Session 1 Wrap-Up

For discussion of the Expedition to Ravenloft
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erilar
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Session 1 Wrap-Up

Post by erilar »

Arriving in the misty, slightly chilly, and heavily-forested land of Barovia, our intrepid adventurers are greeted to a creepy reception, as the formal but rusty Gates of Barovia swing open of their own accord. Surely it was the wind?

The brave party follows the Old Svalich Road through the thick forest for several miles, eventually reaching cleared land and coming upon the sleepy village of Barovia from which the region takes its name.

Something is wrong though - the houses are boarded up, dilapidated, and seemingly deserted. What's that strange moaning sound though - someone must still live here after all? Ah, yes - Rathostaz has spied several chimney fires towards the center of town.

The band presses into the village, and is assaulted several times by roving bands of zombies. These zombies are unlike others you've encountered previously though - they are much stronger, faster, and resilient. Moreover, there are other more hideous creatures among them.

Monstrous rat-wolf creatures - the Carcass Eaters - that seem to have a hankering for dead flesh, and huge, mutant maggots that share their vile tastes. You shudder to remember the screaming, terrifying visage of the horrors Doneghal called Varguilles. Worst of all were the Deathlocks - animated corpses with spell-like abilities, and the horrid Entomber, a malevolent desiccated corpse, inhumanly strong and possessing the terrifying strength to slam its victims bodily into the soil, burying them alive.

Pressing further and further into the besieged village, the party eventually comes upon the town square. The human survivors have barricaded the four entrances to the square, forming a makeshift bulwark against the encroaching undead masses. Worse, one of the barricades has been shattered through the mindless, unending pounding from the zombie horde - and the last bastion of the town's survivors is being overrun.

In a long, hard-fought battle, the party rescues the survivors' lone defender - a female paladin of Pelor - from certain doom at the hands of the seemingly endless, plodding horde.
Last edited by erilar on Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:43 pm, edited 2 times in total.
"This enemy you cannot kill. You can only drive it back damaged into the depths, and teach your children to watch the waves for its return." - Quellcrist Falconer
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erilar
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Post by erilar »

Ashlyn closes her eyes and inclines her head to you, breathing hard and leaning on her longsword. Her gold-tinted armor is glinting and immaculate, even gore-spattered, and as she raises her head to address you, you see that she is quite pretty. The holy symbol of Pelor is embossed into her armor over her heart. Her blond hair, now sweat-soaked from battle, is cut in a short, simple, and practical fashion.

"My friends - and I will forever think of you so for saving these people from a terrible fate - thank you for your aid and selfless bravery. I am Ashlyn, humble warrior and instrument of Pelor's light. Praise his wisdom in sending you to our aid in this dire hour."

"Time enough for pleasantries later, though. With your leave, I must see to these barricades before the fiends return."

She turns without another word and hurries to aid the handful of villagers who have emerged from nearby buildings to help repair the breached and battered bulwark. It seems as if this were not the first time they have done so. Amongst these laborers, you notice several who can only be members of the Vistani - the gypsies Constable Grignard described to you. Their garish and colorful dress is unmistakable.

You also notice among a handful of Barovia denizens an extremely burly young man dressed in the apron of a shop keeper. From his dealings with the other villagers, it is evident that he is rather dull-witted, although he works with the fervor of two of his peers.
Last edited by erilar on Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"This enemy you cannot kill. You can only drive it back damaged into the depths, and teach your children to watch the waves for its return." - Quellcrist Falconer
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erilar
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Post by erilar »

"Who the... Which... What the... What in the seven hells is going on in this place?!?"

Lysander, your estranged bard and longtime companion, squirms between several of the barricade repairmen, and approaches you, breathing hard and wide-eyed.

"What the hell is going on here? Where did all these corpses come from? Who's the sword babe?"

You fill him in on recent events, and explain that by following your trail through town, he's somehow narrowly chanced to avoid an agonizing, screaming death at the hands of a horde of brain-hungry zombies. He looks rather sick at the realization that even a single band of the horrors happening upon him would have been the end - and possibly a cursed, unnatural beginning...
Last edited by erilar on Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
"This enemy you cannot kill. You can only drive it back damaged into the depths, and teach your children to watch the waves for its return." - Quellcrist Falconer
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erilar
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Post by erilar »

The bulwark repairs completed to her satisfaction, Ashlyn returns to you.

"Now we may be more formally introduced. I am Ashlyn, warrior and servant of Pelor. My companions and I ride with the Lightbringers. We slay undead wherever we may find them. We'd heard that Barovia was crawling with the horrors."

Post here with your questions for and conversations with Ashlyn.

Only two buildings within the confines of the bulwark seem occupied:

The first building:
Sparse light gleams from the gaps in the boarded-up windows of this building. A sign over the door creaks on its hinges, proclaiming "Bildrath's Mercantile."

The second occupied building:
A mutter of voices, a clatter of dishware, and the squeal of a poorly-played wind instrument usher from this rambling building. A sign hanging precariously askew reads "Blood on the Vine Tavern". A thin skein of smoke curls up from a wide chimney.

Pierce fingers the collection of charms hanging around his neck and elbows Doneghal in the ribs, pointing up at the sign. The "n" in the word "on" has been scratched over the original "f".
"This enemy you cannot kill. You can only drive it back damaged into the depths, and teach your children to watch the waves for its return." - Quellcrist Falconer
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Post by EvilGenius »

Doneghal will speak with Ashlyn briefly.

"Greetings, Lady Ashlyn. I am Doneghal, devotee of Daern. My church is focused on protection, specifically fortifications. I've noticed some improvements I can help you make to your barricades here so that they are better able to withstand the assaults of the zombie hoardes.

While I work on the barricades, please speak with the rest of my companions. We are all no doubt eager to lend what aid we may.

I also have some healing magics still available to me today, please direct me to whom I can aid the most so that I may then concentrate on the barricades and our safety."

Doneghal clasps the Paladin's shoulder. "And one last thing Lady Ashlyn. You made a brave stand against overwhelming odds. Surely the Radiance of Pelor shines through you. Your people owe you a debt."

With that, Doneghal sketches a quick salute and strides to the barricades.

OOC: Lance, Doneghal has 15 Chr, +11 Diplomacy, +6 Knowledge Architecture/Engineering. He also has Stone Shape memorized, so he'll do what he can with the barricades.
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erilar
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Post by erilar »

Ashlyn stares at you with a very brief pause, momentarily shocked.

"Surely Daern and Pelor shine down on us this day! Here we are, trapped like mice and attempting to construct makeshift barriers against this insidious incursion, and we are sent a specialist in fortification! I am truly pleased to make your acquaintance, Doneghal, blessed of Daern!"

She smiles brightly, claps you on the shoulder in camaraderie (wow - she's stronger than she looks), and rushes off to check on the townsfolk.
"This enemy you cannot kill. You can only drive it back damaged into the depths, and teach your children to watch the waves for its return." - Quellcrist Falconer
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Post by setanta14 »

Yeah, too bad this whole village will need to be razed to the ground to remove the taint of civilization... I mean, yeah, I'd be glad to help rebuild the bulwarks, cough cough
erilar wrote:Ashlyn stares at you with a very brief pause, momentarily shocked.

"Surely Daern and Pelor shine down on us this day! Here we are, trapped like mice and attempting to construct makeshift barriers against this insidious incursion, and we are sent a specialist in fortification! I am truly pleased to make your acquaintance, Doneghal, blessed of Daern!"

She smiles brightly, claps you on the shoulder in camaraderie (wow - she's stronger than she looks), and rushes off to check on the townsfolk.
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Post by NukeHavoc »

At some point Pierce will look up from his conversation with Nellis about the mysterious disappearing/reappearing spellbook, look at the ongoing repair of the barricades and say: "You ... you aren't excepting those creatures to return are you? We -- you -- must have destroyed most of them right? And if they're coming back ... wouldn't it be better to leave this place? Because we didn't do so well the first time around. Clearly we should go ... for the greater good and all that ... yes?"

He looks around nervously, hand to his shredded, blood-soaked shirt.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
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Post by EvilGenius »

Doneghal looks up from working on the barricades, "PIERCE! Come over here and see if you can wriggle through this gap! I need to see if this is going to hold when the rampaging hoarde of zombies comes back! Or those rat/weasels! They might get through here! PIERCE!!"
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Post by Lars Porsenna »

Lysander grins..."What? leave? I just got here...and let me tell you...IT WASN'T EASY!"

Damon.
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Post by NukeHavoc »

"Damn. We're really not leaving, are we?" Pierce turns to the barricade and begins working with his clerical colleague to secure it.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
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Post by EvilGenius »

"Don't worry Pierce. Fighting from behind a fortified position is much much safer than a general melee. We can hold a strong position for a long time. The real trick is going to be leaving the fortified position so we can find the source of the zombie attacks and put an end to them all." :)
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Post by NukeHavoc »

OOC: Once the fortifications are in place, Pierce will dig through his pack for a clean set of clothes, get dressed and then approach the laboring Gypsies. Is there one in particular that the others seem to be deferring to?
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
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Post by Hardcorhobbs »

Obviously not saying this in front of the paladin "Not that I dont want to help with the good fight or anything... but we do have two missions already. Shouldn't we start working on them instead of helping out here? They seem rather safe now that the bulwarks are repaired."
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Post by erilar »

Hardcorhobbs wrote: ... we do have two missions already. Shouldn't we start working on them instead of helping out here? They seem rather safe now that the bulwarks are repaired."
They also seem very, very trapped. I should clarify a few things for you - I may have been remiss about providing thorough environmental descriptions.

1) While you were fighting and moving through the town, at any quiet moments you were able to hear more creepy moans and other disturbing sounds all around you that lead you to believe that the zombie mob is all through the town. You have the distinct impression that if you hadn't been moving quickly and in a straight line, you would have encountered many more enemies. You're actually rather shocked that Lysander was able to slip through the town unmolested in your wake. He obviously got very, very lucky.

2) Remember that one of your two quests is a plea for help from the Burgomaster of Barovia. You're in the village Barovia right now. :) Apparently, the situation has gone down hill since this letter was penned.

Here's a copy of the letter you received to refresh your memories:
Hail to thee of might and valor:

I, a lowly servant of the township of Barovia, send honor to thee. We plead for thy so desperately needed assistance within our community.

The love of my life, Ireena Kolyana, has been cursed by the witches of Lysaga Hill, and even the good people of our town are powerless to free her from this enchantment. She wastes away under the witches' curse and I would have her saved from this menace.

There is much wealth in this community. I offer all that might be had to thee and thy fellows if thou shalt but answer my desperate plea.

Come quickly, for her time is at hand! All that I have shall be thine!

Kolyan Indirovich,
Burgomaster of Barovia
"This enemy you cannot kill. You can only drive it back damaged into the depths, and teach your children to watch the waves for its return." - Quellcrist Falconer
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