Session 17

On their third day in town, the party finally head out of Vallaki. They walk through the western gate with Izek in tow.

Just out of town, they hear a commotion to the south: music and cheers! Shalooti remembers that Arabelle said she lived in a camp to the south of Vallaki, and imagines that the Vistani there are probably celebrating the return of the lost Arabelle. Afraid that Anakir may have angered them by asking for money, the party decides to keep heading west towards Argynvostholt.

After some time of travelling, the party comes to the Luna River Crossroads. They see a broken sign that points in four directions. Bardolf is able mend the post, and after some discussion, the group decides their best course will be to follow the road southwest towards "Krezk and Tsolenka Pass".

Shortly after departing the crossroads, Pelanil turns a bend to find 3 Berserkers waiting. The group fights the monsters in some very close hand-to-hand combat. We also learn just how powerful Izek's (aka Hulk Hogan, brother) demon arm really is.

After finally slaying the last Berserker as it fled, the party isn't quite yet able to take a breath. Anakir notices 4 bats flying overhead. Just as he sees them, they begin flying away. Thinking quickly, he casts Fireball. All 4 bats fall from the sky. Just as the land, they turn into Vampire Spawn, (just like the ones the party encountered during the Feast of St Andral in Vallaki), and begin twitching on the ground from their injuries.

The group decides to quickly dispatch 3 of the four, leaving one alive to question. Izek picks him up with his demon arm and intimidates him enough to tell the party what he knows:

• His name is Vadu
  • He was once an uneducated peasant with abusive parents
  • He revels in his vampiric power, and does anything Strahd tells him
• He and his fellow spawn have been spying on the party since they arrived in Barovia
• Strahd took Ireena to The Abbot at the Abbey of Saint Markovia in Krezk and didn't return to Castle Ravenloft with her

After telling the party what he knows, his body goes limp in Izek's arms.

The group briefly considers making their way to Krezk to see if there is a chance they can save Ireena. Just as Shalooti remembers Urwin's and Danika's advice (Ireena is likely lost, and they should focus on gathering power and allies), she hears a raven squawk. Following the sound, the raven leads them towards Argynvostholt.

With the evening setting in, the group arrives at the sepulchral mansion, the southern wall of which is completely destroyed.

Out front, they see a statue of what they gather to be a noble silver dragon, looking towards the mansion. Shalooti notices that there is a dilapidated stables on the southern side of the mansion.

Anakir, dragonborn as he is, tries to talk with the statue, but with no luck. Bardolf enchants it to say the words "Begone brother" when someone walks by.

Impatience ever growing since his rebirth, Pelanil makes his way to the front door of the mansion. As he climbs the steps, the statue opens its mouth and exhales a gust of harmless cold air as it says the words "Begone brother". The group recognizes at this point, that the statue was once set up to protect this mansion from intruders, but has since lost the power behind its magic.

Making their way inside, the group sees a winged shadow flutter through the foyer. Shalooti opens the door on the left to find a room covered wall to wall in thick spider webs...