We bought a child last session Lucien. Dear lord--what is it with this crew and kids? Vikta just didn’t trust the old woman--old people, she *really doesn't trust* ‘em. Vikta and Ember comfort the child.
Dunal communes with nature.The grass has a few barely blooming wild flowers--overall the land is bleak.Vikta calls him back as he started to wander. She’s acting very--VERY anxious and is repeatedly doing the 3taps of warning while looking around. Vikta feels very watched and unnerved. It starts to seep into the party.
The whole party starts to feel it.
Vikta swears she sees the visage of 3 smaller children around Lucien's age staring. They aren’t very distinct--behind each of them is a pair of green glowing eyes. Ember notices that Vikta keeps coughing and seems like she’s tried to say something a few times. Vikta indicates somewhere--where she sees the kiddos.
Vikta seems really freaked the hell out. Ember doesn’t see what Vikta sees, and Vikta can’t seem to get words out. Ember escorts her back to the wagons.
Kenji is told by Stan that he didn’t know we’d be stopping for “sight seeing”.
Colette is on Vikta’s head thanks to Cynder. Vikta does some introductions, and Ember takes a listen to Vikta’s lungs. Her airways seem to be clear--she’s choking on her own words. She lies to the kid about being fine as well as Cynder. Vikta is fucking coughing. Cynder sees through it.
Vikta offers a pinky swear, that the party will not sell him. Cynder watches Vikta concerned.
Cynder smells notes of blood and smoke on the breeze. Kenji and Cynder are sent via Stan the man to go check it out.
Cynder informs the others, Vikta and Dunal about them going off to inspect the danger. Vikta’s coughing gets a little worse. Cynder and Kenji send Leo out to look. He comes back faster than his lazier approach.
There’s a fight up ahead. It looks like 4 people on one side--peasants, the others are gaunt figures wild hair bare feet and hands--gnarled nails and commanding creatures.
Vikta mage armors in prep for the fight. Leo is told to stay back with the carts. After a few moments of running ahead we hear agonized cries.
We see 4 barovians being attacked by humanoid figures made of twisted vines and branches like awakened plants who are walking. 2 of the men appear to be dead. As a swarm of 6 of the monsters on each side advance.
There are also cackling in the surrounding trees.
Kenji and Vikta hit their targets with firebolts killing 2 in one swarm and 4 (Kenji’s targets) in the other.
Dunal finishes the swarm Vikta hit off, killing them with inflict wounds. GOOD HIT! 28dmg.
Ember runs in and uses burning hands, they try to shamble buuuut our Fire Genasi is a baddy--11dmg each. Ember moves and finds this gaunt haggard figure its wearing a tattered gown of stitched animal skins. Hissing and screaching at Ember--and laughs like a lunatic at Ember. Kill ‘em! Ember does a flurry of fists and kicks.
Ember fucking totals their face and body--killing the thing.
Kenji follows suit doing what he can--but ends up Missing the figure.
The figure laughs at Kenji. The figure jumps down and raises its arms up and it...attacks Kenji. Kenji had to make a str save--he fails miserably.
Dunal follows seeing Kenji getting restrained by foliage and roots via entangle the bastards...Dunal is like eh.. Can’t help you… But he inflicts wounds like a BOSS. Isn’t Dunal supposed to be the healer cleric? Cause he’s on a damage ROLL tonight folks! 16 necrotic!!
Amidst the chaos of battle Vikta hears something swirling around her mind and in the area around them. Vikta hits the target even with the pressure of noise they are hearing. Killing the figure.
Kenji is freed, and Vikta coughs “Can’t have you tied up.”
“Leaf me alone”-Steph promptly ends herself with this joke.
Vikta looks about as the party loots and does other things. The children's forms are gone. And in their place is another figure, boney and spooky, a boney finger crooks repeatedly, beckoning her to them. After glancing at the party, to see if they’re watching and/seeing this. And takes a few steps--while composed Vikta is *too curious*.
The party is being talked to via villagers as Ember loots the bodies. Villagers want to know how to repay the party. Kenji looks to Dunal like--do we charge them?
Vikta is too curious for their own good and will approach the figure fully. composed but still going like an idiot to this strange figure where the creepy kids were.
The villagers ask about a child...Kenji looks to Ember. Informing the pair of Luci.
Meanwhile Vikta goes to see the strange figure.
The villagers are talking with Lucien when They return. And Vikta frowns at the people talking to the kid.
Vikta and Ember have a moment alone, Ember pushes Vikta into a tree wanting answers.
Kenji talks with the villagers about needing to clear this with Ember/Vikta.
Vikta comes clean, admits everything. Ember hugs Vikta, and the boy--Vikta says to let the villagers to take him. Vikta returns to the cart and Coalette takes up residence on Vikta’s lap.
Lucian hugs Ember.
Vikta doesn’t do goodbyes, and refuses to do so now.
The child is taken away.
The roads from there feels cold and darker more sinister. Eyes watch us. The rest of the party feels the “gaze” from earlier vanish--meaning it was likely Vikta’s patron they felt.
Ismark and Irena ask Ember if everything is okay. Irena warns that the land takes things from people when Ember mentions that Vik is having a rough time.
Vikta is sulking a little while snuggling the cat in her lap. ((honestly not sure how she’s really going to take losing the kid and the visit with her patron))
The road before Kenji and Stan as the party waits to know what’s going on. The road is a fork, and theres a gallows. There was nothing on the gallows--but as Kenji turns away he hears a creek--and the dead thing stares at Kenji the eyes--are his own… ITS HIM ON THE GALLOWS.
Anyone else who sees it sees an unfamiliar barovian if anything at all.
The road disappears as we keep going and soon we are on dirt roads...eventually it gives way to an area with a lake and a river area. 5 colorful round tents are pitched outside a ring of 4 wagons, and a larger tent rests near the lake. 8 horses drink from the river.
We’ve made it.
Current time is 10pm now (week 2, day 1)
Stanamere tells Kenji to gather the party and rest up…
Ember was drifting in and out while consoling Vikta. Shiva beckons the pair off the wagon, along with the siblings Ismark and Irena.
Vikta wants her fortune read. Ember is gonna go make friends and get drunk? Vikta straight to Madam Ava.
Leo talks to Ember, bewildered at the camp. “I--It feels so long.” He lands on Ember’s shoulder, “This is my home.” He tells Ember there is much she doesn’t know. He thanks her for returning him to home.
Kenji joins Vikta, as she is told to enter. The interior is lit with flame, and there is a hunched figure over the crystal ball. The crone says, “At last you have arrived.”
The pair share a look like, eh what else can we do, this isn’t the worst the day has offered right? Vikta recalls bugs, boney fingers, and bubbling rage that is simmering deep in her heart--along with a chill she cannot shake that might be from the rage--or not?
The pair enters the large warm tent. This older woman madam ava has white hair, and a colorful cloak. She smiles at the pair, her eyes wild and nose crooked.
The crystal ball/madam ava’s readings;
5 of us on the ship is shown. Plenty of excitement and adventure here.
Your purpose here is far more divine than you can fathom. Within lies a great responsibility. Barovia was beautiful and healthy and thriving once. Strahd changed that.
Barovia is a reflection of him currently. Ava feels we could make a difference if we helped. We might be able to end this devil. ((vikta is like ho boy))
Vikta asks how are we supposed to end him? Ava is glad we asked. She pulls out black colored cards--strange looking deck. Tarot? She places them down in a peculiar order, almost a cross. 5 down.
This card tells of history, the ancient history will help understand enemy. A strange visage on the front of it. A woman hangs above a roaring fire--find her and you’ll find unbelievable treasure.
This card tells of a powerful force for good and protection, holy symbol of great hope. A hooded figure appears on the face of the guard. A faceless god awaiting us deep in the mountains at the end of a long road.
This card, Strength--vengeance and a sword of sunlight. Go to the mountains and climb the white tower guarded by golden knights.
This card, sheds light on one who will help us greatly--look for a dusk elf living among the vestani. Help him with his dark dreams and sorrows?
This final card, your enemy is a creature of darkness who’s power are beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him. On it we see a great beast roaring hunched ready to attack. The beast sits on his dark throne.
She laughs as the candles flicker and sway violently.
The party on the ship has a dark wrapping on it. As we look panicked--a large dark beast collides with the ship ready for impact. As soon as it collides the crystal is filled with thick black void--and all light is snuffed out.
Madam Ava smiles as light is restored cards are faced down once more.
Vikta asks about her own issues. Kenji offers to leave, and Vikta asks/dmands he stays. She asks about her family if there is a way to know.
“You poor poor thing, how you must have suffered...you wish to know of your family lets find out.”
I can see your sorrow and your pain, you were left wanting. Ceaseless questions and no answers. The answers of your abandonment can be found in a city of steel and stone. Where azure is the hue of the life blood of the people.
Survivalists in your family were. More importance than making it through the day than keeping tighter bonds. They have raised you well--to survive as long as you have. Answers on where you might find them--may be found in the frozen fortress. Home to the frozen valley.
Yet in your quest for answers, something deep and dark follows you--something truly wicked. ((patron)) If you truly wish to find answers you seek--there are answers to questions you must make for yourself. You can see on the card is a young woman in front of a dark forest with a light at the end of a pathway. The answers to those questions must be sought within.
“Is there a path to freedom or am I doomed?”
There’s a small table white in color--but the mirror oval shaped and ornate facade...in the mirror vikta can see themselves--it became clear and her eyes (madam ava) is looking up and to the side. When looking for a moment Patron Undead Sugar daddy can be seen standing behind Vikta before vanishing with the blink of an eye...