Lit by the blazing beacon, the party rested, finding both hope and strength in its silver light. Once recovered, they resolved to clear out Argynvostholt and claim it as their own. Mormeros learned to summon a horrific Familiar he named Beans, and sent them to infiltrate the web-choked ballroom as an unnaturally small Phase Spider. Beans discovered a clutch of nearly hatched eggs guarded by an unnaturally massive phase spider, who had been surreally mutated by the mansion's ethereal energy.
Now that Mormeros had sworn off illusions, Tobias attempted to lure their arachnid foes outside with a severely low-poly image of a Cow, but the spider mother saw through the trick and alerted her ghostly brood. Ghalwin was determined not to lose their advantage and decided to be the bait himself, dodging through webs and slashing at the mother spider. In retaliation, she restrained him with invisible webbing as her brood materialized and tore into him. Ghalwin teleported above them to a brief moment of safety, only to dive back into the fray, slashing down through webs once more.
Mormeros slowed the skittering spiders to a crawl before ducking away as Tobias multiplied a single handaxe into a deadly barrage that sliced through the foes and their webbing. As Mormeros drained most of the mother spider's life force, Ajuni unleashed repeated fireballs that wiped the map and incinerated most of the eggs. The gang then finished off the remaining hatchlings before they could cause further trouble. Beneath the mother's body, Ghalwin and Tobias found an enhanced Moon-Touched longsword, its soft blue light long choked by rubble, while Ajuni unearthed a mahogany box that contained Mormeros’ greatest fear: more silver.
Tobias and Ajuni began drafting architectural plans to make Argynvostholt defensible, and witnessed a ghostly memory of a battle between the revenants and Baba Lysaga. In between failed communion sessions with Vampyr, Mormeros checked the mansion for books, and found details about the Order's attack on Strahd's parents in the Village of Barovia. He also discovered ways to reshape Beans into other forms, creating "Pop," a hellish funhouse mouse that mercilessly tormented Pip. Ghalwin spent the week cleaning, hunting, and gathering materials, until he felt Verity return. Through his steed’s vision, he witnessed Ezmerelda’s journey and learned that by the second day, she had lost both Geronimo and Verity to the horrors of Barovia.
Tobias reasoned that Ezmerelda might travel unaccosted without companions, and used steel salvaged from the Knights of the Order to rebuild Geronimo. The party constructed a southern retaining wall of rubble and wood, spending the week working while waiting for their fated ally. However, by the eighth day, they grew antsy, and curious about the reach of the beacon’s light. Ghalwin and Tobias ventured on their mounts to the base of the mountain, watched by Mormeros through a raven-Beans' eyes. They hadn’t gone far when the tiefling spotted a lone wolf approaching from the middle of the road. Mormeros, initially skeptical about helping, informed Ajuni, who immediately pulled him through a dimension door to join their companions.
As they regrouped, the wind and rain intensified, and lightning repeatedly struck near the mansion. The wolf slowed, its shadow elongating before transforming into a familiar figure; Count Strahd von Zarovich was paying their mansion a visit. He remarked on the audacity of the uninvited guests, but Ghalwin forced him to admit his fascination towards the group. After a brief exchange, the vampire made it clear that last week's dinner was only the appetizer: he had now come for the main course.
"But enough talk! Have at thee!"