sounds Darkonian. Firan believes that he might know the real identity of Rictavio. He instructs Francis to call Rictavio "[[Erasmus van Richten|Erasmus]]," revealing that Erasmus is the name of Rictavio's son. Francis refuses, finding the idea strange and threatening. Francis states that he likes Rictavio, the man having been nicer to him than anyone else he has met in Barovia, with the exception of Ireena. Firan decides to give Francis Rictavio's real first name – Rudolph – but refuses to disclose his last name. Firan tells Francis to bring up the name "Rudolph" to Rictavio; if prompted further, Francis should tell him that he is friends with Ray and Sedgwick. Firan tells Francis that he will give him a little bit of his blood back if he is able to get Rictavio on his side. Francis agrees, and Firan's voice disappears from her mind. As she is heading back to the inn, Francis bumps into the burgomaster's muscle – [[Izek Strazni (Scaena)|Izek Strazni]], a large man with an animalistic arm. Izek is immediately rude and threatening. He tells Francis that there is going to be festival in three days and orders Francis to be there, as he wishes to speak with Francis then. Spooked, Francis leaves quickly once dismissed. Yves is sitting by themself inside the inn. The mummy-like individual enters and immediately heads for Yves's table. When Yves is asked, they confirm that they are not from Barovia and that they wish to leave. The woman asks a number of questions: if they have found any "weird cards," a "weird sword," any "weird books," a "little statue of of a praying guy," or "any clowns." Yves answers the questions truthfully. The woman thanks Yves, but leaves without providing any kind of explanation. ### The party regroups The party reconvenes and discusses next steps. They decide to rest for the night and scout Vallaki for danger the following day. ### Date gone wrong That night, Francis and Rictavio meet up for their date. Gallagher sits at a nearby table in the shadows, aiming to eavesdrop. Rictavio flirts with Francis; nervous about the upcoming conversation, Francis doesn't flirt with him back. Eventually, Francis begins to probe about Rictavio's real identity, claiming that he looks familiar and quietly asking if the name "Rudolph" means anything to him. She mentions the names "Ray" and "Sedgwick" as instructed by Firan. Rictavio, unsettled, begins to fish for information himself. When he catches Francis in a lie, he demands to know who Francis is working for. Francis informs Rictavio that she is on a job that she knows very little about. She adds that she doesn’t believe it to be an insidious job, but that she was brought back from the dead to do it; if she doesn't do the job, she’s going to drop dead again. Francis admits that his boss told him Rictavio's name – Rudolph – and that his boss thinks he would be a good ally to have for his job. Francis states that he would like to keep him as a friend; she's not trying to threaten him in any way. In exchange for Francis's honesty, Rictavio feeds her more lies about his identity. Francis begins to plead with him for the truth. Rictavio becomes agitated and attempts to leave. Francis stops Rictavio by asking if he wants to know the name of his boss; Rictavio confirms that he does. Firan telepathically threatens Francis's life. Francis, knowing that he is Firan's only pawn in the domain, challenges Firan. Firan dares Francis to continue in turn, deciding that Francis's death will help prove whether Rictavio is actually Rudolph van Richten after all. Francis chooses to say the name of his boss. As soon as the name leaves his lips, he drops dead. Van Richten hurriedly pulls a scroll of Raise Dead out of his bag and thrusts it into the hands of Gallagher, who has rushed over. Gallagher questions Van Richten; they exchange terse words. Van Richten refuses to divulge his identity, to provide information on Firan, and to tell her anything about Strahd's influence in Vallaki. Van Richten leaves. Gallagher briefly considers the consequences of reviving Francis and determines that it is likely in everyone's best interest for her to remain dead. Against her better judgement, Gallagher uses the scroll to revive Francis. As Francis returns to life, he hears Firan's voice in his head. Firan promises consequences but acknowledges that they know Van Richten's identity. Gallagher checks on Francis. Francis informs her of Rictavio's true identity. Gallagher tells Francis that she would like to tell the others about what happened in the morning. Francis heads to the room that he is sharing with Ismark and Skelly. Gallagher retires to her room as well. ### Yves and Van Richten Later that night, Yves – struggling to sleep – decides to head down to the inn's bar for a drink. There is a different barkeep tending the counter. He introduces himself as [[Urwin Martikov (Scaena)|Urwin Martikov]], husband of Danika. Urwin provides some wine and a meal on the house before leaving Yves be. Van Richten – still disguised as Rictavio – eventually enters the inn, looking worn out and morose. Van Richten sits near Yves and eventually shares his intentions to leave Vallaki. When Yves asks if he has given up on the circus, Van Richten admits that his heart wasn't in it. Van Richten tries to excuse himself after Yves makes some rude comments. Yves apologizes, explaining that he is not used to speaking to people as he wasn't allowed to maintain friendships as a child. Yves makes a slightly suicidal comment; Van Richen encourages him to avoid that line of thinking. Yves tells Van Richten that they aren't looking for another parental figure. Van Richten apologizes before briefly reflecting on the "stray youths" that he has picked up over the years. He starts to say that he has done his best to do good by them before sadly concluding that he hasn't really done good by anyone in his life. Yves eventually finishes eating and excuses himself. ### Notte, Ireena, and Van Richten Nearing midnight, Ireena and Notte head down to the bar to get some water. Van Richten probes at Notte's origins. Notte is reluctant to give information. Eventually, Van Richten asks if Notte plans to hurt anyone while she is Barovia. Notte responds that she isn't violent and that she doesn't plan to hurt anyone unless it's in self-defense. Van Richten moves on to ask whether she believes that anyone in her company plans to hurt anyone. Notte replies honestly, stating that she doesn't know enough about her companions to say definitively. Van Richten cautions her to watch herself. Notte asks if Francis gave Van Richten reason to believe that she would cause harm. Van Richten answers that he thinks Francis is reckless, in over his head, and bringing a threat with him that he doesn't understand. Van Richten reveals that Francis dropped dead after revealing the name of her boss to him. He also informs her that Francis was revived. When Notte presses further, Van Richten shares the name of Francis's boss. Notte recognizes the name as belonging to one of the most infamous and dangerous spellcasters from Darkon, known for his cruelty and immense power. Notte muses that Francis is at least willing to disobey Firan, though she wonders if that will continue to be the case if the consequence of disobedience is death. After Notte goes out on a limb and shares that she is from Darkon, Van Richten reveals his full name. He tells her that he has been in Barovia for three months and has been investigating Strahd, searching for relics – including a legendary sword and a book – and searching for the Keepers of the Feather. He even tells Notte that he has been holding onto the severed head of a Vistana that he has been mining for information. Notte asks Van Richten if he knows why Strahd would be after "some random woman." Van Richten briefly glances at Ireena, who had accidentally left her scarf in the room; then, he states that he has reason to believe that Strahd has spent a long time pursuing various individuals with common characteristics. Though he doesn’t divulge what those characteristics are, he says that Strahd almost certainly wishes to take them as vampire brides. Notte asks if there is anywhere in Barovia that is safe from Strahd. When van Richten responds that there isn't, Notte inquires about how to leave. Van Richten tells her that the only way out of Barovia is either to convince Strahd to let them leave or to kill him. Notte asks if there would be any way to contact Van Richten if they needed help. Van Richten advises against this, admitting that the list of his former associates is a list of bodies. Notte confirms this by listening for ghosts; when she does so, she hears a cacophony of the dead surrounding Van Richten. Notte concludes that Van Richten is cursed and encourages him to leave. Van Richten wishes them luck; Notte wishes him luck in return. Then, Van Richten departs. Notte and Ireena return to their room. Notte checks on Ireena, who admits that she is concerned about Firan despite trusting Francis. She goes on to say that she already had reason to fear Strahd and was far from reassured by Van Richten's words. Notte vows to continue protecting Ireena. ## 8 Mirtul 1494 ### Morning reckoning Gallagher gathers everyone and recaps what occurred the previous night. She tells them about Francis's death, his revival, and the true identity of "Rictavio." Notte shares that Van Richten had returned to the inn and revealed his identity to her and Ireena. Gallagher grows frustrated; Francis grows miserable. Francis admits that he died because he thought that sharing the name of his boss would help convince Van Richten to help them. Notte argues that they shouldn't rely on Van Richten's help at all, citing the deaths of those close to him. Francis contests this idea, taking the time to speak of the dragon that wiped out her entire village in her youth. Francis also shares the circumstances of her initial death by vampire and revival by Firan Zal'Honan. She recounts that he showed her a bottle of her own blood with the promise that she would get it back if she completed a job in Barovia. Ireena reiterates that she likes Francis and doesn't distrust him; she asks, however, what Francis would do if his boss instructs him to harm her. Francis ultimately says that he would be willing to die again for Ireena's sake if he has to. The party reacts with caution but largely trusts Francis. Notte vows to watch him closely; Gallagher states that she believes him; Ismark is uncomfortable but accepts Francis's promise. ### World's worst shopping spree Gallagher suggests that they go explore the town and look for a mask for Ireena. Ireena suggests stopping by [[Blinsky's Toy Shop (Scaena)|the toy shop]] as well, which leads Yves to mock her and question her age. Ireena unhappily explains that she is just looking for a bit of levity. Notte offers to buy Ireena anything that she wants. The party first heads to the general store, [[Arasek Stockyard (Scaena)|Arasek Stockyard]]. On the way, Firan telepathically tells Francis that he may need to perform a "small assassination" of a local politician, promising more details at a later point. Notte uses her status as a Boritsi to negotiate lower prices at the general store. Gallagher grumbles about the price of rations. Francis offers to hunt for them. When Ismark pokes fun at Gallagher for expressing that she can't stay in one place for too long, Gallagher reveals that she is cursed to move around lest she start withering away. The party passes by a coffin shop after leaving the general store. Given that she, Yves, Notte, and Francis first awoke in the domain in coffins, Gallagher wants to investigate. The [[Henrik van der Voort (Scaena)|coffin maker]] refuses to grant them entry regardless of their offers of help and money. Though they are able to tell that something is amiss, the party continues on. The party arrives at [[Gadof Blinsky (Scaena)|Blinsky's]] toy shop. After a jovial introduction, Blinsky informs them that he doesn't sell masks. Yves and Notte express a desire to leave, but Blinsky urges them to look at his selection. The party reviews Blinsky's goods, finding a bizarre lineup of macabre toys. Ireena and Ismark imply that the toys aren't much different than those they had as children. More troubling, however, is the stash of Ireena-like dolls that the party finds. When Blinsky is threatened, he explains that they were made under duress; the burgomaster's "henchman," Izek Strazni, threatened to burn down his shop if he doesn't make them. Notte suggests that they deal with Izek, but Gallagher argues that they should probably just leave town, which is a sentiment that Ireena wholeheartedly agrees with. Francis tells Blinsky to avoid telling Izek that they visited, or else he will burn down the store himself. Blinsky nervously agrees and states that he only wishes to bring happiness to Barovia. As the party attempts to leave, Blinsky stops them before asking them to retrieve a clockwork masterpiece rumored to be in Castle Ravenloft. He offers to trade it for his monkey, Piccolo, which was a gift from "Rictavio." Notte states that they will ideally never enter the castle. ### Gone fishing Ismark suggests that the party go fishing with the two poles that he bought from the general store. Gallagher tiredly agrees to fish. Yves is similarly reluctant, but agrees to accompany them when Ismark asks. Gallagher rows them out onto [[Lake Zarovich (Scaena)|Lake Zarovich]] and demonstrates how to fish. She quickly reels in a large bream; Yves looks slightly nauseous. Ismark reels in a scavver – a dangerous, shark-like fish – and kills it with Gallagher's help. In the meantime, Notte and Ireena begin working on Ireena's mask. Ireena requests that the mask is mouse-themed, explaining that she used to read storybooks about heroic little creatures with swords. After sketching a design and gathering materials, Notte begins to work on the mask. When Notte is carving the nose, she accidentally makes it look like a heart; this delights Ireena. Though Ireena and Notte don't finish the mask, they agree to continue working on it later. From the shore, Francis spots a drunken fisherman trying to toss a moving sack into the lake. The party intervenes. Gallagher knocks the man unconscious with an oar. Yves and Ismark pull the sack into the boat before it sinks, opening it to find a distressed Vistana child, [[Arabelle Zsolty (Scaena)|Arabelle Zsolty]], inside. Once they are back on shore, the girl – speaking as if she is much older than she is – presents herself as the princess of the [[Luna River Caravan Camp (Scaena)|Luna River Vistani Caravan]]. She tells them that they will be handsomely reward for returning her to her father, [[Luvash Zsolty (Scaena)]]. Notte plays along, saying, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Arabelle." ### Vistani at the Luna River Arabelle leads the party to her camp, which is shortly outside of Vallaki. Luvash is relieved to receive his daughter and thanks the party profusely. Notte suggests that Luvash could help them leave the domain as payment for returning his daughter. Luvash admits that he can't help them leave due to the Vistani's "polite arrangement" with Strahd. He explains that Strahd leaves them alone in exchange for them "mildly inconveniencing" travelers and watching over the dusk elves. When asked about the elves, Luvash recounts a genocide that nearly wiped out the local dusk elf population, leaving only a handful of men who now live with the Vistani. He insists that the dusk elves aren't prisoners and that they are part of the community. Luvash implies that [[Rahadin Zdravkov (Scaena)|Strahd's chamberlain]] orchestrated the genocide. He also implies that his chamberlain is in love with him. Since he otherwise cannot help them, Luvash allows the party to pick something from his "treasure wagon." Ismark argues for the unicorn rug, but the rest of the group rejects this idea, instead opting for 650 gold to split amongst themselves. On request, Luvash also supplies them all with plain clothes and cloaks. Luvash requests that the party retrieve wine from the [[Wizard of Wines (Location (Scaena))|Wizard of Wines]] for him if they head west. They offer no promises. As the party is preparing to leave the camp, Arabelle declares that she wants to accompany them on their adventure. They try a variety of tactics to turn her down, but Arabelle is only convinced when they ask her to gather intelligence for them. She promises to send men to Vallaki and provide them updates via crow. ### Journey to Krezk The party encounters an injured elk lying in the road. Francis puts it out of its misery; as a result, the party is attacked by a wild-looking man wielding a crude stone axe who springs out of the bushes. Gallagher casts Sleep. Ismark kills the man while he is unconscious. As they continue on, tensions run high, with Notte and Ismark squabbling about Notte's wealthier upbringing and Ismark accidentally offending Francis about Van Richten. Further along, a seemingly friendly man asks if they have any silver that they are willing to part with. When he correctly determines that they don't have any silver weapons on them, he transforms into a werewolf and attacks. The party is able to defeat the werewolf; however, Francis is bitten during the fight and infected with lycanthropy. Ismark bandages Francis's wounds. When Yves shares that he can't cure curses just yet, Gallagher suggests that they seek help at the abbey for Francis's lycanthropy. Firan, however, tells Francis that the curse could be useful and instructs him not to cure it, warning him against disobedience. The party takes a brief respite. Gallagher checks on Francis, but the conversation ends awkwardly when Francis questions Gallagher's intentions. It isn't long after the party continues their travels that they are attacked by six machete-wielding scarecrows. The fight proves tough; as with the fight with the werewolf, Ismark's weapons are less than effective. Notte and Francis are both knocked unconscious. However, they manage to prevail. Ismark shakes Francis awake while Ireena runs over to check on Notte. Gallagher uses her quarterstaff to poke around in one of the scarecrows, finding a gruesome display of mangled, dead ravens. ### Back at the Keep Deciding that it is too dangerous to rest for the night in the forest, the party uses their magical candles to return to the Keep for the night. In addition to Petre, the party is greeted by the heavily bandaged woman who had previously approached Yves in Vallaki's Blue Water Inn. The woman introduces herself as "S" and insists that she isn't aligned with Strahd when asked. When S asks for their names, Gallagher and Francis are the only ones who give them. Gallagher asks S whether she is able to leave Barovia. S answers that she is in the domain on work and currently cannot leave. When pressed about the nature of her work, S only says that she is in the domain to "gather information." Throughout the conversation, she shows herself to have deep knowledge of Barovia and the lord of the land. She advises them to follow the tarokka cards and search for the artifacts that they lay out, as the artifacts will help them kill Strahd, which will in turn allow them to leave. S mentions that she entered the domain with others but that she was separated from them. After some convincing by Gallagher, she describes a woman named [[Amelia Hawthorne|Hawthorne]] and another woman who is overly helpful, tall, human-ish, and tan. Francis flirts with S but is rebuffed. S begins writing in her journal; Francis takes a peek over her shoulder. The heading of the entry suggests that S believes she is in a place called [[Scaena]] rather than Barovia and that the date is 5/8/1494 rather than 2/20/1491. With the help of Ismark, Gallagher cooks shark fin soup for everyone at the Keep. S excuses herself to the library after eating. Gallagher expresses incredulousness that they are meant to kill Strahd. Ismark declares that he has been training his whole life to kill the man. Notte and Ismark squabble about who should wield the "sword of sunlight" mentioned in the Two of Glyphs tarokka card fortune. Ismark is only appeased when Gallagher informs him that she has been working on spell that could improve his sword. Petre offers first aid to Francis and Notte. Notte declines since she is made of wood. Francis also declines, though he gladly accepts two bottles of wine. Later that night, Ireena touches up Notte's paint. ## 9 Mirtul 1494 ### Arrival in Krezk In the morning, the party teleports back to the woods outside of Krezk. In order to gain entry, they negotiate with the burgomaster, [[Dmitri Krezkov (Scaena)|Dmitri Krezkov]]. He allows them inside in exchange for Francis's two bottles of wine and the promise that they will retrieve more from the Wizard of Wines. Krezkov warns against causing trouble. He also reveals that he is grieving, as he recently lost his last remaining child. Despite Krezkov's encouragement to stay away from the abbey, the party secretly heads in that direction. ### The Abbot and the mongrelfolk The party approaches the abbey and are met by the guards [[Otto Belview (Scaena)|Otto Belview]] and [[Zygfrek Belview (Scaena)|Zygfrek Belview]], who both appear to be amalgamations of different creatures. Yves and Gallagher diplomatically gain entry for their party. Inside, they pass by a post with someone chained to it. The figure flaps her leathery wings, muttering nonsensically. Ireena is upset; Notte loops an arm through hers in an effort to comfort her. Gallagher asks the guards if the individual tied to the post is okay. Zygfrek states that some members of her family are not of the rightest mind, but that she is fine. The party is soon met by [[The Abbot (Scaena)|the Abbot]], a handsome young man who looks drastically out of place. He welcomes them all while acting especially warmly toward Yves. Notte, suspecting that the sword of sunlight is nearby, tells the Abbot that she is looking for a peaceful place to pray. The Abbot agrees to show them to the garden. On the way, the Abbot offhandedly mentions his charge, who he describes as a "charmingly clumsy" girl in his care who he has been trying to teach etiquette. The party finds that the garden is overseen by two lifeless scarecrows, which matches the description of the tarokka card fortune that points to the sunsword. On Francis's request, the Abbot leaves to go retrieve wine. ### Meeting Ezmerelda d'Avenir Further inside the garden, the party encounters an invisible and irritated [[Ezmerelda Love|Ezmerelda d'Avenir]], who is similarly looking for the sunsword. Ez's invisibility is dispelled when she grabs the arm of Notte, who had reached for one of the scarecrows. She appears to check Gallagher out. Both the party and Ez are reluctant to share information, but details are ultimately shared through tense conversation. Ez primarily speaks to Gallagher, who she only calls "pirate." Ez shares that she is planning to kill Strahd. The party shares that they are willing to do what it takes to leave Barovia. Ez reveals that she is a monster hunter and former apprentice of Rudolph van Richten. Francis tells her about his terrible date with the man. Ez and Notte expresses their distrust of each other. Gallagher argues that they don't need to trust each other; they simply need to work together toward their common goal. They share leads. The party informs Ez of the fortunes laid out by the tarokka cards as well as the revenant who directed them toward Argynvostholt. Impressed, Ez tells them more about the circumstances that brought her and Van Richten to Barovia. She suspects that Van Richten is in the domain to kill Strahd and get himself killed in the process; she, on the other hand, is in the domain to prevent her mentor from dying. Ez informs the others that Van Richten tends to push people away due to his perceived curse. She maintains, however, that he hasn't been cursed for a long time. The conversation shifts to the Abbot and his charge, which Ez refers to as a "meat pie in a skin suit." She also claims that the Abbot is in league with Strahd and that he would likely admit as much if asked. Hearing this, the party decides that they should find the sword and leave the abbey. ### A fight with wights Notte rips into a scarecrow, inside of which she finds a platinum sword hilt and guard. As soon as the sword is in Notte's hands, seven wights wearing the livery of Strahd claw their way out of the ground. The murmurings of ghosts that ambiently fill Notte's head are drowned out for a moment by a single, clear voice from the sunsword; it tells her to activate it. Notte does so; the sunsword erupts into light. During the fight, Ez impresses the group with a powerful lightning bolt, solidifying her place among them. Gallagher and Ez bond over magic skills and combat prowess. Yves's uses his powers as a cleric to turn undead. As the fight concludes and Notte collects Ireena, Notte is hit with a sudden, overpowering sense of love and care for the other woman. She experiences a similar sensation as she is passing by Francis. Telepathically, the sword takes responsibility for these feelings and apologizes to Notte. Notte tells it to stay out of her head. ### Meeting the bride-to-be The party makes it to the entrance of the abbey before they are intercepted by the Abbot and his charge, who turns out to be a stitched-together woman. She bears some resemblance to Ireena and – more distantly – Francis. The Abbot reveals that the girl, [[Vasilka (Scaena)|Vasilka]], is meant to be Strahd's bride. He requests that the party find her a wedding gown suitable for the occasion, but the party – uncomfortable with the request – remains noncommittal. Francis makes several attempts to separate Vasilka from the Abbot, but the Abbot is resolute in his belief that Vasilka is "safest" with him at the abbey. Before leaving, Gallagher asks if the people who live in the abbey have always been in their current state. The Abbot nervously admits that they used to be different. The Abbot explains that the abbey used to be blessed. However, Saint Markovia tried and failed to rise up against Strahd long ago. This caused the abbey to be isolated from Krezk; things worsened over time and its inhabitants descended into madness. The Abbot then arrived in service to his deity and tried to fix things. He confirms that the transformation of the abbey's inhabitants into "mongrelfolk" was his doing, though he seems regretful. Disturbed, the party departs from the abbey. ### Visions at the pool Ireena and Francis are both drawn to a pool at the north end of the village. At the pool, they find a statue which Yves identifies as being in the likeness of the relatively obscure Morninglord, the protector god of light and the sun. The sunsword speaks to Notte once more, requesting that she hand it over to Francis so that he can place it in the water. Notte is distrustful of its motives; however, she eventually hands the sword over. Francis takes the sword and is immediately overwhelmed with a sensation of love and warmth. After the surprise passes, Francis dips it into the water, causing the shadow of a person to appear. The figure introduces himself as [[Sergei von Zarovich (Scaena)|Sergei]], brother of Strahd. Francis and Sergei have an emotional conversation wherein it is revealed that Francis and Ireena are both reincarnations of his lost fiancée, Tatyana. He speaks to how Strahd desired her as well, which lead to both of their deaths. Ireena becomes unsettled, feeling uncomfortable with the expectations and identities imposed on her. Sergei seems understanding. Sergei asks Francis if she wants to "leave together"; Francis is tempted but turns him down. Sergei expresses his love; his figure fades from the pool. After a moment of contemplation, Francis returns the sword to Notte. ### Leaving Krezk The party discusses next steps. They agree that it would be worthwhile to retrieve wine for Krezkov and Luvash in order to secure more allies. They decide, however, to first head to the nearby tower that Ez has been using as her base since her arrival in the domain. Ez, who has noticed that Francis is a warlock, asks for the name of her patron. Since Francis is forbidden from revealing such information, Gallagher gives Ez the name: Firan Zal'Honan. Though Ez is upset to learn this, she indicates that she believes that Francis is likely a victim in this situation. Francis has a meltdown. Notte and Gallagher reassure him that no one finds him untrustworthy. Ismark apologizes to Francis but accidentally reveals that Francis has contracted lycanthropy, which further upsets Ez. Ez insists that they need to find Van Richten, who will find a way to fix everything. The party regroups with Krezkov at the village gates. Claiming curiosity, Notte asks Krezkov why he told them to avoid the abbey. Krezkov explains that it's an evil place; once a convent, it eventually fell to the devil. He adds that it is now occupied by the Abbot, who has been there for nearly a century and hasn't aged a day. The party thanks Krezkov for his hospitality and departs from the settlement. ### Wagonload of bombs Ez shares that she has a wagon that can take them to the tower as soon as she disarms her bombs; she explains that she rigs over 100 flasks of alchemist fire every time she leaves her wagon. Ez goes to disarm the bombs. She instructs Gallagher to accompany her while the others keep watch. Gallagher points out the dangerousness of Ez's setup, emphasizing the fact that Ez keeps a pet chicken inside her wagon. She also advises Ez against acting like their leader, as they should rather act like a team. Meanwhile, Notte checks on Ireena in the wake of the Sergei revelation. Ireena is grateful for Notte's reassurance that she doesn't have to be anyone who she doesn't want to be. Ismark checks on and accidentally flirts with Yves. The two gossip and disparage Notte, Francis, and Gallagher's eccentricities. Francis, inspired by Ez's ghost horses and wanting to save room in the wagon, summons her own skeletal horse, Gwynevere. Ismark – seemingly afraid of Gwynevere – reluctantly agrees to ride with Francis. ### Journey to the tower Notte and Yves tease Ez in various ways on the way to the tower, agitating her greatly. Yves implies that Gallagher has never danced before. Gallagher and Ez flirt, which Notte and Ireena quietly gossip about. Meanwhile, Francis reveals to Ismark that she overheard him and Yves saying rude things about her. Instead of apologizing outright, Ismark confesses that he is socially maladjusted due to not having any friends growing up. However, he promises to do better and adds that he trusts Francis with Ireena's life. During the journey, the party is surrounded by eight snarling wolves that burst out of the tree line. They kill the wolves with little issue. Back on the road, Ez casually recounts how she lost her leg to a werewolf. ### Reunion with Van Richten The party makes it to the decrepit [[Wizard Tower (Scaena)|Wizard Tower]] on [[Lake Baratok (Scaena)|Lake Baratok]], finding that Van Richten's wagon is parked out front. A dance is required to open the door. Yves eventually volunteers – albeit reluctantly – and blushes all the while. Inside, Van Richten is no longer disguised as Rictavio. Instead, he is wearing monster-hunting gear and appears a decade older with gray streaks in his hair. Ez angrily confronts Van Richten about disappearing for years and sending her a "suicide note." She insists that he apologize to the "these freaks and the pirate," cure Francis of his lycanthropy, and then help them kill Strahd. Francis and Yves take offense to being called freaks. Ez apologizes and admits that she is on edge, explaining that she has been dealing with Van Richten since she was about eleven years old. Francis suggests that Ez should have a cup of tea and instructs Gallagher to go make her one. The two head outside. ### Tea and trauma Gallagher starts a fire and begins making tea for Ezmerelda, who recounts her and Van Richten's long and troubled history. Gallagher shares that she had a fraught relationship with [[Bunko Muse|her own mentor]]; however, their history was likely not as deep as that of Ez and Van Richten's. Gallagher reveals that she recently lost her mentor and [[Grayson Love|her brother]] – along with the entire crew of the ship that she served on – to the sea. Ez offers her condolences and relates to Gallagher's feeling of loss. ### Amends and promises Van Richten uses an apology as an excuse to get close enough to Francis to cure him of lycanthropy. Van Richten immediately tries to leave, but Francis stops him by shoving him down onto the bed. Van Richten quips, "Don’t you think that’s inappropriate in present company?" to which Francis retorts, "Not if you were the last person on earth, Rudolph." After Ireena advises Van Richten and Francis to be kind to each other, she – along with Notte, Yves, and Ismark – leave the two alone. Francis accuses Van Richten of not trusting him and perhaps never having even liked him. Despite this, he adds that he firmly believes they can help each other. Van Richten shares some information about his past, explaining that both his wife and son died because of him, and that he has lost countless others. Francis, convinced of her own exceptionally bad luck, believes that not even Van Richten's curse could touch her. Francis proposes a truce. Van Richten indicates that he cannot make any promises. Regardless, in the spirit of the truce, Van Richten shares some information related to the dragon that wiped out Francis's hometown. He reveals that there is only one dragon in Darkon: a shadow dragon named Ebb, who once had a master named Azalin. Van Richten warns Francis that Firan likely will not deliver on their agreement in a way that Francis will be happy with. He promises to do his best to get Francis out of her contract with Firan. ### Planning next steps Everyone regroups and talks about their various leads. Gallagher tells Van Richten and Ez about S, but neither of them are familiar with the mysterious woman. Van Richten suggests that the others visit the windmill – called the [[Old Bonegrinder (Scaena)|Old Bonegrinder]] – near Vallaki, as he suspects that there are hags living inside. When Notte questions the usefulness of picking a fight with a hag coven, Van Richten shares that he knows that there is at least one hag in Strahd's service. Yves is highly resistant to the idea even still. Ismark volunteers to protect Yves, which Francis teases him for. Yves only agrees to go when Van Richten, treating them like a child, offers to show them his tiger. Van Richten refuses to go with the others but promises to stay put. It is clear that he is bluffing. ### Outside the Old Bonegrinder On the way to the windmill, the party is almost attacked by dire wolves; however, there is a loud noise in the distance – a sudden bang, followed by a buzzing noise – and the wolves go bounding off in that direction. When they approach the windmill, they find an agitated raven squawking at them from a beam above the door. Francis has Skelly communicate with the bird. As a result, they learn that the hags abduct children from Barovia Village to turn them into pastries. Nia scouts the windmill through the windows with her detachable, spider-like hand. She is able to gather that there are three hags occupying the building and that they are holding at least one child prisoner. Ireena returns to the wagon to hide. Ismark follows to watch over her, though he is reluctant to leave Yves. Notte tells Ireena via ghost to alert her if there is any trouble. The ghost that returns with Ireena's message is unusually chatty and introduces himself as "Razzi," which is also the name of Ez's chicken. Notte mentions the coincidence to Ez; Ez says that they will need to revisit the topic later. The party prepares for a fight. They lure the hags outside by lighting a fire and throwing rocks at the windows. The three hags – [[Morgantha (Scaena)|Morgantha]], [[Bella (Scaena)|Bella]], and [[Offalia (Scaena)|Offalia]] – approach disguised as old women, though they quickly reveal their true forms as night hags before they attack. Yves is unsettled and panicked throughout the fight, especially with Morgantha seeming to pay special attention to them. The fight is long, with both sides sustaining heavy damage. Offalia is the first to fall. Despite Gallagher threats of retaliation, a haggard Morgantha snaps her fingers, teleporting Ez away in a puff of smoke. Morgantha attempts to barter with the party, offering them Ez's safe return. She informs the others that Yves is a "prospective hag" and mentions that her coven could use another now that Offalia is dead. No one is willing to negotiate with Morgantha. They manage to kill her, but Bella escapes through teleportation magic. ### Inside the Old Bonegrinder Notte gathers Ismark and Ireena. Francis asks if they should wait for Ez to return; they decide that they should, but that they should also not waste time before exploring the windmill and rescuing anyone inside. Yves is drained in the aftermath of the fight. Gallagher and Francis reassure him that no one cares that he is a hexblood. The party, minus the absent Ez, enter the windmill, inside of which they free a five-year-old girl named [[Myrtle (Scaena)|Myrtle]] and a seven-year-old boy named [[Freek (Scaena)|Freek]] from locked crates. When it becomes clear that the children's parents willingly gave them up to the hags, the party discusses their options. They conclude that the children would likely be safest at the Keep. Notte takes the children outside while the others search the rest of the windmill. They come across several labeled elixirs: "Youth" (a golden liquid), "Laughter" (which looks like tea), and "Mother’s Milk" (a milky green liquid). Yves takes all of the elixirs despite Gallagher's apprehension. Ismark and Yves both argue that they could potentially be useful for trading. ### Waiting game The others regroup with Notte and the children. Near the windmill, they find four megaliths that show four different cities, each depicted in a different season. Everyone camps out around Ez's wagon to wait for her. Gallagher checks up on Yves. Yves tells Gallagher that he is growing to trust her. Then, he reveals that his parents made a deal to give him up to hag when he reached adulthood in exchange for nobility, wealth, and status; when they were found out, they were executed. Gallagher expresses sympathy. She adds that she is glad that Yves didn't end up with the hag, even if it meant that Yves ended up in Barovia. Yves tugs off their veil to reveal small branches, shaped like a laurel, growing out of their head. Gallagher calls the branches cute. Francis plays a simple lullaby on Ez's lyre for the children. Ireena and Notte work on Ireena's mask. ### Ez and the mountain-woman [[Krue d'Avenir|Krue]], who had entered Scaena at the behest of [[Vajra Safahr|the Blackstaff]] of [[Waterdeep]] with her wife, Ezmerelda, and her wife's old professor, Hawthorne, finds herself separated from both women. Shortly after entering the mists, she stumbled across a fellow [[Rashemen|Rashemi]], Minsc. They shared food and conversation; however, Krue soon set out to look for her companions. Ez wanders through mountainous terrain, having been teleported far from the windmill by Morgantha. She is eventually met by Krue, a tall, human woman who seems to recognize her. Krue quickly realizes, however, that the Ezmerelda in front of her is not her wife. Stressed and agitated, Ez initially dismisses her outright until she learns that Krue, like herself, is a monster hunter who is searching for people. Krue offers to guide Ez out of the mountains and back to the windmill, which she also expresses familiarity with. Eventually, Krue reveals that she believes that one of the people she is looking for is an alternate version of Ez. Ez accuses Krue of insanity, but decides that getting back the windmill is more pressing than anything else. Krue warns that, if they come across "her Ezmerelda," that Ez cannot attack her. When Ez responds as if the suggestion is insane, Krue misunderstands what is being called into question and explains that there is precedent for Ezmerelda attacking different versions of herself. Krue lets Ez know that the other person she arrived in the domain with was Ez's old college professor, Amelia Hawthorne. Ez doesn't seem excited about the prospect of catching up. Krue introduces Ez to her sentient sword, [[Ewyn the Divine Vorpal Moonblade]]. Ez is unimpressed. The two continue on. Though Ez is clearly trying to keep conversation to a minimum, Krue asks about Ez's current companions. Ez provides candid assessments, calling Gallagher agreeable, Yves and Notte difficult, and Francis a "serial victim." She also mentions Van Richten, Ismark, and Ireena – all of whom Krue expresses familiarity with – noting that Ismark isn't a very capable combatant and that Ireena isn't a combatant at all. Krue is a bit bothered that Ez is so readily friendly with Gallagher, as the version of Ezmerelda that she married was initially very hostile to her and her companions. When Krue asks if the group is capable of killing Strahd, Ez answers that they seem competent enough. Soon after, Krue and Ez are attacked by seven needle blights, which Krue kills in a swift and impressive display. ### S's helpful friend After several hours, Ez and Krue arrive at the windmill. Krue introduces herself and asks the party if they have met "another Ezmerelda." She explains that she arrived in the domain with two other women, one of which is an older version of their newfound friend. Realizing that Krue vaguely fits one of the descriptions that S provided, Notte asks Krue if one of the women that she entered the domain with is named Hawthorne. Krue excitedly confirms this to be the case. Notte then asks if her other companion is named "S." Krue, confused, asks who "S" is. Notte says, "Es...merelda." They inform Krue that they believe her friend is at the Keep of the Scarlet Cross, which is one place that Krue is unfamiliar with. Krue tries to ask more questions, but Notte turns the questions around on her. Krue reveals that she has already been to Barovia, "went through the whole thing," and killed Strahd. She adds that she doesn't think the domain they are currently in is the same Barovia that she previously visited. They discuss the versions of Van Richten, Ismark, and Ireena that Krue already knows. From her description, Van Richten seems drastically different than how [[Rudolph van Richten|Krue's friend]] ended up turning out. Additionally, Krue expresses surprise that Ismark is with the party, as the [[Ismark Kolyanovich|other version of Ismark]] stayed in Barovia Village to act as their burgomaster until the mists "lifted." Krue mentions wanting to help the party but also wanting avoiding "messing things up." She starts listing off things that she experienced in Barovia, advising them to help [[Godfrey Gwilym (Scaena)|Godfrey]] retrieve the skull of [[Argynvost (Scaena)|Argynvost]] from Castle Ravenloft and to collect the clockwork toy [[Pidlwick II (Scaena)|Pidlwick]] from the castle as well. She draws a crude map of the castle for them when Ismark asks. Next, Krue asks about their tarokka card fortunes. She informs them that the "Mad Dog's crypt" is in the basement of Castle Ravenloft. She also notes that they seem to be fated to face off against Strahd in the same place she and her party was – his study. Ez emphasizes the need to go to the castle, but the others insist that they should stay away for as long as possible. Krue lets slip that she is very wealthy from her adventures. Notte is disbelieving. Krue also tells them about Minsc, insisting that he can probably help them with their endeavor. After Krue repeatedly asks to be taken to her wife, Gallagher begins lighting the candles. Freek, Myrtle, Krue, Ismark, Ireena, Gallagher, Notte, Ezmerelda, Yves, and Francis teleport back to the Keep of the Scarlet Cross. ### S and Krue reunite Petre notes the new faces among them. When Notte asks if Petre can watch over the children, he hesitantly agrees. S and Krue share an emotional reunion. Krue admits that she might have told the others too much – including information about S's identity – but S expresses that she is just glad to see Krue alive. S removes the bandages from her face to reveal that she is in fact an older, alternate version of Ezmerelda. ### Theaters and gifts Once it is revealed that Krue used to be an owlfolk before being turned into a human, Notte realizes that the skeletons that they found with the tarokka cards are likely meant to resemble Krue and her friends. S theorizes that the skeletons are a demonstration of dramatic irony, adding that she and Krue entered the domain via a theater. Yves, Notte, Gallagher, and Francis are all surprised to hear this, as they each thought that they were the only ones who had visions of a theater before waking up in Barovia. S tells them that the theater is in a town called Scaena. S expresses a desire to retrieve the jacket off the skeleton that is modeled after her, as she previously gave her own jacket to [[Skoll de Marais|Skoll]]. The party asks for S and Krue's help defeating Strahd, but the two women are adamant that they can't interfere. However, they do offer help in the form of gifts. Krue gives Ez a Cloak of Displacement and a Potion of Greater Healing. She finds ancient elven wine while searching through her bag; she gives up two bottles when Francis and Ez both indicate that they want one. Krue gives Francis an Immovable Rod. S gives Ez a Charm of Nine Lives that has four charges remaining. She also tosses Gallagher a coin purse with 48 gold pieces in it. S then gives Notte a silvered rapier and Yves an ornate but worn handaxe. After wishing the party luck, Krue and S leave the Keep in search of Hawthorne. The party discusses the bizarre turn of events and the information given to them by Krue and S. Ez is particularly agitated. Ez advocates going to Castle Ravenloft once more, but the rest of the party argues against it. Francis expresses a desire to rescue Vasilka from the abbey, but the others seem wary about picking a fight with the Abbot. Notte identifies the Immovable Rod for Francis as well as the Cloak of Displacement and Charm of Nine Lives for Ez. The party disperses. ### Conversations with Razzi Ez approaches Notte about the ghost named Razzi, explaining that Razzi is also the name of Van Richten's son. She adds that she has been friends with him for a long time, but that they haven't talked in a while; she has come to fear that she can no longer hear him. Notte tries sending Ez a message via ghost. Razzi delivers the message to Ez, who is immediately softened from her earlier mood. She thanks Notte before departing. Razzi tells Notte that he used to be able to talk to Ez before the Dark Powers stopped him. He describes the Dark Powers as "gods" that are more evil than Notte could possibly conceptualize. He adds that the Dark Powers particularly hate his father. ### Ireena, Yves, and crushes Meanwhile, Yves is approached by Ireena. Yves is initially rude to her, but the two end up discussing the day's events. Eventually, Ireena abruptly asks Yves if he has feelings for Ismark. Yves provides a non-answer, stating that he has only known the man for a couple days. Ireena is persistent. Yves deflects by asking about Ireena's feelings for Notte, pointing out that Notte certainly seems to like her. Ireena deflects in turn. The two conclude the conversation, both feeling awkward and embarrassed. ### Firan's punishment Francis is watching over the sleeping children when Firan speaks in her head. Despite the fact that Francis had little to do with it, he scolds her for having her lycanthropy cured and insists that there needs to be some sort of consequence. On Firan's instruction, Francis goes to the bathroom, where Firan appears in the mirror's reflection. Francis miserably pleads for Firan to leave him alone; Firan doesn't listen. With a snap of Firan's fingers, Francis's skin becomes more transparent. Her eyes are also gone, replaced by two glowing bright-red dots, making her look like a revenant. Francis breaks the mirror with her fist. Firan, delighted, tells Francis that he will be in touch before disappearing from the mirror. Francis makes a beeline for Petre and asks if he has sunglasses. Petre offers to search for some but does not have any on hand. ### Ez and Gallagher share wine Ez and Gallagher pass a bottle of wine back and forth as they wind down from the day. Ez still seems troubled about meeting an alternate version of herself and that woman's wife, but she calms down throughout the conversation. Gallagher blatantly flirts with Ez, who becomes flustered. ### Ireena's mask Ireena wears her unfinished mask while Notte paints it. Ireena abruptly asks if Notte has ever had a girlfriend. Notte admits that she hasn't; Ireena admits the same. Ireena insists that Notte leave a personal motif on the mask since she did most of the work. Notte paints a moon on the mask's forehead. Notte finishes the mask. There is a moment of tension when Notte takes it off of Ireena's face, which Ireena awkwardly attempts to diffuse by suggesting they make more masks together in the future. The two part ways after an awkward farewell. ## 10 Mirtul 1494 ### Francis's new look Petre provides Francis a pair of sunglasses to hide her revenant-like eyes. He also gives Francis gloves and a scarf – which is embroidered with a symbol of a bat – to help disguise her further. Francis confides in Petre about Firan. Petre does his best to reassure him. Not wanting to frighten the children, Francis waits outside until the party is ready to leave. Firan contacts her while she is waiting and names the target of the political assassination that he had mentioned a couple days prior: [[Fiona Wachter (Scaena)|Lady Wachter]] of Vallaki, an aspiring burgomaster whom Strahd is fond of. Firan suggests that Vallaki could be the party's next stop after the winery. ### Morning tea Gallagher, not terribly hungover, makes tea for a much more hungover Ezmerelda. Yves secretly brews the tea that he took from the Old Bonegrinder. Sensing that something is amiss, Ez grills Yves; she apologizes when Yves maintains that it is just normal tea. Drinking the tea causes Yves to start laughing uncontrollably. When Ismark realizes that Yves has drank the "Laughter" tea from the windmill, he scolds Yves for his recklessness. Yves casts Lesser Restoration on themself, which allows them to stop laughing. They throw the rest of the tea away along with the other two elixirs recovered from the windmill; Ismark, however, covertly recovers the "Youth" elixir from the trash. Ismark argues with Yves about drinking the tea; Yves makes a few suicidal remarks, which upsets Ismark. Next, Ismark picks a fight with Notte over her tone of voice, insisting that she always sounds like she is judging him. Notte – who has already received a similar complaint from Ez – grows frustrated. ### Vampire gods and assassinations The party meets Francis outside. He explains what occurred to him and caused his appearance to change. Ireena, Yves, and even Ez attempt to comfort him. Yves cautions Francis against wearing unpopular symbols, explaining that the bat on his scarf represents a vampiric god. The party is unsettled to learn this, as many banners inside the Keep of the Scarlet Cross boast this symbol. Yves points out that the church at least no longer seems to be occupied by "believers." Francis informs the party about Firan's instructions to assassinate Lady Wachter. When everyone expresses resistance to the idea, Francis declares that he will do it alone; Ismark insists otherwise. Notte, trying to find a positive angle, points out that taking out Lady Wachter might be beneficial since she is an ally of Strahd. Gallagher and Yves remain skeptical. The group says their goodbyes to Petre, Freek, and Myrtle before using the candles to teleport back to the area outside the Old Bonegrinder. Then, they travel to the Vistani camp outside of Vallaki. ### Visiting Luvash The party enters the camp on foot after Ez rigs her wagon with bombs. Ireena wears her mask to hide her identity. Francis hides under his sunglasses, cowl, and hood, opting to leave the vampiric scarf in the wagon. Ez draws attention for being an unfamiliar Vistana. They find Luvash in good spirits. Gallagher purchases healing potions and a climber's kit. Ez questions the usefulness of the climber's kit despite Gallagher bringing up the likelihood of needing to infiltrate Castle Ravenloft. Luvash makes an insensitive joke about Francis being allowed to join their camp if he ever becomes homeless. He also wishes them luck and compliments Ireena's mask; Ireena tells him that Notte made it and did a great job. Luvash informs them that Arabelle has been asking to go to Vallaki to gather "intel" for the party. They opt not to catch up with her. ### Horses, skeletal and otherwise The party departs from the Vistani camp. Gallagher suggests stopping by the tower before going to the winery in case Van Richten is still there. Ez implies that she is going to eventually steal a horse from the Vistani, an idea that perplexes everyone. A drawn-out argument ensues in which Ez accuses Gallagher of never having seen a horse and Notte accuses Ez of never having ridden one. Ez reveals that she has previously stolen horses. Ireena admits that she has never ridden a horse. Francis offers to let her ride Gwynevere, but she declines due to being afraid of the skeletal creature. She hesitantly agrees, however, when Notte offers to teach her how to ride a non-skeletal horse. Francis asks Yves if they want to ride with her on Gwynevere after Ismark implicitly insults the horse's lack of skin. Yves agrees; Ismark bristles. ### To the tower While the others are traveling in the wagon, Francis comments on Ismark's apparent romantic interest in Yves. Yves brushes the idea off. The two gossip about the romantic tension between Notte and Ireena as well as that between Gallagher and Ezmerelda. Inside the wagon, Ismark is moody and will not say why. Notte suggests that he needs a moment to moment to relax; Ismark states that he can't relax in front of other people. Gallagher sympathizes, pointing out that they are all near-strangers still. This inspires Ismark to ask everyone in the wagon to name some of their hobbies. * Gallagher: drinking and playing dice. * Notte: reading and playing dragonchess. * Ismark: checkers. * Ireena: playing games, typically cards. * Ez: grifting people, hunting, shooting things with lightning. Ismark briefly discusses his legacy. He implies that he wants to adopt children one day, but resists the idea of adopting Freek and Myrtle. ### Hawthorne's tower The party finds that Van Richten's wagon is no longer at the tower; Ez is frustrated but unsurprised. Ireena and Notte perform the dance required to open the door together. Inside the tower, they find Amelia Hawthorne, who greets them all with amusement and interest. She seems unsurprised that another version of S is with them; she also seems unsurprised that Krue and S are looking for her. Throughout the conversation, Hawthorne makes multiple sexual innuendos and hits on Francis, Notte, Gallagher, Ireena, and Yves. Notte, Ireena, and Yves react with embarrassment and indignation, whereas Gallagher flatly rejects her. Francis enjoys the attention. Hawthorne is able to deduce that Yves is a hexblood on sight. When asked how she can tell so easily, Hawthorne simply says that she is "familiar" with hexbloods. Hawthorne presents an open offer of sex. Francis accepts, which irritates many of the others – Ez especially. Hawthorne insists that she can "make it quick." Francis and Hawthorne remain inside the tower while everyone else exits. Outside, Gallagher makes everyone tea. Ez insists that Hawthorne used to be "more normal." Yves calls the woman "deeply unpleasant." Ireena not-so-casually asks if Notte is interested in Hawthorne at all, which Notte denies. When Notte asks the same of Ireena, Ireena denies it in turn. ### Hawthorne and Francis Hawthorne and Francis finish quickly. Afterward, Hawthorne lights a cigarette. They discuss the version of Van Richten that Hawthorne knows, with Hawthorne admitting that she crashes at his and his boyfriend's house often. She calls the man "utterly domestic" and a "softie"; Francis expresses skepticism. The two also discuss Francis's patron and his undefined job in the domain. When Francis explains that Firan brought him back to life before, Hawthorne pulls out her gun and points it at Francis's head before asking what would happen if she pulled the trigger. Firan telepathically informs Francis that he would intervene, but Hawthorne ultimately decides not to shoot him. Hawthorne, recognizing the difficulty of Francis's situation, offers to brainstorm ways to help her. Francis is grateful. Hawthorne gives Francis the remainder of her cigarette before the two head outside to meet the others. ### Farewell to Hawthorne Outside, Hawthorne offers the rest of the party cigarettes. Gallagher accepts; Hawthorne tosses her a full pack. Yves shares that they recently quit smoking; Hawthorne congratulates them before stating that she usually just has Van Richten "clear her out" every once in a while. Hawthorne indicates that she plans to wait out at the tower for Krue and S. She asks, however, where the party members are staying; Francis informs her. She indicates that she might stop by the Keep sometime, much to Yves's discontent. When Notte asks, Hawthorne tells them that she is not willing to help them kill Strahd; she wants to avoid getting in trouble with her ex, who is the woman that sent Krue and S to scout out the domain in the first place. Hawthorne instructs the party to "go kill a vampire" and asks them to give Van Richten her regards. The party leaves the tower and heads for the winery. ### A blighted winery The mud thickens as the party approaches the winery and they are forced to continue on foot. Notte, Yves, and Francis all complain about the mud. It starts to rain; Ismark offers Yves his jacket, but they decline. The party finds an entire family hiding in the vineyard: [[Davian Martikov (Scaena)|Davian Martikov]], the owner of the winery; his adult children, [[Adrian Martikov (Scaena)|Adrian]], [[Elvir Martikov (Scaena)|Elvir]], and [[Stefania Martikov (Scaena)|Stefania]]; Stefania's husband, [[Dag Tomescu (Scaena)|Dag Tomescu]]; Stefania and Dag's teen son, [[Claudiu Martikov (Scaena)|Claudiu]]; their younger sons, [[Martin Martikov (Scaena)|Martin]] and [[Viggo Martikov (Scaena)|Viggo]]; and their baby daughter, [[Yolanda Martikov (Scaena)|Yolanda]]. The party learns that the Martikovs cannot access their six remaining barrels of wine due to the winery being overrun by druids and blights. Notte weighs the situation, but Gallagher reminds her that there are children involved. Francis and Ez also urge the party to help. Notte leaves one of her swords with Ireena, who stays behind with the Martikovs. Ismark stays behind as well while the others approach the winery, where they are attacked by three waves of various blights and druids. The fight is quick but intense; at one point, Notte is riddled with needles and falls unconscious until Yves heals her. Near the end of the fight, Yves, Notte, and Ez are blasted with a Thunderwave, with Ez being knocked through an outhouse. After the fight is over, Notte picks a single needle out of her body before deciding that she will deal with it later. Ez complains about the smell of the outhouse. After Ez informs Gallagher that she likes raspberries, Gallagher casts Prestidigitation to make her smell like the fruit. After the party has rested, they head inside the winery. ### Exploring the winery The party is met with a comprehensive winemaking operation, finding evidence of barrel making, glassblowing, label printing, wine fermentation, and logistics. They also find scores of ravens, but Skelly reports that the ravens in the rafters are "less lucid" than the one he spoke to at the Old Bonegrinder. Gallagher swipes two bottles of wine from the basement despite Francis's protests. Upstairs, they defeat a druid wielding a gnarled Gulthias staff, which is spongey to the touch. Notte identifies that – among other things – the staff can kill nearby blights if destroyed. Gallagher decides to hang onto the staff despite Ez's teasing. Ez and Notte search the primary bedroom. They find hidden gemstones in a secret chest compartment, but Notte closes the chest before Ez can take anything. Despite chastising them for their nosiness, Yves also snoops, finding shipping manifests that suggest that the Martikovs used to do business with Strahd. ### Regrouping with the Martikovs Back outside, the others meet up with Ismark, Ireena, and the Martikovs. Seeing Notte's injuries, Ireena worriedly checks on her. Davian offers his six barrels of wine to the party: three for Krezk, three for the Vistani. He reveals that the vineyard is dying to the theft of their three magical gems: one was stolen by scarecrows (likely at the behest of the local witch who creates the hostile creatures, the [[Baba Lysaga (Scaena)|Baba Lysaga]]), one was stolen by the druids at [[Yester Hill (Scaena)|Yester Hill]], and one was stolen a decade ago due the negligence of his son, Urwin. The party promises to keep an eye out for the gems but emphasizes that they have other priorities. Adrian and Elvir offer to transport the wine to Krezk and the Luna River Caravan for the party as long as they provide an escort. ### The bard Rictavio The party – along with Adrian and Elvir – have not been traveling for long when they meet Van Richten, disguised as Rictavio once more, on the road. Francis sarcastically flirts; Van Richten is unimpressed. He also seems displeased that the party has already met with the owner of the winery. Francis repeatedly asks Van Richten to accompany them. Van Richten is reluctant, eventually explaining that he was tracking ravens, as he believes they are tied to a lead. He only agrees to accompany them when Francis points out that the ravens appear to be following the party. Van Richten takes a moment to apologize to Ez for disappearing again. She responds, "Yup." Van Richten hesitantly agrees that it isn't a bad idea to deliver wine to Krezkov in order to secure him as an ally. To the others' incredulity, he also doesn't think that it is a bad idea to assassinate Lady Wachter. Notte and "Rictavio" have a conversation – loud enough for Adrian and Elvir to hear – wherein Notte invites him to join them on their journey. "Rictavio" jovially accepts. Van Richten leads the caravan, with Francis and Yves riding alongside on Gwynevere. Adrian and Elvir follow with the wine, while everyone else rides in Ez's wagon at the rear. Francis informs Van Richten about Firan's retaliation against her. She also brings up meeting Amelia Hawthorne, which Yves coyly elaborates on. Van Richten becomes irritated and flustered to learn that Francis slept with Hawthorne. Francis suggests that he needs to get laid. Francis tells Van Richten that they met a "second Ezmerelda" and her wife, Krue. Van Richten is disbelieving; he is also disbelieving that there is an alternate version of himself that is dating a man named Skoll and effectively dating Hawthorne as well. Yves offends Van Richten by making an insensitive comment about his dead son. He ends up joining the others in Ez's wagon so that Francis can continue talking with Van Richten. Francis and Van Richten discuss Vasilka. Van Richten offers to help Francis plan a rescue mission, adding that no child deserves the fate of being handed off to a vampire. Francis is immensely grateful. Van Richten eventually invites Francis to join him in his wagon. ### Delivery to Krezk Krezkov is happy to receive the wine. In return, he grants the party free passage in and out of Krezk. While Krezkov, Adrian, and Elvir are occupied, Van Richten gathers the group and brings up the Keepers of the Feather once more. Many of party members are vaguely familiar with the Keepers, knowing them as a shadowy, secret society concerned with the occult. Van Richten informs them that they began as an order of wereravens who opposed Strahd in secret for generations. He adds that he has reason to believe that the Keepers in Barovia would still prove useful allies. Based on comments previously made by Danika and Davian – as well as the fact that the raven at the Old Bonegrinder flew off in the direction of Vallaki – the party is able to determine that the Keepers likely operate from Vallaki's Blue Water Inn. The party then discusses a different matter: the assassination of Lady Wachter. Yves tries to bow out, but they are convinced to help by Ismark. Ez readily agrees to help, suggesting that she has previously killed public officials. Firan briefly possesses Francis's body to inform the others that Lady Wachter is likely a spellcaster. He expresses familiarity with Notte's parents, Ez, and Van Richten. Francis seems overwhelmed when she regains control of her body. Later, Gallagher quietly on her, but Francis only says that she is tired. ### To the Luna River Caravan The party prepares to head to the Vistani camp. Ez points out that her wagon is too crowded; Yves, resigned, apologizes to Van Richten and asks if he can join him and Francis. Van Richten accepts the apology and invites him in, though he warns him that the tiger is in the back. Yves remains uninterested. During the journey, Ez nearly runs over an inkwell that seems to produce nausea on sight. Notte uses it to prank Ismark. ### Luvash's trinkets Like Krezkov, Luvash is grateful to receive wine. He offers to allow the party members to pull from his "trinket chest" when he learns about the trouble they went through to get it. On Luvash's insistence, they start pulling items from the trinket chest. * Francis first pulls out a mirror which shows a much older version of himself in the reflection. He puts it back and pulls out a necklace made of interlinked holy symbols from a dozen deities. * Yves pulls out a broken clockwork figurine of a dancer. He also pulls out a doll. * Notte pulls out a switch. She grimaces, puts it aside, and pulls out another switch. Luvash calls this turn of events "embarrassing." Notte then pulls out an ornate but empty reliquary made of silver and fractured glass. She decides to keep it and use the silver to fill the needle holes in her body. * Ez pulls out a switch, which Gallagher takes the opportunity to flirt with her over. She then pulls out a small, worn book of children's nursey rhymes; Francis takes it when she tries to put it back. Finally, she grabs a moist coral figurine of a lamprey with arms, legs, and a bipedal stance. She throws it back in the box. * Ismark finds a bouquet of fresh funerary flowers. He tries to give them to Yves, but Yves walks away. * Gallagher finds a crumpled carnival ticket with the words "Admit None" printed on it. She then pulls out a small, water-damaged painting of herself and her younger brother. She is deeply shaken; Luvash claims to not know where the picture came from. He insists that Gallagher try again – this time, she pulls out a copper ring with the word "mine" engraved on the inside of the band. * Notte reaches in to get something for Ireena and pulls out a wooden hand with an aarakocra skull engraved on the back of it. Gallagher recognizes the hand as belonging to her old mentor and becomes incensed. Francis tells Luvash that his trinket chest is a "terrible box." Luvash takes them back to his treasure wagon as an apology. The ultimately decide to take the chest full of 1200 electrum pieces despite Ismark's insistence that they take a throne. The party departs from Luvash and say their farewells to Adrian and Elvir as well. ### Meeting Kasimir The party is approached by a dusk elf named [[Kasimir Velikov (Scaena)|Kasimir Velikov]], who indicates his deep hatred for Strahd. He provides the party with various pieces of information when it becomes clear that they are also opposed to the man: * Rahadin, who carried out the genocide on the dusk elves in Barovia, is a dusk elf himself. * The [[Amber Temple (Scaena)|Amber Temple]], which is in the mountains to the far south, is rumored to be the location where Strahd made his dark pacts and secured his eternal power. Kasimir indicates that he would like to go with the party if they travel to the Amber Temple, revealing that he is a capable spellcaster. He also reveals that he has his own motives for visiting the temple, as he believes that it may hold magical relics or knowledge that could help him bring his sister back to life. They thank Kasimir for the leads and tell him that they will let him know if and when they head for the temple. Francis assures Kasimir that, should they kill Strahd, she can help Kasimir leave Barovia and potentially meet other elves in Darkon. Kasimir appreciates the idea. As they wrap up their conversation, Kasimir makes a gesture of worship toward Yves, recognizing him as a follower of Ezra. Yves reciprocates the gesture, which prompts Kasimir to smile faintly before taking his leave. ### A cruel prank Back at the wagons, Francis pranks Van Richten with the nausea-inducing inkwell. Gallagher, upset from earlier and still upset with Van Richten in general for his lack of helpfulness, casts Prestidigitation to make produce the smell of burning toast. Van Richten initially believes he is having a stroke. When he figures out the truth, however, he berates Gallagher and everyone else. ### Naming Van Richten's tiger Francis scolds Van Richten when she finds out that he hasn't named his tiger. Van Richten argues that he didn't name her because he planned to let the tiger loose in the halls of Castle Ravenloft, where she would wreak havoc before likely being killed. He adds that he not good at naming things. Francis points out that he named Piccolo, the monkey. Francis suggests that Van Richten should name the tiger after another musical instrument. Van Richten asks for Francis's favorite instrument, then Yves's; then, he declares that the tiger's name is Calliope Harpsicord. ### On the road again Ismark insists on riding in Van Richten's wagon with Francis and Yves so that they can have "boys' time" on the way to Vallaki. On Ismark's insistence, they talk about what they like to do for fun. Ismark tells the others that he enjoys reading, hitting things with a sword, crossbow archery, drinking, and making skin and hair products. Yves shares that he enjoy to read. Francis mentions that – in Darkon – she used to go hunting, bar-hopping, and "people-hopping." Van Richten states that he likes to bake and that he sometimes bakes dishes with cannabis. He agrees to share some with Francis later. The mood is more somber in the other wagon. Ireena opens up about how she and Ismark had a lonely childhood, which prompts Notte to relate. Ez dishonestly and flatly denies being lonely as child when Ireena asks. Gallagher also denies being lonely as a child or otherwise, as she spent most of her adult life being a member of pirate crews. Gallagher reveals that she gained her mistwalking curse after stealing cursed treasure belonging to [[Pietra van Riese]]. She believes that stealing this treasure also led Pietra to track down and sink her ships twice over, the last incident happening right before she ended up in Barovia. Having sufficiently brought the mood down even more, Gallagher apologizes. Ireena, ever the optimist, asks the group about what they plan to do once they leave the domain. Notte responds that she was just planning on roaming. When Notte turns the question back on Ireena, she lights up as she speaks about all of her "life objectives." She lists wanting to join the circus, go to college, get a really expensive dress, start a garden, and grow pumpkins. Notte promises that Ireena will get to do all of those things once they leave Barovia. Later on in the conversation, Ireena implies that Gallagher and Van Richten are similar, as they are both ambiently sad, slightly abrasive, caring, and similar in age. Gallagher reveals that she is only 34 years old and that the gray in her hair is due to her curse. Ez pays Gallagher an awkward compliment, which eases the tension. ### Assassination plans The party stops as they are approaching Vallaki in order to prepare for their assassination of Lady Wachter. Francis mentions that today is the town's Festival of the Blazing Sun. Van Richten, who had been unaware of the festival, thinks that it's bad timing; Gallagher argues that the distraction of a festival could work in their favor. Van Richten gives Francis his Hat of Disguise so that she is not recognizable to Izek Strazni. Francis chooses to disguise herself as Hawthorne; Van Richten gets huffy when he learns who Francis has modeled her disguise after. Van Richten offers to escort Ismark and Ireena back to the Keep so that Ireena is not noticed by Izek. Notte expresses a desire to go with, but Van Richten argues that she would be useful in the event that the others run into trouble. Ireena wishes the party luck and expresses a desire for the party to "do something violent" if they encounter Izek. Francis assures her that they will do their best to hurt hum. ### The Festival of the Blazing Sun A storm brews as Yves, Notte, Gallagher, Francis, and Ez enter Vallaki. They witness the parade for the Festival of the Blazing Sun, which consists of a dreary procession of children dressed as flowers and downtrodden adults hauling a wicker ball. [[Vargas Vallakovich (Scaena)|Burgomaster Vargas Vallakovich]] and his wife follow on horseback. Before the wicker ball can be lit, a sudden downpour snuffs out the burgomaster's torch. A guard in the crowd – [[Lars Kjurls (Scaena)|Lars Kjurls]] – lets out a laugh. This draws the ire of the burgomaster, who orders the guard's arrest. Ezmerelda looks tense and ready to intervene. Francis urges her to focus on their plan to assassinate Lady Wachter, but Ez makes clear that she cares more about helping people than doing what Firan wants. She argues that she can kill the burgomaster, free the man, turn invisible, and then meet them at Lady Wachter's estate. Gallagher is hesitant to let Ez carry out her plan alone while Yves and Notte are resistant to letting her carry it out at all. Still, the others disperse and blend into the crowd when Ez starts counting down. Lightning streaks through the town square; the burgomaster falls dead. The last thing the party sees before fleeing with the panicked crowd is Ezmerelda rushing to free the bound guard. As the group heads toward Lady Wachter's house, they hear an explosion of flame in the distance. ### Meeting with Lady Wachter At [[Wachterhaus (Scaena)]], the party is met by [[Ernst Larnak (Scaena)|Ernst Larnakv]], who claims to have been watching the party on the behest of Lady Wachter. Ernst allows them to enter the home after Francis tells him that they have a mutual enemy in the burgomaster; however, Ernst is able to deduce that the party is actually there to kill Lady Wachter and offers his cooperation for a mere 15 gold. The party agrees to these terms, though Notte is put off by Ernst's disloyalty. They meet with the lady of the house in the parlor. Francis introduces herself as Amelia Hawthorne; the two discuss removing the burgomaster from power. Lady Wachter agrees to pay them 120 gold for the job. Francis sticks Lady Wachter with a poison needle as they shake hands. Before she is able to react, Francis finishes the job with Eldritch Blasts. Ernst informs the party that there are cultists in the basement; he offers to handle them himself. He also mentions that Lady Wachter's [[Stella von Zarovich|mentally-ill daughter]] is locked in a room upstairs. Notte and Yves, both having been locked up by their parents, do not share in Francis and Gallagher's shock. Lady Wachter's staff file out of the house after Gallagher stages a fake fire. ### Debrief with Firan Francis converses with Firan while the others investigate the surrounding rooms. Firan is impressed by how easily they dispatched Lady Wachter and is even more pleased that they killed the burgomaster as well. As a reward, Firan returns a bit of Francis's blood – causing him to regain some of his purple hue – and agrees to return Francis's eyes on a "probationary basis." Firan then gives Francis a new task: find an ally to fill the power vacuum in Vallaki within two days. After some argument, Francis reluctantly agrees. Francis takes off Van Richten's Hat of Disguise to show the others her restored vitality. She also relays her task of finding a leader for the town. ### Ez returns Ez rejoins the party, slightly singed but otherwise fine. She explains that Izek attacked her but that the arrested guard managed to escape after she freed him. Gallagher frets over her. ### The rescue of Stella Wachter The party releases Lady Wachter's daughter from her room, finding her an unkempt state and wearing tattered clothes. The girl – later revealed to be named Stella – seems distrustful, but she is reassured to learn that her mother is dead. She refers to herself as "little kitty" and walks on all fours. Notte takes Stella downstairs to watch over her while the others continue looking around upstairs. She tries to help Stella clean up in the kitchen, but Stella recoils from the water in the sink. Stella seems excited about the prospect of eating fish back at the Keep. ### Exploring Wachterhaus In the primary bedroom, the party finds the preserved corpse of Stella's father, [[Nikolai Wachter (Scaena)|Nikolai Wachter]]. They also find cultist garb and the remains of [[Leo Dilisnya (Scaena)|Leo Dilisnya]] locked in a lead box. Francis casts Speak with Dead and learns that Leo was a loyal soldier of Sergei von Zarovich, having been killed soon after the deaths of Sergei and Tatyana. Next, Francis speaks with Nikolai's spirit. He seems ignorant of the cult run by his wife and knows nothing about his daughter's condition. They find out that he died of illness over a year ago. The party discovers a library full of cats, inside of which there is a secret room hiding coins, an old wooden pipe, five lands deed notarized by Strahd, Lady Wachter's manifesto on devil worship, a black leather tome that Gallagher suspects is cursed, and a very old letter to Lady Lovina Wachter from Lord Vasili von Holtz; this seems to confirm their suspicions that the "Vasili" they met in Barovia Village was Strahd in disguise. They pocket the money and the land deeds; Gallagher burns the manifesto. Yves takes a round black cat which he ultimately names "Our Lady of Sorrows Weeps Blood for Thine Sins." A calico cat follows Francis out of the room; he later names it Saffron. Yves, Francis, Gallagher, Notte, Ez, and Stella regroup. Francis presents Stella with some clothes he retrieved from upstairs. He also confirms Stella's name with her, as he learned it from speaking with Nikolai's spirit. Notte tells Stella that it is a pleasure to meet her. Francis requests that Notte tell Sergei that a man named Leo Dilisnya sends his regards. Notte reveals that the skeletal remains that Francis found belong to a distant cousin of hers. Sergei telepathically expresses that he misses Leo but that he is at least glad to know what became of him. ### Izek's Ambush The group leaves Wachterhaus. Though they stick to the alleyways, they are soon confronted by Izek and three other guards. Izek tells Francis that he isn't leaving without her, but he refuses to say what he wants out of Francis. Clearly furious about the death of the burgomaster, Izek tells the others that they are either going to submit to arrest or that they are going to die. Francis tries to negotiate, but Izek refuses to bargain. Notte attempts to appeal to the guards; it becomes clear that they are too frightened of Izek to defy him. In a display of intimidation, red mist swirls around Francis as a shadowy crown and cloak appear on her. Izek still attacks. Gallagher puts two of the guards to sleep; Ez knocks the remaining guard unconscious. As she passes by Notte, she slaps her on the back, a little more excited than she should be. Notte stumbles. Izek hurls a lob of twisting, blackened fire at Notte, but Notte shakes it off. In retaliation, the party members all attack Izek. He is quickly worn down; Francis gives Izek another chance to tell her what he wants. Izek admits that he has been dreaming about someone who looks very similar to Francis for years. Notte, unsettled on behalf of both Francis and Ireena, kills Izek. Notte and Yves tell Stella that she cannot eat Izek's corpse when she asks. The party leaves Izek's remains and the unconscious guards behind as they continue on. ### Keepers in Vallaki On Gallagher's suggestion, the party informs Danika about the deaths of the burgomaster, his right-hand man, and Lady Wachter. Danika asks if the party is responsible; Francis admits that they might be. Danika doesn't seem to mind that the party murdered three people. They hand over the land deeds that they found in Wachterhaus. Danika implies that she is no stranger to document forgeries. Danika asks the party members if they are aiming for Urwin and herself to be in charge of the town. They point out that someone needs to be in charge; in their answer, the party also reveals that they know about Danika and Urwin's obligations as members – and perhaps leaders – of the Keepers of the Feather. Danika confirms that she is at least a high-ranking member of the order by asking the party members if they wish to join. They indicate that they would like time to think about the offer. Gallagher tells Danika that they are staying at the Keep of the Scarlet Cross and suggests that Danika and Urwin should visit them there later. When Francis tells Danika that they have a friend who wishes to speak with them as well – namely, "Rictavio" – Danika indicates that she already knows that the man is actually Rudolph van Richten. Danika expresses that she is grateful that the party helped Davian at the winery despite the animosity between her husband and his father. ### Return to the Keep The party members, along with their new cats, teleport back to the Keep of the Scarlet Cross. They find the interior of the building in a state of restructuring, as Krue and S have been working on sectioning off spaces for bedrooms. Ismark and Petre watch over Freek and Myrtle, who are playing pirates with wooden sticks that Krue had fashioned to look like swords. Francis introduces the children to Saffron. When Notte asks, Petre admits that he can do nothing to help with Stella other than offer basic medical attention. ### The alternate Barovia Ireena is in the library with S and Krue, who – despite not knowing them like the other women seem to know her – she has warmed up to quickly. Ireena has been asking them about the life of her [[Ireena Kolyana|alternate self]]. Despite S's protests, Krue has been quick divulge, which is how Ireena finds out that her alternate self has two girlfriends. Notte enters the library and introduces Stella to the others. Krue reveals that her party did not help the version of Stella that they met in Barovia, as she ran out of the house before they could speak with her. Krue also implies that her party did not visit the winery at all during their time in Barovia. S and Krue are amused to find out that Ez – like S – shot Vallaki's burgomaster with lightning. ### Cat people and dog people Yves introduces Petre and Ismark to Our Lady of Sorrows Weeps Blood for Thine Sins. Ismark compliments Yves on their choice of a good and unique name. While discussing Stella, Ismark jokes that he has never had a "cat phase," regardless of any other mental illnesses he may have had as a teenager. When Yves remarks that Ismark seems more like a dog person, Ismark insists that he is more like a wolf than a dog. Yves compares Ismark to a "quite fat Corgi." This leads Ismark to offer to show Yves his muscles, which embarrasses Yves. ### Warlock talk Hawthorne has made her way to the Keep and is spending her time bothering Van Richten. Francis interrupts a heated exchange in which Van Richten is insisting that Francis is not his boyfriend. Hawthorne and Van Richten both compliment Francis on looking more lively. The three begin to discuss how to separate Francis from his pact with Firan Zal'Honan, but Van Richten asks Hawthorne to leave once she insists that Francis will need to die in the process. Francis tells Hawthorne that they found a girl who thinks she is a cat; this interests Hawthorne enough for her to leave them alone. Van Richten expresses his dislike of Hawthorne. When Van Richten continues to comment on Francis's sex life, Francis accuses him of taking an obsessive interest. Van Richten gets flustered; Francis continues to needle him. Van Richten believes that the easiest way to break Francis's pact with Firan is to find her a new warlock patron. Francis makes her own suggestions: the Morning Lord, Ezra, and Shar; Van Richten points out that those are all deities and that Francis would need to become a cleric to serve them. When Francis brings up the dragon skull in Castle Ravenloft that Krue mentioned, Van Richten acknowledges that a dragon would be a good patron, as they tend to be very straightforward creatures. However, they would need to find something more than bones in order to make a warlock pact. Francis tells Van Richten about Sergei and Tatyana. She also mentions that Sergei claimed that Francis and Ireena are both reincarnations of Tatyana, who Strahd also coveted. Van Richten speaks to how Strahd seems to have particular type and how Francis is consequently in great danger. When Francis remarks that it seems like Firan may have set him up to be a vampire bride, Firan only laughs incredulously in his head. Van Richten points out that Firan is historically at odds with Strahd, but has still engineered a situation which will only serve Francis poorly. ### Awkward encounters Gallagher makes dinner and tea for everyone. Ez is playing pirates with the children in the dining hall; she becomes embarrassed when Gallagher enters. Stella crouches on the ground between Ireena and Notte, opting to eat her food like an animal. Hawthorne antagonizes Notte by asking her questions which imply that Stella is her cat. She also flirts with Notte, flustering her further. Van Richten catches the rest of the party up on how Strahd has an obsession with redheads that have sharp, distinct features and darker eyes. Ireena nervously suggests that she could dye her hair. Notte offers to help. Francis states that berries make good hair dye. After dinner, S approaches Gallagher in private and awkwardly asks if she is planning on making any advances toward Ez. Gallagher responds cautiously, saying that it is too soon to tell and that Ez already seems stressed enough. Regardless, S offers advice, adding that Gallagher is likely already causing Ez stress. S tells Gallagher that Ez is in a place in her life where she is bad at maintaining relationships and being close with anyone in general. She suggests that Gallagher should help her have fun and discourage her from viewing herself as expendable when she can. She adds that Ez seems to respect Gallagher already, which is an accomplishment in and of itself. S also tries to give Gallagher advice relating to sex, which ends up flustering her more than it does Gallagher. She quickly excuses herself and returns to Krue. S admits to Krue that she talked to Gallagher about "little her" and that she might have jumped the gun on speaking to her self-sacrificing tendencies. Krue points out that she might have jumped the gun in general, given that Ez met the others yesterday. ### Petre and Yves Petre approaches Yves and somewhat awkwardly asks them to hang out. The two retreat to Petre's room, where he sets out some cushions for Yves and points out the general-use altar. When Yves asks, Petre shares his hobbies: painting, carving, candle making, and cooking. Petre also shares that he is from [[Xaryndar]], and elven planet. They relate about their less-than-welcoming hometowns and upbringings. Yves admits that they are slightly less miserable in Barovia than they were in Dementlieu. The two share an intimate moment wherein Yves removes his veil and Petre removes his mask, showing himself to be scarred and an unfamiliar type of elf. Yves calls Petre striking. On Yves invitation, Petre touches Yves's branch-like horns. which Petre calls striking in turn. Later, Ireena and Notte – looking for water – walk in on the two mid-kiss before scurrying away. Yves tells Petre that he should lock the door. ### Ireena and Notte Notte has to bribe Stella with fish to stop her from gnawing on the arm of Ireena, whose mouse-themed mask has drawn Stella's attention. Ireena jealously points out that Stella has been following Notte around, but muses that she can't judge, as she also follows Notte around. Notte admits that she feels like she is the one who follows Ireena around. Ireena insists on helping Notte remove the needles from Notte's body. It is an intimate ordeal that flusters them both. Eventually, however, all the needles have been removed from Notte. Ireena requests that Notte teach her how to fight, as she is tired of hiding in the bushes while everyone else – particularly Notte – gets hurt; she wants to be able to keep her safe like Notte keeps her safe. Notte requisitions the wooden swords from Freek and Myrtle, promising to build them better swords soon. Ireena and Notte spar using the wooden swords. Ireena is quick on the uptake, occasionally catching Notte off guard enough to surprise her. Amidst the sparring, Ireena suddenly kisses Notte, surprising them both. Ireena apologizes; Notte kisses her back. The two awkwardly admit that they are "pretty okay" with this development. ### Ez and Gallagher Gallagher and Ez share a smoke break, leaning shoulder to shoulder against the wall. Ez encourages Gallagher to talk about her past. Gallagher shares that she was 15 or 16 when she first joined a pirate crew, adding that it was a lot of fun and a lot of work. Eventually, however, they stole from the wrong person. She reveals that she didn't realize she was cursed until she parted ways from her crew and attempted to settle down. Soon after, she started aging and withering away; it took a Vistana to tell her about the nature of her curse. She then joined another ship's crew, this time as a wizard's apprentice. In fragmented speech, she relays how Pietra van Riese caught up with her after a while and sunk the ship, killing her mentor, friends, and brother in the process. She adds that her brother wasn't a pirate and was simply visiting. Ez offers her condolences to Gallagher and relates to her loss. Ez begins by sharing that she grew up decently well-off, with parents who were neither outrageously loving nor outrageously awful; however, their neutrality only extended to her. Eventually, her parents took someone from Van Richten, who didn't take it very well. She shares that she – feeling partly responsible – sought him out when she was about 12. Ez speaks to how hard she tried to get Van Richten to take her in as an apprentice and how hard Van Richten tried to avoid this. She shares that there were many years where she was shuffled from one person to the next as he disappeared into the night. As she got older, she went to college, searched for him, and did a lot of monster hunting, mostly in an attempt to "balance out the bad" from her parents. She lost a lot of people in the process, as saving people proved more difficult than she had hoped. Gallagher thanks Ez for sharing. Attempting to lighten the mood, Ez admits that she wasn't very popular in college, which Gallagher expresses surprise over. There is an intimate moment in which Gallagher takes off her jacket and puts it on Ez. Gallagher flirts. Ez is embarrassed. ### Van Richten's blunder Van Richten later approaches Gallagher and Ezmerelda to tell Gallagher that she is too old for his apprentice. Gallagher apologizes for provoking him earlier but still calls him ridiculous, pointing out that Ez is an adult and that he is making a lot of assumptions. When Van Richten doubles down, Gallagher icily informs him that she is only 34. Van Richten apologizes profusely and leaves them alone. ### Van Richten's blunder: part II Van Richten and Francis privately share wine and edibles. Francis refers to their time together as a "second date"; Van Richten scoffs but doesn't argue. Despite Francis's frequent teasing, Van Richten seems to relax slightly throughout the conversation. Francis vaguely suggests once more that they should sleep together. Van Richten doesn't dismiss the idea outright, but he suggests that he would need to be much more inebriated in order to sleep with Francis. This hurts Francis's feelings. Van Richten tries to defend himself, but Francis leaves him to his own devices, bitterly telling him to keep the wine. Francis, clearly upset, finds a bed in the dorms and lays down. Ismark notices and checks on Francis, but she doesn't want to talk about it. ## 11 Mirtul 1494 ### Francis, Ismark, and romantic woes Francis, unable to sleep after her upsetting date with Van Richten, heads to the kitchen for some water. She finds Ismark drinking tea by candlelight as he anxiously bounces his leg. Ismark pours tea for Francis, who vents about Van Richten. Ismark, sympathetic and indignant, insults the man. Francis prompts Ismark to talk about what is bothering him. Ismark admits that he is jealous that Yves spent so much time in Petre's room; he assumes they slept together. He adds that he has little reason to be jealous as he has no "claim" over Yves. Francis attempts to reassure Ismark by suggesting that Petre and Yves might have fallen asleep while reading scripture, but Ismark is doubtful. The two console each other over tea. When Ismark propositions Francis by suggesting they retire to the library together, Francis accepts. ### Morning revelations In the morning, Francis telepathically calls for Firan, worried that he might have witnessed her encounter with Ismark. Firan tells her that he "politely ignores" some things; however, he congratulates her on her improved night. Firan restores Francis's sense of taste as an incentive to find a leader for Vallaki. Francis points out that they already spoke with the Martikovs, but Firan wants a firmer assurance that Francis and her party are effectively in charge of the town. Notte and Ireena share an awkward but sweet morning greeting. Ez, noticing the tension between the two, jokes that waking up to new romantic developments makes her feel like she's back in college. Gallagher – looking at her coat, which Ez is still wearing – suggests that Ez might need to catch up. ### Breakfast, plans, and small talk Ismark pulls Francis's chair out for him in the dining hall. Francis is unappreciative. Gallagher makes everyone oatmeal with spices and fruit that she stole from Lady Wachter's house. Francis reveals to the others that he can now taste things again. Hawthorne asks if she can look at Notte's tongue after finding out that Notte still has her sense of taste. Notte refuses. Ireena requests that everyone take the day off so that she has time to train with Notte. The others agree to this. They also agree when Gallagher suggests traveling to Yester Hill soon to attempt to recover one of the Martikovs' gems. When Ismark muses that he will need to find something to do for the day, Krue suggests that he could help her and S with construction work. S informs the others that the renovations will be done before the day's end due to her wife's skill. She also tells them that Krue is a carpenter back in Waterdeep – a city that, of the others among them, only Ez and Van Richten are familiar with – but that she and Krue are essentially on parole for scamming someone using the sunsword; that's why they are in the domain at all. ### Yves and Notte do the dishes Notte awkwardly pulls Yves into the kitchen to talk. After kicking Petre out, they take over doing the dishes, albeit poorly. Notte apologizes for walking in on Yves and Petre the previous day. She also expresses surprise that they were kissing at all given their religiousness, which offends Yves. Yves claims that he and Petre simply invented a new type of prayer; he clarifies that he is joking, however, when Notte believes him. Notte admits that she is frazzled. When Yves prompts her, she tells him that Ireena kissed her. Yves is entirely unsurprised given Notte and Ireena's closeness. This flusters Notte further. Notte expresses confusion with how to proceed, admitting that she has no experience with romance due to her sheltered upbringing. Yves relates, speaking to how navigating simple conversations with others without judgement has been strange and challenging for him. When Notte admits that she is fearful that courting Ireena would be improper, Yves reassures her by pointing out that they are of similar status and that Ireena clearly likes her as well. ### Ireena's confession Ireena pulls Francis into the library to gossip. She stumblingly explains that she kissed Notte and then later walked in on Petre and Yves kissing. She asks Francis not to mention the latter detail to anyone; Francis agrees to keep it to herself. Francis congratulates Ireena on her romantic developments with Notte and suggests that they should go on a date. Francis explains what happened with Van Richten the previous day. She expresses that she would rather Van Richten just reject her; Ireena points out that he might not want to. ### Krue's pep talk Krue encounters Van Richten miserably staring at a bottle of wine at 7:00am. She approaches him and alludes to the life of his alternate self, an idea which Van Richten still meets with skepticism. Eventually, Van Richten talks to Krue about his unfortunate date with Francis. Krue suggests that Van Richten should apologize to Francis; she also suggests that Van Richten is annoying when he is sad, which offends him. Van Richten states that Krue's mannerisms, her familiarity with him, and her constant smile makes her seem like a devil. Krue argues that she is nice, kind, and fun to talk to. Van Richten is not swayed. ### Petre and Yves define their (lack of) relationship Petre pulls Yves aside to tell him that he enjoyed the previous night. When he asks what it means for them moving forward, Yves indicates that – while they like Petre and wouldn't mind continuing with things – they don't think that they are ready for anything exclusive or serious. Petre agrees that they can keep it casual. ### Ireena and Notte define their courtship Francis and Ireena have just returned from gathering blackthorn berries to dye Ireena's hair with. Notte and Ireena head to the library so that they can talk and train; Stella follows on all fours. Hawthorne is present in the library, but Notte kicks her out, denying her the opportunity to examine Stella. With Hawthorne gone. Notte abruptly asks Ireena about the state of their relationship. Ireena asks Notte if she wants to go on a date tonight, suggesting that Gallagher could cook for them. Notte agrees to the date; Ireena states that they are courting, in that case. Notte seems a little disappointed that they are only "courting," but they both seem excited at the prospect of more kissing. The two spar together. Ireena rapidly excels. ### Van Richten's apology Van Richten approaches Francis, who greets him icily. Van Richten apologizes, explaining that he didn't mean to be unkind but rather meant to express an aversion to intimacy in present circumstances. Francis asks Van Richten why he won't just reject him outright. Van responds states that he enjoys Francis's company; however, he has trouble with vulnerability due to how often he loses the people closest to him. The two argue about whose fault it was that Francis died in the Blue Water Inn, with each insisting that they are to blame. Francis has Van Richten sit down. When Van Richten asks what to do next, Francis suggests that he could kiss her. Van Richten seems to want to, but he ultimately declines, assuring Francis that she isn't doing anything wrong. He explains that his hang-ups are due to the losses that he has experienced throughout his life, including the loss of his wife and son. Francis rubs Van Richten's back comfortingly and speaks to her own losses. She expresses that she hopes that she is able to prove Van Richten wrong about his fears. Then, she kisses the top of his hand. Van Richten asks if they can simply "perform recreation." Francis agrees, but makes fun of him for his vocabulary. When Van Richten claims that his way of speaking is a dialect of Darkonian nobles, Francis jokingly accuses him of classism. ### Ez and Gallagher's outing Ez and Gallagher go hunting; they also chart the nearby area on a map. Gallagher points out that Ez has twice called her attractive. Flustered, Ez denies that this means anything, but eventually acknowledges that she does find Gallagher appealing. There is a careful back-and-forth about the fast-paced nature of their growing attraction and the dangers of the domain, with Gallagher stating that she doesn't plan to die anytime soon; then, Gallagher kisses Ez. Ez returns the kiss. After some mutual teasing, the two hunt for rabbits, returning to the Keep with enough for a meal. ### Gallagher offers relationship advice Ireena approaches Gallagher about cooking the rabbits for her and Notte's date. Gallagher indicates that she has to feed everyone else as well, but suggests that Ireena and Notte can set up somewhere more private, like the library or around a campfire outside. Ireena likes the idea of an outdoor picnic. Ireena, briefly glancing at Ez, awkwardly asks Gallagher if she has done a lot of dating. When Gallagher admits that she has done a fair amount, Ireena asks her about terminology, explaining that she got stuck on the word "courting" earlier. She eventually admits that she wanted to call Notte her girlfriend; Gallagher encourages her to do so. Soon after, Ireena asks Notte about having their date outside, which Notte agrees to. When Ireena refers to Notte as her girlfriend, Notte eloquently says, "Oh! Yes." ### Yves and Ismark's argument Ismark sits down next to Yves in the dining hall, clearly moody but refusing to say why. Eventually, Ismark childishly insinuates that Yves slept with Petre, hinting at his own jealousy. A shouting match ensues. During the exchange, Ismark admits that he slept with Francis, implying that it was done in retaliation. Yves implies that Francis is promiscuous and undiscerning. Francis and Van Richten, who are sitting nearby, leave the room. When Ismark admits his jealousy outright, Yves insists that they talk somewhere else. They retreat to one of the unclaimed sparsely-furnished rooms. Ismark and Yves apologize to each other for shouting. Ismark apologizes for sticking his nose in Yves's business. Yves states that he shouldn't have insulted Francis, admitting that he was just jealous to hear that she and Ismark slept together. The two admit their mutual attraction. During the ensuing conversation, Yves also admits that he used to find Ismark stupid for trying to hide Ireena from Strahd; in Dementlieu, only the foolish would decline such a socially advantageous arrangement. Ismark is initially bewildered and incensed, but he calms down when Yves explains that he stopped holding this opinion at Ismark's father's funeral after learning what Strahd did to Father Donavich's son. Yves concludes their thought by saying that they are a novice at social interaction and that they don't know what they are doing when it comes to Ismark in particular. Ismark gently asks if anything is going on between Yves and Petre. Yves admits that they kissed, but that they had a conversation earlier and concluded that their relationship isn't serious or exclusive. Ismark haltingly asks if Yves would be interested in having some kind of relationship with him. In response, Yves kisses him. When they pull away, Yves expresses that he should talk to Petre and indicates that he likes both him and Ismark. Ismark admits that polyamory is new territory for him; he adds, however, that being in a relationship in general is also new. He agrees to try things out and asks Yves to let him know if he wants to modify the terms of their relationship. Ismark also indicates that he has no plans to sleep with Francis again. Yves remarks that he didn't think that Ismark would have a long-standing attraction to someone who looks identical to his sister. Ismark, stunned, stutteringly insists that Francis and Ireena aren't identical. ### Van Richten asks for details Van Richten privately asks Francis if she slept with Ismark. Francis confirms that she did; she also admits that it was done partly out of spite. Van Richten – mildly jealous and mildly curious – asks if the sex was any good. When Francis admits that it was, Van Richten express surprise. He calls Ismark a buffoon. Van Richten asks Francis not to sleep with people just to spite him. Francis says, "I'm all yours." ### Picnic interrupted As Notte and Ireena are enjoying their picnic date, they hear a cacophony of cawing as ravens circle overhead. Notte reaches for her sword before realizing that they are likely being visited by members of the Keepers of the Feather. The two head inside to tell the others, with Notte grumbling about the Keepers' bad timing. ### The Keepers and leads Danika Dorakova arrives with her son, [[Bray Martikova (Scaena)|Bray Martikova]]. The two are also accompanied by [[Sorina Garvinski (Scaena)|Sorina Garvinski]]. Everyone gathers in the dining hall. Sorina enthusiastically offers to bite those willing in order to turn them into wereravens. She confirms that the biting is mandatory when Francis asks. Gallagher and Notte suggest that they should discuss other matters first. Danika indicates that things have been quiet in Vallaki but that gossip is spreading. She also indicates that Lady Wachter's sons were unfazed by their mother's assassination. Danika asks how things are going otherwise with their shared mission of taking down Strahd. Francis hands over the tarokka cards; Gallagher hands over her notes on the fortunes. They explain that they have already found the sunsword outlined by the Two of Glyphs card and the ally – namely, Ismark – outlined by the Executioner card. Danika hums; referencing the Executioner fortune, Gallagher dryly states that Ismark has a powerful soul. Gallagher informs Danka that Krue told them that the Six of Swords fortune points them toward Castle Ravenloft's crypts. Danika indicates that the "holy symbol" could possibly refer to the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, a relic that belonged to an ancient Keeper and paladin named Lugdanna. Moving onto the One of Stars fortune, Danika points out that "dizzying heights" could refer to the mountaintops or to the highest point of Castle Ravenloft. She indicates that Strahd will likely be reaching out to the party, as many adventurers who come into Barovia are invited to dine with the vampire. She advises they accept his invitation, as declining it may result in their deaths. The party mentions their leads on allies: the revenants at Argynvostholt and the man in the mountains. Danika remarks that she would offer her ravens as allies if they weren't spread so thin; however, many members of their order have gone missing in the area around [[Berez (Scaena)|Berez]]. She adds that whoever is targeting their order is likely aligned with Strahd, whether it be werewolves, druids, or the Baba Lysaga. Gallagher suggests that they could head to Berez on their way to Yester Hill. Although Danika isn't able to provide many details about Berez, Krue is able to provide plenty, offhandedly mentioning big snakes in a garden and a helpful ghost near a ruined manor. She also confirms that the Baba Lysaga is in Berez and that she has a walking hut powered by a green gem. When Krue mentions that the Baba Lysaga is holding a Keeper named [[Yesper Taltos (Scaena)|Yesper]] captive, Danika asks if Krue is psychic. Yves states that she is a time-traveler; Notte states that she is from an alternate universe. The party mentions their lead regarding the Amber Temple. Danika informs them that getting to the temple requires traveling through the [[Tsolenka Pass (Scaena)|Tsolenka Pass]], which is home to a very large bird. Krue looks haunted at the mention of the roc. ### Joining the Keepers Danika asks those present if any of them want to join their order. She adds that there isn't a formal induction process; they can be Keepers as long as they promise to prioritize helping others. The party responds in various ways: * Francis states that she is always kind. * Notte expresses that killing Strahd would be a good start. * Ireena says that they are all nice people, with Notte in particular never having been unkind to her. Notte declares that she would never be unkind to Ireena. * Ismark says that he helps a lot of people and that they are all "pretty good folks." * Yves is unsure if they are a good person, but Notte and Ismark assure them that they are. * Ez says that helping people is her job. * Van Richten says that helping people is also his job. * Gallagher hesitates, but she eventually agrees to join when Ez points out that she already seems to do well by people. ### Becoming wereravens Sorina discuss the advantages of becoming a wereraven: the ability to shapeshift into a raven or a hybrid form at will, increased dexterity, quick healing, and easy mimicry. According to her, the main drawbacks would be gaining the urge to collect shiny things and the need to take good care of their feathers. She informs them all that wereravens don't have a particular aversion to silver, but that being hit with a silvered weapon may interrupt the quick regeneration that wereravens otherwise have access to. Francis, who has been obligated by Firan to accept the offer of lycanthropy, has Sorina bite her. She holds Van Richten's hand under the table. Ireena declines the offer as she doesn't like the idea of being bitten and transformed into something else. Ez and Van Richten also decline for similar reasons. After all her questions are answered, Notte agrees to try to become a wereraven, but she and Sorina are both unsure if it will work since Notte's body is made of wood. Sorina ends up biting Notte on the cheek as the wood there is softer than that of her arm. Ireena seems jealous. Gallagher accepts the offer due to the regeneration aspect of being a wereraven. Yves also agrees to become a wereraven, which surprises Ismark. Despite his surprise, however, Ismark also agrees to become a wereraven; he is hoping that it will help him be more useful in combat. Hawthorne expresses the desire to be turned into a wereraven only for Yves to immediately undo the curse, just so that she knows what it feels like. Notte scolds her back into her seat. Those who were turned into wereravens show off their various forms. * Notte turns into a wooden Stellar's jay. * Francis transforms into a white raven with red eyes. * Gallagher's wereraven form is that of a hooded crow. * Yves's form resembles a magpie. * Ismark turns into a Clark's nutcracker. Danika gives feathered cloaks to the newly inducted. She indicates that the clasps on the cloaks will designate them as Keepers in Barovia and across the domains. Sorina is asked by Danika to stay behind at the Keep as a liaison. She accepts the assignment, but she expresses that she is worried about getting bored. ### Pre-dinner conversations Sorina and Notte have an awkward conversation wherein Notte apologizes for her previous awkwardness. Stella starts to follow Sorina around. Yves tells Petre that they kissed Ismark. Petre is surprised and mildly jealous, but he tells Yves that it's okay that the two kissed. When he asks if Yves sees themself pursuing anyone else, Yves says that they don't plan on it; they admit, however, that they weren't expecting anything to happen with Ismark either. At the end of the conversation, Yves hugs Petre. Gallagher is cooking rabbit when Ez expresses her surprise about Gallagher becoming a wereraven. Gallagher explains that she was mostly tempted by the healing abilities; she wonders if it will help with her curse at all. Ez tells Gallagher that she chopped off her own leg to avoid becoming a werewolf. Gallagher is surprised and impressed. She also compliments Ez's prosthetic leg, which Ez reveals was very expensive. ### Notte and Ireena's date Notte and Ireena huddle around a campfire outside. Gallagher brings them food, tells them to have a good time, and then departs. The two talk about how comfortable they are with each other. Ireena points out that Notte didn't call her "Lady Ireena" earlier and instead just called her "Ireena." She adds that Notte doesn't need to be formal with her. Ireena speaks to her worries that she is unbecoming of a noble. Notte assures her that she is plenty becoming. The subject changes to Notte's new lycanthropy, with Ireena complimenting Notte's wooden bird form. Notte shifts into a bird and attempts to fly. She crashes into a bush; Ireena claps anyway. Petre shows up to collect their dishes while they are mid-kiss. He is too blind to initially notice, but Notte's awkwardness tips him off. ### Checking on Yves Gallagher checks in with Yves about their earlier fight with Ismark. Yves says that it was a misunderstanding and doesn't elaborate further. Gallagher makes a little more awkward conversation before excusing herself. ### Room assignments At the end of the night, Petre gathers everyone and announces that the rooms have been finished thanks to the hard work of Krue, S, and Ismark. Notte quietly asks Ireena if she wishes to share a room – "in case there is an invasion on the Keep." Ireena agrees but tells Notte that she doesn't need to explain herself. Stella ends up sleeping at the foot of Notte's bed. Gallagher volunteers to sleep in the general dormitories since there will not be enough rooms for everyone. Hawthorne also sleeps in the dormitory area. S and Krue share a room. Freek and Myrtle share a room as well. Ez takes her own room. Yves takes a room with a single bed. Ismark asks to join him in an awkward and roundabout way. Yves allows this. Van Richten admits that he was planning on staying in his wagon, an idea which Francis calls "nonsense." She insists that Van Richten should take a room; after some arguing, Van Richten agrees to sleep in a bedroom. Francis spends most of the night keeping Van Richten company. Once Van Richten eventually goes to sleep, Francis migrates to the library. ### S and Krue's late-night talk Krue is quiet as she and S settle down for bed. When S checks on her, Krue speaks to the strangeness of seeing Danika alive. S, who has similarly been thinking about the people they lost when they were in Barovia, expresses the hope that things will go better for everyone this time around. Krue also confesses that she is thinking about becoming a wereraven; she misses flying without the need of her magical boots, and she was previously unaware that wereravens have a hybrid form. She suggests that the [[Sorina Garvinski|version of Sorina]] who lives in [[New Markovia]] might be willing to turn her. S remarks that it would be weird to see Krue as a humanoid bird that isn't an owl; referencing [[The THING in the Mirror]], Krue points out that she wouldn't notice much herself, as she doesn't really look in the mirror anymore. Finally, Krue brings up how weird it is to see the other Ezmerelda wear another girl's jacket – she acknowledges, however, that the other Ezmerelda isn't the same person as S. S apologizes; Krue insists that she doesn't find S culpable at all. When S argues that they shouldn't think too hard about it because the people in this Barovia were "made up" and "invented," Krue counters that all people are invented. S insists that she would never wear Gallagher's jacket, which makes Krue laugh. ## 12 Mirtul 1494 ### Breakfast at the Keep Over breakfast, the party decides who will be traveling to Berez that day. Francis points out that she doesn't have a choice. Yves asks if he has to go. Gallagher and Notte argue that he is too useful to leave behind. Notte tells Ireena that she should stay at the Keep for her safety. Ismark agrees to stay behind as well to watch over Ireena, but he indicates that he wants to go on the next outing. In addition to Yves and Francis, Notte, Gallagher, Ezmerelda, and Van Richten agree to go to Berez. They decide to take Ez's wagon from where it is outside Vallaki. Francis tells Skelly, who she calls a "lovely little floating skull," to avoid eating any birds – especially ravens. She also indicates that Skelly should avoid eating the cats around the Keep. In the process, she refers to Yves's cat as "Her Lady of Evil Dark Rain Blood." ### Ismark questions Notte Ismark awkwardly asks Notte if she and Ireena are together. Notte cautiously admits that they are. Ismark seems unsure how to feel, but asks Notte to treat Ireena well. Ismark, referencing their frequent antagonism toward each other, asks for a "truce." Notte remarks that she didn't realize they were at war, but she shakes his hand anyway. ### Ismark's blunder When Ismark confides in Yves that he didn't think his conversation with Notte went very well, Yves tells him that he's overthinking it; he and Notte are just both bad at having conversations. Ismark insists that he's just unpracticed. The two discuss Stella's propensity for biting Ireena. Ismark makes an insensitive comment about how he understand why Lady Wachter locked her up. He apologizes once he recognizes his misstep. ### Quick journey to Berez The party teleports to Ez's wagon and starts heading toward Berez. To save room, Francis perches on Van Richten's cane as a raven. Along the road, they come across a mud-caked person wielding a stone axe. They size up the party before running into the woods. ### Arriving in Berez The party finds Berez to be a swampy, sunken ruin with flies swarming about. In the distance, they spot a ramshackle hut on a large tree stump. Beneath the door floats an upside-down, hollowed-out giant's skull. There are two cages filled with cawing ravens flanking the door. The party approaches cautiously. Francis, in raven form, speaks to one of the locked-up ravens: a wereraven named Yesper. Yesper informs Francis that the cages are magically locked. ### Freeing the ravens Notte, Yves, Francis, and Gallagher all attempt to force open the first cage to no avail. Gallagher dispels the magic on the cage; the door swings open. Ez manages to open the second cage through brute force and is exceptionally pleased with herself. Yesper shifts into his human form to speak with the party. He is glad to hear that Sorina is okay, as things haven't been great for the Keepers lately. Though Yesper volunteers to "die for the cause," the party tells him that he doesn't need to join in on the fight with the Baba Lysaga. Before departing, Yesper tells them that he is going to touch base in Vallaki first but that he might visit their base at the Keep later. ### Fighting the Baba Lysaga The party peeks inside the hut. There is is an iron tub full of blood which is occupied by the nude Baba Lysaga. Inside the hut is also a gnarled crib in which there is an angelic-looking baby. Green light seeps up between the rotting floorboards under the crib. The baby gives the party pause, but they decide to proceed. Francis turns invisible, planning to use Skelly as a distraction while he retrieves the gem – which they believe belongs to the Martikovs – from the floorboards. Things don't go exactly to plan, however, as the Baba Lysaga quickly explodes Skelly when he starts making a ruckus. Firan sarcastically congratulates Francis in her head and reveals that he is the one who has to "glue" Skelly back together. Outside, Notte suggests that Van Richten or Gallagher project another noise to draw the witch out. Shortly after Gallagher Prestidigitates a whale noise, the witch storms out of the hut, naked and blood-soaked. Yves makes a noise of disgust. Francis tries to push the crib aside while the Baba Lysaga is distracted. However, he quickly finds that the crib – along with the baby – is an illusion. Francis rips up the rotting floorboards and finds the gem below. The hut begins to lurch and rise on the Baba Lysaga's command, but Francis disables the hut by grabbing the gem and yanking it out of the cavity. She shifts into her raven form and flies out of the hut with the gem as the witch shouts in fury. The party attacks; the Baba Lysaga attacks in turn. She boards the giant's skull, which functions as a vehicle, but the party quickly destroys it. In the distance, seven scarecrows shamble toward them. The witch levels a powerful spell at Yves and Gallagher, but Francis Counterspells it. Yves, Ez, and Notte attack the Baba Lysaga in quick succession. The witch falls dead. Gallagher casts a Fireball at the rapidly approaching scarecrows, killing all of them in the blast. ### Looting the hut Gallagher dispels the Glyph of Warding on the reinforced chest in the hut. When it is opened, several dismembered hands crawl out and attack, but Francis and Gallagher kill them without issue. Inside the chest, they find: * A sizable amount of gold coins and gemstones. Gallagher doles them out. * A vial containing Oil of Sharpness, which Notte takes. * Spell scrolls of Revivify and Mass Cure Wounds, which Yves claims. * A pouch of lead sling bullets. Notte briefly considers taking them to melt down and fill the holes left by the blights; however, the color wouldn't match her silver freckles. After calling Notte vain, Ez takes the bullets and states that she will buy a slingshot (she doesn't). * Pipes of Haunting, which Notte identifies and keeps for herself. * An agate stone. Gallagher pockets it after Notte tells the others that it is a Stone of Good Luck. When Ez questions Gallagher, she says that she needs all the luck she can get. ### Post-battle banter Francis and Van Richten discuss how well things went. Van Richten argues that this probably means that something bad will happen soon. Van Richten reveals that the Baba Lysaga wasn't the first naked person he's killed, as vampires are "perverts." He adds that he also once killed an incubus mid-coitus, clarifying that he was not the one sleeping with the incubus. Francis resummons Skelly, who now has visible cracks in him. Skelly says that he looks weathered; Francis insists that he wants him to look well. Once everyone is outside, Gallagher torches the hut. She ignores Ez's suggestion that they put the gem back in the hut so that it's a "fair fight." Francis, intent on rewarding Skelly for his sacrifice, sets off to find a snake for the gazer to eat. ### Freeing the goats The party finds a fenced goat pen adorned with skulls. Gallagher approaches the fence and knocks over one of the posts. The skulls all start howling at once, but Gallagher and Notte quickly destroy them all. Van Richten questions the purpose of letting the goats free, with Francis arguing that they are just going to be eaten by wolves in the forest. Gallagher argues that it would be a better fate than slowly dying of starvation. They briefly discuss using a goat for meat or milk; however, no one wants to deal with it. ### Snake attack As they investigate the garden near the central ruined manor, the party is ambushed by four giant poisonous snakes. Francis kills one with Eldritch Blasts; Gallagher kills the other three with a jumping bolt of lightning. Ez whistles and compliments Gallagher, which Francis teases them both about. Francis presents the dead snakes to Skelly, who bites the head of a snake and begins working his way down. Francis remarks, "truly revolting." ### Another Tatyana The party finds a stone statue of a kneeling girl clutching a rose. Her features bear a striking resemblance to those of Francis and Ireena. Francis finds an epitaph: *Marina, Taken by the Mists*. Francis is unsettled; Gallagher attempts to comfort him. Francis deflects by joking about commissioning a statue of himself. Gallagher makes a blunt comment about Marina getting hers for free. ### Ulrich's tale In the ruins of the manor, the fog forms into a solemn spectral man with mutilated features: [[Lazlo Ulrich (Scaena)|Lazlo Ulrich]], the final burgomaster of Berez. Though Ulrich initially urges them to leave, he opens up once he sees Francis. Ulrich recounts how – back when the village still stood – Strahd became obsessed with Marina, a local peasant girl. To prevent her from becoming a vampire bride, Ulrich enlisted the help of the local priest, Grigor; together, they killed Marina. Notte, incensed, insists that there had to have been another way. Ulrich disagrees. Ulrich tells them that Strahd killed him and Grigor in revenge; then, he flooded the town in his grief. Ulrich's soul was cursed to remain. Francis reveals to Ulrich that she, Marina, and Ireena – another member of their party – are all reincarnations of Tatyana. She declares that she and Ireena won't meet the same fate as Marina because they're going to kill the cause of it. Ulrich tells Francis that he is truly sorry, which makes Francis emotional. Francis tells Ulrich that he forgives him and that he is sure that Marina forgives him, too. Ulrich begins to cry as he is finally able to rest; his spirit fades into the fog. Van Richten comforts Francis. ### Digging in the mud The party finds a staircase buried under the rubble of the manor. No one is excited about the prospect of digging through the rocks, but Ez insists that they do so in case there is treasure to be found. Gallagher is unconvinced but helps anyway. Notte and Yves – who Ez refers to as "the priss squad" – refuse. Francis and Van Richten begin helping at the half hour mark. It takes them all another half hour to clear the rubble enough for Gallagher and Ez to climb down the stairs. The two find a flooded cellar filled with rotted barrels that once held Champagne du le Stomp, the Wizard of Wines' vintage. Gallagher bites her tongue. Ez expresses displeasure that Gallagher cannot make the sludge-filled casks unrotten. Gallagher dryly apologizes that her abilities are lacking. At Ez's insistence, Gallagher hands over a bottle of wine and a handful of gold, which Ez smears with mud. Then, they head back up the stairs. Yves can tell that Ez is lying about the loot; instead of calling her out on it, however, they tell her that she smells like mold. Ez kicks mud at Yves. The two insult each other. Gallagher Prestidigitates the gold and wine clean before putting it back in her bag. ### Meeting Muriel Across the river, the group can see moss-covered standing stones leaning in a near-perfect circle, with a flicker of light shining in the middle. Those with hybrid forms shift into those forms, preparing to fly across the river. Francis picks Van Richten up bridal-style, successfully irritating him. Ez tries to argue that she can swim across but ultimately allows Gallagher to carry her. Up close, the party sees that most of the stones have animals carved into them. The stones that don't are taller than the rest and are aligned with the cardinal directions. [[Muriel Vinshaw (Scaena)|Muriel Vinshaw]], a wary wereraven in her hybrid form, emerges once she sees the hybrid forms of the others. After introductions, Muriel provides the party with various pieces of information: * The stones are an often-visited site for the druids of Yester Hill, an old druidic order that began worshipping Strahd over time. * The circle of stones is likely the oldest structure in the country. * South of Berez is Tsolenka Pass, a treacherous path up [[Mount Ghakis|Mount Ghakis]] that they should try to avoid. * There is likely a werewolf den to the west. * When Francis asks about the stones near the Old Bonegrinder, Muriel shares old folklore: the stones represent four ancient cities once tied to divine creators like the Morning Lord and Mother Night. Yves studies the stones and realizes that they cannot be targeted by any divination or scrying magic while inside the circle. Gallagher half-jokes about setting up camp. Notte theorizes that the Baba Lysaga was in Berez to keep an eye on the stones for Strahd. With the Baba Lysaga dead, Muriel is able to head back to Vallaki. They tell her about the Keep in Immol Village before she departs. ### Farewell to Berez On the way out of Berez, Francis nearly trips over a particularly heavy hangman's noose. Van Richten jokingly grabs for it. Francis scolds him. The party travels via Ez's wagon to the outskirts of Vallaki so that the journey to Yester Hill is shorter when they teleport back. Yves immediately takes a bath once they are back at the Keep of the Scarlet Cross. ### Notte catches up with Ireena Notte tells Ireena about Marina's statue and the girl's fate. Ireena is somber; she is grateful, however, that she is among people who are doing what they can to help her. Sorina agrees to watch over Stella while Ireena and Notte train. ### Fun facts with Yesper Yesper shows up to the Keep. He is glad to hear that the Baba Lysaga is dead. He shares that things in Vallaki are "messy" but that the townsfolk are holding up. With the invitation extended to him, Yesper indicates that he will likely be at the Keep often. He reveals that many of the Keepers stay in the rafters of the Blue Water Inn's stable. After introducing himself to those who don't already know him, Yesper shyly offers fun facts about himself: he can turn into a bird, he used to work inventory at Arasek Stockyard, he likes woodcarving but isn't very good at it, and he has recently been trying to learn knitting and embroidery. Francis calls this "delightful"; Yves offers to show him how to cross-stitch. Francis shares her own fun facts: she likes fishing, hunting, drinking wine, and going clubbing. She promises to take Yesper to the club if they ever make it out of the domain. Yves tells the others that he is 23 years old and that he thinks he is 5'9". Francis reveals that she is 6'2". She takes the opportunity to irritate Van Richten about it. Yesper shares that his parents were mauled by wolves, that he started working at age nine when his adopted father died, that his sister died two years later, and that he got picked up by the Keepers after that. Francis shares that her own parents were either trampled or burned alive by a large dragon. The two trade condolences. ### Hawthorne causes trouble As everyone settles down for lunch, Hawthorne announces that she has drawn some conclusions after looking over Stella – namely, her brain damage could likely be reversed with Greater Restoration. Yves agrees to spend some time looking into the spell. Hawthorne shares that the damage was likely due to an unpracticed, magical blast. She also reveals that, early this morning, she had Sorina travel to Vallaki and touch base with the Keepers about tracking down anyone who might be responsible and bringing them to the Keep; that way, they can either learn how to reverse the damage or take care of a loose end. Everyone is stunned. Soon after – while everyone is still bickering with Hawthorne – there is a knock at the door. On Notte's request, Sorina takes Stella to the library. Two men present Hawthorne with a writhing burlap sack. Hawthorne pays them; they depart. Then, Hawthorne throws the bag onto the table. A little too late, Krue gets up and takes Freek and Myrtle to the library. S follows as well. ### Meeting Victor Francis pulls away the bag to reveal the 19 year-old [[Victor Vallakovich (Scaena)|Victor Vallakovich]], son of the dead burgomaster of Vallaki. Victor admits to accidentally hurting Stella with unstable teleportation magic, which he has been working on so that he can teleport out of the domain. He says that he usually only tests the magic on servants, stray cats, and rats; however, he attempted to teleport Stella out of his house after their parents tried to set them up and Stella repeatedly insulted him. He also admits that he has no way of undoing the damage that he has caused. The group is angry; Victor is unmoved. When Notte and Gallagher both call him a terrible spellcaster, he only asks for someone to teach him. Hawthorne takes out her gun and points it at Victor's head pol. She polls the others about whether she should shoot. Victor starts crying. Notte and Francis argue that Victor should be taken back to Vallaki. Yves tells Hawthorne to shoot him. Instead of doing either of these things, Hawthorne offers to give Victor 15 seconds to run. Notte grabs Ireena's hand and drags her to the library, where she tells Krue and S that Hawthorne is about to kill Victor. They exit the library just as Hawthorne has finished counting down. Before Hawthorne can go after Victor, however, Gallagher teleports her to the back of the Keep so that he can escape. Hawthorne lets Victor go, but she threatens Gallagher's life. Krue scolds Hawthorne and asks what she thinks Skoll would say. Hawthorne admits that Skoll probably wouldn't be a fan of what she has done. Still, she remains mostly unbothered. ### Van Richten checks on Francis Soon after, Van Richten checks on Francis. They both express that the idea of a teenager being executed doesn't sit well with them and that Victor should have the chance to change. Francis says that he sympathizes with both Stella and Victor. The two leave the Keep to find Victor and escort him to Vallaki. ### Ez thanks Gallagher Ez thanks Gallagher for not letting Hawthorne kill Victor. They agree it was a hard choice, but that murdering a kid wasn't the answer. Ez expresses that she is better about not always resorting to violence than she used to be – however, it's a difficult lesson to learn. Later, Ez awkwardly invites Gallagher to her room. Gallagher teases her but ultimately accepts the invitation. ### Befriending Petre Ismark admits to Yves that he feels a little left out since he didn't do anything exciting today. He also reveals that he attempted to "make nice" with Petre by asking him to lift weights; however, it didn't go very well. Yves suggests that Ismark could ask Krue to lift weights instead. Ismark asks Yves for suggestions for becoming friendlier with Petre, specifically asking what he and Yves do for fun. Yves says that he doesn't think Ismark and Petre will want to get up to what he and Petre get up to. ### Victor's intervention Francis and Van Richten catch up to Victor, who initially insists that he is just going to walk back to Vallaki. Francis convinces him to join them in Van Richten's wagon by pointing out the dangers on the road and the length of the journey. Francis insists on having a talk with Victor – this time, without a gun pointed at his head. She explains that they are trying to find a way out of Barovia and that Victor is free to come with on two conditions: one, he cannot practice magic in a way that hurts people or animals; two, he has to stop practicing teleportation magic entirely for now. Francis adds that she is sympathetic about his less-than-ideal upbringing. However, he still needs to take responsibility for his actions. Van Richten is reluctant to contribute to the conversation, but Francis pushes him to speak. Van Richten, calling Victor "heinous," acknowledges that he might have mental health issues; regardless, he still needs to act with more kindness and consideration. Francis suggests that Victor should act the opposite of how his father did. Victor suggests that he sees no benefit in being kind. Francis argues that being kind doesn't need to be beneficial. She adds, however, that being kind will get less guns pointed at his head; also, kindness might net him friends, respect, and even a wizard mentor. When Victor indicates that he will take steps to be kinder, Francis suggests getting a job at the Blue Water Inn. Victor doesn't mind the idea, as having a job would also allow him to purchase spell components. ### The ride back After dropping Victor off at Vallaki, Van Richten and Francis begin the long journey back. Francis offers to drive the wagon, stating that she knows how to ride a horse, but Van Richten insists that they are different skills. He offers to teach Francis how to drive when they're in a less dangerous environment. ## 13 Mirtul 1494 ### Invitation from Strahd Van Richten and Francis arrive back at the Keep around 1:00am. Soon after, those who are sleeping are woken up by an ear-splitting crack of thunder followed by loud knocking. Petre opens the door before anyone can stop him. Outside is an invitation from Strahd to dine at Castle Ravenloft. In the letter, Strahd promises safe passage and indicates that he will be awaiting their arrival. Notte and Ismark decide that Ireena will not be going to the castle. When Ismark adds that he doesn't think that Francis should go either, Francis remind him that he has to – it's his job. Ireena is adamant that no one should go. The group hears a neigh off in the distance through the still open doors. A black carriage, pulled along by two massive black draft horses, quickly approaches; before it collides with the Keep, however, the carriage and the horses turn translucent and dissipate into mist. When the mist clears, only a parcel remains. The parcel contains outfits seemingly tailored to Yves, Notte, Gallagher, Francis, Ez, Ismark, and Van Richten. Francis takes it as a good sign that there isn't an outfit for Ireena, while Notte worries that the invitation is a ploy to leave Ireena defenseless. Krue promises that she won't let anything happen to Ireena. Krue informs the group that Strahd didn't try to hurt her or her friends when they visited the castle for dinner – however, he did try to get in their heads. She adds that she can't guarantee that they will have the same experience. Despite Gallagher's protests, Ez refers to her as "Captain" while asking for her opinion on the invitation. Gallagher expresses that – while she doesn't like it – she doesn't believe they have any choice but to go to the castle. The others agree that they will have to attend as well. Van Richten, despite his fears that his presence will be putting everyone in danger, reluctantly agrees to go to try to protect Francis. Francis privately admits to Van Richten that she is afraid of being in the same room as Strahd. ### A second invitation The party heads back to bed. Only half an hour passes before there is another loud crack of thunder and the sound of knocking resumes. The party finds an identical invitation from Strahd on the doorstep. Everyone reluctantly dresses in the outfits provided for them. Notte insists on making modifications. Yves undoes a few of Francis's shirt buttons for him. Francis encourages Van Richten to show cleavage in order to irritate him. Gallagher, Ez, Notte, Yves, Ismark, Francis, and Van Richten leave the Keep and board the three horse-drawn carriages that await them. The hour-long journey is tense. ### Arrival at Castle Ravenloft and meeting Rahadin As the party is crossing the drawbridge to the castle, Francis saves Van Richten from falling into the chasm; in the process, Van Richten pulls him down on top of him. Van Richten flirts. Notte threatens to push him off the bridge. They enter the castle to the sound of organ music. Rahadin Zdravkov – Strahd's chamberlain – approaches. As he does so, Notte is overwhelmed by the screams of the dead. Rahadin's eyes catch on Francis; for a moment, his face reads pure disdain. Rahadin leads them to the dining hall. He gestures for them to enter; he stays put. ### Meeting Strahd von Zarovich Strahd greets the party with dramatic organ playing, food, and pleasantries. He already knows their names. His gaze lingers on Francis longer than the rest. Firan telepathically instructs Francis to treat Strahd like an "old buddy." Francis tries his best, telling Strahd to call him "Francis" rather than "Ser Adelir." The conversation quickly shifts, with Strahd revealing that he knows much about their time in the county; he also knows that many of them have become lycanthropes. Strahd indicates that he is aware that Francis is communicating with "outside parties." He also reveals to know much about Firan, having spoken to the man on enough occasions to know that he is a "chore." Strahd shares that he is under the impression that Firan – long before he took on his current "fragmented form" scattered throughout time and space – was once the dark lord of Darkon, [[Azalin Rex]]. Strahd attempts to coax Francis into accepting his warlock patronage, stating that he is much more powerful than Azalin and can give Francis her heart, blood, and life back. He claims to want nothing in return. Francis turns down his offer, however, as the matter of her patron is one that she would like to work out with Van Richten. It becomes clear that Strahd can read their minds. Notte attempts to focus on the ghosts to drown out her own thoughts. In recognition of their "accomplishments" in Berez, Vallaki, and at the winery, Strahd offers cooperation or inevitable death, proposing they leave Barovia as his allies. In return, Strahd expects "deference" and an understanding of the "order of things." Strahd has Francis approach him. He reaches out, and – addressing her as "Tatyana" – asks her for "companionship"; he clarifies that he is not asking for romance or love. Francis holds out her shaking hand when Firan commands her to. Strahd takes it, his grip firm and cold. Firan telepathically commands Francis to kiss Strahd. Francis protests, but Firan doesn't respond. When Francis leans in, however, Strahd steps back. He states that he will not accept Francis's affection when it is forced. He then asks if there is any part of Francis that comes willingly. Eventually, Francis admits that there isn't. Gallagher, Francis, Yves, and Notte are surrounded by darkness. ### Gallagher's vision: reunion with Grace Gallagher reaches for Ez and finds nothing. She wonders if she is dead. Eventually, Gallagher finds herself on board her old ship, the *Watery Grave*. Grayson, her brother, is also present, holding a small cake to celebrate Gallagher's birthday. Initially relieved and happy, Gallagher quickly realizes the impossibility of the scenario. Her happiness shifts into grief and anger. Grace asks Gallagher if she ever finds herself wishing to return to the life that she had before all the suffering, before her curse and before his death. Grace then speaks to Gallagher in a voice that is not his own. Gallagher realizes that she has heard the voice only once before: when her party first found the tarokka cards and a disembodied voice read their fortunes. Grace disappears, but the voice continues, gently asking Gallagher if she wants a do-over. Though Gallagher remains suspicious of the voice, she admits that she would go back if she could; she maintains that people died because of her. The voice asserts that "Miss d'Avenir" would be sad to hear her say this. ### Francis's vision: a domestic dream Francis first appears in the chill of Darkon, facing his childhood home. The inside feels comfortable and safe, and it's furnished exactly how he would want. Francis is certain that he is dead. Van Richten appears, complaining like usual – he indicates, however, that the "aches" haven't come back. Francis rambles about Strahd and the breakfast, but Van Richten expresses confusion. Francis asks about the nature of their relationship. Van Richten answers him with a kiss. The illusion shifts; Francis finds himself in the streets of Waterdeep, a city he has never been to before. He soon meets the other version of Van Richten – Rictavio – and his partner, Skoll. Rictavio emphasizes the impossibility of his presence. Francis indicates that, if she did actually meet him, she would tell him that she is happy for him. Rictavio and Skoll disappear. A voice – the same voice that Gallagher heard – asks Francis if he would go back and start over if he could make it all go right. Francis expresses that he misses his friends; he misses Van Richten. He states that he wouldn't want to go back. The voice asks Francis if he wants to get back to the scene. When Francis asks for elaboration, the voice informs him that he is in a play; they assure him, however, that his relationships are perfectly real. ### Yves's vision: the Grand Masquerade In the darkness, Yves tries and fails to cast Daylight. Yves soon finds himself back in Dementlieu at the Grand Masquerade, which is hosted by [[Saidra d'Honaire (Scaena)|Duchess Saidra d'Honaire]], dark lord of Dementlieu. Yves realizes a few things: that they are the right-hand Saidra, that their body is back to way it was before the hexblood changes started occurring, and that this is a fantasy. Despite this, they stand up straighter when Saidra addresses them – especially when Saidra implies that Yves's predecessors died by suicide. Saidra asks Yves to go retrieve her shawl from the bathroom. In the bathroom, Yves stares in the mirror, trying to get a grip on reality. The same disembodied voice from before asks Yves for his thoughts. Yves responds that this is clearly all just a game. The voice argues that it's more of a play than a game. The voice asks Yves if they would want to live this life if it weren't all fake. Yves, no longer wanting to be the person their parents were trying to shape them into, answers that they wouldn't. When the voice references the other "actors," Yves asks if he is speaking to the director of the play. The voice confirms this to be the case. Yves muses that plays have scripts and that they should have already known his answer; the director – charmed and impressed – indicates that they have been allowing for more improvisation than usual. ### Notte's vision: meeting Juste Notte finds a spotlighted chair and table, sitting on which is an entry from S's journal. Notte sits down and starts reading the entry, which references someone named "Juste." Soon after, the playwright [[Lemont Sediam Juste]] appears and reveals himself as such. He admits that he offered the other actors the chance to make different choices, to try parts of their lives over again; but he recognizes that Notte has everything that she wants. He adds that he is fascinated by Notte and her refusal to let others define her life for her; this is even reflected in her visuals, with how her puppet strings are cut. It is also reflected in her rejection of her parent's desire to make her the dark lord of Darkon. Juste shares that his "bosses" – namely, the Dark Powers and their envoy – have been displeased due to Krue and the other Ezmerelda helping a [[Ivana Boritsi|dark lord]] walk out of [[Borca|her domain]] a few years ago. Juste also shares that he is tired of repetitively crafting tragedies that end in death. Notte realizes that Juste is another dark lord who wants out of his domain. Juste tells Notte that she and the others are part of a broader "experiment." Specifically, he wants to see if there is a way for this story to end where none of the main cast – including Strahd – dies at the end. He adds that he even brought some of the old actors into the domain to spice things up. Juste makes it clear that they won't "lose" if they can't break the script. He controls who leaves the theater; if they free this "Barovia" – even if they kill Strahd – they are free to go. He asks Notte, however, if she would be content with that result, or if she would rather write her own ending. Notte, though intrigued, first asks what Juste did to make herself a dark lord and lock herself in her prison. Juste shares that, while she used to be a popular playwright and director, people started to find her stories derivative and boring. She eventually crafted what she thought was her masterpiece – named *Apparitions* – but the audience didn't care for it. So, after the first showing, she killed everyone in the building; the audience ended up loving it, even as they were dying. Notte asks what the audience can see. Juste reveals that – except during the intermissions, like this one – they see everything he shows them, which is most things. Juste reaches out a hand. Notte ultimately shakes it, stating that she never wanted to be a dark lord ether. Juste, visibly relieved, says that it's a pleasure to make Notte's acquaintance; he adds that he is hoping that things work out for both of them. As his parting words, he apologizes for anything that the script gives her trouble with. ### End of intermission Yves, Gallagher, Notte, and Francis find themselves back in the dining hall of Castle Ravenloft with Ez, Ismark, Van Richten, and Strahd. Francis is still standing across from the vampire lord. There is a flash of anger in Strahd's eyes; to everyone's surprise – including Strahd's – he attacks. Then, again to everyone's surprise – including Gallagher's – she jumps in front of Francis in time for Strahd to land a fatal blow through her chest. Ez shouts Gallagher's name; Francis catches Gallagher's corpse. Strahd declares that Francis is a mockery of everything that he has ever wanted and a piece of Tatyana has merely been "sewn" to him. Speaking over Francis's protests, Strahd demands that they leave the castle. He tells to do what they would like with the body, disdainfully adding, "Happy birthday, Crewman Love." Then, he discorporates into mist. Ez, distraught and crying, demands that they seek immediate revenge. The others convince her to leave. Ez carries Gallagher out of the castle. Francis telepathically begs Firan for help, offering to give up her own heart; aloud, she frantically remarks that they're going to have to buy Gallagher a birthday gift. Under her breath, Notte says, "You're going to owe me *so* much, Juste." Across the drawbridge, Ez gently sets Gallagher down before pulling the magical candle set out of Gallagher's bag with blood-soaked hands. She draws the chalk circle, but attempts to stay behind – Notte and Francis have to pull her into the circle just as they teleport to the Keep. ### Reviving Gallagher At the Keep, the party desperately seeks solutions. Firan offers to help but makes Francis promise that she will owe him. She also agrees to allow Firan to take over her body so that he can work directly. Firan, through Francis, puts a hand where Gallagher's heart once was. Red mist starts swirling around her and pouring out of the hole in her chest. Gallagher, meanwhile, wakes in a space shrouded in red mist, where she is greeted by Firan. He gives her a few options: * She could die. * Firan could fix her up by giving her Francis's inactive heart. * Firan can fix her up without Francis's heart; however, either Francis or Gallagher would owe him. * Gallagher could make a bargain between herself and Firan as a dark lord. He would give her a "dark gift," with the cost being that she could no longer touch anyone without harming them. Gallagher refuses to leave Francis with even less than he already has. Selfishly, she also doesn't want to lose the ability to safely touch others. She tells Firan that she will owe him one, reluctantly shaking his hand to seal the deal. Firan, still piloting Francis's body, passes a hand over Gallagher's chest and seals the wound. Firan warns that she's going to have a scar. Then, he snaps his fingers, and Gallagher bolts upright with a gasp. Ez hugs her tightly from behind. Firan taunts them all; then, he departs from Francis's body. ### Revelations and decisions Ez demands to know why Gallagher jumped in front of Francis. Gallagher reveals that she didn't have time to consciously react in the moment, and therefore didn't mean to do it. When Gallagher, Yves, Notte, and Francis start talking about the visions that they experienced at Castle Ravenloft, Ismark, Van Richten, and Ez share that they didn't see anything of the sort. Notte and Yves share what they learned: they are all in a play written and directed by the dark lord Juste. Notte explains that there are a few ways to end the play. They can perform it as it's meant to go: they kill Strahd, the play ends, and Juste goes on to write another and another. Or, they can find a way to end the play differently, without killing Strahd. Ez is adamant that Strahd needs to die. Notte argues against this, pointing out the cyclical nature of the domains. She also mentions that Juste wouldn't be the first dark lord to escape their fate. When Notte asks Krue to corroborate this, Krue admits that she and S previously helped a dark lord – namely, Ivana Boritsi of Borca – leave the mists. She defends their choice, stating that Ivana was around their age and got a "shit deal" in relation to the crime she committed. Notte quietly admits that Ivana is her cousin. Notte states that Juste is under the impression that he will be able to walk free if they finish the play without the death of Strahd or themselves – the "major players." Ez takes issue with idea that they are ranking people with the intent of deciding who gets to live. Ez asks the others what they are going to do. Notte admits that she is in favor of attempting to break the script; if they fail, they still get to leave. Yves agrees that there is no harm in trying. Francis states that, more than anything, she would like to no longer serve Firan. Notte states that they should figure out how to sever their pact, then; Francis indicates that Argynvostholt might be a good place to start. Ez finally lets go of Gallagher, who slowly gets off the ground. Francis takes the opportunity to hug her and apologize; Gallagher apologizes in turn. After agreeing to take the rest of the day off, the party disperses. ### Notte catches up with Ireena Notte attempts to gently wake Ireena in their room, but Ireena still jolts awake. Ireena asks how the meal with Strahd went; Notte admits that it went poorly. Notte recounts the breakfast and her meeting with Juste. When Notte explains that they are actors in an elaborate play, Ireena asks what the means for her, pointing out that there is another version of her that exists elsewhere. Notte assures Ireena that she is real. Notte shares that Gallagher's answer to Juste's question pushed Juste to throw her in front of Strahd, leading to her death. Ireena calls Juste evil; Notte contests this, stating that she assumes that someone had to die. Ireena takes issue with the idea. She also takes issue with the idea that Juste wants them to avoid killing Strahd, but she is reassured when Notte explains that they could still leave the domain even if the vampire died. Ireena is doubtful that Strahd could decide to be better; she supposes, however, that it would be fine as long as he never spoke to her again and "picked up knitting or something." Notte declares that she won't let Strahd near Ireena regardless of what happens. ### Francis, Van Richten, and visions Van Richten and Francis take a nap together and cuddle. Upon waking, neither of them immediately address this. Later, Van Richten gently pushes Francis to talk about the vision that she had during the "pause" at Castle Ravenloft. Though she deflects repeatedly, Francis eventually recounts her "dream." She initially tries to avoid mentioning the part where vision-Van Richten kissed her, but she is pushed to admit it when Van Richten is able to tell that she is withholding information. Francis explains that he turned Juste down when they offered a chance at a general do-over. Van Richten commends his choice. Francis admits that he didn't like the idea of not knowing Gallagher, Ireena, or Van Richten. Van Richten complains about being third on the list. The two discuss the idea of being in a play. Van Richten comes to the conclusion that his memories, feelings, and goals have not changed. They banter about Van Richten being a cranky old man and a "hallucination" of Francis's. ### Gallagher, Ez, and choices Gallagher steps outside for a smoke. Ez awkwardly demands a cigarette despite previously seeming to have a distaste for smoking. Ez asks Gallagher about her experiences with Firan. Gallagher explains the choices offered to her and how she decided to owe Firan a debt in exchange for her life. When she suggests it would have been less selfish of her to just accept her fate, Ez becomes angry. She states that she doesn't want to do this all without Gallagher. Gallagher acknowledges that she might be being a little ridiculous. She adds that she is glad that they are all relatively alright for the moment. ### Francis's heart Francis jokes about Ez "sauntering around" in Gallagher's jacket. When he also jokes about Gallagher having his heart, Gallagher informs him that she didn't actually take his heart when Firan offered it, as she figured that he might use it again someday. Francis thanks Gallagher for protecting him at the castle. Gallagher thanks Francis for offering her his heart. Gallagher asks Francis how her love life is fairing. Francis answers, "like a tumbleweed on a very sad road." She shares the vision she had about Van Richten and asks Gallagher not to tell him. Gallagher reminds Francis that she and Van Richten are not the best of friends. The two joke about wanting to speak with the director about their character arcs. ### Quincey Morris: a regular human man As the day winds down, a tall, tan man wearing a big hat knocks at the doors of the Keep. He asks for Notte, claiming to be a friend of a friend. It quickly becomes clear that he is there on behalf of Juste. Gallagher is irritated to be contacted by Juste – even by proxy – so soon after they caused her death. After a brief demonstration to prove that he is not a vampire and is rather a regular Texan man, he introduces himself as [[Quincey Morris|Quincey Morris]]. He indicates that he is there to act as a courier between the party and their mutual friend and that he will be staying at the Keep in the meantime. Notte writes a letter to Juste: > Juste, > > You have made this task very difficult with the sudden death of our friend. You are lucky we found a way to fix it. > > Also, I have pressing questions about what constitutes an "important individual". Is Ireena Kolyana, for example, deemed important? What determines the value of a life. > > And will Lady Kolyana be released from this domain at the end of this story? > > Pardon the informality of this letter, it has been a long and difficult day. Write back as soon as possible. > > ~Notte Civile Boritsi After being told that his message must be in the form of a letter, Francis writes: > who is the audience favorite? > ♡ ~ Francis Adelir Quincey asks if anyone wants to play poker. Krue indicates that she has never played such a game before, sharing that the most popular card game she knows is called three-dragon ante. Quincey remarks that dragons seem to be common in their games. Notte points out that they're common creatures and asks if there are no dragons in "Texan." Quincey explains that he is a Texan man, of Texas, and that they do not have dragons there. Hawthorne and Francis privately gossip about the sexual preferences of Quincey. When Francis asks Van Richten if he agrees that Quincey is "very beautiful," Van Richten hesitantly calls Quincey a "fine-looking man." Quincey, Krue, S, Hawthorne, Sorina, and Francis play cards. To almost everyone's annoyance, Hawthorne flirts with Quincey while they play. Quincey leaves to deliver the letters from Francis and Notte to Juste after everyone goes to bed. ## 14 Mirtul 1494 ### Breakfast and Juste's response Quincey returns to the Keep with a letter from Juste. He also brings them donuts and a carrier full of coffee – thank-you gifts from their mutual friend for their "budding cooperation." Francis makes Quincey take a sip of coffee before she will have any. Over breakfast, Notte reads the letter from Juste aloud: > Oғғɪᴄɪᴀʟ Mᴀɪʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ Cᴏᴍᴇ́ᴅɪᴇ-Nᴇ́ᴇʀʟᴀɴᴅᴀɪs > > Ms. Boritsi, > > I apologize for any issues you have taken with my script. It was penned before we ever spoke and had already been set in stone by the time that it came to matter. I trusted completely that you'd be able to fix it, though, so it was of no dramatic concern to me. Not to mention, a few deaths here and there are ultimately a trifle to the matter; it is only so long as it does not end in blood. But, all the same, I *am* glad that Ms. Love is alright. > > As for the value of individuals: Ireena is important. Strahd is important. You, yourself, are important, but your entire group does not strictly have to survive, so long as you die in a way that does not involve a conclusion of slaughter for the story. I am, at the end of the day, a horror author; it is more about the ending than anything. All the same, all in your company who survive will be escorted out; if all this goes to the plan, Scaena will be placed unceremoniously in the woods just outside of Waterdeep, letting you all move into the city afterwards. Everyone else is a matter of who you place importance in; major, story-shaping members of the "main cast." > > Brief sidebar: tell Mr. Adelir the answer to his question is Ms. Hawthorne. Her approval has been up recently. > > Yours, > L.S.J. Hawthorne immediately embraces her status as the audience favorite. Krue is in disbelief, but Notte argues that it makes sense given the audience's bloodlust. Quincey warns them against speaking about the audience at length. ### Planning the day ahead They party decides to head to Argynvostholt. Van Richten encourages this, though he is not going; he wants to prepare for any rituals that may need to be conducted upon their return. Gallagher suggests they leave as soon as possible, as it will take quite some time to walk to the outskirts of Vallaki, which is where Ez's wagon is currently located. Ireena indicates that she wants to come with. Francis, Yves, and Ismark all express concern with this idea. Notte expresses that, if Ireena thinks that she is ready, then she thinks that Ireena is ready as well. Ireena asks Ismark to stay behind so that she has a chance to prove herself. Ismark is not easily swayed, but ultimately relents. Ireena refers to Notte as her "girlfriend," which Francis teases her about. ### Yves's secret letter Yves lingers behind while everyone else leaves the Keep. He pulls Hawthorne aside and hands her a crumpled up letter, instructing her not to read it or tell anyone about it – "please, just send it." Hawthorne is surprised and amused to see the addressee, but she agrees to have the letter delivered once Yves promises to do "whatever she wants." ### Wolf ambush A couple hours into the trip to Vallaki, the party finds themselves surrounded by eleven wolves. Yves is attacked by several wolves at once. Gallagher carefully sculpts a fireball around him, killing eight of the wolves in the blast. Yves is not harmed further, but they do find themselves covered in burned, dead wolves. Gallagher helps them off the ground. Notte, Francis, and Ireena kill the remaining wolves. Ez gives Yves her only two potions; after he drinks them, the remainder of his wounds close up on their own due to his lycanthropy. Ez says, "oh." ### On the horse Continuing on, the party decides that some of them can fly while a couple of them ride Gwynevere in order to save time. Ez gets on Gwynevere and asks if Gallagher wants on as well. Gallagher mounts the horse awkwardly and poorly. Ez stifles a laugh; Gallagher is offended. Ez assures her that there is still time to learn how to properly ride a horse. ### Francis shares her anxieties Ireena and Francis trail behind on foot. Notte flies overhead in her raven form to give them privacy. After Ireena confirms that she and Notte had the "girlfriend talk" – which Francis congratulates her on – Ireena asks Francis about him and Van Richten. Francis spirals a bit, recounting that he died on their first date; on their second date, Van Richten said that he would have to be blackout drunk to sleep with anyone in Barovia; on their third date, Strahd punched a hole through Gallagher's chest. He asks how their fourth date could possibly go well. Francis also speaks to how he feels like a liability and like he is living on borrowed time. Ireena does her best to reassure Francis. She also makes Francis promise that she will at least consider having a serious talk with Van Richten about his intentions. ### The Keepers' influence The party eventually makes it the outskirts of Vallaki. Hoisted over the barricade surrounding the town are several dark purple-green banners with feathers on them, suggesting the influence of the Keepers of the Feather. They board Ez's wagon and continue their journey to Argynvostholt. ### Druid attack and gift planning Halfway to the manor, the party is attacked by a druid who summons eight twig blights. Francis, Notte, and Ez take care of the blights; Gallagher, Yves, and Ireena dispatch the druid. Shortly afterward, Francis asks Ez to trail behind with her so that they can chat. Ez clearly doesn't want to leave Gallagher's side, but she reluctantly does as Francis asks. Francis talks about wanting to find Gallagher a late birthday present and asks if Ez wants to help and/or take partial credit. Ez awkwardly admits that she already got Gallagher a gift; she suggests that her gift isn't something that Francis would want to replicate. Ez agrees to help Francis find something for Gallagher but insists that she doesn't need credit for it. She apologizes for acting so testy since their meal at Castle Ravenloft, adding that high-stress situations can have her entering "charged states." Francis points out that Gallagher is very important to him also. Francis and Ez both agree to be on the a lookout for something to give Gallagher. ### Francis's Gift As the party explores the manor further, Francis finds a dusty, intact model ship with striking blue sails. The side of the ship reads *MARCELLA*. Ez covertly helps clean it with Prestidigitation, and then Francis presents it to Gallagher as a late birthday present. Gallagher recognizes the ship as belonging to Bluebeard, a pirate who founded Blaustein, the island where Gallagher is from. Gallagher, grateful and moved, expresses her appreciation. ### Ambushed by ghosts The party is walking down a narrow hallway when Yves accidentally triggers a trap, causing seven armed ghosts to appear. Gallagher, Francis, Yves, and Ez are all attacked. After the fight, everyone's wounds – with the exception of Ez's – heal through their lycanthropy regeneration. Yves and Ez both agree that they could use a rest. ### Rotten mattresses and messenger bats The party finds a bedroom filled with rotten mattresses. Gallagher finds four Potions of Invulnerability in a coffer and offers them to the others. Ez declines, claiming that she doesn't like the taste. Despite Gallagher's assurances that she is fine, Ez insists on looking her over. She casts Prestidigitation on a rotten mattress, clearing it of mold spores; it's still squishy, however, when Gallagher sits down. Ez starts treating Gallagher's already healed wounds. Once she is satisfied, she does her best to clean the other mattresses. She then lays down on one and promptly falls asleep, having forgotten – along with the rest of the party – that they can just teleport back to the Keep of the Scarlet Cross to rest. Francis offers to fetch Savid. Instead, Notte sends a ghost to instruct Savid to come upstairs; they soon hear a startled scream. Once he has made it upstairs, Savid complains that Notte needs to find a better way to communicate. Eventually, Gallagher remembers that they rest at the Keep. She gently shakes Ez awake before drawing the teleportation circle. Yves is the last to leave via the teleportation circle. As he moves to follow, he feels a chill and spots a bat at the window. It carries a letter bearing the seal of Strahd. ### Francis plans his retirement The party returns to the Keep late in the evening. Van Richten, noticing that Ez is covered in blood, begins fretting over her. She swats his hand away. Van Richten declares that he should have gone with. Francis agrees. Francis seeks out Krue and S to ask them about their time out of the mists, as she wants to leave the domains herself once all is said and done. When Francis asks if there are any places in [[Faerûn]] that are safe, Krue admits that nowhere is completely safe – but Waterdeep is probably as safe as it gets, as long as she stays out of the sewers. S gives a couple other examples of places she finds safe: [[Luskan]] if Francis likes the city, or [[Uluvin]] if he wants something quieter. She advises that he stay out of [[Baldur's Gate]]. Krue agrees that the vibes suck. Francis expresses worry for Stella, Victor, Freek, Myrtle, and even Vasilka; he wants them – and all of his friends – to have a safe place to live too. Once Francis has left, S admits that she is worried about her younger, alternate self, who doesn't have her own Krue to convince her to retire. She doesn't think that Gallagher, being a pirate, would try to convince Ez to "be domestic." Krue agrees, pointing out that Gallagher is from the mists and doesn't know any other life. S asks Krue to talk to Ez about the subject even though it will likely be awkward. She adds that she doesn't think Ez will immediately listen to Krue but that it would still be good to put the idea in her head. Krue hesitantly agrees to talk to her sometime soon. ### Yves's letter to Strahd Yves retires to their room to read the letter that they received from Strahd. The letter that Yves previously sent to Strahd (via Hawthorne) had contained a list of complaints. Yves was principally upset about the treatment of Francis and the death of Gallagher; however, the bulk of the letter was made up of petty complaints due to Yves's unwillingness to face their emotions head-on. > Lord Von Zarovich, > > I would like to extend my gratitude to you for inviting myself and my friends to converse with you this morning. That being said, I’d like to communicate several points where I feel your behavior was unacceptable. Given your extension of friendship this morning, please consider this letter not a condemnation of your behavior but open communication from a concerned friend. > > Foremost, the timing of your invitation was remarkably inappropriate and inconsiderate. You should be aware that an absolute minimum of two weeks notice should be given in invitation to an event. Due to the nature of our meeting and the fact that you prepared appropriate outfits (the one thing I will extend my gratitude to you for) I would have been willing to accept a notice of twenty-four hours. You failed to meet my bare minimum expectations in this regard. > > Secondly, I know you are not stupid. I know that you know what constitutes as a breakfast dish and what constitutes as a luncheon or dinner dish. Initially, I was willing to write this off as a cultural difference between Barovia and Dementlieu, as I have experienced culinary culture shock several times since arriving in your country, however after discussion with my ~~friend, paramou— no don’t be stupid~~ companion, Ismark Kolyanovich, who is, as I’m sure you are already aware, one of your countrymen, he assured me this was not the case and that it was “pretty weird.” Please note that the extent of time you’ve spent as a vampire is not an excuse for this, as I stated previously, I know you are not an idiot. > > Which brings me to my third point, your behavior towards Francis. Your behavior was entirely unbefitting of a man of your status. ~~I’ll put a pin in your violence for a moment and simply say, Francis? Really? Ireena I could at least understand, but really? I don’t understand why everyone is so enamored with her. He’s really not even that attractive if you think about it. Sure she’s tall, funny, and kind but so are plenty of other people. And honestly, it’s a little annoying how kind she is. And also—~~ Honestly, attacking someone because they don’t return your affection, affection you stated no more than two minutes before wasn’t expected of her, was shockingly uncouth, though I suppose I shouldn’t have expected better of someone with a history of stalking teenage girls. > > Furthermore your intent to harm Francis did cause grievous harm to Gallagher, who had done nothing to offend you. Fortunately she has made a full recovery, no thanks to you. I expect you to write a formal apology to her. > > Also, you were wearing an outfit suitable for outdoors not a formal indoor occasion, your table was set incorrectly, you need to tune your organ slightly, and you had what I can only assume is a small bloodstain on your shirt. > > Regards, > The Sister Marquis Yves Antoine Olivier Carrion de Port-a-Lucine ### Strahd's letter to Yves The letter that Yves receives in turn is uncomfortable, with Strahd ultimately extending Yves a invitation to have dinner with him in two days' time. His letter hints that he is somewhat aware that his actions during the breakfast weren't his own. > Esteemed Marquis Carrion de Port-a-Lucine, > > It is, to address the very concept of your correspondence, irresponsibly bold to presume that you can offer such a letter to the lord of the land. You speak with a gravitas unbecoming of your station, positioning yourself as a true noble, meant to be dealing with those in power and not with trash on the streets. You speak plainly as if we are peers. Despite multiple sidebars on your letter wherein you feel the need to correct yourself, unsure in your own words, you posture yourself as an arbiter of good taste, formality, and proper behavior. You hold a grand and extravagant arrogance. > > It is, honestly, very refreshing. More, I shall not pretend it does not entice me. > > Thus, to speak plainly in turn: I do not fully disagree with your critiques. I have found myself sloppy in my conduct, plagued with centuries of pedestrian visitors with little sense of taste or appreciation for prestige. Long ago, in breaking fast with one of your station, I would have offered you the finest; bread baked in my own home, zacuscă prepared in the manner I myself grew with, and crenvurști ground from my land’s livestock, finely-bred cattle descended from oxen raised by the orcs of Sundabar, such a delicacy that you could not find it anywhere else. Were you still hungry, I would have offered you the most exquisite pastries, imported in style from the elves of the Moonwood; such a delicacy would be something you couldn’t find on your own. > > As the years have gone on, however, I have found guests who spurned the luxuries of my homeland, who dared to suggest that I would do something so trite as slip poison into the bounties of my birthplace. I found that my guests would not care how I placed the silverware, for they would often hardly touch it. I found that they would dress themselves as they liked, that they would place their feet upon my table and speak blithely to me as if I were an uncle, a brother, not the lord under whom they lived. Over time, I suppose, it became hard to exercise the care to bother; I began to attend such socials in whatever I had found myself wearing, to adorn the table with whatever food my chamberlain had recently made to sate my whims. It’s been improper of me. > > I would like to make it up to you, if you would so have it, Marquis. > > I recognize that this comes on short notice, against your preferences and against proper courtesy; given the circumstances, I’d imagine you shall extend me the courtesy of ignoring the offense. All the same, if you would, I invite you to join me for a dinner. I extend this invitation to you, sent on the afternoon of the 26th, that you might join me on the night of the 28th. On such short notice, especially, I shall not insist that you find your way to my castle. Rather, I have a small townhome that I keep in Renika, to the south of my home; or, as you would know it, as it has come to be known, “Barovia Town.” Shall you join me at the Blood of the Vine, I’ll guide you to my townhome unbothered. > > Over the course of our meal, I hope that we may discuss the matter of my conduct. I plan to address both my behavior towards you and yours and the violence that I expressed towards Crewman Love at the conclusion of our meal. I feel confident—nay, guaranteed—that I shall be address it in a way that is to both of our satisfaction. Further, I hope to question you on the matter of a particular issue. I have reason to believe it could be of interest to you that I’m of the notion that my actions during our meal were not entirely my own. It is possible you feel similarly. I hope that this intrigues you. > > I have spent much of my life as a believer in the prospect that one, with a willingness to make their own choices, should be allowed to make their own destiny; this is how I became the conqueror Strahd, how I became the lord of the Barovian land, and how I find myself condemned, today, to live as the land itself. All fates I have found in my life have been of my own making; so shall they ever be. With this said, the concept of finding it taken from me, even in the briefest impulse, the slightest flash of anger, offends me greatly. If my understanding of you is correct, Marquis, you may well relate. > > A response to this letter shall not be necessary. If you shall be attending, I will be hoping for your presence at the Blood of the Vine, at a time of twenty-two hours on the night of the 28th. The main course of the night’s meal shall be lamb shoulder, roasted, cooked in white wine. The meal will be accompanied by a side of potato salad with olives and preceded by an appetizer of traditional sarmale rolls from my homeland. If you so wish for it, there will be dessert; a serving of classical Dementlieuse oeufs à la neige. > > Please dress appropriately for the occasion; you may expect me to do the same. > > Regards to you and yours, > > Lord Strahd von Zarovich of Barovia > First of his line and last of his people, > lord and master of Castle Ravenloft ### Yves's confession Notte goes to check on Yves. Yves, panicking, pulls her into his room and locks the door behind them before showing her the letter from Strahd. Yves asks if he should attend the dinner. Notte acknowledges that it would be dangerous – however, it could be a good opportunity to try to make peace with the man. When Notte asks Yves if they have any desire to attend, Yves states that he doesn't want to but that he feels like he has to. Notte address Yves as "Marquis." Yves expresses displeasure and argues that they should be on a first-name basis. Notte agrees to call him "Yves." Soon after, Hawthorne arrives and argues that the letter concerns everyone. Yves pleads with her, stating that he needs to consider before deciding whether to share the letter. Hawthorne warns that they should share it before people find out otherwise. ### Hawthorne Instigates Hawthorne, feigning casual gossip, tells Francis about Yves's new pen pal before leaving the Keep to go on a walk. Francis storms off to Van Richten and angrily relays what Hawthorne told him. Van Richten, dismayed, asks why Yves wrote to Strahd. Francis admits that he doesn't know. Van Richten has Francis sit. After she has calmed down a bit, he suggests that they organize a group meeting. Francis isn't sure, but Van Richten argues that it is necessary. ### Yves on blast Once Van Richten has gathered the larger group, he informs everyone that someone in their number has been corresponding with Strahd. Yves confesses that it was him, explaining that he had complaints about the dinner. Gallagher asks why Yves didn't run the idea past anyone; Yves argues that he ran it past Hawthorne, as she is the one who sent the letter for him. When it becomes clear that Hawthorne isn't at the Keep, Krue and S leave to go find her. Notte defends Yves, pointing out that they gained information from Strahd's response. She also argues that they are not in more danger than they already were. Ez disagrees. Francis scolds Yves, declaring that he wants them gone. Gallagher says that no one is leaving. Ireena nervously tells Francis not to be hasty. Francis gets up and leaves the table. After a moment, Ireena follows her. ### Ireena comforts Francis Ireena finds Francis crying in his room. She gently scolds him for telling Yves to leave the Keep. When Francis argues that Yves is a danger to them, Ireena points out that she and Francis both bring danger to the group as well. Ireena empathizes with Francis and states that she is also scared and upset. She adds, however, that they have enough problems without having problems with each other. Francis implies that he doesn't actually want Yves to leave the Keep; he just doesn't want to talk to them right now. Francis and Ireena hug. Francis remarks that he can see where Tatyana was split in half between them. ### Hawthorne gets punched Outside, Krue finds Hawthorne, who hasn't strayed far from the Keep. Krue confronts her about getting involved and instigating; Hawthorne, unconcerned, taunts Krue. Eventually, Krue takes the bait and punches her. Hawthorne is beaming when she rights herself. She further taunts Krue for participating in her game. She promises, however, to back off – at least for now. Krue leaves Hawthorne and finds a tree stump to sulk on. S comforts Krue, reassuring her that her reaction was natural, even if it was what Hawthorne wanted. ### The meeting continues Gallagher and Ez read over Strahd's letter to Yves. After Yves explains that he doesn't want to attend the dinner, Ismark and Gallagher advise that he should avoid going, then. Van Richten says that, while he isn't exactly comfortable with the idea of sending Yves off to a vampire, it might be most strategic for Yves to attend. Notte agrees that it could be worthwhile if the goal is to get Strahd to change his ways. Gallagher points out that it is ultimately Yves decision. She adds that, if Yves decides to go, then the rest of the party needs to be nearby. Yves indicates that they feel sick; Gallagher suggests that they sleep on it. Yves miserably suggests that they should just leave the Keep. Notte, Ismark, Petre, and Gallagher all oppose this idea, with Gallagher arguing that no one – not even Francis – wants them to leave. Before the conclusion of the meeting, Gallagher shares that she has written a letter to Juste. She tosses it on the table for the others to read. > I will not bother asking why you had me killed; it seems that you're content with claiming innocence in that regard. > > Instead, I will ask you for advice. You've set us on a task that has no clear way forward, but one that you allegedly want us to succeed at. I ask you: how would you convince Strahd von Zarovich to abandon his centuries-built pride, arrogance, and entitlement? > > If you have no answer, I will have no choice but to assume that you have sent us on a fool's errand and that you think the task impossible. And, if you think the task impossible, I will have no choice but to assume you do not actually want it done. > >\- Gallagher Love After the others have read the letter, Quincey takes it, promising to bring a response in the morning. ### Petre comforts Yves Yves is crying in his room. He is soon joined by Petre, who takes off his mask and sits next to him. Petre comforts Yves, saying that they shouldn't be too hard on themself for things done out of intense emotion. He adds that he has done stupider things in the past himself. Petre argues that they were always being targeted by Strahd and that he doesn't see the use in the others blaming him, much less in Yves blaming himself. Yves calls him a kiss ass but kisses him on the cheek. Petre asks if Yves wants to sit in the graveyard with him. Yves says that he has to go "do some shit with Notte's cat" but that he will meet Petre outside later. ### Stella restored Yves casts Greater Restoration on Stella. Stella, greatly embarrassed, gets off the ground and formally introduces herself to Yves and Notte, who is also present. She requests that they never mention the "cat thing" again. When Yves assures her that it wasn't that bad, Stella argues that she has been biting people. Before Yves leaves, Notte asks if they're okay. Yves insists that they're fine – they're probably going to punch Hawthorne the next time they see her, though. Notte says, "not if I do first." Yves departs after Stella thanks him. Stella apologizes to Notte for biting her, biting Ireena, following Notte around and staring at her, and sleeping on the edge of Notte's bed. Notte tells her that "all is forgiven" and that she was not offended nor harmed by any of Stella's actions. Stella thanks Notte for taking care of her while she thought she was a cat. Notte states that she is looking forward to getting to know Stella properly and tells her to let her know if there is anything that she needs. Stella hesitantly requests tea; Notte agrees to bring her some as well as a change of clothes. Later, after Stella has cleaned up, the two discuss their upbringing. Much like Notte and Ireena previously did, they relate over being transgender and spending time locked in a room. Stella expresses that wishes she had Notte's courage, as she simply existed within her mother's framework herself. Stella also talks about missing her father. ### Ireena's concerns Ireena walks in on Stella and Notte having tea and becomes nervous despite Notte inviting her to join. Stella apologizes to Ireena for biting her. Ireena whisks Notte away to talk in private before awkwardly asking if Notte was on a date with "a cat." Notte, surprised, denies this. Ireena calls Stella pretty. When Ireena asks Notte if she was planning on telling her about Yves's letter, Notte informs her that she had only found out about it minutes prior to Van Richten calling the meeting. Ireena is persuaded, though not easily. Next, Ireena questions Notte's use of Yves's first name. Notte assures her that it doesn't mean anything, adding that they're just friends. Notte apologizes for giving Ireena reason to doubt her; Ireena expresses that she is just stressed. The two head to their room hand in hand. ### Van Richten comforts Francis Later, Van Richten comforts Francis. He gives her a journal, encouraging to write about her emotions instead of letting them spiral. He admits that he keeps multiple journals himself. Van Richten asks Francis if she wants to go on a drive to clear her head. When Francis accepts the offer, Van Richten offers her his hand. ### Ez's crush In her and Ez's room, Gallagher expresses that sticking with the others gives them their best chance of survival. She adds that she understands where Yves and Notte are coming from with wanting to help Juste, even if she doesn't want to the director. She concludes that she is willing to fall in step with the group. Ez is not so sure that they should go along with the others in this regard. The two hang out. Ez anxiously sharpens her sword with a stone despite Gallagher's complaints about the noise. They bicker lightheartedly. Ez admits that something has been on her mind. She rambles for a long time, but Gallagher eventually manages to push her to admit that she finds Ireena cute. Despite promising that she wouldn't make fun of Ez, Gallagher gently teases her. When Ez presses her, she agrees that Ireena is charming; she notes, however, that the girl is too young for her. Ez insists that her crush doesn't mean anything, as she isn't looking to end up with "a collection." Gallagher states that she isn't on the market either, which embarrasses Ez. ## 15 Mirtul 1494 ### Hawthorne's black eye The morning after a long, emotionally charged day begins quietly. Most of the party gathers at the breakfast table, though there is minimal small talk. Hawthorne arrives sporting a black eye. When she reveals that she "got punched in the woods," Yves and Notte don't bother hiding their satisfaction. Hawthorne admits that she didn't expect Krue to be able to punch as hard as she did. Francis and Notte find the notion ridiculous. S and Krue come to the table. Francis compliments Krue's swing; Krue warily asks Hawthorne if she has been chatty. Hawthorne gestures at Krue's bruised knuckles and then her own bruised face with a grin. ### Stella reintroduces herself Stella joins the others and reintroduces herself, looking neat and composed. Francis is surprised and pleased to see that her cat-related condition has been cured. Gallagher asks Stella if she wants to go back to Vallaki to see her brothers now that she is better. Stella bluntly declines, citing a lack of connection and her brothers' consistent drunkenness. Gallagher is put off by Stella's response, but she doesn't press. ### Quincey arrives with pizza and soda Quincey is the last to shop up, bringing pizza and soda for breakfast. Most of the party expresses distaste once they try the food. Yves requests more cold coffees in the future; S describes a burger; Francis asks for "something normal"; Notte mentions that she enjoyed the donut pastries from the previous day. Quincey promises to do what he can. ### Juste's response to Gallagher Quincey gives Gallagher the Juste's written response to her letter. Gallagher finds his theatrical posturing and cryptic advice largely unhelpful. > Oғғɪᴄɪᴀʟ Mᴀɪʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ Cᴏᴍᴇ́ᴅɪᴇ-Nᴇ́ᴇʀʟᴀɴᴅᴀɪs > Ms. Love, > > I appreciate your willingness to move on from the matter of your death. I will respect your desire to do so and cease speaking of it. To move on, let's talk about the core question you've asked me, which is a fantastic one. > > I would recommend, as a starting point, learning more about him. If you have a particular source from which you could learn, say, a more comprehensive understanding of his history and how he understands it, then that could help. If you can target a certain aspect of his psychology, it would give you a much better "in" to start unraveling him and the things that may need undone to address them. I'd also recommend getting closer to someone who knows him intimately; a wife, a servant, so on, so forth. Further, on top of that, it could do very much for you to research the ways he attained power. Perhaps you could undo them, or impose some sort of inconvenience on them. There are many ways you could approach this. Just... go in closer. Do you follow me? > > If I were to give you more direct instructions, I would be imposing on the "free will" aspect of this experiment. I am, however, as your director, willing to give you acting advice; also, as your ally, I'm willing to act as a friend. > > That's to say, I don't find it impossible. Hard. Not impossible. I'm just not smart enough to math it out for good. > > Are you? > L.S.J. Francis asks why they're still entertaining Juste's involvement. Notte argues that they need to explore their options regardless of what they end up choosing; that way, they can do whatever it is they decide to do most effectively. Francis lashes out, asserting that he and Ireena are going to be victimized until Notte solves her "little Strahd puzzle." Notte, greatly offended, reiterates that she isn't against killing Strahd. Stella interjects to "cast her vote" with Notte and Yves. Van Richten interrupts before tensions can rise further, pointing out that they need to deal with the more urgent threat of Firan Zal'Honan before deciding what to do about Strahd. He adds that there will be plenty of time to argue later. ### Back to Argynvostholt Ireena decides not to join the others at Argynvostholt due to the excitement of the previous day. Ismark also decides to stay behind in order to watch over her. Van Richten, on the other hand, insists on coming with. Yves, Francis, Gallagher, Notte, Ez, and Van Richten teleport to Argynvostholt. Van Richten starts coughing as soon as they arrive due to the musty atmosphere, so Francis constructions him a makeshift mask with a scarf she had previously stolen from Ismark. Van Richten grumbles. ### Meeting Sir Horngaard The party meets Sir Vladimir Horngaard on the third floor in the audience hall. They find the revenant slumped on a wooden throne, armored and holding a greatsword. There is a dragonet made of smoke on his shoulder; as soon as the party enters the room, however, the small dragon disappears. Francis greets Sir Horngaard, stating that they are enemies of Strahd and there to help. Horngaard affirms his own hatred of Strahd, who slew Argynvost, killed his beloved knight, and destroyed the order that he had devoted his life to. He states, however, that he doesn't want Strahd to die – he wants Strahd to suffer. Furthermore, if the party plans to kill Strahd, they are not friends; rather, they are enemies. Francis indicates that he would like to not be enemies. When he asks Horngaard about them potentially recovering the skull of Argynvost, however, Horngaard says that finding the skull is no longer his concern. Francis asks if there is someone else that they can talk to. Horngaard, gripping his sword tightly, commands them to leave. The party hurriedly complies. ### Argynvost's quarters As the party enters what was likely once Argynvost's bedroom, they hear the soft flapping of wings before a piece of parchment flutters down from atop a bookshelf. Gallagher fumbles catching the paper, drawing laughter from Francis and Ez. The letter itself seems to have been written by Argynvost. It laments the fall of his order and expresses hope that his spirit might become a beacon of hope. He regrets that his remains were not laid to rest in the mausoleum of Argynvostholt. Gallagher asks if anyone has seen a hallowed mausoleum around. Van Richten taps his cane against the window, gesturing to the mausoleum on the edge of the graveyard outside. Ez explains what an escape room is to the others. ### Meeting Godfrey In another room, the party finds five revenants. One – Godfrey Gwilym – looks more lively than the rest. Francis informs Godfrey that they are there to help get a dragon skull back; they were pointed in the direction of Horngaard by another revenant, but he wasn't very receptive to their help. Godfrey is somber at the mention of Horngaard, but is interested in their help regarding the remains of Argynvost. Francis asks Godfrey whether he thinks returning the skull will allow him to speak to the dragon. The revenant isn't sure, but thinks that it's possible. Godfrey reveals that he is bound by oath to assist his lord, Sir Horngaard; moreover, he is to avoid anything that would get in the way of making Strahd suffer. Francis points out that stealing the skull from the castle would likely make Strahd very angry. Godfrey concedes. He states that he will not be helping them in every affair, though he is willing to help them get the skull. The other revenants, uneasy, argue in an unfamiliar language before marching off to inform Horngaard. The party, Godfrey in tow, quickly leaves the manor. ### To the Luna River camp The party boards Ez's wagon and heads for the Luna River Vistani caravan so that they can drop off Savid and purchase potions. On the way, Francis chats with Godfrey, doing her best to reassure him. Godfrey reveals that time and anger have eroded Horngaard's good sense and memory; he no longer remembers Godfrey as his lover, but rather as any other knight. Ez halts the wagon as another approaches. The driver – a large man with shaggy hair and thick mutton chops – claims to be alone. He is clearly lying. The man asks if they have any silver to spare. Notte gestures to her rapier but says that she isn't willing to part with it. Francis offers to grab some silver for him. The man turns him down, stating that he doesn't want to inconvenience them; then, he continues on his way. Gallagher remarks that the werewolves need to come up with a new story. Francis adds that they could use a better sense of fashion, too. Ez declares that she hates werewolves. Soon after they get back on the road, the group hears cawing overhead from a swarm of ravens that have started following them. ### Shopping and trinkets at the Vistani camp As the party approaches the camp, Gallagher teleports back to the Keep to fetch Savid. Savid expresses his gratitude to the group before wandering off. The party finds Luvash and begins haggling over the price of healing potions. Notte lies, telling Luvash that he charged them 10 gold per potion last time. Luvash doesn't believe her. When Gallagher argues that she should get a discount since she is going to be buying in bulk, Luvash offers the potions for 40 gold a piece. Francis tries to haggle more by flirting with Luvash, but Gallagher is already counting out 400 pieces of gold. Francis declares that the potions will be 25 gold next time they visit him. Luvash says no, but thanks Gallagher for the business; Notte says, "we'll see if it continues." To compensate for their dissatisfaction, Luvash offers something from his trinket box. Francis, despite mocking the box, pulls out a collapsible cane that produces sparks when the end is tapped against stone. Francis gives the cane back to Luvash when it becomes clear that Van Richten doesn't want it. As they are walking away, Notte catches Luvash pulling a bloody, child-sized teacup out of the box. Notte tells him to throw the box away. ### Lunch at the Keep The party decides to head to Yester Hill next. Before that, however, they return for a short rest at the Keep, where Quincey has set up lunch: finger sandwiches and a wide array of lemonades in various bright colors. Quincey seems unconcerned about Godfrey's presence. When Gallagher asks where the crust on the bread went, Quincey informs her that the crust has been removed in advance. Yves asks why anyone would eat a cucumber sandwich with crust on it. Gallagher admits that she rarely has sandwiches to begin with. Van Richten waters down his lemonade. Ez makes wine cocktails for her and Gallagher. ### Yves's dinner dilemma Gallagher asks Yves if they have decided whether they want to attend the dinner with Strahd. Before they can answer, Francis abruptly asks Yves if they can talk privately before grabbing them by the arm and dragging them away. Francis issues an emotional apology to Yves for how she reacted to learning about their correspondence with Strahd. She also expresses that she is terrified on Yves's behalf. When Yves reiterates that he doesn't want to go to the dinner but that he probably should, Francis disagrees; however, he expresses that he would feel better if Yves gave him their scroll of Revivify to hold onto. Yves gives him the scroll, though not before suggesting that Francis doesn't like them. Francis scoops them up in a hug and tells them not to send any more letters to "nasty men." Yves makes no promises. Francis retreats to his room. Yves puts the doll that he previously got from Luvash's trinket box on Myrtle's bed before returning to the dining hall. ### Van Richten offers a hug Van Richten meets Francis in their room. Francis shares that he apologized to Yves and that journaling helped him think about the situation a little more. Van Richten asks if Francis would "be receptive" to a hug. Francis holds on for a long time. ### Krue and Ez's terrible talk Krue, attempting to sound casual, asks the others if they're all back for the day. She tries to backpedal once she is told that they aren't exactly sure, but Ez presses her. She admits that she needs to talk to Ez but that it can wait. Ez downs the rest of her drink before insisting that they talk now. The two go to the kitchen to talk. Krue seems a little nervous and clumsily opens by asking Ez if she thinks that Freek is obligated to become a hag hunter because of what his parents did. Ez is incredulous; she of course doesn't think that a "random child that got shoved into a crate" should become a monster hunter. When Krue points out that Ez feels obligated to be a monster hunter because of what *her* parents did, Ez becomes incensed and demands that Krue make her point. Krue states that she just wants Ez to consider that she isn't obligated to throw herself into danger. Ez declares that Krue doesn't know her well enough to be talking to her like this. Krue admits that she expected Ez's reaction, but – wanting to protect her wife – she refuses to say why she brought up the subject regardless. Ez calls her a "complete fucking psychopath" and storms off. ### Tea time with Ireena and Stella Notte seeks out Ireena, finding her in the library, seated at a table with Stella. Ireena looks uncomfortable. Stella has been teaching her proper tea etiquette. Notte joins them. The encounter doesn't get any less awkward. ### Hawthorne's proposal Hawthorne intercepts Yves and asks what he plans to do about the "Strahd thing." Yves is reluctant to share due to the incident with the letter, but he eventually admits that he is probably going to attend the dinner. Hawthorne asks if Yves has ever been on a date before. Yves stumblingly lies; he also insists that the dinner with Strahd is not a date. Hawthorne, cashing in on the favor that she insists Yves still owes her, proposes that they go on a "practice date" tonight in her Demiplane to prepare him for the dinner with Strahd. Yves is in disbelief; however, he ultimately agrees to attend, nervously musing that it wouldn't hurt anything. ### To Yester Hill Francis, Yves, Notte, Gallagher, Ezmerelda, and Van Richten teleport back to just outside the Luna River Vistani caravan camp. They board Ez's wagon and set off for Yester Hill. Along the way, they ignore a fresh, unmarked grave and avoid a hunting trap in the middle of the road. Leaving the wagon behind as they approach, the party finds Yester Hill covered with dead grass and cairns of black rock. Storm clouds gather overhead; lightning strikes the hilltop. ### Kavan's spear As the group walks up the path to the hill, a crack of red lightning crashes on point on the cairns. Francis is drawn to the point, where the party finds a ring of burnt grass at the foot of the cairn that was struck. Francis asks for a shovel; after some squabbling, Ez unhappily retrieves one from her wagon. Francis digs up a worn, ornate spear, which she picks up before Gallagher can stop her. She stills and her eyes glow red as she is mentally contacted by [[Kavan (Scaena)|Kavan]], the long-dead war chief of the long-destroyed Whispering Wind tribe. Francis holds up a hand in an attempt to calm her somewhat panicked party members. Kavan offers Francis power, informing her that the spear drinks blood and can help her regain what she has lost; in return, all he asks is that she use the spear to spill the blood of Strahd's minions across the land. When Francis admits that bloodshed isn't really her thing, Kavan suggests that she can pass the spear on to a new chosen after she is finished in Barovia; in the meanwhile, they are aligned in purpose. Francis agrees. Meanwhile, Firan telepathically contacts Gallagher and explains that Francis is bartering with a warlord in order to replace him. He claims that this would be disadvantageous to both him and the party, as the warlord will not stop lusting for blood even after they kill Strahd's faithful. Firan instructs Gallagher to destroy spear. When Gallagher tests the bounds of Firan's control by resisting him, Firan promptly cuts off her air supply. Ez shakes her by the shoulders in a panic. Gallagher tries to wait it out, but Firan doesn't relent. Gallagher shoots a Fire Bolt at the spear, which begins burning up. Francis attempts to tamp out the fire in vain. In her head, Gallagher tells Firan that she no longer owes him. Firan agrees, stating that he will need to figure something else out for the "Argynvost situation." Francis picks up the burning spear. In attempt to console Kavan, Francis states that they are still going to rid the land of Strahd. Kavan asks, "blood everywhere?" Francis replies, "probably." The spear crumbles to ash. Gallagher apologizes to Francis; Ez dismisses the "cursed spear." Francis expresses that seeking out Argynvost is probably a better idea anyway. Van Richten asks Gallagher if she couldn't have opted for a less risky way to destroy the spear. Gallagher only stares at him. ### Battle on the hilltop Atop the hill, the party finds a field encased by boulders, a fitty-foot-tall effigy of Strahd made from twig and dirt, and a misshapen, blood-oozing tree. As they are climbing over the ring of boulders blocking off the area, Francis is struck by lightning. Van Richten scrambles over and asks if he is okay. Francis, lying still, says, "no." Gallagher notices fresh burial mounds scattered atop the hill. She warns that they might want to watch for undead. Ez suggests putting big rocks on the graves; Notte suggests avoiding them. Notte notices a gem-sized concentration of magic buried in the chest of the Strahd statue with her spellsight. As she approaches the statue, people start emerging from the graves: six druids and six berserkers. Needle and twig blights, which surround the oozing tree, also lurch in their direction. During the fight, Gallagher snaps the Gulthias Staff over her knee, unleashing an inhuman shriek and killing all the surrounding blights. From there, the party dispatches the berserkers and druids. ### Another gem found With the exception of Ez – who also sustained heavy damage – everyone heals thanks to their lycanthropy regeneration. Van Richten scraped by without getting hurt. Gallagher casts Sacrificial Healing on Ez and starts to bleed through her shirt as Ez's wounds close. Soon after, Gallagher's new wounds start to close up due to her lycanthropy; still, Ez is incensed. She insists that someone else could have healed her and tells Gallagher not to cast the spell again. Notte tries and fails to dig the gem out of the statue's chest. Ez makes fun of her before climbing up the statue, digging out the gem – which appears to be another belonging to the Martikovs – and tossing it down to Notte. Van Richten theorizes that the grotesque bleeding tree is a Gulthias Tree, which would mean that it is likely responsible for all the blights in the domain. Gallagher insists that they should treat it as such; if they don't take care of the root of the blight problem, then the Martikovs will likely become under siege again in the future. Notte finds a plant-killing magical axe at the base of the tree and hands it to Ez, who starts hacking away. Yves suggests that they should come back and deal with the tree tomorrow, as he may be able to prepare a spell that could help by then. ### Returning the gems The party travels to the Wizard of Wines to return the two gems that they found. Adrian Martikov receives the party and expresses his gratitude. Gallagher suggests that he can thank them by sending wine their way. After wishing Adrian luck, they head back to Yester Hill, where they set up the teleportation circle and head back to the Keep. Gallagher tells Sorina about the returned gems. She immediately leaves to inform the Keepers in Vallaki. ### Ezmerelda's existential crisis Ez and Gallagher smoke together on Ez's request. Ez has been moody since they all returned from Yester Hill; Gallagher asks to know why. Though Ez initially tries to deflect, she eventually admits that she had a conversation with Krue that bothered her. When she explains what she and Krue talked about, Gallagher suggests that Krue was just worried about her. Ez argues that it isn't Krue's business to be worried about her, and that it's weird and uncomfortable that Krue knows so much about her and her life in the first place. Ez eventually poses a more existential question: "am I real?" She speaks to how she has vivid memories of what came before Barovia, but that she doubts she actually existed before Gallagher and the others met her in Krezk. Gallagher tries to comfort her, stating that – real or not – the memories feel real, and she is currently living and making real choices. Gallagher also tries to relate to Ez by admitting that she is half convinced that the "real," original Gallagher is a corpse at the bottom of the sea. Ez insists that their situations are different, however, since there is another Ezmerelda. She argues that the people who she has memories of, who she would like to go back to – like her friends in Waterdeep and Van Richten's other mentees – don't actually know *her*, but rather a different, older version of her; because of this, she can't go back to them. Gallagher gently insists that Ez still has the friends that she made in Barovia and that they can figure out the rest when they make it out of the domain. She suggests, however, that Ez should talk to someone who might understand – like Van Richten. Ez is resistant but eventually agrees. She thanks Gallagher and hugs her. ### Yvesthorne's first not-date Yves is hanging out with Petre and Ismark when they are approached by Hawthorne, who reminds Yves that they had plans. Yves neglects to tell Petre and Ismark that they are going on a practice date. Ismark can tell that Yves is withholding something; he seems disappointed. Hawthorne tricks Yves into walking into a wall before casting Demiplane, causing an extravagant wooden door with a cursive "H" on it to appear. Yves, unimpressed, calls the door "incredibly tacky." Inside the demiplane, Hawthorne pulls Yves's chair out for them before serving lobster, shark fin soup, and bread that she made herself. Hawthorne shares that she enjoys dissecting people, boxing, and working out. She reveals that she used to be a geologist before she was a monster hunter. She also shares that her last adventure was in a place called [[Elysium]] – a shifting, rapidly collapsing city filled with death and misery – which is where she got eaten by a giant crab and then later saved by Krue and the others. As a result, she met some "mildly charming" people, including Skoll, who is more than mildly charming, and Van Richten, who isn't. When Hawthorne asks what Yves does for fun, Yves admits that he doesn't really have fun. He struggles to talk about his life before Barovia; Hawthorne states that they don't have to talk about it at all. She does suggest that he should live life boldly now that he has more freedom. Yves asks Hawthorne why she cares so much. Hawthorne suggests that they have a lot in common: she grew up in a "cult town" that she didn't leave until she was in her late 20s and she is half witch on her mother's side. She also insists that they are both jackasses, which Yves protests. After dessert, Hawthorne invites Yves to dance; Yves displays a surprising amount of coordination as well as a deep embarrassment. Hawthorne compliments him; he blushes. When Hawthorne dips Yves, he impulsively and quickly kisses her. He then apologizes and hurries out of the room despite Hawthorne's reassurances. ### Hawthorne consults Francis Yves makes a beeline for his room. Moments later, Hawthorne finds Francis and asks to speak in private. Hawthorne tells Francis about her "practice date" with Yves. When Francis asks why she needs to talk to him specifically about this, Hawthorne admits that she feels like Francis is her only friend at the moment. Hawthorne reveals that Yves kissed her. Francis asks if Ismark and Petre know; Hawthorne states that she doesn't think they knew that they were on a date in the first place. Francis then asks if Skoll and the other Van Richten know about the situation, but Hawthorne defensively argues that they aren't married and that they shouldn't expect otherwise from her. Hawthorne explains that she had fun on the date. She also explains that Yves left very quickly after kissing her and that she doesn't know what to do. Francis argues that there isn't anything to do except wait for Yves to talk to Petre and Ismark. Hawthorne doesn't like the idea, wanting to be more proactive, but agrees that the ball is still in Yves's court. ### Notte fails to comfort Yves Meanwhile, Notte goes to check on Yves, who is busy spiraling and laying face down on his bed. Yves laments that he ruined everything by kissing Hawthorne and that there is something wrong with him; Notte, attempting to console him, states that there is something wrong with all of them. Yves, miserable, states that, as soon as someone is nice to him, he wants to kiss them. After a pause, he adds, "you're safe, though." Notte suggests being honest with Petre and Ismark. Yves fears that they'll break up with him – not that they're dating. Notte hesitantly argues that things might turn out better than he fears. ### Francis on the scene Francis arrives, finding that Gallagher has left two cups of tea by the door. She picks them up and hands them out after Yves lets her in. She then sends Notte away and sits with Yves. Francis jokingly opens with, "and you had the gall to call *me* a whore," but he quickly softens when Yves starts crying. He shares that Hawthorne told him everything and was asking him for advice. Yves insists that he doesn't know how it happened or how he feels. Francis urges Yves to rip the bandage off and tell Petre and Ismark; however, he also suggests that it's Petre and Ismark's fault for getting involved with a 21-year-old. Despite this, Francis insists that she isn't leaving until Yves goes to tell them. Yves tries to protest, but eventually agrees and leaves to find Petre and Ismark. ### Yves confesses to Petre and Ismark Yves tells Petre and Ismark about how he kissed Hawthorne, adding that he feels horrible about it. Despite Yves's anxiety, Ismark doesn't seem to care much – he's just glad Yves told him. He admits that he would have appreciated knowing ahead of time about the date and would like it if Yves was more proactive with informing him in the future. When Yves says that it probably won't happen again, Ismark points out that he said that last time. Ismark admits that he wasn't aware that Yves likes women. Yves admits that he wasn't aware either. In contrast to Ismark, Petre isn't taking the news very well. He tries to talk himself out of feeling sad by bringing up how he and Yves aren't formally dating, but Yves insists that he is allowed to admit that he is upset. Petre excuses himself. Yves wants to hug him but ultimately decides against it, as he doesn't feel like it would be appropriate. Petre returns to the dining hall and asks Francis if he still has any alcohol. Francis indicates that it's in the kitchen and follows him there, but Petre refuses to talk about his feelings. Back in the room, Ismark brings up the letter to Strahd, admitting that he was hurt that he wasn't told and that he didn't appreciate Yves putting him and Ireena in further danger. Yves apologizes again and indicates that he will try to be more communicative and careful in the future. Next, Ismark brings up the undefined nature of their relationship. Yves suggests that they should talk about it after they leave Barovia, as there are more important things going on right now. Ismark agrees. Ismark thanks Yves for being straightforward. Yves hugs him. ### Ez's talk with Van Richten Later, Ez returns from her talk with Van Richten, somber but reassured. She admits to Gallagher that she just expected to yell at Van Richten a bunch, but they instead had a genuine conversation wherein Van Richten advised her to focus on what she is doing and who she is. He also told her that anyone she remembers in her life would likely accept her regardless of there being another Ezmerelda. Gallagher expresses that she is glad the talk went well. ## 16 Mirtul 1494 ### Denny's breakfast The entire group, minus Hawthorne, attends breakfast. Quincey arrives with food from Denny's, with Juste having ordered individual meals for everyone. S takes Hawthorne's meal for herself. ### Another letter from Juste Quincey hands Gallagher a letter from Juste, which she first reads silently. The letter includes much more direct advice than the last. Juste acknowledges Gallagher's hesitation with his mission; he also acknowledges that he probably shouldn't have been so cryptic in his previous letter. Gallagher summarizes his advice: * Find the Tome of Strahd, which will help the group target his Tatyana-related insecurity. Gallagher guesses that the tome is one of the artifacts that was mentioned by the tarokka card fortunes. * Get close to Rahadin, who loves Strahd in his own twisted way. They could explain to him that they have a way to free Strahd from his prison. Ez makes a disgusted noise at the idea of talking to the man. * Go to the Amber Temple and convince the "beings therein" to revoke their gifts to Strahd. * Convinced Strahd that there are more exciting things in the world outside of Barovia. * Ireena could have a "long talk" with Strahd. Notte, Francis, and Ireena all immediately shoot this idea down. ### Reactions and discussion Francis and Ez maintain that they don't want Strahd redeemed; they want him dead. When Ez adds that whatever resides within the Amber Temple is not worth talking to, Gallagher disagrees, arguing that it would be worthwhile to speak to the beings who helped Strahd secure his power in case there is any way to reverse it. Krue informs the others that the Amber Temple hosts "pieces of gods" inside sarcophagi. She admits that some members of their group – namely, Skoll and [[Nia Skultrac|Nia]] – made bargains, which each had their advantages and drawbacks. As she is talking, Krue realizes that Nia may have been lying about one of the deals she took, as it supposedly allowed her to talk on walls; she could already do that, however, being a dhampir. Both Notte and Ireena have trouble digesting the fact that the other version of Ireena is dating this dhampir. Van Richten suggests that it might be a good idea to make deals when the time comes – especially considering the apparently competent, intelligent, and kind-hearted nature of their "predecessors." Francis argues that Van Richten has written books about how it's a bad idea. She promptly becomes embarrassed over admitting to having read Van Richten's books. ### The Gabb Phone 4 Quincey provides many of the party members with a Gabb Phone 4 – a gift from Juste. The phones include a camera, calculator, clock, voice memo, calendar, calling service, messaging service, video calling service, music streaming service, chess game, memory game, fitness tracker, and apps for various religious texts; it also includes weather and maps features, but neither function. Gallagher, Van Richten, Notte, Ezmerelda, S, Petre, and Ismark all figure out how to use the devices fairly easily; Francis, Yves, Krue, and Ireena have a lot more trouble. Francis immediately cracks the screen of her phone. Francis and Van Richten flirt over text; Yves discovers emojis and shares them with the group; Gallagher discovers the camera app and takes a picture of Ez, who takes a blurry picture of her in turn. Gallagher creates a group chat with everyone in it. ### The Gulthias Tree Yves informs the others that he will not be able to destroy the Gulthias Tree, as the spell that he had been considering – Hallow – takes 24 hours to cast. Ez declares that she will handle it herself, but Notte and Gallagher insist that everyone should go with. Yves, Notte, Gallagher, Ez, Francis, and Van Richten teleport back to Yester Hill. Ez kills the Gulthias Tree in less than ten seconds with the battleaxe that Notte found the previous day. She then asks if anyone wants the axe; none of the party members want it, but Gallagher suggests that Krue might since she is a carpenter. Ez reluctantly agrees to give it to her and awkwardly does so later. ### Planning for Yves's dinner with Strahd Back at the Keep, Gallagher calls a strategy meeting. She doesn't think disguises or subtly are needed when approaching Barovia Village; Strahd should expect company after punching a hole through her chest. The others agree that making their numbers known is the smartest play. They discuss how to keep an eye on Yves. They ultimately decide to have Yves contact one of their Gabbs and hide his own in his pocket; the connection will allow the others to listen in while remaining muted. Gallagher tells Yves that they don't have to let Strahd flirt with them. Yves looks unimpressed; Gallagher reminds them that Strahd thinks they are going on a date. ### Blood of the Vine Late at night, Yves, Gallagher, Notte, Francis, Ez, Van Richten, and Ismark depart for Barovia Village. Ireena gives Yves a long hug before they leave. The tavern in Barovia Village is occupied by five vampires: Strahd and his four "brides." Strahd implies that he brought the vampire spawn to "entertain" the others while he and Yves are occupied. [[Jean-Baptiste Escher (Scaena)|Jean-Baptiste Escher]], pouty and jealous, stares daggers at Francis and Yves. * Strahd takes Yves's hand and leads him away to [[Strahd's Townhome|his townhome]]. The rest of the group is left with the other vampires. * [[Ludmilla Love|Ludmilla Vilisevic]] appears to be wearing a simple wedding dress. She quickly makes clear that she is not interested in making friends with the party and expresses a particular disdain for Yves. She eventually admits that she is sick of Strahd and of living in the castle – however, she doesn't have a lot of other options. * [[Volenta Popofsky (Scaena)|Volenta Popofsky]] reveals herself to be a [[Church of Myrkul|cultist]] who tried and failed to ritualistically sacrifice herself to Myrkul before Strahd brought her back as a vampire spawn. Now, she willingly follows Strahd as a means to continue to serve her god. * [[Anastrasya Karelova (Scaena)|Anastrasya Karelova]] seeks wealth and power; since Strahd is the wealthiest and most powerful person in the region, she has no qualms staying with him in the castle. ### The date: part I The party listens in on Yves and Strahd via a Gabb. At his townhome, Strahd explains that Rahadin will be absent since Yves's party didn't seem to be fond of him. He adds that his brides don't care for the man, either. Yves is instead served food by the clockwork, toy-like [[Pidlwick II (Scaena)|Pidlwick II]]. Strahd responds aloud to something that Yves only thinks. When Yves expresses displeasure, Strahd promises to avoid reading Yves's mind for the remainder of the night. Strahd tells Yves that, throughout the course of his life, he never felt out of his own control – except for when he "harmed" Gallagher during the breakfast at Castle Ravenloft. He adds that it wouldn't have been in his best interest to attack "Tatyana," as her death would mean that he would have to wait several years to meet her again. Yves eventually tells Strahd about Juste and the scripted, theatrical nature of Barovia. Strahd is familiar with both Juste and Scaena, though he has trouble believing that he is a character in one of Juste's plays. Regardless, Yves reveals Juste's end goal: to get through the play without the death of Strahd or the other "main" characters. Strahd admits that he is wasting away in Barovia, carrying out cycles of violence against adventurers and failing to secure the love of the woman he yearns for. Yves remarks that his lot seems like a sad existence; Strahd agrees. Strahd believes he is being forced to relive falling short of his goals until he can figure out how to achieve those goals; moreover, he will not be able to leave the domain until he draws Tatyana to his side. Yves raises the possibility that Strahd might be allowed to leave the domain not by securing Tatyana's love, but rather by moving on from her. Distraught and overwhelmed, Strahd excuses himself for a moment. ### Firan's offer to Volenta Firan telepathically indicates to Francis that he wants to offer his warlock patronage to Volenta. Francis initially refuses outright to relay the offer; and, when she finally does, she does little to sell the deal. Frustrated, Firan takes over Francis's body to offer Volenta "countless opportunities to cause more death" as well as warlock powers. Volenta states that she accepts the terms and declares that she will accompany Francis until she and Firan can secure the contract. Francis, having control of his body once more, says that Volenta isn't invited. ### Meeting Achlys While Yves is waiting for Strahd to return, [[Achlys]], death knight and envoy of the dark powers, appears and threatens Yves. In addition to claiming that Yves – along with many of their companions – is dead, she demands that Yves and their company stop pursuing the freedom of Juste and Strahd. Overhearing parts of Yves and Achlys's conversation, the party leaves the tavern and quickly makes their way to the townhome. Achlys offers them all a chance to walk free from the domain, stating that they can even take "Juste's puppets" with them. Achlys implies, however, that the dark powers will always be watching them and waiting for them to slip up, which may have them finding themselves in their own Domain of Dread. Juste chimes in as a disembodied voice, stating that he feels like it's his fault that the party is in hot water. He admits that he didn't know that Achlys would show up. Yves declares that he isn't agreeing to anything until they know where they will end up, especially since Achlys claimed that they're all dead. When Notte demands clarification, Achlys tells them that they all died before (or, in Francis's case, as) they entered the domain: Notte tumbled down a hill, Francis died in a wagon crash, and Yves and Gallagher drowned. Gallagher, bothered but pretending to be unphased, suggests that they need to reconvene at a later date as they don't presently know how to proceed. Achlys agrees that they will see her again and advises them not to make an enemy of her. Then, she disappears. Though the party is rattled, they leave Yves to finish his dinner with Strahd and return to the tavern. ### The date: part II Strahd eventually returns to Yves and apologizes for his "juvenile outburst." He admits that he is aware that Tatyana found him "repulsive"; since her initial death, he has been trying to make himself into someone more worthy of her affection. When Yves points out that Strahd has four brides, Strahd bluntly states that they mean little to him and are "flawed beings" compared to Tatyana. Yves argues that everyone is flawed, including Tatyana's reincarnations. Strahd admits that he finds it surprising how easily Yves speaks ill of Francis. Yves argues that he likes Francis; although he is an "impulsive idiot" and "not a perfect person," there isn't anything wrong with him. Yves adds that everyone is flawed; sometimes it can just be difficult to see someone's issues when you love them. Strahd states that he will consider what Yves is saying. ### Escher attacks In the tavern, Escher laments, "he *hates* me." Notte suggests that he should move on, while Francis expresses disbelief that Escher is sad at all; she argues that he should be angry. Escher acknowledges Francis's point before lunging at her with his fangs bared. Van Richten is faster than the others; he stabs Escher through the chest and clamps a hand over his mouth. Escher bites him. Van Richten tells Escher to knock it off before pulling the sword out of his chest and stepping away. Escher stares at him, dumbfounded; eventually, he says that he may have overreacted and apologizes to Francis. Van Richten helps Francis off the ground. The two step outside. ### Francis's miserable company An agitated Francis scolds Van Richten for getting hurt on his behalf. Van Richten, also agitated, states that Francis has become very important to him and that he is unwilling to see him harmed. He asks, "Why do you think I'm coming with you more often?" Francis dryly answers, "Because you like my company." Van Richten, frustrated, agrees that he likes Francis's company; he says that it's been an agonizing, burdensome, upsetting, miserable experience. Francis incredulously repeats, "Miserable?" Instead of responding verbally, Van Richten impulsively kisses Francis. ### The date: part III Strahd acknowledges that Yves arrived under duress; he asks, however, if there is any chance that they could treat the rest of the night as an actual date. Yves hesitates. They eventually state that they are having fun, but that they don't want there to be an expectation of anything – they have enough romantic entanglements as it is. Strahd doesn't understand why that would be an issue, but he ultimately accepts the answer. Strahd asks Yves if he is "taken" with Francis. Yves stutters through a denial. He says that it "would be weird" and that Francis "has something going on." When Strahd asks who Francis is involved with, Yves lies and says that he was referring to Francis's warlock pact. Over dessert, Strahd reveals that – unlike his brother, Sergei – he was often beat as a child for being "angsty." By the time he was conquering nations, however, his father didn't mind much when he was misbehaving. When Yves makes a joke about not being a vampire, Strahd points out that he could be one, which puts Yves on edge. The dinner concludes shortly afterward. Strahd walks Yves back to the tavern, where he kisses Yves's hand before departing. ### Yves regroups with the others Yves enters the tavern to find Escher slumped in a chair, blood drying on his clothes and person. Yves, who feels bad that Escher overheard Strahd disparaging him, heads over. Escher says that he only overreacted a little and got stabbed by the "old man" for it. When Yves asks what he did, Escher admits that he almost bit "the pretty one." Yves incredulously asks, "Notte? She's made of wood." Notte chokes a bit; Escher clarifies, "the man." Yves suggests that Escher can do better than Strahd. Escher indicates that he doesn't have many options in Barovia. He then gestures to Ismark, asking if that is who he's supposed to go after. Yves laughs awkwardly before saying no. The brides leave the tavern. Shortly afterward, the party leaves as well, rounding the corner to find Francis and Van Richten. They are both flushed; Francis has a bloody handprint on his face. Ez groans. ### Volenta follows As the party is on their way back to Immol Village, they notice that Volenta has been walking with them. They tell her to leave. Volenta is argumentative, stating that she wishes to observe Francis before attempting to touch his skin. Francis stops her with a hand on her mask. Gallagher suggests that Volenta can bring the skull of Argynvost to the ruins of Immol Village in exchange for being allowed to make a deal with Firan. Volenta is reluctant, but agrees to try. She departs. ### Krue, S, and Achlys Back at the Keep, the group tells the others about Achlys. S and Krue are immediately distressed. Krue admits that Achlys has historically showed up when they start messing with the cycles of the domains. She adds that she should have expected her presence. Notte asks how they should deal with her. Krue and S are apprehensive; the party is not put at ease to hear that Achlys proved to be an issue for Krue and S's group. Krue indicates that she might have to back them up if Achlys returns. She acknowledges that this would go against her initial plans of not getting involved, but she indicates that she would feel guilty if she let them all "get smote." Unsure how to proceed, the party disperses. ## 17 Mirtul 1494 ### Ludmilla's late-night visit At around 2:00am, Petre wakes Gallagher and Ez by knocking on their bedroom door. When he informs them that someone is asking for "the pirate" outside, Ez suggests that it might be a trap. Gallagher points out that she can protect herself. Gallagher finds Ludmilla, one of Strahd's brides, waiting at the door to the Keep of the Scarlet Cross. Ludmilla casually asks Gallagher if she is busy and invites her to step outside. Gallagher, though wary, complies. She allows Ludmilla to bum a cigarette even though she is running low. ### Conversation and a tarp Ludmilla identifies Gallagher as being from the Sea of Sorrows from her accent, scent, and the fact that her "paramour" had a pirate coat on. She implies that she is also from the Sea of Sorrows, revealing that it used to be called the Knammen Sea. Ludmilla indicates that she knows about the party's plan to steal the skull of Argynvost from Castle Ravenloft. She states that she won't offer to steal it herself – such an endeavor would be suicidal – but that she is willing to distract Rahadin for the party while they make the attempt. When Gallagher questions her motivations, Ludmilla admits that her situation has been wanting for centuries. She expresses that she wants to get away from Strahd and ideally the domain entirely; if she can spit in Strahd's eye on the way out, all the better. Ludmilla offers to stay in the village ruins until the party is ready to go to the castle. Gallagher asks how she is going to stay comfortable during the day. Ludmilla points to the most stable-looking structure that still has a roof. Ludmilla pries for details about Gallagher's past. Though she is reluctant to divulge, she eventually gives in, recognizing that Ludmilla is lonely and wants someone to talk to. Gallagher gives a clipped version of her backstory: she was a pirate, stole some treasure, got cursed, lost her crew, found a new crew, started studying under a wizard, lost her crew, supposedly drowned, and then ended up Barovia – or rather, Scaena. Ludmilla insults Gallagher's conversational skills before asking who, specifically, she lost. Gallagher deflects, but Ludmilla persists. Eventually, Gallagher quietly admits that she lost her brother. Ludmilla expresses her condolences. Gallagher awkwardly asks Ludmilla if she needs a tarp or blanket for the daytime. Ludmilla remarks on Gallagher's conversational skills again; she accepts a tarp, however, which Gallagher retrieves. Gallagher indicates that she will speak to the others and that she will see Ludmilla later in the morning. Ludmilla asks for Gallagher's name before she departs. When Ludmilla says that it's been a pleasure, Gallagher skeptically asks, "has it?" Ludmilla states that she finds Gallagher "intriguing." Gallagher returns to find Ez with a sword in her lap. Gallagher recounts her conversation with Ludmilla. When Ez asks why Ludmilla singled Gallagher out, Gallagher admits that she didn't ask. ### Sushi for breakfast Quincey brings everyone breakfast, this time having labeled all of the individual takeout boxes himself. He has misspelled several of their names, including Francis as "Frances" and Yves as "Eve." Francis reveals that his name used to be spelled "Frances" when he was once a girl. Quincey sincerely congratulates him on his "journey." When Yves disdainfully says "I'm not a girl," however, Quincey admits that he was "struggling a bit with that." As they are eating, Stella jokes that Notte never gave her fish like she promised. Notte puts some of her sushi on Stella's plate. Stella reaches over to Ireena's plate and takes a piece of her sushi, putting it on Notte's plate. Notte and Ireena both protest, but when Notte tries to give it back, Ireena makes her eat it. Notte gives Ireena some of her food in return. Stella inexplicably says, "you're welcome." ### Gallagher suggests a heist Gallagher reveals that Ludmilla visited her during the night and is willing to provide a distraction while they steal the skull of Argynvost, which will hopefully help them rid Francis of Firan's influence. She argues that this should be their top priority; Ismark, Ez, and Francis all agree. Ireena indicates that she wants to go the castle with the group, but Francis and Notte convince her to stay behind. When Francis suggests that he can stay behind with Ireena, Ireena argues that he is too useful to the party. Gallagher abruptly asks about Godfrey's whereabouts. When Hawthorne mentions that she saw him "wander off," Francis remarks that she can't blame him with all the talk about getting Strahd out of the domain. Francis adds that he wants to check in with Victor Vallakovich after retrieving Argynvost's skull. Yves, Notte, and Stella question this priority. ### Francis and Van Richten's secret plans Due to the others' prior resistance to the idea, Francis and Van Richten secretly discuss extracting Vasilka from the Abbey of Saint Markovia. Van Richten plans to head in that direction while the others head to the castle; if he cannot safely rescue her immediately, he will return with as much intel as possible. ### To the castle Soon after Van Richten departs, Francis, Gallagher, Notte, Yves, Ez, and Ismark also leave the Keep. They find that one of the crumbling structures in the ruins has a tarp thrown over the roof. Francis lets it slip to Ludmilla that many of them are wereravens. Ludmilla calls them all weird. Gallagher asks Ludmilla where they can enter the castle to most easily access the room with Argynvost's skull. Ludmilla tells them that the Hall of Bones is below the castle in the larders. She suggests that they can either go through the front door and head downstairs or enter through a window on the second floor and go down two floors. The party discusses travel plans. When Ludmilla expresses surprise that they can teleport, Notte taunts, "You can't?" The group, including Ludmilla, teleports to Yester Hill and boards Ez's wagon. Then, they set off for Castle Ravenloft. ### A man and his fruit As the party is nearing Vallaki, a local runs out in front of the wagon, carrying strange, delicious-looking fruit in his arms. They can hear distant pan-pipe music coming from the forest. The man – [[Oleg Drazkoi|Oleg]] – declares unprompted that he won't be giving them any fruit, but says that they can get their own from [[Seelie Market (location)|the market]] in the woods. Then, he runs off toward town. Ez, curious, wants to investigate the market. Yves, Notte, and Francis are all reluctant, but everyone – with the exception of Ludmilla, who insists on staying behind – follows Ez into the woods. ### Arrival at the Seelie Market The party quickly finds a beaten path, which they follow until they are met with a bustling, wildly out of place market. There are a handful of local villagers present, but the market is otherwise occupied by fey and a large dragon in the middle of the market. Francis is delighted; the others are wary. Francis messages Van Richten on his Gabb to say that she is at a goblin market. Instead of responding to Van Richten's messages asking for clarification, she puts the phone back in her pocket. ### Francis & Granny Goosefinger, the hag Francis heads over to the antique doll stand, where he is met by [[Granny Goosefinger|a wart-ridden old woman]] with sallow green skin. Francis states that he is not trying to cast judgement or cause offense before asking if the dolls are "sinister" in any way – specifically, he wants to know if they are filled with the souls of children or anything like that. The hag denies this, declaring that they are simple, lovingly-crafted dolls. Francis requests one of the ornate mirrors on display as well as a doll with dark brown hair (for Myrtle) and a doll with red hair (for Vasilka). In exchange, Goosefinger asks for nine days of "good dreams," explaining that Francis will be having nightmares in the meantime. Francis, used to having bad dreams, agrees to these terms. Goosefinger pricks Francis's finger with her sewing needle to seal the deal. ### Notte & Pazrodine, the dragon Notte takes pictures for Ireena on her Gabb. Like Gallagher, Yves, and Francis, Notte has never seen a place so cheerful. Notte approaches the enormous dragon at the market's center. The dragon, [[Pazrodine]], confirms that she is the proprietor. She admits that she isn't a big fan of the [[Shadowfell]] but figured that they could use some whimsy. When Pazrodine finds out that Notte used to be an elf before she put her soul in a puppet, Pazrodine compliments her for her innovation. ### Gallagher, Ez, & Hugo, the satyr Gallagher and Ez meet a satyr card magician named [[Hugo Clovenhorn]]. On Hugo's insistence, an embarrassed Gallagher performs a simple card trick; in return, he gives her a pirate-themed deck of playing cards. She also wins a deck of wonder for Ez by beating Hugo in a match of three-dragon ante. ### Yves, Ismark, & Clawson, the dog Yves and Ismark inspect a rug covered in bizarre trinkets overseen by a talking dog named [[Clawson Blink]]. When Yves shows interest in a water-filled sphere occupied by a swimming clockwork goldfish, Clawson requests that he put something of equal value on the rug. Yves tries to put down candles on the rug; however, he is unable to provide a suitable "story" behind the candles. Ismark encourages Yves to tell a story about his life, but Yves isn't having it; he picks up his stuff and walks away. ### Gallagher, Ez, and Merriweather, the dryad Gallagher and Ez meet [[Merriweather]], a dryad bird merchant who seems to be having trouble with a very loud, very small parrot named Nemo. Merriweather immediately tries to pawn the parrot off on Gallagher. Gallagher argues that it would be irresponsible to adopt a pet given the circumstances, but Ez encourages her to do so. Gallagher agrees to take the parrot after Merriweather confirms with Nemo that he is okay with being around cats. Merriweather admits that Nemo has to decide to go with Gallagher, then bashfully mumbles that she has to sing to him. Gallagher turns to leave, but she is stopped by a delighted Ezmerelda. Gallagher seems embarrassed; still, she sings a little sea shanty, and Nemo goes silent. When Gallagher is finished, Nemo flies over and lands on Gallagher's shoulder. A second, quieter lovebird and friend of Nemo follows and adopts Ez. She names it Aronnax after a character from a book she read in college, neglecting to mention that the character of Aronnax was in love with the character named Nemo. ### Notte & Lavender, the pixie Notte meets [[Lavender Shasphene]], a pixie scribe who offers spell scrolls in exchange for borrowing voices. Figuring that she can just use her wereraven mimicry and her Gabb's text-to-speech function, Notte agrees to give up her voice for one day and ten minutes; in exchange, Lavender gives up tiny scrolls of Antagonize and Faerie Fire. When Notte tries to speak, bubbles come out of her mouth instead of noise. ### Francis & Toatstool, the goblin Francis approaches a fruit stand run by a goblin named [[Toatstool]]. She trades a large lock of her hair for assorted fruits and mushrooms with magical properties. Toatstool isn't able to tell Francis what most of the magical properties are, but he assures her that many of the effects are beneficial. ### Fey deal fallout Van Richten has turned his wagon around and is heading back to the Keep, too anxious about Francis to pursue his plans regarding Vasilka for the time being. Yves has a panic attack upon learning that Francis made a deal with a hag; Francis maintains that Granny Goosefinger is just an "elderly goblin." Notte tries to comfort Yves, but only bubbles come out. Yves laughs and calms down a bit. In private, Yves reveals his history with hags to Francis. Francis apologizes for upsetting Yves before scooping them up into a hug. ### Ludmilla arrives Ludmilla sees bubbles come out of Notte's mouth and remarks, "oh, you're weirder than last time I saw you." She states that she likes the birds before announcing that she is going to get her fortune told. Francis and Yves offer to go with; Notte shrugs. When Ludmilla tries to convince Gallagher to go with as well, Gallagher glances at Ez to find that she is glaring at Ludmilla. Despite this, Ez states that they should go since everyone else is going. Later, Ludmilla mockingly calls Gallagher "Captain," having overheard Ez call her this. ### Fortune-telling with Oddlewin The group visits the fortune teller [[Oddlewin]], a goblin with multiple independent shadows. He offers to read the party's fortunes in exchange for their own shadows; he assures them that it will return to them once the fortune comes true. With varying degrees of reluctance, the party members each draw a card from the deck. As Oddlewin reads the fortunes, their shadows leave them and join Oddlewin's many others. * Francis: *Comet* – "Carry a lit flame with you at all times. You will be rewarded with wondrous treasure." * Yves: *Rogue* – "A foe is hunting you. They seek vengeance and shall arrive soon." * Notte: *Fool* – "Someone who seems helpless will call for your aid. Do not trust them." * Gallagher: *Fates* – "You are fated to witness a terrible catastrophe. Take solace in knowing there is nothing you can do to stop it." * Ez: *Key* – "A dream will bring answers to the questions you seek." * Ismark: *Throne* – "Great responsibility shall be thrust upon you. Only you will know if you are ready." * Ludmilla: *Knight* – "Someone will offer you their services in a time of great need. Trust them." ### Deck of Many Things Oddlewin, claiming to feel bad about their fortunes, offers to let them draw from his Deck of Many Things. Ez explains that it's a powerful magical deck, and that there is no way to predict if the result is going to be very good or very bad. Despite the danger, many of the group feel compelled to pull from the deck. They declare how many cards they wish to draw; then, they do so. * Francis: * *Rogue* – causes an unknown effect. * *Euryale* – she experiences wracking pain; other than that, nothing obvious occurs. * Notte: * *Balance* – she feels emotionally colder. * *Throne* – a land deed for a keep on [[Toril]] appears and falls in her lap. * Gallagher: * *Star* – her mind feels sharper. * Yves: * *Skull* – an encounter with an Avatar of Death is triggered. As Yves draws the *Skull* card, Juste teleports them into the woods outside the market as an Avatar of Death appears and moves to attack Yves. As everyone prepares to help, they inadvertently summon their own Avatars of Death. ### Fighting death The party fights their seven Avatars of Death. When Ludmilla claws Gallagher's to death and winks at her, Gallagher only says that she is going to regret not targeting her own. Ez mutters expletives under her breath. Gallagher and Notte both kill two. Francis kills his own. Ismark kills the last avatar. The wisps left by the avatars dissolve into charms with magical properties and a chest full of coins. ### Healing and back to the wagon Despite Ez's protests, Gallagher uses Sacrificial Healing to heal her. Ez complains that Gallagher has "damage" and needs to chill. Gallagher insists that she is chill "constantly." The group makes it back to Ez's wagon, electing not to return to the Seelie Market. Gallagher and Ezmerelda's birds are waiting for them. Francis stills seems weak from the effects of the Euryale card. When Ismark checks on Francis, however, Francis insists that he is fine, stating that he has had period cramps worse than his current pain. Ismark remains concerned. ### Ludmilla, Gallagher, and pirate ships On the way to Castle Ravenloft, Gallagher abruptly asks Ludmilla if she is from the Sea of Sorrows. Ludmilla admits that Gallagher's bluntness is refreshing before revealing that she is indeed from the Sea of Sorrows; she used to be a pirate captain. When Gallagher asks for the name of her ship, Ludmilla – delighted by Gallagher's curiosity – shares the name of the ship that she stole and redecorated: the *Obedient Dead.* When Ludmilla asks the same of Gallagher, Gallagher shares that the name the first ship she served on was called the *[[Roving Shrike Crew|Roving Shrike]]* and that the second was aptly called the *[[Watery Grave Crew|Watery Grave]]*. They solemnly swap some more backstory: Gallagher drowned; Ludmilla nearly drowned; they both believe they are the only ones left from their crews; their ships were sunk by Pietra van Riese. Ludmilla offers that at least Pietra probably assumes that they're both dead. ### Strahd's animated armor Once the group has made it over the outer wall of Castle Ravenloft, they notice large, animated armor shambling along the interior wall. They unsuccessfully attempt to sneak past; Ludmilla flees as the armor rushes toward them. Though she takes some hard hits before she is successful, Gallagher manages to dispel the magic animating the armor, and the rest of the party takes care of it while it's down. ### Infiltrating Castle Ravenloft The party enters the castle on the second level; organ music echoes through the halls. With Ludmilla as their guide, they make head downstairs and avoid traps along the way. There is a brief discussion regarding whether to follow Krue's makeshift map of the castle to find the "little statue" in the nearby chapel, but the group ultimately decides against it. ### Meeting Cyrus Belview As the party enters the larders, they spot and avoid a trap occupying a ten-foot space on the ground. Ludmilla hides from Strahd's servant, [[Cyrus Belview (Scaena)|Cyrus]]. The rest of the party is easily spotted thanks to Francis's torch, which he is carrying due to the instruction from the *Comet* fortune. Cyrus looks much like the individuals that the party met at the Abbey of Saint Markovia. He wears a key around his neck. When Gallagher asks if he is a Belview, he only says, "I am Cyrus" before laughing to himself. Cyrus tells them that they should return to their rooms. The party tries various strategies; Cyrus doesn't relent. Francis eventually manages to trick him into stepping onto the trapped floor. As he does so, Francis hooks a finger under the rope attached to the key around his neck, expecting the ground to give way under Cyrus's feet. Instead, the floor rises. Cyrus chokes as the elevator rises. As it passes the threshold, however, the rope snaps and the key falls into Francis's hand. Yves and Notte express that they wish Cyrus would have died. Ludmilla slinks off to distract Rahadin. Once she has left, Yves declares, "I don't like her." Notte, Ismark, and Ez agree. ### Hall of Bones The party enters a room in which the furnishings and decorations are made entirely of human bones. The skull of Argynvost is also in the room, but it is being held by Achlys under one arm. She holds the last of Martikovs' magical gems in the opposite hand. The party tries to communicate that retrieving the skull will help neither Juste nor Strahd; in fact, it will likely hurt Strahd. Ignoring them, Achlys declares that she is there to issue a reprimand before setting the skull down on a pile of bones at her feet and jamming the gem into the front of the skull. The pile of bones begins to rise up, forming into a large skeletal dragon. Achlys slips out the doors on the other side of the room. ### The dracolich attacks Gallagher casts Protection from Evil and Good on Ezmerelda. She levels a Fire Bolt, but the fire fizzles out uselessly. Francis fires off an Eldritch Blast before ducking around the corner and behind the wall. The dracolich tail-whips Ismark, nearly dropping him. Meanwhile, Francis, Notte, and Yves frantically message the group chat, telling the others at the Keep about their dire situation. ### Panic at the Keep At the Keep, Krue states that she needs to get to the castle. Petre frantically suggests that she could teleport there if someone at the castle manages to draw a corresponding teleportation circle fast enough. S tries to insist on coming with; Krue argues that she needs someone strong enough to recover their bodies if needed. This does not put S at ease, but she trusts Krue to handle herself. Van Richten declares his intent to go with Krue. Krue expresses empathy; she argues, however, that he would just be one more person that she needed to protect. ### Chaos in the castle Back at the castle, the dracolich breathes rolling green flame that engulfs Ismark, Yves, Notte, and Ez. Ismark drops, unconscious, while Notte's wooden body is scorched. Yves casts Whispering Wind and pleads for Strahd's help. Notte is knocked unconscious soon afterward. Ez runs to the doors at the north end of the room and blasts the dracolich with a Lightning Bolt, attempting to lure it away from the others. Gallagher draws a teleportation circle with shaky hands. Meanwhile, a sobbing Francis pleads with Firan, who insists that he has given Francis all the power that he can and that her friend's lives are irrelevant to him. Francis threatens to stop helping Firan; Firan threatens to take Francis's life. He declares that it doesn't matter how much Francis dislikes him – she belongs to him until he decides otherwise. ### Enter Strahd Strahd summons a specter in the shape of Sergei, which forms in front of Yves in advance of his arrival. Notte feels Sergei's anger radiating from the sunsword as she flashes in and out of consciousness. Francis is still crying on the floor when he feels a hand on her back. He jolts up to see Strahd crouching over him. Strahd, addressing Francis as "Tatyana," tells him not to fear. Strahd enters the Hall of Bones. Shortly after Strahd arrives, a pack of wolves bounds past Francis and floods into the hall. Then, Strahd polymorphs the dracolich into a chicken, giving them all time to talk. Gallagher presses against the wall in an futile attempt to hide from Strahd and tries to get Ez's attention. Ez, surrounded by wolves with Strahd ten feet away, is frozen; she doesn't register Gallagher. ### Francis, the vampire Francis frantically explains the situation to Strahd. Pleading, she adds that she needs to skull to get Firan out of her head. When Strahd offers his own patronage again, Francis asks if Strahd is going to help her and her friends. Strahd answers that he will. Francis, shaking, steps in front of Strahd and agrees to accept his patronage. Firan, furious, telepathically says, "have fun, Tatyana"; then, Francis dies. After a moment of holding his corpse, Strahd bites his neck. Strahd releases him as he gasps back to life. Notte snaps back into consciousness to see a pack of wolves, Francis with blood dripping from his neck, Strahd, and a chicken. Ismark also wakes up and goes pale. He gets up and steps back, clutching Yves arm. Gallagher teleports Ez next to her. After Gallagher half-hugs her, Ez snaps out of her trance and angrily asks if someone can get rid of the wolves. Strahd ignores her until Francis repeats the question. With a wave of his hand, the wolves clear out of the room. ### Enter Krue Krue teleports into the room. Observing the chicken, she says, "Classic chicken trick, I see." She tells them that she is there to help with the "dragon issue." Strahd starts to ask who she is, but Krue cuts him off to ask for his plan. Strahd explains that the spell can last for up to an hour; in the meantime, he was going to look through his spell scrolls. If that proved fruitless, he was planning to "rain his legions upon it." Krue laughs at him. Krue tells the others to clear out of the room. Once they do so, Krue attacks the chicken, which turns back into a dracolich. Though Strahd and Krue deal some heavy damage, the dracolich ignores them in favor of seeking the others outside the room. It slams its tail into Gallagher and then Ez. Finally, Krue leaps up and decapitates the dracolich; she lands on her feet and catches the skull. After a moment, Strahd requests that they all have a "long talk" before beckoning "Tatyana" closer. Krue sneaks away to teleport back to the Keep. She messages the group on her Gabb and instructs them to inform her if they need her help with anything else. ### Krue returns to the Keep Krue fills in the others at the Keep. When the conversation devolves into a lighthearted back-and-forth between Krue and S about whether Krue can be considered a dragonslayer now, Van Richten angrily cuts them off to ask why Krue left the others in the castle with the vampire lord. Krue indicates that the others seem to have a plan and that she isn't going to interfere with it. ### Demands and text updates Strahd immediately begins asserting his authority over Francis by demanding she call him "Lord von Zarovich" and demanding that they all stay in the castle for the night. Despite her fear of Strahd, Gallagher protests, but Strahd insists that they owe him. To everyone's dismay, he also insists that Francis will stay close to his chambers while the others stay elsewhere. Notte sends Ireena an update on their situation via Gabb. She also messages Quincey to say that she would like have a word with their mutual friend soon. Yves messages Petre. Petre's phone reads the message aloud: "Francis' new boyfriend won't let us go home until tomorrow morning." Van Richten contacts Francis and asks for an explanation. Francis, upset, promises to explain as soon as they return to the Keep. He adds that they are in no danger and that they will be back tomorrow. ### The lounge Strahd escorts the party to a sitting room in which Escher is lounging. Strahd tells Notte, Gallagher, and Ez that they will be staying in this room for the time being. Strahd allows Francis a brief moment to talk privately with her friends. She explains that she made the choice she did in order to protect them all; then, she rebukes Yves for their message to Petre. Yves remembers that Petre's phone reads messages aloud and cringes. Ismark defends Yves, arguing that no one has the right to criticize anyone else for rash decisions. Francis bristles. Gallagher points out that she still has the chalk and magic candles and that they could return to the Keep at any time. Francis argues that they shouldn't leave; it wouldn't be safe to do so without Strahd's permission. Gallagher tells them to keep in touch. Francis, Yves, and Ismark depart with Strahd. Ez suggests killing Francis to save him from Strahd's contract, suggesting that they could bring him back from the dead at a later point. Gallagher says that they don't need to do anything rash; they can wait this out and leave the castle as soon as possible, at which point they will figure out their next steps. Gallagher also points out that Strahd would kill them all if they laid a hand on Francis. Escher becomes upset that Francis made a pact with Strahd, insisting that he could be a redhead too and that Francis isn't special. Gallagher bluntly tells Escher that Strahd is never going to appreciate him due to being an egomaniac who only cares about one thing. Escher calls Gallagher "very straightforward," referring to her as a "sailing man." Gallagher, tired of the conversation, doesn't correct him. Escher expresses interest in Yves. Via Gabb, Notte tells him to "start simpler." ### Discussing Ludmilla's fate Gallagher begins to worry about Ludmilla's absence. After explaining the situation to Escher, they learn that Ludmilla might be locked in the dungeon. Gallagher offers him two cigarettes to go get her, but Escher refuses, stating that the dungeon is "gross and weird." Gallagher gives him a cigarette for the information anyway. Ez asks why they care about Ludmilla, arguing that she's "just some vampire" and that she didn't actually help them at all. Gallagher thinks they should help her since she was thrown in the dungeon for trying to help them. Ez sullenly accuses Gallagher of having a "dynamic" with Ludmilla; Gallagher tiredly tells Ez that she has nothing to worry about. Ez reluctantly says that they should have the whole party together if they are planning to search the dungeon. Gallagher and Notte agree. ### The bedroom Strahd takes Yves, Ismark, and Francis to the floor where Yves and Ismark will be staying, passing by a rotted wedding cake which Strahd explains was for Tatyana and his brother's wedding. Strahd then guides them to a bath chamber in which there is a bathtub full of blood. He tells Yves and Ismark may use the room to their liking, though he warns that it is "mildly haunted" and asks that they do not drain the blood from the tub. Finally, Strahd leads the three into a grand bedroom that is occupied by a young woman named [[Gertruda (Scaena)|Gertruda]]. Much to her displeasure – and despite Yves's protests – Gertruda is evicted so that Ismark and Yves can stay in the room themselves. A clearly frightened Francis hugs Yves and Ismark before leaving with Strahd. Once Strahd is gone, Ismark and Yves disparage him and his centuries-old cake. Ismark notes the strange contrast between how afraid he is of the man and how much of a pathetic loser he is. Ismark asks if Yves and Strahd are friends. Yves says that he doesn't know, which is an answer that Ismark doesn't particularly appreciate. Regardless, he acknowledges that they don't seem to be moving in a direction that involves killing Strahd. Yves and Ismark have an emotional conversation wherein Ismark asserts that he was fine getting burned since he was protecting Yves in the process. This upsets Yves, but they ultimately hug about it. ### The office As Strahd is taking Francis back downstairs to the larders, Francis asks if Gertruda can stay with him for the night. Strahd offers that Francis can stay in the crypts with him if he expects to be lonely, but Francis declines. They arrive at the office of Rahadin, who stands up and bows as they enter. Strahd tells Rahadin that "Tatyana" will be staying in the office for the night. Rahadin is clearly displeased, but elects not to protest. Francis is then left alone in the room. Soon after, Gertruda arrives, having been sent for by Rahadin on Strahd's instruction. It quickly becomes clear that Gertruda has no idea that Strahd is a vampire; rather, she believes that he is a "very kind king." Francis is unable to talk sense into her despite his best efforts. Gertruda becomes gradually more rude as the conversation goes on. Francis finds out that Gertruda is 21 years old. When Francis suggests that Gertruda could return to her family in Barovia Village, Gertruda reveals that her mother kept her locked up for most of her life. Francis attempts to summon Skelly; however, since Firan is no longer her patron, Skelly doesn't appear – a skeletal wolf puppy named [[Fester]] materializes instead. Francis miserably dismisses the familiar. ### Evicting Gertruda (again) When Strahd returns to Rahadin's office, Francis demands that he explain himself to Gertruda. Strahd refuses; he states that Francis is overestimating his patience and speaking out of turn. Strahd tells Gertruda that Rahadin will arrange a carriage back to Barovia Village. Francis asks that she instead be taken to Vallaki. Strahd agrees to this; he also tosses a platinum piece in Gertruda's direction when Francis requests that she be provided for. Gertruda is sobbing when she leaves. Strahd instructs Francis to meet him in the first floor's dining hall soon, as he plans to meet with him and the rest of his companions. ### Curse of Strahd Strahd collects Notte, Gallagher, and Ez as well as Yves and Ismark. They all head to the main dining hall, where Francis and Rahadin are waiting for them. Strahd refers to Francis as "Tatyana" once again. When Notte corrects, "Francis," Strahd asks Francis if he opposes being called Tatyana. Francis states that he feels like Strahd calling him Tatyana is bad for his health; he is not who Strahd wishes he was. Strahd reluctantly calls Francis by his name. Strahd asks for the group's opinions on getting him out of Barovia. Yves is on board. Notte admits that she is less certain after nearly being incinerated by a dragon directed by a servant of Strahd's captors. Still, she isn't against the idea. Ez, on the other hand, is against the idea. Francis states that her only goal is keeping the others safe. Gallagher plainly states that she believes that Strahd is trapped in the country due to his ceaseless pursuit of Tatyana's reincarnations. She adds that she previously thought that the only way to leave the domain was through defeating Strahd, which didn't bring her much hope; however, this seems more likely to her than Strahd moving on from Tatyana. Strahd disagrees, believing that he can earn Tatyana's love. Notte argues that Tatyana is not a prize to be won. Francis argues that Tatyana is dead. Francis tries to convince Strahd that he isn't Tatyana in various ways. Strahd is obstinate, arguing that they could be happy with "effort" and "convincing." Strahd expresses that he wants Francis to be his equal. Francis points out that Strahd has been ordering him around and treating them as lord and lesser. When Strahd insists that he has been courteous, Yves says that he is still being a dick. Strahd blinks before angrily saying that he has never in his life been spoken to in such a way. Yves tells him that he needs a reality check. ### Strahd storms off Strahd excuses himself and asks Yves to accompany him. Yves and Rahadin follow Strahd out of the dining hall. Strahd remarks that Yves did not "undersell" Francis's personality. Yves reiterates that Francis and Ireena – despite the probable similarities – are entirely different people than the the person Strahd wishes they were. When Yves asks what made Tatyana so great, Strahd speaks to her zest for life and earnest joy. Yves remarks that he seems more jealous of her than anything, but Strahd disagrees. When Yves once again tries to bring attention to the people who care about Strahd, Strahd raises his voice. Yves states that he isn't on trial; he just seems resistant to their help. ### Dinner is served Strahd, Yves, and Rahadin return to the dining hall to find that Francis has taken Strahd's seat. When Francis invites Strahd to sit at the table with the others, Strahd quells his anger and does so. Francis insists that he is being friendly; Yves agrees that this is how Francis shows affection. As Rahadin serves dinner, Francis asks if he is going to eat with them. Strahd says that Rahadin is his servant and not his friend; however, after Francis insists many times, Strahd relents and asks Rahadin if he wishes to be seated. Rahadin declines. Later, Rahadin reveals that he killed his parents with a knife. Strahd tells the group that they can leave in the morning, but that he would like Francis to visit on a regular basis if he will not be staying in the castle permanently. Strahd announces his intent to his chambers, instructing Rahadin to escort the party back to their rooms when they are done eating. He tells them all that he will keep the "creatures that roam the castle" at bay for the night. ### Chatting with Rahadin As soon as Strahd has left, Rahadin declares that he finds them all to be "deeply unsatisfying" people. Despite this, he asks if they are intent on freeing Strahd from the land. Francis implies that this is the goal. Rahadin shares that he has been attempting to free Strahd from Barovia himself through regular trips to the Amber Temple. In explanation, Rahadin simply says, "My lord is unhappy." Francis tells Rahadin that his friends are going to stay with him in the room that he was assigned. Rahadin does not protest. On the way to Rahadin's office, Francis tells Rahadin that he should share his feelings with Strahd, but Rahadin states that it is not his place to do so. When Notte asks if he has any interests of his own, Rahadin reveals how depraved he is in his devotion to Strahd: Strahd did not ask him to make trips to the Amber Temple, nor did he ask him to kill the dusk elves. To everyone's relief, Rahadin departs soon after they arrive at his office. ### Into the dungeon On Gallagher's request, Francis uses his abilities to see through walls to search for the dungeon on the level below, eventually finding cells under the Hall of Bones. Gallagher kneels down and makes a Passwall, allowing the party to drop down into the flooded, mold-covered dungeon. Investigating the cells one by one, the group finds platinum coins and a sentient, glowing sword, which happily Ismark takes. They also find gems and a Potion of Heroism on a corpse. ### Meeting Lyssa One of the cells holds [[Lyssa von Zarovich|Lyssa]], a mysterious vampire who appears to be another reincarnation of Tatyana. Lyssa shares that she has been locked in her cell over the last week for trying to steal something from the castle. She adds that her family doesn't get along with Strahd, but refuses to say more on the matter. She claims to be a "responsible vampire" who only feeds on animals. This is a lie. Once it becomes clear that she is going to be freed, Lyssa asks if she can accompany the party. Notte admits that they are staying in the castle overnight and that Strahd's feelings toward them are already unsteady. They agree to let her come with, however, once Lyssa suggests that she can turn into a bat and hide in one of their bags. Ez unlocks the cell door with Knock. Lyssa shifts into a bat and flies into Notte's bag. ### Rescuing Ludmilla Avoiding pressure plates under the water, the party proceeds to the other cells in the dungeon. They make it to Ludmilla's cell; Ludmilla remarks, "finally." Gallagher asks Ez if she can unlock the door. Ez is reluctant but ultimately does so. Gallagher then fills Ludmilla in on the situation, recommending that Ludmilla leave the castle as soon as possible. Ludmilla agrees to wait in Ez's wagon. Ez is less than thrilled. Ludmilla thanks the group and winks at Gallagher. Francis suggests that she should quit while she's ahead. When Ludmilla quips that she is always ahead, Francis reminds her that she is in a moldy dungeon. Ludmilla departs. ### Meeting Emil The party finds one more prisoner: [[Emil Toranescu (Scaena)|Emil]], an apparent peasant. When Gallagher asks why he is locked up, he claims to have caused an issue in a "social group" and that "Lord Strahd" was not thrilled. He expresses that he is eager to return home to his wife. It is not until after Emil is let out of his cell that he implies he is a werewolf. Still, he causes no trouble for the group and leaves on his own. ### Return to Rahadin's office Gallagher and Ez talk in private about Ludmilla. Ez expresses frustration with the fact that Ludmilla keeps hitting on Gallagher before acknowledging that she doesn't have an "exclusive right" to flirt with Gallagher. Gallagher, instead of confirming that they are in any kind of relationship, just reiterates that Ez doesn't have anything to worry about. Ez is doubtful and suggests that Gallagher could tell Ludmilla to "fuck off forever." Gallagher dryly says that she will keep this in mind. Ismark asks Yves if they would be willing to "wander off" with him. He assures Yves that he has nothing bad to speak to him about – rather, it's a "good thing." ### Ismark's proposal On Ismark's request, he and Yves return to their previous lodgings, which Ismark describes as "comfortable, private, and atmospheric." In a rambling speech, Ismark talks about how the grave events of the day reaffirmed his conviction to take care of Yves. He also expresses that he spent most of his life feeling disconnected from others – which he blames on being "annoying," "weird," and gay – until he met Yves. Ismark pulls out an old, jewel-studded ring that he reveals belonged to his father. He insists that he didn't bring it for "this purpose," but muses that "it will work well enough." Then, Ismark kneels down and asks Yves to marry him, declaring that he can't imagine ever being without them. Yves, groaning and clearly overwhelmed, accuses Ismark of having horrible timing. They ultimately agree to the engagement, however, on the condition that they talk more about it later. Ismark is ecstatic. He slips the ring on Yves's finger. ### Breaking the news and taking a rest Yves and Ismark return to Rahadin's office, hand in hand. The ring on Yves's finger is immediately spotted. Everyone is incredulous. In petty retaliation for Yves's earlier mishap, Francis sends a message to the group chat that reads, "Two idiots got engaged in Castle Ravenloft." Krue asks for clarification; it is not provided. S, having noticed Ez's quick attachment to Gallagher and knowing her own impulsive nature, is fearful that the two got engaged. She keeps the idea to herself. Back at the castle, the party members place down their bedrolls and settle in for the night. ## 18 Mirtul 1494 ### Leaving Castle Ravenloft At around 4:30am, Rahadin evicts those who are staying in his office: Ez, Ismark, Yves, Notte, Francis, Gallagher, and secretly Lyssa. He encourages them to "make haste" for the Amber Temple. The party gladly leaves the castle. ### A trying wagon ride The group finds that Ez's alchemist fire trap has already been disarmed by Ludmilla, who is inside her wagon along with Escher and Gertruda. Ludmilla taunts Ez and flirts with Gallagher, calling her "roguishly handsome." Escher apologizes to Francis for attacking her in the tavern while Yves was having dinner with Strahd. Gertruda annoys everyone and implies that she doesn't want to be around them. When Notte suggests that Gertruda can just leave, however, both Francis and Gertruda protest. When Notte complains that the wagon is too crowded, Gallagher turns into a raven and stands on Ez's shoulder. She greets Nemo and Aronnax. Ludmilla reveals that she married Strahd exclusively to leverage his power. She doesn't explain what she means by this, but she does declare her intent to go with the party to the Amber Temple, as she needs access to strong magic. She also adds that she will need to return to the castle at some point to retrieve a coffin – not that she needs to sleep in one. Gallagher questions her, but she refuses to elaborate until Gallagher is a human again. After ten long hours of travel, the group makes it back to the Keep of the Scarlet Cross. ### Van Richten's conniption Lyssa finally emerges from Notte's bag and transforms back into her normal form. She confirms with the others that the Keep isn't sanctified. When she asks if anyone will be upset that she is there, Notte admits that it will likely be "awkward" but that she doubts that anyone – including Ireena – will be angry. Upon entering the Keep, a very stressed Van Richten immediately begins shouting about their "vampire strays" and the fact that Francis is now a vampire. When Francis explains what happened, Van Richten insists that he isn't angry at Francis, but remains accusatory and aggressive toward the others. Eventually, Van Richten announces that he is going on a drive before quietly telling Francis that he won't be returning and that she can come with if she would like. Francis manages to convince him not to leave permanently, but Van Richten declares that he has allowed himself to get "too comfortable." ### Ireena's insecurities: part I Notte introduces Lyssa to Ireena, explaining that they found her in the dungeons of the castle as a captive of Strahd. Ireena is not satisfied with this explanation and asks to talk in private. Ireena expresses that she gets "bad vibes" from Lyssa; it quickly becomes clear, however, that she is just insecure after the multiple instances of Notte bringing pretty girls back to the Keep. Notte tries to reassure her by insisting that she was just trying to help people, but Ireena storms off. ### Hawthorne's problem Hawthorne finds out from Yves that he is now engaged to Ismark. Hawthorne seems disappointed. She also expresses that she misses Skoll and Van Richten. Yves apologizes for "assaulting" Hawthorne with the "non-consensual kiss." Hawthorne states that it didn't bother her and that it was clearly a "one-off, heat of the moment thing." Hawthorne congratulates Yves on their engagement before leaving. Yves screams into his pillow after she is gone. Hawthorne asks Krue for advice, though not before she accuses Krue of not liking her and of thinking that she is a "weird scientist pervert." Krue tells Hawthorne that she likes her just fine and reminds her that she wanted to conduct experiments on her when they first met. Krue eventually tells Hawthorne that she has two options: ignore her feelings or do something about them. She adds that avoidance doesn't really seem like her thing. Hawthorne agrees. ### Van Richten breaks things off Van Richten laments that his existence in Francis's life does more harm than good, despite Francis's insistence that her situation has improved since meeting him. Van Richten argues that he is getting careless – and the thing that is making him most careless is being with Francis. The two argue. Van Richten says that he doesn't want to hurt Francis or himself, but that he is afraid that Francis will suffer if he doesn't stop "indulging." Van Richten essentially breaks up with her; Francis sullenly says that she will vacate their room. Van Richten insists that she should stay and that he will just sleep in his wagon. ### Lyssa & Notte Lyssa checks up on Notte. Notte is initially apprehensive to open up, but she eventually speaks to the state of her relationship with Ireena and the issues that she has encountered trying to help people, particularly Juste. Lyssa readily accepts that they are in a facsimile of Barovia, as she expected to find Strahd dead and the castle in ruin. Lyssa encourages Notte to prioritize that which is most important to her. When Notte admits that she is frightened of Achlys and her power, Lyssa expresses her confidence in the group. Notte glumly states that she isn't even confident in her ability to preserve her relationship with Ireena. Suggesting a distraction, Lyssa asks Notte if she practices magic. Notte admits that she isn't the best in their number. In response, Lyssa reveals her spellbook and suggests that they go on a walk. The two study magic together. Lyssa lets Notte borrow her spellbook for the night so that she can continue copying down spells. Eventually, the two head back to the Keep on the backs of summoned wolves. ### Ireena's insecurities: part II Ireena becomes frustrated when Notte explains that she was studying magic with Lyssa. She argues that Notte "already knows spells" and that she could have asked Gallagher for help. Notte points out that there are spells that neither her nor Gallagher know; also, she was trying to ascertain whether Lyssa is dangerous. Notte asks if Ireena wants her to avoid Lyssa entirely. After taking a breath, Ireena says that she is sure that Notte has everything under control, as she hasn't let her down so far. Notte tries to get Ireena to talk to her more, but Ireena shuts down. ### Notte seeks advice Notte tells Yves that she has made a series of mistakes that she doesn't know how to fix. Yves relates. Notte explains that Ireena is upset with her for bringing people back to the Keep and being friendly with them. When she adds that Stella "apparently" has some interest in her, Yves calls this "extremely obvious." Referring to Lyssa, Yves also points out that it is probably just weird for Ireena to see a vampire version of herself hanging out with her girlfriend. Yves advises Notte to pay extra attention to Ireena's feelings and to avoid ignoring her. They add that they don't think Ireena will stay mad at her. Notte starts to half-heartedly congratulate Yves on his engagement, but Yves interrupts to say that he doesn't want to talk about it. The two gossip about various people, including Francis and Van Richten as well as Gallagher and Ludmilla. ### Ludmilla's lies Gallagher, Ez, and Ludmilla drink wine together. Ludmilla flirts with Gallagher once more. Primarily out of respect for Ez, Gallagher asks her to stop. Ludmilla is surprised by the request. Ludmilla claims that she needs to go to the Amber Temple because she is attempting to revive someone from the dead – specifically, her husband, who was the captain of their ship. She states that her husband was a drinker, gambler, and thief and that it eventually caught up with him; he drew the ire of Pietra van Riese, who sunk their ship. She implies that she washed up in Barovia as a vampire spawn. When Gallagher asks why Ludmilla previously said she was a captain, Ludmilla claims that she was being "coy." Gallagher points out that she told Ludmilla her own story and requests that she not lie to her. In response, Ludmilla states that she is telling the "complete unredacted story of Ludmilla Vilisevic." Gallagher, noting the use of the third person, asks if the name belonged to someone else. Ludmilla asks why she gives a damn; Gallagher lets the subject rest for the time being. ### Petre learns about the engagement Yves tells Petre about their engagement with Ismark. Petre is clearly caught off guard. Yves, flustered, says that he isn't going to ask Petre to marry him, calling the idea "crazy" and saying that he can't believe Ismark proposed to him; however, he states that he is open to a more serious relationship with Petre if that is what Petre wants. Petre indicates that he needs think about it and thanks Yves for letting him know about him and Ismark. ### Quincey comforts Francis In the face of his breakup with Van Richten and his loss of Skelly, Francis drinks heavily. He asks Quincey if he can get absinthe from their benefactor; Quincey states that he can try, but that he isn't sure that he wants to contribute to Francis drinking himself sad. Quincey expresses that Francis and his companions have endeared themselves to him. He also reveals that he previously knew and cared for someone who was once afflicted by a vampire. Quincey offers to be around if and when Francis needs a shoulder or a drinking partner. Before Quincey leaves, he kisses Francis's hand, blushing slightly. Francis also blushes. Then, Quincey leaves the Keep to check up on Van Richten. ### Ireena learns about the engagement Ireena comforts Francis when he returns to the dining hall to drink. She remarks that nearly everyone seems to be having a bad day, except her brother – which is weird, considering that half of his faced is charred. Francis reveals that Ismark is "one of the idiots" who got engaged in Castle Ravenloft. Ireena is a bit huffy due to finding out from a third party, but she congratulates Yves and Ismark. Yves makes a somewhat distressed noise. ### Yves's letter to Juste Yves writes a letter to Juste which he asks Quincey to deliver. In the letter, Yves expresses his fears and doubts, particularly where Achlys is concerned. They make two demands of Juste: honesty and resurrection of any party member who dies if they cannot resurrect them on their own. In return, they promise loyalty. > Juste, > > I do hope that this letter causes fewer dramatics than the last time I wrote to a darklord, but seeing as Gallagher has repeatedly written to you, I’ll assume that this is fine. As you probably know, I had kind of bizarre day yesterday, and most of the negative parts of that were indirectly kind of your fault. So, please, forgive me if I’m a little bit at the end of my rope with your little plan to break out of Scaena. > > Honestly, it should be enough that Francis is now bound to Strahd and would probably drop dead if we killed him. I don’t even want to kill the man, really. I think we’re starting to make progress on getting through to him. However, and you must understand that I’m not proud of this, I cannot get that stupid bitch of a woman out of my head. I cannot stop remembering the feeling of watching Ismark and Notte drop down where they stand. I’m frightened, despite what I say out loud, what I wish I believed about myself, I don’t know that if Achlys returned I would not be tempted to concede to her out of fear. I don’t think I’m a brave enough person to not. > > And so, I think it’s only right that if I am going to continue helping you, you give me some reassurance that it will be worthwhile. I want to help you, truly I do, but as I said, I’m terrified. So, I have come up with a list of conditions that would bring me a little more peace of mind with helping you: > > 1. If any of us (us being: myself, Gallagher, Francis, Notte, Ireena, Ismark, Krue, both Ezmereldas, Van Richten, Petre, Hawthorne, and the children — I don’t forsee that any additional parties will need to added to the list, but if it becomes necessary, I will tell you) are killed in a way where I cannot, at that present moment, resurrect with my clerical abilities, you will do what you can to correct it. > 2. You swear you will never lie or intentionally mislead me. I need to be able to trust you if we are going to work together. I’ve seen what the worst version of a partnership with a darklord can look like. I don’t intend to be taken advantage of the way Francis was. > > In return for this, I promise that I’ll be loyal to you. I’ll continue to help you. I don’t know that there’s anything else that I can provide to motivate you to accept this. If you think of anything, let me know, I guess. > > Also, I assume you have a Gabb, so don’t make poor Quincey rush back and forth to deliver your reply to this. Just message me. My number is XXX-XXX-XXXX though, you probably already know that. Don’t be a cagey weirdo and refuse to message me, a good director communicates with his cast, you know. > > Best, > Yves Antoine Olivier Carrion ### Winding down Notte asks Stella to stay in the dorms rather than her and Ireena's room. Ez awkwardly asks Gallagher to go on a picnic. Gallagher admits that a proper date would be nice, which embarrasses Ez further. ### Quincey, Francis, & Firan Francis and Quincey drink together. Francis flirts and propositions him, but Quincey gently turns her down. When Quincey eventually carries Francis to her bed, Francis kisses him. She thanks him for being so kind to her and rolls over to sleep before Quincey can respond. Quincey returns later and asks if Francis's offer is still on the table. The two sleep together. As they cuddle after the fact, Francis notices that Quincey's eyes are red; through Quincey, Firan tauntingly says that he had a "lovely time." Then, Firan stops possessing Quincey's body and leaves him asleep. Francis convinces himself that he is experiencing a hag-induced nightmare. Eventually, Quincey wakes and assumes that he drunkenly slept with Francis. He kisses Francis on the forehead before dressing himself and leaving. ## 19 Mirtul 1494 ### Waking & awkward greetings As Notte and Ireena exit their room, they are greeted by Stella, who slept on the bed closest to their door. The ensuing conversation is awkward. Gallagher passes by Ludmilla and greets her. Ludmilla returns the greeting and adds a singsong "good morning" to Ezmerelda, who tenses up. Francis enters the dining hall and finds Van Richten – who had been retrieved by Quincey from his wagon – seated and intently journaling. Van Richten's bag is in the seat next to him. ### Gifts from Juste Quincey passes out breakfast from Waffle House. He also hands Francis two bottles of absinthe; Francis requests that Quincey leave one in the kitchen for the others. Then, Quincey provides them all with earbuds, which he explains will allow them to listen to sounds from their Gabb privately. He also gives them each a Nintendo DS Lite with *Pokémon Platinum* preinstalled. Quincey explains that the DS is some sort of "recreational device." Later, Yves chooses the girl character in *Pokémon* after Ismark points out that the boy is a "bit ugly" and has a stupid hat. Finally, Quincey presents a cake, on which there is a message written in icing: > MY APOLOGIES FOR RECENT INCONVENIENCES. - JUSTE ### Juste's poll The party receives messages on their Gabbs from an unknown number; the messages appear to be from Juste. In a roundabout way, Juste indicates that he cannot come in person directly and asks them to choose between four people for his disguise: 1. Viktra Mordenheim 2. [[Erasmus van Richten]] 3. Ezmerelda d'Avenir (3) 4. Rictavio Notte and Yves cast their votes for Viktra. Van Richten calls them insane. Ez votes for Rictavio. S votes for Erasmus. Krue votes for a third Ezmerelda. Gallagher and Francis abstain. Juste messages "Jesus Christ," explaining that it is an exclamation similar to "gods" when asked. He states that they can read about it on their Gabbs. ### Juste as Viktra The door to the Keep is slammed open by a grotesque mutant creature. The creature sloughs to the side, making way for a tall, scowling, white-haired older woman wearing a bloodstained lab apron. Juste introduces herself as "Dr. Viktra Mordenheim." Notte asks if she is their benefactor. Juste says that, if she was their benefactor, she believes that she would have asked them for discretion. Francis giggles and delightedly says, "Oh, you're playing dress up!" Juste calls Francis a "clown boy" and "worthless little welp." Juste asks if there is anything they wish to discuss as a group. When Francis thanks her for the alcohol, she tells him that it was imported from [[Lamordia]]. Juste then address Notte, mentioning that she had some things that she wished to discuss with her. The two leave to go speak in private. ### Notte & Juste's first spat Notte declares that she wants to "renegotiate" their agreement, as helping Juste leave Scaena isn't worth dying for. She admits that she is struggling to see why she shouldn't just take Achlys's deal and leave the domain. Juste points out that taking the deal would have her beholden to a powerful "ambient eldritch force" for the rest of her life. Juste implies that Notte could easily become a dark lord herself. When Notte pushes back against this idea, Juste claims that drawing the *Balance* card from Oddlewin's Deck of Many things caused her "alignment" to flip and her priorities to change. Notte argues that she isn't looking out for herself due to a card; rather, she thinks it has more to do with the fact that she was almost incinerated because of Juste's "little quest." Juste becomes frustrated; he claims that Notte was merely a corpse that he thought had potential when he first pulled her into the domain. He adds that he has been acting in the party's best interests and has been doing his best to make them comfortable by providing luxuries at a significant inconvenience to himself. Notte says that the only benefit that she has been provided is her life, which makes Juste a bit hysterical. When Notte suggests once more that she might take Achlys's deal, Juste states that Notte is making a stupid play – unusual, given her typical level of intelligence. Notte storms out. ### Yves & Juste Yves finds Juste still disguised as Viktra. They look exhausted, their head in their hands. Juste recaps the conversation they had with Notte and shares Notte's desire to take Achlys's deal. Yves is shocked. Addressing Yves's letter, Juste indicates that Yves can expect "full transparency" from him and that it is in his best interest to keep them all alive. He admits that he did not anticipate Achlys's arrival, sharing that only a small number of dark lords have left their domain; for example, Notte's "much better behaved cousin" was able to leave Borca by "just getting over herself." When Yves asks if Juste is trying to get over himself, Juste provides an earnest "yes," stating that he just needs to make a play that *he* wants to see. Yves asks how Juste "picked" the four of them: him, Notte, Gallagher, and Francis. He says that he understands Francis as the protagonist sort, that Gallagher makes sense due to her intelligence, and that Notte made sense due to her background. However, Yves doesn't understand why Juste chose him. Juste argues that Yves was a natural fit: he is caring, true to his feelings and expectations, and has even started getting through to Strahd. He adds that Yves is an invaluable cleric. Yves, blushing and embarrassed, excuses himself soon after. ### Notte & Ireena clash Notte privately tells Ireena that she thinks they should leave the domain through Achlys's deal. When Ireena points out that it will be hard to convince everyone else, Notte admits that – while she is willing to ask the others – her only concern is getting her and Ireena out of there safely. Ireena, upset, berates Notte. Notte states that she almost died; Ireena declares that this isn't how Notte should deal with her fear. Ireena takes off the mask that Notte made for her and sets it down. She begins crying as she leaves the room. ### Yves confronts Notte Yves witnesses a crying Ireena storm out of Notte's room and into the bathroom. Yves rushes to confront Notte, who is also crying. He expresses his anger that Notte would consider taking Achlys's deal, declaring that he would rather die than serve the dark powers. He adds that he thought Notte would feel the same since they come from similar places. Yves admits that he is also scared; in part, he is scared for Notte – he cares about her a lot, and she is acting in a way that would be detrimental to her and everyone else. Notte, guilty and sullen, grips Ireena's mask. ### Francis & Petre on the roof Francis – feeling claustrophobic and overwhelmed – drinks absinthe on the roof. Petre joins her. Francis vents about becoming a vampire and getting dumped by Van Richten. As she confides in Petre about drunkenly sleeping with Quincey, it begins to dawn on her that the encounter with Firan might not have been a dream. She starts to freak out; however, she elects not to talk about it, as Firan possessing Quincey would mean that Quincey was violated as well. Petre speaks to his own woes, venting about his insecurity that he is Yves's "least favorite" partner. Francis calls Yves a "bit of an idiot," but advises that Petre should plan a date with them. Francis and Petre, drunken and stumbling, eventually return to the others. Yves, alarmed, points out that it is 6:30 in the morning. Despite Francis's insistence that Petre is fine, Yves helps Petre wash his face before putting him to bed. ### Van Richten's request Van Richten pulls Gallagher aside to apologize for his "overtly disrespectful manner" after everyone returned from Castle Ravenloft. When Gallagher points out that Van Richten spoke to the others like this as well, it quickly becomes clear that Van Richten has another motive for speaking to her. Van Richten talks about Ezmerelda's propensity to return to domains wherein the cycle has "reset" in order to kill the dark lord again. Moreover, he fears that Ez will return to Scaena if they do not end the cycle by freeing Juste – an outcome that Ez is currently staunchly against. Van Richten suggests that Gallagher – having a vested interest in Ez's wellbeing – should convince Ez to attempt to cooperate with Juste "within reasonable bounds." Gallagher speaks to the difficulty of Juste's quest between the unlikelihood of Strahd's personal growth and the unwillingness of the dark powers to let them succeed. Despite this, she ultimately agrees to talk to Ez. Gallagher, weary from the conversation and running low on cigarettes, pays Hawthorne a gold piece in exchange for three more packs. ### Francis mediates While Ireena and Notte are still sulking, Yves tells the others about Notte's desire to accept Achlys's offer. Though Yves clarifies that Notte isn't going to accept because Ireena refused, Escher suggests hosting an intervention for Notte. He adds that interventions have worked for him more than once; he has been sober for over a year. Yves states that no one cares about his alcoholism. Francis checks on Ireena, who talks about how – while she loves Notte and feels like Notte understands her and her life better than anyone – she wants to stay with the family that she has found. When she expresses that she didn't think Notte was the type of person who would be willing to give up on everyone, Francis says that he can see how Notte got to this point after her near-death experience. He adds that Notte probably just needs time to come to terms with the traumatic experience. Francis declares that he is going to talk with Notte and that everything will be fine. Ireena asks Francis not to be too harsh with her. Francis gives Ireena a hug. Notte reacts defensively when Francis approaches her; instead of scolding her, however, Francis empathizes, stating that he would take Achlys's deal if there weren't any repercussions. Francis states that they aren't getting out of the domain unscathed unless they kill Strahd or help him. Notte admits that she would rather kill him; however, Francis's life is now tied to his, and she doesn't want Francis to die. Though Francis suggests that he would be fine with dying if it meant that the others could leave, Notte argues that they should focus on separating him from Strahd. Francis tells Notte that she can probably talk to Ireena again soon as she has calmed down quite a bit. When Notte expresses doubt that Ireena wants to talk to her, Francis protests, bringing up how much Ireena cares about and is worried for her. ### Ireena & Notte reconcile Notte finds Ireena in the graveyard. Notte apologizes, speaking to how she never had anything to lose before arriving in the domain; when things got too bad, she reverted to the idea of running again, despite the fact that she does care about the others. Ireena suggests that Notte should find someone to hang out with; it could help remind her just how much she cares about the others. Notte, albeit reluctantly, agrees to do this. Ireena expresses that – while she doesn't like arguing with Notte – she appreciates that they can work things out together. Notte awkwardly asks if Ireena wants her mask back. Ireena takes it gladly. The two hug. ### Gallagher checks on Yves Gallagher awkwardly approaches Yves to ask about their engagement to Ismark. Yves admits that they are nervous but that they don't regret saying yes. When they add that it feels silly to be anxious about getting married in the face of more important things, Gallagher points out that it can be less stressful to focus on the smaller things rather than the bigger, life-threatening things. When Yves quips that Gallagher must relate, given her own fast-moving romance, Gallagher jokes that she at least only has the one. Yves, a bit disbelieving, asks, "Do you?" Gallagher quickly moves on. Yves asks for a cigarette. After confirming that Yves is sure, Gallagher hands one over. As Gallagher is leaving, she finds Ludmilla standing outside the door. Ludmilla declares that she was eavesdropping. When Gallagher apprehensively asks if she heard anything interesting, Ludmilla grins and says, "a little bit." ### Gallagher & Ez go official Later, Ez invites Gallagher to the graveyard, where she has painstakingly moved gravestones to make way for a candlelit table. Quincey serves them burgers, fries, and a milkshake; Ez also paid Hawthorne 10 gold pieces to play the guitar nearby. Ez, nervous and embarrassed, bemoans that she is making a fool of herself and admits that she hasn't been on a date since college. Gallagher lightly teases her by remarking that she certainly seems to have a strong idea of what a date should look like. She then assures Ez that she finds the effort "sweet" and that she is enjoying herself. Ez relaxes throughout the date before becoming tense once more. Rambling and awkward, she asks Gallagher if they are "performing dating." Instead of teasing her further, Gallagher takes pity and states that "dating" would be an accurate description of what is happening between them. Ez is relieved. ### Francis gets to know Lyssa Lyssa, finding Francis alone in the library, expresses that she is interested in getting to know the other Tatyana since she already made acquaintance with Ireena. The two exchange names and information. After Francis shares a bit of his background, Lyssa reveals that she was born into a wealthy family in [[Kartakass]], where she pursued acting out of passion; she was also briefly a teacher. She also shares that she recently turned 325 years old. Francis speaks to his pact with Strahd. Lyssa reveals that she has made her own warlock pacts, though after much more deliberation. She states that she had a "brief contract" with [[Tharizdun]] in her youth; later in life, she made a few different demonic and devilish pacts, as well as contracts with various archfey. She has most recently been in contract with a dying god, [[Maanzecorian]], for the last fifty years or so. Lyssa adds that Maanzecorian is very happy with her because she often brings previously unknown information to him from her treasure hunts. To show what happens when she doesn't make him happy, Lyssa rolls up her sleeve to reveal what appear to be scars left by tentacles. Lyssa shares that she views life as a series of transactions and that she enjoys when those transactions have "clear and reasonable" terms. She suggests if Francis wants the terms of his pacts to be clear and reasonable, he should stop making deals with dark lords and find a patron that he actually likes. ### Francis & Lyssa go hunting Lyssa offers to show Francis how to hunt animals as a vampire, advising that he should "take back" his life. Though initially reluctant, Francis ultimately accepts. Outside, Francis tracks a fox back to its den. Lyssa incapacitates the fox and instructs Francis on proper blood-drinking technique. Francis can't bring herself to drink the fox's blood, however. Lyssa, unbothered, states that they can try again some other time before draining the fox of blood herself. Francis and Lyssa return to the Keep on the back of a wolf. ### Van Richten gets heated Van Richten glares at Francis when he reenters the Keep with Lyssa. He abruptly asks if they can talk; the two leave together, stopping in the dorm hall in front of Francis's room. Van Richten accuses Francis of being reckless and heading down a slippery slope. Francis states that her business isn't his anymore and asks if Van Richten is going to stake her through the heart. When Van Richten doesn't say no, Francis laughs at Van Richten's absurdity and misunderstanding of the situation. The argument continues until Van Richten suddenly kisses Francis and shoves him into the room. The two sleep together. Francis bites his neck. After the fact, Francis reveals that she didn't drink the blood of anything in the woods. Van Richten expresses no remorse. Francis tells him to go bandage his neck; he obediently redresses and leaves. ### Notte & Yves reconcile After her reconciliation with Ireena, Notte visits Yves to apologize. Yves says that he isn't mad at Notte – just worried. Notte admits that she hasn't really been herself lately, but that she feels better than she did earlier. Yves awkwardly side-hugs her. Notte explains that Ireena suggested that she spend time with people to remember why she cares about them; moreover, she is going to ask Ismark to spar. Yves asks if he can watch. Notte hesitantly agrees to this. ### Notte vs. Ismark Notte approaches Ismark in the dining hall just as Ismark beats Quincey in an arm-wrestling match. When Notte asks if Ismark would like to spar, Ismark is surprised, but agrees on the condition that they do hand-to-hand combat instead of sword fighting. Notte reluctantly accepts these terms. Ismark deftly defeats Notte; her wood splinters, which Ismark frantically apologizes for. Yves records the whole thing and sends the video to Juste. Ismark offers to train Notte in fisticuffs, but Notte is reluctant. Ismark suggests that it could be a good "bonding activity" and that they need to learn to get along – especially since it is clear that Notte is serious about Ireena. Ismark suggests that Notte should get the damage to her body taken care of, as she has been looking a "bit grisly" since the dracolich attack. Notte agrees, revealing that the damage has been actively hurting her. ### Gallagher & Ludmilla's cave excursion While Ez is otherwise occupied, Ludmilla approaches Gallagher and invites her to her riverside hideaway. She insists that she isn't making a pass at Gallagher; she is simply bored, and no one else enjoys her company. Though she fears Ez's reaction, Gallagher reluctantly agrees to go after remarking that Ludmilla knows how to inspire pity. They travel by rowboat to [[Ludmilla's Cave]]. The cave is spacious and meticulously decorated. The two play dice and talk about their time in the Sea of Sorrows. When Ludmilla mentions that she mostly misses the people, Gallagher speaks to how she mostly misses being part of a crew with a simple, common goal. On Ludmilla's insistence, Gallagher talks about a few of her friends, as well as her mentor, [[Bunko Muse]]. Referring to the dice game Bunko, Gallagher says that her mentor was ironically very bad at dice. Ludmilla suggests that this might have been a joke, like how Francis refers to Gallagher as "Love" despite her sour demeanor. Gallagher dryly informs Ludmilla that her last name is Love. ### Ludmilla's truth When Ludmilla once more references the coffin that supposedly contains her dead husband, Gallagher asks for the truth, implying that Ludmilla might not be accompanying them to the Amber Temple otherwise. Ludmilla agrees to tell Gallagher as long as she doesn't tell anyone else – including Ezmerelda. When Gallagher argues that Ez is trustworthy, Ludmilla admits that she finds Ezmerelda a lot of things – attractive, alluring, and desirable, for example – but that she doesn't want her knowing her entire life story. Gallagher agrees not to tell anyone. Ludmilla reveals that – much like her fabricated husband – she was once a mortal, morally-bankrupt pirate captain nicknamed "Red Fangs" Grabin. She eventually fell in love with a noblewoman who initially spurned her after a failed mugging attempt. Ludmilla was persistent, however, and she eventually – after three years of knowing the woman – convinced her to leave her life behind and sail with her. Three months later, they were set to marry. However, Pietra van Riese sunk her ship on their wedding day. Everyone died except for her. She washed up in "Barovia" as a vampire with some pieces of her ship, a few of her belongings, and the corpse of her fiancée. She reveals that her fiancée's name was Ludmilla and that she assumed it for herself after her death. In the centuries since arriving in the domain, she has been trying to figure out how to resurrect her. She ended up latching onto the most powerful person she could find – Strahd – but it hasn't done her any good. Gallagher, bothered in a way that she can't articulate, tells Ludmilla that she hopes she finds what she is looking for. When Ludmilla expresses that she doesn't know if she deserves to get what she wants, Gallagher states that she doesn't think that "anything that is in charge of anything" cares about who deserves what. ### Pissing off Pietra Gallagher asks what Ludmilla did to anger Pietra. Ludmilla admits that she wanted to be the woman and, as such, did much to anger her: she stole from her, beat her to treasure, capsized some of her ships, slept with her ex wife, ex girlfriend, and ex boyfriend, tried to sleep with her, and dabbled in making "provocative art pieces" in which Pietra was the subject. Gallagher's list is much shorter: she stole some of Pietra's treasure and was cursed for her troubles. Ludmilla suggests that Pietra's attack on her ships might not have been targeted. Gallagher seems distressed over the idea that Pietra might not have ruined her life on purpose. ### Ludmilla & Gallagher's blunders Gallagher shows Ludmilla the model of Bluebeard's ship that she received from Francis in attempt to lighten the mood. As they are leaving the cave, Ludmilla demands to have it. When Gallagher declines, Ludmilla suggests that she could kill Gallagher. Gallagher challenges her to try. Ludmilla then attempts to push Gallagher off the cliff that they are on, but Gallagher dodges out of the way. Ludmilla goes careening down; Gallagher reflexively teleports her back on stable ground. Ludmilla calls her annoying. Ez contacts Gallagher on her Gabb and becomes irritated when Gallagher lets her know where she is. Ludmilla insists that she wasn't trying to stir the pot. Ignoring her, Gallagher asks why she didn't just ask Ez to go to the cave considering her obsession with her. Ludmilla says, "because she hates me?" ### Strahd turns Yves Yves is outside smoking when Strahd emerges from the trees. They make small talk about cigarettes; Yves reveals that Escher is at the Keep. Strahd admits that he was wondering where half his brides had gone. After awkwardly making sure that everyone is doing better than they were in the immediate wake of the dracolich attack, Strahd offers Yves "proper vampirism." Yves is hesitant but ultimately agrees, thinking that the power will give him a better chance at protecting his friends from Achlys in the future. They are further reassured when Strahd promises them that they won't be tied to him in any way other than through any personal loyalty. Through a ritualistic exchange of blood, Strahd turns Yves into a vampire. ### Gallagher interrupts Gallagher and Ludmilla arrive back to the Keep in time to see Yves drinking Strahd's blood. Upon seeing the vampire lord, Ludmilla retreats back into the woods once more. Strahd tells a dissociating Yves that the changes should take effect in a short time before recommending that Yves go sit down. When Gallagher demands to know why Strahd is at the Keep, Strahd says that he was "checking in" on Yves and that they have come to a resolution that will be best for him. Strahd bids farewell to Yves before turning into mist and departing. Gallagher offers healing, but Yves only says that he feels sick. Gallagher urges him to go inside. Gallagher calls out that Strahd is gone. Ludmilla, shaken, reemerges after a moment. ### Yves runs to Francis Yves rushes to Francis's room and barges in, finding her half undressed. Francis quickly redresses. Then, noticing the blood on Yves, she worriedly asks what happened. Yves confesses and insists that he wasn't attacked or forced when Francis suggests otherwise. After taking a moment, Francis says that she is at least glad that Yves will have some extra protection. She raises the possibility of finding a way to reverse the vampirism at the Amber Temple, but Yves expresses that he might not want to do anything about it. Francis calls Yves an idiot before cleaning and bandaging his wound. Following the smell of blood, Escher soon arrives. Francis bluntly tells him that Strahd turned Yves into a vampire, mortifying Yves. Escher throws a fit. He eventually leaves with Francis's alcohol, declaring that he will be drinking himself into a comatose state. ### Notte & Juste exchange apologies Notte finds Juste – still disguised as Viktra – in the library. Juste apologizes for being "unprofessional." Notte responds by saying that she will not be taking Achlys's deal. Juste urges Notte to apologize also, which she does half-heartedly. ### Juste's olive branch Juste indicates that he wants to offer Notte an olive branch by providing her a new body. They discuss the makeup, with Juste suggesting a metal frame with a porcelain outer casing for aesthetics. Notte, offended, say that she looked fine before. Juste considers recruiting Krue to help them make a body before deciding to do it themself. When Juste asks Notte if she is okay with a metal frame and porcelain casing, Notte tiredly agrees. Juste then asks if she is okay being a little heavier; they then ask how much she weights currently. When Notte reveals that she weighs about 17 pounds, Juste picks her up. Notte demands to be unhanded. Juste puts her down and apologizes. Juste leaves and returns with a crate that holds the new body. After ensuring that Ireena likes the new look, Notte accepts it. She declares that she still wants to hold onto her old body and that she wants to be returned to it after she does some repairs. On Juste's instruction, Notte steps into the crate and lays down; then, Juste transports her into the new body. Notte is immediately in a lot less pain. She doesn't thank Juste, but she does say that they are "good" when he asks. ### Yves confesses to Ireena Ireena checks on Yves. Though he initially dances around the subject, Yves eventually admits that he consented to have Strahd turn him into a vampire. Ireena is confused and worried. Yves ultimately expresses that the vampirism isn't that big of a deal with everything else going on with him. Ireena says that she cares a lot about everyone at the Keep, including Yves, and that she wants him to be taken care of. Yves says that he cares a lot about her too and starts crying. Ireena apologizes and hugs him. Ireena offers to talk to Ismark about Yves's newly acquired vampirism, which Yves agrees to. Ireena says that everything will be alright; Yves calls her "too optimistic." She points out that, despite everything, they all still have each other. ## 20 Mirtul 1494 ### Early morning complaints & requests The party gathers in the dining hall at around 3:30am. Quincey arrives with sandwiches, grab-and-go snacks, and carbonated water. Juste slams open the doors to the Keep disguised as a third Ezmerelda, wearing a green coat and sunglasses. S looks annoyed; Ez looks angry. Francis complains about the quality of his sandwich, requesting kebabs and tequila next time. Notte requests lemonade, matcha, and pastries. Yves requests chocolate and iced coffee. When Francis accidentally offends Ezmerelda, she needles Francis about sleeping with Van Richten. Gallagher elbows her; Notte and Yves complain; Van Richten also grumbles. ### Planning for the trip ahead As they are already aware of the roc living on the Tsolenka Pass, Juste tells the group about a much more foreboding foe in the area: a very large goat. Krue, stating that her party also encountered the goat during their time in Barovia, proudly shares that she threw it down the mountain when it tried to ram her off a cliff. Ireena declares her intent to accompany the others to the Amber Temple. Francis expresses his worry about Ireena by suggesting that she will be carried away by the roc. Ismark is also worried, but Notte and Ireena insists on Ireena's competence. ### Pre-travel check-ins: Gallagher & Ludmilla Gallagher finds Ludmilla. She is no longer wearing her fiancée's wedding dress, having changed into more practical traveling clothes. Gallagher asks Ludmilla what a successful mission looks like. Ludmilla responds candidly: she expects to find a way to revive her fiancée at the Amber Temple, retrieve her fiancée's corpse from Castle Ravenloft, and then bring her back to life – after that, she'd like to get back to the wedding. When Gallagher hesitantly warns Ludmilla that she might want to adjust her expectations since her fiancée might be upset after being dead for several centuries, Ludmilla becomes defensive. Gallagher doesn't press the issue. ### Pre-travel check-ins: Francis & Quincey Quincey approaches Francis and, noting that she seemed to keep her distance yesterday, apologizes for sleeping with her while they were under the influence. As Francis begins to inform Quincey of the truth, Firan taunts her in her head. Francis flinches but continues on, solemnly telling Quincey that Firan possessed him, which she only found out about after they had slept together. Quincey is hesitant to believe Francis, pointing out that she has been under a lot of stress. Francis, nearly pleading, says that he doesn't want Quincey to carry this with him as if it's his fault – because it isn't. Quincey is anxious; he admits that it's a lot to take in and that he'll need some time to himself. Francis kisses Quincey on the cheek. Quincey tries to hide his flinch. As he continues to get ready for the trip, Francis briefly sees a flash of someone standing in the room with him. When he looks again, however, the figure is gone. ### Passing the time with Pokémon Notte, Yves, Francis, Gallagher, Van Richten, Ireena, Ez, and Ludmilla leave the Keep in Ez's wagon. Notte plays *Pokémon Platinum* and chooses Piplup as her starter. Yves and Notte share that they also chose Piplup. Ireena remarks that she has never seen a penguin in real life. Gallagher indicates that she has; Ludmilla helpfully tells the others that it was likely being trafficked. Yves and Ludmilla snipe at each other. Yves finds a shiny Starly. ### Dire wolf encounter Three grizzly bear-sized wolves block the road. Ez, tense, stops the wagon. The party easily dispatches with the wolves; however, Yves is knocked down during the fray. Ez checks up on Yves after the fact and observes that he at least still has all his limbs. She helps him off the ground as Francis says that he thinks it's cool that Ez has a prosthetic. Ludmilla chimes in, taking the opportunity to hit on Ez. Ez doesn't take it well. ### Zombie encounter The party is traveling along the roads of Mount Ghakis when they smell and then see a group of zombies up ahead. Yves raises their hand; the zombies are reduced to ash as holy light overtakes them. Yves and Ludmilla insult each other's dead mothers. ### Vrocks at the Tsolenka Pass The party arrives at the Tsolenka Pass at 6:00pm, where they are met by a high wall of stone and a closed iron portcullis. The stone is topped by statues of vultures with horned heads. The party ties down Ez's wagon before continuing on foot. They elect to climb or fly over the gate; as they reach the top, however, the two demonic statues – actually poison cloud-summoning vrocks – turn to flesh and attack. One of the vrocks quickly summons a third. During the fight, Ez lines up a Lightning Bolt and orders Francis to duck. Even though Francis does so, the arc of lightning hits both Francis and Ludmilla in addition to the three vrocks. Ludmilla coughs and sarcastically thanks Ez; Ez awkwardly apologizes. Ludmilla accepts her apology as she is patting out the fire on her clothes. Van Richten cures Ludmilla of poison, grumbling all the while. He also casts Sanctuary on Yves and heals Ireena during the combat. ### Campfire talk Ireena falls down in the snow once all the vrocks have been dealt with. Notte lays in the snow with her when she refuses to get up. When Ireena expresses dissatisfaction with her combat prowess, Notte admits that this was a particularly rough fight, while Yves tells Ireena that she did a good job. The party elects to make camp on the pass instead of returning to the Keep. Around the campfire, they discuss were-animals. They also discuss their mothers: * Ludmilla's mother was a terrible person and died centuries ago. * Ez's mother was a human trafficker and, with any luck, is also dead. * Yves's parents received the death penalty. * Notte's parents deserve the death penalty. * Francis's mother was stomped on by a dragon. * Van Richten's mother was ripped apart by wolves. * Ireena never knew her mother. * Gallagher's mother is fine. Ez storms off to her wagon after Gallagher suggests that they won't be able to roast dried meat. Gallagher decides to give her some space; Ludmilla doesn't. They return soon after, Ez grumbling about the smell of burnt skin. ### Strahd's gift A restless Francis goes on a short walk after everyone else is settled for the night. Fester trudges through the snow and approaches him. There is a small scroll tied to the skeletal wolf puppy's neck – a gift from Strahd. Fester explains that signing the scroll in blood will allow Francis to summon creatures that will be helpful in combat. Exhausted from the day's activities, Francis does so without a second thought. After it is signed, the document bursts into flames, melting some of the surrounding snow. Francis then feels a warm sensation on her upper arm; pulling up her sleeve, she finds runes from the scroll pulsing on her shoulder. Francis tiredly tells Fester to pass along his thanks to Strahd before rejoining the others. ## 21 Mirtul 1494 ### Early morning on the Tsolenka Pass The party wakes at 4:00am and departs by 4:30am. Francis complains about the cold and the early hour. Ez insists it isn't that early. Ludmilla insists that it isn't early at all – it's late. ### Discussing Ludmilla's antagonistic flirting Gallagher lags behind to talk to Ez in private. Ludmilla also tries to lag behind, but is rebuffed by Gallagher. Ludmilla calls her cagey; however, she leaves them be. Gallagher suggests that Ludmilla might be interested in Ez. When Ez dismisses Ludmilla's flirting as antagonism and provocation rather than an indication of attraction, Gallagher – pointing out that Ez is "desirable" – insists that it might be genuine. Ez calls the idea of Ludmilla being genuinely attracted to her "actively repulsive." She also threatens Ludmilla's life. ### The formidable goat Mist and snow reduces visibility as the path narrows. Gallagher points out a nine-foot-tall goat, which promptly charges at Notte and knocks her 100 feet down onto a ledge. The goat flees after Francis hits it with an Eldritch Blast. Ireena scrambles over to the edge of the cliff. After a moment, Notte shifts into her corvid form and flies back up to the others. Van Richten fixes Notte's cracked porcelain with Mending. To Notte's ire, the group discusses what material Notte should have chosen for her body instead of wood or porcelain. ### The vanishing horseman The party arrives at a long bridge spanning across a gorge, at the bottom of which is the Luna River. A cloaked rider on a black horse guards the middle of the bridge. The party waits, then calls out, then approaches. As the wind picks up, the horse and the rider disappear into black smoke. Ez interprets this as warning, though Francis points out that they need to press on anyway. Worried about the stability of the bridge, Francis attempts to pick Van Richten up and carry him across while flying. Van Richten stubbornly wrestles out of her grasp and marches across the bridge. The others follow. ### Entering the Amber Temple It becomes extremely cold as the party approaches the Amber Temple's massive carved facade. Everyone gets out their torches and proceeds under the main archway. The interior of the temple greets them with a vast darkness. Gallagher grants herself and Ez darkvision. She offers it to Ireena as well, but Ireena declines in favor of taking Notte's hand and going by torchlight. Ludmilla tells Ez to stay close to her, which earns her a glare. The party emerges onto a high balcony overlooking a large room in which there is a faceless statue. They investigate the immediate side rooms, finding secret doors, a Wand of Secrets – given to Gallagher – and crumbling spell scrolls. They also find a hole in the floor that descends roughly 20 feet, with handholds leading down the shaft. ### Vilnius in the Lecture Hall The party finds a brightly-lit lecture hall, which seems to delight Van Richten. Van Richten begins rambling. Francis looks infatuated. They find an injured, freshly-scarred man in burnt robes crouching behind the podium in the room. The man is uneasy due to Van Richten waxing nostalgic about history; he says that they could be wizards, which are an "inherently suspicious lot." The man – [[Vilnius Nekrosius|Vilnius]] – points at Yves and says that he can tell that they are a cleric. Then, he asks for the "proclivities and roles" of the others in the group. * Notte holds up her sword. * Francis pulls out some of her darts, stating that she uses "whatever does the job." * Ez says that she "kills shit with a sword." * Ez points at Ireena and says that she does the same. * Ez points at Van Richten and states that he is a "mainly magical" monster hunter. * Ez points at Gallagher and says "pirate." * Finally, Ez points at Ludmilla and says "this is some woman." Ludmilla, offended, says that she is also a pirate and that Ez knows this. Ez amends, "Some woman. Ostensibly a pirate." Vilnius informs them that the temple was intended to be a haven for arcane and forbidden knowledge. Now, it is riddled with traps and dangers, such as flameskulls – which killed partner, [[Jakarion|Jakarion]] – mountain folk, and an injured, patrolling amber golem. When Francis asks, Vilnius insists that Jakarion was his partner, not his boss. Notte suggests that Jakarion was Vilnius's boyfriend. This disgusts Vilnius, who declares that Jakarion was ugly and annoying and that he would like to loot his corpse. Vilnius offers to accompany them until he can collect Jakarion's things. When Ez expresses resistance to the idea, Gallagher quietly asks Ez if she is doing okay. Ez admits that she is a bit of a mood. Gallagher points out that they are busy, which further irritates Ez. The group decides to accept Vilnius's help. They prepare for a fight with the amber golem and leave the lecture hall. ### Battle with the amber golem The party confronts the amber golem in a partially collapsed room, where they unleash a barrage of physical and magical attacks. During the fight, Ez's axe glances off the golem and thunks into Ludmilla's arm. Ludmilla hisses in pain before shaking it off and using it as an opportunity to flirt with her. Ez, annoyed, embarrassed, and distracted, is punched by the amber golem; she immediately looks dizzy. Eventually, the golem explodes into chunks of amber. Yves picks up a chunk and puts it in their pocket. Gallagher insists on resting so that she can heal Ez via Sacrificial Healing. As is typical, Ez protests but ultimately allows it. ### Helwa & the mountain folk Vilnius leads the others toward the location of Jakarion's corpse. He tells them about the "random barbarians" ahead, warning that they will need to be killed since they probably don't speak common. When Yves asks if he tried to talk to them, Vilnius balks at the suggestion. Gallagher suggests that she could try to communicate with them. Van Richten doesn't think this is a good idea as negotiation isn't Gallagher's strong suit. Gallagher grumbles. Gallagher casts Tongues on Francis, allowing him to communicate with the mountain folk regardless of the languages they speak. This turns out to be a useless endeavor; when Francis knocks on the door, the voice that answers speaks in Common. After cleaving a peephole into the door and seeing Francis's appearance, [[Helwa|Helwa]] – a scarred, seven foot-tall woman who is missing several teeth – lets them in. Along with Helwa, there is a dire wolf and several axe-wielding individuals in the room. Helwa explains that she and the others are in the Amber Temple as part of a contract with Strahd. They keep out those who aren't "close associates" with the man; in exchange, they get "first pick" at the unfortunate souls who manage to make it up the mountain and into the temple. Helwa also implies that she was forewarned of the party's arrival by Rahadin. The party indicates that they need to go through the north door, which is barred. Helwa warns them of "fiery spirits" beyond the door; however, she unbars the door for them. ### Fight with flameskulls Past the door, the party finds three skulls wreathed in green flame guarding a charred corpse. When Francis attempts to shoot one of the flameskulls with an Eldritch Blast, the blast instead hits the wall next to Van Richten, who is bludgeoned by falling chunks of amber. He continues to admonish Francis even after she apologizes. The party is engulfed in a Fireball; Gallagher Counterspells a second. Gallagher's Fireball – modified to be a ball of acid – as well as Van Richten and Ez's melee attacks quickly destroy the flameskulls. Francis gives Van Richten an admiring look. When Van Richten looks over, however, Francis scowls at him, which Van Richten takes issue with. Vilnius loots Jakarion's corpse, failing to find the spellbook that he seeks. He rips the robe off the corpse and immediately puts it on. Next to the corpse is a magical staff embedded with a blue crystal. Vilnius announces that it now belongs to him. As Vilnius is talking with the others, Ludmilla asks Gallagher if she needs a new staff, adding that she is feeling "a bit peckish." Gallagher states that they're not going to kill Vilnius. When Ludmilla continues to press, Gallagher threatens to put her in a bubble. ### The possession of Vilnius Nekrosius As Vilnius grabs the Staff of Frost, he is possessed by Jakarion's spirit. Jakarion – through Vilnius – announces his intent to find the lich rumored to reside within the temple; he either wants to obtain the lich's power or gain his tutelage, as he wants to become a lich himself. Notte and Yves mock Jakarion's name. Francis attempts to blast the staff out of his hand and accidentally hits the man instead. Jakarion angrily demands, "Face me." Gallagher hits him with a Water Bullet. Francis blasts him again. Jakarion – and therefore Vilnius – drops dead. Gallagher states that they should avoid touching the staff. Despite this, Ez walks over and kicks it, shattering the blue crystal. Notte picks it up and concludes that it's no longer cursed before giving the staff to Gallagher, who also doesn't suffer ill effects. Notte then takes an amulet off Vilnius's corpse. ### Old potions and rest The party discovers a room in which there are old bottles filled with murky, thick liquid. Despite Gallagher's pleas, Ez uncorks a bottle, sticks a finger in the liquid, and tastes it. She makes a displeased noise before informing the others that the bottle once held a Potion of Healing. As Ez, Ireena, and Van Richten are still singed from the battle with the flameskulls, the party rests for a short time. It is around 7:00am when they prepare to depart once more. Gallagher finds a secret door that leads to a staircase landing. They decide to explore the rest of the current floor first. ### Tome of Understanding The party finds a room with a twelve-foot-tall model of Castle Ravenloft. There is also a chest in the room in which Gallagher finds a false bottom that hides a tome. The tome – inscribed with religious runes representing Oghma, the god of knowledge – contains many exercises designed to sharpen one's intuition and insight. Yves takes the tome to study later. ### Illusory feast The group comes across a table covered by a magnificent feast. With her spellsight, Notte sees that almost everything in the room is an illusion with the exception of the table itself and a green copper ewer embossed with images of dancing animals. Identifying the ewer, Notte can tell that any poisonous liquid poured into the container is transformed into sweet wine and that it can also produce wine on command. As Notte picks up the ewer and asks if anyone wants wine, seven specters materialize and swarm her. The specter start to drain the life from her, but they immediately lose interest after she drops the ewer. Ireena kills one of the specters; Ezmerelda kills two; Yves raises their hand and instantly destroys three. The last specter flees. Ludmilla picks up the ewer and produces wine without issue. She offers some to Gallagher, who declines. Francis takes the ewer and drinks from it. ### An unstable balcony and relationship Francis and Van Richten begin squabbling once more when Van Richten refuses to be carried across a crumbling balcony. He instead elects to jump over, wincing and stumbling as he lands. Francis calls him an idiot under his breath. ### Outsmarting a statue A shrine with a faceless obsidian statues puts Ludmilla, Ez, and Van Richten in a trance. The others are unable to get their attention. Gallagher levels a Fire Bolt at the statue, but they remain under the spell. After a moment of consideration, Gallagher takes out her spare cloak and throws it over the statue. The three immediately snap back to awareness. ### Skulls and specters Ireena pushes a false wall aside; hundreds of skulls start pouring out of the newly-revealed room. Ireena makes a distressed noise. Notte comforts her. Ez wants to dig through the skulls in case there is something hidden among them. Ludmilla declares that she thinks this is a "lovely idea." Van Richten agrees that Ez makes a reasonable point. Notte makes a snide comment. Gallagher, Ludmilla, Van Richten, and Ez clear the skulls out of the room, revealing a chest on the ceiling. Ez and Van Richten gesture to it at once. Gallagher shifts into her hybrid form and flies up to open the chest. She finds it to be stuck closed; Ludmilla has to climb up the wall and help her. As soon as the chest is pried open, the floor disappears below Ez, who falls thirty feet into the room below. Gallagher quickly follows her. There are four ghosts in the room. They remain oblivious as Gallagher flies herself and Ez back up to the others. ### Exethanter, the lich The party proceeds through a secret door to find an ornately decorated room. The room is occupied by a lich with a crack in its skull. The lich – [[Exethanter (Scaena)|Exethanter]] – greets them. It reveals that it had a "lapse in memory" and asks for their help. Ez and Van Richten are highly resistant to the idea; Yves texts the group chat. When Krue reveals that she is friendly with the version of Exethanter that her party met, Yves heals his memory with Greater Restoration. Exethanter, who presides over the Amber Temple, expresses her gratitude and promises to do what she can to help them. Gallagher asks Exethanter for a list of command words and passcodes used through the temple. Exethanter agrees to provide this. The party quickly finds out that Exethanter is "employed" by the dark powers and that he killed all the wizards who once inhabited the temple. Yves and Notte quickly text Krue their complaints. Krue apologizes and expresses that it takes a long time for her to type messages on the Gabb. Exethanter reveals that Strahd secured his power in the Amber Temple after embracing "dark gifts" from almost all of the "vestiges" – remnants of dead gods that reside in sarcophagi throughout the temple. Francis shares that he is a warlock and is unhappy about it. Exethanter says that Francis could become a "proper vampire," which would likely grant him enough power to avoid being beholden to anyone; otherwise, he could examine the contents of the library, though he isn't sure that he will find what he is looking for. ### Discussing lichdom Exethanter suggests that Francis could instead become a lich. Francis and Notte begin asking questions about the mechanics and the process, which draws heavy criticism from Van Richten and Ez. Gallagher tiredly suggests that they first explore the library, which Exethanter shows them to. ### Francis's confession & Van Richten's apology Francis and Van Richten have a private conversation wherein Francis shares what happened with herself, Quincey, and Firan. She expresses that she just wants to find a way to keep Firan away from her and out of her head. Van Richten, clasping Francis's hands, says that her considerations are reasonable given what she has gone through. He apologizes for being harsh and bullheaded and for hurting her. Van Richten tells Francis that he still doesn't think that Francis should become a lich, especially because Francis doesn't *want* to be one. He adds that he might have another idea but that he would like to think more about it first. ### Ireena, Notte, & monster morality Notte tells Ireena that she probably isn't going to become a lich; however, she's curious, and the process likely wouldn't be too different than what she has already done with soul transference. Ireena discusses the idea of there being good liches and bad liches just as there are good vampires and bad vampires. She concludes that people should be defined by what they do and not by what they are. She then tells Notte that she will support her in whatever she decides is right. ### Pulling weeds Ez tells Gallagher that she feels like she is surrounded by idiots. She adds that she still wants to just kill Strahd and leave the domain. Gallagher brings up the conversation she had with Van Richten a couple days ago. Ez acknowledges that domains reset after the death of the dark lord and that she would likely return to Scaena one day. When she likens it to pruning a garden, Gallagher asks why she wouldn't get rid of the weeds forever if she could. Ez states that she doesn't trust Juste to "be normal" after he spent so long murdering random people, but she is somewhat reassured by Gallagher's argument that leaving the domain would leave Juste truly mortal. Gallagher starts to say that she cares about Ez; however, noticing that Ludmilla is eavesdropping, she ultimately settles on saying that she doesn't want to see Ez come back to the domain. Ez slumps over and drops her head on the table. Ludmilla reaches over to pat her head. When Ez reflexively slaps her hand away, Ludmilla, annoyed, claims that she is being nice. Gallagher dryly remarks that she has noticed. ### Van Richten proposes lichdom Van Richten privately confides in Yves about how he is considering becoming a lich to protect Francis; he doesn't think it would otherwise be possible to wrest power from Strahd, and he doesn't think anyone else is able – or if they are able, willing – to become a lich themself. Yves nervously states that he understands where Van Richten is coming from. When Van Richten presses, Yves admits that they let Strahd turn them into a vampire. Van Richten eventually calls this decision a brave one, though he admits that saying as much is "odd" and that it is strange to change. Yves states that he wouldn't know – he changes all the time. Yves suggests that Van Richten should put more consideration into becoming a lich than Yves did into becoming a vampire. Van Richten assures him that he is considering things carefully. Van Richten rifles through his bag and pulls out a bunch of notes, one of which reads VAN RICHTEN'S GUIDE TO THE LICH. He calls himself a hypocrite. Yves states that it isn't hypocritical of him to change his mind. ### Closing the day By 5:30pm, the party has been in the library for nine hours. Van Richten has been pouring over as many resources as he is able; Yves has been looking over the Tome of Understanding; Exethanter has written a list of passwords for Gallagher. Exethanter offers that the party members can sleep in his chambers or in the library. He then floats up the ceiling in an effort to be "unobtrusive." Later, everyone has already settled down to rest except for Van Richten and Francis, who are still looking over books in the library. Van Richten tells Francis to get some rest; after some arguing, Francis reluctantly agrees to leave. Van Richten promises to have a solution by morning. He kisses Francis; then, Francis joins the others. ## 22 Mirtul 1494 ### Midnight interruption Van Richten wakes Gallagher shortly after midnight and has her follow him to the library. Notte sees this and follows as well. Van Richten doesn't put up much of a fight. Van Richten tells them that he is about to do something foolish and asks that they never let him judge any of them again. Gallagher refuses to hear more and leaves. Notte asks Van Richten if he is planning to become a lich. Van Richten declines to answer and provokes her about Ireena in an effort to get her to leave. Notte says, "I hope the cost is great" before rejoining the others. ### Waking the others Back in the other room, Gallagher is tense and Notte is annoyed. Notte taps her porcelain finger on the table, which wakes Yves and Ludmilla. Soon after, Notte wakes Francis and tells her that Van Richten is about to do something stupid. Gallagher wakes Ez and tells her the same. Francis rushes to the library while Ez pulls on her gear. ### Van Richten's transformation and intentions Francis starts down the spiral staircase in the library but is stopped in his tracks when he hears Van Richten's ear-splitting scream. Ireena jolts awake. Everyone rushes to the library to join Francis. Van Richten – now a skeletal lich, glowing with purple magic – floats up into the library. Francis calls him an idiot. Ez, nauseous, topples back into a chair. Van Richten gives Francis his notes on liches, which are now bound together. He explains that the notes are his spirit jar and that Francis needs to keep them safe. Notte ridicules him for making his spirit jar something so fragile, but Van Richten argues that the pages have been reinforced by magic. Francis calls Van Richten a lunatic. Van Richten states that a new patron is the best way to free Francis from his contract with Strahd, and that a lich is one of the most powerful creatures there is – making it clear that he intends to become Francis's patron. When Notte asks if they are just going to burn bridges with Strahd, Van Richten suggests that Strahd can take it up with him specifically; he is "imposing" a contract on Francis, which Francis has no choice to accept. Plus, since Strahd claims to care about Francis, he might accept not having control over her. Notte takes a picture of Van Richten and sends it to the group chat, causing Krue and mostly S to freak out a bit. Francis prods at Van Richten and his skeletal face. Notte asks about the process of becoming a lich. Van Richten shares that Exethanter offered an alternative, expedited, "excruciatingly painful" method which involved separating his soul from his body by force. ### Ezmerelda's outburst Ez storms out of the room. Gallagher and Ludmilla follow. Ludmilla looks genuinely worried; however, she doesn't say anything. Ez angrily asserts that she doesn't owe anything to Juste or any of these people – they don't like her or care about her, and she doesn't see why she should care about them. She adds that all of her memories of Van Richten are made up anyway. Gallagher gently argues that there isn't any way out of the domain that doesn't involve them sticking together. She persuades Ez to sleep on it. ### Terms of the pact Francis and Van Richten head downstairs to discuss the terms of their contract while the others settle down for the night. Van Richten offers to let Francis say goodbye to his current familiar, Fester, but Francis declines. Van Richten states that, as her patron, he will not be accessing Francis's thoughts – only occasionally her emotional state to monitor for danger. He adds that he will not be demanding that Francis do anything that she doesn't want to do; however, he might need help killing things and collecting "outside souls" to replenish his spirit jar. Van Richten remarks that he didn't plan on being a monster hunter for much longer; in fact, he didn't plan to be alive for much longer. Francis points out that Van Richten isn't actually alive. Van Richten demonstrates that he can present as such; with a snap of his fingers, he appears as a gaunter, grayer version of his old self with a purple tint to his eyes. When he admits that keeping up the illusion is taxing, Francis tells him that she doesn't mind his new look. He reverts back to his skeletal form. ### Francis dies (again) Van Richten tells Francis that she must die if they are to proceed with their contract. Francis accepts this, likening the process to a trust fall. Without access to any "elegant" fatal magic, Van Richten grabs his sword. He admits that he can't bring himself to stab Francis and asks that Francis do it herself when she is ready. Van Richten points the sword at Francis. She runs onto it and dies. Francis wakes in Van Richten's arms, now warm, flushed with blood, and glowing purple from her heart and eyes. ### Return of Skelly Van Richten instructs Francis to summon her familiar. When she does so, Skelly appears. Francis is delighted and scoops him up in a hug. Skelly says, "Yep. It's good to see you, boss." Skelly reveals that he exploded when Francis severed his pact with Firan. He has no recollection of what happened after the fact. Van Richten, Francis, and Skelly head upstairs to rest with the others. ### Ez gets angry (again) In the morning, Van Richten asks how they all slept. Ez states that she slept fine – however, she had a nightmare that "some stupid piece of shit" turned himself into an ugly skeleton. Francis tries to defuse the tension by excitedly pointing out that he is "super alive" now and that Skelly is back. Notte asks, "was he gone?" Gallagher follows Ez when she stomps away once more. Gallagher asks if she has had a change of heart; Ez admits that she wants to stick with the others to at least ensure their survival. Gallagher agrees, adding that she is used to serving under and working with people that she doesn't always agree with. Ez states that she is the opposite, as she is usually the one in control. She expresses frustration with the recent chaos: the dracolich attack and Ismark's disfigurement, the changes with Notte and Yves, Van Richten becoming a lich, the death of Gallagher and her revival by Firan, and Francis being on his third warlock pact. When Gallagher tells Ez that the only person she can control is herself, Ez declares that she *wishes* that she could control other people. Gallagher admits that she can't help with that, but jokes that she can always paralyze or disintegrate people if need be. This cheers Ez up a little. ### Notte questions Yves Notte, who has realized that Yves might be a vampire based on her prior conversation with Ireena about good and bad vampires, requests a private conversation with Yves. Yves readily admits that they are a vampire. Notte, curious, asks various questions about vampirism, which Yves answers the best they can. Noting that there have been "lots of big changes going around lately," Yves asks Notte about her porcelain body. When Notte states that "the director" insisted on it, Yves suggests that Juste has a porcelain fetish; however, they also state that the body is pretty. ### The party reconvenes Francis says, "let's go talk to some mummies." Exethanter tells him that there are no physical bodies; the sarcophagi house "concepts." Ez declares that she will not be talking to the vestiges. Ludmilla reminds everyone to let her know if they find a vestige offering the ability to resurrect the dead, since that is the only reason that she came with them. Exethanter offers to accompany the party due to the dangers of the temple. They decline, figuring that Exethanter would be adverse to their attempts to free Strahd from the grip of the dark powers. The party has a brief interaction with [[The Basilisk|a vampiric kobold]] in the room with the first set of sarcophagi. Francis offends him verbally and by throwing a dart at him, but he lets them pass after concluding that Francis is Tatyana. Some party members being telepathically communicating with the vestiges after placing their hands on the sarcophagi. ### Notte & Tenebrous Notte communes with the vestige of [[Tenebrous (Scaena)|Tenebrous]], who offers the knowledge required to become a lich. When Tenebrous notes that it prefers making deals with wizards, necromancers, or the occasional cleric, Notte defends splitting her focus between magic and marital skills; she also brags about her self-taught ability to transfer her soul to another vessel. Tenebrous calls this "cute" but maintains that it would prefer a spellcaster with more potential. Notte, stung by the rejection, takes her hand off the sarcophagus before remembering to ask about Strahd. Tenebrous admits that it provided Strahd the knowledge of how to become a lich, but that it doesn't know if Strahd utilized this knowledge. ### Yves & the Vampyr Yves communes with the vestige of [[the Vampyr (Scaena)|the Vampyr]], who offers to make Yves a stronger vampire. It lays out a grim ritual: first, Yves must slay someone who reveres them and drink the blood of the corpse; then, they must be killed by someone who truly hates them. Yves declines the offer, stating that they don't think anyone hates them that much. The Vampyr calls them "pitiful" and a "buzzkill." The Vampyr confirms that Strahd is one of its favorites. It believes that Strahd killed his brother and was killed by the castle guards, leading the pact to be sealed. ### Francis, Ludmilla, & Zhudun Francis communes with the vestige of [[Zhudun, the Corpse Star (Scaena)|Zhudun, the Corpse Star]], who confirms that Strahd accepted its gift. It offers Francis the power to raise the ancient dead – as long as they are willing to come back. Francis declines the gift but calls for Ludmilla. Ludmilla silently communes with Zhudun; soon, she grows gaunt and even more corpse-like than before. She declares to the others that she would like to return to Castle Ravenloft as soon as possible. ### Moving on Notte expresses her displeasure with Tenebrous. Yves recounts his conversation with the Vampyr. Francis asks Skelly to investigate a fissure in the wall. He does so, finding treasure – including tens of thousands of coins of various denominations – and an amber golem beyond the fissure. Ez argues that they should kill the golem so that they can collect the treasure. Gallagher, thinking of how Ez was badly harmed by the already injured golem upstairs, argues against the idea. Ez reluctantly agrees to put a pin in it. The party finds a door that is stuck closed. Gallagher reads down the list of passcodes given to her by Exethanter, eventually finding the one that does the trick. Ez complains about Exethanter not giving them a map. There are three more amber sarcophagi in the room. Francis, Ludmilla, Yves, and Notte all encourage Gallagher to speak with a vestige. ### Gallagher & Norganas Gallagher communes with the vestige of [[Norganas, the Finger of Oblivion (Scaena)|Norganas, the Finger of Oblivion]]. She laughs at its name, offending it. Norganas confirms that Strahd accepted its gift, which allows the recipient to cast Finger of Death. After accepting the gift, the recipient's blood becomes black and thick as tar. Gallagher declines the offer. Later, Ludmilla tells Gallagher and Ez that she is glad that neither of them – especially Ez – took the "gross, festering black blood" gift. Gallagher tells Ludmilla to back off; Ludmilla grins. ### Yves & Seriach Yves communes with the vestige of [[Seriach, the Hell Hound Whisperer (Scaena)|Seriach, the Hell Hound Whisperer]], who offers the ability to summon and command two ageless hellhounds and to speak infernal. The drawback is that the recipient emits smoke from their pores when they speak the language. Yves accepts the gift of Seriach, who addresses Yves as its champion. It confirms that Strahd once accepted its gift as well, though it was able to gift three hounds instead of two at the time. ### Notte & Vaund Notte communes with the vestige of [[Vaund, the Evasive (Scaena)|Vaund, the Evasive]], who greets her nervously. Its gift allows the recipient to be undetectable by divination spells and to be better at evading spell effects for a tenday; however, the cost is that the recipient will have trouble providing straight answers to questions until they die. Notte declines the gift. ### Boss's orders The party reconvenes and shares the results of their conversations with the vestiges. Van Richten has Yves demonstrate the cost of his gift and admits that he doesn't see much of a downside. Francis, pretending like he was ordered by Van Richten to accept Seriach's gift, heads over to the sarcophagus. Van Richten protests and states that Francis doesn't need hellhounds. Francis says, "you're the boss," agitating Van Richten further. ### Notte threatens Ez & Van Richten Notte spots a spell scroll in a ruined bedchamber. Yves starts to enter the room, but they stop short when a broken chair flies past them and hits the wall. Gallagher uses Mage Hand to retrieve the scroll – for Wall of Fire – which she gives to Notte. Notte hands the scroll back to Gallagher. When Ez quips that Notte might not have the magical potential to use it, Notte shoots of beam of radiance from her eye past Ez. Van Richten scolds Notte. Notte threatens to use his bones to make ceramics. ### A fight for another time Gallagher unlocks another door with another password. With her spellsight, Notte sees a wide, seven-foot-tall aura of illusory magic. They decide to return later instead of having Gallagher dispel the invisibility, which may lead to a fight. ### Meeting the nothics The party finds a room with two intact sarcophagi and four hunched, one-eyed nothics who are speaking in undercommon. Van Richten and Notte have a brief pissing match about how many languages they can speak. Gallagher casts Tongues on herself and greets the nothics. For a moment, she feels her head tingle; then, three of the nothics greet her with oddly personal titles: "she who likes tentacles," "she who likes the monster hunter," and "she who is into the pirate." Gallagher, slightly flush, realizes that the nothics are pulling secrets from her mind. She relays this to the others. The nothics start to clear out of the room to give the group access to the sarcophagi. Each nothic stops to greet one party member with a similarly personal title. * Yves: "he who likes daddies." * Francis: "he who desires his friends." * Ludmilla: "she who desires her friends." * Notte: "she who is kind of bisexual." The nothics continue down the hall. ### Sharing secrets Francis, Ludmilla, Yves, and Notte demand to know what the nothics said about them. Gallagher tiredly texts Francis, Notte, and Yves. Over text, Notte – looking genuinely befuddled – denies being bisexual; Yves – looking incredibly embarrassed – denies liking daddies; Francis – looking mostly unimpressed – finds his secret underwhelming. Gallagher whispers Ludmilla's secret to her since she doesn't have a Gabb. When Ludmilla protests the use of the word "friends," Gallagher points out that they brought her to the Amber Temple like she wanted. Ludmilla, delighted, changes her tune; she insists that she, Gallagher, and Ez are "quite close friends." Ez denies that they are friends at all. Francis shares his secret with Van Richten, who begins listing the people that he believes Francis desires: Ireena, Yves, Gallagher, Hawthorne, and Quincey. Even though he previously slept with her, Francis denies having a continued interest in Hawthorne. Despite his earlier protests, Van Richten flirts with Francis about being his "boss." Notte tells them to get a room. When Van Richten taunts Notte over her inability to produce skin, she tells him to drop dead again. ### Francis & Delban Francis communes with the vestige of [[Delban, the Star of Ice and Hate|Delban, the Star of Ice and Hate]], who speaks with derision; however, it eventually says that Francis is "less of an idiot than most." Delban reveals that Strahd accepted its gift, which allows the recipient to cast a particular ice spell and grants resistance to being cold. The downside is that the recipient develops an intense fear of fire, which Delban maintains is the most frightening thing in the world – more so than death, which is what Francis argues is the most frightening thing in the world. When Francis asks, Delban shares that it isn't sure whether Strahd is still possessed by a fear of fire. Later, the party concludes that he likely isn't, as his conduct in the face of the dracolich suggests otherwise. Francis implies that Delban likes her company. Delban asserts that Francis is neither kind nor beautiful. ### Notte & Khirad Notte communes with the vestige of [[Khirad, the Star of Secrets]], who is initially cagey but eventually reveals that it grants the ability to cast Scrying. It also reveals that Strahd took the deal, though Notte is able to tell that he no longer suffers from all of the negative affects; the recipient of the gift is forced to talk in a whisper and smile with malice. ### Confronting the invisible threat The party decides to deal with the invisible figure in the previous room. When Gallagher dispels the invisibility, they are met with grinning death slaad holding a sizeable greatsword. The fight is tough. The slaad resists fire and is merely injured by Gallagher's Disintegrate spell. Additionally, it only looks intrigued when Gallagher Counterspells one of its own spells. Van Richten opens a rift to the dreadscapes behind the slaad, creating visuals similar to that of Darkon's sky. That, combined with the barrage of other attacks, is enough to incapacitate the creature. Van Richten rips a gray ball of energy out of the chest of the slaad. After Francis holds up his spirit jar, Van Richten throws the ball of energy, which is absorbed into the paper. Francis remarks, "grisly," leading Van Richten to squabble with him. ### Yves & Great Taar Haak Yves communes with the vestige of [[Great Taar Haak, the Five-Headed Destroyer|Great Taar Haak, the Five-Headed Destroyer]], who offers great strength at the expense of viewing everyone else as lesser and treating them accordingly, just as Taar Haak did in its lifetime by killing and consuming thousands. Yves doesn't bother asking if Strahd took its gift, as they assume the answer to be yes. Later, Ludmilla declares that she doesn't see much of a downside to Taar Haak's offer since she already believes that she is better than everyone else. No one humors her. ### Notte & Yog Notte communes with the vestige of [[Yog the Invincible|Yog the Invincible]], who exclusively speaks in the third person and was once an ape. Yog offers increased durability against attacks in exchange for being covered in black fur; the gift and the fur, however, only last a tenday. Yog confirms that Strahd took its gift. Notte declines Yog's offer. When Yog becomes offended, Notte assures Yog that its relatively pleasant and straightforward demeanor has been a breath of fresh air compared to the other vestiges. ### Gallagher & Yrrga Gallagher communes with the vestige of [[Yrrga, the Eye of Shadows|Yrrga, the Eye of Shadows]], who introduces itself as a former visionary, artist, and writer. It offers truesight for one month; however, the recipient of the dark gift comes to view life as meaningless and only looks forward to death. It confirms that Strahd accepted this gift. Gallagher suggests that Yrrga's pessimism might be less due to it seeing the truth of things and more due to it being an immortal vestige of a god. Yrrga disagrees. ### Rahadin jumpscare The party emerges into the lower level of the room inhabited by the massive statue. Rahadin kneels before the statue in prayer. They watch as he takes a live toad out of his bag and swallows it whole. Francis greets Rahadin, who is initially rude to them; however, he soon decides to be "polite" since they took his advice about attending the Amber Temple. His politeness does not last long. When Francis suggests that he should stop calling her Tatyana for his own sake, Rahadin declares that he didn't like her then and that he doesn't like her now. He then calls attention to Francis's shirt buttons and accuses her of being promiscuous. Van Richten insists that Francis is perfectly presentable. Francis tells him to stop. Rahadin informs Francis that Strahd has been distraught since their pact was severed. Rahadin adds that he was tasked to figure out how this happened; eyeing Van Richten, he states that it is fairly obvious to him now. He suggests that they should make up a story wherein Francis was killed and his body was irrecoverable. Gallagher argues that Strahd will need to accept the truth of the situation if he ever wishes to leave the domain. ### Discussing Strahd's pacts Rahadin asks the group if they have made any progress with releasing Strahd from the land by convincing the vestiges to release Strahd from his pacts. They admit that they haven't tried. Rahadin is aghast. Notte remarks on Strahd's pact with Yog, which Rahadin laments was disgraceful. Notte feels a rare sense of happiness from Sergei through the sunsword. ### Rahadin insults Ludmilla & leaves Without prompting or provocation, Rahadin refers to Ludmilla as a "mongrel woman" and questions her presence. Francis calls her a friend, which bewilders Rahadin. When Yves suggests that Ludmilla is only there because Gallagher likes her, Ludmilla hums and Ez looks at Gallagher, but Gallagher stays silent. Rahadin tells Gallagher that she needs better taste. Notte quips that Rahadin is one to talk. Rahadin offers to accompany the party on their journey to Castle Ravenloft. The party is adverse to the idea. Yves and Notte reconsider, however, when Rahadin reminds them that he has as much sway over Strahd's allies as Strahd does himself. Rahadin indicates that he will set camp outside the temple and wait for them there. He tells them not to get injured; then, he departs. ### Three witches The party comes into a partially collapsed hall. Based on the temple's layout, the party guesses that there might be sarcophagi beyond the rubble. There are three women – clearly witches – dressed in tattered black gowns and pointed hats huddled around a locked door. Yves shrinks back. Francis approaches the witches and asks what brings them to the temple. They are reluctant to answer, but the oldest-looking of the three eventually reveals that they are looking to acquire powerful magic. Francis shares that she is at the temple to help a "friend" rid himself of some of his many dark gifts. The witches are incredulous that someone would want to *lose* power. Francis reveals that there is another way to get into the room and tells the witches about the hole in the floor upstairs. Though the witches initially expect trickery, they conclude that Francis seems like an earnest person and leave for upstairs. Later, the party finds the three charred corpses of the witches, leaving Francis distraught. The flameskulls responsible – addressing the party as "friends of the lich" – let them pass without issue. ### Notte's new construct companion The party finds a nearly ten-foot tall vaguely human-shaped construct made of wood and iron. It regards Notte specifically, which is when she notices that the construct is inscribed with the same runes inscribed on the amulet she looted from Vilnius's body. Gallagher suggests that Notte should try giving the construct an order. When she obeys Notte orders to stand and kneel, Francis jokes that Notte has a new pet. Notte asks the construct – a shield guardian – if it has a name. It shakes its head. Notte later settles on naming her [[Lacrymosa]] after a "quite nice composition" by Evanescence. Notte orders Lacrymosa to defend her and her friends. She also commands the construct to follow them. It nods and does so, breaking a wall in the process due to her size. ### Francis & Tarakamedes Beyond another locked door, Francis communes with the vestige of [[Tarakamedes, the Grave Wyrm (Scaena)|Tarakamedes, the Grave Wyrm]], who offers the ability to fly; the tradeoff is that the recipient of the dark gift would need to eat a pound of bone or grave dirt a day lest they die. Tarakamedes reveals that Strahd did not accept its gift. Francis doesn't either. ### Yves & Savnok Yves communes with the vestige of [[Savnok the Inscrutable (Scaena)|Savnok the Inscrutable]]. Savnok offers the affects of the Mind Blank spell for one year, with the catch being that the recipient loses their eyes for that year; they are still be able to see out of the empty sockets, however. Savnok confirms that Strahd took its gift. Yves declines the offer. When Savnok warns that Yves's mind will be unprotected, Yves jokes that there isn't a lot going on up there anyway. ### Notte & Shami-Amourae Notte communes with the vestige of [[Shami-Amourae, the Lady of Delights (Scaena)|Shami-Amourae, the Lady of Delights]], who speaks to Notte in a flirty voice. It offers the ability to cast a particularly strong Suggestion spell three times. In exchange, the recipient grows an "irrepressible need" for pleasure and an extra finger on each hand; also, they have a strong desire for others to create beauty for them. Notte, reasoning that she can just pop off the extra fingers, takes the deal; she claims to do so because of Shami-Amourae's relatively non-annoying nature. When Notte tells the others about her new gift, she lies about the cost. Gallagher asks Notte why she is lying. Ireena expresses concern; Notte tells her that they can talk about it later in private. Ludmilla, suspecting that the cost of the gift is a "sex thing," communes with the vestige herself. Afterwards, she turns to Notte and says, "oh, you little dog." Francis says that it's none of their business. When Ludmilla teases Notte further, Notte orders Lacrymosa to kill her, adding "don't" after a short delay. Lacrymosa briefly picks up and squeezes Ludmilla, who lets out a puff of air. ### Francis & Fekre Francis communes with the vestige of [[Fekre, Queen of Poxes (Scaena)|Fekre, Queen of Poxes]]. Fekre offers the ability to cast Contagion three times; in exchange, the recipient smells "lovely" – specifically, like refuse and other filth. Strahd took this gift, though Fekre is under the impression that Strahd uses magic to alter his scent at all times. When Francis asks Fekre if it would ever release Strahd from their pact, the vestige seems reluctant; it agrees to consider the idea, however, when Francis explains that Strahd wants to leave the domain, as this might lead Strahd to spread its filth to other realms. Francis gleefully tells the others that Strahd is constantly using a spell to prevent himself from smelling like garbage. Ludmilla remarks that it isn't working very well; he instead just smells like perfumed garbage. ### Notte & Zrin-Hala Notte communes with the vestige of [[Zrin-Hala, the Howling Storm (Scaena)|Zrin-Hala, the Howling Storm]] and is met with the sound of rain and thunder. Zrin-Hala offers the ability to cast Lightning Bolt three times; after the third casting, one side of the recipient's face begins to sag. When she learns that Strahd took the gift, Notte concludes that Strahd hasn't cast the spell three times yet. Zrin-Hala asks Notte to bring Strahd to the temple, as it is unsure if it can sever their pact remotely. ### Gallagher & Sykane Gallagher communes with the vestige of [[Sykane, the Soul Hungerer (Scaena)|Sykane, the Soul Hungerer]], who offers three castings of Raise Dead with the cost being glowing eyes and a transaction mindset; specifically, the recipient expects payment every time they offer help. It confirms that Strahd accepted its gift. Though tempted, Gallagher declines. Gallagher tells the others that Strahd can come to the temple himself he wants to go back on his deals with the vestiges. When Gallagher describes Sykane's offer, Yves, Ludmilla, and Notte all express that its gift seems like a good deal. Ludmilla heads toward the sarcophagus; Gallagher protests, arguing that taking more dark gifts would increase the likelihood of Ludmilla herself becoming bound to the domain. Ludmilla is persuaded, but complains that Gallagher is no fun. ### Notte & Dahlver-Nar Notte communes with the vestige of [[Dahlver-Nar, He of the Many Teeth (Scaena)|Dahlver-Nar, He of the Many Teeth]], who Notte finds deeply unsettling. It offers the ability to reincarnate into a new body three times after death; in exchange, Dahlver-Nar "borrows" the recipient's teeth. It indicates that Strahd accepted the gift, though he circumvented the cost through a "clever trick." When Notte asks it to break its contract with Strahd, Dahlver-Nar refuses. It admits that it respects Strahd's cunning – also, it still has his original teeth. Notte tells the others about Dahlver-Nar's gift. When Van Richten jokes that his teeth are some of all that he has left, Notte remarks that she wishes that the rest of him were gone, too. ### Yves & Drizlash Yves communes with the vestige of [[Drizlash, the Nine-Eyed Spider (Scaena)|Drizlash, the Nine-Eyed Spider]]. Drizlash gifts the ability to cling to any surface in exchange for placing an eye – which Drizlash can see through, but the recipient cannot – somewhere on the recipient's body. Strahd accepted its gift, with the eye manifesting on his lower back. Like Dahlver-Nar, Drizlash refuses to release Strahd. ### Francis & Zantras Gallagher casts Passwall so the party can get to the sarcophagi on the other side of the rubble. Francis then communes with the vestige of [[Zantras, the Kingmaker (Scaena)|Zantras, the Kingmaker]]. Zantras offers heightened charisma with the drawback of having a difficult time taking "no" for an answer. When Francis asks Zantras if it can revoke its gift from Strahd, it asks Francis to bring the "foul man" to the temple so that they can speak. Despite her reservations, Francis ultimately accepts the gift, hoping to finally be listened to. When Francis reveals her choice to the others, Van Richten argues that people listen to her just fine. Notte defends Francis's decision. ### Meeting Neferon The party is walking past the large statue on the lower level when Yves is blasted by a powerful necrotic spell that originates within the impenetrably dark hood of the statue. Gallagher dispels the darkness, revealing an arcanaloth inside the hood. The arcanaloth – [[Neferon (Scaena)|Neferon]] – teleports down to speak to the party. Neferon apologizes to Yves once Notte threatens him with Lacrymosa. Ludmilla threatens to eat him shortly afterward. Neferon begins apologizing profusely once Francis tells him that they are friends with Strahd. He agrees to let them leave peacefully as long as they do the same for him. ### Fulfillment of the Comet Neferon, presenting a Bag of Holding monogrammed with "Sir Adelir," asks if any of them recently lost a bag. As soon as Francis takes hold of it, his shadow returns to him, signifying the fulfillment of one of Oddlewin's fortunes: the *Comet*. Van Richten dumps his stuff in the bag. ### Farewell to Exethanter The party finds Exethanter floating near the exit to the temple. He is excited to learn that some of the party members accepted dark gifts and states that he has grown fond of them. The party says their goodbyes, though Notte states that she may return. ### Departure from the Amber Temple Outside, the party finds Rahadin at a makeshift campsite eating the uncooked leg of an animal. He is displeased to hear that the vestiges seem to want Strahd to come to the temple personally. Rahadin asks if they have already dealt with the roc or the goat. They inform him that the goat fled and that the roc never showed up, which Rahadin is also displeased to hear. Gallagher declares that she needs to rest before potentially fighting a giant bird. The party does so, finally departing from the Amber Temple as it is approaching evening. ### The roc flops The party is halfway across the bridge on the Tsolenka Pass when they hear wingbeats. The massive rocs lands in front of them and attacks them, leaving a significant crack in Notte's porcelain. Gallagher teleports away from he roc and behind Lacrymosa. She then casts Hold Monster, paralyzing the creature and giving the others the opportunity to attack. Notte in particular deals heavy damage; as she casts Torrent, the bird is pushed off the side of the bridge and falls down 500 feet, where it lands with an echoing crack. Then, there is silence. Rahadin is deeply impressed with Notte's "lovely work" and asks the party if they have ever considered conquering a small land. Francis tells him to tone down his perversions, while Notte threatens to push him off the bridge as well. ### Journey to the castle The party continues in Ez's wagon, with Lacrymosa running alongside it. Rahadin rides behind on a Phantom Steed. They encounter wolves on multiple occasions; Rahadin sends them away with a whistle. When Rahadin remarks that Strahd seems to be getting a "bit cranky," Gallagher suggests that Strahd is throwing a tantrum. Rahadin insists it isn't Strahd's fault, claiming that the land and the creatures therein act according to his emotions without any action on his part. ### Petre's spiral It is nearing midnight when Yves receives speech-to-text messages from Petre, who Yves quickly finds out is drunk and in the graveyard. When Yves expresses concern and begins to ask questions, Petre calls them on the phone. In slurred speech, he expresses his relationship anxieties; he also admits that he slept with Escher, who he had been drinking with. Yves manages to remain mostly calm, even when Petre repeatedly asks to marry them. They tell Petre that they can talk about it later and instruct him to drink some water and lie down. After the call has ended, Yves awkwardly apologizes to those in the wagon. Everyone – with the exception of Ludmilla – pretends that they didn't hear. ## 23 Mirtul 1494 ### Next steps at Castle Ravenloft The party arrives at Castle Ravenloft at around 3:00am. Rahadin departs soon after they cross the drawbridge. Ireena decides that she wants to go back to the Keep so that she doesn't have to see Strahd. Gallagher sets up the teleportation circle for her. Ireena departs after wishing them all luck. Ez outlines what they need to accomplish: Ludmilla needs to retrieve her coffin, they need to search for the remaining artifacts from the tarokka card fortunes, and Francis needs to talk to Strahd. Ludmilla, confident that she won't be thrown in the dungeon again, slinks off to get her fiancée's coffin. Gallagher hands over her Gabb so that she can contact them if needed. The inside of the castle is quiet, with no despairing organ music to be heard. ### Meeting the accountant The party stumbles upon a cluttered room in which an old man – [[Lief Lipsiege (Scaena)|Lief Lipsiege]], Strahd's accountant and bookkeeper – is shackled to a desk. Though he isn't very happy to see them, he humors the party's questions. When asked about his imprisonment, Lief admits that he initially would have tried to flee the castle; however, he has come to care much about his work. At Francis's urging, Ez brings her axe down on the chain of the shackles, freeing him. He gratefully declares that he can finally clean the room. ### Treasures abound Gallagher asks about treasure in the castle. Lief freely tells them about a magical artifact that can be found in one of the crypts; specifically, crypt 38, which belongs to "Mad Dog." The party is reminded of one of the tarokka card fortunes: > The Six of Swords > This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, a holy symbol of great hope. Find the Mad Dog's crypt. The treasure lies within, beneath blackened bones. Lief also offers access to the chests in the room, given that they can find the key. After some searching, Gallagher finds it in a bloody, hallowed-out book. Inside the chests are coins totaling 6200 gold and a Manual of Bodily Health, which Notte determines acts similarly to Yves's Tome of Understanding; instead of making one more insightful, however, it makes one more durable to attacks. Gallagher encourages her to keep it for herself. ### Meeting Nyanka Continuing their cautious exploration, the party meets [[Nyanka Nikolova]], a witch looking for her missing cat, Grizzleguts. Francis promises to keep an eye out. ### Meeting Helga The party also meets [[Helga Ruvak (Scaena)|Helga Ruvak]], who initially claims to be the daughter of the bootmaker from Barovia Village. She also claims to have been kidnapped by Strahd. However, when Notte contacts Ireena and Ismark to verify her story, the details don't align. Gallagher also contacts Ludmilla, who identifies Helga as a maid who has been at the castle for longer than Escher. Ludmilla also implies that she had a budding situationship with Helga before she cut it off due to Helga being a "freak." Gallagher bluntly asks Helga if she is a vampire spawn. Helga, agreeing to drop the pretense, admits that she is a spawn and that she was willingly turned. She explains that she uses the false story to gain the upper hand against people who are in the castle to kill Strahd. After learning Yves's name, Helga recognizes them as the people who attended breakfast with Strahd. Helga, identifying Gallagher as "the pirate," tells her that her blood was not easy to buff out of the tile. In response, Gallagher vaguely threatens her before asking about the location of Strahd. Though Helga scolds them for not "writing ahead" to schedule a meeting, she tells them that Strahd is probably in his study, if not the crypts. Notte asks for directions; Helga provides them. Before the party leaves, she tells them to pass along greetings to "Lady Vilisevic" if they see her. ### Climbing to dizzying heights The party finds a secret door leading to a grand staircase spiraling up a tower. At the pinnacle of the tower is a large crystal heart pulsating with red light. They are reminded of one of the fortunes from the tarokka cards: > The One of Stars > This card tells of history. Knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy.  Go to a place of dizzying heights, where the stone itself is alive! The head up a level and find a room full of statues. From Helga's directions, they know that Strahd's study is close by. Francis, Van Richten, and Lacrymosa wait by the statues while Gallagher, Notte, Yves, and Ez climb up the stairs in search of "knowledge of the ancient." The pulsing of the heart rattles the stairs as they become narrower, causing Notte to fall. Gallagher casts Feather Fall on her; she flies back up in her hybrid form. ### Tome of Strahd At the top, the four find a grim chamber with manacles attached to the walls, a bed fitted with leather restraints, and a locked chest. Ezmerelda casts Knock to unlock the chest, in which they find a bejeweled crown on a silk pillow as well as Strahd's journal – knowledge of the ancient. Gallagher presents the crown to Ez with a playful bow. Ez also takes the pillow. Yves reads aloud a section of Strahd's journal, which reveals the man's bitterness, sorrow, and rage. The passage details Strahd's years as a warlord, his jealousy of his younger brother Sergei, his obsession with a young woman named Tatyana, and his pact with the vestige of the Vampyr. It also describes his murder of Sergei on his and Tatyana's wedding day, how Tatyana subsequently leapt from the castle walls to her death, and how he transformed into a vampire after being killed by the castle guards. In the journal, Strahd implies that only the sunsword can kill him. Through the sunsword, Notte feels Sergei's anger and melancholy. Yves calls Strahd a drama queen. Ez calls him a pervert. Gallagher puts the journal in her bag. ### Strahd's study The party regroups and enters Strahd's study, in which there is a portrait of Tatyana above a blazing hearth. The man is absent. They search his study and eventually begin browsing the books. Yves finds *Van Richten's Guide to Ghosts, vol. I*. Van Richten remarks that it seems that he is better at hunting ghosts than Strahd. Notte and Van Richten begin squabbling. Notte picks up *Volo's Big Book of Traditional Alchemy, First Edition* by Volothamp Geddarm, ed. Elminster Aumar. When Van Richten calls Volothamp Geddarm a hack and a pervert, Ez corroborates this assessment. Van Richten shares that he also met one of Volo's ghostwriters, who was "fine for a wizard" – unusual, as wizards are typically "all hats and robes and foppish demeanors." Gallagher, who is none of these things, rolls her eyes. Notte finds another hefty tome: *Goats of the Balinok Mountains* by Prof. George Weathermay. Van Richten shares that Weathermay raised two of his wards for much of their lives; however, he quickly – albeit somberly – corrects himself to say that they were actually the wards of the "proper" Rudolph van Richten. ### Secret door & gas trap The group finds a secret chamber hidden behind the fireplace in which there is a skeleton and a closed chest. Based on the placement of the skeleton's hand, the individual likely choked to death. Gallagher determines that chest is trapped; Notte guesses that opening the chest might have led the individual to suffocate. Ez and Gallagher – being the only ones who need to breathe – clear out of the room. Inside the room, Notte opens the chest, which is empty except for the gas it starts emitting. The party regroups once more. ### Through Rahadin's office They head for Rahadin's office, where they previously found a secret staircase that leads down to the dungeon and crypts. Rahadin is present. Rahadin warns them that there is a ward at the bottom of the stairs that they will need to avoid. When Francis thanks him, Rahadin implies that he has not been thanked in a long time. ### Brazier chamber Downstairs, the group finds a chamber with a large, white-flamed brazier. Cup-shaped indentations line rim of the brazier with a colored crystal in each. An hourglass is suspended above the brazier, sand stuck in the upper portion. At the base of the hourglass is a verse in glowing script; the verse suggests that throwing a specific colored crystal into the fire will teleport them to a specific place. One of the lines reads, "Yellow to the master's tomb." Ez tosses the yellow crystal into the fire. The flame turns yellow and the sand in the hourglass starts falling. When nothing immediately occurs, Notte suggests that they jump into the fire. Gallagher instead waves a hand through the fire and immediately teleports. The others follow. ### Looting the crypts They teleport into the crypts in front of a heavy closed gate presumably blocking the way to Strahd's tomb. There are many other crypts behind them. Ez is eager to loot. Despite Notte's reluctance and Francis anxiety about meeting with Strahd, Ez's persistence wins out. ### Wizard Ordinaire Each crypt has an associated epitaph. Notte's curiosity is piqued by one that reads "Gralmore Nimblenobs – Wizard Ordinaire." Inside, they find the corpse of a man with a long white beard wearing dusty red robes and clutching a wooden staff. After some trail and error that leads to Lacrymosa being electrocuted, Lacrymosa reveals a compartment containing scrolls for three spells: Lightning Bolt, Fireball, and Cone of Cold. Notte gives the scrolls of Lightning Bolt and Cone of Cold to Gallagher. ### Mad Dog's crypt The next crypt's epitaph reads "General Kroval "Mad Dog" Grislek (Master of the Hunt): A leader of hounds and men." The inside of the crypt greets them with three hellhounds and a fiery spirit, of all which attack. During the fight, Skelly is destroyed and Gallagher is badly injured. The threats are quickly dealt with, however, and Gallagher heals thanks to her lycanthropy regeneration. Yves finds the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind. Yves determines the iconography to be that of the Morninglord. Ez complains that they found the artifact too quickly, adding that finding treasure is the best part of monster hunting. She ultimately agrees to let it go. ### Strahd's tomb Yves somehow manages to lift the gate to Strahd's tomb. Inside the tomb is a closed, shining black coffin. Anastrasya and Volenta are also present. Anastrasya tries to barter with the party when they express that they need to talk to Strahd, whereas Volenta pushes off the lid of the coffin with little convincing. Strahd remains asleep. The area around his eyes is red; it is clear that he had been sobbing. Volenta reaches into the coffin and pats Strahd's cheek until he jolts awake. ### Conversation with Strahd Strahd admits that he was wondering whether Francis had been killed. Francis, apologetic, says that she didn't mean to cause him stress. The two speak at length, with Francis revealing that Van Richten is her new patron. Strahd is furious and insists that she is only trading one master for another, but Francis argues that being Van Richten's warlock makes her feel safer and more autonomous. When Strahd begins lamenting about Tatyana, Francis argues that severing their pact was best for their friendship and for her comfort. She also argues that Strahd needs to live for himself – not Tatyana. She and the others encourage him to find fulfillment elsewhere, whether it be through hobbies, new experiences, or meaningful friendships. Francis add that they just came back from the Amber Temple, where they were attempting to secure Strahd a chance at a new life outside of the domain. Strahd remains stubborn and resistant to change, but he eventually agrees to make a trip to the Amber Temple to speak with the vestiges there. He also seems slightly reassured when Francis insists that she holds no resentment for their pact. ### Yves & Strahd's talk Strahd asks for a word in private with Yves. The others leave the tomb, though they do not go far. The two speak about Strahd's grief. Yves encourages Strahd to be more honest with himself and others about his emotions. Strahd asks Yves how he has been adjusting to his vampirism and encourages him to feed as soon as possible. He remarks that there is likely no shortage of willing, interested parties. Referring to Lyssa, Strahd warns Yves about his "highly dangerous," Tatyana-resembling grandniece who recently escaped from his dungeon. Yves remains tight-lipped. Finally, Strahd asks Yves if they would like to have another "social outing." Yves stutters a bit and states that they have some "personal things" going on before abruptly revealing that Escher slept with their boyfriend. Strahd offers to "do away" with Escher, but Yves admits that it's probably Strahd's fault for being a neglectful husband. Strahd disagrees and argues that he was always clear with Escher about the nature of their relationship. ### Departure from Castle Ravenloft After returning to the others, Yves reveals that Lyssa is Strahd's niece. From the ceiling, Volenta expresses her desire to speak with the vestiges at the Amber Temple. Yves tells her to ask Rahadin to take her. Volenta reveals that Rahadin doesn't like her; he finds her unsettling. The group passes through Rahadin's office once more on their way out. Rahadin is relieved to hear that Strahd will be heading to the Amber Temple and expresses appreciation for their efforts. Francis teasingly calls them friends. Rahadin makes a face and tells them to begone. Ez abruptly asks where "the vampire" is. When Gallagher reminds her that Ludmilla was going to meet them outside, Ez declares that she cannot be bothered to listen to a single word that Ludmilla says. Notte states that she doesn't believe her. They find that Ludmilla has placed Ez's bed outside the wagon to make room for her fiancée's coffin. Gallagher makes her put the bed back inside. ### Early morning return After three long days, the party returns to the Keep. They find that Volenta has managed to follow and teleport with them. No one acknowledges her. Ismark, sizing up the lumbering Lacrymosa, asks, "what the fuck?" Notte brushes him off and leaves to find Ireena. Francis immediately heads off to find Quincey; Skelly and Van Richten follow. Inside the kitchen, Quincey congratulates Francis on his new boss. He also tells Van Richten that he is looking well for "being bone." ### Ludmilla on a mission Ludmilla declares that she is going to revive her fiancée in Gallagher and Ezmerelda's room. Gallagher tries to redirect her to the library to no avail; she also tries to convince her to stay off their bed to no avail. Ez puts her head in her hands and declares that she wishes Ludmilla was permanently dead, though she admits that she is exaggerating when Gallagher asks – she just doesn't like her. When Gallagher points out that Ludmilla likes *her*, Ez says, "I don't like that either." ### Ismark & Yves reconnect Yves sits next to Ismark and puts their head on his shoulder. They make a so-so gesture with their hand when Hawthorne asks how Strahd is doing. Ismark quietly asks if Yves has talked to Petre, but Yves indicates that he wants to talk about something else. Ismark offers to hurt Escher; Yves considers, but ultimately declines. Ismark expresses annoyance and apparent jealousy over Lacrymosa's presence, calling her big, obtrusive, weird, and redundant. Next, Ismark notes Volenta's presence and suggests that they kill her. Yves asks why; Ismark exclaims that she is death cultist wearing a skull as a mask. Yves says, "...okay?" When it becomes clear that everyone will be taking the day to rest tomorrow, Ismark lowers his voice to ask Yves if they want to go on a date "in earnest." He adds that he feels a bit silly that Yves went on date with Strahd before they went on a date with him, despite the fact that he is the one engaged to them. Yves laughs awkwardly but agrees to the date. ### Confronting Lyssa Notte finds Ireena and Lyssa going over Lyssa's spellbook together in the library. Ireena and Notte greet each other affectionately. When Notte asks Lyssa if she would like to talk about what she learned in front of Ireena or in private, Lyssa moves to leave the room, gesturing for Notte to follow. Notte hangs back and tells Ireena that she will fill her in later. She then brings up how she thought that Ireena dislikes Lyssa. Ireena maintains that she doesn't like her; she just wants to feel more useful, and she figures that learning magic is a good way to do that. Notte confronts Lyssa in the graveyard. Lyssa admits that her grandfather, Sturm – Strahd's brother – was exiled for being an artist in a family of warriors. She shares that Strahd couldn't be bothered to do anything to stop it and that Sergei was too young to intervene. When asked about her goals, Lyssa openly states that she wants Strahd's wealth, as she believes it rightfully belongs to her family. A bit regretfully, Notte points out that killing Strahd doesn't align with the party's current plan. Lyssa states that she doesn't need to kill Scaena's Strahd; also, she can just take his things once he and the others leave the domain. Notte concedes. ### Notte catches Ireena up Notte tells Ireena about Lyssa's ancestry. Ireena is surprised but pleased to learn that there is goodness in Strahd's family. She adds that there are worse things to be than related to bad people – Notte is also related to bad people, for example. Ireena admits that Lyssa still creeps her out; she says, however, that she would prefer to overcome this feeling, especially because it seems like Notte enjoys Lyssa's company. As they speak about Lyssa's intent to steal Strahd's things, Ireena jokes about Gallagher and Ezmerelda stealing Strahd's wife. Regardless, she expresses that she hopes Ludmilla is able to successfully resurrect her fiancée, even though Ludmilla is scary, mean, and "kind of perverse." Notte expresses doubt that Ludmilla will be successful. Ireena indicates that she wants to continue working on spells with Lyssa and invites Notte to join, partly because Lyssa would likely appreciate the company. Notte agrees that Lyssa, like other Von Zarovichs, is probably lonely. ### Gallagher gives up the gem Gallagher retrieves the Martikovs' final missing gem from Krue. She then approaches Yesper and Sorina and asks them to deliver to the winery. The two depart quickly. Gallagher tells Ez that she isn't sure that Yesper and Sorina will be returning. When Ez points out that they probably aren't the fondest of how things have been going, Gallagher expresses guilt; she also expresses that she hopes, for the Keeper's sake, that they don't do something rash in retaliation for the party helping Strahd. ### Francis & Van Richten's fresh start Van Richten asks Francis to spend time with him. He clarifies that he doesn't mean that they should have sex before stating that he isn't ruling it out. Francis is a bit taken aback, but agrees to allow Van Richten to teach her how to play *Pokémon Platinum.* In the room, Van Richten confesses regret over previously rejecting Francis. He adds that dying and becoming a lich has empowered him to divorce himself from the guilt that belongs to the actual Rudolph van Richten. He asks if they can continue from where they left off, ideally with less anger and spite. Francis agrees that they can try again. ### Yves confronts Petre Yves finally heads to Petre's room and finds him hungover and upset. Yves, more concerned and saddened than angry, admits that Petre was his first kiss. Yves asks Petre for an explanation. Petre admits that he and Escher ended up drinking together and talking about their feelings of inadequacy in their relationships; eventually, it went in a direction that it shouldn't have. Petre states that he was uncomfortable during the "whole event of it." When Yves asks Petre if he wants them to tell Escher to leave, Petre says "please." He adds that looking at Escher makes him feel sad, whereas Yves admits that looking at Escher makes them feel angry. Petre implies that Yves could ask Hawthorne to kill or rough up Escher. Yves declines to do this. Yves declares that he doesn't want alcohol in the building anymore. Petre says that this might be a hard sell for some, but that he will happily give it up himself. Petre apologizes to Yves. Yves leaves to talk to Escher. ### Yves confronts Escher Yves finds Escher drinking beer out of a wine glass. Throughout the conversation, Escher is flippant and oblivious. He does agree to avoid sleeping with Petre in the future, adding that the man isn't his type. Escher pries about the status of Yves's other relationships, asking about "Mark," Notte, Francis, Van Richten, Juste, and Gallagher, who he refers to as the "rugged pirate fellow." Yves incredulously informs him that Gallagher is a woman. Escher neglects to ask about Hawthorne. Yves eventually manages to convince Escher to leave the Keep for at least a few days. When Escher asks if he can take any alcohol with him, Yves responds that Escher could use a break. Escher argues that Yves isn't his mother before adding that they are "like 14." Yves doesn't kill him. ### Yves & Juste collude Yves warns Juste, who is still disguised as Ez, that Escher might hit on him. Juste remarks that Escher was "very rude" to Yves and offers to erase Escher from existence. When Yves turns her down, she then hatches a plan to have Escher abducted and then "mistakenly" delivered to Krezk instead of to someone who was planning to "cut him up or something"; Escher will then have to find his way back from Krezk, which might serve as a wakeup call. Yves helps Juste fill in some worldbuilding. Juste compliments them; they thank him genuinely. ### Ludmilla's crisis Around noon, Gallagher checks on Ludmilla, finding her sitting despondently among shattered remains of the coffin and human bone. Gallagher coaxes her outside, where Ludmilla – after a long stretch of silence – admits that her attempt to resurrect her fiancée failed when her fiancée chose not to return to life. Ludmilla spirals into guilt, blaming her selfishness and immorality. When Gallagher tries to reassure her, Ludmilla insists that she hasn't changed at all since her mortal days. Ludmilla expresses a fantasy wherein she travels to town, kills a random man, and then is killed by an angry mob; barring that, she can hurt herself until she passes out. She then declares that she is a vampire and a pirate before that; taking is all she has ever done. Gallagher states that she isn't going to let her kill someone just so that she can be killed in retaliation. In response, Ludmilla punches her in the jaw. Gallagher returns the punch but intentionally holds back. Ludmilla angrily storms off, though not before flatly thanking Gallagher for trying. Gallagher spits the blood out of her mouth and cleans off her teeth. Eventually, Ez arrives to check up on Gallagher, who neglects to mention the specifics of what occurred. Gallagher states that she is fine; she's mostly just worried that Ludmilla will do something stupid. Later, Hawthorne agrees to clean up Gallagher and Ez's room on the condition that she can keep the bone. The party spends the rest of the day recuperating. ## 24 Mirtul 1494 ### Morning messages & missing bodies Juste messages the group chat to inform everyone that they have figured out a "semi-permanent solution" regarding the matter of their disguises. They request that everyone – especially Notte – do their best to avoid being angry with them. Notte quickly finds that her wooden body is missing. ### Juste's new disguise Quincey brings everyone breakfast from Hardee's. Juste is with him, disguised in Notte's old body, which has been touched up. Notte is furious. Francis teases Juste for continuing to disguise himself as women. ### Storytelling, squabbles, & flirting Juste argues that the mists reanimating an empty vessel is an efficient narrative device to justify his presence. He adds that wooden people coming to life is a "common motif" in stories. When pressed, he tells them all about *Pinocchio*. Notte expresses that she wanted to fix up the body herself. When Gallagher asks Juste why he keeps angering the people in his corner, Juste argues that Notte isn't on his side. Francis points out that Van Richten isn't using his original visage at the moment. When Juste dismisses Van Richten as not being "attractive" enough, Notte accuses him of being a pervert. Juste continues to argue with the others. He eventually says that, if another one of them dies, he will just take their body instead. Ludmilla and Gallagher vaguely flirt over the concept of cremating each other's bodies so that Juste cannot use them. Ez glares at Gallagher. Notte threatens to cremate Juste. Hawthorne pries for details about Francis and Van Richten's sex life as well as Francis's death at the hands of Van Richten. Van Richten, acting scandalized, leaves the room with Francis; however, he still uses it as an opportunity to flirt with her. Yves calls Hawthorne annoying. Hawthorne kisses Yves on the forehead. Gallagher blinks in surprise. ### Juste & Notte argue In private, Juste apologizes for making Notte angry but argues that puppeteering her body will make it easier for her to be around them. Notte is slightly reassured to learn that Juste is not possessing her body directly; still, she insists that Juste avoid making her "look bad." Juste argues that Notte makes herself look bad between her ruthlessness and pragmatic approach to relationships. Notte demands that Juste stop eavesdropping on events that she isn't present to witness. Juste claims that she can't help it; she is the land. She adds that she never wanted to be the omniscient director of a reality-warping brain theater. Notte tells Juste that she needs to make it clear they aren't the same person. After some discussion, Notte angrily puts the hair on her old body up in a bun. Juste looks in a mirror and remarks that the hairstyle looks nice. Notte takes issue with this and calls her a pervert once more. ### Yves, Juste, & narratives Later, Yves and Juste argue about how much "narrative sense" it makes for Juste to occupy Notte's old body. In the process, Juste calls Notte a "weird little girl-shaped boat." Yves fixes the doll's hair for Juste. Yves also agrees to design an outfit for Juste, who gives them a sketchpad and some pencils for this task. When Juste requests that Yves not make him look like an ass, Yves muses that this might not be completely possible since he is piloting Notte's body. Juste agrees that Notte is an ass, but adds that he himself is an ass to her in return – "so it's like a thing." Juste tells Yves about how the *Balance* card that Notte drew at the Seelie Market might have altered her personality. Juste mentions that he is looking for an excuse to spend time with Gallagher and implies that he finds her dislike of him unreasonable. Yves suggests that Juste should apologize to Gallagher without attempting to justify his actions; Juste admits that that this might be difficult for him. During the conversation, Juste shares that he was born a noble, that he gave up his nobility for theater, and that his father hated him. Yves says, "cool." Juste reveals that he gathered "exceptionally traumatized" people for his story on purpose; in doing so, he wasn't aiming to worsen their trauma but rather wanted to prove that they can overcome their circumstances. Yves calls him an ass, but admits that they prefer how things are now over how they were when they lived with their parents. ### Ludmilla requests clothes Ludmilla approaches Ez and Gallagher and asks to speak with Ez. Ez initially resists, but she eventually relents when Gallagher gives her a look. Not long after the two depart, Ez comes stomping back. She tells Gallagher that Ludmilla informed her about her inability to revive her fiancée. Though she notes that Ludmilla previously claimed to have had a husband, she also notes that she is unsurprised that Ludmilla lied. Ez declares that Ludmilla talking about her dead fiancée was simply a "pretext" for asking to borrow her clothes. Gallagher reasons that Ludmilla, who is still wearing a wedding dress, simply doesn't want to be reminded of her fiancée and their wedding. Ez argues that Ludmilla is conducting "psychological warfare." Gallagher eventually convinces Ez to let Ludmilla borrow some clothes. She insists, however, that Gallagher has to deliver the clothes and that she has to tell Ludmilla to not be "weird." Gallagher gathers some of Ez's clothes and then heads out to the graveyard, where Ludmilla is perched on a tombstone. When Gallagher tiredly relays Ez's demand, Ludmilla acknowledges that she is indeed a pervert, though she promises to "try" to be minimally perverse about Gallagher's girlfriend's clothes. ### The thrill or mundanity killing Francis informs Lyssa that she broke her pact with Strahd. Lyssa jokingly calls this a "shame," as she was looking forward to teaching Francis about vampirism. Francis confesses her mixed feelings about the situation; while she is glad to no longer be bound to Firan or Strahd, she doesn't like that she is still bound to someone who has authority over her, even though she is now bound to someone she trusts. Lyssa remarks that Van Richten seems unlikely to harm Francis – she has seen the way "that old man" looks at him – however, his patronage will probably still impose restrictions on his life. Francis indicates that he has no qualms about killing things so that Van Richten can consume their souls to stay alive, especially since he mostly kills "scary creatures." When he adds, on the other hand, that it felt good to kill Izek Strazni, Lyssa agrees that it can sometimes be thrilling to kill. Francis expresses that he is glad to know Lyssa despite her showing up under "vague and suspicious circumstances." ### Escher's disappearance After Francis makes a passing comment about Strahd's wives, Lyssa indicates that she thinks Escher might have been kidnapped; he left the Keep and hasn't returned, and she found tracks that suggested an ambush and a struggle. She adds that she didn't say anything at the time because she was under the impression that he would not be missed. Francis tells Van Richten that Escher might have been abducted. Francis expresses worry; Van Richten is incredulous and points out that Escher previously attacked her. Despite this, Francis is persistent, and Van Richten eventually states that they can make plans to go looking for him. ### Lyssa & the nun On Ireena's request, Notte and Ireena ask Lyssa about how she ended up becoming a vampire. Without hesitation, Lyssa recounts infiltrating the Sisters of Mercy Hospice under the name "Irina," befriending a serial killer vampire nun, forcing the nun to turn her, and then killing the nun. She explains that she figured that vampirism would assist in her goal of dethroning Strahd. Lyssa states that it was unfortunate that she had to kill the nun, as she was – among other things – a great conversational partner and talented cleric. By the conclusion of Lyssa's story, Ireena has gone pale. Lyssa, unphased, suggests that they can do some more reading soon. ### Ismark requests dead animals Ismark asks Gallagher to procure several animal carcasses by nightfall so that he can take Yves on a date to [[Wolf's Den|a restaurant]] run by a cultist in Barovia Village. Gallagher insists that he should ask Krue, who is a ranger, or Francis, who hunted animals for a living, but Ez accepts the task for both of them once Ismark implies that they will be paid. Juste corners Gallagher while Ez is off gathering supplies. She makes awkward small talk before eventually asking to join in on the hunt, arguing that she can easily transport the kills back to the Keep. Gallagher is clearly reluctant, though she leaves the decision up to Ez. Once she has returned, Ez states that she doesn't want to go hunting with Juste, but that Gallagher is free to go. Gallagher becomes upset over Ez's lack of consideration for her feelings on being near Juste; she doesn't say anything, however, and Ez doesn't notice. Gallagher half-jokes about killing Juste, but ultimately agrees to go hunting together. ### The hunt Outside, Juste attempts more small talk until Gallagher abruptly asks what he wants from her, at which point he awkwardly apologizes for causing her death and for showing her visions of her brother. He admits they were "artistic choices" meant to help explore Gallagher's character and motivations. Gallagher remains angry, but she states that she doesn't have to like him in order to help him. When Juste asks Gallagher how he could help her, Gallagher only asks that he keep her friends safe. As he did with Yves, Juste agrees to do this. Eventually, Juste says that he doesn't know for a fact that Gallagher's brother is dead; he didn't spot Grayson's corpse among the many in the wreckage. Gallagher, struggling to speak, tells Juste not to talk about him. Soon after, they kill four deer between them. Juste teleports them back to the Keep. When Ez asks how the hunt was, Gallagher only says, "fine." ### Gun safety with Francis & Quincey Francis is pulled aside by Quincey, who asks if Francis feels safer under Van Richten's patronage. Francis states that he does, but admits that he often feels unsafe when he is not in Van Richten's immediate presence. Quincey puts his gun on the table. He acknowledges that guns are likely not the most effective weapon to use against monsters; he indicates, however, that he would like to show Francis how to use one. Francis accepts the offer. Quincey takes Francis outside, where he has lined up some bottles in the distance. After Francis has some difficulty following along with his instructions, Quincey physically guides Francis through the handling, aiming, and firing of the gun. When they shatter a bottle together, Quincey compliments Francis. Francis takes the opportunity to flirt with him. ### Stella's unnecessary apology Stella nervously apologizes to Notte for "overstepping" and "imposing," as she fears that she has made unwelcome advances and insisted on being in Notte and Ireena's company when she was not wanted. She then admits that she has been considering returning to Vallaki. Despite Notte's repeated reassurances, Stella remains self-deprecating. When Notte states that she likes Stella's company and that Stella has been unnecessarily avoiding her, Stella is unconvinced, but says that she will think more on whether she should leave the Keep. Notte relays the conversation to Ireena, who admits that she didn't like how Stella initially treated her – nor did she like how much interest she showed in Notte – but insists that she doesn't dislike her. They agree that Stella doesn't need to return to Vallaki, especially since it seems like a bad place for her. Ireena resolves to have a conversation with Stella later despite Notte's insistence that she doesn't have to. ### Juste's event & smoke break Juste invites everyone to attend a "fun and relaxing" social event tomorrow. Notte declines until Ireena timidly says that she would like to hang out with her friends. Though Juste refuses to disclose many details about what the event will entail, the others also agree to be there. Outside, Juste asks Gallagher for a cigarette. Though she initially tells them to ask Hawthorne, she relents when Juste argues with her. Juste admits that they won't actually derive any benefit from the cigarette, but that they like "how it looks." Gallagher leaves to smoke elsewhere. ### Yves & Ismark's date: a rocky start As evening falls, Ismark invites Yves on a date in Barovia Village. Ismark says that he made arrangements with Van Richten to take his wagon into town; however, Yves can tell that Ismark is lying. Yves refuses to steal Van Richten's wagon but eventually agrees to ask the man himself. Van Richten declares that he will drive the two into town when Yves expresses uncertainty over whether Ismark can drive a wagon. When Ismark complains about being humiliated, Yves asks why they can't just walk. Ismark explains that he has to carry a "bag of deer" to exchange for their food. Yves is aghast; Ismark becomes defensive. Van Richten drops Yves and Ismark off near the restaurant – the Wolf's Den. Yves tells Van Richten that they will be fine walking back to the Keep. Ismark takes Yves to an unmarked building. Yves complains that they feel like they are about to get murdered and asks Ismark if he is sure that the restaurant isn't run by cannibals. Ismark assures them that the worst thing about the place is that it might be frequented by criminals. Yves muses that their party has committed a few murders; high-profile ones at that. ### Yves & Ismark's date: the cult restaurant Inside, they are greeted by the proprietor, [[Nadia van der Korbhe|Korby]], who is a tall, thin, hooded individual with hard to discern features. Korby seats them in a dimly-lit, skull-adorned dining space after taking the deer meat from Ismark. They have a brief spat over whether Yves should get the blood-infused wine. Yves, who still hasn't fed, ends up refusing. Over food, the two gossip about the others at the Keep and talk about their future. Despite Ismark's insecurities, they both have a good time. They agree to spend the rest of the night together; later, Yves ends up feeding. ## 25 Mirtul 1494 ### Breakfast & candy preferences Quincey brings coffee, donuts, and other pastries for breakfast. Juste asks everyone to write down the kinds of things – flavors, textures, et cetera – that they like in a candy. This task proves difficult for Francis and Notte, who resist in various ways. Juste collects the papers after the fact. Juste declares that they are all going to take the day off, as there is nothing urgent to attend to; Strahd is still "soul-searching," and he also wants to allow time for Escher to return to the Keep. Yves awkwardly expresses that they hope Escher is okay, while Notte seems displeased that he will be returning at all. Everyone disperses. Yves braids Myrtle's hair. ### Movie Setup That afternoon, everyone reconvenes in the dining hall, where Juste has removed the table and replaced it with cushions, blankets, short tables, a projector at the head of the room. There is also a soda machine at the back of the room. Most of the lights have been dimmed. Freek and Myrtle sit as close to the screen as possible. Juste gives Hawthorne a hotdog and passes out candy and popcorn to the others. He instructs them how to use the soda machine, urging them to take care; he stole it. Juste announces that she will be showing them all a film, which she describes as an artfully-designed, pre-recorded play. Specifically, they will be watching one of the best regarded and most influential films ever created: *Frankenstein (1931)*. She gives them each a poster to serve as a "take-home memory." Notte and Gallagher pretend to be ignorant of the concept of printing. ### Romance of Frankenstein Juste projects a translation of what is being said on the screen, though Gallagher soon casts Tongues on herself, Ez, and Ludmilla so that they can understand the speech without the text. Ludmilla flirts with Gallagher. Ez punches her in the shoulder. Eventually, Ludmilla reclines across Gallagher and Ez's lap. Gallagher freezes up; Ez half-heartedly attempts to shove her off. Ludmilla doesn't budge and instead grabs Ez's hand with a grin. Gallagher spends much of the film distracted, especially when Ludmilla insists on whispering jokes up at her. Ez scowls at Gallagher when she laughs. Juste leans over to Yves every so often to enthusiastically provide trivia about the film and the book that it is based on. Ismark puts his arm around Yves. Yves holds Hawthorne's hand. Francis tells Van Richten, who keeps giving her pieces of chocolate, to offer Quincey candy instead. Quincey admits that he isn't big on chocolate before offering Van Richten a molasses stick on Francis's insistence. Van Richten initially declines, though he holds his hand out for one a few minutes later. Lyssa shoves Skelly out of the way to sit next to and put her arm around Ireena. Ireena, transfixed by the film, doesn't notice; Notte stares; Lyssa smiles and shrugs. Notte leans against Ireena. Stella sighs sadly. Later, Lyssa moves to Notte's side and puts an arm around her. Notte says, "maybe don't put your arm around me." Lyssa asks, "maybe, or don't?" Ireena looks over and blushes. Notte, too embarrassed to fight Lyssa, asks if they can just watch the film. When Frankenstein is burned alive, Notte freezes, reminded of the dracolich. Lyssa squeezes Notte's shoulder. Notte refuses to look away. ### The film concludes Despite the distractions, the group largely enjoys themselves. Juste thanks them all for showing. When he asks if they all would like to watch a different film in a few days, a few people answer that they would. Juste hands out a poster for the next film they will be watching: *Star Wars (1977)*. Juste asks for volunteers to help clean up. Almost everyone disperses, with the exception of Yves, who becomes annoyed enough at Juste's complaining to assist. ### Ireena & Notte discuss Lyssa & Stella Ireena immediately pulls Notte aside after the movie and asks how she is handling Lyssa's advancements. Notte eventually settles on "embarrassed" and uncertainly expresses that she wishes that Lyssa would respect her boundaries. Ireena agrees that Lyssa's actions were "weird" and "not good," though she also sounds unsure of herself. Notte says that people should not be flirting with them since they are already in a relationship. Ireena complicates this by pointing out that Yves's relationships are not exclusive. Though they both remain cagey, Ireena and Notte laboriously come to the conclusion that neither of them would mind if Lyssa made another move on them. Ireena admits that she feels bad for how she reacted about Stella flirting with Notte. When Ireena asks whether Notte was bothered by Stella's attention toward her, Notte admits that the attention itself didn't particularly bother her; however, she expresses that she is unsure whether she would want the attention to continue. Ireena suggests that they can revisit the subject later. Ireena also indicates that she still needs to talk to Stella about not leaving the Keep. ### Ez & Gallagher argue about Ludmilla Outside, Ez confronts Gallagher about laughing at Ludmilla's jokes and accuses her of being unbothered by Ludmilla laying across their laps. Gallagher pushes back by expressing frustration with Ez's weak attempts to push Ludmilla away, especially considering Ez's past complaints about Ludmilla hitting on Gallagher. When Ez insists that Ludmilla wouldn't listen to her if she protested, Gallagher disagrees; she concedes, however, that Ludmilla probably enjoys provoking Ez. Ez presses Gallagher on whether she enjoyed Ludmilla's behavior during the movie. Gallagher maintains that the experience was unpleasant and reaffirms her loyalty to Ez. Despite this, she admits under pressure that she likes Ludmilla as a person and thinks that she could use some friends. She urges Ez to consider that Ludmilla's behavior is overcompensation rather than manipulation. After a long moment, Ez apologizes for being difficult. She admits that her anger is rooted in jealousy and a fear of losing Gallagher; she also admits that her insecurity partially stems from her inexperience in relationships. Gallagher insists that she doesn't want to lose Ez either. The two reconcile and agree to "see where things go" regarding Ludmilla. They also agree to be open about any developments or changes in their feelings. As the conversation winds down, Ez admits that she is exhausted. The two hide away in their room and share some wine on Gallagher's suggestion. ### Nox Dilisnya Juste asks Notte what name he should call himself. When Notte only requests that he doesn't use her name or something "stupid and embarrassing" such as Juste, Juste angrily informs her that he picked that name for himself. Notte apologizes with a sigh. Later, Juste wheels out a chalkboard and requests Yves's and Francis's help with her new name. She presents two ideas: Montana (mountain-themed, which matches her given name, Lemont) and Nacht (night-themed, like Notte's name). Yves reminds Juste that Notte previously used "Nacht" as an alias. Juste complains that she has a lot to keep track of. Francis suggests that Juste could by "Nox," which also translates to "night." Juste likes this idea. Juste briefly considers adopting Notte's surname – Boritsi – but Francis talks him out of it. He ultimately settles on using the last name "Dilisnya," which is a branch family of the Boritsis. ### Philosophy, Quincey, and Escher Nox struggles to explain the Ship of Theseus and trolley problem to Yves and Francis during a tangent; both mock the thought experiments. Nox reveals that Quincey is actually a character from the novel *Dracula*. Francis is embarrassed to learn that he likely reminds Quincey of the character of Lucy, the victimized damsel who Quincey attempted to romance. When the discussion turns to Escher, Francis grows suspicious and eventually accuses Nox of orchestrating Escher's disappearance. Nox argues that Escher needed a "learning experience." Francis storms out of the room in anger. ### Nox voices his inside thoughts Nox implies to Yves that he views Francis as "maternal." He also implies that the audience is invested in Yves's and Francis's dynamic, which he refers to as "salacious." Yves is incredulous. ### Nox's to-do list A chiming noise summons everyone to the dining hall, where Nox announces her new name. When Notte expresses discontent, Nox informs her that it could have been worse. Next, Nox begins listing objectives on the chalkboard, framing them as things the group needs to accomplish in the time that Strahd is out soul-searching. With input from others, the objectives include: > 1) RESOLVE THINGS WITH THE KEEPERS OF THE FEATHER > 2) CHECK ON VICTOR WHILE IN VALLAKI > 3) RESOLVE THINGS WITH THE ORDER OF THE SILVER DRAGON > 4) RESOLVE THINGS WITH WEREWOLVES > 5) RESOLVE THINGS WITH THE ABBEY AND THE MONGRELFOLK > 6) FIND MINSC IN THE BALOK MOUNTAINS > .) FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: *STAR WARS: EPISODE IV* > .) ELMINATE FIRAN ZAL'HONAN / "AZALIN REX" > .) WAIT FOR STRAHD TO RETURN FROM HIS VISION QUEST > .) FINISH THE PLAY & ESCAPE (WITHOUT IT ENDING IN BLOOD) The party members debate several points as Nox writes her list, with Notte arguing against checking in with the Keepers and Victor. She also argues against attempting to rescue Minsc. No one corrects Nox on his misspelling of "eliminate." Other than Nox, Quincey, Van Richten, and Francis himself, everyone is surprised to learn that Firan is still haunting Francis. ### A more involved director Despite pushback, Nox insists on coming with the party on their various diplomacy missions. Notte concedes that having Nox with them might be helpful, whereas Yves states outright that he wouldn't mind if Nox accompanied them. ### Escher's return Escher stumbles into the Keep, dirty, disheveled, and down a leg. Yves looks sick with guilt. Francis rushes for Escher before leading him to the kitchen and instructing him to lay down on the table. Although Escher's wounds have already healed thanks to his vampirism, Quincey starts applying bandages to soothe him. Francis retrieves Yves, who had retreated to their room. Yves is unable to regenerate Escher's leg or heal him physically otherwise, but they do cast Greater Restoration to cure him of any exhaustion. Escher reveals that he was maimed by a bear trap and then abducted by a group of men intending to sell him to gain entry to Krezk. The guards were uninterested, and Escher was subsequently tossed down the hill. Yves quietly apologizes to Escher and admits that they feel a bit responsible for what happened to him. However, Escher dismisses the apology; he states that the experience changed him, rekindling his faith and granting him a desire to become a better person. He also claims that he is "completely over" Strahd. ### Francis confront a guilty Yves At Escher's request, Francis and Yves carry him to the graveyard so that he can take a "dirt nap." Francis then privately confronts Yves. Yves admits that what happened to Escher was a "collaborative effort" between them and Juste, though they did not expect the consequences to be so severe. Francis chastises them and calls them childish, but she abruptly ends the argument and declares that she is sick of being in Scaena. Yves, whose life has only improved since arriving the domain, makes a noncommittal noise. ### Ireena & Stella That night, Ireena finally manages to track down Stella. Afterwards, she reports to Notte that the talk went fine; Stella was apologetic and polite and will not be leaving the Keep. Though she is reluctant to admit it, Ireena tells Notte that – in order to stop Stella's repeated apologies – she told Stella that Notte suggested that she didn't mind Stella's advances. Notte is taken aback. Ireena apologizes and explains that she panicked in the moment. ## 26 Mirtul 1494 ### Breakfast blood & cheesecake Nox gives Yves a glass of blood at breakfast. He refuses to say where it came from, though he promises that it is "ethically sourced." Yves doesn't mind that it is likely Juste's blood. Notte eats cheesecake for breakfast. She loves it. ### Preparing to depart Nox tells everyone that she solved the problem of overcrowding in Ez's wagon by making her wagon bigger. She also reveals that – for reasons unclear – she turned the wagon into two connected train cars and laid down tracks alongside the roads of the land to accommodate this change. Ez is furious about the modifications. Nox promises that they can be undone. Nox informs Gallagher that she might want another cigarette later, despite Notte's protests. Ireena tells Notte that she is going to stay behind and continue practicing magic with Lyssa for the day. Conversely, Van Richten tells Francis that he will be coming with, especially since they will checking in on Victor in Vallaki. He adds that he will disguise himself so as to avoid scaring the townsfolk. Ludmilla flirts with Gallagher and demands that she hand over her Gabb in case Gallagher wants to contact her. ### Departure by train Ismark, Yves, Francis, Van Richten, Notte, Lacrymosa, Gallagher, Ez, and Nox teleport to the train, which is near Castle Ravenloft, with the skull of Argynvost in tow. Nox shows them were they need to shovel coal into the engine. Notte assigns this task to Lacrymosa. Nox warns the others that he has inserted some "situations" into the domain – sometimes pulled from films that he is fond of – to keep things from getting stale and to keep Achlys on her toes if she is out wandering. ### Jurassic Park The party spots what Nox explains is a dinosaur – specifically, a frightened triceratops – running toward them; the triceratops is summarily killed by a T-Rex that rushes out of the tree line. Ez brings the train to a stop just as the T-Rex turns its attention to the party. The T-Rex knocks Francis to the ground with its tail and rushes forward to bite Yves, who screams and thrashes in its mouth. The rest of the party quickly dispatches the dinosaur. Yves blushes as Notte catches him before he can hit the ground. Gallagher suggests to Yves that he shouldn't get so close to such large creatures since he is so small. Yves, stuttering, claims that he had the situation under control. Van Richten helps Francis off the ground. ### Stopped at the gates Miruna – one of Vallaki's guards – questions the presence of two Nottes, though she lets the matter drop once she is assured that Nox isn't a vampire. On the subject of Lacrymosa, however, Miruna doesn't budge; she is worried that the large construct would "terrify people." Notte and Yves argue with Miruna, but Notte eventually quietly orders Lacrymosa to wait in the train with the skull of Argynvost. ### Reunion with Victor The party heads to the Blue Water Inn after being allowed entry into Vallaki. Victor is present, looking stressed and serving tables in an ill-fitting suit. At the sight of the party, he stumbles and drops his tray. Notte laughs. Francis helps him up. When Francis excitedly comments on Victor's job, Victor laments that he didn't have an option; in the short time he was away from home, his mother left and took the family fortune with her. ### Inviting Victor to the Keep Francis extends Victor an invitation to stay at the Keep of the Scarlet Cross. Notte, worried for Stella, protests. Francis tells Victor that he needs to have a conversation with Stella, since they both had "difficult childhoods" with "difficult parents" and since Victor "fucked up a bit." She informs him that Stella no longer thinks that she is a cat. Yves suggests that they should ask Stella what she thinks before bringing Victor back to the Keep. Notte calls Ireena and asks her to hand the Gabb to Stella, who sounds disgusted by the prospect of Victor joining them. However, she ultimately states that she would be fine with his presence as long as he doesn't speak to her. She adds that there are already plenty of people at the Keep whom she doesn't like – like Francis, for example. Victor admits that he doesn't know much of what the group's "deal" is beyond Francis and "the old guy" talking to him about his prospects; he adds that he thinks one of them killed his dad, though he states that he doesn't mind that they did this. He admits that he is still scared of Hawthorne; even still, he ultimately agrees to accompany the party when Francis assures him that he won't be killed. ### Meeting with Urwin Yesper leads the group upstairs to meet with Urwin. There is a map on the table, on which various locations are marked by colored dots. > 🔴 Castle Ravenloft, Abbey of Saint Markovia, Amber Temple, (UNEXPLORED) > 🟠 Tser Pool Camp, Luna River Camp, Keep of the Scarlet Cross > 🟡 Barovia Town > 🟢 Argynvostholt, Krezk Urwin asks the party how they have been faring on their share mission. Francis speaks candidly and reveals their new plan: to permanently release "Barovia" from the mists and deal with the bigger threat – Achlys and the forces she serves, which keep Strahd and everyone else bound to the land – by "redeeming" Strahd and setting him free. When Urwin begins chiding them, Notte challenges the idea that Urwin has accomplished anything in the fight against Strahd. She implies that he would be powerless if Strahd or Achlys showed up at the gates of Vallaki. Urwin, appalled, cites Strahd's centuries of cruelty as a strike against their plan. He also confronts them about harboring vampires – including Strahd's brides, who have victimized many – at their keep. Francis argues that the brides can be rehabilitated. Gallagher states that Strahd is working to give up the power that has allowed him to oppress others. Francis adds that Strahd will not be able to leave the land unless he has well and truly changed. After much heated debate, Urwin eventually says that he will consider what the party has presented and will confer with his peers on the matter. ### Healing Ismark's eye The party is sent away. Nox says that they feel like things could have gone worse; Ismark points out that they also could have gone better. He adds that he felt a bit derided when Urwin didn't take the threat of Achlys seriously, especially considering his eye was melted by the dracolich. Yves casts Regenerate on Ismark's eye. After a minute, the scar remains, but the eye is functional once more. Ismark is pleased; he is also glad the scar is still there, as he thinks it makes him look handsome and "rugged." Francis disagrees on the point of the scar making him look handsome but implies that she thinks Ismark is handsome regardless. Yves gives Francis a look. Francis blows them a kiss. ### Argument in the alley Notte suggests that she will be telling people that Nox is still learning how to speak. In retaliation, Nox later tells Victor that he can ignore Notte. This leads Notte to drag him into an alley by the doll body's hair. Nox complains that she messed up his bun. They argue about mutual respect. Nox points out that his attempts to do better by Notte's feelings have been met with nothing but scorn. Eventually, they apologize to each other. Nox lets slip Francis's plans to rescue Vasilka from the Abbey, which irritates Notte further. Nox points out that Vasilka was made in a lab – shaped like Notte's girlfriend – to be a sentient sex doll for Strahd. Notte admits that she does feel some amount of sympathy when he puts it that way. Nox pulls out his phone as he receives a message from Francis. When Notte asks why his Gabb looks different from hers, Nox states that it's nicer. Notte declares that she would like a better Gabb as well. Nox argues, but eventually agrees to get her an iPhone. Immediately after agreeing to be more amicable to each other, the two squabble about Notte's lack of emotiveness. Nox accuses her of having the affect of a plank of wood. Notte points out that – thanks to Nox – she is made of porcelain. Nox states that the porcelain looks nice on her. Later, Notte calls him greasy. ### Alien The party departs from Vallaki and heads for Argynvostholt. The tracks lead them through the wreckage of a large, turtle-shaped apparatus, which they investigate after disembarking from the train. Inside the wreckage are many gith who appear to have died of organ failure. The walls are adorned with splatters of blood and deep claw marks. Notte asks Nox what he created that could wipe out an entire ship of gith. Nox only says that it's "like a famous thing" and that they will all be fine. Strange, alien gnolls burst out of the chests of four of the dead gith at the same time that a much larger gnoll drops from the ceiling. The party manages to defeat the gnolls, though not before Ezmerelda is afflicted by a strange, green wound that Gallagher is unable to heal. Ez correctly assumes that she will just need to sleep it off. ### Jaws The party reboards the train and continues on. Soon, the area around the tracks becomes swampy until it is covered in deep water. Yves and Francis spot several sharks – including one especially large one – swimming behind and alongside the train. Despite Gallagher's argument that the sharks do not pose a threat while submerged, Nox stops the train. With varying degrees of reluctance, everyone except Nox, Victor, and Lacrymosa – who is too large to stand on the tracks – disembarks once more. Francis summons a Stirge Swarm which tears through many of the sharks. Van Richten praises her for her grisly efficiency. Notte makes a disgusted noise. Gallagher and Notte are both attacked by sharks, with Notte suffering a chunk taken out of her porcelain. She doubles over, hissing that she knew porcelain was a bad idea. Juste leans out of the train to argue with her. Van Richten heals Notte. They later argue when Van Richten mends the porcelain despite Notte saying that she wants to do it herself. Gallagher summons an Ice Storm; Yves follows it up with a rain of acidic blood. Ez, Notte, and Francis finish off the remaining sharks. Francis's last Eldritch Blast strays, however, blowing Van Richten's head clean off. Francis sheepishly reattaches it to his spine. ### Godzilla As the party is nearing Argynvostholt, a deafening roar and dimming colors alert the party to the gargantuan dragon turtle chasing the train. Alarmed, Francis says "Juste" at the same time that Notte says "Nox." Nox, also alarmed, rushes to say that he placed creatures randomly. Everyone rushes off the train except Nox and Victor. The dragon quickly unleashes scalding steam, engulfing all but Gallagher and Ez and causing Skelly to explode. Ismark, gravely injured, runs at the dragon. Notte's sword thunks uselessly against its scales. Van Richten provides support; Yves bolsters the party with Mass Cure Wounds. Ismark falls unconscious as the dragon bites him, though he is quickly back on his feet thanks to his wereraven regeneration. The dragon bites Van Richten as well, leaving cracks in his ribs and skull. Francis casts Life Link on himself and Van Richten. This allows him to heal when Francis does. Through great strain, Gallagher manages to paralyze the dragon with Hold Monster. Notte, Yves, Francis, Ez, and Lacrymosa attack. Gallagher's hold on the dragon slips; it attacks Ez, who sways on her feet. Gallagher hurls a ball of ice at the turtle in retaliation. With an echoing groan, it falls to the ground, dead. ### Nox voices more inside thoughts Notte enters the train car, finding Nox – who has her head in her hands – and a shaken Victor. Nox makes a strange remark about Francis being motherly and possibly attracted to Yves. When Notte states that this is none of her business, Nox says that it isn't weird to be attracted to Yves before implying that she is attracted to them herself. She then accuses Notte of being attracted to Yves as well, brining up how the gnothic at the Amber Temple told her that she is bisexual. ### Soul & blood harvesting Meanwhile, the party members heal and check up on each other. Francis resummons Skelly, who immediately apologizes. Francis assures him that it isn't his fault that he was exploded. As Van Richten transfers the soul of the dragon turtle to his book, Gallagher leans aside to Ez and remarks on Van Richten's strangeness. Ez states that she can't stand him, especially now that he is a "perverse, carefree skeleton creature, gallivanting around and eating giant turtles and shit." Nox encourages Yves to drink blood from the dragon turtle, explaining that vampires thrive on especially powerful blood. Yves agrees to try; sure enough, although they grow paler and gaunter, they do feel more powerful after the fact. ### Preparing to teleport Victor is still upset from the dragon turtle attack, but he immediately perks up when he learns that they will be teleporting to the Keep. Francis explains that Petre has a knack for teleportation magic; Victor demands to be introduced and declares that he will be Petre's apprentice. Francis indicates that Petre might not agree to this. The party teleports back to the Keep of the Scarlet Cross. ### Recap & healing at the Keep Ludmilla makes a face and asks what happened to them. Notte says, "dragon." Francis clarifies, "turtle dragon." When Notte says, "sharks," Francis clarifies, "swamp sharks." Yves adds, "dinosaur." Ludmilla remarks that she has eaten dinosaur before. Hawthorne observes that Yves looks paler than usual. After Yves informs her that he drank blood from a dragon, she tells him that he looks good. Petre offers to heal anyone who needs it. Ez gladly accepts. ### Ireena's tangents Notte finds Ireena, Lyssa, and Stella in the library. Ireena checks in with Notte about her physical and emotional state. When Notte indicates that Ismark might be a bit shaken up, Ireena makes plans to go check on him. She acknowledges, however, that Ismark could probably bounce back from just about anything; he is good at pretending that everything is fine, at least. In a long tangent, Ireena admits that she worries that she can be wordy, as Francis and Lyssa are similarly verbose; she fears it might be a "Tatyana thing." Notte states that she enjoys every moment of their conversations. Ireena, distraught, realizes that she is as long-winded as Francis and Lyssa. Notte agrees that she has a lot to say; however, she isn't complaining. Ireena somberly calls Notte "sweet." ### Escher, Francis, & moving on Francis allows Victor to take over her room for the night. Van Richten expresses displeasure; he enjoys the privacy for a "multitude of reasons." Escher later asks Francis for a moment in private, promising Francis and Van Richten that he will not attack Francis again. Van Richten threatens Escher regardless. Outside, Escher talks about his history of attaching himself to wealthy men of status. Francis relates, explaining that she frequented the inns, taverns, and parties in the richer parts of [[Martira Bay]] in the months leading up to her death. The two also relate about having constant nightmares. Escher shares that he has been finding solace in religion. Francis admits that she wishes that she had a way to reach out to Ludmilla, Anastrasya, and Volenta, though she notes that they don't seem to care about Strahd the way Escher did. Escher agrees: with Ludmilla, it was all about power and a plan; with Anastrasya, it was about wealth; Volenta, on the other hand, seemed to actually like Strahd, but he believes that she would have a similar opinion of anyone who had taken many lives. Before they party ways, Escher informs Francis that he might come to her tomorrow; he has an idea for something he would like to do for her and the others. He adds that he hopes it will be a step toward making up for everything he was before. ### Dripping blood & et cetera Gallagher smokes outside; Ludmilla joins her. Gallagher recounts the meeting with the Keepers and expresses her worry that the knights of Argynvostholt will be similarly unhappy about their change of plans. Ludmilla jokes about "frying the place," but Gallagher points out that the revenants will stand back up. Ludmilla makes a crass joke about blood and "other kinds of dripping." Gallagher makes a face; Ludmilla says, "like you've never had sex before." Gallagher claims that she never has in her life. When Ludmilla states that that's a surprise, Gallagher has to suppress a smile. ### A break behind the curtain Notte meets Nox in her room and casts Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum in her room to give them privacy from the audience. Notte, no longer addressing Juste as "Nox," tells him to stop throwing dangerous creatures at them. Juste apologizes and admits that he may have underestimated the threat level of some of the creatures that he placed randomly. Notte suggests that Nox could provide them with advice on how to best fight these creatures in the future. Juste initially argues, but eventually says that he will try to find an excuse to be more helpful. Notte thanks him. Juste shows Notte a picture of Godzilla. Notte says, "that is a dinosaur." When Juste argues that it's more like a lizard, Notte says, "it's a wingless dragon." Juste asks Notte if she can hang out in Notte's room while the Private Sanctum is still active. Notte tells her no. ### Contacting Grayson Back in their room, Ez checks on Gallagher, who admits that she wants to cast Sending to attempt to contact her brother. Ez holds Gallagher's hand while she sends the first message: "Someone told me you may be alive. Don't trust them but figured I should check. Figured you'd want to know the same of me." After a moment, Gallagher hears, "oh, gods, I've started hallucinating her." Gallagher is stunned; Ez helps her craft her response. Eventually, Gallagher casts the spell once more and says that she is stuck in another domain, that she will find him soon, and that she loves him. In her head, Grayson's dumbstruck voice informs Gallagher that he has been under the impression she's been dead for years. ### Ez, Gallagher, & the future Ez brings up how Juste mentioned that they gathered people who were functionally alone in their places of origin. Although she sounds conflicted, Ez says that she's glad this isn't the case for Gallagher. In an attempt to reassure Ez, Gallagher promises that she won't return to the Sea of Sorrows for long; she just needs to find her brother. Ez offers to go with. Gallagher quietly thanks her. Trying to reassure her further, Gallagher tells Ez that she understands that it must feel like none of what she thought belonged to her actually belongs to her. She adds, however – from the way 'S' and Krue have spoken about S's family – that she thinks they would be happy to see Ez anyway. Ez admits that she would like to think so, but that she won't know until she meets them. She adds that she doesn't want to get her hopes up in the meantime. Gallagher says that she would be happy to be there for Ez either way. Ez seems a little less gloomy at the prospect. ### Gallagher confronts Juste As the night is winding down, Nox intercepts Gallagher to ask about her brother. This leads Gallagher to briefly suspect that Juste emulated her brother's voice in her head until he assures her otherwise. He does admit, however, that he had to "stitch together" memories from the mists since many of his "actors" were corpses. Gallagher abruptly tells Juste that she doesn't think his bloody plays are what have him stuck in the mists. Rather, she thinks it has more to do with Juste's need for people to feel the way that he wants them to feel; if they feel otherwise, he'll argue, manipulate, and even kill, making him no different from Strahd and Pietra. To punctuate her point that Juste doesn't respect the boundaries of others, Gallagher gestures at Notte's old body, which Juste is currently puppeting as Nox. Juste argues that their "personal failings" are not what binds them to Scaena. Gallagher argues otherwise and states that she wouldn't be pushing Juste if she didn't have a desire to help them. When she requests that Juste at least consider her words, Juste sullenly agrees to think about it. ## 27 Mirtul 1494 ### Penis donuts, video games, & phones Nox presents donuts and bubble tea in the morning, informing the others that Quincey had to wait in line for over two hours for the donuts. Nox gets angry when Notte calls them immature for purchasing a donut that looks like a penis. Nox gives the party members new games to play on their Nintendo DS systems: * *Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass* * *Pokémon Ranger* * *Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team* * *New Super Mario Bros.* * *Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright* While the others are looking over their games, Nox slides Notte a blue iPhone 15. Notte asks for a purple one instead. Nox refuses. Nox announces that she is going to give out more phones. She muses that Stella, Escher, and "that little emo boy" will likely need one, whereas Freek, Myrtle, and Gertruda likely don't need one. Nox indicates that she is going to give a phone to Rahadin to give to Strahd. Gallagher – whose phone is still being held hostage by Ludmilla – states that she will also need a new phone. Lyssa requests one as well. ### Ez finds a punching bag Despite having barely spoken in the tenday since Krue angered Ez and Ez subsequently called her a psychopath, Ez approaches Krue for advice. Ez is under the impression that she already apologized for previously telling Krue not to act as if she is familiar with her. When Ez brings up Ludmilla, Krue remarks that she noticed that Ludmilla has "attached" herself to Ez and Gallagher. Ez agrees, "like some sort of sick creature." Ez indicates that Gallagher might pursue a relationship with Ludmilla. Krue, assuming that Ez is distressed by the idea, becomes angry on Ez's behalf, which makes Ez angry in turn. Ez snaps that she isn't being victimized by Gallagher. Krue hesitantly apologizes before asking Ez how she feels about Ludmilla. Ez insists that she dislikes Ludmilla because she intentionally provokes her, claiming that it has nothing to do with Gallagher. She adds that she is trying to be "a grown woman about it" so that Ludmilla *can't* provoke her – also, Ludmilla has been "sad" recently, and she doesn't want to contribute to that. Krue admits that she doesn't know what to say. Frustrated, Ez storms off after accusing Krue of acting like she is fragile and like Gallagher is evil. ### Krue, S, & interference Krue seems at a loss when she recaps the conversation to S. After considering how she initially reacted to Krue's flirtations herself in the past, S suggests that Ez might be attracted to Ludmilla. S worries for her younger, alternate self; she believes that Gallagher will do well by her, but she can't say that the same is true for Ludmilla, who seems "weird, pushy, careless, and kind of dangerous." She then asks if killing Ludmilla would be "interfering too much." Krue says that they probably shouldn't do that. Krue and S then discuss the idea of leaving Scaena to get reinforcements to face Achlys. When Krue asks if Hawthorne should stay in the domain, S points out that Hawthorne is going to have her own opinion on the matter. Krue then asks why S even asked Hawthorne to come. S defensively argues that Hawthorne is a good researcher and monster hunter – she didn't know she would just "end up fucking a nun." ### Victor becomes a gamer At the behest of Van Richten, Francis urges Victor to move out of his room. Francis then gifts Victor his DS and games, explaining that – while Yves and Van Richten have become proficient with the device – he doesn't have much of a knack for it himself. Victor quickly figures out how to use the DS. When Francis remarks that she must just be too old, Victor states that "the other guy" – referring to Van Richten – is much older than she is. Francis informs him that she is in her 80s. ### Escher's miserable project Escher has Francis follow him to the graveyard, where he has placed Juste's chalkboard among the tombstones. Escher writes: THE MISERY PROJECT. He explains that, in service of Ezra, he wants to brainstorm ways to make the lives of those at the Keep easier. With Francis's reluctant help, Escher drafts a list: > **THE MISERY PROJECT** > **YVES:** MODEL FOR CLOTHES > **PETRE:** CHURCH STUFF? SWEEP? > **RUDOLPH:** LET HIM TALK ~~TO ME~~ AT ME > **GALLAGHER:** DRAW A BOAT > **PUPPET GIRL:** KNIFE 2 > **~~PUPPET GIRL 2~~ NOX:** LET HIM TALK AT ME > **ISMARK:** WORK OUT TOGETHER > **IREENA:** WRITE HER A STORYBOOK > **VICTOR:** GET HIM A WIZARD > **EZMERELDA:** DRINK BADLY Escher then separately consults Yves, who provides critiques of Escher's standing list. They indicate that Notte – not "puppet girl" – likes woodcarving, that Victor should be ignored, that Ireena is an adult, that Escher needs to be supervised if he is going to work out with Ismark, and that Gallagher is likely a pirate not because she likes the aesthetics of boats but rather because she likes stealing things. At the end of their discussion, Escher's updated list reads: > **THE MISERY PROJECT** > **YVES:** MODEL FOR CLOTHES > **PETRE:** CHURCH STUFF? SWEEP? > **RUDOLPH:** LET HIM TALK ~~TO ME~~ AT ME > **GALLAGHER:** DRAW A BOAT > **NOTTE:** KNIFE 2 > **~~PUPPET GIRL 2~~ NOX:** LET HIM TALK AT ME > **ISMARK:** WORK OUT TOGETHER SUPERVISED > **IREENA:** WRITE HER A STORYBOOK > **VICTOR:** > **EZMERELDA:** DRINK BADLY ### Escher regrows his leg With Escher's permission, Yves regenerates Escher's leg. Escher calls Yves "quite kind" and "exceptionally proficient" in their line of work. Yves tells Escher that he will get there. Escher thanks Yves for his help and expresses his hopes that they have begun a "redefined relationship." ### Juste fails to find a mirror Nox, feeling unappreciated and resentful, visits Yves to complain about Gallagher's accusation that he has issues with manipulation as well as with respecting boundaries and autonomy. Yves acknowledges that Nox has been doing better in a lot of ways; they point out, however, that not every killer ends up confined to the mists. Yves adds that, while they don't think that Nox manipulates people on purpose, he sometimes seems to have a hard time recognizing people as autonomous, especially if he views them as "one-note characters." Nox argues that he cares about the party; however, some people – despite the fact that they too have thoughts and feelings – are "relatively meaningless." Yves bluntly compares Nox's attitude to their mother's. This upsets Nox, who leaves soon after. ### Stella's demands Stella summons Notte to the front lawn, where she invites Notte to sit for tea. Stella apologizes for her previous "unfounded glumness" and insists on addressing Notte by her first name. She also asserts that Notte is attracted to her, which she claims to have learned from Ireena. Notte, stunned, tries and fails to object. Stella tells Notte that she forgives her for her coyness; however, the least Notte can do for "overcomplicating things" is take her out soon. Notte briefly breaks off to call Ireena, who ramblingly explains that she told Stella about how Notte didn't dislike when Stella flirted with her. She suggests that Notte should do what she wants, though she expresses doubt that the outing is meant to be a date; Stella probably just wants to hang out with Notte like Lyssa does with her. Notte hesitantly agrees to the outing. Stella presents her hand for a kiss; Notte awkwardly complies. Stella states that they can "work on that." ### Ireena's magical progress On request, Ireena demonstrates the progress she has made with Lyssa's tutelage. She casts Prestidigitation, producing sparkles and making the room smell like lavender. Notte compliments her. ### Fifteen years Alone in her room, Gallagher casts Sending to contact her brother once more. She learns that it has been fifteen years since her death from Grayson's perspective, despite it only seeming like two tendays for her. She also learns that Grayson had a child in the interim who he named after her. Gallagher, shaken, tells Ez the news. Once she has calmed down enough, Gallagher gathers up Yves, Notte, and Francis and tells them that may have been dead for far longer than they assumed. Francis quips about being evicted from his apartment. Notte offers Gallagher congratulations after learning that she was able to reach her brother. ### Discussing Juste's issues Gallagher also reveals that she confronted Nox over their tendency to project and ignore the feelings and autonomy of others. Yves admits that Nox approached him about it and that he might have made things worse. Gallagher hopes that Nox will consider her words. Notte indicates that she will also speak to them about it. ### Volenta's offer Later, Francis gets the sense that he is being watched and correctly assumes that Volenta – who has taken a special interest in Francis since arriving at the Keep – is to blame. After Francis calls attention to her, Volenta walks down off the wall and sits across from him. She expresses displeasure at the lack of opportunities for violence against humanoids, stating that she and Myrkul are getting impatient. Volenta admits that she has found another "interested party" who recently entered the domain and who may be better able to support her cause of "spreading the glory of death." She doesn't provide more information on this interested party, but she does warn Francis that she will be departing to meet them in Barovia Village tonight; Francis is free to come with, but she won't wait any longer. Francis urgently relays Volenta's offer to Van Richten, who attempts to discreetly summon Ez, Gallagher, Yves, and Notte. Van Richten proposes trailing Volenta to Barovia Village later that night. Yves doubts Volenta's sanity, but Francis points out that it is better safe than sorry. Francis also admits that he thinks that Firan might be involved somehow, though he also admits that he has little reason to believe this. ### Yves, Hawthorne, & the future Hawthorne and Yves have a discussion about life after Scaena. When Hawthorne offers Yves a place at the room she rents in Waterdeep as well as at Skoll and "her" Van Richten's house in Amphail, Yves objects to Hawthorne making the offer without consulting Skoll and Van Richten; he adds that Ismark and Petre would presumably be there also, and that Rudolph van Richten might take issue with him being a vampire. Hawthorne argues that it wouldn't be a problem. Yves indicates that he will have to think about the offer. Next, Hawthorne asks if Yves would like to go on a not-fake date with her. Yves blushes and accepts. ### Magic practice with Lyssa & Notte Lyssa drags Notte to the library to practice magic on a training dummy. She critiques Notte's self-taught form and makes some hands-on adjustments to her stance and positioning; she also gives her advice on her breathing. Afterwards, Notte hits the training dummy with a powerful Frostbite. Notte insists it's coincidence. Lyssa calls her stubborn. Lyssa informs Notte that she has been trying to rebuild an old spellbook of hers. She says that – if Notte would have it – she would like Notte to be her protégé once her spellbook is complete. Notte takes issue with the phrasing, but agrees to let Lyssa teach her. Lyssa seems pleased. ### The Keepers sever ties Yesper arrives on behalf of the Keepers of the Feather. He nervously shares the Keepers' resolution that they will leave the party alone – allowing their business in Vallaki and beyond – but that they would like to sever ties. He informs them that Urwin will allow them to keep the cloaks, which is something that he petitioned for himself. Off the record, Yesper warns that some of the Keepers' allies from Krezk and Argynvostholt may oppose the party directly. Yesper wishes them all luck. Then, he departs. Referring to Urwin, Yves asks, "What are we going to do without Ulrich?" Notte, less worried about losing support and more worried about gaining opposition, suggests that they skip going to Argynvostholt. Gallagher points out that returning the skull of Argynvost might buy them some good will. ### Krue & S leave Scaena At S's prompting, Krue announces to the others that they are going to leave Scaena in order to get backup. Not wanting to leave the group alone without a "panic button," Hawthorne decides to stay. After Gallagher casts Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum, Krue and S give the rundown on Achlys in case they have issues getting back: she has a pet dragon, a sentient sword that can fight on without her, and the ability to turn into a "giant dragon ghost thing." Krue shares that they should be gone for less than a day. Notte asks if the backup will b worth it; S says, "tremendously." Skoll and Van Richten live nearby, and Nia might be in town too; their help would be invaluable. Juste indicates that she will leave the "door" open for them but that she has gifts for them – just in case. She gives Krue a crate in which there are twenty iPhone 15s, a significant number of full Burger King bags, a portable DVD player, and a selection of DVDs. She thanks them for inspiring her "experiment" in the first place. Krue and S leave the Keep of the Scarlet Cross. ### Outside the mists Meanwhile, Skoll, Nia, and Rictavio are camped outside the mists between [[Amphail]] and Waterdeep. Skoll and Rictavio were already aware that Hawthorne was researching the mists in the area when Vajra contacted them after Ezmerelda and Krue didn't return in a timely manner. Rictavio has been unable to breach the mists. Attempts to contact [[Mordenkainen]] have also been fruitless, as he is presumably busy dealing with the THING in the mirror. Krue and S walk out of the mists and into their camp. Krue starts to speak, but Rictavio cuts her off to ask where Hawthorne is. Krue shares that Hawthorne is still in the mists, staying with some people who they are trying to help. When Nia says that she thought they were done with the mists, Rictavio remarks that they were there for the "benefit of the Blackstaff." Krue argues that Vajra would have put them in jail otherwise. Nia tells Krue and S that they will need to apologize to Ireena, who has been worried sick. Rictavio adds that their "[[Rudolph d'Avenir|poor ex-wooden boy]]" has been running himself ragged keeping [[Fox & Feather|their shop]] operational. Skoll suggests that Rictavio is being a bit overdramatic. ### Krue's explanation Krue lays out the situation: Scaena's darklord, Juste, has created a model Barovia – complete with a second Rictavio, Ezmerelda, Ireena, and others – after finding out that there is a way for darklords to walk free from their domains. She adds that Achlys has found her way in. Rictavio observes that it seems like the situation is very much Krue's fault, then. When the others express incredulousness that Juste wants to keep Scaena's Strahd alive, Krue admits that she doesn't like the idea either; she raises the point, however, that the Scaenan Strahd isn't the same [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd that they killed in Barovia]]. S adds that all of Juste's "characters" are different than the originals. To illustrate her point, she mentions how the Scaenan Van Richten became a lich. ### Into the mists? The others agree to accompany S and Krue back to Scaena. S argues that it shouldn't matter that Rictavio wasn't able to get through, as he isn't a Vistana like she is. Nia contacts Ireena and [[Selise Astorio|Selise]], who are staying at Skoll and Rictavio's house in Amphail, with her Psychic Whispers. She informs them that Krue and Ezmerelda have returned; Ireena is initially ecstatic until Nia explains the situation. Ireena asks, "last time, please?" Nia agrees and states that she will be back soon. S attempts to guide them through the mists back into Scaena; however, they end up back where they started. S quietly theorizes that it might be her magic that is the issue; Vistani aren't meant to settle down in one spot. However, she didn't think her magic would fade after a mere year of living in one place. Krue sends a message in the group chat. She receives a notification that indicates that the message didn't go through to all the recipients. ### Phones, burgers, soup, & next steps Krue dumps out the phones that Juste gave her; S explains their purpose. Nia takes one for herself and another two for Ireena and Selise. Skoll and Rictavio each take one as well. Ez offers sandwiches from Burger King, explaining that they are like the one she found in Elysium. Nia takes one. Skoll says, "gross." Nia asks how they're supposed to get in Scaena. Krue muses that it might be possible if they had a talisman, but Rictavio points out that it wouldn't matter if the dark powers are intentionally denying them entry. Krue suggests that she is going to stay close by and continue brainstorming. When she tells Nia, Skoll, and Rictavio that they don't have to stay, Rictavio becomes offended and declares that he isn't going home when Hawthorne is still in the mists. Nia contacts Selise and Ireena to inform them that they're not going anywhere just yet. She adds that they're still trying to figure out a way to breach the mists but that she will pay them a visit later tonight. Selise and Ireena are relieved, but Ireena seems concerned for Krue and Ezmerelda's new friends. Skoll makes soup while Krue and S begin telling the others about those in Scaena. ### Back in Scaena Meanwhile, hours pass in Scaena, and Krue and S do not return. Juste admits that he has been trying to "fish them in" to no avail. Gabb messages to Krue do not go through. Juste realizes that Quincey shouldn't leave the domain anymore, as he risks not being able to return. ### Following Volenta After ensuring that Volenta isn't around, the group discusses who will be trailing her to Barovia Village. Ismark becomes offended when Francis suggests that he isn't part of the "usual party." Ludmilla suggests that she should go with since they are dealing with one of Strahd's other brides. Thinking that Ludmilla would be safer at the Keep, Gallagher states that they have enough people for a stealth mission. Ludmilla eventually concedes. The group ultimately decides that Yves, Ismark, Gallagher, Ez, and Notte will go. Juste decides to stay behind, but he indicates that he will be monitoring the situation. Francis finds and consults Volenta. Then, Francis, Van Richten, and Volenta depart from the Keep; the others trail behind. ### Meeting the Bone Daggers Volenta leads Francis and Van Richten to an alleyway in Barovia Town, where six people await them. The leader shakes Francis's hand before ordering [[Conall DeMontaine]] to retrieve the others. The rest of the party is unable to hide before Conall pounces behind them. The leader introduces herself as [[Bonespur]], a name which the party recognizes as belonging to a folkloric bounty hunter who is often known as a hunter of monster hunters. Bonespur introduces her friends: * Conall "the killer," a loup garou. * [[High Master]], who is later revealed to be a vampiric mind flayer. * [[Wilm Eckert|Wilm]] and [[Hans Eckert]], two "beefy boys" with psionic powers. * [[Loie Hunn]], a Vistana human; Bonespur's second and – the party later discovers – girlfriend. Bonespur then invites Volenta to join them, remarking that it's easy to "burn through" vampires in the daytime. Notte icily tells Volenta that she hopes she is looking forward to her future. ### Roll call It quickly becomes apparent that the party members have bounties out on them. Bonespur identifies each of them, including some who are absent: * Notte: to be brought in alive. Her parents gave Bonespur her deadname when they hired her. Bonespur also later reveals that Notte's parents have had three other children since Notte has been gone. * Gallagher: to be brought in alive. Bonespur suggests that her bother put out the bounty. * Francis: to be brought in alive. Bonespur implies that Firan sent her after him. * Yves: Bonespur wasn't given specifics, but she is assuming that they should be brought in alive. She indicates that the person who put out the bounty on Yves is fey. * Krue & S: names have been crossed out. Bonespur concludes that their bounties must be null. * Lyssa: Bonespur implies that she received the bounty from the original Strahd from Barovia. * Van Richten, Ez, and Ismark: do not have bounties out on them. ### De-escalation attempts Gallagher suggests that they can negotiate. When Bonespur expresses that she isn't interested in "Scaena-generated coin," Gallagher clarifies that she is offering to let her live if she walks away. Bonespur laughs and calls her adorable, adding that she has a "network" that will ensure her revival in the event of her death. Bonespur says that everyone – including those at their "little church" – will live as long as Notte, Yves, Francis, and Gallagher come quietly. Ismark clutches Yves's shoulder. Notte attempts to covertly text Lyssa, but the message doesn't go through. Francis tries to offer himself up for the sake of the others; Van Richten objects, and Bonespur indicates that it's all or nothing. ### Fight against the Bone Daggers The party enters into grueling combat against the [[Bone Daggers Private Mercenary Company|Bone Daggers]]. During the fight, Ez loses her left eye; Gallagher gains two scars on opposite sides of her neck and face; Ez, Ismark, and Yves all contract loup garou lycanthropy; Notte and Gallagher drink their Potions of Invulnerability; and all of the Bone Daggers with the exception of Bonespur – who bargains for her life – are killed. Ez kills Conall with her silvered sword, ensuring that he won't get back up; Volenta, however, escapes in the aftermath. ### Bonespur bargains As the last of her comrades fall, Bonespur kneels and puts her hands up in surrender. She seems largely unconcerned about the deaths of her coworkers and girlfriend. Francis wants to finish her off, but Bonespur argues that killing her would only be a waste of time and resources. She offers to report back to her clients that they're all dead; she also agrees to give up 4,000 gold pieces. Gallagher demands that Bonespur avoid reporting anything back to the person looking for her, which Bonespur agrees to. After they all agree not to kill her, Bonespur states that she will need something from each of them to prove their deaths. Notte gives Bonespur a strand of hair, Yves pulls out a tooth, and Francis gives up a lock of hair for Lyssa and himself. Bonespur isn't sure whether Francis's hair will work for Lyssa, but she accepts it nonetheless. She strikes their names from her list. In addition to shamelessly flirting with many of the party members, Bonespur asks if she can accompany them all to their "little place," as she is hungry and wants a drink. The party denies her this. After they refuse to budge, Bonespur steps back; mist briefly surrounds her, and then she's gone. ### The Aftermath As Bonespur departs, a barrage of anxious messages from Juste comes through to everyone's Gabbs. Juste arrives on Lacrymosa's shoulders shortly afterward. Ludmilla and a panicked, winded Ireena are also present. The party explains what occurred; Juste explains that, from his side, he simply couldn't see them anymore. Juste also admits that he didn't think that Bonespur was real. Juste offers to draw a teleportation circle with "special wax" so that their existing circle near Argynvostholt is retained. The others break off while Juste gets to work. ### Ez refuses to be healed Addressing a despondent Ez, Gallagher starts to suggest that Yves might be able to regenerate her eye; however, Ez cuts her off to say that she doesn't "do that" – if she makes a mistake, she makes a mistake. Gallagher makes Ez promise her to allow someone to fix her eye if she loses the other. Ludmilla walks up and remarks that a lot seems to have happened in the short time that they were apart. Ez turns away from Ludmilla, which seems to bother her at least slightly. Ludmilla pulls a cigarette out of her pocket and offers it to Gallagher. When Gallagher asks where she got it, Ludmilla answers, "from your things." ### Ismark's dog-like nature Ismark and Yves discuss their newly-contracted lycanthropy. Yves muses that Ismark already has a "canine affect" about him; specifically, he is sometimes dog-like. This offends Ismark; Yves clarifies that it's a good thing, calling Ismark "loyal and friendly and et cetera." Ismark says that he supposes that's all true before adding that he is also curious. Yves states that Van Richten will likely know what to do regarding their lycanthropy. Ismark agrees, adding that "everything is fine" and that there is "nothing to be freaked out about." ### Van Richten's rugged skull Van Richten and Francis also take a quiet moment to themselves. They discuss Firan and Van Richten's attempts to protect Francis. The conversation eventually devolves into Van Richten asking if the dents in his skull make him look "rugged" and the two bantering about their height difference. Francis grabs Van Richten's skeletal head and kisses it all over to get him to shut up. ### Notte's siblings Ireena pulls Notte into a hug and expresses that she is glad that nothing "too severe" happened to her this time. When Notte tells Ireena about her siblings, Ireena asks if she would ever want to meet them. Notte admits that she would rather never return to Darkon. Ireena suggests that she could hire someone to go looking for them. ### Bedtime for the party Everyone regroups as Juste finishes drawing the teleportation circle. Back at the Keep, the party members – all exhausted – immediately head to bed. ## 28 Mirtul 1494 ### Breakfast with Bonespur Juste tries and fails to make pizza for breakfast. Bonespur soon arrives with a crate of fruit. She claims that it's been "years" since she tried to kill the party and that she wanted to catch up with some of the only people who have ever managed to best her. Despite the party's hostility, Bonespur insists on joining them for breakfast. When Notte presses her, Bonespur confirms that she delivered evidence of their deaths to her clients, excluding – as requested – Grayson Love. She reports that Notte's parents weren't devasted, having been preoccupied with their other children, who were "as happy as they could be." Bonespur reveals that, upon being informed of Francis's death, Firan threw a fit and exploded a skeleton. Eventually, however, he "blinked away the tears" before declaring that he would "get back to it" eventually. After everyone gets the information they seek, Bonespur is largely ignored. She eventually departs from the Keep. ### Lycanthropy discussion Van Richten explains that Ismark, Yves, and Ez have contracted a severe form of lycanthropy that can only be cured on a full moon after the infected has transformed, and only through great effort on their part. He adds that the infecting loup garou also has to be killed, which thankfully has already been taken care of; regardless, it will be an unpleasant experience for the infected and will likely require several days rest after the fact. Gallagher suggests that they should focus on curing Yves first so that he can assist with curing the other two. Van Richten agrees, stating that it would be beneficial to have someone on hand who is more proficient at healing than he is. Francis backs up Van Richten's assessment of Yves's skill. Gallagher asks the infected when they want to be cured. Taking advantage of Juste's control of the land, she adds that she heard that there is going to be a full moon soon. Yves and Ez express that they would ideally like to be cured tonight. Ismark, on the other hand, expresses reluctance; he enjoys his newfound strength and suggests that he could keep his loup garou lycanthropy until they are done in Scaena. Yves sharply shuts him down. Notte supports Yves, declaring that she – as a moon elf – can "detect" that there is going to be a full moon tonight. Ismark unhappily agrees to be cured that night. ### Gallagher's unnecessary guilt Gallagher seeks out Ludmilla soon after breakfast and somewhat guiltily informs her that her brother is alive. When Ludmilla incredulously asks Gallagher why she seems upset, Gallagher states that she isn't; however, she was worried that Ludmilla might be since they previously related over their losses. Ludmilla insists that she is glad that Gallagher discovered her brother is alive, especially because it spites Pietra. There is a lull in the conversation. Eventually, Ludmilla breaks to silence to say that Gallagher's scars are "really doing it" for her. Gallagher doesn't respond. ### Ireena the sea beast Late in the afternoon, Ireena confides in Notte about how she is considering becoming a "magical creature" like the others; she believes this will allow her to more often accompany the party outside the Keep and also allow her to be more helpful during combat. Notte tells Ireena that she doesn't need to become a creature in order to help, but Ireena argues otherwise. When Notte tentatively asks Ireena if she wants to become a wereraven, Ireena points out that this would likely not be well-received by the Keepers of the Feather given the party's current tenuous relationship with them. Ireena also insists that she doesn't want to be a lich or a werewolf, but she muses that she might be able to become a "sea beast"; though she acknowledges that this might be difficult given the lack of seas around. ### Awaiting the night As the sun starts to set, the party finalizes preparations for attempting to cure the infected of their loup garou lycanthropy. Yves asks Hawthorne if she can be present; Hawthorne indicates that she was planning to be, as she might have to kill anyone who gets too rowdy. They discuss whether Petre should also be present, but he cannot remove curses. Ismark, Yves, Francis, Gallagher, Notte, Hawthorne, Van Richten, Juste, and Ez head outside to await sunset. Ez gives Francis her silvered sword and requests that he cut her down if she loses control, warning that she might rip Van Richten into "tiny little bone fragments" otherwise. Francis doubts that Ez would actually be able to accomplish this, which angers Ez. Gallagher ties up Ez, Yves, and Ismark, who anxiously await their transformations. Eventually, the sun sets; later still, the sky is illuminated by the moon behind the clouds. The infected's bones crack as they contort and transform. ### Curing Yves Gallagher paralyzes the werewolves with Hold Monster. Van Richten casts Remove Curse on Yves, who looks exhausted as they shake off the loup garou lycanthropy and transform back into their normal self. Notte cuts them loose. ### Repeated failures & time jumps Yves then tries to cure Ismark, but he fails to resist the curse. Juste warns that, unless she does something, Ismark will be unable to resist the lycanthropy for another month. She snaps her fingers; everything goes black for a moment; white letters that read "one month later" appear above them. Then, the light returns. Everyone is still in place, but Yves looks significantly less tired. Van Richten tries and fails to cure Ez of her lycanthropy. With a sigh, Juste skips things forward another month. Gallagher uses her Charm of the Star, bolstering both Ez and Ismark's ability to resist the curse. Van Richten manages to cure Ez of her lycanthropy. With a heaving sigh, she transforms back into her usual – albeit more sickly than normal – form. Gallagher and Ez both look very relieved. Notte cuts Ez free. Yves and Van Richten attempt to cure Ismark's lycanthropy again and again. Juste has to skip things forward two more months. Ez complains, "oh, this feels so gross." Finally, Ismark manages to resist his loup garou lycanthropy. They all breathe a sigh of relief as Ismark reverts back to his typical form. ### Resetting the timeline Notte and Yves asks Juste if they can get thrown in a "time vortex" that will transport them back to a few months prior. Juste – albeit reluctantly – agrees. When the door to the Keep is opened, they only see outside the Keep rather than inside it. Juste encourages them to step through the door; a warbling noise plays as each of them does so. The light fades once more and letters read "four months earlier." ## 29 Mirtul 1494 ### Not-so-private thoughts Everyone jolts awake in their beds with the same artificially-implanted thought: "that was a crazy dream." They find that it has turned over to the next day. In the dining hall, Notte sternly addresses Nox, telling them never to plant a thought in her head again. Nox maintains that they are a "normal puppet" without psychic powers. Notte invades Nox's space and – in a whisper – points out that they know what she is talking about. She asks what the point even was; it isn't like the audience can hear their thoughts. Nox informs her that the audience can hear their thoughts "sometimes." Everyone is aghast. Notte demands to have a discussion with Nox in her room. Nox jokes, "charged." When Francis calls him a pervert, Nox petulantly states that he has gotten enough of being "chewed out" these past few days before storming out of the Keep. ### Nox, Notte, & redemption Notte follows Nox outside, where the two argue about Juste's lack of respect for the boundaries and autonomy of others. Throughout the conversation, Juste remains stubborn and self-pitying. He laments that no one believes in the possibility of his redemption; especially not Gallagher, who seems to want to make him feel bad more than anything. Notte points out that Gallagher isn't malicious. Juste eventually acknowledges that there are probably "a lot of things wrong" with him, but that it's not easy news for him to accept. Notte lists off some ways that Juste could improve: no more bodysnatching; less invasive omnipresence; no more crass jokes; respecting the personhood of others, even those he "invented." Nox complains that his "moral coach" is Notte despite her own personal failings. Notte suggests that he should set an example, then. Nox sullenly agrees to try his best. ### Quincey's employment prospects Francis teases Quincey for sounding more and more like Van Richten. Quincey shares that he often spent time with a man who talked much like Van Richten; however, Van Richten might be rubbing off on him as well. The two discuss vampires and not being entirely comfortable around them. Quincey expresses that it was a "bit insensitive" of Nox to put him in a situation with "so many of the damn things." Francis suggests that Quincey can quit working for Nox, but Quincey states that he feels like he owes them. Despite this, Francis offers that Quincey can fight monsters with her and Van Richten when they are all out of Scaena. Quincey admits that he doesn't think that he has it in him to hunt monsters anymore. ### Blood drinking Juste gives Yves their breakfast blood. Ludmilla complains that no one provides *her* with a glass of blood in the mornings, though she is sure to note that she derives more "overall satisfaction" from a meal if it's "squirming around about it." Yves says that he gets it. Gallagher asks Ludmilla when she last fed. Ludmilla, ignoring the fact that her fiancée refused to come back from the dead a few days ago, pauses before saying that the most she had recently was a rat, which might be why she's been "so pissy" lately. Escher, citing moral reasons, admits that he has been wondering lately if he should stop being a vampire, a feat he plans to accomplish by dying and being revived. Yves tells Escher not to be ridiculous, but Francis says that it's worth considering; however, he should probably put the idea on hold for now. ### Return to Argynvostholt With returning the skull of Argynvost next on their list, the party – this time consisting of Nox, Francis, Yves, Notte, Gallagher, Ez, Ismark, Lacrymosa, and Van Richten – teleport to the circle outside of Argynvostholt. Ismark insists on carrying the skull himself despite the strain. ### Debating Godfrey The party is intercepted by Godfrey before they can make it across the lawn. Godfrey challenges their purpose; Francis argues that their purpose is still to help the people who are trapped in the domain. Godfrey admits that he isn't sure that he could physically allow them to free Strahd, as he is oath-bound to his lord. Gallagher points out that all he presently has to do is allow them to return the skull. An argument ensues; Godfrey doubts Strahd's ability to change, but he considers Francis's offhand suggestion that Godfrey could kill Strahd once the land is free and he is mortal once more. Notte, on the other hand, discourages Godfrey from killing Strahd, suggesting that he try talking to him first instead. Godfrey shuts this idea down. ### Meeting Argynvost Godfrey insists on accompanying the party to the beacon tower, where an altar awaits them. Godfrey lights the candles that surround the altar. Then, Ismark puts the skull in place. The candles flicker brighter; the fire soon swirls together on the wind and forms the shape of a dragon. Godfrey kneels. Argynvost greets the party. He reveals that he has been somewhat aware in the ten or so days that he has spent in their company. Despite the fact that it wasn't of his own accord, he apologizes for previously attacking them. Argynvost admits that he hasn't entirely come around to the plans that the party has concocted with their "benefactor." He asks whether they are confident in their ability to stop Strahd if it turns out that all they have done is unleashed a monster into the broader world. When Notte and Francis respond that they could stop him, Argynvost asks them to directly prove their might. The dragon spirit leaves out the window. Yves sighs deeply. Gallagher casts Mage Armor on herself on the way out the door. ### Fighting Argynvost The party approaches Argynvost, who has settled down in the graveyard. Argynvost gives the party time to prepare. Nox stands aside to watch. Soon after combat begins, Argynvost catches many of them in a cone of ice; Van Richten and Ismark immediately drop to the ground. Then, there is a clicking noise as Argynvost breathes out gas. Ez, Lacrymosa, and Francis also fall unconscious. Van Richten quickly approaches death; Gallagher stabilizes him. Yves heals the others as Notte attacks Argynvost. Another cone of ice drops Yves to the ground, but he soon regenerates thanks to his lycanthropy. Gallagher applies a healing potion to Ez, who jolts awake, assesses the situation, and bleakly asks if they should give up. Even still, the party manages to rally; Lacrymosa joins the others on their feet as they hit Argynvost hard. After they all wear him down, Gallagher manages to catch Argynvost with Power Word Stun. Yves, Ez, and Notte seize the opportunity as he locks up. ### Awakenings, metallic and otherwise There is soon a moment where Argynvost flickers. Magic swirls around him as he breaks out of the stun and undergoes what he later explains is a "metallic awakening," leaving him completely revitalized. Despite this, he yields as he states that they have more than proven themselves. Yves rouses Ismark, who stretches, yawns, and declares that he feels "quite well." Gallagher shakes Francis awake. Francis sits up with a groan before heading over to wake Van Richten, who cheerily greets her before asking how the fight went. Francis answers that they seem to have missed it. When Van Richten calls out and asks the others if they are "well," Ez, in the middle of being treated with Gallagher's Sacrificial Healing, flips him off. ### Argynvost's blessing and draconic gifts Argynvost and Nox both congratulate the party on a job well done. Argynvost expresses that he trusts the party to do what is right and to be able to handle themselves against Strahd or otherwise; he also expresses gratitude that the party is trying to protect the people of this realm. On Argynvost's request, Godfrey begrudgingly fetches them capes from the manor. Next, Argynvost says that he would like to offer them help, though he wishes that he could offer them more. He summons several orbs of light and encourages them all to touch the orbs in order to learn the properties of each gift. After doing so, everyone makes their choice: * Francis chooses the Gift of the Metallic Dragon, which allows him to cast Cure Wounds and manifest protective wings that can shield herself or others. * Gallagher chooses the Wakened Dragon-Touched Focus, which is an amulet in the shape of dragon's wings. It allows her to remain on alert, protect others from spell affects, and cast both Legend Lore and Fizban's Platinum Shield. * Van Richten chooses the Wakened Dragon's Vessel, which allows him to materialize various potions and food liquids. * Yves chooses the gift of Psionic Reach, which allows him to cast Telekinesis and resist psychic damage. * Ismark chooses Echo of Dragonsight, which allows him to cast Contact Other Plane as a ritual in order to contact those related to Argynvost. * Notte chooses the Wakened Dragon's Wrath Longsword, which is a particularly strong longsword that can unleash a cone of destructive cold energy. * Ezmerelda chooses the gift of Scaled Toughness, which toughens her skin, giving her resistance to piercing and slashing damage. * Notte encourages Lacrymosa to choose her own gift. Lacrymosa chooses Draconic Rebirth, which transforms her into a silver dragonborn. ### Draconic side effects Immediately after accepting their gifts, the party members gain draconic features or imagery on their bodies: * Francis gains scales on his shoulders. * Gallagher gains scales on her forearms. * Van Richten's left eye has turned silver. * Yves receives a silvery tattoo of a dragon's claw on their lower stomach. * Ismark receives a silvery tattoo of a dragon's eye on his left inner thigh. * Notte gains a silver streak in her hair. * Ezmerelda also gains a silver streak in her hair. * Lacrymosa is a dragonborn. ### Lacrymosa's first words Lacrymosa observes, "this feels strange." She says hello to everyone; Notte is stunned. Lacrymosa remarks that they are all still "quite small." Notte remarks that she supposes she can't just ask Lacrymosa to carry her around anymore. Lacrymosa asks, "why?" Lacrymosa expresses that she worries the others will be frightened of her. When Notte says that they would not be any more frightened of her than they already were, Lacrymosa says that she now has the mind to care. Notte tells her not to care. Lacrymosa says, "Noted. I will refrain." Notte, now feeling a bit strange about her and Lacrymosa's dynamic, says, "well... okay." ### Goodbye to the old order Argynvost declares that he is entrusting the protection of the land to them and that he is happy to name them knights of the [[New Order of the Silver Dragon]]. Soon after, Argynvost fades into light before disappearing entirely. From the manor, a pillar of spirits rises into the air. Godfrey remains. He indicates that he still plans to hunt Strahd down. ### Contacting the material Using his newfound power, Ismark contacts the only living avatar of Argynvost in the [[Material Plane]]: Skoll. Skoll confirms that he is speaking with Ismark; Ismark confirms that he is speaking with Skoll. Skoll tries to ask Ismark about Hawthorne, but he finds that he is unable to do anything except answer Ismark's questions. When asked, Skoll informs Ismark that he and the others are being blocked entry into the domain. Ismark quickly runs out of energy for the ritual. He seems quite proud of himself regardless. Gallagher casts Sending to warn S that Bonespur was looking for her and Krue. Rictavio shares that he met Bonespur "once or twice" and that she was "broadly unpleasant." Despite this – and despite the fact that Bonespur was hunting Krue and S – Rictavio suggests that they could theoretically try to hire Bonespur, though he isn't sure that he could successfully get her a message. ### Debriefing Ireena at the Keep The party members teleport back to the Keep of the Scarlet Cross and tell Ireena what happened at Argynvostholt. Like Notte, she is stunned by Lacrymosa's transformation. Notte shows Ireena her sword and gives her a cape. ### Francis's Freakishness Later, Hawthorne picks up Yves, who kicks his feet and accuses Hawthorne of being "freakishly tall." Hawthorne points out that Francis – and others – are taller than her; she muses, however, that Francis is more "statuesque" than "freakish." When Yves says that Francis is a bit freakish, Hawthorne declares that they should go tell him before carrying Yves in that direction. Hawthorne tattles on Yves. Yves, pleading with Francis, promises that they didn't mean it in a negative way. They add that Francis is "interesting" – not freakish. Francis declares, "I don't care." Yves kisses him on the cheek; Francis doesn't emote at all. Van Richten tells Yves not to be "overfamiliar" with Francis. Yves says "whatever" and then calls Van Richten freakish. Hawthorne carries Yves away. Francis waves goodbye. ### Yves sleeps with Hawthorne Hawthorne checks up on Yves and informs him that he is going to crash with her tonight. She then carries him off to her demiplane, where the two sleep together. ### Ludmilla's complaints Ludmilla leans over Gallagher in the dining hall, demanding to know what changed about her. Gallagher states that they defeated a dragon – "kind of." Ludmilla squints at her before lifting up her sleeve, revealing the patches of silver scales on her arm. Gallagher admits that she feels a lot more confident in their abilities than she did previously. Ludmilla complains that she didn't get to join in on the "learning experience." She adds that she is "worthless now" and that she hopes that Gallagher won't forget the little people like her. Gallagher dryly says, "how could I ever?" Ludmilla reveals that she used to be a spellcaster before she lost her spellbook to the sea. ### Gallagher's Wish Gallagher feels ready to cast Wish in order to undo the negative effects of the "bad cards" drawn by Francis, Notte, and Yves at the fey market. Ludmilla is impressed; Gallagher points out that she hasn't done anything yet and suggests that casting the spell might "split her brain in half." Ludmilla states that she wants to watch. Gallagher gathers Notte and Francis, with Ez and Ludmilla following close behind. She unable to find Yves. When Notte and Francis both indicate that they are ready, Gallagher makes her Wish. Notte spends an unhappy moment reflecting on some of the things that she said and did since she drew the *Balance* card, which made her colder and more callous. Francis, who has had a low-grade migraine since drawing the *Euryale* card, finally feels it go away. His vision becomes clearer too, and he also feels less sore. Notte and Francis thank Gallagher, who sways on her feet. Ez begins to escort Gallagher away. When Gallagher asks Ludmilla why she is following them, Ludmilla points out that Gallagher is going to bed and that she has nothing better to do. After a pause, Gallagher says, "I can't talk to you about this right now." Ludmilla allows Gallagher and Ez to return to their room. ### Notte's apology tour Notte abruptly apologizes to Ireena and Lyssa for any "poor behavior" or lack of empathy; she then tells them about the card drawn at the Seelie Market and about Gallagher's fix. Lyssa expresses excitement to see Notte at her best. Despite Notte's insistence that she should wait until the next day, Ireena pushes Notte to tell Yves about these new developments. When Notte knocks on the door to Hawthorne's demiplane, Hawthorne calls out that the door is unlocked. Yves says, "No. No." Notte says that she will come back later, but Ireena calls through the door that Notte "got cured of things." Notte apologizes for her poor behavior and then drags Ireena away. When Notte asks if she needs to apologize to anyone else, Ireena suggests that Notte could go a bit easier on Van Richten. Notte is highly resistant to the idea. ### Housekeeping & rest Notte pushes some beds together outside her and Ireena's room for Lacrymosa. She also drags an extra bed into S and Krue's old room so that Lyssa and Stella can both stay in there if they want. Everyone rests for the night. ## 30 Mirtul 1494 ### Skeleton crew In the morning, the party finds eight skeletons cooking in the kitchen. A note from Rahadin explains that the skeletons are servants, sent to vet the facilities of the Keep. Yves calls Rahadin via Gabb. Though he calls Yves a "witch-mongrel" and a "witch-rat," Rahadin explains that Strahd will be returning from his "quest" soon and that he wants to spend some time away from the castle; given Strahd's fondness for them all, Rahadin suspects that he will want to stay with them. As such, he is ensuring that he can prepare a "quality meal" in their kitchen. Notte says, "say please." Rahadin accuses her of carrying out a "perverse and humiliating ritual." Yves, calling Rahadin a "sick pervert," says it wasn't perverse until he made it perverse. Rahadin calls them an "ungrateful bunch of half-wits." Yves hangs up. ### The prospect of hosting Strahd The party reacts uneasily to the news. Regardless, Ireena suggests that refusing Strahd might undermine their efforts to rehabilitate him. Notte, on the other hand, suggests that they should assess Strahd's progress before letting him near Ireena. Hawthorne suggests that they can put up an "Ireena-shaped illusion" and see how Strahd reacts. Yves says, "like Lyssa." When Notte starts to say that Lyssa shouldn't be present either, Lyssa disagrees. She acknowledges that Strahd put her in a dungeon; she argues, however, that "it happens sometimes" and that she has put plenty of people in dungeons herself. Lyssa also argues that she has little hostility toward Scaena's Strahd, who isn't the "real one." Ez, Ludmilla, and Escher are visibly bothered by the prospect of Strahd staying at the Keep. Even still, Escher once again insists that he is "well and over" Strahd. ### Juste suggests a Star Wars marathon Nox proposes that they can all spend the day marathoning *Star Wars* films while Gallagher – who still feels physically weak from casting Wish – recovers. Yves asks how many *Star Wars* movies there are, but Nox has trouble answering the question. Notte indicates that she can't spent the whole day watching movies. Stella interjects to reaffirm that Notte is busy, adding that they are "going out." Notte sighs. Nox declares that they will watch three *Star Wars* films at the end of the day. ### A nightmarish reunion While Van Richten practices necromancy in the graveyard, Francis reads in the library. Despite being well-rested – and despite being an elf – she eventually falls asleep. Francis awakes surrounded by elven corpses in what seems to be a morgue or a laboratory, finding that she is occupying a stitched-up body that is not her own. After orienting herself, she follows a hallway into a tea room. Firan – short, dark-haired, and dressed in red – greets her and offers coffee. Francis remains on guard. A tense and layered conversation ensues. Firan reveals that he occasionally hears "whispers" through Skelly. Firan also reveals that a decade has passed for him after Francis severed their pact; additionally, it's been a year since he possessed Quincey and slept with Francis. Francis tells Firan not to talk about Quincey and warns that she won't humor him otherwise. Firan needles Francis about Van Richten's warlock patronage, suggesting that Francis is still being taken advantage of. Francis defends Van Richten and suggests that Firan is jealous. Firan admits that he sent Bonespur after Francis. When Francis accuses him Firan of hijacking Quincey's body and sending Bonespur after her just because he misses her, Firan admits this to be the case. He insists that he and Francis have "compatible personalities." ### Firan offers patronage and more Firan indicates that he wants Francis to make another warlock pact with him. He claims that he would ask nothing of Francis in exchange for keeping her alive, adding that he doesn't need souls to live like Van Richten does. When Francis points out that Firan would have a lot of leverage to "lord over" her whenever she says something that disagrees with him, Firan accuses her of being just as spiteful. Francis declines Firan's offer of warlock patronage. Firan then asks for friendship "and perhaps additional," adding that he would like go out to dinner with Francis. When Francis agrees to have lunch with Firan if he helps them with Achlys, Firan admits that he probably can't do that much against her. He promises, however, that he will try; he also indicates that he will hire some Vistani to get him into Scaena soon. ### Firan's farewell Francis states that he would like to leave. Firan insists on first walking the corpse back to the lab, where he dramatically kisses his hand before stabbing the corpse through the chest. Francis wakes with a start in the library. ### Francis confides in Quincey Francis tells Quincey that Firan somehow summoned him to [[Zal'Honan Keep|his Keep]] in Darkon. Quincey gloomily asks what Firan wanted; Francis, laughing and clearly distressed, answers, "friendship!" She adds that it's apparently been ten years since she broke her pact with him, which Quincey figures is a quirk of the way "Miss Nox" has things structured. Quincey is wary about the idea of Firan visiting the Keep. Still, he thanks Francis for telling him and reassures her that she owes Firan nothing. Francis calls Firan a "small, strange thing." ### Francis confides in Van Richten Next, Francis finds Van Richten in the graveyard. She recounts Firan's offer of a new pact, his request for a date, and his intention to come to the Keep. Van Richten, skeptical and displeased, insists on being present for the lunch with Firan. Francis points out that, since Skelly will be there, Van Richten will be there by extension. Van Richten remains irritated. ### Ludmilla's proposal Gallagher goes on a walk after convincing Ez that she is well enough to go alone. She soon notices that something is stalking her; she is too slow, however, to prevent Ludmilla from leaping out of the bushes and tackling her. After teasing Gallagher about her lack of dexterity, Ludmilla suggests a reciprocal arrangement in which she will "whip Gallagher back into shape" and Gallagher will help her relearn magic. Gallagher agrees to start that day. Gallagher goes over her spell notation and various runes with Ludmilla, who takes to it pretty quickly. Afterward, Gallagher does a decent job dodging the literal rocks that Ludmilla throws at her. The two exchange compliments and agree to continue training some other day. ### Hawthorne & Yves go shooting Hawthorne whisks Yves outside and into the woods, where she insists on teaching Yves how to shoot a handgun. The conversation soon turns personal: Hawthorne reflects on how she appreciates that her Van Richten grounds her despite her usual taste for excitement; Yves insists that they are also "normal" despite their vampiric, lycanthropic, and hexblood traits. In response, Hawthorne suggests that Yves would look great on an operating table. When Yves jokingly questions Hawthorne's medical knowledge, Hawthorne points out that she taught eldritch physiologies at a [[Strixhaven University|prestigious university]]. The two banter about Ez's intellectual shortcomings. Hawthorne guides Yves's aim with hands-on instruction, leading to a few successful shots. Hawthorne pays them a compliment before they head back to the Keep. ### Notte's last-minute plans Despite the reminder at breakfast, Notte forgets to plan something for her date with Stella. Stella eventually approaches, dressed in her finest; Notte, panicked, asks for a few minutes to "freshen up." Lyssa and Ireena have little helpful advice to offer Notte, though Ireena suggests that they could go to the "weird, creepy restaurant" that requires an animal carcass to enter. Notte proceeds to call Juste and asks if he can "very quickly" go hunting for her; however, she quickly pivots, instead demanding that Juste set up a picnic in the woods for them. Once Notte hangs up the phone, Ireena and Lyssa tell Notte to have fun. Lyssa indicates that she and Ireena will be going out while Notte is occupied. ### Stella and Notte's picnic date Outside, Notte and Stella arrive at a clearing adorned with wildflowers, a large picnic blanket, a parasol, and a spread of sandwiches, cheese, fruit, and wine. Stella is delighted. As they eat, the two talk about family hardships, Notte's flat affect and difficulty identifying jokes, and their mutual distaste for Victor. Throughout the conversation, Stella less-than-subtly flirts. They also talk about their plans for when they leave Scaena, with Stella planning on becoming a socialite herself. Notte admits that she isn't quite sure what she wants to do. Stella suggests that she and Notte will go on "many other lunches." Notte awkwardly admits that that would be nice. ### Group meeting on Firan Later, Francis calls together everyone – with the exception of Lyssa and Ireena, who are still absent – for a group meeting. He explains that Firan is coming to the Keep to be an ally to them against Achlys. He declares that they will either have his help or an easy way to kill him, adding that he is "quite small – nearly smaller than Yves." Francis admits that – though he is conflicted – he does want to give Firan a chance, especially since they are working to redeem Strahd. Nox chimes in to say that giving Firan a chance would make sense with what they have been attempting to do thus far. Francis tells the others that Firan has apparently been terrorizing him across ten years. When Yves expresses disbelief that Firan hasn't gotten over Francis in that time, Van Richten points out that Francis is very charming. Yves mutters, "not _that_ charming." Francis sarcastically says that no one could be more charming than Yves. Van Richten scolds Francis; Francis flicks him. ### Ireena's decision Having returned from her outing with Lyssa, Ireena confides in Notte that she has decided to become a vampire. Notte is clearly surprised. She asks if Ireena is okay with the drawbacks, such as not being able to go out in the sun; while not currently an issue, it will be a problem wherever they end up together outside of the domain. Ireena doesn't seem concerned, though she does seem pleasantly surprised that Notte wants to be in the same place as her after they leave Scaena. Notte is ultimately supportive of Ireena's decision. Ireena, relieved, admits that she was planning on having Lyssa turn her tonight after "the Star War" and that she would like Notte to be there. Notte agrees to be present. Ireena asks if she should tell anyone else, suggesting Yves in particular. Notte states that Yves would be fine; however, she should probably avoid telling anyone else until after the fact. ### Ireena tells Yves Ireena tells Yves about her decision to become a vampire. Like Notte, Yves is very surprised. When he remarks that it seems like Ireena is making a rash decision, Ireena states that she has been talking about it with Lyssa. Yves, who thought that Ireena wanted him to turn her, relaxes. Ireena blushes and begins apologizing profusely. The conversation shifts to Strahd and later Firan. Though Ireena is initially distraught at the idea of Firan being present, she eventually expresses that she will give Firan a chance if Francis is willing to. ### Francis busts some chops Everyone gathers for the *Star Wars* trilogy marathon. Van Richten sits between Francis and Quincey before deciding to go get popcorn. Francis insists that they will only need one bucket. As soon as Van Richten is out of earshot, Quincey accuses Francis of busting his chops about his friendship with Van Richten. Francis declares, "I have busted no chops." He remarks, however, that it's just "curious" that Van Richten is sitting in the middle. When Quincey asks Francis if he would rather be in the middle, Francis quips that they can talk about that at a later date. Soon after _A New Hope_ begins, Francis and Quincey brush hands in the popcorn bucket, which is in Van Richten's lap. Quincey apologizes; Francis reassures him. Van Richten dryly asks if they must "do this past him." Francis points out that he is the one who decided to sit in the middle. ### Petre & Yves get affectionate Petre, who cannot read the subtitles, struggles to understand what is happening in the film. On request, Yves starts explaining the beginning of the film, referring to Darth Vader as a "knight in black armor" and R2-D2 and C-3PO as "automatons." As Yves goes on, Petre slowly gets more comfortable and leans on him until he is lying in Yves's lap. Yves soon realizes that they can simply cast Tongues on Petre; he does so with a kiss on his forehead. Eventually, Petre falls asleep as Yves pets his hair. Hawthorne heckles. She later implies that Luke Skywalker reminds her of Skoll. ### Nox gets the cold shoulder During *Empire Strikes Back*, Nox starts to put their arm around Notte before chickening out and freezing. When Notte notices, Nox claims that they might have messed up the shoulder joint when they were patching up the body. Notte – despite Nox's protests – demands to see, reaching over and grabbing them. She determines that nothing is wrong with the joint. Lyssa tells Notte that she is sorry that "that embarrassing thing" is bothering her and invites her to scoot closer. Notte does so; Nox looks crestfallen. Notte quietly tells Lyssa that they should try to be kinder. With a noncommittal hum, Lyssa puts her arm around Notte and pulls her closer. Stella pats Nox on the back. ### Ludmilla tests Ez's patience Ludmilla sprawls out over Gallagher's lap during *Return of the Jedi*, chattering and fussing with Gallagher's shirt buttons. Gallagher humors her conversations; she also talks with Ez throughout. Despite this, Ez – about an hour before the end of the film – abruptly declares that Ludmilla's behavior is ruining the movie. Ludmilla gets up and invites Gallagher to "lay down" with her. Gallagher declines. Despite Gallagher's protests, Ludmilla leaves in the direction of Gallagher and Ez's room. Ez, not wanting Ludmilla to get into her things, goes after her – again, despite Gallagher's protests. Ludmilla and Ez are still gone half an hour later. Gallagher goes to check on them, finding them clearly occupied. ### Post-movie clean up The others finish watching *Star Wars*. Everyone is a fan. When Lacrymosa and Escher begin helping Nox clean up, Francis conscripts Victor to help as well, insisting that he needs to learn how to do chores. ### Ireena, the vampire Lyssa, Notte, and Ireena head into Barovia Village. Lyssa has identified an abandoned building wherein she has set up candles, ritual circles, and a chalice on an altar – all for "presentation" and nothing more. Ireena wavers and asks Notte if she has her sword in case Lyssa is overcome by "vampire evil." Lyssa and Notte reassure her. The process is quick. Notte holds Ireena's hand the whole time; Lyssa and Ireena drink each other's blood out of the chalice. Once turned, Ireena feels manic and euphoric. The three eventually head back to the Keep, arriving as it nears midnight. Despite the late hour and Notte's protests, Ireena insists on gathering everyone for a meeting. ### Ireena shares the news Only Gallagher, Yves, Francis, Van Richten, Quincey, and Ismark join Notte, Ireena, and Lyssa in the dining hall. Ireena, with bloodstains on her face and clothes, declares that she has an announcement. Ismark looks queasy. Notte quietly says, "I am so sorry about this." Ireena informs the others that she has become a vampire in order to contribute more. She then asks them to help her brainstorm ways to make her a better vampire. Notte points out the late hour, adding that no one can brainstorm well when they're sleep deprived. Ireena only relents when Notte states that she would like some alone time with her. Ireena declares, "meeting adjourned." ### Ismark sulks Yves goes over to Ismark and claims that they would have warned him about Ireena, had he not been distracted by *Star Wars*. Ismark laments that they were really good movies. When Yves observes that he was really into Han Solo, Ismark expresses that he sees himself as a midpoint between Luke and Han. Ismark sullenly says that he should go lay down before asking if he can join Yves wherever he was sleeping. Yves indicates that Petre wouldn't mind. Ismark is relieved that he wasn't with Hawthorne, stating that she is a "frightening woman." Dreamily, Yves says, "yeah." The two head to Petre's room. Everyone else retires for the night as well. ## 1 Kythorn 1494 ### The morning after Everyone gathers for breakfast in the morning. It was a busy night – Notte appears to have holes in her porcelain; Ez is wearing a scarf; Ludmilla spends most of breakfast looking between Ez and Gallagher with a self-satisfied grin. ### Escher's request Escher tells the others that he is still considering undoing his vampirism and asks if anyone has any ideas to make this a feasible option. Gallagher suggests that she could cast Wish, though she notes it would be a bit risky. Escher finds the idea "excessive." When Yves offers to kill him and bring him back to life, however, he seems on board. ### Plans for the day & Juste's spider-sense The party discusses plans for the day. Though no one seems particularly enthused, they agree to travel to the [[Varikov's Cave (Scaena)|werewolf den]]. Nox excuses herself to go investigate something, as she "feels weird." She refuses to elaborate and suggests that they can meet up soon to get going. ### Filling the roster In private, Gallagher points out Ez's aversion to werewolves. When she asks her to stay behind, Ez is convinced, though she seems glum. Gallagher kisses her and tries to check up on her. Ez lies about doing okay. Unconvinced, Gallagher tells Ez that she loves her before departing. Ireena tells Notte that she feels like she is better equipped to help now, adding that she can turn into mist. Notte tells Ireena that she is free to come with if she would like; Ireena is surprised by this, as she figured Notte would be reluctant since the werewolves work for Strahd. Notte asks, "who doesn't?" Francis tells Van Richten that the talks with the werewolves will be short and uneventful and that he doesn't need to go. Van Richten argues but eventually relents. ### Ghost ship & werewolf goals Gallagher, Notte, Francis, Yves, Lacrymosa, Ireena, Ismark, and Nox gather in the dining hall to discuss their plan before leaving. Notte asks Nox what she had to look into. Nox ramblingly explains that a ghost ship has appeared on Lake Baratok without her intervention. Gallagher becomes distressed. On Gallagher's urging, Nox lays out the goal for the werewolves: to get them out of the picture, ideally non-violently. He adds that the werewolves each have their own opinion on Strahd but that they will probably be happy about getting to leave the domain themselves. With no firm plan in place, the party teleports to Argynvostholt and departs via train. ### The *Relentless* & Black Joan As the group approaches Lake Baratok, they can see a large, wispy, half-ruined pirate ship in the middle of the lake. The side reads *RELENTLESS* in Mordentish. Gallagher panics; as she feared, the ship belongs to Pietra van Riese. A cannonball crashes into the tracks in front of them. Nox stops the train. As the party disembarks, they are approached by a group led by [[Joan Hargrave|"Black Joan"]], a scarred triton and second mate of the *Relentless*. She is accompanied by five vampires, five sea zombies, two larger zombies, four humans, and one large, ghastly amalgamation of corpses. Gallagher quietly warns the others of Black Joan's dangerousness. Black Joan mocks her before asking where they have made port. When she finds out that they are in Scaena, Black Joan suggests that they were trying to find the "real Barovia." Notte indicates that she thought Barovia was no longer in the mists; Black Joan informs her that every domain returns to the mists eventually as long as there is a dark lord to rule it. ### Fighting pirates Black Joan demands that the party hand over their valuables. Negotiations break down when Yves channels Turn Undead, destroying four sea zombies and three vampires, which explode into gunpowder. Notte says, "that was a warning shot." Black Joan argues that it was an attack. When Francis points out that she didn't turn into gunpowder, Black Joan states that she doesn't have gunpowder in her. Francis taunts, "you're about to." Black Joan incredulously points out that none of them have guns. Black Joan instructs the others to attack. Pointing at Francis, she adds that they should save that one for her, as she can find something to do with him later. Francis asks if he's being flirted with; Black Joan insists that he's not. Despite this, Francis airily says that he is spoken for. Soon after the fight begins, Gallagher summons four lightning-charged meteors down from the sky. The impacts kills all but a single human pirate, who is barely holding onto life. ### Sparing the survivor The survivor, [[Bill Vrakes|Bosun "Blind" Bill Vrakes]], politely asks to leave with his life. He states that they are a "scary bunch" before admitting that he thinks that Van Riese is going to kill him. Gallagher points him in the direction of Vallaki. On request, Yves unhappily heals him. Bill departs shortly afterward. The party boards the train once more. The track in front of them is conveniently repaired. ### Arrival at the werewolf den The party arrives at Varikov's Cave in the early afternoon. Outside, there is a sign that tells them to "Stay Out." Yves and Ireena quickly find that they are physically blocked from entering the cave since they are uninvited. Francis writes a note and attaches it to Skelly, who he sends inside the cave. > Hello, We are patiently waiting at the mouth of the cave, do you think your leader could come out and talk? We come in peace. Eventually, a white-furred wolf approaches with the note in her mouth. Skelly is absent. The wolf transforms into a human woman and remarks that they are either "spectacularly stupid" or worth paying attention to. Notte indicates that they are there to discuss Strahd. The woman – named [[Bianca Stoyanovich (Scaena)|Bianca]] – bluntly asks if they are allies or enemies of the man. Francis answers, "allies." Yves says, "frenemies." Bianca declares that they can talk inside, stating that she is the closest they will get to someone representing the pack; the werewolf usually in charge – her mate, Kiril – has been out hunting and likely will not return for at least a few more days. ### Inside the den The cave is inhabited by many werewolves, but Bianca leads the party to a space where they can talk in private. She is surprised to hear that Strahd might be leaving the domain soon. As Nox predicted, however, she likes the idea of her pack also getting to leave. Eventually, the conversation leads to Bianca explaining a pressing disagreement in the pack between Emil – the man who the party rescued from the dungeons of Castle Ravenloft – and Kiril. Specifically, the two have been arguing about how to handle the children that they've kidnapped, who are currently locked in cages; Emil wants to turn them all into werewolves, whereas Kiril wants to continue to make them fight to the death and turn only the victor. The party is aghast as Bianca bluntly goes over the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. After the party tries and fails to convince Bianca to release all the children, Francis tiredly suggests that they should just let the children decide whether they want to be werewolves. Bianca argues that this wouldn't work, but she admits that she hasn't asked the children for their opinions. Francis suggests that the children might be more receptive to the idea of becoming werewolves if they weren't locked in cages and were provided toys or something. Bianca argues against the idea; Francis continues to advocate for toys and homeschooling. Gallagher quietly interrupts Francis to tell her that they should focus on saving the children's lives first. ### Negotiating with the children After some more back-and-forth, Bianca declares that the party can speak with the children; if any of them agree to become werewolves, then the others can leave with the party. She indicates that she will tell Kiril that she came to a decision with some people who "work for" Rahadin. The party presents the offer to the eight children, who are initially silent and terrified. They relax slightly when they are assured that they will be out of the cages regardless, that they will not have to fight to the death, and also when Notte shows off her raven form. [[Falkon Moldovar|Falkon]] – the spokesperson for the children – and [[Bogan Tyminski|Bogan]] – who Falkon describes as "a bit slow" – ultimately accept the offer of werewolf lycanthropy. Gallagher tells Falkon to watch over Bogan and gives him her Wand of Secrets. When Notte icily asks Bianca if she is happy, Bianca asks if they can get a third child to agree. Gallagher tells her no. Yves chides Bianca for her cruelty. Francis tells the children that the orphans who don't want to be werewolves – [[Jirko Ismarkovich|Jirko]] and [[Franz Ismarkovich|Franz]] – will be taken back to their church, where they will be fed and taken care of. Notte quietly argues that Francis should have discussed this idea with the others first. ### Inspiring change & bringing the children home Outside, Notte tells Nox that it would be wonderful if the werewolves were to change their ways. Nox jokes about a bear trap; Notte suggests taking inspiration from films. Gallagher suggests that all the werewolves could have dreams about how horrible it was to be kidnapped and made to fight other children to the death. Nox seems to like this idea. On the train, Yves plays Ez's lyre for the children. They take [[Zondra Zalken|Zondra]] and [[Boris Janek|Boris]] back to Vallaki; then, they take [[Krystofor Vadu|Krystofer]] and [[Mathilda Vadu|Mathilda]] back to Krezk. In the late afternoon, the party finally teleports back from Krezk back to the Keep with Jirko and Franz, who Francis introduces to Freek and Myrtle. The four quickly begin playing together. ### Kitchen check-in Gallagher finds Ludmilla, Ez, and Petre in the kitchen. Petre is cooking out of boredom; Ez has her head in her hands; Ludmilla is grinning. Gallagher brews tea for them all. Gallagher elects to avoid telling Ludmilla about Pietra van Riese's presence in the domain. She does, however, provide werewolf-related updates. Ez is relieved to hear that the werewolves are about to be primed to change their ways. Ludmilla declares that werewolves are "wretched animals" compared to the better, more graceful creatures of the night. She winks at Gallagher. ### Explode Heart demonstration Lyssa messages the group chat and summons "those with spellbooks" to the library. Francis and Gallagher soon arrive. She shows off her newly-completed spellbook, adding that her favorites are Blood Explosion and Explode Heart. Gallagher isn't so interested in necromancy, but indicates that she will be by to copy down a few other spells later. Lyssa invites Francis to try casting Explode Heart on her. She reluctantly does so. As a result, she coughs up blood; Lyssa coughs up much more. When Notte asks Lyssa if she is okay, Lyssa insists that she is "feeling refreshed." Outside, Van Richten scolds Francis after seeing the blood on her mouth and shirt. Referring to Lyssa, Van Richten declares that Francis needs to limit his interactions with "that thing." Francis tells him to relax. ### Strahd arrives Nearly everyone is in the dining hall when a loud crash of thunder sounds from outside. The door nearly slams open; Strahd catches it and finishes opening it gently. Francis, Yves, and Notte invite him in. Strahd looks different than the last time the party saw him: his hair and facial hair is unkempt, and he is wearing a wolf-skin cloak along with traveling clothes rather than his usual finery. Francis asks Strahd if he had a nice time in the mountains. Strahd says that it was a refreshing experience. Notte holds the hand of Ireena, who puts on a smile despite her anxiety. Escher sinks down in his chair. Ludmilla, who has started clawing a groove into the table, is not at all reassured when Gallagher puts a hand on her leg. ### Briefing Strahd Francis warns Strahd of Firan's imminent arrival. When Strahd declares that he would have no problem "doing away" with Firan, Notte quips, "and we would thank you." Strahd awkwardly responds, "thank... you." Francis indicates that they have a few more things to take care of. When Strahd asks if he can help at all, Notte suggests that he might be able to help with the abbey. Francis states that Vasilka doesn't need to be in the care of the Abbot anymore; instead, he will take care of her himself like he is taking care of the rest of the children. Strahd eyes the four children at the table before offering to write a letter for them to bring to the Abbot. Francis expresses appreciation for the help. Strahd asks why there is a "duplicate" of Notte. Notte says that they already told him about the other power in the region. Strahd expresses that he didn't realize that she was female. Nox makes a shaky hand gesture and admits that she doesn't really care. Strahd asks for a place to lay his "secondary coffin." Yves offers that he and Ismark can clear out of their room and stay with Petre instead. Ismark and Petre, though both surprised, seem okay with the idea. Yves takes Strahd to his lodgings. Ludmilla storms off. Francis escorts an uncomfortable Escher to the graveyard. ### Yves & Strahd catch up Strahd makes awkward small talk with Yves, eventually revealing that he gave up many of powers, including those that allowed him to cast certain spells, the ability to walk on walls, and the access to knowledge of how to become a lich – not that he was making use of that one, as he finds the idea of having no skin to be a "wretched concept." Strahd hesitantly asks if "Lady Kolyana" has become a vampire. When Yves indicates that she has, Strahd asks if this has been done to taunt him. Yves argues that Ireena being a vampire is probably a good thing for both of them, as she is no longer as frightened by him; now, they can approach each other as equals. Strahd calls Ireena "meek and feeble" in a passing remark. Yves defends Ireena's honor, pointing out that it takes a lot of strength to remain as optimistic and positive as she does, especially considering where she lives and what Strahd has put her through. Strahd apologizes. When Strahd asks if he is allowed to "mingle," Yves tells him to do what he wants. They advise, however, that he should approach people as "Strahd the guy" rather than "Strahd the vampire lord." ### Gallagher's mansion Gallagher finds Ludmilla slumped against the wall in the dorm area, shaken by Strahd's presence and the memories she associates with him. Gallagher offers to cast Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion so that Ludmilla has a larger space to herself. When she mentions that it comes with "like a hundred semi-transparent servants or something," Ludmilla says that she does like servants. Gallagher suggests that they design the mansion together. When Ludmilla indicates that she wants at least part of the mansion to look like the sleeping quarters of Gallagher's last ship, Gallagher suggests that the crew's sleeping quarters weren't very glamorous. Ludmilla then tells Gallagher to instead make it look like the captain's quarters of the ship that she preferred. Gallagher asks Ludmilla why she is assuming that she has seen the captain's quarters; however, she eventually admits that she did see them when she was serving on her first ship. Gallagher casts the spell, placing a the door to the extradimensional space in her and Ez's room on Ludmilla's request. ### Escher's lament Escher spirals in the graveyard, lamenting that Strahd looks "troubled" and "rugged" – like an "injured bald eagle" – and that he even thanked someone. Francis points out that, even if Strahd _is_ different, Escher deserves better. Yves walks into the graveyard with their dagger. Escher greets him before wailing, "The stubble. The hair." Yves says, "it's alright." Yves interrupts further dramatics by asking Escher if he would like to not be a vampire anymore. ### Killing Escher Francis, Yves, and Escher all discuss how to best kill Escher. Escher rejects most methods – including magic – for their lack of "elegance." When Yves argues that dying via Ezra's holy light is both elegant and apt considering Escher's reverence for her, Escher reveals that he doesn't care about Ezra anymore and has moved onto a new belief system. He explains that "the force" from _Star Wars_ really resonated with him. Yves suggests that they can rip all the skin off his body with a spell. They settle on throat-slitting instead. Yves carries out a swift execution. ### Escher, the (non-vampiric) human Francis keeps Yves company over the next hour while they cast True Resurrection, reviving Escher and curing him of his vampirism. Escher seems unphased by his death. He marvels over being alive, breathing, and having all blunt teeth. Yves gives Escher a hug. ### Graveyard talk: the brides Yves and Escher both depart from the graveyard. Francis remains behind to take a moment for herself. She is soon joined, however, by Strahd, who asks if she would mind his presence. When Francis indicates that she wouldn't, he sits nearby but keeps a respectful distance. After some awkward niceties, Francis redirects the conversation to Escher. Strahd downplays Escher's feelings. Francis points out that it is difficult to move on from a several decades-long relationship. He suggests that Strahd can write Escher a letter and that they can talk if Escher seeks him out afterward. Strahd seems reluctant. The two discuss the other brides. Francis acknowledges that Volenta probably liked Strahd insofar as she appreciates death; Ludmilla, however, probably never liked him, and both of them have moved on in any case. Strahd is unsurprised; he shares that the "wildlife of Barovia" has reported that Ludmilla is typically in close proximity to "Crewman Love." When Francis suggests that Anastrasya didn't seem to care much for him either, Strahd admits that he left her in the castle. ### Graveyard talk: Strahd & Tatyana, Firan & Francis Strahd expresses appreciation that Francis hasn't sniped at him. Francis expresses appreciation that Strahd hasn't called her Tatyana. Strahd admits that Francis certainly isn't the woman that he thought she was. The two discuss Darkon and Azalin Rex. Strahd offers to kill Firan when he arrives, but Francis declines, reiterating that Firan deserves a chance as much as Strahd does. Strahd then begins ranting about Firan's annoying qualities, complaining that what bothers him most about Firan is that he isn't sure that he even remembers most of their interactions. Francis confirms that Firan's memory seems spotty. Strahd expresses his condolences that Francis ever had to deal with Firan. When Francis states that she has spent her whole life dealing with him, Strahd admits that her situation makes him more sympathetic to "prior Tatyanas." Strahd awkwardly excuses himself as the conversation winds down. He insists on a too-firm handshake and then departs. ### Gallagher & Ez clear the air Ez continues to act nervous and tense throughout the day. As a result, Gallagher indicates to Ez that they need to talk. They are later sharing a smoke break when Ez abruptly declares that she is sorry and that she understands whatever Gallagher has to do in response to her choices. Gallagher indicates that there is nothing to apologize for; she just wanted to know whether Ez is doing okay. Ez insists that Gallagher didn't do anything wrong. Gallagher insists the same is true of Ez. When Ez admits that she is used to messing up her relationships irreparably, Gallagher tells her that nothing of the sort has happened. Ez is reassured after some more back-and-forth. Ez asks Gallagher how her day went beyond dealing with the werewolves. Gallagher tells her about the encounter with Black Joan and the *Relentless* sighting. She admits that it was "ambiently stressful" to see the ship of the woman who killed her and then come back to the Keep to see Strahd, who also killed her. The two discuss Ludmilla. Ez declares that she still doesn't understand a single thing about Ludmilla's psychology; if anything, she finds her more confusing now. Gallagher tells Ez about the door to the extradimensional mansion in their room. Ez agrees to stay in the mansion once Gallagher indicates that they can have their own room, though she seems doubtful that Ludmilla will leave them alone in any case. Gallagher admits that she hasn't figured out how to dismiss the semi-transparent servants. Ez calls Mordenkainen a pervert. ### Lyssa provokes, Ireena & Notte talk In the library, Lyssa casually remarks that she is glad that things have developed between them all so relatively rapidly. She adds that it's fun being with someone who look identical to her before teasing that Notte also has access to this "rare opportunity." Notte is scandalized. Ireena announces that she and Notte will be back before dragging Notte away to their room. A dizzying conversation ensues in which Notte has to ask Ireena to slow down on multiple occasions. After a lot of mutual deflection, Ireena eventually acknowledges that she is interested in Lyssa. Notte admits that she isn't sure about her own feelings toward Lyssa but that she would like to get to know her better. Ireena ramblingly tells Notte that they should talk about any developments in their relationships – new or otherwise; she would be okay, however, if new things crop up for Notte since she is now more secure in their relationship than she was previously. She adds that she wouldn't be upset if Notte kissed Lyssa or Stella, for example. Notte says, "likewise." When Ireena states that she wouldn't be upset if Notte kissed any of their other friends, Notte responds awkwardly. The two affirm that they're okay. ### Juste introduces himself Yves is playing *Ace Attorney* in the dining hall when they are joined by Nox. Yves admits that they might be missing some cultural context needed to fully enjoy the game. Nox mentions that he likes Edgeworth, but Yves hasn't got to him yet. Nox asks Yves if they would like to visit him in [[Director's Office|his office]] so that he can properly introduce himself; he recently realized that he has yet to do so. Once Yves agrees, he directs them to follow him into the pantry, in which Yves is met with a void until Juste turns on the lights. He appears as himself rather than Nox. Juste states that he wanted to meet Yves as "normal, regular" him before they make it out of Scaena. He then expresses his fears that he won't fit in on Toril. Yves reassures him, adding that it wouldn't be a big deal if he doesn't fit in; they didn't fit in where they were from either. Juste admits that this was part of the reason he latched on to Yves and the rest of their companions. ### Juste's connections Many papers are strewn about on a large desk, some typed and some handwritten. There are also notes and sketches of people pinned to the wall. The sketches have various colored strings connecting them. > Yves 🔴️ Hawthorne > Yves 🔴️ Ismark > Yves 🔴️ Petre > Yves 🟠 Strahd > Yves 🟠 Francis > Yves 🟡 Notte > Yves 🟡 Ireena > Notte 🔴️ Lyssa > Notte 🔴️ Ireena > Notte 🟠 Stella > Notte 🟡 Rahadin > Notte 🟡 Lacrymosa > Gallagher 🔴️ Ezmerelda > Gallagher 🟠 Ludmilla > Gallagher 🟡 Nox > Gallagher 🟡 Ireena > Gallagher 🟡 Escher > Francis 🔴️ Van Richten > Francis 🟠 Firan > Francis 🟠 Quincey > Francis 🟡 Volenta > Francis 🟡 Escher > Francis 🟡 Nox > Francis 🟡 Ireena > Francis 🟡 Lyssa > Ezmerelda 🟠 Ludmilla > Ezmerelda 🟡 Ireena ### Sketches, pins, and control Juste informs Yves that the sketches are an abstract representation of each person. As he shows Yves a white pin and a black pin, he explains that the black pins are for forcing people to do things, like making Escher walk into a bear trap, making Strahd attempt to punch Francis through the chest, or making Gallagher jump in the way of Strahd punching Francis. White pins, on the other hand, are for putting thoughts in people's heads, but it's up to the person whether they follow through on the thought. He indicates that an example of when he used a white pin was when Ludmilla wanted to follow Gallagher back to the Keep. When Yves remarks on the hands-off nature of Juste's process versus the sometimes violent reality, Juste expresses that she has been trying to be less detached about things. ### The cabinet: dolls & shipping art Yves pries about a locked cabinet in the room. Juste eventually agrees to open it up. Inside, there are many doodles of Yves and Notte, less so of Gallagher and Francis, and Blinsky-style dolls of Notte and Yves. Yves also finds a closed box in which there are pins of himself, Notte, Francis, Gallagher, Petre, Ireena, and Strahd rendered in a chibi style. There are also drawings of Yves, Notte, Francis, and Gallagher kissing various people. > Yves/Ezmerelda > Yves/Van Richten > Yves/Ismark > Yves/Francis > Yves/Notte > Yves/Gallagher > Yves/Hawthorne > Yves/Quincey > Yves/Stella > Yves/Ireena > Yves/Petre > Yves/Firan > Yves/Strahd > Yves/Juste > Notte/Ezmerelda > Notte/Ismark > Notte/Francis > Notte/Gallagher > Notte/Hawthorne > Notte/Ludmilla > Notte/Escher > Notte/Stella > Notte/Ireena > Notte/Petre > Notte/Rahadin > Notte/Juste > Notte/Nox > Notte/Notte > Notte/Volenta > Notte/Sorina > Francis/Gallagher > Francis/Firan > Francis/Firan > Francis/Juste > Gallagher/Krue > Gallagher/Juste > Krue/Hawthorne Yves states, "that's... interesting." Juste uneasily says that he was conceptualizing character dynamics. When Yves holds up the four drawings of Juste kissing people, Juste deflects. She adds that she is "moderately attractive" and that it isn't weird to draw herself kissing other people. Yves asks, "you think you're *moderately* attractive?" They do not clarify whether they mean this to be an insult or a compliment. Yves picks up the Yves/Firan drawing and asks who the other person is. Juste sheepishly informs him; Yves is astonished. When Yves asks about the Krue/Hawthorne drawing, Juste cites their argument in the woods; Krue punched Hawthorne, and Hawthorne "seemed like she got off on it." Yves teases Juste, calling the drawings "a bit funny." Juste, agitated, asks if the humor of it is why Yves spent so long looking at the drawing of him and Francis. Juste reluctantly agrees to let Yves show the drawings to the others when they promise not to say where the drawings are from. They gather all the drawings except that of them and Francis, but Juste covertly sticks the remaining drawing to Yves's back as they are leaving. ### Yves sows chaos Yves walks into the dining hall, drops the stack of papers on the table, and walks away. Notte, Ireena, Francis, Gallagher, and Ez begin looking through the stack. Notte very quickly flips past the Yves/Notte drawing. When she gets to the Yves/Juste sketch, Ireena asks who the other person is. Notte icily answers, "Nox." She then picks up all the drawings that feature herself and goes off to find Juste. Ireena follows. Francis grabs the Francis/Gallagher drawing and holds it up. Ez bristles. Francis then sees the Francis/Firan drawing and remarks that this is a lot less funny to him now. He takes the drawings that feature himself and leaves to follow Notte and Ireena. ### Library confrontation & a kiss Francis, Notte, and Ireena find Nox in the library. Nox, seeing the drawings in their hands and the angry look on their faces, ragdolls. Notte demands, "Get back here. Come back. Right now." Juste begins possessing the body once more and picks herself off the ground. Nox tries to say that the drawings were Yves's doing. When Francis points out that Yves wouldn't know what Firan looks like, Nox tiredly tells Francis to tear up the drawing if she wants. Francis leaves in a huff. Notte accuses Nox of being obsessed, disgusting, and weird. Nox argues that he was "experimenting creatively." Tensions spike; then, Notte kisses him hard. Eventually, Ireena clears her throat. Notte suddenly pulls back from the kiss and declares that she needs to leave. Nox is stunned, but manages to ask if this is a bad time to note that she has been "tactilely possessing the body." Notte quickly walks out of the library. A very flushed Ireena follows after her, calling out that she isn't mad. The two head out the front doors of the Keep. ### No more silly drawings Nox apologizes to those in the dining hall (Francis, Ez, and Gallagher) for her "silly" drawings. Francis tells Nox not to draw him ever again. Nox agrees to this; he then asks Gallagher if that extends to her. When Gallagher tells him not to draw her kissing people, Nox asks if she is including "other intimate scenarios." Gallagher tells Nox not to draw her. ### Nox & Notte confide in Yves Nox finds Yves in Petre's room and recounts what happened with Notte. When Nox subsequently all but propositions Yves, Yves reacts with irritation, but doesn't shut the idea down. Nox indicates that the offer is open and then departs, leaving the door to his office nearby. Notte also seeks out Yves. When she finds out that Nox already told Yves what happened and then propositioned him, Notte suggests killing Nox. Yves points out that Juste is just a very lonely person; he adds that he is sure that Notte can relate, as she – like Yves and Juste both – also latched on to the first person who showed her kindness. Yves implies that they are considering Juste's offer but concludes that they should talk to his partners first. Notte is incredulous. Notte notices the drawing of Francis/Yves on Yves's back and hands it to them. Yves rips it up. When Yves tells Notte about the strings connecting people in Juste's office, Notte says that she needs to have another word with him. Yves points to the office door. ### Back in the office Notte storms into Juste's office. Juste asks if she is mad at him before pointing out that she is the one who initiated the kiss. Ignoring him, Notte looks at the strings connecting the sketches. In addition to the ones that Yves saw, there are two more that Juste has added in the time since. > Yves 🟠 Nox > Notte 🟠 Nox Notte demands to know what the colors of the strings mean. Juste explains: red means an active, official relationship; orange means "obvious" developments; yellow means that there was the briefest consideration by either party. Notte is disgusted by the yellow connection between her and Rahadin; she is in disbelief about the orange connection between Yves and Francis as well as the one between Yves and Strahd. Notte scolds Juste for the orange connection between him and herself. She also scolds him for possessing her body. Juste declares that he will stop possessing Notte's body and that Notte doesn't have to kiss him again. After a long pause, Notte says, "Fine!" When Juste asks her to leave his office, however, Notte kisses him again. ### Gallagher's dream That night, Gallagher dreams of being on board an unfamiliar ship. She is soon greeted by the [[Exethanter|original, Barovian Exethanter]], who explains that he is visiting her on behalf the Dark Powers to have a "polite conversation." He then requests that she and her party depart from Scaena; no one will be harmed, and everyone will be allowed to leave with the exception of Juste. ### Philosophical debate with Exethanter Gallagher questions the morality and the purpose of the Domains of Dread, likening herself to a rat in a maze and darklords to rat-eating prisoners. When Exethanter argues that the maze stops the darklords from hurting people outside the maze, Gallagher points out that – to her understanding – the dark lords can't leave the maze if they are still eating the rats. Gallagher requests to leave, but Exethanter stalls her exit. He indicates that he needs to bring in her peers so that he can issue a list of terms. Exethanter transports them to an inn. Francis, Yves, and Notte are also present. Notte is wearing Juste's coat. Exethanter makes the same offer to the others than he did to Gallagher. Notte says, "Mm. No." Francis admits that she believes Exethanter's presence is good news for them, as she figures that he wouldn't be there unless there was a decent chance that Juste and Strahd could walk away. Exethanter acknowledges that they have made "good progress" in their goals; he adds, however, that it might be time to reevaluate whether they are sure that they want their quest to succeed. Notte says that she is sure; Yves states that he's "mostly sure"; Francis says that it's important to her to have proof that people can change. ### The dark powers' terms Exethanter presents terms from the dark powers: if the party is unwilling to depart from Scaena at this moment, immediate consequences will befall Scaena and the people therein. When pressed, Exethanter admits that he doesn't know what these consequences are; he just knows that they will continue until they leave. Yves remarks that he is starting to feel like the dark powers themselves should be trapped in a prison forever. Francis states that she has no reason to do the dark powers a favor. Notte indicates that, though she was previously aimless, she has become interested in learning how to remove the dark powers from power. Exethanter tells them that they may leave out the door. Despite the warning of consequences, they do so without hesitation. ## 2 Kythorn 1494 ### What befell Scaena The party wakes shortly after their dream with Exethanter concludes. They inform their respective bedfellows of Exethanter's warning. In the dining hall, Notte asks Nox if a "terrible fate" has befell Scaena. Nox's body goes limp as Juste "checks on things"; when they repossess the body, they frantically tell the others that Krezk has been razed. They are unable to tell if anyone is still alive, or what has happened; they say, however, that they should try to find Vasilka or the Abbot at the very least. Yves asks Nox if they can resurrect everyone. Juste admits that they are trying to undo the damage but that it "isn't taking." Gallagher is the first to step on the teleportation circle; as it begins sparking, she quickly steps off. She tells the others that she can teleport nine people to Krezk including herself. Nox indicates that he can get there on his own. After some deliberation, Gallagher, Yves, Francis, Notte, Van Richten, Ez, Ismark, Ireena, and Lacrymosa teleport right outside of Krezk. The gate to the settlement has been blown off the hinges. The buildings are crumbling, with deep gashes in the stone and dirt. Mangled remains cover the streets. ### Fate of the Vadus The party seeks out the home of Mathilda and Krystofor Vadu, the two children that they dropped off the prior day after rescuing them from the werewolf den. The house, they find, is mostly collapsed on itself. Gallagher pulls away a stone to find viscera. She drops the stone and rubs her face. As party begins to turn away, mangled remains rise out of the rubble and form into four shapes, two shorter than the others. They contort and move to attack. ### Corporeal instability Soon after the fight begins, one of the child-sized creatures approaches Yves, makes a distorted noise, and grabs onto him; Yves's body melts and and contorts as he becomes an amorphous mass of meat like the other four. The same quickly happens to Ismark. Yves attacks Notte against his will. Notte starts to tear up. Ismark forces himself to stop in place. As Yves regains his typical form, he feels his skin shifting, like he could turn back at any moment. Ez strikes down one of the taller creatures before he can warn her that he was cognizant of his actions. Ez looks like she is going to be sick. Ismark wills himself to turn back into his normal form. He throws up in the snow. Boxed in, Ireena is forced to attack one of the child-sized creatures. She does so with her eyes closed. Yves casts Greater Restoration on himself and feels his skin stop shifting. Van Richten cures Ismark with Lesser Restoration. When Yves casts Lesser and then Greater Restoration on one of the child-sized creatures, nothing happens. Yves grimly concludes that they will have to be put out of their misery. The creatures melt into black puddles as they are killed. ### Emotional aftermath The party is shaken. Nox is at a loss; Yves clings to Ismark; Ez slumps against a tree; Van Richten studies the remains; Francis frets. Notte comforts Ireena, who resolves to continue despite her state. Gallagher wrestles with the idea of casting Wish to prevent further transformations, but Ez – not wanting Gallagher to harm herself – argues against the idea. ### Wish & continuing on To Ez's frustration, Gallagher staggers as she casts Wish in an effort to protect them all from the corporeal instability effect that they just witnessed. ### An abbey in ruin The gates to the Abbey are destroyed and the guard posts are collapsed. The party soon finds the corpse of Otto Belview, upright and holding a shovel stuck into stone. His blood has been drained out of a gash along the length of his back. Zygfrek's hand juts out of the rock, also drained of blood. In the courtyard, the party finds mogrelfolk corpses mounted on spears and others heaped in piles, all drained of blood. Francis rushes ahead. A blood trail takes them into the north wing of the Abbey, with the trail splitting off between three branching rooms labeled "operating room," "nursery," and "morgue." ### Finding Vasilka & the Abbot Francis heads for the nursery on instinct. Among the wrecked wooden cribs is Vasilka sitting hunched in the corner, a ball of light floating in the center of the room, and the Abbot appearing in the reflection of the window. As they enter, the ball of light surges inside Vasilka's body. Vasilka goes upright and stands before greeting them as the Abbot. He reveals that, though he is without his body, he can still possess things. Francis asks after Vasilka's wellbeing. The Abbot states that, while Vasilka now understands death, he managed to patch up most of her wounds in his last moments. Yves heals the remaining gash on her leg; when he smiles at her, Vasilka studies him before awkwardly mimicking the expression. ### The Abbot's plan The Abbot explains that blood elementals slaughtered many of the Abbey's inhabitants and that the rest were killed by writhing creatures of meat and bone, led by a massive example of their kind. He reveals that he has managed to bar the blood elementals in the operating theater; his plan is to possess something – hopefully a suit of armor – and address the blood elementals himself. When Gallagher questions this choice, he insists that it is his duty. He advises that they should kill the beast responsible – which is likely in the other wing of the abbey – and leave Krezk as soon as possible. The Abbot wishes them luck. They depart with Vasilka in tow. ### Wing of the chaos beasts The party can see Krezk far below as they cross the outer wall to the opposite wing. The settlement is in ruin, with red blanketing much of the ground. Forcing the door open has them greeted by a freezing blast of cold followed by a sweltering heat. Inside, a giant, twitching mass of black flesh stands surrounded by eight smaller masses of flesh. The black flesh writhes and groans. After a moment, piercing red eyes open and a tendril holding a human skull extends. The mass of flesh mocks them in the Abbot's voice. ### Battling the chaos beasts Francis casts Crown of Stars and sends a mote of light crashing into the nearest chaos beast. The giant beast breathes darkness that engulfs the room, impenetrable to even those with darkvision. Yves protects the party with Aura of Purity. Still drained from casting Wish, Gallagher is wracked with pain as she casts True Seeing on herself and Ez as well as Fizban's Platinum Shield on Ez specifically. Shortly afterward, Notte ignites the sunsword, dispelling the darkness around them. The party attacks; the chaos beasts attack in return. Ireena kills one; Francis kills two; the largest tries to cast Confusion. Necrotic energy ripples over Gallagher once more as she Counterspells it and then as she casts Jumping Jolt, killing two of the chaos beasts. When Ismark tries to help her, she snaps that she will kill Ismark herself if he doesn't focus on the main threat. Notte kills the remaining three smaller chaos beasts with Steel Wind Strike. Van Richten kills its leader by opening a rift to the dreadscapes. There is a cacophony of shrieks as the creatures liquify into black muck, which melts through the floor and into the room below before melting a well into the earth. ### Notte picks up a rock (& parasite) A stone gleams in the pooled muck; Notte misidentifies it as a Stone of Good luck. As she picks it up, however, she feels a pinch and begins speaking strangely. Yves touches Notte and casts Remove Curse followed by Greater Restoration. Notte drops the rock, which is actually a Stone of Ill Luck. When Notte continues to speak strangely, Gallagher searches her, eventually finding a tiny creature latched onto her arm. The creature prevents Notte from harming it and speaks to her telepathically; it claims that it is "learning." Gallagher kills it with a Water Bullet. Notte feels a little bad. Notte asks Nox about the parasite and Francis asks Van Richten the same, but neither of them know what it is. Gallagher, fatigued and bit delirious, casts Legend Lore, wincing as she is overcome with pain. She informs the others that the parasite is a wizard's shackle, a creature obsessed with learning about and absorbing magic. ### Debriefing Strahd With Nox's help – and despite the protests of Ez, who is concerned for Gallagher's safety – Gallagher teleports them all back to the Keep. Strahd awaits them in the dining hall. When they report that almost everyone in Krezk was already dead upon their arrival, Strahd – angry and seemingly distraught – demands to know the why and how. Notte reiterates that the dark powers are very unhappy with them all; they really don't want Strahd to leave, and they want Nox to leave even less. Nox, deep in thought, looks away. Strahd asks after their physical wellness, singling out Gallagher in particular. Gallagher, weary and bitter, states that she just hopes that nothing like this happens again tomorrow. ### Carrying on Francis and Ireena check on each other. Ireena admits that she isn't doing well after having to kill the children. Francis agrees that it wasn't fun to contribute to or witness. When Ireena asks if Francis remembers the first time that he had to kill someone, Francis shares that they were attacked by a werewolf on their second full day in the domain; he adds, however, that he can't stop and ruminate while he still has a job to do. ### Ireena, meet Vasilka Francis properly introduces Vasilka and Ireena. Vasilka studies Ireena curiously. Ireena jokes, "another one for the roster." She remarks that at least all the Tatyanas are distinct. ### Gallagher & Ez regroup with Ludmilla Gallagher and Ez head into the boat-mansion for tea and rest. They find Ludmilla harassing the spectral servants inside. Gallagher informs Ludmilla what happened in Krezk after she observes that Gallagher "looks bad." Ludmilla, clearly taken off guard, expresses her condolences. Gallagher sarcastically suggests that the dark powers sure know how to butter them up. Gallagher expresses her hopes that this serves as a wakeup call for Juste; she also hopes that, if they all die, he puts down the pen and gets out of the domain so that it isn't all for nothing. Ludmilla resolves to simply throttle Juste until he revives Gallagher in the event of her death. ### Strahd checks on Yves Strahd checks Yves for injury. He declares that Yves needs to improve their connection to vampirism. When he suggests that they can head to the castle later that morning, Yves argues that the others might not be amicable to the idea. Strahd, agitated, admits that he is concerned for their safety and for the safety of those whom he is attempting to befriend. Yves agrees to run the suggestion by his companions. The conversation shifts to the fate of Krezk. Yves muses that the dark powers are trying to scare them into cooperation; he adds that committing atrocities toward civilians isn't the way to do that, as it doesn't make him want to cooperate at all. When Strahd admits that committing such atrocities is a "historically unviable" strategy, Yves flicks him. ### Juste's path to redemption Notte accompanies an especially morose Nox on a walk. Nox laments that all of Krezk is dead just because he thought that he deserved to leave the domain. Notte argues that the people of Krezk aren't dead because of Nox – rather, they are dead because of the dark powers. Notte finds it encouraging that Nox is upset about what happened to Krezk when he himself would have freely written such a tragedy in the past; she argues that this means that Nox isn't wasting his time trying to improve. Notte suggests that Nox could build a memorial for those who died in Krezk. Nox is still upset; however, he does seem to like the idea. Despite this, Nox admits that he is considering letting everyone leave Scaena after what happened. Notte declares that she isn't going anywhere. She states that she is invested and that she knows they will succeed as long as they can survive whatever the dark powers throw at them. Nox thanks her for caring to try. ### Enrolling in vampire school It is still morning when the party reconvenes. Yves announces Strahd's intent to take him to "vampire school." Strahd extends the offer to the other vampires present as well. Strahd explains that they will attune to the heart of Ravenloft, which will strengthen their connection to vampirism; as a result, they will become more powerful at the expense of being more reliant on blood and more sensitive to sunlight. Strahd argues that this is a "worthy exchange." Ireena is hesitant but ultimately accepts Strahd's offer. Lyssa quips that she will be attending the castle and probably stealing something. ### Guards and Wards With some being uneasy about leaving the others unattended at the Keep, Gallagher casts Guards and Wards, wincing in pain as she does so. She specifies that everyone currently in the Keep is immune to the effects: fog fills all the corridors, the doors are all magically locked and appear to be walls, webs fill all staircases top to bottom, a wind tunnel extends out from the front door, and a trap of Suggestion is placed just outside the door to charm potential intruders into leaving. Strahd compliments Gallagher on the spell. Gallagher stares at him for a moment before nodding. When he then asks if he can call her "Gallagher" instead of "Crewman Love," she allows this. ### Off to vampire school Notte, Gallagher, Yves, Ireena, Lyssa, and Ez are all transported to Castle Ravenloft by Strahd as lightning streaks across the sky. Gallagher and Ez head to the lounge so that Gallagher can rest; Lyssa wanders off; Yves, Ireena, and Notte go to the crypts with Strahd. Strahd offers to allow Ireena and Yves to "attune to the essence" of his grave. Notte takes issue with the wording, but Yves argues that it's better than attuning to the "essence of his bedroom." Strahd becomes agitated. Strahd assures the others that the ritual will not bind them to him in any way. He adds that it might cause them "discomfort" and a number of "mild side effects," but that they will feel better for it in the long term. ### Attuning to the heart of Ravenloft Strahd instructs Ireena and Yves to put a hand on his coffin and then does so as well. He has them repeat incantations until they successfully complete the ritual. Immediately after, Yves starts experiencing tremors and ticks; Ireena falls unconscious and begins weeping. As Notte rushes to hold Ireena, Strahd quickly says that she will be fine. After nearly an hour and a half, Ireena wakes, dazed from a dream about being a wharf rat. She demonstrates her new mist form. For Yves's part, Strahd finds that he is no longer able read their mind, though an arm-wrestling match proves that their physical strength still lags behind. ### An awkward talk with Helga Helga, the maid, arrives to the longue with beverages and sandwiches. When she lingers, Gallagher asks if she has been in the castle by herself. Helga admits that, though "Lady Anastrasya" is still present, she is often alone. She hopefully suggests that Strahd may allow her to accompany them to their keep so that she can "be useful" once more. Helga eventually admits that Rahadin has been gossiping about Gallagher; as a result, she knows that Ludmilla is staying at the Keep, and she knows that she and Gallagher are "close." Helga then asks if Ludmilla has been doing and eating well. Voice wavering, Gallagher states that she believes so. Ez puts her head in her hands. Helga shares that she keeps a small cache of Ludmilla's favorite wine and gives Gallagher a bottle to take back with her. After some more awkward conversation, Helga wishes them well and leaves. ### Helga's problem Ez, bristling, wonders aloud what Helga's "problem" is. Gallagher admits that she feels bad for her. Gallagher messages Ludmilla on her Gabb and asks, "What did you do that poor maid?" When Ludmilla responds arrogantly and hypocritically, Gallagher insults Ludmilla's intelligence. Ludmilla is delighted. ### Memories of Rudolph van Richten At the Keep, Francis is spending time with Vasilka, who has been hard at working drawing swirls, squiggles, and other shapes. Van Richten pulls him away for a talk. The two check on each other. During the conversation, Van Richten speaks to how becoming a lich made him feel unbound from the memories of the man whose name he shares; however, Krezk caused some to resurface, like those of his wife and son. Francis points out that being someone new doesn't mean that he has to abandon every aspect of who he was written to be. Van Richten agrees, admitting that he still sees Ezmerelda as his daughter, even with the knowledge that the thought was put into his head by a "very unfortunate, very lonely little puppeteer." When Van Richten indicates that he would like to find a way to reconcile the old with the new, Francis suggests that he could change his name. Van Richten is receptive to the idea. They decide to figure out the particulars later. Van Richten asks if they are okay; he adds that he knows that he has been "a lot." Francis admits that she was allowing it because things have been stressful for them all. She affirms that they are okay. On Van Richten's suggestion, the two collect Vasilka and head to the river for a picnic. ### The origin of vampires Strahd takes Yves, Ireena, and Notte to his study, where they buckle down for an several hours-long reading session. He gathers multiple texts, many of which are written in Infernal and most of which are concerned with the origin of vampires. Strahd has Yves and Ireena repeat some key phrases as the day goes on. In the texts, vampirism is most often attributed to the demon lord Orcus, also known as Tenebrous, who created vampires in a profane ritual to help spread death and suffering. Strahd argues for an "evolved" understanding of vampirism, likening it to how "Lady Boritsi" is "relatively adjusted" despite having been created to be a weapon of suffering and pain herself. ### Practical applications of vampirism Eventually, Strahd instructs Yves to attempt to hypnotize Notte as a way to test his connection to vampirism. It is initially unclear whether Yves has charmed Notte due to her preexisting fondness for him; his success is eventually confirmed, however, when Notte (lightly) punches Ireena on command. Afterward, Yves ends the charm with a casting of Remove Curse. Notte tells Yves to never hypnotize her again. Ireena demonstrates her newfound vampiric power by summoning three rats. She gestures proudly before scooping one up. Notte scoots away. ### Regrouping once again: now, with rats! Nox collects and returns to the Keep with Francis, Vasilka, and Van Richten just as Strahd, Yves, Ireena, Lyssa, Notte, Ez, and Gallagher teleport outside. Ireena shows off her new party trick. Francis flatly says, "lovely." Gallagher obligingly pets a rat. ### Snarl trackers Inside, Nox shows them to a crate of small golden pocket watches. Each shows a readout of "2 days." Nox explains that the watches track snarls in the mists and should be able to provide a rough estimate of when the dark powers might next act. When Notte praises them, Nox admits that they had a lot of help. With a sigh, Francis asks about the whereabouts of Nox's research partner. Nox quietly tells her that Firan is in the library with his "hired Vistani goon," Bonespur. ### Reunion with Firan (& Bonespur) Francis, finding the library in disarray, greets, "hello, you little idiot." Firan jumps; after recovering, Firan responds, "hello, you large idiot." Bonespur mangles Francis's name as "François" and then "Frank." Firan complains that the mists did their best to keep him out of Scaena; he and Bonespur had to briefly divert to [[Falkovnia]], wherein the zombies were clearly a result of "shoddy craftsmanship." Notte approaches, frustratedly observes that Firan trashed the library, and then leaves. Firan calls after her. When she doesn't come back, Firan tells Francis to "summon her." Francis leaves to the dining hall. Eventually, Firan starts shouting for Francis. Gallagher complains that her head hurts. ### Testing tempers Firan marches into the dining hall. He stops short when he notices Strahd, remarking that the man looks like he has been in the garbage. Francis jokes about them being exes. Firan denies this. Firan asks, "what happened to him?" Strahd dryly says that he was in the mountains "finding himself" and "relieving himself" of his contracts. Yves says, "he was relieving himself in the mountains." Strahd tiredly says, "Yves." Notte tells Nox and Firan that she expects the library to be cleaned. Nox tries to enlist the help of Lacrymosa, but when Lacrymosa turns to Notte for advice, Notte tells her not to help. Notte and Yves bait Firan until he starts shouting. Meanwhile, Gallagher – who assumes the fruit belongs to Bonespur – steals some of Firan's tangerines out of his wagon. Firan is angry; Notte suggests that Firan should expect Gallagher to steal due to her being a pirate. Gallagher departs with her spoils. In the boat-mansion, Gallagher does her best to help Ludmilla with magic without casting spells. ### Francis attempts to set some rules Outside, Firan and Francis negotiate the terms of Firan's stay. When Francis tells Firan that he needs to be nice, Firan argues that Francis's friends need to extend the same courtesy to him. Francis declares that Firan is the most annoying man that she has ever met. Firan points out that Francis hangs out with Rudolph van Richten, leading Francis to say that Firan also has to be nice to Van Richten and has to keep his jealousy to himself. Firan once again brings up his assault of Francis and Quincey. Francis leans over Firan, aiming to make him feel small; then, she tells him that he needs to stop talking about that if he wants to be friends. She informs him that no one knows about the incident except for two other people. Firan expresses surprise. Francis mimes wringing his neck. Despite her annoyance, Francis admits that the snarl trackers are "useful little gadgets." Firan looks satisfied with himself. ## 3 Kythorn 1494 ### Planning for Minsc In the morning, Nox argues that they should hold off on addressing the rest of their todo list until Gallagher recovers. Gallagher objects; Ez, Ireena, and Ludmilla object to Gallagher's objections. Ultimately, a vote determines that they will travel to [[Mount Baratok]] to retrieve Minsc that day. This decision comes after Nox admits that she didn't create the Minsc that is currently wandering the mountains of the domain; the actual, famous-barbarian-from-Toril Minsc wandered into the theater, tried to fight Strahd, and failed. ### Potions from Firan After some squabbling about Firan's height, Firan shows the party to his wagon, in which there is a cauldron bolted to the floor. He offers to make them ten potions, all of which will only last the day; however, he suggests that he will be able to find enough components to replenish their supply tomorrow. Firan gives the party a list of potions to choose from: * Potion of Animal Friendship * Potion of Growth * Potion of Healing * Potion of Greater Healing * Potion of Heroism * Potion of Resistance * Potion of Water Breathing * Oil of Slipperiness * Philter of Love * Potion of Clairvoyance * Potion of Diminution * Potion of Gaseous Form Eyeing the "Philter of Love," Notte remarks that they will need to watch their drinks around Firan. Firan, offended, states that he wouldn't want almost any of them to fall in love with him – especially not Notte. The party decides to take five Potions of Heroism and five Potions of Greater Healing with them. ### To the mountains Strahd teleports himself, Nox, Gallagher, Ez, Ireena, Notte, Yves, Francis, and Van Richten to the mountains. Strahd then leaves so as to not spook Minsc. He promises to return when they are ready to go back to the Keep. The party soon finds a camp occupied by a burning pile of zombies, Minsc, and a small hamster. ### Meeting Minsc Minsc greets them cautiously and asks for their purpose. When Notte asks if he requires assistance, Minsc – speaking in the third person – declares that he needs to become "substantially stronger" and to acquire a "great army" so that he can kill the evil of the land, the vampire lord Strahd von Zarovich. ### Rehabilitation versus violence Notte, Francis, and Yves argue for redemption rather than violence. Francis argues that teaching evil to be kind both eradicates the evil and replaces it with something better. Notte confuses Minsc with a metaphor about crafting things from wood; Yves confuses Minsc with a metaphor about ridding a home of rot. Francis asks Minsc what he would do if someone he cared for suddenly became evil and cruel. Minsc admits that he was recently "of a somewhat evil nature" himself due to unfortunate circumstances; however, his friends helped him. He acknowledges that addressing evil through persuasion isn't a bad idea; however, he isn't very skilled in the art of conversation. The party pledges to help him. They reveal that they have already taken steps toward convincing Strahd to become a better person. ### Boo and Backpack Guy Minsc confers with his companions. He first speaks with Boo, a "miniature giant space hamster" who finds the party members to be of "fairly noble character." He then speaks to his bag, whom he addresses as "Backpack Guy." Notte realizes that the bag is a mimic, but Minsc assures her that he is docile and good at storing items. When Notte sarcastically says that she is sure that his mimic is docile, Minsc corrects, "space mimic" and points up. Notte asks about the difference between a mimic and a space mimic. Minsc points up again. ### Minsc bristles, then gets over it When informed how they will be traveling to their base of operations, Minsc expresses displeasure that they are "such close friends" with the vampire lord. Gallagher makes a discontent noise; Notte denies that they are friends at all. Francis states that they have just been at this for a while. Minsc eventually indicates that he will not challenge the judgment of such an "intelligent variety of witches." He later explains that, in his home country, witches are powerful, respected women who guide people with their wisdom and wit. Strahd returns to collect the party before teleporting them all back to the Keep, which Minsc observes is "of a temple nature." When Notte points out that it is a temple, Minsc nods agreeably. ### About Helga (& Pidlwick) Gallagher tells Ez that she feels like they should inform Strahd that his maid wants to leave the castle. Ez argues that Helga would probably be "lame" to Ludmilla; Gallagher is incredulous. Eventually, Ez says that she will defer to Gallagher's judgement. Gallagher heads into the boat-mansion, finding Ludmilla carving a bull into the dining table. When Gallagher prompts her, Ludmilla explains that her ship's flag had a bull on it. She then explains that she named her crew – the [[Bronze Bull Pirates]] – after brazen bulls, which is a particular method of torture. Gallagher informs Ludmilla of her plans to tell Strahd about Helga's desire to attend the Keep. Ludmilla states that it's her prerogative; she isn't going to interact with Helga though, as she is weird, annoying, and has bad taste. Gallagher dryly points out that Ludmilla is most of those adjectives as well. Gallagher texts Strahd: > **GALLAGHER:** Your maid wants to come to the Keep. Said she wants to feel useful. > **GALLAGHER:** Also, the toymaker in Vallaki wants a clockwork toy that's in your castle. He said it was made by someone famous or something. > **STRAHD:** ok > **STRAHD:** pidlwick > **GALLAGHER:** Are you attached? > **STRAHD:** no ### Ludmilla plans for her future Ludmilla admits that she misses having a proper flag and a proper ship. Gallagher admits that she misses serving on a crew. Ludmilla suggests that Gallagher can buy her a ship when they make it out of the mists. When Gallagher states that she wouldn't have enough gold to buy a ship, Ludmilla says that they can just steal one, then. ### Ireena plans for her future Ireena tells Lyssa and Notte that she has been thinking a lot about her post-Scaenan future and has decided that she wants to be an adventurer. She acknowledges that she would likely need help with finding places to go and things to do; moreover, she wants to find the [[Ireena Kolyana|other, original Ireena]] and start an adventuring outfit. Ireena states that Notte should "obviously" be there and that Lyssa should also be there, "Because. Um." She adds that maybe Stella should also be present, as she doesn't know what she is doing with her life outside of the mists; also, she and Notte have a "little thing." Notte admits that she isn't sure how agreeable Stella would be to the idea of being part of an adventuring business. Despite Notte's reservations, Ireena requests that they spend time brainstorming a logo and a name for their new outfit. ### Meeting Whisper Though Notte ultimately comes short of generating an adventuring outfit name, she splits her attention enough to conduct a ritual to summon a familiar. Eventually, a moonstone pseudodragon – about the size of a cat – appears out of the circle that Notte has drawn. Ireena is charmed and delighted. After learning that the dragon doesn't have a name, Notte and her familiar later decide on "Whisper." Notte mentions that she was trying to channel Pazrodine when summoning them and asks if they are familiar. Whisper reveals that Pazrodine is a very famous member of their kind, as not many moonstone dragons have left their home. Whisper indicates that she is looking forward to working with Notte. When she asks if there is anything that she can be doing presently, Notte instructs her to look around and get to know the place and the people; she adds that she particularly trusts those in this room. Lyssa teasingly remarks that she was wondering if Notte was still afraid of her. When Notte states that she has no reason to be intimidated by her anymore, Lyssa points out, "the teeth and all that." In response, Notte only says that she is familiar with them. ### Rudolph ~~Van Richten~~ Adelir Van Richten brainstorms surname ideas for himself with Francis's help. Though he suggests that he has been sorting through his "established memories" for inspiration, Van Richten quickly dismisses the idea of taking his father's name. Van Richten states that he can't imagine that Ezmerelda would take it kindly if he took "d'Avenir" for himself. He then hesitantly admits that the only surname that he could see himself going by other than Ezmerelda's is Francis's; he needs something that is his, and their relationship is one of the few things that truly belongs to him. Francis is flustered, especially when Van Richten points out that him taking her name wouldn't be anymore drastic than them being bound heart and soul as warlock and patron. Despite Francis's embarrassment, however, she agrees to allow him to take on her surname. ### Strahd also rebrands Strahd confides in Yves that he is thinking about abandoning the "von Zarovich" surname and readopting his original surname, Relvaunder, to make himself seem more approachable. Strahd also admits that he is also considering taking on his old childhood nickname, Strashka; however, he worries that it is too juvenile. Yves indicates that they support Strahd's decision, especially if he thinks that it will help him become the person he is trying to be. Despite his misgivings, Strahd – or rather, Strashka – decides to announce his decision to the group via Gabb. Though he tries and fails to call everyone at once multiple times, he eventually manages to get a group call going. Reactions to Strashka's announcement are mixed. Notte and Francis express indifference, with Francis being slightly more supportive. Firan is mocking; Francis silences him by putting him in a headlock and covering his mouth. Lyssa later privately remarks to Notte that "Strashka" makes him sound like a baby. ### Minsc calls a strategy meeting Minsc calls everyone together to ask why they are not trying to keep everyone alive if their purpose is nonviolence. Gallagher suggests that there is only so much convincing to do when they are being actively hunted. Minsc, after reiterating that they are being hunted by evil forces for trying to reduce the amount of evil in the world, states that he understands now and will align with their cause. ### Debating the redeemability of Pietra van Riese Minsc decides that they need to categorize their enemies as "redeemable" or "not redeemable." During the conversation, Ludmilla finds out that Pietra van Riese is in the domain. Some categorizations are contested; Pietra in particular sparks heavy debate. Nox hesitantly argues that it might be a good idea to try to turn another dark lord against the dark powers. Gallagher tells Nox to focus on herself. Ludmilla reminds Nox that Pietra ruined her life and ruined Gallagher's life as well; if they do anything, they should kill her. Francis expresses that he understands her plight; a dark lord has been haunting his whole life, and even followed him into this domain. He adds that he recognizes that it's a difficult thing to forgive – however, he thinks that it would be worthwhile to try. Gallagher sarcastically calls Francis a "saint." Yves points out that they don't have the time and that they should just avoid Pietra. ### Minsc's list Eventually, Minsc finalizes his list. > **NOT REDEEMABLE** > - SHADOW DEATH SORCERER KNIGHT CREATURE THING THAT'S BEEN HURTING US VERY BADLY (Achlys) > - LICH HAUNTING OUR DREAMS, WORKING FOR SHADOW DEATH SORCERER KNIGHT CREATURE (Exethanter) > **TO BE KEEPING AN EYE ON** > - CREEPY WOMAN WITH SKULL MASK (Bonespur) > - EVIL SHORT YOUNG MAN OF 5 FEET (Firan) > **DO NOT REFORM OR TALK TO** > - PIRATE WOMAN LIVING ON THE LAKE WHO WE JUST DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO BE REDEEMING (Pietra) > **PEOPLE BEING REDEEMED** > - THE VAMPIRE LORD VON ZAROVICH (Strashka) > - EVIL SHORT YOUNG MAN OF 5 FEET (Firan) > - THE EVIL ELFISH BREAKFAST MAN (Rahadin) > - WOOD BODY OF CLAY BODY PUPPET GIRL (Nox) Ludmilla leaves quickly after the meeting has concluded. Minsc insists on chopping firewood to be useful. The party half-jokes about continuously getting rid of all the firewood to keep Minsc occupied. ### Ludmilla disappears Gallagher spends a long time looking for Ludmilla, aiming to talk about Pietra; however, she is nowhere to be found. As she is recasting Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion that night, Gallagher decorates the dining hall with a giant flag, the design of which is modeled after Ludmilla's carving of a bull. ## 4 Kythorn 1494 ### Ludmilla returns Gallagher is visibly relieved when Ludmilla reappears in the morning. Ludmilla implies that she spent the night in the woods. Gallagher apologizes to Ludmilla for not telling her about Pietra's presence in Scaena. Ludmilla admits that she gave it some thought overnight and concluded that Gallagher was only looking out for her. When she also admits that she considered – and is still considering – hunting Pietra down, Gallagher asks her not to act rashly; if she must act, however, she asks that she not act alone. Ludmilla tiredly agrees. ### Ludmilla requests a distraction Tired of the tense conversation, Ludmilla tells Gallagher to think of something for them to do. Gallagher suggests that they can spend time working on their magical and physical training. As the two are walking past Ez, Ludmilla tells her that she is free to come along if she wants to watch them "be sweaty in the woods together." Gallagher clarifies that they are going to work on magic and sword fighting. Ez is flustered, but still follows them out. ### Planning for the imminent threat As the group gathers when evening falls, Nox nervously draws their attention to the snarl trackers, which indicate that the dark powers are likely going to act soon. They discuss *where* they might act: Francis suggests that they should probably look to Vallaki or Barovia Town; Yves points out that either Vistani camp could be the target; Nox adds that it could also be somewhere like the werewolf den. Yves proposes splitting up into groups and attempting to evacuate all the major settlements. Gallagher argues that, even if they did manage to convince people to leave their homes, they wouldn't have anywhere to go. In any case, they all agree that they should act now if they want to get ahead of the threat. ### Yves's augury In an attempt to nail down a location, Yves drops some bones as he casts Augury. While casting the spell, he asks about going to Vallaki with the goal of finding the place that will be affected by the dark powers. The bones land in an arrangement of two W's: Weal and Woe. Francis points out that the results could mean that another place will be attacked in addition to Vallaki. Yves casts the spell again, this time asking about Barovia Town. The bones do not fall in any indicative arrangement. ### Splitting the party The group decides to split into three teams, one of which will travel to Vallaki (the A Team), another of which will travel to Barovia town (the B Team), and the third of which will stay behind to protect the children and other noncombatants at the Keep (the C Team). After some discussion, the groups are finalized: > **A TEAM: VALLAKI** > Francis > Gallagher > Notte > Yves > Ireena > Ezmerelda > Nox > Firan > **B TEAM: BAROVIA TOWN** > Hawthorne > Strahd > Ismark > Minsc > Van Richten > **C TEAM: AT THE KEEP** > Lyssa > Quincey > Rahadin > Bonespur > Petre > Ludmilla > Lacrymosa ### Preparing to leave & saying goodbyes Yves rips out his fangs – which grow back immediately – and hands one each to Ismark and Hawthorne. He explains that having the fangs in their possession will allow them to communicate with him. Hawthorne quips that she'll add it to the necklace before pulling out a chain – on which is Skoll's tooth – from beneath her shirt collar. Francis addresses Van Richten as "Adelir." Yves asks, "are you guys...?" and points to his own engagement ring. Adelir points to his heart and states that they are "fundamentally linked." Francis covers his face in embarrassment while Adelir clarifies that he is "workshopping names." Adelir tells Francis that everything is going to be alright, adding that he has a lot of "offensively powerful people" on the B Team with him. Francis fretfully worries that he has jinxed them by saying as much. Ismark apologizes to Yves for insisting on going to Barovia Town rather than going to Vallaki with them. They reassure each other and share a kiss, which prompts teasing from Hawthorne. Yves punches her in the stomach. Ludmilla complains to Gallagher about getting stuck with "church duty." Gallagher tells Ludmilla to keep her in the loop; Ludmilla feigns confidence and requests a kiss "for luck." Gallagher acquiesces. Gallagher casts Guards and Ward on the Keep before they leave. Then, the A Team and B Team head out, with Nox teleporting the A Team outside of Vallaki and Strahd teleporting the B Team outside of Barovia Village. ### A Team at Vallaki The snarl tracker timer runs down completely. There is a sweet, dessert-like smell on the wind, then a flash. When the fog clears, pulsing gray and black mushrooms surround the town in a ring, broken only in front of the town gates, which hang open. ### Reunion with Boris An exhausted, elderly man stumbles out of the town. Recognizing the party, the man shares that his name is Boris Janek, revealing that he was one of the children that they rescued from the werewolf den. He also reveals that, from his perspective, twenty years have passed since then; however, he has aged to be much older than 30 thanks to fey magic. Boris informs the party that the mushrooms showed up when the other fey – including hags and dragons – did. He says that the fey in the town steal the life of others in order to fuel themselves. When pressed for more information, however, he insists that he needs to rest. ### Attempting to contact the others The Gabb's signal fails when Yves attempts to message the group chat. He then tries to scry through his teeth, but he cannot see or anything anything. Francis's attempts to contact Adelir are similarly fruitless. Nox's body suddenly goes limp; Notte catches it before it hits the ground. Gallagher quickly casts Sending to contact Juste. She receives alarming news in response: Barovia Town and Vallaki have vanished from Scaena; as a result, Juste cannot contact Nox's body or anyone else. Firan suggests that the dark powers might have been able to intentionally cede Vallaki to the Feywild given the overlap between Scaena and Toril, which he describes as "fey country." He also theorizes that Barovia Town is *not* in the Feywild, considering Francis cannot contact Adelir and Yves cannot contact Hawthorne or Ismark. ### Contacting Ezra Notte starts to prepare a ritual to contact an entity from another plane in order to ask about the Barovia Town team. On Yves's suggestion, Notte chooses to reach out to Ezra. Notte draws a door and knocks on it as she concludes the ritual. After a moment, the door opens and Ezra's shadowy form emerges, her hair flowing like water. Her gaze lingers on Yves before settling on Notte. ### Seeking answers Notte asks her questions. Ezra confirms that Vallaki was torn from the Shadowfell and thrust into the Feywild; Barovia Village similarly vanished from Scaena, leaving only the smell of brimstone behind. When Notte asks how they can return to the mists, Ezra suggests that they will either need to find a talisman or to uncover and undo the means by which they were brought into the Feywild in the first place. Notte asks Yves if they have any questions for their god. Yves hesitantly asks, "am I doing okay?" Ezra answers, "you are doing extravagantly, sufferer." Yves emotionally thanks her. The shadow retreats; the door closes and then disappears. ### B Team in hell Yves casts Sending to contact Hawthorne, who expresses that the B Team is as safe as they can be for being in [[Minauros]]. This confirms that the group is in the third layer of [[Nine Hells|the hells]], a fetid swamp pervaded by disease, storms, and greed along with the most feared and dangerous devils in all the layers of the Nine Hells. Firan prepares to launch into a rambling explanation of Minauros before Gallagher summarizes, "it sucks." She suggests that they focus on their own predicament first, as there is nothing to do about the B Team while they are still stuck in the Feywild. ### Entering Vallaki Gallagher casts Mage Armor on herself. Ireena squeezes Francis's hand. Vallaki is lifeless and silent when they first enter, but they soon hear an ear-splitting, seemingly terrified scream. Notte urges caution, reminding the others of the *Fool* fortune that she received at the Seelie Market, which warned that someone who seems helpless will call for her aid but should not be trusted. Ez points out that they have helped plenty of helpless people before, but Yves argues that they should be especially careful when dealing with fey. ### Return of Bella The group stealthily approaches the scene, finding a young human woman being menaced by two dragons, each of which has a large eye in the middle of its forehead. With her spellsight, Notte can see that the human is actually a hag in disguise: Bella, the single surviving member of [[Sunbane Coven|the coven]] that resided in the Old Bonegrinder, where they rescued Freek and Myrtle. As she sees through the disguise, Notte's shadow returns to her, signaling the fulfillment of the *Fool* fortune. Bella and the dragons soon begin bickering. ### Return of Yesper While the group is watching, they notice an individual in a feathered cloak and beaked mask on a nearby rooftop. Via Message, Notte warns the Keeper – who turns out to be Yesper – that the girl is actually a hag. After nearly falling off the roof in surprise, Yesper suggests that they should meet at the former [[Coffin Maker's Shop (Scaena)|Coffin Maker's Shop]], where he and the rest of the Keepers of the Feather are holed up. ### To the Coffin Maker's Shop The shop is almost completely boarded up, with the exception of a single open window on the second floor. Gallagher carries Ez up in her hybrid form. Francis does the same for Firan, picking him up under his arms and dropping him on his ass once they are through the window. ### The new Keepers of the Feather A scarred, 40-something-year-old Yesper awaits them inside. After exchanging pleasantries, Yesper takes them downstairs to introduce them to the rest of the Keepers of the Feather, of which he is now the leader. A skeleton with a massive left arm – clearly what remains of Izek Strazni – trots over to Yesper as they enter the room. Yesper admits that the Keepers have seen heavy losses over the years, though it's possible that some survived and are laying low. In addition to Izek's skeleton and Yesper, the other Keepers include: * Arabelle Zsolty, the Vistani "princess" – now in her late 20s – whom the party once rescued after she was thrown in Lake Zarovich. * [[Bluto Krogarov (Scaena)|Bluto "Sunny" Krogarov]], the drunkard in his late 60s who kidnapped Arabelle and threw her into Lake Zarovich. * Bray Martikova, a legacy Keeper and son of Danika and Urwin, now in his mid 20s. * Brom Martikova, a legacy Keeper and son of Danika and Urwin, now in his early 30s. * [[Tural Lansten (Scaena)|Tural Lansten]], a necromancer and cultist in his early 30s. * "Blind" Bill Vrakes, the former pirate – now in his late 60s – whom the party once spared after facing off against Black Joan's group. ### The Keepers' intel * Yesper explains the situation: one day, the mists rolled in and brought horrible things – like the hag dragons – with them. At least three fully-grown dragons stay in the [[Burgomaster's Mansion (Wayside)|former burgomaster's mansion]]; the ones that they saw cooperating with Bella were juveniles. Yesper and Tural also reveal that, instead of breathing fire, these dragons _inhale_, manipulating time as they do so; additionally, they have access to a well of coven magic that allow them to cast spells as powerful as Mass Polymorph. * Yesper informs them that a "representative" of the dragons – a tall, grotesque man – frequents Blinsky's, though he isn't sure why. ### Gallagher is denied a preventative Wish Gallagher indicates that she wants to cast Wish to prevent the manipulation of their ages by the dragons. Ez discourages her; she points out that they have at least three full-sized dragons to deal with and suggests that they won't be able to take them on if Gallagher is operating at a fraction of her capacity. Francis suggests that she can save Wish for if anything does happen. Notte and Yves agree. ### Betting on Bella Notte suggests that they might be able to coerce or convince Bella – who didn't seem very happy with her lot among the dragons – into giving them information. Without much else to go on, the others agree to track her down. ### Arabelle & Izek's skeleton join the party Arabelle volunteers to join the party. When Notte asks if she can defend herself, Arabelle proudly declares that she has killed many hagspawn. Yesper offers Izek's services as well. The party departs from the Coffin Maker's Shop, Arabelle and Izek's skeleton with them. ### Return to the Blue Water Francis and Gallagher manage to track Bella to the Blue Water Inn, which is bustling with fey – including hobgoblins, goblins, redcaps, bugbears, and leprechauns – many of which are eating colorful mushrooms. The two dragons from earlier are curled up in the corner of the room. Bella, who has dropped her disguise, is sitting at a table nearby the dragons. A few patrons notice them. Some look at the non-fey with distaste, but no one verbally opposes their presence. ### Negotiations with Bella Notte negotiates with Bella via Message. Eventually, Bella is convinced to join them outside, even with Bella realizing that Notte is one of the people who helped kill her mother and sister. Though she indicates that being a minion of the coven doesn't involve her being paid, Bella also indicates that she would rather be a peon than dust. However, when Notte suggests that the party is willing to kill the leaders of the coven – allowing Bella to be in charge as long as she is willing to relocate – Bella becomes more receptive. ### Bella's intel Bella lets slip the hierarchy of the coven: "upper management" consisting of three ancient hag dragons and two fairy godmothers, the younger dragons, the hagspawn, and then her. Yves, distressed, reveals that the fairy godmothers are the same hags from Dementlieu who made a deal with their parents. Notte asks if killing the leaders of the coven will get Vallaki back into the mists. Bella shares that they are presently in a "domain of delight," which is like a domain of dread but for "fey shit"; as far as she knows, domains are sustained for only as long as the things in charge are sustaining them. Gallagher and Notte ask some more tactical questions, such as if the the hags have any weaknesses, if there are any exploitable disagreements among the leadership, if the coven leaders ever leave the mansion, and if there are any dangers they should watch out for in the mansion itself. Bella is less than helpful; she does warn them about the "distasteful nude portraits" in the mansion, though. ### Bella's necklace The conversation eventually leads Bella to tell the others about her "cool necklace," which was given to her by the dragons. With Bella's' permission, Notte identifies it, finding it to be a scrying device. Bella observes, "that sucks so bad." Bella asks if she can stay with them. Notte throws the necklace onto the roof. As the group – Bella included – moves to leave, they hear heavy wingbeats and a shriek. Then, a very large hag dragon crashes down in front of them. ### Hag dragon attack & de-aging Firan slips back inside the inn as fighting breaks out. Soon, the dragon uses its Time Inhalation; though Gallagher and Yves manage to resist its time effect, they are still wracked with necrotic energy like the others. Ireena, Bella, Izek, Ez, Arabelle, and Notte are all de-aged to 7 years old. Francis is de-aged to 32. Arabelle, undaunted, declares that, though she is 7, she has been 7 before. ### The fight continues With her oversized sword in hand, Ireena attempts to run at the dragon, but she falters; she then moves to stand in front of Notte instead. Ireena protests when Notte tells her to hide. After Notte continues to argue, however, Ireena cries as she ducks into the alley and hides behind an overturned cart. The rest of the party unleashes powerful magical attacks on the dragon. Notte manages to stun it for a time. In Patterna, Arabelle utters what Gallagher and Ez recognize as a Vistani curse, weakening the dragon to the cold. When Gallagher casts Wall of Ice, the dragon dies as it is frozen solid and breaks into chunks. ### Getting silly with it Firan, Ez, Ireena, Bella, Francis, Notte, Yves, and Gallagher regroup. Yves picks up a frozen chunk of dragon and starts chewing on it, inciting Ez. Yves then picks her up, which incites her further. Ez asks Gallagher to atomize them. Yves puts Ez down and picks Notte up. When Notte objects, Yves argues that she is "like a little doll." Notte declares, "well, now you're carrying me!" Yves kisses her on top of the head. Notte blushes. Ez asks if they can return to the others. When Notte suggests that Ez needs a nap, Ez angrily says, "you're smaller than me!" ### Back to the Keepers The group returns to the Coffin Maker's Shop. After some squabbling between Firan and the others, Francis picks Firan up, swinging him around gently when he protests. Firan begs to be released. In the building proper, Yesper says, "oh... I'm sorry." He offers them food and lodgings for the night. ### Timing of Wish Gallagher asks when she should address the issue of their ages. Ez suggests that she should wait to cast Wish, since the hag dragons' Time Inhalation will likely be a problem again; plus, it seems like most of them aren't going to get any younger than they are already. Gallagher unhappily agrees to wait to cast Wish until they are out of the Feywild or until something more drastic happens that needs correcting immediately. ### Age-gap relationships Francis asks if Gallagher can exclude him when she does her "little wish spell." He admits that he misses his youth. Ez complains that it'd be weird seeing Francis next to Adelir, but Yves points out that Francis is mentally the same age as he was before. They add that the age difference would be similar to that of them and Hawthorne. Ez argues that this is a bad example since Hawthorne is "like 60." When Francis suggests that Hawthorne is 50 at most, Ez, irritated, concedes that Francis has seen more of Hawthorne than most of the others. Francis turns away. ### Taking a group photo Yves asks Ireena if she can take a picture of her to show her brother. Ireena acquiesces, though she suggests that they should all take the photo together. Ez objects to her picture being taken; Francis picks her up and moves into frame. She bites his arm just as Yves takes the picture. ## 5 Kythorn 1494 ### Inconveniences remain Come morning, Notte, Ez, and Ireena – along with Arabelle and Izek – are still children. Francis is still in her early 30s. Yesper admits that he isn't comfortable sending Arabelle and Izek out with the party again given the circumstances. Ez, having had Foresight cast on her by Gallagher the previous night, can limitedly see into the immediate future. It's giving her a headache. ### Checking in on Ludmilla & the Keep Gallagher privately contacts Ludmilla via Sending, updating her on the locations of the A and B teams and asking her about the state of things at the Keep. Ludmilla reveals that monsters have been attempting to besiege the temple; however, things aren't that dire, especially with Lyssa and Bonespur being there to help fend off the threats. ### Firan's fears & Skeever Firan replenishes the party's potion supply. He indicates that he won't be coming with them and openly admits that he doesn't want to go wandering around a place inhabited by "dragons, hags, or an unholy combinations of the two." Francis quips that she will miss Firan if she dies. Firan then summons his imp familiar, [[Skeever]], who often takes the form of a pied raven. He directs it to hop on Francis's shoulder. When Francis asks how Skeever is going to prevent her from dying, Firan states that it won't; however, as his familiar, he can contact Francis through it, which will allow him to be with her in her final moments. Francis remarks that Firan has been with him for his final moments several times now. Firan calls this "deeply romantic," displeasing Francis. ### Blinsky's woes With Blinsky being their only remaining lead on information, Yesper sneaks the party to the toy shop. He wishes them luck before departing. Inside, the party finds that all of Blinsky's assorted toys are now designed in Yves's likeness. They also find that Blinsky is now a teenager. After greeting the group in a boisterous but forced manner, Blinsky states that he thought they might have died. He apologizes to Yves before admitting that he doesn't like the state of the store. Yves is speechless. Blinsky reveals that he is being forced – but compensated, this time – by two "large, ugly women" to model all his toys after Yves. When pressed for more information, Blinsky admits that he doesn't actually know much about the women; he shares, however, that he regularly delivers a small crate of toys to the burgomaster's mansion and that his next delivery is to be made that morning. ### Infiltration plan Notte reveals to Blinsky that they need to infiltrate the mansion and that they might not be welcome. Blinsky claims that he doesn't want to rock the boat; he points out., however, that they could always disguise themselves or sneak. Though she protests and grumbles, Ez eventually agrees to disguise herself as Blinsky's assistant while the others turn into birds – or, in Ireena's case, a bat – and hide in the crate. Blinsky helpfully provides a too-large uniform on the condition that the party will claim that they stole the uniform if they get caught. ### Ez smuggles some birds (& a bat) Ez miserably dons the uniform. The others shift and hop in the crate. Ez covers them with Yves dolls. Then, Ez marches the crate to the mansion. The general area surrounding the building is covered by an orange haze. It feels vaguely strange to cross into. A mouth forms on the door to the mansion as Ez reaches for it. The door asks, "toy delivery?" Ez haltingly explains that she is new, but that she is indeed there to deliver the toys. The mouth fades as the door swings open. Ez sets the box down in a closet near the entryway. The others hop out of the box and shift back into their typical forms. The party begins their sweep of the ground floor. ### The good noodle room The group quickly finds a room in which there a sign with crudely-drawn starts carved next to what appear to be names. In Sylvan script, the top of the sign reads "Good Noodle Chart." Yves asks what a "good noodle" is; Francis and Ez explain. When Ez suggests that she was given many good noodle stars in school, Yves quips, "shocking." Three names have many more stars than the rest: [[Mordred Gable|Mordred]], Lamourat, and [[Ives Ismarkovich]]. Bella's name is also on the chart, with the least number of stars out of everyone. Notte carves more stars next to Bella's name. In the room is also a statue of a hag holding a bowl labeled "Good Noodle Prizes." Notte determines that the bowl holds a demiplane, not unlike a Bag of Holding. The party members collect various trinkets from the bowl. ### The egg room Next, the party enters a room with, among other things, scraps of cloth next to a closed chest labeled "defective." They find four large eggs – presumably dragon's – inside the closed chest. The eggs are of similar size, though not of similar shape or color. With varying degrees of reluctance, they take the eggs and wrap them in cloth. * Yves takes the long, spindly, banana-like egg. * Gallagher takes the splotched egg with brown shell. * Francis takes the clear egg filled with swirly goop. * Notte takes the mottled, rubbery gray spherical egg. ### The kitchen Many of the utensils in the kitchen have been animated and are cooking on their own. They don't seem to mind the party's presence. When the group turns to the staircase in the room, a section of wall extends to block their progress. The wall smacks the lips on its newly formed mouth and informs the group that it requires a password to allow them to access the stairs. Notte and Yves try various tactics to get past the wall, including deception, intimidation, and tears. During the conversation, they bring up Ives, who the wall mentions looks a lot like Yves. Yves convinces the wall that he is actually Ives. Even still, the wall doesn't budge. It suggests that they can talk to Mordred in the dining room and get the password from him. ### The dining room The dining room is occupied by a young hag dragon and many hagspawn. As the party enters, the hagspawn look to the door; however, their expressions do not look immediately hostile. The hag dragon also looks at them with interest. Mordred, who is in the middle of eating a humanoid leg, is coaxed into the hall to talk. ### Meeting Mordred Mordred asks, "are you the kid?" Yves asks for clarification; he informs them that the fairy godmothers are looking for a specific hexblood. When Yves asks Mordred to tell them the password to get upstairs, Mordred implies that he could be bribed. Yves asks what he would want. After a pause, Mordred says, "better food... a social life." Yves states that they could be friends, which surprises Mordred, as hagspawn are not well-liked – not even by hags. He explains that his mother left him and his brothers in the woods and that it was only recently that they were contacted by the fairy godmothers. He sullenly expresses that he suspects they just needed some muscle before adding that his mom didn't even come with; it's just his aunts – the twins – in the domain of [[Wayside]]. Mordred asks Yves if they are also willing to be friends with his brothers: Merdraut, Medrawt, Modredus, Agravain, Engrevain, Gavino, Galvano, Waluanus, Gualgunus, and Mungo. He adds that there used to be 16 of them until a few were killed. Yves assures him that, if his brothers are as "charming and nice" as him, then they will probably get along fine. Mordred gives them password, which is a Dementlieuse phrase: savoir-faire. ### To the second floor & distasteful nude portraits The party returns to the wall, which screams and melts as soon as Yves relays the password. Upstairs, the party finds many portraits of nude, elderly hags surrounded by piles of corpses and hordes of also nude men. ### Dealing with doors Two doors on the second floor are locked: the bathroom door and the library door. The bathroom door twists and animates as a pained face appears in the wood. After swallowing a sob, it states that they may not pass unless they give it the three fairy godmothers' true names or make a "vile, profane" deal, which would involve forever giving up one of their most treasured memories. As the group later approaches the library door, a crooked grin appears in the wood. Addressing the party members as "hot stuff" and "tasty morsels," the door states that, if they want through, they will either need to provide the names of the fairy godmothers or conduct a fey deal. Notte objects to being called "hot stuff" when she appears to be a child; the door clarifies that it meant the words in a "culinary sense." Francis remarks that he has been called worse. When Yves asks about the fey deal, the door states that they can give up a single limb between them for the whole group to pass. It adds, "no takebacks." Ireena starts to say that she could give up a limb, but Notte and Yves cut her off to tell her no. Ez then offers up her own arm, arguing that the other Ez already lost hers. Gallagher suggests that they should exhaust all avenues before they start hacking off their limbs. ### Meeting Ives The group finds Ives laying on the bed in their room, kicking their feet as they puppet a doll to dance along to their humming. They look like Yves, albeit slightly younger and without their vampiric and hexblood features. They are dressed similarly to how Yves was dressed when they arrived in Scaena. The room is packed with dolls that look like Yves. There are also a number of dolls resembling Ireena, pinned to the wall with daggers; Ives later informs them that the dolls were present when they were first granted the room by "the mothers." ### Getting to know Ives Yves gently introduces himself and the others before asking Ives to tell them about himself. Ives shares that he is a changeling, meant to be a "replacement" for the "little one" once the mothers find him. Yves manages to keep their cool. Throughout the conversation, Ives reveals herself to be sheltered and naive, mistreated and neglected by the fairy godmothers, whom she still seems to admire. She excitedly shares that the fairy godmothers promised her a second outfit if she keeps behaving. Ives shares that, though the fairy godmothers initially dictated his appearance, he enjoys looking the way he looks. He adds that the mothers picked him up when he was "just a little glob of goop" and that this is all he has ever appeared as otherwise. Yves asks Ives how old they are. Ives admits that time doesn't mean much to fey; however, they think they are quite young for a changeling but quite old for other things, like a squirrel. Yves remarks that it's a good thing that Ives is a little them and not a squirrel. Ives expresses excitement over the idea of integrating with the "little guy's" family. Yves informs Ives that there isn't a family anymore; his parents died, and it's just him now. Realizing that Yves is the person who they are meant to replace, Ives adapts to be a little paler and to have Yves's hexblood horns. ### Firan gets in trouble Yves encourages Ives to embrace their individuality, suggesting that they don't have to copy his appearance or his name. Ives asks the group if they like the name "Ives." Notte says that it suits them; Yves says that it's very pretty; Gallagher nods. Through Skeever, Firan says, "it's a bit uninspired." Francis walks away with Skeever and angrily whispers, "it's a little child." Firan complains that it looks like Yves. He adds that he doesn't like Yves because Yves doesn't like him. When Francis points out that Ives has nothing to do with that, Firan acknowledges that he is lashing out a child who doesn't deserve it – just like his father did. Francis says, "that is far too much for us to unpack right now." ### Ives doesn't know his moms' names Yves asks Ives if they know where their mothers are. Ives indicates that one of is in the library and that the other is in the bath. Ives is unaware the true names of the fairy godmothers, only knowing them all as "mother" and the disparaging names that they call each other. ### Rescuing Ives Yves informs Ives that he used to be in a similar situation as them; he wasn't allowed to leave his house, and his parents didn't like him very much. Notte also relates. In addition to a new outfit, Yves offers Ives the opportunity to come with the party when they leave. Ives, excited about the prospect of seeing the outdoors, is on board. He agrees to wait in the room for the time being. ### Dolls to-go Ives declares that he wants to give his new friends gifts before they depart. He collects several Yves dolls around the room, selecting them purposefully. He then gives them each a doll and provides the dolls' names as he does so. Ireena removes a knife that is stuck through the forehead of one of the dolls modeled after herself. She pats its head sadly before putting it in her bag. Gallagher suggests that Adelir can probably fix the doll. ### Exploring the floor The party finds a mostly ransacked room in which there is a pristine wedding dress. There is a piece of parchment tucked in the folds of the dress. It reads: > For The Day I Find The One > <3 O. They also find what was likely Victor's room, given the Gothic decor and furniture monogrammed with "VV." Most of the furniture has been pushed away to make room for canvases and paint, which Notte identifies as moodmark paint; if applied to someone, it will change color to indicate their mood. Notte states, "this is useless." Francis and Yves both apply a small amount of paint on their cheeks, revealing themselves to be conflicted and afraid respectively. ### Special sauce & favorite juice The party heads back downstairs in search of anything that might help them figure out the names of the fairy godmothers. They find labeled barrels in a previously unexplored pantry. Some of the barrels are labeled "[[Orcades Gable|Orcades's]] special sauce" while the others are labeled "[[Morcades Gable|Morcades's]] favorite juice." The juice is orange juice. Notte identifies the very lumpy "special sauce" as having the effects of a Potion of Supreme Healing. Yves mutters that it's probably made out of decomposing little kids, but Notte takes out an empty bottle and scoops some up anyway. ### Mordred doesn't know his mom's name Having presumably acquired the names of the twin fairy godmothers, the party then seeks out Mordred once again; however, Mordred doesn't know his mother's name, nor do any of his brothers. He suggests that the coven leaders – both the ancient hag dragons and the other fairy godmothers – might know. ### Meeting Ker Gallagher proposes that they see the dragons and persuaded – one way or another – to give up the name of the last fairy godmother. Following a trapdoor to the attic, the party finds a clean room full of antique furniture and occupied by the three ancient hag dragons; one is in the form of a man while the others are in the form of two fat, sleeping cats. The man joins them outside the room and introduces himself as [[Ker]]. He is the elder of his brothers, Letum and Telchine. Already impressed by their work in the domain, he admits that it's been a long time since a hag dragon died in general. ### Ker's pitch Ker claims that all hag covens are doomed to collapse. He also claims that hag dragons were designed by hag covens from stolen dragon eggs to be an "infinitely powerful, controllable slave caste of brutes." He adds that he longs to see his people free. Ker indicates that he would like the group to kill the twin fairy godmothers. In exchange for their help, he will leave the people of Vallaki alone, as he has no particular care for them either way. ### Planning hagicide Ker gives them the final fairy godmother's name: Morgause. Ker suggests that the hag in the bathroom – Orcades – will likely be the easiest to take out, as she is typically alone. He also informs the party that they won't be able to permanently kill the hags unless they find each of their anathemas: something that they cannot stand to be around. It could be something that breaks their hearts, something that reminds them of an unfortunate memory, or even something that makes them too happy. When asked if he has any guesses regarding their anathemas, Ker reveals that Morcades is very bitter about anything that reminds her of her oldest sister. Notte asks Ker if he will come to their aid if the hags prove troublesome. Ker claims that he cannot move against the hags more directly that he has already without his soul becoming theirs. ### Ker's (second) gambit Ker gifts the party a small, glass bauble about the same color as his eye. He explains that the sphere will trap the fairy godmothers' magical essence inside, given that they manage to kill the hags. Notte takes it. Yves asks Ker what he plans to do with essence. Ker claims that he is going to destroy it; when pressed, however, he admits that he wants some of the magic for himself, as he feels that it is only fair after all the trouble that the hags have put him through. Francis finds this fair; however, she warns of retaliation if he misuses this power. ### Bathroom breach The party leaves Ker and heads back to the bathroom door, which contorts and pleads with them once again. Yves lists, "Orcades, Morcades, Morgause." The door melts. There is a magical iron tub inside the bathroom, full to the brim with bubbling blood. Next to the tub is a pile of carefully-folded clothes. ### Looting the bathroom There is a small basket of what seems to be taxidermized frogs, which Notte identifies as functioning similarly to Bags of Holding. One of the frogs has items inside it: a Broom of Flying, which Ez takes; many nonmagical rings, some of which are bloodstained; an origami boar; a framed photo of three very ugly woman. Gallagher takes the photo in the hopes that it will work as Morcades's anathema. Each of the party members claims a Frog of Holding as well. ### The party gets naked Next to the frogs is a scroll of parchment inscribed with text warning that the "blood pool" will immediately disintegrate all clothing and valuables. To test this, Gallagher takes off a sock and dips it into the tub. It disintegrates. Everyone is displeased. Ez and Ireena are particularly resistant. However, after some squabbling, the party undresses and stores their clothes and items in each of their Frogs of Holding. Gallagher warns the others that she won't be able to cast spells without her focus. The party members get into the warm tub one by one, sinking down until they find themselves face to face with Orcades. ### Parley in Orcades's womb Orcades welcomes them and greets Yves by name. When Francis requests that they get out of the bath and talk while wearing clothes, Orcades insists that she is most comfortable in the blood pool. She adds that she invented the demiplane in an attempt to mirror the conditions of the womb, where the brain develops rapidly. When it becomes clear that Yves doesn't want to give himself up to the fairy godmothers, Orcades tries to sell him on it. She offers immortality, power, and a community. She lets slip that there are many other hexbloods in Dementlieu being raised by her "unfortunate, heinous" sister, but that she hasn't found a suitable heir among them. Yves repeatedly declines Orcades's offer to join them, declaring that he already has his own life, relationships, and beliefs. When Orcades implies that no one in Yves's life truly understands what it's like to be one of theirs, Yves contests this – "girlfriend's half." ### Finding Orcades an heir Orcades eventually accepts that Yves will not be joining her side as her heir. After indicating that she isn't willing to take on any of her sister's children, she asks if they know of a "nice baby girl or adult girl or someone" who is seeking arcane power; she adds that she is willing to sever her part of the coven and leave the domain if she finds a suitable replacement for Yves. Yves brings up Bella. Orcades, once she is reminded that Bella is the night hag, says, "oh, the wretch"; despite this, she agrees to meet with her. She also reluctantly agrees to exit the womb for the meeting. ### Firan gets in trouble (again) After the party is out of the bath and dressed, Francis reunites with Skeever and – by extension – Firan. Firan complains about them being gone for so long; he points out that he's "seen it all" before. Francis angrily tells him to shut up and dismisses Skeever. The party returns to the Coffin Maker's shop, where Firan is waiting for them. Francis drags him away to scold him in private. Firan apologizes and admits that he made a mistake, adding that he will "work on" respecting Francis's boundaries and listening to him. Francis threatens, "you better." ### Betting on Bella (again) Yves informs Bella that Orcades is looking for an heir and that they recommended her. Though Bella likes the idea, she admits that she was hoping to hang out with the party more. When Yves suggests they can keep in touch, Bella counters that she and Orcades can travel to the place they're staying and "set up a little shop there." After some back-and-forth – and despite the party members' protests – Bella indicates that she thinks she knows where they live and that she'll just stop by. ### Orcades's last stand Back at the mansion, Orcades asks various party members if they will consider being her protégé alongside Bella, but she is turned down by all: Notte, who she refers to as the "blue girl"; Francis, who she refers to as the "large red-headed fellow" with a "feminine energy" about him; and Gallagher, who she refers to as a "handsome lad" who would "make a lovely woman." Orcades sighs and agrees to work with Bella alone. ### Farewell to Bella & Orcades The party escorts Bella and Orcades outside. Orcades takes her tub with her; Bella blows them a kiss. Then, they depart together. ### Preparing with Legend Lore Ireena suggests that they might not need to kill Morcades and can instead set her up on a date. The party gets sidetracked squabbling about the sexual preferences of necromancers and Firan's (lack of) desirability. Gallagher casts Legend Lore in an effort to learn more about Morcades. The result manifests as a rhyming, illustrated children's book called *The Gables Fable* which reveals the sisters' anathemas: * Morgause ("the Old") cannot bear to see someone who is pregnant. * Orcades ("Orkie the Fat") is obsessed with the idea of starting a family and is haunted by her multiple miscarriages. * Morcades ("Morkie the Tall") desires companionship and is often salacious, though being reminded of her family kills her mood. The book also reveals that being in the hags' lair can cause magic to malfunction in an unspecified way. ### Pierce the Veil: contacting Rictavio Notte suggests that she can cast Pierce the Veil to try to get more information on how their magic would be affected near Morcades. The party discusses who to contact. They ultimately conclude that the original Van Richten, Rictavio, would likely be knowledgeable about the Feywild. Notte begins her ritual. ### Meanwhile, in Amphail Krue, Nia, Skoll, Rictavio, the original Ezmerelda, and the original Ireena are in the sitting room of Skoll and Rictavio's house in Amphail. It has been nearly a tenday since Krue and Ezmerelda left Scaena. An ethereal door inscribed with Rictavio's name appears in the room. After a moment, Rictavio asks if he has died. Skoll offers to answer the door for him, but Rictavio sighs and says that he should probably do it himself. Krue retrieves Ewyn. Rictavio answers the door. ### Meeting Rictavio In the Feywild, a silhouette of a young half-elf man eventually appears in the threshold. Yves says, "this is just some guy." Notte states, "you are Rudolph van Richten." Rictavio, wanting Notte to get the most out of her available questions, asks, "period?" Rictavio confirms that he is, in fact, Rudolph van Richten, though he doesn't tend to go by that name anymore. After Francis makes a remark that alerts Rictavio to whom he speaking with, he demands to know where Hawthorne is. Yves answers, "um... Minauros." Rictavio swears. Notte explains the situation. Throughout, Rictavio repeatedly looks over at the seemingly seven-year-old Ez. She eventually snaps at him. Notte asks if Rictavio's group would be able to travel to the Feywild to aid them or to travel to the hells to aid the others. Rictavio indicates that they are seemingly barred from the Domains of Dread, but not elsewhere. He adds, however, that the biggest hurdle is time; he doesn't know how to reach their present location in the Feywild, nor does he know where in Minauros the others are located. ### Rictavio's intel Though mishaps on the part of Francis and Notte prevent Notte from asking more than three questions, Rictavio is able to provide some information. The party learns that the Gables sisters are arch-hags. During prior research, Rictavio uncovered that first-time spellcasting – he is unsure if anything happens while casting subsequent spells – in proximity to an arch-hag will affect everyone around them negatively. He adds that their ability to speak will also be interfered with and confirms that they would require the hags' anathemas to kill them permanently. ### Getting on with it After Rictavio has left and the door has shut, Ez admits that she assumed Rictavio would be more helpful – instead, he just seems "domesticated." She suggests that Notte could contact someone else, but Gallagher and Yves argue that they're just stalling. The party heads back inside the mansion and up to the library door, which greets them in a flirty tone. Gallagher lists the fairy godmothers' names. The door melts, leaving a magical, pink foam where it once stood. ### The party polymorphed The party emerges on the other side of the foam to find that Gallagher, Yves, Notte, and Francis have all been polymorphed. Gallagher appears as male hill dwarf in their 70s; Yves appears as a seven-year-old female wood elf; Notte appears as a female mountain dwarf in their 40s; Francis appears as a seven-year-old male wood elf. Upon exiting an reentering, Notte appears as a seven-year-old male wood elf. She says, "whatever." ### Meeting Morcades Inside the room is Morcades, who appears to all except Notte as an attractive, stylish woman; she appears to Notte as an old hag thanks to her truesight. Notte taunts Morcades. Morcades accuses Notte of hypocrisy for judging what another has made themself into. Two fiendish birds are beside Morcades, each wearing a black leather collar with a gold tag; one reads "Danika" and the other reads "Urwin." The party later finds out that Morcades killed Danika and Urwin herself and was using their reaped magical essence as fuel for her birds. ### Negotiations begin: a rough start With a flick of Morcades's wrist, Yves is turned back into their typical form. Morcades implies that she stalked Yves at a "reasonable distance," an act which she considers romantic. The party urges Morcades to leave Vallaki. She declares that she is only leaving the domain if she has Yves's companionship. Morcades begins shifting between appearances in an effort to appeal to Yves: she first appears as Francis, then Notte, then Ireena, then Yves's late mother. Yves, agitated, states that it would really turn him on if she killed herself. ### Revealing the heart's desire Morcades retrieves a small crystal ball and instructs Yves to touch it. Yves refuses. Notte touches the ball in order to identify it, finding that it is a scrying device that reflects to the holder an object of their heart's desire; as her hand makes contact, the ball shows Ireena. Before Yves can react, Morcades grabs Yves's hand and forces it on the crystal ball, which shifts to show Strashka. Notte says, "what?" Morcades moves Yves's hand to another part of the ball. It shifts to show Notte, who says, "um." ### Gallagher fucks around & finds out Morcades moves Yves's hand again. Gallagher teleports just as it begins to show her own visage in the crystal ball. As she casts Misty Step, she also casts Confusion centered on herself. Yves, Notte, Gallagher, Morcades, and the fiends resist; Skeever and Ireena freeze up; Ez starts to attack Ireena. Morcades, who has taken the form of Gallagher, suggests that she shouldn't cast magic. Notte puts herself between Ez and Ireena. Yves reluctantly states that they can avoid fighting for now. Morcades dispels the magical effect on everyone except Skeever. Ez looks mortified. Francis demands that Morcades unfreeze his bird. As soon as Skeever is released, Firan exclaims, "Hello?" Francis tells him to be quiet. ### Negotiations collapse Negotiations break down again when Morcades won't take "no" for answer. Morcades sighs and snaps her fingers. Her birds move to attack. ### Fight with the arch-hag The fight opens with a chained Counterspell; Notte cuts Morcades's attempts to Counterspell Gallagher's Counterspell out of the air, allowing Gallagher to Counterspell Morcades's initial spell. Yves and Ireena bite Morcades. Ireena complains about the taste. Skeever is nigh-instantly melted into a pool of lava when Morcades blasts everyone with lightning. Morcades stuns Ez and Ireena with Hypnotic Pattern, though they quickly snap out of it after Morcades hits them with another wave of lightning. Francis casts Eldritch Blast with no adverse effects. Gallagher's magic also remains unaffected. Yves expends a use of their Charm of the Skull to turn into a wraith and drain Morcades of life. Notte teleports to the far side of the room and animates ten books on the opposite side. As she casts Animate Objects, she also casts Confusion. She manages to resist the effect, however, and no one else is in range. Notte orders the books to kill the hag. Notte's books are soon destroyed by the hag. The fiends wear Gallagher down. Notte kills one, however, and Gallagher manages to kill the other. They melt into black ichor. ### Killing the hag Gallagher successfully targets Morcades with Power Word Stun. She groans through grit teeth as Gallagher takes the photo of the Gables sisters out of her pocket. Finally, Gallagher finishes her off with a bolt of lightning. Morcades melts. A little orb of magic floats out of the remains and is vacuumed into Ker's bauble. ### Post-battle recovery Yves's shadow returns to them as Oddlewin's *Rogue* fortune is fulfilled. Francis, Gallagher, and Notte transform back to how they appeared before they first walked into the library. Notte and Gallagher heal Ez and Ireena through potions and sacrificial healing. The others regenerate thanks to their lycanthropy. ### Post-battle loot A lantern and several rings remain in Morcades's place. Notte relays that the lantern allows the attuned to see invisible creatures and to see past illusion; it also allows them to replenish their magical reserves. Notte proposes that the wizard should hold onto it; Ez grumbles that she could be a wizard. Gallagher agrees. She takes the lantern for herself, however. Notte then collects the four rings, which appear to represent each of the four seasons. Notte identifies them as allowing the attuned – who needs to be fey – to cast Druidcraft, to trance instead of sleep, and to resist magical effects and damage. She blushes as she hands the rings to Yves. Finally, Notte gathers some of the ichor in two bottles. She identifies it is demon ichor, which can be applied to a weapon; if someone is struck by that weapon, their flesh will be warped in some manner. Ireena, reminded of the corporeal instability that they witnessed in Krezk, is saddened when she learns the effects. ### Dealing with Ker Though it is somewhat difficult to find terms that both parties will accept, the party – with Notte leading negotiations – makes a fey deal with Ker before agreeing to hand over the bauble containing Morcades's essence. The terms are: the dragons and their underlings will release Vallaki, barring the mansion, by the end of tomorrow; the party will not move against them, and they will not move against the party, nor anyone in Vallaki or Scaena, nor anyone else under their protection; in exchange, Notte will give up the orb to Ker. At Ker's prompting, everyone puts their hands in. Pink mist swirls over them as the deal is struck. Notte gives Ker the bauble. ### Planting mushrooms After collecting Ives, the party regroups with Firan, the Keepers, and Ker to plant mushrooms in a ring around the mansion. Firan initially resists helping, as he doesn't "do dirt," but Francis convinces him to pitch in. Notte also helps, albeit begrudgingly and lazily. Only Arabelle elects not to plant mushrooms. Ives, on the other hand, is thrilled to be "interacting with dirt." The group is still planting mushrooms several hours later. Ker eventually suggests that they can continue tomorrow, offering them lodgings at the mansion in the meanwhile. The party and the Keepers elect to return to the Coffin Maker's Shop instead. ### Not-so-defective eggs Later, the backpacks of Yves, Notte, Gallagher, and Francis begin shifting and emitting noise from within. The four investigate and find that dragons of various shapes are hatching from the eggs. Each name their dragons after some deliberation. Gallagher names her hungry, destructive equtaras Titan; Francis names her bumbling hydra puck Ghidorah; Notte names her clingy wyrmlet Nocturne; Yves names their curious entomodrake Blessed Abaddon Devourer of Harvests and Saint of Broken Fields, or Abby for short. ### Gallagher casts Wish (again) After everyone is familiarized with their new baby dragons, Gallagher announces that she is going to cast Wish to undo the aging/de-aging effects of the hag dragons. Yves jokes that Ez is only cute as a child. Ez asks Gallagher to atomize him. Giving Francis's previous comments, Gallagher asks Francis is she wants to be excluded from the Wish. With a sigh, Francis states that she can be included; she feels like it'd be too much effort to craft the wish around her specifically. After steeling herself, Gallagher says, "I wish the time inhalation aging and de-aging effects that occurred within the domain of Wayside are reversed for everyone, barring the hag dragons" and casts Wish. She immediately feels weaker as a wave of magic sweeps over the entirety of the domain. ## 6 Kythorn 1494 ### Finishing the mushroom circle It is still early in the morning when the mushroom circle around the Burgomaster's Mansion is completed. ### Vallaki in a bottle Ker magically condenses Vallaki – barring the mansion – and its townsfolk into a bottle. Francis takes it for safekeeping. Ker instructs him to bury the bottle once they arrive at their destination; the town will appear in place. With a bow, Ker expresses that it has been a pleasure. ### Leaving the Feywild & arriving at the Risibilos Gallagher, Notte, Yves, Francis, Ireena, and Ez step away from the mansion and into the mists. Though the mists seem endless, they eventually find themselves in the lobby of an aged performing arts building. A sign reads: > TONIGHT'S SHOW: > *RE: STRAHD* As the group enters the theater, however, they quickly find that they are not in Scaena. Rather, they are in a domain called [[The Risibilos]], which serves as a prison for the merriment-hating [[King Doerdon]] wherein he is forever tormented by [[Little Strahd|a puppet]] who believes himself to be Strahd von Zarovich. Gallagher attempts to Plane Shift herself and the rest of the party to Scaena. Nothing happens. ### Francis attempts to reform the king The puppet, Little Strahd, reveals that he has been promised by an envoy of the "dark, vile forces that constructed this very prison" that, if he manages to get them on the stage, he will be returned to his true station as the darklord of Barovia. Francis tries to convince Little Strahd that he has been lied to, but the puppet is unyielding. When Doerdon reveals that he punished gaiety during his time as king, Francis suggests that, if he wants out of his prison, he should revisit how he treated people in the past. In response, Doerdon states that hearing laughter makes him nauseous. ### Doerdon's plea Doerdon begs the party to get on the stage so that they can conclude the scene. When it becomes clear that they are not leaving the domain otherwise, the group reluctantly does as asked. ### Portal to hell The party members are each grabbed by a large wooden crook from offstage before being pulled away and flung into a large, ruby colored portal. When they come to, the group finds themselves in a shallow pool of muck. They are just outside what looks to be Barovia Village, which is situated in the middle of a seemingly unending abyss of acid and sludge. ### Attempting to contact the B Team An attempt and failure to contact Hawthorne via Sending reveals that the town is blanketed by a conditional antimagic field. When Francis texts the group chat, it becomes apparent that a devil named [[Spore]] has requisitioned Strashka's phone. No one else from the B Team responds. Spore indicates that Strashka is going to be sold. He also indicates that, if they are interested in purchasing him, they just need to follow the signage in town. ### Welcome to Baatoria, Minauros Guarding the gates to the town are two spined devils and an arcanaloth named [[Bacillus]]. Bacillus greets the party and welcomes them to [[Baatoria]] of Minauros. Through conversation, the party finds out that the town is run by the Cult of Pisaethces – also known as the Cult of the Blood Queen – under aboleth oversight. ### Paying the toll Bacillus informs the group that, to enter the town, they must pay a toll: two soul coins each. When it becomes clear that they don't have any soul coins, Bacillus offers to sell them the necessary 12 for the price of 60,000g. Notte admits that the price is "a bit" too steep. Bacillus lowers the price to 500g each on the condition that they are transformed into imps for the duration of their stay so as to avoid notice; otherwise, one among their number could trade their soul for the whole group. Threats, negotiation, and fake tears do nothing to change Bacillus's offer. The party members reluctantly accept. After Bacillus has collected 3,000g, it shakes their hands to seal the deal. Each of them turn into imps as they do so. Yves, Notte, and Gallagher turn into blue imps; Francis and Ireena turn into red imps; Ez turns into a yellow imp. They are then fitted with Collars of Translation provided by Bacillus, allowing them to speak and understand – among other languages – Infernal. Titan chomps at Gallagher. She convinces him not to eat her or the others. ### A hellish ~~Barovia~~ Baatoria Many of Barovia Village's buildings remain standing in Baatoria. However, most of the southernmost third of the town – including the Burgomaster's mansion – has been consumed by a massive pit, which is flowed into by a river of blood in the form of a waterfall. Fiends and mortal cultists worship at the edge of the pit, occasionally throwing themselves in. Devils of various shapes and sizes dot the streets otherwise. A sign pointing to what was once Bildrath's Mercantile reads "Pop Shop." An arrow-shaped sign pointing up to the church reads "Roup Sale." The Blood of the Vine – still a tavern, judging by the flagon-shaped sign – has been renamed "Dram Shop." ### The Dram Shop At the Dram Shop, the party meets the helpful wasp bartender, [[Auntie Histamine|Auntie]], who helps them get the lay of the land. She describes the Roup Sale as an auction, explaining that they will likely be offering items – and possibly souls – belonging to the adventurers who were in town the other day and subsequently captured. She also informs them that the proprietor of the auction accepts soul coins, souls, people, and magic items as currency. Auntie then describes the Pop Shop, which seems to just be a pawn shop. ### The Pop Shop Thinking that they may need to purchase Strashka and perhaps his soul at the Roup Sale, the group first decides to go to the Pop Shop in search of items to bid with. The Pop Shop, cluttered with goods, is run by a clumsy, jovial bone devil named [[Cancer]]. He sells magical items, souls, soul coins, and "living stock." When Francis requests to see the living beings, Cancer retrieves a chest labeled "High-value items." He first shows them a lich's skull – recognizable as Adelir's by the cracks in it – and indicates that it is part of a set. The party soon discovers that Cancer is also harboring a dismembered but still living Hawthorne, half of Minsc, and Strashka's familiar, Fester. ### Bargaining with a Bone Devil After learning that the other half of Minsc is up for bid at the Roup Sale, the group decides to forego purchasing Cancer's half for the time being. They also do not purchase Fester, as he can simply be resummoned by Strashka. Notte tries and fails to devalue Adelir and Hawthorne by suggesting that they are worthless, but Cancer doesn't bite. In exchange for Francis's Immovable Rod, expensive elvish wine, Strashka's tooth, 50g from Yves, and Gallagher's fishing rod, Francis manages to secure Adelir's skeleton, soul, clothes, and four soul coins. Francis marches out the door as soon as everything is in hand. Next, Gallagher gives up her Charm of the Throne and Infernal cookbook, Yves gives up his copy of *Van Richten's Guide to Ghosts* and his scroll of Mass Cure Wounds, and Notte gives up her Charm of Balance. Yves obtains Hawthorne's body, soul, clothes, and other "accessories" as a result. ### Reassembling Adelir and Hawthorne In an alleyway, Francis reconstructs Adelir, who comes to with a start. Though Francis is beyond relieved to be reunited with him, she grows exasperated when he calls her a "cute little imp" and picks her up. Yves dumps Hawthorne's body on the ground and begins reassembling and dressing her. Unsure of what to do with her bra, he stuffs it in his bag. Yves hugs Hawthorne through tears when she finally awakens. Hawthorne, who sees a group of imps and Adelir, initially greets them with confusion; it gives way to affection, however, when she realizes Yves's identity. The group catches Adelir and Hawthorne up to speed. ### The party avoids being bounced Hawthorne dons Francis's hooded cloak to disguise herself; Adelir disguises himself as an incubus. Then, they all head up the hill for the Roup Sale. At the doors, they are met by the bouncer, Spore. Spore quickly reveals himself to be prejudiced against imps. Despite this, Yves manages to talk their way past by calling Spore's mother a whore. Inside, Notte warns an imp [[Greeter|greeter]] about Spore's prejudice. He slips her a soul coin in thanks. ### Reunion with Ismark The party is soon met by a horned, robed, masked clerk, who seems bothered when they indicate that they are there to bid on people. Gallagher takes a chance and gives their group name as "the New Order of the Silver Dragon" when asked. The clerk, startled and relieved, removes his mask and reveals his identity: a newly-fiendish Ismark. Yves and Ireena hug him. Ismark explains that, in his attempt to save as many of the townsfolk as possible, he was eventually captured and had to barter for his life. In exchange for becoming a fiendish servant, he was spared. Most of the townsfolk were unfortunately let loose into Minauros for his trouble. Ismark informs them that Strashka is set to be the third or fourth "item" for sale. ### Bidding begins The party is seated; paddles are provided. The proprietor, [[Ms. Pox]], explains the rules of the auction and adds that anyone who offers "garbage" will be "violently ejected" from the premises. She soon proves good on this threat when a devil bids a single soul coin for "the better half" of Minsc, who is introduced as a famous Torillian adventurer. Spore decapitates the devil on Ms. Pox's orders. Notte offers her "hag's special sauce," which acts a Potion of Supreme Healing, in exchange for the half of Minsc. She is quickly outbid by a very large pit fiend – [[Blightmar]] – who offers a Potion of Superior Healing, an enchanted blade, and three soul coins. ### The Strahd scam Soon, what appears to be a chained and conscious Strahska – introduced as the "legendary Lord Strahd von Zarovich" – is brought to the stage. Though Notte can tell that he is merely an illusion, Ms. Pox assures the patrons that they are viewing the genuine article when Notte raises questions. ### Blightmar's intervention Blightmar begins to doubt the legitimacy of Strahd as well as his previous purchases. Ms. Pox, addressing Blightmar as "my lord," points out that Notte is a "common imp" and therefore should not be trusted. Notte – without consulting the rest of her party – declares, "this Strahd is an illusion." Ms. Pox tries to backpedal. She admits that, while Strahd is on the premises, her people are having trouble "wrangling" him. When Blightmar demands that she take him to Strahd, Ms. Pox nervously claims that she will do so; she attempts to bolt, however, when she is called out for her continued dishonesty. Blightmar stops her with his mace and then eats her in chunks. ### Getting to know Blightmar The rattled party joins Blightmar's side on his command. The other patrons quickly leave. Blightmar reveals that he serves among the local leadership of the Cult of Pisaethces. He also shares that the village was "temporarily relocated" to Minauros after the aboleths in charge cut a deal with an "outside force" – a deal that he was not a part of. He admits that he is not often looped into the dealings of the aboleths, which is a frequent source of disagreement between them. ### Blightmar intimidates Ismark & grills Notte The group, now including Blightmar, returns to Ismark on Notte's suggestion. Blightmar indicates that he recognizes the "scruffy little fellow," adding that he was happy to force a nobleman and lycanthrope to swear himself to the service of devils. He then pushes Ismark to the ground and kicks him for good measure. Notte apologizes in Common on instinct. Blightmar begins interrogating Notte. She claims that she assumed "sorry" was a swear. He subsequently begins questioning the group's origins, but Notte manages to successfully convince him that they are from Cania. ### Finding Strashka When Blightmar commands Ismark to take them to Strahd, Ismark nervously leads the group to a hidden room that appears to be a mundane waiting room; as they step past the threshold, however, they find a blood-stained jail with several cells. One of the cells holds a chained and weary Strashka. Dead devils surround him. ### Meeting Telphusa Strashka is being overseen by an Erinyes – a fiery, knightly-looking individual with wings. Despite her claim of jurisdiction over Strahd, Blightmar declares that he will be taking over. He enters the cell and begins beating Strashka. Telepathically, the Erinyes – [[Telphusa]] – asks the party members why they are disguised as fiends. Sensing that Telphusa does not mean them immediate harm, the group explains their situation the best they can. ### Telphusa weighs the party's sins With the aid of a stone that functions as a Zone of Truth, Telphusa begins telepathically interrogating the party members about their relationships to the sins of wrath, greed, envy, pride, betrayal, oppression, and harm. Gallagher admits to being a pirate, though she denies being greedy or carrying out undue harm. Yves owns up to killing an ant with a magnifying glass when he was a child. Telphusa doesn't seem to care much, especially after Yves states that he felt "really bad" about it. Notte and Yves both admit to being prideful for most of their lives. Telphusa seems swayed when they each share that their parents were abusive; this also exonerates Notte from the sin of betraying her family. With little prompting, Hawthorne owns up to pride, anger, "dabbling" in greed and envy, mutilation, torture, and murder – she clarifies, however, that she doesn't kill "that often" and that she doesn't think that she has killed innocents. Neither Ireena nor Francis believe that they have any sins to admit to. Ismark, Adelir, and Ez are also deemed to be in the clear after Telphusa realizes that they are not ensouled and therefore cannot rightfully be judged. ### Telphusa shares her doubts Upon finding out that her prisoner is only weeks old and is not ensouled, Telphusa admits that she is unhappy with the state of affairs in Baatoria. She expresses her fears that she is serving an unjust cause and that she is not confident in her ability to stand against Blightmar alone. Despite this, she indicates that she is still willing to help the party; she doesn't believe that any of them – barring Hawthorne – deserve to be in the hells. ### Telphusa's scheme Telphusa suggests that the party's best option might be to contact the aberrative leaders of the cult and request that the antimagic field be disabled so that they can help her take on Blightmar. She admits, however, that she has not directly spoken with the aboleths herself and will not be doing so. Ismark, Hawthorne, and Adelir sneak out ahead of the others. Telphusa excuses herself to Blightmar, claiming that she has been called elsewhere by his "fellow lords." Though annoyed, Blightmar is too distracted beating Strashka to care much. Ireena, Ez, Notte, Francis, Yves, and Gallagher arrange themselves against Telphusa, who wraps her wings around them and herself like a poncho. She successfully smuggles them out. ### Cult lore The party heads to the edge of the pit flowed into by the waterfall of blood. Most of the worshippers recoil and scatter when they see Telphusa coming. Telphusa informs the party that the cultists worship the creator god of the aboleth people, Pisaethces, who they believe will usher in an era of eternal blood, darkness, and suffering across all existence. She also tells them that the divine domain of Pisaethces is supposedly at the bottom of the pit; technically, though, it's a demiplane. Telphusa states that she does not worship Pisaethces; the only thing she is sworn to is "justice." She admits, however, that aboleths themselves ironically tend to be very logical. ### Into the pit The party members fly down several hundred feet onto an island in the [[Blood Sea]], with Adelir and Ismark being pushed over the edge ahead of the rest by Hawthorne. Partway down, those who had been previously transformed shift back into the normal selves, having left the bounds of Baatoria. Ismark, delirious from being days without food and sleep, forgets he can fly as a wereraven; Adelir cannot not fly to begin with. As a result, the two join the pile of disfigured corpses on the island. Yves sighs deeply before reviving Ismark and then Adelir, whose bones have been gathered by Francis. Francis unhappily sets Adelir's finger bone on request. Gallagher gives Ismark jerky after finding out that he hasn't eaten since Barovia Village was ceded to Scaena. ### Getting scammed by Arthur Edward At the edge of the island is a boat and a boatsman named [[Arthur Edward]]. He grumpily agrees to take them to [[Aboltech Industrial Engineering Works HQ|HQ]] to meet the aboleths as long as they can pay the fee: one soul coin or comparable magic item each. Gallagher tries and fails to negotiate a lower price. Between the party members, they give up all five of their soul coins, Yves's Collar of Translation, and Notte's Pipes of Haunting, demon ichor, and Oil of Sharpness. ### Tour of Aboltech A mast and sail unfolds on the boat. There is an angular logo with script in Deep Speech on the sail, which Notte reads: > ABOLTECH INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING WORKS As Arthur Edward sails them toward the main corporate office, he flatly and unenthusiastically directs their attention to various points of interest, including a sighting of the Blood Queen itself: a colossal, slug-like creature who appears to be leaving smaller versions of itself in its slime trail. It is also leaking blood. During the tour, Arthur Edward offers membership to the cult, which seems to operate similarly to a multi-level marketing scheme. No one bites. However, everyone – barring Hawthorne, who is a pervert about it – does buy and/or share novelty Aboltech umbrellas to avoid being drenched in blood as they pass under a "blood outpouring." An argument breaks out when Yves and Ireena have a taste and Ireena is subsequently poisoned. Gallagher closes her eyes and tries to enjoy being on a boat. ### Arrival at Aboltech HQ Eventually, the group arrives at an island occupied by a building so tall that it scrapes the fleshy ceiling of the demiplane. Arthur Edward welcomes to the headquarters of Aboltech Industrial Engineering Works, occupied by the aberrative side of Baatoria's administration. Inside, they meet [[Gras'l'skan'ar]], an ettin ceremorph receptionist. They are made to wait in the lobby for an hour and a half before security arrives to perform a "non-invasive" search and background check. ### Mind probing, non-invasively Eventually, a gnome-sized mind flayer named [[Magaggog Bootbottle]] arrives and explains that it is going to probe their brains to check for their intentions. Then, there will be a physical search to ensure that they do not have anything that could be used to harm anyone in the building. Francis and Gallagher are cleared first. Magaggog gets embarrassed when reading the mind of Notte, who is still dwelling on the cozy warmth of Telphusa's wings. Notte snaps at it; even still, Magaggog determines that Notte doesn't mean harm to the aboleths. Though nervous, Ismark is also cleared. Ireena, Adelir, and Ez – despite her grumpiness – are deemed harmless as well. Hawthorne's mind unsettles Magaggog enough that it requests that she wait in the lobby. Hawthorne is unbothered. ### Mind probing, invasively Since Yves's mind cannot be breached due to their advanced vampirism, they are required to submit to a more invasive search conducted by the otherwise polite [[Eater]]. This involves his violent death, his brain being eaten, and his subsequent revival. Despite this, Yves remarks, "nice guy" once Eater has departed. ### Getting checked in Magaggog pats them all down. Yves and Notte talk Magaggog out of closely inspecting their Frogs of Holding by complaining about the wait. Gras'l'skan'ar gives the party members – barring Hawthorne – their guest passes, which allow them to access the elevator. The group crams into the small space and heads up to floor 98 as instructed. After drinking complimentary Potions of Water Breathing, they wait in a water-filled reception for about half an hour before they are invited up to meet the aboleths. ### Meeting the aboleths: Monicar, G.E. and Thulamil, L.E. The aboleth executives of Aboltech – [[To'vvag'das'vak'thur'ai'thumonic'ar of the Greater Eye]] (Monicar, G.E.) and [[Al'vathos'ful'fan'tolas'tovathu'lamil of the Lesser Eye]] (Thulamil, L.E.) – receive the party. Monicar does all of the talking. ### Aboltech deceived by the dark powers The party learns the particulars of the aboleths' deal with the dark powers: in exchange for interfering with the party's return to Scaena, they would receive Barovia Village, which will eventually be returned to Scaena after it is seeded with aboleth spawn. This will ideally allow their kind to spread to other domains, leading to a "corporate takeover" of the Domains of Dread in their entirety. The group eventually manages to convince Monicar and Thulamil that the dark powers will not take back a town that was seeded with aboleth spawn regardless of how many contractual boxes they check off, especially with the contract not being magically binding. They also manage to convince them that, even if General Blightmar became a dark lord of his own domain of dread – which is the aboleths' backup plan, should the contract fall through – the dark powers could and likely would prevent their spawn from spreading outside the borders of that domain. ### Aboltech deceived by the party Realizing that they may have been fooled, Monicar pivots to make a deal with the party instead. Yves signs a contract agreeing to take an aberrative seed back to Scaena and plant it in the soil. In exchange, Monicar agrees to modify the antimagic field of Baatoria so that the party can use their magic to deal with Blightmar themselves, as Aboltech no longer has use for him. Having crossed out the clause about potential arbitration in [[Sigil]], Yves – along with the rest of the party – have no intent to follow through on their side of the deal. ### Brand deal with Aboltech After telepathically conversing with Thulamil, Monicar offers free Aboltech merchandise as part of an advertising deal. It adds that they would be compensated. Yves, Notte, and Ismark sign the second contract. ### A line & another offer Each of the party members are given a small orb that serves as a direct line of communication to the Aboltech office. Before the party departs, Monicar offers to transform any of them into an aberration to help spread brand awareness. Though it claims that they would not be under the aboleths' influence and that the transformation would involve many physical and mental advantages, no one takes it up on the offer. ### Ireena shares her business plans On the elevator ride back down to the lobby, Ireena shares her ambitions to start a small adventuring business with Lyssa, Notte, and perhaps Stella. Yves observes, "a gay business." Ireena insists that she would be happy if any of the others wanted to work there. She adds that it might be a good idea for Francis and Adelir to work there, for example, given Adelir's needs. ### Ismark keeps his shirt on; Hawthorne takes hers off The party returns their guest passes and collects their Aboltech merchandise. Ismark wants to don a polo immediately; Yves tells him to wait. When Ismark mumbles that he wouldn't have expected Yves to be the one to tell him to keep his shirt on, Yves, scandalized, smacks him on the chest. Hawthorne asks the others what they got her. Francis throws a shirt at her. When Hawthorne suggests that the shirt isn't big enough, Francis points out that it isn't going to fit him either. Hawthorne observes that he _is_ "ample." Francis glares at her, though he attempts to provide a privacy curtain using his cape when she starts stripping. ### Leaving Aboltech HQ Outside, there is a different boatsman present: [[Edward Arthur]]. The boat is hauling a large wooden trailer in which there is Aboltech signage, merchandise, and an aboleth egg. ### Compensation for fraud Conversation reveals that the party was scammed by Arthur Edward. Edward Arthur expresses concern that his coworker may have cut and run; moreover, he could be anywhere in the Blood Sea or elsewhere. Edward Arthur gives Notte a soul coin out of pity. Shortly afterward, Magaggog contacts the party through their communication orbs, which gives Notte a chance to issue a more formal complaint. While Magaggog doesn't have many of the specific stolen magic items on hand, it is able to provide five soul coins, a Collar of Translation, and a Potion of Polymorph for each of the party members except Hawthorne. ### The imp fix Magaggog asks if they will need anything beyond bypassing the antimagic field of Baatoria. Gallagher explains the deal that several of them made with Bacillus and asks it to reverse the imp transformation part of the agreement. Magaggog tells them that the contract, including the additions, should be finalized by the time they return to Baatoria. ### Farewell to the Blood Sea & ditching the egg The party eventually makes it back to the small island on which they first landed. Edward Arthur unhitches the trailer and hauls it onto the island. Yves, Notte, and Ismark take some of the Aboltech merchandise from the trailer. They leave the egg behind. ### A Baatorian welcome Back in Baatoria, the party is met by General Blightmar and his legions, which include a hooded [[Wastewretch|First Lieutenant Wastewretch]], multiple succubi in skimpy nun garb, several hundred imps, and various other lesser devils. Strashka and Telphusa are on display, with Strashka on a torture rack and Telphusa tied to a post while being lashed by her own whip. Blightmar suggests that he is willing to let the group leave with their lives if they are willing to part with their souls. No one is interested in bartering. Blightmar commands his subordinates to attack. ### Fighting Blightmar & his legions Ismark, Hawthorne, and Adelir break off to deal with the imps and other lesser devils. The remainder of the party moves to address Blightmar, his lieutenant, and the succubi. A succubus tries and fails to charm Notte. The succubus then kisses her, draining her of life; Ireena kills the succubus in retaliation. Yves resists the charm of another succubus and calls her outfit tacky. The succubus subsequently pivots to run her hand up Francis's torso instead. Francis is not so lucky; when he is ordered to attack the person who he deems the weakest – Ezmerelda – he does so. Ez kills the succubus before snapping Francis out of the charm with a swing of her axe, only to be charmed herself by the final succubus. Notte later punches Ez out of the charm, though not before she strikes Yves with a bolt of lightning. Meanwhile, Blightmar bites, claws, and bludgeons Gallagher. His horse kicks her as well. Yves brings her back from the brink of death. Lieutenant Wastewretch send black energy crackling toward Ireena, who starts gradually turning into bark as she suffers the effects of Arboreal Curse. Ez is nearly disintegrated by the Lieutenant soon after. Gallagher kills Blightmar's horse and the remaining succubus with thunder and lightning. Between Yves's, Gallagher's, and Francis's magical attacks, Blightmar is felled. Notte wears down Wastewretch; Gallagher finishes him off. ### Regrouping in the aftermath A quick Remove Curse from Yves brings Ireena back from petrification. Ireena is not happy to have been turned into a tree while surrounded by hellfire. Yves vomits after observing the hundreds of imps killed by Hawthorne, Ismark, and Adelir. Hawthorne harvests devil parts; Yves tries and fails to convince her to stop. When Francis indicates to Adelir that their side of the fight was annoying and that there were "weird succubi," Adelir asks Francis how he is holding up. Francis, stuttering a bit, lands on, "it's whatever." Adelir gives him a hug. ### Freeing Strashka & Telphusa Francis gives Hawthorne's shirt to Strashka after Gallagher helps him off the torture rack. Strashka expresses appreciation. Hawthorne calls Francis a pervert for holding onto her shirt. Strashka observes that the others can use magic again and suggests razing Baatoria to the ground. Notte and Gallagher argue for conserving their magic to get them back to Scaena, which is an argument that Strashka accepts, albeit unhappily. Notte frees Telphusa. She thanks her and politely admits that she lacks regenerative properties. Yves casts Heal. ### Planning to recover Minsc Telphusa offers to retrieve the half of Minsc that is being kept at the auction house while the rest of the party retrieves the half that is being kept at the pawn shop. When she admits that she wants to "clear" the auction house of "all living beings," Notte asks Telphusa to spare the imp greeter who assisted her earlier. ### Ismark's fiendish request Once Telphusa has departed, Ismark asks the others if they can revive Blightmar so that he can kill him. Yves is initially reluctant, but he relents when Ismark argues that it will help him ascend the fiendish ranks. ### Ismark, the cult leader Yves and Hawthorne assist Ismark in getting Blightmar on the torture rack. The others distance themselves. Blightmar comes to as Yves casts Raise Dead. Ismark somehow convinces Blightmar to grant him leadership over the Cult of the Blood Queen, which they cement via contract. Ismark is briefly consumed by hellfire after he stabs and kills Blightmar. As the fire clears, the others see that he has turned red and that his horns and fangs have gotten larger. Ismark promises to dissolve the cult when they are back in Scaena. ### Pop Shop returns & retribution Though he is initially surprised to see mortals in his shop, Cancer quickly discerns their identities. He is uneasy to learn that Ismark is now the leader of the Cult of the Blood Queen. Under Ismark's authority, Cancer hands over Fester and half of Minsc. He also returns everything that was previously traded to him by the party. The party debates killing Cancer. Notte argues that his death is unnecessary, whereas Francis argues the opposite; Cancer is a human trafficker, and it isn't like they have the time or capacity to rehabilitate him. Ultimately, Ismark orders Cancer to kill himself. Cancer listens. ### Ismark's hovel Everyone regroups at Ismark's Baatorian residence, which is a shack containing a bedroll and not much else. Telphusa has retrieved the other half of Minsc as well as Greeter the imp, who doesn't have a name otherwise. ### Greeter's job interview Greeter asks the group if they are in need of a personal assistant or doorman; he would like to accompany them out of Minauros. When he insists on pulling his weight, Francis suggests that they can try to find some chores for him to do but that he can come with regardless. Greeter expresses that he is "grateful for the opportunity." ### Telphusa's proposal When Telphusa finds out that the party's companions in Scaena are under siege by "legions of the unjust," she offers a deal: in exchange for the "broken and corrupt soul" of Amelia Hawthorne upon the "culmination of her life," she will offer her "immediate services." Hawthorne doesn't take the threat of damnation very seriously. She states that she will simply "climb back out" of the hells, adding that she isn't going to resist a "hot, 8-foot-tall woman" following her around. Yves tells Hawthorne that she is in trouble. Francis makes Telphusa promise that she won't harm or send anyone else to harm Hawthorne before her death. Francis and Hawthorne flirt a little. When Telphusa expresses discomfort with the idea of making a deal directly with the condemned individual, Notte seals the pact with a handshake. ### Putting Minsc back together again The party puts the two halves of Minsc back together. Minsc, relieved, sits up. Minsc confirms that Backpack Guy is still with him. Boo emerges from Minsc's other bag. ### Escaping the hells With everyone regrouped and intact, Notte and Gallagher attempt to Plane Shift the party to Scaena. The mists coil and uncoil around them. They end up – seemingly – on the Old Svalich Road. ### Strashka's speech In the middle of the road, Strashka clears his throat and announces that he has something to say. He states that he has "suffered unimaginably"; during this suffering, he came to the realization that he did not deserve it. Strashka acknowledges that this may seem like an unfair conclusion. He indicates that his conclusion, however, is not that he is morally righteous – in fact, he believes that his suffering might have been a "reasonable punitive act" toward the actual Strahd von Zarovich. Rather, his conclusion is that he is merely a construct made in the likeness of Strahd. He thinks, moreover, that it is foolish to subscribe to the standards of the man. ### "Barovia," freed Strashka apologizes to Francis, Ireena, and Gallagher for having previously victimized them, consciously and/or unconsciously. The three accept his apology. The mists seem to clear as "Strahd" acknowledges his wrongdoing; eventually, the sun appears to shine over the land. Then, there is darkness. ### Reunion with Juste When the party can see once more, they find themselves in a mist-choked village nestled into the countryside. They are just outside a theater. Notte rushes into the theater and hits Juste with the door, which he was also about to open. He falls back before righting himself with Notte's help. She doesn't let go of his arm. Juste is relieved to see them all in one piece. When they ask about Telphusa and Greeter, Yves only says, "we made friends." Francis informs Juste that he has Vallaki in a jar. Notte informs Juste that the village of Barovia has been consumed by the hells, its people released into Minauros. Juste takes the Barovia Town news poorly. ### Welcome to Scaena Juste asks the party to step into the theater. Notte releases Juste; Juste grabs her hand. The group files through the door and enters into a large clearing. The clearing is surrounded by the same village they were just in, the theater now behind them. Beyond the village is what appears to be the Keep of the Scarlet Cross and Castle Ravenloft combined into one structure. Juste explains that they have taken to calling it the Castle of the Scarlet Cross, though they note that they are open to suggestions. They add that they also want input on the layout of the place; the Snarl Trackers indicate that it will be quite some time before the dark powers act again, so they should all use that time to prepare themselves for it. Most of the group is teleported by Juste up to the Castle of the Scarlet Cross, where the others are said to be safe and sound. Francis stays behind to bury the bottle containing Vallaki in the dirt. ### Planting Vallaki As Francis plants the jar containing Vallaki, the town and townsfolk appear around him. ### Reunions Francis reunites with Firan, who complains about constantly being "jostled" while in the jar. Though Firan expresses sincere condolences for Francis's stressful time in hell, Francis thinks that he is being facetious. Firan then quickly makes a fool of himself. With Firan's help, Francis finds Ives and leads them to the castle. A procession of hagspawn follow as well. Quincey, who had been attempting to teach Vasilka and Victor how to whittle, scoops Francis up in a hug. Francis returns the favor as soon as he is set down. Stella is relieved to see Notte and the others. Lyssa drags Notte and Ireena away, offhandedly inviting Stella as well. Stella later privately admits that Lyssa intimidates her greatly. Ez lets out a little sigh when she sees Ludmilla. Despite her otherwise flippant manner, Ludmilla cuddles up to her and Gallagher in their room. Petre cries when he is reunited with Yves. ### Adelir requests a private conversation Francis effortlessly creates an impressive display of woodcarving. After the fact, Adelir asks Francis if they can talk in private. He explains that, in the time that his group was able to take shelter in Minauros, he wrote a letter and addressed it to Francis. He is hoping that they can go over it together. Adelir begins rambling nervously once the two are alone. He warns that the letter might be "overdramatic." Francis eventually convinces him to hand it over. ### Maria's letter Adelir's letter contains: musings over the legacy and mistakes of the original Rudolph van Richten; a marriage proposal to Francis and an affirmation of their bond; a wish to formally adopt Ezmerelda, whom Adelir refers to as his "dear, troubled" daughter; an admission of care and concern for Hawthorne. Finally, the letter implicitly contains Adelir's coming out as a woman named Maria, which is what Van Richten's parents would have named him if he was born a girl. ### Francis reacts to Maria & Maria's plans Despite Maria's clear anxieties, Francis assures Maria that he doesn't feel any differently toward her. Moreover, though he has to be reminded of the proposal, Francis agrees to marry her as well. Maria indicates that she isn't going to make an announcement to inform the others about her change; rather, she is simply going to show up as a woman at breakfast and let them figure it out themselves. She does worry about Hawthorne's reaction specifically, however. Francis and Maria – along with the rest of the party – relax for the remainder of the night. ## 7 Kythorn 1494 ### Breakfast by Helga Helga prepares the party a lavish breakfast, which includes fresh blood donated by herself. She informs everyone that she will be working with Petre and Rahadin to prepare three daily meals tailored to everyone's needs. Francis is delighted to be free of Juste's "greasy slop," whereas Notte expresses that she thought the food was enjoyable. ### Enter Maria Maria tries and fails to slip in the dining hall unnoticed. Notte initially fails to recognize her until she snaps that she has purple eyes. Maria proceeds to have multiple episodes. Francis provides comfort. Quincey is tense. Ez quietly tells Gallagher that she feels like every choice Maria has ever made has been done to make her angry. Gallagher suggests that she may just be an angry girl. Hawthorne declares that she would have sex with Maria before soon declaring the same of Telphusa. Yves gets mad at her, but doesn't deny Hawthorne's accusation that he has the same desire. Francis and Hawthorne flirt over Francis calling her a pervert. ### 20 days to go Nox informs the others that magical energy is gathering in the fields around the town of Scaena, but that it's been slow going; the Snarl Trackers indicate that they have 20 days and nights before anything is going to happen. ### Still stuck While Nox – and the others – would prefer to leave before the clock runs down, no one is quite sure why they are still stuck in the domain. Nox points out that he even stopped the play after Strashka's revelation, though he is sure to note that the audience is still an omnipresent part of Scaena which he cannot do anything about. Francis and Notte theorize that the Dark Powers might be focusing their energy on keeping Scaena in the mists. ### Nox's renovations Nox suggests that they should spend as much time as possible preparing for the worst. She reveals that she has been doing some renovations on the castle; Castle Ravenloft's banquet hall, for example, has been converted into a war room. Nox has also combined the castle library with the keep's library, complete with a dueling/sparring center and seating. Despite the accommodation, Nox teases Notte for insisting on using the library as a dueling ground. Notte admits that she didn't think many people would be using the library when she first started training Ireena. Nox quips that people have used the library "for everything" and that she has consequently had to disinfect it more than once. Nox opens the floor for renovation suggestions. Gallagher says, "cannons." This is the only suggestion that Nox receives. ### Nox embarrasses Notte Nox, still having the group's attention, asks Notte if she is busy this afternoon. Francis deadpans, "smooth." When Nox defensively says that they just wanted to take her on a walk, Notte puts her head in her hands and says, "oh... sure." Lyssa teases Notte, referring to Nox her identical twin and Ireena her own identical twin. Notte observes, "that is a weird thing to say." ### Gallagher returns the Tome of Strahd Nox lets slip that some of the others previously requisitioned Strashka's journal. Gallagher later discretely puts the journal on the table for Strashka to find. ### Helga's request Helga pulls Gallagher away from Ludmilla and Ez to ask about Gallagher's post-Scaena plans. After some back-and-forth, Gallagher reveals that she needs to retrieve her brother from the Sea of Sorrows but that she has no plans to return to piracy; however, she may want to continue sailing. When Helga asks about "Lady Vilisevic's" plans, Gallagher suggests that Helga can ask Ludmilla herself. Helga admits that Ludmilla doesn't wish to speak to her. Gallagher points out that she probably shouldn't care about her plans, then. Gallagher responds noncommittally when Helga asks if she would want Ludmilla to sail with her. Eventually, Helga gets to the point: if Ludmilla and Gallagher start sailing together post-Scaena, she would like to be on their crew. She lists her skills, emphasizes that she likes her work, and admits that she would like to be around Ludmilla – even if only in a professional capacity. She suggests that she could be "like furniture," insisting that she would not make any "attempts upon" Gallagher's "paramour." When Gallagher points out that Ludmilla would likely not want Helga to accompany them, Helga suggests that she will ask Ludmilla after all. ### Gallagher warns Ludmilla Gallagher warns Ludmilla that Helga will likely approach her soon about her desire to sail off into the sunset with them. Ludmilla indicates that she doesn't care what Helga wants before asking if Gallagher does. Gallagher admits that she feels bad for Helga, as she is clearly obsessed with someone who doesn't care about her. Ludmilla says, "skill issue." Gallagher starts to mutter the incantation for Mind Sliver before thinking better of it. Ludmilla is delighted. ### Ludmilla fails to say "no" Ludmilla is later pulled away by Helga. When she returns, she complains that Helga is annoying. Ez raises her glass. Ludmilla reveals that she told Helga that she doesn't want to see her – otherwise, it's not really her business what she does with her life. Gallagher is frustrated that Ludmilla didn't reject Helga outright. Ludmilla suggests that they could "just kill her or something." Gallagher refuses. ### Rahadin's unemployment era Rahadin requests a private conversation with Notte. Notte is highly reluctant, but she gives in after Rahadin explains that Strashka is the topic of conversation and that he does not respect anyone barring her and the man himself. When Rahadin admits that he was prepared to bribe her with 500 gold if she did not readily agree to talk, Notte only agrees to continue the conversation once Rahadin hands over the coins. Rahadin reveals that the gold is part of his "severance package" from Strashka, who released him from service and encouraged him to find his own place in the world. ### Notte's nobility Rahadin asks after Notte's post-Scaenan plans, particularly where her nobility and wealth is concerned. Notte shares that she does have the land deed that she received while pulling cards from Oddlewin's deck at the Seelie Market. Rahadin's persistent questioning also has Notte revealing that she has no plans to avoid a noble lifestyle, nor does she have any plans to give up her land or other wealth. ### Rahadin attempts to swear fealty Rahadin declares – "for lack of other direction" – that he would like to swear fealty to Notte's noble house. Notte immediately turns him down. Rahadin tries various tactics to get Notte to change her mind: he touts his experience, offers to "renovate" his personality, warns of his "violent, less-than-savory" life choices made in periods of idleness, and accuses Notte of rejecting him simply because he is a man. When Notte remains resolute in her decision, Rahadin suggests that he will ask her "girlfriends" instead. Notte maintains that she only has one girlfriend. She also threatens to consult with Strashka; Rahadin, convinced that Strashka will provide a "glowing review," is unmoved. ### Notte tells on Rahadin Notte storms off and locates Strashka to report Rahadin's harassment. Strashka states that Rahadin is a "very good chamberlain." When Notte tells Strashka to rein him in, Strashka insists that the point of releasing Rahadin from service was that he would no longer control him. Notte demands, "hire him again." Strashka refuses. He agrees to talk to Rahadin about his behavior, however. ### Ismark proposes a new wedding date In a winding speech, Ismark asks Yves if they would be willing to get married in Scaena. He cites his recent near-death experience and the 20-day countdown as motivating factors. Yves is caught off guard and argues that a couple weeks isn't enough time to plan a wedding. Ismark – who has never attended a wedding himself – insists that it would be simple, especially given that Juste can handle most of logistics and that they wouldn't need to send out invitations, go through a rehearsal, or secure a venue and decorations. Yves counters that they *want* to partake in the traditional elements of wedding planning. Ismark tangentially suggests that some of the other couples could get married "a few days back-to-back," insisting that Francis and Maria are "basically married." He also describes how he has come to believe that Ireena and Notte are really good for each other despite his initial misgivings. Yves gets Ismark back on track by proposing a compromise: they can sign a marriage certificate now and have the actual wedding later. When Ismark resists the compromise, Yves tiredly says that he needs time to think about it. ### Yves & Ismark's adoption plans Yves and Ismark's conversation shifts to Ives, who spent the night at the foot of their bed. Yves admits that he feels responsible for taking care of them. Ismark is surprised but supportive of the idea. Ismark brings up the other children – Freek, Myrtle, Franz, and Jirko – and suggests that he and Yves could also care for them post-Scaena; they already spend a lot of time doing so, and he feels like Francis will be a bit occupied with her "grown children," Victor and Vasilka. Yves suggests that they should ask the children themselves but that he would be willing to take them on. ### Ismark's strategy meeting: devils and aberrations Ismark later gathers the party to talk strategy. He proposes leveraging his position as leader (the "Archbishop of Blood") of the Cult of the Blood Queen, which he has yet to disband. He also suggests leveraging their relationship with the aboleths to request the aid of "a few mind flayers." When Gallagher points out that they left the aboleth egg in the Blood Sea despite the aboleths' wishes, Ismark argues that the aboleths likely expected as much since Yves struck out the arbitration clause. He also argues that they can fulfill their brand deal with Aboltech by sending their army of devils out to battle in company merchandise. Notte supports this idea, though she tells Ismark that he has to disband the cult as soon as they make it out of Scaena. Ismark insists that he might be able to reform and "reorient" the cult members' to a more productive belief system, such as that of the [[Church of Ezra]]. ### Ismark's strategy meeting: adoption Ismark asks if anyone would oppose him and Yves adopting the children. He adds that the children themselves are fine with it. Notte offers her congratulations. Francis concedes that it wouldn't be fair to drag the kids along on her and Maria's eternal monster hunting voyage. Maria suggests that they can be "wonderful aunts" and visit often instead. ### Ismark's strategy meeting: marriage Ismark's final item on the agenda is his declaration that everyone should get married in their "little relationships" sometime during the next two tendays. He admits that he and Yves haven't decided on a wedding date, however. Despite Maria's and Ireena's light objections, Francis and Notte refuse to get married in Scaena, citing the amount of time that planning a wedding requires. Ludmilla realizes that she knows how to plan a wedding and has a slight episode about it. Ismark notes that Gallagher hasn't spoken much and asks if she has any opinions on getting married. Gallagher says, "no." ### Return of Volenta Francis agrees to help Escher outside in the garden, where Escher has been setting up outdoor furniture and lining the paths with flowers. Francis works as instructed. Escher checks her out. Escher eventually leaves to go retrieve them lemonade. While she is waiting for Escher to return, Francis is approached by Volenta. Her mask is cracked. Francis calmly observes, "it's been a minute." Volenta reveals that she has been living on the roof. She also reveals that she is aware that Bonespur, Firan, and Strashka are all loyal to Francis's goal of standing against the Dark Powers. Volenta indicates that she also knows that Francis and his patron have plans to "kill forever." She offers her own services to this cause. Francis declines. He brings up Telphusa, incorrectly describing that her job is to slay the sinners of the world, and suggests that Volenta can talk to her about opportunities for murder. Volenta calls this idea "wonderful." ### Notte, Juste, & Pietra van Riese walk into a bar Notte and Juste – who forgoes the Nox body – go on a walk together. Juste warns Notte that they will likely encounter silhouettes carrying out basic roles and duties throughout the town. The two head to [[L'anguille|the tavern]] first. Notte scans the bar, finding a single individual who is not a shade. The woman has several empty glasses on the counter around her. Notte recognizes her as matching Gallagher's description of Pietra van Riese. Juste sheepishly admits that he hasn't been able to remove Pietra from the domain. Notte immediately tries to leave, but Pietra's ghostly eels stops her in her tracks. She commands Notte to close the shutters. Juste fretfully does so himself when Notte refuses. ### Juste's favorite blue thing Outside, Juste complains that Pietra freaks him out. He adds, however, that she is "great to look at." When Notte only says "okay," Juste defensively states that, as a creative, he appreciates her "character design." He then accuses Notte of jealousy before assuring Notte that she is still his "favorite blue thing." Notte, blushing, insists that she isn't a "thing." She then calls Juste a pervert. ### Juste's home Juste takes Notte to her two-story townhome. The ground floor is sparsely furnished and decorated. Juste reveals that, while she sometimes rests there, she doesn't typically sleep at all. Juste tries to convince Notte that she doesn't need to see her room. Notte grows suspicious at Juste's caginess and asks to see it anyway. Juste eventually relents. ### Juste's Notte shrine Juste's room is dominated by Notte-themed merchandise, including plushies, figurines, posters, and even a double-sided body pillow. Juste defensively claims that he hasn't laid next to the pillow "in a while" and redirects Notte's attention to the other merchandise. Notte lets it go. Notte takes posed figurines of herself and Ireena. She also accepts model kits of Ireena and Yves from Juste. Although she claims that she is only going to use the kits to make fun of him, she doesn't answer when Juste asks if she isn't going to build them, then. ### The Hag's Eye Bake Shop Next, Juste takes Notte to [[Hag's Eye Bake Shop|the bakery]], which has been taken over by Orcades and Bella. Orcades is delighted to see Notte. Bella is in the back making bread. Notte finds out that drinking Orcades's "special sauce" would have caused spiders to "burst forth" from her chest. Notte returns the sauce. Juste orders a baguette. He generates and drops a platinum coin on the counter without prompting. ### Notte demands gold As they are walking to the fields on the edge of town, Notte asks Juste to produce "a million gold" for her. Juste offers a different unreasonable amount instead: 100,000 gold. When Notte accepts this offer, Juste generates a 200-pound bag of 10,000 platinum coins, which drops to the ground with a heavy thud. Juste tells Notte to pick up the bag. Notte acknowledges Juste's point. With a wave of Juste's hand, the bag disappears. ### Juste confesses Juste and Notte enjoy a baguette. Juste offhandedly refers to their "date" before attempting to walk it back. Notte looks away, blushing. Juste does a status check on Notte's feelings for him. Even though Notte is noncommittal, Juste admits that he is fond of Notte and of spending time with her. He also admits that the brief time he spent thinking that she was dead did a lot to help him realize the depth of his feelings. Juste informs Notte that he thinks that he loves her. Notte freezes up for a moment; then, she kisses him. ### Tea time with Strashka Yves and Strashka have coffee and play video games. Strashka shares that he has become "quite taken" with coffee creamer. Strashka admits that he has spent the last few tendays (and especially the last "fraught" 48 hours) ruminating; specifically, he has been thinking about how he no longer wishes to be like his remembered father, who he describes as – among other things – "unkind" and misogynistic. Moreover, he wants to distance himself entirely from who he was created to be, a design which he refers to as "malicious" on Juste's part. Yves objects to the idea that Juste acted with malice when creating Strashka, though he acknowledges that Juste may have acted unthoughtfully. Despite this, Yves calls Juste "smart in his own way" when Strashka calls him a dullard. ### Strashka's future Strashka and Yves discuss potential future careers for Strashka. Strashka proposes becoming a "just king" of the "land of Waterdeep," but Yves argues that he should leave politics behind entirely. Yves suggests that Strashka could instead be a private investigator or detective, given his talent for stalking. When Strashka lists his hobbies – playing the organ, listening to music, and enjoying art – Yves also suggests that Waterdeep might have an artistic scene to integrate with. They conclude, however, that Strashka is not very good at the "socialization" part of being a socialite. ### Yves's future Strashka asks Yves if he will remain in the Waterdeep area, as he appreciates the role that Yves has served in his life and would like to continue being friends. Yves responds that they will "obviously" continue being friends regardless, as they could always communicate via letters, spells, or Gabb. He indicates, though, that he likely won't move around too much due to his guardianship of the children. When Strashka asks about Yves's hobbies and career plans, Yves shares that they have been considering continuing their design work. Strashka offers to cut fabric for Yves; he adds that this would be a decent use of his time until he finds his own path in life. Yves says, "sure." Strashka, relieved, expresses that Yves has taken a weight off his back. ### Firan frets Francis seeks out Firan, finding him fretfully pouring over notes and calculations in Strashka's old bedroom. Francis compliments Firan's glasses; Firan has Francis try them on. Firan admits that he finds Francis "very pretty." Francis concedes that Firan is "cute," which Firan grumbles about. Firan admits that, despite the hard work he put into the snarl trackers, he is worried that the forces of the Dark Powers will arrive ahead of schedule, before they can sufficiently prepare. Francis attempts to distract Firan from his anxieties by reminding him that they still need to have lunch. Firan is reluctant, but ultimately allows Francis to tear him away from his work. ### Francis & Firan have lunch Francis and Firan have lunch – served by Helga – in a cozy, secluded den. Firan is surprised to hear that Maria transitioned. Despite Francis's best efforts to get Firan to be honest about the matter, Firan maintains that he is cisgender himself. Firan speaks more to his fear of death and the Dark Powers. He also suggests that he would be "quite cross" with Francis if she died, though he acknowledges that she is very powerful. Francis points out that Firan is very powerful himself. ### Firan fucks up The topic shifts. When Francis suggests that Firan should strive to be a better person, Firan acknowledges that he has made "mistakes and misjudgments." Firan also acknowledges that he is being offered an "exceptional kindness" by Francis, especially considering that she hasn't let Maria kill him for what he did to her and Quincey. Despite Francis's exceptional kindness, Firan likens Francis's prior jokes about being married to Gallagher to his own imposition of an "unwanted sense of intimacy" on Francis. Francis shuts the comparison down. Firan apologizes. ### Firan & Francis gossip Firan pushes Francis to gossip. Francis defends Notte's rudeness toward Firan; he hesitantly admits, however, that he finds Stella annoying. He refers to Gallagher as his "least annoying" friend. The two then gossip about Strashka's brides. Firan calls Escher a "sad sack." Francis expresses his fondness for Escher and Ludmilla, though he admits that he doesn't like Volenta, who is often a "weird pervert" toward him. Firan offers to redirect Volenta's attention with a love potion, but Francis sternly declines the offer. ### Francis throws Firan a bone Firan eventually asks Francis to join him on a specific balcony in the castle, of which he vaguely recalls enjoying the atmosphere. The two leave to go find it together. During their time on the balcony, Francis and Firan enjoy each other's company and share relatively peaceful conversation. Francis kisses Firan on the forehead as she eventually moves to depart. ### Maria gets new clothes Maria is spirited away by Hawthorne to play dress up. After his lunch date with Firan, Francis finds her wearing Hawthorne's clothes. When Francis remarks that he wasn't around to chase Hawthorne away with a broom, Maria indicates that things went fine – Hawthorne only harassed her in the "normal way." Maria frets over her appearance. When Francis tells her that she looks cute, Maria calls him sweet. Yves, who can overhear their conversation, makes a gesture like he is gagging. Strashka states that he was thinking the same. ### Gallagher & Ez at the lake Gallagher and Ez head to a lake in the fields to skip rocks. Though she initially clams up about it, Ez eventually shares that Maria wants to formally adopt her. She admits that, while she has baked-in baggage about Maria, she cares a lot about her and has memories of wishing for a parent like Van Richten. She feels, however, like it would be strange to be adopted as a 26-year-old. Gallagher reminds Ez that no one has uncomplicated feelings about their parents; also, it isn't like she would need to refer to Maria as "mom." She stresses that the decision is ultimately up to her, though. Ez also expresses her anxiety about not having any post-Scaenan plans. Gallagher reassures her by suggesting that she should get her sea legs so that they can work on a boat together. ### Ludmilla tackles Ez Eventually, Gallagher hears someone attempting to approach stealthily from behind. Without turning around, Gallagher tells Ludmilla not to jump on her. Ludmilla instead tackles Ez, who starts shouting and trying to shove Ludmilla off. Ludmilla eventually gets up of her own accord. Ludmilla expresses that she got "really bored" in the castle by herself. Gallagher suggests talking to people, but Ludmilla is resistant to the idea. She declares that, in any case, she wants to go get wasted and then be "overly touchy" later. ### Meeting/reuniting with Pietra At the bar, the lights are out and the shutters are still closed. A faint blue light emanates from inside. Gallagher casts Mage Armor on herself. The source of the light becomes apparent: Pietra van Riese. Ludmilla freezes. Ez, concerned, looks to Gallagher, who starts to cast Disintegrate but stops the incantation short. Pietra is unphased. She invites the group to drink with her and refers to Gallagher as "little minnow." ### Left alone with Pietra Ez quietly suggests leaving. Gallagher agrees once she notices that Ludmilla has backed up to the door. As she attempts to leave, however, Gallagher is cut off by Pietra's ghostly eels. Gallagher convinces Ez to get Ludmilla back to the castle. Pietra allows them two to leave without issue. Gallagher sits at the bar on Pietra's insistence, leaving a seat between them. Pietra probes for information and flirts despite Gallagher's reluctance. She suggests that she is "curious" about Gallagher and her power. ### Gallagher spills the beans Though Gallagher tries to skate around it, Gallagher eventually admits that she served on two ships that Pietra sunk and drowned the second time. She also reluctantly admits her purpose in Scaena, explaining that she – along with some others – have been gathered to help the darklord escape the domain. Pietra suggests that Gallagher and her friends could help free her from the Domains as well; she doesn't know how long it's been since she sailed waters that weren't covered in mist and rot. Gallagher bluntly states that Pietra is beyond redemption. She admits, however, that they don't actually have much of a say regarding who gets "redeemed" or not; otherwise, they wouldn't be there. ### Pietra makes herself at home Pietra suggests that she will get her and her crew accommodations up at the castle; then she, Gallagher, and her friends can work on getting her out of the Mists. When she asks Gallagher for her opinion on this, Gallagher icily points out that Pietra is going to end up doing what she wants to do regardless. Pietra demands to be taken to the castle. Gallagher unhappily obliges. Though no one is particularly happy to see Pietra, Francis tries to engage with her sincerely about her desire to leave the Mists. Pietra is flippant. She agrees, however, to help them fight the forces of the Dark Powers. ### Juste & Notte at the bar Juste and Notte are still in the fields when Juste asks Notte if she wants to go get a drink. Despite her worries that "the corpse" might still be there, Notte agrees to go to the bar. Juste makes Notte his drink of choice – a cocktail out of champagne and absinthe – but Notte isn't a fan. Juste gets her a gin and tonic instead. The two drink together and get tipsy over time. Juste jokes about playing spin the bottle; Notte accuses him of making the game up just because he wants to kiss her. ### Juste carries Notte home While they are preparing to leave the bar, Juste attempts to pick Notte up without her consent, but Notte manages to struggle out of their grasp. From the ground, Notte tells Juste that they have to carry her now that they have dropped her. Juste starts to argue before cutting themself off and picking her up. As Juste is carrying Notte back toward the castle, he suggests that they can just go back to his house instead. They argue about sleeping arrangements. Eventually, Notte agrees with a sigh. Juste carries her to his house. ## 8 Kythorn 1494 ### A tense breakfast Pietra is not present for breakfast. Soon after everyone begins eating, there is a puff of mist before a disheveled Notte appears. Nox walks in from the other room. Notte then storms out in a huff before returning shortly, looking much more presentable. She tells Nox to avoid teleporting her without asking. When Gallagher informs Nox that Pietra and her crew are inhabiting the castle, Nox unconvincingly pretends to be surprised about Pietra's continued presence in the domain. Gallagher is obviously angry that she didn't say anything. ### Post-breakfast strategy Juste, embarrassed, forgoes the Nox body and calls a strategy meeting after breakfast. Firan leads the meeting in the recently-created war room. ### Firan shares his plan Given that they have no idea how to leave Scaena, Firan suggests they will need to plan for the idea that they will not be making it out before the forces of the Dark Powers arrive in the next 20 or so days. Firan proposes, since these forces will likely be led by Achlys – and since Achlys is able to cross between realms, unbothered by the Mists – that they should capture Achlys, mine her "essence," and use that essence to construct a magical device which will allow them to escape the domain. Though Notte points out that Achlys will likely be killed before she lets herself be captured, Firan proposes that she, Gallagher, Yves, and Francis can handle the job. Meanwhile, everyone else can focus their attention on the legions of the Dark Powers. Yves and Francis readily agree to Firan's idea, confident that they can handle Achlys. Gallagher and Notte agree to fight wherever they are needed. ### Defining the army & commanders Through discussion and argument, the group defines a coalition of forces and appoints commanders to lead them: Rahadin will lead Firan's undead forces; Pietra will lead her crew; Strashka will lead his undead army; Ludmilla will lead the combatants from the castle; Yesper will lead the Keepers of the Feather; Orcades will lead the fey of Vallaki; Ismark will lead his devilish cult; Hawthorne will lead Juste's stormtroopers and Jedi Knights from *Star Wars*. ### The Cult of ~~the Blood Queen~~ Ezra Soon after the war council has concluded, Ismark, Yves, Francis, Notte, and Gallagher regroup in the fields on the edge of town. Ismark explains that he is going to summon the devils belonging to the Cult of the Blood Queen; after providing an initial explanation, the others should field questions, as he would feel "overwhelmed" doing so himself. Ismark decides that they will be reforming the cult to worship Ezra rather than Pisaethces. He argues that, in answering questions, they should err toward "general Ezra stuff" but that they should also answer in a way that is most helpful to their cause. Yves shouts, "that's not how it works!" Ismark accidentally insults Gallagher by implying that she is less charismatic than him. ### Ezra defined Though he insists that he pays attention when Yves talks, Ismark asks them to go over the "general tenets" of the Church of Ezra. Yves says, "Oh my god..." Yves explains that there are many different opinions on Ezra; personally, they view her as a protector of those in the Mists. They suggest that her followers should attempt to alleviate the suffering of others. ### Ismark summons the cult Despite Notte's best efforts, Juste provides a stage, sound system, and refreshments on Ismark's request. Ismark proceeds to summon hundreds of devils, which appear in a storm of hellfire. Ismark informs the devils that he killed General Blightmar, who forfeited ownership of the cult to him directly. He also explains that they will be reforming to worship Ezra. Then, he opens up the Q&A. ### Cult Q&A: healthcare An imp named Canimorsus asks if there will be a healthcare plan provided, as his daughter – a familiar on Toril – has a chronic health condition. Yves promises that one will be in place by the middle of next month. ### Cult Q&A: sins A young erinyes named Psophis asks the party to define "5 to 10" sins under the new faith. After some debate and awkwardness, Notte lists: causing suffering, murder (excluding murder done in self-dense or during war), idolatry, blasphemy, and – per Yves – abortion. Notte states that abortion is "highly debated" as a sin. Francis later reveals that he has had an abortion himself. ### Cult Q&A: recruitment tactics Francis tells a bone devil named Gingivalis that he cannot lie to or manipulate potential recruits into joining the cult, but that he is allowed to persuade people. ### Cult Q&A: forbidden magic A chain devil named Pertussis asks if any type of magic is forbidden as a flat rule. Gallagher reiterates that he should avoid causing suffering and that he should use his best judgement with that in mind. ### Cult Q&A: dress code Hominis, a harvester devil who tailors his own clothes, asks if there is going to be a dress code. Yves is happy to talk to him about the matter; together, the decide on "funeral chic." ### Cult Q&A: sexual conduct An incubus named Vulgaris asks about "pleasures of flesh and body." The party rules that all acts must be between consenting adults (living or undead). Banned acts include incest (except with cousins, per Yves), rape, pedophilia, bestiality, and trafficking. Workplace relationships are deemed okay as long as they are consensual, though Notte maintains on behalf of the party that they are not interested in Vulgaris or any of the other devils who express interest. ### Cult Q&A: relationship with suffering A spined devil named Bulgaricus asks if he is allowed to self-flagellate and if he will gain divine favor for doing so. Yves gives him the go-ahead; Francis says that Ezra probably doesn't necessarily *want* to see people harm themselves, as she seems "quite understanding." ### Cult Q&A: torture Brevis, a bearded devil and platoon leader, asks if he is allowed to "torture with cause." Gallagher says no. When Brevis questions why he would ever convert to this new faith, Francis points at Ismark and says, "because that guy told you to." Brevis argues that "that guy" seems like "a bit of an idiot." Brevis asks if there will be "further opportunities for killing" after the war. Ismark quietly points out to Francis that the devils could help with "soul collection" for Maria. Francis tells Brevis that they can talk about killing opportunities later; he needs to speak with his patron first, however. Some of the devils express confusion that Francis's patron is not Ezra. ### Cult Q&A: policy on women Brevis asks for the "cult policy" on women. Francis says, "They're awesome. They're great." Yves states that the cult is egalitarian. ### Wrapping up the cult Q&A On Ismark's request, Yves concludes the Q&A with a successful sermon. The party settles on Canimorsus as their go-between/messenger. The rest of the devils are sent back to the hells. Ismark says, "I feel like that went really well!" Yves says that he feels like he needs to go pray. ### The evening & Juste's mom Back at the castle, Juste asks how the "cult thing" went. Ismark mentions the "incest, corpse-fucker, animal-freak guy." Juste starts, "on the topic of big, scary, weird people." Gallagher says, "your mother." Juste states that his mother died in childbirth. Gallagher suggests that she was big and scary before then. Francis giggles. Juste suggests that they should confirm that their commanders are willing to be commanders over the next couple days. The party agrees to check in with them. In the meantime, Juste recommends downtime. ### Titan speaks Later, Gallagher takes off her Collar of Translation and puts it on Titan. Ludmilla takes the opportunity to flirt with Gallagher. The collar grants Titan – who can already understand Gallagher since she made him her familiar – the ability to speak aloud in single words. He immediately communicates concepts such as "eat," "food," "meat," "kill," and "destroy." Gallagher successfully negotiates with Titan and scratches him under the chin. Ez observes that Gallagher now has a baby son. Gallagher observes, "you think this is funny." ## 11 Kythorn 1494 ### Pidlwick gets a new dad Strashka visits Blinsky and hands over Pidlwick. ### Firan's xenoalchemy services Come mid-morning, Notte, Yves, Gallagher, and Francis all receive cryptic texts from Firan. They find him in Strashka's old bedroom, wearing his glasses, a lab coat, and gloves. The room has been converted into a makeshift laboratory. Though Firan expects (and receives) pushback, he declares that their bodies are "imperfect." Francis objects. Firan amends, "most of your bodies are imperfect." Regardless, Firan offers them bodily "upgrades" to aid in the upcoming fight against Achlys. He explains that he enlisted Juste – who was unaware of his purpose – to help him harvest parts from various "monsters" that the party has killed during their time in Scaena. Given permission, he can graft any of the monster parts onto their bodies, which would grant them specific abilities depending on the parts used. ### Available grafts Firan lists several monster parts and their associated functionality. * Hides (for durability): werewolf skin, turtle dragon hide, and Blightmar's skin. * Bestial weapons (for increased lethality): Blightmar's teeth and claws. * Sense organs: werewolf eyes (for dark vision) and dog nose (for enhanced smell). * Additional organs/limbs: an aberrative voice box (for enhanced mimicry), the breath organ from the turtle dragon, a prehensile tail from Cancer, a ghoul's stench sac, and a venom sac. * Blood: hag/doppel blood (for shapeshifting). ### Deliberating the grafts The party finds most of Firan's offers perverse or unappealing. Yves rejects the concept wholesale. Notte briefly considers the doppel blood, which would allow her to shapeshift. After consulting Lyssa and Ireena, however, she decides against it due to her distrust of Firan. On the other hand, Gallagher – though she also distrusts Firan – accepts the werewolf eyes to gain permanent darkvision. Francis decides to take Blightmar's teeth and claws as well as the doppel blood. ### Gallagher checks in Before the surgery, Gallagher informs Ludmilla and Ez of her decision. Ez laments, "I like your eyes." Gallagher points out that her eyes will be the same color, at least. Ludmilla offers her support. ### Francis checks in Francis checks in with Maria and Quincey. Maria calls Firan a "heinous son of a bitch"; she admits, however, that she misses Francis's vampire teeth. She agrees to keep watch during the procedure. Quincey asks to be present as well. ### Gallagher's procedure Gallagher undergoes her surgery first. She remains conscious throughout the procedure, which is extremely painful. Even still, the operation is a success, leaving her with functional darkvision and significantly larger irises. ### Francis's procedure Firan asks Quincey or Maria to strap Francis to the table. Quincey blushes and steps back. Maria quietly makes a crude joke while Firan is retrieving the doppel blood. Firan begins operating, first draining Francis of most of his blood. Francis begins fading in and out of consciousness. Maria threateningly informs Firan that it would be "so easy" to wring his "scrawny little neck." Firan, though defensive, continues on. Francis stabilizes after Firan replaces her blood with indigo-colored doppel blood. While Francis remains unconscious, Firan manages to install Blightmar's claws. Francis wakes, however, as Firan is prying the teeth from her mouth. Despite this, Francis remains calm enough for Firan to successfully remove and replace the rest of her teeth without issue. ### Post-op Francis complains of pain. Firan insists on administering a potion by pouring it into Francis's mouth before unstrapping Francis from the table. Francis thanks Firan; Firan thanks her in turn for her appreciation. Francis asks if he would be able to file down a few of the claws if needed. Firan indicates that it's his prerogative; he wouldn't recommend it, though, as they could take a while to grow back. When Firan asks why Francis would need to file them down, Francis points out that it could be "inconvenient" for all of the claws to be sharp. Maria mumbles something inaudibly. In the dining hall, Francis reveals his modifications to the others. Hawthorne is a menace and insists on touching his teeth. Yves punches her when she gets too rowdy, though he does nothing to deny Hawthorne's accusation that he is also a fan of the changes. ## 12 Kythorn 1494 ### War games Juste gathers the commanders of their 'army' – Pietra van Riese, Ismark, Rahadin, Strashka, Ludmilla, Yesper, Orcades, and Hawthorne – who in turn gather their units to complete a war exercise in the fields of Scaena. Juste summons forces from *Star Wars* to act as their opponents. Each unit from *Star Wars* consists of clone troopers, heavy clone troopers, and Jedi Knights. They are led by Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Plo Kloon, and Mace Windu. ### Pre-game check ins Before the exercise begins, Gallagher gives a healing potion to Ludmilla, who teases her by pointing out that she already regenerates. Gallagher tells Ludmilla to watch over Ez. Ludmilla says, "obviously." Maria asks Francis if he is nervous. Francis states that he doesn't really operate that way. Maria, calling Ludmilla "nefarious," suggests that she isn't very confident herself due to her unit's leadership. Strashka admits to Yves that he is nervous to be back in the commander's role, though he is sure that his experience will serve him well. While speaking with Notte, Juste muses that the worst thing that could happen is that they will find out they need to do more training. Notte points out that the worst thing that could happen would be "a number of severe, lethal accidents." Juste is astonished. ### The exercise begins Juste asks everyone to avoid lethal attacks. Then, she signals that the exercise should begin. The battle is chaotic. Pietra's spectral shell sharks swiftly devour a group of heavy stormtroopers. Juste scolds her; Pietra is flippant, but eventually agrees that she will have the sharks "bite lightly" moving forward. Juste revives the troopers, who walk off the field. He has the horrifying realization that all the characters from *Star Wars* are fully-realized people now. Pietra's vampirates later explode upon defeat, killing themselves and some Jedi Knights along with them. Juste revives them all with a sigh. Despite their best efforts, the allied forces are soundly defeated by the opposition. ### Morale in the aftermath Morale is mixed following the battle. Juste puts on a show of optimism. Maria also suggests that they "have promise." Ireena is downtrodden, though she remains resolute to help the others with her own strength in battle. Gallagher finds Ez looking particularly glum, drinking the potion that Ludmilla was given prior to the fight. Gallagher, though clearly worried, tries to put on a hopeful front. More practically, she suggests that she can cast Foresight on Ludmilla to aid them in the battle to come. Ismark also tries to remain practical, proposing that he can ask some of the clone troopers to teach him and the devils how to use guns. Juste suggests that they can add the forces from *Star Wars* to their roster, given that they did so well in the fight. A discussion about Yoda ensues after Gallagher suggests that Juste should create several hundred Jedi. In denying his attraction to Yoda, Yves accidentally implies that he is attracted to Strashka. ### A chill in the air Juste tells Gallagher, Francis, Yves, and Notte to prepare for their own training exercise, which he enlisted Exethanter to help set up. Before Exethanter arrives, however, the party feels a chill and suspects being watched by someone unseen. Juste teleports their army back to the safety of the castle; he also teleports away himself on Notte's insistence. ### Meeting Osybus Following a thunderclap and a white, misty bolt of lightning, the party is confronted by [[Osybus]], who was once a cult leader and is now an avatar of the Dark Powers. ### Debating the Domains Osybus engages the party in a philosophical debate about justice and redemption. He argues that the Domains of Dread are necessary to contain and punish "the most wicked," which contrasts with the party's "very mortal" belief in redemption. He indicates that he has interacted with others of similar beliefs in the past, like Krue and Ezmerelda, whom he somewhat sarcastically refers to as "favorites" of his. Notte argues that the Dark Powers, via the Domains, cause exponentially more suffering than any given darklord. In response, Osybus suggests that those who are born in the Domains are worth less than those who are born outside, meant primarily to serve as an "outlet" for the darklords. This argument does not go over well with the party. Yves asserts that even mortal punitive justice is preferable to eternal torture. Osybus asks if they would suggest letting all the dark lords walk free instead. When he suggests that it's "all or nothing," Yves declares that he would make a terrible lawyer and that he is nothing like Phoenix Wright. Osybus speaks to the atrocities of Strahd, Azalin Rex, and Juste. When he reveals that Juste killed 78 people, however, Notte argues that the authorities of France could have dealt with Juste themselves. After Yves and Gallagher call for him to leave, Osybus tersely deems the conversation unproductive. He suggests that he will see them again soon before fading into mist. ### Regrouping with Nox Juste, rattled, appears as Nox almost immediately after Osybus has left. Yves admits to Nox that 78 people is less than he assumed. Francis states that the act didn't warrant their eternal damnation. Notte agrees, "you were *just* a mass murderer." When Nox asks if she needs to frame it that way, Gallagher points out that she did commit mass murder and that she should feel bad about it. Notte agrees that the guilt is important. Juste states that they can pick up with training tomorrow, as the vibes are "pretty bad" right now. She suggests that, in the meantime, they can regroup, relax, and maybe watch *Star Wars*. ### Ezmerelda's crisis Gallagher regroups with Ez back at the Castle of the Scarlet Cross. Ez, still spiraling about her poor performance in the war game, admits that she feels inadequate due to – in part – her lacking the regenerative abilities that many of her allies possess. Gallagher tries her best to reassure her. The two discuss Ez potentially accepting wereraven lycanthropy from Gallagher. Ez expresses her belief that lycanthropy would make her a better asset, which she has been thinking about since their time in the Feywild; however – even with the memories being implanted – she still has issues about the concept. Gallagher suggests that she should sleep on it. Gallagher also suggests that Ez should consider asking Yves to Regenerate her eye. Ez complains that she would feel like an ass for asking now, but she agrees to think about it. ### Firan's ambitions Francis visits Firan to discuss the encounter with Osybus. Firan reveals that he is himself affiliated with the Church of Osybus, which is ironically aligned against the Dark Powers. Firan presents a harness embedded with a purple crystal. Francis tries it on. Firan shares that he planned for the crystal to siphon Achlys's magical essence, even in the event of her death. Knowing that Osybus may return, however, Firan suggests that they can instead siphon the essence of Osybus – and therefore the Dark Powers – which may give them direct control over the Domains in their entirety. Francis doesn't immediately reject Firan's idea, as she believes that having control over the Mists could allow them to make the Domains a more rehabilitative project; also, the control would allow them to free Scaena. She stipulates that Firan can't use the power in any way beyond what she has proposed, though. After Firan promises that he has no plans to become a God king, Francis agrees to discuss the idea with the larger group soon. He also agrees to get measurements from Yves, Notte, and Gallagher for harnesses. He elects to keep his own for the time being. ### Bathhouse relaxation Notte searches high and low for Ireena. She eventually finds her decompressing in a witch's liar-turned-bathhouse (courtesy of Juste) with Lyssa. Ireena remains stressed but committed. Notte tells them about Osybus. Though Notte is uninterested in the endeavor, Lyssa muses on the logistics of freeing other darklords from the Mists. She suggests that some darklords (such as that of Mordent, that of the detective agency, and that of the "evil ghost train") would be fairly easy to set free, whereas other darklords (such as the actual Strahd and the darklord of Falkovnia) should probably be left alone. ### Juste requests a luck ritual Juste, anxious about the encounter with Osybus, asks Petre to conduct a religious ceremony for luck. Yves agrees to assist, though Juste admits that he mostly requested Yves's presence so they can hang out while Petre gets everything ready. ### Before the ritual While Petre is busy retrieving a deer from the forest, Juste admits that he sometimes feels bad for creating Petre to be so agreeable; on the other hand, he wanted Petre to be someone whom the party could rely on. Yves admits that they hadn't thought about the fact that Petre was created by Juste. Juste once again speaks to her anxieties about fitting into Torillian – and more specifically, Waterdhavian – society. Yves tries to reassure her and advises her to avoid being so pessimistic. Juste attempts to justify her pessimism by mentioning his dead mother and hateful father, but Yves counters by pointing out his own past strained parental relationships. Juste agrees to provide Yves with the rest of the *Ace Attorney* games. ### Completing the ritual Petre returns with a deer. With Yves's help, Petre carries out the ritual *Sormrel Immeeira*, decapitating the deer and then immolating the head with magical flame while praying. Juste asks if she is supposed to "feel the religion happening." Yves and Petre respond incredulously. When Juste suggests giving Petre's god a call like Notte did Ezra, they both refuse. ### After the ritual Gallagher catches Yves walking away from the scene, still covered in blood. Gallagher prestidigitates the blood off him. She also gives him a scroll of Counterspell, promising another in the next few days. Gallagher rambles awkwardly. Yves tells her that there is a decapitated deer around but that he wasn't the one to decapitate it. Gallagher does not ask further questions, instead electing to go make tea. ## 13 Kythorn 1494 ### Morning meetup with Exethanter Gallagher, Notte, Yves, and Francis meet Juste, Exethanter, and two boneclaws in the fields of Scaena near an amber monolith. Gallagher is followed by a small, dusty-orange corvid – later revealed to be Ez – which perches on a nearby tree. Whisper and Skelly accompany Notte and Francis respectively. Exethanter shares that he and his boneclaw servants – former wizards who botched their attempts to become a lich – will be fighting the group to the death in an attempt to prepare the party for the imminent arrival of the Dark Powers. Gallagher tries to argue for a nonlethal battle, but Exethanter isn't swayed. Exethanter reveals her reasoning for helping them: defeating the Dark Powers and freeing Scaena will allow for further opportunities to spread the secrets of dark magic. ### Fight against Exethanter The party faces off against Exethanter and their boneclaws. Whisper and Skelly are quickly destroyed by the necrotic energy emanating from Exethanter. Over the course of the fight, all of the party members are impaled by the boneclaws. Despite her Crown of Stars, Hellish Rebukes, and Eldritch Blasts, Francis is killed; her soul is immediately consumed by Exethanter in what he calls an "automatic process." Despite grave injuries, Yves's consistent healing along with Gallagher's and Notte's attacks allow the party to turn the tide. Exethanter and the boneclaws eventually drop to the ground, lifeless. ### Post-battle revivals & debrief With the fight over, Juste revives Exethanter, who releases Francis's soul with a burp. Juste revives Francis in turn. Exethanter commends the group on their victory, though she suggests that they should avoid being impaled, get stronger familiars, and raise an army of expendable servants. Once Exethanter has determined that the party requires nothing else of him, he dissipates into red mist. Ez flutters down from the tree and shifts into her human form to check on Gallagher's already-healed injuries. Maria arrives in a tizzy soon after, having sensed Francis's death thanks to her warlock patronage. She quickly drags Francis off so that she can mend his clothes. ## 16 Kythorn 1494 ### Notte makes an offer Notte, worried for Juste's safety, inquires about their abilities in combat. Juste claims that they were once in a bar fight; they explain, however, that they were punched in the head after they said unflattering things about the mother of someone who shoulder-checked them. Notte points out, "so you didn't fight – someone just hit you." Notte offers to try to teach Juste self-defense in the little time they have left before the Dark Powers are set to act. Juste hesitantly accepts. ### Notte trains Juste Though Juste brings many oversized and unconventional weapons, Notte ultimately teaches him how to use a shortsword. She provides instruction while Juste occupies his own body and then while Juste occupies the Nox body. Eventually – mostly out of curiosity – Notte has Juste attempt to control both bodies at once. Juste manages to trip and bash his head against the handle of the Nox's sword, collapsing to the ground. Notte decides to conclude training for the day. Notte continues to train with Juste over the coming days. She eventually enlists Ireena to help, and she also does her best to convince Stella that she needs to learn how to defend herself as well. ## 17 Kythorn 1494 ### Ez asks Francis to hang out Ez asks Francis to teach her how to fish under the guise of boredom and the desire for self-improvement. Francis can tell that Ez has other things on her mind, but he doesn't call her out on it. Ez leaves ahead of Francis. Maria expresses her approval of Ez branching out with regard to who she spends time with. She also complains about Ludmilla, calling her "wretched." ### Ez, Francis, & family Francis shows Ez how to fish. Although Ez attempts to stall, Francis manages to convince her to talk about what is bugging her. Ez talks about Maria and Francis, expressing that – while she was initially trepidatious about their relationship given her friendship with Francis, and while it is "strange" to see Maria content – she is glad that they make each other happy. She also admits that she is a bit stuck on the idea that she and Francis will be family. Francis suggests that they are already family, but that their friendship won't be affected in any case; she certainly doesn't need to call him "dad." The two discuss the idea that, in becoming a patriarch of the Van Richten family, Francis might become a de facto guardian of Rictavio's numerous wards. Francis suggests that she is "more like an aunt"; despite this, she admits that she already has wards when it comes to Vasilka and Victor. Even though Ez is unbothered by the idea of Vasilka being her sibling, she is horrified by the realization that she and Victor would also be siblings if Maria legally adopted her, Francis legally adopted Victor, and Francis and Maria legally married. Francis suggests that she shouldn't call him "brother" if the concept bothers her so much. In talking about Yves's guardianship of Freek and Myrtle, Ez implies that Yves and Francis have some sort of romantic entanglement. Francis glosses over the suggestion. ### Gallagher gets sushi Francis and Ez catch a fish each. Francis helps Ez prepare sushi, which she later presents to Gallagher. The two enjoy the food together. Ez admits that she feels like she started shutting people off when things started going especially badly. She expresses that she is glad to take steps to rectify that. ## 19 Kythorn 1494 ### Stella's request Stella, awkward and rambling, explains to Gallagher that she wants to spend a day doing things that a noble wouldn't typically do. She admits that Ireena's high opinion of Gallagher influenced her decision to specifically ask her for assistance. Gallagher argues that she hasn't had a regular day since she supposedly died 15 years ago; she agrees to try to show Stella a "normal" time, however. ### Stella's regular day Gallagher takes Stella fishing, hunting, and firewood chopping. Although she accidentally insults Gallagher and broadly non-nobles multiple times during the day – and although she becomes dirty and battered – Stella seems generally satisfied with herself. ### Yves makes an (incorrect) assumption As the day winds down, Gallagher invites Ludmilla and Ez to accompany her and Stella to the bar so they can play cards. Ludmilla is thrilled. Ez is annoyed, but she becomes less annoyed as the night goes on. Not wanting Notte, Lyssa, or Yves to witness her while she is still "mathing out" being a "regular person," Stella invites Yves to the bar. Yves, noticing that Stella is wearing clothes borrowed from Gallagher, declines the invitation. ### Stella confides in Gallagher Stella enjoys her time at the bar. She expresses that – despite the bruising, dirt, splinters, and stomach aches – she could theoretically get used to "these kinds of things." When Gallagher suggests that she probably won't have to do most of it regardless of whether she retains a noble title, Stella insists that she might want to anyway. Stella privately admits to Gallagher that she has recently come to worry that she might be a bad person, citing the fact that she is a bit stuck-up and set in her ways. Gallagher points out that she just spent the day demonstrating that she is willing to try new things. She adds that, while it can be worthwhile to try to set things right by people, rumination usually doesn't do any good. ### A small gift exchange In thanks, Stella gives Gallagher a gift: a small pendant embossed with the House Wachter crest. Gallagher gives Stella the mouse figurine that she obtained in the Feywild in return. ### Stella reports back Back at the castle, Stella excitedly recounts her day to Notte. Notte is perplexed that Stella subjected herself to the activities of "peasantry." She says that, while she doesn't want to be trapped by the expectations and responsibilities of nobility, she has no plans to give up luxury. Stella admits that she thought Notte would be more satisfied with her report, though she muses that it was probably worth it even if Notte doesn't particularly care. Notte tells Stella that she is glad she enjoyed herself and that the day seems to have done well for her. ## 21 Kythorn 1494 ### Maria's request Although Maria's insistence to speak in private and subsequent awkward rambling unnerves Yves, she makes a benign request: she wants to offer "significant payment" in exchange for Yves designing her a new wardrobe. Yves readily agrees to help. They have a high-level discussion about what Maria likes in clothes (frills, ribbons, cool and jewel-toned colors). Maria promises to return with underwear from Francis to serve as examples, as Yves admits that he is new to the idea of brassieres in general. ### Yves & Maria ~~flirt~~ bond Maria compliments Yves looks and style of dress; in turn, Yves tells Maria that she is working with a good "base" and assures her that her physique is "fine" when Maria expresses self-consciousness. Maria asks, "fine as in middling or fine as in quality?" Yves stutters a bit. The two also bond over their dislike of Hawthorne's style. Yves accidentally implies that he has studied Francis's hips. Maria calls Hawthorne attractive. Maria expresses her hopes that she has made clear – despite her occasional snipes at Yves, most of which have had to do with Francis – that she values their friendship. Yves shares that they think of her as a close friend. Maria suggests that she sees Yves and many of the others as a "very odd family," likening Yves to a younger brother instead of her dead son this time. Yves quips, "quite a bit younger." ### Maria's & Yves's boundaries Yves suggests that it isn't his business what Hawthorne wants to do in her free time, as he has no desire to limit her. Maria tries to claim that she doesn't care who Francis sleeps with before admitting that she does care. Yves points out that she's allowed to care. ## 23 Kythorn 1494 ### Petre's request Petre interrupts Notte's training to request her help. They head to the Cathédrale Saint-Salonius de Scaena, where Petre thinks that they are unlikely to be disturbed. Petre explains that he wants to carve a good luck charm for Yves; however, given his blindness, Notte will need to physically show him how to carve the wood. Notte agrees to help. ### The charm Together, Petre and Notte begin carving a small, angular heart embossed with swirling lacy patterns. The symbology reflects that of Hanali Celanil, an elven goddess of romance and love. As they work and talk, Petre reveals that he is at least somewhat aware of the depth of Notte's feelings for Yves. ### Petre's trauma The conversation turns to the topic of family. Petre reveals some of his backstory: his parents were captain and navigator of a large spelljammer vessel that served as a prison. Their job – and eventually Petre's job as well – was to round up infidels and dissidents of their colonial society. He admits that he was obligated to kill a lot of people during his formative years; eventually, he snapped and killed ten more, including his parents. He was exiled for his crimes and ended up at the Keep of the Scarlet Cross, where he started worshipping the elven god of outcasts. Petre worries that he went past the point of no return by killing his parents. Notte reassures him by pointing out that many people in their company have a dark past. She adds that the entire reason she and the others are in Scaena in the first place is to prove that people can change. Petre admits that he hasn't told anyone other than Notte about his patricide, though he does plan to tell Yves eventually. Notte suggests that Yves will likely be understanding. Once the charm is complete, Petre gives Notte a hug in thanks. Notte awkwardly returns the hug. ### Petre gives Yves the charm Later in the day, Petre seeks out Yves, presents the charm, and explains the symbolism. Yves kisses Petre and then the charm before placing it in his bag. Petre informs Yves that Notte helped him and that she loves Yves in her own way. Yves laughs and stutters a bit. ## 26 Kythorn 1494 ### Ireena celebrates her friends With the snarl trackers indicating that there is one day left before the Dark Powers are set to act, the air is tense. Even still, Ireena gathers Francis, Notte, Gallagher, and Yves in a renovated room at the top of the castle. She explains that she wants to celebrate them, as she never knew true friendship until they met. Ireena presents a cake that she describes as "a bit ugly and frumpy," which is adorned with icing script that reads: THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FRIENDS. ### Ireena's gifts Ireena presents handmade, personalize gifts to each of her friends. Gallagher receives a painted model ship, on the deck of which are figurines reminiscent of each of those present. Ireena reveals that she asked for help from Ludmilla, who showed her a "cave painting" from her "cave house" of a ship to reference. Yves's gift is a poorly-knit scarf, dyed with the same berries that Ireena uses to dye her hair. There is a tag sewn to the inside of the scarf which reads: PROPERTY OF YVES CARRION OF HOUSE KOLYANOVICH. Ireena explains that she wants Yves to think of himself as part of the family. Next, Ireena talks about her connection to Francis as fellow reincarnations of Tatyana. She then presents his gift, which was made with help from Firan: two magical rings, one silver inset with a glowing purple gem – for Ireena to keep – and one gold inset with a glowing blue gem – for Francis to keep. The gems glow as long as the wearer of the matching ring is alive. Notte receives a handmade raven mask, which in many ways mirrors the mouse mask that Notte made Ireena. Ireena admits that she isn't sure whether the world outside of Scaena will always be accepting of people who fall outside society's definition of "normal." She explains that, like Notte helped Ireena stay safe with her mask, she wanted to give Notte something that might keep her safe in the same way. Francis, Notte, Yves, and Gallagher express appreciation for their gifts. As they accompany Ireena outside to spend more time with her, she tearfully tells the others that she loves them and that her life would amount to a lot less without them having been it. She expresses that, regardless of what happens next, she is glad to have met them. ## 27 Kythorn 1494 ### Ez makes some ~~demands~~ requests Everyone prepares for the imminent arrival of the forces of the Dark Powers. Prior to the conflict, Ez awkwardly and abruptly asks Yves to regenerate her missing leg and eye. Yves does so. Ez also asks Yves to covertly place the Charm of Nine Lives in Gallagher's bag. Yves initially tries to deny the request, citing that Ez needs the protection more than Gallagher does; Ez manages to argue enough to wear Yves down, however, and he successfully slips the charm into Gallagher's bag without her noticing. ### Firan's harnesses Gallagher, Notte, Yves, and Francis are intercepted by Firan, who gives them each – other than Francis, who already received hers – a magical-essence harvesting gem embedded in a harness. He reiterates that they need to wear them in order to catch the essence of whatever they end up fighting. Notte and Yves mock him, but all don their harness. After the others leave, Francis lingers to kiss Firan on the top of his head. ### Catalogue of the army The Scaenan army – over 400 members strong – assembles on one side of the fields while the party awaits their fate on a plateau on the opposite side. Helga, Stella, Maria, and Petre act as healers. The unit commanders are Hawthorne, Ludmilla, Pietra, Rahadin, Orcades, Yesper, Ismark, and Strashka. Ludmilla commands, among others, Pietra's first mates and the combatants from the Castle of the Scarlet Cross. ### Battle against the Dark Powers' forces Eventually, a loud crack of thunder announces the sudden appearance of over 100 corrupted-looking creatures, almost all being some variety of undead. The battle begins as they bear down on the Scaenan army. The fight is chaotic. Vasilka is slain partway through by a ghost. Telphusa, along with most of the other devils, are sent back to the Hells as they are struck down. However, though the Scaenan units – particularly Ismark's and Strashka's – suffer casualties, they eventually prevail against the forces of the Dark Powers. ### Meeting Death While the army fights below, Gallagher, Notte, Yves, and Francis are transported to a void and confronted by an inky black silhouette: one of the Dark Powers, an incarnation of [[Death]], who is revealed to be the first iteration of Strahd von Zarovich. Death gives a winding account of the history of various Domains of Dread. It shares that it does not particularly care to speak to the purpose or righteousness of the domains like Achlys, Exethanter, or Osybus might. Even still, it warns them that – even if they defeat it today – Death and the Dark Powers must always exist, as someone will always need to write the story. ### Fighting Death The party faces off against Death, who continuously regenerates while attacking with necrotic energy, its teeth and claws, and a large sword. It also often redirects Gallagher's spell attacks, forcing her to focus on defensive magic. Midway through the fight, Death's flesh and bone contorts and cracks as it shifts and grows in size until it looks like a monstrous, draconic bat. Despite the intensity of the fight – and despite the fact that many of them are knocked to the ground more than once – all of the party members manage to stay conscious. Through their relentless attacks and supportive magic, they manage to overcome Death, who shrinks back into its silhouette. ### Breaking chains & freeing the Domains of Dread Death recovers swiftly; then, it waves its hand. The party is soon faced with several mannequins hanging from spectral chains, each representing darklords and the domains that they preside over. Francis, Yves, and Notte work to shatter the chains, freeing both the domains and the darklords in the process. Gallagher sits down. Two of the mannequins – which take the form of Strahd von Zarovich and Juste in the Nox body, representing Barovia and Scaena respectively – resist. ### The struggle to free Barovia & Scaena With Gallagher finally assisting, the four are able to pull Nox off her chain, though not before they all lose an arm. With a snap of Death's fingers, their missing arms are replace by inky black limbs. Death watches, fascinated, as the party continues their attempts to free Barovia from its chains, breaking weapons and spell foci in the struggle. It eventually drops its sword at their feet, which they are only able to handle with their combined strength. The final chain breaks as they swing the sword together. ### Death's book As a book falls into Notte's hands, inside of which is only written "Osybus" and "Strahd von Zarovich I," Death disappears. The party returns from the void and reunites with their loved ones, breaking the news about the Domains of Dread. ### Vasilka, the halfling Francis quickly finds Maria, who is hunched over the corpse of Vasilka. To their relief, Yves is able to help; Vasilka becomes a halfling toddler as he casts Reincarnate. ### The charm returned & Pietra gone Although she is glad to see both Ludmilla and Ez alive, Gallagher is upset to find out that Ez secretly gave up the Charm of Nine Lives. She returns the charm and makes Ez promise not to do it again. Ludmilla reveals that Pietra disappeared shortly after the fighting stopped. ### Juste takes final requests Juste teleports himself, Notte, Lyssa, Ireena, Stella, Yves, Ismark, Petre, Hawthorne, Strashka, Francis, Maria, Firan, Quincey, Ludmilla, Ez, and Vasilka to the dining room of the castle. Juste asks Notte, Gallagher, Francis, and Yves if they want their "weird shadow arms" replaced. Yves and Francis express that they wish to keep theirs, so Gallagher and Notte decide to keep theirs as well. Juste asks if anyone needs anything while his powers still work. Maria requests a baby carrier; Francis requests some diapers. Juste conjures both. Gallagher asks for treasure. Juste conjures Bags of Holding full of 25,000 platinum pieces each for her, Notte, Yves, and Francis. Gallagher goes pale. Ludmilla implies that she will be spending Gallagher's money. Juste creates replicas of the Wakened Dragon's Wrath Longsword and Sunsword for Notte. He denies Francis's request for a new spell focus, as he finds the idea of Francis using the Immovable Rod as a spell focus "kind of funny." On Yves request, Juste conjures bags holding every Nintendo DS game ever made for him, Notte, Francis, and Gallagher. Gallagher muses that she can probably gift the games to [[Gallagher Holloway|her nephew]]; Francis suggests that he will give the games to Victor. Francis asks for a way to summon his old spectral steed, Gwynevere. Juste gives him a ring with this ability. ### Gender & corporeal forms & etc. Juste offers to make Notte "flesh and blood." After Notte hesitantly accepts, Juste transforms her into an organic version of her current form. They admit that they could have done this at any time when Yves asks. Juste implicitly asks the others if they want any gender-affirming changes. He then singles out Gallagher, who looks bewildered. Francis asks for top surgery and bottom surgery; he has Juste change him back, however, after sitting with the changes for a moment. Wanting to be taller than Firan, Yves asks Juste to make them taller. Juste denies this request, calling Yves a "good size." However, Firan eventually agrees to become 4'11" himself in exchange for Yves handing over their essence-harvesting gemstone. Juste makes the change and refuses to change him back. ### Death reappears As the gems make contact with each other, they explode into mist, which soon forms into Death. Referring to the book that Notte still holds, Death informs everyone that crossing out its name and Osybus's name will allow someone else to sign their name; that person will then become Death. It claims that, if no one signs their name, everything surrounding any domain that has been freed – including the domain itself – will cease to exist. Death also implies that, if it were to continue doing the job itself, things will continue exactly as they were before. After some discussion, Notte casts Divination and asks if the person who becomes Death will have to give up having their own life. Notte receives the answer, "not strictly." ### Applying to be a Dark Power Several people volunteer: Francis, Yves, Ismark, Strashka, Juste, Hawthorne, Ireena, and Firan. Maria flatly denies Francis as an option; Notte denies Ireena and Juste; nearly everyone denies Hawthorne and Firan. Ismark reminds the others that he never got his shadow back after Oddlewin read his fortune at the Seelie Market: "Great responsibility shall be thrust upon you. Only you will know if you are ready." He also points out that he has been defining the bounds of an Ezrite sect, and that it would probably be best if someone who was invested in alleviating suffering is in charge. When Yves and Ireena protest, he argues that he has spent his entire life trying to make things better for the people around him, but that he has never been able to get at the root of the problem. Strashka doesn't list his qualifications, but Francis and Gallagher both concede that both he and Ismark would probably be best suited for the job. ### Preparing for the worst Ismark follows when Yves gets up and walks away. He hugs Yves before insisting that change isn't always a bad thing; Yves has changed many times since he met them, for example. When Yves expresses their fear that they will never see Ismark again, Ismark resolutely declares that he won't let this happen. He adds that they still need to plan their wedding. Next, Ismark asks Ireena to trust him like she always has in the past. Ireena begins to cry. Ismark quietly asks Notte to look out for Yves and Ireena if anything does happen to him. Notte, though reluctant to let Ismark sign his name, agrees. Strashka also steps over to Notte, who is still holding the book. Notte casts Geas; Strashka submits to the spell willingly. Notte commands that Strashka needs to return to them after he signs his name so that he can live his life as a good person. ### Life & Death Ismark crosses out "Osybus" and "Strahd von Zarovich I." As he signs his name, his shadow returns to him. Strashka signs his name as well. The book slams shut. The inky blackness fades from Death as it drifts down from above and settles on the ground, once more in the form of Strahd. There is then a flash of brilliant white light. As it fades, Ismark and Strashka remain; Ismark, however, has become a solid white silhouette with piercing black eyes, while Strashka has become an inky black silhouette with piercing white eyes. ### Ismark's vision for the Domains Ismark and Strashka teleport away, but Ismark returns mere minutes later. He explains that Strashka is working on the "structure" of the Mists; however, they realized that it is going to be a big undertaking, hence why he has returned for a time. Ismark shares that he doesn't plan to trap anyone in the Mists anymore – "no darklords proper." He suggests that people can perhaps "go in, go on an adventure, and then leave." He later decides that the Mists will simply be called "the Domains." Yves hesitantly accepts when Ismark asks them if they want to be his agent. ### Dragonslayers in Scaena Meanwhile, Krue, Skoll, Nia, Rictavio, Selise, Ireena, and S are heading to camp for the day when the land of Scaenan Barovia unfolds all around them. Krue observes that Castle Ravenloft looks different. Ismark, still a blindingly-white silhouette, teleports in front of the group. He explains who he is, the various ways the others – barring Maria, who he opts not to mention – have changed, and, more broadly, the situation at hand. The group is generally uneasy to hear that all the darklords have been released. Rictavio throws up. After taking some time to process, Krue, Skoll, Nia and the others head up to the Castle of the Scarlet Cross. ### Hawthorne reunites with Skoll & Rictavio Rictavio is relieved to see Hawthorne, and vice versa – not that either of them admit it. Hawthorne scoops up Skoll, kisses his forehead, and declares that she missed him. Skoll seems surprised, but he echoes the sentiment. ### Skoll & Rictavio meet Yves Skoll and Rictavio approach Yves on Hawthorne's insistence. Although Rictavio initially complains that Yves looks "so young" next to Hawthorne, he concedes that he doesn't have much room to talk. He stays mostly polite throughout the rest of the conversation. After Hawthorne explains that Yves needs a place to live when they leave Scaena, Skoll invites him to stay at their house in Amphail without consulting Rictavio. Yves informs Skoll that he has many people – including children – that will be accompanying him, but Skoll is undeterred. Hawthorne hints at Yves's hag-related trauma. Skoll reveals that he is part hag and that he is part of a local group of hags, but he assures Yves that they are normal and "not strange." Yves suggests that he isn't "hagphobic" anymore. ### Ez reunites with Krue & S Ez informs Krue and S that her leg has been regenerated and that she is a wereraven now. S is conflicted. Krue admits that she occasionally regrets not becoming a wereraven in Barovia due to being an owlfolk at the time, though she declines Ez's awkward offer to turn her. Ez apologizes for being "standoffish" on a "few occasions." Krue accepts her apology and acknowledges the stress that Ez was experiencing. Ez dismisses her stressors at the time as "small potatoes bullshit." Krue cautiously asks Ez how her previous romantic woes panned out. Ez awkwardly states that things between her and Gallagher are going well, but that things are otherwise weird, especially now that Ludmilla is sleeping in their room. ### Rictavio & Skoll meet Maria Rictavio is reluctant to meet the Scaenan version of himself after learning from Yves that she transitioned, but Skoll talks him into approaching Maria with him. Francis is not present, having left with an unhappy Firan to go change Vasilka's diaper. Although Skoll is clearly nervous, Skoll and Maria are happy to meet each other. Rictavio remains generally frazzled throughout the conversation. He tersely excuses himself after Maria calls herself an "improved upon" iteration of him and brings up his past neglect of Ezmerelda. Maria and Skoll continue the conversation, speaking of their respective companions and families. Maria disparages Firan and expresses her fondness for Yves; Skoll similarly calls him "lovely." Maria kisses Skoll's hand before he departs. As a result, Skoll stumbles while walking away. ### Gallagher meets Rictavio Rictavio encounters Gallagher in the kitchen and introduces himself. The ensuing conversation is awkward; Rictavio immediately brings up Ez and contrasts Gallagher's personality with Krue's. He also accidentally lets slip his aversion to wizards and asks for Gallagher's age. When Rictavio expresses distaste for seeing a female version of himself and expects Gallagher to relate, Gallagher states that she already knows a male who looks like her: her brother. Rictavio proceeds to explain that he was an only child, not counting his eventual wife – now his ex-wife – whom he was raised alongside after the death of his parents. Despite Rictavio's social ineptitude rivaling even her own, Gallagher chooses to consult Rictavio on a serious matter. She mentions the family that Ez has memories of – who is technically not _her_ family – and how she told Ez that they might be happy to meet her in any case. Rictavio declares that they would be over the moon to meet Ezmerelda – he knows that he is. Gallagher, relieved, thanks him. ### Nia meets another Ireena The Scaenan Ireena approaches Nia and Selise, introduces herself, and begins rambling about the castle in the people in it. She eventually suggests that Nia would probably like most of the people around, adding that she and Gallagher seem to have a similar "communication style" and "resting expression." Nia is astounded to find out about the Scaenan Van Richten's transition. Eventually, Ireena takes a breath long enough for Nia to ask her about her vampirism. Ireena excitedly shows Nia her bat form; she becomes nervous and changes back, however, when Nia doesn't seem to appreciate it. Nia tries to reassure Ireena, whereas Selise explains that Nia accidentally killed her after drinking too much of her blood. ### Notte meets another Ireena The Barovian Ireena introduces herself to Notte. They share polite conversation, discussing their origins, their hobbies, and the Scaenan Ismark, who they agree is "a lot" right now. Ireena also briefly mentions being "filled with gunk" in Elysium before Nia sucked it out of her. When Ireena nervously asks about Strahd, Notte shares that Strashka is much more normal than when they first met him. She claims, however, that she is "broadly disinterested" in what Strashka gets up to, and that helping him was mostly a side effect of helping the actual darklord of Scaena. Notte goes onto call Juste "very weird" and advises Ireena to avoid seeking him out, though she admits that she has become used to his weirdness. Ireena calls Notte "really nice." Notte thanks her before admitting that many would not describe her in such a way. Ireena argues that not many people would call Nia nice either – however, Nia is "quite nice." Moreover, she hopes that she and Notte can be friends without it being weird that she looks like her girlfriend. Notte points out that – between Lyssa and Francis – she isn't the first. ### Yves meets Nia Nia approaches Yves on Scaenan Ireena's advice. Selise follows close behind. Nia is awkward throughout the extensive conversation, seeming to accidentally offend Yves on multiple occasions. They manage, however, to relate over their parental trauma. Nia remarks on Yves's habit of befriending people who were previously trying to kill them and asks for the reasoning behind it. Yves starts to explain that they were trying to prevent things from ending in violence; they stop short, though, abruptly asking Nia why she kills everyone just because they're mean to her. Nia insists that she doesn't, and that she tries to avoid killing people when she can. Selise speaks up to once more talk about how Nia accidentally killed her in the past. ### New Death tries to make new friends Eventually, Skoll, Nia, and Krue meet back up and are soon approached by Strashka's – "New Death's" – inky black silhouette. Skoll and Krue are polite, but Nia remains icy. When Strashka eventually remarks that he thought that she might understand his desire to be better than what he was born to be, Nia only says, "fair enough." Aiming to defuse the tension, Krue points between Strashka and Ismark and says, "So you two are, like, uh–" Strashka interjects, "No, nothing of the sort." Krue explains that she only meant to say that they're opposites. Strashka admits that he is the Death to Ismark's Life. Skoll calls this "romantic," which is an idea that Strashka firmly denies. ### New Death returns to his old friends Yves, Gallagher, Notte, and Francis are next approached by Strashka, who tells them that he believes the "dhampir woman" wants him to die. Francis suggests that the other group has their own hang-ups, whereas Yves suggests that Nia is just not very charismatic. Strashka tries to crack some jokes. Francis laughs at one; Gallagher and Yves compliment his efforts. ### The future of the Domains Yves asks Strashka if he has come up with any ideas for the Domains yet. Strashka admits that, though he and Ismark have been brainstorming, he has been spending most of his energy trying to convince Ismark out of his first idea. Although Strashka refuses to elaborate, he promises to text Yves about the matter later on his replacement Gabb, which is still working in the Material Plane. Strashka wishes them well and then departs – "off to work." [[Re Strahd Epilogue Summary|Re: Strahd Epilogue Summary >>]] --- ## Page Tags/Properties **Tags:** #Timeline **Category:** [[Timelines.base|Timelines]] **Type:** Campaign **Campaign:** [[Re Strahd|Re: Strahd]]