[5e] Curse of Strahd - UA playtest IC

[tieren]

Zap! fire bolts the nearest enemy.

Spoiler

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to hit [roll]1d20d+4[/roll]
bless [roll0]
damage[roll1]
crit [roll2]

Redo the to hit roll

[tieren]

Zap!'s firebolt finishes off the dire wolf. All the ghouls are down and the other dire wolf ran away.

You are in the woods about 1/2 mile north of the road that was heading towards the west when you left it.

[Lord Ruby34]

Marcia examines her thundercannon, her eyes running over the stock and trigger mechanism. "...unlikely to be user error...weight distribution...no...check the firing pin.. Marcia sits down next to the ghoul she killed and starts pulling out her tools, eyes dancing over her gun.

[Ramsus]

Beiro takes a seat on a large rock nearby and contemplates the inherent feeling that something is off, even in the very earth and air.

Spoiler

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Second Wind: (1d10+3)[6]

[Thematthew]

Andrei breathes a heavy sigh as he relaxes against a nearby tree. "That was an exciting fight, and became an even more exciting triumph." He follows up his statement with a smug grin.

Spoiler: Healing

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Assuming I get the six hp from the death of the dire wolf I feel that the HD expenditure would be a waste. If not I'll spend one to heal: (1d8+2)[3]

[tieren]

Andrei breathes a heavy sigh as he relaxes against a nearby tree. "That was an exciting fight, and became an even more exciting triumph." He follows up his statement with a smug grin.

Spoiler: Healing

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Assuming I get the six hp from the death of the dire wolf I feel that the HD expenditure would be a waste. If not I'll spend one to heal: [roll0]

[You do get the healing, you don't have to deliver the killing blow yourself for that effect]

While you take a rest to tend to your wounds and equipment you all notice the forest is unusually silent. It is possible the fighting scared off the typical woodland creatures, but the sensation is eerie still.

[cobaltstarfire]

Zap! hobbles over to Marcia, kneels nearby and watches curiously while she tinkers with her gun.

[Kwaj]

"We should get back on the road," Sandu says, glancing warily at the trees. "This wood is an ill-omened place."

[Ramsus]

After the rest, Beiro goes to check if there was anything else going on down by the creek bed aside from ghouls and wolves.

[tieren]

After the rest, Beiro goes to check if there was anything else going on down by the creek bed aside from ghouls and wolves.

In the dry creek bed you find the fresh carcass of a moose, it looks to have been killed and partly consumed by the dire wolves.

[Lord Ruby34]

Marcia spends the time dissembling and reassembling her gun, talking softly to Zap! about how it works and the purpose of each piece. By the time she's finished Beiro has already checked the creek bed.

Agreed. As foreboding as those gates are they offer the only answer to our sudden transposition into this place.

[Ramsus]

Beiro rejoins the others and suggests, "Perhaps we should just go back to the path we were on earlier? It would be very easy for us to get lost out here."

[tieren]

The party heads back the way they came towards the road.

The route you took here did not really follow a path, you broke your own trail through the underbrush as you went. it is not difficult to follow your way back.

You return to the road and continue in your original direction of travel to the west.

After about 20-30 minutes of additional travel you all hear the sounds of music coming up the trail from behind you. A melancholy tune on fiddle and accordion.

Looking back you see a small caravan of brightly colored wagons coming along in your same direction of travel. They must have also come through the gates. They are currently about a half mile behind you.

[Lord Ruby34]

"Travelers and musicians. I believe that we should wait for them, their the first people we've met who might be familiar with the area."

[Thematthew]

"Sounds as decent of a plan as any." Andrei says, looking back to see if he can get a better view of them.

[Ramsus]

Beiro nods in agreement.

[tieren]

You take a moment to rest by the side of the road as the caravan makes its way towards you. You see there are 4 wagons all pulled by teams of oxen. 3 of the wagons have permanent wooden covers making them look more like tiny houses on wheels. The fourth wagon is open and full of bundles of some sort which are covered by a large canvas tarp.

Each wagon has a driver who is accompanied by an assistant. the assistants each have crossbows laying across their laps. In addition to the wagons you see about a half dozen other humans walking besides the wagons, playing instruments, talking, or a couple of children chasing a pair of mastiffs.

When the caravan is about 100 feet from you the lead driver raises his hand and the group comes to a stop. A pair of men emerge from inside the first wagon through a door in the side and walk about 20 feet ahead of the group and look at you quizzically.

[Kwaj]

"Hail, friends," Sandu says, walking forward with hands raised palm out. "We seem to have lost our way and stumbled into this valley by mistake. What is the name of this land and who is its lord?"

[tieren]

Be ye friends?

Travelers on this road are rare and dangers many. We may appear as simple tinkers and traders, but know the Vishanti are not easy prey for highwaymen.

As the leader speaks, 3 more crossbow men emerge from wagons and move up behind the two who first approached.

...and I have not known good men to travel in the company of the cursebringers.

The man looks at Zap!, then spits on the ground and makes a gesture with his right hand as if to ward off evil.

The wereravens are known to us and not trusted.

[Ramsus]

Beiro looks at Zap and looks at the distrusting people and then picks Zap up in one arm and pats his head and says, "Zap is not a were-anything. He is a Kenku. And a good friend and warrior in the fight against unnatural evils." The words are said in the same tone as if someone just accused your intelligent well-trained dog of possibly being an untrained violent beast that bites people and chases the mailman.

[Lord Ruby34]

Marcia rolls her eyes. "The crossbows are highly unnecessary. If we were highwaymen the ambush would be better planned than standing out in the middle of the road and greeting you openly. For example, we would have taken the corpses of the ghouls we killed and placed them in the middle of the road, while Sandu pretended to be wounded to draw you out of you wagons and defensive positions while preparing spells and weapons to assault you once you arrived in position before using your own wagons as cover. Or perhaps another plan, but I thought of that one in less than two seconds. Standing out in the road is what individuals who wish to speak to you cordially do, as we have done and you have not." Marcia says, her tone sounding like a bored professor lecturing misbehaving students.

[tieren]

Marcia rolls her eyes. "The crossbows are highly unnecessary. If we were highwaymen the ambush would be better planned than standing out in the middle of the road and greeting you openly. For example, we would have taken the corpses of the ghouls we killed and placed them in the middle of the road, while Sandu pretended to be wounded to draw you out of you wagons and defensive positions while preparing spells and weapons to assault you once you arrived in position before using your own wagons as cover. Or perhaps another plan, but I thought of that one in less than two seconds. Standing out in the road is what individuals who wish to speak to you cordially do, as we have done and you have not." Marcia says, her tone sounding like a bored professor lecturing misbehaving students.

The leader rolls his eyes at Beiro's words and addresses Marcia.

"We are cautious because we know where we are and the dangers of this realm, can you say the same? We have come to speak with you, but many a traveler has fallen prey to a false appearance, caution is wise."

"I am Anton, my friend here is Uri, we are in charge of the safety of this company."

While Anton is speaking a young woman emerges from the second wagon and runs up to Uri and whispers something in his ear then jogs back to the wagon.

Uri then says, "stand easy Anton, Madame Eva has seen them in a vision, they are the new toys of the Devil Strahd."

A wave of relief washes over Anton's features and he smiles back to the group. "My apologies you poor bastards, you sincerely have my sympathies."

Two of the crossbow men return to their wagons, and the one remaining seems much more relaxed.

[Lord Ruby34]

A million thoughts run through Marcia's mind, but are summed up by a single word and a tilt of her head, "Explain?"

[tieren]

Anton turns to Sandu, You asked the name of this land and the name of its Lord? You are in Barovia. That is the name of the valley and the name of the village this road is leading you towards. The village lies directly below castle Ravenloft where lies the lord of this land,
the Devil Strahd, a vampire of considerable age and power.

This entire land and everyone and everything in it is cursed,
including you. Strahd has long since grown bored with the diversions available here and occasionally brings new heros,
like yourselves into Barovia to challenge and entertain him.

There are some who say he himself seeks release of the curse through his own death but has been unable to find anyone worthy to the deed.

If you ever hope to leave this land you will need to grow powerful, find ancient knowledge, enchanted weapons, and even allies to confront and destroy the vampire lord. Madame Eva will be able to divine more to help you on your quest, but first we much reach our camp by the Tser pool down in the valley so she can prepare for such a ritual. We can accompany you as far as the village for now if you like.

[Ramsus]

Beiro nods, feeling this arrangement is acceptable. He's so unhappy about this being cursed thing he forgets he's holding Zap and just starts walking towards the village still holding them.

[tieren]

The Vishanti travel with you into the village of Barovia. It is a drab dour looking town full of drab dour looking people. Most don't even seem to notice the caravan's passing although it is the only thing using the streets, no other carts or wagons or horses are seen.

Anton directs you to a large building in the center of town he tells you is an inn owned by some of their "cousins" who will let you some rooms.

It is now almost evening so you enter the inn, meet the owners and get some rooms for the night.

Tomorrow you will begin to explore Barovia.
Tonight level all of your characters to Level 4.

[Lord Ruby34]

Before the caravan leaves Marcia spends time asking the members of the Caravan about Strahd and Barovia, hoping to supplement the gaps in her own knowledge.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Marcia's History Roll about Barovia:(1d20+5)[10]

[tieren]

Before the caravan leaves Marcia spends time asking the members of the Caravan about Strahd and Barovia, hoping to supplement the gaps in her own knowledge.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Marcia's History Roll about Barovia:[roll0]

Spoiler: Aside

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I am going to have them tell you the common knowledge history of Barovia and how it and strahd came to be cursed (DC10 knowledge), but its kind of lengthy and I want to copy it more or less from the book so will put up tonight.

[tieren]

In life, Strahd von Zarovich was a count, a prince, a soldier, and a conqueror. After the death of his father, King Barov, Strahd waged long bloody wars against his family's enemies. He and his army cornered the last of these enemies in a remote mountain valley before slaying them all. Strahd named the valley Barovia, after his deceased father, and was so struck by the scenic beauty that he decided to settle there.

Queen Ravens via lamented the death of Barov and was fearful of Strahd. War had made him cold and arrogant. She kept her younger son, Sergei, away from the battlefield. Strahd envied the love and attention his mother visited upon his brother, so in Barovia he remained. Peace made Strahd restless, and he began to feel like his best years were behind him. Unwilling to go the way of his father, Strahd studied magic and forged a pact with the Dark Powers of the Shadowfell in return for the promise of immortality.

Strahd scoured his conquered lands for wizards and artisans, brought them to the valley of Barovia, and commanded them to raise a castle to rival the magnificent fortresses of his ancestral homeland. Strahd named the castle Ravenloft, after his mother, to demonstrate his love for her. When it was completed he commanded his mother and brother to come to Barovia and stay with him. Sergei eventually took up residence at Ravenloft, but Ravens via passed away while traveling to her namesake. In sorrowful disappointment Strahd sealed his mother's body in a crypt beneath the castle.

Strahd's attention soon turned to Tatyana, a young Barovian woman of fine lineage and remarkable beauty. Strahd believed her to be a worthy bride, and he lavished Tatyana with gifts and attention. Despite Strahd's efforts she instead fell in love with the younger, warmer Sergei. Strahd's pride prevented him from standing in the way of the young couples love, until the day of Sergei and Tatyana's wedding, when Strahd gazed into a mirror and realized he had been a fool. Strahd murdered Sergei and drank his blood, sealing the evil pact between Strahd and the Dark Powers. He then chased Sergei's bride to be through the gardens, determined to make her accept and love him. Tatyana hurled herself off a castle balcony to escape Strahd's pursuit, plunging to her death. Treacherous castle guards, seizing the opportunity to rid the world of Strahd forever, shot their master with arrows.

But Strahd did not die. The Dark Powers honored the pact they made. The sky went black as Strahd turned on the guards, his eyes blazing red. He had become a vampire.

After slaughtering the guards, Strahd saw the faces of his mother and father in the thunder clouds looking down and judging him. He had destroyed the family bloodline and doomed all of Barovia. The castle and the valley were spirited away; for Strahd and his people there would be no escape.

[Ramsus]

After waking and having a brief breakfast Beiro walks around the town to see what it's like and what services the people have to offer. In particular he's keeping an eye out for a set of plate armor and an opportunity to earn it, though he doubt even if he and his companions pooled their money they couldn't afford to simply purchase such armor.