Session 10
Wrapping up at the Windmill
After finishing a short rest near the megaliths, the party questions the children about their predicament. We learn:
- Myrtle says Freek doesn't have a soul
- like many other Barovians, he was born as only a shell
- when people die in Barovia, their souls are unable to escape, and they inherit new bodies
- Ireena says it's just a tall tale passed around by children, but that these people have been mist-touched
- Myrtle disagrees, and Lucien says he's known Freek his whole life, and he's always been that way
The party catches a glance of Elora's tail, something she's dealt with her whole life, but has tried to keep a secret.
Shalooti convinces the party to help her dig through the windmill rubble to find some more of the youth potion that was thrown on the hags. The group obliges, and the party dig around for an hour. Elora was the only one lucky enough to find anything, but she found quite a bit, including a Pale Tincture.
After all that, the party hits the road, and after 2.5 hours make it to Vallaki with no more excitement on the road.
Vallaki Gate
Upon approaching, the party are interrogated by the guards. Shalooti convinces the guards to let her in, agreeing to do a show. Ireena blows her cover after failing to convince the guards of her fake name. The Vallakian law is read:
- No one shall speak Strahd's name out loud or carry written documents with his name on them
- No one shall speak poorly of the Baron or the festivals nor hold any documents that present either in an ill light
- Everyone shall take part in preparing the festivals
- But visitors are exempt
- Everyone shall attend the festivals, no exceptions
Other things learned at the gate:
- The burgomaster, Baron Vargas Vallakovich, has decreed that the Festival of the Blazing Sun will be held in the town square in three days
- The previous festival, which he called the Wolf's Head Jamboree, was less than a week ago
- While the guards only speak positively of the festivals, their tone hints otherwise
- Strahd hasn't visited Vallaki in over 100 years
Everyone registers their weapons, although Pelanil is able to cover for Anakir's failed lie by telling the guards his name is Asvir Ravenclaw.
The scribe noting down the registered weapons thinks Elora looks familiar, and Alana, one of the other guards offers to take the children to the orphanage. Although Shalooti and Anakir are initially wary, they eventually come to believe that she means the children no harm.
Once inside the gates, the party is a bit shocked to see that the town is bustling, and people are actually maybe a little happy.
Shopping
Ireena seems a bit excited to split off from the party, but won't say where she's going. Later, Elora, Shalooti, and Anakir find her buying healers kits from the apothecary. She claims she only ever learned "hobbies appropriate for a lady" growing up in the Burgomaster's mansion, but now she thinks she can lean on her sewing skills to learn to heal people.
The Town Square
On the way to the Inn, Anakir, Shalooti, and Elora pass through the town square. There they see men women and children on a stage in the middle of the square, in stocks and wearing plaster donkey heads. Elora learns it's because of their "malicious unhappiness".
The party see that some old proclamations detailing The Wolf's Head Jamboree being taken down and new ones about The Festival of the Blazing Sun being put up.
The Blue Water Inn
Everyone meets back up at the Inn. We all meet the bartender Danika and her husband Urwin. Bardolf is looking for someone to go fetch Carlos, but Danika says the hunters that have been frequenting the bar have recently been away.
She also says that Urwin's father owns the Wizard of Wines, though they aren't on speaking terms.
Urwin recognizes Shalooti, so she performs for the crowd and earns the party a night's stay at the inn (she of course gets her own room).
Just as she finishes her performance, Rictavio the carnival ringmaster comes down the stairs, and everyone cheers, hoping for another story.
